Starting over, 5 years after surgery

[missyjk79 9]

FYI' date=' a gal from the "I have failed my band" thread set up a private and discreet Facebook group for struggling bandsters. I just joined. She is just getting it rolling. Check in over there if you are interested in joining.[/quote']

Would like to join. Couldn't find thread. Let me know. Thx

[missyjk79 9]

FYI' date=' a gal from the "I have failed my band" thread set up a private and discreet Facebook group for struggling bandsters. I just joined. She is just getting it rolling. Check in over there if you are interested in joining.[/quote']

Would like to join. Couldn't find thread. Let me know. Thx

[Suziecat 379]

Hillary, I'm so glad that you went to the doctors. I suffered for years with allergies and my nose stopping up, running and sneezing. I would go thru boxes of kleenexs like crazy. So one day my family had had enough and made me make an appointment. I can't thank them enough. Doc gave me a cortizone shot in the butt and a prescription for flonase. I kicked myself in the butt for waiting so long to go. Oh the relief was amazing.

Now I'm scared about going to go see my band doc today. I had a class to take in the afternoon yesterday and then I stopped by my friends. Came home and was getting a little snack when I realized that it was dinner time. I got my Protein in but I may have over done it a little with the snacking. But even if the scale shows a lower amount then 9 pounds, I'll still be happy as long as it was a loss. Keeping my fingers crossed that it is at least a five pound loss.

And I found the site for " I failed my band" and sent her a PM to join. Haven't heard anything yet, but I haven't looked at my email yet.

Amy, I may look up those chocolate supplements. I'm not sure I can take them but I will run it by my Doc. On one of my blood work ups, she had called and told me to not take Calcium anymore. That it was showing a high level in my system.

And believe it or not. I'm not a big chocolate lover. I'm more of the crunchy salty person. But I'll take sweet and salty stuff.

Have a good day and I will post after I get home from seeing the Doc.

[Suziecat 379]

Ok, home from my last doctors visit of the week. The surgeon this morning released me and now I can go back to work. I called them when I left and they said they would get back with me. Hmmmm. He did say that there might be an opening on night shift. I'll just have to wait till he calls.

So then we heaed over the state line to go see my band doc. She was so excited to see me and even happier when I stepped on the scale. I think she had it wrong because I remember what I weighed last time. But anyway it was a five pound loss. She was really excited about it. So we sat in the room and talked about the last four weeks and what I did. She was real please with my progress. Then I told her that I wanted to be back to what I was a few years ago, where I couldn't eat bread. She asked if I was eating bread now and I told her I was. So she asked me if I wanted a fill and I told her that I felt I could really use one. So she found my port and put in .7cc's. Wow. I didn't think I would get that much. Then I had to drink half a glass of Water for her. All was well so we headed home. But before I could get out of there she said that I could not chew any food till saturday afternoon. See the tears coming down?? Yup, only liquids for the next two days. I asked if I could have fish tomorrow and she asked if I had to chew it. So no fish tomorrow.

I'm drinking broth right now for my late lunch. I thought I had a can of Tomato Soup here but all I have is chicken noodle. So I drained the broth off of it and am sipping on it for now.

So now my journey is really beginning.

[morelgirl 177]

Yay! So glad for you, Suzie. 5 lb is still a great loss, and I'm glad your doctor was so supportive. I know it's difficult to go back to liquids, but it's only a couple of days, and I know you can do it!

Personally, I'm having more head hunger than usual today, which is annoying. I'm not sure why it's happening, but I'm just going to grit my teeth and trudge my way through it. Cue me chugging the crystal light.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

[TheCurvyMermaid 51]

Hey everyone,

I'm still alive, still trucking on... just got busy with life and haven't been on LBT in a while. I'm down a few more pounds, which is great, but I'm having a hard time finding my green zone. I had a smallish fill on Monday, and prior to my fill I had restriction, but not enough. Smaller meals weren't keeping me full, even on full solids and having lots of Protein. I've got a 10cc band, and was at 4cc when I went in. My PA added just .6 and I think I might be a little bit too tight! I'm surprised, because it was such a small fill, and previously, I had a lot more in my band (5.5 or 6cc) before I started having issues. I haven't gotten full on stuck, but eating and drinking is uncomfortable, and ever sip or bite gives me uncomfortable tightness in my chest. On the upside, It's done wonders for my portion control... Anyhow, I have a follow up on Monday the 8th, and if I can't find a good balance before then, I'll have her take my fill back down a little bit. In the meantime, I'm doing Protein Shakes in the morning, mushy things for lunch, and softer Proteins and veggies for dinner like tofu and fish at dinner in light sauces. I'm eating carefully, taking small bites, and chewing a billion times. It's taking me a good while to get through meals, but I'm making it without sticking or sliming, at least. Either way, I hope the tightness chills out a bit and I can start eating and drinking more normally, but we'll see how it goes.

I'm going to dinner with a friend tonight, and I'm hoping that everything goes down okay.

[morelgirl 177]

It's good to hear from you again, Stephanie. Sorry to hear about the trouble with your fill level, but I hope it either settles on its own or you get the adjustment you need.

Personally, I'm using every ounce of will power I have to not chow down on the pistachios in the other room. I'm trying to vary my calorie levels from day to day and since I had a heavier day yesterday, I'm trying for a lighter day today, but I can hear the nuts calling my name!

[Suziecat 379]

Good Morning.

Stephanie, glad you were able to pop in and give us an update. I hope your dinner went well last night. I had a fill yesterday and though I don't think I need a little unfill, I'm having a little problem getting my meds down. Some of that I think is because this is the first fill I have had in almost 15 months. And I need to let the swelling subside. I sure hope that your band will settle down and get you the restriction you need.

Amy, I cracked up about the pistachios. Right now that is our go to snack in this house. Last night when I was heading to bed I was talking to my husband and I kept looking at the bag and thinking I could have just one. Nope. My husband would have smacked my hand. At first I kind of struggled with the thought of nothing to chew for 48 hours. But as I calm my thoughts down and really think about it, I realize there is a lot out there that I can have.

We were so busy yesterday and by the time me we had gotten to the band doc's office it was 2pm. She asked what I had eaten. I told her that I had a doctors appointment earlier and I wasn't able to do my Protein Shake but that we had shared a small bag of beef Jerky on our way to see her. So I got the fill and to tell the truth, it took a little while before I could tell about how much of a restriction I had gotten. Our day wasn't over with, We didn't get home till about 8:30. But before we came home, we had stopped by the store to pick up a few things. I got a couple cans of toamato Soup and some ice cream. My husband said are you allowed to have that. I told him that we hadn't eaten all day and that I'm going to splurge this one time. I fixed me a small bowl that had about 3/4 cup of ice cream in it. Oh it tasted so good but by the time I had finished. I could feel it in my throat. It was such a weird feeling to have that much restriction. I just had to wait for it to melt and go thru the band.

Drinking my hot chocolate right now. Looking forward to some mashed potatoes for lunch today

Have a great day.

[Suziecat 379]

Uh Oh! We have Easter candy in our house. Luckly I'm not allowed to chew anything. But please say a prayer anyway.

[morelgirl 177]

Who did an evil thing like bring in Easter candy? !? That deserves punishment!

Thankfully, my housemate will be helping her husband pack up his old apartment this weekend, so I won't be faced with major temptations from the holiday. Just the regular ones! Of course, I've been having a craving, so I'm doing an experiment tonight with homemade, thin crust pizza with chicken sausage and spinach. We'll see how that works out.

Have a great day, everyone.

[amw804 3]

I am so happy I found your post. I was banded in 2008. Initially lost 70 pounds but have gained back 30 and still need to lose 80 pounds at least. I am going to schedule an appointment with my surgeon to have my band filled since it is empty since 2011 when I had back surgery. I feel like such a failure.

Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

[morelgirl 177]

I am so happy I found your post. I was banded in 2008. Initially lost 70 pounds but have gained back 30 and still need to lose 80 pounds at least. I am going to schedule an appointment with my surgeon to have my band filled since it is empty since 2011 when I had back surgery. I feel like such a failure.

Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

You're never a failure until you stop trying! The fact that you've joined us here and chosen to see your surgeon and get back on track makes you a success. We all know how you feel, because we've all been there, and we will support you as you look to get started again.

[amw804 3]

Thank you so much Amy! I really need the support to restart my journey.

Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

[Suziecat 379]

Amy, chicken sausage?? I have never heard of that. How was the pizza?

Angela, welcome. That is why we are here.We are starting over and we will be proof that it can be done. I'm on my way. I finally broke down and called my doc and laid it all out. So glad that I did.

We are having Easter here at our house. The kids are coming over for an egg hunt and for dinner. This will be a good test for me and my newly filled band. Yesterday my sister and I sat and filled plastic easter eggs. We talked the whole time so we didn't graze on the candy. Plus the no chewing for 48 hours has helped out alot.

My no chew restriction ends this afternoon about 1pm. That will be the 48 hours time line. So yesterday when my husband and I were at the store, we bought a package that had two KC Strips in it, later today we will put them on the grill. This will also be a test for me to cut smaller bites and to really chew. When we were at the docs the other day, I told her that the rule of eating no more then the size of a pencil end eraser just wasn't going to do it. I told her that I would take a bite about the size of the upper part of my pinkie. She said not to do that any more and that it should be half that size. So I will work on that this evening. Gonna see if my head and mouth will cooperate with my Band.

Have a great weekend everyone.

[morelgirl 177]

Suzie, good luck with the holiday. Mine will be quiet, so I'm hoping not to face too many challenges.

The chicken sausage is great. Just like turkey. I bought mine at Whole Foods where they sell it loose so that I didn't have to get it out of the casing like if I had bought links. And the pizza was awesome. My dough recipe makes one pizza with a super thin crust about 10-12" in diameter. In the past, I have happily scarfed an entire one all by myself. This time I had 2 slices (which together are about the size of a single slice of commercial pizza) and it was awesome. I was totally satisfied and now I have leftovers! It was a little lower in Protein than my usual dinner, but I had plenty of protein in my other foods and there was still a good amount, so I felt pretty good about it.

Now I need to buckle down and get to work, so I hope everyone enjoys the weekend!