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Nope not me...I was free as a bird until the surgery. Back in the day when I was banded, there was far less preoperative consultation and they just got it done. This however did not work to my advantage considering I adapted some Bulemic type habits. These were hard fought and I succeeded in the long run. Good Luck with it all....POPT

Sick of Soup...lmbo....I say let them eat SOUP! There are tonnes of things out there to eat other than soup. smoothies are a great option. I still use them alot....you'll get through this. Then you will find yourself reverting back to these simplier things when your tummy isn't quite up to the tough stuff....Good Luck and Hang in There... POPT

I did the exact opposite of that. I stayed on Mushies for alot longer than I had to. I was wanting to make sure that I didn't risk stretching my pouch or more importantly return to bad habits. In my opinion I would return to the post op diet and wait for the solids, you don't want to as you said, Jump the gun and have complications, Good luck with the rest....POPT

I have been out a few times and never fails to get the weeps....for some silly reason....my nurse sis says its cause the drugs that they use during the procedure takes its sweet time coming out of your system....all the best to you....POPT weepy or not! lol

Well hun IMHO....you need to give it some time....I mean are you really even healed yet and on your road to healthy eating? I have a friend who was just bypassed and I would be happy to give you her email addy...its a long haul no matter what road you take....I mean if you think of it I have been banded for 3 years plus....125 lbs later I am still working that last 30....like I said its a long road no matter....gooooood luck and hang in there hun....you'll do it! POPT

I was banded in January 17 of 2004 I want to be on the list...PLEEEEASE??? Thanks bunches

Hey there Riggsie...nope the size of your band is the number of cc's that it is able to hold. For instance my band is a 10cc Swiss band. I have noticed that alot of the people on here have much smaller bands, but their fills are minute compared to mine. I have 1-2 cc fills and some are talking about 1/2 a cc at a time.....so in this case...size really doesn't matter! lmbo....POPT

Hey hey there....good for you. There are many experiences and different days ahead of you. You will find that some days things are easy and other days not so much. But this is all for the greatest good of all....healthier you. WAY TO GO! POPT

I agree that the gas is from being out....it should go away in a few days....the best thing is to get moving....walk walk walk and drink lots of Water.....I just had a general on Wednesday and thats what I did to get things back to norm....good luck good luck POPT

Hey there girlies! You are both experiencing very much what I experienced when I was first banded. The scoots and the fast weight loss is all very common when you are first banded. Don't let these things lead you astray however. The healing process and the things that you are experiencing now are all going to change in the near future. You will begin to eat meals again and need to get yourselves on a life course that you are comfortable with and can live with forever. You are both doing great and you have a huge pat on the back from me.....awesome job girls, awesome job. POPT

Yorkshire Pud....your story rocks!! Way to go way to go I say. Its an amazing story and we all need inspiration like this...I love it. POPT at its best!

Hey I think that the very first step to conquering the problem is admitting that there is one! You have a good hold on the facts, you are obsessed with food. I think that there was a time that I was in that same boat. More is better no matter. You need to fight the brain as well as the gullet! You are getting this band as a tool, a tool that you can't learn to fool like so many have, or you can't expect to be a super cure because it is not, it is a tool that you can work with to create a result that you desire. Believe me the "head hunger" goes away. Its not overnight, but it does go away. I wish you all the very best in your journey. Soon your addiction will be exercise or something totally different, just you wait and see. I wish you all the best in your journey.....POPT

Well here's my 2 cents. I have a friend...a dear friend whom has this very affliction. He is supersized and I assume is unable to get into the shower regularly.....probably over 500 at least. He has an intense odour...its the only way to put it! You can smell him coming a mile away. He tries to disguse the odour with perfumes....but that makes it worse. I know where you all are coming from....I too was always VERY conscious of my smell and NEVER had body odour...EVER! Its not important to everyone and that is there choice....but I think when it becomes offensive to others its time to fix the problem!! My 2 cents....POPT

Easy guys easy....Dislexi is....who she is. This is an open forum and she has an opinion. Her opinion apparently is that we suck! lol None the less she will move on to somewhere that will hopefully make her happy. This forum can be harsh and opinionated, serious and kind. Some of us look to it for advice or entertainment, I see posts on here that I feel are simply ridiculous and not even close to what should be suggested in my opinion. Lets remember that I am one of those bandsters that she is referring to. Someone that has been banded for a long time and albeit things change, I think that some remain the same as well.....I had someone correct me about something happened to ME....it was my experience..and they said it wasn't possible, it was something else. Each to their own I say....Dislexi I wish you the best....as I do everyone. POPT

Hey girlie...a slip is just that a slip. It doesn't mean that it has to stay that way. We tend to beat ourselves up when we make these mistakes and they really are just that, mistakes. Get up tomorrow and start fresh. Make a new day and a new start, its really the only way. Forget about what happened today and move on. I have beaten myself up time after time and its to no avail, you aren't making things any different or any better being hard on yourself. Just try not to make the same mistake again. Good luck....POPT

I want to wear boy cut panties and not have them hang open at the bottom cause your tummy is too big.... I want my boyfriend to pick me up.....biggest one of all. POPT Almost there!

I have tried and tried to get rid of them. I have super toned lower arms and the uppers seem to stay the same. Is there any solution short of becoming Arnold? There is always PS I suppose but geeze if there is a will there is a way right? POPT

A little FYI...my doc claims that everyones stomach is basically the same size....within a tiny bit. The reason that people actually are able to overeat to excess is a disfunctioning hyopthalimus. This is the tiny part of your brain near your pituitary gland. When the pressure from the band is applied to the outside of your stomach it sends a signal to your brain that you are full, therefore as long as you have the pressure on your stomach you should have a feeling of satisfaction....or at least this is what I have been lead to believe. I know that some would say...but but but....I am just telling you what they told me....POPT...

I paid 15000 out of pocket...insurance laughed and laughed...its cosmetic you know.....B*****ds!

Hey there...I am an old bandster...really old! The amount of slips and problems with the band I think are minimal. Of course they are there, but few I think. Don't worry about the mightas....worry about the....yeah look at me and my thin self....I don't think there is a thing you can do to prevent band slips. At least not from what I understand....POPT

Eating out is certainly an undue stress and strain to me in my life. I have an absolutely wonderful partner who knows the signs of when things aren't going well, I always know where the washroom is and am very aware of what I am ordering. If I am not careful at all times I will have problems for sure. Soup is an option, buffets are not. Its a complete waste of time and money, sitting for long periods of time while others gorge themselves is not my idea of fun anymore,,,,although I didn't used to mind. I fear eating out a little bit, good thing I live in a tiny town with only 2 restaurants and we rarely eat out....maybe once a month....maybe! Never sweat the small stuff I think is the best thought, order what you know you can have and forget about what we can't! Make sense? POPT

Hey there I had a sweet friend ask me if I had "Any Regrets"....I thought I would share part of the email with you all and see what you think too. I really try hard not to tell about the litenay of problems that I have had since being banded 3 years ago. Regrets...there are days that I regret the banding, but I NEVER regret the loss. I would do it again to lose the weight. Later in this message I am going to list the problems that I have had....I think then you will understand my point. Here goes the list...brace yourself! Port distention - my port has surfaced due to the weight loss....very common. Gallbladder Attacks - Again very common with hight weightloss Malnutrition - Due to overtightened band and unable to take in enough calories and nutrition Enemia - Due to inability to take in enough Protein Hysterectomy - Bleeding and Enemia worsened after the weight loss although it was a preexisting problem before. Pannus Infection - Due to the loss I have had many infections under my hangy tummy, hopefully to be removed, but that is to be seen. Excess Skin in Abundance - Now that I have lost the weight that I have there is an obscene amount of skin that needs to be removed, bearing in mind I am not very tall and the skin hangs significantly beyond where it should. I know that some of these things are due to the weight loss, but they are to be considered, if you are young and your skin is nice and tight and has not have 3 C sections, my complications may not be yours. On the other hand.... I run I bike I ran a triathalon I wear a 38 pants and used to wear a 52 I sunbathe in the backyard mind you with a bikini top on I sit crosslegged on the floor I skip I am in love I love me....I didn't for a long time, but now I think I am learning how to again. I love my gorgeous honey I promote exercise and healthy eating in my home and to anyone who will listen I have helped people who struggled with the decision, some did, some didn't I love the tool that I chose to use So regrets, yes there are regrets, but mostly the good outweighs all those....hope I didn't scare you.

I agree maybe regret isn't the right word, complicated, work intensive, lax, maybe those are the words that I should have chosen. I love the fact that I have only 30 lbs to lose in total, including LBL, 30 lbs, I mean holy shit! Its a far cry from 150...thanks for the eyeopener everyone...you guys rock! POPT

Hey girlie...I too took a dirty spill off the "Band Wagon" once upon a time. I totally feel for your fight and your direction now. You are obviously a smart cookie, beating the band and all, so be equally as smart and work with your band. I have encountered people who simply need a very snug fill to find a comfortable zone to have loss. Maybe you are one of these people. I would like to thank you for sharing your story, I have fought the fight and I think we all continue to fight it everyday. You are gorgeous, intelligent and soon slimmer, just look into the eyes of that beautiful little girl of yours everyday and if for nobody....do it for her. Run with her, play with her, bike with her, swim with her, be her mom that is there to watch her babies grow up....thats the ultimate goal, to get healthy to live life to the fullest....enjoy, live, love and laugh....POPT Good Luck

I like NotSoBigGuy's answer.....wooooohoooo! I have a question about the reference to "Port Side"? Is your port not in the middle on your rigcage?