marfar7

Cordelia,
I PB'd about 3-4 times a week also, for the last 2 1/2 yrs. A couple of months ago, my band slipped. Now I've gained about 8 lbs after they had to unfill me. My doc says it's from "vomiting". So, it is that easy to do sometimes. Granted I made it 2 1/2 yrs, I wish I could have gone forever! Good luck to you!
Marci

Hey there, I had my surgery the day before you did (4/26). I have had 3 fills, and am up to 6cc. I don't think I am at the green zone yet, but I definatiely do feel some restriction. I have an apt this week for my 4th fill and am hoping will have full restriction after that. I definately can't eat like I used to. I have to eat slow and less or the food will get stuck and that hurts.
Most of the weight I have lost was due to the pre op and post op diet. But, I must confess, I do not measure my food. I eat until I am full, but eat whatever I want just less. I just think that if I wanted to be on a diet, I wouldn't have paid all that money and put myself through surgery. I know that I probably won't loose as much as if I did follow their diet rules, but I'm ok with that. If I could follow a diet I wouldn't have had surgery. I know that doesn't sound right, but that's how I feel.
Good luck and keep in touch!

We all have to find our own way and what works in our lives. It's a learning process and what we learn along the way is different sometimes. Here are my thoughts on the subject:
I did not avoid fills. I wanted this band to start working ASAP! I dropped weight rapidly before my first fill, but the fill was needed because the swelling from surgery had gone down. I reached my sweet spot on fill number 2 and it was smooth sailing from there. I dropped a whopping 100 pounds in the first year with very little effort. That is why I took such drastic measures and got WLS in the first place. Life is so good now! I don't diet. I don't exercise like I'm in competition with The Biggest Loser. I just live my life
From day one I have not counted, journaled, or tracked anything. The band has worked very well because I had it adjusted properly. I just went in for a maintenance fill yesterday. It is very important to keep up with this. I can stay the exact same weight every day with very little effort for about 10-12 months and then I can feel when things change and I need a little bump fill.
It is so sad when I read posts that say the band doesn't work and the bandster has put back on a large amount of weight. In the same post they say they didn't go back in for a fill in several years.
IMHO they should have gone in for maintenance fills and not let the weight creep back on.
The concept of filling the band to capacity does not register in my mind at all. If the band is filled to capacity there is one of three things happening. 1) The wrong size band was used for that person's anatomy. If a large band is used on a stomach that should have had a small band, much Fluid will have to be added to squeeze the band/stomach to a level of restriction. Or 2) The port has been missed and the fill that is believed to be in the band is not really there. Or 3) There is a leak someplace and the Fluid is not staying in the band.
After goal/ maintenance. There are very long periods of time when the person just stays at the same restriction level and it's smooth sailing. In that 10-12 month period some of the fluid disapates .... goes away. It's not a leak. It's like osmosis. For example, I stayed with my fill of 5.3cc for about a year. When I went in for a maint. fill the doc removed all the fluid to measure. It was at 4. something. My fill at that time brought me back to about 5.7........ another 10 months passed....... another maint. fill ..... we didn't measure, but I'm betting I'm now at about 5.5cc again.
My band is 10cc. If it were filled to capacity I would not be able to even sip Water. It will never be filled to capicity.
geez.... long post for me. I consider myself a success story and I give 80-90% credit to the band and proper fills, not my "work".

I think people do that no matter what the situation .but are they saying it positive or negative. Cuz if u say " she use to be fat but wow she looks great " is differen from " yea she use to be fat and that band is gonna fail and she gone gain it all back!" OR " her husband use to beat her but she finally found the strength to leave" is differen than "her husband use to beat her so I'm sure the next guy will too" it's human nature to identify people from where u knew them it's just about how.

I hate fat pictures but sometimes they are part of an important memory. I do not want to delete the special memories so I cannot delete the photos. Hopefully there will be lots more memories with pics of me in looking slim and happy, these days I am more than happy to pose for the camera whereas before I used to hide as I hated how fat I had become.
The next problem is wrinkles but at least it's easy to delete those before you upload them!
Sad isn't it that we can never be 100% happy with ourselves.

I feel your pain. I'm 2 1/2 years out now and over 100 lbs down, but my band didn't start helping till 5 mths post op and 3 fills. I ate like a trucker till then. Except for my 4 week post op liquid diet, I ate just like I did before the surgery - hence not losing any weight. Thought I'd failed yet another diet. Then at my 3rd fill, magic happened. When I was able to eat the next day, I took 4 bites of chicken, 3 bites of a baked potato, and a couple of bites of green Beans. And I'd had enuf. Ended up taking most of my meal home with me and saving for about 4 others meals. Over the next year or so, I lost most of my weight. After 2 1/2 yrs, I've kept most of it off. I say most because I had a slip last month and they had to unfill me and I've gained 8 lbs. But I will get back on track and lose that 8 + the extra 9 I need to get to goal.
You can do this! Restriction will come. It has to, right? I wish I had followed the rules after my surgery - measured portions, ate lo carb, etc. But I didn't and it still worked. Good luck to you!
Marci

I'm so sorry. I know how frsutrating it is to have reflux. About 5 mths ago (about 2 yrs post op) I started having nightly reflux. So bad that I took rx Nexium, rx Prilosec, and 5 OTC Zantacs +rolaids and slept sitting up. Only to still cough up stomach acid all nite. I finally, after 4 mths, went in to the doc to see what was causing it (I was afraid of gaining all my wt back). I slipped my band from throwing up too much (my fault. I've never learned the art of eating slowly).
They took 1/2 of my 10cc of fill out and let me go for 3 weeks. Just last week, I went in for a fill and they only put 1cc in. I'm still gaining. But ever since the day they took out my fill, I've slept like a baby. Never needed another pill. Now I'm just bummed that I'm going thru the "bandster hell" yet again. Thought that was over long ago. You just started having problems with it 7 yrs later? Thats a good amt of time. I hope I'm so lucky to go another 7 yrs with no problems.
No advice here, just thought I'd say I know exactly how your feeling. When my primary care dr told me that untreated reflux can cause esophageal cancer, I decided it wasn't worth it. Good luck to you!
Marci

The first 4 mths after my band was placed, I could eat whatever and however much I wanted. And I did. I thought I had failed yet another diet. Then, my 3rd fill kicked in - like magic. You're empty right now so the band is doing nothing for you. Thats my #1 tip for new banders - have patience. I promise, just like I did, when you finally get restriction, you'll eat as much as a toddler.
I've had my band for 2 1/2 yrs now and I was unfilled last month due to a slip. When I went back in last week, he decided to fill me up slowly, going 1cc at a time. I'm starving all the time. And I've gained 5 lbs. I know I need to eat healthier and make better choice, that was the beauty of the band - I could eat whatever I wanted, just a few bites of it. Now I'm white knuckling it and it sucks. I've gotten rid of all my jumbo clothes so I can't gain weight. I just need more self control. I love my band and I want it back!
Anyway, to answer your questions: You're perfectly normal. You're in "Bandster Hell" and will be there until probably the 2nd - 4th fill. Some lucky people (very few) never get a fill and their band works from day 1. Obviously you're not one of those. Just know that it will kick in eventually and have patience! It WILL happen
Marci

I developed a night cough about 5 mths ago. I had severe reflux too. I was too afraid of getting an unfill for fear I'd gain weight. Last month I just couldn't stand the acid any more. Went in and they found I had slipped my band. Probably from all the vomiting I did over the past over 2 yrs. They took out 1/2 my fill and I'm scheduled to go back for a fill tomorrow. It went away the night I had the unfill. sleeping like a baby now.
Hopefully my band is fixed now and I won't have the same problems after they refill it. You really need to see a doctor. My primary care dr told me that severe reflux untreated can eventually cause esophageal cancer. Good luck to you!
Marci

1. Losing more weight then I ever thought I would.
2. Wearing smaller sizes then I ever thought Il would.
3. No more medications.
4. Eating out and leaving food on my plate like a normal person.
DRUM ROLL PLEASE
5. Being called a skinny bit-h

Marci, I see you've lost so much weight. I sincerely hope this plan works for you. I looked at your before and after. I don't think I've ever seen such a transformation? I mean really, it's really amazing!! I hope I get even half the results you did. But I'm not wearing the skirt
tmf

Before I got my band unfilled last month, my band had been slipped for almost 4 mths probably. At first, the only effects were nightime reflux. As it progressed (I was afraid of going to the dr for fear of gaining weight), I becasme less and less satiated after eating. I vomited as often as I had over the past 2 1/2 yrs (why my band slipped in the first place) about 2-4 times a week. The reflux got unbearable. I wrote my nurse about my symptoms and she told me to come in for an xray to rule out a slip. I went (couldn't stand the acid gurgling in my throat all nite, sleeping sitting up, and the 3 meds I took). My band was flattened (slipped). So they took out about 1/2 of my fill (I had 9.5 cc in it) and let me be for 3 wks. The plan is to refill it tomorrow and see where I go from there. I hope to God it rectifies itself. Problem free for over 2 yrs and hope to be forever now.
Good luck!
Marci

Before I got my band unfilled last month, my band had been slipped for almost 4 mths probably. At first, the only effects were nightime reflux. As it progressed (I was afraid of going to the dr for fear of gaining weight), I becasme less and less satiated after eating. I vomited as often as I had over the past 2 1/2 yrs (why my band slipped in the first place) about 2-4 times a week. The reflux got unbearable. I wrote my nurse about my symptoms and she told me to come in for an xray to rule out a slip. I went (couldn't stand the acid gurgling in my throat all nite, sleeping sitting up, and the 3 meds I took). My band was flattened (slipped). So they took out about 1/2 of my fill (I had 9.5 cc in it) and let me be for 3 wks. The plan is to refill it tomorrow and see where I go from there. I hope to God it rectifies itself. Problem free for over 2 yrs and hope to be forever now.
Good luck!
Marci

I started dating almost a yr after having the band (down about 70 lbs) after being widowed for almost 4 yrs. I told every guy I had a meal with (meeting for coffee didn't warrant telling them). All the guys I went out with thought it was interesting. I dated 1 guy for about 10 weeks that wanted me to have it out. I guess he was a "chubby chaser". When I met my now husband a yr and a half ago, I told him on our first date. When we became intimate, I showed him where my port was (at first he was afraid of hurting me when he touched it) and my scars. He never minded. He likes the fact that I've lost over 100 lbs. Especially when he sees before pics of me.
I never felt the need to keep it a secret from anyone. I'm proud of the fact that I made the choice to take charge of my weight and actually did it. My husband does worry a little when he hears me throw up that I'm gunna slip my band (which I did 4 mths ago). He tells everyone that he knows that I have the band too - I think he's a little proud!
Good luck to you! Don't worry. You'll know when the time to tell is right
Marci

My fav places r Old Navy and Eddie Bauer. Reasonable prices too. Im happy to wear a Med on bottom and a Large on top. I even have to wear junior size 7 jeans cuz my husband thinks the butts are too saggy in a womans size 8.
I DID BUY A PAIR OF REALLY SHORT SHORTS AND Im a little uncomfortable in them. So no matter how much Ive lost, those "coochie cutters" are too short for a 44l yr old!
Have fun shopping!
Marci

There is nothing duller or more boring than "perfection". I push the limits with this band and food still, after 7 years. When I read about a person who's going on and on in this forum (and other forums)about all the cardio and weights and "perfect exercise" they do and all the "perfect food" they eat, and all the "perfect advice" they give, all I can think of is eventually they are going to crash and burn and most of them do sooner or later. I take no pleasure in watching this. You know when we go on this journey, it isn't to be "perfect" (we all want to be, but we are not) it is to use this tool to help us have a handle on the fact that we are imperfect. The most important lesson I have learned in my 7 years is that I am imperfect. That is what makes me unique. I really had to struggle to adjust this band journey to all of my imperfections with not wanting to exercise and of course loving chocolate, and cheesecake, etc. I'll shout it over and over again, I am imperfect, and that my friends is why I have kept my weight off for seven years.

I had my surgery 2 1/2 yrs ago and for the last 4 mths, I've had severe reflux. That's the only symptom I had. Nothing else changed, not vomiting, nothing. I went to the docs last week and they xray'ed me. My band "flattened" - it slipped. I could keep down food and drink. I just had really bad reflux at night - keeping me up coughing and spitting up stomach acid. They took out 1/2 of my 10cc fill and will see me in another week to rexamine and possibly refill.
I would got to the docs before it gets worse. If it's a slip, it won't get better on it's own. I was so sure I didn't have a slip because I could still eat and drink.
Good luck!
Marci

I just realized I have been banded 2 years (yesterday)
2 years = 151 pounds
Average loss per -
year = 75.5
month = 6.3
week = 1.46
day = .21
82 pounds to go!

Didn't we get Lapland so as to not do these other fad diets anymore. I know I did. Pretty much at goal and will not be falling for these anymore. Hopefully I am done waisting my $$ on this crap :-)

Sounds like an advertisement
Marci

Sounds like an advertisement
Marci

Sounds like an advertisement
Marci

My dr made me wait 6 wks before the 1st one and 6 wks in between
Marci

I never measureor weigh my food. Always just go by what the band says. It says I'm full in my chest area also. If I'm actually stuck, i break out in a sweat until i bring it back up.
Marci

2 1/2 yrs ago when I first had my surgery, my doc gave me a goal of 150. Than when I started going to the gym about 6 mths later, my trainer gave me a goal of 165 (she wanted something more realistic). The closer I got to either of those goals, the more I wanted to lose. I'm now at less than 150 and trying to get to 135. That's my new goal. I wish we could take pounds off where we needed to lose them - as my legs are so skinny they barely hold me up. I look like a marshmallow being held up by 2 toothpicks! The last time I saw my dr was in Jan - and I weighed 155, so this next appt (Mon) he will finally see me at HIS goal.
GOOD LUCK!
Marci