cckcsharp

Glad everything went well stormy... and you got a kiss to boot. You lucky lady. Hope you have a safe trip home. Best wishes.

Thanks for sharing with us. That's so awesome and such an inspiration to those of us just starting out. You should be very proud of yourself.

Awesome attitude Mona. I know your struggles have been hard not having the restriction you need. I love the way you keep your chin up. You rock.

Amy, While I understand that she wasn't intentional trying to hurt you, I think her comment was tactless and insensitive. I actually gasped when I read your post because I was surprised that someone would say it the way she did. Don't let her get you down. You should keep feeling like you are in skinny land. You are dong so good and making such progress. I look at people like you and think, MAN I wish I was where she is right now. I have so much farther to go that I envy you. So just keep that in mind. You are close enough to skinny that there are overweight people out there who are jealous of you. I know I am. You look fabulous.

But I can kind of see where Mona is coming from here. Your friend is Male and I think this makes a difference on his restrictin at 5CC in a 10 CC band. This is just my personal observation here, not quoting any docs. I am basing my observation off of the fact that women rarely get the VG band and that it's mostly used for men. It just seems like it would make sense than, that if a women DID get the VG band, they would likely require more fills to get to their sweet spot. I just personaly think that men and women are different when talking about band size and restriction. And I agree with Mona, too, that even if the band is only half full, it still can take more fills to get to that half way mark if it's the larger band. This is just a personal observation and opinion, although I could be wrong. Just piecing together all the information I have researched, this is the conclusion that I come to.

What I understood Dr. Martinez to say to me is that while women can have the larger band, it's RARE that the OCC uses them on women. Other doctors throughout the world may have different opinions and different technique. But according to Dr. M, the OCC rarely uses the VG band on women although, Yes, the do on occassion when it's needed. The only reason that I had this specific conversation with dr. M, was because I wanted to avoid the larger band if possible and I was worried that I may have required it.

Are you sure that your card doesn't say 10 CM. That is a 4 CC band, not 10 CC. And the information that I posted is directly out of the mouth of both Dr. O and Dr. Martinez. It's accurate according to them. And even if you do have the larger band, that still doesn't mean that this information is false. It may mean that you simply required that larger band due to your internal organ size. However, I did speak directly to Dr. Martinez about this just moments before doing my surgery because I wanted to avoid the larger band if possible and thought it was a real possibility that I might get it. He specifically said that that they rarely put the larger 10cc band in women and that I shouldn't worry about it. And as far as the larger band needing more fills, you can find Dr. O discussing this on YouTube and hear it from his mouth directly. So I am sorry you feel that the information I posted is incorrect, but you can verfiy this information with the OCC. It is correct and true according to them.

Kim, this was exactly what I was wondering. I know I have some restriction, but knew it wouldn't last. So your saying that you basically wake up one day and can eat more. I just want to prepare myself for that. It seems really bizarre, this whole restriction thing. Coming and going with no explanation. I guess it's something I will need to get used to. Thanks a bunch.

Hey that would be great if we were there on "magic band day" right!!! But hearing that you feel the same way, tells me that this restriction will probably go away soon. I am guessing that after nearly 3 weeks we must still have swelling and that is what is causing the restriction. I guess I will enjoy it for as long as I can and hope that it lasts. I think the slow weight loss for you is likely due to the second surgery. That's all the more fluid they pump into your body and with your body trying to heal, I think it's tough for it to let go of extra pounds. I bet as the weeks go by and your body is healed, you will see the pounds come off a little quicker. Although I think losing 6 pounds in 3 weeks is good. That's still 2 pounds a week, so your right on target there. But I know how you feel. We all want that surprise on the scale and to see bigger numbers faster. Your doing awesome and thats what counts. I don't think I will see 20 pounds or even 10 lost when I weigh myself in a few days. Although that would be fabulous. I guess we will see when the PMS clears and I can finally check the scale.

Stormy, I hope that all goes well for you. It sounds like you have major anxiety issues, as I have this problem as well. I actually had to get a prescribtion of Xanax just for this very thing. Seriously, travel sets my anxiety into a full blown attack. You will be okay. We will keep you in our prayers and be thinking of you. I had major anxiety about leaving my kids with grandma and grandpa, so I am sure this is scary for you. You have a right to be nervous, but just take a deep breath and take it one step at a time. When I came home, my kids had so much fun with grandma and grandpa, that they didn't want to come home to me. So you may find your son does really well with the babysitter. Best of luck sweetie, you will get through this. You have to and need to. You can do it. Check into xanax when you get a chance, it works wonders when your freaking out like this.

Cathy, you are doing awesome by the way. It seems like your weight loss number gets higher every time I get on the computer. I honestly forgot about the vitamins. OOPS!!! I haven't felt weak or dizzy or anything. Like Heidi said about her experience getting banded, mine did not start off good either. I felt horrible and thought I had made a mistake. But within a short time I started feeling better and now I feel great. I can still feel that I am healing, but I feel great. So I know you mentioned doing the B12 dissolve strips, but should I be taking all vitamins in liquid or dissolve form? Can I take the pills and just break them up? What vitamins should I be taking? Just a multi or other stuff as well? By the way, I agree, if this restriction last, then it's a great bonus and I will enjoy it as long as I can. May even re-schedule my first fill if everything is going well. Thanks a bunch

Hey that would be great if my band was just like yours. Here's hoping that it is. But I would say your situation is rare and I don't want to expect that, but I will certainly hope. Can't wait to weigh myself and see if there has been good weight loss during post op. Man how nice to only need one fill. Thanks for the response it really helped.

Okay, I have 3 days until I am done with post op and can eat regular food again. But honestly I can't imagine eating solid foods because I have restriction already. I get that full feeling on a pretty small amount of soup or pudding. I thought these things went right through the band? I have heard of people describe bandster hell saying they can eat anything and everything they want, but I already know that I cannot. If I feel full on soup, I would think a few bites of solid foods will really make me full. Am I just feeling restriction because I am still healing. I am just wondering if others felt restriction during those 3 weeks of post op and if it just suddenly goes away and that's when the bandster hell starts. I have heard people say that they are starving during this time. I am not. I drink a protein drink in the morning and then eat either soup or pudding in the afternoon. That's it, except for water or diluted juice and occassional fudgecicle. And I don't feel deprived or hungry. My calorie intake is about 600 calories per day and I can't imagine eating more at this point. By the way, I haven't weighed myself in 2 weeks, so I don't know what I have lost during post op yet and therefore have not updated my signature. It started my period during this time and figured that would affect the scale so I just have chosen not to weigh again until that's done and post op is over.

I am eating sugar free/fat free fudge cycles and also eating the sugar free/fat free instant pudding. I prefer the pudding over the soup and it's less calories to boot. The pudding has made the post op time bearable for me.

I don't think you did anything wrong. Those food choices won't hurt your band. I wouldn't say eat like that every day of the 3 weeks post op, but once won't hurt. And I didn't strain any of my soups. I just chose soups like the cream of potatoe that I could mash the potatoe chunks in my mouth before swallowing. Same with the cream of brocoli. I think the straining thing refers more to those chunky types of soup. But most of the campbells soup's are thin enough not to need straining.

Dr. Ortiz has said in one of his Youtube interviews that the larger band does require more fills. But I agree with Cathy, there are a lot of factors to consider. But Dr. Martinez told me when I went for surgery about 3 weeks ago, that its rare that a woman gets the 10CC band. Mostly men get it according to him. I had asked this question directly to him because I thought I might require the 10cc band and the first thing he told me when I woke up in the operating room was that I had gotten the 4cc band that I wanted.

Dr. Miranda told me that the band would help me to get down to about 180ish. She said that after that, the band would not do much, and it would be up to me to get down to the 130-140 range that I want to get to. I was surprised by that too, but it makes sense. So I think your doctor is right about that part, but over-all I still think he's not doing fills properly and just making money by doing really small fills.

Wishing you the best Vix. Hey, by the way, the picture of you are Dr. O...I am right behind that curtain, so I am sort of in your picture. I remember you taking the picture with him and his butt sticking out in the curtain at me....ha ha!!! Here's hoping the knee surgery helps you somehow lose more weight just to make it worth it. Hope to hear from you soon

My friend had the GBS and she ended up with 6 surgeries in about a year all due to complications. GBS patients can build up scar tissue or something where their intestines are re-routed and it causes a blockage. (At least that is the way she explained it to me.) Then suddenly, you are in severe pain and feel like your "dying" and the next thing you know you are rushed into the hospital for emergency surgery. Her starting weight was 325 when she had the GBS. About a year later she was down to 150 and looking great, but...another 6-12 months after that she was back up to 215 pounds. I was on the waiting list to meet with the same surgeon who did her surgery. Thank goodness I ended up pregnant by the time they called to schedule my consultation. Because during my pregnancy, I watched her gain back those 65 pounds. I realized there was no way in heck I was going to have all those surgeries and complications, just to gain the weight back and be called OBESE again. To me, the GBS was just no worth it.

I don't think your thoughts on the band being too big are stupid at all. This seems like the only reasonable explanation to me. I feel bad about your situation because all of us chose the band for a reason. Doing it alone wasn't working. Yeah, positive thinking can help, but if that were the answer than we could all lose weight without going through this surgery. And I understand that we cannot rely on the band to do all the work, but if it's not doing ANY work, than what is it's purpose. I would talk to the OCC about this and see what more they can suggest. I don't have a clue how to deal with this, but I am truly sorry for your struggle. I really hope that you are able to find a solution and get the weight loss you deserve.

So happy for you. I can't wait to hear about your surgery and progress. Way to be a strong woman and stick to your guns.

I would be very suspicious of this doctor. No one should be going in every 4-6 for a year. That would be 8-13 fills in that year. WAY TOO MANY. That doctor sounds like he is out to make some money. And think of it this way. Add up the cost of those 8-13 fills with him. Then add the cost to travel back to the OCC for 1-3 fills. I bet it's cheaper to get the fills from the OCC. Unless you can find another local fill doc, I would go to the OCC and stay clear of the other guy.

Everyone goes through good and bad periods of weight loss. Don't leave or feel embarrassed. You are normal. And staying here, we can help you get back on track or just have someone to talk to until you able to get back on track. I am sorry for the struggle you are going through. Hopefully this fill will help you get the weight coming off. If anyone knows better the frustration and shame of being over weight, it is all of us. We know it's not easy and we know there challenges and stumbling blocks along the way no matter how one chooses to lose weight. Happy to have you back and hoping for better days for you.

Dr. Martinez said that there was no actual scientific proof that carbonation could stretch your pouch, but they really believe that it can. What he said to me was would you rather keep your pouch the size it should be or test the boundaries by drinking carbonation. And once you stretch your pouch, the only way to correct it is through surgery. I would say it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to things like this. The way I see it, carbonation is bad for us anyway. I was a diet soda junky and gave it up during my pre-op phase to lose weight ( worked wonders) and now I feel so much better without it. I don't miss it at all.