Happy 2 Year Bandiversary Merry Losers!

[christasha 0]

I don't know that anyone will even see this . . .but I have to do my duty and give it a shot . . . Hope all is well with everyone! 2 Honkin' Years - Can you believe it???

Give us your great stories . . . we wanna hear from you! I participated with Stephanie Soderquist in the Seattle 3 Day breast cancer walk and LOVED it . . .and then volunteered to work the San Diego 3 Day. We are the Boobie Bandits (get why the bandits??? I love it) . . . and are registered for walking in the San Diego 3 Day next year (Nov 19-21). Come join us!

Hugs

Chris

Edited December 4, 2009 by christasha
added more stuff

[Cerrin 3]

I am so happy with my band...even though it is kinida tight right now...stress makes mine tighter. but I am doing good...I am smaller then I was in 1999 lol

[Cgailee 1]

Hey you look great! I have lost a little over 100 lbs. Didnt see your survey till after it was closed.

Gail:biggrin:

[lachica39 0]

hi ladies, I happy everyone is doing well. I have not lost any weight in the last year and have decided to have my fill removed. I need to see if that will get me back on track. my plans are to go on the Atkins low carb. my goal is to lose these last 40 pounds. I hope this is the right decision

[Cerrin 3]

I also got an unfill. But that was because I was getting stuck on Water a lot. But now I am too loose lol Tax season and all I will be waiting till after April before getting it adjusted again.

[Fanny Adams 7]

Aww... I didn't see this in time to vote in the poll (I have notifications turned off). I'm in the 110-119lb lost group and have been doing really well. Had an unfill for my plastic surgery in December (op was on 7 Dec, just 3 days shy of my Bandiversary on the 10th) and managed to gain a whole kilo in the week leading up to the op (rats!). Got refilled 2 weeks after the op but was chicken and didn't put enough in, so have been hanging out until my next fill in February to hopefully get back to my sweetspot. Meantime, it's taking all the willpower I possess to simply maintain and not gain further. I'm not really sure whether I have or not. I came out of hospital 2kg heavier than when I went in, even though the doc cut off 4kg of skin and fat! At the time, I put it down to swelling (LOTS of swelling, LOL!) but I don't know if that still applies. The visible swelling has gone down slowly but I think I'm replacing it with fat, as my weight hasn't changed - still 2kg over the op day...

Can't wait for the next fill as I have nearly 10kg I still want to lose to get to my dream goal, and then I am DONE!! I could live at my current weight forever and still be happy but why stop now, when I am so close to the dream?

Hope everyone else is having fun and maintaining their successes!

Cheers all!

[lachica39 0]

ladies, went in to get an unfill and quess what? it seems that my band developed a slow leak. I did'nt understand because I've had problems with sliming and some vomiting. nothing major, just bothersome. The dr. has decided to have an x-ray done to check for slippage.

I'm so disappointed. I started to cry. I will find out next week.

I have 2 options, replace my band or gastric. I had told myself prior to surgery, that if I developed any complications I would not replace the band.

I dont want to do? I dont want to gain any weight.

I dont want to be fat again, yet I'm scared of any further complications.

[Cerrin 3]

I am so sorry. Even with the problems I have had I would do it all over again. To me it was worth it. BUT that is something your going to have to decide for yourself.

I am a slow loser. But when I start thinking about how little I have lost I add on the 30lbs I would have gained each year. THAT IS 60 LBS extra I have lost...by not gaining.

I hope things work out for you.

[msampson 0]

what kind of symptons do you have when its tight...reflux, burning above the large incision, waking up at night with pb in your mouth? those are all my symptons...Im not sure whats going on. I got a fill in dec 28 and just in the last 2 weeks it feels like it tighten on me along with pms its hard to eat anything.please advise or advice thanks

[Cerrin 3]

I had a real tight fill nd kept it too long. I didnt have reflux But if I drank Water too late I would have to PB it up after I layed down. PMS affected me...Flying was bad...Stress made me tighter. So I had my Dr take some out...And well he took too much out. And now I can eat anything. lol But I cant get back in there till after Tax season is done. lol Not that I want to...The stress of tax season and any too tight issues would just not be fun for me. I am still losing with being too loose...so I will deal with it for a while.

If you are having PB issues...and Reflux...TAlk to your DR

[lachica39 0]

Hi ladies, I just got my florascopy(?) results and have Esophageal dilatation that can be caused by a too tight band and to make matters worse, I have a kink in the tubing attach to the port so my doctor was unable to remove any saline.

I made the decision to have the tubing replace, minor surgery and take it from there.

I have good news to report, I joined a Water arobics class 4 days a week and am feeling so much better. I want to thank all of you for your encouraging words.

I still dont have access to a pc and can only check in occaisally.

keep up the good work.

[Fanny Adams 7]

Hi lachica. I had a similar operation in Cotober 08, because of a kink in my tubing. It was pretty easy and recovery was smooth. I hope the same goes for you - good luck!

[Cerrin 3]

wow. Good luck. I had to have a bunch of Fluid removed due to swelling...all complications from getting poison oak last summer and the meds I had to take. But I have been unfilled for a month and I made the apointment yesterday to get fluid back in the band. I am super loose now. I can eat everything. And I am so hungry that I almost do.

[sghatl 2]

Hello, everybody. I haven't been checking in here enough lately I see. I am glad to see those of us still here.

I have had an interesting second year. On the positive side, I had a hernia repair and a Tummy Tuck in June of last year and an arm lift and a breast lift in October. I am very pleased with the outcome. On a not so postive side, I continually have problems with reflux at night so that I can no longer eat after 4 or drink after 6 at night or I will be up all night. Ingesting reflux has given me pneumonia once already. It continues to get worse and I have been totally unfilled since last September. Luckily, I have continued to lose minute amounts of weight per month - at least not gain. But my diet is mostly liquid or soft foods. My ticker below reflects my current position.

I have had an upper GI and and endoscopy in the last month and when I saw my bariatric doctor this week, we looked at the films together. I have pouch dilation without band slippage and scar tissue between the band and stomach which is why I have restriction despite the band being empty. Bottom line - band has to come out. I can either have a band placed back in with no guarantee it won't happen again or convert to gastric bypass. I think I have decided to get the GB.

That said, do I regret getting the band? Hell no. It has been hard work for two years and no easy road. I have had reflux almost the entire journey. I never could really eat the types of food others could. Dense Proteins were a problem for me. I had constant follow up care at the doctor's. I followed band rules. I will get a surgery date when I get back from a trip to Pennsylvania next week. It's not my ideal choice but a better one none the less for me. I don't want to lose but 10-15 more pounds and would be happy to stay where I am for the rest of my life. BUT, I have a history of not being able to keep it off so I will have the surgery.

[lachica39 0]

I'm still waiting for my port replacement, no date set

Sherry, what did your doctor say about pouch dialation? is the the same as eshopagal dialation. can it be caused by overeating? I think I should sit down and have another talk with my doctor

how exciting about your plastics. my goal was to get down to under 200 and have a Tummy Tuck, but at this time I need to focus on this band and figure it out what my next step should be.

I cant believe how much I'm enjoying my Water arobics class, I also am doing free weights 3 days a week. I found some great routines in the March prevention magazine. I will continue to be positive and take it a day at a time.

Edited March 13, 2010 by lachica39