Kimberly Collins

I'm 6 years post-op and still fart like a freak. For me, I think it is all the fruits, veggies, and protein. All that roughage causes gas.

I drink a soda per day (am trying to quit) and still have plenty of restriction. I don't drink it with meals. It does make me burp like crazy.

I stay away from FF as much as possible b/c it was one of my worst habits pre-band. When I do eat it, it is Wendy's chili or a Chipotle vegetarian bown with black beans. The kids' meals at Chick-Fil-A sound like a good option, especially since I am not a huge fan of chicken. It's something I can eat and get my nutrition when I am out, but I won't enjoy it so much that I will abuse it.

For me, it helps with the hunger and portions. I was like you in that I never felt full or satisfied. The band changed all that and has made losing easier. I don't have many cravings and feel satisfied after small portions. I have been banded for 6 years and have lost 1/2 of my weight, but am working hard again and am rededicated to watching my diet and exercising. I have never gained any back, but I did stop losing. Losing is hard for me now b/c my thyroid went south, but it is happening and is much easier for me now than pre-band. It's nice not to think about food all of the time.

Share your secrets please I am almost 6 years out and have lost 50% of my weight or so and kept it off. I have been working really hard over the last year to lose the rest and am losing slowly, but also have thyroid issues so it has been slow. Any tips would be awesome.

Do you have the anti-emetic suppositories (if so, you can insert them vaginally instead of through the other end and it isn't nearly as unpleasant)? If not, get them from the doc. Pain meds can cause severe nausea. Also, sip on warm liquids. Literally sip slowly. If you take in tiny tiny sips and wait a couple of minutes between sips, it may help. The most important thing is to get the vomiting stopped. It is going to make your stomach swell even more. It becomes a vicious cycle after that. I can tell you that I had no vomiting and was back at work 4 days after surgery with no pain meds, no nausea, etc... So, for me, what you are describing does not sound normal at all.

This is what happened to me when my thyroid went south. I had other symptoms as well, but as soon as I started thyroid meds, I lost 50 lbs in 3 months. I stalled a lot this past year when I decided I had to get serious and lose the other 60 lbs I need to lose (banded in 2005) and despite working out and being really good, It took me 9 months to lose 20 lbs. It was my thyroid again. I would push your doctor for an extensive hormone work up. Mine didn't actually show up on blood work for about 6 months after my severe symptoms started, then my levels of TSH were through the roof. After a few years of battling this, my doc and I figured out that any thyroid level above 1.2 or so, despite that being a very normal number, causes issues for me. I guess what I am saying, is thyroid issues can take time to manifest themselves as far as blood work goes, and just b/c you TSH is in the normal range, it might not be in a range that is normal and works for you. I hope you get this figured out.