dmripah5899

PK, Thanks for posting this! I thought I was the only one going through this! I have a very sensitive stomach apparently. I was banded July 6. 2010. Since then I had a fill of 2cc's in August. Then one month later I had 2 more. I returned then following day to the hospital and had to have it taken out (the 2cc) after puking nonstop for 31 hours. I couldn't even have a popsicle. Since then my doctor has started me on .2cc fills. I asked right after Thanksgiving (on the 30th) to do just a bit more since I started paying copays. She did .3cc's and I have barely kept food down at all since then! Tomorrow will be two weeks. I have felt like a bulemic too. I am so desperate to get enough Protein in that I am trying to eat and it won't stay down. pureed only. But I forgot about puking causing swelling. I am going to email my doctor just in case, but I go back next Tuesday anyway. It's just nice to know I am not the only one. I'm glad to see it worked out for you and you are keeping food down now! Best of luck!

Hi. My name is Ashley. I have always been the largest person in my extended family. I was always shy and introverted because of my weight. It took me a long time to get comfortable being out in public. To this day I avoid large groups of people. I began putting on weight when I was 9 years old. My family doctor told my mom it was just "baby fat" and I would be fine, no reason for concern. As the weight continued to gain and I became the largest person in my grade every year at school, I began seeking out answers. Eventually, I diagnosed myself with "Stein-Leventhal Syndrome" and went to see a gynocologist at age 17. He confirmed the diagnosis, saying it was more commonly referred to as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS. I was told I was in a Catch-22. To lose weight would help control my symptoms, but obesity and weight gain were inevitable. I was also informed that I had a 25% chance of ever conceiving a child. This crushed me. I was about to go to college for a major in Child Development because of my love for children. I first considered Bariatric Surgery when I was about 20 years old. I knew I had to do something because I couldn't even stomach looking in the mirror anymore. I was weighing in around 240ish at this time. I started researching Gastric Bypass because Lap-Band was not as well known. I was quickly informed by anyone and everyone with an opinion that I was taking the easy way out. So once again I turned to dieting. Unsuccessfully, of course. I continued to steadily put on weight over the next few years, I couldn't even find the motivation to lose weight for our wedding in October of 2007. On New Years Day 2010, I was alone at home, feeling sluggish from the holidays. TLC was having a marathon on weight, seeing as how that's most people's New Years' resolutions. I watched these 683 lb women, one ton woman, Big Ben's story, etc...and i thought to myself- that's going to be me. The last one I watched, they gave the woman, who was 28 and had two little girls and was bedridden, Gastric. She died two weeks later. I turned it off and immediately began researching. I vowed if I could ever afford to get it done, I was never going to screw up like some of them. (One of the boys was given free Gastric surgery and two years later was overweight again.) I weighed in the next morning at 301. A normal scale wouldn't have weighed me any longer.To summarize the next few months, I attended a seminar in Reston at the end of January, waited for them to deal with insurance for 2 months (they claimed although calls to insurance proved them liars), then got pissed and moved on. I attended a seminar at RMH in Harrisonburg, VA on April 9th. On April 15th, I started the process. I went through all the steps, even the setbacks like therapy to deal with food/emotions, and was approved for surgery upon first submission to insurance on June 7th, 2010. They scheduled me for surgery on July 6th, 2010. I began my 2 week liquid Pre-Op diet on June 22nd. I still weighed 301. The day of my surgery I was down to 280. I was so proud of myself. Then for a combined total of 4 weeks I did not put one thing that wasn't on list in my mouth. After 4 weeks I was down 38 lbs. Since then I have lost half of my goal. I'm down 79 lbs with 79 to go. My BMI has dropped from 47 to 35 and its only been 4 1/2 months. I've dropped from a size 26 jeans to a size 16, with the 14's in sight!I'm looking for people to share experiences and /or questions with, since most of the people in my life don't even know about my surgery.

I feel for you Jen. I went through the same thing a few years back when I first looked into bariatric surgery. I was "taking the easy way out." I personally don't think that being morbidly obese for 17 years (and I'm only 26), being infertile, and having cholesterol and blood pressure so high doctors were contemplating medication, plus being on diabetes meds...i don't think that's something to mess with. It became a matter of health for me, but people do NOT take the time to see it that way. So when i made my decision this year to go ahead with it, I didn't tell many people. It sucks, but the people that do know are very supportive, so I am lucky for that. Hang in there. All that matter is that you are doing what you need to do! Good luck!

This sounds exactly like what I am going through right now! How did you get through it?!? Ash

Hi all!! I wasn't sure exactly what bandster hell was. I have seen it as topics of conversation, but never having much free time, I never really get a lot of free time to check it out... I think I officially know what it is now. If its not, feel free to correct me, but for me, this is what it is! I was banded July 6th, 2010. 3 more days and I will be 4 months post-op! I did my 2 week liquid diet beginning June 22nd. I have basically been hungry since then!!!! I chose not to tell many people, just immediate family and best friends. So they don't really understand why I'm grumpy! LOL. But no one will ever tell me I took the easy way out! I've had 4 fills (kinda) and am still hungry, no...starving! I have to have small, teensy fills due to swelling and vomiting. I have lost 78 lbs since June 22nd. I am stoked about that! However, it has been pure willpower on my part... I have literally been measuring out 3/4 to 1 cup of food and slowly eating that. When it's gone, that's it for 3 hours, satisfied or not. My doctors are amazed, but none of us can wait until I find my sweet spot! They told me I don't have to measure, eat til full, the band is supposed to work with me so I don't have to "diet" but I refuse. Nothing is stopping me now! LOL I was just wondering what the average fill is until I stop being hungry. I love my band, it was definitely the best decision I ever made. However, all the brochures about stopping hunger...false advertising! I was expecting to be full immediately. LOL. Oh well, it is what it is. Any advice is welcome! Thanks! Ashley 2 week PRE-OP diet- 6/22/2010-7/6/2010 Banded- 7/6/2010 :wub: 1st fill- 2cc 8/24/2010 2nd fill- 1cc 9/23/2010 (removed all on 9/24/2010 after 26 hrs of vomiting) 3rd fill- 0.2cc 10/12/2010 4th fill- 0.2cc 11/2/2010 Total's= 2.4cc, 78 lbs lost, BMI down 12, 44 total inches lost. From size 26 to 16.

Awesome! So we are roughly 2 months apart in our journeys! Keep in touch please!

Desiree, Thanks so much! When was your surgery?

Oh I wish that was a problem I would have had! I was hungry within 2 days of surgery! I couldn't believe it! Hang in there though! From what I have read, everyone is different afterwards! Keep me posted!!

Thanks! Good Luck with your lap band journey as well! I cannot WAIT to feel restriction and not be consumed by hunger! Oh well, still can't complain! How much have you lost?

Hi, everyone. My name is Ashley. I am from VA. I am 26 years old. I was banded on July 6th, 2010. I am so excited about my new life! I am looking for advice or any information you may have found helpful when you were starting out...Thanks! :smile2: