cutieKel

Don't give up Chelley,

I completely understand what you have been saying and you are definately not alone. When I get discouraged I too have to take a step back and understand that prior to the band, I gained and lost the same 15 lbs four times in one year. At least now, I am keeping those 15lbs off and have not gained them back!!!

I know that may only be a small bit of comfort but understand that the stress you are putting yourself through just might be the reason you are loosing you hair. We are all here for each other so please know that if you just need to vent there are people here that are willing to listen and understand

Kel

Kel, I'm in Murrieta. Where are you???? We must live close to eachother cuz I'm an hour and a half away too.

Jennifer

Hey Jennifer,

I am in San Juan Capistrano.

Hi Chelley,

We haven't heard from you in a little while. Just wondering how you are doing.

Kel

Chelley,

I am with you completely. Yesterday, I have signed up for Weight Watchers on line food tracking. This way I can see if the problem is what I am eating and not necessarily how much. I am determined to do this so I think if we all try to keep each other positive we will all succseed. Please keep us posted... Oh yeah, if you are going to exercise I would reccomend an MP3 player or an IPOD. I couldn't do it without it. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!

Kelli

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement it is really appreciated and just knowing that I am not alone really makes all the difference in the world.

At this point I seem to be eaing less then I was before and exercising I am doing my best to make good choices when it comes to my food. To my surprise, a salad for lunch will actually last two meals, who knew that was possible . I never drink with my meals, surprisingly that was easy for me and do not drink for an hour after meals. I will take your suggestion to try to eat vegies between meals and if I don't want it I must not be hungry.

Again thanks for the support. My family, although they are supportive, just don't really understand.

Hey Jenna its nice to see you on the board again. You always have such wisdom that us newbies could always use.

Thanks

Claire,

Thanks for the link with the examples of both bands. Thought it was really interesting to see.

Chelly I am sorry to hear that you are frustrated and I completely understand what you are going through.

I posted almost the same thing yesterday under a different thread. I feel your pain my friend. I am on my second fill and although I have not gained any weight back, I have not lost any more. My 12 lbs have stayed off which I guess is a blessing however, I see so many posts in which people have lost 40 lbs in 4 months and I wish that were me. I too wish I had not told people because I am getting the same responses as you.

However we both need to keep reminding ourselves that we didn't do this for anyone else but us. We owe it to ourselves to keep going and not give up!!!!! Have you talked to the Dr that is doing your fills now? I have noticed on lapbandtalk.com that there are quite a few people that have the VG band and their fills are as much as 7cc's before they really start loosing.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers

Kelli

I am hoping for some loving support. I am so frustrated I am not sure what to do. I was banded 4/13/06 to date I have lost a whoping 12lbs. I fluctuate between 12 and 15 lbs but don't go any lower than that. I know that my BMI was low to begin with being that it was at 33 and I am 5'5" and was 200lbs but I just see so many people loosing much faster and it just really makes me frustrated. I even have started running on the treadmill at the gym 3 days a week and have been doing this since May with no results. I guess the only good thing is that I can now run almost 2 miles....

Since my band was placed I have had 2 fills. The first fill was done on 5/31. With this fill I was given 2 cc's however when I went in for my second fill on 7/29, Dr Romano could only pull back 1.8 cc's. At that time he gave me a total of 2.4 cc's and I keep waiting for it to kick in but I just am not sure it is going to. I am going to call next week to schedule my third fill and hope that does the trick.

I know that I have invested a great amount of money and time into this process and I am not ready to give up I just wish it would really start working.

Any words of encourgement would be greatly appreciated

Kel

I purchase it at the health food store. If you have a Whole Foods or Henrys Market either one will have it.

Littleroo, there is no milk protien in it the protien is derived from egg whites. You shouldn't have a problem with it.

I have another protien drink for you to try. It is made by Jay Robb and is called Jay Robb's Egg White protien powder. It has 24 grams of protien per with no fat or carbs. It mixes great with crystal light.

I have found a wonderful protien powder that is made with egg whites and has no sugar and no carbs. It is Jay Robb Egg White protien powder. I mix it with crystal light and it is really good and because of the egg whites it even gets a little frothy.

Chelly,

Thank you so much for your quick and detailed response, it is really appreciated. Based on what you are describing, I don't believe I have hit my "sweet spot" but I am willing to keep going for fills until it is right. Fortunately for me, I live in CA and only 1 1/2 hours from Dr Ortiz's officc.

As far as head hunger.... that is of course an issue as food is definately a freind. But I keep working on it and do my best to just eat 3 meals a day and maybe one snack. That way I am sure not to listen to the dreaded head hunger.

Again thanks for the great posts we all love it

Kel

Hi Chelly,

I is always nice to hear your experiences. I have to ask, as I have had 2 fills in the regular band, what it is like. I am on my first week of my second fill and have not reached the "sweet spot" I can still eat much more than 1/2 cup or 3 or 4 oz of food.

I started out with a lower BMI and know that weight loss is going to be slow but I was banded on 4/13 and have lost 13lbs to date. I am getting really frustrated. I am planning on following in your footsteps and three weeks from now if I do not have restriction, I will go back. Just looking for the sweet spot.

Kel

I completely understand, the same thing happened to me. I ended up emailing Dr. Miranda and telling her. She gave me some suggestions. I would reccomend that you do that. However, giver her a day or so to respond. I found that if I copied Dr. Ortiz, she responded quicker. However, don't go off of the post op diet without her consultation.

Sylvia - Dr. Ortiz doesn't put any fill in the band until you are 6-8 weeks post-op. I have a band but no fill and now that the intial swelling of the surgical procedure has gone away, I can eat just like I did pre-band. The more I worry about my weight gain, the more I want to eat to comfort myself. It's a vicious cycle... and if I could control my emotional eating, well then I wouldn't need the band! Anyway, I am trying to be optomistic and I'm hoping my first fill goes well and I can have some restriction. My sister is still loosing weight and I'm so very proud of her. She has a smaller band than I do and has some mild restriction just from the band itself without a fill. She's also been taking L Caratine (sp?)- a supplement that assists in fat burning which was recommended to her by the nutritionist at Dr. Ortiz's clinic.

Chelley,

Can you tell us more about the L Caratine (sp?) Where can we get it and how is it taken. I was under the impression that we are not allow to take anything in pill format so I was just wondering if it was a powder.. I had my fill 5/30 and for the most part I am eating less have lost about 3 lbs but it is really, really slow going. I do have to keep telling myself that "slow and steady win the race" but that is sometimes hard. Anyway, love all of your updates and info and would appreciate more info on the supplement.

Thanks

Kel

Haven't had a fill in a long time and called to book Dr. Martinez and was told he doesn't do fills any more, there is a new person who does them. Who has had a fill lately, who did it in Dr. Ortiz's office and what did you think?

I had a fill on 5/30. It was performed by Dr. Romero. He was the doctor that sat at night when I had my surgery. He is so nice and gentle. I would not hesitate to see him again.

Hey Deb,

Yes quitting smoking is difficult however you can do it. I quit smoking about 1 1/2 years ago. I found that the easiest way for me to quit was to go on welbutrin (Zyban). This drug is a antidepressant and one of the side effects was smoking sessation. What I found was that it did not make me quit but it did take the edge off. I was only on it for 4 months until I knew that the smoking was definately over. I hope that helps and believe me both the decisions you are making will change you life forever.

kelli

I had my first fill a week ago (1.2cc). I have NO restriction.

Chelley,

I completely understand what you say as I was starting to deal with having to diet just before my fill, I had no restriction at all either. I had my first fill on Tuesday and received 2.0 cc. I have been on a liquid diet until today. What I have noticed is that when I got full on liquids (Starbucks) I got a sort of pain just under my collarbone on the left side almost in the spot where they put a pacemaker. It seems to happen every time and I am assuming that is my "softstop". I ate lunch today and had a small salad with chicken etc. and didn't really notice the pain but seemed to be somewhat satisfied when I was finished. Dr Romero said that I could go back in 6 weeks if the fill was not enough. I am really hoping for the best however.

Hope that helps

Kelli

Hi Jas,

Glad to hear that you made the drive home ok and that your husband and kids are helping you out.

Ok well yesterday was my 22 day post op and as you all know, that is the day we are supposed to start eating solids. I must say although it was exciting not to have to drink my meals I was some what apprehensive and was not sure what to expect. I have to say that everything went down just fine. I had oatmeal for breakfast, tuna salad with a tomatoe for lunch and ground taco meat with a salad for dinner. I am not sure exactly what full feels like, it is like stoping when you are satisified. Sort of weird..... I was trying to explain it to my family and they looked at me like I had extra heads..oh well.

I must say that I am completely freaked out about PBing so I am going to do what ever I can to avoid it. If that means I need to stop before I am full then that is what I will do.

There were others done on the same day as me. How have your experiences been?

Kelli

where did you find these shakes? Slim fast Optima?

WalMart sells the Slim Fast Optima. I used them too and they were actually good tasting.

I have a question for the women out there. Were you allowed to wear a bra after your surgery. I mean, right after, like on the way back to the hotel. I need to pack some appropriate shirts if I am to be FREE!!! LOL

Jen

Hey Jen,

I did not have a problem wearing a bra the day after surgery. There was an incision that was on the top part of my stomach but my bra did not rub it at all. I also brought a sports bra just in case but didn't need it. Hope that helps.

Kel

Hi - I just had my surgery Thursday morning and this afternoon I was able to have albondigas soup if I mashed the meatballs into mush. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? How do you know when you are feeling mental hunger versus actual hunger. I have spent so long just eating because that now I am worried I will continue that bad pattern. Is this normal?

Libratgrgirl, I had surgery on 4/13 and I know exactly what you are talking about. Knowing the difference between mental hunger and physical hunger is something that we all have to learn. I know that I was not really hungry for the first 5 to 6 days. Don't get me wrong, food sounded good but if I had some gatorade the feeling would go away. The one thing I noticed the first week, was that I don't think I had ever really been hungry so it was difficult to determine what that meant. I would reccomend to you that you follow your doctors orders. If you are allowed to have mushed up food then do. As for me, Dr. Ortiz's nutritionist only allowed clear fluids for the first 7 days and then added yogurt and protien drinks and soup with no chunks after that. Keep up the good work and a little hunger now will only be temporary.

Kellli

Hey Cutiekel, I see you are viewing post. I also see that you were banded recently. I am considering being banded and was wonder how you are feeling and if you can tell me the good and the bad of your experiences?????

Hi There Sony, I was banded on 4/13 and to be completely honest, at this point I have not had any bad experiences -- only good. I was banded on a Thursday and since I live only 1 1/2 hours from TJ, I opted to go home after my stay at the surgical center instead of staying an additional day at the hotel. The new surgical center is beautiful and they give superior care!! I went back to work the following Monday and with the exception of some pain below my port incision but nothing horrific and it gets better every day. I was not hungry for the first week and right about the time I was getting so hungry I could not sleep, I could add yogurt .

I researched this quite a bit prior to going to see Dr Ortiz, I bought his book and let my family read it as well. There was great information in it. Since I have a lower BMI --33, there are few doctors that would do it here in CA however, I did find one that would but he was charging twice as much and had 1/10th the experience as Dr. Ortiz.

There is not one day that I have regretted my choice and would do it again in a hot second. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

Kelli

I was banded last week in Tijuana by Dr. Ortiz. More or less I feel okay... however I feel very hungry and some pain (I guess from the gas). I immediately assumed that my "hunger" was mental, but I can hear my stomach growling and feeling hunger pangs, plus I have been on plenty of crash diets where I fasted from 3-5 days, or took some version of Phen and didn't eat ANYTHING all day and didn't feel as hungry as I have since the surgery.

I am hoping that it will start to subside when I transition to full liquids later this week. We'll see. I am optimistic.

The worst part so far though is that I have managed (somehow) to catch a cold and can't stop sneezing OOOUUCCHHH!!!!!

I'll keep checking in and posting my progress, but like I said I am an optimistic person, and I believe that this LAP-BAND must work, or else people wouldn't be having the type of success, and others wouldn't be traveling in droves and paying such costs to follow in their foot steps if it didn't work.

So to everyone out there - keep your chins up!

Hey Crash,

I was banded on 4/13 and completely understand when you talk about feeling hungry. At about day 5, my hunger was so bad that by the evening I was doubled over from hunger pangs which only exacerbated the gas pain and I could not even sleep. I emailed Dr Miranda telling her my situation and she responded the very next day letting me know I could eat 3 yogurts a day. If it gets really bad you might want to contact her. It made all the difference in the world. The next night, I had a yogurt around 7:30 and slept like a baby.

Sorry to hear about your cold, that is really unfortunate.