Lilly73

Single bandster, 34, central Maine. Single mom of 2 young girls. Struggled with weight my entire life. Had bouts of eating disorders also. Lap band has helped me learn how to eat correctly. I have not lost tons of weight....but I have lost 35 lbs and have gained a lot of control over my out of control eating. I love to work out at the gym, spend time with my girls, I work as a nurse full time and love gardening also. I have only been divorced a short time. I have not dated at all. Just not ready, I guess. I am really busy with work and the children. If anyone wants to chat please mesage me!

I was banded almost a year ago. I have not been on this site in a long time and have missed it. Recently...over the last 2 months I have experienced terrible heartburn and acid reflux. It seems to be related to certain foods I eat and certain drinks. I think I have it "somewhat" under control now but I am still going to see my doctor about it this week. Is this normal and has anyone experienced this?

Forgive me but what is PB and NSV???? I am a newbie....lol.

Thank you so much for the welcoming words......much appreciated and I hope to chat with you all soon! :clap2:

This is wonderful....I am a single bandster....newly banded and just recieved my first fill. Well....my relationships have followed the same path as my weight over the years....sometimes things were good and sometimes things were really bad. I found myself at 288lbs recently after having 2 babies in 2 years and being married to a bipolar alchoholic. Not an abusive person...just a really sick man....his sickness was making me sick also. I was trying so hard to keep things together...working full time, taking care of the girls (who were babies) and paying all the bills myself...it was too much to bear. I wanted the all american "family" and wanted to be a mom so bad that I ended up settling for a man with many issues and problems so I could have it. Not a good choice. After many years of trips to the hospital ER and psych units and psychiatrist's office along with weekly counseling with a substance abuse counselor....I realized that this man would never be the husband I dreamed of and never the dad I would hope my babies to have. It was a harsh acceptance and one that left me a devastated single mother trying to "do it all." During the 4 years we lived together I used food as my coping mechanism. When things got tough....I ate and ate and ate some more....the 2 back to back pregnancies didn't help either but I really can't blame my obesity on pregnancy...that is a cop out. I have been separated from my husband now for 7 months and have started the divorce process. He sees the kids once or twice a week for an hour or two but always with me present. We don't fight or cause the kids any more heartache than they have already experienced which I am so thankful for...but things will never be normal for them and that makes me sad. During our marriage he stopped sleeping in the same bed as me and stopped having sex with me. He said my weight bothered him....I had my band done 4 months after he moved out and I feel that it is now time for ME to find a healthy life...both physically and socially. I owe it to myself and my girls. This is wonderful that there is a single bandsters sight....hope to chat with you soon!! Keep on keepin on!

Wow....that is awful....I had no pain at all with my fill....and the doctor didn't use anything.....felt like a shot...that is all. Does it normally hurt? I didn't realize that.....sorry....good luck to you!

I am discovering that there are so many differences in fills and what each of the doctors do....depending on preference. I had no fill until 7 weeks post op and felt ZERO restriction....really was eating pretty normally and lost only 9 lbs in 7 weeks.....I got a 4cc fill for my first fill and WOW....I could barely drink...what a difference! I am 6 days from that first fill and can only tolerate "soft" food but I am doing OK...able to get my nutritional requirements in.....is this normal to only be eating SOFT foods right now?? I really can't do solids...they get stuck and it hurts so bad.

I did clear liquids the first 24 hours then full liquids for the next two days but by day 4 I was on soft foods such as creamy soups and even a bit of yogurt, etc. You just have to take it SLOW.

Hello....I understand....I am 18 days post op and have only lost 10 pounds....absolutely NO RESTRICTION AT ALL. I understand it is about healing right now and getting used to the band but I was hoping for a bit more restriction and my first fill isn't until SEPTEMBER 12TH. I am on my eliptical everyday now and doing weight resistance exercises and putting my "will power" to the test....I think God wants me to use this time to learn how to live the banded life....it isn't an easy fix....only a TOOL. Good Luck and if the depression is really starting to settle in...there is nothing better than exercise....releases all those endorphins!!

No....I am really not that familiar with the program in Bangor...as I had mine done in Augusta. I have heard good things about Dr. Toder though....nothing negative but it is all hearsay...you should meet with her yourself and ask a lot of questions....that is your right as a patient. Good Luck!!

OK.....40lbs lost from surgery to first fill then I hear 50lbs:omg:......I was hoping to hear that I was doing fine....LOL!! I guess I am surprised that I can consume this much. I thought I would be more restricted but from what I am hearing in other posts that it is normal not to feel restriction yet and this isn't a time to lose but to heal. I guess I hear these BIG NUMBERS and think that maybe 10 pounds already isn't good enough. I will say that I have not exercised yet...just haven't been able to....still a bit sore. I am going to start today though! My eliptical is waiting in my livingroom calling my name!! I started a LIST of things that are going to begin today.....maybe I am too hard on myself...I just so badly want to succeed at this.....so badly! I also don't feel I am a very disciplined person when it comes to dieting and food. That how I got here to begin with. Can someone comment on the discipline and change of mindset??? Any suggestions or comments are welcomed. :confused:

I did not have her....I had Dr. Richard Morand in Augusta....who I loved! But...I am a nurse and I have heard good things about her. I have also heard good things about the Bariatric program in Bangor. There are 3 doctors in Augusta at the Bariatric Center who do Lap Band....if you are interested in going there.

You definately want to spend the night....I don't know how people go home after that!! I needed to stay due to my sleep apnea but the hospital I had it done at sends them home....it is strictly a day surgery...can't imagine! I had a lot of post op nausea and gas pain...very glad I stayed.