innwtitdtity

Okay, it has been awhile since I have posted. I have had a really tough 2010 when it comes to the band. I was tight in May and it has taken me until this month to get to a point of feeling restriction again. I consider myself very conservative when it comes to fills because I am afraid to vomit, I am actually VERY afraid of that! But I am more fustrated that I haven't lost like most people that have had the their band as long as I have had it. I really need 2011 to be the year for me. I am thinking of going back to the post banding diet protocol to get myself back in the right mind set. Anyone else have any good suggestions that got you back on track after a lull?

Okay, I am in too! I need to loose, I am about 10 pounds away from onederland and I really need to get there to stay motivated. Like many of you, I am frustrated but I am not going to give up. I am happy that I haven't gained, but know I NEED to loose! Let's all do this together and 2011 will be the year...... If not now when? today is the day and this is the year (innwtitdtity)....

I have been at a plateau for about 3 months. My allergies (post nasal drip) have irritated my band a couple of times so I have had to have a couple of unfills. Tomorrow I am going back to get filled again. I need a little motivation to get myself jump started again. I am happy that I have not GAINED, because before the band I would have been about 10-15 pounds up at this point. Anyone have any motivational and or ideas for a jump start? Thanks!

banded since July 2008 and not major problems, a couple of times too tight due to allergies/post nasal drip irritating the band.

Thanks for posting this, I need some help too! All good ideas...I am going to look for one of my awful pictures to put on the fridge right after I post this...lol...and I am really going to cut back on the junk I buy for the others in the house, they don't need it either!

Yes, very tight. But by the end of the day I loosen up.

I wish my surgeon did not use staples and had used glue and steri strips. Now he does the one incision surgery, so I am sure many of his patients must have gave him similar feed back. I know I will never wear a bikini again but I hate seeing them every morning in the mirror.

have not puked at all...I am very afraid..i am also very conservative on my fills due to this so it is taking longer for me to get the full effect of the band. But I am happy, down 47 pounds which I think is great! good luck

I had a BS scheduled as a routine f/u, this is15 months post LB. I had not been having any problems, it was just to check it out. The night before the BS I took 2 pills before bed. It felt like they were stuck. I took small sips but and the feeling didn't go away. I woke up a couple of times during the night, a little uncomfortable but not in any pain. I could not have anything to eat or drink after midnight because BS was scheduled for 7:30 am. I did feel like the pill was still there when I woke up, almost like a little acid reflux but I could not drink anything to make it go away. I also started post nasal drip the day before. All I wanted to do was to take some medicine for my sinuses but I couldn't have anything! My head was ready to explode from sinus pressure. Well, I had the BS and the barium could only trickle through the band, I watched the screen and saw that I had a bulge above the band and the band was tipped in the wrong direction. I found this so interesting to view. My surgeon is present for the BS so he said I was way too tight and needed to be unfilled. He did that, another swallow and films showed the barium go straight thru. When I told him of my symptoms he said if I had not been there I would have been calling him over the weekend be cause I would have become more uncomfortable. He said the PND irritates the small pouch and was probably the culprit. Now I need to be real careful while eating as I don't want to gain what I have lost. I must say though, if I had not had that appt. I probably would have just taken some pepto bismal and called it a day. I was not in pain or that uncomfortable so I probably would not have thought anything was wrong. Lesson learned, my surgeon said I should never feel acid reflux and if I do to call right away as that is an indication that something isn't right. Well this ended up longer than I thought, but hope it helps others.

I started with a little acid reflux like feeling and have never had any problems. Luckily I was scheduled for a routine barium swallow and it showed that I was too tight. My surgeon attributed it to the post nasal drip I had which was irritating the pouch. Unfilled now for a week and then will get all my fill back. First time I have had an unfill. I was at 10 in a 14cc band.

I haveBCBS HMO Blue. I had no co morbidities but my BMI was 42. No problems getting surgery approved.

Congrats to you!!!!!! I am only 3 lbs away...I can't wait for that happy dance :thumbup:

I had mine and was not able to wear a tampon, had to wear a pad. Also had to wear the special fish net panties too (just in case they need access for a catheter I was told). I did not notice any increase in flow though it was a little tough to change myself the first time while in the hospital. TMI I know :mad:

I am right there will all of you!!!!!!!!! Getting very frustrated at myself...been on a plateau for 3-4 months now. I am my own worst enemy some days. The only time I loose is when I get a fill and need to be on liquids for a day and mushies for the second day..I usually loose then so I am thinking of doing liquids for a couple of days to get me back in the swing of things. I am currently at 9 cc in a 14 cc band. My appt was to be on Wed and surgeon's office called to re-scheudle due to a conflict so I am going to try and get in quickly. Last fill I finally had some restriction, but it went away after a week so I am hoping the next one will do it. Good luck to everyone!

I have had a mammo post surgery and no issues.

Hey loser, nice to see someone else similar to me. I have a 14cc band, currently at 9 and this fill was the first time I felt restriction. I am down 40, but I too have taken it slow because of my fear of PBing/vomiting. I have only had the "stuck" feeling once (on my last fill) because I was eating too fast. I have never gotten sick, but as you said, progress is slow but I am okay with that. I am hoping my next fill in 2 weeks will be a sweet spot for me and I will start to see some weight loss again. Good luck to everyone!

I had a fill on Fri, I am now at 9 in a 14cc band, and I think I may have my sweet spot. YEAH!!!!!!! First time thinking this. When I was at 8.5 I could feel food going thur the band (which I had never felt before). I did have trouble yesterday while eating a nectarine (fresh fruit I always eat too fast) but I belive it was how I was eating, not that I am too tight. My doc said there is more room in the band, so I am anticipating that once I loose some weight (I have lost 9 since Fri but I stayed on liquids until Sun) I may loose this sweet spot and need another fill. Good luck!

It has been two months since my last fill. Let me first say that it has been over a year since I was banded, I am at 8.5 in a 14 cc band, I have never gotten stuck, PB'd or vomitted. I am slower than most on the weight loss, I believe due to my fear of being too tight and doing one of the forementioned acts. That being said, the reason why it has been two months since my last fill is because since my last fill I can feel food going thru my band when I eat. I feel this at every meal. The feeling makes me a little scared to get another fill, but I am not getting full and feel that I am eating too much. I am fluctuating down 2 pounds then back to where I was when I got my fill. So here is my question, I have an appt on Friday w/surgeon and I am wondering if I should ask for a small fill to hopeully get me to my "sweet spot" or am I just a little too tight and that is why I feel my food going thru the band? Given my current fill level, am I pushing the chance of PB'ing if I get another fill? I am deathly afraid of getting sick (hence the slow weight loss, I always stop at the slightest fear). Any comments will help me in my journey...thanks

I am stuck at an 8 week plateau too...must be something in the water...lol... I can't wait to celebrate with all of you!

Thanks, I know it is different and I think I may need that .5 fill to get me there. I am at 8.5 in a 14. I can feel my food going through the band. I have been like this for 2 months. I kept thinking that I might be a little tight, but I chew my food to death and I can still eat more than a cup of food. I think I just need that little extra to get me to that sweet spot. I have an appt a week from Friday to find out.

monkey..just curious, what level r u to be at your sweet spot?

i am still giggling....

I find that a cup of coffee/tea first thing in the morning allows me to eat something for breakfast a little easier. I did try raisin toast one morning before I had tea and I had the same effect you mention. Try something warm first and see if that helps. Good luck.

I am at 8.5 in a 14 cc band. with this last fill I have found that I need to slow down. If I eat too fast, I do get pain, it will pass then I slow down and I am fine. I am trying to have snacks (healthy ones) available so I don't get too hungry. I am not getting sick so I think I just need to slow down. At one support group meeting, someone told me they used a timer (the one with sand/hour glass shape) that she would flip so she wasn't eating too fast and it worked for her, maybe this would help you to see if you are eating too fast or to determine if you are too tight??? Good luck

low fat cottage cheese is my favorite, 100 calorie pack of almonds too