marfar7

I agree with above posters - you just have to try everything to see if you can tolerate them. I can tolerate just about anything, I just don't eat much bread or meat because they hurt. I haven't had a fill in a year, but have an appt for one in a couple of weeks.We'll see if that changes my eating of Pasta (that would be a bummer if I couldn't). I know that when I went on a MExican cruise in March, I actually lost weight because the first meal was ribs and they made me uncomfortable for days. So I ate mainly yogurt and oatmeal after that. Good luck to you on your experiementing. Some people can't do bread. Marci

Congrats! I read 155 on the scale this morning - the lowest in my entire adult life. You must be so proud. Reward yourself (and not with ice cream!) Marci

I take Melatonin. I was taking Ambien for years b ut when I got into a car accident and don't remember it, I decided to start an OTC pill. In fact, I just ordered 6 bottles (buy 1 get 1 free) from Swanson Vitamins online for $21.00 and they're 10mg tablets - which you can't find in stores. I think it works great. Good luck to you! Marci

It's been since Oct 1, 2009 since I've had my lapband and I've lost 80 lbs (about 18 lbs to goal). 2 days after Thanksgiving, I started getting nauseous everytime I ate anything - including water.I threw up about 8x a day, after just sips of water. Since my last fill last June, I had pain everytime I ate anything and I threw up about 3-4 times a week. I thought that was just my new life and it was normal. Until last week when I had to go to the er cuz I couldn't keep anything down. I went to the local clinic (my actual clinic is 3 hrs away) on Wed and they said the antibiotics I was on last week for a bladder infection probably caused my nausea, in turn made me vomit, in turn made my band irritated - causing constant nausea. They took 2 cc out to see if that would help. Life has been wonderful! I can eat again - but not as much as I used to. I was scared taking 2cc out of my 10 cc full band would cause me to gain back all of my weight, but all it did was to allow me to eat the same small amt without any pain or vomiting.And I thought the pain was normal. So moral of the story: your band should restrict your eating but shouldn't cause you pain everytime you eat anything. I wish I had known this last June! I feel great now and I'm still losing! Happy holidays everyone! Marci

Congrats! I went into Onederland about 2 mths ago and it was fabulous. The lower you get, the better you'll feel. Again, congrats! Marci

Fabulous! Good for you!Keep up the good work! Marci

Congrats! Doesn't it feel wonderful to succeed? Happy bracelet shopping! Marci

I agree with pixistix - you're probably not at full restriction yet. It took 3 fills to get me there, and she's right, if I try to force another bite down after feelnig full, I will vomit- so I know when to push my plate away. AQnd yet, I keep trying to get another bite in - when will I learn? Resriction will come - I promise. I thought for the first 4 mths after getting the band, I would be the only one that the band didn't work for. I ate burgers, tacos, burritos, Pasta, evrything. Now I eat whatever I want, just smaller amts - and it makes me satisfied. Good luck to you! Marci

Thanks ladies! I knew you'd all understand. I agree about the bra fittings - you definately need one, I've never had one tho. My doc actually told me that my cup was too big (I was wearing a DD and he said I was a D) - so I bought a D and it fit perfectly. Now to get the perfect around size.....After I lose all of this weight, I plan on getting a breast lift and a tummy tuck. I'd better start saving my $$ now! My boobs sag down to my belly button! Thanks for all of your input! Marci

I've always been happy with the 6 pack Hanes Her Way panties for yrs. Even my panties are too big now. And as I was looking in the mirror this morning at my saggy underwear, I realized that it's not so attractive. So out went the granny panties and I went shopping for some cute ones. Got some boy cut with lace - very pretty. And they make my butt look great! I never thought panties would ever be important to me - I mean, who cares what you wear underneath clothes? I do now. And I can now fit into the bra/panty combos I've seen all these yrs, that I could never fit into. And it makes me feel better about myself just wearing them. Simple remedy for poor body image? buy some pretty panties! Marci

Since I got good restriction a few months ago, everything I drink or eat stuff like yogurt, pudding, ice cream etc seem to make my esophagus gurgle. Sounds like my tummy rumbling, but it's coming out of my throat. It's truly embarrassing - especially when I'm on a date with a new guy!I'm not really into hiding it or anything, but I wasn't plannng on telling them on our first date! What do I say about the very loud noises coming out of my throat? Anyone else have this gurgle? I've heard my sister in law say that she had it for a couple of yrrs after her gastric bypass. I can understand more for that, but I don't understand the noises from the band. Most people that I eat with know about my surgery, so they laugh when the noise comes, sometimes really, really loudly. One of those side effects they never told us about..... Marci

I didn't feel any restriction until my 3rd fill, and good restriction on my 4th. You may be just like me - it might take a few fills to get you going. I didn't lose any weight (oh, maybe 10 or so) the first 5mths, but I've lost another 42 lbs in the 2nd 5 mths, when I finally got good restriction. You'll get there. I thought I'd be the only patient this didn't work on and I'd never know what restriction even felt like. You will - just hang in there. Yeah, we're jealous of those who have immediate restriction or those who lost 100 lbs in a yr while I lost 52 lbs in almost the same time. But everyones body is different and you can't change that - you might as well roll with it! Best to you! Marci

I'm also hypo, on Synthroid. I've lost 52 lbs since Oct 09 and my doctor said he was going to do some blood tests on my next visit (Oct) to see if they can lower the dosage. I talked to him about possibly getting off the meds once I reach my goal, but I guess I need them forever. It's not like diabetes - where if you eaqt properly and lose weight, you may not be a diabetic anymore. From what I understand, hypothyroidism doesn't go away with weight loss, you just need less of a dosage. Marci

I wish someone had told me that it might take a few months to get it adjusted right - I expected to start losing immediately, unfortunately it took 4 mths to get the right tightness and then I started losing. Marci

I orderd the Acai berry + a colon cleanser over a yr ago (before banding). They told me it was free I had to pay S & H with my credit card. Little did I know that the following month, they would then bill me over $100 for the 2 bottles of pills. 1 just gave me diarhea and the other did nothing. I'd tell you to keep your money. Your band will work soon enuf and you'll be amazed by the results. Good luck! Marci

I had my 14cc band placed Oct 1, 2009 - and I really didn't see any significant weight loss for the first 4 mths. It took until my 3rd fill (and my doc only does them every 6 wks and he's also 3 hrs away) and 8.5 cc to get any restriction at all. I had my 5th fill almost 6 wks ago, for a total of 9.5 cc in my band - and I think I'm finally at my sweet spot. I've only lost 50 lbs in the last 9 mths, but most of that has been since Feb, when I finally got some restriction. Good luck to you. And remember, each band is so personal, it doesn't matter how much I have in mine, what counts is how you feel. Marci

Finally, after 9 mths - I weighed myself yesterday morning and weighed 199! I never thought I'd be happy to see 199. I have about 50 more lbs to lose - and I will, eventually. It's taken 9 mths to lose 49 lbs, hope it doesn't take another 9 mths to lose Marci

I had my band placed on Oct 1, 2009. As of today, I've lost 48 lbs. It's coming off slowly but steadily - my dr is happy with my progress. I still have about another 50 lbs to go. I'm hoping to lose another 15 or so by Oct 1. Good luck everyone - everyone is doing fantastic! Marci

This past Tues morning, I woke up at 5 am in extreme pain. I thought it would go away.. When it didn't at noon, I went to the urgent care. The doc there sent me to the ER with a note saying "patient needs a surgical consult/possible band slippage"/ Scared me to death. So, I sit in the ER for a few hrs before they see me. They did a ct of my abdomen and found my band was fine - I had diverticulitis. They gave me a pain shot in my IV and I felt so much better. 3 rx's later and orders to eat Clear liquids for 48 hrs - I'm feeling much better now. Has anyone else thought their band had slipped? Marci

What was the date of your surgery? How healthy did you/do you eat? How much do you exercise? How much have you lost? Are you happy with your results? My surgery was Oct 1, 2009 Fairly healthy - I just don't eat very much I walk my dog 2x a day and go to the gym for 1 hr 3x a wk As of yesterday, I've lost 46 lbs If you were to have asked me 4 mths ago, I would have said no, but now that I have good restriction, definately I'm happy. Could have been more, but as my doc says "the slower you lose, the longer you'll keep it off"

After my 3rd fill, I had restriction, as in if I eat too fast or too big of bites, it comes back up. But I'm never really "full". I'm guilty of eating many slider foods - just because real meat gives me such problems (I know, I know, if I cook it right it'll be moist and if I eat slowly, yadayadayada) and I can pretty much eat my weight in slides foods. I've been losing and gaining the same 2 lbs over the past 3 weeks. If I eat too many sliders, will it stretch my pouch, or is that just stretched by real food? And if it is stretched, will getting another fill bring it back to normal - or does it just tighten up the tube food goes down? Can I do something about a streched pouch or did I ruin my surgery? Thanks! Marci

Everyone pretty much answered what I was thinking! In addition to their comment, I see you're on Seroquel. Did your dr explain to you than you can gain weight with that drug? When going over my options for a med to help me sleep, he brought up Seroquel. I siad let's try it. Then my psychiatrist adds "it'll probably put 10 more pounds on you", I said no. Has something to do with messing up your blood sugar. I've sinced learned from several docs that Seroquel causes weight gain. However, if that med is working for you, don't stop taking it because I said you'd gain weight - I'm just giving you facts about it. Google it. I hope things start going better for you, sweety! It was about 5 mths before I started losing anything also. I'm now at 8 mths - 36 lbs - it'll start for you too! Marci

My doc does them every 6 wks, sooner if absolutely necessary. I have to drive 3 hrs ea way to get there - so I'm happy they aren't every 2 wks. I've had 4 fills in 8 mths. This last time, I lasted 12 wks instead of 6 because I was feeling good and losing. I have an appt with dr on the 23rd and gunna ask him for another fill. I've loosened up big time over the past few weeks, Good luck to you! Marci

HEy all! I got my band on Oct 1, 2009 (8 mths ago) and I've only lost about 35 lbs. I'm happy with that because the first 5 mths I had lost about 15 lbs and the next 3 months - 20 lbs. About 3 months ago, I had my 3rd fill and it seemed to work. I was full after just several bites. But now, I'm still hungry even after I finish my meal, eating too much, too often - but yet I'm still throwing up (due to my one carelessness) (usually eating too fast or the wrong things, like bread!). I've heard someone on here say that good restriction doesn't necessarily mean Im throwing up - it could just be user error. But to feel good restrcition, I should feel fuller and for longer periods of time. I accidently missed my appt today (forgot what day it was) and I rescheduled for Monday the 14th. Will he give me another fill even if I still occasionally vomit? I wouldn't call it PBing - I didn't burp - I vomit (only food tho). I'd like to get to the point where I can only eat a small amt and be full for hours. What do you think? Am I already too tight cuz I throw up due to human error, or do I need another fill because I'm not getting/staying full?

I'm so jealous! I still have 15 lbs to go to be 199. You should be very proud of yourself! You're doing great! Marci