trishtlc

Hello to anyone that will take the time. I sailed right through the surgery and it was fantastic. My doctor took great care and I was back to normal about 2 days after surgery. He requires us to stay in the hospital overnight. I followed all the rules and felt absolutely fabulous after surgery. I started walking right away and of course on liquids for 2 complete weeks and then mushy for the next 2 and then incorporated solids slowly. After about the first month I was 11 pounds down! I was totally happy with that! But after I started eating it was no problem at all eating. When I went in for my first fill I was still 8 pounds down and felt absolutely nothing after the fill. Maybe for the first 5 days I really took it easy. 2 months after I had another appt. I had lost exactly 1/2 pound and it's because I was never full. I can't do it on willpower alone. He filled me (I'm up to 5ccs now) It was perfect for about 5 days and then and NOW I can basically eat everything and anything. There is no restriction! Consequently I've gained back all the 11 pounds plus and I'm so depressed. And calling this guy and trying to get an appointment is like pulling teeth. It takes 2 months to get an appointment. Luckily for me (after all this weight gain) I'm scheduled for next week! Has anyone else gone through all of this? I thought you weren't supposed to be able to eat much. I can take pills and swallow big chunks of food with no problem. Can anyone offer me any advice at all? I'm so desperate. I've called the doctor's office every week for a month but they "can't get me in sooner". Is anyone else having a scheduling problem? Should I try to be seen somewhere else? I'm really lonely about this because I don't really have anyone to talk to. I would appreciate any help anyone can give me. Also, when I go in next week what should I say about a fill? Tell them to close me up? I would prefer to only be able to drink liquids for about 2 months at least. :sad:Thank you

Hi Lolly! Thanks for your input. I guess the thing is that if willpower would work and I would only eat the right things I wouldn't have had to get banded in the first place. I studied, read forums, read research and basically all the info said you "can't" eat or you'd get sick. And 1/4 cup is all you can eat. I purchased lots of dollars in Protein drinks, protein shots (3 oz of pure horror) and chewable Vitamins that I didn't need. I guess I thought if they sold it and the doctor recommended it that I had to have it. I can take regular vitamins, pills and eat steak, too. Also, we do make appointments before we leave the office but they won't let us make appointments closer than 8-12 weeks later.

He was an excellent doc as far as procedures and care are concerned. The problem is that his practice is like a cattle car. He does many, many surgeries every week so with all the people that need fills there aren't enough appointments. When we go in for a fill the physicians assistant gives you a slip of paper on your way out to make your next appointment for 2-3 months. I know what you're going through. But at least you feel guilty about eating more than the cup. I'm to the point now that I didn't feel guilty and was almost mad because basically "everyone knows this is going to fail, too" attitudes from people. So that sort of brings on a depression. I had my fluids today and my can of reduced sodium healthy choice chix veggie Soup so I'm good for today. Maybe if I get hungry I can just go to sleep! LOL Thanks for your input! Trish

Thanks a lot! I think I will start going after this fill. Although they only have 1 a month. Maybe I can find a group closer to my house, too. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to work at it. Keep in touch?

Rebecca! That is fantastic! You are doing great! And you are working on it. You are an inspiration and I am doing better today. I need a few days to clean out my system and then start to eat regularly (but waaaay smaller portions again) and I WILL do it! Maybe I thought this was the easy way out, too. But I didn't think it would have to be 100% willpower either. I can't wait until next week when I get my fill. I'm glad it's before the holiday dinner, too. Hopefully I won't be able to eat very much at all!! :thumbup:

Hi JennaBoo -- Interesting! That would have made me upset not getting that fill. That means you're working on strictly will power! That's great! Also, you seem to be able to get an appointment. My doctor doesn't like to schedule appointments any closer than 3 months apart and when you call they are full! This past time the Physician's Assistant did the fill and scheduled me 2 months later which is next week. I'm happy now but a month ago when I was trying to get in they said no. I'm so glad to hear that other people are having my problems. I don't really have anyone to talk to about it because basically nobody was wanting me to have this done in the first place so now they sort of say "eh, something else that's not working". I think I'll look to all of you nice people for support! And thanks so much. I'm committed again. Trish

Happy to Lose -- Does that 1/2 cup help you? Right now I can eat an entire meal although I only put like 1/2 of what I usually would. The problem is that after I eat (and I eat slowly) maybe 1 hour later I'm hungry again and my stomach is churning. I do prefer to cook whole foods like chicken, fish, Ground beef and turkey with some fresh veggies grilled. I understand also about the liquid type diet. I was just going to do it for a week or 2 to get a good start and start feeling better. I actually feel sick today. I can't go to any of the meetings because I'm the only one that hasn't lost anything. There are people that have lost 100-200 pounds within 8 months (Gastric bypass) and most people with the band have consistently lost 10 pounds per month. I'm ashamed to show my face because I don't know any of them and the first thing they want you to do is introduce yourself and tell how many pounds you've lost. The last time I went I was sooooo embarrassed to say 8 pounds after 3 months. :thumbup:

You guys have all helped more than you know! I, too, feel I'm not giving it my all. believe it or not I have the exercise down. I take a morning walk with the dogs that's about a mile. I do 1 mile on the treadmill and a Ball Exercise Invigorating the Spine for flexibility. About 2 -3 times a week I go to the gym at night (really late). But everything in my family revolves around food. We meet over buffets. I plan ahead of time what I'm going to have and when I get there it goes out the window. :thumbup: I made a pact with this site last night that it started then. Last Night! Of course, after I ate everything in site. I've cleaned out the pantry and today is the first day of a new day. I have a fill scheduled for next Thursday and I will work hard to get down to where I was when I went in last time. Thank you all so much! Scout! Thanks I guess my mistake was NOT checking out these boards a long time ago. Trish

He told me NOT to take any Metformin after surgery. The only med I take is Levoxyl for thyroid so I can't even use that as an excuse. I have just been eating way too much and believe it not it came crashing down on me today. I went to bed sick of overeating. I woke up still stuffed to the brim and feeling like the old days (like having a heart attack) Ugh! THAT'S IT! for me. I bought some Progresso soups (they were on a huge sale yay) and I have my protein drinks so I'm sure of getting all my protein per day. My doctor requires 80 grams of protein per day. Thanks!!!

Hi all! My favorite was premier nutrition at Costco. 18 ready to drink shakes for $23. They only have chocolate but I felt good because each shake has 30 grams of protein. Yay!

LOL Thanks so much! That means there is still Hope???? I'm also nervous about going into the doctor. He may think I'm an utter failure. I will try extra hard for the next week starting this very minute.

Thanks so much for both of your insights! It is really helpful. I was wondering if you have a problem getting in to get a fill or see a doctor? The waiting is really doing me in. I haven't been tight enough to stop eating. Maybe this next one will be the charm. I wish I could feel the rest of the time like I do the 2 days after the fill. It feels terrific and I am almost euphoric but that fades in about 6 days. I read a lot of the posts from here and everyone seems to be doing great. On average about 10 pounds per month. That's all I want. I started at 233 on the date of surgery and right now I weigh 230 and it's 4 months later. You have been a great help for me. And SCOUT My doctor told me to stop taking the Metformin after surgery. My blood sugar hasn't gone down at all. So even that has me worried. Take care and keep writing. Trish

Even though nobody has responded yet I know that it is my fault. I really need some restriction. I'm eating the wrong things and too many of them, too. And although I knew this was to be a "tool" I really didn't expect to have to have all the willpower to get through this. I mean, that's just like being on a diet. I read and re-read everything before surgery and just knew that 1/4 cup was all I was going to be able to eat. That never happened. I can eat just as much now as I did before. I don't have the willpower and that's why I'm back to not losing. Still really want help.

Hey everyone. I'm new to the board. I had my surgery on 6/30/09. I've been doing absolutely GREAT! I feel well, I've been doing my walking. A new symptom for me is I have what I feel are hives. My sides itch and I'm doing everything I can to avoid scratching. It started yesterday which is about 1-1/2 weeks out of surgery. I'm so nervous that I might be allergic to the band!! Has anyone at all had this itching and does it go away on its own? Of course, today is Friday night so I will have until Monday to fret over this and I'm really scared about it. Nothing hurts but my incisions are all really red, too. I WILL NOT SCRATCH! Help anyone? Trish banded 6/30/09

I, too, have the hives. I'm scared to death because it's a Friday night! Ugh! But I'm not so sure it's the whey. I do take a bullet of whey every day for my 42 grams and the protein shakes I'm drinking are soy-based. I've used them for quite a few years now so I've never had any reaction to them. I've been doing the whey since I got out of the hospital. Haven't had a problem until now. It's only affecting my sides. I bought some over-the-counter Zyrtek because in the past (about 10 years ago) I did have a case of hives and that helped me.

Hi Scared!!!! Believe me, I know what you're talking about. My "original" surgery was scheduled for June 9th.:ohmy: I went in and did all the pre-op stuff, changed my clothes, etc. After sitting there for about an hour, I simply got up and walked out!:confused: I was really, really scared. Here's the next part -- My husband and I went to the Cheesecake Factory for some lunch and the whole time I was there I was soooooo regretful! I was thinking to myself that I could do this all myself but after going home and spending a week I could see myself inching the food back into my life. I called the doctor's office immediately and rescheduled!!! That's the maddening part because I could have been done and home and feeling better. I had my surgery on June 30th. I'm about 1-1/2 weeks out and I'm doing great! You can do this! I also didn't have much support and I didn't tell anyone but my husband so I really didn't have any support because I knew the people I would have talked to would have tried to talk me out of it!! I am begging to be 100 and anything!!! Even 199. I will get there and you will do this and get there, too! If you lived close enough to me I would go in with you, sit with you and keep you mentally comfortable. I know you can do this and you will be so happy about it when it's done. Trish:thumbup: