Lindaloo

I got my third fill on July 1. I have a small band (holds 4 ccs), and the dr. filled me to 3cc. On my previous fills, I had no problems, I was on the liquids for a day or two then mushies for a week. I felt restriction. OK. So I haven't lost weight in a year. (I know. I'd been avoiding having a fill) I get this fill on the 1st. I can swallow Water in the office. So I leave. I find myself burping a lot right from the beginning. I start the liquid diet. No real problem at first. I do notice I have to sip and can't take big drinks at all. I am always drinking water and usually manage to drink about 3 big bottles per day on average. I found myself not even being able to get one down, but then all my meals were liquid too, so I think I'm ok on liquids at first. I notice I have to be careful. Drinking Soup is harder than colder stuff. I pb'd a few times. I call the Dr. and ask if this is normal. I'm assured it's OK, sometimes it takes longer for swelling to go down, I'm told. About a week into it I develop reflux, which I've never had before. I wake up throwing up, horrible...very acid. I get to the point where I really can't lay down and I'm feeling sick to my stomach all the time. I call the Dr. He says to take pepcid and see if I feel better. I do at first, but after a day or so it has no effect. I call again, exhausted because I can't sleep, feeling sick much of the day. I'm eating water ice and ice cream milkshakes. These are the only things that don't make me feel sick. Even water makes my stomach upset. They order a Upper GI. I go for that, and can see everything on the screen. The barium in my pouch is a dark mass, and there are thin threads coming down from the band into my lower stomach. I ask about the threads, and the radiologist says that it is the barium, barely eeking into my tummy. I get lightheaded from the lack of food (I couldn't eat from midnight til after noon the day of the test), and almost pass out. I call the dr. the day after the test, and they want me to come in immediately for an unfill. A doctor (mine's on vacation) takes out one cc, leaving me with 2cc in, a half cc less than before I got the last fill. Immediately I find that I can drink more easily and am able to drink about 8 oz of water in five minutes, which is great. Now, last night, we were taking a family member out to eat at a buffet. (we live in Amish country, it's a really fab restaurant). I get some mashed potatoes and gravy....and it's heaven. I missed eating so much. I just wanted to take the band out and be fat. I dont know how this is going to work for me in the future. I have an appt in six weeks for another fill (probably up to 2 and a half ccs--where I was before this last fill). I don't always follow the rules of the band. I've lost a decent amount of weight but not the ideal. Sometimes I wonder if I should have gotten the bypass. I need the discipline of being sick if I eat the wrong thing. But I was so depressed and flat when I couldn't eat. It was a real torture, as being a mom of 4 I had to cook for everyone every day and I couldn't eat anything. It was very hard and very depressing. I lost 10 lbs, but have to say, it was the hardest ten I've ever lost. In the beginning of the last fill, I thought...wow...this is awesome, I can deal with this for a while, losing weight and drinking shakes. But man oh man, that reflux changed that pretty quick. So many emotions...elated when I lost the weight at first, so quickly...then depression when I couldn't eat, exhaustion and lightheadedness when I couldn't eat. I was out with my daughter after the unfill yesterday and thought I might pass out. The feeling of being able to eat those potatoes yesterday...I was so happy, it was like I could feel every cell in my body be happy over finally eating again. My mind got clearer, I could think, and my mood was over the moon. What a rollercoaster ride. Sigh.

Yes... I'm doing well now, I've been avoiding bad food so far, trying to focus on protien first then everything else....trying to rehydrate myself. I feel so "dry" thirsty....even my skin is itchy. I know what I need to do. I need to eat right and exercise. The band helps but doesn't change that. Interesting about the larger bands vs the smaller. I knew they had to change to the bigger band for some reason. While I was on this three week fill adventure, I had to quit my anti depressants (I couldn't swallow them), deal with some rather annoying teen dramas from my eldest child, and couldn't turn to food for comfort or help with my emotions. I felt like a bug pinned on a board. Trapped and stuck. I couldn't move away from the problems, couldn't medicate, couldn't soothe myself, didn't feel well, and on top of that I couldn't even sleep. I told my DH at one point that I felt like I wanted to just get up and walk away from myself. (if you can understand that) I wanted to just "leave" myself and be someone else.

I recently lost ten lbs and in 2 weeks (too tight a fill) and I noticed my desire went up right away and I felt better about how I looked...that really helped. I mean, my DH isn't going to mistake me for a 20 year old who's never had children (4!!!) but there was a big difference to me, and consequently to him.

I used Real Meals Protein shakes, they were really good. Also I drink Bolthouse Farms Soy protien Chai tea...it's awesome and lots of protien in it. You can get it at Walmart. Hang in there. I was recently filled two tight and was on liquids from July 1 to July 20!

Awww...sweetheart....((((Big Hugs)))) If I were the boss I'd find a way to fire that person. I would think harassment and creating a hostile work environment would be reason enough. We've all had some experience with a rude comment. It hurts, no matter what idiot it comes from. Think about who you are, your good qualities. You know God doesn't make junk, and he loves you. If I never lost another pound, and even if I gained a hundred, God would see me as beautiful, because He sees past what this world does to us right to our essence, the person he created. Hold your head high, honey.

I never noticed this, or made the connection, but I'll have to monitor it next month. I do know that I have a huge jones for chocolate which goes down waaaaaayyyy too easily. I got a fill a little over a week ago and my period's just ending. I've been a little too tight but maybe the bloat has something to do with it. No chocolate this month....hehe...and I'm glad.

I hate to exercise. I've fallen off of the exercise wagon, but need to get back on.... I have four kids (ages 14, 12, 4 and 3) and they won't even let me go to the bathroom in peace, let alone exercise, and by the time they are in bed, I'm exhausted. I have a membership at a curves, I like them but you have to get there. I have the walk away the pounds dvds, and they are good. you can walk inside in the AC and not leave your baby. It's a good work out.

I got my third fill on Friday July 1st. I'm up to 3 ccs in a 4 cc band. I've never noticed much of a problem in my prior fills with some issues I'm having now. I'm burping a lot. A LOT. When I'm hungry I feel sick, my stomach hurts. I ate something with some pepper (black pepper) on it (I shook a little on) and I got a burning sensation in my stomach. I pureed some chili....way to spicy. Then yesterday I tried having a little spagetti sauce (out of the jar, not homemade and not spicy) and again, the burning sensation. Also, the heat of food, like Soup, seems irritatig. Cold things feel better. I've had some trouble eating....but I see steady improvement little by little. I can eat a very smooshed up boiled egg with a little mayo and some potted chicken as well as the mushies. I can only eat about a 1/4 cup at a time of anything. My doc is out of town til tomorrow. I've talked to his coordinator at his office last Thursday and she told me to call her this am to let her know how I'm doing and if I want to come in. I'm wondering what erosion feels like. Anyone know? I've lost about 10 lbs in the last week...which feels good, but i'm a little worried about my band.

Chick-fil-a nuggets are very small, and actually really just breast meat, not preformed whatever like the regular nuggets at most places. 8 of them would probably equal 3 regular size nuggets, so that isn't too bad. But the caramel frappes, and the soft serve is not good for the diet. Maybe limit yourself to one caramel frappe a week and one soft serve cone a week instead of every day. I like drinking Fruit 2 0....it tastes great, gets that good water in, and is slightly sweet.

Thanks for your response. Yes, I'm keeping Water down OK, and I'm drinking Soy Chai tea that is chock full of protien and nutrients for my meals. My stomach was rumbling last night so much that it woke up my husband! I'm going to give it a couple more days, I can tell things have loosened up slightly since being filled. I have eaten some yogurt and even a little cottage cheese and kept it down. But that's it so far for the mushy stuff. I did really need this fill, I was stalled and depressed and had just about given up. This is kick starting me off again, as well as kicking me in the derriere!

I had my third fill last friday (4 days ago). I'm up to 3 ccs in an inamed band. Since then I've been able to drink liquids (slowly) and have kept down some yogurt. But I've been burping like mad ever since Friday. (that hasn't happened with the other fills) I was woken up out of my sleep just now with my stomach making very loud noises and I've been having this dull pain that sort of throbs...goes away and comes back every minute or so. I got up and took two tums, then after awhile I thought well, maybe I'm just really hungry....and tried to eat some yogurt. This doesn't seem to be changing things for me...the pain is there. Do I just have gas? I don't know....but it hurts.

Well....the three spoonfuls of yogurt I had just came back up....and with it....a pill I had taken this morning. I've taken pills since I was filled on friday, cut them up, even one little one I take swallowed whole. Well, this was a time released Wellbutrin (so I didn't want to crush it or cut it) and it's rather small. Now, all day long I was drinking Water, drinking soy chai tea...I didn't eat anything except a piece of fudge (well, it was a holiday! and it melted in my mouth...went down fine) and I had about a quarter cup of chicken broth. I was amazed that the pill didn't go down, and that it was only partially dissolved. The pain is gone now. Guess I just had that pill floating around all day and finally it got stuck in the stoma. Wow. That pill is small...like say...a straw opening....is that too tight a fill??? Perhaps I'm still swollen. But I've lost 8 lbs since friday!

Hi all, I haven't posted in a while, my family and I are building a new house and moving in a little over a week, so I've been busy... The last time I posted here I was having a hard time because I hadn't lost much and I was working out like a fool. I got banded in Nov, didn't get my first fill until Feb. It was a difficult fill, and I felt no difference in restriction. I had my second fill in late March and at that time the dr. said he thought my first fill had leaked out through the puncture site when he injected it. So I got another cc. This time I felt restricted. I went back for another one earlier this month, this time a tiny amount. Last month I lost seven lbs, and I'm continuing to lose weight steadily now. I do have a problem with pb'ing but it's because I'm still learning what to eat/what to avoid. I'm learning, though. I'm still working out, now only 3 to 4 times a week, and I've joined Curves so weights are a part of my routine. I feel good. I'm so happy the band is working for me. So for anyone out there struggling...just keep with it...be patient.

I know...I am impatient too. I did reach a point thinking that this wasn't going to work for me. But I need to work with it, and my body and not force anything. I know the band was best for me, but I can't help but think I'd already be nearly my goal if I'd gotten RNY. But I'm glad I didn't!!! I'm having a hard time lately getting all my Protein in so I'm drinking some Protein shakes to try to up the protein. I'm actually enjoying working out. I'm such an obsessive thing about weight, food... I have a pulled muscle in my shoulder and I am nervous about stopping the weights until it gets better. Like I'll "fall off the wagon" and won't want to get started again. Patience. It's SO hard to have it!

I've given up sodas entirely except for when I go out to eat (which isn't often) and then I only drink a little. I used to LOVE regular coke, but don't really miss it now that I'm off of it. Like Alexandra, I have really become addicted to Fruit 2 O. No carbonation, no calores, great taste. They are fabulous.

You look fantabulous!!!! congratulations!!!!!

Well, I've had two fills ( the first one didn't work, it turns out...evidently some leaked out after the injection) and I'm feeling more restricted. Not very restricted, though. Last night I had a small piece of fish, about 4 tbsp. of couscous, and about 1/2 cup of mixed veg. and I was still hungry after I ate dinner. Most of the time I feel full when I eat, though. I've been exercising 6 days a week, 3 aerobic, 3 aerobic/weight workouts. I hadn't lost anything since my last fill, and since this most recent one, I have GAINED a pound and a half. I've lost 1% body fat in one month. I don't know. I thought this morning I should go on shakes or something. But didn't I go through this surgery so I don't have to do the Slimfast thing? It's discouraging.

thanks Shana and Mary-- Well, I hate exercise, first off. I had to find an exercise I liked doing (or hated least). I began with the "walk away the pounds" DVD by Leslie Sansone. It's an aerobic walking program you do in your house, basically marching in place with some arm movements. I got a three dvd set which has 1mile, 2 mile and 3 mile walks. Just doing the first one at first was a pain in the butt. But my husband did it with me and kept me going at first. When I could do the first one with little discomfort I moved on to the next one. I'm currently doing the 2 mile walk now. After I've done it for a while I kind of get in the groove and I feel guilty if I don't walk. Then I joined Curves. They have a 40 minute routine. You get on a weight machine, then jog or march in place, then another weight machine...every 30 seconds. It's a good workout. I'm motivated to go because I'm committed to paying for it for a year, and also because I believe it will help me lose weight. (though it hasn't been working so far. It is a weight routine, but it also gets your heart rate up. I actually lost about 50 lbs about 6 years ago by eating low fat and doing walking and weights. It took me about 9 mos to do it. I believe my success then came from doing the weights. When I'd dieted before it didn't really work. That's one reason why I'm puzzled the weight isn't coming off especially because I'm banded. I think I need more restriction too. My last fill was on March 26.

I got my first fill the end of January. I have lost nothing since my first fill. I can eat more than they say I should ( a cup to a cup and a half per meal) but I have been exercising like a fool. I walk 2 miles to an aerobic walking tape and have joined a gym and work out with weights 3 times per week. (I've only been doing the weights for a month) But I thought I'd see *some* loss. I'm kind of depressed about this. Wondering what the Dr. will say. Wondering if the fill will be as hard this time as it was last time. I was numbed, but he poked me at least 10 times before he found the port. I actually wonder if he found the port since I've noticed NO difference in restriction. sigh.

I got weighed and measured at the gym last night. My weight was the same. My measurements were all a little higher than last time (1/4 inch, 1/2 inch) except for my arms, where I lost 1/2 inch. My bodyfat went from 42 to 41. Not great results. I haven't been "dieting" per se. I was hoping with the band I wouldn't have to do the rabbit food thing. But not being very restricted didn't help... and I feel more restricted now, but not sure if this is "it". I feel like things get stuck more often, and I've pb'd 2 times. I have to force myself to eat even more slowly. I feel stuck more than I feel full.

Well, the dr. said I didn't have 1 cc in my band. He said that some might have come out when he injected it the last time. So he put in 1 cc and now I have a total of about 1.5 cc. So that explains the level of non restriction I had. We'll see how this goes....

I had stopped losing weight after the first month or so, and didn't get my fill til January. I got 1 cc put in. But he had such a hard time finding the port I wonder if he didn't get it in because I've felt no change. I have used fitday before and it's a very good site. I'm supposed to get my measurements and a body fat analysis tomorrow at the gym, so we'll see if anything has changed there. Hope so!

I know I probably have lost some and gained some muscle, that is true. And I also know I have to have some calories coming in for the workouts, esp. Protein. But I don't feel restricted, not much different from before my first fill. I can eat way too much food. So I think I need another one. We'll see what the dr. says. as always Donali you are full of common sense. thank you.

When I get that feeling (the sliming feeling what a good way to describe it!) I have found that taking a sip of liquid will ofthen help it. Just a sip, though, not a gulp. I've never pb'd where anything ever came up, but only had that blocked-slimy feeling.

What a great job you've done! Congrats!