kirafiki

My realize band port did the weirdest thing. About a month after surgery I bent over to pick up a piece of paper off the floor and it popped out! Seriously, I had to push it back in, and then wear a compression belt for about a month. Ever since then there is some funky kink in my hose, and drawing Fluid out is nearly impossible without jiggling my ever more flabby belly around near the port site. All this does though is make it more difficult at fill time. If they put too much in at first, fine tuning the fill is more difficult, but not impossible. On the other hand.. YAY for breaking 200!!!!! Congratulations! Keep up the good work, and try not to spend too much time worrying about your port!

Slider foods are the things that are so liquified once they hit your pouch that they go right through and you are hungrier sooner. For me, that is usually things that are carb based... carbs start being broken down in your mouth with the saliva that is mixed with them, while proteins require the chemicals in your stomach to start the breakdown process. The really bad part? All the calories are still available to you and absorbed. Another bad part? Get too used to them and you aren't using the band correctly. You can get stuck in a cycle of feeling hungry all the time even if you are eating pretty regularly. For sushi... I have always preferred sashimi... just the fish, no rice. So that is what I have when I go. As far as eating out is concerened, it took me about five months to go out to eat. It was when I felt comfortable knowing I could eat and stop when I was full. Now, one trick I do is that I bring my own plastic food containers, and when the food arrives I first remove the food I am not going to eat, and just get it off my plate. No need to ask for a container from the server, I just take care of it myself. The most important thing is to try things out. Nothing is off limits, it is just the quantity that you need to watch out for. Most people have no problem with spicy food, but that will be for you to find out when the time comes if your new stomach pouch likes the spicy. Personally, I start my day with a protein shake. My band is tight in the morning, and that is all I can handle but need fuel for spin class. It usually isn't until around 10 or 11 in the morning that I can handle substantial food. Also, by drinking at least one shake a day I know I am getting my protein in. Good luck! Keep up the good work, and ask as many questions as you need to in order to find the assistance you need!!!

Unfortunately, this is very common. I have tried to analyze it, because that is what I do. The only explanation I have come up with is that there is some level of jealousy... especially when we are very successful. I think (maybe, just a guess here) that some other WLS patients were told that they have the most successful weight loss results, and when those of us who do as well or better than they were told banded patients do they feel as though its not fair that they re-routed their gastrointestinal tract to get the same results we do without having changed our anatomy is such a drastic way. Just my guess though. I have a dear friend who had bypass, did really well, and has been nothing but supportive of me, and I of her. When it comes down to it, I really have no idea why they are like that. I just try to focus on myself, and know that I did the right thing for me and they did the right thing for them.

Oh, I totally understand!!! It is really hard to stay positive and keep on track... and no one is perfect. Be kind to yourself. I also find that once I let go of the frustration, and my mind is set free from that anxiety my body follows. I have learned so much about myself, mostly while in a plateau. Remember though, you are not alone... keep posting and reaching out when you need some words of kindness.

I like GNC Whey Isolate 28 in chocolate mixed with soy milk... I don't drink cow's milk. It has 28g of protein, very little carbs, and when mixed with the soy its very thick and creamy.

Another thing I thought of... I turned plateaus into my time to work on my head. I knew my head would have to change the way it thinks about my body, but had no idea how much it would have to. Now I take this time to get used to seeing a smaller me in the mirror and believing it. I am really impressed with how well you have done so far!

Not sure this will help, but here is my experience. As I hit a plateau, and I have hit many since I was banded, I would analyze the weight I was at, and most times it was some weight where I had stayed over the years for an extended period of time. Its almost as if my body remembered the weight, felt comfortable there and stayed there. They always break. Every time. I just remembered to eat right and keep exercising, and at some point my metabolism would kick back in and take care of things. One thing I find really helpful for kicking a plateau's ass, changing what exercise I am doing. I am in a rut right now, doing spin a lot and not much else. I started kick boxing, and hope that is going to jump start the loss again. Don't get me wrong, I weigh less than I have since junior high school. That still amazes me every day. the bottom line is, the plateau will break... this is the time your resolve to stick with it is challenged. Stay with it. We all get frustrated at times. When I hit 70 lost, I plateaued for a few months, and then once I figured out to change up the exercise it started down again. I like to call that my second wind. I am currently waiting for the 3rd... Good luck and keep up the good work!

I am 40, and have been on and off diets since I was six years old. I didn't make it through puberty without stretch marks. Not to mention, my boobs were never good looking... you can't loose and gain and loose and gain during their development and expect them to be fine at 40! I have a CRAZY amount of extra skin. The cost of all the plastic surgery I want is outrageous, so now I am coming to terms with the extra skin. I try to look at it in that its better deflated and I am healthy than full and on my way to an early death. Every one is different. Regardless of age and dieting history. Skin elasticity is genetically determined and influenced by the environment. Just focus on treating your body the way we all should, with love, care and respect. The mind will follow.

Unfortunately, the more I lost the more I felt it... and now I can see it. It pokes me when I bend over. For me, its a small price to pay to save my life. Down the line, when I finally save up enough for some good old plastic surgery I will have it relocated. And yes, mine also feels like a circle. I like to feel it... it reminds me regularly of the good things I am doing for myself!

I always kind of thought the sweet spot was where you and the band had become good friends. It sounds like you are there. Enjoy it! And congratulations!

STARTING SIZE: 30-32 CURRENT SIZE: 12 I FEEL: Accomplished Need to work on: How to get rid of the last 25-30 pounds, and how to NOT look at all the extra skin and still see 315 pounds.

Thanks for all your suggestions! I really appreciate them!

Had my first fill since last March this morning! I have been white knuckling it since at least October. I needed that time to let my head catch up with the changes my body has gone through in the last year and a half or so. But it is SO NICE to not be starving again! Now to get the last 20 or 30 pounds off!

It does take a while for the band to assist most people. My surgeon was also very conservative with my early fills, and I only live a half an hour away. Regarding it becoming a lifestyle... that is different for everyone. I still weigh and measure, over a year and a half later. Still getting fills, just had one today. I hadn't had one since last March, so I was unrestricted since at least October. That meant weighing and measuring for the last six months or so. I kind of look at weighing and measuring as part of the lifestyle. I don't call it a diet though. It took me a while to not look at it as dieting, since that terminology had been pounded into my head since I was six years old. It will get easier, I promise. Just be good to yourself, and follow the new rules that came with your new lifestyle, even if it looks a lot like dieting right now. Keep up the good work!

Uh, I think you can post your "thing", as often as you like. I was raised by lesbians, in the 70's when it wasn't 'cool' to be a lesbian. It's great to see a bariatric support group specifically for the LGBT community. There weren't many support groups of any kind back then, even in crazy old California!

Hang in there. I had the shoulder gas pains too (I won't tell you how long, but I was so happy when they were gone). Luckily I had no family to cook for though. I did have a housemate at the time, who two days after surgery, went to the grocery store and bought a whole fried chicken and ate it two feet from me. The entire time she smacked her lips, licked her fingers and declared how delightful it was to be eating it. I just sat there and stared at her in disbelief, while I sucked on my sugar free popsicle. The oddest part? She is a recovering food addict too, she just took another route, the eat what you want when you want it in the quantity you want it.... just as long as it is satisfying whatever need you have at the moment so it won't leave you wanting more. It worked for her, but that would have never worked for me...

I have had two weeks of a real emotional rollercoaster... Possile cancer diagnosis being the worst of the information that was given to me in this time period. About a week after I got that news, I realized that the stress from it was bringing up all the old feelings, emotions, thoughts and behaviors of my compulsive eating disorder. A year and a half after surgery, and I had mostly gotten control of them. I have been without a fill since April, so basically unrestricted since at least October of last year. I called for an appointment for a fill, and the first available was two and a half weeks away. I was afraid of two weeks of this emotional junk without restriction. I just got a call from the doctor's office and it seems that they had a cancellation Monday, this coming Monday!!! Now my mind can get away from the hunger pangs, and be allowed to focus on keeping myself healthy while I wait the weeks and weeks before I find out about the cancer issue. I must say, contributing to the posts and questions here has been very theraputic.

What I found very helpful to me are Protein bullets... I think they are called New whey. But some people don't like whey protein. They come in two different protein amounts, 42g and I think 21g or so. They are a bit pricey, and they are really pretty sweet, some people add them to Water or propel or something. Look them up online... they were invaluable to me in the beginning. Good luck!

Please don't feel like a failure! You are not! For the month after my surgery, before I had my first fill, I was starving ALL THE TIME. I just tried to remind myself that every day I made it through that phase was one day closer to my goal of living a life that was healthy, and how I will FINALLY be taking care of myself the way I should be. I also lost no weight during the first four weeks after surgery, which made it very difficult to remind myself of these things... but I made it. And have had nothing but success since. Just try to be kind to yourself. You are making steps to a happier, healthier you. The hardest part is almost done... the rest is an amazing journey in which you have the opportunity to learn so much about yourself, especially how strong you are! Hang in there... it only gets better, and I have found it does so exponentially!

Goodness! I would drink lots of decaffienated tea then! You might get dehydrated! It is very weird, I have never heard of this before... I would be interested in what the doc says about it... I am always looking to learn things!

Ladybug: Stress ABSOLUTELY affects a lot of people's bands. Melliecat: If you can't keep anything down, contact your doctor... not being able to eat is just as much of a problem as being able to eat too much.

Hi there! We can all associate with this experience. Let me tell you my worst story of a stranger's comments (I won't go into how much my "loved ones" have said over the years). I was in a local grocery store one day. Its a store known for being frequented by health nuts. I was about 70 pounds into my weight loss, and was feeling pretty good about myself. I was in there to get a little fruit and some crackers. Now mind you, a box of crackers lasts a month! So, there was some issue at the register so we were all there waiting for it to be resolved and I started looking at the dark chocolate bars, reading the nutritional content. I wasn't planning on buying one, but was taking a moment to inform myself. The guy behind me, who looked like he had been a vegetarian, raw food eater for years said "you know if you are worried about carbs, you shouldn't be buying crackers". For just a second, I was dumbfounded and went to the place I always used to go when strangers made comments... the sad, fat girl. And then something in me clicked. I looked directly at him as said "Who the f*** do you think you are, and why do you think you have the right to make comments like that to a complete stranger. You have no idea where I have been, my personal history or what I have done to get here". He immediately went on the defensive and tried to make me feel bad. I told him that he was rude, and out of line, and that he should, in the future, keep his nasty comments to himself. He said, "fine, if you don't want to talk about it, then let's end the discussion". I said, "I never wanted to talk about it with you, and it's not in your power to end the discussion... you started the discussion, now be man enough to finish it". He said no. So I paid, and waited at the door outside, and when he came out, I followed him to his car, to continue the discussion. That was the moment I realized that the power had been shifted back to me, and that I was finally in a place where I would no longer take that kind of abuse from strangers. As for my family... when they say things, I always tell them that since I don't obsess on their weight, I think they should find a way to stop obsessing on mine. Weight is one of the last socially acceptable forms of descrimination. That being said, I am not a "fat acceptance" kind of girl... I am a "human acceptance" person. Treat others as you want to be treated, or suffer the consequences. I always wonder if that rude man in the store thought twice before doing that to another fat person. Probably not, but I like to hope so. Another favorite of mine: "Weight can be changed, but base personality can't. I can lose weight, however you are stuck with your awful personality forever"

I do think you are definitely over filled. I think its a very good thing you are going in to see the doc next week. I have a friend to tries to be really aggressive with her fills, and then gets stuck like this and can't eat... always has to have some removed. Good luck!

I believe that a stretched pouch usually causes heartburn or acid reflux... I haven't researched it much. Let us know what you find out? I will look around too!

Usually, when I start thinking this its time for a fill. I can't guarantee you haven't stretched your pouch, but every time I worry I have, I go in and its just a fill I needed. Hope that helped!