KarenG.

Hi, my surgeon said that he wanted to see how was doing after a month or so. He said that it could be fixed when and if I get a tummy tuck. He said that it basically has to do with if I can stand the discomfort - he said there is a chance it will become "less symptomatic" whatever that means. I am not in terrible pain but it I do feel it constantly particularly after running or sitting at my desk for a long time. He thought that I probably always had it and that I feel it now because there is less fat to hold things in place (gross huh). Yes a hernia is a horrible sounding thing but I did not get the impression he thought it was very serious at this point. I am waiting to talk to my primary care physician to see what he has to say about all of this. NOT wanting another surgery this year at all! Keep me updated on your situation - send me a private message if you like. K

Has anyone been diagnosed with a hernia post op? This is not a hiatal hernai - in fact I had a hiatal hernia and it went away mostly when I lost weight. The hernia is not even close to where the surgery or incisions were. My surgeon said that it was probably always there and now that I have lost fat it is hurting. Anyone have a similar experience? If so did you opt for surgery to fix it or what did you do? Thanks in advance.

Oh no... I have the same pain you are describing on my right side right under my rib cages - it varies from dull ache, hard to get comfortable sitting, pain while running and sometimes something a little worse. I thought it was gas but now I am thinking that I need to check this out with the surgeon at my appointment on Wednesday. Keep us posted! Do you know what kind of treatment you will get? I wonder if there is anything to be done aside from surgery if it turns out my gallbladder is going nuts too.

These challenges have been lucky for me so far so here goes! Name...........Start........Current.......Goal.........To Go Candle..........205...........205........197..........8 cQQlgirl........215...........215........200.........15 destiny79.......255...........255........240.........15 Foofy...........242.5.........242.5......234........8.5 Jovi2673........217...........217........200.........17 KarenG .........189...........189........181..........8 kjl315..........227...........227........217.........10 kristin1031.....240...........240........225.........15 legster.........209...........209........196.........13 LessnLess.......164...........164........157..........7 Linda Lu........228...........228........215.........13 Longhorn........204...........201........195..........6 Rainer..........251...........251........241.........10 Redtulips3......225...........225........215.........10 Renewedhope.....213...........213........199.........14 Sades...........201...........201........190.........11 Suzzzie.........291...........291........280.........11 wombat712.......145...........145........135.........10 Brandymom1234...200...........200........185.........15

I am august! Going for my 6 month checkup in a few days. I have lost about 70lbs since surgery morning. My band is very restricted (4 fills) and I have a lot of food intolerance to the usual suspects - bread, rice, dry meat. Other than that I am feeling great and getting a lot of exercise. The WL has been pretty steady other than a plateau for a few weeks when I was not restricted (between fills). My doctor is pretty available to fill as neccessary and the longest I have ever waited for an appt is 2-3 weeks. I think that helps a lot! Good luck to everyone - looking forward to seeing holw you are all doing.

Not suprising to me. I felt pretty bad lying down for at least 10 days to two weeks. But, then again I am a big baby! I wonder if you are feeling a little better each day. That is what kept my spirits up, that I was slightly more comfortable each day. Feel better soon!

I am pleased with how I am doing at the 6 month mark but I see that we are ALL doing AMAZING!! I am seeing 70-80 lb losses! Isnt it exciting?

3 weeks after surgery I went to France for 2 weeks. I dont think I personally would attempt a long trip much before 2 1/2 - 3 weeks out. The only pain in the neck was the food situation with the special diet I was on. Other than that, in terms of energy and pain level I had no problems.

Maybe you are dehydrated. If I don't drink enough when I exercise my band feels really tight and I only recently realized it was because I was dehydrated.

For those of you getting ready for surgery. I was prepared to have to say goodbye to everything I loved right after surgery. While you do have to do the liquids and mushies etc., once that was over I could eat a lot of different textures if I did it slowly. I started "losing" problem foods from my diet very slowly over months as my band has been tightened. Truthfully, now I have a lot of "problem" foods but I have had a lot of time to get used to that and now it is sort of like a distant longing - like an ex-boyfriend I no longer cry over but remember fondly!

Name............starting#......current#.......goal#.....to go Anitak33...........245............218..........199.......19 Anna2766____.......232............226..........220.......6 TxArcher...........360............346..........345.......1 Candle.............218............209..........207.......2 chickatee..........188............179..........175.......4 Cookielover........202............202..........192.......10 cQQlgirl...........220............217..........210.......7 Faithmd............306............301.2........296.......5.2 georgiagirl........275............264..........261.......3 Hollyberries.......298............298..........285.......13 Hoppingto..........350............314..........294.......20 Irishmae11.........233.8..........230.4........219.......11.4 Jennie1976.........290............251..........235.......16 jfran..............187............181..........177.......4 Jillrn.............176............171..........166.......5 Jsrico.............255............178..........165.......13 juliegeraci........220............220..........210.......8 KarenG.............207............189..........189.......0 keekahari..........220............217..........205.......12 kjl315.............237.5..........228..........220.......8 legster............223.5..........212..........199.......13 LessnLess..........172............165.5........164.......1.5 liz_hager..........202............198..........190.......8 Manatee............188............175..........175.......0 Mandyjo............191............179..........180.......-1 metawnny...........252............252..........240.......12 MJRouse84..........274............233..........218.......15 nip50..............250............235..........238.......-3 Rainer.............264............250..........248.......2 Redtulips3.........248............228..........226.......2 RenewedHope........228............215..........210.......5 rharriet...........367............256..........248.......8 Sades..............229............199.7........189.......10.7 Skinny_Jill........195............187..........180.......7 Stacy73............230............222..........222.......0 SueMagoo...........230............219..........220......-1 Sunny112...........145............145..........140.......5 Susan4794..........240............240..........225.......15 Suzzzie............303............294..........290.......4 SWEETY.............180............174..........170.......4 Trystelle..........219............209..........205.......4 Twilight...........206............194..........185.......9 uxbus5.............240............240..........230.......10 want2lose..........236............236..........225.......11 wombat712..........154.8..........147.8........140.......7.8

About a month ago I was in chinatown for lunch with a good friend who knows about the band, and an acquaintance that I don't know too well. I was in a rush to meet them and raced into the restaurant and decided to just order soup... wonton soup... bad idea! I slimed once in the bathroom at the restaurant and then I fell behind when we were all walking away from the restaurant and slimed right there on the street! THEN the other woman left and my friend knew I was in trouble .... we went into starbucks and there was a line for the bathroom... I couldn't wait and a giant slime in the trash can at starbucks... my friend tried to block me.. what a good friend!

I like cracker barrel 2% cheese. They even make them in individually wrapped 1 oz sticks - not environmentally friendly but very convenient.

Sushi is my favorite food. Sadly, I have slowly had to stop eating it. First I couldnt take the seaweed. Then a fill or two later I stopped being able to tolerate the sticky rice. Now, I can eat sashimi or tartar but it isn't as good if you chew it a lot! Everyone is different - maybe you will have a better experience.

How do crab and lobster go down when you are restricted? Just wondering because I am going on vacation next week to a place where there is a lot of that and I am hoping to be able "get it down".! Thanks!

I woke up this morning at 189.75 only .75 from my v-day goal! This fill has been soooo good for m! Name............starting#......current#.......goal#.....to go Anitak33...........245............218..........199.......19 Anna2766____.......232............226..........220.......6 TxArcher...........360............346..........345.......1 Candle.............218............209..........207.......2 chickatee..........188............179..........175.......4 Cookielover........202............202..........192.......10 cQQlgirl...........220............217..........210.......7 Faithmd............306............301.2........296.......5.2 georgiagirl........275............264..........261.......3 Hollyberries.......298............298..........285.......13 Hoppingto..........350............314..........294.......20 Irishmae11.........233.8..........234..........219.......15 Jennie1976.........290............251..........235.......16 jfran..............187............181..........177.......4 Jillrn.............176............171..........166.......5 Jsrico.............255............178..........165.......13 juliegeraci........220............220..........210.......8 KarenG.............207............191.5..........189.......(.75) keekahari..........220............217..........205.......12 kjl315.............237.5..........228..........220.......8 legster............223.5..........212..........199.......13 LessnLess..........172............168.5........164.......4.5 liz_hager..........202............198..........190.......8 Manatee............188............175..........175.......0 Mandyjo............191............179..........180.......-1 metawnny...........252............252..........240.......12 MJRouse84..........274............233..........218.......15 nip50..............250............235..........238.......-3 Rainer.............264............250..........248.......2 Redtulips3.........248............231..........226.......5 RenewedHope........228............215..........210.......5 rharriet...........367............256..........248.......8 Sades..............229............199.7........189.......10.7 Skinny_Jill........195............187..........180.......7 Stacy73............230............222..........222.......0 SueMagoo...........230............219..........220......-1 Sunny112...........145............145..........140.......5 Susan4794..........240............240..........225.......15 Suzzzie............303............294..........290.......4 SWEETY.............180............174..........170.......4 Trystelle..........219............209..........205.......4 Twilight...........206............194..........185.......9 uxbus5.............240............240..........230.......10 want2lose..........236............236..........225.......11 wombat712..........154.8..........147.8........140.......7.8

I dont know if it washes it through or not. My experience has been that if I am eating solid protein like you are supposed to, and you are restricted it hurts like *#(@*# to drink. I have on occasion been eating something else and drank (like popcorn, chips, or something bad) and I did not experience the same pain.

Yes, the exercise is key. You are doing great so far 27lbs is a lot but exercise will speed it up.

Name............starting#......current#.......goal#.....to go Anitak33...........245............218..........199.......19 Anna2766____.......232............226..........220.......6 TxArcher...........360............346..........345.......1 Candle.............218............209..........207.......2 Cerrin.............350............350..........325.......25 chickatee..........188............179..........175.......4 Cookielover........202............202..........192.......10 cQQlgirl...........220............217..........210.......7 Faithmd............306............301.2........296.......5.2 georgiagirl........275............264..........261.......3 Hollyberries.......298............298..........285.......13 Hoppingto..........350............314..........294.......20 Irishmae11.........233.8..........234..........219.......15 Jennie1976.........290............251..........235.......16 jfran..............187............181..........177.......4 Jillrn.............176............171..........166.......5 Jsrico.............255............178..........165.......13 juliegeraci........220............220..........210.......8 KarenG.............207............191.5..........189......2.5 keekahari..........220............217..........205.......12 kjl315.............237.5..........228..........220.......8 legster............223.5..........212..........199.......13 LessnLess..........172............168.5........164.......4.5 liz_hager..........202............198..........190.......8 Manatee............188............175..........175.......0 Mandyjo............191............179..........180.......-1 metawnny...........252............252..........240.......12 MJRouse84..........274............233..........218.......15 nip50..............250............237..........238.......-1 Rainer.............264............252..........248.......4 Redtulips3.........248............231..........226.......5 RenewedHope........228............215..........210.......5 rharriet...........367............256..........248.......8 Sades..............229............199.7........189.......10.7 Skinny_Jill........195............187..........180.......7 Stacy73............230............223..........222.......1 SueMagoo...........230............222..........220.......2 Sunny112...........145............145..........140.......5 Susan4794..........240............240..........225.......15 Suzzzie............303............294..........290.......4 SWEETY.............180............174..........170.......4 Trystelle..........219............209..........205.......4 Twilight...........206............194..........185.......9 uxbus5.............240............240..........230.......10 want2lose..........236............236..........225.......11 wombat712..........154.8..........147.8........140.......7.8

Really --- I know you guys know this but without sharing the details - isn't it amazing how thick it is? GROSS!

Also - I want to point out that the more you have to lose the faster you lose at first.

Slow compared to what YOU want or slow compared to others? I think that it is really important not to compare yourself to others. Everyone has a different lifestyle, different capabilities and expectations. If you are happy with your progress then that is great and as long as you are going forward .. keep going. If you aren't happy and want to go fast there are ways to do it I think. I was only banded two days after you but I have really been pushing it with high intensisty cardio and getting fills frequently and staying in close contact with nutritionist and surgeon. I know that this is not possible for everyone - for example I don't have kids to take care of! Good luck.

I would do it again in a second. It is far from perfect but much better than the alternative - not losing weight!

If your doctor thinks you would be ok just stay on liquids. I am always really swollen so the first 2 weeks after a fill I can't eat much - after about 2 weeks it gets better. Good luck!

I think that most people have the what the he*@ have I done moment the first week after surgery. I scared my poor sister to death since the band was her idea! The feeling goes away pretty soon and you will have a normal life - I PROMISE! Also, I think that the anaesthesia causes some depression in some people (like me).