karenlynn79

I am heading down to the SD airport on 17th of Sept for an unfill. Does anyone want to share a ride with me? I am arriving there at 10:40 a.m. Thanks! Karen

Hi all I had my second fill in March and was restricted really well. I lost 20 lbs in less than 2 months and was really happy about that. On May 5th I got a third fill just a teeny bit more (.3) and now I am a little tighter. I have lost 1 lb since May 5th!! My routine is: power shake with 20 added grams of protein in the a.m. (can't eat solids in the morning) lunch is hard boiled egg white/low fat mac and cheese/ about 2 or 300 calories at most dinner is healthy proteins (chicken, tacos, spag) in very small quantities After around 4pm. I can eat a little more so most of my calories are coming later rather than sooner. I am only having about 800 or 900 calories a day. I did mention this to Dr Miranda and she did not say that was too few calories. I do not exercise regularly but am trying to walk my dog daily now for 30 minutes. Any ideas?? My only thought is that I am not eating enough calories? I do not have any medical condition that would account for this either. Thanks! Karen

PBing is when you eat too big of a bite, don't chew enough, basically you get a chunk of food stuck in the band. It hurts very badly! The worst feeling ever! Sometimes the food comes up, sometimes it takes hours to pass. Best way to avoid it is to eat TINY bites very very slowly, like chewing each tiny bite 20 times. After my second fill which created great restriction, I PB'd almost every day until I figured out what I could/could not eat etc.. Now maybe once a week if I take a huge bite without thinking. You'll learn! The band definitely serves its' purpose!! Karen

Hi there, I did not tell anyone other than my husband that I was having the surgery. I am also 5'6" but started at 240. I had my second fill on March 10th and since then I have lost 21 lbs which I am really happy with. Not too fast, but certainly faster than I ever lost weight before. Are you married? If you don't have anyone you feel will be supportive, I don't know if I would tell anyone. Bad energy isn't going to be helpful. I almost went alone and if I had, I would have been ok. As for my primary doctor, I hated her and she was rude to me (not even about TJ) so I did not tell her. My new doc does not know either. If I have to I'll tell her and I don't really care what she thinks/says. Your PCP might try and talk you out of it. What do you do for work? I was ok back to work like 4 days after. Sort of sore and mildly hungry but after day 4 you can add other liquids besides clear (I think). No one has noticed that I eat a lot less. You just have to be careful not to PB in public!! That is the worst. Good luck! It's worth it. Oh and I would schedule your first fill NOW and even book the flight etc. I had my surgery in Sept last year and I avoided getting a fill til Dec and gained weight. Now that I am using the band properly, I am losing weekly. Karen

How do you get the actual image of the ticker counter to show??!! Not just the words or link?

Beata, Are you in?? Do you drive or fly in? I will be arriving either at 9:30 or 10:30- and leaving at 4:30 (on Southwest). Let me know!! My email is karenlynn79@sbcglobal.net Thnx Karen

Hi Cindy, I have emailed Lori to see if they are open- thanks for bringing that up! I'll let you guys know when I hear. Thanks Karen

Hi, I am thinking of heading down on Sat May 5th for a fill. I usually get to the SD airport around 9 or 10 and then get picked up by the OCC, and then get a ride back for a 4ish flight. Anyone interested in sharing the ride??? Thanks Karen

Thanks Mia. I am doing something very similar. I have lost about 11 lbs in 1 month which seems great because I am not hungry at all and just eat what I can when I am hungry.

Hi GiBaby, Personally I don't think I am having complications, just a good fill with restriction. You have to realize that you literally have to eat completely differently than you used to and it's hard to adjust! I am eating healthy and normal food. I can only eat a little bit though and very slowly- so even if I ate "bad" food it's still a small fraction of the calories than I used to be able to eat. Hope that helps! Karen

Just a comment... Sometimes if I THINK I might PB I will throw up without really needing to. Literally my mind tells my body, throw that food up! But I didn't actually need to. Perhaps you could see a therapist? I am a therapist so I might be biased, but if it is psychological (and the mind really really affects the body) someone might be able to help. Good luck, Karen

Hi Heather and Judy, I had my surgery last year and recently had my second fill and some pretty good restriction. Only my husband knows about this. It has not been that difficult, but you have to be really careful around people. For example, when I am down at school (I am a grad student) I have smoothies or jello or SF. Last week we were actually on vacation and I ate off of my husband's plate or my son's, or I ordered a kid's meal and ate like 1/2 and then saved it. No one seemed to notice. OR I ordered soup when we were at a restaurant. I have to be careful eating solids in front of people. When I am at home I can take like an hour and it's fine. Really they say to eat really slowly and finish when everyone else does, and save the rest for later. Also if people say something you can always say you're not that hungry, or you are trying not to eat as much. Also I did PB once on vacation at a restaurant. It was gross and I felt awful but once I was done I was ok and I don't think anyone questioned me going to the bathroom. Hope this helps, Karen

Hi Teri, I've only lost like 15 lbs since Sept but I really only started trying like 2 weeks ago. Before my second fill I could eat whatever in any quantity (and did). Right now I can eat a regular sized dinner (like 3/4 of a WW meal) and basically liquid stuff for breakfast and lunch. I am really only getting like 5 or 600 calories a day which is way too low!! I am trying to eat more but it is hard. I just ordered some flavorless protein to start adding too. So you're going in for another fill- wow you must be frustrated! You'll find that sweet spot! Good luck! Karen

Thanks MimIN, I appreciate it! Congrats by the way! I am eating less than that now but I think I am eating too few calories to lose. Good luck! Karen

I am pretty tight after 2 fills and have not had that happen- though I have had pain at night if I drink water. Basically I sip water slowly and I can only eat food in the evening. Sounds like maybe you are too tight?? Are you keeping water down at all? Maybe call the Dr on Monday? Karen

Hi, I was wondering if those of you who have made the band work (or worked your butt off for the band!) and have lost significant amounts of weight- Could you give us an idea of a typical day's meals?? I am not interested so much in the caloric values but the actual content of what you are eating throughout the day? And how are you getting enough protein?? Thanks! Karen

Hi Teri, I am glad you got some relief! How are things now? I am still having mucho trouble with solid food and have PB'd every day since my fill even though I am taking tiny bites and chewing like 30 times. Last night was a little better but I can't eat food until like 7p.m. Not sure what to do! I am allergic to alot of stuff and a lot of stuff that is in protein shakes. I can have SF but there isn't enough protein for the whole day in 1. What are you doing for protein? I haven't lost any weight but to everyone reading this, I also did not try at all before now (surgery was in Sept). Even after my first fill I could eat whatever just slower. Now it's really helping I have lost 4 lbs this week. But no energy!! I am going to have to experiment with different foods I guess and find some protein powder I can use. Thanks and good luck Teri! Karen

Hi Teri, I am sorry you are having such a tough unpredictable time. That must be really frustrating. I think I read you have a local fill Dr.? What does OCC say now about your fills? I feel so tight with 2.3 I can't even imagine how you feel! I did PB yesterday after only a few bites of this thick pasta stuff- which I guess was way too thick. I am pretty much sticking to soups and Slim Fasts and some cererals like Chex that kind of disolve in the mouth. Anyway, I hope you start to have some relief soon. Karen

Wow very impressive Mimin!!

Hi Teri- I was actually down there getting my first fill when you guys did. I haven't made any attempts to try to lose til now. I made so many excuses!! Hopefully with this second fill it'll work- which it seems like it will. This morning I only had some hot chocolate and drank it like over an hour and I feel ok. Before after my first fill I couldn't really eat in the morning and over the day it eased up- so now I am guessing it'll be like that but much tighter. I think last night I took a much bigger drink than I thought and after I drank a sip of hot water and it was ok. Have to stop leaving glasses of water by the bedside!! Anyway, thanks for the post. Hope you guys are doing well, Karen

Hi all, I had my second fill today and am at a total of 2.3 ccs (smaller band). The entire day I was ok, very slight restriction with water, I just could not chug it. When I got home I had watered down potato soup all blended and was fine. About 20 min ago I woke up and took a swig of water- not a huge drink but not a sip either. Now for the past 20 min I have felt moderate pain as if I ate a big piece of food and it hurts! Not sure what to think. Has anyone experienced this and will the band loosen up a bit?? I was only at 1.5 ccs before and really felt no restriction except with bread. I am very worried because on Tues I am going on vacation to North Carolina and feeling a bit panicked that I am overfilled. I need to be able to drink!!! Any thoughts, ideas, etc.....????? Thanks Karen

Coming in on Sat March 10th in the a.m. and leaving at 4. Anyone want to share a ride from the Center? Karen

I was banded in Sept and I am finally brave enough to get a fill. But, I was wondering- has anyone PB'd before their first fill? I have like 3 times. Not from eating too much, but from eating probably too quickly and too big of bites. I usually feel some discomfort if I know I ate too fast/too big bites and once in a while it'll be really bad to where I have to walk around and not drink anything and stop eating for hours. Going into my first fill, I am wondering if this matters? I want to ask for basically as big of fill as they'll give me (not the VG band, the other one). But I am wondering if my experience thus far with PBing/discomfort will affect that? Thnx Karen

On that note Lori I'd like to say that the one time I felt "weird" post-op Dr. Ramirez was on the phone within 30 min. I had just irritated it and everything was fine, but it is nice to know that we can get one of the great Drs on the phone ASAP! Karen I mean Dr Martinez! Sorry I must be going crazy..... I am finally going for a fill in a week and a bit nervous...

I ate food prematurely at 2 weeks post op and almost slipped my band- but I felt fine before it. Please be careful and try not to eat food. You don't want to have an emergency on your hands!!