Mim

Hi Jane, Actually, I see now that I didn't post correctly......... I had a CT scan to check the band for position (no slippage) and an Endoscopy to check for erosion. My understanding is that the Endoscopy can tell there's been erosion if they see the band inside the stomach.

Thanks Eddie, I wish I could have my surgery sooner......like tomorrow! But, October 3rd was the best choice considering my time off work and my son's school break. Best of luck to you for a speedy recovery!

I will be having revision surgery in Oct. With Dr. Aceves. I wasn't working when I got the lapband three years ago, so this wasn't an issue. My co-workers know that I am having surgery, but not the details. I've been told that my surgeon will need to clear me to return to work with a letter. I don't want to reveal what type of surgery I had or explain why I had it in Mexico (I work at a US hospital!) Did any of you have this dilemma and how did you deal with it? Thanks.

Thank you all for your replies. I really appreciate the feedback. I contacted Dr. Aceves' office this morning and spoke with Nina. She was very informative and emailed me some material to read and fill out. She told me that since I had good success with the band (before it stopped working!) I will likely have excellent results from the sleeve. As for financing, it looks like I'll need to put most of it on my Visa card at 14.9% ! ! I have a few thousand dollars to pull from my HELOC. Bummer that they don't accept CareCredit (I've already got a $10,000 limit from some dental work a few years ago.) Good thing I'll be eating less, because I'm not going to be able to afford food for a few years! Financing aside, I'm looking toward the end of Sept./beginning of Oct. as a surgery date. A dear friend from Atlanta has offered to fly out to CA to stay with my son (and take care of me) for two weeks. I almost cried when she offered. I really DO feel confident with my decision. I have to get this weight back off and KEEP IT OFF. I want to go swimming with my son again, I want to fit back into the closet full of clothes I bought last year, but most of all, I want to be around to hold my grandchildren......... Mim

Yesterday morning I went to my closet and almost nothing fit! Now that's a problem I'm very familiar with......a year ago, I would pray that I could pull my pants up and still breathe or button a shirt without popping a button. Yesterday, I discovered that most of my pants hang precariously low on my hips and my blouses are falling off my shoulders! It took me nearly three months and 30 pounds to move from a size 2x to a 1x. But in the last month and a half I've dropped from a 1x -> 18 -> 16! (I can actually zip up an old pair of 14s from the back of my closet, but they would be uncomfortable to wear.) So, I bought 2 pair of size 16 pants (button and zip...no more elastic for me...EVER!) Those should get me through the summer. I'm intrigued to see how fast I'll shrink out of these!! :thumbup:

:biggrin:.....giggle.....:ohmy:

Well, my doctor did not give me any restrictions and I drove my son to school the next morning.....not that I wasn't sore.....and I discovered just how many stomach muscles are necessary to get in/out and apply the brakes......but as long as you're not still on painkillers (I switched to Tylenol as soon as I got home)....you should be able to drive very quickly.

Just a little follow-up.......in the week since I posted this, I've lost another 3 pounds and my size 16s are getting loose! Everything is picking up momentum......my weight loss is back on track.......and I'm dropping sizes faster than I can shop. For the record, I haven't been this small since before I got pregnant NINE years ago!:thumbup:

I go to the movies often with my son (think....Transformers, G-Force, GI Joe..... :cool:) I usually get him a small popcorn and I indulge in a couple of bites. I also always bring my own water with crystal light in it and any combination of the following: sf candy, beef jerky, nut & high fiber cereal mix, protein bar. Ease into the changes. I used to feel a little deprived in the beginning, but honestly, now that I am at my "sweet spot", I often drink the water and don't even touch the snacks!

Restless - I'm so happy for you. Your attitude IS inspirational! I've been following you since I joined. You've always had wonderful suggestions, insight and motivation for everybody. Life is good for me too! I'm a binger from way back....but honestly, since I've hit my sweet spot, I haven't even had the desire to binge. Not that a binge would even be possible at this point. I can eat maybe two Cookies and if I try for one more bite, I begin foaming at the mouth! Now, if I want a sweet, some ice cream, whatever, I have it and move on. Like you, I can easily get right back on track with the next meal. I know my old eating patterns were in my head, but my band definitely "mutes" the signals to my tummy. It's taken me eight months to know without a doubt that this is going to work. I want to stress to everyone who has not reached good restriction yet, that you must persevere. Don't give up, don't put off fills, make the best food choices you can, exercise and be patient. Once I hit my sweet spot, it was like a calm came over me.....that loud voice in my head turned off and my body felt satisfied with small amounts of food. Dare I say, I feel normal? Good Luck Everybody!

I know it's really hard to be patient, but you have to persevere. Except for the rapid weight loss just after surgery, my progress has been slow. I hit a plateau about 2-3 months out and I hovered at that weight for months. BUT, like you, I had not reached good restriction yet. I kept up with my Dr. appointments, went in for regular fills.......and finally reached good restriction. When that happened, I didn't feel like I was "dieting" anymore, my constant hunger went away and the weight started to come off again! The band will work, but you have to get through this tough part first. Please don't get discouraged...... Here is my weight loss chart to see exactly what I went through: Good Luck!

Yes, I have the same experience. I've been at my "sweet spot" for a couple of months now and my weight loss is steady. But, the amount of food I can eat on any particular day changes constantly! I've always had a Protein shake and coffee for breakfast, something like tuna with veggies or fruit for lunch, and then a small "normal" dinner. Recently though, dinner has been a challenge. Sometimes I can eat 1/2 - 3/4 cup of food, sometimes just a couple of bites sends me rushing to the bathroom! And the same food that went down fine one day doesn't go down the next. It's a little discouraging. I'm hungry at dinner and looking forward to a nice meal, but some nights I just can't eat it! jlray - It could very well be dehydration. I'm not consistent with my Water intake (never have been), but I'm going to try to monitor that and see if I have less trouble on days that I drink more water. Thanks for the suggestion!

Yesterday I did something that I couldn't have dreamed about 9 months and 55 pounds ago......I took my 8-year old son to a water park! I have NEVER been swimming with my son. I was always too uncomfortable and inhibited to get in a swimsuit in public. He has begged me to come swimming with him many times, but I just didn't have the courage. Yesterday, I finally sucked it up (literally), put on my size 16 swim skirt and took him to a water park. I walked around the entire park without a cover-up. We went on every slide (some twice).....and you know what? It was OKAY.....the world didn't end, nobody pointed and giggled, nobody cared that my legs jiggled.......and my son had the best time - WITH HIS MOM! My shoulders and upper arms (which haven't seen sunshine in more than 15 years) are sunburned and my muscles are sore from bouncing on innertubes for 7 hours....but I fell asleep with a smile on my face last night knowing that I hurdled a huge fear and gave my son a wonderful memory.

Yes, I noticed that too Catherine. However........you've got about 7" on me......I'm just 5'1".......which means I'm still in a size 18 at this weight! But, it is interesting that we're losing at about the same rate. I've been frustrated with the slow loss, but hitting that 50 pound mark was a real milestone!

I can't possibly name just one.....there are so many! These are my most recent NSVs: Getting rid of all clothes with a "W" or "X" behind the size. Sitting comfortably in a booth that I had to squeeze behind last fall. Watching my face lose the bloat and become familiar again. Racing up my front stairs without even getting winded. Throwing out my size 12 granny panties that had gotten baggy. I'm only half-way through my journey, but I feel amazing and genuinely proud of myself. I wonder what exciting NSVs losing the next 50 pounds will bring........:wink2: By the way, Catherine, I read your blog regularly and really enjoy your insight. I'm in awe of your boot camp endurance!

I agree that most pain meds make me nauseous regardless if they are in liquid or pill form. I only took the pills they gave me the first night I was home. After that, I managed on Liquid Tylenol just fine. Also, get up and walk, walk, walk. It feels counter-intuitive when you're in pain, but it really does help!

Okay, first a little perspective.....you're DOWN 75 POUNDS! You're more than half-way to goal. I understand your frustration. I really do. My weight stalled out between 202-205 lbs. for three months (from January through March - see my chart below.) I wanted to break that 200 lb mark sooooo badly. But my restriction was not good and my motivation steadily decreased. But....and this is the key......I kept going back for fills. I whined to my surgeon, I logged my calories, I kept exercising......and SLOWLY (notice the slug on my ticker!) I hit my "sweet spot." My band suddenly had that "shiny new feeling" again, my motivation kicked back into gear and the weight started to move. I've dropped from 202 to 186 in the last six weeks! I have another fill appointment tomorrow. I still have pretty good restriction so my surgeon may decide not to fill, but I'm going in to see him anyway. I'm sorry your fills are not remaining steady....but make another appointment.....and keep going back until you are satisfied with your restriction! I still don't always make the best food choices. But now that I have restriction as my conscience, I'd say I eat healthy 85% of the time and I don't beat myself up for the other 15%. Moderation is not something I'm capable of when I'm hungry all the time. That's why I got the band! My Weight Chart: Good Luck!

You have a couple of options. There are unflavored (unsweetened) Protein powders that you can mix with whatever you want. I also just did a Google search and came up with several protein powders sweetened with stevia (a natural non-toxic sweetner.) You can also check for one sweetened with ogliofructose (chicory root) which is also a natural sweetner. Good Luck!

I've never joined a challenge before, but I will join this one. I've just started losing again after a 3-month plateau. I am finally at my sweet spot and feel very motivated to get this weight moving again! Thanks for the challenge.

Yes, it's possible you need a slight unfill. I also have this problem, but to a lesser degree and I feel that I am at my sweet spot. The first thing I have in the morning is a cup of coffee....something warm to "open" things up. About an hour later, I sip on a Protein drink. Sometimes it goes down well and sometimes it gurgles a bit. By lunch, I'm able to eat a bit. I've found that Proteins like cottage cheese, hummus and tuna salad go down the best....but usually only about 1/4 cup. I might also eat a couple bites of veggie or a strawberry. By dinner, I can usually eat 1 to 1-1/2 cups of food, BUT I try not to. I try to eat about 3/4 cup of balanced protein, veggie and carb. I can eat more but I eat slowly, savor the food and stop when my plate is empty. Since I am a night person, I find myself getting hungry around 10:00pm. I allow myself a snack....something like 1/2 Protein Bar, sf fudgsicle, sf pudding cup, or a few nuts. It seems to satisfy my hunger and keeps me emotionally satisfied with a little "reward." I think the key is to find a few healthy food choices that you can tolerate earlier in the day so you are not starving by evening. Talk to your doctor about the difficulty you're having and he will surely have some advice. Like everybody else on this board has said....sometimes the slightest unfill or fill can make the difference between suffering and success. Good Luck.

I'm 6-1/2 months out from surgery and I've only really gotten comfortable with my band since the last fill. Reaching my "sweet spot" has changed everything. Every pound I lost before that was a struggle. Now: 1. I don't think about food all the time anymore. 2. I haven't had a late-night binge in over three months. 3. I packed up every piece of plus-size clothing I had and gave it to the Goodwill.....confident that I will never need them again. I am now a size 16-18 and don't need to buy clothing with an X in the size anymore! 4. My feet hurt less. I laugh more. I'm happier.

....or food poisoning....especially since you feel fine now. Food poisoning is usually out of your system in less than 24 hours.

Wintobethin - YES.....only my "stall" lasted about 90 days! I lost almost thirty pounds in the first 3 months, and then the scale bounced around 2-5 pounds for the next three months! You need a fill. My doctor was very conservative with fills also. Everything I lost prior to my last fill was "dieting." I monitored my calories at around 1200 cals/day and still wasn't losing. It was incredibly frustrating. With my last fill, I finally reached my sweet spot. I now consume around 800 cals/day and my weight has dropped 6 pounds in the last week! I get comfortably full on 1/2 cup of food and I don't get hungry between meals anymore. This is an amazing breakthrough....I have never experienced this feeling before in my life. The one positive I can say about gradual fills is that it's given me several months to "practice" (eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, no drinking with meals.) Before I got good restriction, I'd sometimes forget these rules without consequences......now my band lets me know immediately! Keep doing what you're doing, ask for another fill, and remember this is all about the process (but it's also ok to swear at your scale once in a while just to let it know who's boss!) Here's my weight loss since surgery....you're not alone. My Weight Chart: >

Six months to the day since I had surgery, I finally have good restriction......AND I hit onederland this morning.....199! For all you frustrated bandsters who are slow losers like me, DON'T LOSE HOPE. I lost most of my weight in the first month after surgery and have been losing and gaining the same couple of pounds for months. But, I stuck to my plan (1000 - 1100 cals/day) and walking (45 mins - 1 hour/day). You can see that I have not been aggressive with either my diet or exercise, but I have been consistent. I never gave up hope that the lapband would eventually work. Yes, there were days (weeks) when I was so frustrated by no weight loss that I could just scream.....but I stuck to it, day by day by day. When I think about the overall picture, I'm proud that in the last six months I've lost anything at all. Before the lapband, I would surely have gained another 10 pounds by now. I haven't been under 200 pounds in over 5 years and before that I have not been below 190 in at least 10 years. When I break the 190's, now that will be something! My Weight Chart: >

Absolutely Firedoll! For me, restriction crept up slowly. I had a bad episode with my second fill so my doctor has been very conservative with my fills. At 5.4cc I felt a bit of restriction in the morning, but by dinner I could finish off 4 oz of chicken, salad and a veggie. I was also still hungry between meals (and late at night.) Although I tried to snack "responsibly", that was extra calories I didn't need. I'm only two days into my 6.2cc fill, but the change is remarkable. I can only eat 1/4 - 1/2 cup of food and I have not been hungry between meals. I just hope this fill stays "sweet" for a while.....