bambam

Hallelujah for this thread! I was banded in March 2009. In November 2009 I noted my weight loss slowed. I am on Depo injections so don't get a period. Anyway it wasn't until Sept 2010 that I realized I am in perimenopause - hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, irritability, trouble concentrating, you name it. I have had some deaths in the family so I thought some of my symptoms were related to that. I am now on an antidepressant and for the most part am comfortable with my weight where it is, but I really want to try to maintain and not gain at this point. I never thought entering menopause would take me for such a ride. I think I would have been able to handle it or the grieving process along, but together it has been crazy. Thanks for starting this thread!

Sun- I always experience some swelling with fills and it can take me 2 weeks to see where I really am. I would take it slow and if you are unable to keep liquids down I would definitely get an unfill. Otherwise I would just be very careful for the next few days. My doc advises several days of liquids - so maybe that would be easier for a few days and slowly ease into mushies then solids after that. Hope you are doing okay!

Dr. Schulman - I had LapBand surgery in March 2009. Within a couple of months I started having low back pain. I have a desk job and first noticed it when getting up to walk. With a lot of walking or activity it is worse. I thought it was odd I was having back pain after weight loss but just kind of pushed it aside and assumed it would improve. However, the more activity I do, the more it hurts. I have never had much for back problems before. Now I'm beginning to wonder if it may be due to my weight loss. I've lost 104-107 pounds (depending on the day). Obviously I know other things would need to be ruled out as the source of my back pain, but could my low back pain be due to the extra weight I am carrying in my stomach? Even with the weight loss I have some weight and extra skin in my stomach. Also, can you give me some ideas as to what tests might need to be done to rule out other problems? Am guessing a MRI scan, x-rays, etc. I would appreciate your advice on how to proceed with this. I appreciate your thoughts.

Bandmom - You likely have some swelling from the egg episode. It happens. When I have an episode like that I try tiny sips of a warm/hot liquid. I find that soothing - and it gets some Fluid in me as well. My doc suggests liquid Benadryl to help with the swelling for a few days and going to liquids... slowly advancing back to solids over a few days. Hope you are feeling better. I know what you are going through.

Thanks for the responses you guys. I appreciate it! Lakegirl, feel free to keep in touch. I'll be anxious to hear about your journey and success!

After struggling for the last few months to get to this point, I have finally made it! I haven't seen this number on the scale in 25 years. Woo Hoo!!!

I could have written this post. I had surgery in March 09 and am down 98 pounds from my highest. I've lost about 10 pounds in the last 3-4 months. I eat some things I shouldn't, know I don't drink enough Water, and snack occasionally - not out of true hunger, but head hunger. Those demons just don't go away and when I'm stressed it's a struggle to fight those demons. The problem? I honestly am content where I am for the time being. I have gone from a size 3X to a Large, my health has improved considerably - normal blood pressure and cholesterol, no more sleep apnea, and I feel great! Would I still like to lose more weight? Yes, but to be honest the number on the scale doesn't seem like as big a deal to me now as it did before surgery. I'm sure my surgeon wouldn't be thrilled to hear that. I have made a lot of changes to my lifestyle and diet, always get my Protein in and don't drink before and after my meals as instructed. The water intake and head hunger are what I struggle with the most. I feel I have good restriction at this point, maybe a slight fill when I go back next month to tweak things a bit, but I honestly feel my problem is my simply being comfortable where I am (at least for now). Anyone else experience this?

My husband and I eat out quite often. He asks where or what I want to eat and to be honest it really isn't fun for me to pick where to eat - simply because I know I won't eat much - so I would prefer he choose unless there is something I'm REALLY hungry for. Lots of times I will order a burger without the bun, a wrap without the wrap, chicken breast, etc. I still like the same things, just avoid the bread/wrap part of it. I still get fries once in a while - knowing I will only eat about 3 of them and my husband usualy eats the rest of them. I always have leftovers to take home and depending on the restaurant and portion size I can get anywhere from 2-4 more meals out of it. I guess I'm also more careful when eating in public than at home as I've never had a stuck episode while eating out.

My thought would be that you are eating too few calories to fuel your body. Maybe try to get closer to 900 calories a day?

I have gotten rid of: 1. sleep apnea - Yay! Bye bye CPAP! 2. High and going higher cholesterol - still on my medication, but I'm excellent in all levels and am hopeful that can be stopped within 6 months. (Family history so medication may always be needed.) 3. Uncontrolled high blood pressure ON medication. My BP is normal. I'm still on meds, but again a family history so while medication may always be needed, I'm thrilled with the improvement! 4. Inability to hike with my husband. 5. Horrible self esteem. 6. Feeling of no control over my food choices and portions. 7. Self defeating cycle of food, guilt, eating, etc. 8. Family history of diabetes, so at least I'm doing everything in my power to avoid that diagnosis. 9. Hate of mirrors.

Kelly - Will be curious to see what your doctor says. Did you go to liquids after you had the "pain?" Whenever I get stuck or have that feeling of discomfort - especially if it persists, I give things time to calm down and go to liquids for a few days, slowly getting back to solids. You may have some swelling and if you are eating solids it may be irritating it. Let us know what you find out!

Thanks for the post - I really needed the encouragement! I'm at a plateau. Know I need to increase my water and amp up my exercise and seeing what I've accomplished rather than focusing on being stuck will surely help! In the last 14 months I've averaged a loss of 1.25 pounds a week (just last night I asked my hubby if I was failing at this - HUH???) And I've lost 65% of my excess weight. WOO HOO!