beckymein1021

Does this happen to anyone else? When I'm eating and I start to get to my 'had enough' point, I start yawning. It's only started happening since my last fill. It's the weirdest thing - I used to think I was tired all the time, but I only yawn now when the meter reads 'full'. Anyone else out there?

I'm happy to report I had an unfill on friday and I haven't coughed at night or had any reflux since then. So for me, at least, that solved the problem. Good luck!

Hi Lori, I'm having exactly the same problem, only I've been this way a little over a month. I keep thinking it will relax and get better, but now I'm getting the worried the reflux will start damaging my esophagus. I'm going to call my doctor and schedule an unfill as soon as I can get in there. I'm not uncomfortable during the day, but at night I'm not getting any sleep (and keeping DH awake with the coughing). He suggested I check the LBT forum and now I'm so glad I did because (once again) it's nice to know I'm not alone. Keep us posted how your unfill goes. Hope it works for you (as I'm hoping it will for me too).

food is our drug of choice (or WAS). Take that away and you're sure to experience some withdrawl symptoms. Find something (positive) to replace that good feeling you got when eating. There IS something out there, you just have to find it. Good luck, you are not alone!

Becky, have you had any problems at night? I had to go get an unfill this morning. Good luck to you!! (Another Becky)

I just got a fill on Thursday. I haven't had a fill since last November. I hadn't been gaining, but I also hadn't been losing weight. After my fill (which was a bit aggressive), I could get the water down, but it didn't feel comfortable in my chest. So my doctor took some out. Now it's Saturday and I've had 2 nights of being up all night coughing and throwing up. The weird thing is, I can get water/liquids down just fine during the day, no problem there. But when I go to bed (or even try to lie down during the day), the coughing starts (almost non-stop) and sometimes I cough so hard, I throw up. I know the throwing up part isn't good for my stomach or the band. I guess I'm confused because during the day, I have no problems whatsoever with getting the liquids down and no pain or PBing. It's just at night that it's driving me crazy. I'm wondering if I should just sweat it out (well, I will have to until Monday) and see if the swelling goes down and it's not a problem by then. Has this happened to anyone else?

Barb, I had to laugh when I read your response, because, yes, last night (and the night before) I was spitting up all over the place (our sheets, the guest bed sheets, my pillow, I'm sure you get the picture). I called my doctor and as it turns out, he was in his L.A. office this morning, so I blasted up there first thing. He took out .03, so I have a total of .05 for this fill. I felt better right away, but this afternoon when I was really dragging (from not having slept the past 2 nights), I tried to take a nap, but once again, I was coughing my little head off. I'm hoarse from coughing so much. :tt1: Numbrgirl, I'm going to pick up some Zantac150 tonight and make sure I don't eat or drink (even WATER) 3 hours before going to bed. It's getting kind of hard, because this is my 3rd day of liquids... I wonder how long it will take for my stomach to calm down (from both the fill/unfills/throwing up)...I hope it's SOON!! Thanks to all you guys for responding...I really appreciate it, it made me feel much better this morning. When I asked my doctor what was up with the coughing, he said your own saliva backs up and that's what causes you to cough. I never thought a salad, piece of fish or a good nights sleep would look so good....:smile2:

I'm still on liquids...was going to try soft foods today, but I think I'll take your advice and stick to liquids. He filled me with 1.0 (which is REALLY aggressive for him, he usually only will do .02 or .03, but I think since I was able to keep getting the water down in his office, and I didn't PB any of it, it seemed ok. I tried taking some Nexium (left over from my husband); I've never had reflux before - it seems like it's more the coughing (is that the reflux part?) that ends up leading me to throwing up. I also had some antacids last night as well, but I was still up all night. My doc also told me not to eat or drink anything 3 hours before I go to bed. After 2 nights of this, I'm about done for!! Thanks for your good advice - I'll keep you posted what happens.

Hi Bandpal, GOOD for you! That is such an awesome feeling to feel that YOU have control over those old voices that tell you to eat when you know you shouldn't! You're right about the all or nothing part...I wonder if that's something that most of us who struggle with our weight have to fight. It seems like for most of my life, when I am good, I'm VERY, VERY good and when I'm bad, I'm HORRID. It's hard to get past that kind of thinking. Sounds like you are there! Keep up the good work! You are an inspiration. :biggrin:

I know, that's how I feel too. I don't know why I do it, but it just seems like lately I've been fighting the band. I know it's there to help me, but it's like there is a little devil on my shoulder saying 'go ahead, eat the Oreos, they go down easy...' I read somewhere that when you eat (what you should be eating) and you start to feel the discomfort, that's the band working and we should welcome that instead of fighting against it. I'm trying to get back on track with baby steps...just tracking all my Water (along with trying to drink more) and writing down everything that goes in my mouth, good, bad or ugly, it's getting written down! I knew the band wasn't a magic bullet, but I guess I didn't count on having to work this hard for this long!

I could take what you just said here Sue, and put my name at the bottom. I've lost ~ 70 lbs. (keep gaining and losing the same 5 lbs. over the past 6 months), which is just a little more than 1/2 of what I want to lose. I'm trying to get refocused and recommitted. I see others who were banded around the time I was who have lost more weight than I have and it's really hard. I think this is a great support site and through encouragement, we can all help each other.

Don't be too hard on yourself, I think most everyone has struggled during this holiday period. I know I really wanted to be less than where I am now. I'm up 8 lbs. from when I last posted on here, so I'm struggling too. Let's ramp up for the New Year and make it a point to get back on track!! :thumbup:

Do you find that people react differently to you since you've lost weight? Perhaps they were one way to you prior to your band surgery and now they act differently towards you?

Hi Jacqui, It sounds like you're not invisible anymore. I know when I was heavier, the owners of my company would avoid me in the hallway like they were afraid whatever I had was catching and they'd get it too. Now they are quite charming and nice to me. Sometimes I wonder if they realize I'm that same person...

I've tried juice Plus and they are pretty good. Not sure if they will help with the hair loss. I'm using Nioxin shampoo and a Nioxin gel I rub into my scalp where it's thinning. I'm also taking Biotin. I noticed some little wispies growing in at my hairline, so maybe there is hope. I've taken pre-natal Vitamins in the past and always liked how they affected my hair and nails, but lately it doesn't seem to be having the same affect, so I guess I'd have to agree with you, WASA. But I guess they can't hurt??

nume, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm running into with my coworkers as well. Some people speak to me now, whereas before I was invisible. Funny how losing weight makes you more 'visible'

Hi NeverB4, I would have to agree with your therapist and I think that's an excellent point. I think as we lose weight, our (true?) personalities come out and we evolve as our bodies change. Which makes us react to people differently and then they react to us differently. I do know that now I'm less likely to find myself being taken advantage of (which happened with my permission before), and I'm saying 'no' more often. That too can result in a change in how people react to me. I'm not being aggressive about it, just less likely to try to be the 'people pleaser' I've spent the last 20 years being (if that makes sense).

I feel more social and outgoing, so people I've never met usually respond to me positively. As far as family is concerned, they have been really supportive, so I would have to say no change there (other than they are happy about the success of the band). I have found co-workers reacting in a very interesting way. Some positive and some not so positive. Some of my friends have reacted in a very interesting way as well. Some are really thrilled and supportive and are very complimentary, whereas others are reacting a bit strangely. I guess the circumstances that made me think about this, was before I was banded (and lost weight) one of the maintenance guys who work in my office building was always cordial and nice, but now when I see him he is very friendly and talkative and likes to kid around. I didn't see that side of him 75 lbs. ago. I just thought it was interesting. I really like to see how other people have responded to those of us who are banded and who are continuing on this journey. Personal interaction is always fascinating!

Hi SDP, I'm kind of in the same boat you are, I've lost about 75 lbs, but still have about 40 more to go. I really don't want to go in to have lipo or a tummy tuck when I still have more weight to lose. Not to mention the fact that our finances are in the toilet now thanks to the economy, so it may have to wait longer than I originally wanted. But it's a good question and I'll be very curious to see what the responses are.

I have a desk job and I had the surgery on TH and was back to work on Monday. The hardest thing for me was feeling hungry after the surgery, much more than any discomfort from the surgery itself. Good luck to you!

Thanks Daisy, I will check them out - this is good to know!

I'm so glad to see this thread, I've been really worried about this. I was banded in October of '07 and just recently have noticed I can see my scalp in my bang area. I went to the doctor today and she said it could be a number of things - one being my age and fluctuating hormones. I do probably need to eat more Protein as well. This is just very disturbing. I'm taking Biotin and using Nioxin on my hair when I wash it. I'm thinking about the Women's Rogaine - has anyone tried it and/or had success with it?

I've lost a gold brick! 77 lbs/35 kg/5.5 stones = a gold brick I have left to lose: 40 lbs/18 kg/2.9 stones = a 5-gallon bottle of Water or an average human leg

Hi Aubrie, that is too funny, I do the same thing...I stretch my head way back over my back, raise my arms and walk around. My husband likes to tease me now and asks 'oh are you going to PB?' I'm going for a fill next Thursday. I can get a whole In n Out burger down for dinner and before I couldn't even get more than 5 bites (tiny) down. BTW...for what it's worth, if anyone is interested in shrinking your pouch and doing a body cleanse, that 48-Hollywood diet is really good and you're not really hungry. Well, there IS the head hunger, but that is always in the back there lurking. Good luck everyone!! -Becky

I don't know what my deal is, but it seems like I keep sabatoging myself. Why, I have no idea!!! I'm in a wedding for a friend in 3 weeks and I was really hoping to shed at least 5 more lbs. by then. :thumbup: I still can't figure out how eating 3 ice cream sandwiches last night is going to help me reach that goal. I'm wondering if that falls under the category of 'doing something good for myself every day'. I somehow think not. I believe my intention was to ABSTAIN from doing things like that. Thank GOD I'm getting a fill next week (yes, right before Thanksgiving...crazy, eh?). Maybe that will help my stupid head hunger!! Good luck bandster! We CAN do this, we just have to concentrate on it. Keep our focus and do the old mind over matter thing... Keep me posted how you're doing.