Bowierocksme

I haven't posted on this forum for a long...long time. I was banded at OCC in Aug. of 08 and have since had abdomialplasty as well. No matter what I do I am still struggling with my addiction to carbs and sugar and have not had any significant weight loss. I am contemplating another adjustment but honestly I do have enough restriction to make me feel satisfied right now. I just don't know how to stop eating the cookies and chocolate to deal with the stress is my life. Work, marriage,family and money issues etc. all send me to the foods that I know will zone and numb my emotions out and they seem to slip through my band with no problem. I am from Canada and have no support system locally. I have had to drive to the US for fills in the past because the medical system here doesn't accommodate you if you are banded out of the country. So I guess what I am saying is that I am back here on this forum looking for help.

The reason I did not stay on this forum to begin with was that there was a definite religious tone to a lot of the posting and it turned me off. Sorry to be blunt. It's just the way I felt.

Thanks for listening.

I guess I am the only one who does not feel all 'warm and fuzzy' about this. So I will keep MOST of my commentary to myself

You are obviously a strong and courageous woman for doing this ON YOUR OWN....with NO support (financially OR emotionally) from your husband. A marriage is supposed to be 50/50...not black and white

I find it unfortunate that you had to wait 3 Very Long Years to do this...

It sounds like he has the "potential" to wake up and smell the coffee...good luck to you.

I agree with you! I hope this guy will be right there with bells on when it comes time to pay for a Tummy tuck!

Is it just my imagination or do we have a lot of Kim's on this Forum? Seems to me a whole bunch of us are named Kim/Kimberly/Kimberley.

Isn't that weird?

Wow Denise,

You look Fabulous! Congrats on this achievement!!!

Hi Kimberly,

I just had my 2nd fill on Thursday, it was exactly 4 weeks after my first fill. I had no restriction about 10 days after my first fill but I have awsome restriction now!

I have found that I am buying lots of cook books and drooling over the recipies without making them. Weird eh?

WTG Kim, I think this is going to be youre sweet spot. My second fill I got poked 4 times also. And on this third fill I got poked 2 times. Not fun I can tell you that. Here's to great restiction and weight loss.

Thanks Denise,

It feels pretty tight today let me tell ya, I had a little sliming episode last night from a sip of water that I took after taking a pill. I feel much more in control of my hunger though, hallelujah!

Thanks for the advice girls, I know it is an aggressive fill. I didn't ask her to do it but she had me drinking water and kept on going with the fill until the water slowed down. I will be sure to post if I need help or have trouble.

Hi All,

I have just come back from another trip to the fill centre in Troy MI. It was quite an experience this time....took 4 sticks for the Dr. to find my port. I was swooning and almost passing out! She finally got it and gave me an agressive fill. I think she dosen't want to have me coming back any time soon! She pulled out the original 2 cc's and then pushed it back in with another 1.6 cc's for a total of 3.6 cc's in my 4 cc band. I am having no trouble getting liquids down and had a bowl of mushroom soup as well. I am pretty sore however at my port site, feel like a pin cusion.

It is quite a trip for me to get to the fill centre so I was happy she didn't fool around with the amount of the fill. I spent the night at my Mom's an hour and a half from my house because I was so fried from the fill and the drive. I had gained back 3 lbs since my first fill a month ago...it just wasn't restricting me at all and I pigged out on halloween candy.

What a ride, sometimes I am amazed at what I am willing to do to get thin and look better!

Hi there,

I wa 80 lbs overweight too. BMI 39.1 No problem for the OCC. I would have had to have gained another 20lbs to qualify for OHIP here in Canada to consider me.

Hi there,

A fill is what you need once you have healed from having the band put in to your body.....it is place with no saline in the silicone ring so that your body can heal. At around 6 weeks post op you go and get an injection of saline to tighten the band around your stomach so that you have more restriction. This helps to give you the feeling of being full after eating a small portion of food. You will probably need a few fills over your weight loss journey to keep that feeling as your body gets smaller.

Hi Cara,

I am in the same boat. I had a fill 4 weeks ago, first fill, got 2 cc's in my 4 cc band. I was told that is was the max. allowed by the manufacturer on the 1st fill for the band that I have. I have not lost weight, I put 2 lbs back on....I am leaving today to drive 5 hours to stay at a hotel for a 9:30 am appt. in the morning for fill no. 2.....I am not getting bent out of shape about this. I have heard people say on this forum that this is a marathon, not a sprint. I know that I will be OK. Don't get too down on yourself, you will be OK too!!!

Take care!

Wow, let that be a lesson to others. I wouldn't pay the money in advance, no way, no how. I could justify the $500 deposit with the OCC and was happy to hand carry a bank draft for the remainder to be paid at the clinic at the time of the surgery. I can't imagine paying up front before being there in person.

I wish you all the best in the future and great success with your lapband journey from this point on. Everything happens for a reason in my book and I am sure everything will work out and you will love the experience you are going to have at the OCC!

Congrats Denise on the 16's!!! I was so relieved to get my butt back into a 16 recently as well. It puts us in a whole new land of clothing opportunities and normal stores again. You are doing so well and it's great to have such a supportive man in your life.

Well Done!

Hi G!

Great to have you on board! It sounds like you could be an inspiration to me having done so well so far!

Hi everyone, I am new here in this forum so I really don't know how it works

I've been thinnking in doing the lap band for the last 6 moths but my husband does not agree with it. I finally convinced him to go with me for a consultation with Dr Ortiz (November 6). I am really excited about it. If I could I would do it tomorrow. I am 5'1 and 185 pounds and I've been struggling w/ my weight all my life . I have done eveyry single diet out there some times I do OK but I always get everything (or more) back. I am happy that there is a place like this forum where I can find support from others that undestard what it's like . I hope once we talk to Dr ortiz my husband says OK.

I don't know how long you have been married or how old you are but this problem dosen't just go away. We can loose weight on our own, easy, I've done it plenty of times. It comes back and it brings friends! I bet that if he was in need of surgery to normalize function of something, (for eg: his most important member), he'd be on board big time! And money would be no object!

Hey all,

I have been pretty out of control this past week or so. Had my fill 3 weeks ago, first one, the restriction only lasted about 10 days before I could shove more food in.....I am going for fill no. 2 this Thursday. I have been afraid to get on the scale, I would rather live in denial! Problem is, that is what got me into this mess in the first place. I have had the realization that I need to feel full in order to function...I guess that is what head hunger is. Hope I can hang on without doing too much more damage, Halloween has been a killer, I bought tons of candy and we only had 20 kids at the door. I live in a new home and had no way to tell how many kids to buy for, now the candy is sitting here in a big basket taunting me!

I have this same problem. After my first fill of 2cc's in a 4cc band, I had very little to no restriction either. I had my first fill on Oct. 10th and I'm going for another one on Nov. 7th...the OCC wouldn't let me come back for another fill until after 4 weeks had passed. I'm hoping they'll give me at least .5 more cc's. I was curious about the "kick in" point as well...but from what I understand, it's totally different for everyone. I've noticed that most people don't hit that spot until the 3rd fill.

You sound like me, I had my first fill just over 2 weeks ago, 2 cc's in a 4 cc band. I am booked for a second fill on Nov. 6th. I am struggling with my eating for now, I hope the next fill helps.

Thank You Katy,

I really, really, really needed to read something exactly like your post this morning. I got my first fill 2 weeks ago and I feel a little out of control emotionally and still hungry! I booked a second fill for Nov. 6th. I was reading last night, my fill centre gave me a guide book for the band and it asked me how committed I was to my weight loss journery on a scale of 1 to 10. It was like a reality check because the last few days have been a slide back into my old ways.

Thanks for taking the time to put down your thoughts, it was very thoughtful of you.

KIM

Hey, I am screwed up too! Been in therapy lots of times, also taking anti-depressants. I came from a really disfunctional family but I met a nice stable guy and had a wonderful family, three daughters. Food is definatly my drug...I am thankful however that it is because I lost my cousin Sherry two years ago to a drug overdose, we came from the same type of disfunction, our mothers were both severly sexually abused for their whole childhoods. I could have ended up like her but I chose food over drugs and alcohol. I guess we all have our crosses to bear.

KIM

Thanks Jude,

That was awesome!!!

KIM

Thanks for the post...I just had my first fill about 10 days ago and I am not feeling restriction like you are describing. I was wondering if the fill was enough, 2 cc's in my 4 cc band...I think I may need to go back for a touch more after reading about your experience. I don't want to go for months without any significant loss.

Cheers,

KIM

Hi Kim, I am sorry you are not feeling well...go back to creamy soups for a day or two to let your esophagus heal.

Feel better!!

Thanks Cathy,

That's what I thought. I am surprised it hurt so much, it only lasted for a couple of minutes.

Any advice,

I PB's night before last on 2 teaspoonfuls of plain cooked white rice. I came right back up and my band now feels tighter. I feel tired and a little sore. I am not throwing up or anything and I can still get food and water down OK. Never having had a PB, is this normal, does it take a couple of days to feel better?

KIM

Hi Darlene,

Just like any other substance food can be addictive. I consider myself a food addict and like any addict I know that I could be prone to relapse. I was once a member of Overeaters Anonymous and like any other person seeking recovery I was told to take things one day at a time. Tomorrow is a new day and you can change your life just by making the decision to do so. I agree with Jann, you have the band, start at square one if you have to. Call the OCC or e-mail them. If you do have a fill centre USA in your area they are a great aftercare resource. I have just had my first fill through them and they said I can call or e-mail anytime as I am now a patient and entitled to get any needed help from them that I need.

I know that I often, sometimes on a daily basis, hold on too tight. I think that if I can't be perfect or have the perfect day of eating correctly that I am a failure and everything can go to pot in an instant. Lean on the people on this forum....I have found myself checking in a couple of times a day and it reminds me that I am not alone in this fight.

Take good care of yourself, even if you don't have money you can still take a bubble bath and know that you are worth the change that you so badly want to make in your life.

So glad you said something today, I have had the fears that you have expressed in your post and I appreciate how you feel!!!

Cheers,

KIM