goldenmom

How do you add the little weight loss marker that some have at the bottom of the page????

Hi Vicki! Thanks for the great advice! What, by the way, are the things that can go wrong if the reflux keeps up? I think I figured out what I've been doing wrong...I fell into bad habits that I haven't done since (even before) the surgery--what with all the Easter chocolate and stuff we had around...I went to the doctor today because I felt so sick overnight! I love hearing that you have dogs, cats and horses too! I did the same thing...gave up riding for much the same reason...and my knees had gotten so bad. (Had to have them replaced about 7 years ago, hips are next). I cannot tell you how thrilled I am for you about wearing slim size clothes!!! I cannot wait! Today, dressing to go to the doctor's, I decided to try out the next smaller sizes of bra and panties I had here waiting for the moment. They fit--easily. I put on one of the smaller shirts that has fit--but a bit tight--and it is perfect. And, weight was down another pound. The shorts were already too big (had bought them for my son, but he's taller and bigger--muscular so I kept them to wear), but I like very loose shorts. The main thing was that they were very lightweight. When I went to the back, the nurse was going to skip the scales. (This Family Practice has 3 offices and I hadn't been to this one since presurgery--though everything is on computer.) I asked her if I could get on the scales (she was surprised--I usually HATE getting on.) I was so happy to see progress --even on the doctor's scales. When she opened my file, she noted how much I've lost since I was last seen in another office (20lbs). The funny thing is that I didn't lose ANY more weight from that time more than a year ago until the last fill almost 3 months ago! This is the fill that is making the difference! Even at this weight, I'm able to do so much more than I have in a long time. I'm so determined to get ALL the weight I want to lose off (my goal versus what my lapband doc thinks I'll be able to do). Also wanted to share another minor similarity we share--though in TOTAL REVERSE!! When My husband's wedding gift to me was a motorcycle--not a Harley, but an Enduro (road and trail bike). We liked riding so much, he gave me his and got a bigger one. I was a wimp though...too many folks tried to run me off the road, so we only used them for trail riding. (Though Jim continued to road ride.) We got rid of them several years later.) I just joined this group the day I first posted. What does PM mean? I'm guessing "private message." If so, not sure how to do that...please feel free to PM me! laura

I know how you feel about not wanting any Fluid out of the band...the first several fills did really nothing...I lost NO weight after the 10-15 lbs from the first few fills for more than a year. The fill in Feb. has made a HUGE difference. BTW, WHAT is PB??? I didn't have reflux until recently--the past two nights were the worst. So, I thought quite a bit about why this past week is SO different. (I have had some other symptoms--food getting caught, a bit of sliming (now much worse). I realized that I have eaten very differently the past week. I've eaten chocolate (which I love, but have barely eaten since before surgery), from the Easter Bunny, etc. And, my sliming has been unbelievable. I've also eaten things this week that I have not in ages. I'm sure that, starting with the chocolate, I've indulged myself and am paying the price! It was so bad last night that I was up spitting up (more so than throwing up) all night. I went to the (regular) doctor. I thought I must have given myself bronchitis from coughing so much and so deeply last night. The coughing had caused my bronchial tubes to constrict and they nebulized me (gave me a major dose of lung opening drugs). I decided today will be a liquids only day. I think I've learned my lesson. I'll see if the reflux and sliming stops now that I've recognized how devastating it is to fall off the wagon. Good luck!

Vicki, THANKS so much for your kindness and support! And, I LOVE the photo of your beautiful pup! (In addition to my 3 2-legged kids, I'm also the mom to a choco Lab and 2 beautiful Goldens rescues)... I am so thrilled to hear that you surpassed your goal! I am 55 which is another reason my doctor said I might not make my goal, but I tend to be quite stubborn and persistent! I intend to go for my ideal goal and hearing that you have made it, gives me strength. Unfortunately, I've worked towards (and then away from) my ultimate goal MANY times over the years. That was why I knew the lapband was right for me--and why I will put up with these "side effects." This is just too important to me. When I was younger, I would run anywhere from 5-15 miles daily, and often starve myself, only to "fall off the wagon" and go back up. The process destroyed my knees (both have been replaced) and my metabolism (which was slow even when I was thin). That's why I'm determined this time. Now that I have finally gotten a fill that works (this last one is the first that has actually been effective), I am so happy. I'll take losing slowly as long as I manage to keep losing. I know, like every other process that there will be times I don't lose. (Heck, I didn't lose any for much of a year until this fill!) But, this is a tool that is (now, at last ) working. When I was young, this was probably more about looks AND SELF ESTEEM. Now, it is about health and self esteem. I had my children later --and had 6 miscarriages in between--my first healthy one at 30, then 35 and my last at 41. I want to be healthy and strong to be able to be active with them, and with grandchildren perhaps one day. And, I love my work and it requires a very high energy level, as does my "avocation" maintaining my farm and providing a loving safe home for horses, dogs and cats....most of whom have had rough lives. Anyway, I won't stop until I get there, even if it takes a long time. And, I will work hard to stay at goal when I get there...there is too much for me to be doing in life right now. Thanks again, Vicki, for your wonderful success and your support.

Debbie, Until this last fill, I went months without losing. IT was VERY depressing. Here are some good pieces of advice I got that helped me... If you are not exercising, do something--anything. If you are exercising, change what you are doing. I swim since I have severe arthritis. One of the nurses at the bariatric specialist I went to for years(and kept gaining the weight back) told me that your body gets too used to whatever you are doing and the exercise eventually becomes ineffective. (Whew, I had kept adding time and increasing speed and wasn't losing weight. ) she suggested changing it up, go walking or hiking instead of swimming for some days--or for awhile and then go back to your favorite exercise, changing up things. Change meal times to earlier in the day. BTW, I did this because of the reflux and sliming--and it seems to be helping a bit. Make sure you do something for yourself. Go try on some clothes that you are almost into to motivate. Make sure you are drinking as much Water as possible. The big negative of the band is that I don't drink as much water as I used to. I used to drink OVER 100 ounces every day and more in the summer. With the need to sip, instead of gulp, I find it hard to get it all in. Maybe I'll be back to that by summer. Before this last fill in February, I could still gulp and suck in 100 ounces easily...in a short time! Hang with those who are supporting your efforts. Let me know whatever I can do. I need you all too!

We will NOT give up! It's been over 1.5 years for me and I've almost lost 50 pounds. As I mentioned earlier, the first fills did nothing until this February fill where all the sliming and getting stuck and throwing up started. However, I've lost about 20 pounds from this fill, so it feels like it is worth it to go through all this...though I have had some rough moments... HERE IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...I realized last night as I was having trouble sleeping that a lot of my reflux seems to be related to lots of mucus from the pollen in the air. I had started taking some benedryl liquid at night this past week to help me sleep. (I've been sick with bad headaches and a GI virus.) Last night I did not take any benedryl and the sliming, reflux etc was the worst ever. I realized at about 2AM that the problem was mucus drip and got up to take sudafed (The benadryl knocks me out for hours and I couldn't afford to over sleep and not work). About an hour later, I noticed that the sliming was greatly reduced! I'm thinking the spring allergy season is REALLY affecting the sliming and reflux...especially since it was almost nothing once the sudafed kicked in. Could that be having an effect on any of you????? Just a thought. I still have59 pounds to go to get to the highest I would be willing to stop at (though my surgeon thinks I might not make that due to other health issues including severe hypothyroidism). I would, ideally, like to lose another 69 pounds. It's okay with me if this takes several more years. I figure it will stay off more easily if it is slow. I also reviewed all of the 5 year medical studies on Lapband success rates before my surgery and the numbers are really good for long term success. (In comparison with gastric bypass, bypass is faster but the longterm success rate with lapband is at least as good than bypass. And, recently, some surgeons are doing lapband surgeries on bypass patients who have failed to keep the weight off.) Let's hang in there....

I felt the same as you...very little weight loss...but basically no side effects--until my last fill in February. Now, I've lost almost 20 pounds, but have reflux, sliming, and food getting stuck if I don't carefully chew every bite. I just posted to another thread this morning about the reflux and said that, as tough as it might be, I'll take it to get this weight loss. I'm not hopeful that I might actually be able to lose this weight. Have you tried talking to your doctor about a more "aggressive" fill? That's what I needed. I went 1.5 years with only approximately 10 lb. weight loss. I feel like I am on my way now. (I also know that exercise has been very important for me.) I hope talking with your doctor might help, I"m with you!

I was banded in September of'07. My insurance would only pay (partial) for fills every 2 months so I didn't not get filled very often. I also lost very little weight. I didn't have ANY side effects, mostly because the fills really had no effect. I tried to be very disciplined, but began to go up in weight. I was so ashamed that I kept trying on my own to lose the few pounds that I had gained, and to lose more. (Pretty dumb, eh! After all, isn't that the ENTIRE purpose of the banding!!!) When I did go back, my doctor (he and his staff are wonderful BTW) upped my fill very slowly. I still had little response. In a year and a half, I had only lost about 10 pounds. When I went back this February, his new PA told me that was terrible and asked why I was not succeeding. I felt pretty badly. However, this last fill WORKED. I think it was a more aggressive fill. (My surgeon had tried a more aggressive fill, but I had not been able to get Water down, so he drew some out of the band.) This fill has WORKED! But, it has also had side effects. I have reflux at night many nights--I try to sleep in almost a sitting position. If I don't eat or drink at least 2 hours before bedtime, it is not as bad. The other major side effect is that food gets caught more easily unless I am EXTREMELY careful about taking tiny bites. I know this is exactly what I am supposed to do, but life is sometimes hectic. When I am not rushing, this is not such an issue. I often end up needing to bring the food up. A more minor side effect is "sliming" when I eat foods I should not. DOES ANYONE ELSE GET THESE? I have not yet gone back. I was out of the country for 3 weeks about a month after this effective fill. Since I wasn't rushing around trying to get kids to their games, etc, and was JUST working (okay, some play) I was actually able to control my chewing and small bites. It was also a more scheduled type of day. I'm sort of torn about these side effects. Since that fill, I have lost about 20 pounds! (Of course, when I went in for the fill on 2/2 I was in my PMS phase and holding Fluid, so I may not have really lost quite that much!) That is more than the first 1.5 years post surgery!!!! Does anyone know if there are any longterm problems that these side effects create? I am willing to go through these if it means I can keep losing weight. Please help me with this. One other thing...for years doctors said they thought I might be lactose intolerant, but a botched test years ago kept me from going back for testing. (Hospital gave me glucose and almost went into insulin shock.) However, since this last banding I seem to be very intolerant of dairy products--much of my "sliming" seems to come from dairy products. Any thoughts on that? Thanks!