Queen Fig

Hello! I am on Abilify for bi-polar, adderall for depression and just added Prozac for anxiety. I noticed about 6 mos after surgery that I started feeling A LOT of anxiety, hence the addition of Prozac. If you don't feel right, I would go back to the doctor. I feel much better these days. Good Luck!:thumbup:

I, too, was banded 11/09. I have only lost about 35 lbs, so I feel your frustration. I have 7 cc in my band and am just now starting to feel restriction. I need another fill because I am hungry all the time. I just have been using mega-will power to get through to the end of this month before I can get one. That's if they don't refuse...which is a possiblity. They may think I have enough. The one thing that I noticed is that if I go 1 calorie over 1100 each day, I gain weight. I don't work out often, so watching my calories is a must. I get lots of Protein in shakes and noticed in the last week or so that I am starting to really drop the pounds. I just don't know how long I can keep my stamina up without another fill. I don't think 6 cc is enough for you, but I am not a doctor either. I wish you luck. It's taken me almost a year to figure this band out and I still feel like I'm starving!!!!

You have got to read the book: BREAKING FREE FROM EMOTIONAL EATING by Geneen Roth. I am reading it a second time and find it to be very helpful. Part of why the band has not been completely successful for me is because I eat when I am not hungry. That has really changed since I read this book. I have lost more weight in the last 3 weeks than I have all year! Good Luck and happy reading!:biggrin:

I am right there with you except for the diabetic part. In fact, I have only lost 35 lbs. I expected so much more. However, this is the first time I have actually KEPT weight off, so I am happy about that. I think I am finally understanding this band almost 1 year out. I was banded Nov. 17, 2009. I am also an emotional eater but am learning to control that too. Sometimes I wonder if I should have done gastric bypass instead, but as long as I can continue to lose, albeit slowly, I can learn to be patient. I am going to get one more tiny fill so I am not tempted to eat things like pizza and bread in any form..as I can eat a bit of it now. Then I think I will be at my sweet spot...whether it's real or mental. I wish you luck and continued success. You really are doing well...maybe just not what you expected.

I noticed the same thing. My pee smells like a barn!!!! It must be the Ketone thing because I notice it more the less I eat. BUT, I will take smelly pee if it means I will be thinner!:thumbup:

Good Luck! I hope it's just good old fashioned restriction...just a little delayed!

Things will get better, but I learned quickly that the band was no quick fix-a lot more work than I thought. I am 10 months out and just now getting good restriction at 7cc. Patience is the key. I just finished reading a great book called BREAKING FREE FROM EMOTIONAL EATING by Geneen Roth. Really helps when food has become your friend. I also read a book called WHY CAN'T I STOP EATING but can't remember the author...also a good book. Remember that this is a journey. It is not quick...it's life long. Very frustrating at times, but when you finally do get to restriction, it's like "Oh, that's how the band works!" Hang in there!

Went to the doctor Friday and they thought I had been at 7 cc for the past 3 months but couldn't figure out why I was still hungry. They pulled all the fill out and measured and I have actually been at only 5!!!! They looked back in my records and realized that they did their math wrong. This has been a frustrating journey as I had just about given up hope on the band as I could eat WAY more than 1/2 cup of food before feeling satisfied. For those of you like me who have been slow losers, be patient. Now that I am up to REALLY 6cc, I finally have some restriction and feel so much more in control of my eating. As an emotional eater, I have had trouble eating healthy too which has been part of my problem. I read a great book called "Why Can't I Stop Eating?" which was very helpful too. I guess I thought I would have the surgery, lose weight and that would be the end of the story of my fat self. It has been more work and time than I ever thought as I was banded in November of '09. I have lost 30 lbs but wish it was more. I am happy with my loss--but had unrealistic expectations of where I would be by now. Anyway, I am excited about the days ahead as a RESTRICTED bandster. I know this thread is all over the place, but I guess I just needed to get some stuff off my chest and make room for a fresh start! Have a great day!!!!!:rolleyes2:

If nothing else, I have learned that the band is a sloooooow process. Don't look for much weight loss until you are significantly restricted (for me, that was at 6cc-ish). Bandster hell sucks because you had the surgery and expect to lose weight, but you won't for a while. Be patient and make sure you are getting lots of Protein. I like the nectar powders - lots of protein and no carbs. Good Luck!!!!!!

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I was banded in November and have only lost 30lbs. Right now my problems are: not enough restriction; grazing; sweet tooth; inconsistent food journaling and lack of motivation to exercise. All this = failure:frown:. I am trying to get back on track, but motivation is an issue because I think that deep down, I don't believe this is going to work for me either. I accidentally missed my last appointment, so I can't go in until the 30th. I am hoping I lose something between now and then or I am going to be super embarrassed when I go to the dr.!!!!! Good Luck. Hang in there. Hope your dr. appt. went well.

You need another fill! I had only lost about 25lbs and I was banded a couple of weeks after you in November. I just got my 5th fill and asked the doctor to make it VERY tight. I finally have good restriction and the weight is just falling off. I have to take teeny-tiny bites (like the size of a pencil eraser!) and chew like crazy, but that's okay with me as long as the weight is coming off. I sometimes mistake the stuck feeling for the full feeling. So, when I think I am stuck now, I am actually full on the 1/2 cup of food we are supposed to be eating. Good Luck! Just know that it will get better. I wish someone had told us that it could be 6+ months before you REALLY start losing!:redface:

I thought I would never get here. I may have too much restriction now, but for the longest time I could eat way too much of EVERTHING and I would take advantage of that. My dr. finally filled me standing up and drinking water to get me as tight as safely possible. I am still on liquids for 2 days, then mushies, so we'll see if I can even eat, but if I can feel satisfied on protein shakes, that's where I want to be. My weight loss had totally stalled and lost only 25lbs since surgery in November. SO, I am VERY happy with restriction. For those of you not there yet, it is GLORIOUS when you finally reach it. Hang in there!!!!:confused:

Hi! I was banded Nov. 17th and have lost 26#. I wish it were more, but I have been slacking on the exercise lately and am not at my sweet spot yet, so I know it will come. I think I just thought that I would magically drop all this weight after surgery, but it doesn't work that way! Oh well. I am losing more than I would have without it. My husband and I just started the couch to 5k running program, so maybe that will speed things up. Good Luck!:thumbup:

I had the shoulder pain as well for about 4 weeks after surgery. I am now 5 months out and, since my 4th fill, I get the shoulder pain when I am either really full or really hungry. Very weird, but it's kind of a cool signal that I either need to eat, or need to stop eating. Everyone is different with this pain. Some have it all the time and some people never experience it. Sometimes taking really deep breaths helped me post-op. Good Luck!:confused:

I was banded Nov. 17th and have JUST hit the 25lb mark. I wish someone had told me at the beginning just how slow this could go. Until you have sufficient restriction, you will be able to eat just as much as before. I think I expected this amazing change right after surgery, but when bandster hell kicked in (up through the first 3 fills), I could eat whatever. Anyway, I go for my 5th fill in 2 weeks and I feel like this will be "the one" for me. I have pretty good restriction now, but I don't think I am quite at my "sweet spot" yet. At 5 months out, I thought I would have lost a lot more weight. I guess slow and steady is better, I just want it faster! Good Luck. Don't give up. It WILL get better.

I feel the same as well. I have had 5 fills...I couldn't tell you how much I have in my band. i think around 6 ccs in a 10 cc band. Anyway, I can eat a whole restaurant size salad at a sitting and that is way beyond the 1/2 cup we are supposed to be full at. Today was like a buffet day at my house - just grazed all day. I don't think I have lost a pound since my last appt in March. I go back in two weeks. I am always embarassed to have only lost 2-ish pounds each appt which are about 5 weeks apart. Anyway, I was banded in November and you still have accomplished way more than me. Congrats and good luck on this fill!

I used to be on topomax for bi-polar, but stopped due to the tingling finger side effect. The nick name for it is Dope-a-max because it can make you very forgetful. I used to forget what I was saying mid-sentence or forget what word to use all the time!:cursing:

Hello! I was banded Nov. 17th. I have lost about 23lbs which I would never have done without the band, but I wish it were more. I am sure I could be doing better with the exercise, but I manage to find lots of excuses not to go to the gym! I just had my 4th fill and am feeling pretty good restriction, but I can't tell if I am at the sweet spot that everyone talks about. My problem is that I love junk food. I have been pretty good about staying away from it, but it calls me by name and goes down so smoothly! Part of my craving is stress. My dr. is thinking about putting me on an anxiety med. We'll see... Good Luck in your journey!:wub:

I would like to join in the challenge. All I want to do is eat lately...I need some MOTIVATION!

Hey Bill- I read some of the other posts...I thought you were asking how you could get more support from your wife. I am not a psychiatrist...I just play one on TV (just kidding), but really, I know what you are dealing with. Your success is great, but not feeling completely supported...criticized even. I know that when I lose weight, some people start acting crazy. Whether they act jealous or irritated or annoyed, it's a very negative reaction. I think it comes down to the fact that you are changing and change can be very difficult. I think about how I would feel if my hubby started running and losing weight and eating less...it would throw me for a tail spin. I think I would be a little scared! Focus on your feelings and if you are happy, just keep doing what you are doing. Want to lift weights? Lift weights. If you don't, then don't. If you are happy with your running...let it be. You are making progress and that is what your goal is. Good luck! Beth

Oh yes...I remember those days! I was STARVING by 2 or 4 days post surgery. This is just the beginning of "Bandster Hell" Where you have the band, expect NOT to be hungry, but are hungry just like you used to be. Once you start getting fills, you have to rely less on willpowere EXCEPT you may always struggle with making good choices because carbs go down easier than proteins for many people!

I am almost 3 months out and I still have trouble with my port some days. I think it's because they have to "bury" it in the abdominal muscle. It kills me for days after I have a fill. Hopefully yours will improve soon.

I can't really eat much of anything comfortably right now. I think it's a combo of my band being a hair too tight AND my period is due tomorrow and that seems to make things even tighter. I slimed all last evening. I was hungry, but couldn't find anything compatible with my band. So, I ended up with a protein shake and will do that for the next couple of days. If my band doesn't loosen up by the end of the month at my next appointment, I might have the doc take a hair out. I hate to have any removed, but I would also like to eat comfortably at some sort. Maybe I will lose enough weight that it will loosen on its own. Slime on!:sifone:

I was STARVING post op, so after a couple of days, I e-mailed my nutritionist and she said that I could move ahead of schedule and start mushies early. You probably haven't done anything to hurt yourself. Just know that until fill 2 or 3 you will be relying on more willpower than you thought you'd have to. Start practicing now. Just remember that things will improve and you WILL get to a place where you are not so hungry anymore. The weeks after surgery but before your fills is a killer! (At least for me!) Good Luck!:sifone:

I felt EXACTLY the same after my 2nd fill. Now, after my third fill, I can only eat about 1/2 cup of food, then I am full. However, "full" doesn't feel like it used to. For me, it can feel like something is stuck. I need to learn to stop when I am "not hungry" anymore as opposed to being "full". Does that make sense? Good Luck! Your weight loss is awesome!