Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Hi butterflies,

It has been a while since I posted so I thought I would check in. You all are doing so well. I had my third fill Tuesday and now have almost 6cc in a 10cc band. She said I was open, but when she added the last fill she could tell on the fluroscope that I now had more restriction. I can certainly tell the difference. I tried some soft food tonight and could only eat a few bites. I will try again tomorrow and hope I can get off the liquids. I waited a month before getting this fill as I am still learning (the hard way) to slow down and take small bites when I eat!

I waited a month before getting this fill as I am still learning (the hard way) to slow down and take small bites when I eat!

Hey Diane, first off congrats on your weight loss.. 49lbs is great! 2nd thanks for the reminder about slowing down.. I have had one fill and I can still eat at pretty normal speed and only sometimes am I like oooooo should slow down because I can feel it getting stuck.. I am getting my 2nd fill tomorrow and I am nervous because as I get tighter I know I have to be more careful and because I am busy I forget to slow down. and sometimes with this first fill even I feel the tightness.. but I know I need another one because I am not losing consistantly. and though I cut my portions way down I know they could me smaller. I have been the same weight for the last 3-4 weeks.

anyways.. all that to say thanks for the reminder.

oh and have you guys heard about Mederma for scars?? I wanted to find something that would make them disappear or at least be less, and I talked to the pharmacist and she said she used mederma on her sons scar and it was amazing..

you put it on 3 times a day and I have only been using it a few days and i can already see a difference. anyways.. just wanted to pass it along!

Good afternoon Butterflies. Not much to report. I think I may need another fill because I've been getting hungry a lot lately but I do feel restriction which is very frustrating. I feel the food sitting there but the hunger is still present. I have no idea what's going on. Any ideas?

Hi,

Gee, I have not posted in a while and I consider myself one of the original July Butterflies. I have been so busy but I am still here! I am doing well with my weight loss. It took a while but I think I am at good restriction. I've had three fills and a slight unfill. It is no fun to be too full and not be able to get anything through the band! If you feel restriction, try not to get another fill until you evaluate whether it is head hunger or stress hunger. I have to pay really close attention to this because there are times when I feel hungry and know that it is just a result of my feelings or what is going on in my life. I now know how much food I can handle and at what times during the day my band is less tight. What a difference from Banster hell! Glad to hear that everyone is doing so well and glad to be back in the chat!

Hi,

Gee, I have not posted in a while and I consider myself one of the original July Butterflies. I have been so busy but I am still here! I am doing well with my weight loss. It took a while but I think I am at good restriction. I've had three fills and a slight unfill. It is no fun to be too full and not be able to get anything through the band! If you feel restriction, try not to get another fill until you evaluate whether it is head hunger or stress hunger. I have to pay really close attention to this because there are times when I feel hungry and know that it is just a result of my feelings or what is going on in my life. I now know how much food I can handle and at what times during the day my band is less tight. What a difference from Banster hell! Glad to hear that everyone is doing so well and glad to be back in the chat!

Doing well, Your kicking fats but. CONGRATS!!!!! :teeth_smile:

Wow Barb! Phenomenal weight loss. Do you have any progress pics?

I posted this on another thread "Slow Losers Unite" but wanted to share it here as well:

Hello, my name is Donna and I'm a slow loser... I've been banded for 3 1/2 months and have only managed to lose 20 lbs. 13 of those 20 lbs was in the first 2 weeks post op. That means I'm averaging 1/2 a lb a week (discounting the first 2 weeks). My weight loss has been playing with the same 2-3 lbs for a couple of weeks before dropping them for good and then 2-3 lb cycle again. I was exercising until my knee flared up with an injury while doing the couch to 5 k challenge. The doctor told me to rest it for a week or 2 until the pain went away and then resume exercises but no jogging. Well, that was 2 months ago and as predicted by the doctor, the pain did leave in 2 weeks of resting but I haven't resumed exercising. My TOM should be starting any day now so I'm committing to start exercising again once TOM departs.

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Hello Butterflies,

I am doing well. Since my fill on monday my band is alot tighter. I ate to fast yesterday and I had my first really bad pb. That was not fun I think I am doing well with this fill so far. I really need to work hard on remembering to eat slowly. Anyways I also wanted to say congrats to everyone for their progress.

Hello Butterflies,

I am doing well. Since my fill on monday my band is alot tighter. I ate to fast yesterday and I had my first really bad pb. That was not fun I think I am doing well with this fill so far. I really need to work hard on remembering to eat slowly. Anyways I also wanted to say congrats to everyone for their progress.

I know what you mean, slowing down is the hardest part for me also. and those small bites aren't that easy to remember eather. I've had many bouts with PBing and no it's not pleasent.

Hey all.. I just got another fill yesterday.. he put in 2.2 for a totally of 4.2 in a 10 cc band.. I am feeling good restriction and not hungry at all.. its funny cause I had my first PB expierence on thursday. which means I had some restriction already so I was a little nervous when he put so much more in.. (it was the more aggressive doc) but I guess thats what this is all about. finding that sweet spot even though its more annoying to eat slow and take smaller bites and not eat dry meat! haha (why I pb'd)..

PBing wasnt as unpleasant as I thought it would be.. the food in there hurt so much that I was so happy that it came out!! it wasnt like throwing up.. but still unpleasant. I really never care to do it again, I was just relieved that it wasnt like when I was preggers and throwing up everyday for 7 months!! all that heaving! yuck & ouch!

Good afternoon Butterflies. Not much to report. I think I may need another fill because I've been getting hungry a lot lately but I do feel restriction which is very frustrating. I feel the food sitting there but the hunger is still present. I have no idea what's going on. Any ideas?

Hi Donna:

I have been a slow loser too but wanted you to know that within about a week of this last fill, the nasty plateau finally fell by a solid 7 pounds. That is the most I've lost since the surgery while eating. Nothing has really changed as I've been working so hard, but my body has been fighting my change in eating style and suddenly I find that I am losing several pounds at a time. I don't think I have ever had that surprise before.

Keep the faith as I'm right there with you.:rolleyes2:

Wow what a GREAT feeling! I hit the 50lb weight loss today!!! Yay for meeeeee!:cool2::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Congratulations, Mfinney. Who is your doc? Mine is Dr Antonetti.

Wow what a GREAT feeling! I hit the 50lb weight loss today!!! Yay for meeeeee!:cool2::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Congrats That's fantastic, I hit my 50 mark this morning also. It does feel great. I'm working on onderland, 3lbs more and I'll be there. I've been trying so hard this past couple weeks to lose the 8lbs I had to get there and I still have 3lbs left. Anyway enough about me and once again congrats! It does feel fantastic.