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I went in for a small, .25cc, deflate today. I asked the Nurse Practitioner why fills can feel tighter a couple weeks later. She said it can be due to stress but if you'renot going through a stressful time that it is due to a "delayed inflammatory response." Joan

Name, real or screen~ Joan Age~ 50 Weight on July1st~ 198.8 Goal Weight for July 29th~ 190 Exercise Goal for July~ 3-5X per week Dietary Goal for July~ eat adequate (band wise) fruits and vegetables Personal Goal for July~ get together with friends at least once a week Date Banded~ 12/2/2010 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 27#

I think the bread is stuck and having trouble leaving your pouch. I have had a delayed stuck episode like this before. I suggest you keep sipping and definetly don't eat anything until it passes or comes up. Then stick with liquids the rest of tonight and all or part of tomorrow. Joan

Yeah Larry! Thanks! I am good at organizing/setting up the challenges but my computer skills are lacking! Joan So who's joining our July challenge?

Good Morning! Joan checking in at 200#, down 5# from last week, 4# for the month. Now that my fill is working my weight is coming off again! : ) I met my fruit and veggie and crafting goals for the month but not my exercise goal. Congratulations to all who lost some weight this month! Day by day, month by month we will reach our goals! Who wants to do a July challenge? We'll start on the 1st, weigh in on Fridays and finish on the 29th. Any volunteers to keep the stats for a July Challenge? Joan

Thanks Vicky! I can't wait for you to hit 100#!! That will be so exciting! I plan to get a new license when I hit goal , how about you?

Hello, I had my refill almost 2 weeks ago and am now feeling restriction, I love it and the weight is coming off, too. I have to be careful, after a dinner party last PM I was thirsty and drank some water too fast. I guess my pouch was too full for it so up it came! I am sticking to shakes and soft foods today to rest my stomach and esophagus. I had a little reflux while sleeping last PM that reinforces my need to let my system rest, I don't want a repeat of what happened before with the vomiting daily, reflux nightly and deflates! I think my license has my weight at 185, I guess we all lie about our weight! Joan

Thanks! As, always, thank you Vicky for keeping our stats!! :D Are you willing to do them again for July??? Who wants to do a July Challenge? I was thinking of calling it the "Freedom Challenge," what do you all think? TGIF, Joan

It looks like you're down 50# in 5 6months? I think that is wonderful! Don't be so hard on yourself! Yeah! Have a great week! Consider yourself kicked, LOL. Thanks Vicky!! Yahoo! Into the 170's!!! So happy for you! Wonderful job! Yahoo!! Way to go!! Joan checking in at 205, grr! Up 2#. Too many sweets, salt and just finished TOM. So many excuses, LOL We have one more week to go for this challenge. Let's make this last week count and try to reach our goals! Joan

CONGRATRULATIONS on ONEDERLAND!!!! Joan

WOW Vicky! What great NSV's! I also love the increased stamina that i have and my knee and foot pains are gone! I think what you are describing weight loss wise makes sense. Your body must need to adjust for each decade lost. I know it is common to have weight loss stall out at weights we weighed for a long time in the past, a set point I think it's called. Yeah for you! Joan, your sista, lol

Good Morning! Joan weighing in at 203, down 1#. I had my refill yesterday and am looking forward to losing again! Amy~ Sometimes I have had trouble with lunch meat, sometimes not. It is a food I need to eat vey slowly. Good luck with your fill!

Glad to hear that things are OK! Take it easy, Joan

Please remember to weigh in tomorrow, Wednesday! Good Luck, Joan

Having been at each end of the band spectrum from too tight to too loose I can say for ME, when I am at my sweet spot I can eat small amounts of most foods, enjoy them and am easily satisfied. My cravings are basically gone when I am at my sweet spot. I don't exactly feel "full", just that I am done eating and am satisfied. I had a 2.5cc fill today to bring me back to 5.75cc in my 10cc band. I am gonna be super cautious these next few days. I am hungry and my stomach is growling away but I think I've had enough for the day. With my previous fills, I often feel more restriction a couple weeks after the fill rather than right away. Does anyone else here feel their fills that way too? I think everyone is doing well. I am sure most of us (me included) could/should fit more exercise in. I am pleased to read that those who are at 30# down, like me, are continuiing with our follow ups and fills. I think a big mistake some people make is giving up and not getting their monthly fills/checks. As my doctor says, some people have a very narrow therapeutic window where they are adequately nourished, not getting stuck and losing weight, a fraction of a cc above or below is not their green zone and they are either too tight or too loose. They took my 6 month digital photo and we compared it to my photo from 6 months ago, OMG, 30# has made a big difference,and I am proud. Joan

I agree with an earlier reply, just have shakes and other lquids until you see the doctor. I had a similar issue and kept trying to eat and was causing my stomach to swell from the vomiting. I had to have 2 deflates to allow healing to occur which it did. I will have a fill tomorrow. Hang in there and try not to worry! Joan

I am so thankful that I am scheduled for a fill tomorrow. Since I was deflated April 25th and May 5th I have had a basically empty band and have really struggled mentally with this. It is much too easy to fall back into old habits. I have to tell myself to not feel embarrassed tomorrow when I get weighed and my weight is up from my last visit. My weight has gone up about 5# and I really miss what it feels like to have band restriction. I am still happy to be down approximately 30# since my preop diet which is more/faster than I have ever lost in 6 months. I am also happy to have been banded even with the vomiting and reflux issues I had before my deflates. I feel and look so much better than I did last summer. I think it is absolutely wonderful that you all have lost so well these last 6 months and I am looking forward to my own continued success and catching up! I will pick up a lab slip tomorrow for 6 month post op labs. Has anyone else received their results yet, and if so were your lab values improved? Joan

You look fabulous! I am so happy for you! I have felt tighter 2-3 weeks after a fill than I have in the first week. Yeah for you Vicky! You are doing super! Was your revision a surgical replacement of your band or a surgical repositioning? I had a lot of vomiting and had my band basically emptied but fortunately the band stayed in place. I go for a refill Tuesday which I am SO thankful for. I have been feeling unbanded and have gained some weight back. Joan

Hi Amy, How about some juicy fruits like melons cut up and ready to eat plus cheese sticks and sliced lunch meats? Keep adding nuts, they'll help prevent dehydration with their salt if they're salted. Hi Vicky, Thank you so much for your diligence to our challenge! I really appreciate all your help! I am back from camp this afternoon and had a great week in the mountains and with the campers and staff. Since I basically don't feel as though I have a band I know I ate way too much. I am looking forward to my refill on Tuesday! It is kinda scary to feel unbanded and to so easily slide back into my old habits. I hope everyone has a great weekend and can post a loss on WEDNESDAY! Sorry for the confusion over weigin days. I think it's easier to start each challenge on the first of the month regardless of the day of the week, and then continue weekly weighins on that day of the week for the remainder of the month. TTYL, Joan

Hello, I am heading out of town to a summer camp for the week and will not have internet access. I go each summer for 1 or 2 weeks with my son. I work as the camp nurse and he and a friend attend for free. Have a great week and I'll check in when we get back next Saturday. Joan

Welcome to The May Challenge! This is a fun , motivating, stress free way to set personal goals for the month. Please complete the template below, weigh- in each Sunday: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th. Vicky wiil do our stats, I hope! THANKS Vicky! I hope you join us, Joan Copy and Paste this template: Name, real or screen~ Age~ Weight on May1st~ Goal Weight for May 29th~ Exercise Goal for May~ Dietary Goal for May~ Personal Goal for May~ Date Banded~ Total Weight Loss Since Banding~

Doing manual labor at one week post op is probably too soon. My Dr. said no manual labor, gym workouts... for a month. I bet that all the activity you are doing is causing the pain. Did you get the lap band materials from tthe lap band company from your doctor? The general diet is protein first, protein most and protein last, which doesn't have to be meat but can be cottage cheese, yogurt, protein shakes and bars, tofu, fish, eggs, beans... The idea is to limit grains but not eliminate them entirely. Some fruits and vegetables daily are important. I am sure on this site there is other general diet info. Did you meet with a nutritionist? I hope a nutritionist would not recommend meat only. If you haven't been losing weight yet do not worry. Many people don't lose and actually gain weight until they have had a few fills. Hang in there, remember, you are only a couple weeks post op. Joan

Name, real or screen~ Joan Age~ 50 Weight on June1st~ 204 Goal Weight for June 29th~ 194 Exercise Goal for June~ 30 minutes, 5 days a week Dietary Goal for June~ eat more fruits and vegetables Personal Goal for June~ set up my sewing machine and sew some crafts Date Banded~ 12-2-10 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 21#

Sara, OMG. Why does your band need repair or removal? Did it slip? Has your doctor viewed it with fluoroscopy? So sorry about about you getting beat up! That is awful! I am glad he is your EX boyfriend. Joan

I wonder if your band slipped after being emptied because now it is loose and can slide around? Have you tried Prilosec or one of the other acid reducer meds? What is an RNY? Good luck, I hope you feel better soon! Joan