Apryl Showers

How many of you have accepted your new size? I am really having issues with this. WHen I first saw pictures of myself taken the day before surgery I couldn't beleive my eyes because I never thought I was THAT HEAVY. Now that I have had my surgery and am down to a size 14/16 I have issues accepting that. When I go shopping I still to go the plus sized department first (I actually had a salesgirl at Lane Bryant tell me that they were a plus size store and she didn't think I would find anything that would fit me), and when I go to misses I can't even pick anything out because I think it will never fit. Or I always pick up the largest size first. My husband tells me I am obsessed because I am always asking him to compare me to other women in public...like is my butt bigger or smaller than hers, or am I thinner or fatter than her. I always wonder if I am going to fit in a chair or through a small opening etc. Does this ever go away? Will I ever get used to myself? I know I am only six months out but I know I am driving my husband (and myself) crazy. I don't want to become obsessed with my weight but.... Anyway.......thanks for your replies.

I am scheduled to have a fill with Dr. Brinkley this Wednesday and I am a little nervous because I have never had a "blind" fill. In fact, I have only had one fill since getting my band, and that was with Dr. Martinez and he did it under flouro. I was just wondering what to expect at my appointment. I know some of you use Dr. Brinkley and I was hoping for some input. Also, can I eat or drink before my appointment and how long will it take? I am just nervous because she doesn't use flouro and I don;t know if it will be as easy as it was with Dr. Martinez. Thanks! Apryl

Dr. Susan Brinkley in Frederick, maryland is who I use. She is pretty good. She isn't a bariatric surgeon but she has a band herself.

Hi, it's been a loooong time since I have been on here. Here is a brief synopsis of my band history. Hope someone can give some advice or relate. Banded Aug 2005. Lost over 100 pounds by June 2006 (less than a year). Get pregnant and unfilled June 2006. Gain 85 pounds by April 2007 delivery. Refilled June 2007 (2 months post-partum). Have one or two more fills by December 2007. Lose no weight until end of December/ beginning of January 2008. I am now down over 60 pounds in less than 6 months. I am losing slowly and frequently hit plateaus. Here is my problem. I never had any issues with my band before getting pregnant. No PB, no reflux, nothing. My last fill in December has gotten progressivley tighter each week. At first I would PB a few times a week. Then that stopped and about a month ago I went for two weeks barely able to drink Water without it coming back up and i wasn't able to eat any solids until late evening. Then two weeks ago I was able to eat easily thru out the day (even in the am), but had problems in the evening. For the last week I have been getting terrible reflux at night while I sleep. I have woken up many times with actual vomit in my throat. I also make very loud gurgling noises if I lay down. I have stopped eating past 6, and I am not sure if that even helps. The past two nights my reflux has started before I even go to bed. Tonight i am going to try OTC Zantac to see if that helps. I rarely, if at all, feel hunger pains, and 99% of the time, when I do eat, I am able to eat only a few bites (maybe a half cup worth). Drinking liquids is a chore too. Each sip rises up and then slowly drains down. I have been getting very light headed recently, my hair is starting to fall out, and I have developed very deep, dark, black circles under my eyes. I also bruise very easily and severely. What makes it even more frustrationg is that my weight loss has slowed down again. Has anyone out there experienced anytything like this? Any advice? Common sense tells me to get a partial unfill, but why is my band getting tighter if I have lost weight since getting filled? I do not think I am slipped or eroded but I am still confused and a little depressed by the whole thing. Not to mention frustrated. Any help would be appreciated! Apryl

I am about 3 months (woo hoo) post op, and my incisions have been itching like crazy! They are also really red. I have never had incisions before, so I don't know if this is normal or not. Have any of you experienced this? What can I do to get rid of the itching? It is driving me nuts!

Just wanted to hear from any bandsters who may be currently pregnant or have been pregnant with the band. I am currently 28 weeks (fill removed) and have had no complications, but I was concerned that labor (pushing) may cause a slippage. I have not been able to find any information on this and was wondering if anyone knows or has experienced anything. Thanks! Apryl

I am sure that this topic has been discussed already, and I apologize if I am being repetitive, but I am very upset about this. I was banded nearly 4 months ago, and for the past two months, I have noticed that my hair has been falling out. It has become really bad the past few weeks. When I wash my hair in the morning, I have noticed clumps of 10-20 strands (yes, I counted them) coming out at a time. Same thing when I brush my hair. Every day I am sweeping small piles of my hair up off of the bathroom floor! This is really upsetting me and my husband doesn't seem to understand. His attitude is "you chose to have the surgery and you knew this might happen." And while this is true, I am still really freaked out about it! So far I don't think that it is noticiable, meaning that you can't see my scalp or anything, but I am really worried about that happening. How many of you has this happened to? Will it stop soon? Should I tell my stylist and stop highlighting my hair? Any advice (and consolation) would be very much appreciated! :cry

Hi everyone...I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good fill doc in Maryland who does Mexico patients? Someone had metioned a Dr. Berkley in Frederick before, but thats all I know! Thanks! Apryl

Congratulations....we just found out that we are expecting too! I had my band completely unfilled last week and I have gained about 8 pounds since then! I couldn't believe it....I have been eating healthy (healthier than I have even eaten in fact) but I guess larger quantities is what has done it. We were on vacation for the past week and I kept hoping that it was Water weight from flying....but my doctor basically said "fat chance". Oh well....I am hoping it will level off so I don;t end up gaining 40 pounds over the next 8 months....but at least I know the band will help me lose it after I give birth. One question for you....what is your OB/GYN's reaction to your band? Mine is completely panicked becasue he has never heard of it. They are making me go to a nutritionist and a Bariatric specialist for monitoring, and they are even considering me "high-risk". This is all crazy as far as I am concerned.....

I find it so strange that there are so many doctors who don't know what the band is.

Congratulations! I just found out that I am pregnant too...hmm...wonder if it's something in the water...ha ha...anyway...I spoke with my Ob/Gyn today and he has never even heard of the band and kinda freaked out and had me contact a nutritionist. I am scheduled for an unfill mainly because I am suddenly really tight and have been having problems getting things down. I usually consume around 1000 calories a day which I know is way too low for pregnancy. Keep us posted on what your doctor tells you....and good luck!

Hi everyone! I just found out that I am pregnant and due in March...yay! My question is...what next? I am almost one year post op and about 35 pounds from my goal. Obviously I don't want to gain very much weight, but I do want to make sure that my baby is healthy. Should I get an unfill now, or wait till later in my pregnancy? I am also a little worried because my OB/GYN has never even heard of a Lap-Band....I have had to explain the entire procedure and concept to him! I was just wondering what some of you have experienced, and inf you have any suggestions for me. I was also wondering how much weight some of you gained and if you continued to lose weight after delivery? I am so frustrated because I am only 35 pounds from my goal! I just bought a pair of size 12 jeans too...I guess I won't be seeing them for a while! Ha ha! Thanks! Apryl

Awww...thanks...DH and I are very excited!

I am 5' 5 1/2" and 184. Goal from doc is 138 - 145 but at 184 I am a size 12 so I think 138 is too low. I would be happy at 155. Good luck to everyone!

I am 5'4 and I was told that I should aim for 135-145. But I am 185 now and a size 12/14. My fill doc told me 135 is way too low and I should aim for a size rather than a weight. She explained that because of carrying around all the extra weight that I used to have, my muscles and bones are denser...meaning that I basically weigh more than I look. She said that's why 135 is really unrealistic becasue I would probably end up as a size 0 or 1.

I have found that I can still eat bread if it is toasted, or if I only eat the crispy crust from a dinner roll.

I have lost 100 pounds and I have about 40 - 50 pounds more to go!

Hi everybody! I just need some encouragement....I have totally fallen off the bandwagon. Lately I have been eating too fast (resulting in several sliming sessions) and too much. I eat...am satisfied...and then I find myself eating again an hour later...even though I am not hungry. I don't think I need a fill because I am not really eating large quantities (1/2 - 3/4 of a cup) but I am still eating more often than I should. I am going back to the emotional eating thing rather than relying on physical hunger. I am also worried because I wonder if I could be stretching my pouch or maybe even making my band slip. Can eating too much make your band slip? I don't have any symptoms...can you slip without symptoms? ARGH! The worst thing about this band is that I constantly wonder if it has eroded or slipped. I am driving myself crazy!

I really dislike the Easter season for one little reason....CADBURY CREME EGGS! I mean really...how disgusting are these things...yet I can not resist them. Ugh! I have eaten three in the last two days...even though they are fattening and they make me want to puke! Sorry...I just needed to vent....mostly because there is still one more in the kitchen taunting me! :faint:

They don't always come in packs of 4....now they sell the mini eggs in packs of 12...and you can always buy them out of the big bins that have...oh probably 100 eggs in them! It is a damn conspiracy or something. Glad I'm not the only one with a problem...he he he!

Hmm...."won't power"...I like that. I am going to have to try it. : )

It is interesting that someone posted this....I had a fill Feb 22nd, and like three days later I got my period. After my period was over, I swear that I hardly feel like I have had a fill at all. The worst part is...the doctor I go to for fills only does them the last Wednesday of the month, which is right in time for my period. Argh!

What gives here?!?! For the first week after my fill I was incredibly tight and felt like I did right after surgery....but now I feel like I could eat all the time. For dinner last night I ate about 4 oz of tuna filet and was satisfied...but an hour or two later I ate some Cheetos. I wasn't hungry but I felt like eating. In fact...all I did was eat yesterday! A few days after my fill I got my period...do you think this has something to do with me feeling so loose now? Since my fill I have been consuming around 600-1000 calories a day. I lost 7 pounds the first week and like a half a pound this week! This is so frustrating! Anyone else go through this to? I really need some encouragement here.

I am 5'5 and I started at 289. Dr.Ortiz gave me a goal of 138-145. I am about 6 1/2 months post op and am down to 199. I am not sure if the goal he gave me is realistic or not....the last time I weighed 138 I was in high school and I looked pretty skinny. I would be happy to get to 145 -150. Good luck!

It took me a month or so until I could fully move around easily and sleep on my stomach. I did cheat a little though....I would lay on my stomach but more on my right side and then I would prop my left side up with pillows....I felt like I was sleeping on my stomach but the pillows relieved the pressure onmy muscles and stitches. I was able to do this about 1 week post op. I hate sleeping on my back so it was nice to finally get some rest!