mermaidpuppy

Congratulations on your loss! I got my band a year before you, Sept 07. Since then I have gained about 25lbs. I have had 2 fills. I feel like a moron going back for another because my doctor just makes me feel like I have no self control. So the second fill I went to fill centers usa. I have always been able to eat around the band, but at this point I don't feel like I don't have any real restriction, maybe first thing in the morning. I started back on the wagon last monday, but was desperately hungry by Sunday and ate normally and even had a piece of Birthday cake at a party. Today I did great until about 7, when I was ravenouly hungry and had some chips and crackers. I came here for inspiration cause I feel like I'm at rock bottom. I don't know if I should try to recommit before I have another expensive fill. I felt so deprived this week without my normal foods, because I really enjoy cooking and eating. It's like I have gone into this depression. My questions is....... how did you do it? What do you feel the keys are? Do you NEVER drink when eating? What do you eat typically? I'm grasping at straws! When I had my fill, I just felt like I had something stuck in my throat when eating, it was nothing close to the "satisfied" full feeling. Is that just a thing of the past with the right restriction level? I need some advice from someone who has figured this thing out. I'm fatter than ever and totally miserable!

Wow, the rudest thing anyone has ever said to me was said by a coworker. Not my boss, but a much older lady in a position above me. She said, since we are alone, I'll tell you that I have noticed you have been gaining weight......and unfortunately people judge you based on your weight, even if your a wonderful person. It' just a lifestyle change......Dr. Phil, this, Oprah that........ending with the best..... Life is hard to go through without a mate, and if your overweight, you won't find a mate and basically will die alone. We were working by ourselves that day and I had no one to back me up or I would have faked an illness and left. It hurt me so bad that she would call me out like that. She knows I had surgery, been to many drs etc. And for her an old shriveled stop sign to say its a "lifestyle" change, was hilarous. I have a F-ing rubber band around my stomach and ive gained 20lbs. Obviously its not something I can figure out, but im not good enough the way I am. But thanks for your advice BBBBBBBBBBBB.

Yes! My doctor recomended the LOW CARB slimfast. They said not to drink the regular kind because of all the sugar. Look for the LOW CARB, sometimes its harder to find. It is better and has more protein than the HIGH PROTEIN SF. So remember LOW CARB. I like the chocolate. I put in insulated mug in the freezer, then I fill it will icecubes, pour in the SF and then add a little bit of cold water to fill up the mug, shake it up and it tastes like chocolate milk to me. I tried thinning it with skim milk, but that doesn't taste as good as plain old water. It has been a lifesaver. Plus easer to find and cheaper than other stuff at GNC. I get a case of 15 at Sam's CLUB. Good Luck!

I had my 2nd fill yesterday. He filled me as I drank and gauged how much to add as I drank. It was so weird, and I had a hard time gauging how it was going down. I went to the waiting room to finish my bottle of water and started sliming immediately, and then had to go to the bathroom to spit up the water. I couldn't even swallow my spit, so I went back in and he took out .2 of my 1cc fill. It felt so much better, and i was able to burp down some more water. Later in the day it was hard for me to drink water. I was told to drink warm liquids. I didnt' have anything yesterday, and today I tried some Starbucks, which usually opens me up completely. I don't know how much I've kept down, I keep spitting up water and coffee. My question is..........will it calm down? Are things just irritated because of the fill and unfill? I'm supposed to drink warm liquids for 48 hrs, but the coffee is making me semi slim and water makes me feel like a golf ball is stuck. Should I call and schedule and unfill or........should I wait it out and see if it gets better. Right now im miserable and wanting FOOODDDD! Please advise me! Will this get better? or not? I'm afraid I'll get dehydrated or something.

Just wanted to give you all an update. I had the weekend from hell. I couldn't get any water down on Sunday. It was hard for me to walk up the stairs. Today I called in sick to work and had to have my mom drive me to the doctor's office. He took out .02 CC and I feel like a NEW WOMAN. I drank an entire bottle of water and then had some reduced fat cream of chicken soup diluted with skim milk. It was the best soup I've ever had. Let me tell you, don't struggle with being "too tight". Go get unfilled as soon as possible. I had lost 7lbs from Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon from not eating or drinking. It was pure torture. I feel sooooo much better with something in my tummy! I'd rather be fat forever than have another weekend like this past one. :cursing:

Yes, I've been fat since even before I started school. It ruined most of my life. And I still struggle everyday. I can't imagine the joy I would have in my life if I would have just been normal sized.

I had my band placed in September of 07. I've gained about 20 pounds since then. I started out good, but quickly went back to old habits. Eating sugar, sugar, and more sugar. Too exhausted after work to walk. Drinking mountain dew at lunch to get a boost to make it to the rest of the day. Working another job part time to make ends meet, furthering my exhaustion. I feel like I need to go to food rehab for a week, to rest and detox myself from sugar and soda. I've had one fill. I feel some restriction in the morning. I always drink when I eat so everything washes down. I'm sure my pouch is super stretched. I've got 4.5cc in a 10cc band. I'm too embarassed to go back to my doctor (he is a jerk and intimidates me) so I think i'll go to a fill center usa for a fill. My question is...............Can I start over? Whats the first thing I need to do? I know the answers......but I just need to hear it. I need tips. I am such a failure. Maybe I should treat my next fill as a starting point. Who knows if they can even find my port under the 20lbs of new fat. Help me?

Wow! Thanks to everyone for the support, and the great ideas. It was 78 degrees here today, and everyone was out in their shorts and capris. That was even more inspiration to get going! As of right now. No more Mt. Dew, sweet tea, Diet Dr. Pepper. I did it for 2 years once and I know I can do it again. I think im going to try to lose some weight and then go back to my doctor instead of fill usa. That will be my goal, to face him! Life is too short to be miserable. Like my dad's doctor told him. It's not like you have cancer that can't be cured.........your just overweight, LOSE WEIGHT! I know its not that "simple" but it is in a way, if you compare it to a incurable disease. Thanks again to everyone. I know YOU all truely know how it is........ Good Luck to us all!

Anyone know of a website where I can order Phentermine with no problems? I used to order it years ago, but all the sites need an RX or seem like a scam.

I've had one fill in a 10CC inamed band. The total fill is 4.5ml. How does ML relate to CC's? How full is my 10cc band? I'm so confused. Thanks!!!

Wow, thanks for the advice! I had no trouble ordering it online before, but now I guess the rules are stricter. I made an appointment with the doctor that originally gave it to me for the 24th. I can't wait to get my hands on it! I hope it will give me the boost I need.

They way you described your "food addiction" fits me perfectly. The "addiction" part actually became crystal clear to me the day after new years when I started back to work after a week off. I had my protein bar for breakfast and a healthy choice for lunch. I was so hungry by the time I got home from work, I had a coke, cookies, etc until I was stuffed with junk. I felt a calm come over me, and just felt good all over. I though to myself, this is what it must feel like for a drug addict when they can finally get high. The band has been a HUGE disapointment for me. I've had it for about 5 months and have gained 10lbs. I'm afraid to go for another fill because my doctor makes me feel like such a failure. It is depressing when your "last resort" doesn't work. I'm bigger than ever, none of my clothes fit. I would be so devistated if I would had payed for it all by myself. My insurance helped, thank goodness. But I wouldn't recommend it for "binge" eaters like myself. All I have to show for it is scars on my stomach. And some advice...... Don't tell anyone you are having it done. I had to tell some coworkers that had to cover for me at work, and they keep asking me "how its going" have I been back to the Dr. lately, etc. I know they are like.... why is she fatter than ever? Thats just one opinion. I wouldn't recomend having it done though.

I've tried phentermine.com, it's all herbal versions from what I can tell. Phentermine is the only thing (including Lap band surgery) that has ever aided me in losing weight. The only downside is it only works for a month or so. But it's the only thing that gave me enough energy to exercise and it turned off my obsession with binge eating. It's been a few years since I discovered it and used it for a few months, so im hoping it will work again for me. I need a kickstart. I've heard all the Phentermine horror storys but the 2 months I took it were wonderful!

I think your being a little, no... make it a lot dramatic. A lot of Drs don't require a liquid pre-op diet, my doctor doesn't, and I did great. It's not set in stone. I found it hard to stay on track, but support helps more than your scare tactics.

I wasen't required to do a liquid diet before surgery, and I did just fine. I did gain like 6 lbs from my initial consult to my presurgery visit. I got yelled at about that and had to lose it before surgery. I did the liquid diet and walking for like 3 days and lost it easily. You should be fine if you haven't gained. Did you need to lose before? If not, u should be good. Good Luck. Surgery was MUCH easier than I thought.

I'm going for my first fill on Oct. 22nd. I can't wait. Are you feeling a difference? Is swallowing any different? I'm sure it's hard to tell since your just having liquids so far. But I'm eager to have some restriction. I wanna lose!!!

Hey there, I'm in the same boat too! I had my surgery on Sept 7th. Managed to keep off the 10lbs I lost right after with the fluids but barely. I've got my first fill on October 22nd. I can't wait. I hope and pray I have some restriction. I'm going to Miami November 1-5 for a confrence with the girls at work. Everyone is planning their outfits, etc. Im by far the fattest in the office. Not looking forward to it at all. I though I'd have a chance to loose some before the trip, but no luck. I have no energy, and am fat as ever. I'm like you... I feel like my friends that were so excited I was having surgery are like, ummmm aren't u supposed to be losing weight now??? It's so frustrating. I hope the fill helps. Of course it won't be in time to look decent for Miami. It's depressing. So the short term is sucking bigtime. But hopefully we will all be skinnier in 2008!

Hi guys, I was banded on Sept.7th. I've been surprised that I haven't had any headaches. I used to get a bad one atleast once a week. Anyway, The other night I had my first one and I couldn't sleep. The though of swallowing some liquid tylenol made me wanna heave. I considered some advil tablets, but I thought I remembered that you weren't supposed to have it???? Is that just in the healing stages?

Just got back from the Dr. Only 1 more pound down since my 2wk post-op visit. He was nice today though. Didn't fuss like I was expecting and have experienced before! Thanks goodness. My first fill is scheduled for October 22nd. I can't wait!

Thanks guys! I've talked myself into keeping my appointment with Dr. Evil tomorrow. I'm going to ask if I can have a fill at 5wks instead of waiting until 6wks. Even if it doesn't help me physically I think it will help to jump start me mentally. At any rate.... I've got to get my butt in gear. Maybe having it "kicked" tomorrow will get it moving forward! Wish me luck September buddies!

Hi guys, I was banded Sept 7th. I feel like a failure. I'm hungry all the time, and have NO energy. Trying to get in all my protein, but falling short. I'm getting about 40-50 grams per day and the minimum is 60. I have a Dr's apt Friday and im thinking about cancelling it because I haven't lost much. Just about 3 lbs since my 2wk visit. 12lbs since surgery. I'm so intimidated by my Dr. He rescheduled my surgery because I had gained 4lbs (didn't require pre-op diet). He wasen't happy with my weight on the day of surgery and played mind games with me and questioned my eating then. Just never a positive person, I always walk away from him feeling ashamed and like a failure. I'm so afraid he's going to be rude to me since my loss hasen't been spectacular. I used to get a burst of energy after a walk, but now i feel like im dragging my legs through mud and after I crash. I have to wait until 6wks for a fill. Im not eating half what I used to, since surgery. But I feel fatter than ever. I'm so depresed. Are all of you haveing fabulous success or is anyone feeling like a failure like me?

I just got back from my 2wk post op apt with my Dr. I asked the "constipation" question. He suggested 1, more water, 2, benefiber, 3, milk of magnesia, 4. Colace stool softner. I just happened to have some generic Colace from Walmart. I popped 2 of them, and had a result about a half hour later. Much to my relief! Try it. It's much easier than trying to mix one more powder into your tiny bit of food.

Hi, I was banded on Sept 7th. I hear about good getting stuck.... And how you will know as soon as you swallow if something isn't going to work.. The golf ball feeling. That would indicate to me that the food you swallow goes directly through the small pouch into the rest of your stomach. I though the pouch the band created fills up then slowly empties into the rest of your stomach. If this is the case, how do you feel a blockage as soon as you swallow the food? I'm confulsed and probably overthinking it, but I'm just curious on peoples thoughs on this.

Elizabeth, I feel your pain! I'm 8 days out and soo hungry. All my protein stuff (I got tons of options) are making me heave at the smell of them at this point. Going back to work tomorrow will definitely help take my mind off it. I've shopped, had my nails done, toes done, anything I can think of to get me out of the house and keep my mind off food. I could have broth. I semi cheated and had progresso southwesterchicken noodle soup broth, it was really good. When I had it the other day, I had this superfull feeling. The next few days I didnt have that feeling, I could almost eat a can's worth. I don't know if I'll make it to Friday. I don't even really know what will be included in the next phase. But I'm hoping its something to look forward too. I've been so depressed. I knew how much I loved food, but this is crazy. I went to see a movie with my little brother the other night, and NO POPCORN. That is torture. We did a few errands. Usually every night out would be highlighted by food. Figuring out where we are going to eat..... I miss it. I'm thinking about calling my Dr and seeing if I can go back on an antidepressent. It might really help over this transition. I've been on edge. Everything my coworkers and family did was making me homicidal the end of this week. Hang in there girl!!!

I got banded last Friday. Feeling sooo much better now. I do have a pain question though, that I don't see mentioned here. My port is located right on/below my bra line in the center of my chest. I've been coughing up stuff from the annesthesia. Everytime I cough it feels like someone is stabbing me below my port. I have to stand up and push in with both hands to aleviate some of this sharp pain. If im sitting or laying down and cough, even if im holding it in.... I feel like my port is gonna fly out of my chest and hit the wall. Hiccuping and sneezing cause sharp sabbing, tearing pains as well. Getting out of bed is not fun. I have to use one hand to pull and one hand to push that "area" in. It just feels like its tearing, and will not heal with all the unintentional movement im causing it. All my incisions are fine, no pain at all. But this stabbing pain has presisted. Did any of you have this? How long does it take to be able to cough and cover your mouth, not stand up and hold your chest together?