SAMMY77

The same range of clothes as me then lol!! I've got rid of all the 20,22 and pretty much 18's now (kept the odd thing just in case !). I'm between a 14 and 16 now so starting to feel good. I will try and figure out how to post a couple of photos on here.............................may need ur help Freckles!!

Wow Freckles she has done soooooooo well! How long did it take her to lose the weight? She is gorgeous like her mummy . Do I recall u saying ur other daughter has a quite a low BMI (for us bandsters :tongue2:). Did she mention it to Dr Chris? How did she get on? I bet she's dead excited!!! Will you be staying at the gorgeous Campanille?!! Ask for a disabled room if possible - we had one as we had little Harrison with us and he was only 7 months old so in a travel cot. The room they originally gave us was tiny! Couldn't even fit the cot in it!! And actually the disable bathroom was quite handy post op.

Thanks Slinky - u'll be there before you know it!! My 1st goal was always 12 stone as I remember I always felt reasonably slim at that weight and felt OK. After that I just want to settle at a weight between 10 stone (if I am reallllllllllllllly lucky lol) and 11 stone so I can buy clothes that I know I'm going to fit into for a good few years! I'm fed up of having so many clothes in so many sizes!!

Oh good luck to ur daughter. Is she going to Belgium for the op? U've done really well with weight loss. It's not always easy though is it? I seemed to go in fits and starts usually just after having a fill. It's nearly 7 stone now I've lost - 94lb!! I just can't believe it. I really don't feel like I've lost that much and can't remember being my heaviest! Thankfully! It's a bane this damned acid/reflux thing isn't it? I still get awful indigestion some nights but it's much better than it was but I'm not really losing weight

Fatpants - just seen your post. That's amazing!!! Well done you x Did you have any points where you could eat quite a lot even thoguh ur band had quite a lot in or were you lucky?

I had awful acid reflux for a good few weeks and finally had a couple of defills a good 6-8 weeks ago. I'm so glad I did as it was just awful! I did get some med's from my doc but they didn't really help. The trouble is now my weight loss has pretty much stopped. I think I'll get another defill soon when I get into gear of say 1ml and have it put back in 2 weeks later. It should feel tighter (from past experience of having lots of fills and defills during and after pregnancy!) after that. I did speak to the nurse I see for fills and she said that would prob work. I really wanted to lose another stone at least by Christmas but know I'm gonna need better restriction. I'm hungry and can eat a good amount even though I've got quite a lot in my band - :thumbup:. I have to look at photos before the op though and realise how far I've come. I've lost the best part of 7 stone which is amazing but I'm still over 12 and half stone. I suppose the last couple of stone is hardest to shift and I just wanna eat all the wrong things :smile2: Freckles - did your daughter get banded? How is she? x Good luck to all those being banded some or have recently had their op. It'll all be worth it in the end x

Freckles - just seen that u've not been very well. Hope ur feeling better now hun x

Hi Angelfizz - thanks so much. I am starting to eat a more varied diet now that my restriction isn't great including a few on your list in an attempt to fill me up! I couldn't eat them for a good while after being banded. From my experience you aren't wasting your money. For me it was the best thing I have ever done. I've lost pretty much 6 stone (I know I can't believe it!!) over about 16 months but I've had baby in between so haven't done badly! I would like to lose at least another 2 stone but ideally another 3 and half stone. My journey has slowed down a bit because of the reflux issue but hey it's a marathon not a sprint! I'm confident I'll reach my goal and keep the weight off which I would have no way done without my band. I love it - nothing short of a miracle!!

I'm really sorry to hear about your problems. I hope ur feeling better now and started to see the effects of the band in a positive way x

That's a really nice idea and your food bill will go down too so no need to feel guilty!

Hi Freckles - hope the Christening all went well. The wedding was pretty good but stressful with 2 little ones!! However I was able to shop at Phase Eight for my outfit so was chuffed! I couldn't get stuck into the evening buffet though LOL for fear of night reflux! That was vvvvvvvvvvvery difficult!! xxx

Hi there Miablue. I am so sorry I have only just read your post. I've had 2 small defills as it is reasonably common if your band is tight. Whilst it has provided some relief I still have a night cough most nights which is really annoying. The other night I woke up with reflux coming out of my nose which was not nice!! I think I have about 7 ml in a 7-9ml band so it is pretty well topped up. However I can still eat a reasonable amount which is annoying and my weight loss has all but stopped. Each small defill has made the reflux slightly better but not got rid of it. I am considering taking a good amount out, say another 1ml and letting things settle down. Once things have settled down you can try another fill. I had lots of fills and defills during and after pregnancy and had better restriction with a smaller amount in my band but it wore off after a while. I think if I have this 1ml out now and put back in in say a month or so time my restriction will be better than it is now. I think my body gets used to it as time passes and the weight comes off. I am taking Omeprazole tablets (only available on prescription) but I can't say for sure whether or not the are helping. I forgot to take one last night and didn't wake coughing once! I've tried to keep a mental food diary and nothing really seems to trigger it but I have read certain foods make the reflux worse (citrus fruits, chocolate etc - just do a google search) so I'm trying to avoid them. I'm also not eating after 630pm and not drinking anything after 7pm which is also meant to help. What is your restriction like? Did the reflux start soon after fill? I ask as I've had reflux a couple of times before for a week or so after a fill but never for this long!! I will keep you posted if I get another defill as to what happens. At this rate I'll have no voice left - the night cough has left me sounding very husky!! I hope this helps x

Welcome!! You are in the right place for support and advise. I don't think I could've done it without the support of the guys on here x:thumbup:

Gosh this thread moves fast - I can't keep up! Well after another night sleeping propped up on the sofa I decided to get a defill. Luckily I managed to gewt one in Cardiff on Monday. I had 0.5ml out - so basically the last 2 fills. Monday night was bliss - a proper nights sleep! I did get a bit of reflux last night but nowhere near as bad. I did forget to take my tablet though so hopefully tonight will be better. I still seem to have restriction but not great. I'm really gonna have to work at it. I really want to lose at least another 2 stone and would really like to lose 4 stone so still a long way to go..........................grrr :thumbup: To everyone being banded soon - you'll be fine. It's the start of the new you!

Oh defo have a 'last supper'!! :cool: I've had so many of those with all my pregnancy defills and fills! :wink2:

On my third fill I had what I would consider to be a bit of an over fill. For nearly 2 weeks it hurt to drink even but I was managing to get 1.5 litres in ableit very slowly! I found after the first week every day got better and I didn't go for a defill. I spoke to my aftercare provider and they said it was OK and to suck ice lollies etc. I also took some liquid ibruprofen (calpol) to take down the swelling. I know it seems brutal but I'm glad I didn't get a defill but if you are in pain it would be welcome relief! As long as you can get liquids down OK - that's the main thing. It will wear off soon anyway so you'll be able to eat more. Just watch the weight fall off.....................! :cool:

Hi there. I hope you had a nice holiday! Don't beat yourself up about the weight gain, as you said it would've been far more without the band!! At least when you have another fill it will get you back on the straight and narrow. Ur weight loss so far is great! I think we were banded about the same time.

Oh Freckles ur not alone!! I eat more sweet stuff then I ever used to. I blame Harrison though! I had a sweet craving that never went away! I used to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day - prob only that a week now which is bad! I am learning to live with the band more now and am not scared of trying things to eat. I think my tummy has got used to it now too so am not sick very often!! I am like you, can eat small amounts of most things which I think is great. 'Proper' food defo makes me feel fuller so is worth the effort. But I'm like you with this damned night time reflux, it's driving me mad! Did you get the tab's off the doctor? I've been on them a week. I'm still getting the reflux but am sleeping propped up which helps. However I do wake choking most nights! I can't believe the baby sleeps through my choking fits!! I'm going to see how it goes over the next few weeks. I don't really want to have a defill as I'd say I'm at my sweet spot. Any tighter and I'd be making bad food choices like just choc, crisps and ice-cream! Good luck to all those being banded in the coming weeks. You are in safe hands and I'm sure you will never look bad. It's not an easy option, you still have to work at it but I have NO regrets and know I'd be 5 stone heavier (if not more) without it. x

My restriction before fill was actually not bad, I just wanted it to be good but I hope I haven't set myself up for continuous acid reflux. I've had it a couple of times after fills but it's always gone away after a week or two. This seems 0ot be lingering on. I propped myself up a bit with pillows last night and it did seem better. I know what you mean about choc and sweets. It's the worst thing being able to eat them so easily! I try not to have them in the house but end up eating the buttons I've bought for my little boy sometimes! Ooooooooops!! I'm sure you'll get motivated soon. I just hope the reflux sorts itself out and I don't have to have a defill :grouphug:

Hi Mmm - I'm sorry to hear about the reflux issue. I had a tummy bug (no vomiting thankfully) a few weeks ago and developed night-time acid reflux even though I could eat a reasonable amount. Because I could eat a reasonable amount I decided to have a very small fill today (0.25ml) as I won't be able to get to clinic for a couple of months. I hope I've not made the wrong decision. I thought that because I could eat quite a bit the tightness of the band wasn't causing the reflux. My doc has put me on the same tab's as you but I've only been taking them a week so haven't really had chance for them to work. I'll just see how it goes. I'm at 8.50ml in a 7-9ml band but it doesn't feel tight at all - hopefully perfect after this small fill. Fingers crossed the tablets work and the reflux sorts itself out! How long did you have it for before having a defill? I'm glad you are happy at the weight level you are at. I'm getting there..................!

Hey Freckles - great to see that things are going well for you. A little fill can make all the difference!! x

Jayne - don't worry you will start to feel more positive when you have had a few fills and your band starts earning it's money! I took 3 fills to get restriction and then the weight loss really started. Hang on in there! x

Hi Gary - you have done soooooo well and you really should be proud of yourself. You have changed your way of life and it's really paying off now!! I too haven't been on here for ages with one thing and another but I'm going to try and get on here more often. Easier said that done with 2 children under the age of two and a husband that is away for up to 2 months at a time!! Well it's about 16 months since I was banded and I've lost well over 5 stone now. I'm pretty pleased as I've had a baby since the op! I only really put on baby weight and am now over 2 stone lighter than before I was pregnant. I seem to have had that many defills and fills but feel I am back on track now and learning to live with my band more. I'm really starting to notice the difference in my size now and love finding new clothes in my wardrobe that I forgot I had cos I haven't worn them for so long!!

I can strongly recommend WLS Group too. I had my first fill with Frederik and thne went with WLS. They are fantastic and you really feel like an individual and well looked after. If they cover a place near you I'd defo go for it!

Hi guys I've not been on here for a while, I just seem to have had hardly any time to myself since starting back at work a couple of months back. I'm nearly 19 weeks pregnant now, can you believe where the time has gone?!! I'm starting to show a bit now, but I think it's also down to the chocolate cravings I seem to be having - typical! Why can't I crave celery or tomatoes!?! Well, I had 0.5ml out when I first found out I was pregnant which took me back down to 6ml in a 7-9ml band. I was glad I did as the band tightening with the wrenching down the toilet! When I got to 13 weeks and the nausea had past I had the 0.5ml back in over 2 fills. I do have a bit of restriction but not great. I was tempted to have a bit more in just to stop me from eating too much but I think it'd be pointless as I just need to start eating the right stuff and not give in to my chocolate obsession! In the last 19 weeks, I lost about 5lbs in the first 12 weeks but they seem to have gone back on now. But I am pretty much the same weight now as pre-pregnancy but I suspect I may have gained a couple of lbs the last few days. But at this stage with Harrison I'd put on at least a stone may be more so I am pleased to in effect not have put anything on. Wendy at WLS was happy for me to lose 20lb of fat throughout the pregnancy but I just don't think that's going to happen. But I'd be happy with just a moderate weight gain and then start again after the baby is born in March. It doesn't help because our fridge freezer is broken and keep losing it's 'coolness' so I can't put much in there. The fault is really rare and it's been a nightmare getting it sorted and sourcing the part. I should all be fixed in another couple of weeks so I can start buying more and freezing stuff again. Hubby went back for another 8 weeks last week (was 3 weeks waiting for his visa so we had him home for nearly 2 months which was fab!) so it's down to cooking for myself which I find hard. Any ideas for easy suppers for one?!! Anyway I'll stop babbling! How is everyone, I've not had time to go back and read any posts unfortunately. I just hope everyone is doing well and their eating is more in control than mine!! I'm putting this last few days down to comfort eating too since hubby went back to work! :confused: