determination

By the way, Thanks for the compliments!

Thank you both for responding. My latest fill was in April. This was my third fill. In the last 3 or so weeks I was beginning to feel like I needed a fill. I could have eaten anything. Just not a large amount. I have had the experience of PB'ing when I have eaten too fast or something gets stuck. I cannot remember for the life of me what I ate Friday. But that night when I would just fall asleep, coughing would start and I would immediately uncontrollably have to grab something to catch it. I guess it is more like liquids. Anyway, that would go on all night. Saturday wasn't too much better except I realized that if I didn't lay down flat I didn't to the PB'ing. There never was a lot like when someone would vomit. Yuk. Sorry. I have finally been able to get some liquids down today. Yesterday I had a cream soup and jello and that worked. I guess I will go back to the week of liquids and see what happens. It was very scary. I felt that something must have happened to my band. Where I get my fills they do not have fluro. For my peace of mind, I may have to make a journey to OCC. P.S. I have 1.9cc in a 4cc band.

Congratulations!!!! This will just be another journey, just like it has been in getting to know the lapband. You will have to keep us all posted. You must be feeling such joy!

For the last two nights I have been throwing up about 20 minutes after I fall asleep. It continues all through the night. I was having trouble with things getting stuck in my throat (or so I thought) and thought that maybe it was acid reflux. I bought prilosec and it seemed to work for 4 or 5 nights. Yesterday and today I have not been hardly able to get liquids down without problems. I was banded Dec. 15th, 2009. by Dr. Ortiz. I have lost 74lbs to date. I must say that I am worried that something is majorly wrong. I live in a very rural area. My family doctor knows that I have the lapband, but he also said that he is not educated in this procedure. I have a very blocked feeling in my throat and a burning. I have had 3 fills since my surgery. The first fill was at the OCC, the last 2 have been with a nurse practioner in Lewiston, Idaho. They do not have fluro. I live in Enterprise, Oregon. What should I do? Is this something that I should come back to the OCC for? Is the surgery very expensive and/or can it be done at this time. I am very miserable and do not enjoy going to sleep. It seems that the minute I go to sleep I start throwing up and it last all through the night. I have been worried that this would cause my band to slip. I work full time and do not know what to do about this and the lack of sleep. I did not eat anything today because it is so miserable to do so. During the night last night I tried to drink chicken broth, but it too came up. I have experience the PB'ing. This is not that at all, at least I do not think so. Also, financially would this be as expensive to have it taken care of? Would it be available to me the same day if I flew down? Thank you so much for your help. I love my lap band. Sincerely, Anne Melville

When you said "we would end up in the situation that you were in" what were you saying about the situation? I have had quite a time of PB'ing for the last several weeks and I haven't even had a fill since April.

I too have experienced quite a bit of hair loss, most noticeable on top.

Sarah, CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! HOW EXCITING FOR YOU. BEING PREGNANT AND HAVING BABIES WERE SOME OF THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE. THE YEARS FLY BY, MAY YOU TAKE EACH DAY AND SAVOR THE MOMENTS WITH JOY! YOU WILL DO FINE WITH YOUR WEIGHT WITH ALL THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY LEARNED ABOUT EATING. DO NOT LET THE MENTAL HUNGER TAKE OVER AT THIS TIME. GOD BLESS, ANNE :lb21:

One other thing that I forgot to mention. Do not use this method so that you can eat more.

I don't know about you guys, but sometimes it is so therapeutic to read everyone's experiences. It brings a smile to the face just knowing that some of these odd things happening to us are normal (?) I had the experience of PB'ing on the way to get my hair done. That happened to be my first experience while driving and I hope the last in that situation. What a mess and embarrassment! I have never thought to carry baggies, but I sure will now. Where I get my fills, she told me to just go ahead and go to the bathroom and stick you finger down your throat when you are obviously stuck. She said you might as well get it over with. Just don't abuse this method.

For 2 or 3 weeks I too have really struggling. What am I saying! I have fallen off of the band wagon! Each morning I tell myself that today is a new day. If I have a protein bar, I later have another one. My servings are too big and I know it. Sunday I had 3 pieces of banana bread. On and on and on. I have done so well up to this point and like Valley Girl. I have thought just later am I going to fail at this too? Before I had my surgery, my sister said that she didn't know why I was having this done because nothing else has ever worked for me. I have lost my determination to conquer this. I have gained 5lbs in the last 2 weeks. YIKES!

Pammie, Thank you for the info on being banded after a length of time. I have also wondered about not being able to get a fill later on after losing all of the weight. Before getting banded one of my sisters who disapproved of what I was doing said "I don't know why you think this will work when nothing else has". Well I have lost a lot of weight, up and down, etc. Last week I was really in the binge mode, I gained 2lbs. I have been able to get back on track these last two days. Maybe I need another fill? I would appreciate all the info and input that you can give me. I was banded Dec. 15th, 2008 and to date have lost 66lbs. But it has definitely been a lot of discipline, is that maybe why I am having these week moments? Thanks, Anne PS. I know my tracker says I set out to lose 102lbs., but I really need to lose a total of aprox. 120lbs.

How exciting for you! You have some special years ahead to enjoy the new you! Way to go.

I am glad that you now have peace of mind. I understand though with what you are saying about your port. My port area hurts still when I lean to the left or reach for something to my left, having to bend down. I guess we are all going through a lot of the same things at different times. It sure helps when others post their issues so that we can be assured that we are not the only ones having fears. Way to go with your weight loss.

Nicole, If you don't mind me asking, how much did the prices go down. Does anyone know if the surgery prices have gone down. I would love to be able to help my daughter have this surgery. Thank you for any in put you may have.

Louise, I am glad that you have been to get through this time. After all of this with your studies and infection you have pulled through. I know that my weight loss looks good, but believe me when I say that I have really been struggling this last month. I sometimes think that my fill isn't where it should be but then if I eat like I should I can hardly get the meat down. I have really struggled with the sweets and desserts. They all go down so fine. So I have lapsed back to my old habits and need to make a change. My will power is weak and I need to get it back. This is such a journey and right now it is hard. You have been through the hard part and are now focussed on the positive. Keep it up. Anne

Thank you very much for the feed back. I appreciate all of you. By the way JHawk you look wonderful!

5-day pouch diet I keep forgetting to check the forum for an answer to a question. This time I decided to use it as a topic so that it won't get lost in the other subjects. I have heard it mentioned twice this last week. Please let me know if you would. Thanks, Anne

You are so beautiful. Way to go and many blessings on your future with the band.

Hey Jazzy, What is the 5 day pouch diet? I was so tight after my 3rd fill. I PB'd alot for about a week and had a horrible night cough. I saw on the chart that OCC sent on facebook that those were signs of being too tight. Everything is back to normal this week thank goodness. But I think that if I could I would like to shrink that little fickle pouch if I could. Anne

I live in Oregon, I am also a passport agent. Right now the turn around is aprox. 4 weeks. But as summer gets closer the waiting time gets longer. We are now being told to tell those applying 4-6 weeks. Just for the passport it is 100.00. To expedite (rush) it costs an additional $60.00, and to express mail, you include 14.85 in with the price of everything else on the check. Then 17.50 in a separate check to rush it there. With all of this they say 2-3 weeks. This is our latest update as of April 2009. I work at a Courthouse. And like Cleo says you do get your birth certificate back.

I have wondered why my chest would hurt when food gets stuck or takes a long time going down. Isn't our little pouch lower than our chest?

I am also very pleased with this topic. I had a fill last Friday. On Friday I could eat. I asked the nurse practioner about having liquids after the fill and she said that she didn't see any reason why I should (she has a band also). So I ate, everything was fine. That night I PB'd for the first time. I have PB'd several time since and I have also had a hard time taking my medication which I take twice a day. I honestly can not eat anything without it hurting. So I stop. I am also having difficulty getting liquids down. It has only been 6 days since my fill so I am trying to give it a little time. Before this I had been eating really healthy, but I am having a problem with hair loss. Yesterday I was driving to my hairdresser's and had a PB'ing eppisode while driving. Has anyone else experienced this. It comes on so fast. Thank you for any input.

Hi, I flew down for my surgery alone and did stay at the hotel the first night. OCC did come and pick me up the next morning and took several of us to the clinic. I did stay at the clinic that night. I did not see any sense in going back to the Hotel since I was alone. I also flew down for my 1st fill alone. I got on the airplane at 6:30am went to TJ and arrived back home at 8:00pm. (I was a bit crazy, I had a four hour drive to and from the airport.) I understand the nervousness part, but once you get down there you will be totally relieved by how coordinated everything is and how it just all flows smoothly. Good Luck

Did you stay down there for 3 days? Also curious, what did you do about the stitches and/or were there any?

Thank you for giving me the info on Joan. I really enjoy her. Going to her for my second time for my third fill. :-h