tylee72198

I'm working on 2 years with my band. I too would get frustrated with my weight loss. I wasn't losing fast enough. I should have been at goal weight in less than a year, and then it dawned on me. I'm right where I need to be. I have gone through 2 major surgeries in those 2 years that would have caused me to gain weight before. I still managed to lose weight. I still have weight to lose, but I know now that I'm going to eventually be at my goal weight. This is weight that will not come back. I didn't reach the green zone until around fill 5 or 6, and I even now, there are times that I have to have Fluid taken out because I get too tight. Then have to have fluid added because I get to loose. I'm sitting in the green zone right now. Who knows how long that will last, but I'm certainly enjoying it while I sit here.

I know that I don't have any appetite at all, but I think mine is from my preventive migraine medicine. Having said that, my band seems to loosen up around 3 or 4 PM. I can only eat around 3 oz of food at any given time, but I'm able to drink at any time I wish. I feel that I have found the green zone. I have to remind myself to eat because otherwise I wouldn't eat all day long.

1. How long have you been banded? nearly 2 years 2. How much weight did want to lose? 180 lbs total 3. How much weight have you lost? 120 lbs 4. How happy are you that you have been banded: scale of 1-10 (1 being regretful, 10 being elated) 10 - I always expected to be at goal in 18 months, but I'm very happy with the slow and steady progress I have made. It has helped me to realize that I will be able to maintain because I didn't have a great big huge weight loss all at once.

I have been having problems eating or even drinking anything at all until after 3 in the afternoon.

I experienced that, and it was my gallbladder. As soon as the gallbladder was taken out, the chest pain stopped. I didn't even realize how bad my gallbladder was until I didn't have it anymore.

Tip from the RN at my doctor's office. Ask for a diet lemonade with diet cherry and lime.

Take a deep breath, and just know that it is worth it in the end. The only thing I wish I would have done different is having it done sooner. It was the best decision that I could have made. I love my band.

I had 2 surgeries since April, and I know that because I was in pain that I couldn't work out like I had been before. The scale wasn't moving like I wanted it too. Mine was mental, and it had nothing to do with the band. I would get frustrated because I hurt and couldn't work out, so I wouldn't eat right. It was a vicious cycle that I thankfully broke. I still haven't gotten the all clear to work out since the last surgery was 4 weeks ago today, but I know that I'm going to get there.

No problems here either. I LOVE my band. Glad that your surgeon is telling you that you have to work at it. I think some people assume this is a cure all, and it isn't. You do have to work at it, but it is worth it.

You are not supposed to be bending or lifting anything over 5 pounds. I had a total abdominal hysterectomy on the 9th because I had too many adhesions for her to safely do a vaginal hysterectomy. She did tell me that the adhesions are caused from the 3 laproscopic surgeries I have had in the last year. ETA: I was told that the bending and lifting is because that even though you might be feeling good, your insides have lots of stitches. You are still healing in there. If I even think about bending over or lifting anything, it takes me all of 2 seconds to realize that was a move I don't want to do. I will ache for a hours afterwards.

Gall bladder out on April 20, and I didn't have to get an unfill. The doctor said as long as I was able to swallow a pill without cutting it up, he was fine with not unfilling my band. There has to be enough room to get a tube into your stomach if they need to. I only have around 4 ccs in a 14 cc band anyway. I'm having a hysterectomy next Thursday, and I'm waiting to hear from my OB/GYN if she is going to require me to get an unfill. I'm hoping the answer is no, since I didn't have any problems on April 20.

I didn't have any symptoms or problems, or so I thought. I ended up with it being removed on 4/20 because I had a gallstone that measured over 3 cms. It was the best thing I could have done, and I'm now glad I did it. The heal time from that surgery was much easier because I didn't have an infection or any symptoms of a gallbladder attack. I was up and moving and feeling good in less than a week. ETA - After having it out now, I can tell that I was having issues. What I was chalkiing up to being my lap-band being a nuisance was actually my gallbladder acting up. I couldn't eat or drink anything (including water) without having some chest pain.

You look fantastic.

How much protein are you getting?

I would die without my pickles. My daughter and I go through a big jar of them each month. I even drink the pickle juice, and I had it when I was on my liquid portion of the diet and craving pickles.