NaturalBeauty

Hi Txkrause, it looks like you started out at a low bmi so that may mean more effort is needed on your part. I do understand your discouragement cause most of us have been there & done that. I don't think any of us are the perfect bandesters but we do try. The suggestion of a thread for those with problems is a great idea, it could help not only those struggling with WL but it could help those who are having a problem maintaining. That's my daily struggle. Good luck to us all.

I've gone from a 10M to a 9M & I have a love hate relationship about that. I love shoes & boots, and I own a lot of them. I've had to give at least 5 pairs of boots away but some of the shoes I can get aways with or just put a cushion in them to give me that support. It's a tough price to pay for weight lost but I wouldn't change it.

Hi Jules, I am sorry you lost your band but it appears that your body may have rejected the band from the start. No one should have lived on saltine crackers & smoothies, that's just not healthy. You are blessed to be around to even share your story & I wish you nothing but success with weight watchers. It's a great program & you should do great with it. It's properly a relief for you at this point. Anyway, not knowing all the details of your journey, I am just glad that you are OK.

You are very lucky if you lost 100lbs without any effort. How many of us even with the band have that testimony? Believe me, not many if any. It just appears that now you are going to have to start trying to lose the rest through diet & exercise. It's not a bad thing, I started out not having to do a lot but when I got down to a point, I really had to put effort with my band and that was OK. I didn't get this far to just give up. Maintenance has been hard, I have had to go back to the band rules several times. You just need to re-evaluate your way of thinking and determine that this is important to you. Start slow, only eat 1 breaded shrimps instead of a few. Eat only a couple of teaspoons of your favorite carbs and try to give up sweets if this is one of your areas of weakness. Just remember we can have these things on ocassions, just not all the time. You've done an excellent job & you should be commended. Best wishes.

Please call your doctor, you should not be going through this, this is very dangerous to your well being. Explain what is going on and if he is not responsive, then call another band doctor in your area.

Hi Alex, I am so sorry to here about your slipped band. You have been a wealth of information to so many of us even in this process. I do hope all works out and you are able to keep your band or be rebanded. I go in next Friday for an Upper GI just because. I have bad allergies during this time of the year & I'm coming up on my 2 yr band anniversary so I just want to make sure everything is OK. It appears that most start having trouble around this time so I am trying to take preventive steps with this process. Anyway, you take it easy and be good to yourself. My thoughts & prayers are with you.

I have drainage at night very bad as well during this season so I take Mucanex (sp?). It has really helped me this year, last year I didn't know what was going on around this time and I was in my doctor's office a lot. I had acid reflux before banding so now I only take 1 prevacid a night instead of the 2 I use to take. Please be careful, throwing up every night can't be good for you. Please speak with your doctor regarding some med's to help you in this situation. I do know how miserable it can be. Best wishes.

Yes, you are right, it is the million dollar question. You need to discuss your issues with your band doctor and maybe he can help. Do you go a support group, possibly try overeaters anonymous? Any of these organizations can help but believe me, it is a constant battle. You are not alone. I am at goal but I still struggle with eating the right things. I just recently went back to 2 Protein shakes a day and 1 meal in the evening because I just wasn't doing right. Eating at night (ice cream, Cookies, potato chips & candy bars), just anything that would go down without a problem. I compenstated by exercising 6 days a week, 9 times within those 6 days, burning 800-1000 calories a session. That's still not good and I've just had to re-evaluate myself. Now I am back on the right track but I still struggle. We have got to change our minds first & then the rest will fall into line. I wish you the best.

Gracie, I guess it all depends on if your fill doctor can still access your port for fills. Sometimes that is not possible so you may have to wait and see what happens. Congratulations on your weight loss and keep up the good work.

Hi Gracie, The stitch from my port is lose on one side and you can actually turn it back and forth. I went to the doctor because everytime I exercised I could really feel it. The doctor was able to flip it back and forth and he was not at all concerned about it. Since I am at my goal weight, he said I can have it replaced whenever I want. Also, I will be getting a low profile one and yes this does require an in/out procedure but from what I have heard, it's nothing major at all. Also, he can stilll access my port for a fills if I ever need one I was self paid and I will definately have to pay for it myself so I am in no rush to get it done. It's going to cost me about $3500 so for now I'll just deal with the discomfort it causes sometime.

Becky you are so right, it takes small steps to even start an exercise program. I've been working out for years and I just started running within the last 6 months and it's been wonderful. I push myself everyday and every week I try to do a little more. Challenging yourself is the key to exercise, it's so easy to get in a rut so just keep up the good work and before you know it, it will be second nature to you.

Congratulations Becky, Look for the size to be even lower as you continue to lose weight. I went from a 42DD to a 36B. Great NSV!!!

It appears that with this fill you may not be able to digest hamburger and/or chicken for a while. Fills are tricky but I just believe you jumped to fast into regular food. You may need an unfill but it sounds like you are swollen and need some time for your body to rest. Take it easy on yourself and go to mushie before starting regular food. Your body will thank you in the long run. I hope all turns out well for you.

Hey Babygrl, you may never get to that point were you actually love working out but you will get to a point when it becomes a neccessity in your life. I have been working out for at least 9 years straight and I do actually love it. It didn't happen overnight and prior to 9 years ago, I would workout occassionally. I exercise to help maintain and possibly lose some more weight (still trying to decided how much more I want to lose). It's hard some days and other days I love it. I am a morning person so I get up at 4AM and arrive at the gym at 5AM and workout until 6:20AM. I do love the way it makes me feel afterward but sometimes before and during it hard. Stay encourage and no that what you are doing is for your health and your heart. Eventually, it will be like second nature to you.

Great job! Keep up the good work and before you know it you'll be at goal!

Well, they've been around the office with the forms this year but I am determine not to go that route this year. I say I won't eat them and then every chance I get, I'm sneaking one in my mouth. Girl Scott Cookies are evil!

Hi JJ, I am glad that you are feeling better now but I would say still see your doctor. If it's acid reflux, it will come back again and you'll be facing the same problem. You may need a prescription to help control the acid. If the acid continues to build without being treated it can even feel like a heart attack. This is just some information for you. I have been there and done that. It runs in my family badly, my brother, sister and myself deal with it daily.

Well, I self paid and I lost 18lbs total before my first fill which was a total of 3 months later but that wasn't the end of the story. Be patient because if you don't you will do more harm than good. The band is not a quick fix and the weight will not start pouring off of you, please do some more reseach or read other peoples stories, not to many have had quick loses. Best of luck and congratulations on your first step to being a successful bandester.

My insurance company is Alliance PPO and the coding they use, I have no idea. Sorry.

Tracey, For some odd reason my insurance pays for my fills. I asked the assistant how is that and she said it's the code they use, so I said thank you God! They would cost me around $150-$200 per fill and the same for an unfill so it's been sweet. A couple of times I've had to pay for the office visit but I can handle that which is usually under $50.

Get your passport now. It will last you for 10 years so doing it early is no big deal. I went on vacation last year and waited 2 months prior to leaving and had to pay the extra money to have it sent rush delivery. It really wasn't worth it but I had no other choice and it was my fault for waiting so long. Good luck and best wishes.

Yes, I am the same way. I've been cold since surgery 18 months ago. I have no idea were it's coming from buy my sister just had Gastric Bypass RNY and she stays cold all the time as well. My family has low Iron so I was just attributing it to that but maybe the surgery had something to do with it.

It's something about going to get that fill that puts you on the straight and narrow. I have plans of going the end of this month but I am trying really hard to win this eating battle on my own. I gained 10lbs over the holidays and it's been tough trying to get it off. I no I can just go in for a fill but what kinda will power do I have? So far so good and I am proud of myself. You are proof that it can work down the road. That has been my concern since being banded. How am I going to make this thing work 5/6 years from now. Thanks for coming back.

Well, I no I haven't but I wanted to say that I think it's wonderful that you could go that long and still maintain your weight lost. Congratulations!

Yes, the beginning stage is hard but how upset would you be with yourself if something happened to your band because U did not follow your doctors instructions? I don't think anyone is trying to be hard on U cause we all have been there but we must show some willpower or discipline in this journey. Beleive me, after reaching goal and having good restriction, it's still hard and I find myself going back to the basics all the time. Don't look for the band to do everything because it won't, U do have to help. During this time, your body needs the time to heal that's why we're put on liquids. Please, please try to follow your doctor orders and if you can't then call him before you do something you may regret later. Wishing you much success as you continue your lifestyle change.