CindyLou

Ok, well first of all, "hello". I know I haven't been around much. Very happy and busy I am coming to the conclusion that my band has been too tight since my 2nd fill in December. I was too busy (or maybe lazy..lol) to make the drive down to TJ and get an unfill and was really afraid of doing to fill "jig" and unfilling too much and needing another fill. Anywho...weight loss has been sloooooooooooooooooow but sure. I'm down 35lbs total since my surgery back in Nov.08. I don't think I'm too tight anymore though, as I'm taking in enough calories per day.

I just made my first trip "home" to my moms since my band and it was amazing. I ate what I wanted when I wanted and only gained 1lb for the week...lol Not bad because I usually put on at least 8 or 10 while I"m there.

Ok, now my main question. I notice that almost every time I eat the first few bites get stuck. (this has been going on since I got my second fill) No matter how much I chew or what I eat it gets stuck. I have to get up and walk around and then I burp or hiccup and then I can eat the rest of my meal with no problem. I only notice it so much now because I don't think the band is too right anymore because the rest of the meal is fine. This is annoying because I have to get up and walk no matter where I'm at and people must think I'm crazy....lol.

Anyone else have this issue???

It's nerve irritation or damage (phrenic nerve) Happens when they are putting the band on the stomach. I'm seven months post op and I only just now go days where I dont' ahve shoulder pain. Months 2-4 were horrible. but now its much better. Small price to pay

well, its been 7 months since my surger and I've hit my first major milestone. I now weight less than 200lbs! AND I"m now, officially no longer obese!! Yea! My BMI now falls in the OVERWEIGHT category.

Funny thing happened. Last October 20th we had our fall meeting. Well, the chairs in this place are these very light aluminum (sp) chairs with curved arms. I went to stand up and the chair came with me .. That day is when I decided to have my surgery. Fast forward 7 months and we have our spring meeting. That very morning went under 200. And guess what? My hips didn't EVEN TOUCH the sides of the chair. Coincidences? I don't think so!!!!! It was a sign that this has all been worth it.

I am losing VERY VERY VERY SLOWLY. Probably 1-2 lbs per month since the initial 20lbs right after surgery. This frustrates me, but I guess I just need to accept it because as much as I hate to admit it I am not exercising and really I just eat whatever I want, only in small portions. I know I might get some negative feedback on this, but at least I'm being honest. I had to stop obsessing about food and dieting and now with this way of life I don't have to focus on it.

So, I am very happy! I"m moving this weekend which will eliminate my 3 hrs commute each day in the car and I plan to add some regular excercise. I think this will speed things up!!!!!!!!!

I've been stuck at 212-214 for the last three weeks! It feels like the one hundreds are so close, yet still so far!

Look at it this way...you are almost half way to your goal!!

203.2 again today......I'm traveling the next few days for work and I usually lose when I travel lately....so keep our fingers crossed. I wanted to be 199 before saturday but that might be a stretch....

I went through my credit union after being approved by a few of the companies. Be careful, they charge a service fee of between 500-750 on top of the interest. I filed a BK back in Nov. 2005 and was approved by both the loan co. and my credit union.

Good luck.

You will see hair loss more in people who have gastric bypass because it results in malabsorbtion. With the lapband you will still absorb food.....though I have heard of some losing hair. I haven't lost any.

I was 203.8 today, but that is expected from day to day a little variation. The way I do my weights is that once I go down to a certain number then I don't record it again if it goes up a little...I just wait until the next "down" to record again. So as far as I'm concerned I'm still the 203.2 from yesterday ))

It made me sweat so I stopped. It has effects similar to caffiene and is thought to increse metabolism thus burning fat.

Let keep this thread updated daily til we all get to Onderland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be so very soon. I can feel it.!

well, I'm at 203.3 today and feeling very very close to that 199!!!!!!!!!! I'll even take 199.9 before my trip to New Orleans in a week and a half. I know if will come!!!!!

I'm right there with ya!!!!!! Have faith though it will work in time.

Any time I have felt something get "stuck" I have taken a very small sip of liquid and then walked around and even rocked side to side....and it will usually go right down...once a feel a little burp or hiccup, then I'm fine. I have pb'd a couple of times, but all early in the morning....it is scary!!

Hi! All I can say is that it does get better and able to be tolerated more. I didn't ever have any port pain, except for the first few days, HOWEVER, I have had the shoulder pain since the day of the surgery. At first I could hardly stand it, but now, I find that I only notice it if I haven't eaten for too long, or if I've eaten too much. Somehow I think the way the port tube flips up, it grazes on the diaphram and aggravates the phrenic nerve. It's annoying, and sometimes very painful...enough to take Tylenol 3, but I think its worth it.

And as far as the gas....I have just resigned to taking gasX 2 times per day every day or I have horrible gas and bloating....again, worth it.

I am happy I got the band, though sometimes I wish I could just go on with life and not notice its there. Also, I have lost weight in months. Just maintaining that original 25-30 lbs and hoping that it will start to come off again soon.

Keep you head up!!

Well, I have been on the fence about whether I need a fill...too tight in the morning...not enough retsriction at night. Well, last night we went to eat at Fridays and I ate a 10oz Sirloin, order of Sweet Pot. fries, half a ceasar salad and half piece of breakstick! All this with no soft stops! I had a couple of twinges in my shoulder afterward, but that's it!!!!!

It was my birthday meal, so I wasn't really trying to limit my intake, but this is where I was able to get without any problems.

I haven't lost any weight recently. I had cancelled my fill on the past saturday because I wasn't sure.. Now I am....lol

P.S. It was a great meal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss being able to do that... isn't that sad.

Hi I'm new to the forum...new to all of this actually. My name is Krista and I'm 35, a mother of a 2 year old and 4 year old girls, from Toronto Canada. I am booked for surgery for March 17 09, and I am very excited to be taking this step, and feel very good about doing this at The Obesity Control Center itself. I am travelling on my brother in law's points so I'm flying into L.A and driving a rental car to San Diego to be picked up. Now I am hearing frightening things about travelling to boarder towns, with Tijuana listed ...that there is huge unrest due to gang wars. I've never thought twice about travelling to Mexico before....i've gotten spooked, and I'm hoping to hear from people who have just RECENTLY been. What was your experience crossing the boarder and being in Tijuana like?

Hi! First, Congrats! I live in LA and just wanted to give you a little "warning" about traffic and travel times. When we drive to OCC, it can take up to 5 hrs unless you drive VERY early in the morning. We usually leave Los Angeles around 5am and we make it there without any delays. So just plan your travel accordingly and expect delays. One other thing...be sure and take the toll road from Orange County to San Diego...this will save you about 30-45 minutes....I think its 6.00 each way and well worth it.

I rememeber being on the table talking one minute, getting very drowsy, and then waking up in what seemed like one minute and them telling me it was over and my nose was itching but my hands were still tied and I coudn't scratch it. I thought something happened and they couldn't do the surgery. Then they told me,"no, we are done" Then I remember thinking, "oh, yea, I can feel the soreness."

That was it. Very uneventful and I dont' remember anything bad.

You should get some over the counter anti nausea medication. I took that and it helped so much!!

Feel better!

Cindy

I keep chewable gas x everywhere...purse, desk, car...I even put some in my pocket at work...I take the max dose many days! It seems to work. If I forget, look out!!

Use the following chart to compare the nutrient values of the different types of milk:

skim 1% 2% whole

kcal 80 100 120 150

protein 8 8 8 8

CHO 12 12 12 12

fat sat. 0 2.5 5 8

fat 0 1.6 3 5

cholesterol 4 10 18 33

vitamin D 98 IU 98 IU 98 IU 98 IU

calcium 300 mg 300 mg 300 mg 290 mg

You are smart to take care of it now with an elective surgery rather than waiting and some type of emergency happens.

Same thing happend to me 3 weeks ago. I am going for a fill this Saturday. I had restriction one day, it seemed and then none the next. I also have 2.4cc in a 4cc band! Where do you live?

I ended up giving each of the OCC drivers $20.00. Only took a cab once and tipped $1. Did tip at the hotel, we handled our own bags.

[size="4"]I was wondering if there were any other active members here from Louisiana? I am from the central Louisiana area and would love to hear from any other cajuns on here.[/size]

Well, I'm originally from Lake Charles...but have transplanted to Los Angeles 7 years ago...does that count??

Congrats! That is so very exciting and on your birthday none the less! Just one of many upcoming milestones!

Great job!

I want the same thing for my birthday! I am going to the OCC for a fill on Saturday and I have a feeling I might be able to make the same goal by March 22!!