StrangeDz

True! I have had numerous fills. I dont even know how many, but then my doc will only give me .5 cc at a time. The first two fills, he gave me a whole cc but the third time I couldnt tolerate it. I guess it just depends on the patient and the doc.

I can relate. I am a very slow loser also. I have 6.5 ccs in a 10 cc band and can still eat more than I know I should. I just had a fill last week so I'm hoping it will help. I also graze and havent been hitting the gym as much as I use to. I dont blame the band, I blame myself for not utilizing the tool I have been given. That said, I also know that I have lost more weight than I would have if I didnt have the band. Hard habits are hard to break but I'm in a much better place than I was a year and a half ago!

I guess everyone is different because I use to not eat the day of a fill and I did this last time. I told my doc I ate about an our and a half before I came into the office and he said that was fine because what I ate was WAY gone. I noticed that since I did eat I could handle a larger amount of sailine than usual. I usually have a hard time getting .5 ccs and sometimes have to have some taken out before I leave the office. This time I took the .5 without any trouble.:thumbup:

I can relate to the wanting to go through it for them thing. My girls are 14 and 16 and always going through some drama. Sometimes kids can be so cruel to each other that I wish I could make my baby's pain and heartache go away... but I cant. All I can do is listen and sometimes cry with them... Telling them it will get better doesnt usually help. I guess it doesnt with me either when I'm hurting. It isnt always easy being a mom, huh?

I dont have before and afters, just a couple of 1 year comparissons I put together. Plus, i'm still not done for an 'after'! Still a way to go, but at least i'm on my way!!!

I can TOTALLY relate! I ate Cookies for 2 weeks straight during the holidays! I went for a fill on my band this past Wednesday and I gained 2 pounds. The doc and nurse said not to stress too bad because it wasnt as bad as it could have been. Since the fill i've been on fluids for 48 hours and have lost the 2 lbs. Great way to get back on track! Good luck to you! ...and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Your last paragraph almost made me cry.... I too have trouble accepting compliments about myself. I'm working on it tho...

I can identify with not seeing myself as my true size. I NEVER thought I was as big as I was until lately when I have tried on old clothes that I would STILL be small or tight. Or even worse, is looking at the seat of my pants and thinking HOLY HELL! I FIT IN THOSE??? THEY ARE BIG ENOUGH FOR AN ELEPHANT! ...and in reality they were tight on me then. hahaha

Send some this way (New Mexico)! It's been cold (mid 30-40 degrees and the teens at night), but no snow... (sob)

I think my fat comes from a variety of things: 1. Genetics - ALL the women in my family are heavy. They have been fighting their weight all of their lives. We MUST have low metabolism. My aunt is the thinnest of us all, and she works HARD. Constant exercise and eats very little, yet she is still far from skinny. 2. I OBSESS over food - See below. THats EXACTLY how I feel about food! "When I am stressed I want to eat, when I am excited I want to eat, when I am sad I want to eat, When I am alone I want to eat and so on and so on." As soon as something happens, good or bad, I want to divulge in food! It's definately an obsession and I think the only thing that keeps me semi on track is the guilt of disappointing the people at my surgeons office and frinds and family that have been so supportive of my decision to get healthy. I wish I could say it was for me... Sometimes, I obsess so much about food, I make myself miserable. A friend of mine calls it head hunger. I rarely feel physical hunger. Maybe I could use some therapy too??? 3. I suffer from chronic anxiety and depression - I take medication that is working the best for me EVER, but unfortunatey; one of the side effects is weight gain and increased hunger for sweets. YAY. (one of the reasons I was approved for my surgery) 4. I hate to excerise for a variety of reasons - I dont like to sweat. I am not coordinated, so I look foolish. I have bad knees, so it hurts to do much with them. (one of the reasons I was approved for the surgery) 5. Low self esteem and poor eating habits growing up. I was never told I was fat by my family, but kids were extremely cruel to me as a child. My mom never cooked a vegitable and rarely made meals that didnt come out of a can or box. Corn, pork and beans, instant mashed potatoes, spam and a hell of a lot of hamburger helper. I'd like to place blame on all the above, but I know in the end, it is up to me to help myself. I've no one to blame for my fat, but me. Knowing that doesnt usually help tho. I've been battling my depression again lately, and managed over the course of 3 weeks to put on 7 pounds that i'd already lost! I cant stop thinking about cookies and snacks! I think its self sabotage... Will this obsession ever cease or will I be fighting it till my dying day?:laugh:

I'm SO proud of you! I wish I could say the same for me... I was so sick with the stomach flu 2 mondays ago and lost 9 pounds in 3 days (I know it was all fluids)! Since then, i've gained them all back plus 4 more! All I seem to be eating is cookies and I havent been back to the gym since (almost 2 weeks). I'm severly depressed which makes me eat more cookies and not want to exercise. Sigh... I go for a fill in 10 days and i'm so humiliated that I will show a gain for the first time. Makes me want to eat more cookies.... :Dancing_wub:

Love your story! Hope you dont mind but I shared it with my aunt... it filled my heart with warmth!

My doc recommeds 6-8 weeks. He says it takes that long for your body to adjust to the tightness...

Back atcha girl!! :cursing:

Love Love LOVE your cupboard decoration! I'm just SO lazy to do anything so creative! When I was married (10+ years ago) my ex and I use to bake a shite load of cookies and give a huge bag to everyone in the family. Since my divorce I havent had the gumption to do it again... WELL, this year my daughters and I are going to try it again! Hopefully, I'll give away more than I eat! YIKES!!! hahaha! Happy Holidays to you and yours!!

Ok.. I had a fill this past Friday. It went well, and I followed the liquid diet for the 48 hours. I ate some lean brisket last night and it went fine. I had a slice of cheese this morning and finished a bowl of oatmeal at 10 am. No problems... Now at noon, I took 5 motrin (for my knees) with a gulp of mint herbal tea (hot) and now I keep burping up (and puking up) what I think is motrin and tea. Feels like heartburn and i'm freaking out! Will it stop? Is the motrin stuck??? Am I too tight??? Anyone have some advice or information for me? Thanks a bunch!!!

That's EXACTLY how I feel. Sore. After the two days of liquids, when its time for solids, I feel fine.

I hear ya! I FORCE myself to go to the gym 3 days a week and hit the treadmill... I havent lost nearly as much as you have, but when I run, the fat that hangs from my belly jumps up and down! Its HORRIBLE! Well.. in retrospect, i'm just glad it isnt touching my thighs anymore! Hahaha! Ugh. Good skin doesnt run in my family. My mom lost 75 lbs a few years ago and turned into a giant wrinkle. My neice had her baby and lost all baby weight PLUS some and her tummy actually looks like the pooch you have above! AND SHE IS ONLY 23!!! Everyone always asks me what i'm going to do about all the excess skin I will have and my answer is always, I'll worry about when I have some! Congratulations on your move to MOVE. Its hard to make that decision and actually do it (when I was at my biggest, I use to lay on the couch and THINK about excersizing!). I'm proud of you!

Good for you!!! You really do look wonderful! You should be VERY VERY PROUD of yourself! Congratulations!!!

When was your last fill? I guess what I am asking is how long after your last fill did it take to know you needed an unfill?

Since this last fill, I might have to start doing that or maybe taking 1 at a time.

I'm guessing it depends on what is right for that particular patient. If you cant walk because of the pain, and and NSAID is the best solution, it makes sense that he would take that route with that particular patient.

I spoke with my surgeon and nurse last Friday specifically about the ibuprofin, and although they both agree it is hard on my liver, they both had no concern with my stomach or band.

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!! I am feeling better. Its been about an hour and a half since the puking, and I'm able to sip the tea now. I'm thinking on foregoing lunch... not too hungry after that horrible incident... You have no idea how much sharing your experiences helps me! Thanks everyone!