LaDawnS

Hi HG! I went through that exact same thing! didn't loose for like a month! It was so frustrating! They told me to eat bites no larger than an almond and chew it at least 20 times per bite! You're absolutely right...once you learn the right way to do it, things just work much better! I'm glad you got it all worked out! Enjoy that food that you can eat now! I know, I though that I'd never be able to eat chicken again! I was so bummed! :smile2: I love chicken! :confused: Good luck with everything!

Thanks everyone! :confused:

I feel for you, My surgeon and his PA do the fills right there in his office. I couldn't imagine having to make appointments at a completely different place and have a waiting period that long! The longest I've had to make an appointment ahead was a week and that was only once, most of the time they've been able to fit me in that day or the next. I'd maybe think about finding another bariatric doctor that does fills in their office. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Hi Jen! Thanks for the sweet words! This band has been the absolute best thing I've ever done for myself! In just a month or so post op I was able to stop taking meds for my heart, high blood pressure, high cholesteral, one of my PCOS meds, diabetes, asthma, joint pain and was able to lower my c-pap machine for sleep apnea. It has been amazing! Not to mention, I just feel so much better! I have so much more energy! And absolutely love beeing able to shop in the "Normal Sized section of the clothing stores! It's been a very long time since I've been able to do that! The not so great thing is that I have lots of wrinkles! They just started popping out of nowhere! But ya know...I can handle wrinkles if I have a much healthier body! :wink: I've been told that at about 18 months your skin starts to even out a bit and look better so we'll see. Good luck with your banding! Hope it happens soon for you! Keep us posted!

Hey MSan! Thanks for the nice words! I'm glad you're finally feeling some restriction, That'll definately help with your weightloss. I have a 10cc band and have had about 5 fills and will be going in for my 6th one Feb. 2nd. I have 6 cc's in my band now. I guess because of the more rapid than normal weightloss, my band is loosing fatty tissue at that same rapid pace so I've had more fills than most at almost 9 months. Whenever I can eat 5-6 ounces in a setting and be hungry before my 3 hours is up and slow down with the weightloss, they tell me to come in and have another fill. Then the loss speeds up again! It's nice that you've lost at a slower pace though, you probably won't have the extra skin issue! Especially with you working out so much! That's very impressive! Take care and good luck with the new restriction! :wink:

Hi Dawn! Thanks! There was a "Post New Thread" box at the bottom of the discussion page. I've had that happen too though, sometimes they just aren't there!

I agree! Definately do not drink in bed! I was also told no drink for 1 hour before and no food for 3 hours before bed. It has definately helped me with the reflux in bed! It's not a fun experience, I know!!! Good luck!

Karianne! Great Job! I see a big difference in the pics! You're doing awesome! Keep it up!

Hi, I just wanted to let you know what my surgeon has really stressed with me about portion size...Take it as you want, like you said...everyone has a different story... I was told that 3-5 ounces total per meal is a good amount but you should never eat more than 6 ounces total because it can cause your pouch to stretch, which isn't good. When I am able to eat 6 ounces easily, my surgeon says it's time for a new fill, he says that you should eat every 3 hours to keep your metabolism working at full capacity, so 5-6 times a day. He's been recognized as one of the nations top Bariatric surgeons, he's amazing! I've lost 100 pounds in 8 months following his guidelines. And just wanted to let ya know what I was warned against. Good luck with the rest of your journey! Nice job with the exercising! You should be really proud of yourself keeping up with that! Wish I had that determination and willpower!

Congrats Calli! I'm glad you are feeling better! Hope it continues to get better and better! It sure has for me! Good Luck!

Hi Ash! My mother had a stroke at age 53 from sleep apnea. She had no idea what it even was before that, neither did I. Right afterwards I went in for a sleep study myself. I actually had to redo my sleep study because of my severe closterphobia...I had a panic attack. The second attempt to do the sleep study, I realized that it wasn't really that bad and felt kinda silly that I had had such a problem the first time around. I snored like a chain saw, woke up with headaches all the time, sore throat every morning, and fell asleep all the time, no matter where I was! I have it worse than my mother does so I'm glad I went in! I've been sleeping with my C-pap machine for two years now and feel so much better. You get used to the machine very quickly, and you get so much better sleep that it's all very worth it! I use a nasal pillow mask, it sets just under your nose rather that the face mask or nose mask. I am very closterphobic and did not like those big things in my face...but the nasal pillow doesn't bother me at all. Well good luck with your tests, hope all goes well for you!

That's irritating, what do they have to hate? For most of us the band has saved our lives! I'm glad that you're not letting that get you down! You've done an amazing job! And your work with the foundation is very admirable!:cursing:

I'm only coming up to my 9 month post op. Haven't kept it off for years, but have talked to many banders that have maintained for years. Hopefully I'll be one of those too! Thanks for the sweet words! :biggrin:

My bands name is "squishy" (Little Nemo is one of my favorite Disney Movies and Dory is my favorite character in it, if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about)...He can be a baaaaaad squishy at times but, I still love him!

I think that it is fairly normal to not loose much until you get your first fill. It does go quickly though, no worries...those pounds will be flying off very soon! Good luck with everything!

My surgery was breeze! They said I'd have the "gas" pain in my shoulder...had a little uncomfortable feeling for a few hours one night but that was it! C-section was definately worse by far!!!!!! Lapband was nothing! And my journey since that surgery day has been an amazing one! Have lost 102 pounds in 8 1/2 months and feel great! Off heart meds, high cholesteral meds, high blood pressure meds, diabetes meds, asthma meds and PCOS meds! Joint pain is gone! Sleep Apnea has been reduced quite a bit! It has just been an amazing journey so far! Would do it all again in a second!!!!! Wish I would've done it years ago!

I've had issues with acid reflux at night since about 7 months post op. It wakes me up as I'm projecting acid onto my pillow several times a night! Horrible stuff! My dr gave me a fill and it seemed to subside for about a month, then returned with a vengeance! I went to my dr again and they took out .5 cc's from my band to let it rest for a couple of weeks and I'm taking prilosec during this time. It has definately gotten better in the last couple of days. Hopefully this will be a permanent fix! I just hope I don't gain weight since they had to unfill my band for 2 weeks! I definately get more hungry.

AHHH yes...the sliming. I gross out my husband and daughter quite frequently with my "slime cup". Not the most attractive thing is it? I do wish it would stop...it's so gross!

How cool is that!!!Wow! good for you! 138 pounds is exactly what I needed to loose, I've got 36 more to go. You look great! Keep up the great work with both your weightloss and your livestrong efforts!

Hi Angie! I have to tell you...this has been an amazing almost 9 months now! I haven't had a single scarey or negative moment at all since my surgery May first. This has been nothing but a positive journey! It sounds like you have a very good attitude going into this about the band and have made some very important lifestyle changes that are neccessary to be successful with the band! I went to my surgeons seminar wanting to do the bypass...but...after his seminar fully decided to go with the band. There were so many people there that had been really sucessful with the band and some had maintained their weight loss for many years. I like the fact that the band is adjustable and once you make your goal it can be used to help maintain that weight. I also liked the fact that it was reversable should I need it. Now I didn't have the emotional eating problems...I have PCOS which caused me to gain like crazy despite the fact that I really didn't eat that badly. Very frustrating. This definately has not been the easiest thing I've ever done to loose weight , and I haven't been the perfect weightloss patient by any means (exerscise was a big one for me, I've been pretty good the last couple of months...hopefully it's routine now! And I have absolutely NO willpower when chocolate is in the house! Christmas was horrible for that this year! I did gain a little because of that, but it came back off quickly) but it has still come off at a rather rapid pace and I feel amazing! AND I love being able to shop in the regular clothing stores again! It's been 20 years since I've been able to do that! Good luck with your descision, and please let me know if I can help you at all! Take care!