RoxanneRoll

Julie, I have no restriction anymore. I had all the fill removed last April after I reached my goal weight. It wasn't till July that I even had my first soda...and did fine with it. Its just been recently that I have had problems. Today was my first diet coke free day....perhaps this is why I have a horrible headache.

I gave up soda for a year and a half after my surgery and didnt miss it one bit (I was a huge diet coke addict). I had a major life changing event occur in July of this year and for some stress relief I reached for a diet coke....and oh boy did it taste soooo good. After that I started drinking them here and there until one day I was completely hooked again and getting a 44oz fountain drink daily. For the most part I had no problems with the diet coke, until recently. I now am occasionally getting severe bloating and gas with the diet coke which has been extremely painful. It has gotten so bad that I have thrown up twice this week. The first time I didnt relate it at all to the diet coke as I have been drinking them for a few months now with no problems. It happened again today however and the only thing I had in my stomach was the diet coke. So I decided to go online and do a search for carbonation in these threads and this is the one I found. I just read through the whole thing. I will say that I am convinced that it is the diet coke causing my bloating and severe gas pains. However I do not buy into the other problems that they say can happen with drinking carbonation. I don't feel I can eat anymore because of my pouch expanding. I know my band has not slipped ( I can feel it since I have lost all my weight). The most interesting thing to me is that most often then not I can drink a large one with a straw and have zero problems. But today I promise you the pain was so severe that I have decided to stop them again. My boyfriend suggested I try one flat...but I don't know if that would even be worth it. We'll see how it goes.....I know when the morning hits I am gonna be craving one big time!

Ok Janet.....I just have one little bone to pick with you......you have never once updated my weight loss since I lost my first 12 lbs postop....eeek!!! I have currently lost 126 lbs and feel fabulous!!

Hey guys, it is so great to hear from you all and see your awesome results!! I am proud to be one of the Feb 2006 Bandsters!! Well I am just two pounds away from reaching my goal, and have decided that it really doesnt matter anymore, 2 lbs can go up and down over a weekend right? I have gone from a size 22 to a size 5/6 and feel so great. I have never been this size before, not even in high school. Sure it seems as though my boobs are gone too.....but bottom line...I would rather be skinny!! I asked one of my teenage sons the other day if he used to be embarrased of me, he said "no, I just didnt want you to come into my school"....how is that for honesty. Well now my sons think it is so cool that they can pick me up and they think their mom is "HOT". Getting banded was the best decision I could have made for myself....I will never regret it! I am going to be in Houston in a couple of weeks and am going to get my band completely unfilled. When I first got it I wasnt losing or gaining any weight until I got my first fill, so I feel like I can maintain my present weight with no fill. I just know that with any fill in my band I can't help but lose weight, and I don't want to start looking sick. Good luck to all and keep posting!!

Hi....I remember seeing this thread when I first got my band.....and never imagined posting on it with my results... I am 2lbs from reaching my goal......I am wearing a size 5/6 and feel so good!!! I am going to get my band completely unfilled.....I am pretty much done losing weight!

I reached 100 pounds lost as of yesterday, Jan. 2, 2007!!! This feels so great!! I was out shopping with my 19 year old daughter yesterday and we both fit into the same size pants....(size 9 in juniors)....mine were a little tighter then hers, but I was still able to button them!! Last night she was going out dancing and actually borrowed some of my new clothes to wear ( I never thought that day would come). All I can say is WOW....I feel so good, I will never regret having my band put in. Happy New Year to all!!!!

Where has everyone gone???? To date I have lost 95lbs and feel so darn good. I am wearing a size ten and wear medium in shirt sizes. I feel so incredible. I weigh 173 today and it is strange because before when I was a size ten I was closer to 150. I think my tummy is carrying all the extra weight, so I do see a tummy tuck in my future. Bottom line I would rather be thin with a tummy then as fat as I used to be. My goal was to be a size 8 by Feburary, and I know I will reach that goal. My original weighloss goal was 140 because that is what I thought it would take to get to a size 8, now I am not sure what size I will be when I get there. My kids are so proud of me, they love having a skinny mom!! I hope to see more of our group post on here.

Hi guys...long time no see. I have had so much going on in my life. I moved halfway across the country for a new job...and my life has been crazy good!!! I was so excited to step on the scale this morning ....yay 80lbs gone!!!! I feel so great...I have lost 6 dress sizes, 2 ring sizes, 1/2 a shoe size and a cup size (sniff).... I can put on my "fat" pants...and put both of my legs into one pant leg...It makes me look kinda like a mermaid on the one side...... My kids think I look "HOT".....and everyone thinks my daughter is my sister....this feels great!!!!

Ok.....so I havent been on here since March...wow how time flies...I have been really busy packing for an upcoming move ...and vacationing half way around the world. I decided to check in and see how everyone is doing.....the last time I posted on here I had only lost 12lbs. I have had two fills....the last one really kicked things off for me. It isnt easy adjusting to the absence of food, but I am getting more and more used to it. I really have enjoyed fitting into clothes I havent worn in years, that is definitely a bonus. Everyone is finally starting to notice that I have lost weight...it only took 40lbs for that to happen. Even one of my patients husbands whom I hadnt seen in 6 weeks commented on how great I was looking. I realize too much time has gone by for me to even think about catching up where I left off....but I will try to check back in more frequently.

OK....so I have been out of the picture for awhile...and finally just got caught up on the last three pages of this thread that I have missed. I went back to work on Monday. The gas pain in my left shoulder isnt completely gone, it flares up every day from time to time. Sometimes its bearable...others it is intolerable. But I am dealing with it. I feel no restriction anymore, and am hungry!!! I finally decided to call my Dr.'s office today to talk about getting a fill...I am 19 days post op. I was told this was a good sign I was healing well on the inside and should move onto to solid foods, and to watch my portions and if I get hungry between meals to eat some fruit or a sugar free pudding to get me through. I was told they really liked to wait for six weeks to do the first fill, although I can get one at 30 days post op if I really feel I need it. So today I had my first regular meal, I chewed chewed chewed.....and didnt eat too much. It was really nice to eat real food for a change. I leave for a trip to San Francisco on Saturday and really dont want to go into 'vacation" eating mode.....where I dont worry about what I eat or how many calories it has. I am actually planning to taking some of my non perishable food along with me, so I am not tempted to always eat out and make bad choices. Wish me luck!!

my share of the copay to Dr. Spivak was $1500, and I was required to pay $500 up front, they said I could break it down into three separate payments. I found them extremely easy to work with, but I also have a different insurance company as well. Good luck to you!

OK....so I am not hungry.....and yet I still want to EAT. Of course this is how I got fat to begin with....eating whether or not I was hungry. I am on day 11 post op and overall have done really well, but that desire to eat eat eat doesnt just go away. This will be my biggest battle as I am addicted to food.

<--------sorry I am one of the dirty minded as well......good luck with your situation!!

Nanster.....I was told I could go see Dr. Spivak at 30 days post-op if I felt like I needed a fill, if not I could wait longer....it was up to me. Right now I feel restriction, but I am not even two weeks out yet...so I am just gonna wait and see how I feel. To get my protein in I usually have a shake in the morning, sometimes followed by one scrambled egg. I also have bought those potted meat spreads..and eat half a can for lunch with something else like yogurt or applesauce. My doctor included fish on my mushies diet, so I have also had some tuna and halibut. I always make sure I eat my protein first before anything else. I am also allowed cooked veggies, so I have included creamed spinach and green bean casserole in my diet. I don't feel like my mushie stage is bland at all. I just make sure everything is very soft and well chewed before going down. I also have been drinking 16 oz of water before every meal, and have had no problems getting in at least 64 oz a day. I am just so thrilled to finally be feeling like being active again. Now I just need to get back to the gym. Yuck....I hate excercising...but always feel good once I go.

Janet....I also want to thank your for doing such a great job. Its nice to have this board where we can live and learn from others experiences. My shoulder pain is finally getting better. It is still with me, but not nearly as bad. I went shopping to day and got my hair done, yeah!!!

What about pills that can't be crushed? Like extended release pills, anyone have an experience with those?

what about taking pills first thing in the morning when your stomach is empty and drinking a lot of water afterwards to make sure it goes through.....this is just a thought since I haven't been banded yet and have yet to try.

Tammy.....I always say try the natural approach first...but you may need something more then that. Warm prune juice, hot tea and increasing fiber in your diet should help. If you need something tonight go to the drugstore ...there are a variety of choices. How long has it been? Good Luck!!

I guess what I was referring to was the first post by Janet...where she updates the list of Feb 2006 bandsters and records their updated weight loss. What I was hoping to see there might be two weight loss numbers...for those who have them. First being the weight loss from their hightest weight....from the pre op diet, second loss being how much lost since banding. I know Janet said she would go back and continue to revise the first post so all we have to do is click on that one to see how everyone has been doing. Just a thought...am I making sense?

Michelle....at least I don't feel alone in my non diet pre op phase. I had pizza, fries, cheesecake....I kept thinking I wasnt going to enjoy these foods later...so might as well have them. I know...not the best way to think....but that is how my mind was working. Right now I am at a phase where I am actually craving healthy foods. I still have a bit of a sweet tooth, but found that 1/2 c. of sugar free ice cream does the trick for me. I also am taking the viactiv chocolate chewable vitamins...they are yummy. I talked to my doctors office again just to follow through on my shoulder pain. I am not going back to work until the 13th. I was told that if I felt I needed a fill I could do my first one at 30 days, if not I could wait longer...it was up to me. Right now I feel very restricted....I hope it lasts until at least day 30!!

Happy Bday STacey!! Janet...I wasn't referring to you and your husband...I meant for everyone of the Feb 2006 bandsters. I just thought it would be nice to see how much people have lost since the surgery....to see how the band is working. Am I not making sense?? sorry if I sound confusing. Dena

I went to Holland in 2002 to attend my brother's wedding. Everyone was walking or riding bikes, I think in the week I was there I only saw one overweight person and she wasnt even close to being obese. Its not just that they eat better, they also walk more. Gas is more expensive over there so fewer people own cars. My Dutch sister n law has always eaten small portions. She lives here now, and is still as thin and healthy as ever.

I would really like to see the total weight loss just since surgery....not from before with the post op diet. I am just curious to see how much people have lost since the surgery ...how well the band is working for them. Perhaps we can give two numbers....one for highest weight and one for surgery date. I see some numbers and think...wow..the band is really working for them...only to later find out a great deal of that was lost during the pre op diet. And btw...kudos to all of you who lost so much pre op!!! I am not knocking that weight loss at all. For me...268 is my highest and my surgery date weight....I sucked at the low cal pre op diet. I wanted to eat...I kept thinking that I'll never eat like this again.....so I cheated here and there...but enough not to lose any weight. I went to Red Robin one night and was going to be good...but then thought...this is the last time I am going to enjoy fries...so I had em. (yes I am here because I am addicted to food) I wasnt required to do a opti fast diet either. At any rate I thought it would be nice to see how much people have lost just since the band was placed as well.

Gastric Bypass was never a choice for me. I didnt want my stomach cut up and redirected. I picked the band because it is less invasive with less serious complications overall. My doctor does both surgeries and in his seminar goes over each in detail. He does not push one over the other, just gives the facts on each surgery. According to my doctor RnY is extrememly difficult to reverse, and he said most attempts are unsuccessful. So as other have stated....do your homework!!! My friends sister had bypass...lost well over a 100lbs....and has gained it all back, her eating habits did not change...and she expanded her new pouch and is eating the same way she used to. I think when you look at long term results with the band vs bypass you will see quite similiar results for weight loss. Bottom Line: Do what is best for you, research it all so you know you made the right choice.

Well one week out...and I decided to take this week off work as well. My gas pain is getting better, but still becomes excruciating after an hour or two and I have to go lay back down. In the morning my band feels very tight and makes me feel a bit nauseated to the point were I can't eat anything until late morning. I noticed last night that I can feel my port through my skin, is that normal? Can anyone else feel theirs? I also find that during the day I can only eat about 1/4 c at a time..but at night I can take in a lot more. I was planning on flying to Utah tonight....but have cancelled the trip. I don't want to find out what gas bubbles in my shoulder feel like at 30,000 feet......also I just dont feel good enough to take a vacation. I do have a trip to San Francisco planned in two weeks that I am looking forward to however. I am really enjoying stepping on the scale and seeing the numbers go down!!