Shoshanna

It's nice to have familial support for one's life changing decisions, but it is not necessary. As Carolina Girl said, we'll support you via this forum. Good luck.

It's nice to have familial support for one's life changing decisions, but it is not necessary. As Carolina Girl said, we'll support you via this forum. Good luck.

Ok I post this else where once Di sorry if repeat.
My friend works at Victoria Secerts. When I started I was 42DDD and couldn't shop there. Now I' in a 38DD, but it's loose too. She had me come in and measure every few weeks after I lost my first fifty. Then told to wait til the next week for there semi annual sale. I hot 5 bras at 1/2 off I was crazy cause my three kids were with me and was only gonna but two but, shopping with kids is not the best- so I grab the five and left. I called my friend and tod her I was panicked since I just spent $125 dollars on bras that would most likely be too big in a few months. SHE TOLD ME AN AMAZING THING: Victoria Secerts will exchange your bras for the new size if you gain or lose weight and need need size. just bring back your bras and your recipt- get fitted for new ones. ( I put my receipt in my dresser with bras so I have it- she said they would probably do without receipt - but easier with it). So make your girls happy and buy a new bra. They are very good at fitting and picking bra that has right coverage. I wanted one with more side coverage for my loose skin under arms. Just ask. They were very helpful. It was also fun to go in every few weeks and see the change. Good luck.

I was so excited when my breasts started to shrink! I suffered big breasts since my early teens and I love being able to buy smaller bras. I've gone from a 24DD (Australia) to wearing a size 12 tee-shirt style bra for everyday wear (sports bra for workouts.)

It's nice to have familial support for one's life changing decisions, but it is not necessary. As Carolina Girl said, we'll support you via this forum. Good luck.

Two years and ten months after I first broached the idea of lapband surgery to my doctor and two years and five months after surgery, I am one pound BELOW my goal of 148.
Color me delighted.
Now comes the hard part- maintenance. I go see my surgeon for a slight unfill on Thursday and then I find out how the band helps with eating to maintain. Wish me luck.

Twelve step programs for nicotine addiction exist; it might be a good idea to seek one out. Failing to find a program specifically for nicotine, I suggest NA where no one cares what you used or how much you used. I've never smoked tobacco but I will have 16 years of clean time in NA next month.

What you are considering is a trend that has already begun. There are numerous of websites where one can trade and/or give away personal items with/to others online. One particular name for a reputable website does not come to mind; however, there is Rehashclothes.com, Dig N Swap, Bigwardrobe.com, Swapstyle, thredUP, and Close Infinite among many others. Check them out thoroughly before you start your trading. Hope this helps...

Everyone else has given you good advice. I'll just add a few comments.
Getting some psychotherapy (especially if the therapist is experienced with eating disorder and WLS patients) is a great first step. While obesity is caused by a combination of factors, not all of them within our conscious control, it's important to take a multi-disciplinarian approach to treating it, so be sure to talk with your surgeon and dietitian as well. I guarantee you, you will not be the first self-sabotaging patient they've ever had, and they might just have some good suggestions for you.
In the meantime, stop calling yourself a failure. Weight loss and management is lifetime project, and it's going to be extremely hard for you to accomplish that at the same time as you're piling shame and disgust on top of yourself. That kind of self-talk has a tendency to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

My sympathy to you. Sounds like his control issues are in play. Is couples counseling a possibility?

I think you misunderstood the letter. Band erosion isn't literally the band, it's the stomach. Here is the clinical definition:
Erosion is a long-term complication of lap band surgery, and occurs when the Gastric Band is fastened around the upper stomach gradually erodes into the stomach wall and extends into the gastric lumen. Intragastric Lap Band Erosions have been reported at rates that vary from 0.6% to 10% depending of the operative technique, the doctor’s experience, the device used and the most important factor: the patient's followup.
The use of NSAIDS, alcohol and smoking have been proposed as three of the main factors contributing to hyperacidity and irritation of the mucosal layer of the stomach. This important layer prevents us from acquiring ulcers in normal conditions. When the irritation is persistent, it can cause erosion of the wall layers of the stomach, which may allow the lap band to migrate into the stomach (“inside out” erosion theory). Repeated vomiting has also been suggested as a possible accelerant, especially when a high degree of obstruction is present (For example, an over-filling of the lap band). Due to the erosion, saliva or food leaks through the hole or ulcer in the stomach and flows along the Lap Band tubing, causing the tissue under the skin of the Lap Band Port to become infected.

They don't need to understand. You don't need to defend or explain your motives to them. Put your energy into your journey instead of seeking support where there is only dissent. The first step in not allowing your resolve to be undermined is to make the entire topic off-limits at work. You're on your way down the road to a great improvement in your life and it's silly to let yourself be influenced by people who do not have your best interests at heart.
Good luck to you.

They don't need to understand. You don't need to defend or explain your motives to them. Put your energy into your journey instead of seeking support where there is only dissent. The first step in not allowing your resolve to be undermined is to make the entire topic off-limits at work. You're on your way down the road to a great improvement in your life and it's silly to let yourself be influenced by people who do not have your best interests at heart.
Good luck to you.

I think alot of us have had to deal with negativity. Its just the nature of the beast. Some people are just envious, others ill informed. But as far as my family, when they found out I had a greater chance of a stroke due to high blood pressure, than I do from dying from the surgery, they kind of mellowed out, as for other people I could care less what they think. this is my decision not there's.

Well, poo on them. I have been banded just over a year. My husband thought I was nuts and that this was just another weight loss gimmick. Some of my friends tried to talk me out of it becuase they thought I might die in surgery. My daughter and mother were in my corner all the way. I made up MY MIND and I went through with the entire process with a very positive can do attitude. Don't let the negitive people get to you. If this is what you feel is right for you, then GO GIRL. Now that I am down over 100 pounds - the negitive people have hushed..Yep, I eat funny now and yep, sometimes it is very hard but this "tool" really helps. Good luck and hang in there. If you really feel this is the right move for you, you will not let their comments bother you. Keep us posted.
Melinda in Florida

They don't need to understand. You don't need to defend or explain your motives to them. Put your energy into your journey instead of seeking support where there is only dissent. The first step in not allowing your resolve to be undermined is to make the entire topic off-limits at work. You're on your way down the road to a great improvement in your life and it's silly to let yourself be influenced by people who do not have your best interests at heart.
Good luck to you.

They don't need to understand. You don't need to defend or explain your motives to them. Put your energy into your journey instead of seeking support where there is only dissent. The first step in not allowing your resolve to be undermined is to make the entire topic off-limits at work. You're on your way down the road to a great improvement in your life and it's silly to let yourself be influenced by people who do not have your best interests at heart.
Good luck to you.

They don't need to understand. You don't need to defend or explain your motives to them. Put your energy into your journey instead of seeking support where there is only dissent. The first step in not allowing your resolve to be undermined is to make the entire topic off-limits at work. You're on your way down the road to a great improvement in your life and it's silly to let yourself be influenced by people who do not have your best interests at heart.
Good luck to you.

Congrats, there are so many awesome changes in store for you. I agree with all the previous post, you have to put the effort in and do the work and eat healthy. It's so worth it in the end.
I'm 7 months post op and am down 86lbs.
Exercise is difficult at first but gets easier the more pounds you lose. I don't know where it came from but I have a little sign that says,
"It doesn't matter how slow you go, you're still lapping people sitting on the couch!"
Congrats again and good luck!

Banded 3-3-10, down 95 pounds, three pounds BELOW goal. There have been many moments of struggle and discomfort but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'm hoping maintenance will be less challenging, but I'll do whatever I need to do to stay un-fat.
Welcome to the club, Belinda.

I live about 30 min from Galveston and there is some fabulous seafood there that you can eat and not feel guilty!
Just remember everything grilled!
Stay away from bread and sugar!
Order any fish, shrimp, crab, etc with veggies
Try to ask for no butter or salt when you can
Use my fitness pal or lookup calories on the restaurants website.

I've had my band for almost 3 yrs now and I've lost over 100 lbs (now it's less since I've gained a few lbs back). Most of you have probably read my dilemma on another post somewhere, but I'll re-tell it for those of you who haven't:
After losing 104 lbs and being within 11 lbs of my goal of 135, I began having severe acid reflux at nite (so bad that I had to take 1 rx Nexium, 2 rx Prilosec, and 5 otc Zantacs and sleep propped up on 3 pillows). Still I coughed up stomach acid all nite. I allowed that to go for 4 months, as I was afraid the dr might take out some Fluid and I would never get to goal. After 4 mths, my husband had had it. He demanded that I go in. After an xray confirmed that my band had slipped, the PA took out 1/2 og my 9cc fill and let me rest for 4 weeks. The reflux was gone! Slept like a baby for the first time in months. I could sleep on my side, could snuggle with my husband again. Life was grand - except - I was constantly hungry. It was like before I even had my band. During the 4 weeks tho I only gained about 3 lbs. When I went in to start the refill process, I wasn't given another xray to confirm that it was fixed. I should've demanded it but didn't really even think about it. He put 1cc in. Still slept like a baby, also no restriction. 2 weeks later, he put another 1cc in. Restriciton is finally back! Yeah! After about 3 nites, the severe reflux is also back tho. Along with the nightime reflux is almost constant heartburn during the day. The meds help with the heartburn but not the reflux (and there is a difference between them if you didn't know this!). I happened to be out of state for 2 weeks when it started again so I emailed my RN and she replied with "You need to come in and get unfilled again". Made my appt for Monday Aug 6th. They will take an xray 1st.
What my suggestions to all of you newbies: Watch the PB'ing. I call it vomiting because I wretch just like vomiting, altho it's only the food I'd eaten and not stomach bile with it. After finally getting restriciton after 5 mths and 3 fills, I vomited about 4-6 times a week. I eat too fast (even tho I work on it, I'm far from perfect and it's easier to me to vomit than to learn how to eat slower). I've vomited in parking lots (with my head hanging over the car while in the drivers seat), in the yard, in my bathroom, and many, many public restrooms. It just became normal to me. When I first got my slip, the dr warned me to stop throwing up. When he put the 2nd 1cc in, I threw up my pills that nite. I either reslipped my band from throwing up, or it was never fixed in the first place. I'm working on eating slower, and when a stuck episode does happen, I'm working on suffering thru it and letting it play out. Sometimes I'm miserable for about 20 minutes but at least I'm not throwing up as often. Yes, I said as often. A couple of nites ago, I ate about 1/2 cup of banana pudding. To not let my husband hear me, I took the dog outside to potty. I threw up in the yard. He heard me thru his office window. And I thought I was being so sneaky.
I now have 22 lbs left to my goal. I've gained 11 lbs thru this whole ordeal. And this time, I may not even get an unfill. They may have to go in and reposition it. That's another 4 weeks of a liquid diet. All because I made myself throw up so often because I can't learn to slow down. Do I want another band? I've been seriously thinking about it. But my bmi is now only 26, so I doubt my Medicare will even cover an alternative surgery. I think they have to cover band repositioning if it's caused medical problems. Why can't I just trust in what I've learned over the past almost 3 yrs and get it taken out completely? Because I guess I haven't learned that much. I refuse to diet - that means I eat everything I used to eat, just much, much smaller portions. That's why I love my band so much. I can only eat 2 Cookies intstead of 12 ( I know I probably shouldn't be eating cookies at all - but that's dieting to me). I'm terrified that if they take it out, I will regain all of my weight back and I'll be the sad, 248 lb woman I used to be. Who doesn't even have her 3x clothing anymore and can't afford a new wardrobe AGAIN. So, yes, I think I'll have it re-positioned if necessary. I'm hoping they just take out the fluid for a few weeks and we start all over again. It's such a slow process tho. And at $160 each visit and a 6 hr round trip, it's gunna cost a fortune if I have to start all over again.
Why did I do this to myself? Why can't I just learn to eat slower and avoid all the throwing up in the first place?
Marci

Two years and ten months after I first broached the idea of lapband surgery to my doctor and two years and five months after surgery, I am one pound BELOW my goal of 148.
Color me delighted.
Now comes the hard part- maintenance. I go see my surgeon for a slight unfill on Thursday and then I find out how the band helps with eating to maintain. Wish me luck.

Two years and ten months after I first broached the idea of lapband surgery to my doctor and two years and five months after surgery, I am one pound BELOW my goal of 148.
Color me delighted.
Now comes the hard part- maintenance. I go see my surgeon for a slight unfill on Thursday and then I find out how the band helps with eating to maintain. Wish me luck.

Two years and ten months after I first broached the idea of lapband surgery to my doctor and two years and five months after surgery, I am one pound BELOW my goal of 148.
Color me delighted.
Now comes the hard part- maintenance. I go see my surgeon for a slight unfill on Thursday and then I find out how the band helps with eating to maintain. Wish me luck.