Graceful One

Awww...Sassaay...that is so nice to hear! You'll be right along with me in no time...everyone here is always so helpful! Alexandra...how about Lobster? Ahhh...a big step above shrimp!

Some more restriction questions for all my lovelies! We've already established restriction changes with your cycle...yet I still cannot figure out how it's changing...seems during ovulation I'm tighter...then get looser around my period... Secondly, I've noticed that when I drink more Water I'm not as restricted...have any of you noticed this? I really shouldn't be trying to make sense of this because it is likely to drive me batty but I get paranoid when I go from eating 4 bites to being able to eat quite a bit more...

Hey Becca! Wow, tonsils and adenoids out...had that done at 20 and my doctor said most women think it's worse than giving birth! Good luck with that! Well things are going good...the 5th was my four month bandiversary and I'm down 42lbs...I've been stuck for the past two weeks (pre-menstrual) and was pretty tight...we'll see what Water weight drops off soon! I'm loving my band...I'm so glad I did this and can't wait until spring either! I'm going to Dr. Chua's on April 2nd...supposed to go for a fill but not sure I really need one...Deb bumped me up from 2.5 (with no restriction) to 3.0 (gagging to get water down at first) and I think I'm at my sweet spot...struggled for the past two weeks but things seem to be getting better now... I'm sure after a good fill things will pick up for you! Take Care,

Second part of my question... Would you consider this too much to eat at one sitting? About 5 sugar snap peas, 5 baby carrots, 3 pepper slices and some dip...two teaspoons of cottage cheese...a 4oz snack thingy of canned fruit and about four bites of a piece of pizza? I am amazed I could eat this all because the past two weeks have been a struggle with restriction...way too much...PB'd and slimed alot...and then all of a sudden it's gone... Even with the restriction I haven't lost anything and think I've been stuck on a plateau...so I read that you have to eat to keep your body from going into starvation mode...so today I ate! Does this all seem right? Today is my 4 month bandiversarry and sometimes I feel like I just got it yesterday!

Alexandra, Thanks for the reply...sometimes it just helps to bounce ideas off of my fellow bandsters...I guess the main reason I've been concerned is I had been SO restricted and now I could eat all that and not even feel like PBing...oh this damn fickle band!

Hey guys...still struggling with this restriction...today for lunch things went ok...had 1/2 of a stuffed chicken breast with broccoli and some green Beans...had the same thing for dinner and started getting the saliva thing...is this a PB? I wonder if I should just go on liquids for the next couple of days and give my tummy a rest...it seems like everything I'm eating is bothering me...perhaps I'm eating too fast but I am chewing really well! I've been trying to drink some hot tea before I eat...could this be the cause of it all...fluids before? Anybody have any advice?

Donali, How's breakfeast going? Is this working for you too? I'm going to start this tomrrow!

Hey Willo (my almost band twin!) How are you doing? Welcome to LapBandTalk!

Well this is my first time at posting pics so here goes nothing!

OK, I need some help! Last Monday I got my 3rd fill...at 3.0cc's...and I really have been struggling to eat...maybe it's just in my head but it has been a challenge to figure out what will not make me PB (if that has been what is happening...slime backing up in my throat...is that a PB?) Anyway...went to my Mom's for dinner on Sunday and my Grandma made Swiss Steak (very tender) with Mashed Potatoes...well...the Steak went down fine...the Mashed Potatoes...no go... Went to a friends house for dinner on Saturday...Spaghetti with Meatballs and Eggplant Parmigana...the meatballs and eggplant fine...sphaghetti no go... Last night for dinner bought a fish sandwhich and just ate the fish...that was ok... Does this sound right to you all? Do things like potatoes normally cause problems when you have restriction? I haven't had bread for a coons age...and normally don't make potatoes for myself but I am confused! I guess right now I feel like I'm not eating any carbs because they seem alot more difficult to get down than meat...is this right? EESH!

Misty, I was amazed at the cost of out patient surgery compared to the normal overnight 23 hour stay surgery... Go figure, half the cost of surgery is the facility fee...and the Jello and chicken broth sucked...the only thing good was the morphine pump...I've stayed at better B&B's for alot less. I would give a call to Inamed on Monday and find all the doctors within 300 miles from you. That's about a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive... If I was forced with the self pay decision even though Mexico could be a few thousand cheaper I would try and factor in the price of my aftercare and the price to get there and you'd probably come out very near the price for surgery closer to you. Good Luck!

Misty, I've read a few of your posts regarding being self pay. I would recommend you call all the surgeons in your area and see if they will quote you a self pay price for day surgery at a day surgery center rather than the hospital. Reason being, my surgeon in Milwaukee performed at a hospital and I stayed over that night...his self pay at the day surgery center is $14,000...my surgery was $29,000...big difference! Follow up is the most important part of the band...if you can find someone who will committ to your follow up in the states then I wouldn't feel bad about going to Mexico...but if surgeons in MN are like the ones in WI they WILL NOT follow up on those who are not their patients...in my experience... Also, there is someone who does banding in La Crosse, WI...how far is that from you? If you need surgeons name I would recommend calling Inamed and getting all those in your area...a few hours to drive if you need an adjustment or have problems is not bad...planning a flight and coming up with the money to plan that flight I think could be hard... Good Luck!

Misty, I was not diagnosed with PCOS but Insulin Resistance...one of the lucky few who has regular periods... I've been banded a little over 3 months and am down 41 lbs...this has been the easiest thing I've ever done to lose weight...I just don't have the appetite, especially for carbs as I did before I was banded. To get diagnosed with PCOS or IR, most likely your physician will take a fasting insulin...if you exhibit any other of the signs, weight gain (which we all have) skin tags, excessive hair growth, acne, messed up cycles, etc, you most likely have it if your results come back with impaired fasting glucose. I was being treated with Glucophage XR (brand name of metformin) and that was working well for me...lost a few lbs in the three months I was on it but felt 100% better...I was having dizzy, sweaty, nauseaous episodes everytime I ate something... Just so you know PCOS goes hand in hand with obesity...it's the chicken and the egg syndrome...your more prone to PCOS or IR if you are obese and vice versa PCOS and IR could make you overweight...generally losing a small amount of weight can help resolve many if not all the symptoms of PCOS and IR. If you have more questions on PCOS or IR I highly recommend the website www.soulcysters.com. There is tons of information and extremely helpful people on this website for those of use who deal with PCOS and IR. I would also highly recommend you contact your physician to run some basic labs on you to determine if you have PCOS. Good Luck!

Hi Christa, Were you a patient of Dr. Kemmerling? I'm also in Green Bay but was a patient of Dr. Chua.

Thanks for all your replies and Happy Birthday Donali! So this is restriction huh? I went out to dinner with my girlfriend at Chili's last night and got the triple play...boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, and southwest egg rolls... Talk about reality slapping you in the face...I could eat the whole damn thing pre band...I had a bite of chicken wing, half of a chicken tender and half of an egg roll down...that was a struggle...LOL...I let my friend take home the rest of the left overs... Right now I'm not hungry at all...I'm just working on trying to get my liquids in and think I may add a protien shake for a meal...honestly I've never thought so hard about how I can get calories in...it was just um...natural you could say! I've been really focusing on cottage cheese, yogurt, and soft meat...I'm all about nutrition but it is a little bit of a struggle right now with how tight I am...I'm sure it will loosen up a bit so I'm not too concerned...my problem is getting my Water...I feel like I have to sip 24X7...and I don't use sip loosely...before I was able to take a big drink...now a little one seems slow going through...I figure as long as I'm not hungry and feeling weak I'll be OK for a while...I'm definately at if not a little bit past my sweet spot...and...this is the best part...I was worried I would get filled up and never have restriction!

You are all so kind! I'm so happy to be part of this little group! Looks like I started a trend with posting photos...it's amazing to see how well everyone is doing! I just had my third fill today to 3.0cc's...ahhh...so this is what restriction feels like!

Great job Leo...by the way I love your purse...LOL

Look at you miss thang!

Hey guys....I have four pics to post...2 before and 2 during front and sides...how can I do this?

Kim, Honestly I have no regrets...this is the easiest thing I've ever done to lose weight. I had the same feelings as you did prior to surgery. I was exstatic and then depressed that I couldn't just shut my mouth and stop eating everything except what's bolted to the floor... It's a big decision...I think we all have fluctuated between the what if's... I love my band and I'm sure you will too!

Megan, I can totally agree. About two weeks ago I bought the 40lb bag of Iams and had to drag it up from the garage...good Lord! I'm down 38lbs right now...amazing isn't it...how did I fit that bag of dog food into these pants I'm wearing?

Hi Lisa, Good choice! Where are you in your process? Well I've had my band for three months...down 38lbs and loving it! This is the best thing I've ever done! I had to attend a seminar, psych consult, nutrition consult, and surgical consult to get the go ahead from my bariatric team. After that came insurance approval, history & physical, preop testing (ECK, Upper GI - Barium Swallow, Chest X-Ray), and finally surgery. Surgery was a breeze. Nothing has really changed in my life except I eat alot less...I still have to start an exercise routine but I've been pretty busy between working fulltime and grad school. I've had two fills thus far and they were a breeze as well!

What I've been doing is making a big glass of ice water leaving about an inch on the top and putting in Ocean Spray Light (with Splenda) in the top...gives it a little zing with out all the sweetness of Crystal Light...

Welcome Christine! Congratulations on getting approved...I also thank goodness for this website!

Tellie, So glad to hear that your panicking was for nothing! Now your screaming give me another fill! I experienced a quasi-same fill experience. My first fill was 2.0cc's...my second brought me up to 2.5cc's and up until two days ago I felt that I was able to eat more than with my first fill...here's my hypothesis: If it is -20 degrees outside then my band will shrink and be looser than in December... It can be aggravating trying to figure it out...but hey...I look at it like this...days I can eat a little more cool...days I can't eat enough because I'm tight...cool...I figure it will pretty much balance out in the long run... Ahhh...all this wisdom coming from me on my 3 MONTH BANDIVERSARY!