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Wendy - Just a thought for you...to monitor your progress, try tracking simple things like your weight, exercise and food intake daily. It doesn't have to be elaborate. I've attached a Word document (the forum apparently doesn't like Excel) that's just a sample of what I do. I usually on track during the week, but it keeps me mindful of my progress and what I need to correct. I'm by no means a stellar bandster, but it does help to see the progress and see what works and what doesn't. You can also use Fitday or some other tracking website, I don't because I want something quick and easy. Good luck to you!! Journal.doc

Never got one. Had the flu in second grade. I don't come into contact with that many people in the course of my day (no kids in school either), so the probabilities are pretty low for me. And I don't get sick easily.

Relpax is a godsend! I try children's chewable ibuprofen with alot of Water and if that doesn't cut it, I take a Relpax. It's gone in less than 1/2 hour. And it's a tiny pill. You may want to check with your doc and see if it's a possibility.

You might try just a touch of gravy. Crockpot works great for bandsters to keep food moist. Any some just can't eat chicken period. Also, for beef I tend to eat it medium instead of medium well. Sounds like you slimed and got thru unscathed. That's great...

Lovely - contact the hospital and see if they will accept a lower payment. It may be above what your insurance may be paid but well below the $28,000 they are asking. Contact the billing department and speak to a manager. If they say they can't do anything about it, ask to speak to someone higher up. Be persistent, but also be polite and state the facts. See if they can help you out. You have my sympathy.

No regrets..although I'm sure you'll find some. The minor inconveniences of having a lap band far outweigh the major inconvenience of obesity. Pick the surgery that is best for you. Do your research and make sure you are well informed before you make a decision. Decide what is important to you and what isn't in terms of what you have to live with. There are positives and negatives with both, so just be well advised, then you can go into this with your eyes wide open. Good luck to you!

Amy - what you're doing wrong it comparing yourself to everyone else. Believe it or not, not everyone loses 30-40 lbs in a month (pre/post-op). It's really hard to get discouraged, but just keep in your mind that this is the last time your ever going to have lose the weight you are right now and you'll do fine. Maybe your just a slow-loser that will keep it off in the end. Just try and think of the big picture. You'll get there! And your weight loss so far isn't nothing to sneeze at! Congrats!

Bob - I don't think you have too much to worry about with getting something stuck that you have to go to the E/R. If you take small bites, then you shouldn't have any problem with the obstruction of your airway, just stuck going down into your lower stomach. I've had very very few stuck episodes...the last Memorial Day weekend. All "operator" error. Do you best to concentrate on taking small bites, chewing thoroughly, and keep your body hydrated. I can't guarantee you will never have a stuck episode, but being mindful of what you are eating and taking your time, listening to your body cues help tremendously.

I can't say anyone has been offended, just that I have had friends not even make the slightest comment when others tell me they hardly recognize me after losing the weight. The ones that haven't mentioned it have their own issues with their weight, so I don't say anything either. Let's face it, weight/body image/WLS are very sensitive subjects to alot of people. My only hope is that for those who have battled like I did for all these years, see the lap band as an option that can be successful if they really want to change their way of life. I had my own misgivings about the surgery, mostly because of my concern that I would miss certain foods or the amount of food I would be able to eat, or if I would really be able to get all the weight off. But in time (which is why I LIKE that the weight loss is slower), I was able to get my head in the right frame of mind to reconcile those feelings. Now if I gain a few pounds, I don't beat myself up over it, and I don't fear that I won't be able to get the weight off. I just know that I need to make better food choices and keep active and I'll get my reward. No more head games anymore. That's why I know this time is different. If anyone tells me I took the easy way out...so be it. I probably won't be able to change their minds, and I don't feel the need to defend my actions. I did it for ME.

My doc's office recommended 60 grams per day. I actually have better weight loss if I get around 80 per day. 2 shakes a day give me approx. 50 grams, so it's pretty easy to get.

It used to such an effort to paint my toes, now it's easy. Isn't it a great feeling?!! Fitting into arena seats (comfortably), your feet not hurting anymore when you wear heels, being able to stand or walk for hours without effort, no more swollen ©ankles, joints hurting less, being able to shop anywhere, the list is endless! Skinny people may not get it, but you all do.

I drink a Protein shake in the morning every day for breakfast. I can eat, but don't take the time. I believe the reason you are tighter in the mornings is because you've gone several hours without any fluids and are a bit dehydrated. Drinking fluids helps to rehydrate you and give you a better ability to eat solid foods. I know I'm definitely tighter if I haven't drank enough fluids for a few days! Please make sure you are getting enough fluids...normally 64 oz/day is recommended.

I've had a great journey to my goal. Not really any problems other than a short period of time of being too tight and learning my lesson. My weight loss was fairly slow and steady. I've learned that it's easier for me to drink a Protein shake for Breakfast in the morning and eat my first solid food for lunch. Then I enjoy a snack around 3:30 - 4:00 in the afternoon and eat dinner around 7:30 - 8:00pm. That way I don't get hungry before I go to bed and get the late night munchies. I'm a little tighter in the mornings, but can still eat a solid breakfast if I have time or on the weekends. I'm not really hungry in the mornings, so this works the best for me. I try to limit my carbs, but do not really do low-carb anymore. And I still have my moments where I have crappy snack foods, but only occasionally on the weekends. Hubby and I exercise about 5-6 x/week when the weather is nice, otherwise I go to the "Y" and use the elliptical and strength machines. We walk, hike, bike...whatever...but try to do something active most days of the week. If you can, try and find a workout buddy or walking buddy to keep you motivated even when you don't feel like doing it. It really helps! Good luck!

Not sure why Optifast is frequently used...I personally used unjury and still do. In the past I used the Atkins shakes, but can't seem to gag them down anymore. I enjoy the Unjury since there's no added carbs and it's pure Protein. The chocolate is very good with skim milk, and the unflavored is good with Crystal Light lemonade mix. You may just want to sample several different kinds since they all have very distinct tastes. Just try to find one without a bunch of added sugar. You don't really need it unless you have an allergy or are sensitive to other sweeteners. Good luck and I hope you have a wonder pre and post-op success!

Be proud that you did something to better yourself. I fee like my lap band has given me a whole new life and I'm going things now that I've missed out on for many many years. I'm sure I've also prolonged my life (and QUALITY of life) by several years...and so how much is that worth? You all need to be proud of what you have done and will continue to do. It is hard, it is even more difficult to explain to someone who has never had a weight problem or looked into WLS. Just remember the real reasons that you had surgery and what your ultimate goals are. The best revenge or answer to them is to get healthy and live the life you've always wanted. How you got there is unimportant.

Try not to let your lap band dictate conversation. Your friends and family know you have it at this point, but don't make it an issue by bringing it up. I haven't received too many negative comments, but being from a small town and not really keeping it a secret (but not broadcasting it either) I get a fair share of stares and sideways comments I'm sure. I just blame it on jealousy, the need to gossip or minimize somebody's accomplishments. Most friends and family have been supportive and I am truly grateful for them. But I make it a point not to bring it up because it's something that many people do not understand or need to. You may need support, but look elsewhere to people that can understand. A support group, LBT, a good friend that you can confide in that is honestly happy for you and supportive. It is a way out, and I like the way Betsy said it. Just don't get defensive and feel the need to explain why you did it....many will never understand and have their own misconceptions. You may lose friends anyway....for many reasons. Hopefully, it's just the real you emerging that's been trapped for so long. And friends that don't want to be supportive aren't really the best people to have around you anyway. I have a few "negative Nellies" as friends and while they are still friends, I tend to limit my time with them to avoid feeling that way myself. And always remember that you may think people talk about you or think about you much more than they actually do. And weight is a sensitive issue for many people...for alot of reasons. It's probably best not to keep your band a topic of conversation when with your family and friends. Remember, this was your life-changing event, not theirs.

Tell you doc about your satiety level, they can see how much you have lost, and then you can both decide if a fill is right for you. Every fill can be a new learning experience on how to eat. Some fills aren't necessarily felt at all. I felt mine on the first one. The nurse tried to put in 2 1/2 cc's and then had to take 1/2 cc out since I couldn't swallow Water. If you are satisfied with your progress and the amount of food and weight loss you're experiencing, then you may not want or need a fill at this point. Sometimes I think it's best to let the darn thing heal well enough in place before messing with it. You don't need to be in a race to the finish line. The main point is to take care of your band, and keep your weight loss on track with an adequate amount of healthy eating and exercising regularly. Congrats to everything is working well for you!

eggs can give some people problems. If you're having them in the morning, make sure you drink a cup or two of liquid to start your day first. Tightness can come from being dehydrated and in the morning you basically are. Try other foods than eggs and see if they give you the same problems. I've had a too tight band and too loose band and both slowed my weight loss. A tight band for me caused me to eat foods that went down easy (slider foods of little nutritional value). Too loose and I could eat too much. Your body may just be catching up from all the changes you've been through in the past 3+ months. Just keep eating healthier and doing your exercising and the scale with move again. It's just a blip on the radar screen.

I've never heard of an auto-immune disease developing from the being banded, and have never come across anything in my research of the band. Not being a medical professional, I can't make judgements on what may be causing your problems, but I really do wish you the best. Sounds like you've had a terrible 10 months.

Claire - I'm glad you are getting a slight unfill. .1 or .2 - whatever it takes will be well worth it. After your unfill, do what your doctor recommends as far as slowly going back to solid food as tolerated. Then try a moist meat, even if you have to add a bit of gravy, and see if that sticks with you. The whole idea is to be able to eat solid food to keep you from getting hungry. It will be a learning process to see what you can tolerate. But luckily, the darn acid reflux should go away for sure. If not, get more taken out. That is a huge sign of being too tight and causing possibly damage. Good luck next week!

I can't chew gum. Even though I have no trouble eating anything, gum seems to stimulate too much saliva and makes me feel like I'm stuck/sliming. As much as I like to chew gum in the past, it's not worth it now. Same goes for a hard piece of candy. Can't do it. But there are worse things.

As far as lemonade, Minute Maid Light in a can is good. Otherwise, I drink Crystal Light (multiple flavors), Water, Diet Ocean Spray juices (different flavors available), Powerade Zero. I was a Diet Coke junkie for 25+ years. I wonder if some of the problems I've had over the years weren't related to all that crap in my system. No caffeine for me (other than in chocolate occasionally). There are plenty of no-fizzy low calorie drinks out there. It's your opportunity to try something new! Go for it!

I can eat anything...just some foods go down better than others. This past weekend I had an actual sandwich. Cheeseburger with bun. I ate half, took my time and it went down fine. My first since being banded because I was too afraid to try, but no problems. It seems like all that worry I had about not being able to eat what I wanted was for nothing. But I'm glad it's the way it is. The only things I refrain from is products with carbonation and I limit alcohol because it tends to give me heartburn.

Way to go Jen! Congratulations on your success! Make sure you do the happy dance!

Have you tried a soy milk? I used to drink Soy Slender (or something like that in Chocolate) and very cold it wasn't bad. Low in carbs and I believe very similar to skim milk in Protein. As far as being lactose intolerant, have you tried Lactaid or some other OTC med for this? I'm thinking Lactaid is a chewable, but not certain. Before you swear off any dairy, you may want to try and see if that helps. I know some whey powders would upset me also, but I use the unjury protein and have no trouble. If you don't want to mix with milk, get the unflavored and mix with Crystal Light lemonade, the taste is very good. Just some suggestions, but as far as a soy alternative without a whey component, I have no answers other than the soy milk. They all have a seemingly different taste so you may want to try a few different ones or ask for more input. Good luck!