Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

Hey everyone I just wanted to stop in since I haven't been on since January.

Whats been going on with everyone.

Here is my update.

I had to have a complete unfill back in January since I was going in for surgery for a pinched nerve in my arm at the elbow Severe Ulnar Neropathy. My doctor requires a complete unfil if you have to have surgery. So when I went in for my unfill I weighed 199. So I wanted to get an appointment to get refilled about a week after my arm surgery Yeah No go they made me wait 6 freakin weeks. I gained back 16 pounds (215lb ). So I was not a happy camper at all. But I am happy to say that as of today I have drop those 16 regained pounds and lost an additional 9 (190 ). So I am a happy happy camper. So I am now about 35 pounds away from my goal. But the best part is the last time I weighed 190 (about 7 years ago)I wore a tight size 16. Well At 190 today I am in a size 12 jeans. I am floored The exersizing has made a huge difference.

Thank you all for letting me run my mouth

Congratulations SpecialK. Welcome back HopeinApril. What fun it must have been to go on the slide. I can't remember the last time I slid down one. Hey, I have been away from here for a month or so and in reading the posts for the last week or so I haven't seen Fenton. Is he MIA again?

Hi Shamrocks!

Diva - I think everyone has a different tolerance. I have 8.25 cc in a 9cc band. There are many that wouldn't be able to drink Water with that much in the band. But, it works for me.

Christine - I am so sorry you are having such issues. I'm sure it just sucks! Don't feel like you have to become a "lurker" just because you are having a hard time of it. I think we need both good and not so good comments. You never know when someone else is having problems. You continue to walk the path! That is important! P.S. Bummer about carbs going down easy! I am very carb resistant and I would find that very frustrating!

TP78- Wonderful that you are filled again. Even more wonderful that you are a size 12 at 190. I'm starting to like exercise! (holy cow did that comment come from me?)

wishin - I think Fenton is mia. I haven't seen a post from him in a while. Thank goodness for Andrew or we wouldn't have a token male.

Well, I'm happy that I managed to lose weight on vacation. I was a little worried about the food and exercise. But, it sure gave me some confidence. I have some big goals coming up in the next few months. (getting to the half way mark, getting under 200) I plan to keep on putting one foot in front of the other. And should I slip along the way, to just get up, dust my mouth off, and move on.

Ups and downs.

Tomorrow is my first event of the year (was a Triathlon but changed to a Duathlon-they canceled swim part). Im not near as ready for this one as I was last summer for that. But I will compete and finish.

The scale is vary hard on me. I've been logging foods and staying under cal count and my food choices are pretty good. I purposely make portions small because I would have no problem with volume. But Isn't that what we are supposed to do? I have lost a total of 5lbs in 6 weeks. There's been times when I've been as low as 207 then it pops up to 210. 208 today. Really no rhyme or reason.

I canceled my Dr apt today. Nothing he can do really. Not hungry between meals. I don't think Im willing to chance a fill & perhaps be so tight I have BPS or slimming.

I wish my head was in a better place.

Thanks for listening- It really help to be able to "get it out" with folks that know what I'm going through.

Christine- I know for some folks this just doesn't work. Would you consider a removal and possibly having the sleeve procedure done?

Amanda maybe we need to get our head banded so it quits telling us we want bad things. Thats my problem too my head still wants to eat, but really I know I'm not hungry.

That ice cream tasted so good today.

Scrappy, I just really looked at your signature!!! You look fabulous!!!! I am jealous - yea I am, but I am also happy for you!!!!!! Ok - I've gotta do my happy dance for you. We started at about the some weight and you were banded a few days before me... you have made me see what I could have done had I been more faithful to my band and to myself (and if my hip didn't need replacing). But as HopeinApril reminded me… we are all different. Still, I know I could have done much better. WOW I am really impressed with your progress.

Amanda, don’t sound so sad. I know it’s frustrating, but there could be a few reasons why your weight has not dropped. It could be that with all of your training you are gaining muscle weight – which really isn’t a bad thing… it just doesn’t LOOK good on the scale, but it’s great for your body. It could that your body is holding onto the weight out of sheer stubbornness – my body does that – and then bam – a sudden drop in weight seemingly out of nowhere. Sometimes when I can’t seem to drop weight I increase my Protein by drinking shakes. That helps. I lose more weight when I get more protein, but I’m not a huge meat eater. The very fact that you are in a duathlon is inspirational to me (and I’m sure many others). Hang in there – you will see a change on the scale eventually, in the meantime, try to focus on the changes in yourself (attitude, clothing sizes, strength and health).

Christine, I’m sorry about what you are going through. I hope that everything works out for you. Please don’t become a lurker. One of the reasons I like this site is because of its honesty. I can get the good, bad, and ugly here. The lap band is not all roses for a lot of people (me included). Sometimes when I’m having one of my “can’t keep anything down” days (like yesterday) I ask myself, “What have I done?” Sometimes I’ve done nothing and sometimes I’m not chewing properly, and sometimes I’m greedy and try to out eat my band. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to come online and get some advice or reassurance, or wanted to Celebrate (my job has blocked the site – the IDIOTS!!!!) and I just moved into my new home and there was no internet where I was staying. This site (and particularly this group – helped me so much when I first got banded. It was (and now is once again) my support group, since I the place where I would go for meetings is over 2.5 hours away and meetings are on a week night. Even if you don’t think you will have anything positive to post but – it may be educational for your readers and in the long run that is very positive. But equally as important this is a place that you can come to vent, cry, ramble, and celebrate without repercussion or judgment. It, of course is your choice, but I hope you continue to post – you might be a help to someone who is in your same situation.

Edited April 19, 200917 yr by enjoylife

enjoylife- thanks for your kind words. You are so correct in that there is so much to gain from this support(LBT). Sometimes I wish we could have phone conferences.

Amanda how did the Duathlon go? What a beautiful day you had for it.

Thank you all for the words of comfort and support. I will stick around. I don't want to drag the board down with my band struggles, but I am still trying, and maybe somone out there will find some help inthe path I travel. And of course I am still trying to lose weight, so I can use all the motivation and support I can gleen from you guys.

You guys are so wonderful. Thank you!

Christine

argh... i'm going to have to have my port replaced, possibly my tubing too. has any other march bandster hd to do this too?

i've always been difficult to fill (my port has always tilted slightly downward). my doc admitted that either he or one of the other docs in his practice might have poked a hole into the tubing causing a leak to develop. worst case scenario: the leak is higher up in the system (unlikely) and i'll have to have my band replaced. he really won't know until after i have another upper gi and he cuts into me.

here's how i realized what had happened: last fill was done my another doctor in my surgeon's practice. he had a hard time getting in and when he finally did, he couldn't pull out much of the saline before putting any in. and for a couple of days after, my port area was swollen and tender. i felt restriction for about a week afterwards, then it fell off a cliff. it was so werid to feel actual hunger again! i really hadn't felt that physical kind of hunger since before being banded.

i finally emailed my surgeon and he told me to come right in, which i did. he confirmed what i'd suspected (a leak) and wants be back on the table by next month.

wondering if anyone else has gone through a port revision. if you did, was recovery time better, the same or worse than your original banding? did you have local or general anesthesia? and what happened that led you to suspect a leak?

any and all insight would be great. hope everyone is doing well.

WOW, Hungry - just what anyone would not want to hear. Hope all goes well.

I have he=erd of port revisions, but you are the first I know who will have it done

Hungry...sorry to hear you need a port revision. Go to the complictions board, there are a few threads over there about the procedure.

Good luck!

Christine

Just a quick check in....I'm still around....been lurking.

Lots of stuff going on.....lots of emotional things I've had to deal with. I'm starting with a counselor this week.....both DH and I are going.

It's been a rough couple of months......I've gained a couple of pounds, but not too bad.

Going to get the food side under control NOW.....need to get back out walking....that helps everything, really.

I'll be back in the swing at some point!

I have cheered for everyone's successes, though!

What an amazing group we are!!

Thinking about you, Christine and hope you find the answers you need to feel better!

The Duathlon was ok. I was in a bike crash so lost some time there. Bruised (leg, arm and pride), but fine.

I have something weird going on. Since Friday I have gained 8lbs. I feel so swollen and dragging. It is like a inflammation reaction. My band feels tight, my stomach is in knots.

Christine - don't you dare start lurking. We are all worried about you and want to make sure you are ok. That's the thing about this site... we are here for you just for the positive. What you are going through could happen to any one of us. I'd hate to think that I didn't have anyone to share it with if things went south. We are not "fair weather" bandsters... we are here for you.

Harley - glad to see you again. We've missed you.

Diva - I have 10 cc's in my band. I had zero restriction until then, Boy was that frustrating.

SpecialK - HOw wonderful for you!! I'm hoping to reach that 100 mark by my reunion this October.r Happy dances and toasts all around.

Amanda - I know this is going to sound crazy, but I swear it broke my plateau. I went almost 4 weeks without losing a pound. Then my daughter got sick and I had to spend 3 days in the hospital with her (not reccommended) but... because of the situation, I was forced to eat horribly. For 3 days I ate nothing but fast food. I gained 5 pounds. HOwever, the following week, after I got back on track - BAM 8 pounds lost and I've lost steady since. I heard this somewhere else too, it has something to do with calories and metabolism and starvation modes??? I'm not sure. I read so much, it gets all jumbled up sometimes. I think even on here someone recommended to "just be bad" sometimes and it helps give a jolt to the system and knock it out of it's plateau. Just a thought.

My birthday was yesterday and I spent the most wonderful weekend with some old friends. They were all very excited about all the weight I've lost and couldn't believe how "skinny" I looked. I'm tempted to find some other old friends so that I might bask in the glory of it all..:crying:

Edited April 21, 200917 yr by lafsalot