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Welcome back! I was banded by Dr Spivak in July 2009, 2 years yesterday. I find it very helpful to stay on track when I come here and at least read that others are dealing with the same things that I do. I would love to be your friend. Cheri

I think that was a great post. Also congratulations on the 50 lbs!! I just wanted to mention that if you are already taking an antidepressant be careful what you add to it. The Fish Oil is no problem, but other herbs and meds are not good to take when you are taking any drugs for depression or anxiety. Always good to check with your Dr. first. Cheri

I agree I think when it is surgery DH should know about it and be there to support you. Maybe ask a question that is important to him. Its surgery!!! When i scheduled my LapBand surgery my DH was coming and then we found he could not get off of work so I went anyway. I had already built it up in my mind. So my mom took me and brought me home and he took care of me at home. He has seen your body so just relax and let him go. Cheri

Gosh! What size band do you have? I am 2 years out and only have 3.8 ccs in a 10cc Band and it took me 5 fills to get to that point. I have not had a fill in 1 year and then had .2 removed to get me to 3.8 ccs. I could not take anymore and get anything down. Sometimes it takes a few days or even a week for the feel to kick in. Good luck! Cheri

You are more than okay. It was just liquid should go right through the band. But not eating all day and then eating a lot at night can become a habit and would be bad when you start on mushies and solids. Try to get something down you during the day so you won't be so hungry at night. I usually can't eat anything until about 2:00 pm and then my band is open and ready for food, but in the beginning after surgery for months I had no hunger and could go all day and not think about eating was not good for me. Cheri

I was Banded in 2009 (July) too and I did lose 84 lbs and have maintained it for the past 9 months, but I have never made it to my goal. Next week will be 2 years for me and I am going to lose the last 20 lbs I will lose it!. I bought new Vitamins, splurged on a weeks worth of my favorite protien shakes that I started out on. Gonna make me an exersice chart and I am gonna lose those 20 lbs. No matter how long it takes. Anyone want to join me?? Cheri

Ms. Sylvia How are you? I have missed you and worried about you. I would love to meet with any one you just let me know a time and a place. I do work and keep my grandbabies a couple of times a week so it may be hit and miss with me. But let me know if you come up with a time and place. Cheri

Erin, We were banded close to the same time and I have read your post during these last 2 years. You started out sick all the time and then no insurance to keep up with your fills and no support at home. You were trying to follow the rules and be a teenager too. It was a struggle for you to return to school with you feeling sick all the time . . .But you know what YOU DID IT! You MADE it through all of that and you can do this again. You know what to do so just start over and do it. I believe in you, do not let others discourage you do this for yourself. Good luck and just believe in yourself. Cheri

I too have omnipaque. Yes I said omnipaque. It is thicker than saline so should not leak. I have had it since first fill. Not too many people have it. But My Surgeon is the one who fills me and he says it is very safe. I have had no problems. Cheri

That woud be from having a catheter in during sugery. I was not aware I was having one placed, had some trouble peeing the first few hours . . . . 2 weeks later bladder infection. Call the office asked them if I had a catheter sure enough. Go see Dr for some meds. tell them you had a catheter. Cheri

Dr. Fernando Miranda.

It does have a few carbs in it if you check the serving size but I drink them sometime I am so sick of Water. Cheri

I am in that area (Hitchcock) and would like to meet with you. We use to have a small support group that met in Friendswood, but everyone is so busy with their kids that we have not met in a long time. If you would like to start a support group, pick a day of the week and where you would want to meet and I will help you spread the word. We met at Starbucks for a while and then started meeting at one of the girls house. I also attend a support group meeting the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Casa Ole' in Alvin on Highway 6 at 1:30 pm and eat lunch together. This saturday is my Granddaughter's 2nd birthday so I will not go but you could go they will welcome you with open arms they are so nice. Let me know if you want to meet. I work during the day and watch my Grandbabies until about 7:00 pm. Cheri

I suffered from clinical depression before surgery and it stayed about the same during weightloss now that I am so close to goal I am struggling with it pretty bad. Some depression is cause from the stressess of life and some like mine is cause from a chemical imbalance and losing weight won't change that. If you are already taking meds keep taking them if you are not taking them before surgery I doubt you will need them. But if food is your friend and comforter find something else to take it's place. Because you will have to deal with that. We all did/do. Cheri

This is so me . . . I totally agree with every word you said. You need to go see a Dr. See if there is a Fill Center USA close to you. You need to have a Fluro and make sure everything is okay. You probably just need a small amount of fill taken out like .2ccs or something like that a small amount can make a huge difference in eating and not eating. If you can not find one get on that plane. You can always fly to Houston there are several Dr. that take people who were banded by someone else. Fill Centers USA Farmington, MO 63640Phone: 866-345-5872Distance: 56 miles Click here for mapEmail: provider@fillcentersusa.com Projected Opening Date: Open Status: Accepting Appointments Business Hours: Call for Appointment Availability Hope that helps! Cheri

I am the biggest chicken of all and I made it through and so will all of you. Just relax, if your marriage is strong weight won't change it. You will still want to eat, heck we are human, but that is where your will power will come in. Also if you do vomit and not everybody does it is not that bad and you can control that by chewing chewing and chew some more. Stress is not good for your mind or body and you want both to be in good shape for surgery. Relax!!!! Cheri

Kristin, I would be happy to talk to you. Just private message or e-mail me. Cheri

I have been pretty quite about it just some close friends and my husband and son. But my 4 year old Granddaughter knows about it and tells everyone, people she sees while we are out to eat and at the store. She asks me crazy questions about it all the time like she asks me when will I take it out and she will ask me when she see me eating something she says,“Grandma is that healthy for your band.” She loves to talk about it and I just think it is funny. Cheri

Wow that is a long post. Did you do your research before getting the Band so you would know a lot of people have trouble adjusting to the Band. I think you should have spoken to another surgeon and got a second opinion before having the Band removed. Another surgeon might could of helped you. I say you should not get your money back if you did not go and get second opinion that could have proved Dr did something wrong. Also if you think he did something wrong or would not help you fix the problem why would let him cut you open again? Cheri

Glad you are feeling better. Slow down even if you are on mushies eat slow small bites. I know it is scary the first time or everytime we get stuck but you just have to wait it out and know it will pass and you will not die just try to remain calm. I have been stuck alot and it always passes but if it has been too long of a time you should do at least a day of liquids to help your band. Being stuck too long could cause swelling, Cheri

I took Lexapro for 2 years. One of those years was when I was first banded. It helped a lot but after 2 years I switched back to Zoloft as it seems to work better for me. It (lexapro) did not cause any weight gain. But the Zoloft at a high dose causes really bad carb cravings. The only antidepressant I have been on that made me gain weight was Paxil I put on 40 lbs with it. Cheri

If thats how your support group makes you feel find another one or start your own. I met some great people on these boards and we started our own group. You really need the in-person support as well as on-line support Cheri

I have loved reading about each of you. We are all so different and so much alike too. I wish you all the best of luck on this journey. Thank you to all the Military wives and moms for your sacrifice for this country!! Also there are a lot of Texans on here me included. Cheri

Tonight it seems boring here. Lets all tell each other about ourselves. I am 50 years old, graphic designer for a printing company. Been married for 30½ years to a great man. have a 29 year old son, great-daughter-in-law, two little Granddaughters both blond hair, blue eyes and both left handed like my son, they are 4 and 2. I see them almost everyday. I have 2 little doggies that I love so much they are 13 and 12 years old. I suffer with clinical depression and anxiety, so I am pretty much at home all the time. In July I will have been banded 2 years down 84 lbs. No real problems at all. Cheri