barbara465

The fills are the trickest of this whole adventure. For one thing I think when we get a fill we need to give it a chance to take effect before we rush to get another. After a fill and after a PB we should definitely go on liquids for a few days. Not sure about OFPS doctor saying 2 weeks. I think that's a bit much. It should give the stomach a chance to calm down and us a chance to regroup before venturing out to real food. Portion control is important. I take a lunch plate and put my food on it. I don't eat more than what is laid out. Also, dry meats or things your scared to eat, should be eaten with some kind of lube. Things like fat free gravies, applesauce, ketchup, etc. to grease them for the ride down your throat. When you are on liquids, and maybe some mushies, you won't know how much restriction you have. It isn't until you start to eat and fill the pouch that you should notice restriction. If you get stuck don't drink. Drinking makes it worse and causes everything to back up and come out. It really doesn't help the piece that's stuck in most cases. Ofps, I don't understand your doctor. How can he say he will never add any more to your band? As you lose weight the band will get looser or you may lose some of the saline. He will need to add to get restriction. It sounds like he really doesn't know much about the band. Getting fills under fluro is so much easier. They can tell right away if the barium is going down. I don't want fills any other way. For the reunion - is there any direct way to get to sedona? I've only been there once and we were driving. A nice retreat like that sounds great, but we need an airport to make it easy. I've heard from Tribon, cathgr8, warmmorningsun, and lucymann for the challenge. All of them except triban want in on the exchange. Get your goals into me by the 11th. I'll post them and we'll be off on our challenge.

My starting weight 250, current 247, goal 200.

It really is a matter of which philosophy you buy into. It is a time of healing so some higher calorie intake is allowed. For instance, you could have a thick shake as a snack when you are really hungry. Mine were made with a Protein drink instead of milk. It was a way for me to get a little more protein in. I think it is a good idea to control the volume of food you eat at any one time. This takes some self control, which is hard when you are hungry. Try waiting 15 to 30 minutes after your meal. If you are really hungry eat a little more. If you can control what you are taking in for the next 2 week then the fill will take over. It will give you some restriction and help with the hunger. Right now you are wide open and probably don't have much swelling. It makes it difficult because you "think" you are hungry and your able to eat. Bottom Line, try to follow your doctor's instructions. That way they can help you if you get into trouble or need their assistance. It is a time for healing, but you are also banded. You must learn a new way of eating and there's no time like the present. Good luck on your journey

PAB, that was a funny post to read after just telling my cubicle mate my DH was sending too much food. He puts water, juice, jello, applesauce, packets of high protein drinks, etc. in my lunch. I have a cache of food to last me a lifetime!!!! I crave food sometimes, but haven't actually bought anything to smell and not eat. In fact, I haven't really gone out to lunch but once and then I got soup. I love the date of your surgery and hope it has no meaning as to the success/failure of the band. Golf courses are good and there are plenty of great ones around. DH plays all the time. Not me.

This is a very interesting thread. Being a little older than most I probably have a different perspective on things. First, my child was raised with high tops not tennis shoes, sandals, etc. that today's children wear. We thought this was the right thing to do. Fast foods were just coming out. I was not raised with FF, nor could we have afforded them if they were available. I didn't take my child to FF restaurants very often. It just wasn't something I wanted to do or spend our money on. We are in such a hurry these days and always looking for the easy things - that's what makes FF restaurants so appealing. When we were forced to eat out we didn't have french fries or shakes etc. because they were too expensive. I don't eat much from FF restaurants because it just isn't something I do. My son's generation can't live without FF. How does an average family afford this? They opt for fast rather than value. Families on a budget will tell you that they are forced to buy carbs and other high fat foods because they go further and are cheaper. How do we provide a more healthy diet that is affordable? When I went to school we didn't have vending machines. We were not allowed to bring sodas from home for our lunch. We took thermoses with hot Soup and a sandwich and a piece of fruit. It's the values of our parents that set the tone. What this all comes to is education. When everyone went on a low carb diet what happened? Restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores started finding other alternatives to the high carb items. It worked. People made other choices. An active campaign, education, will go further than a ban. Giving people the knowledge to make better choices and providing better choices, will help. Now what about all those commercials to lose weight. We are now bombarded with Lapband surgery, diet company alternatives, healthy products, etc. Don't you think that advertisers recognize a growing trend? Americans are obsessed with weight - too much, too little.

This Texas gal loves Vegas and looks for any excuse to go there! I'm all for that location. It could be a little warm in Vegas in June so we'll have to stay inside. Isn't that a shame next to all those slot machines.

Reginia, That is remarkable weight loss. Try to average it and think of it that way. You are doing great. I lost 8 lbs in one week when I had that overfill and PB. Unfortunately it looks like I gained 4 of it back. I'm not beating myself up because I've been a pretty good bandster. My body is just going some things now and it will have to get with the program. It's early yet to tell, but I think I've got restriction. I don't know how long it will last or what will happen when I go back on solids, but I'm not hungry. Just keep doing what is right and your body will catch up. I'm saying this for myself as well. I'm a little discouraged right now, but it will get better.

DH is very involved in the decorating. I listen and then suggest my plan. Most of the time he executes my plan.

I slept in my recliner for a few nights and then moved to the couch. The couch was good because it had high sides which let me manuver around and then held me in place. I moved to the bed about a week later. It wasn't as comfortable, but I built a fort with pillows and then slept better. I was able to sleep on my side at that time, but needed the cushions for support. This to will pass.

I feel a little different after this fill. First, I felt some tightness in my chest. Not pain, not heartburn, just a little tight. Some of this is due to stress I'm sure and some from the fill. Its like I'm on the brink of heartburn, but not quite there. I also was extremely tired. I am sticking to my liquids and don't plan on going off of them before my 3 days are up. I want this fill to work and give me good restriction, but not PBs. Cindy, should you be getting a fill after a major PB? I worry about you. Do you know exactly what caused it? You may be too sore to get another fill. Just be careful. Darrin - glad to know you are a travel agent. You can look over the locations of our group and help us decide a good place to meet. It should be somewhere we can all go, spend the night, and have something to do that would be fun and interesting. I definitely got my water in yesterday. I don't think I'll have much of a challenge the next few days being on liquids. I just read on another thread about a gal who eats tons and tons of popcorn each night, with butter. OMG, I'm just too scared for that. I bought some of those 100 calorie packs, popped one, and ate one kernel. I was so pertrified I gave it to the dog. I hope this fear stays with me. The bravest I've gotten is eating pretzels. You can chew them to absolute mush. Have a great day everyone!

I got to the surgicenter at 3:00 pm. I registered and was in getting a fill at 3:12, out of there at 3:20. I have gone in the afternoon about that time each time and have waltzed in and out. Usually the only person or one or two others. Only the first time I went a little earlier and there were 4 people ahead of me, but it still went quickly.

OMG just got back from surgicenter. I gained 4 lbs. How is that possible? They said maybe because time of day, bathroom, etc. I was just astonished. I don't know how much they put in, took out, etc. She said I now have 1.5. At first they couldn't find the fill, but when she went to put more in the other came out. I asked her how much total was now in there and she said 1.5. I'm not sure I believe her since she asked them to fill the needle to 1.5. I'll just see how this goes. I just want some restriction. OK good I can't eat for 3 days because I'm now depressed!

I was thinking the goal should be Christmas day - December 25th. For instance, my goal is to weight 200 on that day, down 47 lbs. For me, that's a little over 2 lbs a week. I will have to hussle to get there and be especially good come Thanksgiving. I don't we should set a minimum per week because things happen from week to week - water retention, fills/unfills, cycles, etc. The overall goal is the most important. We can report progress, but its just progress. Does that seem fair?

Glad everything went well for you. I am 6 weeks out and doing great. I really didn't have any post op problems and was surprised and how fast I bounced back. I'm going for my 3rd fill/unfill today. I had a fill, then a PB, and a little unfill. TOday going back for a fill. Now that they are at the surgicenter I doubt if I will ever see Spiegel.

There is a program called CODA - codependecy. I have trouble with the name because I don't think it accurately depicts what it is about. However, it is on the order of the other 12 step programs. This one deals with people who are trying to be in control of everything. It is about living for others and letting others dictate our thoughts and feelings. Many of these issues come out in anger. It is learning to let go. Look for a group near you and get him to go. It can't hurt, but until he finds what the source is, he will continue to be angry. I get angry for no reason and let little things get me down. I even think I'm ridiculous, but can't seem to help it. My DH has been very supportive and got me to understand the CODA thinking. Here is their website http://www.codependents.org/

OK we need to get organzied. The Junebies are the best. PM Aimee (warmmorningsun) with your locations for the list for our June 2007 reunion. PM me with your December goals and if you want to be included in the Christmas exchange. Also need ideas about how to reward and fund the December goals. I'll post the December goals for all who are participating. For the Christmas exchange I'll gather all the names and then randomly matched them. Let's target that for September so everyone gets a chance to "study" up on their gift receipient. This is going to be fun. Deadline for December challenge is August 11th. Make it realistic. I liked the idea of gift cards. We could purchase them and send them to the winner in January. How does that sound? If we have more than one winner of the December goals we could draw for the winner or give more than one. Give me your ideas. Going for a fill today. Hope this is the one!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe you can angle the bed, paint the walls a softer color than white, and put some of the furniture in the closet. I put one of my pieces in my walk-in closet and the other one in my dining room. I had a bookcase with glass doors on one side of the TV armoire and a open bookcase on the other. In my new house my wall isn't big enough to accommodate all of that so I split the pieces. The furniture is beautiful. Just add some color. The cats are nice accessories.

Good morning Junebies! I barely got my water in yesterday, but finally made it. Did way too much snacking yesterday - ginger snap cookies. Going for my fill this afternoon. I hope this does it as I hate the 3 days of liquids followed by the 3 days of mushies my doctor makes us go through after a fill. I know its for my own good, but it gets boring. My August challenge is no snacking or eating after 8. I have to break the habit of getting something at night after dinner. This is going to be really hard as we're having a dinner party on the 19th for 6 other couples. DH birthday and they don't arrive until 6:30. Umm, I may have to eat early and just play hostess. Hope everyone is doing well. This is going to be a good week for all of us!!

OK I've decided to have two Christmas parties this year. One an open house on a Saturday night. The second will be on a Sunday afternoon. This is going to be fun. Here's last year's whimisical tree. It was done in all red/white ornaments.

THe band and the port are not really near each other. The port is the "opening" to the tubing which leads to the band. I would say they punctured the tubing if anything. It is more likely you swelled after your fill and the little they took out was enough. Now you have little or no restriction. The same thing happened to me. I got a fill and felt nothing. Almost 6 days later I had a major PB episode and had to have it unfilled a week later. They took out .7 and I felt immediate relief. Now I can eat anything again and must go in for another fill. I think it just takes time to get it right.

Randi you caught me. I always look to see what everyone has lost! I'm thinking maybe I should let them overfill me. I lost 8 lbs that week!!! :Banane56: I really ate alot for dinner last night. I then had a snack afterwards. I didn't have much for breakfast or lunch. Definitely going in for the fill. I have no restriction and self control is starting to wane. Hope everyone has a good day today. Welcome Cathy to our group. This is the best support group you can ever find.

WOW so much going on. Please, please don't eat solid foods right after a fill. Give your stomach a chance to adjust. It swells some and then it will go back down. Restriction can come up to 2 weeks after a fill so don't push it. Read my thread "Joined PB club revoke my membership" for my story and now others. You don't want what happened to me. I like the challenge of not eating after 8. That is my bad time as well. I'm going to try that too. Last night I had some low fat ice cream at 8:45. I only had a few bites and gave it to the dog, but I did have those few bites. I am really getting into the water. I find the more I drink the thiristier I get. Go figure. Sorry to hear about your children's divorce. Its hard on us parents and the grandchildren. I live in Texas so maybe I'll have to go kick #### The hardest part is staying out of it. Hang in there Randi. Its out of your control. Randi do you think the throwing up has anything to do with the scar getting infected? You are having a time of it. I don't think you should be having that much trouble with food. Maybe a call to the doctor is in order. Its cooling down some in Texas, but humidity is still high. Good day to stay inside, but I'm going to do a little shopping and running errands. Have a great day!

Melissa - We need to breakdown what you are eating to ensure you are getting in enough calories and the right ones. Track in fit day or sparks people or to us. You might not be eating enough calories. I also think you need to really, really, try to drink the Water. I think that definitely helps. I go for a fill on Monday so I'll ask the PA what the lump is all about. My DH thinks its the stomach and the band. I don't know. Its embarassing not to know some stuff about your own body. I think a secret pal Christmas gift would be great fun. We could get some ideas about who we draw from their posts and try to match the gift. I'm also OK with doing a goal oriented reward. I think setting and meeting a realistic goal is in order. All those that meet their goal will have their name placed in the eligible pool. We can then send that person something or contribute to a gift card. I'm still worried about the % of weight lost as that may not be fair to those that have a lot or very little to lose, but I'm open to the majority. I like the idea of setting a goal and meeting it or exceeding it. It has to be a realistic one and one that we must work toward. No goal of losing 5 lbs by Christmas sort of thing. Give me your ideas and lets get this started. We also should find out where everyone is from so we can find a place that is convient to the majority to meet next June. That will be so awesome to see everyone after a year together on this journey. I'm getting excited! Drink that water and let's get this journey going!

I love the idea of a family trip. Soon will come the day when they can't or won't go so now is the time. Once the grandchildren start arriving you will be going to their house for Christmas. You can then buy all the cute clothes and toys.

Leila I'm glad you enjoyed the spa. I think I'll make my appointment. No, I didn't mean gas. Its like a hard knot, like a tennis ball, that extends from below my breasts to the port. Its almost like its the tubing. I've had it from the beginning, but I notice it more after I've eaten. It doesn't hurt. It is sometimes uncomfortable and now its beginning to freak me out. I just don't think it should be there. I can't think of any reason why it would be in that place. Maybe we should just do a Christmas exchange. Everyone that wants to signs up and then we randomly match the participants. You then would send to your secret Junebie. That way everyone is a winner and I'm all for that. Let me know if this is a good idea and I'll take it on. Everyone would have to sign up by October so we could send out the gift in early December.