suepro

I am the same, feel great and lots of energy but zero interest in sex.

How awful that its going to cost you so much to get your port fixed, just in order to get a small unfill. I was overfilled on my second fill and I couldn't keep anything solid down apart from crackers so i had some taken out and felt so much better and weight loss started again. I hope you can get things sorted soon.

If you can't eat anything apart from oatmeal, then you don't need another fill right now. If anything you might already be a little tight.

I can eat breakfast and lunch no problem but in the evenings, especially after going to the gym I can have problems. I try to make sure I have a serving of protein and veggies at lunch.

I was too tight after my second fill and after a week of only being able to eat soups and shakes, I called my bariatric team and was told to come in straight away for a small defill. I didn't like not being able to eat a proper small meal and am much happier being less restricted and being able to eat healthy food.

Welcome! Good luck for your operation, hope it all goeswell for you. Sue

I eat asparagus occasionally and it goes down just fine. It is a bit trial and error to find out which food suits your body and which don't. I do find I have to cook my veggies a bit more than pre op and of course I need to chew chew chew.

I find I lose more weight if I eat a sensible healthy diet and I like to include some fruit and a few nuts and seeds in my diet. They only way I can do this is to have it as Snacks and it hasn't slowed up my weight loss, quite the reverse as I have lost 70lbs since last August. If it works for you, then carry on as you are. As Jachut says, some people can't stop eating if they have a snack but for others it is part of your routine. Sue

My surgeon said to me there are two methods of weight loss with a band, steady loss eating a healthy diet but smaller portions with exercise, or starvation. No prizes for guessing which method he reccomends. I was overfilled for a week and couldn't stand not being able to eat real food. If things don't improve why not go back for a small unfill? You don't want to damage either your oesophagus or your band. Hope you get things sorted out, isn't it amazing what such a small fill can do? .2 is a tiny amount of Fluid.

i was too tight after my second fill, could manage Water and very thin soup but nothing more solid and when it hadn't settled after a week I had to go back for a small unfill. I feel so much better for not being so tight and am glad I didn't carry on being too tight. Sue

Sounds like a nightmare trip to me- I am so glad I told everyone about my band but if I hadn't I don't think I would feel obliged to eat what other people are having just so they wouldn't notice. Eating healthily on such a trip would be difficult even if you had admitted that you have been banded but tough though it is you have to think of yourself and your health a bit more. hopefully you will be home soon so you can get your fill and start eating healthy.

Its good news actually that you have already tried xenical and failed because a lot of gps see weight loss surgery as a last resort for people who have tried other methods and failed so at least you have already gone down that route. I went to St Richards hospital in Chichester for my surgery as there is a bariatric unit there. I know some NHS patients who have waited 3 or 4 months just to get funding approved, a further 4 months wait to see the consultant there, then a further 4 months once he has approved surgery for them so be prepared you may have a long journey. On the other hand you might be lucky and get approved and operated on much quicker, good luck any way and at least you are taking the first step of registering with a GP. Sue

Hi English Rose If you are to stand any chance of getting referred for weight loss surgery on the NHS then you will need to register with a GP first off. Different PCt's have their own criteria, you would meet the NICe guidelines on BMI alone- do you have any other weight related issues or 'co-morbidities? this would help your case. i have a band, paid for privately but op carried out in an NHS hospital. My BMi was 41 but as I was commpletely healthy apart from my weight, my doctor would not refer me. Sue

I am really boring with my breakfast & stick to porridge (Oatmeal) made with skimmed milk with some fruit, either fresh or dried. It goes down really well and fills me up until lunchtime.

Welcome, good luck with your appointment and hoping you can put your past failures behind you- you can succeed this time! Do post about how you get on at the appointment and what advice you are given. Sue

Hi Tina With a BMI of 50 you should meet the NICE guidelines for funding for WLS, either band or bypass. Why not talk to your GP and start the ball rolling. Some PCTs are better than others at funding but I know of several people in the Manchester area who have had thier surgery on the NHS. I funded my surgery myself as with BMi 40 and no other health issues my PCt wouldn't consider funding me. I have lost 4 stone with my band so far and haven't regretted it for a minute. It isn't all plain sailing however and you should research the down sides as you have to put a lot of work in. Although your life will change in some ways as a result of being slimmer, you will be the same person underneath so it isn't the easy answer to all your problems but it does at least solve those directly related to being over weight. Good luck and any questions, just ask. Sue

I joined Curves a month ago and am doing great, I have lost a lot of weight and inches. i hated the regular gym and found it boring. The Curves work out is so quick and painless and enjoyable, I don't care that there aren't the sauna and pool and other facilities you get at a regular gym. If I want to swim I can still go to a pool.

I am sure there must be lots of threads about Pb'ing but guess it probably isn't in the title. A Pb is when you bring back up food and saliva. Some also refer to slimeing as if no food, just saliva comes back up. This differs to vomiting as the food has sat on top of the band and has not mixed with any digestive juices or broken down in any way. To avoid it (it isn't pleasant and isn't good for you) eat very slowly and chew chew chew. Having said that most bandsters will Pb at some time or other so don't worry too much if it haapens, just don't let it become a habit. Hope that helps and someone else might be along who can give a better explaination. Sue

Definately sounds like ketosis, a big part of weight loss on a low carb diet so its a good sign - whilst it is not nice having a dry mouth and dog breath, its a sign that you are losing weight.

It was possibly the bread roll as bread swells and the potato skin (not something I would have post banding although I used to love them) blocking your stoma and stopping the food from going through and being digested.

Please don't give up on yourself yet, hopefully you will get more restriction once you get your second fill. If you are sticking to 1200 calories a day then maybe you have just hit a plateau? My weight loss stalled for a couple of weeks, I think the body needs to catch up on itself . The worst thing you can do now is to stabbotage all the good work you have done so far. I have no special advice other than try and increase your exercise and make every effort to make good food choices. I too was banded in November and had my first fill on 12 December. I have been busy so haven't had time for another fill but its booked for 24 February so not long to wait. after a three week plateau, where i lost nothing I have lost 3lbs this week. good luck to you and why not call and see if your surgeon will agree to bringing your fill forward a little as you are struggling. Sue

Hi Hal I just wanted to wish you the very best of luck for your surgery. I have had my band since November and whilst I do miss some of my favourite foods, I still go out to restaurants socially with my husband and friends and I still have the occasional glass of wine. I am experiencing being full after a small amount of food and it is a great feeling. I am 55lbs down since my pre op diet started in August and although I confess to a couple of nasty 'stuck' incidents which were painful, I don't regret my decision to have a band for one minute. All the best to you- do post up about how you get on post op. Sue

I can feel my port but it isn't visible and wasn't in the days after my surgery either. Hope you managed to get yours looked at and confirmed as normal. Sue

Hi Marmite Crumpet Glad your op went well and don't worry, you will soon feel better. I was done by Shaw's partner Guy Slater at St Richards back in November and am loving my band. I have lost 53lbs since starting the pre op diet and am feeling really well. I am just awaiting a date for my second fill as I couldn't make the appointment I got sent and they are so booked up that they haven't given me another date yet. Luckily I am still losing although my appetite has grown in the last few days. Sue

Hi Fairydust. sorry that your weight loss isn't going to plan and great idea to turn to this forum for some help. I know you are intending to see a dietician but in the meantime, why not keep a food diary and post up a typical days eating so we can spot any obvious flaws in what you are eating now. I am early days with my band and am not fully restricted yet (only one fill so far) but I have steadily lost weight since my pre op diet in August I am down 52lbs. I follow the weight watchers plan as i have always lost weight with it, although pre band ended up putting it back on. I keep a daily food diary to help me keep on track. Sue