suzanne.meyers1

when you say you are buying a pair on thongs...and you don't mean sandals anymore...

I am so sorry you are having trouble. Depending on how hard you are throwing up you can have small ruptures in the capillaries in your esophagus. However, because you are banded you should call your doctor immediately and ask if they want to do any tests to make sure. You could have ripped something. Please be careful. Best of luck to you.

I am so sorry you had to go through that! I hope you will not let this discourage you. Keep your head up and remember, this time next year there will be less of you to LOVE!! Good luck with your first class!

Have you considered that you may not be eating enough and your body is "conserving"? Just a thought, because it doesn't sound as if that is very many calories. I would add up your total calorie intake and make sure to speak to the dietician about minimum calorie intake for the day. Hope that helps .

Sorry to hear that things have been difficult for you. But, take heart, this is a wonderful tool. I too had lost the feeling that I had the capacity for things to actually change in my life. I had been scheduled on two previous occasions for bariatric surgery only to have it cancelled due to various health issues. When I decided to give it a third try I was unsure if I should. But it was the right decision. I have lost 21 lbs in roughly 7 weeks and I feel so much better already. You can do this! Hang in there!

Hello and welcome. I am from Indiana, so no input on your Doc. It is good to have you here. Good luck with your psych eval tomorrow!

I only planned for 4 days off work and ended up needing 2 weeks. And believe me I needed every minute. It was my first surgery and I do not have a high pain tolerance. I was really surprised how it knocked me down. I was really sore. I am a Nurse Practitioner and my job is fairly sedentary so when I went back I was ready. But, boy am I glad I gave it a full two weeks.

No regrets on my part. I was banded on 7/7/09 and have lost 21 lbs. I am going to get my first fill soon, I can't wait! Like the others, wish I had done it A LOT sooner. I am so excited for you! Best of luck on your journey. A piece of advice... Start the process, even if you are not sure, it will decrease your wait time if they make you go through a supervised diet and exercise program. Mine took 6 months.

I am terribly sorry that you had to experience such lack of discretion from someone you don't even know! I think sometimes people believe it is their inalienable right to comment on anything in ear shot or set before their eyes. When Headhunter and Kossde say you are being too sensitive, I could not disagree more. Unless you were wearing a shirt that stated, "please offer your commentary on my body habitus and exercise habits" I am pretty sure social norms would dictate that one should not comment on either. On of the best pieces of advice I ever read came from Mrs Manners. She said when people ask you embarassing questions, immediately and directly respond, "Why do you want/need to know that?" staring directly into their eyes until they leave or offer an appropriate answer. Applied to this case I would say, "I do not recall inviting you into my conversation. Did you think I asked for your opinion?" again staring him down until he gives you a response. It is not rude, simply direct and cautionary as to stop while one is ahead or risk their own personal embarassment. Keep your head up and move on...60 lbs lighter!

Thanks Julie! That is what I wanted to hear! I am a whimp. My port site is just starting to feel better, I didn't want to get sore again. Now I am excited.

I am scheduled to go in for my first fill on 8/17/09. I haven't read a lot of information about it. Is it painful? What are the restrictions afterward? Thanks for the help! Good luck with your fill, I hope this gets you going again.

Like the writer in the original post I was banded on 7/7/09. My weight at weight in before surgery was 235 lbs (with clothes). I now weigh 224 lbs (buff). Like all others posting I lost down to 226 in the first 2 weeks on liquids. Want to talk about discouraging, my husband and I went to Chicago and walked probably a minimum of 5 miles a day for 3 days, and when I came home I had gained 3 lbs!! I know all of this is just a temporary situation, is it a biochemical process. When your body enters a state of perceived starvation, it automatically lowers your metabolic rate. It is going to conserve, conserve, conserve in case this is a permanent situation. It is very difficult to imagine that I could cut my intake down by 75% and not lose, but when I really remember what I know, then I realize why it is happening. Keep your heads up, even slow loss is good loss. I am telling myself, every pound I do not GAIN is an accomplishment.

I had surgery on 7/7/09 and I had the realize band. I think I have a low pain tolerance, because I ended up being off work for 2 weeks versus the recommended 3-5 days I anticipated. I can feel my port under my skin, it is still a tiny bit sore if I move a certain way and is directly at my waist line?!?!? sorta wierd in my opinion. Overall I feel like I had a good experience, some trouble tolerating all this milk based protein, but not bad if I do it slowly and watch portions.

Thanks everyone for your candid and timely responses. I appreciate the insight. Although I am discouraged by the fact that most of you say weight loss does not help. I am so sad about that, since that is the only reason I got the band in the first place. I hate the effects of the drugs I am on, I need to think clearly and process information rapidly in my job and sometimes that is a huge challenge. I got off Topamax because it basically destroyed my short term memory and I feel like a big emotionless blob. Diamox Sequels are a bit better, but still make me feel like my mentation drag. It has been a long time since I had a really bad episode. The last time was over a year ago and I went to the Neuro-Ophthamologist and she refused to do an LP after I had been off work for a week puking and unable to move due to a debilitating headache. Needless to say I don't see her anymore. My PCP is willing to give me the medication I need to manage my symptoms. Thank God for small favors.

Hello Everyone Wanted to ask a specific question. I have Pseudo Tumor and I am having the Lap Band specifically to help with this condition. Is there anyone out there who got to go off medications after getting the surgery and losing weight? I considered a shunt first, but my neurosurgeon told me this should be a first line option. Any input would be great! Suzanne

Melody is your PTC idiopathic (no specific cause) or cause by some sort of malformation or blockage? I am SOOO afarid that I am going to do this and my PTC will not get better. I am doing this for ONE reason. I want this to go away!! I am not against getting a shunt, but I am more scared of that than a lapband. Can you tell me what meds you were on before you went into remission? I am on Diamox sequels 500mg 2 in morning 2 in the evening. Maxzide 75/50 once daily, Potassium 60 meq per day. I used to be on Topamax, but true to its nickname "Dopamax" I was not able to function and do my job although it relieved the headaches. When I went to a consultation regarding a shunt the doctor said he places shunts in PTC patient according to 3 criteria: loss of vision, intractable headache, and inability remain employed due to symptoms. I felt a little betrayed when I heard that because I would rather die (almost this dramatic) than be unemployed. I take Darvocet every night at bedtime, just so I can sleep lying down. Don't mean to rant but I am just beaten down by this and ready to be healthy. I am so glad you are well now. Does your pressure ever get too low now that you are ideal body weight and have the shunt taking away extra CFS? If you don't mind telling me a more, I would love to hear more about this from you, it seems like you have been through the trenches.

No it is actually 2 pieces of gold on the inside of the band that stick up like little nubs. Your ring will still be loose but it will keep it on your finger. I would send you a pic but I am a total idiot on the computer. My band is pretty thick at the bottom and it is a one piece ring, so that might play into it too. I can't wait until I have the same problem...getting banded in 13 days! Yipppppeeee!

I have a suggestion for you. I have these great things on my wedding ring. They are these little nubs at the bottom of band. At first it took a while to get used to, but now I don't even notice it. My hands swell really bad and it allows my ring to stay upright and gives me some room for swelling. I think they would work for you and you wouldn't have to reduce the ring size. Congratulations on all the hard work!:smile2:

Thanks for writing back. A huge congratulations on your weight loss that is awessome!! It is great that you never had to go on medications, I think this diagnosis affects people very differently. I have been on 3 extra medications since being diagnosed in 2005. I am a Nurse Practitioner and sometimes I find it hard to function regularly. I want a lap band so I can get back to my old self. I am so anxious for that. My neurosurgeon told me that weight loss is the only "cure" and that I would have to be within 20-30 pounds of my ideal body weight to recover. That is really scarey to me, since I didn't really want to look like a scare crow. But I will do what I have to to get rid of this. Keep up all the great work!

My surgery is 2 weeks away also, I am getting more excited and nervous by the day. I have read and heard that is really good to lose 10-30 lbs before surgery because it helps with the size of the liver and there is less chance of damage during surgery. It is in my pre-op material.

Can I ask why you have mixed feelings about your surgery. I think that sounds great>>350 to 168 lbs, you rock! My surgery is 7/7/09. I am getting excited now. Ready to go shopping for some cute clothes.

Hello everyone I am gearing up for surgery on July 8 at 2:30. Send out a prayer for me, I am very nervous right now. This will be my first surgery ever. I have done my nutrition counseling and pre-op testing yesterday, physical is next week. I am off all carbonation and haven't been using a straw (probably more sad to give up the straw, truth be known). The site is awesome and I am learning a lot form all of you already. Thanks for the support. By the way, what the heck is PBing??? Not a texter, need some updates on the lingo. Suzanne

Thanks guys!! All of your messages are really helpful and encouraging. I am starting to get excited. I am a big shopaholic, so I am starting to think about cute new clothes. I have been out on the hunt for all my stuff to set up shop for post-surgery period at home on full liquids. Is there anything out there that you all just can't live without now that you are banded? I got a bullet blender over the weekend and have several protein beverages lined up as well as small eating utensils and measuring devices. Got my vitamins as well. Any more hints for me?