MerryHearted

Shannon -- the band is a great tool and I think you'll find you are going to be very successful with it. As for Mexico, literally hundreds of people have had great experiences there getting banded. BUT one thing you need to absolutely be sure you have lined up BEFORE going to Mexico is your aftercare here in the US. The band only works with the proper amount of fill in it. It's a process to get adjusted and you can expect to have several adjustments in the first year and then some after that too. Going back down to Mexico several times that first year is probably not in your plan, so who will be doing your fills here? It's rare to find a US surgeon willing to do aftercare for a Mexico patient. Your best bet is if you have a Fill Center USA nearby. But definitely start asking around to see who does aftercare in your area for Mexico patients before deciding on going to Mexico.

Yep - completely normal. I know for every diet I've done in the past - lots of them! -- that I can't keep it up permanently. Which is what you have to do to both lose and then maintain that loss. You can always decide to put off the surgery and try one more time to do it on your own. Then when things go downhill, pursue the surgery again. If you really want to prove to yourself that dieting just doesn't work long term.

Hopefully this has the latest numbers -- someone must have grabbed a not-the-latest-list when they updated. I tried to check all the updates and make sure they were there (ones made today). Name..............Current.....Goal.....Lost...Still to Lose by July 4th atallen06...........231........215.......0......16 Bea1129.............231........200.......6......25 BigBandFan..........296........270.......0......26 Cgailee ............219........200.......0......19 darr5380............170........165.......0.......5 Epm316..............218........200.......12.....18 erikadawn...........217........190.......0......27 faithmd.............297........300.......12.4...-3(by6/21) Hastings............248........228.......5......20 Jennypoo............174.5......170.......4.5....4.5 jrob281.............212........190.......0......22 KarenG..............170........160.......4......10 kathystrick.........315........288.......3......27 kellygirl0520.......236........220.......0......16 legster.............188........180.......9......8 Lenore1890..........263.4......247.......4.3....15.7 Leslie2Lose.........225........208.......8......17 LessNLess...........147........140.......4.......7 Lilmissband-aid.....242........239.......0.......3.4 losingjusme.........244........238.......6.......6(started 5/30) Luu2008.............215........185.......0......30 luvinke.............217........190.......4......23 Marissa's Mom.......388........358.......20.4...30 MollyMolly..........185........188.......19......-3 nancy52.............197........170.......0......27 Nettie..............193........170.......0......23 Newhope4me..........168.8......160.......8.2.... 8.8 njudono............ 298........277...... 5......21 NukeChik............227........222.......15......5 nurse7263...........244........150.......0......24 renewedhope.........183........180.......13......3 Sades...............194........185.......3.......9 Stacy73.............212........204.......0.......8 Sunshine2...........179........160.......4......15 (by6/29) Suzzzie. ...........273........260.......0......13 Tess415.............327........299.......7......21 TexasFire67.........170........145.......0......25 Wombat712...........130.6......120.......3.6....10.6

Count me in on the "Flinstones taste awful" crowd. Big ol horsepills are too much for me these days, so I take Emergen-C Multivitamin which is a powder you mix with a little Water. Delish! Doesn't quite have the full complement of Vitamins I'd get from a "real" women's multivitamin, but I'm OK with that as I eat a healthy, well balanced diet. I supplement on occasion with Viactiv Calcium chews and such, if I feel I need something I'm not getting.

Ooh, good point -- I didn't even think of gallbladder. I had mine out 11 years ago, but I still remember how much it hurt, like someone had an Iron band around my ribcage and was squeezing. I thought I was having a heart attack. They can do ultrasound to see if there are gallstones or sludge in there. That's something you want to call your primary care doc for, if you think your pain is not band-related. Let us know how things turn out!

Don't be too hard on yourself ... without enough fill, it's just like regular dieting. Motivation fades because it's hard, especially if the weight isn't coming off. That's how we all ended up banded to begin with. So if you aren't pregnant, try that next fill and see if it makes a difference in turning off your appetite. Small bites, chew to goo... and go for it! :sad:

Ouch -- that doesn't sound good. Can you make an appt for a barium swallow w/fluoro to have them check what is really going on? Is it possible that you are having reflux and are sore from it? I know my esophagus and band area were really sore last week before I got my unfill.

Welcome to LBT!! My advice, for what it's worth. :smile: 1) Fiddle around with your fill level til you aren't hungry all the time, but don't get it so tight that you're expecting it to do all the work in restricting you from eating too much. Too tight leads to complications; not tight enough makes it really hard to stick to eating healthily. It's fickle (i.e. your restriction may change during the day or from day to day) so it's a process. Take your time and keep at it!! 2) Don't be hard on yourself if your eating habits don't change overnight. It's a journey, and the pounds add up over time if you follow most of the guidelines most of the time... but we all need dessert once in awhile! :frown:

It probably depends on the severity and the surgeon. Definitely bring it up in your psych consult and with the surgeon. Maybe even in seminar, so you can get a feel for how a specific surgery center/doctor approach it. My bet is that some will band just about anyone and others are extremely picky. Binge eating -- I'd be surprised if there weren't a whole lot of us who did that. Sweet, salty, sweet, salty -- oh yes. I remember. :frown: Purging, though, is a whole different issue (bulimia). If that is a problem for you, you should really make sure you are honest up front about it and that you have the counseling support during your bandster journey to deal with it. Because it can be easy to have your band adjusted too tightly and essentially use it as a purging tool (PBing, or vomiting up your food after you eat, before it leaves your pouch).

Heartburn (gastric reflux) is not good. If it's minor and you aren't waking up coughing -- which can lead to aspiration pneumonia, nasty stuff -- your best bet is to get a prescription for Nexium from your doctor. Supposedly, a proton pump inhibitor works best. Nexium is the one you take once a day, in the morning with Breakfast. Then there's always Tums or a similar calcium-based antacid that you can take after a meal to help if the Nexium isn't enough to completely take care of the heartburn. But if you find yourself waking up coughing on your reflux -- you really need to consider getting an unfill. It sucks. I had to get unfilled this week for reflux and I can't wait to get my fill back -- I'm really amazed at how hungry I am. Some people find that between meds and not eating for at least a couple hours before going to bed, they can control it. sleeping elevated can help too, so add a pillow.

Wow -- well, do your best. I was banded up at NWWLS and on liquids post-op for a week, then on to mushies for a couple weeks. Liquids were anything that would go through a straw. Mushies things like mashed potatoes and applesauce. Then at 3 weeks, on to starting solid foods. Still, it's really best if you can stick to your doctor's instructions as much as possible. Looking at how you were eating prior to surgery, are you missing something other than solid food -- e.g. caffeine - that might be contributing to the headaches? I totally get what you mean about feeling weak and headachy on liquids. I get that way too. Hang in there.

Hit my goal a couple weeks early, but I'm not exactly thinking it's going to last. I had to get an unfill this week and I'm suddenly overwhelmed with hunger as well as desire for JUNK FOOD. I knew that the band was working great, but losing my fill and going back to how I used to feel just underscores how much the band is actually doing for me. And yes, I haven't been able to 100% hold out on the cravings, but I'm doing my best. I can't exercise either because of my back. :smile: Anyone else ever feel that impending sense of doom? :crying: just kidding. Name..............Current.....Goal.....Lost...Still to Lose by July 4th atallen06...........231........215.......0......16 Bea1129.............231........200.......6......25 BigBandFan..........296........270.......0......26 Cgailee ............219........200.......0......19 darr5380............170........165.......0.......5 Epm316..............218........200.......12.....18 erikadawn...........217........190.......0......27 faithmd.............297........300.......12.4...-3(by6/21) Hastings............248........228.......5......20 Jennypoo............174.5......170.......4.5....4.5 jrob281.............212........190.......0......22 KarenG..............170........160.......4......10 kathystrick.........315........288.......3......27 kellygirl0520.......236........220.......0......16 legster.............188........180.......9......8 Lenore1890..........263.4......247.......4.3....15.7 Leslie2Lose.........225........208.......8......17 LessNLess...........149........140.......2.......9 Lilmissband-aid.....236.5......225.......11.....11.5 losingjusme.........244........238.......6.......6(started 5/30) Luu2008.............215........185.......0......30 luvinke.............217........190.......4......23 Marissa's Mom.......388........358.......0......30 MollyMolly..........187........188.......17......-1 nancy52.............197........170.......0......27 Nettie..............193........170.......0......23 Newhope4me..........168.8......160.......8.2.... 8.8 njudono............ 298........277...... 5......21 NukeChik............229........222.......13......7 nurse7263...........244........150.......0......24 renewedhope.........185........180.......11......5 Sades...............194........185.......3.......9 Stacy73.............212........204.......0.......8 Sunshine2...........179........160.......4......15 (by6/29) Suzzzie. ...........273........260.......0......13 Tess415.............327........299.......7......21 TexasFire67.........170........145.......0......25 Wombat712...........130.6......120.......3.6....10.6

No problems here! Mind you, I'm not shoving huge handfulls in at a time -- one piece at a time, carefully chewed. And on the occasions that I do have popcorn, I am also drinking something.

Yes - once you get some fill -- and it will probably take multiple adjustments to hit your sweet spot -- you will want to eat much less and you will be satisfied on much less. Due to a back issue, I am currently taking a round of oral steroids which led to me getting reflux. I had to have an unfill, and it's amazing how much of a difference that makes both in how satisified I feel after eating my measured-out portion, and in how much I am craving sugary junk food. Wow. I can't wait to get re-filled once I'm off these steroids in a few days!! Hang in there.

No, sipping a little water is not going to hurt anything. But really, do try to not drink with meals and see how it goes. For me it's really more of a habit thing than a "I need liquid!" thing. So just not having a glass of anything next to me is all I need to do. The key is to understand how the band works: you eat solid food, which sits in your pouch and slowly moves through. There are sensors in the top of your stomach (sorry, I know, not the right medical term!) that signal satiety -- having the solid food sit in your pouch is what triggers this, and it'll make you feel satisfied on a small amount of food, and for several hours after eating. If you drink with your meal, you will wash down the solid food you are eating, and this diminishes the satiety effect as well as allowing you to eat more than you would have otherwise fit into your pouch. However -- many people on this board have said that they take small sips of Fluid with their meals and have not noticed a difference. They still are phenomenally successful with their band. There is also the case where you are tracking all of your caloric intake. If you are choosing to eat 1200 calories a day and no more, then whether you drink with your meal or not is irrelevant. You might have an easier time staying full and sticking to the 1200 cals if you don't drink, but that seems to vary from person to person. It's definitely worth trying to avoid drinking with your meals though -- you might find it easier than you think!

For me, the only way to break the habit of drinking while eating was to not put any liquid anywhere nearby where I'm eating. It's just so ingrained after years of doing it. For me, I'd say it's a tossup between wanting an evening snack while watching TV, and not sticking things in my mouth when I'm preparing food in the kitchen.

For me, around 20-some lbs. It varies, since I don't seem to lose weight evenly.

Oh, that would have ticked me off too!!

Way to go Legster!! That must feel SOOO good! Welcome, Stacy!

Hi Belle ~ sorry you are having such a rough time. Do you still have the toothache? Are you able to get that taken care of? I know how stress can lead to emotional eating -- been there, done that. Hang in there the best you can and try not to lose ground. You'll get through all this.

All the research on breast implants I've done says that yes, you need to have them replaced after awhile. I think the band itself is supposed to last forever, but like others said, the parts like the inner balloon and tubing might be more likely to need replacing. If I have to have mine replaced in order to keep the weight off, I'll find a way. I just hope that whatever goes wrong to cause replacement isn't something that does permanent damage. (e.g. stomach eroding and too much scar tissue to replace the band) With the morbidity factors of being grossly obese though, I'll take my chances with potential band complications and just be as careful as possible with the band I have. It's safer than being fat, at least with the health problems I was already having and my family history. That may or may not be true for everyone; it's good to consider the risks involved.

I love how great everyone's doing! A pound down is a pound in the right direction, even if it's "just 1 lb"!! I can't believe I'm below 190, but the scale has said it 2 days in a row, so I'll believe it for now. :incazzato: Name..............Current.....Goal.....Lost...Still to Lose by July 4th atallen06...........231........215.......0......16 Bea1129.............231........200......5.5.....25.5 BigBandFan..........296........270.......0......26 Cgailee ............219........200.......0......19 darr5380............170........165.......0.......5 Epm316..............220........200.......10.....20 erikadawn...........217........190.......0......27 faithmd.............302.1......300.......7.3....2.1(by6/21) Hastings............248........228.......5......20 Jennypoo............174.5......170.......4.5....4.5 jrob281.............212........190.......0......22 KarenG..............170........160.......4......10 kathystrick.........318........288.......0......30 kellygirl0520.......236........220.......0......16 legster.............188........180.......9......8 Lenore1890..........263.4......247.......4.3....15.7 Leslie2Lose.........225........208.......8......17 LessNLess...........149........140.......2.......9 Lilmissband-aid.....236.5......225.......11.....11.5 losingjusme.........244........238.......6.......6(started 5/30) Luu2008.............215........185.......0......30 luvinke.............217........190.......4......23 Marissa's Mom.......388........358.......0......30 MollyMolly..........189........188.......15......1 nancy52.............197........170.......0......27 Nettie..............193........170.......0......23 Newhope4me..........168.8......160.......8.2.... 8.8 njudono............ 298........277...... 5......21 NukeChik............229........222.......13......7 nurse7263...........244........150.......0......24 renewedhope.........187........180.......9.......7 Sades...............194........185.......3.......9 Sunshine2...........179........160.......4......15 (by6/29) Suzzzie. ...........273........260.......0......13 Tess415.............327........299.......7......21 TexasFire67.........170........145.......0......25 Wombat712...........130.6......120.......3.6....10.6

Like Betty said, if you are going into this with your eyes open then you almost certainly will have these fears as your surgery date approaches. Completely normal. You'll probably also feel a sense of "what the heck have I done to myself?!" a few days after surgery when you are feeling your worst. That too will pass. Hang in there!! Don't let the fears get the best of you. The band is a fantastic tool for most of us who get it. It'll almost certainly work for you too. :incazzato: Best wishes on your surgery!!

It actually seems to vary widely from practice to practice. Some seem to use it to weed out candidates that might have trouble being successful. Others use it to discuss issues up front with emotional eating, fear of the surgery, fear of having a foreign object in your body, etc. I filled out a ton of paperwork asking all sorts of questions, and then the actual discussion was maybe only 45 min to an hour? I really enjoyed the session; the counselor they referred me to is banded herself and understands what brings people to the point of wanting a band as well as knowing what it's like once you have one. I walked out feeling good about my choice to get banded.

I got there first, a few years before I got the band. And yes, it will help you in the long run. It kept me fat longer, as I accepted myself. Eventually, I made the choice to lose this weight, but my motivations are not out of shame. At least, not to the same extent as before. I think that can make a big difference in being able to make food choices that enable you to lose weight without feeling like you are dieting the way you always used to. It's a shift in thinking. I wish you the best!!