Surby

Hi fellow August Bandits!!! How's everyone doing?? I think we're the only ones who haven't posted updates for September!!!

You can DEFINITELY have a PB before your fill.......... that's the only time I've done it!!!!!

It took me 4 fills. Really isn't about the number of fills, but the amount your doc is giving you. My doc was way conservative, but his PA did my last one "aggressively," and it is WONDERFUL! I have never PB'ed or even felt that I was going to, so I think I might be at the perfect spot...... the sweet spot. I would like to get just a teeny tiny bit of a fill though because I can still eat an entire piece of pizza. I might give it another month or so! Be patient! It does take time!

My thighs are no longer saying, "excuse me, pardon me, excuse me, pardon me......."

I kinda wish that I had told the world because I think a little more pressure would've been good for me. I'm just weird that way. I've lost almost 50 pounds, but it has come off slowly.

I started with 3 meals and a few small snacks throughout the day. I am now 7 months out and I'm only doing 3 meals. I rarely snack. I do get a large unsweetened tea from Chick-Fil-A every morning and sip on that throughout the day. Occasionally I'll have a few nuts or one of those Hershey's minis. I'm completely amazed that I can go thru the day now eating so little. I've also learned that it's ok to be a little hungry. I'm not sure what has changed, but it's AMAZING!!

As my doc was doing my fill today, he shared an interesting little tidbit with me. There is a prototype of a new band that uses a REMOTE CONTROL to fill/unfill the band!! How awesome is that!! However, I can envision my band filling and unfilling every time my husband changes the TV (which is CONSTANT)!!! It'll be interesting to see how long it takes the remote controlled band to get approved!

I am an assistant principal at a large high school, and I think we educators actually have somewhat of an advantage because we stay so darn busy that it sorta takes your mind off what you can't eat! I had surgery on a Wednesday and tried to go back on a Monday, but I was miserable. I had very little pain from the surgery, but I felt horrible. I had a lot of swelling and couldn't even keep my saliva down. Each person is different. My students are awesome though......... they really have started to notice the weight loss, and they really make you feel good!! GOOD LUCK!

My restriction comes and goes. Mine will be gone for as long as a week, and then it comes back. I had a horrible case of bronchitis, and I completely lost all restriction. Now it's back BIG TIME!!! Very strange! Maybe yours will come back???

I tried EVERYTHING for the gas, but walking was the only thing that would even begin to help......... it's just an endurance game! Tell her to hang in.... in about a month, she'll realize it's SO worth it!!

It took me MONTHS and 4 fills to get really good restriction. Then my weight loss took off! I don't crave chocolate and other junk anymore. My only pitfall now is chips and salsa from a Mexican restaurant. YUM! I still eat them, just a whole lot less!!!!!!

You know, I just don't think it could be the shock of surgery and anesthesia because I've had other pretty big surgeries with no hair loss. I started losing my hair about 4 months out, but it has slowed down a lot. I did start using Nioxin, but I only use it every other day. I use my regular shampoo the other days. It's a very interesting phenomenon...... but NOT fun!

Mine was $13,000 for outpatient surgery. My fills are $50 for the first year.

I've been noticing a rather strange phenomenon during the past two weeks. I have only lost around 40 pounds, and I still have around 70 to go, so I'm still very much overweight. However, I cannot believe how people's reactions to me have changed........ people are friendlier, guys are flirtier (I'm very married), service people pay more attention to me.... I wonder if maybe it's because I'm just feeling more confident?? It's not that I'm this attractive bombshell, either!! Has anyone else noticed a huge, sudden difference in people's interactions with you???

I figured my chances of dying of an obesity related disease was much higher than dying from the surgery (although I felt like I was dying for about a week after surgery). I would HIGHLY recommend it!

I am head over heels in love with the Wal Mart brand of cajun trail mix.... it's spicy/salty/sweet all at the same time. Even though it's not completely healthy, just a few bites will totally quench my munchies. I have good restriction and can't eat that much, so it really really does the trick!!!

My HORRIBLE GERD miraculously disappeared after lap band........ probably has a lot to do with the fact that the doc repaired a hiatal hernia and then there's the weight loss itself. It has been WONDERFUL!

Be very very careful if you can't get a little bit of an unfill. A friend of mine had the same situation, but she began to aspirate the fluid into her lungs and became very very sick with pneumonia. It isn't worth that because she almost died!! Do what you can to get a little unfill if it doesn't resolve itself!!!

My experience is similar to Vintagehound's......... now that I'm at a very very good restriction level, eating is kind of a pain in the neck. It takes so long to eat anything that I get tired of it and just give up; however, when I do that, I realize that I'm satisfied but not stuffed. I can still eat anything, including bread, if I chew it forever. I love this band!!

My family eats out A LOT because of crazy work schedules and our daughter's grueling sports schedules. Here's what's happening to me.... right now I have around 5 takeout boxes full of food that I will have to throw away tomorrow. I order the meal, eat part of it, and take part of it for lunch the next day........ and there's STILL food left! I wish my DH would split, but he eats a lot and works it all off!!!

Hi, I've been reading about pouch dilation, and I have to know how to avoid that?? After 4 fills, I FINALLY have GREAT restriction, but I'm so afraid I'll mess it up somehow.......... is the only cause overeating??

I got a little stomach bug, and the vomiting was quite strange.... nothing came up but a lot of air. I immediately began taking Phenergen so I wouldn't keep dry heaving. It was so bizarre!

I'm in Cleveland, and I got mine done in Chattanooga.... the Lap Band Institute is WONDERFUL!!! Dr. Paynter did mine!

Might as well get used to it Sherilynn! I've been banded since August, and mine makes CRAZY noises all the time. I'm really restricted now, and suddenly my THROAT is gurgling and growling! I'm an assistant principal at a high school, and my kids think it's hysterical! It's especially bad in the mornings! Just one of those quirky things!

Now that I have very good restriction, I CAN'T drink while I eat. It just kinda perks back up into my mouth. Ugh! So, it has been great because drinking with my food has been a near impossible habit to break....... until NOW!!!