Happy2BMe

Hi all, I haven't been posting either, it's embarrassing when you aren't losing as quickly as others. I have been having problems with restriction. I do have restriction, but every time I get a fill, the restriction goes away within 3-4 weeks. And about 2 weeks prior to my cycle, I crave chocolate like crazy. Not just chocolate, either. I crave food like crazy - it seems like it's worse than pre-band. I am kind of at my wit's end. I started exercising on the elliptical machine, and I am down about 2 sizes and 30 pounds. I just feel stuck. Every time I go for a fill the NP reassures me that I have just not hit the "sweet spot" yet but that I am getting there. My next goal is to be in a size 18-I am in a 22 right now (from a 26). Any advice? Connie

I've had 3 fills and am at 2.3cc in 4cc band now. I have more restriction than before but can still eat a good bit and have had a couple of pb's since this last fill. The pb's happen when I get ahead of myself and don't chew properly. I'm going for another fill 1/24 and am only going to get a little bit because I feel like I am pretty close to my "sweet spot" and don't want to overdo it. It's like a game and it's pretty tricky, you have to figure out what works for you and what don't. Connie

I've had 2 fills by the NP and 1 by the MD, no difference, they both did fine, no problems.

Hi all, Just an update. I've lost 20 pounds total and am seriously stuck. I have 1 fill of 1cc and just made my appt for tomorrow for another fill. Hopefully this one will be the key! Connie

Hello to all, I was banded 8/30, have lost 16ish pounds, I am bouncing back and forth between 269 & 270, can't seem to get out of the 70's! I had a fill 10/4, 4 days ago and still feel little to no restriction. I had 1cc in a 4cc band and they wouldn't give me a follow up appt until 10/31. Does anyone know if the band will still tighten up more b4 another fill, or should I try to get an appt sooner than 10/31? I'm going to scream if I don't get to 260 soon! Connie

Karma2, Thanks for the info! I do feel like I am losing even though the scale isn't showing it, but the clothes are. I just feel so freaked out about the fact that I don't feel any restriction and am scared that I am stretching my pouch. Hopefully not and I am going to try to focus on what I am eating better, maybe that will help. Connie

I'm a nurse, I work in an LTAC. Also a new bandster!

Faybie, I was banded 8/30 and just posted in another thread about this same thing. I am not feeling any restriction AT ALL! Well, maybe sometimes in the AM, in which case I eat little or not at all. But I am also pre-menstrual and extremely hormonal and feel like I can't stop eating. I thought I read somewhere that it's virtually impossible to stretch the pouch until you've had a fill, but is that true? I am so scared that I am stretching my pouch out without knowing (because I feel little to no restriction)....HELP!

Hi all, I was banded 8/30, and rarely feel any restriction at all, only sometimes in the AM. I am pre-menstrual right now and feel like I can't stop eating. Is it possible to stretch your pouch b4 you have any fills? I thought I read somewhere that it was virtually impossible to stretch the pouch b4 you've had any fills. In the AM when I do feel restriction I don't force anything, I just eat a small amount or not at all. I'm really nervous because my appetite is thru the roof! I have even thought about asking for appetite supressants....HELP! Connie

losin it, have you had a fill yet? do you still have cravings? I have serious cravings....I think this is food addiction, how long b4 I lose the cravings?

Hi everyone, I was banded 8/30 and I feel like I can eat anything! My doc progresses the diet pretty quickly, no I'm not eating pizza, but eggs, potatos, etc. For breakfast I have a few bites of an potato, egg, and cheese omelet. For lunch soup, usually. For dinner, beans, tuna, or a little of whatever my family is having, depending. Of course, I have strayed and I went a little nuts yesterday and had cheese sticks from Sonic. I have not had trouble with anything, even had a little popcorn. My doc is going to give me my 1st fill on 9/4 since I have been pretty hungry at times. I'm just curious at to if this is normal or not? Most everyone here seems to be sticking to mushies still and most are still losing. I was not losing anything and had actually gained 3 pounds on the mushies. I finally lost a pound since eating the cheese sticks yesterday! Maybe the increase in calories? Any suggestions? Connie

ok, everyone, I need some advice! I am 5 days post op, and: 1. I am hungry all the time, am having yogurt, even tried some cheesy scrambled eggs today(protein), am drinking crystal lite, water, etc. I am ready for a double decker burger and fries! 2. I have only lost 5lbs since surgery (10 b4 surgery) and it seems like most everyone on here has lost AT LEAST 10 - 20lbs or more! What am I doing wrong? Connie

Great Job! I can only hope to lose as much as you!

Hi all of you LA bandsters! My name is Connie & I was just banded on 8/30/06 & I am 3 days out. I think this is the really difficult part b/c I really want some food! My dr is Dr. Warden he's in the group with Dr. Lavin - he did the surgery in Slidell at the new Southern Surgical Hospital, but I go to the Covington office for visits. I also had Hiatal Hernia done at the same time. The actual procedure only took 40 minutes of the dr's time which I thought was pretty fast. Anyway, I am planning to attend the support group on 9/11 at the Southern Surgical Hospital, I hear they are pretty good. Are any of you guys meeting anywhere else? I'd love to meet you all!

Hi guys, I'm post surgery day 3 and have a couple of questions. 1)Whenever I eat (yogurt today) or drink the Isopure I get this wierd thing in my esophagus, kinda like spasms trying to get the food to go down. Does anyone else get that? 2) Is everyone doing chewable Vitamins? I was told I could do the flintstones chewables or crush my regular vitamins, but either way I get nauseous. 3) How long does it take for the swelling to go down? My stomach is pretty swollen, like a 6 or 7 month pregnant belly.... Also, I'd like to add that when I came home from surgery I had gained from 275 to 279, but now I am at 271! I'd like to be 259 or 260 by October 1st, is that possible? Connie

hi, I was just banded 8/30/06 and have been having reflux problems for years. I was also just diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus which is a pre-cancerous condition of the esophagus due to chronic reflux. My doc thought I only had a small hiatal hernia but after surgery came out and told my husband that the hernia was much larger than he thought it was initially. What was the most wierd was that the first thing I noticed when I woke up was the fact that I no longer felt like my stomach was in my chest! I am 2 days out and am having gas pains and pain in the port area but have had absolutely no reflux! Wonderful!

Hi to All the August Bandsters! I am back home, had my surgery 2day! Am tolerating liquid and have had small bites of jello which is approved by my dr. The port site is definitely the most painful! I can't even tell anything was done at the other sites. (5 IN ALL) My dr also fixed the hiatal hernia I had and the first thing I noticed when I woke up was that it doesn't feel like my stomach is in my chest anymore! What a great feeling. I had the scopolamine patch put behind my ear in preop and was told to take it off tomorrow. I rec'd vancomycin in preop and developed severe itching and then they gave me benadryl and went ahead and finished the vanc. I think the overall experience was pretty good and other than being sore and hard to move around hopefully I won't have any other problems.

Denise, With all of the lurking around i've been doing on this, I think I am prepared for almost anything. I am a big baby when it comes to pain, though, so I hope it's not too bad. I do understand that the port is the most painful, though. I know I'm not going to be able to sleep too well, tonight, too excited!

Denise, I think the stress of having the surgery is what made mine come early! Lucky me....

Hi guys, I'm going in for my surgery in the am....have to be there at 7:30 with surgery at 9. I'm excited but nervous at the same time. Ok, gross question, but I started my period tonight. Has anyone had this happen right before surgery?

Just a post to say hi, I'm having my band on Wed. 30th. I've been doing a lot of reading of all of the posts here and think I have learned a lot. I hope that I kind of already know what to expect by reading what everyone who has already had the procedure experienced. This preop diet is killing me. I've already cheated a couple of times and I am so hungry! I've lost about 8lbs but am scared that when I go for my appt the day b4 surgery that he is going to cancel my surgery because I haven't lost enough. Has anyone else had that happen?

Hi everyone, I am not sure exactly how many questions I have, but I know there are a lot. I am scheduled for surgery on 8/30 and am trying to prepare. My doctor has me on a diet with optifast shakes and a meal once or twice a day with only lean meat and a veggie. Sometimes a fruit. I think the biggest fear I have is the not knowing how I am going to feel post op. It seems most everyone has the gas pains and a lot have the port pain, but it's also very individualized. What about coffee? Has anyone's doc restricted coffee? I think I would die if I can't have coffee. I am going to preop class on Friday, hope it won't scare me off. Not everyone has the same types of pain. I'm hoping for the best.....wish me luck!

Hi, I just got my date which is 8/30/06....I am excited but really nervous....I've been reading all the post and am really nervous about any complications. I'm self pay and can't afford much in the way of complications....hoping for a great result!

I've been on and off of Cymbalta for the last 6 months and have found that I feel much better on than off. No side effects noticed to speak of, at best maybe a slightly decreased sex drive.