2muchfun

Never a regret for me. Not once.

Keep getting fills till you find some restriction. It takes very little to hit that restriction point.

Above average.

I've been able to eat too much for about 4 months now. I went in 2 weeks ago and got my 8th adjustment and I still need to go back for another. I was in the green zone at 6 fills but couldn't cope with the eating small, slow and chewing so I had some taken out. Bad idea. I thought I was eating right but now I know I wasn't. I eat OK now but I rely so much on exercise and here in Colorado it's too damn cold to bike right now so I'm just treading Water for another month. I can eat a cup of food and feel satisfied for 2-3 hours. So, I snack on healthy stuff like apples, pears till my next meal.

Happy Dance Time:

I bike a lot. A LOT! I just went in last week and had "Synvisc" injected in my knees so I could walk and do some other mild exercises. I've got degenerative arthritis and bone on bone knees. I'm a good candidate for 2 total knees. Maybe next Holiday season but for now, the synvisc helps a lot. tmf

I was where you are for 4 months. Bandster Hell is real and for some reason we all feel hungrier when we in BH. I was lucky though and seemed like the band did help me feel more satisfied with less food. And, I really turned to eating healthier which meant "No Pizza"!! So, I lost 12 lbs the first two weeks and then nada for the next 3.5 months. You seem to be athletic as I am too. I think my exercise routine helped me to lose the 50 lbs I lost the first 8 months. BTW-Finally bought a high quality pizza for our wedding anniversary back in October. OMG it was sooooo good.

Are you driving and alone? I wouldn't recommend you driving yourself 6 hours one way? Maybe 1 hour or less? If someone else is driving I'd say OK but have lots of water and fluids on board.

Your fears are/were our fears. I struggled with the thought of never being able to eat my favorite fatty foods ever again. Had I known I could still eat them maybe I wouldn't have feared so much. They said my appetite would change and I may not even crave or want those foods again? that scared me! I do still love those foods but I'm OK with going to a restaurant once a year and eating half a plate of my favorite chicken fried steak smothered in gravy. I think Pink Dahlia said it best: "I'm so stinkin thrilled with my weight loss, I don't care what foods I can't eat". And of course, it's not only about image, it's really about living a healthier lifestyle and enjoying those things we gave up on long ago. Like biking, hiking, going up stairs, tying shoes, putting on socks and not have to hold my breath, (great)SEX, sitting in an airplane and not overlaping the other seats, fewer meds, not looking like a slob in a suit, etc. We're here for ya! tmf

I think I can speak for many here and say that none of us want to have another fill. And each of us strive to make the band work with the Fluid already in the band. And many succeed. Carolina GIrl has never had a fill and continues to lose weight as an example. Getting a fill is her backup plan as yours could be as well. As long as you can make it work, why not? tmf

I asked my surgeon if Fluid dissipates from the band and he said no, not normally. He said that one reason why our bands seem to loosen is because the stomach and esophogus adapt to the band over time. In other words, the muscles in our esophogus and pouch gain strength from having to work more than pre-band. Sounded reasonable to me? tmf

I don't look at it as a diet program. I was always hungry when I dieted. Now, I'm not and that's all on the band. Like it was said before, the band is a tool and only a tool. You can choose to use it or choose to ignore it. tmf

You're the envy of many on the board. I recommend passing on the fill and working on the small bites, big chews and slowing down. Learning to eat with the band can be the hardest to overcome. tmf

Julie, you out there?

They all work for me. Damn, now I have to really bear down and get skinny.

You should fill in your profile so we know more about you and can help you better? tmf

I don't see how sitting up, lying down or standing on your head would have any detrimental effect to your band or cause it to be painful. sleep like you always have slept. I do. tmf

12 first 4 months. Took 3 fills before I started to feel restriction. BTW I can still eat a large amount of food if I eat around my band. Most of us can. Just stay away from slider foods.

Eating foods like Soups, pasta(pizza, lasagna), mac and cheese, candy, crackers, chips, any food that slides(slider foods) through the band without stimulating the vagus nerve. tmf

I have BCBS and didn't lose any weight during the 6 month nutrition phase. Didn't matter. I doubt they would deny you.

I too need a fill and haven't scheduled it yet. Trying to make it through a gauntlet of Birthdays this month before I take the plunge again.

Very little pain for me. I was traumatized by all the anesthesia and drugs they pumped in me.

My doc had no pre-op diet at all.

Keep reading. I wish I would have read more so I was better prepared. I have no regrets, but I do wish that I had been better informed so that I wouldn't have been so disappointed in the first 4 months. tmf