Turler

Hi Everyone! J: Yes, there is the HHH (Hancock Horizontal Hundred) coming in September. It's a fun ride...no hills! (sorry J). You can do 32, 64 or 100 miles. Other than that I'm not sure. We have Bike to the Bay in a few weeks (for MS) but that starts in Maumee, Ohio. I can check to see if there are any others coming up that I haven't mentioned. Guess what?....possibility of moving to C-bus! Lots of details to work out, but it may happen. DH may transfer there. On a completely different note than bycyling... I got another fill on Friday. I am so tight in the mornings that I can't eat breakfast. Even drinking is uncomfortable. It stays like this until well into the afternoon. By evening I can eat 1/2 cup, but am pretty hungry by then and find myself eating more often and it must be soft foods (ie, sliders). I called the doctor's office yesterday and the nurse did not seem surprised nor concerned. Is this how most of you are? I have read that many are tighter in the am vs. pm, but shouldn't I be able to eat something? I am drinking a lot of protein shakes to get by. Thanks for your input...anyone! ~Carol

Hi Leslie! I got my second real fill. I am so restricted now that I can't even eat Breakfast and barely lunch. I am really tight in the mornings. I left a message with the doctor to see if I need a tiny unfill. I am glad to finally not be so hungry though! But I don't really want to be limited to shakes every morning. I am starting to lose weight though. YAY! I don't know, maybe this is the way it's supposed to be and I just don't know it! ~C

Good job girls!! Woo Hoo! Glad you got beautiful weather! Wish I could've been there. Was planting trees. :{ ~C

Hi everybody...thought I'd drop in and post. I want a magic wand too!

I'm with Froggy! Yikes! Girls: I have re-read the latest melee and I don't think that Leslie was directing her post at anyone in particular. I think she is trying to say that some people have recently posted their dismay in their short journey with their LapBand. There are several posts in the last few months that have been very negative. Some of the posters have only been banded a few weeks! It's good to see all sides, I am the first to agree with that, but it can be discouraging to see the same people complaining over and over. There are options out there. If those people are seeking support, than maybe they should word things in a manner that elicits support. Often it comes across as a rant. Although it is just as easy to ignore those posts as it is to read them. I get that. A good debate is always worthwhile. Keeping it friendly shows maturity and class. I'm just saying... ~Carol

Caffeine is acidic. It can contribute to the formation of ulcers in your stomach. The band itself cannot erode as it is on the outside of your stomach. It's the interior lining of the stomach that the doctor's are concerned with. The caffeinated drink would not sit on/in the band area as it should be draining straight through (assuming it's a thin liquid). Avoiding caffeine, NSAIDS/Aspirin products are precautions for erosions/ulcers. Caffeine also can dehydrate you as someone mentioned. With the band we are limited to not eating with our meals and are restricted to a certain time frame before and after so getting enough fluids in (preferably water) is an issue for banders. They (doctors and nutritionists) want you to get as much quality food and drink as possible in the small windows we have. Caffeine in large amounts is also an appetite stimulant as mentioned. It can also cause you to feel sluggish. The first cup or two is fine, it's the caffeine you consume in addition that can have an opposite effects on you. It's best to be avoided. Some doctors say never have it again, others say in moderation. I think they want people to go off of it all together to avoid the temptation and because you are more likely to choose Water which is better for you anyway. All the best ~C

Actually, we have a very special private airport that lots of rich people that work for Marathon use. And...it's in a corn field along I-75. You pass it every time you go see your GF! LOL We can go to several places. Dayton is the nicest and the easiest to maneuver around. Toledo, Detroit, Cleveland and Columbus. It doesn't matter which to me though. Would be more fun to go in pairs! Heard today that the airlines are taking away the peanuts and pretzelss though. Damn. Do you think the flights will be any cheaper now? HAHA Since you are the planner...do you have any ideas as to which airline and stuff like that? I always fly United, but if you can get a really fabulous deal on another let me know. We've got a long flight. ~C

I know that sometimes we all get frustrated and feel defeated when it comes to weight loss. After all, that is how we ended up here! I know it's important to hear the good and the bad. We are lucky to have so many willing to share their personal experiences. I am so grateful for the information I've been able to read here. Thank you everyone, for that. However, I agree. A lot of it is just plain negativity. It's like a disease. Once it starts, it spreads. Misery loves company. We have seen a rash of it lately. I hope those people get some help one way or another. If they want their band removed, fine, do it. Funny how their doctors don't just take it out. If there really was a problem/complication, they wouldn't be on here posting about it, they'd be in surgery and then posting about how wonderful their life is after band removal. So this leads me to believe there is certainly more to the story. Overfill? Stretched pouch? Dare I say COMPLIANCE? I am a newbie too, so what do I know. I have struggles also, but at this point I feel it's a learning curve. If I really don't lose any weight, I will be taking that up with my doctor, whine about it on here a little, and hopefully get back on the losing end of things. Just remember, the Lap Band is not for everyone. ~C

Thank you gdf18! You are so sweet! This is where I whine the most. Isn't that awful?! I suppose it's because this is where we all can just be who we are. We already know that everyone here understands what's happening, so I think I like having a sounding board. You can whine to me too if you need to! I think it's awesome that you are able to control your eating so good. Before my first fill I certainly couldn't eat like I did before the band, but I could eat much more than the 1/2 cup my dietician said I should. Plus being hungry all the time really sucks. Does your doctor tell you how much you get with your fills? Mine wants his patients to because he feels that if anything happens to him, or we are out of town and need help, we can be be informed. I totally agree with that. I am noticing that I am feeling tightness. Something is different this time. I don't know what to compare to. Before I felt like a normal person, the last few days, it feels like there is something in there (inside my chest) now. Not painful, just aware when I eat. I'm sure that if I did get the fill this time, that there is swelling which is contributing to the restriction I feel. I will keep close tabs on this so that I can get another fill when this feeling goes away. Okay, sorry I keep rambling. I love you all! ~C

I hope you find the picture ATD. It's a pretty good picture. ~C

mmmmmm....I used to love pixie stixs!!! ~C

The upper portion (the part above the band) gets stretched if we eat too much or too quickly. It's important that we eat the amounts the doctor tells us to. It can happen gradually over time or it can happen quickly at one particular meal. Either way...you don't want it to happen! If you were to stretch it, the doctor would need to see it on an x-ray (fluoro), determine the severity and how to treat it. Some can be treated by unfilling the band and letting everything relax and heal. Worst case is the band would need to be removed. So no stretching! The more you eat, PB, gulp Water, etc. all contribute to it happening. Disclaimer: I could be wrong about this, but this is how I understand it and was told by my doctor. On a positive note: I think I have restriction!!! He must have just missed last time. I hope I hope I hope I hope...I am feeling full much faster and can't drink as much Fluid at one time either. I am hopeful. Thank you all for listening to me whine!!!! ~C

ZZ: If I go, I'll share with you! I am not as committed at this point as you are though! LOL I think it sounds like fun, and J is right, with all of us there it should be even better! ~C

I heard the same thing L2L. Apparently he (Bret) wants to take the bandana off, but they won't let him. He says it's not really 'him'. Oh the drama! ~C

B and J: hehe...that looks funny! Anyway, thanks for the info. I am able to eat lettuce so far if it is chopped up small. I haven't tried a normal salad yet. Okay, I'll stop worrying about this. I guess I need to eat and see how my band is working and stop being so scared of it!! You guys are the best. As BG would say...I heart you! ~C

Oh my gosh Heather. I just now found this thread! I was wondering if you'd made a new one or not. I wonder if everyone else knows it's here. I am not sure if I'll be able to make it. Depends on how many I can gather up to go in on gas with me!! Don't count me out just yet though! I would be interested in some summer clothes as well if anyone has any. My 24's are falling off of me! YAY! Not that I'm complaining! ~C

J- Do you think it's because you didn't chew well enough? Or too fast or was it just your time? LOL sorry for all the questions. I am wanting this to work, but I don't want to push it either. I can definitely eat more than 1/2 cup though. ~C

Oh, and yes, so many people say that you don't notice anything with the first fill, so I was disappointed too. I wanted to feel something right away. I am sure that I will need another since technically, this is my first fill now. Ugh. ~C

When the doctor drew the syringe back, he should have gotten back the 1 cc fill he gave me almost 2 weeks ago. There was nothing there but an empty syringe! He doesn't know where it went. We are hoping that he just missed the first time. Otherwise, it would mean that I have a leak. That would be bad. Very bad. I don't know my limits. I am afraid to 'try' it out. I don't want to PB, and I certainly don't want to stretch anyting. I am worried about this. I had a shake last night for dinner and one for Breakfast so I didn't eat any real food until lunch. I took it easy, but again, I am scared to find out if it worked or not! ~C

Hello, my name is Turler and I am a poster.

J- thanks...I am sort of leary to try out my band. I really don't know my limits so I am being really careful. I don't want to have a pb. Ever. That being said, I really hope it doesn't happen at work. Seriously, that would be bad! Also, I don't want to stretch anything either. I think my fill might be working though. I felt full pretty quick today at lunch. BG: Glad you're alive! We miss you! Hello everyone else! ~C

Thanks J! I'm glad you understand. Hey...how soon should I feel something with a fill? ~C

Hi guys/gals! No difference here. I just wanted to share my recent adventure in the Lap Band world! I'll get right to the point. I went for my second fill today because I'm STILL hungry and still not losing! Sick of it. Anyway...when he drew back the syringe, there was NOTHING in the band!!!! The whole entire first fill wasn't there! (1 cc worth). Arrgghh! He said of course that explained why I didn't feel any different! So I got 1.25 cc today. He didn't want to give me too much since this is technically my 'first fill' now. I'm frustrated. I am hoping this will make a difference. If not, I'm going to ask that we look at the band under flouro. Just in case something is wrong with the band or the tubing. I'm worried, but remaining hopeful. Maybe next time I post in here it will be because I've lost some weight!!!! ~C

Hi everyone! Okay, so you know how I've been doing all this complaining about still being hungry? And still not really losing any more weight? Well, I just got back from my second fill this evening and low and behold! There wasn't ANY saline in the band!! NONE! So my whole first fill was a bust! The 1 cc I was supposed to have in there, never made it into the band!!!! Geez...I was starting to think I was crazy! I swear I'm really hungry, guess it was for real. Anyway, he found the port, which was a lot different spot than last time. He even left the needle in and tugged on it to be sure it was in the right spot. He gave me 1.25 cc this time. He would've given me .5 cc today, but since I didn't have ANY restriction he was worried it'd be too much for the "first time". Ugh. I really hope there isn't a leak in the band or the tubing. I am concerned now. If it was just a mistake on his part last time, than no big deal, but now I'm worried. So J...I don't think I can afford the $200 in gas it's going to cost me to get to Lansing in my Durango. That Hemi is a gas guzzler and it's currently $4.09/gallon here in Marathon Oil (Findlay is there corporate HQ) territory. Not to mention any hotel and food cost. I'm really sorry. I want to go so bad, but I just can't justify that kind of money. Please don't hate me!!!! I really hadn't put too much thought into Dallas just yet. I would love to go. It sure sounds like fun! I should look into it. Do you know the projected cost for that? ~C

Well, they tend to be a little salty.