marfar7

2 yrs and 4 mths. Oct 1, 2009. Marci

I ordered a case of Isopure fruit flavored Protein drinks before I had surgery cuz my nurse told me they tasted like Jolly Ranchers. They don't. I drank one (took me all day to get the thing down) and gave the rest to my brother in law. If you bought the frut flavored ones, make sure you taste them before that's the only thing you have to drink. Marci

Yes, the last 20 are the hardest to lose. I used to want to shake my friends who needed to lose 20 lbs - and that's all. Now I'm one of them. I need to lose about 13 more to get to my 135 goal. And I've been losing and gaining the same 5 lbs for the past 6 mths. I'm in a size 7 jeans for the first time in my life tho - and that's good. If I never lost anymore weight, I'd stil be happy with my band. I'd be happier if I could lose the darned 13 lbs tho! Good luck to you! Marci

Yes, mine did too. I was on liquids for a month after my surgery too, so that helped keep it off. But I ddn't get restriction until my 3rd fill (4 mths after surgery) so I didn't lose much after the liquid portion ended - cuz I ate almost as much as before surgery Good luck on your surgery! Marci

I started out at 248 in Oct 2009. I weighed 144 at the docs office on Monday. It took me a yr to lose the first 75 lbs and over the last yr or so, I lost a little over 25. So 2 yrs. I know I was slow. I still want to lose about 9 more lbs. The nurse said I wouldn't be able to hold myself up with my tiny legs if I lose 9 more lbs! That felt good! You can do it! The first 5 mths I didn't lose much - then when I got my 3rd fill, it finally kicked in! I started losing pretty quickly. I eat whatever I want (including brea, rice, and pasta) just in really small quantities. I do throw up about once a week now - my own fault, from eating too fast or too much. I used to throw up almost everyday, so that's getting better. Good luck! Marci

I went to my doc yesterday for a fill - I haven't been losing weight recently and I have about 15 lbs left to lose. It's been 2 yrs in Oct for me. My dc explained to me when he injected the Fluid that he could barely push the plunger in - it was fighting him the whole time. He managed to get .5 cc in tho. He also told me that I'm maxed out - that anything in the future is just me. How can I be maxed out at 10cc? He explained to me that your stomach is like a balled up pc of paper - with folds in it that the band needs to cover also. It can't go at 14 cc - that would be a smooth stomache and no one has that. Has anyone else heard this also? I'm hoping this will take care of my last 15 lbs - but I'm also bummed that it's done it's job and the rest is up to ME??!! Me?? I didn't do a very good job before my band - what makes me think I can do a bang up job of it after? Lol. Thanks! Marci

Thanks for the responses. I have a 14cc Realize band. I always thought it would take at least 14cc- if not more. Yesterday was the first I've ever heard that I'm maxed out. I just ate my first actual meal a few minutes ago - some clam chowder. Went down fine, no vomiting. That's how I usually rate my restriction, whether I vomit my first few meals or not. I know that's bad, but it's what kept me from eating too much in the past. I went out to lunch to a seafood place with a friend today (I kept it to tomato Soup last nite) and couldn't find anything healthy that would go down easily - just in case. I'm making chicken breasts tonite - hopefully I'll be able to tell more with "real" food. And B-52: thats the way my doc does do the fills. He emptied my band then put more in the syringe to count how m,uch was in there, then had a problem putting the amount that was already in there + some back in. I watched the syringe plunger backing out by itself, without him any pressure on it at all. My doctor is excellent - I go to 1 of only 2 centers of excellence in OR - and he's very knowledgeable about bariatric surgeries. That's why I'm wondering why there's so many answers to this question?? Marci

I've was banded 2 yrs ago in Oct (2009). The only problem I had was last Dec, I was taking some anitibiotics for a bladder infection. They made me nauseaous, to the point that I couldn't keep anything down. Finally got rid of the infection, was put on new antibioitics, but the damage was already done - I HAD irritated my band by vomiting too much. Then I still couldn't keep anything down.tried Soup - couldn't even keep a TB of soup down. The doc had to take 2 cc out - that cured it. Had 1cc put back in this past summer and hopefully tomorrow I will get the other cc put back in. Other than that, it's been a pice of cake Hey, I made a pun! Marci

I also slipped up over the holidays. I've lost over 100 lbs over the past 2 yrs and went away to CA for 5 weeks. Got married, went on a 7 day Mexican cruise, and spent the holidays with my new in laws - eating. I gained 5 lbs. I'm terrified that I'm going to gain all my weight back. I'm, not one to follow rules at all - I eat whatever I want, just less of it. I'm thinking about doing the 5 day pouch test after I get a fill on Monday. I'm also hoping that my fill will work. I have 7 cc in a 14 cc band, so I have plenty of room for more. JUst wanted you to know that there' others out there gaining weight and scared. Losing 5 lbs is hard now - after losing 104 lbs, the last 15 are tough! I always used to make fun of people who just needed to lose 20 lbs or so and they couldn't. That's where I am now. Keep us updated on your progress! Marci

I always drink thru a straw. And it's been over 2 yrs for me. My doc or nurse never told me not to. I've never had anything bad happen yet. Marci

Congrats! Marci

Congrats to you! I'm over 2 yrs out and still have about 14 lbs left to lose. I'm at my docs 1st goal for me (which was 150) but I want to get to 135. I'm glad to hear someone else thats taking their time to lose. It also took me about 5 mths to get to "my spot" where I was consistently losing. Keep up the good work! Happy New Year to you!@ Marci

Congrats on the date! My husband died about 4 yrs ago and I started dating again about 18 mths ago - when I weighed about 200 (down 50 lbs since surgery). I think I told pretty much all of my dates what I had done. I was pretty proud of myself. In fact, the last guy I dated (I just married him on Dec 3rd!) we had something in common. He had just gotten done losing 80 lbs thru lo carbing it. I've now lost over 100 lbs and I don't care who knows. None of the gys ever thought I was weird, they all congratulated me actually. So if it does slip out, don't worry about being "weird". They'll be happy to know that you're on your way to a healthier and happier you! Marci

It took 4 mths and 3 fills to get me to where I felt "restriction". I didn't feel it the first 24 hrs cuz I was on liquids, but the next day, I ate maybe 3 bites of chicken and 3 bites of a baked potato and I felt really full. An uncomfortable feeling in my chest, not at all like the feeling of fullness I had prior to my band. A feeling of "uh oh, I ate way too fast" or "Uh oh, if I take one more bite it will all come back up". I did receive a fourth fill about 2 months later - bad idea. Everytime I ate anything, I felt pain. That lasted about 5 months - which I thought was normal - until I finally had 2cc taken out of my band. Still good restrcition, just no more pain. I went 15 months until I got my next fill, about 4 months ago. I have another scheduled for next Monday - hoping to take off the last 12 lbs. While I still feel restriction, it's not anything it used to be. I eat much more now before I feel that "feeling" in my chest. So, the moral of the story: No, it's not a feeling like I used to get after eating Thanksgiving dinner. It's now an uncomfortable feeling that if I take just 1 more bite, I'll regret it. Marci

I still have the same shape of body - just less of it. I've always been bigger on top and skinnier on the bottm. Hasn't changed. I wish I had an hourglass figure! I wear a size 6 or 7 on the jeans - while I'm wearing an XL on top. Oh well. Better than 3X that I was wearing 2 yrs ago! So, your shape should remain the same just a little (or a lot!) smaller! Marci

I didn't feel anything different the first 2 fills. My 3rd one was "magic". I got my 4th fill about 2 mths later - then went 15 months until my 5th. I'm scheduled for another fill next Monday - I haven't lost much over the past few months and I still need to lose about 12 lbs. I'm hoping this will be THE ONE that takes me to my goal weight. Good luck! Marci

I lived on cream of tomato soup the first month. Everytime I went to Albertsons to pick up my soup, I smelled the fried chicken in the deli and I almost died of hunger. Good luck with this stage. It'll be over soon and you'll be on to real food! Hang in there! Marci

I lost my 100+ lbs over the past 2 yrs, so very slowly. I have minimal sagging skin on my tummy, none on my arms, and very little on my thighs. I work out an hour, 3x a week. Mostly walking on the treadmill, but also weight exercises. If I had the money now, I'd probably have the skin taken care of, but I figure the only people who see it is me and my husband - and he doesn't care. So, the moral of the story? Lose it slowly, work out, and don't worry about it. If you're meant to have saggy skin, you will - and then you can take care of it if you want. Marci

Yes, 2 yrs out and I still gurgle. Makes my husband laugh. I didn't start gurgling tho till I was at proper restriction - about 4 mths out. So yours is a good sign! Just sit back, relax, and add words to your tunes! Marci

I thought the same thing. What if I fail at this too? This is the most expensive "diet" I've ever done and what if all my time and money are wasted? Even after my surgery over 2 yrs ago, I thought I failed. For 5 mths - I lost about 5 lbs. I was eating just like I was prior to the surgery. The 3rd fill was my savior tho. After that, I started losing about 10 lbs a month. I'm now down 104 lbs with about 9 left to go. My goal is 135. I finally found something I didn't fail in! I still can't believe that I fit into size 7 jeans! Everytime I shop, I go directly to the "fat lady" section - then I realize I no longer need them! The lady who waxes my eyebrows today told me me "Why do you need to lose 9 lbs? You're so tiny!" That made me feel good! I even weigh less than my little sister whyo's never had a weight problem her whole life. My husband calls me "skinny mini" all the time. So, the moral of the story: even if you've failed at every diet in the book in the past, this is NOT a diet - it WILL change your life. Keep positive, be patient (because it may take a while to get proper restriction), and remember that you'll never have to diet again! I love that about the band. I can eat anything I want (including bread, rice, and pasta) - just very small quantities. I wouldn't even dream of eating a whole sandwich. Good luck to you! Keep us posted! Marci

My doc always waits 6 weeks between fills. My first 3 fills were all 6 weeks apart and then that lasted me a yr. Call your doc to see how long you have to wait! Marci

I had my band put in over 2 yrs ago. My doctor was very strict - liquids only for the first 4 weeks, but he included Protein drinks in with the liquids. In fact, I had a Protein Drink the day after my surgery while still in the hospital. I just recently read thru my post op instructions again (for the heck of it!) and I'm so mad at myself! I thought he wrote that I was to be on clear liquids + Protein Drinks for 4 weeks. After a week or so, I was starving so I added cream Soups to the mix. I thought I was cheating the whole time. It read "clear liquids, yogurt, pudding and creamy soups". I would ask your doctor to verify the info. That seems like a long time to go without any protein. Altho you can get protein in Isopur (you can get it from GNC online) and it's a clear liquid. You can also get powdered flavorless protein that you can add to any clear liquid if necessary. I drank ONE of the Isopures I bought (a $100 worth) after my surgery. My nurse said they tasted like Jolly Ranchers. They don't. I think they're nasty. But if it's true that s/he wants you on only clear liquids, it's nice to know there's a choice. Good luck. Hope they let you eat creamy stuff too - it's nice to know you haven't cheated when you start starving! Marci

They have the best clam chowder and chili in bread bowls out side of Splash Mountain. If you skip the bread, you shoule be ok. I too went to DLand last yr and had no problem finding food - but I was already a yr out and can eat almost anything. Good luck! Marci

You shouldn't be vomiting bile. Usually when I vomit, I just vomit the food/drink I just had. The biles comes actually from your stomach - not your esophagus. Do you think maybe you also have a little stomach bug or something? I'd say stay on liquids a couple more days and then add in something soft, like cottage cheese or scrambled eggs. Then take it from there. I'd be leary of thinking it was your band to if you're vomiting bile. Good luck! Marci

2 yrs after my husband died, I was ready to start dating again. I figure I really didn't want to be on the BBW website so I had to lose weeight. Also when I couldn't catch my breath while tying my shoes! Marci