Freckles

So Sherrie enough about me, what are you doing atm?

Thank you Sherrie. I am trying, but you see now I get so tired all the time, I have newly developed arthritis in both hips, so cant walk very far. Just seems like doom and gloom. But on the bright side I have invested in a vibrating plate so have to make do with that. Not sure if they help, they're sposed to tone you but you wouldnt lose weight, but would look better. Will keep on trying xx

Its such a long time since I posted on here, I cant even remember just when it was. Everyone seems to be losing loads of weight, well done all of you. Unfortunately I'm back where I started almost. I know its not an excuse but 3 years ago I developed breast cancer, and for the surgery I needed to have most of the saline taken out. Then 2 weeks later I had further surgery to remove my Lymph Nodes under my arm. I had given up smoking 6 months earlier, I dont know if that triggered the weight gain or not. I also lost my Mother just before I got cancer, but not once have I wanted those nasty old ciggies. I have had a few fills, since the surgery but I still cant get rid of the 2 stone I put on. I cant eat a great deal and I get dreadful acid reflux. It makes me wonder if my body has grown used to accepting less food and has slowed my metabolism down. Hope this doesnt depress anyone. Keep smiling and carry on losing xxx

I forgot to mention, for people that dont know me, that my band surgery was not done by Chris in Belgium, it was done in Southampton at the Bupa.

I cant believe its been so long since I came here. I have gained loads, due to having the defills and also because of these damn hormone pills I have to take for the next 4 years to keep the cancer at bay. Its just a losing battle. I cant eat much, about half a mug full at one sitting, but still the weight drags on. I had a fill back up to 7mls 2 weeks ago and have lost 3 kilos. I lost that the first week, and it hasnt shifted since. My port hurt so much having the fill, its still very tender now. Chris and Freddyboy both say its because it has twisted, Typical for me. But it has put me off getting any more ins or outs for some time. Hope everyones good and losing weight, speak soon. xxxx

Thank you girlies for your responses. I have only lost 2lb in almost 2 weeks, , although I still seem to be very swollen on the bad side, maybe thats why. Good luck mini-me, you wont regret making this decision hunny. I also have 6mls in and have some restriction, but not loads. Difficult cos I need to be strong to get over my surgery, so maybe I'll just plod on. I am so in awe of you girlies who are going for the lifts, you are so brave. Wish I had the money and the nerve.

Thank you girls for the good wishes, and thank you Slinx for your sweetness xxx. Bart put 4mls in for me when I went last week, and my band is tight, its a bit of a shock to the system when you cant eat much after 3 months of eating everything I wanted, greedy piggy I am. I start Radiology soon, I said no to Chemo, too many side effects, and the doctor said it was ok if I didnt want it, wouldnt make much difference to my life expectancy, so what would be the point. I know of a lot of people that suffered the horrible effects of Chemotherapy and still died, or got cancer again. They caught mine pretty early, so the doc reckoned the hormone tablets I have to take for 5 years and the Radiation treatment should prevent it coming back. I can only hope, meantime I have to get some weight off asap, as my daughter is getting married in Sarisota, Florida early May, so gotta look presentable lol. Good luck to all the girlies having their bands soon, you wont ever regret it, it kept me going when I was putting weight on, I just thought 'ah well I'll lose it when I get a fill'. Take care all you other girlies.

Hi Jude so nice to hear from you, you have done well although like a lot of girlies on here you didnt need to lose much weight, but well done with what you have done xxx Hi Maggs, its been a bummer losing my poor Mum in November and then finding out I had cancer, I just hope the rest of this year will be good. I hope you're doing well and your lovely daughter and grandaughter My daughter has had another baby after losing one last year, Alexia was born on 29th December she's a doll....will post a piccy of her shortly.

Well I had the breast surgery to remove the lump, they also took out 2 lymph nodes. When I went for the results they told me that one of the nodes was cancerous so they wanted to remove them all. And this just 2 weeks after the initial surgery, so fast. Found out of friday and the surgery was booked for the following Tuesday, didnt have time to get scared. Thank God its over now, I'm 2 weeks out, under my arm is so sore, but it will get better I know. I have a fill booked for next thursday in manchester as they had to take it all out except for 2mls before my surgery. Now I have to start all over, again. This being the second time, as my first band had to be removed due to leakage. Am I meant to be fat I ask myself????

Hi hunny, my daughter was banded by Mr Sigurdsson back in 2005. Her port is just under her boobs, which I think is much better than in the tum. She lost 8 stone, but has had 3 pregnancies since and is now in the process of losing all the baby weight. good luck to you xx

I feel like every now and again I need to have a de-fill and a little normality for a month, only problem is the weight comes back on. So is this my story for the rest of my life I ask myself? I cant eat and drink alcohol, its one or the other, or else I put weight on I'm also scared that when I get my next fill, I wont lose the weight I have put on. Is this normal do you think?

Thanx so much Slinx, I have good days and bad days, have to deal with it. I am waiting for friday now for the results, trying to stay positive. Will post here asap

Thanx so much for your nice reply Claire xx

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing good. I'm sorry I havent been on for some time, its all doom and gloom. My dear mother passed away in November at home peacefully, I was with her, but I have had a hard time adjusting. I had a de-fill just after as for 5 weeks I had been sleeping sitting up, because of reflux. I felt really drained, looking after Mum, not sleeping etc, so thought I would have a lot out and a rest from the band. Wish i hadnt bothered as I have been comfort-eating and have put on such a lot of weight, about 10kilos, Fill booked for 9th feb. I also found a lump in my boob, had a biopsy and get the results on Friday. I told the surgeon if it is the big C then I want both off and new pert 16 year old boobs. he laffed and said he could do that if I didnt smoke anymore. I gave up in August so that hasnt helped my weight gain. Sorry to be such a misery, but needed to share. love to all xxx

Thanx so much Scoob and fattypatty for your good wishes on the non-smoking. I am determined to succeed this time. I Gave it up when I was banded the second time, but after a couple of fills, I gave in to it whilst at a bbq and couldnt eat or drink the wine, and started again, after 4 months. Silly person I am. Had awful reflux last night and got up to vomit, sorry to share that, but its so tight and it takes some getting used to when I've been stuffing my face for 7 weeks. I must remember my tum is very tiny and cant hold as much as it used to. I gotta keep telling myself this. Whereas before i used to stop eating and have a smoke instead, now i cant lol.

Fattypatty, how wonderful for you and hubby, take care of you xxxx

Aww thanx Slinx, you are doing so well, so proud of you. You got any pix? Be lovely to see you all slim. I bought a new battery and weighed last night, I'd lost 2 kilos ( 4lbs) since thursday morning, I'll see what happens today, cos I ate a little more yesterday, though only Monster Munch and a whey Protein drink. Slept great last night, I took a Zantac, they always help with acid reflux, dont know why I didnt take the one the other 2 nights, just forgot about them I spose. I'm not gonna change my ticker till next week, as it will prolly level itself out, as the initial weight loss is usually just Water.

Hi peoples, havent been around for a long time. I see a few newbies, welcome to you all. And so much progress!!!! You are all doing so well. I stopped smoking, (forever) and have put loads of weight on. Went for a fill in Manchester last Thursday with Bart, and I had put on 5 kilos (about 10lbs 10oz) He found my port in a jiffy, because its turned, Chris and Freddie struggle a bit to find it. Bart put in .75mls so I am now up to 7.5 in my band, but alas it is too full. I cant sleep lying down, I get the gurgling and horrid cough. I hate that part, I can put up with all the other downsides, but I do need my sleep. I'm hoping it will loosen up a little over the next few weeks. Eaten yesterday, 1 bowl of 2minute porridge, eaten over 3 hours. 1/2 bag of Monster Munch (cos they are the same consistancy as the crackers they give you after the op). And that was it. STILL I had the acid reflux, and the Monster munch were eaten at 6pm, so whats that all about? Anywa, the battery has gone in my scales, so dont know if I have lost any weight or not. Will try to buy one from somewhere and report back soon. You all take care now and speak soon xxxx

Pearce get in touch with Chris or freddyboy, tell them you feel you are overfilled, if you cant cope. I think if you can get water down you should be ok, the weight will fall off, which is what we all want isnt it|???? Providing you dont have anymore pains in your chest or acid reflux, you should be able to cope for a while, then get a defill. When I was overfilled and had reflux, Freddy took some out for free, as its not safe for you. I understand the cost stops us from doing whats right, but Freddy is pretty fair and is genuinly concerned if you have side-effects and will do it for nothing, dont be scared to ask, I've had a few defills for nothing. Hope this helps you chick xx Doesnt sound like you have a leak hunny.

Pearce I had a leak from my first band (NOT banded by dr Chris though) and I could eat anything, it was just as if I didnt have a band. Apparently the tubing had corroded, from movement of my body, and then developed a fracture, so no fills stayed in. I have seen the old band and it has been examined by a professional and that was the reason for the leak, that happened after 2 years. Sade, Sarah is 62kilos atm, which is 9stone odd. I still sometime speak to Big sis and Gillian on Facebook, but they never come here anymore, too busy I spose, like the rest of us, they were good fun, I remember, Mmm still comes on sometimes, though she spends a lot of time in France so finds it hard to keep up.

Sade, yeh, we've all jumped on the 'band wagon' lol. My eldest daughter was banded first in 2004, she lost about 8 stone as far as I can remember. I posted a before and after pic of her a few months back. She has a little girl who's almost 2, and she hardly put any weight on throughout the pregnancy, then she became pregnant again earlier this year after her partner had a vascectomy (didnt work for him ), but sadly tha baby died at 16 weeks. She put on about 3 stone and hasnt lost it. needless to say she will lose it again after the birth of this baby, due on 27th december. My younger daughter has only started to lose weight since her 3rd fill which was in march 2011. She still wants to lose more weight, she wants to be a size 6/8, which I think is a bit drastic, but she's only 5feet tall so maybe i'm wrong. Chris said she was an ideal candidate for the band, which made me feel like a carthorse, @ 13 stone Hope this helps you Telby and good luck with your loss Sade hunny xx Telby, look at peoples 'tickers' underneath their posts to see the weight losses.

welcome Telby, you naturally have a lot of questions, I will try to answer some. 1. Yes, banding does work. 2. The complications are minimal as far as I know, its not drastic surgery like a by-pass. 3. I cant really answer this as I dont work. But I started to feel better right after the surgery, and was on top form in 2 weeks. 4. The amount you lose in the first 6 months varies from person to person, some lose many stones, others dont., but they do lose it, all depends how tight your band is, which has to be done gradually. Sade, my daughter was in Manchester for a de-fill, she lost a baby last year, and now she is pregnant again, and has been having a lot of acid reflux, so decided to get 4mls out, on Freddyboy's advice. Dont be confused with my younger daughter who was banded last October, who is doing great, she's so tiny now, she was only a 12/14 to start with and now she's between 8/10. Thanx for aSKING hun.

No I wasnt Sade, but my daughter was, she's got long blonde hair, she was there about 1:30, I thought I was going with her, but I couldnt in the end. Were you there at that time hun?

sorry, yes it must be I met Jojo in Manchester some months ago, thanx for the explanation.