gdf18

Turler- Leslie is 100% correct. You started out so strong and then your doctor made you doubt yourself. You need to have a good sit down with him. You had successful surgery and no ill effects and I'm sure you'll always be grateful to him for that but that doesn't make him infallible. I'm down almost 53 since the 30th. I have done nothing different, but my surgeon has his patients on 3 weeks of liquid following banding, and that really gives one a good start. I'm starting to slow down also. I have to start more exercise and food remains the center of my life. Food gets stuck, adding new foods is tricky, and yup, like Leslie, I get food stuck more often than I'd like. And I wish so much that I'd started this sooner. Why did I wait until my weight got to 315? We've all got something. Hang in, hang on. And look for other places of interest on the boards. We can all stay in touch but like me, you might find an age group or something else that would broaden it for you.

First of all, anyone who goes through this process is a big winner. I truly believe that and I'm no Pollyanna. I do agree that when one is researching and asking quesitons and sharing symptoms the boards have greater relevence. And I dropped out for a couple of weeks. I could again. But I need a place to keep it "real". A place where everyone is me. Slow or fast, we're all very connected. I actually have found another place to go on the boards. As I'm in my 50s I hit the age group forum and it's kind of interesting because there we're all going through lots of similar life issues. It has a mix of new people and old and it's important to pass along knowledge to those just starting out. I've never been got at journaling. I get bored talking to myself, so when I hit the boards it's a form of journaling as well. I was on the South Beach Board for over a year when I was on the diet. That's four years ago and I have two groups of friends from it. A few that I post to now and then, and 3 women who have really become my "sisters". It's nearly four years and we still write almost daily. I think that's the gift that comes along with the work. The people who you find.

LOL- I know you'd never leave me out of an anniversary, but the same day! You're really bandster twins. When I started on the April forum, I felt you guys were my big sisters as you had a couple of weeks of symptons, stories and experience on me. It was great having all the feedback. Gosh- don't you just love this support board?

Leslie/Carol The worst of the "progressive eating" all day is that by evening I'm very hungry and so I can eat too much at dinner. Calorie wise it's not a huge issue, but in volume it is. Last night I had lowfat cheese and tomato on top of sliced portabello mushrooms for dinner. Very filling, and mushrooms are really no calories, but at the end I ate too many slices of what was a good and balanced dinner. I get too full at night if I'm not careful. It's a HEAD issue I know, and I'm working on it, but changing everything in less than 4 months is not reality. It's gonna take time. At least I'm losing so I know I'm moving in the right direction. And count me in on the 4 month anniversary too. I may be the 30th, but I'm still an April Avenger!

Thank you, Carol! So glad it's not just me! I don't even try Protein in the AM. Right now with the summer heat, I treat myself to an ice decaf and put in splenda and fat free half and half. Delish. And by time I've finished, I've had 3 cups of Fluid. Add that to my metamucil cocktails and that's 5. So I just have to get down 3 more a day and I've met my eight. So, the morning is good for something. I still get plenty of protein in during the rest of the day. I'm sorry to hear you've been vomitting so much. Maybe you do have to unfill, but you know, it will keep softening. Did anyone do an xray to make sure the band is still in place? Feel good!!!!!!!!!

Hey Leslie, You're doing the smartest thing. I'm being careful too. I'm actually very happy on mushies. Lots of comfort food is mushy.Unfortunately, mashed potatoes are one of them and they slide down toooo well. I'm also finding something happening and I don't know if I'm nuts or not.... I know that there are lots of bandsters like me who find it very difficult to eat in the morning. I just can't get food down. So, I do lots of liquids which also helps. BUT, I don't do much better with lunch since this last fill. It's hard to get food down, although I can if I'm very careful. HOWEVER, dinner is easy. Food goes right down (well, not yesterday, but hte other days since the fill). I seem to have a band that is looser at night! I'm not complaining, but I haven't really heard this. Anyone else finding their band get's looser in the evening, or is this just my own little band myth?

Hey Mamak, You are doing great. Sometimes our bodies just need time to take in everything we've done. I feel like the losing is really slowing down, but I think I look thinner, and that's very important too. I try to remember that weight is not the best determiner all the time because just get on different scales and the number is different! I have two scales and both are good and both are in the same spot when I weigh and they are two pounds apart. Which one is correct? Oh, and hte doctors scale falls right in between. Speaking of fills....I had one last week. I didn't think it was very restrictive. I was able to eat 1/2 a bagel last night. Then today, I went out for japanese food and I don't know what it was, but something got REALLY stuck. Really really stuck. Boy did that hurt for almost an hour. I tried bringing it up but for hte second time, just slimed instead. YUCH! I paid for lunch but didn't get to eat it at all. Ended up having atkins drink a while later. I got down 1/2 a salmon burger and a little baked pot for dinner. It hurt all the way down. I think I'm very sore. I'm full and a bit naueous now. There's a lesson for me. Don't think that just because it's not too tight one day, that it will be open the next. WHEW! Killer.

Mine's gone now too. But oh boy, the gas! Whenever I'm on liquids for more than a day, the gas begins filling me up. Empty space right? So, I'm trying to have more today. Tonight I can go to mushies, then Sunday, back to real food (although I tend to eat a lot of mushies) I feel somewhat restricted, but will know more as I switch. I don't want to be too tight. I told the doctor that. I'm losing well with eating a decent amount. I try to stay under 1000 calories a day. See ya.

Quick question to anyone- did anyone feel a little nauseous after a fill? I have all afternoon. It's starting to taper off a bit, but I don't feel terrific. I'm going to try a little peppermint tea.

GOOD FOR YOU, BIGPOPPY! I'm hanging in at 47, and playing up and down a pound. Hoping to hit the 50 this week. I find that Saturdays are my difficult day because we're Sabbath observers so there is more food around for the meals and sometimes company, and nothing to do so I get "nudgy" and want to eat. Then on Sunday, like today, I eat next to nothing all day. Can't get it down at all until evening. It's so weird. My restriction seems to change day to day. But, as long as I'm getting there, I"m not unhappy. I am going to NY to visit my family and my husbands. With a restriction that's not quite as tight as it was, it's gonna be an interesting week. Here's hoping and praying I can do my part and the band keeps me honest. I wish I could say I'm not worried, but I am.

I'm telling you ladies.....morning sex. No pain at all. An empty stomach does help. Also so does almost 50 pounds! He can actually stay just above me now without my belly pushing against him. YAY

Some people do split it up, but actually, why do that? It's all part of the same process and it's where you end up that matters anyway. ALSO, the variation between pre-op protocol is huge, with some people having 3 weeks or liquid pre-op and others, like me, only having a day or liquids and the wonderful clean-out with our liquid period after the surgery. So, the only way to look at everyone equally, and why would anyone want to do that, would be total weight loss overall. But we're all so different, and lose differently and are different ages, hormone levels etc. And we all start from a different weight. So, it's all very individual. Good luck with your loss.

Thanks, Mamakatken! I called for appointment, but am now waiting til Friday as the doctor's schedule may open up and I really prefer having my surgeon rather than one of the fellows do the fill. That will be 8 weeks between fills. You're doing great too. I noticed that we're close in all things. I'll be 57 next month, we started at the same weight, and we're both losing really nicely. GOOD FOR US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this....we have our own Kama Sutra thread!! I have also had some trouble with pressure on the port and I can pass along one bit of advice that has worked for us. I experimented and found that I'm far more comfortable in the mornings as I have nothing in my stomach. Maybe because internally, it really takes a long time to heal, even though the band etc are safely in place. The nurse at my surgeon's told me 100% healing of all tissue can take up to 6 months. So, try it empty (yes, I do to the bathroom first also). I still don't have him lie down fully- he's on my lower stomach but stays up on his arms so it's not full weight. I'm far more comfortable. And once he's in, it's also good for the man to move back up and on his knees and the lady put her legs up, leaning them on his shoulders. If your back can take it, it's also very easy that way. I find that very easy for me.

For those who need it (you didn't mention your weight), the band is not a magic wand, but a very, very effective tool for changing your life. And it is life-changing. No doubt about it. But it is a journey, full of good days and some discomfort and issues along the way. You can read about a million large or small complications and complaints here as well as the good news. But when I looked into this and read many posts, I found that no one was sorry they did this, even if there were difficult moments and even issues along the way. I'm thrilled I did this for myself (oh, and that's important- you need to be doing this for you!) Now let me tell you what the band is not.....it's not a panacea that will transform the issues in your life or marriage into fairy dust. You will be hopefully healthier, fit into clothes better, and start to feel good about yourself- giving you the strength to meet life's challenges better. But the band doesn't make your life change. You do. Your marriage, kids and all the other blessings or stresses of your life will still be there. My advise....take your husband along to any seminar you attend, to your initial dr. consultation, etc. If he is not supportive of this, it will make it very difficult for you- not impossible, but more difficult. You need a support system in place for the weeks immediately after surgery, for example. You may find that he will become more supportive when he actually learns what you will face along the way. And if your internist or surgeon is really good....they will do what mine did for my husband....they explained to him very thoroughly that my weight was in great part not within my control, and that even if I lost all the weight, I would most likely gain it all back and more as that's what happens to over 80% of people who lose weight on their own. He has to understand that your own body works against you in this, and that the band helps to override our DNA, hormones, etc. If he begins to understand this, you may find a true partner in the process. I hope so. I wish you the best of luck in your journey.

Mine also said 6 weeks and gave us the go ahead when I had my first fill. What the surgeon didn't tell me was that that the go ahead meant the band was now safely healed in place and I couldn't hurt it having sex. HOWEVER, sex was very uncomfortable bordering on painful. Further investigation told me that although the band can take it at 6 weeks, the abdominal tissue may take months to really heal and form scar tissue to protect the port so sex can hurt. An interested husband can make all the difference because other positions than missionary help to make the difference. And with some experimentation I've also learned that sex is far more comfortable when my stomach is empty- which makes sense. So, it's morning sex for now and still no pushing on the spot. So use the morning light, but wait 6 weeks to ensure a healthly healing.

Hi everyone, Checking in happy, happy, happy. Went for a follow-up today (I took so little at first fill that the Dr. didn't want to do one for a while). Down 45 pounds! It was a roller-coaster visit. First, chatting with the nurse, she tells me that I'm eating too much at a sitting (I can eat anywhere from 4 up to 8 oz depending on the day because me restriction seems to change day to day). She scared me about stretching the pouch down the road if I'm not careful. She even said I drink too much- that I have to sip very slowly and drink less than 8oz and hour. OKAY. Deep breath. Then the resident came in because the Dr. was in a meeting. He told me that maybe I could eat more because my band had slipped slightly!!! He said they can slip slightly, not enough to require surgery and then the scar tissue forms around the slightly slipped band and so you can eat a bit more than others. OKAY. Deep breath. I told him I planned to wait until my Dr. was out of his meeting (that was scheduled when I had an appointment (!). That's a pet thing of mine. I like to see the Dr himself. SO.....he finally comes in, listens and tell me 1. Not at all concerned about my stretching out my pouch and liquids go right through- not an issue. 2. Your band did not slip at all. You'd feel it and would have pain and/or vomitting. So much for the resident standing there, eh? 3. HE SAID I'M DOING GREAT- WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND EVERYTHING'S GREAT. He said schedule a fill, although I many only be able to take 1/2 a cc or so. He said I'm working too hard not to eat a lot and that he wants to make it easier for me. That's okay with me. He also said that he thinks I won't be really happy until all issues are truly dispelled so he'll look at the x-ray with me when he does the fill and show me that all is well. So, another story of how information changes and lots of good news- I felt great when I left. Hope everyone's having a good day as well!

I'm sure you've heard this before, but you are a heroine to me. Good on you, and may we all have the same success. AMEN. As to breasts, like you I don't see them as being an issue. Happy to have the girls healthy! And a bra takes care of much of it. Like you, I'm likely to have a tummy tuck down the road....but I need to get there first. Unfortunately for me, I'm older and my thighs got very heavy and resemble cottage cheese so I'll never look like you do in your "afters". I'm so glad to see someone do as well as you have, and I'm just gonna work to be the best me I can whittle down to and be happy and stay healthy with what I've got.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE! Long weekend over, and back to work. My band seems to be back to work again as well. Second tight day in a row. I'm beginning to think that I have an amazing band- looser on Friday night and Saturday so that I eat more- then it tightens up for the rest of the week. COOOOL. LOL. I'm not sure how cool it really is. I woke up today in pain when I tried to roll onto my side in bed. Left side impossible, right side simply uncomfortable. WEIRD I thought. As if I'd done something to the band. Here's the ick part.......I went to the bathroom and let's just say it was more than I'd gone for a long time....... and then I tried lying down again, and ta-da.....almost all the pain gone. So, yet another piece of info. When my system is very full, everything's uncomfortable- I'm going to the surgeon for a follow-up tomorrow so if it happens again tonight I'll ask, but I'm finding that the anecdotal stuff we discuss is often far more than the surgeon's know. This actually goes right in line with helping to solve my other recent issue....sex is easier in the morning when there's nothing in my stomach. Less pressure. Huge difference. I'd hate to think the two acts- sex and bathroom- we're that connected- but the evidence is in LOL!!!!!!!!!! scale down another 1/2 pound. Good start to the week. Bye

Found it. I had put in women instead of woman. You had it both ways. I found the original email. YAY. Now I'm going to go look. Take care and thanks.

I tried it- thanks for the "cryptic" way of wording it....but when I go there it tells me the site is closed and for sale. HAH. Guess that's that. I'll try again. Maybe I did something. I appreciate the effort. Thanks.

ELAINE- I had three weeks of liquids after banding, then a week of mushie/soft and then when I hit week five I could supposably eat regular foods, but I was on mushies at least a week longer. meat is the toughest to eat. I haven't even felt like having steak. I've stewed veal with veggies, making the veal so soft it was easy to eat. But you'll have your own schedule, and while it may feel like you want to push ahead and eat everything, it's infinitely better to take your time and really really really let your body heal and the swelling around the stomach go down. It's a natural time to really lose as well. Good luck.

Hey Cindylew, I've got to look at the site you're talking about here and in your answer to me. What's the address again? There are still plenty of times I revert to "mushies". I make my salmon, tuna and rarely, chicken salad, in my food processor so that it's like a pate or creamy. Much easier to eat. Tuna salad really gets stuck and hurts- too dry if not pulverized. And egg salad is good also. The meat I've had has been ground beef- I think of it as meat's mushy version. I havent' had Pasta at all. I"m going to try rice noodles because I want to make Pad Thai. I have a feeling it won't go down well, but I want to try. MUSHIES RULE!!!!!

I know, I know. It's rough sometimes. First I can eat much more and then I get a day like today.....can't get much down at all. Everything gets stuck. It's as if eating more yesterday sort of made everything swollen, or tighter. It's day by day. Today I barely got down a Protein drink. Have had 7 glasses of liquid -just had a glass of lactaid milk. So I've ended up having little protein so far. dinner is a veal stew, which went down TOO easily the other night. But today, everything is slow and sticking. I tried a cracker- the same tight I had 5 of yesterday, and today - it got stuck and hurt bad. So, how does the surgeon decide when to do another fills. When my days are like this, I don't need another. But then I have the eating days as well. OKAY, SO WHEN DOES IT GET EASY????????????????

HI everyone. I have been off the boards for a bit but coming in to say hey and check-in. I'm still wavering between 41 and 43 pounds off. Making me nuts. I go down and bounce up a couple of pounds. I'm yearning for 45. But then I'll just be yearning for 50 I guess. I go to the surgeon on Tuesday, but not for a fill. I only could take 2ccs at my first fill, so he didn't think I'd need one for a long time. I'm not so sure about that right now. I can drink more at a time, and eat more at a sitting. Yes, some things don't go down as well as others, but I can get pretty much anything down if I chew well and wait for it to drop down. I'm eating less than on "diets" in the past, but I am eating quite a bit more than a couple of weeks ago. Very sudden change. I'm going on vacation in about 10 days so a fill will need to ait until after I come home. Even if I can only take 1cc, it might close the gap a bit. It's only 10 weeks since surgery, and I haven't developed the changes needed to do this "on my own" . I see the creeping up of calories a little at a time. I'm not gaining, but losing next to nothing this past week or so. Anyway, enough complaining. How's everyone else doing?