I would like to hear from some Texarkana Bandsters about their experiences. re: doctors, pre and post surgery, and how things are going for them now. I am considering the lap band.

Oh...... poo! I got on the scales this morning. NOT a good thing. I'm not telling how much, but I have GAINED! I have worked harder the last two weeks than I have in the last two months. I have shoveled more dirt, moved rocks, pulled weeds, played baseball, rode bikes, chased the child and generally worked my tail off from daylight til dark and look what it got me. I'm hoping this is muscle mass. I know I didn't have much restriction for a few days and I tried to eat the house down, but I have enough restriction now to tell me when I need to stop and it's working pretty good, so it's got to be muscle mass. Can yall tell I'm trying really hard to talk myself into this? lol

Teresa, glad to hear you are getting the hang of all this.

Sugarbear.... so it was a hernia, huh? Well, get it fixed soon as you can.

Susan, I know you are there. I see you at the bottom of the page. How's it going for you?

Yall have a good day, I'm off to shovel dirt again. I will be glad when that pile of dirt is gone. We have made a pretty good dent in it, so it won't be long. Gotta get is spread before it starts raining again this weekend.

Stay in the box, and drink your water.

Catch yall later!

lisa

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Taylor family.

Well the strength training is slowly working, I'm down 4lbs from my fill weight. If I can get off one more I'll say goodbye to that dang 5lbs I've been gaining and losing since Christmas! I guess I've been working out all wrong at the gym. The personal trainer helped me last week and I've had 3 of his workouts and have been pooped at the end ever since. Not to mention a little sore.

Sugarbear, I hate to hear about that hernia. I know you're TIRED of having surgeries! Hopefully they can do it laprascopically (spelling?) and you will heal faster.

Lisa, I KNOW what you're going through! Hang in there!

TP when they finally get the fill amount just right, it's amazing how comfortable you are and you get full with just a little food. Being too tight is awful compared to how I feel now. Before I was always uncomfotrable when I ate no matter how slow and small I chewed. Now I don't worry about feeling bad at every meal. I just eat and get on with my bad self!

I don't know if I am too tight or what. I am not losing any weight although my band got tightened the 13th and I am choking on everything, especially meat. My throat is so sore. I don't eat hardly anything. I am hungry so I eat non protien things like sf pudding, sf jello, etc. I even choked on mashed potatoes. I thought sure I could eat that. I am however craving crackers and can get those down.

Any suggestions? This is frustrating.

My suggestion...... Call the Doctor. You could be too tight. You are NOT supposed to be choking on everything. especially on the stuff you listed. You could be one of the lucky people that don't need very many fills to get results from their band. Call the Doctors and see what they say and let us know, k?

lisa

I couldn't swallow cottage cheese and found out I was too tight too. Call and get some out if you can.

Get some out of that band ! I just did this. Didnt lose for weeks ! I was in denial. I even gained ! Dr will be thrilled when you come in and get some out! He really advises and teaches that this is NOT the way to lose. I tried the mushies and actually gained ! I am on the bandwagon now to get everyone to understand this is the WRONG way to lose. You can do it better if you can eat the healthy foods. I hated getting any out but you just have to admit it to yourself that you are toooooo tight if you cant eat right. I will post my results from my unfil to let you know how it goes. I have found out that i can eat too much but i am not feeling hungry in between and that part is wonderful. I am pretending i can only eat the small amounts on my little tea cup saucer. It is great not to throw up or feel that tightening in my neck ! I cant wait to try salad again today ! I HAVE WASTED WEEKS OF NOT LOSING instead of getting to my goal.

Edited March 26, 200818 yr by tpagern

Preach it sister!

Called Betty. She asked a few questions like are you eating too fast and too much at once? Well, I tend to take too big of bites and rush when I am eating. I have to be at work at 7am and have 30 minutes for lunch. I tend to rush. I am trying to slow down but some things are still getting caught. She also emphasized the need for protien and I am not getting much of that. I went back to the fish again yesterday. That is my only friendly meat lately. Breakfast is oatmeal. The Quaker weight control brand has 7 grams protien.

I wish I could throw up. It would ease the pain. I start to hickup,then belch, choke and go through the entire thing again. My chest is so sore from this choking. If it is not better by Monday, I will go back to see Dr. Heiker. I had my hot chocolate first thing this morning. Then you need to wait an hour because of not drinking (am I right?). So, I have got up at 5:30am to drink the hot chocolate so that I can wait an hour and consume the oatmeal (see I have 30 minutes to get to work and eat the oatmeal). Right now, my stomach is growling like crazy but it is only 11am. I have had 2 cups of coffee, a glass of Water and some crystal light trying to waterlog myself so that I am not hungry.

Oh, the madness. I think I am doing something wrong.

Do you come to the meetings?

What are you waiting for? If you think you need some taken out..... go and get some out. You can always get a fill later. Don't risk erosion and the loss of your band completely. I don't think you are doing anything wrong necessarily, it just sounds like you have too much in your band. It's fix-able.... get it fixed and start over. You can do it and all will be ok. Stress causes a lot of people to be overly tight. I get that way when I'm stressed out. Don't stress over this, k? Just go and get a little bit removed. You don't have to get everything taken out, just enough to give you relief.

Hang in there, it's gonna be ok!

lisa

Hello, everyone...hopefully some of you haven't forgotten about me completely...It has been quite some time since I posted last...probably 7-8 months or more...So some of you may remember me, others probably won't know me...

I was banded in Dec. 2006...so it has been about 15 months ago...the Band is the best thing that I have ever done for myself and I am proud to say that it has worked for me...As I read some of your posts, I'll tell you my journey has had some downs as well...I recently had to get some fill taken out because of being too tight...I lost 13 lbs in one month, but it was the worst time of my whole band...Everything I tried to eat made me sick...I was at a point of only being able to eat soups, mushies, and liquids and even those caused problems sometimes...I learned that I was hungry...GENUINELY hungry, not just wanting to munch or nibble on something...it made me frustrated because I couldn't eat and feel satisfied...THAT is when you are too tight...when you get so frustrated because you can't eat and feel like you are being deprived...I am much better now, and having to be careful not to eat too much, but it is worth being able to eat something...My husband will be 1 year in April with the Band...he is doing well, also...Now, in about 2 1/2 weeks, my sister will get banded...I will be so proud to know that she is doing something that is going to save her life...she is 302 lbs and I worry about her all of the time, so needless to say I am glad that she is going to get healthier...

I have read back several posts and have enjoyed getting to hear all of your successes...and learning about all of the things you have all been experiencing...

Those of you whom I knew from posting before...You are all doing Great...Sugarbear, Lisa, and lo2us...and others as well...maybe I can join in the conversations again and learn new tricks of our trade...

You guys take care and keep up the good work!!!:ohmy:

Edited March 26, 200818 yr by vlynnfogg

Vlynn, I am so glad to hear from you!!!! You probably didn't read back far enough, but I have asked about you several times! I am so glad you and DH are doing so well. Don't stay away so long, we missed you. I am going to get some taken out tomorrow. I think I am too tight. Just didn't want to admit it I guess. More is better apparently isn't always better. Just like most, I want to get this weight off and want it off quicker than it is comming off. It has been slow for me. We should plan on getting together again, that was so nice meet you and would enjoy it again. Maybe when school is out and all you teachers aren't quite as busy. How are your girls? School, ect. Thanks for posting, I thought you forgot about us! Take care. I go at 11:45 in the a.m. I hope Dr. K doesn't think I'm crazy. I was just there Mon. I've never had an unfill.

Hey Lynn! Glad to hear from you. You made it! 1 pound from goal??? That is great! How's Mr. Turtle? I know he's made it to goal. Men always lose faster. Glad to hear your sister is jumpin on the "band" wagon. lol

Yall take care today, stay in that box and drink your water!

lisa

Welcome back Vlynn!

Mylap, you sound extremly similar to me at the beginning of my banding. I was sick from the beginning. It doesn't have to be that way. I have very little time to eat too, I only have 20 minutes at lunch. Dr. H told me to get what I could slowly during that lunch and then have a Protein shake an hour or so later. That's helping a lot! Don't be uncomfortable...take it from me, it took me 6 months to realize that it should be so hard and hurtful before I really got on them to take some out.

Everyone look at Vlynn's ticker! One pound BELOW target weight!!!!!!

She has lost 105 LBS. Maybe there is hope for me. lol

Mil is still in hospital, hopefully getting out in a day or two. Doc is going to set us up with a lung specialist. So if I dissapear you guys will know where I am.

chuckles and dj arnold ... how are you two doing with your new band? Keep us informed. WE like to hear how you are doing, any tips?

Hang in there.