Chrisann

NYG, down 90 pounds already??? Congrats on the speedy loss. Wow..... I see the doctor in two weeks, don't think I am getting a fill this time.......

Had a business lunch yesterday with my office, Asian fusion type food, all appetizers, served family style. I sampled a small piece of all the Protein foods, not the carbs, and drank wine too, and never got the full feeling so it was fabulous. Last night, was only able to eat 2 pieces of cheese, and one piece of ham. Ate half of a chicken cutlet today, one mini Snickers, 3 pieces of cheese and 1 serving of non fat ice cream all day. I felt crummy, lethargic and beat all day. Emailed the nutritionist, and she said that if I was under stress, the band tightens up and nothing goes down. Since I have been under stress at work, I guess that is why. But I was nervous all day not being able to eat solid protein so how things change. I swear, I need to get my head screwed on straight.

Wow that stinks. I have a 10cc band and have 6.1 cc's in it now. Banded 12/31/08. My doctor wants me in once a month. I agree with the other posters, see if you can find another fill doctor. ARe you paying for your fills in full?

Try the sugar free fudgesicles too. I only like the real brand name SF fudgesicles and creamsicles, but love the storebrand SF popscicles.

I wouldn't call it the promised land, but I know it starting to work. Sometimes I am now so battling my head hunger. Because when my portions are not controlled, I do think I can eat more, the only thing saving me is that I feel that tightness so I stop immediately. Today I soo wanted French Fries. Someone at work had them with their lunch, and I ate 3 and was full. These were McDonald's fries, so they were thin. But I got the taste of them and then it was over. But my head is still in shock, 3 fries and you are full, whats wrong with you.......

Good job, you have to start somewhere!!!!

I can now officially say I am at my sweet spot and its strange. I am not feeling hunger most of the day. I have iced coffee in the morning, and juice, but the juice is the veggies and fruit I put in my juicer. I eat a small lunch, all Protein, between 1:00-3:00PM yes, it takes 2 hours to get down 4-6oz. For dinner, around 7:00PM, nothing more than 3-4oz food. Around 9PM I try to get in some vegetables, just to get something else in. Thats it for the day. I am not hungry and if I try to eat when I am not, it comes right back up. I am making sure to take my Vitamins, and drink Propel during the day. I am not snacking for the most part. When I do, its nuts or a teaspoon of Peanut Butter. Not sure if this is all ok, but I am feeling fine. Its just weird....

I would call the doctor, especially if its not the same feeling you get from the abdominal exercises. It could be related to your fill. I can feel mine through the skin now, so occasionally I am bumping it on my desk and its tender. But when I feel it with my hands nothing.:confused2:

I started out before surgery as a size 24, so when I went on vacation in March, I bought a size 20 bathing suit. It was way too tight at the time, but I figured by summer I would be in it. Well, I just started to fit into size 20 jeans, not the stretch kind either, and size 20 dress pants. I tried on the suit and its comfortable. Its not bathing suit weather here in NYC for another 6 weeks, so I am hoping I get to wear it before I have to buy another one.

My PCP recommended Dr. Ren, back in June 2007 and that is who I stuck it out for. MY nutritionist consult was beginning of September 2007. My initial consult with Dr. Ren was first week of October 2007 or last week of September, and my first surgery date was in January 2008. It was late December 2007 when my surgery date was changed to December 31, 2007. If you want Fielding, and don't mind the wait, I would stick it out for him. You have to go into surgery feeling confident in your surgeon and if your gut is telling you Fielding, call back and get an appt with him.

Well I am drinking alot more liquids now so I find myself in the bathroom alot, but the BM's are less frequent.

Get a filet mignon, rare to medium and eat slowly, it does go down and is about 4-5oz. If you get the mashed potatoes and veggies, eat in this fashion, one bite meat, then one bite meat again, and one veggie, then one of meat, veggie, and then potato. Repeat this. you will wind up just about finishing the steak and have most of the veggies and almost all the potatoes left. Order Salmon too, guys do that, use the same method to eat. I go to business lunches all the time, and granted I am a woman, but I still hold my own with my companions who don't know about the band. Make sure you don't eat within 4 hours of going out, your pouch will be mostly empty. If I know I have a lunch scheduled for 2pm, I don't try to eat anything in the morning. (Ok, I can't get anything down now, but you get the picture, I hope)

At 6.1cc's in a 10cc band, and I am at that sweet spot. Boy am I at it. I have trouble eating all morning, even when I feel hungry, but then for the first few days after the last fill, I would go hog wild when I could get food down, and then would PB. I am finally at a point where I eat unbelieveably slow and chew when I am finally able to get food down, usually but 1 or 2 in the afternoon. The funny thing, liquids don't go down too well either in the morning, so I am not cheating with soft stuff. The home scale shows 3 pounds down from the last fill on April 18th, so my body is adjusting. I am so not looking for another fill at my next visit, which is still 3 weeks away.

I had some complications and really didn't feel good about the band for about a month after surgery. But looking back, its still the best decision I have ever made for myself, and would do it all over again.

Everyone is different. I needed that full week to recover, and went back to work on the 8th day, and I probably should have taken a few days more. Because I had a hernia repaired, I couldn't lift for or do any core exercises for 4 weeks. I couldn't drive for 10 days, and really took that to heart. I guess since its your mom, and she is coming from out of town, make a visit out of it. Besides, Moms dote on you after surgery. I loved being 40 and having my parents with me after surgery.

Sounds like a plan, the support group at NYU is not so good, and even if we just get together once a month that might be fun.

Sorry, Carvel is a soft serve ice cream chain in the NY area. It was founded by Tom Carvel about 100 years ago. They make these fabulous ice cream cakes with these chocolate crunchies in them. Its an all ice cream cake too, no real cake. Yummy. They now have fat free soft vanilla and chocolate, and its delicious. I eat a small one every other Wednesday.

That was never mentioned to me by my Doctor. I was just told to take two chewable childrens multivitamins with iron everyday.

My best friend was pretty crummy before the surgery, so my parents came with me. Sometimes people have alterior motives for not wanting you to have the surgery. I think its them being selfish. Try to explain to your support person why you are really doing this, and if you have been struggling your whole life, this person should know that. If you are in the NYC area, I will be glad to support your decision and go with you on the day of your surgery.

I don't think I am getting enough Protein as my hair loss is getting noticeable in the shower and on the brushes. Even on my clothes sometimes too. I have been trying to add in a Protein shake a day now in addition to eating but sometimes can't get a damn thing down until late afternoon. Its been tough.

Ok Ladies and Gents, its May. Beginning 5 months out from surgery. Since not much response in April, I am suggesting keeping the minutes at 630. Summer is coming and we need to get on the exercise bandwagon, we want to show off our weight loss in bathing suits in a month or two, so come on everyone lets do it!!!!:thumbup:

Does anyone know of a good antihistamine and decongestant for spring allergies? I can't take the pill anymore, its too large, (I tried and it got stuck for hours!!!) and the doctor said to not crush decongestants. She recommended liquid, but I can't be carrying a bottle around all day. The other suggestion was melt in your mouth antihistamines, but that still doesn't solve my decongestant problem. I tried the sinus capsules, opened it up and put the pellets in my smoothie, didn't work. Tried regular cold and sinus gels, didn't work either. If anyone has any ideas that work, please let me know.

I thought you were going to say you got to the drs office and it was your port!

I got .6cc's last Friday, bringing me to 6.1cc's in a 10cc band. I couldn't get anything down over the weekend except liquids. I was on liquids until Saturday and then soft until Monday. By Tuesday, still couldn't get solids down, but by Wednesday night, small amounts of solids got down, and by today, eating about 4 oz of food at a meal.

I feel a heaviness in my chest. I will stop and then like 5 minutes later the hiccups start. Don't understand that because it doesn't happen all the time and with all different kinds of food and drink.