carissarenae1986

Yea.. I'm pretty sure they can still do it. I know for mine they put a catheter in, so that could be a little awkward, lol.. Don't worry about it. They have seen it all before!

So has anyone's cycle been REALLY irregular since being banded? I haven't had a period since Easter. And I'm definately not pregnant, I actually went to the doctor tday for a test, it was negative. They did a pap and blood work.. But I'm really hoping that it's just the weightloss and maybe stress. But I have never been this late before. Anyone have a similar problem??

My doctor gave me 1 cc at a time.. I got sooo mad at him I would cry when I would leave thinking he was just making money off of me.. But eventually I did get there and now looking back and having to have had several unfills due to reflux, I guess I can kinda see why taking it slow would be a good thing.

I have heard from more than one person and my doc.. that fluid stays in the tubing that leads to your band. Sometimes it can take a few days or even up to a week for all that fluid to drain from the tubing into the band itself. I mean.. it makes sense to me but I don't now how true it is??

Mine are the same as yours.. I just notice that I can eat more and that I'm hungry more often.. When I am at my sweet spot, I never get hungry. I eat because I have too.. When I think I need a fill is when I get that old familiar feeling, lol.

Just wanted to offer some words of encouragement. I was banded on 3/9/2009. A little over a year ago now, Wow I cant believe its been that long!! I too felt like you at around the 6 month mark. I had only lost about 30 pounds and I was stalling out. I would plateau, Going up 5 pounds and down 5 pounds. Until I hit my sweet spot!! I have a 10cc band and I believe I am at 6.5cc. I don't know for sure at this point because I have had a few unfills due to reflux. But when I finally did hit my "sweet spot" I have lost like crazy, and I continue to lose. Altogether now I have lost 80 pounds, and I only have 40 left to go. I feel amazing. Although I agree with some of the other posts I cannot eat much at all. My daily meal plan consists of a granola bar for breakast, maybe a half of a sandwich and a few chips for lunch, and then probably half a cup of whatever is for dinner at night. And no snacking in between. But the bright side is I am never hungry. I forget to eat and have to make myself go to the kitchen and find something. Pre Band I was a binge eater, anything and everything I could find even when I wasnt hungry. So please don't give up hope, You have to give your body time to get used to the band. If I have learned anything it is that the band has a mind of its own. Sometimes I think it gets mad at me and punishes me, lol. But we are on good terms at the moment. Good Luck!!

I have had several fills and every time they numb me.. I would almost rather them not because I've had plenty of shots before and donated blood.. and nothing stings as bad as the lidocane does.. But I guess they know better than I.

I'm so happy for you, I know that felt great! None of my pants fit me anymore!! Yay! I never wanted to go shopping because I was always so depressed because I would usually have to move up a size. But now I can honestly say that none of my jeans fit me anymore and I need to go shopping, lol. I'm curious to know what size I am now. My largest was a 22 and I have a few 20's and 18's and they don't fit without a belt. So maybe a 14 or 16? I'm too excited, I've just recently found my sweet spot and the pounds are steadily coming off. Keep the good news coming!:bored:

Oh how do I remember those first few days! MISERABLE is the only word I could use to describe it. Laying down wasn't so bad, it was getting up that was the worst part for me. I would have to make a plan every time I wanted to sit up, or sit down, or go to the bathroom. Thank God my mom was there to help me shower and other things. I'm sure your feeling better by now, I was up and driving by the third day and it was all downhill from there. I wouldn't say I was back to normal until about a month post op, but definately tolerable after about 4 days. Good Luck with everything. Hope you are feeling better.

See, I was scared something like that might have been happening to me, that's why I opted for an unfill. I guess everything is ok, because she did look at me under fluro and everything was fine. I have actually been able to eat normal amounts of food and drink too so that makes me feel so much better. I would hate to be unfilled for that long, It would be like starting all over again. :thumbup:

Yea, lol. Tell me about it. I was banded almost 6 months ago and had only lost about 14 pounds up until that last fill. And then Wham! The pounds started flying off left and right, But I was so miserable I was actually thinking I had made a mistake on getting the band. I mean I was eating maybe 2 ounces of food a day and drinking very little, but every bite no matter how small it was would hurt so bad and I would feel it stuck in my chest for hours. I did like the weight loss though, so I was determined not to go back for an unfill. I guess the band won in the end though, It usually does. Also, I didnt want to hurt myself or cause any more problems. So to anyone who may think your too tight.. You most likely are, and dont wait too long to go talk to your doctor. Let them decide for you. I hope you find your sweet spot with your next fill, just make sure its not too sweet :thumbup:

I definately know about the 2 week thing. I had a fill two weeks and 2 days ago. I had lost 18 pounds in this short amount of time and it is still coming off at about a pound a day. I didn't want to go back for an unfill because I was finally losing, even though I was pretty sure it was what I needed after about the 2nd day. It seemed as if my band was getting tighter everyday, and when I would throw up even tighter. About 2 weeks later after the fill I woke up one morning and couldn't even swallow water or even my own saliva. I ended up going back for an unfill that day (which was about 3 days ago) and my doc was a little upset with me for not coming in sooner. She took half a cc out and I feel so much better. I'm not miserable now and I can actually eat and drink. The tiniest amount in your band can really make a world of difference. There is such a thing as being too full and even though you are losing weight you will get dehydrated and you will regret it then.

When I go for my fills, I don't know if its the same with everyone, but when the nurse hits my port I can always feels a little pop when the needle goes through. So, I myself can always tell if they have it or not and usually I will tell her yea thats it because I can feel it. Next time you go for a fill try and concentrate on whether you can feel it or not. It should help put your mind at ease a little. I just got my 5th fill last Tuesday which puts me at 6cc's in a 10cc band and I can definately tell I had a fill of just 1cc. I have lost 11 pounds in less than 2 weeks. So, I would think getting a 4cc fill you should feel something. And I have never heard of using anything but saline, But I guess he knows better than I do. Anyway, Hope this helps. Good Luck!