torian

I was banded in April of this year and so far I've only lost 13.5 pounds. I have done EVERYTHING I am supposed to do including exercise, protein, and water. My band is tight enough to cause restriction at breakfast and lunch and sometimes at dinner. After a visit with the Dr. he just told me that it takes time and I'm doing just fine. They keep saying "Well you are losing weight and that's good" Yeah I lose weight when I'm on the liquid diet for 24-48 hours after each of my fills and then I stay at the same weight. Is anyone else having this problem? I'm so frustrated. I'm starting to wonder what the point of the band is if I'm having to work as hard as I had to before I had it, with the same result. I know the band is just a tool and you still have to work hard at it but honestly I just don't get what the point of it is now.

Oh thank god it's not just me! I have been extremely frustrated with my band as well. You said it all. I just had my third fill this past Monday and I STILL feel the same. Do you feel frustrated that all of those foods that they told you you would never be able to eat again, you can eat with no problem? It's driving me crazy. I totally understand what you mean about the people that say "well just stick with the diet". If we were able to do that we wouldn't be here. I feel like a drug addict needing a saline fix though. I was just there last monday and I feel the same so I'm calling tomorrow to get more. I was thinking about setting up an appointment with the dietician in the office though so she could sit down with me and write down a SPECIFIC meal plan for me for at least a week or two so I know for sure what I should be eating. I hate the meal plans they provide. They always have stuff that I don't eat. I need to ask how big my band is. I know I have 6 1/3 cc. in it. Wish he would just fill the sucker up haha! Good luck with your fill and hope it goes better for you!

I am still feeling a very sharp pinch right about where my band is at. It hurts if I move the wrong way or reach for something (even if it's just to change the radio station in the car). I called the office multiple times about it and they said that it was probably a build up of fluid around the band and the Dr would take care of it at my first fill. I had my first fill a week and a half ago and he said it was from the band attaching itself to the muscle and it would eventually go away. My concern is he didnt even feel where I was saying the pain was or even really listen when I was trying to talk about it. Does anyone else have this problem?? I'm grateful that I healed very quickly and that this is the only problem I'm having but as a single mother it is becoming quite a problem. I tried to reach for a ticket at the toll booth yesterday and it felt like my stomach was being ripped apart. Also, after sitting around a campfire, I wasnt able to get up fast enough to stop a spark from jumping out of the fire and heading for my son's face. Luckily there were others around to help him but the Dr. didn't seem at all concerned after telling him this. All I want to know is if anyone else has had this problem and how long it takes before it goes away. Thanks guys!!!

I also had a lot of pain in my shoulders and neck. I had my surgery on Tuesday and now most of that pain is gone. I still have gas pain in my chest though. I've taken Pepcid but it doesnt seem to do anything for me. Sometimes I feel fine and then I will get a shooting pain that stops me in my tracks for a few seconds. Hoping this passes soon. Just keep thinking that this too shall pass. The first few days are hell. Good luck to you!

Jamb - dont worry it's normal to grow weight back in the first month. So keep up the good work! Theresa'smom415 - Thanks so much

I'm sitting in my hospital bd now feeling surprisngly well! The surgery went great and so fr recovery has bee really good. The biggest pain I have had is in my back and its just because it needs popped and I cant twist it due to the new incisions. My 9-year-old daughter was not too happy about going to bd at grandma and grandpa's tonight without me. Since it is a half day of school tomorrow maybe I will just let her come up here with my mom all day. ???? Hope everyone is doing well Nicole

The day is finally here!!! I have my realize band put in this afternoon. Have to be at the hospital at 11:30 and I'm sure the surgery won't be until after 2. ( I hate afternoon surgeries!!!) A little nervous but I have my friends and family's support so that keeps me going. I'm soooo hungry. Wish I could at least have a glass of water. Well wish me luck and good luck to all of you!!

I put my mask on about an hour before bed and watch tv while wearing it. I'm usually tired by then and can just roll over and go to sleep with no problem. But if I put it on and try to go right to sleep without being really tired it just doesnt work for me.

I was going to try to blog everyday but obviously daily life caught up with me. I'm down 9 pounds now and still going strong. Went out to eat with the family last night and I was very impressed with myself. I ordered the tomato bisque soup (delicious) and I didn't touch the bread on the table or the desserts that were being passed around the table at the end of the meal. I woke up this morning with a visit from my special monthly friend which put a downer on the whole situation. Obviously I won't be losing much weight due to the bloating and I'm not feeling too motivated to do much of anything. I hoping and praying that it's a quick visit and the friend decides to leave town before the surgery because I don't need that extra stress. I gotta spend tomorrow getting things packed for the day of surgery and getting any and all lose ends tied up before the kids get back from their dad's tomorrow night. Hope everyone is doing well!

I have the same problem! I have pseudo tumor cerebri. The body responds as if you have a tumor in your brain and you gain an excessive amount of spinal fluid even though there is nothing there. Because of the excessive spinal fluid it causes the optic nerve to be swollen. I had the MRI and a CAT scan which showed nothing. They did the lumbar puncture (worse pain ever!!!!!!!) and the fluid was perfectly clear. They put me on Diamox (an anti diuretic) to reduce the amount of fluid back in October. I take it twice a day and I rarely get pressure headaches. I just had a follow up with the neurologist last week and he said that it appears there hasnt been any improvement but my pressure levels are staying steady so I guess that is good. He says that weight loss should improve it so I'm really hoping to see some drastic improvements in the next couple of months. Are you having trouble with your vision such as occasional blurriness? Most people experience it in both eyes but for some reason I'm weird and it's only in one. If it's left untreated though your vision will continue to get worse and you could lose your vision altogether. Let me know if you have any questions. I feel your pain (literally) and I'm sorry you are going through this but I'm glad I've found someone else with a similar situation since it is so rare. Hope you start feeling better!

Are you taking a multivitamin. I forgot the first two days and I had a bad headache. After I started taking one every morning they went away. Hope that helps!

I'm down 7 pounds in 7 days!! Mixed some peanut butter in with my cookies and cream shake today and that was pretty tasty. I've finally figured out a place to start walking with the kids but, go figure, it's gonna rain the rest of the week! Guess I should probably hop on the eliptical that's been gathering dust. I've been lucky enough to be on a prescription that supresses my hunger as a side effect so it has made this week a lot easier. I can watch cupcake shows and not even crave them haha! The bad thing is I don't even crave water so I have to force myself to drink. Hope everyone else is doing great! 1 MORE WEEK TO GO!!!!

I'm doing the liquid diet as well. I'm on my 7th day and have lost 7 pounds so far! The sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast drinks are really good. Don't buy the premixed bottles though! They taste nasty. Buy the packets and mix it with skim milk. I've been eating sugar free applesauce too which helps when you feel like you need to chew something (can't have that post op though) Get different kinds of sugar free jello and sugar free pudding. You can also add things into your shakes. I had some peanut butter in my cookies and cream protein shake tonight and it was a nice change. not to mention 45 g protein in one drink! Good luck!

Well it's the 6th day and still going strong. I tried some vegetable broth tonight for dinner. Yuck! That's the first thing that I have had on the diet that I did not care for at all. I need to set aside specific time every day to exercise but I just can't find enough time. Gotta rearrange some priorites because it will be a major priority after surgery.Luckily I have got ahead a few weeks in my online courses so that I can at least have peace of mind that it is taken care of while I'm out of commission. Now if I could just put the kids on auto pilot....

I am on my 5th day of nothing but solids and a protein bar at bedtime. It hasnt been going too bad. I love the Isolate protein shakes from NutriShop and the applesauce and yogurt give me a little bit of texture. I just need to stay away from my kids at dinner time (yikes!). I have lost 5.5 lbs so far and can't wait to see how much I lose before my surgery date on April 19th. I'm counting down the days and I have finally reached the single digits. Only 9 days to go!!!