Elisabethsew

Losing motivation is hard to deal with and it always seems to occur with the greatest frequency the closer one gets to goal. Sometimes, what we want the most, getting to goal, is what we fear the most. It's time to start putting yourself first again and set priorities. Focus on the great loss you have achieved and move forward. You already DID it so you KNOW you can take it ALL the way.

Have you tried to swallow the pill? You can't cut the pill or crush it if it's extended release. A "trick" I use is to chew a pretzel until it's pastey and then pop the pill into it just before I swallow. It works everytime!

I hope that theory works with me, Alex. I need half the medication amounts that a "normal" person takes so I sure hope this fill is felt sooner rather than later (or not at all). Your explanation makes a lot of sense. Thank you.

I went in today for a second fill and asked the surgeon why it can take up to 2 weeks for a fill to "kick-in." He told me the real answer is that nobody knows but, based on his experience with doing over 4,000 fills, he speculates the following: As a result of the banding, scar tissue forms. When you add fluid to the band port to decrease the band diameter, the band presses against the scar tissue. It seems to take one to two weeks in SOME people for the scar tissue to stay compressed and THAT is when people start to feel the restriction. For others, restriction is felt right after the fill. It would be interesting to hear the experiences of other surgeons concerning this phenomenon.

Thanks, Kim and Jane! Unfortunately, arthritis does run in my family and my mother has had 2 total knee and 2 total shoulder replacements. I had a bad fall when I was 16 years old landing on my left knee and that's what started my knee problems. The spinal arthritis doesn't give me any pain or problems but I work as an RN and have to do quite a bit of walking so I think the activity keeps the back in check. The orthopedic surgeon told me I was now in "end stage, bone on bone" arthritis in the left knee. Cortisone and hyalgan injections do nothing so I HAVE to lose weight to have the surgery and make the recovery faster. If I have surgery at this weight, the surgeon said the recovery would be very long and I can't be out of work that long. On a positive note, the orthopedist did say that for every pound lost, there is 3 pounds less pressure on weight bearing joints. I think the goal for those of us with physical restrictions is to maintain the function we currently have by doing what we can in terms of exercise that does not produce pain.

My first fill on May 25th did nothing so I'm going back today for fill number two and keeping my fingers crossed that this one FINALLY produces restriction. The first fill was with my surgeon's partner but the one this AM is with the surgeon who did the banding so we'll see what happens. Everyone is doing great... congratulations to you all.

I know what you're referring to, Jack. I wonder if they make them still... AND what the weight max is if they do.

I have to do 2 days of full fluids and 2 days of a soft diet after a fill. I am getting my second one tomorrow. Maybe you could call and advance to a soft diet?

I also have arthritis (spinal and need a total knee replacement). I try to increase the distance I work a little more each week but it's hard some days. The grinding of bone on bone and knee locking making increasing my pace difficult. While others are looking forward to plastic surgery, I'm aiming for a healthy weight to have the total knee replacement. LOL.

Congratulations on the new job!

Go to "USER CP" and edit the info in your profile.

I had a fill 8 weeks post-op and got no restriction. I'm going for the second fill on Wednesday (3 months post-op) and am hoping to feel restriction with that one. While some people do feel restriction with no fills or one fill, most require a few. Hang in there... better days are coming.

Try some slimfast or another prepared drink. Also, tomato soup is filling. If you make it with skim milk, it's a pretty good protein source. Frozen yogurt, sugar-free/fat-free puddings, yogurt and cream soups all work to fill you up as well.

Any pills that are enteric coated or time released or sustained release are NOT crushable. As for me, I take MANY pills a day (heart condition and iron deficiency anemia) and have no problems swallowing them.

I'm sorry you didn't get the job. It always makes it worse when you KNOW you're the best person for the job and they pay you lip-service before the BUT... speech. You'll find something better. I know that does little to help now so do something special for yourself... maybe a relaxing bath?

There is no way I would want to be the FIRST. Is he/she going to be doing the surgery assisted my someone who knows what they are doing... as in EXPERIENCED in lap banding? I'd want a LOT more info. before I went into surgery with this MD. YIKES!

It sounds like you might want to schedule a second fill.

The medication is LOVINOX (dosage is weight based) and it's a blood thinner that is injected into the belly fat. It's similar to Heparin. Any RN or MD can give it to you. You will also likely get an injection prior to going to the OR and the morning after to prevent leg clots which could cause pulmonary emboli (lung clots). I hope that helps.

I had my first fill on 5/25 (8 weeks after surgery) and it didn't do a thing. I am going back for #2 on Wed (one month after the first). Call and see if you can move your appointment up. A lot of us need 2 or more fills before we experience restriction.

Thank you for posting the article. It's nice to know that as more studies are done we're actually seeing MORE positive outcomes for those who opted for banding.

What you describe seems normal but............ and I can't stress this enough............. SEE YOUR MD FOR ANY ACUTE CHANGES!!! It nevers hurts to be too cautious so have it checked out. What is "normal" for one person could be not at all normal in another.

Welcome. You've made WONDERFUL progress.

Congratulations on a GREAT achievement. Reward yourself with something special.

Welcome to the forum, Dr. C. I'm sure you'll get MANY questions here and it's nice to see you donating your time to help others.

Gastroparesis is more common in diabetics than many people realize and is usually treated with Reglan or antibiotics. GI docs use the antibiotics (like erythromycin) to try to increase the peristalsis and move food along. For anyone who suspects they might have a problem with gastroparesis, you really need to see a GI specialists ASAP. Testing is what will give you answers and an appropriate treatment plan. Waiting is useless.