July5forMe

I'm glad you asked that question cuz i want to know the same thing. I've been banded for almost 3 years and i'm 10 lbs heavier than when i got banded. i fell off the wagon and never went back. UNTIL TODAY!!! if there is a such thing as stretching the pouch i'm sure i would have done it. I had a fill today and i'm assuming they would have noticed if my pouch was now the size my stomach used to be. I hope we get some helpful info.

that's one step further than I can take right now. It's funny how we develope these relationships with our doctors and then when we need them most we stay away. I know I did alot of research into my doctor and made sure I felt comfortable with him and made sure I just liked him. It's funny now because I like him so much and I appreciate everthing he did for me i feel like going to see him now after almost a year is laying dissapointment right infront of him. I don't want to see his face when he sees i've gained 20-30 lbs. At this rate you would think my goal is to get back to my preop weight. Because I sure am closer to that one that the one I had to get down to 160. which wasn't unreachable as far as I was told and isn't unreachable when i look at those before/after pics. I jsut couldn't do it. Nothing broken, everything is still in place, no pain, no nothing. i eat what i want and drink when i want and that's why i'm not succeeding. What is that line that I can't cross to actually put in a effort to make this thing work? What did it take for you to put your foot down and do it?

Laci, I think I was there a long time ago. Maybe months ago. I didn't go down the right path. I got caught up with my love for food and couldn't stop. At first I didn't gain or lose weight so I was okay with it because I wasn't gaining at least. But then I stopped weighing myself. Then one day you get back on that scale and you've gained. Yep! You can gain and you can gain even more than you've lost. I know this is your struggle and not mine but I feel for you. Because I went through that and here I am months later from where it sounds you are now and I'm still struggling with it. All I can say is don't wait long. Look for your help right away. go see your doctor or any support groups you have available to you. That's one thing I haven't done so I would say that's something you should do if you don't want to be where I am now. I battled with the depression and i'm just now getting it under control. It's not easy. Not at all. But the quicker you work at getting them resolved the easier it will be. Don't put it off like I did. Make the appts and stick to them. Good Luck to You. I feel what you are feeling and I know we can make it go away. Deep inside weknow what we need to do.

I'm starting over. I haven't been on play for almost a year. The band is still there and I'm sure still working is I stay on play and follow the rules. so...... I will stay on plan tomorrow because I am tired of blaming myself and food for everything. I will stay on a plan starting tomorrow because I am tired of crying all the time. I will have a plan from now on.

well thanks for all the posts. I don't know what I need or what I am looking for when I put what i'm going through out there like that. Everything you all say is right. It's like i know it but why am I not acting on it or doing what needs to be done. I feel so overwhelmed with so many things right now. My mom says women can take on a whole lot more than men and still succeed. Which I've witness first had myself. I'm going thru so much. I got layed from my job while on disability for my depression. (lets say that was a set back)that happened in November. I didn't get released by my doctor until this Feb 08. so..... layed off because of depression got depresson under control in about 3 month. still working on it everyday going to school fulltime. I have to make something of myself. This is the only thing I am happy about. its a burden at times but I won't give it up. I have to do the mom/wife stuff. housework, homework, pet care, dinner, driver, pretty much everything at home. I don't work right now because i want to get as far as i can in school and maybe i'll look for something in aug. I'm hoping to have a schedule and everthing undercontrol then. Right? I know I need to go see my doctor. I feel like I've let him down though. He's a very nice guy. Had good predictions for me. and here I am almost the same weight I was when he operated on me. It's so embarrassing. How can you face your doctor like that? <<<----- advice on this is greatly needed as well. well, i've revealed awhole lot more of myself than i thought i needed to. so thanks again for everyones advice. I appreciated it anytime some takes the time to read my post and actually say something. it means a whole lot.

I'm going on 2 years with my band. I was up to 40 lbs lost and now I'm back. I feel one day I'll be back where I started and then one day be heavier than the day I was on my surgery date. I don't know why I just assumed that I was going to be successful. I guess I just though was a stronger person and was just going to do it. I was obviously wrong. Does that mean I'm a failure? I kept the appointment. I got the fills. My weight loss was slow or just stopped all together. I couldn't stand to keep the appointments and just continue feeling as if I couldn't lose the weight. So, I only blame myself now because I don't go to the doctor. I haven't been in about a year now. I've been battling depression for the past year and I could only handle one thing at a time. Now that I've got my depression under control I'm debating whether or not I should start focusing on my weight loss. Has anyone else had a problem with depression after getting banded? Sometimes I feel like my depression may have been triggered by me losing my relationship with food. Any advise would help. I don't go to support groups and I don't know anyone else who is banded. I hate to ask but support would be great and any advise I can get.

okay i know i'm about a month post op but i just started exercising yesterday. I did a 30 minute walk. A brisk walk. It felt pretty good. I hope i can continue.

do the mock mash potatoes really taste like actual mash potatoes?

thank you both. your advice helps alot. thank you.

Thank you to both of you for your advice. I guess i just need reassurance that this isn't going to be the worse thing i have ever done. I see i'm getting alot of views but not alot of replies. If you have anything at all to say i'd appreciate it. Thanks again for the support.

i weighed 265 during my surgery. My liver didn't seem to be an issue. I don't want you to worry about your liver. If the doctor thinks its too big he won't continue. But just to let you know if you are at all worried about surgery eating right does help your liver shrink which does reduce your risk for complications during the actual surgeryl

neenagh, I ate so much while i was waiting to see when my surgery date was. then when i found out it was only 2weeks in advance. Then the eating really started. I hate to admit it but i would eat out by myself because i didn't want my husband to know how much i was eating. I ate ate and ate. I felt so bad about it but i couldn't stop. I tried to try to eat a chicken sandwich instead of a hamburger and do little things like that so that i felt it wasn't as bad but i still couldn't stop. So i wasn't able to buckle down and stop eating until 2 days prior to surgery and i think that was solely because of how nervous i was. You just need to be strong. You need to do the things you know you need to do to make your self stop. It's going to help you so much after you get the band to know that you starting controlling your eating habits. The sooner the better. Its hard for me to give you great advice since i wasn't really able to stop myself but i want you to know that you aren't the only one who did it but you are the only one who can stop it. GOOD LUCK!!!

hello all you august bandster waiting for your day to come. I was banded july 5. Just wanted to let you know that our July thread is here if you have any questions once you get banded. I know we go to the june thread alot for advice. Well i'm excited for all of you and don't be too nervous. I know i was a worried wreck before surgery but it was a lot easier than i could have ever thought. I think the tough part starts when you can eat regular foods and you have to make the right choices. congrats on your surgery dates!!!

i was just banded on july 5th. since having the band i've realized how much of an emotional eater i was. I hope the band helps but for right now i can't say it does. I still want to eat the food but i can't. the urge is still there but i just can't satisfied it. I'm going to find a support group or a therapist because i think for us who are emotional eaters we need more then just the band. the band will stop you from eating alot of food but it will not help you deal with the emotions that cause you to eat. hope this helps. :huggie:

Hello June Bandster. July Bandster here. I was banded july 5th and now that i'm starting to slowly move on to eating more regular food i'm starting to worry if i can really do this. Its hard keeping away from the fast food. Its hard not eating everything on you plate when it tastes so good. All this kind of just jumped up and suddenly i realized i am an emotional eater and an overeater and all of the above. Its like suddenly realizing you do have a problem and you did need help. Now that i have the help all i want to do is run back to all the food i used to eat. Since you were all banded last month, did you go thru this phase and did it pass? How was it after your first fill? Anything scarey? Anything you can tell me will be great.

:help: Okay. So i know now that i relied alot on food for comfort. I go back to work tomorrow and its a job i'm not really happy with. I don't know how to deal with it now that i just don't enjoy eating anymore. Everytime i eat i'm so afraid of having a PB. I'm just nervous the whole time I can't enjoy the conversation or the food. I would really like to know how do you deal with things now that you don't have the comfort of food? (for those who used food to cope) Also if you could describe what a PB is like. Why do we have them? Do you feel them coming on? I appreciate any advice i can get. Just wondering how to deal now that i feel it getting tougher and tougher.

wow Paula, I am glad you're doing so well. I was banded on the 5th and i don't even feel close to 100%. I still run around and walk around. But i still can't bend down and my port site is the only one that causes me a little pain here and there. You sound like you're doing great. I was scared before surgery too. I probably would of backed out if they didn't put me to sleep when they did. Now i realize i did all the worrying for nothing. Even though i'm not completely well its not as nearly as bad as i thought it would be Keep up the good work Paula!

Also Banded July 5. We should really have our own thread. lol I don't have my first post op appointment till the 21st. I haven't had any hunger issues so far (knock on wood). I've only had Water, crystal lite, diet tea, sf popsicles, and when i think i'm hunger i can keep down a third of thos sf carnation instant Breakfast drinks. I'm think about trying creme Soups next week. Any recommendations? :hungry: It sounds like all of us are doing really well. :clap2:

:clap2: Congrats to all of you banded last month. :clap2: I've been reading your thread for weeks now and i'm glad that alot of you are doing so well. I was banded 7/5/06 and i thought who better to ask questions to than those banded last month. :help::help::help::help::help: 1. did anyone have trouble breathing after surgery? (taking deep breathes) If so, when did this finally go away? 2. How would you describe how it feels when you're full? Because i'm still sore and swollen a little its hard to tell what's surgery discomfort verses hunger or fullness. 3. Who would say that they have healed 100%? And how long did it take for you to feel that way? :phanvanSorry for all the questions. I'm part of the july bandster thread but my surgery was one the first ones and we are all really new to this. Any advice will help. I feel pretty good for the most part. Just alittle painful when i move certain ways. again, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL!!! :clap2:

I just wanted to mention the chat room. I don't know how but i managed to miss it till now. It would be cool if we start using it. I'm sure alot of us would like to just talk. Just a suggestion. I thought it would be a great idea.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JULYBANDSTER!!! :happybday: :confused: :happybday: :happybday: :happybday: :Banane34: :happybday: :Banane41: :happybday: :Banane27: :happybday: :party: :happybday: :party::happybday: :party:

day of surgery = 5'3 and 265 lbs. :confused:

thanks for the advise leila. i'm going to have to try that.

tellymelly, my surgery day was on july 5. So i'm not even a week post op yet. I feel pretty good. stomach feels sore and the port incision is just a little more tender than the rest. just a sharp sting every now and then but its all manageable. I'll check out the exercise today thread. that would be cool to see what everyone is doing after getting banded.

tellymelly, i see your posts on the before and after thread. everything you are doing is surely working. you are looking fabulous. please keep posting what you are doing. you seem to be exercising alot. how soon after your surgery did you feel 100%? I've just started going for small walks and they do make me feel real good.