2muchfun

Relax. It's no big deal. It's the holidays, most of us cheat here and there. Do you really think all bandsters follow the rules 100% of the time? I had my surgery on the 28th of Nov 2011. A year ago. And I cheated here and there, ate moer than I should have on Xmas and New Years but ate much less than in prior years. Lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and nothing for 3.5 months. Walk or workout a little longer and you'll be fine. tmf

Do you have pain if you only drink and not eat? If so, you are probably too tight and need a small unfill. If you have pain when you eat and then try to drink, you could be too tight or may not be eating correctly? You've had your band for nearly a year so you probably already know eh? Some people who have never had restriction may still be eating improperly. You know, big bites, not chewing enough blah, blah. Usually restriction comes on a little at a time if the doc is putting small amounts of saline in the band each fill. tmf

Huzzah? Too many trips to "The Fort" maybe? You don't have to work for a small business to be excluded on a healthcare plan. My wife worked for Aurora Regional Med Center and our plan excluded me. Then she changed jobs and the new(much much smaller hospital) employer's plan had an inclusion so I was able to have it paid for. Usually employer's change over or offer new plans every January? Not yours? Welcome. There are only a handful of Coloradoans who post here here. Good luck with the bonuses! tmf

And this is the worst time of year to overcome a plateau? I'm in the same boat and have been since August. I'm not going to sweat it till January and then I plan on sweating a lot. I like to go back to the "Caveman" type diet when I hit these plateaus. And I hit the gym and bike real hard. Having .25 CCs put back in my band should help too. You've been doing this for a lot longer than I have, what is your fall back plateau killing routine? tmf

Everyone's weight fluctuates daily. You can and will retain fluids from medications, mentrual cycles, sodium input, carb input and the weather. No big deal. tmf

I understand. I use my Kindle Fire occasionally and it's nothing like a PC/laptop. tmf

Your doctor is doing it right. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing the next 3.5 months. Then, my 3rd fill I started to feel some restriction. By my 6th fill I was in the green zone. Doctors like to sneak up on restriction and rightly so. There's no gauge on your band to tell them when you have the right amount of saline injected. It's not like a gas tank gauge where you know you're full or have enough. Some bandsters are at full restriction with just a couple of CCs of Fluid where others take 10-14 CCs to get there. Over-filling can cause too much edema around the stoma/band area or seal off the portal completely. I look back and I too was a little pissed off that it was taking so long. No one told me(or I chose not to hear) that the band took all this tweaking to work properly. But it does and will continue to need tweaking. Again, looking back, time gave me the skills to learn how to be one with my band. Time helped me to learn how to eat the right way. I see so many people posting here that they can't eat normal foods and end up drinking their meals or relying on slider foods. I can't help believing they never learned how to eat slow, eat small and chew big. Be patient, it will come. Take this time to work on those eating skills we all need so much. tmf

Every doc is different. Yours should have told you already? Some give them in 30 days and some not for months and months. Depends on how you are doing without it? tmf

No zip-lining

I'm not sure what you are asking? Anyone can post on a forum. To post or belong to a group you need to go up top and click on community and then click social groups, pick a social group and ask to join. What forum are you wanting to join? tmf

It's there now!

No need to join any forum if you just want to give advice or ask questions. Just got to the forums link at the top and finda forum you want to comment on? Or, find a state, or city, or month forum to ask to join? tmf

If you haven't had restriction for a year now, you probably haven't learned how to eat properly with a well adjusted band? Right after this last fill, you probably had some edema around the band because 2.5 ccs is a lot to put in all at one time. Then as the swelling went down you were able to eat with less restriction? Eat slow, Eat small and chew big. tmf

Myself and others have been posting his videos for many months now. That's why no one is responding. I agree, very good to know. Wish I would have seen these before or right after my surgery. tmf

The hunger is normal and it's called "Bandster Hell". For some it's like being ravenous all the time. It doesn't go away until the patient finds some restriction/satiety when eating. The stitch will eventually fall out and the soreness could continue for some time. tmf

I had some taken out back in June for the same reasons. It's loosened up a little more since then so after Xmas I'll be going back in for a small fill. But, the small .25 CC unfill was needed at the time and I'd rather enjoy the Holidays and then hit it hard again in January. tmf

If you've developed an ulcer near the band, that would cause enough edema to restrict your intake. See a doctor very soon. tmf

I gotta back up Floridays and marfar here. If you're looking to be baby'd and coddled, this is the place to come. It's also the place to come to if you want or don't want the hard truth. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing for nearly 4 months. I didn't throw in the towel. If you're looking for consoling for giving up after 3 short months, I can't help you. Sounds to me like you're looking for consoling or affirmation that giving up was the right path? And it aint being mean Cheri. Enabling someone can also be mean. We all have different paths here and we all advise and support differently. That's why this is such a great forum. tmf

It's when you have the right amount of restriction, you're satisfied with less food(1 cup) and aren't hungry between meals. Watch this video. Watch it all but if you want to just know about the green zone, go to 5:40 minutes into the video. I'd recommend watching all 4 videos.

Why respond at all? She was right. tmf

Maybe you're not very good at reading body language? They could be looking at you and thinking hooray for that fat guy, he's actually trying to do something about his health? Think positive my friend, positive. Yeah, I know there are many out there who look down at us, but I know when I see someone who is obese and they are walking, bike riding or in the gym, I think, there's a guy who understands he has to do something to improve his lot in life. Give em a big smile and a thumbs up next time. tmf

For some of us it takes many months to find restriction and the green zone. At first it angered me that I had to wait so long. But looking back on the journey I see now that it was a blessing. I really did not understand how to eat with my band. It has taken months and even a year now to figure this out. I believe that finding so much restriction so soon can be detrimental. I know I was looking for that full feeling or for some overt sign that I could stop eating but it never came. Taking 30 minutes to eat is now the norm for me. I find that by 30 minutes I'm no longer hungry and it's so much easier to stop and just throw away food that until now, I would have eaten at one sitting. It's the small bites, big chews that work for me. And I do have to say that for you or others, it may be different. It usually is. My doctor, and I believe most doctors prefer to sneak up on the green zone. It gives the patient ample time to acclimate to eating with the band. It does sound like you could use a small unfill but it's best to follow the doctors orders I guess? tmf

Like I said and PGKpjs said, your pouch does not hold 4 ozs of food. It's really not a pouch. It's a staging area for the food to pass through to your stomach. It should only have one bite of food in it at one time. If you are stuffing your face with 4 ozs of food at one time, then you are stretching out your esophogus. tmf

What are you eating to cause the stuck episodes? Have you tried Soups or slider foods? If they get stuck, you're too tight. If not, maybe you need to take smaller bites and chew more. Eliminate the obvious before you take any Fluid out. tmf