HeatherO

You need to be really, really careful with being too tight. Having restriction is pointless if you end up getting a slipped band from being too tight too long. If you can't get 3 sips down, it probably isn't going to get any better. I made the mistake of getting too tight a fill, could drink but not easily, and thought I would give it a few days . . . pb'd a few times and then my stomach swelled until I could get nothing down. I then had to have a huge unfill where I had no restriction to allow my stomach to heal. By waiting, I not only made the problem worse, I had to go back to less restriction than I had for many, many months. Don't wait, call your doctor. Always remember . . . fluids are the most important. If you can't keep them down in small quantities, you have a serious problem and time may just make it worse instead of better. Why risk it???

It is funny how you get tired of the sizes you dreamed of attaining in the past. I got down to a comfortable size 8 in pants - with pregnancy I started pulling out my 10's again because they are comfortable. I didn't realize how sad I would be going up a size, even though it is for a wonderful reason and I haven't gained any weight. I can remember how ecstatic I was to get into my first size 14's as an adult - now the thought of a size 14 fills me with horror, lol. I am not crazy about Becky for a nickname either - it is too common but Becca is really cute for a nickname. Isabella - Izzy is adorable. I do like the name Brianna but I have a cousin with this name who's nickname is Bri (sounds like Bree), she is vivacious, smart and a cheerleader. She always goes by her nickname and it is really a cute name. On the other hand, I knew a talkative, busybody who could be a little annoying named Natalie and I always think of it when I hear that name. I think sometimes we just like/dislike names because of who we have known previously :0). Violet is a top 100 name? I have also never heard of a real person who's name was Violet . . . it does seem strange. I have to start thinking about names as well, but I can't find any that really sound like "the" name. What is strange is that I can think of lots of options for girls names but am drawing a complete blank on boy names. . . does that mean that subconsciously I think I must be having a girl??? I can't wait to find out if it is a boy or girl!!! I guess tomorrow is the big day when you will find out.

I would suggest calling the doctor as well. It sounds like the pain is significant and if you didn't do anything very physical to induce it, it is best to get checked out.

14 pounds is still going in the right direction. I was told to lose at 1-2 pounds per week . . . you are doing that and you are probably healthier and less prone to hair loss than those of us who are losing more. Charting might help you as well if you are not sure how many calories you are getting in daily . . . sometimes I find when I chart I am ingesting more than I thought I was because a little bite here and there does add up. Exercise will definitely kick the loss into a higher gear for you. Even if you are working a lot of hours, it is still good to get it in, even if you start with 30 minutes 3x's a week. You can always get a 30 minute workout video at the library . . . this is free so no initial investment. Sometimes you just have to shake up your routine a little to break a plateau or increase the rate of loss. You are already doing the right things . . . a small tweak to your routine might yield a big difference.

I was walking right away. I was cleared for normal exercise at 4 weeks and I started going to the gym regularly again. I had some port pain with abdominals and my doctor said give it another two weeks for abdominals but aerobics were fine. I was a little weak and slow weeks 4-6 but by week 7 I felt pretty darn good and exercise was no problem at all.

MacMadame and Jachut, you both have excellent points and I couldn't have said it better myself. Weight loss is a struggle for all of us, we wouldnt be here if it wasn't. I was one of those people who kept returning to somewhere around 200 or so for the past 10+ years, but staying there and not rising above was a complete struggle. I have gone to they gym for years and years, have always been physically active, have been eating a generally low-fat high quality diet for those years (only obviously I ate too much of it . . . too much of a good thing can still be too much. I could always drop my weight anywhere from 10-70 pounds at a shot, I could never maintain it. I have spent years obsessing over my weight . . .and where has it gotten me. Well, in all honesty it did get me somewhere. My younger sister never exercises, she eats what she wants with only the occasional thought towards dieting and she is 300+ pounds. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that if I would have just given up completely, I could have made it to the 300's. Marieg, I was a lot like you about 3 years ago. I started investigating wls, jumped through the hoops, was about to go through bypass and scared myself out of it at the last minute (and I am happy I did because banding was a better choice for me). I did consider wls a last resort and decided to do it myself one more time. All I did in my own case was waste my time. I lost 70 pounds, kept it off for a while . . . and then the inevitable happened, pound by desperate pound. You mentioned that you have been struggling with your weight for 25 years or so . . . I didnt want to do this for 25 plus years. The end of the last year I was so depressed about it because I had to accept that my final push failed miserably even though it took two years for me to lose and get back to 200+. I really wish you the best of luck with your last attempt. My personal feeling is that the band is an excellent tool that should be available to everyone who struggles with obesity. 200 pounds on one person can be as miserable as 400 pounds on another depending on stature and circumstance . . . who am I to say one is more deserving than the other, they are both deserving. I feel that the only people who should not have wls are as follows: 1) Those with psychological issues that are likely to prevent eventual success with the band or could cause more damage to themselves (bulimia, anorexia, body dysmorphia, etc) 2) Those who did not do research and do not have a full understanding or the ability to commit to what banding entails. 3) Those whose lifestyles or eating styles will not lead to success with the band (heavy sugar/liquid calorie intake, constant grazing, etc) I really don't care if it is health or cosmetic issues that are the strongest underlying reasons. All of us have some cosmetic reason for doing this as well. Statistics say that obesity will most likely lead us to initimate knowledge of suffering with comorbidities in the future anyway. Why not nip it before it ever even starts?

Congrats on your banding and happy losing!!! It seems unusual to require 6+ days of heavy pain meds. My script when leaving the hospital was for 2 small pills, of which I only took one and saved the other for when I felt really bad . . . which I never did. However, I know everyone tolerates pain differently. I hope you are feeling fine now that you are a little further out.

That is a great NSV. I noticed everyone in all the stores are more helpful now . . . strange what a difference a few pounds makes.

Congrats and good luck!!! It will be here before you know it. It is also perfect timing for New Year's resolutions, lol.

I agree with what she said :wink_smile:

I think too many of us have suffered reflux issues, slippage, pain after eating, etc. just by having unrealistic expectations of what restriction should be. The band should help you but not cause suffering. I think this is an excellent article and thank you for sharing.

If you are having pain you should get checked out sooner rather than later. Waiting might cause things to get worse. Unless you can find a new doctor and schedule something over the next few days you should consider going back to your surgeon.

Sometimes they just don't know how to react. I know there were times in the past that if I was feeling down and my hubby made me an ice cream sundae . . . I would have been happy about how thoughtful he was. They just have to get used to how things have changed, and they have to adjust just like the banded person does to the whole change in the concept of food. You just have to talk to him until he learns . . . and if he is anything like most men, you may have to talk about it a few times and subtle and even not-so-subtle hints often do nothing. My husband is the opposite now. I couldn't get him to get me a piece of pizza or ice cream cone now if I threatened his life. I think I must have trained him well, lol. He is even strong when I am weak and hungry.

I don't have anything like that on my back - but I do have a small bulge of fat near my port in between my rib cage and my belly button. It doesn't seem to go away and I have now lost enough that I don't have any rolls or bulges except for that one. It just wont go away even though everything else has. We might all have one or two problem spots . . . but they all might be in different places.

I dont know of anyone who has been diagnosed, yet I know plenty of people who have it. I would say that most of us who have been banded or have had other versions of WLS have a touch of food addiction. The band for me has been a partial cure along with lots of self work. I have not gone to conseling but I read and discuss the issue quite a bit and feel I have made great progress. I think I will always be a bit of a food addict . . . remove my band and I have no doubt whatsoever that I will be obese again.

I am past due for resizing as well. I have started wearing a smaller band on top of my wedding ring or it slides off when I am changing clothes. I think this thread is just the kick in the pants that I need to go do something about it, lol.

Documentation is sooo valuable. You can almost think of this as good luck for the tummy tuck to be down the road, lol. It is worth going.

Carbonation should be avoided. I don't think the Cosmopolitan's would hurt you at all as far as digestion or the band is concerned. The biggest reason to avoid alcohol (other than the carbonated varieties which must be avoided) is because a lot of us became obese due to food addictions, emotional eating, etc. Anyone who suffers from any kind of addiction can be predisposed to switching addictions when the usual choice is no longer available to us. Also, some mixed drinks are swimming in excess calories. I am not a drinker, but I had a little virgin eggnog over Thanksgiving and found that a tiny half cup stores a whopping 300+ calories. That half cup was yummy but I am afraid to buy any now, lol.

Drinking doesn't help if you are too full. It gets stuck behind the food and might even cause you to vomit. Also, you have to go by "feel" and part of the banding experience is relearning your bodies signals as far as being full or not full. Measuring is a good baseline to avoid overeating . . . however, it it is starting to feel a little uncomfortable you should definitely stop eating even if you have not eaten your premeasured amount. If you give it a little time, you should feel better soon.

I agree completely. There are so many other factors involved. I am thankful that we are not so superficial that our lifes happiness depends on working our way up to an 11, lol. I was also lucky enough to marry a man who fits in the 8/9 category, treats me wonderfully, is intellectually stimulating and loved me when I felt I was barely passing for a 5 at the time, lol. There must have been something there other than my rating on a scale . . . and I am certainly not rich. :thumbup:

I really like this show alot. I also am happy with who they chose for the show. She is pretty and funny and seems like a genuinely real person. This is so much better than just finding someone who fits the "stereotype." I look forward to watching it more in the future.

I was enthralled with the informercial too and it is the first time I have written down a website from tv to order something in more than 10 years. I was going to order because I always look online first and saw the complaints. I had to laugh because the only comment that wasnt a complaint was as follows: 9 days ago by Lindseyhow fat are all of you ...lol i love the kymora it's the best thing in the world i ware it everyday ... you have to soak it in cold Water then put it on but see you try to put it on when you first get it yeah it dont fit PUT IT IN COLD WATER STUPID !!! I had to laugh at the comment. You know I always soak my clothing in cold water and then wear it . . . NOTTT, lol.

I was 32 but wish I would have done it 10 years ago, lol.

I was tired of always having the lights off and/or hiding myself from my husband. He hated it too . . . but my shame could not be overcome until I lost about 50 pounds. I don't hide anymore, lol. I like to wear skirts but always had to wear bikeshorts or something underneath to prevent the thigh rub and occasional resulting rash. Tired of always being tired and lethargic. Always sitting . . . no one really wants to feel that way. I started noticing that my body was making popping/cracking noises when I would stoop or do something physical. Even my body was telling me I was carrying a little too much extra baggage. Plus sized clothes are ugly clothes 90% of the time. I could almost never find anything trendy that actually flattered my body. I was also heavy but I have a thin bone structure (small fingers, thin wrists, dainty ankles no matter how much I weighted). I don't know why, but every plus sized shirt had such a large neck that it always revealed too much cleavage and I would have to wear something under it. I am not sure if it is like that for most heavier people or if I was just proportioned differently than the norm. I like tall boots that go either mid-calf or up to the knee . . . there was no such thing as a pair that would fit my calves unless they were like modern moon boots. I can wear any kind of boots now :0).

LOL, perfect response . . . I was thinking the same thing and then saw that you said it. :thumbup: