Crispaholic

Hi! MCCLB ...... Well meet your sister....I am the exact same....I actually put on weight too....and have yo yo'ed ......It is funny as you joined the site on the 16th of March which is my birthday.....Like you I suffer from depression....I was not on medication until later in life....but was depressed on and off during my college years.....a lot of my depression is caused by my unhealthy relationship with food.....a lovely lady on this site told me before she thought of junk food as an alcoholic does with alcohol....she said to clear my house of the junk food....and as we are human it is okay to indulge and taste junk the odd time....but to go out and buy it not store it in my house....this was really helpful.....I am actually decreasing my anti depressant medication....it seems I was over filled and regurgitated a lot which can cause damage to the band....I actually would throw up and then try eat a few minutes later....it was a physical and psychological battle that needed to be fought....I am with a therapist and learning not to feel so negative about myself....food is a reward and also a punishment for me.....so now I have to divorce food and remarry it all over again in a more loving relationship if that makes sense.....we are human so who cares what the doctor thinks....you are the important one...and it is really brave of you to acknowledge and accept that you were sabotaging yourself....that is the battle half one....thank you for cheering me up.....I have been in the same position....but feeling a lot better now that I accept my strengths and weaknesses

A happy story....I am delighted to here that....I stopped losing weight and actually put it on as I was over restricted .....so just got aspirated today so hoping I will start losing again...great reading your post

Hey ...thanks for the advice Elcee....I called my clinic in Dublin and they are packed out for the next three weeks....so they asked if I would be okay to go to Belfast....so I am going to make the 2 hour trip up north tomorrow morning...the lovely nurse agreed with you she said I have too much restriction and she would prefer to see me asap as the vomiting can damage my band....so I cannot wait to go tomorrow to get some out....she said you are right I would put on weight as I am surviving on high calorie foods instead of eating proper meals....thank you so much for your advice....i hope to get back to losing weight and eating normal food again instead of crap

I am just wondering if anyone else has experienced an increase in their sex drive since surgery......mine is unreal....could be down to the increased confidence about losing so much weight feel dam hot and sexy

You will be fine....I was banded 1st of July 2010 ....believe me you do push the boundaries.....and one thing you forget it mentally you have to adjust your eating habits and the amount you eat.....I look at my plate and I think no way I need more and then after a few mouthfuls I have to stop.....give yourself time to heal....sure you have not even had your first real fill yet....any problems feel free to ask us all...great online community ....and they really helped me in the early days.....now stop beating yourself up

Ah you have the famous bubbles they are nothing to worry about....you have to retrain your head not to drink or eat too fast....you have to take it very slow.....it takes a while for you to retrain your brain....all the bubble are normal....they advise you not to drink for 30 mins before you eat.....and definitely you cannot eat and drink at the same time as you will get sick

You are still swollen from the internal surgery.....I was advised by my doctor to not eat.....meat...bread....or rice for three months post surgery......it is too soon to be eating meat....stick to soft foods......you have just over done it....I would not worry at all...the band is stronger than you think

Thank you I will call my nurse when they are back open following Christmas.....I have had enough of eating crap.....I would not mind I never ate chocolate before the operation....I was a bulk comfort eater....loved pasta....chinese.....or big dinners.....now I am upset that I am living on quick sugar fixes....which I know is not good

I had my band fitted on the 1st of July 2010 and I have lost over 2 and a half stone....I had lost over 3 stone but put on a half a stone .....I went and got more fill about a month ago but I have not lost any weight despite walking and not being able to eat dinner....I can only eat crap which does not seem to get stuck....I had pasta today and it did not stay down....getting a bit upset that I have not lost more weight.....any advice?

Hi! Starandmoon You should have your fill 6 weeks after your operation as you would still be swollen from the operation...Cora seems to be busy and the Hospital Group seem to have too many people wanting fills coming up to Christmas hence it is hard to get an appointment....Give Emma a call and tell her you are not happy and you may have to blog your unhappiness on this forum ....you should get a date pretty quick....It will take about 3 to 4 fills before you find your 'sweet spot' I am over a year now and just got another fill which is my max about 3 weeks ago....doing well...any questions feel free to give me a shout!

Hi! Moira, I just read your mail.....I had problem with the vomiting but I got a little bit out seems I had too much fill.....I still vomit from time to time depending on what I eat....some days I can eat a vegtable curry and othertimes I cannot eat even a mouth full without getting sick....it can depend on the time of day I am eating or whether I am stressed or not....I take pharmaton, Calcium and Omega 3 ( when I remember) I also get my bloods done every six months to make sure I am getting enough suplements.....my GP reckons I am getting good blood results as I am taking all the aforementioned supplements....the only thing I lack is Protein and thats because I don't eat chicken or fish....all the nutritionist I went to are a waste of time....I just take the odd protein supplement and try to eat well....however fruit is hard to get down so I blend fruit into a smoothie...that way I am getting all my daily 5......just make sure your vomiting is not down to gall bladder as my sisters surgeon in Belgium recommended that by pass patients got them out when getting the operation....she did not and 1 year later she had hers removed....I know you got banded but it could be a factor.....personally it is hit and miss every day as to what I can eat....hope all is well

Lap band surgery is a taboo subject....but I know three people who have had it and three who had by pass surgery.....the main thing in Ireland is it is far too expensive an option for most people,,,,,and doctors normally tell you you are mad if you mention it....I was only 4 stone over weight when I had mine done...I decided I had had enough of the yo yo dieting and doctors telling me to exercise....i attended a personal trainer for 1 year and paid E5200 doing so and lost only 1 stone so decided after seeing my sister get by pass surgery in Belgium that i would give up battling against genetics....best decision I ever made....although I had confidence I was always letting my weight keep me back...now I still reach for the size 16 /18 clothes and have to put them back as I am now a 10/12 ....you need to sort your head out as well as the physical side...luckily I found a good therapist....sot there i am breaking two taboos in Ireland getting weight loss surgery and attending therapy...I have never been happier in all my 36 years of living....if you can't afford the surgery or cannot wait to jump throught all the hoops the Irish health system wants you to go throught...get finance .....and head to the UK....i would not recommend Belgium as my sister had no post op support and she did have to attend the blackrock clinic after as she had complications with reflux and pain ( turned out to be her gall bladder )...however the Irish doctor was reluctant to help as she did not pay E18k to have surgery in Ireland and had gotten her much cheaper surgery in Belgium...she did eventually get help and have her gall bladder out, she thought the pain was due to her gastric by pass. I on the other hand had a far better experience , even though I had my surgery in the UK i had a lot of post op support with the Hospital group in Dublin and it was reassuring to know I could call into them if I had a problem.

Thanks everyone for the response....at the start it was not easy but with your encouragement and advice I have done very well....I did not have a lot to lose but I had a history of yo yo dieting and weight on both sides of my family....my health has not been better since and my confidence is great ....thanks for the support xxx

Well I had my band fitted on the 1st of July 2010 in Dolan Park in Birmingham and what a year I have had....I was depressed and had no energy....now I can buy regular clothes....have lots of energy and a lovely social life.....best decision I have every made....I know how much I can eat so now I have retrained my brain to cook only what I need and I am not full of guilt when I tell the waiter I have finished and there was nothing wrong with the food.....best decision I ever made

Best of luck....the hardest decision has been made....that is to get the operation done....best decision of my life.....hope all goes well for you....and the people on the site are excellent....they have really helped me at times

Thanks everyone for the advice.....I may try a few bottles in the comfort of my own home....so if it pains I can be at home......saying that I may just be patriotic and drink plenty of Guinness :smile2:

Thanks Melissannde......no I have not peeled them....I bought one of those ready made fruit cartoons in work with prepared fruit.....I threw up after eating a slice of apple, piece of pineapple and two grapes! I will bring a fruit knive with me...luckily in Ireland we don't really spray with pesticides so our fruit is not perfect and shinny as the fruit in the USA :smile2: .....thank you for your advice....I was trying to eat the skins as the dietican told me I should eat the skins for 'crunch texture'.....I just got fed up trying to eat the dam apple I threw it away :thumbup:

I have not drank since my operation in July and I am now thinking how much I would love just to have a cold Coors Light with my friends.....but I was told not to drink beer....I don't think I can drink Vodka and if I drink Guinness it is full of cals .......anyone tried a beer?

Hi! i had my surgery done through the hospital group in dublin....the operation was done by Mr. Sigurdsonn ( probably spelt wrong ) in Dolan Park just outside of Birmingham. I was up and about about two hours after my operation.....he was very neat and the operation was a success.....i can only say I had no problems with his work....he is on the General Medical Council and the hospital group will give you his number so you can research him....best of luck....give me a shout if you have any questions :smile2:

2beskinny.....I would have tested as well....and last night I had the urge to eat a bar of chocolate at 3am so I did....but today I went for a long walk,,,,I am doing ok.....I took indigo girls advice and I am trying to remove all junk food but there are times when I will slowly slip off the wagon.......I on the other hand don't seem to be able to eat good food....pears and apples pain me....but I try to eat them to remind myself that I have the band....losing weight slowly but surely.....your not alone for trying to see if you can eat more :smile2:

Getting a filing in your tooth is more painful.....the banding is not....its the waiting around thats the killer....the operation itself is ok....maybe a bit of wind pain for a day or two after the operation but they can give you liquid pain killer if you do get it....

Thank you Indigo Girl for the letter....I have started divorce proceedings against junk food.....I think the mental issues are also being addressed as to why I seem to not want myself to succeed....your advice came at the right time for me....so I am very grateful:thumbup:

Great advice.....I fell off the wagon today....as I was upset that I only lost 3lbs in a month....but tomorrow I will start again.....food too is my drug.....and it only hit home when food was compared to alcohol.....as a drug.....I would not keep alcohol around an alcoholic....I need to find another fix.....to trick my brain when I am having a bad day.....food always = happiness = sadness.....I need to divorce junk food forever ....its just causing me to be unhappy

Thank you for this post.....I was feeling really upset that I have not lost more at this stage.....like you I would be an emotional eater....I also tend to turn to junk when I am having a bad day as junk food tastes so good.....with the band I can eat junk but not the healthy foods as they pain me.....but after reading your post....I feel a lot better and will start tomorrow afresh......thank you for your post :thumbup:

Just wondering if anyone out there is like me.....I had my second fill and can barely eat an egg on a small pitta bread without feeling pain. I also threw up after eating some slices of apple.....Saying that I could eat three bags of crisps....bars of chocolates.....frosties......peanuts.....and still not feel full....I am feeling a little upset as I want to be able to eat healthy but all the healthy stuff pains me :thumbup: