mom12

Awesome Paula, You are doing exactly the right things for you and you are succeeding. It is inspiring to see your accomplishments!!

Jacque, I agree with you and have slowed down alot on reading here because of the same issues. I will be glad to keep up with you by email. Blessings!

I have had one fluro and 2 blind and there was not difference between them except that the Dr. doing the blind seems to know how too reach restriction more quickly than where I went for Fluro. My 3rd fill was blind and I reached my sweet spot for now at least. I can drink liquids with no problem and eat about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of food per meal. As long as I chew well and take my time (avoiding sticky foods like bread) them I have no PB problems. That was reached on a blind fill so as long as the DR. has experience I wouldn't worry about doing it blind.

Thanks for your encouraging words guys! You are all the best.

Thanks guys. The 6 week to 3 month difference is harder for me to see but I am definitely losing both weight and inches so I am pleased.

highest 8/8/086/25/08 8/8/08

Previous Pics 6/25/08 6/25/08 6/25/08 highest highest

Here are some progress pics for my three month bandaversary today!!! 8/8/08 8/8/08 8/8/08 8/8/08

If I overeat I start to hicup and it is quite uncomfortable and frustrating but not painful. I do know that as soon as I feel like I am going to hicup I stop eating and don't even finish the bite in my mouth if there is one there. I do feel the stuffed like Thanksgiving feeling as well which generally last for at least a couple of hours. It is hard to get around the head thing because for instance today that stuffed feeling came after 3 chick fil a nuggets and I wasn't hungry again for 41/2 hours. I was so stuffed I couldn't even eat one of the fries.

Get a fill. If you have true restriction there will be many foods you can't tolerate at all and those you can will only be a few bites at a time. The fact that you are having very little trouble eating most things means you are not feeling the ability of the band working for you.

Hang in there Jacque. I'm sure it is discouraging. If I were you I would weigh my self because you may be pleasantly surprised. Also I have found over the course of my many ups and downs in weight loss that I always gained when I didn't weigh myself. I realize that isn't the case for everyone but for me the scale helps keep me accountable. I think you may also need more restriction. I literally can only eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time and that has to not include any difficult foods for me like bread, pasta, fruit or veggies with skin or any fibrous content to speak of. If I eat the hard foods I will stick on the first bite and then I can't eat anything until the next meal if I have a PB incident. I can however drink with no issues so I know that I am not over restricted.

I was banded 5/8/08 so 3 months ago today. I have lost 18 lbs since surgery so it averages 6 lbs per month. 8 of them however have been in the last 2 weeks since my 3rd fill and this is the first time I have had restriction. I am pleased with my progress.

Hey guys just wanted to share my joy. My BMI dropped under 30 this morning. I love this band now that it is working with me.

I have been banded for 3 months now and have 3 fills to the point that I am at or very close to my sweet spot. I hiccup if I eat past full but I very seldom burp at all. I have gas no more or no less than before surgery. Just like before surgery it depends upon what I eat. As far as Pbing. I have only done it a couple of times and you learn pretty quickly what to stay away from. Now particularly with my tighter fill, I have to eat very slowly and chew very well. I even have to drink very slowly but actually that is way better for us. Overall I feel, look and my body behaves much better now.

Awesome Michelle, Your progress is incredible. You should still do the Dress ones because sometimes what you can't see, others can.

The lap band was not the easy way out for me. It was and is the only way. I have tried all the others and they didn't work!!!

Chick Fil A Nuggets are very moist and not quite as heavily breaded. I had them today but still only got down 2 before I felt like a stuffed turkey at Thanksgiving. I love my band now that I have restriction.

Since I have fill #3 and am quite tight depending on the time of day, I had a bowl of this at lunch today. Could only eat about 1/2 of it but boy did it hit the spot and I still got my protein in.

A fill will definitely help you get back on track. With all of that weight loss you probably don't have much restriction at all anymore which doesn't mean the band doesn't work, it just isn't working for you right now but with a little tweaking you'll drop that 20 in no time.

Good info thanks Michelle!!!

I never had any problems with capsules until after this third fill. I believe from everything I have read that I am now at or very near my sweet spot. I can take liquids slowly and have to eat very slowly, small bites and chew well or I get it twice around (Yuk). I cannot take capsules now. I have tried all times of the day and have to say forget it. Chewable or crushable only. Thankfully it doesn't hurt one of my meds to be taken with food so I open the capsule and empty it into my breakfast smoothie to get it down.