SRaeM

I just had my 2nd fill. Occasionally, when I drink I feel like my esophogus hurts. I haven't tried a lot of food yet. I tried a hamburger tonight and ate the whole thing. The first bite I took was to big and felt weird, but I was able to eat the whole thing with fries (a disappointment). (This was an experiment to see if my band would feel tight not my normal eating plan.) My band never hurt. The only sensation I have had is pain in my neck. What does it feel like when your band works? Do you feel it immediately? or later start pbing? How do you know restriction is working?

I can not take big bites or eat fast. However if I eat slowly and throughly chew, I seem to be able to eat about all I could want. I'm afraid that if I get more fill nothing will go down. I have to chew until I quit because my jaw is tired rather than when I feel full. Is it just me? What does a sweet spot feel like? My band won't hold much more and it's not like I don't have pb episodes. Information please.:welldoneclap:

My Dr. waits at least a month between fills unless you need liquid removed. There are several reasons. For me, I don't usually feel fills right away. I guess your body needs time to adjust. It usually takes 2 weeks for me to fully feel a fill.

I lost the expected amount at 3 months out. I'm told this is normal. I do Zinc and a generic Nixon shampoo. I seemed to go back to normal. Then a couple a months ago, I really started losing hair again. I went to my Dr. and found out my hormones were out of wack (which believe me I had already noticed). She said any hormonal changes can also cause hair loss. I'm told that losing fat cells releases a lot of stored hormones. If you're losing extra hair, you may want to get your levels checked or talk to your Dr. It's helped me. I was thinking of braiding my own bathroom rug. There was so much hair down there.

I haven't been here in a while. It's good to see others with multiple fills. I have just had my 4th and am still not fully restricted. If I take too big a bite or eat to fast I pb. Otherwise, I can eat almost all I want. Anyone else in the same boat?

Actually, my scales haven't moved much the last few months. But, I'm still going down clothes sizes. Get that one!

My hormones have never been quite right. Since the surgery, it is a constant battle. After a my 2nd 4 week visit, I am on a new pill and finally stopped. The Dr.'s can help. I'm told it is about fat cells releasing stored hormones.

I am finally feeling restriction. It's a couple weeks after my 3rd fill. It's a good thing. Is anyone else reaching that "end of honeymoon" period where it's really hard not to go back to your old habits? I'm hanging in there and trying to get a new wind. I'm aslo changing some supplements and meds. to hopefully help with the energy. I was low on magnesium and B12, and had hormones flying all over. I'm so happy so far. I want to get back to the excitement. Today I packed up a huge box of clothes to give away that I vow I will never fit in again. It really did help.

I have a high bed and actually found it easier. There was no bending to stand up or sit down. The hospital I was in gives you a little pillow to hold to your stomach to sit up or move about I guess (I never needed it for that). It was however, very much worth taking home. I found it really useful in bed. I sort of propped half my stomach up so that I could almost lay on my stomach, but the port didn't touch the bed.

Has anyone else had hormone ups and downs. I have started period after abnormal period since I was banded and started losing weight. I am on the pill, but it is a very low dose. I feel like a teenager again. Horrible cramps, mood swings, pimples all the stuff I've outgrown. Has anyone else experienced this? Help me please.

Just an update. I saw my family Dr. today and she put me on a different pill with lower estrogen. She thinks it will get rid of the problem. Apparently losing fat cells releases estrogen somehow. I'm really hoping it works. I count on the bc to help control my migraines.

I finally have some restriction, but I'm following back into bad habits. I have good restriction in the a.m., but once I eat something I'm hungry and I want to eat every couple of hours. Do you snack? Stick to three meals a day? What kind of schedule do you follow? Have you experienced this hunger. I've done pretty good until now on will power, but now I'm losing it.

I would talk with your Dr. I was told to not take Afrin more than 2 weeks. It actually makes the condition worse on long term use. It may be a very good thing to get off of it.

I would check with your Dr., but I was very weak until I was back on food. I never tried to bend over at 2 weeks. Go with the squat.

I have RLS and take Melatonin. When it doesn't work I also add an over the counter herb called Valerian. If you don't want to try perscriptions, this may be an option your Dr. would let you try. I have also had help from MSM & Glucosamine supplements. All of these are non addictive.

You may have to pay 20 % with your insurance, but have you checked if there is an out of pocket total? Most companies have a maximum your required to pay out of pocket. If your 20% reaches that amount, you don't pay anymore.

I remember reading somewhere about creams or medication that helped reduce scars appearance. Does anyone know of any that work? Where did you get them?

I know I had all the tests, but my cortisol was not high. From what I remember, a high cortisol level defintely promotes weight gain and I believe is usually treatable.

None for me and I still was OK all night. The next day they wouldn't let me leave until they had measured a certain amount of urine had passed.

You're not totally alone. I was walking around the store and thought boy this feels funny. Why am I tripping over my pants? I reached for the waist and realized my jeans were half way down my hips. Thankfully for me, I was wearing an equally to big shirt. I hobbled home saying hurray! But oh no, I can't wear these again. Now, I have to afford to new jeans.

I think it depends on the surgeon. I was amazed how fast things moved once my insurance was set. I had to prove a year history (thankfuly my family Dr. could do that for me) for my insurance. Once the insurance was done, I had my appointment with the surgeon and was in surgery in a couple of weeks. He made me have a ton of pre-op tests: endoscopy, electrocardiogram, stress test, etc. However, they went very fast and were covered by insurance.

I have tried every diet out there. I actually gained weight religiously following Weight Watchers. This has been wonderful. I definitely recommend it. It is one of the safest thing you can do and you have so much control over the size of your final restriction. I am finally losing weight. When discussing with my Dr. the differences in my responses to meds. or things, she said you finally have a metabolism! I couldn't be happier with my decision even though everything has not been perfect.

So happy update! Broke my slump and lost 11 lbs. I am still working on restriction. I have limitations in my bite size, but not in the quanitity of food. I've been struggling with allergies and new meds. like crazy. Am I the only one that is constantly dealing with nausea?

I am so excited tonight. I had a goal to be in the 2's by the 4th of July (huge family & neighbor camp out), but I had been stuck at 326 for a couple of weeks. I went into the Dr. today and was down 11 lbs. Now I think my goal may be possible. I still have very little restriction (only in bite size not in amount of food consumed). I think going on liquid pre-op diet for a few days (not to mention getting the flu) really helped. I got out of my slump. You will too!

In talking to my Dr.'s office, the price is higher for self pay. If the Dr. is in the plan of your insurance company, they have to accept what the insurance company says the procdure is worth. If they give other people the same discount (who don't have the insurance), they lose their status with the insurance company. The Dr. only receives a percentage of the cost when the insurance company pays. They receive the full amount when you self pay. I'm not saying they lose money, but they receive less for the same procedures.