dreamhappy07

Well, I really want another fill, but at times I know I have some serious restriction. It's at the oddest times though, like when I have been sedentary and dozed off in a chair(usually on the weekends when I get up too early), I wake up hungry and grab a cracker or something and it gets stuck. Not nice, but most of the time I feel no restriction to most foods except in the morning. I want an aggressive fill this time, but I know that can be a bad thing for me and my band. I have never thrown up yet, but have PB'd several times. yuck! Very soon, I need to have a fill with fluoro since I am past my 1 year bandiversary. Right now I am avoiding the scale because my weight is fluctuating up and down because of my swelling and just being on a darn plateau. grrr! Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated. Peace, Judy

Hey all, So much info on thinning hair, etc. Thanks so much! I would rather use a special shampoo than take another pill to healthy up my thinning, fine hair. I know part of my problem is hormonal because I have low growth hormone from a damaged pituitary gland after having two pituitary tumors removed since 2001. Also having gamma knife radiation in '05 didn't help and now losing 90lbs has taken a toll on my hair. I finally chopped it off to give it a lift and it looks good, but stiff fine and thin(frizzy) on top. I was taking shots every night of growth hormone before surgery and shortly after had to stop because it flared up my fibromyalgia really bad. Doing much better now, but still taking several meds every day. I do remember seeing a shampoo with Biotin on the bottle, but can't remember what kind it was. What about Pantene? Is that a good shampoo to use? They say it is, but it's spendy and sometimes it can have the opposite effects on your hair. Take care everyone and have a great week! Judy

Oh wow! I am so excited for something like this to look forward to! I would love to go to Las Vegas because it is such a happening town and I have never been there except on a family vacation when I was 16! Yeah, no gambling, no fun and it was like 107degrees! UGH! I really think it would be a really huge success. Plus, I was thinking about the Drs. and staff being busy because of surgeries and all. Not sure when the busiest time of year it is for them but I guess whatever can be planned would be totally fun! Now just to plan now and get a 3rd fill and lose a bunch more weigh and so on and etc. LOL Thanks so much everyone for working on getting bandsters together. Peace, Judy

I used to adore Muscle milk shakes, but found out I cannot tolerate the soy protein in them. So, I drink whey protein shakes every once in awhile. Never tried the pudding, but sure they are made the same. I love Snack pack SF puddings...very thick and rich in chocolate. yum! Michelle, those shake/puddings you posted about sound wonderful, but when I read how much sodium they have in them for one serving, I was bummed. Also, the Sly Stallone puddings sound good too, but again the sodium is high. I did notice that they have potassium too so maybe they balance each out? lol May try them if they don't have soy protein. Judy

Once I was allowed creamy soups and protein shakes, I got these absolutely delicious Healthy Choice fudgesicles from Costco. They even had protein in them and were very good and healthy. That was the best treat and very satisfying for mental hunger without the guilt. Peace, Judy

Hi, Since banding, I have not needed my Prevacid anymore for GERD(except for a couple tums twice), but I take Metformin to keep my insulin levels good until my next bloodwork(so far so good), elavil for fibromyalgia(which has gotten better, so less pain meds(Lortab)), and Estradiol(estrogen hormone). Not sure if my Fibro will ever get better, but it(the pain) has been helped with my weight loss for sure. I have no idea if any of these meds are preventing me from losing regularly, but ya gotta blame something, right? LOL Peace, Judy

Just to put my two cents in...I have received 2 fills through a fill doc here locally. She does not have flouro, but is excellent in giving fills. My first fill I thought was going to be 4cc since I have the VG band. From what I have read, that is the normal first fill amount for the VG band. Well, she started with 4cc in the syringe and put it in and had me take swallows of water and listened for me to let her know where it was going and so on. Well, after several sips, I ended up with a first fill of 3.2cc. I was kinda bummed, but happy to have some restriction again. I also read that at OCC, they give VG band patients 4c on their first fill and less if you have a smaller band. This was some time ago that I read this, so not sure if the rules changed on that or not. My second fill was also with the same doc and I was hoping to get at least 1.8cc, but ended up with 1.5cc. I think on my 3rd fill, I will ask for a more aggressive fill because my weight loss has slowed way down and I want to reach that 100lb. mark within the next couple months. Some day I want to go to OCC for hopefully that last "sweet spot" fill under flouro. But financially it isn't gonna happen just yet. Hopefully this year, but just don't know. Good luck and best wishes on your weight loss journey! Peace, Judy

I weigh myself maybe once or twice a month, but only if I feel lighter. With the swelling I have been having in my feet and legs for the past week, I have avoided the scale like the plague. #-o I've been feeling so fat and bloated that I don't even think about weighing myself because I know full well that with the extra fluid(lymph fluid, not water), the scale will show it and then I get disappointed and discouraged. I would like a good aggressive fill soon, but maybe not until around my birthday next month. Peace, Judy

Hi all, Just thought I would post about my everchanging body which right now is not the greatest feeling. We have had a mini heat wave the last several days and I thought for sure my lymphedema swelling would behave since losing 90lbs. Well, I stay away from the scale now because my swelling came back pretty bad in my legs, feet and ankles when it started getting really hot. I am so bummed because my shoes are tight and my legs hurt some. Dr. Ortiz and I agreed that my swelling would go away when I dropped a bunch of weight. Well, it did until it got hot again. Wednesday is my 1 year bandiversary and I am happy as to how much I lost so far, but right now, not so much. I have been thinking if I got a 3rd fill soon, if that would help, but I still have restriction but not so much as I should. I have been drinking alot of water and fluids and trying to watch my salt intake as well. Hmmm...not sure what else to do. Also, I wanted to ask anyone who takes a vitamin everday(like chewable and inexpensive), if it is helping with their hair growth and strength as mine is so thin on top and frizzy. LOL Take care all, Judy

Hi Monet. Congrats on being tight and also being able to live with it and not getting into trouble. I have NEVER thrown up yet and don't EVER want to! Got super close once, but was able to get control and not do it. I think I need a third fill also, but am not sure since I still have restriction in the early mornings. I don't try to eat too early, but when I do it's usually something not good for me. I am still stuck in that goodie with my morning coffee mode. Need to really get to the point of NOT being hungry so I don't eat at all in the morning and maybe just have coffee or a protein shake. Yeah, I need another fill. I think I just anwered my own question. LOL I am participating in my friends wedding this saturday and we started having a mini heat wave in the high 80's and 90's and my swelling in my feet and legs came back and I feel so fat again. HATE hot weather because of this reason. Dr. Ortiz told me my swelling would go away when I dropped weight, but this was the test, so not happy right now. :lb12: Take care, Judy

Thank you very much! I am happy most of the time...some days wish it was more and some I feel like I haven't lost that much at all. But, I do see it in the mirror for sure! lol

Thank you Jena. Feels good, but still have a long way to go. Probably won't make my goal of 100 by my bandiversary, but happy so far. Judy

Hi, I realized that still having and wearing your big clothes can be nice but at times a pain for sure. You know you are swimming in most of them, but you either feel comfortable or annoyed because, like me, for instance, I had brand new tank tops or pants in my closet for so long, that when I knew I could finally wear them, they were HUGE on me. I hadn't worn some of them because of their snugness on me and so there they sat. It's so great being able to wear what used to be snug clothes and finding they are looser or now way too big, but they are comfortable for now so I wear them occasionally. I have also gotten some new clothes and a jacket early on, but still in a big size. Now I am getting really bummed because I know I am still going to and am shrinking more. The jacket I am really swimming in now, and the newer tops are really too big. When I got them, I just didn't trust the sizing of the clothes yet. I also didn't realize how much my body shrunk. Yeah, it's great, but I still have those big feeling days. Best wishes on continued success and congrats on the shrinking bod too. Peace, Judy

Hi Cathy, If food gets stuck then stop eating right away and of course you already know not to try to "wash" it down. Usually walking around and like I did(flap my arms), helps to let things settle. lol If it is really stuck like you didn't pay attention to the warning signs, then you will probably slime(constantly need to spit), or end up throwing up. I usually know now the warning signs when food starts to struggle going down. The last time I got food stuck, I ignored that sign and kept trying to eat because I was so hungry. I forced myself NOT to throw up, but I will NEVER forget the misery I went through to do that. It was really hard and so miserable. UGH! It was so awful and I was in the car with a friend on our way to see a wedding dress seamstress. I was fine by the time we got there, but it was so bad. I scared my friend really bad too. Take care and I hope you never have any problems with your band. Peace, Judy

Thanks for the suggestions. I just recently had bloodwork done and all tests for liver, kidneys, etc were great! I had my gall bladder out 10 yrs ago. The pain is in my upper left side. Those things are right side. LOL Take care. Judy

Hey all, I had a sudden nagging sharp pain on my upper left side. Nowhere near the port or stomach so not sure if it is band related. It started yesterday afternoon. I haven't eaten or drank anything strange, but seriously don't think it is band or gas related. When it starts, it is sharp and then mellows down to an ache. Just can't figure it out. I have had regular bm's and drink alot of fluids. I really don't want to go to the doctor, cuz more than likely it's not going to be there when I get to the office...LOL That is usually the way it goes. I just had blood work done and all is great! Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Peace, Judy

Thanks so much! I will definitely try a couple of those tips cuz I seem to plateau alot lately. LOL Judy

Hi Cathy, Congrats on your band date! If you get something stuck and take a sip of water, you will be sorry. It will be painful and you will most likely throw it up. If anything get stuck, then your saliva from possibly PBing or sliming is what I usually have gotten, will either make it go down or make it worse. I have run around and flapped my arms and just kept moving to get it do settle down. It is a horrible feeling...trust me. I have never thrown up yet...came seriously close, but I talked my body out of it to protect my band. Not sure if that was a good thing or not, but I am fine now. Take care, Judy

Hey all, Sorry to hear that you are uncomfortable or ashamed of letting the air flow. Of course it isn't polite in public, but in your own house it should be ok. Your body is adjusting and healing from surgery and changes in your diet, etc. As long as you aren't messing yourself, and feel the release of pressure building up, then let'em fly. It might just be me, but if I have pressure inside me and it has to come out, I don't care how. As long as it keep me feeling less bloated or tight inside. If I know they will be smelly, then I try to head for the bathroom or a corner somewhere with a can of air freshener in hand...LOL Or, sit in a chair(like at work sometimes), and when the pressure builds, I lean forward and let it go. Peace, Judy

I always knew that drinking with eating is a BAD thing to do. Even though in the past you are told about washing down that food with something isn't a good thing anymore. If you have had a good meal, know you are full, and try to drink, then you could feel a pain in your chest like a golfball getting stuck and that should tell you, you have had enough to eat and there is no more room for anything else. All you will get is discomfort. I went to the beach last weekend and we stopped at a fun restaurant for a late lunch. I ordered my food which I knew was mostly coming home with me and my mom and brother looked at me and asked what I wanted to drink. I said, really fast, that I can't drink anything with food. Sure I got looks, but they gave me a large water anyway. Never touched it and my brother drank it later...LOL Yes, I have had meals several times that leaves me VERY thirsty afterwards, but I hang in there or just get my tongue wet and I make it ok within 45min. to an hour after. Then I chug that water...well as much as I can anyway. Hate that feeling so I really try not to eat foods that will do that to me. My friends even say, "how can you not drink with meals?" I tell them I have trained myself and I know that rule will always be with me. I can drink in between as much as I want. It's not hard anymore. Take care all. Judy

I had and still have the same problem with hiccups. It is extra air getting in and also eating too much. My band tells me that. I ate too much and it hiccups to settle things down. I don't PB or anything when that happens, but it is a reminder that I waited too long to eat and ate too fast. I DO always chew, chew, chew, but if I eat too much or too fast, my band gives me a kick in the diaphragm. LOL Take care and listen to your friend for life! Peace, Judy

Hi Michelle, You are so beautiful! Much congrats on your weight loss so far! I checked out some of your pics on Myspace(thanks for the add btw), and you say your goal is to lose 100 lbs this year? Hun, you will fly away on a little gust of wind if you lost that much. LOL You don't look like you need to lose all that. Wow! Seems like you are already close to a skinny mini gal now. Peace, Judy

I totally hear ya on the boob part. Mine have disappeared!!! They are just saggy blobs of skin that hang now and FLAT! LOL There is no mass to them at all. They totally de-flated! For my height and size, I should be wearing at least a C cup, but what you see is a B!!! My friend cannot believe it either. Too funny. I guess that is the first thing to go. Sorry to be so graphic for the men here, but if any one of us - men or women had some kind of boobs going on in our heaviest weight stage, it is a noticable problem....well unless you pumped it up at the gym or whatever. HAHAHAHAHA!!! Peace, Judy

Awesome! I am so excited for you since that is my bandiversary! LOL You will do great and have a great time! The time of year is perfect there. Not too hot or cold at night. Good luck and take care! Peace, Judy

Hmmm...good to know. Thanks Dolittle!