Kalipso2

i had surgery in april, first fill in may and second fill in june. i was way too filled in june but never went back for an unfill until september. so during june thru september i didn't eat a lot but since i was over filled the food sat in the upper stomach too long while moving way too slowly thru my band. this caused my upper stomach to stretch. i got a slight unfill in september so that the food can move quicker thru my band and hopefully my stomach will go back to it's normal shape. i don't know if it would've helped if i went for an unfill in july or even august... if that would have stopped my stoma from stretching. i'm not sure how long it takes for the stoma to get stretched but i'm almost positive that it doesn't happen after 1 or 2 times of over-eating.

i was banded in April and have lost 40 pounds without any exercise. i had to get a slight unfill because i was PB'ing too much but now my weight loss has stopped so i know i have to start adding in exercise. i joined a "beginner's running" class and the trainer claims i'll be able to run in a 5k race by the middle of November but i'm not sure i believe her! during the first class we had to run a mile... or run and walk if we had to. i finished last. i was depressed and upset and swore i wasn't going back but now i want to prove to myself that i CAN do this! now i just have to get my legs to agree with me!

i'm SO glad i found this thread. after my first running class this past saturday i really thought i wasn't going to go back since i was the last person to finish the mile run/walk but after reading every one elses dedication makes me want to try harder too! like you, lanakila, i might not make the 5k in eight or nine weeks but i hope to be close!

you're very welcome, mimi! i would definitely double check with your surgeon though too!

i never thought about asking for a picture either.... the nurse offered it... i wish i would have gotten a "before" pic of the band with too much saline along with this after shot. usually you just have to take 1 big gulp of the barium for the flouro which isn't too bad. it's thick and a little chalky but i ended up having to drink over 4 ounces of barium that day since we were testing my band. i was so into watching the liquid flow thru my body that i didn't really taste the nastiness of the barium lol

i JUST joined a beginner's running class this past week. our first class was this past saturday. the trainer would like us to run a 5k by the first weekend in november! i ran/walked a mile yesterday and my lower body hurts... but it's a GOOD hurt! yesterday while running i thought to myself "well, i'm not coming back next week" but i think i will! i'm totally out of shape but i really want to accomplish this one thing... stick to the training and run my very first race!! i'm definitely going to check out the podcast stuff too! i'm so glad to see that this goal isn't unrealistic!!

yes, that's the barium going thru. (if you click on the picture it gets bigger) i had 5.7cc's in a 10cc band but i kept PB'ing and let it go on that way for over 2 months. when i went for a check-up a couple of weeks ago we took out .5cc's and while i don't feel much restriction anymore, i'm not PB'ing either. this pic is me with 4.7cc's in the 10cc band. you can see how i stretched my stoma but it should hopefully go back to normal soon. i can't get another fill for 2 months to allow my stomach to heal again. i just thought it was cool and decided to post it. i'm just surprised i haven't seen more of these pictures posted!

i JUST joined a beginner's running class this past week. our first class was this past saturday. the trainer would like us to run a 5k by the first weekend in november! i ran/walked a mile yesterday and my lower body hurts... but it's a GOOD hurt! yesterday while running i thought to myself "well, i'm not coming back next week" but i think i will! i'm totally out of shape but i really want to accomplish this one thing... stick to the training and run my very first race!!

i take (2) 150mg effexor capsules every night before bed and they go down (and stay down) just fine... even right after surgery. i never took them apart. i just make sure i take them on an empty stomach.

i don't know if i want my band out but looking back, if i knew then what i know now i probably would not have had the surgery.

i had been PB'ing a lot since my last fill in June. i waited until the beginning of September to go in for a check-up. during my check-up the nurse decided to take a look at my band under flouro. she gave me a copy of my xray (which kinda looks like a baby sonogram) and it showed the stretched pouch as well as the band and the barium going thru the opening before my slight unfill and the barium after .5cc came out. i have to figure out how to get the picture transfered so i can upload it on here.

my band was too tight for too long and i did stretch my pouch a bit. i got a slight unfill and i can go back to get refilled in 2 months and hopefully i won't be stretched anymore!

my surgeon told me he was going to give me the Realize band but for some reason at the time of surgery he decided to give me the 10cc Lap band. he said he doesn't know which band he'll use until he can see the stomach.

i got so used to PB'ing that now that i don't do it... i almost miss it. doesn't sound healthy, does it? it IS nice being able to eat and not have to worry about where the next bathroom is though!! we're both extremely lucky that our bands haven't slipped but my pouch has stretched a little. i'm allowed to go back for another fill in 2 months to give my stomach a chance to repair itself. i don't know about you, but i still do have some restriction but i can't get used to my stomach growling again and the feeling of hunger. We'll get it right eventually!!

i have a 10cc band and was was up to 5.2cc and i was PB'ing up to 4 times a day. my doc took out .5cc leaving me with 4.7cc. i was really worried about gaining weight back because i wasn't as restricted but after 2 weeks i haven't gained anything back but i haven't lost any more either.

i'm assuming you haven't had a fill yet? until you have your first fill your band had no restriction. after you have your first or second fill, you'll be able to feel your stomach restricting and you'll know when to stop. what you can do in the meantime is weigh your food. only put 1 cup of food on your plate and don't eat more than that. your stomach should feel satisfied 20 minutes after you're done eating.

i wore too many clothes. i wish i would have taken my before pictures in a bathing suit or bra and panties. along with the front, side and back view.... take a close up of your face. to me, weight loss shows up first in the face.

well.... when i get food stuck and want it to come out quickly, i stand and bend over the toilet and the food comes right up so it sounds like you ARE throwing up the contents you just ate/drank. maybe you do need a very slight unfill?

i'm a slimfast drinker and get a lot of my protein that way. i just can't get used to the whey protein taste. i eat a lot of chicken, eggs and cheese too.

i spent the first night in the hospital and all i have to say is... ask for drugs as often as they'll allow. it hurt to stand up. it hurt to sit down. i was bloated for about 5 days or so after surgery. i looked bigger than i did before surgery. i was a little surprised at that. for me, i took my pain meds like clockwork and slept most of my recovery time away!

i live 4 hours away from my surgeon and was just going to take a cab back to the hotel afterwards but i was told "absolutely NOT". a family member or friend had to be present for me to leave. i ended up spending the night because it was included in my surgery price. i would NOT have been able to physically drive that first day after surgery. i could barely sit up straight yet alone be off the pain meds long enough for even a half hour!

i was banded in april 2008 and i was self pay. my surgeon was 4 hours away from home so i was able to get all my testing done in one day instead of multiple visits. i met with the surgeon and the nutritionist during my initial consultation and the blood test, EKG and mandatory 2 hour nutrition class a week later. i had my surgery within 30 days of my initial consultation! i did still have to follow the 2-week liquid diet prior to surgery but i didn't have to do a 6 month diet or show proof that i've tried other methods of weight loss.

hi jessica! welcome!! i live in mayfield heights but being self pay, St. Vincent was too expensive for me so I had my surgery done in Cincinnati April 2008. i have a problem with motivation too... there always seems to be a "reason" not to exercise, right? lol

i'm not really a LARGE portion eater but i am a binge eater. once the thought of a food is in my head i obsess over it until i eat it...all. dealing with this has been the most difficult part of my journey so far. i feel like my brain and stomach are constantly struggling against each other... every day. i try my hardest to listen to my stomach but then i'm left depressed for not fulfilling my "need". if i give in and listen to my brain, i end up PB'ing for hours. i'm not going to lie. this is the hardest thing i've ever had to do but i'm working really hard to overcome listening to my brain and be happy with the food i CAN eat. it's been 4.5 months since my surgery and i've lost half of the weight i would like. i'm happy with the results. i love all the compliments. i love knowing i've gone from a size 16 to a size 12 (almost a 10!). i love feeling healthy. i love not getting tired just walking to my car. i love not being embarassed about my body. there is just SO much more to love about this journey than there is to hate and i'm still glad i had the surgery even if i'm still learning how to live with the band!