donali

Rica, I think this is a very important question that many people don't think about. Many bandsters will just keep getting filled until they can hardly keep down anything because "they're not losing weight." I looked more at the amount I was consuming, WHAT I was consuming, how I felt, and what my usual calories each day were. If I was hungry too soon after eating what I considered to be a decent amount (normal people portion, or a little less), and I wasn't having any problems with vomiting/reflux, then it was time for a fill. If I was eating about the amounts I thought was "normal" and hitting my calorie range most of the time, and feeling satisfied between meals with the occasional exception, it was time to ride out the plateau and work on getting in all my water and making more nutritious choices most of the time. The band is NOT about being so restricted you can hardly eat anything (IMHO), it's about being satisfied with the amount of food that meets your caloric requirements. If you're doing everything right, feeling good, moving your body occasionally, then the weight will continue to come off, even if you plateau for months at a time. Patience is a virtue on this front. Again, IMHO.

Hi Lisa - Welcome, and congrats on your upcoming date!!

WOW, Carol!!! You ROCK!!! :D Whoo hooo!!!!

One of my dearest friends is a recovering alcoholic. She's been sober for over 20 years. She has said to me many times that NO way, NO how would she trade her addiction for mine. Because as she says, "I can NOT drink, but I could NEVER drink, but in moderation. And that's what you have to learn to do with food."

Oh. Okay. Well, I'm sure the second job helps you feel less tired, then...

Chantal - I have said that EXACT same thing for years!! The causes of anorexia and MO are virtually the same, at least for me. They say the profile for an anorexic is a feeling of lack of control of the world around them, so they control the one thing they can - their intake. Generally they are overachievers, perfectionists, and have low-self esteem. Same here. These problems are just manifesting themselves in a different way. I wouldn't be surprised if anorexia would be said to have its roots in obsessive/compulsive behaviour, which definitely applies to many with MO. I do think attitudes are changing about MO, but we're not quite there yet...

I think it's "two-job-syndrome". Girl, give yourself a break!!

Hi Darcy - Just checking to see what info's out there - Dr. Don says: http://origin.bankrate.com/brm/news/DrDon/20040519a1.asp This place claims to have free advice: http://freeadvice.com And even a support forum similar to this! http://forum.freeadvice.com/search.php?searchid=75045 Good luck!!

Darcy - I'm afraid you may need legal advice, and you may have to start some sort of legal action to get this under control. It is one thing to co-sign for a loan, but quite another for an open line of credit!! How scary for you. Please let us know what happens!! And super congrats for ignoring your heart and listening to your head, and doing what was BEST for you by moving on, even though your heart didn't want to. **hugs**

Kathy, Kathy, Kathy... Lord, woman, you have been averaging nearly 5 pounds a WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You DO know that the expected average weightloss is 1-2 pounds a week, right? That's 4-8 pounds a month, and your average is almost 19 pounds a month!!!!!!! YOU DO NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NEED A FILL. Your body needs time to adjust to this huge weightloss. You are obviously restricted enough, and getting a fill could create serious problems since you're already having pain in the mornings. If I were you, I wouldnt even start thinking about another fill until after I had plateaued for SIX weeks. But I bet it won't be that long for you. Stop looking at your scale, and start looking at your health. This is your time to do your head work, to wrap your mind around this process. You are doing awesome - don't screw it up by not being satisfied with over TWO TIMES the expected average weight loss!!!

Hi Birdee! Congrats on losing 49 pounds!!! Whoo hooo!! 49 pounds a year will definitely get you where you are going!! Celebrate all the wonderful changes -49 pounds have brought to your life - new clothes, easier body movement, hope for the future... It's never too late to make better choices without giving up anything. Surely you have made some changes already - babysteps, babysteps!! Pound by pound you are going to creep up to your goal, and one day you're going to BE there!!! If you want advice on specific challenges you face you know we're here for you!! xxoo

Uh huh... Yum...

Egg salad, chili, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, sausage, ham, roast beef... Like Teresa said - anything!

Teresa - You're theory makes sense to me!! Anyone notice that their arms/legs seem hairier now that your arms/legs aren't so fat? Do tell!

Sissy - You are too restricted, or drinking too fast, or both. You may also be experiencing esophageal spasms, which is pain on the first bite that subsides after that initial pain. Since you're not eating solids yet I don't think it's spasms, but it could be. Try very warm liquids first thing. Cold drinks are going to make you feel even more restricted, if you're already very tight. Sometimes warm drinks can help relax your restriction a little. But it really sounds to me as though you need to have some fill removed. NO, you are not supposed to be in pain. Honest. And please do not put this off!! A burning sensation could very well be reflux, and that becomes very dangerous very fast. Keep us posted!

Vera, so glad you are now pain free. What a nightmare. **hugs**

Hi O31 - You need to define what's important to you in a surgeon - price, location, experience, follow-up/aftercare. Call Inamed and they can give you a list of surgeons in the areas you're interested in. If you choose to go to Mexico for your surgery, the initial surgery will probably cost less, but you need to make a budget for travel back to Mexico for the possibility of any kind of revision surgery. My $10,000 band surgery has had a total coast of about $17500, with a port revision, an unbanding, 4 fills, travel and medication. I probably could have been just banded in the states for that much, but the revision and unbanding probably would have been a great deal more. You will have to contact the individual doctor's offices yourself to check on price. Once you narrow down your list to docs you can afford, and locations you're willing to go to, post the names of the docs you're interested in and ask for feedback. Popular docs in Mexico: Dr. Kuri, Tijuana Dr. Rumbaut, Monterrey Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana Dr. Sanchez, ? A mistake many self-pays make is not budgeting for the costs beyond the initial banding. I would make sure you keep at least $5,000 in reserve for unforeseen complications. Good luck, and keep us posted!!

Teresa - you eat it/drink it. I don't think it has any topical benefits.

Wow, Vera. I would have thought your procedure would have produced weightloss in and of itself. I had a friend in the late 70's that had one of the very last bowel bypasses done for WLS. She lost a ton of weight, but was very miserable for a long time with vomiting, diarrhea, etc. We've lost touch, so I don't know how well this has worked as a long term solution. I know that by the time we parted ways, she had not changed her eating habits - eating tons of candy, I think because subconsciously she felt like she was starving because the weight was dropping off so fast. Of course I have no idea what specific differences there are between the bowel bypass and what you had done, but in my mind it seems like your bowel was totally bypassed... I can't imagine how much that must have hurt - was it horrible? **hugs**

I have never heard that the esophagus becomes smaller... However, the band rests just below the esophagus, and when you get a fill, the space between the band and the bottom of your esophagus (your pouch) fills up with food/water more quickly, and can back up and push against the bottom of your esophagus, causing pain/discomfort. If anything, a possible complication would be dilatation of the esophagus, where it gets stretched out because of food not being able to pass into the pouch because the pouch is already full. Stretching the esophagus weakens the sphincter that keeps stomach acid from coming into the esophagus, resulting in reflux. So it is important not to get too tight of a fill where you get a lot of food backing up, and to stop eating when your pouch is full.

ROTFLMAO! Good to know I will NOT be in H3LL alone!!!

Jennye!!!! So good to hear from you!! You've been missed. CONGRATS on the condo sale, and the new house. When's the housewarming? lol So come to Vegas with us, 10/8, 9 & 11! You know you want to....

SHELLY!!!!!!!!!! Fantastic job, girl!!! You must be so proud of yourself. Gosh, you look SO slender!!! Whooo hoooo!!!! :Bunny :banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny :banana

No need to worry - as teeny of an amount 1cc is, it makes a HUGE amount of difference in the band. I doubt you would need 4ccs to be totally closed off.

Terry - you are definitely in my thoughts and prayers. I won't even say anything else. Just let us know what happens, and we'll go from there!!!! (((((((((((Terry))))))))))))))))