marys

during my period week is really when i feel restricted

Hi Kimberly - I know exactly how you feel - I was banded in Nov 05 and have only lost 7lbs. the only thing the band does for me is: 1. on good days: I'm appreciative of maintaining my weight - as a yo yo dieter for over 20 years that is something. I've also learned to eat a ton less food and chew etc. 2. on bad days: makes me feel even more crazy for being a failure at even the band. I can't explain it - no matter what anyone says I have food diaries for over one year (that are true) and I can't lose weight. I've had metabolic tests done and exercise so I usually just shut up about my situation cuz no one wants to really hear it. Oh yeah and I exercise 4 times a week. I can only say: maybe try something new, maybe try a fill, maybe try writing down food (that is always telling and most of us do underestimate our food) Lastly I wouldn't be that discouraged as 1-2 lbs per week is normal (after the first fill) you don't even really count before then as pre fill time is for healing. So you aren't really off track - you've lost almost 1lb a week unless i'm reading/figuring out this wrong. Really, don't be so discouraged (i know easier said then done) but I know many bandsters that haven't lost a thing - now that's really discouraging! take care, good luck.

Naked is the best - I'd like to be naked 24/7 but can't work that out!

Dr. ortiz is a great surgeon and does lots of bands on lower bmi patients - I'm a bit shocked someone would get the surgery to lose 20lbs but that is their business. I wanted to lose 60 and can't even with the band but I don't blame Ortiz. Nothing works to get weight off of me - nothing. Well, I believe if I ate 600-800 calories might but I'm not happy doing that so i stay fat.

I thank god every day I only told my boyfriend who is my lifetiime companion/support and one close friend - since I've not lost any weight I would've died with the scrutiny of others - looking at me like a failure. My feeling even at the beginning is you can always tell someone LATER - even if it's two years afterwards - but once you tell you cannot take it back.

I burp a lot - i snow ski and swear the cold and altitude tighten my band and sometimes on the lifts i burp and burp and it relieves some pressure. I burp if i eat too much and get shoulder pain and sometimes it helps and i've noticed again if i eat too much sometimes a deep, long and scarily (is that a word??) satisfying burp will come out and that feels good.

Hi Sherilynn, Try not to worry too much as what you are describing seems very normal to me - i experienced a lot of what you describe. I think the anesthesia does take a while to work thru your system and causes some emotional and physical aftereffects. Also, for me everything was focused on the surgery itself and I didn't think much of the living with the band side which as you now know can be pretty daunting/challenging. You will heal and be more comfortable very soon - it may take a few weeks but sit up, get more pillows, do what you can to get some rest as that will help you heal. You want to just focus on healing and following your docs instructions and this will ensure your band stays in place. Many of us evenutally pb and you don't want to do it often but your band won't slip with one or a few incidents (believe me on this) BUT don't eat before your doc says ok cuz your band is anchoring in place and healing - EATING solids too soon can mess you up. hang in there - take it one day at a time and you will be fine in no time! You are surrounded by lots of very successful and experienced bandsters so you will always find help and advice to guide you on this journey.

Here's another day B: oatmeal with 10 dried cranberries L: can of tomato soup with 1 oz cheese melted in it S: 1 container applesace (about 1/2 cup) and sf Jello d: 1/4 pork chop (thick but good) 4 tbls rice, 3tbls applesauce B: 3 hard boiled egg whites with mustard L: 4 slices of deli thin sliced ham with melted chedder cheese on top d: a few bites of steak and mixed veges (didn't go too well) i'm on my period week and am always really tight so i eat a lot less then i could normally.

Thanks for teaching me alot is wrong wrong wrong - i've spelled it like that for years so - now I know it's a lot. my pet peeve is people/men (haven't seen a woman do it yet) spit / 'hock a loogie (sorry, can't spell that word either!) - absolutely makes me gag. Also - since when did 'con-ver-sate' become a word - I am amazed at how often I hear something like "we were conversating.... Mostly, I don't let too much get to me - I have enough to worry about on my own.

ok - here's some answers from my perspective - banded over one year. sliming - is large amounts of salivia that start when I've gotten something stuck (a too big bite, something not chewed well, a food that won't go down, etc.) - if i start 'spitting' i know i will probably have to throw it up although sometimes it will pass. Early banded i would suffer and suffer and most would go down as I never threw up before banding and despise it. However, now it is easy and i just tilt my head and it will come up (lol) Still hate throwing up and it is not good for the band but it is a different type of throwing up from deep in your stomach (no acidy taste, etc) but still no fun. Also sometimes while the food is coming up a big slime ball of spit will come up when I'm done. Some people NEVER pb (slime + throw up), some more often. Less is better. Scars - after one year they are very small - the port one is the biggest - some may notice, many won't. you can say you had your gallbaldder out if needed. Soda - never touch it since banding or beer or champagne or anything carbonated (well, that's a lie I've had a few sips but don't really miss it) Alcoohol - I do drink occassionally but I am very careful cuz of calories, low tolerance (you aren't eating with liquids) - I've never had more than two drinks after banding. I've not had hiccups but i do burp a bit when i''m tight, when i overeat, when i ski and it's freezing seems to tighten me up and i burp to relieve pressure throwing up is awful - i hate it - try to avoid it but still do cuz my band is so frickle - see my comment above as most people do it less than me and some never at all - most imp to follow docs order at the beginning and stay on liquids etc as the band is stiched in and needs to heal to keep it in place. i was on post op l iquids over 3 weeks and that's probably the only thing that has saved me thus far from slippage - thank god it must be in pretty good. you have less chance of throwing up if you follow the rules but it can still happen. I'm lower bmi and unfortunatelly nothing seems to get the weight off of me but i am the exception - i continue to try but have pretty much given up and would like to just stay the same - my wieght has maintained for over 6 months which never happened pre band so that is a plus. I eat a ton less food and chew it and eat slower then ever in my life so i guess that is good too. You will most likely lose weight - don't go by me - as I said there are only a few of us and we don't post much - I'm older, have dieted my whole life, and probably have a screwed up metabolism. good luck to you.

I have pb'd every day some weeks and the most I've gone is maybe two weeks without. my band is so fickle i never know what will go when and it changes every day. i'm thankful my band hasn't slipped and wish i could be one of those who never pb but it's not the case.

here's my menus for the last few days - if you have trouble counting calories do tv dinners like lean cuisine, etc for lunch and dinner... b: 2 scrambled eggs with one slice cheese L: 2 cups butternut squash Soup D: 2 oz chicken parmigane + 1/2 c mixed veges B: goldfish (bad choice and barfed -lol) Brunch: 1 lean cusine ravioli D: 1/2 hot dog + 1/2 c Beans + small salad Snack: 2 cheese sticks B: Protein shake (EAS myoplex lite) Snack: 55 goldfish eaten so slowly (you can see my weakness ha) L: south beach tv dinner D: 2 bites of steak, 1/2 cup veges i am always starving in the morning and love Breakfast and it goes down maybe one-two times a week. I like Protein shakes but they don't satisfy me at all and i always try to eat - most of the time, like just now, it doesn't work - I also eat/snack on hardboiled egg whites with mustard - most of the time they go down and are low in calories. I can almost always eat salad and if I start my dinner with that, I'm usually full and can only eat 1-5 bites of dinner. I try to keep my calories around 1200 a day which maintains my weight. The only time I lose weight is if I pb and go on liquids for 24 hours or eat one meal a day.

I have the small band and its done nothing for me for weight loss but i now know that nothing will unless i starve myself and i'm not willing to do that. i have restriction and after over one year i eat such small amounts and eat slower and chew well - all things i know i wouldnt do without the band. i'm also maintaining my weight with not too much effort although i have to keep my calories around 1200 to do that. it is easy to go over that with alcohol and treats and when i feel depressed of my failure i do that but i can usually get past that awful failure feeling and get back on track. The band to me is a diet for life tool - it's shown me all my bad habits and forced me to change. My body refuses to give up weight and i'm learning to accpet that this will be my size for life.

I'm going for a consult next month re: band removal as it hasn't worked for me in the sense of weight loss - although i've not gained which is a plus. But in my mind i still have all the preband craziness around food, dieting, body image, etc plus the trials and tribulations of the having a band. It's fickle, i still pb etc. so i do understand what you mean. Believe me I want it to work and my doc prefers i keep it in and if i lost it to slippage i still would be sad but having said all that - i am leaning toward getting it out and working on acceptance in a large body. Since my guy accepts me as is i figure i could too. good luck to you.

I can still do spicy foods although i find it harder not to drink for an hour afterwards sometimes.

oh i had sushi last night and it was wonderful - no problems but i had a hot miso soup first. i ate a small piece once about 1 week after a fill for breakfast and it got stuck so bad i had to have an unfill - major bummer but that was dumb. last night i was able to eat about 6 pieces and wished for more but was very full. good luck - i love sushi so much i could eat it every singl eday.

wow - not sure if it's the tonaliin cla i've been taking for THREE DAYS but i have lost almost 3lbs - and anyone who knows me or follows my threads knows i never ever can lose weight no lmatter what i do. very strange but i'm going to keep taking them. in fact i've only taken two capsules a day not even the three recommended. now one possible and i repeat possible compications - last night at dinner i had a brief dizzy spell which was scary as i never have a dizzy spell - really not going to freak iunless it happens again but i did wonder if the cla had something to do with it. i did have two bloody mary's for lunch with soup that afternoon which is quite rare for me too so maybe it was that combined with no food until a late dinner......anyway, go cautiously but i'm curiously optimistic about continuing this supplement.

If you don't have Dr. Ortiz or Dr. Martinez's cell phone numbers call Rene at the office and he will have someone call you pretty quickly. I just called two days agao and spoke to Dr. Martinez last night (they tried two times before they got me) Very repsonsive - don't email any of the docs as i've found that doesn't work at all. However, an email to Rene or a call will do the trick. I called about band removal and he talked me into coming down again for a consult. he said he would see me personally and i would see dr miranda again - sigh - i still feel like what good will it do but i will be glad for him to check me over and make sure my band is still ok. i may still get it out but we'll see.. he says it's best to keep it in unless you have to get it out and he wants me to keep trying. some days i can but some days i feel utterly hopeless. anyway please call the office - i may be going todnw feb 8-9 seeing him on the 9th - let me knnow if you might be there at that time. good luck to you. try to hang in there - i know it is hard. i hope you and your band are ok.

Thanks for your concern - yes I just had my thyroid checked and they said it was fine. I vascilate between extreme frustration/depression and optimism that maybe someday i can lose weight. And, I hang onto the fact that I'm not fatter then before surgery. Actually my doc called me last night cuz i called the office to schedule a band removal and i'm going down to tj again for a consult and maybe a fill. I feel as tight as I like - tho i know many others super tight - i do have restriction, but can eat 1200 calories a day pretty easily. i can't lose on that and can't stay at under 1000 for too long! I promise to all that I eat well and exercise regularly and i do eat so much less than pre banding and i eat slower and chew - i still pb (it comes up liquid) sometimes but I've gotten that more in control - my local fill doc counseled me about first bite and if i follow his instructions i usually don't pb. I never ever thought i would fail at the band - i thought i would be skinny by now and to read about everyone elses success is hard - i am truly happy for them but sometimes when i'm a bit down - it makes me feel even worse. It seems like no one can help me. The reason I want the band out is it makes me more crazy and depressed being a failure. I still try diets, I still obsess of my body and weight and now on top of it I know I have the band and am still fat - thank god my boyfriend absolutely loves me unconditionally - he says to stop trying and just stay the same. most days i can do that but here i go again trying - spending about 500 for travel and fill and not feeling too hopeful. anyway, thanks for asking and thinking of me. Mary

it seems i can only lose on about 800 and since i can't live like that (or i chose not to) i stay the same. i'm learning to accept it. i'm happy at about 1200 and that's pretty easy if i stay away from alcohol. although i quit alcohol for the last 60 days and still didn't lose so tonight i'm having a nice glass of red. lol

I thought i had ordered the liquid but got the big black pills (capsules) and was a bit nervous about swallowing one but so far so good - even in the morning. Just started so honestly nothing huge is happening yet but i will report back in a week or so. I'm taking three capsules a day with meals and each capsule is 2.22 grams. It's my period week so if they can cut my cravings this week, I'll be impressed....mary

If you are really new to exercise and/or have a lot of weight to lose (and I guess even for everyone - lol) I like Richard Simmons tapes. He is corny as hell but he has been in our shoes and I'm sure works hard every day to stay in shape. His videos always have people of all sizes and he is so motivating - try em. Some tapes I also like but they are much harder are tapes by the FIRM. They always have a beginner instructor for folks starting out so they are easy to follow but you will get a workout. They are also good cuz as you get fitter you can follow the more advanced instructors doing the workout.

what size band do you have?

Hey there - I had my surgery with ortiz over 1+ year ago and have also lost very little weight (about 7lbs). While I still highly recommend him as a surgeon I have been very dissapointed with aftercare and have not gotten the help I needed/need to figure out what is wrong. I too just found a local fill doc who is helping me and one thing I learned and am treating is I have first bite syndrome and was eating inconsistently based on so much pbing and starving then when I could eat would overeat and/or eat too many liquids, etc. So, now I have always a hot beverage sipped slowly and then my meal (even smaller bites then one would think necessary) until i get the first bites down. I've also had my thryroid tested, etc. Believe me I know this is absolutely so frustrating for you - Dr. Ortiz's office did call me back to discuss band removal - his nutritionists has read my food diaries (months and months) praising me but still not weight loss. I know only three other bandsters who suffer with no weight loss so we are in the minority. I wish you the best - hope your band is fine and you can figure this out - nothing worse then not being able to eat - pbing and not losing weight; Also hang in there - 35 lbs is still a terrific loss although feeling good etc. is most important. You are not alone.

Usually if i get something stuck i can bring it up pretty easily now whereas i used to wait it out - probably not that good to do but I feel its pretty much inevitable and why suffer longer than i need to. I've also occassionally taken a VERY small sip of liquid which really brings it up but that feels more violent and i'm sore afterwards so i avoid that unless really bad. I also get a headache and feel completely whipped after a pb - another reason why i try to bring it up faster - i think the tension headache and feeling whipped is from that awful feeling going on for so long - it just makes me miserable, scared, etc. also after a year plus being banded has lessened my pbing as i'm finally learning some lessons. I have great eating habits now - just still not able to lose weight - lol.