sunnysidega

As others have said some pills are NOT to be crushed. I would check with my pharmacist if you are having difficulty swallowing your meds. At first I was scared so I bought chewable vitamins and liquid Tylenol, etc. But as you get to know your band you will find out if there are certain pills you cannot swallow. But I take my meds and vitamins just fine by swallowing them and my calcium pill is huge. It was the initial fear that I wouldn't be able to that caused me concern.

The elliptical has always been more difficult for me for whatever reason. I read earlier in the thread someone suggested a month at a gym. That may be great advice to see which you prefer. You may even find out that a rowing machine is something to consider. I do know you can burn more calories in a shorter period of time with the elliptical but if you don't like it (like me) you won't use it. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Someway or another I messed up the quote I was trying to use Well, I believe it is an Inamed brand 4 cc. band. I wish I could give you some exact information (actually coming to this site has made me think about getting my detailed medical information such as fills and un-fills). I'm thinking it has probably been 5 years since I have ever even been back to the surgeon's office. No complaints with my band but their interest in follow-up has sucked in my opinion. I had this idea they would really be interested in keeping up with their patients but that has not been my personal experience. I remember calling once and asking for an appointment to get my band checked and they were like "why"? I wasn't wanting an adjustment and I wasn't having problems. And once I had asked for a complete un-fill because I had done so well without one and was told that was what was done. When I went back to get a fill I said something about my band being empty and was told, "your band is not empty" which rather shocked me since I had been told I was. I don't think I was ever filled more than 2.5 cc. at the most. Really don't know what is there now but I have restriction, still the occasional hang-up or get stuck. My family recognizes it and calls it "the deer in headlights look". As far as coming to the site I have just been wanting to get back in contact with some banded folks and see what's going on. It seems in my area the popular surgery seems to be the gastric sleeve which I know nothing about and really not interested in finding out.

So Ms. Joanne, let's keep this thing afloat

A little bit more about my story. I have struggled with my weight all my life. I remember being 5'7" in 8th grade and weighing 184 pounds. As the years went by and children came, my weight continued to increase. In 2003 Dr. Jaime Ponce and associates had been doing the lap-band surgery for a little while at the hospital where I worked. So I made the decision and had it done. I was a strange bird (from what I hear from most people) in that I had restriction right out of the gate. I followed the rules, listened to my body and lost 110 pounds before getting a fill. It wasn't until that time that I started to regain any weight. And that was just timing. I went through a devastating emotional event and to be completely honest, I worked as hard at putting the weight back on as I did taking it off. I can't even remember how many fills and unfills I have had over the last 9 years. I would say I had 3 fills and 2 unfills. I have pretty much left my band alone otherwise. I need to go back for a checkup. Only complaint that I have is that my surgeon's office seemed to not care much about follow-up unless you were coming in for an adjustment. I need to go back in just to get my band placement and condition checked out just so I will know where I stand right now. Thank you all for welcoming me here. I just hope and pray my band and I both continue to be healthy. I need to look around the site here more and see what other areas of support are here.

No offense taken by me I never knew Poo Ba could even be considered a mocking term. I thought it was hilarious. Yes, I remember the Flintstones and other references that go way back. I realized this morning that I needed a math lesson. I had my band in 2003 so that was 10 years, not 9. My time flies when you are having a good time.

Ya'll sure know how to make an old gal feel welcome I really need to get back in contact with some other banded folks. And I believe this is the first time I've ever been recognized as a PooBa grand or otherwise!

Enjoy the journey, follow the guidelines you have been given, EXERCISE and see where it takes you. Most importantly be honest with yourself and be patient. I wish you every success!

Thank you! Probably like many others I feel far from being an inspiration. You have done extraordinarily well! Congratulations. I doubt they even make the size band I have. It is a 4 cc. band.

I'm new to this site and appreciate reading stories from other banded folks. I have had my band almost 10 1/2 years. I had really great success during the early years. I realized about 3 years in I had a very strong emotional component to my eating patterns so I regained a good bit of the weight I had lost. But no fault of the band. I still feel it is the best tool for weight-loss success. I originally lost 110 pounds after I had my surgery then regained probably 80 pounds. But I am back down 50 pounds and still a work in progress. **I went back and edited this post when I realized I can't add. I had my band placed May, 2003 so that would have been 10 years not 9!