karenv

Hi em2, just want to reassure you that you are not alone. I'm about 10 weeks out and I still have occassional port issues. My incision is dead center on my fat roll and kept getting in the way. It does get better with time. I still wake up every morning with what I call "port pressure" and after I exercise I can feel it "ache". Saw my dr today for a fill and mentioned it to him and he said I'm fine. Keep us posted on how you do

I definately agree with the other two posts. As long and you keep walking and doing your lung exercises, you MUST take it easy. I'm not one to sit or lay around but after my surgery I took naps daily. I miss them now.

Hi and welcome to the banding world. You'll find lots of support and ideas here. Its good to do a lot of reading on the boards. I've been banded only2 1/2 months and things are going very well. I had my first episode of food getting stuck and it was a banana as well. Thought I chewed it up well, but I guess not well enough. Good luck and we are all here to help you along. God bless

This is too odd. I've had almost one full week of poor choices that ended up with a 3 - 4 gain. I'm so down on myself and like you have said, it's making me want to eat more. I hadn't been on this site in about that long and it was reassureing to see others go through the same thing. This was the first thread I read and it helped. Thanks to all of you who have posted to help each other, you are helping more people than you know.

LAXATIVES!!!! Milk of Magnesia to be exact. There are times during my weight loss program that I seem to "go off" and eat junk like chocolate, chips, mini marshmallows or whatever. I'm two months post op and struggle with this area. In order to counteract the poor food choices I've just made, I'll take a dose of M.O.M. Mentally I think this will help speed up the elimination of those foods from my body. I'm half way through with the second bottle since my surgery date of 6/3. I need some advice. Any takers?:thumbdown:

Why, why, why can't I stop putting junk in my mouth when I'm not hungry. I can do well for a few days and then I find the junk food around the house and I'll just eat. I've eatin even when I don't want it. Can anyone relate to this? My DH can eat whatever and whenever he wants and doesn't gain a pound. I feel like a basket case at times. I was banded 6/3/09 and have lost 35 lbs since the 2 week pre-op liqued diet. I got my second fill today for a total of 3.5cc. I know it was suppose to be liquids all day, but I was helping out at our church tag sale and was starving by 10 am. With no liquid food in sight, I had a small lemon poppy seed muffin. I felt it get "stuck" and needed my enzyme tablets. Not fun. The rest of the day was followed by junk food and I have not had a "meal" all day. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!. I feel so out of control with myself. Any suggestions to get back on track with my eating and thinking habits? I just want to cry and I feel so alone with this struggle. :cool2: Please help.

Hi Jen, I'm a CT bandster (watertown) and had it done 06/03/09 by Dr. Floch. Welcome to the site and hope you find what you are looking for. People are supportive and full of knowledge. If I can be of any help, just ask. Karen

Thanks to you all for your insight, support and encouragements. I attended a support group this past tuesday night(first one in my area for the group that did the banding) and the woman who led the group was the psychologist that did my evaluation prior to approval. God is good. Along with the others in attendance, I was given a lot of "food for thought". She was very good. She's going to be helping in the mental part and not so much in the nutritional part. I will pass on any good pieces of info as I get it. Thank you all again. Karen

Hi softbubbles, Your right we need to stop calling ourselves a failure but I think ( I know ) I put so much pressure on myself to get things right that when I mess up, I beat myself up terribly. I've known I do this but that is all I know how to do. I'm open to any suggestions on how to change my thinking. Let me know if you get any good tips. Karen

Hi betrthnever, I took 2 chewable papaya enzyme tablets. They didn't taste too bad going down but I felt sick for a couple hours. It was a suggestion in the bariatric folder that was given to me by my dr.

Hi whatupw, thanks for sharing your similar struggle with me. Sometimes I think I must be crazy doing what I do. I do need professional help.

Hi HH, thanks for understanding and not making me feel worse. It helps to hear from people who know for themselves what you are going through. Many peole can tell you what you should and should not do but unless they've lived a life with obesity, they just don't understand. Thank you again; I think I do need to talk to a therapist.

I was wondering if people who have lost a lot of weight (75+) with the lap band experienced the loose or hanging skin that people talk about with bypass surgery. They say you loose weight slowly with the band and its LESS LIKELY to have hanging skin. I need to loose about 140 lbs total and was worried. I'm 41 (almost 42) and this is a concern. I've lost almost 40 pounds in 2 months, I exercise and include toning on areas like my arms, abs and thighs. Can some of you share your experiences? Thanks a bunch

Thanks you two for the advice. I'm already looking for specific exercises to take care of my arms. Its pretty bad when your mom asks what I'm going to do about them. I've only lost 35 (was 38 but gained 3 back this week) and already the loose skin is starting. Dhall111 you think that cream really works? I'm willing to try it.

That is so awesome. Thanks for sharing that with us. Its an encouraging story.

Not to repeat what others have already said but they're right about the fact you got to give it a chance. Many of us have dealt with weight issues and ridicule. I've found that as you read different post, your questions can be answered. I was banded 6/3/09 and just found a post that talked about what I was experiencing but I didn't know how to word it. That post made a HUGE difference in how I look at the band. Do what you can to make this website work for YOU. YOU are whats important. You are welcome to talk to me as often as you need, we're all in this together.

That is so awesome. What a great inspiration. I can't wait until I reach that point.

Hi Donna, what I mean by tight is that in the mornings especially, I pushes outward causing a lot of pressure. Even during the day, I feel it. Saw dr today for my first fill and I mentioned it to him, he said it should eventually go away.

Right side. Above waistline and always uncomfortable. Very tight in the mornings

Hi all, I was banded on June 3, 2009 and have been doing really well up until this weekend. Today mostly. Let me explain. I've lost almost 30 pounds since the 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I'm very pleased with the loss but I'm do for my first fill this coming friday 7/10 and I guess I'm afraid he won't give me a fill. I had mentioned to the dr just this past week that I have limitations when I eat. He mentioned that I must have restriction with the band in place even though I have no fluid in it. He also said we'll have to go slow with the fills. Now, I've been so good with my diet and exercising more than I would like and I think that's why the weight is coming off. Yes, I fill fast, but I do get hungry between meals. So, with this in mind, I set out to test the full limits of my band. I found out that what people say about chips, ice cream and sweet is true. They are definately slider foods. I also went and had a little mac salad and potato salad. I had veggie burger and turkey sausage for my meats. I ate no where need the amount of food I use too, but even when I did get full, I went a litle further. I experienced for the first time what I see people call PBing. Not much though, but I did. Here's what I don't understand........why do I do this? Is it normal? Before the band, I never felt full and would eat until I would almost vomit. NO CONTROLL. What is wrong with me? Can anyone relate to this absurd behavior? I'm so mad at myself. Here comes a five pound weight gain!!!

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. I've noticed though (not that it makes a difference) that many of your starting BMI is less than 40. I knew I was heavy but I never really looked at people and their sizes. Now I'm starting to see that I was a lot heavier than my eyes and mind would allow me to see. What an eye opener.

Hi ready_to_start, I was banded 6/3/09 and had to choose between the lap band and the realize band. My doctor does surgery out of two hospitals but only one of them does the realize but both do the lap band. I chose the realize band after a lot of research. Here are the reasons why I chose what I did. 1.) Realize has a larger port pad and is smaller in height from the lap band. 2.) It had harder material around the port so if the nurse/dr misses the port during a fill, they will know it. The needle will not go in. 3.) With the lap band, the material around the port is made of a soft material and if that get pricked with the needle during a fill, it will seem as though the fluid is going in ok but, it will leave a pin hole in the tube causing a leak which in turn means more surgery to replace the port and tubing that connects to the rest of the band. I don't like haveing more surgery than needed. That's why I went realize and not lap band. Remember, you have to live everyday with your choice. Is that not waiting an additional two weeks to get what you feel is right for you? Think about it. Keep me posted.