girlinnyc

i used to keep up more...now that living with the band is becoming more "usual"--i have not put in too much.

there's not too much to say other than i think my band is REALLY tight and if i get stressed out or am in a situation that feels tense--then NOTHING goes down--not even ICE CREAM!

i didn't lose ANY WEIGHT AT ALL for 1 month--but all of a sudden, without doing anything special--i started losing again. the combination of the really tight band, not being able to eat under stressful circumstances (such as business travel--thank god for packing optifast shakes) and basically sticking to easy food like yogurt, juice, some hamburger and a few raw vegetables (radishes work, don't know why)...and voila--weight loss has been happening. and hunger has been minimal--which is why i wanted the band in the first place--to cut down on that endless "i'm HUNGRY" feeling.

am also wearing a suit that i haven't worn in 4.5 yrs---ta daaah. that feels good.

i even went shopping for a smaller pair of pants for work--as i was embarrassed that my "regular" pants were just about falling off--and i had to keep pulling them up--boy that is UNCOMFORTABLE to do while you're walking down the hall...

i keep looking at the scale--not moving very fast in the downward trend--but i can still feel changes in clothing--and some people finally commented...so...SOMETHING must be happening--right??

right!

the band is where it's supposed to be. i am pretty annoyed that i had to have another procedure, UNDER ANESTHESIA, b/c of dr's idiot staff.

end of story. no further surgery needed. thank god.

30 lbs is AWESOME. you'll definitely feel restriction after that fill. your big challenge will be to eat even SMALLER mouthfuls and chew extremely well before swallowing! keep on trucking!

-girlinnyc-

tingling in your legs after exercise is GOOD--it means blood is flowing--you'll get to LIKE that feeling!

keep it up! it's GREAT for you!

Fantastic accomplishment! isn't losing weight great for exercise purposes? really allows you to do MORE and feel even better! you go girl!

can you take advil for your knee? it's ok to take with the band (so says my dr, anyway)--and it's very effective for pain--if you're not allergic to aspirin. as for food--protein will keep you very satisfied--have a hamburger (no bread)--that'll fill you up!

i guess it showed a slip of some kind. guess i'm headed back to surgery. will know more when i speak to surgeon on may 1. am very depressed. :think :think :think

Well--the esophogram was not clear enough to show if the band slipped. I have to have an endoscopy--though i'm not sure what it's going to show, exactly, from the inside of the stomach to know if the band is slipped or not.

but that's happening this thursday.

then--my dr. is on vacation until may 1--which is when i'll see him and find out what's what.

if the band is slipped-i'll have to have it repaired. another surgery. just what i'm looking forward to.

not.

:think :think

Look how cute you look!! NICE!!

it's really so much LESS "awful" than you think it will be. good luck~~!!

just put in a call to the dr's office. god knows when they'll call back.

last week i was on a business trip to houston (from ny) and had lunch out with business associates. after only a few bites of food--small, tiny bites, chewed well--i had to excuse myself and go to restroom--to THROW UP. that happened twice.

then--this was the worst--on the way back to the office -- i KNEW that i was going to get sick--but we were in the STREET--what could i do??? i held it in and ALMOST made it to the 28th floor--but as the elevator doors were opening--i had to open up my little PURSE, and THROW UP INTO IT. god, how embarrassing. everything happened really fast--and then i RAN to the restroom (thank god it didn't require a KEY). what a mess. THEN--i vomited VIOLENTLY. much worse than any previous time, where the food just popped out. this felt MUCH MUCH WORSE.

Well--i stayed on liquids thereafter--and they went down ok. but when i went back to food--it felt---different. i had NO pb's (not that i WANTED any), the food went down--but the restriction feels off. i was VERY careful after this happened. i have been extra EXTRA careful to eat small bites, chew 15-25 times, and WAIT between mouthfuls. also, what i take to eat is much MUCH smaller than i used to take. but--i'm worried about my restriction now. and the band placement.

i wonder if i blew a hole in the band? or slipped it?? i don't know.

so i'm waiting for a call back from the dr's office to see if i should come in for an esophogram or something.

i really hope all is well--i certainly didn't WANT this to happen.

:think

congrats on being banded! now the next 6 wks are just about healing--don't worry about eating properly or anything--just follow dr's orders and take it easy! don't go back to work until you feel like it (if you can stay out longer, do so)...good luck!

buy a copy of weight watchers magazine--or see if it's at your library (or read it at the bookstore). there are LOTS of healthy eating ideas and recipes in there.

plus--once you get your band tightened--you're not going to be eating much--i can tell you that--as i have just had my 2nd fill and i am really struggling with eating.

but if you want to learn ahead of time--weight watchers magazines, or cookbooks--will really help you.

Had it last week. Went much better this time--no chest pain afterwards (probably had a heart attack last time, incidental to the fill, but ignored by me, b/c now i feel fine).

but THEN--i WAS, and AM, REALLY restricted now. this is 2.2 cc's in a 4cc band. i am learning--the slow, hard, sliming, throwing up way--you CANNOT fight with the BAND and WIN!! the BAND wins!!!

if you keep eating after the VERY FIRST SIGNAL that you've had ENOUGH--you're in trouble. the very first signal can be a burp, a hiccup, a runny nose---something....and if you ignore it and keep shoveling food in--you're gonna pay.

i have had to THROW UP more than i ever thought i would feel comfortable with. the food is stuck in my esophagus--never gets to my stomach--so is not acidic--but boy--this is NOT terribly fun. it's bearable though. i am not sorry i had the surgery--i am just a little frustrated that i can't do better, more quickly.

am trying to reverse a LIFETIME of shoveling food into my stomach as fast, and as much, as i can--not an easy task.

finally it has dawned on me--i can only really eat SOLID FOOD--at night. NOT at lunch. stick to soft things at lunch--thank god my office sells 3 diff kinds of au bon pain soup every day--that has been a lifesaver.

and, if i'm hungry after the cafeteria shuts--i can get more soup at the little cafe they keep open til 4:30. so i am lucky. that is a good way to get protein down--and not have to RUN TO THE BATHROOM and THROW UP.

i am seeing what bulimics must see--that it's NOT so hard to throw up --but in my case--not to lose weight--but to stop CHOKING on the food. ugh.

anyway--on the upside--am losing weight!! must be getting enough vitamins and calories in to sustain me--not dying of hunger either. i take a flintstones vitamin (when i remember) and am eating good protein (meat or poultry) vegetables and fruit--and optifast shakes for bfast--those go down easy and i like the taste (blended with ice). i am hardly eating any bread at all. i miss it--mentally--but not the taste or the texture. it's just too hard to deal with if it gets STUCK.

so it goes. next fill--or appt wth dr.--scheduled for april 24. i wonder if they'll fill me up any further--or maybe this is the right level for me.

i continue on my search to know what i can eat, and when, and most important--HOW MUCH. it's a delicate balance.

i didn't see how long since your surgery--but i'm sure it will go away soon. try not to pick kids up so much! before you know it--everything will be healed!!

best wishes,

girlin

nyc

wow--that is AWESOME!! you go, girl!!

good luck on your surgery!! welcome to band land! hope all goes very well and easily and you're feeling well in a jiffy--i know you will be!

well, i had my first fill. the fill itself went fine. i think because i had OPEN gall bladder surgery 18 yrs ago (with horrible long incision)...i had no pain when the dr. stuck needle in to fill up the band. so that was the good part. didn't need any lidocaine or anything.

the bad part was, after making my appt for 1 month down the road, and going down 10 floors in the elevator, and getting in a taxi--only THEN did i start to get nasty little squeezing pains in my left chest....

i figured "well...this is just because the band is filled and is pressing outward on something that doesn't like to be pressed out on"...so i went back to work...ignored it--or tried to---and by the time i got home, i was just miserable.

took MAJOR painkiller--went to bed--and next morning all was well.

so, the next day i thought--"there's NO restriction. i can still eat anything. they said i could come back in a week if no restriction, that's what i'll do."

that continued through saturday.

then whoa--on sunday--i had 2 incidences of "ouch the food is stuck" :omg: and my first PB (nasty).:think the first was from a scone (i know, i know--not supposed to be eating that). and the 2nd was from gobbling down (or starting to gobble down) some beef with broccoli--oy vey. missed the first part of the oscars show while waiting in the bathroom for the chunk in my chest to either GO DOWN or COME OUT. it eventually popped out. then i felt better. but boy, was i done with "dinner."

so--i guess there IS restriction-=-and i will wait the month for the next visit.

my warning is "even if you think there's no restriction--wait a few days--there may very well be some."

the end.

ta--daaaah.

who is your surgeon? are you happy with your choice? does he/she have TONS of experience? where do you live?? yes--keep working towards the goal--i started in july 06--and had many delays due to business travel--couldn't even get to the initial SEMINAR that is required attendance before any of the appt's==FINALLY got banded on jan 8--tomorrow is my first fill--it can be done! just keep moving forward!!

wow, go ahead, post those pictures--you deserve to boast!! keep up the good work. you're amazing!

i have been remiss in writing--oh well. i'm here to say that time fixes EVERYTHING--i feel like i NEVER HAD SURGERY AT ALL. unbelievable. no pains anywhere, scars disappearing, and appetite---well...ravenous.

first fill--manana.

just got back from a week in mexico. could have stayed forever. so nice, warm, relaxing...ahhhh. not to mention--all the good food and drink. NOT good for my lapband, i'm sure--but didn't overeat that much--just didn't undereat either. my scale says 3-4 lbs +, but i'm sure that's temporary--as i'm no longer lounging around on the beach, eating tortillas and drinking cerveza.:cry

cold, miserable, horrible weather in nyc---do NOT feel like moving out of warm bed today--but must--as i stayed in yesterday and barely moved. NOT GOOD.

looking forward, very much,to first fill. NEED and WANT that restriction to happen!

well, i'll see what that's like TOMORROW. am a little apprehensive about what it will feel like--but as long as it makes the restriction come back--that'll be great. i'm willing to go for refills for as long as it takes.

wish i could say i'm willing to go to gym and work out--but i can't say it. it would be a LIE. :der:

BOY you were so good on pre-op diet! my only downfall was new year's eve--that was a BIG downfall (because i too, had to host the party, grrrr)--but the rest of the time, i really stuck to it. the vegetables were helpful--weren't they? i can't tell if i'm losing weight. i guess i am--my clothes are looser (they were getting tight). and you sound like you're doing fine now--you're going to wake up one day--and several lbs will be gone!

i find i still have some pain in my middle---especially when i get up from sitting down too long....and then at night--when i lay down--it's VERY sore. i have taken 1/2 a painkiller--and it soothes me enough to sleep.

i'm not THAT conscious of anything when i'm sitting and working--but if i've been sitting there a LONG time--then it's very sore when i stand up.

wondering if that's ok.

there's definitely NO restriction in me--or very little. i cannot eat AS MUCH as i used to *(good)*--but i can eat just about anything.

if i take TOO BIG A BITE (and you'd be surprised at how easy and unconsciously you do that) then it could feel momentarily stuck--i.e. in a car--i wanted a BANANA--i started to GOBBLE that thing down and oops--it felt a little stuck. only ate 1/2 of it---and decided--ok--that's ENOUGH. in the past, could easily have finished it and wanted more. this time, decided on my own=--better not continue. ESPECIALLY while i'm driving in a city i don't even know. ugh. too stressful!

my first fill will be 2/21. looking forward to it.

i have a trip to mexico (planned over a year ago) in 1.5 wks...oh gawd--need some BATHING SUITS. aacckkk :scared: . not happy about THAT. even bought my suntan lotion--FROM CANADA (they have better lotion than here, with ingredients the FDA hasn't approved yet for U.S.--but used in canada and europe)...so....it's a BIG DEAL TRIP. (all this--to lie in the sun and do nothing??)

worried about what i can eat there. guess i'll be trying more fish--as that's supposed to be GOOD FOR ME. not a big fish eater--but..i'm damn well going to try--as i just went thru this whole PROCEDURE to HELP MYSELF LOSE WEIGHT--must keep GOALS in mind!

any tips for mexico, anyone??

last week (end of last week)--pretty much a disaster. ate too much, ate too fast---no pb's--but a lot of discomfort--and not feeling good at all. ugh. was on a business trip--and it was VERY stressful.

also, i think, some of the dreaded GAS PAIN. either that--or heart attack symptoms. either way--very uncomfortable, very unhappy. probably had to do with erratic diet and not being AT ALL in control of what I had to eat--or when i got to eat it. it is MOST DIFFICULT being in situations like that.

as of today--back on track. i hope. so far, so good.

how high IS your BMI??