dianna

Something similar happened to me. I thought I was having heartburn & indigestion...but what it really was I was too tight. I would eat at night between 5-7pm and then like between 2-5am I would wake up with reflux junk in my mouth. It would make me cough and cough. So I called Dr. Ortiz and he said I was too tight and that it wasn't reflux but rather some food that didn't go down all the way...coming back up. Really gross. So I had a total unfill for a week, and then have slowly increased my fill. Unfortuneatly I have gained back about 5 pounds over the last 2 weeks...despite me exercising...GOOD LUCK with this!

Maybe others can sympathize here...I have been fat for a long time. I think I am a pretty girl...fun, outgoing, a blast to be around, super funny (LOL...at least I think I am), and a great friend. When I was in college, I met the man who would become my husband. In college, I wasn't as fat as I am now...so I feel kinda guilty that my husband has been married to a fat wife for a long time. My husband has always been super loving and extremely supportive toward me and any of my hair brain ideas when it has come to losing weight. My husband is really handsome. Average height, great build, dark brown/black hair, big brown eyes, and best of all a huge heart of gold. I have tried to lose weight before. Nothing worked. I have 3 children...all delivered by c-section...which did wonders on my lower abdomen. I ballooned to 246 pounds in 2008. I had been 230 lbs forever...then I went on the phenteramine and when I stopped I just exploded...I gained the weight I had lost and then some....thus me topping the scale at 246. I decided to do the lap band. I took out a loan to cover the cost. I had surgery in July 2008, my first fill in August...then September (twice), and then one in December. In December I was told I had 3.5cc in my band. I lost a few pounds then nothing from January till March when I got my next fill. I only had 2.9cc in my band...NOT the 3.5cc. Now that I have 3.5cc in my band I am starting to lose weight again. I FINALLY HAVE LOST A TOTAL OF 41 lbs. I am scarred to get on the scale tomorrow fearing it will say that I am up a pound or two. But today, I am excited to tell everyone that I am DOWN 41 STINKING POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I pray this keeps up. I try to eat the right foods, and in the order in which I have been advised. It is not easy, but I am finally starting to understand that saying, "NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS BEING SKINNY FEELS." I am not skinny, but I finally at a point that the weight that is coming off, I can see and feel the difference. I am finally coming down in my clothe sizes and that is just really exciting to me. Keep your fingers crossed that my sweet spot stays around for a long time!! Dianna

I'm sure you are cloud 9!!!!!!!!!! What an exciting time! GREAT JOB!!! Dianna

1) If they have any air in the syringe and that air gets injected into your band while they are filling it, the air over time can escape thru the plastic band. 2) If they do not hold the syringe plunger down as they pull out of the band after the band is filled it will pull back saline into tubing and syringe and not give you an accurate fill. 3) The third and most generic answer...over time for what ever the reason...you can just loose some of the fill. Hope that answers or help you! Dianna

So far so GOOD!!!! Down another pound!!!!!!!! I nearly at a grand total of 40lbs lost!!!! I am so glad for this last fill!!!!! THANK HEAVENS!

The "RIGHT" fill is key!!! I've lost almost 2 pounds these last few days. Amazing what 0.6cc of fluid did for me. I am now down 38lbs. I just wish and pray this keeps up for me...seems like this journey has NOT been easy at all. Keep your fingers crossed! Dianna

Well guess what guys!!!! I got a fill yesturday and I only had 2.9cc in my band (I lost .6cc as my orginal fill was 3.5cc) So today I have GREAT restriction. When I got my fill she gave me reasons why I may have lost some fluid...so I guess I am content for now. I can't wait for the weight loss to restart!!! Dianna

I have had a total of 3 fills. One without fluro...and the two others with fluro. Just seems like my fills after a few months are gone. I know I was at my sweet spot at 3.5cc I lost like 3 pounds like that...then nothing since...I haven't gained...thank goodness....I am worried at I am almost at the 4cc mark...any my band is only 4cc. If 3.5cc wasn't my "sweet spot"...see where I am going with this? I am just frustrated. I ask my co-workers if I eat a lot...and they are like "NO" I just don't know what to do. I hope that this is not as good as it gets for me. I need some help....PLEASE Dianna

Hey...haven't been on in a while. So just to catch you all up. Banded July 2, 2008. I was 246 that May, 2008 and at surgery weighed in at 233. I am now at 210. Seems my fills are not lasting...like I am loosing my fills. I am at 3.5cc in my band. Can anyone tell me if they have had this problem too? I am great for a couple months then...it just seems to go away. Also...I too feel very frustrated with my band. I am only at 210 lbs. I thought my results would be MORE...to say if frankly! So I am not loving this band of mine. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has had there band filled with a thicker solution other than the saline? Would be great to hear if anyone has. Thanks!!!! Denise!!! YOU ARE ONE HOT MAMA!!! YOU LOOK AWESOME! GREAT JOB!

Okay...I'm blushing here asking such a stupid question when I know I knew the answer some time ago...So what if I don't get in enough protein. Why would that keep me from dropping the weight? Dianna

An answer to Jena question, here is todays food journal. 7am) 45 minutes on the elliptical. 9am) 20 fl. oz. water & Cup of coffee. I am really tight in the morning and its difficult to get anything down food wise. 1010) snickers mini (35 cal) 1230) leftover pot roast. I got some strange looks today. I brought in my measuring cup and served myself as appropriate. My friends were supportive, and got a good chuckle. With the left over pot roast I also had some carrots, celery, and onion. 1310) snicker mini (35cal). I don't like that I give in, but I am honest and I count it up. 1445) 20 fl. oz. water. 1545) The last cup of pot roast leftover. Thanks Jena for helping me trouble shoot this. I just feel like I am spinning my wheels. Maybe my prospective is wrong, but I thought --no one scream at me for this now-- well it just seems like other are loosing the weight without working out 5 days a week. I know we are all different, I was just hoping NOT to be an exception to the rule. Thanks, Dianna

I love to read all your success stories. They are powerful and motivating and honestly without them I would worse off. I just feel so frustrated. I was banded on July 2nd, 2008. At the time of surgery I weighted 233. I am now 221....four months post surgery and only down 12 lbs...so pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have 3cc in my 4cc band. I do have restriction. I only eat about 1 cup of food or less. I know which food pass easily and stay away from those (mashed potatoes with gravy etc.) I started an exercise routine, which I had not been doing prior to the band. I started it in October. I journal my food intake, and follow the guidelines about what order to eat my food. I drink my water (difficult task for me as I am not a water drinker...but I do it anyway), and this last week increased my cardio exercise from 20 minutes four times a week to 40 minutes 5 times a week and started to include resistance training with weights (low weight with increased reps.). I am stinkin pissed that the fat is holding on. I eat less, exercise more, it seems so remedial....so what am I missing? I do not drink with my meals, this is a habit that was not hard for me to get into. Has anyone else gone through this? What is wrong with me? Please help. To make it easier here is what I am doing. 1) Journal my food intake daily. 2) Drink 48-60 ounces of water daily. 3) I'm too tight in the morning for breakfast so I have coffee. I eat lunch and dinner and rarely I'll have a snack if needed. 4) Mon-Friday exercise 40 min on the elliptical. Then I do three rounds around the weight circuit. 15 reps 3 times. 5) I am not drinking with my meals. I am not hungry in between meals either. 6) I do have restriction. I eat 1 cup or a little less depending on my meal at eat sitting. Any ideas what is going on? I could really use all your help. Desperately, Dianna

Joan Richardson and I have been friends for years. We have worked together for years at our local hospital. Joan has finished her F.N.P....Family Nurse Practitioner a few years back. Joan is banded herself. She trained over in the large Pacific Northwest area to become certified and trained in lap band fills. She is GREAT!!!! She does a blind fill...and I have never had a problem. Nor have my many friends who have gone to her! Her fill charge can't be beat either!!! $100.00 If you are considering getting a fill and you are close to Lewiston, ID. I would check into her! You won't be disappointed! Hope this helped! Dianna

You all are so wonderful!!!! I loved reading your responces! Thank you so very much. You all really give me encouragement to keep going. So thank you for helping me keep my chip up! Dianna

How exciting!!!! Great job! dianna

I have been discouraged lately. I have increased my exercise, logged my food intake, and yet no weight loss. I weigh weekly. I started my period, and through exercise, I didn't gain any weight. I was pleased about that. I've been off my period for that last few days (3-4 days) and haven't seen the scale move. I kept thinking in my head that "I know that scale will move when I am done with period" and that I would just need to be patient. Well, today my patience paid off. I am down 3 pounds. I am so relieved! It is an aformation that I am doing the right things. My habits, my exercise...they are working. I am relieved. Just thought I would share my little victory! Dianna

I am 31. I have been overweight since 8th grade. Not fat but very muscular. I am short, and in high school I wore a 10/12. In my first few years of college I wore a 16. Then after marrage and babies I was a 22. Now 18/20. I was banded July 2nd, 2008. My highest weight was 246. I am now 224. My average weight loss since June (when I started my pre-op diet) is 4.4 lbs a month. I am not excited about that. I wish it to be more. I am active, I work as a nurse and walk more than 6 miles a day at work. I just started working out October 6th. I do 20 minutes a day on the eliptical (spelling???) four days a week. I did not loose any weight this last week, however I am just getting off my period too. So I hope next Monday I'll see a decrease in my weight loss. On the plus side, during my period I didn't gain any weight either. I have a really slow metabolism. I have asked the doctors I work with, in what we call "hallway consulations" about the metabolism. I have not gotten a adequate answer to my questions. I tell them I eat less, have increased my exericse level,yet I am not losing weight ( 4 pounds a month...we all think I should be losing more weight than that--my doctors and I). So I went back to my A&P prof and asked him about the mechanics of metabolism. He said that the actions of our metabolism is really under studied, and not well understood. And it seems the truth be that some people just are more efficient at storing and keeping their fat. He said keep up the exerise and it will come off, just be patient. An answer I don't like...but what can we do? Hope this helps, Dianna

Lately I've noticed that my scrubs have been really hanging in my crotch area. Sorry, TMI. My scrubs that I've had for years I have been needing to roll the waist down so that they would fit better. It never occured to me change scrub sizes. (My weight loss has been very gradual since my banding in July). Well, yesturday I started my period out of the blue (gotta love those irregular periods). So I had to change my clothes at work. I had worn my personal scrubs and had to change into hospital scrubs. The thought just occured to me then, "hummm....I wonder." So I tried on a pair of large's and they fit! =D> =D> =D> So I thougth I would share my little victory with you all. I guess slow and steady did win the race between the rabbit and the turtle. :-h Dianna

Too Funny! I can so relate! I loved reading your story. Keep up the good work. =D> =D> =D> Dianna

Trina~ I am so very excited for you!!!! I didn't feel any real restriction until my third fill too! I also have 3cc in my band, and boy oh boy does my band TALK to me. I am so happy for you. Dianna

These are great! To me it has really helped me calm my over hyper sensitive self down! I get so worried that I am not losing weight like I should, or that maybe I was getting fills sooner than I should be...but it looks like we are all different but the same too. I can see our similarities and it is really been helpful....so thank you to all of you who participated in this post!!! :D Dianna

I was just curious....I know everyone is different, but I was just wondering if you all would respond and document when you had your fills, how many cc's and weight loss inbetween fills. I'll go first. First fill August 16th 1cc. 3 pounds lost between my first and second fill Second fill Sept 3rd 1.2cc for a total of 2.2cc. Between my second and third fill lost 5 pounds Third fill Sept 29 1cc for a total of 3cc in my 4cc band. Praying for good restriction or that "sweet spot" I dream of! Thought this would be interesting to see how others are doing. Also...I don't know how to say this well...but sometimes we get down on ourselves (me especially) for not losing weight fast enough...or not losing "enough" weight. I thought this might be a good way to look at our weight loss and remind ourselves that we are on the right path. I can't weight (hehehehehe) to hear from everyone!!!! Dianna

Yesturday I felt like I really had a victory. I was 225.12...I can't remember the last time I weighed only 225. Today, thinking I probably lost another 1-2 pounds had a NUMBER SHOCK! WTH...229? Here are my thougths....maybe I am going to start my very irregular period. I do gain weight with my periods. I just thougth I would ask you all what your thoughts were. Anyone else have these struggles? What did you come up with if you do (struggle like this)? Would love to hear from you. Dianna

Funny...I take a deep breath when I start to get full. I then hiccups after that. A friend of mine her nose starts to run, and another friend of mine she gets the hiccups too. Funny...these little quirks! dianna

We hear a lot about how great and wonderful Dr. Ortiz is...and its deserved...but his right hand is Dr. Martinez and I believe in my experience (they both did my band surgery) he is a great surgeon! He actually spoke with me more extensively than Dr. Ortiz did. He sat down at my bedside and talked with me until...well until I was comfortable. When I left the OCC I was just really impressed with Dr. Martinez. If Dr. Ortiz was not available to do my surgery (if I had to do it all over again) then I would have Dr. Martinez do it for me, hands down! Hope that helped! Dianna