jms462001

I too am sorry you are going through all this. It's so difficult, and so easy to start eating for comfort, when stressful times hit us. I have been grazing some myself lately over some stressful stuff. The thing is, we are just going to be so much more depressed if we go back to eating bad and gaining tons of weight. Find a cheaper place to get a fill and do your best to deal with the stress in a more constructive way and I will too!!! I am traveling to Africa and have to wait until I return for another fill which I know I need now, but I am scared of problems while gone and don't want to seek care in West Africa!!! I know I won't overeat there anyway! Good luck to you. I hope you husband finds work soon and life gets easier for you. You have a beautiful little girl!! She must lift your spirits some!!

When you have time, I'm stuck at 206, but ok with that for now. Thanks for the update!!!

My Dr. always looks for and removes hernias at the time of surgery. I did not have any, but so many of his patients do. It seems like so many of the people who have problems after a few years out never had good restriction. I am wondering if the changes, "improvements" in the lapband, that were made in early 2008, may help prevent many of these erosion problems and other problems that occur after a few years. I know I have had good restriction and no problems thus far and sure hope it continues. I feel bad for those who have gone through the procedure and now have all these problems. I surely do not want an invasive surgery such as the sleeve or GP due to the band failing.

My band's hours are more on the line of 3 PM through 9 PM. Very weird. Before that it's a protein shake and my latte.

I'm addicted to ebay!! I've been selling lots of mine there too!!

I just had a flight of about 4 hours. I wasn't able to eat the following morning and got stuck and sick when I tried, but I'm always a bit tight in the morning. I did eat some Snacks on the plane with no problems. I will be flying for 14 hours on April 4th and returning on the 20th. I will post and let everyone know how that trip goes. I hope there will be no problems!!

I am guilty of staying up way too late as well, often on the computer! Hopefully this fill will give you good restriction and you will start losing again. It's realy not unusual to go several weeks with no weight loss. Many people have only lost 20 pounds or less 4 months out so it's average anyway. Once you have good restriction, you will find it more difficult to be non-compliant as you call it lol! Good luck with your fill!

I was told by the Dr it wold be ok and this is why I am so confused. I don't take them all the time. Some days I just can't take the inflammation as it gets really bad. I get the ok to do so and then I frequently read on this board that it is not permitted under any circumstances.

I have to drink quite a bit of water after mine and stagger taking them. I used to take a handful of vitamins at once and all of my meds. Now I hate taking anything as they do go down hard and seem to sit there. My pain pills do seem to work within 30 or 40 minutes usually. I take topomax for nerve pain. They are very small and it just happens that they have stopped my migraines almost completely. They don't do much for nerve pain, but I will continue taking them for the migraine benefit and they are so small I don't mind taking them

Your weight loss is not too shabby!! Don't be so hard on yourself. It's only March!

I bet you will be down 5 pounds within 1 1/2 weeks!! Let me know if I'm right. I'm so glad you feel restriction!

I will assume then that taking Ibuprofen daily would have nothing to do with band erosion as I have read a few times. I know that it is hard on the stomach if taken over a long period of time for anyone, but what particular problems does it cause or potentially cause for the band? Thanks!

Also, maybe you should wait until you have lost more weight before you decide to go through with the surgery. You just might be able to put it off. The arthritis won't go away, but often the pain associated with it does!

I'm taking topomax now which is also prescribed for nerve pain. I'm really not sure how much it is helping with my sciatica or spinal pain, but my migraines are practically non-existant. And, topomax has been found to have weight loss as a side effect!

I'm 54 and the surgeon said I was headed for total knee replacement surgery, but like I said he did not wish to do it because of my age and also because of the weight. He said that it would not last my lifetime (I guess he's counting on me living a long life!) and that the second time is never as successful as the first replacement. I must say that most of my pain is gone and all of the swelling with just the weight I have lost so far. I am still stiff, but the difference is amazing!

You have done very well for doing it on your own!! I was fortunate to feel restriction from day one from the small fill put in when the band was placed. That, and I wonder if maybe getting the small band helped because it was tight at first?? I'm not sure, but I always felt some restriction and know it must be very frustrating to feel none. I know I never had any problems eating as far as the pressure or things getting stuck or having to be as careful until after my second fill. So, hopefully you too will notice a big difference and it will be easier for you. Still, congratulations for the big loss you have accomplished! You have nothing to be discouraged about in that respect!! As soon as you have the band's help, the weight will fall off of you!

I go to starbucks a few times a week and get the skinny vanilla latte with protein added.

I hope your family will start being more supportive. As I said, you are healing now and not expected to lose. Tell your family in 6 months, the jokes on them!!!

If you can maintain the first 6 weeks after surgery while you are healing you are doing well!! You are not expected to lose yet. Most people gain a few pounds before their first fill. Don't be discouraged. You are just starting your journey!!

Why have you not gone back for a slight unfill?

207 here too!!

I don't want anyone here to think I only eat low carb or that I only eat 1/2 cup of food at each meal OR even that I eat protein then veggies at each meal. I am not that disciplined and my band does not like that 3 x's equal portion deal. I normally have an 8 oz protein shake in the morning followed by a skinny latte. Lunch is often one of those tuna salad packs (yes, the crackers too!!) or chili (not low carb either!!). Sometimes, I just have another latte (milk is not low carb either!) For dinner, I try to have meat or fish and veggies, but sometimes have beans and last night ate an entire ultimate cheeseburger from Jack in the Box without the bun. I am always very hungry finally at the night time meal so I eat a big meal usually, but never past being satisfied. I also eat spaghetti sauce with hambuger quite often with very little spaghetti or none. I hit a plateau for a couple weeks and added a couple TBS of peanut butter later in the evening and after 3 days of that I dropped 2 pounds and now another. The nut said I was not consuming enough calories to lose and he was right!!! So, what does everyone else eat???

I hear ya. I was desperate too and did not read anything for many months nor would I believe the weight gain was due to the Lyrica. It did help with my pain until the excess weight caused severe arthritis in my knees get so bad that I got baker cysts behind both kneecaps, swelling and severe pain in the knees to the point that all I could do was lay in bed. It was worse than my spinal problems. My knee surgeon said weight loss was the best bet as I was too young for knee replacement and he refused with the weight issue anyway. That was after I already had quit the lyrica and dropped 15 of the pounds, but we all know how difficult it is to take off the weight once we put it on. I hope you can be successful losing weight taking it, since you have the band, if it helps you that much with your pain. And, I bet there are people on this board who take it. Keep bumping this thread up and eventually those people will see it and perhaps they can help you with suggestions on how to take it and lose weight too!! Good luck to you!

Lyrica causes horrible cravings for carbs and uncontrollable hunger. i don't know how anyone could be successful losing weight while taking Lyrica. I gained 40 pounds while on it less than a year. People who have never had a weight problem in their life have gained 20 pounds quickly on lyrica. Try googling lyrica side effects and search for the sights that have stories after stories of peoples experiences with Lyrica. Sorry!!

Where do you get the swelling when you have flare ups?