chako_lady

Good morning all! In regards to Sharon Osborne...Just remember, she not only had the band but most likely with all her money had a personal trainer and nutritionist who helped her as well. Most of us are self payers who barely were able to afford the surgery in the first place, work full time and struggle to find time to make it to a gym let alone have someone portioning our food for us! So, pat yourselves on the backs and be proud of who you are and how much you have accomplished this past year! I have only lost 60 pounds this year, but I wouldn't have done that without this band! On to my plea for help from all of you... Yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life. I am asking for prayers from all of my friends here. My 17 year old nephew was burned over 20% of his body yesterday. Second and 3rd degree burns on his face, chest and hands. It isn't life threatening, but he will be in the hospital at least a month and will probably require several surgeries for skin grafts. They had to put a tube down his throat and put him to sleep for 48 hours. Because the burns were pretty bad on his neck and it caused swelling, they were afraid it may swell enough to cut off his being able to breathe. He is 100 miles away from where I live as we don't have a burn center here... Thank you for adding him to your prayer lists!! Have a good week everyone and words of encouragement are, stay positive about yourselves and portion control!

Poodles, don't quit! I know this is a tough road! I have found that stress really makes a difference in the tightness of our band. I just had my band completely unfilled last week. I lasted a few days without feeling hungry...but now I just want to eat everything. I am controlling my urges pretty well, but I am feeling hungry for the first time in almost a year. I can't wait until next Tuesday when I go back in for my fill. Although I went through almost 3 weeks of not being able to eat anything and losing a lot of my strength, I know I don't want to gain back any of the weight I have lost! I don't want to tell you what to do, but maybe try having just a partial unfill. There is a sweet spot I just know it! I am so happy for this site! This is such an aweosme support group! Thank you all for everything you contribute! Have a great week everyone!

Hi everyone...After a couple days of not being able to eat or drink I finally called my doc in Mexico to tell him my symptoms. He felt that I needed to have a complete unfill. So about 20 mins after I talked to him I had an appointment set up in Olympia, WA (the closest place I have to get a fill or unfill in this case). It is 238 miles north of me. They were so wonderful. They just told me to get there as soon as possible and they would fit me in. The nurse said I was pretty inflamed and so they took all the saline out and I have to be on a liquid diet for 10 days to give my stomach a rest and hopefully the swelling will go down. In 2 weeks I go back for the re-fill! I had a couple very scary experiences...so I'm glad I finally got this unfill...now I can drink water! WOW! I really missed it! Aimee...Keep your chin up! Sounds like the devil is trying to discourage you! Don't let him!!! Thanks everyone for being here and for all the support you give! This isn't always an easy journey and it was nice knowing I had all of you to turn to when things started going bad!

Good morning! I am feeling much better...thanks for everyones help and just knowing I had somewhere to go made me feel so good! I think it was a combination of a cold I got that went into my chest and caused me to cough a lot and allergies. I live in the valley and the spring is really bad here. I did a liquid diet for a few days and am coughing less and feeling much better. It really scared me though cause I don't want to lose my band! I am finally starting to see the weight come off and am loving it! I will try not to be a stranger although the next few months are going to be very busy for me. I gave my 2 week notice yesterday at a job I have been at for almost 10 years and am now going to be commuting 50 miles 1 way every day until I sell my house and buy a new one closer to my new job. And my daughter graduates from High school June 8th. She will be going to college 100 miles from here. :confused: I hope everyone has a super wekend!

Thanks Socal! I do have heartburn...but it isn't constant. I haven't had any back pain and I can still eat, although sometimes it is painful. I am going to try and eat only liquids today and see if that helps! How much did Dr Ortiz charge you to fix your band slipping? I am in the process of giving notice at a job I have been at for 9 1/2 years and getting started in a job 45 miles away. I will be moving as soon as school is out. I will be back to read the months of stuff I have been missing! It is good to see how so many have been doing so well!

Socal, when your band slipped, what were your symptoms? I called and left a message with Dr. Martinez a few days ago, but haven't heard back. I'm trying to rest and drink liquids to give my stomach a rest. I don't want there to be any problems with the band! I LOVE having this band and the thought of having it removed scares me! So any help or info would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone! I haven't posted here for quite a while now...sorry! I need help. For the past week I have been very sore in the exact area where I get a pain if I eat too fast and food gets stuck. I haven't been feeling well for the past few weeks...coughing, sore throat, and it hurts when I eat anything...even soups. Sometimes I get a sharp pain in my chest. I don't have insurance so I haven't been to the Dr. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I haven't read back through all of the posts...but I will start now. Thanks and it is fun to be back to see how everyone is doing. My update, I have lost a total of 54 pounds...not as much as I would like...but I feel so much better than I did a year ago!

Beacheegirl, I just had my first fill. I to have the VG 10 cc band. I have had no restriction whatsoever. I mean I do feel full sooner and am eating less...but more than I know I should. I go through spurts where I keep my calorie intake down and then I have spurts where everything is such a temptation. I had my fill last Tuesday...4 cc's...still no rstriction. I don't have a fill Dr. close so it means flying down to Mexico everytime I need a fill. So, I will have to wait a few months before I can go again. I am like Pinkylee, trying to stay away from the carbs. I know I can master this thing...It is just taking longer than I hoped. Good luck to you and keep your chin up. You are probably losing more inches than pounds! This week is going to be better for all of us!!! Go Junbies! We can do it, yes we can!!!

I'm back! Wow, what a long day for a process that only took 10 minutes top! They put 4 cc's in my 10 cc band. It was so cool to see the port and band! It didn't hurt, still doesn't and I don't feel any different. Of course all I have had to eat is soup and yogurt and water. He said I shouldn't have any restriction with water, ever! I was able to drink a 20 oz bottle of water in no time... I just hope in a few days that I have some restriction! According to their scale, I have lost 14 pounds since surgery! Not bad I guess for being able to eat anything. I'm so ready to start feeling some restriction. I just woke up so I haven't tried eating anything yet today, but I hear that sometimes it takes a few days before you start feeling any restriction! Wish me luck!

Ok, I'm starting to get a bit nervous...I'm flying down to Tijuana Tuesday morning for a 10:30 am fill. Since I have been able to eat whatever and however much I have wanted for weeks now I am trying to cut way back and prepare for my first "real" restriction. I'm still concerned about the lack of protein on Tuesday since I can't take my protein drinks with me...but I am going to take some powder drink and hope I can mix up a shake in the airport. Wish me luck and hopefully I will finally see the scale going down instead of staying at the same place!!!

Why no powdered protein? I have purchased a real good powdered protein drink from Costco. I just don't know how I would mix it in the airport. I thought about taking a baggie of it. I guess I will have to experiment with it this week. I'm going light. No carry on, just my purse. Hoping to get water and Apple juice on the plane. I'm open for any suggestions

Thanks Barbara! I am flying in and out. Leave Eugene at 5:20am and return home at 11:30 pm. I am so ready to stop doing this on pure willpower, and I want to see the scale going down, not staying in the same place...although I'm not complaining! At least I'm not going up! Darrin had his fill on the 10th and said our Dr. requires 3 days of liquids after the fill. He had over 3 cc's in his 10 cc band. I also have a 10 cc band, so we'll see. I understand the Mexican Dr's are pretty aggressive. I'm ready though. I'm just concerned about what I will drink all day as I can't take any liquids on the plane. Hopefully I can buy a protein drink in Tijuana and drink it right before I go into the airport. Then drink water on the plane. I'll let ya know how it goes when I get back.

Hello everyone! I too haven't posted for a while. Seems like it is such a busy time of year... But, have been good drinking water. Still trying to be more consistent with my walking. I am so excited. I just booked my flight to Tijuana to get my first fill. So Tuesday the 29th I hope to feel my first real restriction. I will be posting my Christmas goal here today. I was kinda waiting to see if I was going to be able to get a fill in soon. I have been going on sheer willpower as I haven't had ANY restriction. I do feel so much better than I did 6 months ago though, so losing 30#'s has made an improvement! Now my goal is to lose 40#'s by Christmas! You are all such an inspiration. Weightloss is so hard and we each struggle in a different way, but we are all trying! Keep up the good work everyone.

Just realized I updated my H2O challenge, but didn't post! Oh well! I am still losing slowly, but it has nothing to do with restriction, cause I don't have any! I am just doing pretty well chosing the right foods to eat and drinking lots of water. I am still hoping to get in for a fill the week of the 21st. I'm ready for some rapid weight loss!!