jgandg

Interested in having a get together?

Hi Everyone, I had an incident last weekend where I vomited a small amount of blood. I just came back from an upper GI series and the radiologist said he could only see the band, not the pouch, that the band was at the top of my stomach. I think I know the answer to this will be surgical revision, but I guess I'm hoping to hear from someone who has been through this that there is another answer. Thanks!

I was banded in September 2006, had a baby in November 2007, and here I am, weighing the same. I never got enough restriction before I became pg. The good thing is I only gained 15 pounds during my pregnancy, and it all came off within a few week post partum. But here I am, back at the same weight. I went to my dr's for a fill, and have the next fill in one month. But I'm feeling skeptical, b/c the band never seemed to work for me. I would feel restriction, but hunger. Wanted to eat again about an hour later. This is not how it is supposed to be, is it? Why are dr's so conservative with the fills? Is it possible I just never got enough restriction?

I'm a little nervous, but mostly excited. I haven't weighed myself in a few weeks because I've been eating like I was pre-band, and I have a feeling I gained back any weight I lost. I am really looking forward to getting the weight loss started!

I am 5 weeks pg () and wondering if I can refuse an un-fill. It is my surgeon's offices' practice to un-fill during pregnancy, but I am at a level of restriction that, when combined with Weight Watchers, has me losing about 1 lb per week. I can easily increase my Protein and veg to be on the moderately gaining side. I am seeing my ob next Tuesday and will speak with her about it too. Any past experiences or anecdotes related to pregnancy and the band are appreaciated. THANK YOU!

Thanks everyone. My fear is not gaining a reasonable amount - say, between 15-25 lbs - but gaining much more. We'll see what happens at the doctor's office. Thanks again.

:think I was banded in September and have gained back any weight I lost pre-band. Only lost 2 lbs since being banded. I've had 2 fills, and feel very little restriction, unless I am nervous. For some reason I can't eat much then. But most of the time I can - and have been - eating whatever I want. I know this is MY fault, that I should be on a diet. I also know that when I go to my surgeon's office for my next fill (next week) and they see that the scale has gone up, I'll get a lecture. I'm just so annoyed at myself, but also at the band - b/c so far, it's not working. I feel the same as before, except like I said, when I'm nervous. Does it get better? Will I have more "will power" when I have restriction?????

Thanks Julie. I have an appointment for a fill next Monday and I'm going to share my concerns with the PA. I'm just hoping I'm not denied a fill b/c of my weight gain.

Thank you all so much. I really, really appreciate the support. I'm hoping next week's fill will give me restriction and help to keep my mind off food.

That does help, thank you! I have an Inamed band, I don't know the size. I've had 1 fill that was 1.0 and the 2nd was .5, I think. I'll ask at my next appointment. Is that a normal fill amount? Can it take more than 2-3 to feel proper restriction? I am drinking a lot of Water, but some days are better than others. There are definitely days when it's 5PM and I'm like "OMG I've only had about 16 ounces today". So I can be more consistent there. My exercise has been limited to walks. I walk until I get slightly out of breath and try to stay that way for about 15 minutes until taking it easy again. I do this about 3x per week.

Hey there everyone. I haven't been on in a while, and I'm really, really frustrated. I've had one fill, and the only thing that has changed for me since pre-op is that I can't eat as much at one sitting. I'm hungry about 2 hours after I eat. I hope with my 2nd fill I don't experience hunger so soon after a meal.

Wow. I can't believe how powerful it is. I had my first fill a few days ago, and it takes less food for me to feel full, but I still want to eat. I mean, I really want to eat! How does everyone deal with this?

Thanks for the good wishes~ It went pretty well. The needle that contained the novocaine was the only thing that hurt, and it wasn't painful really, just a little sting and slight burning for about 3 seconds. I got 1 cc, and already had .5 in there, so I'm at 1.5cc. I have to say I felt it in a few hours. I was eating Soup, and I just wanted to stop. I couldn't believe it, I was full! Normally I could have continued eating; I think I had about 3/4 of what I normally would have had. For anyone with upcoming adjustments, it really was ok, and I'm normally not ok with needles. And the best part is you finally feel like you're really starting with the band.

I have not had a fill yet. I can pretty much eat anything at this point, and I have been. I'm pretty good during the day, but a night I've been having desert, and I am not exercising. One the one hand, I am telling myself it's ok b/c I have not had a fill. On the other - and the one that wins out most of the time - is that I feel just disgusted with myself for not following a sensible diet and at least beginning to exercise. I keep telling myself I'll start when I get a fill. I'm writing this here so that I can see it in writing. Ugh. If I could just cut out the sweets after dinner and make an effort to walk a bit, I'd be proud of myself.

Thank you Alicia! See, my doc's office didn't really say that this wasn't a time for healing, and you are so right, the bad habits are hard to break. Teresita, I threw out all desert-y things. Thank goodness we don't have kids or Halloween night would have been torture!

I usually eat the crackers plain. But I put raspberry sauce on the cheese blintzes.:omg: Again, something I need to not allow in my house.

Thanks Tersita! My snack weakesess are crackers, and lately cheese blintzes from Trader Joes. :embarassed:

Thanks everyone. I have managed to keep off the weight I lost during pre-op, and you are sooo right - I need to not even bring the sweets into the house. Just keep them away. I like the idea of starting exercise by simply stretching; it's been so long since I've done any real strenusous physical activity that just the thought of it makes me feel like a failure. But stretches, yes - I can do that. I can walk too, so maybe I'll add a short walk to my lunch hour. I think I just want to be "perfect" at this from the start, and then I feel like a failure when it doesn't happen.

I've never heard of #'s dropping overnight, but over time, yes.

I was banded on the 21st and I'm still having pretty awful pain around my port and entire left abdomen. Vicodin helps, and I have enough left to get me through the next few days at least, I just didn't expect to still have pain a few days out. Is this normal? Also, I'm still kind of swollen but not gassy. No shoulder pain. Thanks in advance!

I have neither gained nor lost. :phanvan First fill is on November 9th! Can't get here soon enough.

I have not told my father or stepmother about my upcoming surgery. We're not super close, though we live about 10 miles from each other. My father's birthday is 2 days before my surgery and I am wondering if I should tell him when I see him to give him his present. Here's the thing: my father is horribly judgmental about women's weight. He often comments on it, and he did it to me when I was growing up. I think that in part my getting fat was in defiance of him - being exectly what he didn't want me to be. Nothing is more important to him in a woman than appearance - not intelligence, compassion, humor, etc. We have had a very strained relationship for years. I am currently trying to decide how much I want him in my life, and I feel like if I don't tell him about the band, then I am making a decision to NOT be close to him, a decision I wasn't feeling ready to make yet. But then I think, why tell him? It would be undermining my success. If I had to predict his behavior based on past experience, he would be initially very supportive (like he was with any diet), then turn to put-downs, teasing, and being the misogynist that he is. I suppose by writing this I am answering my own question: that I should not tell him, if I want to protect my self, and respect the band and the great lengths I am going to to get healthy. It's just hard b/c it's bringing up all these issues I have with him.:cry Thanks for listening. If you have any advice/insight/encouragement I'd love to hear it.

I was very nervous too, in the days just before surgery. Had second thoughts, the whole nine. However, it's the best thing I've done for myself in a long time. If you want to get healthy, and can really commit to working toward that goal, I don't know of a better way to do it. Best wishes to you~~~

I'm thinking of going to nursing school next year. I really want to do an accelerated BSN, which would take 12 months, and would mean quitting my job to attend school. Here is the problem: my husband and I would need to cover my tuition and supplement his salary with about 30k in student loans. I already have 45k from undergrad debt. The difference in salary if I had a BSN, as a new grad, compared to what I make now, is 20k gross annually. That doesn't take into account any OT or shift differential. It's just the starting salary at most hospitals where I live for day shift. The additional debt really scares me. However, the additional income would help a lot in paying it off. Plus, I would be in a career that I'd love. Any words of wisdom would be welcome. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Monday, 10/9 weigh in: 266 Christmas Goal: 241 Thanks for coordinating! This is great motivation, seeing the goal in writing.