123crod

I am an emotional eater . . . or was . . . I am . . . my body wants to be but I am pretty good about handling it. Since my first fill of only 1cc with no fill at surgery I lost almost all hunger. Still at 15 months out I could go all day and not eat. I don't because I will not lose any weight my body goes into stravation mode even though there is still some fat on me that my body could use for fuel . . .too bad it does not work that way. Even now I only have 3.8 ccs in a 10cc AP Band and have no hunger and can not handle anymore fill. Hope that helps somehow. Jacqui - I hope all goes good for you. You are always so honest and straight forward and an inspiration to many of us. You will be in my thoughts and prayers in the nexts weeks. Keep us posted. Cheri

I visit your website quite often since we were banded so close, and enjoy it, but I did not have unfill problems you did. I am down 81lbs since July 09. To lose the last 10 I lost I had to do very low carb for about 6 weeks. Now I too have to change it up to lose the last 20 I want to lose. Just drop your carbs even more than now for just a little while. Cheri

Do it! Was great for me, 15 months out, down 80 lbs. Whole new lifestyle. Do research and dedice for yourself Cheri

Try just getting ½ of last fill removed that will probably help alot. Cheri

I suggest you go for a small unfill like .2ccs it is a very small amount still will leave you with more than you had before fill but will make all the difference. You can aways add some more later. I am self pay too so I know it costs for fills. I went 7 months too tight and could have lost my band. $12,999 surgery compared to $150 fill is a big difference. When I finally got unfilled everything was so different they only took .2 ccs but things could go down and no more vomiting. Cheri

Too tight have a tiny bit taken out. I was too tight for 7 months and put my body through heck. Had .2ccs taken out what a difference Cheri

Chili keeps me full. I make it pretty thick. Cheri

I do not feel I have done something wrong by getting the band. I have a personal relationship with God and I know that being overweight was my problem created by me and my eating habits. But I also know God created medicine to help us heal even though I believe He could and can do it in a minute if He chose to. I also suffer from Clinical Depression and have spent much time in prayer and almost begging God to remove this from me. He has chosen not to so far. So I have done everything I could to stop the depression, making sure I have forgiven people and not carring around unforgiven sin in my life. I stay as close as I can trying to stay in His will. I have been through 3 years of Christian counseling (not dealing with weight issue but my life and thought patterns). Last year I told my husband I could not deal with both the weight and the depression it was too much for me, I had done and am doing all I know to do to get rid of the depression and still have it, but the weight I could lose but could not keep it off, so that is why I got the band. I believe God wants me to be happy and healthy and that is what I am striving to do. I am not being unfaithful to God I am just doing what will help me. The Bible says our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should take care of it. So I am. Cheri

Wow that is a lot of fill so fast. I am 15 months out and only have 3.8 ccs in a 10cc band. About a month ago I had to have .2ccs taken out after being too tight for about 7 months. Some people do not require that much fill. My Doctor did not put any fill in until a month out and after that .5 ccs after every 15 lbs lost. I think slower is better for you to adjust to. I also vomited several times a week until I had some taken out. Cheri

You just have to make up your mind to do it for you. You can spend everyday eating all the wrong things or do what you are suppose to do. Time will still go by. Exercise is a good way to reduce stress. My brother passed away almost a year ago and I still am not over it . . .so give yourself a break it takes time. But you know as well as I do that food, our comforter will not really make you feel better in the long run you will feel worse. I really think seeing a counselor would help you. You can learn some great coping skills. I am an emotional eater too so I have to really watch myself. Sometimes I tell myself you can eat that after you drink two full glasses or bottles of Water . . . after the water I do not want it anymore. Cheri

I was self-pay too it is hard to see yourself spend that much money. I put mine on a credit card with a very low interest rate. If you are taking meds for anything that might change as you lose weight you can apply that to your payment too. I was so happy to be able to do it. It must be hard to pay for insurance and when you need it they are not there for you. Sorry. Cheri

Write down any questions you might want to have answered? Good that your husband is going too, mine went with me and it helped me alot. The only question I ask was had any of his surgeries resulted in death and he said no. He was very honest about everything. Ask any question you have that does not get answered. Enjoy learning about your new lifestyle you are going into. Cheri

I agree it is probably swelling but if in a week it does not change or if you are unable to take liquids do not be afraid of getting a small unfill. I went seven months too tight because I was scared of what it would be like to have some taken out. But a friend made me go as she had been through the samething, it did nothing but make me feel better no weight gain. You can always have it put back in. I only had .2ccs taken out but it made so much difference. Cheri

Do not think the band stops most people from drinking a large amount of Water it just goes straight through unless you are too tight. But spreading your water out during the day if you had to is just a small lifestyle change and with the band you have to change many different things. If you are not willing to change things maybe the sleeve would be better for you. But do your research and then decide. Good luck to you in making the right choice. Cheri

You were banded on my birthday! I am 50 years old and been banded 15 months and down 80 lbs. If you want to talk e-mail me at crodriguez17@comcast.net Cheri

We did not let them ruin our fun, but I just never had an idea that they looked down on us. One support groups I go to is all types of surgeries and most of them do have the bypass but they have never made us feel we were less then them. The other one is all people with bands. I love my band and am so happy with the choice I made even though my surgeon did try to talk me into the bypass. Sad people all just can't be happy for each other with the choice they made for themselves Cheri

Good for you you have already been making changes it will really help you along the way. Let me know when you get your date.

Cheri, I hope it is getting better for you at school with your students. What a blessing you are to all your students and their parents. I have 3 nephews who are into every criminal activity there is, and I find myself resenting them for all the trouble they cause this family. I have found that praying for them keeps me from the resentment, trust me I have to do a lot of praying for them. Yes God is so good to us. My son Robert has an interview for a new job on Wednesday, I am not sure this where he is going to end up at, but I believe it could be a stepping stone to where God would have him be. Thanks so much for the prayers. Cheri

Okay where are all the July 2009 people we need to hear from you all! Cheri

I say do it as soon as you can. I did my in 1½ days from the time I got okay. I did not want the anxiety of waiting. Plus how last dinners can you have? I just did not want to say goodbye to Diet Coke but I did. Cheri

Hang in there, if you fall just pick yourself up and get going again! We all have our moments! Cheri

I am 15 months post op and all 4 of my fills have been with floro. I only have 3.8 ccs but could not take anymore. I had one unfill of .2cc about 1 month ago. I have not had hunger since my first fill.

Erin18, I have been following your posts since you were banded. You had a very rough time in the beginning and then not being able to get a fill for a long, long time because of insurance. So you have been dealing with the band for as long as I have, but I did not have to go through all you did, so in some ways you are behind and have worked harder without all the help you needed. You seem to really want to lose weight so just make up you mind that you will do it. You are young and beautiful and have you whole life in front of you so do it now not when you are older like I was. It will make such a difference. I know you have it in you to do it. Good luck! Cheri

Sorry to know you are going through this, it sounds so difficult. If I was you I would try to work with what you now have. Pull that band out and most likely you will gain all your weight back and then you will be really upset. The way you lost it was not good, but now you have a second chance to keep it off. Get a fill and learn a new lifestyle and you should do good. Wish you all the best. Cheri

Gonna give it a try, weight is slow going right now but want to lose 10 lbs by Christmas. Cheri