magpel

Name and Location: Maggie, Newcastle, WA Age: 37 Gender: Female Band Date: Feb 15, 2008 Height: 5'8" Highest weight: 249 Current Weight: 235 New Current Weight: 202 (as of July 20, 2009) Goal Weight: 170

I just made my first appointment for a Fill at the Arlington Pharmacy. I'm so excited to get it, and nervouse at the same time. They now have the Floroscopy,too. Robin made me feel at ease and was very helpful with answering my questions! Now I just have to wait until the end of the month for my fill. Peace, M

Snobird - How did you know you were overfilled? Thanks so much.

I wonder if you get your fill in TJ and a week later you are too tight - can you go to a Fill Center USA to get an Unfill, or do you have to go back to TJ for the unfill? Thanks!

I was banded on 2.15 and have lost 14lbs since banded. (gained 1.5, too)

I"m in the same boat. I've lost 14lbs since banded 3 weeks ago, then I got on the scale this morning and I gained 1.5lbs. My husband keeps reminding me to eat - today it wasn't until almost 1pm when I ate my first meal. I had only a cup of coffee and a cup of water before this. I need to remember to eat - it's strange. I got so used to not eating, that when my tummy starts to grumble I don't get, I get busy, since I wasn't able to eat the first 3 weeks - I was used to doing something to keep my mind off of food until the grumbeling went away. I'm really trying to have 3 meals a day, but it's hard. I think I'm partcially affraid of eating and injuring myself. I ate my first meal a few days ago, I ate slow, chewed so frickin' much and only had a small portion. I get full - then a wave of dizziness, then I started feeling sick! I ended up getting sick - which was awful, by the way, and now I'm really affraid to eat. Tonite I grilled a salmon, steamed some brocoli and had some quinoa. I ate jsut a little, ate super slow and I feel fine. I think I'm just learning how to work things now that I've got the band. I'm not going to let the scale get to me - I'm only going to weigh myself once a week now. I was really obsessing over it! Good Luck to us All! Peace, Maggie

What happened, Kimmie?

Hi all. I was wondering - I know you get fills to help with the weight loss. What if you are loosing weight steadily since being banded? Do you still need a fill? While I haven't lost a huge amount of weight in the last three weeks, I'm very happy with how much I've lost, and think it's a good slow amount. I think part of me is affraid of the fill. I've read some many people having such a difficult time with getting the right amount per fill, and how it's very unpleasant to not be able to drink things, hold down food, etc. Thanks for any insite. M

What I've noticed is that when I start to feel hungry - get those hunger pains - they only last for a short while. So if you can just remember that the hungry pains go away within 20 minutes, you'll be able to hold off. Having a nice ice cold glass or water how some nice brewed tea really helps me. I started my solids last night. It was really strange eating. I was really nervous, too. I took small bites and chewed, chewed, chewed, and chewed! I ate a small amount and was full. The hard thing for me is drinking. I love to drink some water while I'm eating. I really have to work on that. I didn't drink anything during my meal, but it was there, just staring at me! It's almost worse than the way you have to eat, and how much you can eat. Isn't that funny. Anyway, I'm going to keep it up. I'm sure I'll get used to not drinking while eating. Good Luck!!

Benefiber works great, but I noticed it took a few days. Why not try adding some prune juice? That should do the trick :-)

Maybe you can try gas-x strips and have your husband/friend/someone rub your shoulders. I know that worked for me. Also, don't forget walking is so great! I hope you feel better soon!

I'll add that if you don't do so well on these breathing tests I beleive they then hook you up to Oxygen (nasal) during your surgery.

I was banded in mid-feb and did not get a basket of anything from the center to take to the hotel.

I'm just over 2 weeks banded- hang in - it gets better. What's working for me is taking control of what my family is eating. No more crap in the house. Eat meal is healthy and well balanced. While grilled salmon, rice and steamed veggies still looks so GOOD right now, it's a lot less tempting than fried chicken and all the trimmings. No seconds for my husband, either. Also, I watch the food network a little every day. FOr some reason I'm not hungry mcuh watching it being cooked. I try and think of ways I could make what they jsut made, but with half the calories - things like that. I've been chewing a lot of gum, too :-) When all else fails, go for a walk or post on the boards! There's bound to be someone to give ya the boost needed to make it through one more day. Good Luck! WE ALL CAN DO IT! Peace, Maggie

SJ, I'm sitting here not knowing exactally what to say to you. I feel like you are picking on me. You can choose not to respond to something I post. When you call me out and keep posting things like this - I feel like you are taking everything I say personally. I don't know you, you don't know me. I would appreciate if you would respect that we can all post our thoughts. As for your question - I would hope that I had learned from living with the band. What to eat, what not to eat, how much to eat and when to eat. The Lap Band is a tool I chose to assist me in my journey of weight loss. It is one of several tools I am using. I'm also relearning how to cook healthy for my family, how to better control my portions, what foods respond better than others to my body's digestion, listening to my body, working out, and personal issues with the loss of family and how it relates to food. With all of these tools, I expect to be successful in my journey. It's not only about the weight loss, there are several other things that need work in order for the weight to stay off. So to answer your question, If my band slipped and I had it removed and the wieght started to come back slowly. I would re-evaluate what was going on in my life, and make sure I was continuing to honor the commitment I have made to myself and to my health. I take this journey very seriously, and the lap band is just a small part of it. It does not define my journey. It is not my quick fix, my miricle cure or easy way out. I am a mother of two young babies and have been hit with devine inspiriation to get my health in check and live long and love long. I respect everyone on these boards. Everyone is on their own journey. This is mine. Much Peace to you all, Maggie

Clynn, I do feel like people are attacking me. They are telling me what I should and should not say. Accusing me of saying nasty things about Dr. Ortiz, etc. I've had more than a handful of people send me personal messages thanking me for my original post, even if they didn't agree with it. Respecting that it was my experience. Then there are people who are suggesting I should only post good things and leave anything negative things out. I would just wish that we could all post and cross post with no fear of being 'attacked' in any way. I almost feel like the fat kid off to the side while all the other kids are talking about me. I don't know. I feel like I'm constantly defending my post. As for my comment about a 26bmi, could you imagine having a bmi of 26 (you, being any of us) and needing the lap band? If I had a bmi of 26 I would weigh less than my goal weight. That's all I was saying. It is not my intent to hurt any feelings or be mean. I really love this forum, and I hope it continues to be open and I look forward to hearing about other people's experiences.

Would you get the lap band if you had a bmi of 26?

Thanks, Snowbird!! I appreciate your information.

Hey Sofi, Can I add while you (we) think of food as our great love, we MUST remember that a painful breakup is ahead of us. After all, being in love always hurts when it ends, right? I was banded 2 weeks ago today. I've been going through very strange periods. I've been laying in bed til 1am - my mind racing about the strangest stuff. I've been watching tv commecials that I would have never much paid attention to before so strangly. While I've 'broken up' with food, and am in my healing process from such a hard breakup, I'm now in the resentful stage where I get so made at the producers of commercials for making things that are so bad for us look so good. How they appeal to the food addict - and how I would normally think 'hmm, that looks good, I'm feeling hungry' - Now I'm just just turned off by them. I think what I'm really realizing is just like all those beautiful people you see in magizines - nothing as that good. Really, have you ever had a Big Mac that tasted as good as they make it look in the commercials? (ok, maybe you have) But really, it's all a gimic. I'm a really good cook. I love to take care of people - it's time for me to step up and take care of myself. I'm honoring my commitment to the lap band, and working on my food issues. I almost feel like I'm going through some form a detox - haha - really, I laugh, but it seems like it. Especially right now since I'm unable to eat solid foods, even if I wanted to. Every morning I wake up proud of myself. I'm choosing the right things, even in this early stage of my new life. Good Luck to you all! AND remember - Breaking Up Is Hard To Do! Much Peace and Success, Maggie

The non-private rooms are located in the nurses station. 3 beds, with semi-sheer curtains dividing each. I don't recall seeing a tv, phone or anything, but Lori could probably better know the answer to that.

Michelle, I'll be saying a prayer for you! I kow you'll be fine! Please fill us in when you have time. Much Peace, Maggie

Picture this: You get into a car accident and your sitting in the ER waiting for a doctor to see you. While you're waiting you see a few new people come in, one who seems to have a cut on his head and another guy seems to be throwing up blood. Another person in the waiting room sees this and alerts a nurse. 45 minutes later the man with the cut on his head is headed home with 4 stitches and the guy throwing up is still in the waiting room. There are two things I'm trying to point out here. One is that you'll go home and tell people what you saw for 2 reasons - one - you can't beleive while this man is throwing up blood a nurse is alerted, and he's still waiting 45 minutes later. The 2nd is he was still seated while they chose to take someone else and give him 4 stiches. When you tell your loved ones, family, friends or you blog about it, you blog what you saw. You recap with any conversation you had with this person, or any other people around you. Do you see my point? I'm tired of explaining myself, and this will be the last time. I feel I'm under a personal attach. I was not attaching this gal, and I wish she was one this board, and she could tell you everything I said was what you told me. How would you like it if I told you I'd prefer you would keep your negative comments to yourself? It's not a good feeling, is it? I am a woman of purpose. I choose to share my experiences fully. I can apppreciate that you may not have shared YOUR WHOLE experience, and that would be ok with me. It's your choice. I don't tell other people what they can and can not say. Thank you. Peace, Maggie

I thought I read somewhere that you were NOT supposed to stitch the band onto the stomach. I'll have to find where I read that. I wonder if that's something new, and Dr's or no longer stitching or what. It's very good information to have, and to ask.

Love it! I'll add - Playing with my kids without loosing my breath Rolling on the floor with my kids and being able to get back up Sitting on your significant others lap with both feet off the ground That's all I've got -- anyone else?

Jill, Everyone on this forum is welcome to post what they like. My experience was mine. I would not suggest you edit your comments on your experience, or how you felt. You can not tell anyone else how to feel. As for your comment about Dr. Ortiz - I never said anything bad about him. This is a FREE Forum. People want honest information. I gave my experience. You are welcome to share your experience. I'm not angry Jill. Just because people have different experiences doesn't make them angry. You are essentially saying if you don't have only the best things to say you should not say anything. That's an unfair suggestion. Good Luck to you on your journey.