oreo4972

Got a follow up appointment with my surgeon tomorrow. I'm praying he puts at least MOST of the fluid he took out 6 weeks ago. I was already struggling to meet my goal with only 20 lbs. to go, but 6 weeks with an almost completely unfilled band has been tough...not to mention the few lbs. I gained in the process.

Don't beat yourself up...everyone is different and this journey is different for each one of us. I'm almost 4 years out and still have 20 lbs. to go until I reach my goal. It took me 1 1/2 yrs. before I reached my "sweet spot" and was well on my way. But with life's ups and downs, I too, had ups and downs with my band. I yo-yo'd a few lbs., got off track, got back on track, exercised like crazy, and slacked like crazy. All while struggling with my food addiction! Maybe you just haven't reached your "sweet spot" yet. You mentioned that you recently got a fill and lost 5 lbs? Be proud of that! Every lb. lost brings you closer to your goal. Keep up the good work! Maybe that's what you needed to jump start your weight loss again. I wish you much success in your weight loss journey.

Wow! You look absolutely amazing!!!

I was also told that it's okay to drink all the way up to mealtime, then nothing for 30-60 minutes after. However, it's not difficult for me because I had a strict mom that forbid us to drink during our meals when we were kids (because we got full off of our drink then wasted our food), and that habit stuck with me into adulthood...even before the band!

I agree with you completely! I have definitely become too comfortable with my band. And now that I've recently had a partial unfill, I now realize how much I took my band for granted in preventing me from overeating and keeping me in check with certain foods. Now that I have way less restriction, I've quickly lapsed back into my old habits of overeating and making poor food choices. Four weeks of this has shamefully and regretfully resulted in me gaining 8 lbs! Now I have to work that much harder reach my goal, but I'm determined to do it!

Yes it does, Sandy. Because I don't stay on my "work" sleep schedule when I'm off. Otherwise, I'd never see my husband and sons! If I workout after work, before I go to bed, then I'm too wound up to go to sleep. If I wake up earlier to fit in a workout before work, then I get sleepy during my shift...then I'm MISERABLE fighting to stay awake! And let me NOT get started on my meal schedule!!! Smh...

I think my biggest problem is my work and sleep schedule. I work nights 7p-7a and am having a difficult time working out an eating and workout schedule. Frustrated, but not giving up!

Thank you catfish87 and Mikee57. I was terrified of the skating but I've always taught my two sons not to let fear prevent them from trying new things, so when I was placed in the hot seat, I had to eat my words and lead by example. My sons learned how to skate about 6 years ago at summer camp and always went with the other campers or friends, so I've been able to avoid the whole skating thing with them, until this past weekend when we were visiting my dad and he wanted to take the boys to this entertainment complex near where he lives and, well, the rest is history! It was scary and fun at the same time! Lol

I went roller skating for the first time in over 25 years yesterday afternoon! It took a while getting the hang of it again but once I got my balance under control, I had a blast and skated over an hour with my two teenage sons!

Congratulations! Keep up the awesome job!!!!

I don't feel so alone now. Started at 245, the lowest I got was 170, goal is 150. About 9 months ago, I TOTALLY stopped losing weight. Then about 6 months ago, I noticed my band was feeling kinda tight and I was getting full fast...and staying full for a loooong time! I knew something was "different", but the pounds started moving again, so I was excited! But over the past 6 months, it became more difficult to eat and keep foods down. It seemed at least 2 out of my 3 meals I ended up in the bathroom. So, I started getting by on slider foods...and put 5 lbs. back on. About 3 weeks ago, my band became so tight that NOTHING would go down - not even my saliva! For 3 days, I suffered and finally went to my surgeon fearing the worst (a slip), but praying that it wasn't. Apparently, at some point, my stomach became irritated (probably from vomiting), causing swelling and resulting in my band becoming super tight, so he removed most of the fluid to allow my stomach to heal (thank God, no slip). Since my unfill, I've gained 5 lbs!!! I'm hungry all the time and my appetite is insatiable!!! I upped my exercise last week and STILL gained 2 lbs! I'm frustrated and feel defeated. Up to 179 and I was already struggling to get the last 20 lbs. off. Seems the harder I try, the more obstacles I face, but I refuse to give up! Gonna try adding an extra workout day, increase my time, and up my water consumption a little more. I go back to my surgeon on 5/16 and PRAYING for my fluid back!

I'm a hospice nurse and have recently gone from day shift to nights and my whole world has been turned upside down! I work 12 hour shifts 3-4 days a week and I sit (literally - for the majority of my shift) with patients who are terminally ill. The extent of my "work" is administering medications, turning and repositioning my patients, providing incontinent care, and giving bed baths. However, we all know that doesn't take 12 hours to do. Everyone else's day is my night, so I sleep during the day and then I'm up all night. I've noticed that I'm not losing any more weight (thank God I haven't started gaining) as I rarely have time for exercise anymore. I feel sluggish like my metabolism has up and left me. I'm super frustrated, especially since I'm 25 lbs. from my goal. If I work out after work in the morning, I can't sleep, and if I work out before work, I have to cut into my sleep time and I'm supposed to be watching my patient rest, not the other way around - lol. Does anyone have any REALISTIC advice that won't interfere with me getting adequate rest to pull 12 hour all nighters? Thanks.

Thanks for the support and suggestions everyone. I guess I wasn't clear on the subject of exercise. I used to exercise regularly when I was working days. It's when I switched to nights that my entire life turned upside down. I've tried waking up an hour early to exercise before I have to start getting ready for work and paid for it during my shift when I nearly fell asleep when I was with a dying patient. When I've worked out in the morning before going to bed, I'm so wired that I can't fall asleep and I have to fight to stay awake when I'm with my patient. As far as asking the families if they mind me working out when I should be keeping their dying loved one comfortable...I just don't think that would be appropriate. Guess it's back to the drawing board...I'll figure something out.

I just read your blog and finished in tears! I'm so sorry for you. I would be devastated. Hopefully you'll be able to get the surgery done to "unkink" your band one day so you'll have a lifelong "tool" rather than a foreign object in your body for the rest of your life. I wish you much success and admire you for your perseverance.

Don't feel bad - I, too, avoid coming on the site like I used to. It took me nearly 2 years and 7 fills before I got to my "sweet spot". With good restriction, a healthy diet, and regular exercise, I finally started losing consistently and was starting to notice change in the way my body was beginning to look and feel. Things were going great until I was hit with a medical dilemma - an unplanned hysterectomy...as my husband and I were planning to try to get pregnant. I was devastated and became depressed and withdrawn. I stopped working out, wasn't mindful of what I ate, and began gaining the weight I worked so hard to lose. Three weeks ago, after my birthday, I realized what I was doing to myself and decided to get back in gear. I started being mindful of what I eat and drink, and am trying to get myself motivated to work out regularly like I used to. I've lost 8 lbs so far, but am still frustrated. I really want to be at my goal weight by the end of summer (I've got 30 lbs to go).

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2005 and had to use a CPAP. Sleep apnea was one of my diagnoses that helped me get approved for the band. When I went to the hospital for my surgery, I did have to take it with me AND use it. As I started to lose weight and noticed it was becoming easier for me to breathe during exercise/activity, I began trying to see if I could go without using my CPAP. After I'd lost 40 lbs., my husband noticed that I wasn't snoring as bad without my CPAP. Now, at 70 lbs. lost, I no longer have to use my CPAP - no more snoring and no apnea.

Lol...I have the same problem! It's much worse after I drink something (especially something cold) or if I allow myself to get really hungry! I always wondered if it was band related, but now I'm convinced.

Omgosh! Those all sound sooo good! Gonna have to try them.

Ok. My bad. I did finally see mention of the wound. Smh...

Okay, first of all, did she REALLY say that she didn't realize this was a forum for FAT people??? Wow...Secondly, there was no mention of the resulting wound that HAD to be a result of the port coming through her skin. Hmmm...

I remember the recovery room nurse trying to wake me up and me being soooo groggy. She kept tapping me on my forearm calling my name and telling me to wake up. I recall peeping one eye open and trying to focus on her face (I'm blind without my contacts). The nurse chimed, "Boy, you were riding that high, weren't you?". I told her "yep" and that I was ready to go for another one. Lol. However, my first COHERENT question was, "Do I have my band now?"

Interesting post. I have been really slacking on my H2O intake lately. I was drinking at least 8 glasses per day, but for the past two weeks, things have been CRAZY at work, my youngest son has had football practice 4 evenings per week, and I'm just on the go, go, go and forgetting to drink my water. Wondering if that could be why my band is so tight for the last week (not TOM, don't have that anymore). Food has been either going down very slow or getting stuck. Had a stuck episode for an hour last night. Put myself on liquid/purée diet today...gonna do this for 3 days, up my water intake and see if that helps. We'll see...

I'm a nurse on a LTC unit. When I was banded two years ago, I took one week off from work. When I returned to work, the staff members that I supervise and work with daily were VERY helpful and supportive - they pushed my med cart down to the middle of my hall, refilled my water pitcher for me during the day, brought my residents to me for medications and treatments and so much more! I was careful not to do a lot of pushing/pulling of heavy residents/objects, made sure beds were at comfortable height for procedures, had a stool to sit on to perform treatments that required bending. I did tire easily for about two weeks, so I made sure I got plenty of rest after work and adequate sleep to aid in healing. But we all know that everyone is different, do everyone will recover differently. I also had a hiatal hernia repair. Hope this helps...good luck to everyone!

Since I've been drinking coffee daily since I was 16 yrs. old, I would definitely say that I'm a caffeine addict! I've tried to switch to decaf, but get terrible headaches. Since I was banded (July 2010), I've gone from 3-4+ large cups/mugs to 1-2 daily, with Splenda and fat free unflavored creamer or just with fat free flavored creamer. My coffee us the one thing that I just won't give up. Sodas are out, alcohol is out, but I need my coffee!

I'm with you on that, Jennifer. Since my fill last week, I can't eat or drink early in the morning cause I'm really tight in the morning. I have to be at work at 7am and am used to drinking a bottle of water as soon as I get up in the morning, however, my first real drink of water is now around 8:30-9:00 am. Yesterday morning, I inadvertently grabbed my water when I woke up and NOTHING would go down! I was sooo scared. I've never had water get stuck. I contemplated going in for a teeny unfill, but when the band loosens up, I have great restriction and can only eat about a cup of food. I've already lost 4lbs. since last Friday! I'm gonna stick it out and see how things go. I'm just gonna have to retrain myself to drink/eat a little later in the morning to allow my band to "wake up". Lol. I also wish that getting fills were a lot easier to get just right.