HeatherO

I also think it could just be sore from throwing up. I would just give it a little time. You seem to be throwing up more than is normal if it is happening every couple of days. Try eating a little slower and chewing more to avoid it. Another thing I did is I would have something like plain yogurt, or a lowfat sauce or something along that line with some Proteins that I knew were harder to get down. If you continue to throw up regularly, you should get a very slight unfill. It is harmful to your band to continue this way.

I would make sure everything was documented well and submit it after the six months is up no matter what. You might be OK. Were you actively following the plan during those two months without cheating?

The foods you can't eat seem to include a lot of protein choices. Even though you don't feel full, it sounds like you may either be too tight . . . or maybe you need to eat a little slower and chew more to get them down. If you are eating a lot of carbs that are soft, they may go down easy enough that you don't feel full but may keep you from losing the weight. What are you eating throughout the day?

My doctor said no more protein drinks. They are only needed during the early days after surgery when you can't get the protein in . . . or if for some reason you have to go on liquids for a couple of days. All protein should come from natural food sources because you want something that is going to stick in your pouch and make you feel full for a while. Protein drinks just go through the band and you are not realizing the band benefits of feeling full and satisfied by drinking them.

This might sound crazy . . . but my pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, or feeling different, or sore breasts, or fatigue that would make you think "OMG, could I actually be pregnant???" always came to nothing. I think I just wanted it so much I was hyper sensitive. Finally when I really was pregnant . . . guess what symptoms I had???? No symptoms at all, lol. Other than lack of a period, even then I didn't believe it because my first 4-5 pregnancy tests were negative and I didn't get a positive until 6+ weeks after my last period. So, all those times with I think so, I think so, I think so = negative . . . it was the I really don't think so that = positive. It is strange how all that works, lol.

I am really sorry to hear that and I hope you are feeling better soon. It is no wonder you were feeling so bad when you had other issues going on. I didn't realize you had a history of blood clots as well. Were you able to get much walking or movement in after surgery? You have certainly suffered through this surgery . . . but once you are feeling a little better and are in good health again, you should be able to start really feeling the benefits. Taking off a lot of excess weight seems to help everyone to feel better and healthier. I am sorry you are suffering now and I can only hope that this is just the end of the old suffering and you will move on to much better and happier days to come. Good luck with everything.

Irritation can be caused by more than just him . . . you had to say goodbye to food as you know it, you went through surgery, rapid weightloss is flooding your system with extra hormones (none of us are at our cheeriest while having super PMS). This time is going to be a pain in your a** regardless of what is happening at home. Even if he was 110% supportive, you would probably find him annoying at best (I found my husband annoying at this stage and he was falling all over himself to give me a massage, and cook for me, lol). Just keep in mind that you are not your usual self right now. Also keep in mind that he may not be his usual self as well. He may not know how to be supportive right now . . . or he could be feeling the pangs of jealousy if you are going to lose the weight and he is not . . . there are so many things that could be going on. The best thing you can do is to talk with him about how your feeling and make sure he understands your needs and expectations while at the same time making sure you understand his as well. I had to do this with my husband because I was hurting his feelings and he couldn't understand what he was doing wrong . . . he wasnt doing anything wrong, I just needed to adjust. As far as the coffee and donuts thing . . . I am guilty as well. Before banding I would drink diet everything but I wasn't passing up on a donut if one was offerred. This had nothing to do with anyone but myself.

My calculations are 16 weeks and 4 days as of today. My son was born on his due date and weight 6 pounds, 11 ozs and was 20.75 inches long. He was a healthy size for a 40 week baby . . . but certainly not a big baby. Perhaps I am just prone to having smaller babies, no complaints there, lol.

What an interesting concept . . . dieting ourselves fat. I guess I would have to say I am guilty. I was a little overweight in my early 20's, until I decided to do something about it. That is what started the yoyo of deprivation to gluttony that got me to a 40 BMI. I would always lose a little, gain a little more, and repeat repeatedly. Those small increases definitely add up over the years.

Pie Hole Report: I have been terrible today . . .but it was an unusual day. I had a cup of shredded wheat with milk for breakfast. 1 cup of coffee Water, water and more water. Cheeseburger and fries for lunch (why would I do this? I had an 12:00 OB appointment and missed lunch . . . on the first floor they had a snack bar with almost no options and I got a whiff of cheeseburger and couldn't resist). I will try to be good for dinner . . . and tomorrow's another day, right???

I think it is wonderful that you were banded on the same day. It makes the whole "diet" part so much easier when you are eating the same things. You can't have better support than having someone go through the same thing at the same stage :0).

I think it is perfectly normal. Some people are constipated, some have diarrhea . . . and you are right in the middle and lucky at that. I would be more concerned if your wife is "inspecting" your unmentionables for signs of munching, lol.

I got it only after banding when I have more restriction. It goes away completely if I keep my band less filled. I never had a problem pre-banding.

My hair got a bit thinner at about 6 months out. The texture also seems a little different as well. It was nothing too serious.

Everyone is right . . . you need an unfill and you shouldn't wait to get one. Things should be easier for you going forward because now you know you need to be somewhere between 4 and 4.25 to find your sweet spot. Whenever Water can come back up that is always a sign that you are much too tight and need unfilled right away. After your unfill and when you are closer to your sweet spot, you may have to to "relearn" the bandster rules of eating slowly and chewing well to prevent pb'ing.

I agree with everyone else . . . research, research, research and when you think you are done, research some more. No one knows your body and your habits better than you and your doctors so you are definitely the best person to make that decision. I chose lapband because it was less invasive and less risky. At first I didn't like that I had to go in for fills and would have to pay for them . . . now I think that is the best part because I can choose along with my doctor the best restriction level that keeps my weight moving where I need it to be. I didn't like that many people have a lot of problems with Vitamin deficiencies and other health problems post R&Y. I take Vitamins as a bandster . . . but I know I have almost all of my needs met through my diet and feel that the vitamins just give me a boost rather than offsetting potentially severe deficiencies. Absorption of vitamins and healthy foods is better with banding. One big difference between R&Y and banding is the dumping syndrome. If you tend to be a milkshake fan or consume a lot of sweets . . . dumping syndrome is an easy reminder not to do that. The band will not prevent you from making these kinds of bad choices . . . you have to prevent bad food choices yourself. Junk food goes down all too easy with the band even with restriction. I feel that the band allows me to eat anything I want in limited quantities . . . and I make good food decisions because I want to be successful more so than the band forces me to be good. I also wanted a baby and I felt that I would be better off with banding nutritionally in that I could have it unfilled and eat normally when required. The band was the perfect choice for me . . . but had my circumstances been different, R&Y could have also been a viable choice as well. Good luck with your decision.

I have not finished through to delivery yet, but other than initial tightness and the need for a bit of an unfill . . . it is like i don't even have a band. There is no effect. If you have only had one fill then you probably won't even need an unfill if you have no restriction problems. I wouldn't worry about it.

So by last menstrual I am 16 weeks and 3 days along in my pregnancy. By an ultrasound taken at 11 weeks (I couldn't go at 8 weeks because I was traveling in the Middle East for a month) I am now 14 weeks and 6 days along by ultrasound dating. I had an ob appointment today and they listened to the fetal heartbeat which was strong and very easy to find. I told my ob doctor that over the weekend i just started to feel the baby moving (miniscule fluttering sensation deep in the pelvis at mid-morning after I drink my 1 cup of coffee a day) and she said that most people don't feel it before 16 weeks at the earliest and sometimes not until much later. I also showed my doctor that I am definitely showing and when I try to feel for the top on my uterus . . . the top seems to be right underneath my belly button but I read that it should be somewhere between the pubic bone and belly button. I asked because I thought maybe I was feeling the wrong thing and perhaps it is just muscle there . . . but I have almost no abdominal fat in my belly and my belly is very hard in that region like as if I ate a softball. She felt for it as well and said it was in the same place, directly below my belly button . . . so I was feeling for the right thing. She then mentioned that she usually expects it to be right at the belly button around 20 weeks and I am just a little under the belly button. So what are your thoughts? All the signs seem to say I am 16 + weeks along . . . except for the ultrasound which is supposed to be the most specific and reliable. She said they determine the ultrasound date by the head to rump measurement. So would you guess I just have an extra big, extra active child who is still at an early fetal age . . . or I have an older but smaller than usual infant? I know there is no real specific answer but I was just curious what people think. or if they have had similar "dating" dilemmas.

I was never diagnosed with pcos but did have irregular periods. I always wanted another child but was never blessed . . . and my only child is 16 years old. I got the band, lost to about within 10 pounds of goal, got off the pill and was pregnant within 2 weeks. I am certain it never would have happened this way without the band and significant weight loss. I couldn't be happier now that I have a baby coming and a cute little baby bump on a normal sized healthy body :0)

You can also look up articles online and just start reading about it and putting things in to practice. Eye contact and body language are essential and it is something that needs to be practiced. Also, meeting people online might be a way to start building up some levels of confidence just in chatting. You have to be careful with this route in that you don't always know who you are talking with but it can be a start. There are soo many sites you can peruse such as match.com or eharmony, etc.

I went through stages where I felt this way too. The whole banding experience has ups and downs as you are making adjustments to life changes. I found the initial weight losses were great but when the scale stopped moving it put me into a deep funk. You just get sooo excited to finally be banded and begin the journey it is hard to come to terms with the fact that it is a slow journey. Give it a litle time and you will get there . . . all you have to do is to keep trying and following the rules. Everything will come in its own time and when you are ready for it. :0)

You can ease up but you just have to keep yourself in check. Your scale can tell you when you can ease up and when you have to tighten down. When you reach your maintenance weight, make choices that allow you to live a normal life but not exceed more than 5 or so pounds from where you want to be. You can self adjust natually if you are diligent and careful. However, you need to be careful that certain unhealthy foods do not become a normal part of your diet. You shouldn't restrict yourself from the occasional indulgence . . . but make sure that occasional is just that, occasional.

You have to choose what is best for your own personal situation. Really, it doesn't matter what you choose whether it be banding, R&Y, traditional dieting, medications, or anything else. There will always be people that are very vocal about being scandalized by your choice. Life is just that way. If you look at your health, your eating habits, your commitment level and circumstances in your life . . . the choice becomes more clear. Just remember to take other peoples opinions with a grain of salt.

I did foster care for years when my son was younger. I usually worked with teenagers, mostly boys after my first experience or two with teenage girls was finished, lol. I don't mean that negatively, it is just that teenage boys are a whole lot easier for me than teenage girls . . . perhaps lack of pms, or having lots of brothers growing up??? Anyway, I have had a couple of children that were on medication. One interesting thing I found was that changes in medication (or dosages) would sometimes have a very specific impact on hunger and later weight. I noticed it with Adderol, Ritalin and Depacote. The impact could sometimes be extreme such as never really eating more than a bite or two at dinner and having to be coaxed to eat that much . . . to having a huge after school snack, dinner with seconds or thirds, a dessert snack, and refrigerator raids in the middle of the night. Medication can make a huge difference in more than just behavior. The weather here in Ohio has been really rainy and not too cold . . . which is very surprising. Unfortunately we will probably make up for this mild start to winter in early Spring when winter just won't go away. Laura, I am happy to hear you can feel the baby moving, I just started feeling the "flutters" this weekend but only in mid-morning and they are almost imperceptable. I loved the ultrasound videos . . . I have my big one coming up in a few weeks and I can't wait to see :0). I hope everyone has a happy Monday!!!

My 14 year old sister just had this done. It was an easy recovery but she ate things like popsicles and mashed potatoes for a couple of days. I normally wouldn't think you would need an unfill . . . but if you are pb'ing 5 days a week you might need one anyway on general principle. It is not normal to pb this often. Either your band is too tight . . . or perhaps you need to eat slower and chew more. No matter what the cause, it needs to be addressed for the health of your band.