Reathy think before

[chickadee81 0]

What a great reply. Sorry to hear that someone else went through what I am going through. I too could not take the pain meds. I had conjestive heart failure in March and the Doctor said it enlarged my liver and he really had to beat it up to get the band in. I was in the hospital for two days and after that felt all the pain. I have so far lost 25lbs and have had one fill, but not much there yet. Still want to eat more then I should, but I don't eat anywhere like I use to.

Swirl-25lbs is great! I, like many others, did so much research before hand that my head hurt! It still did not fully prepare me. Yes I knew the pros and cons and the good and the bad...but everyone is different and just because person A had this problem doesn't mean person B will. So try not to beat yourself up too much about that. What you did for your health is a great step. Be proud of yourself! I started off with really no MAJOR health problems (well not life threatening yet). The evening after surgery...I was starving. I did not expect that at all! Bandster hell started day 1 for me. I was pretty severly depressed for the 1st 2 months. I remember 3 weeks into being banded bawling my eyes out saying what the hell did I just do to myself!! And again I was totally educated going into this. I can say now I LOVE MY BAND! Keep up with your appointments, maybe talk to your Dr about all of your feelings (I got on an anti-depressant), and once you get to the proper restriction maybe you will love yours too. You did something wonderful for yourself and your family by chosing to try and get healthier and live a longer life. If you want it, then you will succeed!

[swirl 1]

Thank you! Maybe I am not so different then a few others on here.

[SunD1 0]

Hi Swirl, so sorry to hear about all the stuff! But I think it's great that you have lost 25! I understand the discouragement. Boy do I! Seriously. . I don't know how much research you could do to prepare for surgery. I thought I was "all ready" but. . it's been a rude awakening but . . I've got the band and gosh dang it. .I'm gonna make it work for me! LOL!

Best of luck to you in your journey and I think you're pretty great for responding to the "other" posts in a proactive manner. Very cool ! You hang in there!

[rcain03@hotmail.com 1]

Hey Swirl...I was banded on 7/8/2010 and at my 2wk checkup I was "disappointed and angry" that I had only lost 12 lbs.! Imagine that! My doctor thought I had flipped my lid! LOL...the thing is this...I knew what to expect and not expect...but, yet my mind was telling me I should be losing faster, or I wasn't doing good enough, or I wasn't exercising hard enough...I was driving myself crazy! Then my port incision got infected and I really felt bad...because we are so used to having something not go right or not being successful at losing weight...I think it is automatically in our brains to think this is just going to be another failure. My doctor put my mind at ease and gave me a reality check quick! I can say the first couple of weeks I had depression...its alot to deal with...one of my problems is that I used to turn to food for EVERYTHING! If I was happy, mad, sad, stressed...whatever...I ate! Now, I can't do that..and I was ill with everybody the first couple of weeks. I actually have to deal with my emotions now instead of stuffing them down my throat with food. Even old emotions from years ago started resurfacing...it was crazy! But, I can honestly say now that I cried it out and worked through it...I am good! I feel healthier today than I have in years. I go for my first fill Aug.19th and I am excited. I too have had alot of health problems...but, at least now I feel like I am taking control of my life back and I am doing something positive for ME! I would rather die "trying" than live not "trying at all". Good luck in your journey and I know that the CHF is hell on ya! Just know that even on your worst days...at least you have tried something to make a difference in your life. If you ever need to talk...feel free to message me or contact me on facebook! Ttyl...Rachel =)

[lauragshsu 6]

I think most of us have had issues with our band. I'm almost 5 months post op and have had a slew. Ihad my first fill 4 weeks post op. Three days later, I had to have a complete unfill because I couldn't swallow my saliva. 4 weeks after that, I was refilled with a bit less saline (2.8 instead of the initial 3.5). Life was great, except my incision (I had a single incision through my belly button) popped back open and I had a lot of body Fluid leakage. It's still open because it's taking it's ever-loving time closing again. On father's day, I was taken to the ER with severe abdominal pain. Turns out the bronchitis I had had the previous two weeks had been so bad that the coughing popped an interior stitch out. Two weeks after that, I had to have another slight unfill because my band had suddenly become too tight and I was having stabbing chest pains whenever I ate or drank (I'm currently at 2.5 cc). I PB/slime sometimes almost daily, but at least 5 times a week.

I swear it feels like a war going on inside my body. However, this is a fight I want to win. This is a fight for my life.

[ElfiePoo 109]

Swirl,

I can totally relate...and I did vast amounts of research for *years*, asked questions...and more questions...and even more questions...and it still did not prepare me.

They thought I was the perfect candidate for the band because I'm not a junk food eater, I don't 'graze' and I've lost 70 pounds and kept it off for 8 years so have a history of being able to actually diet and lose weight (the keeping it off wasn't the important part to them).

Despite that, I have struggled with this band and nine months later, I'm sitting at only 35 pounds lost and have gone from no restriction to too much restriction and now back down to none. I can't say that it has been a total loss but it has certainly not been what I was led to believe. I'm at the point where I have no clue what good the band is *but* it's done and I move forward. I'll keep looking for that sweet spot but will stop looking to the band for help and keep reminding myself that it's up to *me*...not the band.

Good luck and hang in there.

[Catherine55 43]

Hi, Swirl! This was a really interesting thread. I'm glad you posted more information, and I agree with the other poster who said that this phase will pass. You probably aren't at good restriction yet (with only one fill -- it took me four to hit my sweet spot). Until I got to restriction, I felt some frustration with how slowly I was losing (or. . gaining, during Bandster Hell).

After that though, it's been fantastic. The band is not a magic wand, but for me, it was exactly what I needed to control my portions and keep focused. I absolutely love it. Yes, I get stuck sometimes and PB, but it's such a minor inconvenience compared to carrying around nearly 80 more pounds. I hope that you will grow to love this process, that it will help with your other health problems, and that you will really embrace and start enjoying life as a bandster.

Best wishes for your success (and congrats on losing 25 already!!),

Catherine

[swirl 1]

WOW!!! There are a wide range of replies to my tread. I see some have had it a lot worse then I and others way easier. And thank you all for replying. I just think someone thinking about getting this done should have all the info they can have the GOOD,BAD and the UGLY. Not everything is great for everyone and I am sorry some got their nose's out of place because I said so. All we can do is try and do the best we can and hope it all works out in the end.

[elcee 3,341]

I don't think any of the replies that you received indicated that anyone had their nose out of place. I think that what the responses did was get you to open up about what your actual problems are and that is a good thing. People can help, advise, sympathise , whatever if they know what you are dealing with - they can't if they don't.

Remember you are not alone we are here to help. But in order to do that we need to know what the problem is.

Hoping that you are already starting to feel more positive about your band.

[BetsyB 9]

Swirl, my husband has CHF, so I know---just from living with him--that it's a real battle. Weight is so complicated when you add serious problems like this into the mix.

The band can't fix your heart--but it can help get your body to a place where your heart has a lot less work to do. It will take time for this to occur. And it will take hard work.

But you're right--the frustrations that come with CHF make it a real uphill battle. Exercise tolerance, depression, Fluid retention---the weight of all of those things are really very crushing at times.

If you ever need an ear or shoulder, PM. I haven't been in your shoes, but I've been alongside a man who wears similar shoes for many years.