aneffie53

I was also banded on 8/23/05 -- darn it must be the date. I too lost almost all of my weight in the first 3 months and nothing since. I've had two fills the most recent was last Friday, but a total of only 1cc. I feel pretty restricted, only liquid for breakfast, soup lunch and small dinner. I'm not exercising and not drinking enough water, but still with the calorie in take I should be loosing. I went through menopause the last two years and find loosing afterwards has been extremely difficult - any similiar experiences???

Beautifultina -- boy did this ring true for me too, distrubingly so!!! "My weight allowed me that safe zone so that men would find me unattractive and leave me alone."

I'll have to say I found some very useful information in the book. However I do have one major issue. I went ahead and joined the website after reading the book, and found very little information on it that I was looking for. So I tryed to cancel the membership. Well good luck, that isn't easy. So be careful -- it looks like once they get you, it's difficult to get ungot.

Could it be that banding in Mexico began before it was approved in the U.S. So it's a length of time with the band issue?

I had begun this weight loss journey not wanting anyone to know, and this is exactly why. Unfortunately word got out, and regardless of the rate of weight loss that I can live with, others have different expectations. As far as the sweet spot I'm not there either. I had .5cc in my first fill then up to 1.2cc, afterwhich I had a unfill to .8cc. At 1.2cc I was too tight couldn't eat without pain, at .8cc I can eat most anything sometimes and hardly anything at other times. It is a learning process. The benefits so far are less bloat and more energy and I'm feeling better. But the weight doesn't seem to be coming off. I believe I'm going to have to move into the diet stage, which is not where I've been. So all in all there have been benefits, I too am a little disappointed in my progress. However, I couldn't have gone on without it, the weight was slowly killing me and it has to come off even if I only get 1 lb a month - that's 12 lbs a year and it's going the right way. So I'm not thrilled, but I do feel positive about my band and am hopeful for more than 12 lbs this year. In fact if I get another 12 plus my 25 already I'll be doing pretty good.

I have a vitamix and blend frozen blueberries and grapes with protein powder. This morning I had a whole apple with the blueberries. It's the only way I get fruit into my diet, I just don't eat it normally. I also put in a whole food powdered vitamin. My favorite (but not in the 200 range) is Mango, blueberries and grapes, with tablespoon of white grape juice (frozen concentrate) and 1/4 cup apple juice. This was a regular when I lived in Florida, but Mango's are always available or cheap in the Northwest.

I had an interesting day yesterday with some confusion by the office staff at my doctors office. Needed to go in for a slight "unfill". They called me right before one and asked me to be there at one (40 minute drive). Then they called at 3 to get me in at 3:45 when the doctor was to be back in the office from surgery. Well I made the trip and when I got there was told he had just gone into surgery at 3:30, another missed communication. Won't go on with the blow by blow, but at 5:30 I finally saw the doctor. The doctor took full blame and aplogized, I had another place for the blame. At anyrate I get home today from work and I have flowers that have been sent by the doctors office with a note of aplogy. I have never in my entire life ever seen a doctor care one way or the other if the patients are inconvienced. I'm very impressed.

They are still pretty and sitting on my TV! So if anyone needs a recommended surgeon in Western Washington let me know.

Had it for years but it completely went away when I stopped eatting meat 3 years ago. Nothing to do with banding, my body just didn't digest meat well I guess.

I would definitely wait the 3 months. I bet it would take longer than that to save the money it would cost for a self pay. Good luck!

Had my second fill on Wednesday. First one was .5cc and I was gaining because I wasn't restricted. Second fill and I'm now 1.2cc. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were fine. Today I've had one issue after another. Coffee was fine this am, but when I make some scrambled eggs about noon and took my first bite, I thought I was going to die. A couple of hours later I nibbled on the eggs chewing really good (took me about 45 minutes to eat them). Late lunch I had a small piece of cheese, no problem and a sample smootie from the Vita Mix guy at Costco. Dinner just sat down to eat and the first tiny bite of fish was horrible once again. My question is, do fills tighten up after a few days? Seems strange that I'm having so much trouble on day 4.

I don't think I can PB. I had two very painful episodes today, and while I do burp after awhile nothing comes up. I was a little concerned about this before banding since it doesn't seem like I have the reflux to vomit or bring anything back up (while I have vomited I'll have to say it is extremely rare). Is this possible?

The unfill -- no didn't hurt a bit. The restriction when nothing is going down is painful.

Thanks to all. I went in today and got a bit taken out. I was only at 1.2cc and now I'm back down to .8cc, but feeling better and was able to eat some mashed potatoes for dinner without it killing me.

Live and learn I guess. I'll probably regret it in another few days, but I had some fill taken out today. Day two began with pressure in the band area without eating anything. I was able to drink just fine, but even yogurt hurt (not bad like the eggs and fish) but able to fill the uncomfortable pressure. Some mashed potatoes went down fine tonight, but I only have .8cc now. Hopefully it stays as tight as it feels tonight so that I lose, but can still eat. Thanks for all of your posts, they were very helpful.

No slime either. Some gurgling sounds and then I was able to burp twice (after about 15 minutes). First time was a bite of scrambled eggs, and then a bite of halibut. I had my small plate out for dinner, 1/4 of a small pototoe and about 1oz fish, but the first bite got me. The egg could have been from not chewing enough, but not so with the fish it was really little and even had a sour cream sauce to help it go down. I'm 3 months out. This is the first day that I have been like this. But liquids are fine so I'm not worried about a slip or anything just think my band decided to get tighter on it's own.

So you've been banded for over a year without a PB. Did you get the pain like you wish you could and have to wait it out before? It's been a bad day, hopefully tomorrow my band will be looser. I'm having some warm tea now, but think any attempt at eating today is a done deal.

The only thing that was painful for me was the gas afterwards. The incisions didn't even hurt. I went in at 6:30am, surgery at 8:30. The nurses were so nice, came in weighed me, gave me my gown, put in my IV, got my CPap ready to go (for Sleep Apnea), and eventually wheeled me down to the operating room. The doctor came in after the surgery, told me everything went fine gave me a picture of the band (all of which I really don't remember, it's good to have someone there so that they do). Pain meds were great! Walked that evening, watched TV, slept and went home in the am. All was fine with the exception of the gas, which was bad for about a week. GasX helped as did walking. Wasn't hungry, through the liquid stage but was thankful for mushies and solids. You'll do great, it is actually easier than you would think. Good LUck!

I waited about 3 weeks but regularly (3 times a wk) have between 2-4oz. Just seems to be all I want. However, last night I tryed a sip (and I mean a small sip) of Grand Marnier. Which is undoubtedly the worst thing I've tryed in my 3 months banded. It will not pass my lips again, it burned my stomach like it was on fire and I almost vomited immediately (which would have made it burn going back up). So only a little wine for me from now on.

I was only on clear liquids for 48 hours, then on to full liquids until wk three when mushies started.

I'm about 2 1/2 months out and am having alot of trouble with my port area. I went into the doctor last week and his partner believes it is the rector muscle that was damaged during my first fill. But I'm not so sure. The soreness when he examined me was closer to the middle of my belly. But today the pain felt like I was being stabbed right by my port, and it is very sore around it. Don't know what to think, it's more like the doctors are patronizing by saying it will get better in it's own time but it really hurts. I can't stretch at all and even walking at times is painful, getting up and down is painful. I've been applying heat as suggested, but nothing is making it better. And it feels hot to the touch today so I am worried. My question is, is there a test that can be done to check the port or the surrounding muscles? Has anyone had this, or know what it could be?

Went in and the doctor still thinks it's the rector muscle. He thinks a blood vessel got damaged with the first fill and I had bleeding behind my port. I really don't understand how this could cause as much pain as it has, but he says it's not unusual to be very painful. In fact he gave me additional pain meds. Kinda funny he asked if I needed more and I said that I hoped not, but got them anyway. He wants to give it another week, and then get a sonagram if it is still painful. Anyway I got a fill, which was good since I had gained 2 lbs. My first fill was only .5cc and not nearly enough. This fill was very easy it went right in and I got 1.2cc. The site is still very sore, but no more stabbing pains.

OMG I was horrible, grouchy and mean I even yelled at my boss. I desperately craved potatoe chips and couldn't have any. My support mechanism was gone and I had to quickly figure it out. The good news is it passes, and I got a grip but it took a couple of weeks.

My doctor advised an Atkins type diet for 2 weeks pre-surgery. Which I tried to follow (I don't eat meat so it was a bit of a stretch), and for the most part sucessful. After the surgery the doctor commented on the size of my liver, and said that I had done an excellent job. So . . . I'd stay away from the carbs if you are going to cheat. If you watch any of the surgery videos you can see why liver size is important during the operation.

I'm going back to the doctor today. It was suppose to be for a fill, but at this point I'd rather they figure out what is going on in my belly. No temp, but I have been feeling run down with a constant headache. I took the day off to rest and nap.