outside*looking*in

What to expect???? Well - expect it to be your own experience. Different to some similar to others. I was sore and tender but not really in pain. What I was ~ I was VERY TIRED. I had no energy for weeks. I did not have gas pain as many others did. I have learned in these few short months since my surgery is that I am ALWAYS learning, adjusting, re-learning. Head hunger vs. real hunger Hungry or just thirsty (now I chew gum waiting for that 1 hour after meal drink) Am I being honest about my eating (now tracking online with myfitnesspal.com) Am I still sticking to my docs rules (different for everyone) What is that strange sound coming from my stomach? How come I feel full and then I burp ~ and the fullness is gone? When am I ever gonna poop:blushing:? What! loose stool - where did that come from? Scale is steady now it is stuck - oh look it's moving again - oh look, it is stuck again!:thumbup: Did I eat too much? Oh crap did I ruin my band??? Panic - no - everything is fine. I need a fill. Maybe I'll be that lucky person who gets restriction on that first fill!! Nope - three more fills later - still no restriction, but I WILL get there! Truth is, it has been a roller coaster. I am glad I am on it. I continue to learn daily. I continue to have struggles. I continue to have some successful days. I continue..... You will go through a lot of ups and downs but along the way if you can learn to enjoy the ride, you will be just fine. We will get there. See you at the finish line. Best of luck!

Hi - I have lost 27.5lbs since surgery. I feel like I am finally knockinf on the door of restriction. I am up to 5.5cc in my band and although I am not restricted, before my last fill I was getting hungry in between meals and not filling up on 1/2 to 1 cup of food. I was starting to allow little cheats here and there and before I knew it I was "cheating" more than staying on plan. Part of that was that I was not tracking and not visiting LBT. I feel a bit better with my last fill and can't wait for my next. I have not had an episode of PBing, getting stuck or even "slime". I still can eat normal bites and don't understand why I have to sip so I take a normal sip. Is it only when you have restriction that the small bites and sips are truly important? Exercise for me is not regular. No excuse. I wish I could go off by myself and use exercise time as a meditation time. But, not in this house. I am stay at home mom and the only time to myself is when I am sleeping!

I love this show.:thumbup: I have been very interested in the therapy part of the program and try to see where it may apply to me. Last night as Tenni asked them to remember their childhood, it had me thinking, before I knew it I was eating something I should not have and I knew I was not even hungry. LIGHTBULB!!! My husband first noticed about 11 years ago that I use food to deal with stress and emotions. We were discussing my recent phone call with my mother (who informed me that my step-dad was leaving her) and I was cutting up cubes of cheese and eating it WITHOUT even realizing I was doing it! I have also noticed that I do use food, t.v, computer, ect...to numb my mind and not have to think about things. I noticed this on a 10 hour road trip where I did not have these things to distract me. Before I knew it - I was thinking about all sorts of relationships that have caused me pain. Maybe I should see a therapist! :thumbup: I also wish we could have a WFN in my area.

May sound silly ---but --- I can finally Hula Hoop! I must have lost just enough off my hips to keep that darn thing up for about 40 rounds! :smile:

Okay - so I have NO restriction! I have had two fills and I am going for my 3rd tomorrow. The thing is, for the past two day I have had a little trouble swallowing (not painfull) I just seem to have noticed a tightness in my throat area that comes and goes. I am expecting my period any minute and I am wondering if this is giving me a little restriction and since I have not had restriction, I have nothing to compare it to. I have no problems eating ANYTHING!. Previous to this happening I felt like I could eat more than before! It just kinda feels like when you are trying NOT to cry and you get that funny feeling in your throat. Could be sinuses? Any suggestions, words of wisdom from long timers, advice??

I have been heavy all of my life. I am fortunate to NOT have any of the medical complications that are common for obese people, although, I am sure it was just a matter of time. I was on a cruise(like my 8th one) and just was not having any fun. Everything seemed to be about eating and then if it was not about eating it was about how uncomfortable I was feeling in my clothes or how I was unable to do things. I no longer even thought of trying things. I had gotten to the point of just not bothering because I knew my size would not let me. I was missing out on life. I am tired of not doing, not going, not socializing, not fitting. I have delt with that for the better of 30 years and now at 38 I am going to start doing things I did not think I could or actually could NOT do. I had my surgery in on 2/3/10 and so far I have lost 27lbs. It i a great start and I am happy with my progress so far and guess what............I NOW CAN HULA-HOOP WITH MY 12y/o!:thumbup: I have lost some weight in my hips and it helped me to finally get it. It was a good decision but a hard one since I had to fork over $18,000 to do it!

I was banded 2/3/10 and was GLAD I stayed overnight! Not due to complications of anything but I just was sooooooo tired that I COULD NOT STAY AWAKE! I was out of surgery by 9:30ish and pertty much slept 'til the next morning. I remember getting up a few times (they made me) and of course them coming in to check the bp and respitory stuff but not much else. I was tired for 2 weeks after with no energy! Of course, I also read on here where some people go back to work the next day or so!:thumbup:

I have found that I have the will power to not buy it but I can't fight temptation if it is already in the house! We had a birthday cookout for my daughter recently and of course there were left over chips and cake (stuff I normally DON"T buy) I am too tempted to have it when it is in the house and do give in and have some. SO I have declared that from now on we will go out for "special occasions" and get dessert while we are out so we can have it there BUT NOT in the house! I don't know what to say about your work thing. Maybe you could bring an alternative to have when you are starting to feel tempted. ??? I am stay at home Mom so I don't have that issue. For some reason I feel like I have been getting hungrier and hungrier as time goes on??:thumbup: I have had 2 fills over the past 2 months(up to 4.5cc now) and I am due for another next week. I hope it brings some restriction! Best of luck:wink2:

hi - I was banded on 2/3/10. Once the swelling was gone and I had normal feeling of restriction from strictly the device (without fills) I could feel full on 4-5oz of food. NOW - 2 fills later - I sometimes feel hungry even after the 4-5oz of food. I have a total of 4.5cc in my band. I worry that something is wrong like a streched pouch or something because I don't feel as full as before the fills! :smile: Some days are better then others, each morning I really can't have anything until 10-11am but I have never felt so tight that I have had reflux. I did not have a problem with reflux prior to the surgery though. don't know if this helps at all.

I can't wait 'til we go out and I can nibble a few bites of my husbands food and say, Wow I AM STUFFED!:thumbup: 'Til then, I will try and be very good. TRY!

I actually hosted a cook out/birthday for all of my family and friends over the weekend. Out of the 20 or so people there, only my sister and her boyfriend know about my surgery 2 1/2 months ago. I have lost a total of about 40lbs since the rest of the people have seen me! (20 before surgery). I was not really worried about the food but about the weight loss questions. Turns out - no one said a word about me looking any different. I guess they have seen me go up and down in weight and so far it is not enough to warrent saying anything. I was actually relieved to not talk about it. I just played the hostess, ate fruit and drank some water and was so busy socializing, no one noticed that I never actually fixed me a plate. Good Luck:thumbup:

This is exactly the post I needed to see. I too am getting discouraged and tonight I way over ate (I have been really good up 'til now with my portions). But - we went out to celebrate a birthday and I had a sandwich for $8.50! I knew I should not have had the bread, knew that I should at least only eat half, and really should not touch the chips it came with. I ended up eating more than 3/4 of the WHOLE SANDWICH, SOME OF THE CHIPS AND THE PICKLE SPEAR!!! I knew if I stopped after half I would be fine and more than satisfied but I just couldn't push it away! Especially since we paid $8.50 for it! THEN we went for ice cream afterwards and I HAD AN WAFFLE CONE!!! I don't normally even like ice cream!!!! :scared2:I have been feeling miserable since and soooo guilty! I have had three fills and won't have a 4th for another 2 weeks. I just HOPE that I will get to a point that I can take a few bites and be so full that it does not matter what my head tells me, my stomache just won't take it! Can you describe a bit more about the difference you felt before and after your last fill? Did you notice right away? Did it take time to kick in? How does full feel to you now as compared to before. Thanks in advance!

So I took some before pics just before my surgery and I have not taken any since then. I am down just over 20lbs and I am 10wks out. If you take progress pics, what do YOU go by? Weight loss goals or time? Just curious.

Hi - Has anyone been banded by these doctors in St. Augustine. They are supposed to be a great group (US Bariatrics) but I have not been able to find any chats going about them. I am curious to hear from thier patients. I have been to the seminar. I have also been to the support nutrition group for Dr. Cywes (by accident, thought I was attending the seminar but got it wrong - though it was a great experience:thumbup:) I will be self-pay. Would love to hear from you. Thanks

Wow - that really surprises me. I have had nothing but a good experience with the office. All of the staff have been friendly and helpful. I was visited by Dr. Koppman before I was released from the hospital. They did not call me to check on me but I did not expect them too. I was expected to and told many times to call if I had any questions or concerns. I have not had too many issues come up medically but I have been working with some of the girls in the office on another issue and they have been helpful. I have only had one doctor in my life time return my phone call personally due to emergency (blood clot situation). I am sure that most doctors don't do this. I did not know that they no longer have an office in Celebration but they do in Lake Mary. I am not sure of the hours nor am I sure if they do surgeries in that area (I have never had to go there). How did your band work for you over those three years? And how are you doing now? Why did you have it removed for slippage? Will you have it replaced? (Just curious for future) It seems our experiences have been completely different but I am only 2 months out. Best of luck to you.

Okay so it was my birthday this past weekend and I knew that I would not be as strict on my post-op diet as I would normally be. We were heading to a theme park and celebrating the day there. My husband also came home with gormet cupcakes. Here is what I learned: I do have some (little) restriction as I can not eat normal amounts that I used to. It is okay to Celebrate with your family and make as many good choices as possible but okay if you make a few that are not so great. I was able to stay away from soda the whole day when having to make drink choices. Even though the scale went up a little, it is okay because it WILL go back down. A theme park is a good idea to sneak in exercise as I put my pedometer on in the morning and ended up walking over 11,000 steps that day. I must journal and be accountable for the food going in my mouth even if it is the cupcake. I must continue to come here for support because it really does help.:cursing:

My doctor found a hernia while he was placing my band. He stiched it up and said that it is not uncommon for them to have to repair hernias while putting in bands. I never knew I had one.

Cupcakes were sooooo YUMMY!!! Thanks all!

My surgeon (there are two in the practice) is very involved. They personally give the seminars, consult appt, pre-op appt and every fill after. They have nutritionist and pyschologist on staff and well trained nurses that are always available if needed. A pre-op class is required (at my office) with the nutritionist and the nurse, at that time you get a big manual that explains the stages of surgery, eating guidlines for the next year out, exercise tips, basic do and don'ts and what to expect.

It is funny this post just came up as I just got off the phone with the doctors. They are reluctant to submit it for some reason and I don't understand why? This has been such an unneeded hassle that I wonder if it is worth it. Will keep you posted!

I agree with BetsyB. I weigh daily and I have learned to look at the times of month I stall or gain and have been able to see that it usually coordinates with OV/TOM. So , it no longer bothers me. Sometimes it takes me two weeks before my weight goes down again. This first few months has been such a learning process. Get to know how your body reacts to all of the changes that are being made. I am only about 6wks out and learn daily still. Good luck.

I was banded on 2/3 and had my first fill of 3cc on 3/4. It did nothing for me as I expected. I go for my second fill (not sure how much) on 4/1. My docs office has great book with set guidelines that he gives all his patients before surgery (it is one that they have come up with over the years). They recommend eating no more than 5oz of food at a time, no breads and starches until after 7 months or so and to focus on getting in your Protein and Water. Of course that is not always easy and until you have proper restriction we have to try it on our own. I have had a little restriction with the band in place as I can tell I can not eat the amounts I used to and I am not always hungry in between meals (depending on the day:tongue_smilie:). So I try to follow his guidlines as close as possible but don't beat myself up if I mess up a bit. It seems each doc is different and so there is no SET STANDARD for banders. Here is what I do. 1. Journal everything I put in my mouth on myfitnesspal.com -once I did this for a few days following my docs guidelines for portions and protein amounts I realized it gives me around 1000 calories a day. 2 - Get my required 70-87 grams of protein (differs for everyone) 3 - Try to get my 64 - 100oz water (much harder than I realized) 4 - Measure out my portions so I don't go over 5oz. 5 - Take my Vitamins - sometimes I forget 6 - Don't stress if I mess up a little as this is a learning process and I am not going to be perfect. 7 - Try to increase my activity - I suck at this but I am getting better. I am two pounds away from a total loss of 20lbs since my surgery. That is 20lbs in a month in a half!!!!:laugh: That is unbelievable to me. And I am slower than some on here who where banded at the same time as me. It is way better than where I would be without the band! Best of luck.

My docs office lets you have it back, in limited amount, after 1 month. I have 1 mug each morning.

I soooo know how you all feel. That was actually my biggest complaint after. I was banded 2/3. It took me over three weeks to feel back to about normal. It was about the time I finally added some real food and some coffee/hot tea. I can remember being wiped out just halfway through unloading the dishwasher! It was over a week before I left my house. It does get better. Hope you feel back to normal soon.

I like myfitnesspal.com free