addy

Thanks, that does help, I think I snack to much or graze all day instead of "sitting" down and eating. I am going to start measuring ALL my foods today. This is our year!! addy

Thanks Aligmamma, I have already marked my calendar for the 12th, that's it right? I don't exercise as much as I had, because of school, lots of computer classes kept me in a chair, and the whole back thing. I have "made" myself start riding my exercise bike, and when I lose my legs, I just go lie down. I am determined 2009 is my year for weight loss :Yawn: thanks addy

Hello fellow Junies, my name is addy, I had surgery on June 6, 2008. I have been looking at your successes, how wonderful! Now, may I ask some advice, what are you eating? I have only lost 24lbs and I have had to cut that off with a hot knife:unsure:. I have only had 4 fills, I go back Jan 5th for 5th. I still fill like I have no restriction. I see where people eat just a 1/4 or 1/2 cup of something, and I can't even imagine. I would like to do the same. I also still have horrible gas pains, do ya'll? Well, congrats, so proud for ya'll. Here's to all of us having a wonderful new year and celebrating in 6 months.:Yawn: Thanks for any help, addy

Perky66, and Aligmamma, Aligmamma I don't know if you remember me addy, I have been off the site for quite awhile, I just looked at yours and Perky66's weight loss and date of surgery, May 08', Congratulations! Can either of you help me?? I had surgery June 08' and I have only lost 16-25lbs it fluctuates. I am just sick, I don't know what I am doing wrong?? I have had 4 fills and go back Jan 5th. I still don't really feel like I have any restriction, but I am cutting way back and "trying" (because of my back) to exercise. I hope to start back with the meetings in Jan. had classes all last semester. Can either of you give me some pointers? Thanks addy p.s clothes loser, just no more weight loss :Yawn:

Tpagern, I know that I have not been on here long, but I am discouraged, those of you who have had this for a while, Do you ever feel like the band is tight after a fill?? I loved the way I felt after surgery, (after I could eat of course :thumbup: I could only eat a small amount and I would eat about 5-6 times a day and be happy!! Now, I have to work hard not to eat. I would not have needed the surgery if I could have done that. How many fills does it take to get back to the post surgery feel?? Sometimes I even think if I didn't know better, I would swear I did not have surgery :party: I guess I just have to work harder. Sorry to complain, you all are so inspiring to me. addy

SoCalCass, I had my surgery on June 6, 08. I had a hiatal hernia repair also. My dr. asked me if I had a hx of reflux and because I told him I had a "bad" hx, he scheduled me for and EGD, they did find one, and he fixed it during surgery. He did however, tell me that they always check for those when they do the surgery, because you will have reflux if they don't fix it then. Just ask your dr., to calm any fears, I am sure he will fix it if he finds one. If you had a hiatal hernia so big that they could not fix it, then believe me you would know it. You would have horrible reflux, and besides they can fix them anyway. They do surgeries for HH all the time, without doing bandings. They call it a Nissan Fundiplication, fancy word for laprascopic HH repair. Think good thoughts. addy

Hi all, went to dr. yesterday, got my second fill. Dr. K did it, and was able to get it the first time, :thumbup:, no hospital visit or bruises. I also lost 7lbs. since the last visit. Seems slow till I look back, 7lbs. in a little over a month, about a lb. a week. Tried every diet, didn't do that consistantly before. :thumbup: Hoping that 2 is a charm. Hope you all have a good week. addy

Hey all, once again, I missed the meeting last night. And to make it worse, it was my aunt (husband's aunt) that spoke last night. She has been a real help to me. I guess, I am not going to be able to to go until next year. I am starting to take classes at the college and they will be on Mon. night. Only night I could do it. Does anyone know where the other meeting is, and when? I may have to try and go there. CAN NOT wait until next week, when I go back, hope to get my second fill. Have a good day all addy

WOO HOO!!! Way to go aligmamma. addy

oh, aligmamma, so sorry that you are feeling bad. Man, that sounds scary. I really hope you get to feeling better today. addy

Do you drink it straight out of the bullet? I guess it is just me, I will try it again, I got mine at Joe's also. It really tasted strong :w00t: Maybe it was the smell? I will try it again and hold my nose :eek: I have not tried the ones at the dr. office. Oh, you know what I did not get mine at Joe Smoothies, it had something in it that I cannot take with my blood pressure, something to hype you up. So I had to get my at GNC, they said it was the same thing. Joe's would only sell it in case, and I did not want to buy a case until I was sure I liked it. I had forgotten that. I will have to check again and see if it was the same brand. I tried several different ones, even a bottle of stuff. I only need to take half at a time? Thanks for telling that. I got to sleep in this morning until 7:00 it was wonderful!!! My eating even went better today. Have a good evening everyone. addy

lo2us, how do you drink those bullets? Do you mix them with something? I tried to take a swig out of one, and wooh, I couldn't do it. I hope you mix it with something, sweetner?? water?? Perky 66 how many fills have you had? I know every one is different. Went to water aerobics tonight, I am tired, I haven't been since before my surgery June 6th. But, it is a good tired. I am going to take lo2us's advice and try to walk in the morning, if I can move, LOL. bye all, addy

lo2us, I get up at 3:30 or 4:00 depending on what time he has to leave. I usually don't go back to take a nap until 8:00 or so , depends on what I am doing, how sleepy I am. Bible study, picking the garden, straightening up the house, etc.. whatever until I get sleepy again. I will try to do some exercise, maybe when it cools down some I can walk in the mornings. You are right, it would be nice to know that it is out of the way. I have missed walking every evening this last week, because I walk at 8:00pm, and I have been busy each night. So, it would be good to know that I had it out of the way, anything else (water aerobics) would just be icing on the cake. :thumbup: addy

Hey all, I feel better today, thanks for the shoulders and encouraging words. I tried going back to the liquid portion for a few days. I already feel better. Just kind of feeling in control again. I am sorry to get on here and whine :thumbup: but like I said, everyone else would not understand and tell me I shouldn't have had it. I was and am glad to have it. Anyone who has not had it yet, please don't let me discourage you. I would have it again, tomorrow!! They just called from Dr. H's office and moved my appt. from the 15th to the 19th with Dr. K. I am really hoping for a fill then. I go back to water aerobics tonight and I really need it. I know that will help me. Is the meeting this month on the 12th? I haven't got the date down yet. 2nd Monday of the month? thanks again, have a great day everyone :thumbup: addy

well, I hope you are all doing well, I am kind of disgusted with myself. I am still stuck with the same weight, I am feeling really fat today. I went to church this morning and I had my cup of coffee (which I hate) and then did not really have time to eat breakfast. It was 1:15 before I got to eat. When I got home, my husband had stuff for me to do, so finally I got to eat, and really I just wanted to drink a gallon of water, but can't drink for 30 min. before or an hour after. I am still waiting to have a drink not till 2:15. I cannot seem to get any kind of a schedule. I am so thirsty all the time, I don't seem to ever get enough to drink, because of the time of eating. My husband is a truck driver so he leaves "early" every morning. I get up and have my coffee, then do my bible study, then I don't feel like eating, because it is so early and I need to go back to bed. I go back to sleep and usually get up around 8:00, then I have to start the coffee mess over again, right?? Because I layed back down right??? I don't know how to break these old habits, I use to go all day without eating, and then go crazy when I did eat. I catch myself falling back into those old habits. I liked it better when my stomach was swollen so that I could only eat a little, it seemed like I really concentrated on eating 4 small meals a day, because my stomach would scream for food, LOL. I have told my family that my stomach would growl, and my pouch would be meowing :teeth_smile: Sorry for whining, I said I was going to quit that, but I cannot tell everyone, or they will say "Well, you didn't have to have it" I would not go back and undo it, I guess I just thought it would be different results. I could eat so little when I was swollen that I ate good, made good choices and made myself stay on a schedule. Now that it doesn't seem to matter, old habits are slipping back in. Well, thanks for the ear, any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Like I said I go back next week and hopefully get the 2nd fill. I know God allowed me to have this, so He will see me through. addy

Thank you JRFAN88, I hope I will get another fill on the 14th when I go, maybe then I will start feeling full. I told Dr. H that at first I could only eat 1/2 of a lean cuisine and now I can eat a whole one ( I didn't tell him I could eat even more) and he just said DON'T eat more than half, train yourself. I wanted to say if I could train myself, I would not be here, LOL :biggrin: That was at my first fill, so I am looking forward to the next one. And, those next 5 lbs lo2us, congratulations, I am glad that all was well. Congrats on the add. weight loss. I wish sometimes that we all could have just ready access to an x-ray machine just to check it out :thumbup: TPAGERN I agree, I think my pouch is stretched to the max, I usually only feel "full" when I drink. I don't know whether the liquid hits a "full" stomach an hour later or whether I just drink to fast. I miss my straw so much. I feel so thirsty and like I cannot drink fast enough to get satisfied. I guess it is just a learned habit, drinking with a straw. I forgot one day and ordered tea and before I really realized it I had drank the whole 32 oz glass with the straw, well at first I thought "WOW, I can drink from a straw, woo hoo, with no problems" well my stomach blew up like a balloon and I was belching like crazy. Plus belly pain, so NO more straws. I also think I have a problem with gulping to much air, when I drink. My stomach bloats up everyday and all night I have gas, gone the next morning, anyone else?? any solutions??? I have been very thankful, have not yet vomited or even had pb's. Well, wish everyone a great day and again lo2us, so glad all went well. addy

I agree, I don't know how I can still eat, of course, I have only had one fill, but I have heard of others who have not had any fills. That is what is frustrating to me, I KNOW that I am not to compare myself with others, I didn't even want to know how much he put in, because I did not want to mentally mess myself up worrying about it or comparing my fill to others. I finally broke my plateau, by only a pound but at least maybe that is a start, I hope. I still worry that mine is not working, since I am able/wanting to eat more than a few ounces. They keep telling me that I would not even be able to swallow if it had slipped or anything was wrong. I guess we need to remember the slower it is, the less problem with loose skin, I just thought/hoped it would be a little faster. BUT, WE WILL GET THERE!! All have a great day, addy

when I had to have my EGD it was Dr. Balasakerian, I am sure that is spelled wrong. You will do fine, he was really nice and that is who DR. H sent me to. Just hang in there, I will be praying for you. addy

Well, thanks for letting me know about the burning. I have such pain in the area around my port. I have been working in my garden, just picking it, and maybe that is what is keeping it stirred up. I go back to the dr. in Aug. Do you automatically get another fill, when you go back if the first one did not do it? Or do you go back and then have to go back again for a fill? My husband keeps telling me he can tell, even though the scales are not moving. I wish I had taken my measurements. Don't worry about gaining, you caught it before you gained more, that is good, if I had caught myself when I first gained 10lbs, I wouldn't be here now, :thumbup: So you have done good to catch it now and start over. Ya'll have a good day, addy

I also wanted to ask, do any of you have burning or pulling sensation around your port? Mine seems to burn or hurt at the base of my ribs. thanks, addy

Hello everyone, sorry I haven't been on, I have been working in the garden and canning. ws467, it seems like it took a long time, but really less than a year I guess. I went to one of the meetings and then I had to wait, because I am on Medicare. They were just starting to approve (or think about it) after I went to see about it. I had to have sleep study, psych exam, nutritionist for 4 months, and because I had history of reflux, I had to have an EGD, which showed I had a hiatal hernia. I broke my back and have had several surgeries and need another, so I needed the surgery to help with that also. Once Medicare started taking people, I was approved pretty quickly, because I had already filled out everything and was on the waiting to contact list. I know this is long, but that is what all happened. Aligmamma, I get terrible chest pain when I am "to full" or have eaten something that I did not chew good. I thankfully, have not thrown up, but I really get a lot of pressure on my chest when I am full. I try to stop before I am full, but, I just got my first fill last week and I don't feel any different. Kind of disappointing. I know that it may take more fills, but I really was hoping to tell some difference. I am frustrated because of my back, I have trouble exercising and I am walking to the point of not being able to walk (having to go to bed after I walk) and staying in the box, I also get soooooo thirsty when I eat, but I wait, sometimes I wait to long, I get busy and forget what time it is, other times I sit there and count it down. I know that it will come, from reading all of your encouragement, and watching your scales, but I guess I need to be a little more patient. I get tired of people asking me how much more have I lost, or watching what I eat. I guess just like any other diet, everyone wants to know. I haven't been able to go to last two meetings, since I had surgery, but I plan on being there next month and hopefully that will get me back on track mentally. I appreciate all of you! addy

Wow, that is what I am afraid of having to have all of them in hospital. Have they said, why you have to go back to the hospital each time? Does it move or what? I am going to ask them to put a perm. mark on it. I cannot afford it either, but I guess I will!! I hope this will be the last time to go for fluoro. I can feel it, I wonder why they cannot get it? Well, like I said this first time, I would rather have it under x-ray, so they can look at everything else. Thanks for the heads up. I was a little nervous about it, it bruised so bad, after the last attempts. Surely one will not bruise. addy

I totally forgot about the meeting last night. I have got to start marking my calendar each month so as not to miss them. I went to one pre-op and I really enjoyed it. I go tomorrow at 9:00 am to the hospital to have my fill done under fluoro. I hope this starts the weight coming off, at least I have not gained. I am ready to go back to water aerobics, hopefully next week. addy

lo2us, Sorry, I just noticed the 6-6 date, not the year, you are a year ahead of me, you are such a great inspiration to know that I will be doing that great next year. addy

hello everyone, I have been trying to take care of my mother in law who had a pacemaker and then complications with BP. I have been reading back over some of the postings, Lo2us, WOW we got banded on the same day and you have done so well. I am stuck, I have only lost 21lbs and I am staying the SAME! At least I am not gaining, but it is kind of frustrating. I haven't been able to resume water aerobics because of my incisions, they are still bruising and swelling. I went for my first fill on the 8th of July and Dr. H was unable to find my port, has this happened to anyone else???? I was scheduled to go to hospital and have it filled under x-ray, but something came up and I am trying to reschedule for next Wed. He said there was to much swelling and brusing to find it. He did not want to stick me anymore. I am kind of glad though, at least this way they can look and see if everything is ok. I am so afraid that something has moved. I am praying that when I get my fill, I will start losing again. I am riding my stationary bike and working in the garden, best I can. Just wondering what I am doing wrong, trying so hard to stay in the "box"! Any suggestions from anyone?? thanks, addy