a2bachik

Congrats HealtherO... I can only hope the same will happen for me... I am 3 months post-op and down 45lbs. I am finally starting to feel like this is going to work. My cycle started at the same time this month as it did last month, and it wasn't as long this time. I really feel like a child is finally in my future. Cangrats again... goof luck with everything...

BooBoo. I have to say, "OMG" I have read many of your posts here and have been inspired by just your words. But, today I see this and your before pic. Let me just say OMG... I had no idea that this little piece of plastic could make that big of a differance. What is your secert? How can I be that successful? I am only 3 months post-op, but am down over 40 lbs. I know I have a great start, I just don't want to loose focus. Any word of wisdom that you wish to share would be wonderful. Congrats on your success!!!

So I just want to say...thanks for starting this thread and CONGRATS!!!!! to all of you that get to start or continue your families. To everyone else trying, a BIG good luck, and I am right here with you. I was banded 3 months ago and I am so happy with all of my progress. My reason for getting banded was so (Hopefully) one day I could have children. My husband and I have never NOT tried to get preg. But, we have a lots of issues. I was finaly told by my GYN that I have PCOS, so that took us through Clomid and Metformin. Neither one of them working. All I got out of it was curly hair. All my life I have had stick straight hair and after the Clomid, it started to grow in curly, only the top layer thought... Well, now I do everything I can to keep it straight, go figure. Well, back to the babies. I, and my husband, can not wait til we are able to "mold something of our own" :wink_smile: I keep telling myself that I want to wait a year and loose as much weight as I can, but I am starting to get impatiance. Even my and my husbands family's are starting to contantly ask, "When do we get a grandbaby?" I want to throw them through a window. They act as though we arn't even trying. It's really hard to try not to think about it when it's coming from all sides... But, we do try, we try as much as possible... Well, good luck to all of you...

K, Now I'm up to 41 lbs lost...

I have one now on the inside of my ankle, but when I lose all of my weight, I plan on getting a new one. I know I want another butterfly, I just haven't decided where or what it will look like yet.

I do too!!! And I have been supper excited... I've gone from a 24/26 to a 16/18. I haven't been that small since high school. I am about to be in uncharted territory...I'm going to have to go buy new clothes soon :drool:

:thumbup: I hit 250 on the scale today!!! I couldn't tell you when the last time that happened was... I have hit my first small goal and I think this whole process was totaly worth it now. I am just so excited because I got to move the scale a notch...it no longer has to sit on 250, now I can set it to 200... Who knew something so small, could mean so much?! I just had to put it out there...I didn't think that anyone would understand the way that I know some of you would... Hope all is well with everyone elses journeys...and that's for all the support...:eek:

Down 35lbs as of today!!!!

So I went to the doctor today for the hopes of having my second fill. And let me say...it was close to traumatic. I walked out of his office feeling like a pin cushion :laugh:. I think he stuck me a dozen times and not once did he hit my port. Saline stings when injected into your belly fat. Then to top it off I have to go back to try again tomorrow with a different doctor. THEN...if that doesn't work he will try it under fluro. :w00t: I think I need to tattoo an "X" to mark the spot :w00t:

I know how you feel. I have lost 30lbs and everyone keeps telling me, "I can see it in your face. You look great." But, I don't see it myself. I can feel it though. I know by the scale moving down that I am loosing weight, but when I look at myself in the mirror in the morning, I see the same person. I guess my problem is I haven't taken any new pictures of myself. I don't have that other person prespective. All I can see is what I know I have always looked like, not what others are looking at. And, I agree with everyone else. You look great!! I understand the clothes thing. I am scared to start buying new ones, but I am swiming in everything I own. I feel like I am in some weird limbo. Like if I buy new clothes, the scale will stop moving. Good luck on the plateau...you will jump soon. I think the plateau is all part of it. You body has to do alot of adjusting...

Well the saga continued today. I went back to the office to try again. Luckly it worked, but not until I was laying on the table for at least a half an hour. I'm just glad that after tring for less than a minute the doctor decided to numb me. Thank God... But, they think my port has shifted side ways... They didn't order and x-ray or anything, so I don't know if it's something to worry about or not. I received another 1.5cc today, giving me a total of 4.5cc in a 10cc band. I don't know if it's my mind telling me what I want, but I feel like this is working better than the last fill. I was suposed to only have liquids today, but my girlfriend came over for lunch, from out of town and I was supposed to have the fill yesterday, so I would of been ok. Well I had a baked potato for lunch and all has been fine,so far. I don't feel like anything is stuck, but I didn't overfill myself either. So, I guess I'll just have to wait for dinner to see if I jumped the gun. Thanks for all the kind words and support. I really apreciate having this forum to get stuff off of my chest. I spill my guts here, so I don't take everything out on my husband.

Yea he used the ultra sound, but I got nothing to numb it. After the 4th or 5th stick it wasn't the needle that hurt anymore. He likes me to lift my head off of the table, but that still didn't help. Plus, it's super hard to do for a long time. I mean he tried to stick my port for over 20 min. The bruising is what hurts the worst... Thanks for the support...:w00t:

I did't drink any of my Protein. As soon as I was on mussies, I ate alot of mashed potatos. I know they are carbs, but I lost weight and they kept me full the longest when I had no restriction. I ate eggs all kinds of ways too (scrambled, salad). Green Beans were one of my staples. Mac and cheese worked good too as long as it was supper soft. Canned ravioli worked good to, I found the mini ones were the best. I got alot of sides from KFC. But I have always been a super picky eater, with texture issues. But I have been on solids for 3 full weeks now. I eat 1 scrambled egg in the morning w/sasuge and for lunch I have a salad that has meat and egg on it w/ low fat dressing and for dinner I have a couple ounzes of protein and a couple of ounzes of veggies. I find that sometimes I am starving right when I get home from work, so I will have a SF fudgesickle (which really works for my chocolate cravings) or a SF popsickle. I even tried a special K Cereal bar the other day and it worked too. I used to be a grazer too and would eat just to be putting food in my mouth, but since the surgery I find myself really paying attention to my body and what it wants vs. what it needs. I mean I have slipped once or twice and I actually ate a cookie, but I ate it in tiny bits and only had one and it didn't kill me. I think part of the surgery (at least for me) is just being more aware of whats going on with our food intake. I haven't been purfect by any means, but I have lost 28 lbs and 2 pant sizes so far. I am thrilled with it. So, I just keep trucking along. If I could start excercising like I am supposed to be I would be better off. But, of course I keep putting that in the back of my head because this is working now. I just know that soon I am going to have to get my butt in gear and I will be even more happy with my progress. But I have always had the mental block issues. I hope this helps someone... Good luck to everyone with there progress...

The only thing that helps any, is walking... I had gas pains for almost a month after surgery. My husband would rub my back, but it only help for that moment. He couldn't and wouldn't do it for very long. Also, I used the chew-able Mylanta gas tablets. They helped pass it alittle bit. Just don't try to hold on to it. The only way to loose it, is to let the gas run it's course.

Nayray~ I'm so glad to hear you have joined us on the other side... I found that during the first week I had to keep the big picture in my head. I struggled with the gas pain during my recovery. And, walking is the only thing that will get rid of it. I had a pocket of gas stuck in my upper back for almost a month. The more you can walk, the more the gas will move. Well I wish you the best, and soon you will be putting on that pair of jeans that you haven't worn for years and the next thing you know they are even to big for you...It's the best feeling ever (at least for me it was) If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Just remember, there are no stupid questions...

My biggest problem has been the exercise. I know I am supposed to be working out, but I can't find the momentum to do so. And eating slow. I eat in front of the TV or while reading a book at work and I can't get the little amount of food I am eating to last 30 min. Luckily I haven't once gotten sick or stuck. I don't know why I have such a mental block when it comes to exercise, but I guess I always have. I have to flip a switch in my head, but I don't know what to do...

Mine was a nightmare. He felt around for about 20 min and the hole time I had to be in the "crunch" position. Ouch!! He ended up poking me with the needle 3 time all together. He used the ultrasound twice and still another doc had to come in to do the fill. I ended up with a baseball size bruise for almost 2 weeks. But, I do feel the difference after the fill. I can go about 6-7 hrs before I have to eat now. I have a total of 3cc in right now, but I go back in two weeks. We'll see what he says. :eek: With a total 23lbs lost, I am super stoked with my progress. I can really feel the difference. Sleep is getting better, moving around in general is getting better, the seat belt in the car is even starting to fit right. :crying:

I had my first fill today and man did I get beat up. I have a giant bruise right over my port. He poked and felt and had a hard time finding the port. But, after the 3rd poke of the needle, he finally got it. :cursing:That really hurt. So, now I'm on liquids, again , for 2 days. By friday I move on to real food. I just hope now I can make it to friday. I am so f-ing hungry, I don't know what to do. The good news is I am down 22lbs. And wearing very baggie clothes. I can't believe it. I haven't put that much effort into exercising this last month so everything could heal. But, now I have the green light to take some classes at the gym. I have never been sooooo excited to exercise. I feel like this was the best decision I have ever made for myself. There were a couple of days right after surgey that I questioned what I had done to myself. But, I am starting to feel like this is finally going to work for me and I am excited to see the results.

Gina~ Well good luck with your tests...I hope all goes well. I am doing great since surgery. I had my first fill today...so things are good. I didn't know about the support group. I hope I can make it...are you the red head with the green purse? Yea, Dr. Domkowski is new to the WLS field. But, he is getting better. His office is on Malabar Rd. He is an OMNI doc. I will find out when his next seminar is and let you know...for your friend.

So, Gina did you get your band?? I was banded on 9/2 by Dr. Domkowski at PBCH... I live in Melbourne, but work at the hospital (PBCH). It has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. I hope all has worked out for you...

I don't have one either. I work in a hospital and My PCP is right upstairs, so every Monday I go weigh on the same scale. I love it...

I had my band on the 2nd and I am just now starting to get hungery on a regular basis. I talked to my Dr and he said that means I am healed. So I have my 1st fill on 10/1. So that means by next weekend I can start eating real food again. Oh to be able to really chew again. I don't really need teeth for the things I have been eating these last 2 weeks. But, all of my gas has finally moved on. I thought that pain would never end. I have never been so excited to start taking classes at the gym. I just found out that my gym has a regular Zumba class. I hear that it is really fun. Keep up the good work everyone...I know I am proud of myself, so you should all be proud of yourselves. Nayray, I am so sorry to hear of your lost. I know how you feel. My thoughts go out to you. And I wish you all the best with your surgery.

I was banded on the 2nd and today was the first real day that I didn't have back pain due to gas. These last 2 weeks have been painfull. I thought the gas would never go away. I move to mushy foods this week too, which has helped me mentaly. I was going crazy last week. I didn't think I was going to be able to make it, but I held steady and made it through. If I can do it than anyone can. When I had my scrambled egg this morning I thouhgt it was the best thing in the whole world. I have lost 15lbs todate and I am starting to feel it in my clothes. I can't see it yet, but other people are starting to notice. So, I know all of this pain and suffering is going to be worth it.

I have the 10cc as well, but my doc left it empty. I have my first fill on 10/1. But, I am losing weight. I can feel it in my clothes. I just can't see it yet.

Ray Congrats...That would be the only reason I would want my surgery re-scheduled. I hope all goes well, you have to keep us updated...