lizzie_07

Perfect, thanks! I heard someone else mention that but they didn't know the name. I'll ask her about it during my next fill. I was looking on the board and it seems there are a few explanations for it but that it is more common than I realized. I just hope I'm one of the lucky ones who loses saline without having a leak.

The exact same thing just happened to me. I had 3cc put in and 2 weeks later there was only 1cc left in my band. I've heard a few other explanations from this and other threads but I can't help but be terrified that I have a leak. It's nice to hear a few other people who had the same issue and didn't have a leak.

Thanks for the info Steph. That was a great link. I did feel slightly better knowing there was 1cc left in it but I guess my next fill (on the 18th) will be the true test...she put in 3cc so that I had the proper total of 4cc so if it's really low again I'll know i have a problem on my hands. Eek.

It seems like whenever I get over one hurdle another arises. I live a 2 1/2 hour flight away from where I had my surgery so I had to find my own fill doctor here. I arranged one before the surgery but she told me about a week ago that she could not do my fills. I cannot afford to fly to Toronto every 2 weeks for fills and the clinic offered me no help whatsoever (they have no fill doctors anywhere near me). Anyways, I managed to find a fill doctor a 1 1/2 hour drive away but I cannot tell my clinic I am going to her because she is a fill nurse for another clinic and they already told others they could not go to her (she is VERY experienced with doing fills though). I had my second fill on Saturday and she checked how much saline was in my band. I had 3cc put in over 2 weeks ago and I only had 1cc in there when she checked. I'm scared to death that I may have a leak. I'm self pay and not sure if that would be covered. Plus, how can I explain to the clinic that I have a leak if I'm going to someone they did not approve of? This band journey has been very discouraging thus far. I feel like I'm always posting downer messages lol. Sheesh.

I must say I kind of like the idea. If a child goes missing or a murderer is on the run it could be life saving. On the other hand it does take away ones freedom in a sense.

Hey Steph - Sorry to hear about your reaction to the cream! I was thinking about trying out some sort of cream myself but didn't both because my incisions are so tiny (and frankly, they'll blend in wonderfully with my stretch marks..) My incisions are pink just at the incision line but healed very well. My port is on it's side which is a real pain. It sticks out more than they normally should but oh well, I guess I'll just have to get used to it.

There's a really interesting documentary that I watched a little while ago called "Outfoxed" that's about this exact issue. It discusses their claim to be balanced. Here's the link if you're interested: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6737097743434902428

Well, it looks like I won't be reaching restriction for a long time. I had my surgery done in Toronto and the fills there are covered in the cost of the surgery. Unfortunately, I live in Halifax (2 1/2 hour flight away). I found a fill doctor here who could do them for me (for $30); however, she informed me yesterday that she cannot do them for me because she wants to get approval from the College of Physicians. The clinic knows of no other fill doctors anywhere in driving distance. I literally have NO money left on my student loans or visa to pay for multiple flights to Toronto. No more fills for me for awhile =(. This is so upsetting, grr.

Also, I contacted TLBC and Nancy was completely unhelpful. She had no one else in mind and suggested I fly to Montreal instead which does not help me out whatsoever. What I'm wondering is why this doctor felt the need to get approval from the College of Physicians. Why aren't other fills doctors across Canada doing the same? Could this not pose a problem for all out-of-town bandsters?

Doddie - Unfortunately her doctor is the exact one I am referring to. I contacted her through email informing her because I am guessing she is unaware that her doctor is no longer willing to perform them until the College of Physicians approves it.

I had my first fill at TLBC in Toronto but as I live in Halifax my plan was to get the rest done here. Before my surgery I found a doctor willing to do them for me (my family doctor had declined) but she has informed me today that she cannot do my fills because she is awaiting approval from the College of Physicians. Has anyone else had this issue or am I just the lucky one? I'm completely stuck because I can't afford to fly to Toronto for numerous fills (I've maxed out my student loans between this and university). If someone could recommend a fill doctor in driving distance from Halifax that would be great. Thanks

I always buy motivational clothes, both well before and after the surgery. Sadly many of them have never been worn. I guess on the plus side I don't have to buy as many motivational clothes this time around because I have so many already. Also, I lost 80lbs a couple years ago so I have them to aim for as well. I know that when I was losing the 80lbs being able to fit into (and become too small for) those motivational clothes felt better then the scale dropping.

Any restriction I had from my first fill seemed to magically disappear around xmas eve. I ate like a pig, frankly. Not nearly as bad as I would have last year but still bad enough. Oops. Today was a better day though..just have to move on.

Another thing to keep in mind is that for some (like me) alcohol makes you eat more and not think 100% about what you're putting in your mouth. I've gone out with friends a few times and had a fair amount to drink (I'm definitely more of a lightweight now) and I ate horribly, more than I should have, and got stuck quite a few times. Not pleasant.

Oh I love beagles too. Mine is a little more timid than the other ones I have seen but I love him to bits. When I was 10 my neighbors bought a beagle puppy and didn't take care of her and would leave her outside all day with no food so I used to bring her food and Water and play with her constantly. They ended up giving her to the SPCA but I wanted a beagle ever since. That pic is me before the surgery lol. Thank you though! It's a little more flattering as you can't see my body. Like you I have many more unflattering pics for sure.

Longhorn - The other dog is pure beagle. He is technically my parents dog now (I bought him when I was 16 and when I moved out my parents kept him). The pug is 2 and 100% mine =). I'm a huge dog lover so I wil definitely have a house full of them like you some day when I can afford it. They're both snuggled on the bed behind me as we speak...too cute. By the way you look fantastic!!! You're a beautiful woman. I would have thought that was your after shot if I didn't know you had your surgery the same month as me!

Munchkin - He actually loves that little sweater. He gets really excited when I put it on him. Probably because he knows he's going to get lots and lots of cuddles lol. A cat in a sweater? omg that would so hilarious! Oh and you should get another dog for sure =) Lots out there that need a loving home.

Longhorn - Too cute! I'm amazed they all stayed still for that photo as well. I'll post my xmas pups. I managed to keep the reindeer antlers on long enough to take a quick pic lol. The lower pic is my pug in his xmas sweater (that I couldn't help but give to him early).

Lightenup - I chose to really explain the band process well to anyone I told. I explained that the band is a tool and that until I reach restriction I won't see as drastic a weight loss. I also explained that we are supposed to lose the weight slow (1-2lbs per week). Some people have noticed my weight loss which is nice but I'm trying to ensure that I won't feel pressure from those around me. I'm hard enough on myself. So far this technique has really worked well for me. No one has even asked me how much weight I've lost. They care more about how I am recovering.

Oh how I can relate. I fell off the wagon big time for a good 3 weeks and I could eat a LOT more than a cup of food. I had my first fill on monday and I notice a big difference (thank god). I get punished more for eating too much and/or too fast which is exactly what I needed to get the scale moving again. I can still overeat if I want to but I feel like crap afterwards (that overly stuffed, regret what you did feeling). Thats my next learning curve: not eating until I'm stuffed and feel miserable.

I had my first fill on Monday and so far I feel soooo much better. I've actually started losing weight again! =) I was spoiled by being able to eat at a faster pace before the fill and now I'm trying to retrain myself to eat slowly. I notice that I get that stuck feeling a lot more when I'm eating around other people so I have to really watch myself. I have trouble knowing when I'm full but just now when I was eating lunch I realized I get the hiccups and I think that's my signal to stop. I hope this level of restriction doesn't go away before my next fill. I feel like the band is actually helping me out now!

Strong liberal here.

For me, when a guy stares at me like crazy he's checking me out. I tend to tell myself he's staring at me for a bad reason though and I get out of the situation and don't make eye contact. I think flirting is more of an action such as making eye contact, smiling, talking to you in a flirty manner, perhaps touching you. My method of flirting totally depends on whether or not alcohol is involved. I'm a complete flirt using all of the techniques stated above when I drink and am out at a club or something but when I'm sober it's like I have such little confidence that I would never dare flirt and I avoid giving men signals. I'm REALLY hoping losing weight will help me in this area. I know my self consciousness has made me miss out on a lot of good opportunities.

Congrats Tish!!! I'm so glad your liver is fine AND you had your surgery! That's awesome. Good luck on your journey and love the new name =)

Hey Linda, There was nothing mentioned about popcorn in my post-op package but there was another thread I read discussing this. As I recall most people were allowed to eat popcorn and had no problem with it. The link is: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/popcorn-22759/