dare301obx

What I understand it to mean is "Productive Burp"... as when a baby "spits-up" I've only had one episode of what I would call a "productive burp" and that's what it was.... I was stuck and after a few minutes I 'spit-up'... wasn't violent like when I'm sick to my stomach and "vomit"... it just "came up" and then the stuck feeling was gone.

I have a question I think I would ask my surgeon and nutritionist if your situation was mine... "OK>>> you're saying I'm doing everything right? "If that's the case>>> why aren't I losing more weight? Frankly it sounds a little fishy. If you're doing everything "right" I would think you'd be losing much more weight. Another "frankly"; the docs' saying everythings "right" and now they're pushing by-pass??? I wonder if you've had proper support from their practice OR if they're really in the market to do another $$$ procedure. Maybe a second opinion is something you might want to consider.

I had my band placed on Feb 11, 2009 and so far I've lost just over 100 lbs; I'm at my goal. That said... I think that if I had to lose my band I'm pretty sure I'd have similar problems with gaining the weight back. I think that what I would be investigating would be having (if necessary) a gastric sleeve done when / as soon as possible after the removal of the band. Good luck to you!

My wife and I (it's just the 2 of us too) used to go out just about every evening and we'd go out for lunch at work too. What we've found since I've had the surgery is that both of us have seen, on average, about $350-$400 more in our checking accounts each month since we're not going out to eat (and having drinks too).

I'm also in NC (Nags Head). My surgery was Feb 11 and I've been more successful than some of the other posters in this topic. What I want to say is that I agree with the lady who suggests keeping a food log. My wife and I have been using a paper log; just writing down what we eat & drink every day. Even though the band helps the key is that we still have to keep the calories down. It's not the band... it's the diet. The band should only help with the hunger that drives us to eat. Let me add this too... the band helps me with the "real" hunger but does nothing for the "head-hunger"; that I've just had to "tough-through". If you're making poor food choices the weight will not come off. PERIOD My surgeon's practice has in-place a program where diet plays a large part. It's a high-protein, low carb diet. I know the diet works... my wife hasn't had the surgery; she's just following the same diet as I am and she's lost 60 pounds since the end of January. I've lost 73 pounds with the band.

Hey.... look at what I can see without having to use a mirror!!!

I'm 5-9 and my wife is 5-7. She won't wear heals and I wish she would but she seems to have this "thing" about being taller than me... Me, I think heels look great on the ladies and wish more would wear them... not all the time necessarily but some!

I too have hypothyrodism... in fact I'm beyond "hypothyrodistic"... I don't have a thyroid nor parathyroids at all. I had thyroid cancer in 1982. I had lap-band surgery on Feb 11 this year. To date I've lost 44 pounds. I'm on 175 mcg of synthroid / day. I had blood test last week and am waiting to hear from the endocrinologist what my thyroid levels are. I feel GREAT.

Didn't you discuss a goal weight with your doctor? During my initial office visit he discussed what I was considering and we discussed where I wanted to go and how to get there" and then he looked over several items and we, together, set a goal for me.

I was banded on Feb 11. I returned to work Feb 16 but should have waited another week probably. When I returned to work immediately I found that I got tired quickly (at least faster than I thought I would) and ended up working only about 3 hours a day until the next weekend when I was able to "rest up" even more. I returned to a "regular" work schedule a week after I "returned" to work.

I agree... ask away... afterall... some of us are not all that comfortable either; you asking sends a message that you're interested... as he probably is too.

I was banded on Feb 11 by Dr. Fontana at Sentara Norfolk General. I find this forum very good. Another website you might try is www.sentaraweightloss.com and go to the "Support Groups" header, then click on "Online Support Groups", then click on the "Band Support Groups". Anyone can sign up for the online support group. I went to only the one support group meeting that I had to attend; I too find the drive onnerous. It's a long way to drive to Tidewater from Nags Head for a 1 - 2 hour meeting.

I suggest you contact your surgeon immediately. You may be on the way to being beyond constipated...but impacted!

When I went to see my surgeon the first time he asked me which procedure I wanted... I told him that I didn't know; that one of the reasons I was seeing him was to discuss my options with him. I did mention that I wasn't necessarily interested in a fast weight loss. I said that "slow and steady is fine with me". I then mentioned that was I was concerned about was not where I would be in 6 months or a year but where I would be in 5 years --- 10 years. As soon as I mentioned that (the long-term consideration) he immediately said that I would want the lap-band. And that was the "path" I began upon. As a part of my pre-surgery consults my surgeon wanted me to see my endocrinologist (I have some thyroid issues) for a surgical clearance. My endocrinologist asked me which procedure I was considering having and I told him the lap-band. He said "Good, because I would not approve you for gastric bypass." When I asked him why he said that because they bypass so much of the first part of the gut, in addition to the stomach, that I would have calcium problems. I already have a problem with calcium metabolism; I certainly do not need to place myself in a deficit with calcium absorption.

I've worked to not "graze" throughout the day. That was a habit I've had to break. Now I only eat breakfast before work, lunch and then supper... and NOTHING after supper. I've had some problems getting used to not drinking before / during / after meals too... just something that we have to develop a new habit for.

I was banded on Feb 11 and have lost about 40 pounds overall, from the 1st of Feb. I went to the doc Tuesday and they decided to not do a fill. They said since I wasn't "hungry" in the mornings and with as much weight that I've lost that they didn't want to do a fill. They also said that they consider me to already be where they anticipated I would be in a year post-op. I feel that I've been very strict with myself. I'm worried that I'm going to stretch my pouch and I just won't do that. I haven't been exercising as I should but the weather here has been horrible and there's no where nearby do do any walking (no malls, etc.)

This is a guy speaking... The HELL with him!!! What a jerk!

I don't want someone in the government telling me what I can or can't do to my body. Afterall, "they" could decide that no one should have the lap-band or other weight loss surgeries. "They" could just say that God (and I'm a believer) decided that we should be fat. I firmly believe that it is a decision that should be made by a woman and her physician and that everyone else should "butt out"; it's none of my business. Furthermore, I believe that no woman makes a decision to terminate a pregnancy lightly.

I've found a Starkist "Gourmet Meals" Tuna with Sweetcorn & Mayo in a 3.5 oz. package (small bowel). It doesn't require refrigeration and it even comes with a little "spork" (you know... the combo fork / spoon). It has 14 grams of protein and 170 calories and tastes quite good to me. The corn is kinda soft and I make sure that I chew each kernel to a mush (just to be safe & sure...don't wanna get stuck).

Hi there to everyone. I'm "dare301obx". The "dare301" is my radio call number and the "obx" is for the Outer Banks of NC. "What??????" they ask. Ok.... My name is Charlie Watson and I'm the acting EMS Director for Dare County EMS (the Paramedics) on the Outer Banks of NC. I was banded on Wednesday, Feb 11, in SENTARA Norfolk General Hospital by Dr. Mark Fontana. My weight at my pre-surgery physical exam was 267. I weighted 236 this morning....31 lbs so far!!!:scared2: Still no fills; only the initial "let's make sure it doesn't leak fill" from surgery and so far I've not really been hungry any, not REALLY. There have been some "twinges" but I just let them pass me by. A little more about me... I'm 54, married to a wonderful lady who is really standing by me in this process (she's actually following the same diet that I have to and she's lost over 25 lbs too!... she's not a candidate for WLS due to a number of previous abdominal surgeries... lots of internal scaring) We live on the wonderful Outer Banks of North Carolina... you can't go any farther east without getting your feet wet in the Atlantic. We live in Nags Head, NC and our house is about 1/3 mile from the oceanfront but we try to spend as much time as we can, especailly in the summer, in Rodanthe, NC (that's right... where they filmed the movie "Nights in Rodanthe") about 30 minutes south of our house on Hatteras Island. There we have an old 34' travel trailer on a "permenant" spot in a oceanfront campground. The trailer is about 250 yards from the beach there. Needless to say....we're a couple of real "BEACH BUMS!":Banane30: My goal, besided the "want to be more healthy" BS is actually.... I want to be more healthy... for real. I want to outlive my parents. I want my quality of life to be better than what it's been the last couple of years. I don't want to feel like I'm pulling an anchor around with me all the time. My weight goal is to see 175 again. That will require a lost of just over 90 pounds. But then,,, once I reach that weight, I want to keep it off. That was one of my main questions when I saw my surgero for the first time..... "Slow and steady is fine with me.... I'm more concerned about where I'll be in 5 years.... 10 years after surgery." So.... bear with me and join me as I join you in this journey to bandlandia!