XX BeGone

Yes I was unfilled all the way. I had 2.5cc in a 5cc band. As soon as some was released (didn't release all of it on the first visit) all my pain went away. I am now back of to 2cc, but my docotor has been giving me .5cc fills every week. I am at a good spot - would like to be a little tighter, but I know the problems would come again. I have had just a couple of times having the burning pains, and last night had the pain each time I swallowed something. Today I am fine, but will wait a week to see if it continues or if it is just because I am on my monthly. I get tighter around this time.

Hi, I was dx'd with a hiatal hernai in May w/ a small slippage. My doctor released my band for about 6 weeks and everthing went back to place. The research that I did for HH said pretty much they are treated w/ GERD meds (meds for reflux), and only rarely will they do surgery. My chiropractor also will manipulate these back into place. From the research I have done I probably depends on the type of hernia. I think mine was caused from being too tight which caused my band to slip and caused spasms.

Wow - how big is that L A W N? I love to mow lawns, but I own a condo - maybe I need to do this in the summer for people just for the exercise of it.

Depending on the size you are and will need you can do like I do. I have a favoriate bra - I need a 34J - but they don't make it in my size (the bras don't go that small in the band or high in the cup) - I buy a 38H (cup is equivelnt to a J when going down 2 band sizes) and have it altered by taking off 4 inches - this now changes from a 38H to 34J. For every band size you go down the cup size goes up (if you are staying w/ the larger cup). Check out www.brasthatfit.net - this is where I order my bras from and have them altered. If you call ask for Rita and tell her Julie from Cali sent you. Maybe she can help you find something that will wor for you.

YEAH!! SO Proud and happy for you!!!!!!!!

Hey Lulu - I don't know if you are aware but horseback ridding is great exercise - here are the calories burned for 60mins - now I don't know if the caluclations are based on my weight or not since it is part of a website I am using to track my calories, exercise and weight (evenhealth.com). walking mins - 226 general mins - 360 trotting mins - 586 way to go!! I wish I had a horse ;o)

Well I got a 40 min walk in today. I am going to try to get out and walk another 20 this evening. My son has to do 300 sit ups a day during the summer for FB conditioning, so I thought I would joing him and aim for 100 a day.... 25 down - 75 to go :tongue2: Funny thing is - these were the first sit ups in a LONG TIME :thumbup:- w/ out being modified.

Thanks Indio - that was a good read. I can relate to so many of those triggers ) Good to see the things "I already know" do work...now have to put to practice. OH - yesterday was a great daY!! I no over eating, snacking or going off plan. I stuck w/ my daily calories and also walked. Today is going to be grate too - My boots are on and straps are pulled up!! :thumbup:

Somone did you wrong!! I don't even pay for the for my double shot over ice - think maybe 1.89 which is still robbery.

YEP ;o) I am staying on plan today because this is day #2 of getting back on plan.

OH MY GOSH - this is exactly me!! :wink2: - I give my self 3 days in a row before I claim that weight. I get really excited when I hit that new number (when it is a goal #) and do get a little down when it doesn't stay, but I know in a few days If I keep up my good habits, that number will stick When Aunt Flo arrives I am guareenteed 4-6lbs BUT if I am exercising and eating really good and dont cave into cravings during that time I will loose the Water gain and then some ) that is always fun.

I like their canned Double Shot Light - I beleive it is only 70cal and taste so rich and creamy. I can't remember the carb count, maybe less than 20 - thinking 12 or so. BUT Starbucks doesn't carry this - you have to get this at Safeway, Wal-Mart or a local gas station. I also will order a doulbe shot over Ice and ask for a venti cup. I then mix in water and 2 scoops of Muscle Milk Light - Bananna Creme :wink2:) YUMMY - 25g's protein, 195 cal's and 11 carbs - Sometimes walking out I feel embarrised as if I am drinking something really "bad" and want to hide my drink... LOL For a variation to this I will use some cholcolate protein mix w/ the bananna mix and make myself a "Monkey Mocha" For a splurge i will get a tall sugarfree Java Chip Lite 160 cal, 30 carbs, 5g protein. BUT I don't do Starbucks that often - they cost too much and I just don't need it. )

Great thanks LuLuc & Fran for answering. I had to go to the store, and was going to drive because my mom is here, but I decided it dosen't matter she is here I need to walk. :wink2: It is just a short 30min walk up and back. I work from home so it can be hard to take my 15min breaks & lunch breaks and use them for ME, but I will set my goals to walk one 15min break and my lunch break - a minimum of 30 mins. Begining tomorrow.

Thanks Frangipani, Run... :wink2: I havent ventured to that - a few times i would jogg just for a very short distance, only because when I was walking I would feel like I want to "fly" LOL. So this forum is just for accountability, and no specific challange?

HI, I hope I am not sounding dumb - but please explain the exercise challenges to me. I see a Couch to 5K and this one for June, but I don't know what I am susposed to do. I need an exercise challange and accountability. Thanks Much.

I have been struggling, so today is Day 1 again... 1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

Wow - good thread! I needed to read all of this. IndioGirl - you do, do the tough band love, and you know what - for me right now that is what I needed to hear and read today - THANK YOU! - I am 18 mos PO - and am about 97lbs less.:confused: BUT I have been struggling w/ discipline this past month - on and off. I am maintainging, but I don't want to maintain, that is not good enough - I have 50 more pounds to go. I am also only have .5cc filled right now so no restriction - so that is really heard. When I am really restricted, it helps me SO MUCH to keep the head hunger under controll - it is that all or nothing thing for me. I am rarely stomach hungry - it is usually head, so I know the difference. But when I have a "controll at the gate" it makes it eaiser to resist the head. I am fighting it hard at keeping control. I think what you are saying really should be taken to heart from the not so new bandsters like me - I didn't risk my life and go under the knife just for nothing, so fight this and don't give in. I also think new bandsters need to hear this too, and know that you are in your first stage - your streangth will come in time - you will learn to make better choices, and YOU WILL, but do your best to pull up your boot straps like Indio said. Soon you will see there will be far and few binges in between - just don't berate yourself because you have made some bad choices. Recognize it and start over. I know my triggers - I am a stress eater, also I crash after an emotional high - one of my recent triggers (now get this isn't this just sad) was I went on a shopping spree - I found myself buying size 12/14 clothes - I had no idea I was that small - I hit such a high and an incredible WOW that I took a mental spin. - My husband had said - "that should be so motivating for you to continue to do good" he is right it should be, but for some weird reason I do the oppisite. I am slowly learning things about myself and that episode is called self sabatage - It could be stemed from frear as well as the "perfectionist" side of me, but I do need to figure out why I would do that. Kelvinsmom - I am also a lot like you and take the "soft aproach" non confrontal side of things and agree w/ some of the things you said. Sure if in my first 4 weeks of PO I would have "hurt" from Indigo's comments, and really felt like a failure and weak, and would rather have an ear and emotional support support, and then the kick in the but. BUT I also know if I post something I better be prepaired to take the "good" with the "bad." I think you both make a great team on this post - both things said and the way they are said are needed and needed to be heard. It is like the soft sandwich aproach - come on soft (Kelvinsmom) have the hearty meat (Indio) in the center, and then finish it w/ the soft (Kelvinsmom) - at least for me that is what works. We all have what works what will push or motivate us - so take fromt his thread what will work for you. :thumbup:) THANKS - I REALLY NEEDED THIS TODAY - DAY 1 - starting over - I will control my eating, myu eating will not control me! Here is a scripture my husband has given me this past week to help me - So for me each time I am begining to over eat or am tempted by wrong choices I am going to say this to myself. Find a tool to help you too. 1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

:thumbup:) I can not wait until I am at goal to have PS, so I decided to have a little fun in Photoshop. I am actually courious how my breast will look when I am around 150lbs, so that is what motivated me to do my own PS. I think I will have pleanty of room for the surgeon to do a lift and still have ample amount left over to be full. :thumbup: I know the "back side" picture looks a little "yoked" LOL but my bumm doesn't look half bad...if only it did look like that.:thumbup:

HI - Keep on it about your symptoms - don't be like I did and tolerate it. Now I know better. Good that you are doing liquids. I think I know when it happened, because one morning I woke up and could eat/drink or swallow spit. I called the office and the nurse told me to stick w/ liquids and if the next day I couldn't eat anything to come it. Next day I was better, except for gastric reflux. I will be going in Monday for an additional fill - right now I am at .5cc and really no restriction - it is hard to not over due it and gain. I am maintaining right now. This will be my 2nd time going to Spain. We went last June and going again for a mission trip. We are going to Palencia which is almost 3 hrs north of Madrid. On our last day in Spain we did go to Segovia and sight see - that was a beautiful town. This is the only country I have been to, but I loved it - feel like home. I was so impressed by the difference in culture - prideful people but in a good way. The city was amazingly clean and the food was delicious. I was expecting food to be like Mexican food, but it was more like Italian food with the red sauces and olive oil. Loved the Coca Cola too - that was the real stuff there. We did get some stares and lookers because 12 Americans were walking the streets there and this is not a tourist town, so we really stuck out, but all the better to make them curious. When we got to Segovia it was weird seeing a bunch of Anericans and hearing the speak English. I am looking forward to going again.

Today I found out I have a "mild displacement" of my band. I also have a hernia of the Esophageal hiatus as well as dilation of the esophagus.:smile: I have been peeping in and out of LBT but never really participated in any discussions. Now I wish I would have made time to read more post and what to watch for. I didn't realize being too tight can cause these complications, until I read several posting about slippage tonight. My current events ~~~~~~~ I have been too tight since Aug, but pushed through the symptoms (gastric reflux and pain w/ certain foods, PB) - I have a lot of toleration for pain. I Slowed down w/ weight loss so in Nov, I had more fill of .2cc - to bring me to 2.3cc in a 5cc band. In Dec had the .2cc removed to see if it would help the reflux. It did midly, but I gained 10lbs over Christmas (bad food choices, even though there were some mild restrictions & but no exercise ) Jan I had .1cc added back and 4 weeks later .1 added again to bring me back to what he orginally gave me in Nov. I loved it because it restricted me well, but I would have slimming, PB and vomited a couple of times - 4 times in 2 months. I was trying to "tough" it out knowing I would get used to it, but it was difficult to eat and drink. I had a 20lb wt loss in 2 months. Finally about 3 weeks ago I woke up in the night had coffee ground emesis - it tested positive for blood, & I began taking aciphex that day. All symptoms and problems completely stopped, and 6 days later I saw my suregon who removed the .2cc from my band to see if that would help, but also to schedule a GI swallow. Well I had my swallow last week, and today was told I have a slippage w/ dilated esophagus & hiatul hernia. So I have been a little bummed out and really afraid that I will gain some weight back. There is a reason I have this tool, and am not ready to be completly w/ out restriciton, but I have to really try hard to at least maintain and not gain. I am concerned I may need surgery, but because I have a small band(5cc) it could be a good thing to get a new one, that way there is less chance of the same problems. I will f/u with a brrium swallow in 2 weeks to see if there is improvement and then we will go from there. He said my pouch is "genrerous" but not bad and the slippage is mild. The dilation of the esophagus is mostlikely due to being over tight and obstruction and he hopes and thinks w/ time it will shrink down as long as I am not too tight. As for the Hernia there are a couple of options surgery or no surgery, but not all hernias need repair. I have heard from my friend that her father who is a chiropractor reduces these types of hernias, but when I told that to my doctor he gave me that weird look (you know the anti-chiropractor look) but said if I wanted to try he didn't think it would be contraindicated in me just because I am banded. My surgery was paid for by my prior insurance, but now I have another insuance who is not contracted w/ this doctor, and i have been cash paying for the fills. I am wondering if I do need surgery how they will look at this and if they would approve him removing and replacing the band, or if I would have to go to another doctor. They do have him contracted for other general surgeries, but not for barriatric. They are contracted w/ another barriatric surgeon in town, but he does not do lap band and I choose LB for a reason. Today I come to realize I think this is of my own doing and I am upset that I didn't realize it and seek medical attention when I was too tight. I am just 50lbs to goal, and don't want this to stop me! Any support or advice would be welcomed. Thanks for reading I know my long was long.

Hi Julie, Do you have any B&A pictures that your able to post? After reading your post I am wondering if you how well you liked your surgeon (1-10) and would you recomend him? Thanks.

Thanks - thats another thing I am looking forward too - wearing skinny heals ) no more 2inch plat forms for me! Give me those 3.5 in skinnies :smile:)

Thanks Mango - this site is really helpful!