karenlynn79

Hey Marcie, that is so sweet of you! Your mom will do great. Have you guys taken her measurements? I didn't and I regret it. This forum is awesome, but I do want to mention that on lapbandtalk.com they have subforums for people of certain ages. Maybe people in their 60s have a different take on the surgery, different insights? Might be worth checking out...........

I've hand many fills and unfills at OCC (only) and I have never heard from anyone that they do any blind fills at all..........they are pretty big on the flouro. I hope you can speak with whomever told you that originally.

As for the border, yes you've needed a birth cert and driver's license since the beginning of 2008 I think. I know when I went down in April 08 I did bring both. And starting this June you need either a passcard or a passport............... They even gave me attitude about why I didn't already have a passport in April. Some of them can be rude. Hope your fill went ok though.

Ok, I bought a one-month thing of the Colonix that Lisa's sister uses............. Hopefully I survive! I will let you guys know what happens..........

Hey Kate,

Slow down!! We have all been there, anxious for this to work. Few people feel great restriction after the first fill. Wait a week or two then get another fill. Between now and then just try your hardest to exercise and eat healthfully. Losing weight permanently takes a long time, just as gaining it did. So don't stress! You are only 2 months into this. Once you hit great restriction and are working out, it will start working for you!

Karen

Karen

I've just made an appointment for an unfill at The OCC for Saturday,after reading your post.

The last few weeks I have had heart burn, pain in my back and can hardly eat anything healthy and Pb

the foods I'm meant to be eating.

Not only have I ended up eating foods I shouldn't eat i.e. chips, cookies and Baileys,

my hair loss has increased and I had to have it cut short.

Even though I don't really have the money my health top of the list.

I hope I haven't left it too late.

I report back from the Lucerna.

Hey Nicole, I am sorry to hear that! Sounds so similar to me! Weird. I wouldn't worry though. I also had heart burn but no nausea or random vomitting. Good luck, I'll be thinking of you!

Karen

Oh my gosh Julie! You sound miserable. Maybe you should get an unfill? I totally understand your point, you are getting liquids so why bother? That's why I waited so long. But I stopped losing after about 9 days because I wasn't getting enough FOOD. Also I was eating a lot of chocolate because it went down! I bet your hormonal changes are really affecting it as well. Please take care of yourself!!! I totally know that I am going to gain a few, but whatever. At least I can eat something! I am so scheduling a fill tomorrow for 3 weeks from now so I can't get too wild! Please be careful with yourself!!!

Karen

Dear Karynlynn and others:

I am so glad you went in and got yourself taken care of. Your story has me rethinking what I am doing for sure. Thank you for sharing your situation. I had to have an unfill after my 2nd fill within 4 days because I couldn't even keep liquids down. It worries me about what Dr. So said.

I've had a rough month or two. The last 2-3 weeks I could barely eat anything. I was able to sip slowly and get protein drinks down and have a rare few tiny, tiny bites of something. I've been stressed out and got shingles of all things. I'm also in full blown menapause and that is screwing up my cycles and temperment something terrible. I have thought about getting an unfill but I keep thinking because I can drink liquids I am OK. I have had times where I PB almost every day for a few days in a row even when I am following the rules and trying to eat something I used to be able to eat. I can't even try to have anything until after noon and then it's liquids only. I think I have figured out though that the foods that make me PB are ones I should not be having anyway especially bread of any kind. I have been able to eat some "bad" things like shortbread cookies, a few pieces of chocolate and I had chips and salsa last week, all within reason and only a few bites so when this happens I just think it's stress causing the fluctuation and I just need to be careful. Anyway that's where I am. For the most part I am happy with this amount of restriction as I am losing well but I just don't want to have anything go wrong.

Good luck in this new phase for you sweetie!!

Hi Karen! Congrats on your success and I'm sorry for your recent setback.. You have just described one of my fears to being banded so far from home. Really the only thing I worry about is what will I do if something like what you are going through happens to me?? I worry that because I don't have easy access to my surgeon and clinic after my procedure, that I will ignore situations like yours and make things worse for myself!!

Good luck with the rest of your weight loss!!

Do exactly as Lisa said and have the $ set aside just in case you do have to go back. I really didn't and had to use a credit card which I hated to do. But I don't think it usually hits all at once if there is an issue. I had weeks of trouble before I went down. But do have a plan in your head just to be safe!!!

Karen

Karan,

I’m so glad you’re OK, you are one of the most successful bandsters on this board – and I love watching your progress, thank you so much for letting us know about this. I think Pammie had something a little bit similar, she got tight out of the blue as well and had a partial unfill.

(Do they know what could have caused it? Is it stress, food we’re eating – or we just don’t know why it self tightens)?

You’ll hit your goal – you look awesome now though!

Lisa

Thanks everyone! I do feel so much better. I am actually excited about being able to eat fruit! It's been weeks.

I am pretty sure it was stress that caused it. Holiday and job-related stress. Though I DID have a bit of an overeating session about 2 days before this started happening.... so maybe both?

Thanks Lisa! I can't wait til I can wear size 8's. That's all I care about! Also I am dying to have alot of the PS you did, but probably can't afford it! Maybe someday.........

Hi all,

Just wanted to mention something that happened to me. I've had one fill in April after having my daughter. Dr. Romero was nice enough to give me the 2.0 I wanted (as I'd been at 2 before and it was perfect. Anyway since April I lost over 65 lbs, I am only 14 away! All of a sudden around Thanksgiving, I started getting tight. And it didn't loosen up. One day I had my normal restriction and was eating my little meals, snacks, that have worked so well for me. Then the next day I could not eat AT ALL. So........ I let this go til yesterday. Dr. So (whom I haven't met before) was surprised he had to take all of it out! He was going to be merciful and leave at least 1.0 if he could - but even with 1 my barium went down way slow. So......... it's VERY good that I didn't irritate it to the point of no return. He said that if the band tightens on it's own like that, don't let it go for more than a week. Anyway, now I have no restriction and I know it! I am going to try so hard to just do what I was doing before. It helps that the holidays are over I think. So for those of you out there who suddenly get tight, please just get unfilled. Up til Friday I wasn't really worried, then I couldn't drink. Then I was worried about a slip. Not fun! Even long-time banders make mistakes! I am just thankful that I can have another fill in 3 weeks and hopefully make my goal by March.........

Karen

Hi,

I have a Wii Fit and I love it too. My whole family uses it and my 7 year old son does the run all the time! I personally use the balance games the most. For aerobics I use my treadmill or do real step DVDs. The only thing I can think is that you probably don't burn as many calories doing the Fit stuff as "real" exercise. It's silly to say that you can't lose weight though. With any activity plus eating less you lose! If you are spending that much time daily, I bet you are burning quite a bit just on the Fit. Have fun! I just unlocked the last balance game. I sure hope they come up with more games for it though!

Karen

I was personally told by Dr. Miranda (2.5 years ago) that I could drink up until the moment I eat and then 45-1 hour after. I can also help with the why though for before- sometimes drinking COLD water tightens the band, while warmer liquids can often loosen it. So, if you drink cold or hot before a meal, that could potentially affect the amount of food you eat, which would be bad usually. For me, I do drink up until I eat. I have been avoiding cold drinks in general because they are harder to drink when you have a tight fill anyway. Hope that answers some questions........

Karen

p.s. I drink water like crazy between meals!!! Or I chew or suck on ice too.

I was banded a while ago, but they wouldn't let my husband stay overnight at the OCC with me............The hotel is really ok, she'll be dropped off right in front and can stay in her room.

I eat soup a few times a week and am always full.............. Whatever works for you!

I'm really at a loss and need some help. I had lap band surgery in December 2007. From then, until March, I did really well and lost 45 pounds. Then, just about everything I ate made me sick so I started to just eat anything I could. Since then, I've gained back 35 pounds. I still throw up almost every day, I can barely drink a cup of coffee because it fills me up, but there's something in my head that refuses to tell my body to stop. I want to keep eating, no matter the pain, no matter the consequences.

I need some advice. I'd like to start over (basically) but I need help overcoming my food issues. I don't feel like I need a fill because like I said, I can barely drink a cup of coffe without getting the full feeling. When I get that feeling, I get so frustrated because I'm not done eating!! I want more, so I eat more, and then I get more uncomfortable and the cycle goes on.

Any advice would help. I don't know how to get over my need to eat.

I would suggest seeing a therapist or psychologist. Most of us on here have that same "need" to eat, including myself. But, with the band, I can't. So I have to kind of confront things that come up myself, not with food (usually). Try not to worry about the pounds you have gained back. Start over today. Have the band checked under flouro to be sure you are ok. Get help so you can deal with your issues without needing the food. Check into overeaters anonymous or things like that. Remember that you are not alone, most of us feel as you do. But you are putting your life and health at risk if you overeat with the band. I've done it too, trust me! But can you afford to slip your band? Then where will you be????? Good luck! We all understand...........

Karen

Yeah BeBe! Way to go! You must feel so proud of yourself!!!

Viactiv chocolate chewables and the target calcium chews! I use both daily, 2 calciums and 1 multi..... totally tasty and better than the chalky chewables!

Hey Christy,

On top of Pbing, I have had a few stomach flus, one BAD, and had a baby while banded. Never had any issues. If you had a terrible stomach flu right after surgery, that could maybe cause probs but they do have anti-naseau meds that will help. So don't worry! I puked so hard when pregnant that I busted the capillaries in my face, and I was fine. You will be too.

Karen

I have also on occasion experience this. I remember one time with great restriction, I ate like 2 pieces of pizza at lunch. I looked down and they were gone! But it's rare. I wouldn't worry yet. It'll probably be back to normal for you soon.

Amber I am so glad that everything is fine!!! Thank goodness.

Hey Candy,

Your story is similar to mine. Banded Sept 06, waited til March 07 to get fills, lost 30 right away, got pregnant in July, unfilled, gained 30 lbs during pregnancy (and it was fun!!), had Evee this March, got filled to 2.0 (in the smaller band), and I have been losing pretty well. Just give it time. I found that after kids your body holds onto fat longer and harder! It might take a while before it kicks into fat burning mode. Try to do the best you can without the fills and just realize that you are basically starting from scratch again, don't count the last year and take it from today! Remember to take it slow on the fills, you'll have to start all over again!

Good luck,

Karen

Hey Kim, glad to see you! I am at 163 too and having trouble with the last 20. And even though I've lost lots more than this, these last 20 seem so much harder!!!! Sucks about the PS. I am hoping to have lipo someday.... I keep getting anxious and thinking I'll just do it now. Then I realize it's silly because I have 20 lbs to lose before I see what I'll look like on my own! Maybe it's better to wait. You don't want to have to have them fixed if you keep losing and they look weird! Good luck!

Karen

I'm unlucky, when I get scars they usually stay forever and are raised. My band scars are very obvious.... even after 2 years. Stinks! But I don't think this is typical.

For me, it will be medically necessary to have my band forever.

In high school, I was extremely active, but I also had to consume copious amounts of food. I played football AND hockey at the same time..(for reference, Hockey is the most calorie burning sport next to cross country running (and that's debatable), so I was consuming 4-5000 calories a day, JUST to maintain. 5'10" large muscular build and only weighed about 156)...at any rate, that caused me to stretch out my stomach, and ever since then, I have to eat enough for THREE PEOPLE to feel full...(and then still be hungry 1/2 an hour later). It finally caught up to me for the last time in my mid 30's, and I said enough is enough.

Now, I've been banded for a month. I am going to postpone my 1st fill. Most of you veterans will be shocked, but here's why. I love food, but, this is the first time in my adult life, I've been able to eat a NORMAL sized portion, and FEEL full. I'm very happy with it, and the weight is still coming off. I'm not quite to the 1/3 of my usual consumption, so by those guidelines, it's still okay. I eat about 1 small sandwich, and half a side, and I feel good about it.a couple pieces of pizza instead of the whole pizza. I order off the menu, instead of cleaning out the buffet.

Trav I think you are on top of things without the fill. They say that if you are losing and in control you don't actually need one. I postponed my first and second fill because I wasn't ready to lose way back when, and when I was ready I did it 100%.

As I've lost more weight I notice the port more. If I lean over my daughter's crib it hits right at the port and it does hurt. Most of the time though I don't notice it. I might have the OCC reposition it once I am done losing if I keep feeling it like I do. I am really sensitive though, and even when pregnant it wasn't bad.

It's been over 2 years for me (and had a baby since) and only my husband knows (and docs of course). I have debated telling my mom but I think she'd be upset. Not sure if I'll ever tell....... The only person who has ever been suspicious is my neighbor actually!