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Thanks Vegas. That's exactly the problem I've been having this week. The doctor took some of the fill out, but I am still suffering. I'm am going to sip liquids only over the weekend, but if I still can't sleep I am calling on Monday. It kills me to do this since I am self pay and each office visit costs me.

Thanks for your insights everyone. I did call my doctor and had 0.3 ml removed from the 0.5 ml fill. That did NOT resolve the problem. I was up again all night last night. I am going to try to be patient and hope this resolves itself--maybe I'm just irritated from being overfilled, but I don't know how long I can go without a good night's sleep!

What sad, sad stories. I am humbled by your strength and determination. Some of you guys have every reason to be angry and negative, but it seems that you have overcome that and have done wonderful things with your lives. I applaud you--not just for your lap band decisions, but for overcoming the demons of your childhoods and making the world a better place. Thank you for sharing such personal stories. My life's not so dramatic. Been dieting since I was 7. Used legal ampetamines in the '70s which was a wonderful way to lose weight and feel good. I went over 200 with my first pregnancy and stayed there afterwards. I did lose over 100 pounds and went through a severe depression 15 years ago, but gained all that back plus thanks to Prozac. My parents are both heavy people, and I have one sister who is bigger than me, but happily, she is in the process of getting a band too. While I was in denial about how fat I was, I do not see myself any differently today than I did 6 months ago. Last night I was surprised when I squeezed between other people's chairs in the resturant--there was plenty of room. The other wierd thing this week was how I noticed that the band that holds my name tag around my neck is longer and my name tag no longer bounces off my stomach when I walk. (Got to "wear it daily"). The point is that my instinct was that the band was longer--not that my stomach doesn't stick out in front of me as much. Warning, TMI: I'm still having a rough time. While I did have 0.3ml's of the 0.5ml fill removed, I still can't sleep if I eat anything after noon. Last night I had 1/2 cup of chicken noodle soup and a few, tiny bites of my husband's lasagna--mostly melted cheese and sauce--no pasta--at 5 pm. I was fine until I went to bed. Then I started refluxing again and that went on all night. It just happens--no golf ball pain, no feeling of having eaten too much--just a lot of slime and a little gastric juice--all night long. Thankfully it's Satruday. I'm going to just have liquids this morning and nothing after noon. Hopefully I can get some sleep tonight. Thank you again Lucky 7's and moderators for providing this fourm. I love you guys!

Aww, Jackie! Hourray for you!!! I got teared up reading your post. I am just like you about telling people where I started. In fact, when I was in the hospital, someone asked me my weight. My husband was there so I answered in spanish! Even he doesn't know for sure where I started and as you notice, I don't even put it on my ticker. I'm not real excited about what seems like a big weight loss this week. Most of it will start coming back now that I can drink Water again. I Had a little unfill yesterday. I was close to needing an IV for dehydration. I hated to pay the money for it, and now I'll have to go back for a refill later, but I really had no choice.

Katrina--What's the name of your book? Kirajh--Next time you go shopping just try on some things in a smaller size. You might be plesantly surprised! Brandy--I'm glad you found a protein shake that you like. I've invested a small fortune in them and have yet to find even approaching a McDonald's milkshake! Dini--good to see you posting again. I have to agree with everyone else--you are one beautiful woman! Phyl--I sure admire your attitude. Brandy--Great job! Isn't it wonderful to put on thoes old (new) jeans? It's like going back in time--being young again. I bet you even look younger these days. Well, off to work for me. Then I have to baby sit for a 16-month old. Then I have to visit a woman in jail that I am mentoring. Then I should work on my spanish. Oh, yes, and straighten up the house. . .

Sorry, I posted before answering Peaches' questions: 1) I am just really nosey now... what is everybodies Marital status...??? Married--empty nesting :smile: 2) Does everyone live alone and cook for one?? Usually I cook for two unless one or more of the kids are around 3) Who prepares family meals and who eats what they cook their family? I cook--he eats 4) Or... do you prepare special meals just for your bandster self? He eats what I make, or he has a stash of frozen meals when he doesn't like what I make, or I am not home to cook for him

Perhaps TIM: I had my second fill at 8 am yesterday--0.5ml for a total of 2.5. Drank water in the office--no problem. Drank water on the way home (long drive)--no problem. Had a little tomato soup--no problem. Had a protein shake for supper--didn't go down so well, only drank 1/2 of it. THEN I went to bed (4 hours later). Every time I fell asleep I was awakened with a mouthfull of warm yucky protein shake. This went on all night long. Towards morning it was more sliming/PB, but huge amounts of it. I'm drinking a little hot tea now--seems to be OK, but I sure don't want another night like that!

OK, Phyl, Today's the day! I'll be thinking about you. Wish me the strength to not overindulge in all the party food we'll be having. I didn't do very well at the office party last night--too many liquid calories to wash down the othrer forbidden foods. I was kind of bummed because I was supposed to get a fill in the morning but they cancelled the appointment at the last minute. I was counting on being on liquids, so I wouldn't eat. That plan didn't work. Today's party will be better. See, that's all we have to do in Wisconsin--Packers and party. We need to win today so we have something to look forward to besides the cold, slushy, grey landscape that will be here for the next 5 months! We need the green and gold! 7 hours 15 minutes!! GO PACK

Re. Cost of Fills: I've read that doctors don't want to do fills for other doctor's patients because they don't make enough money at it (unless they overcharge). Unfortunately, that's one of the things that makes health care so unaffordable, drives insurance costs up, and makes things like Lap Band surgery a "cosmetic" rather than medically-indicated procedure. I am self-pay, and did find a wonderful surgeon relatively close to where I live who charges $300/fill. That's why I've only had one fill so far, but may get another on Friday (now that my flex spending account starts over). It's annoying to pay so much b/c I could do it myself if I had access to the right kind of needle. It's not a difficult procedure--nurses do it all the time when administering chemotherapy or drugs for other chronic diseases. I think the manufacturer of the band system has everyone worried about damaging the band and being sued. From what I've read, it seems to be a political issue more than anything else. Jackie, 285?--I bet you were astonished! Good thing you are on top of it now while you are still relatively young. Is there a family history of heart disease or strokes?

Jacole, You will have to work at it, but the band is a great tool that I wish I had when I was your age. By this time next year, someone else will look at your pics and cry too!

The lease is in your name and not both names? So he has no incentive to pay the rent--it won't mess up his credit. Sounds to me that he has problems accepting responsibility. He tells you to talk to his sister, she gets mad, then he calls you a dog in heat because you made her mad! This guy is good at wiggling out. The only way I'd let this guy back is after some counseling.

Drosati, what are you doing to control the reflux? I had/have the same problem after my fill, but taking a Pepsid before going to bed every night makes a lot of difference for me. Hope you can get a handle on it b/c it is miserable!

I have the same feelings about shopping in the regular size areas. It's like being in a foreign country. I'm sure everyone is wondering "What is SHE dong here?" I wonder it too! Janet, I'm a huge "What Not to Wear" fan. That is one show that has actually HELPED me in real life. Kari, Thanks for being so honest about how you're feeling. I just got through a couple of weeks like that too. I am really happy for people who feel victorious over the demons. I have never conqured them, except for a time when I was clinically depressed or very sick--neither of which I would want to experience again. As for BF: The thing that has kept me married for longer than you've been alive is embracing the notion that while we are walking through life together, we are still two seperate people. I can not allow his attitudes or choices to determine my happiness, success, or failures. Sometimes he does things that are helpful; many times he does not. I neither expect nor depend on him. That way, when he is helpful, I am delighted and appreciative, but more often when his behavior is not encouraging to me, I still survive. It took me a long time and a some heavy duty counseling to get to this point, but I'm glad I stuck it out. Oh yes, the other big news in my life is that I got a new incentive this week. She said "yes!" DS is officially engaged! There will be a wedding in August!!!

Good for you Janet! I was happy to just zip up some 16's yesterday. Can't really wear them yet, but hope springs eternal. Did you get anything fun to wear to the concert? BTW: I followed your directions for Salmon tonight. It was wonderful! Thanks to all that gave suggestions. Now we have some variations to try as well. Phyl, don't get me wrong. I love Mike Holmgren and Mike Hasselbeck. Almost, it's a win-win next week, except that I have to be a loyal Packer fan! We're having a play-off party here Saturday afternoon. More food

Phyl, I'll give you this one, but next week it's GO PACK GO!

Amazing post, Kari. Thank you so much. That's a lot of wisdom from a 28-year-old!

Wow Frustrated--you should change your SN! Sounds like an awful holiday for you, but it could have been much worse. Thoes post op infections can really be nasty. Hopefully you're over the worst of it and on the road to a full recovery. Take care and remember that there's always someone here for you. Try to really eat all your protein for good healing, and talk to your doctor about using something like Ecenasia and Vitamin C which are supposed to boost the immune system. Take it slow and easy on the exercise and keep us posted.

Thanks for the quick response, Janet. I'm going to make it tomorrow. I'll let you know! Have fun shopping for something cool to wear to the concert. Get some brown suede high healed boots with pointy toes and some new dark wash jeans. DD talked me into buying that and I loved the look. I'll be looking to hear what you got--maybe even a pic? We'd have a blast shopping together!!! Maybe I'll have to visit DS in Pasadena sometime and arrange to meet up somewhere!

Janet, I hear you about not being able to distinguish between head hunger and real hunger. I think most of mine is head hunger. I'm not getting the hunger pains in the pit of my stomach like I did before getting filled, but I still think about food, and what I am going to eat, and when I can eat next, all the time. I hate that, but I don't know what to do about it. I am seing the doctor next week, and hopefully he will agree that I need a fill since I am able to eat much more than I used to, the weight loss has slowed down the last three weeks, and I have lost about 50 pounds since my last fill. I don't want to be too tight because I am cheap and have to pay $300 each time i go in. The last time, I know I was too tight, but I think I passed the "sweet spot" a month ago. Anyway, the band certanily is not a magic bullet, but I still know that it's helped me control portion sizes, and real hunger--which is what I hoped it would do. The rest is up to me. By the way, I bought some frozen samon this week. I never prepared it before, but I love to eat it in resturants these days. How do you make it?

There are some serious disorders that can cause milk production. Best to see your doctor.

Nichole--Isn't it wonderful to try something like that on--something you never would have dared even try on before--and have it fit!? What a great reward for all your hard work! In a few weeks or so, you will notice it fitting better and better. Yeah for you!

So how many calories in a serving of moose? My scale is stuck. It just won't go below 200. I think I need to go out and buy a new one. . .

Good Morning and Happy New Years! I didn't wait up to see it in. Too exhausted this year. Janet--If you're eating bananas, you're probably getting enough Potassium. Remember, at our age, there just are more aches and pains. Good to talk to your doctor about it though. Beth, maybe you'll just have to buy some shorts in Florida! Gee, that's too bad :party: I'd surf the net--just Google "women's shorts." Jackie--How about posting a pic of you in your new outfit? While I didn't wear all that exciting to dinner last night, I did wear new suede boots with heals, long well-fitting jeans, and a fashionable top with an empire waist that was rather slimming. Spent more time than usual on the hair and make-up too. I felt more confident about going out than I have in years. DH didn't say anything though. :party: Phyl, You're never too old! You sound like one fun lady--I love reading your posts and the way you phrase things. I'm wondering about something though. Now that you've lost so much weight and exercise more--do you find that you are using your scooter less? I've been noticing that things like climbing stairs and sitting on the floor are much easier now than they were last summer. Well, on with New Years Day. Take down the tree, clean the house, throw out the left-overs. . . Tomorrow DD goes back to school and I will have the whole house to myself. I plan on just relaxing--maybe a little shopping FOR ME b/c I need some clothes for next semester.

It's happened to me too. If I take Pepcid before bedtime and don't eat after 7 pm it doesn't happen as much. It happens sometimes during the day too, if I take a nap. I have an appointment in a couple of weeks to talk to my doctor about it.