LaurenLeigh

Thanks for all the support! By the time my husband got home tonight, I was through the panic, so I didn't go to the urgent care. I think I've decided to give it a couple of weeks and see if I can't work through these things with meditation and relaxation techniques. I have an appointment with my doc in two weeks, so I'm giving myself until then to try this method. I have been on klonopin for about a month and it really helped, but as soon as I ran out they were back again. I don't want to be so dependent on the medication, rather I want to TRY not to be. Plus the urgent care that gave me the prescription wanted me to come back in in order to get a refill and that costs me more than my regular doc. Life is just super stressful right now, I'm in the process of making plans to leave my husband... my house is just a stressful place for me right now. I'm excited about the future and I always feel and sleep much better when I'm not at home (like visiting my parents) so I know that in a few months when I finally get out of here things will get better for me. I know he's going to say I left him because I got skinny from a surgery that HE paid for, so that stresses me out big-time! He has addiction problems, but it'll still be all my fault. I think losing the weight is just giving me the courage to want things to be better for me and my kids. I didn't feel like I deserved better when I was bigger. Sorry, I seem to be using this as a therapy session! Lol. Thanks for listening!

I have recently started having symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Insomnia and awaking in the night to feel like I couldn't breath and that my heart was pounding. Then it started happening when I was awake, it feels like a cinder-block sitting on my chest. At first I thought I was having actual heart problems. I went to an urgent care facility and they did all the standard tests and my heart is fine apparently. (It would be a kicker to lose 55 pounds and THEN start to have heart problems...) So the doc said basically that it's most likely anxiety. Things are really stressful in my marriage and personal life right now. These are things I would have normally dealt with by eating. Man, food can be soooo relaxing for me. The panicky symptoms started about two months ago and the funny part is, that is when I started getting really serious about exercising and not "cheating" with my band. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has had these kind of reactions to not being able to self medicate with food? (you'll have to excuse the strangeness of this post as I'm in the middle of an anxiety episode right now, so I'm kind of all over the place. I'm waiting for my husband to get home so I can head to the doc for more anxiety meds) Thanks, Lauren

Hi, Lauren the emotional eater here! Lol. I was banded at the end of August and I still struggle with emotional eating. I too have been thinking about counseling. I have lost weight, so that is good, but I still have all the same emotions and food issues I had before surgery. And I still think about food a lot, though probably not quite as much as before. It's definitely NOT a cure for those issues. Sounds like we are all in the same boat! Now just to keep this damn thing from sinking.... lol #-o ~Lauren

0 Wow, this is REALLY exciting! I can't wait to see the show! I've been watching Oprah since I was a chubby 12 year old latch-key-kid and have watched her weight go up and down for the past 20 some odd years. She has inspired me many times to lose weight but unfortunately like her (and so many others), my weight has yo-yo'd as well. I respect Oprah and I had a wonderful experience at OCC and I really think (and hope) she will do it justice. We know Cassie is a success story, so it would be tough to argue with that! Good luck Cassie, or rather break a leg! =D> ~Lauren

Thanks, ladies. I have been doing mostly slimfasts and a few very soft noodle soups for two days now and I haven't pb'd at all, so that is good. I did have some salad last night, though, but didn't have a problem with it. I think you are absolutely right Clynn, I think I irritated my stomach. I think I was taking for granted that I needed a fill, so I wasn't feeling like I needed to chew-chew-chew, so I was pb-ing a lot which made me irritate my stomach. I really need to slow down when I eat, even if I do need a fill. It's so hard with two little kids. Every meal time is like this- eat two bites, get up and get something for someone, eat three bites, get up and clean up a spill, eat two bites, get up to get someone seconds, eat one bite and pb. That's dinner at my house. Then finally when everyone else is finished I eat my cold food. Dinner is VERY stressful for me. And on the weekends every meal is like that.

Hi guys, I haven't been on here in a while because I've been pretty discouraged with my band. I had my first fill on Oct 6 and since then my weight loss has dwindled down to about a pound a month. I can't afford to get another fill until Feb, so I had just kind of put the whole thing out of my mind until then. Well, suddenly two days ago I guess my band tightened, and suddenly I can hardly eat anything without pb-ing every time! Everything is getting stuck! Can a band just tighten up on it's own like this all of a sudden three months after a fill? *history* My fill was an aggressive 2.4cc's in a 4cc band, the first month I lost about 14 pounds, and I've lost just 2 pounds since then. So I know the problem is that I am not used to chewing well, because up until now I haven't had to. I'm eating the same type foods as I have since the fill as well. For two months I have been telling my husband how I need a fill, and now he is asking me how can I need a fill if I am constantly running to the bathroom to choke up my food? I really don't have an answer for him! I guess I just need to adjust my chewing and see how things go? I could really use some advice! Thanks, Lauren :-?

I gained 5 pounds when I went on solids too. It's disappointing, I know. I pretty much went back to my old way of eating and decided to "start fresh" when I got my fill. I didn't feel like struggling and getting down on myself. I got my first fill three weeks ago and have lost 10 pounds, so don't worry. "Your band just isn't working yet." That's what someone told me when I came on here with your EXACT same post, lol, it made me feel better. You need this time to heal and the band is not meant to work until it is filled. I know it's so hard and discouraging, but just try not to weigh yourself, get enough protein, and focus on healing. Good luck and hang in there, we've ALL been where you are! Take care, Lauren

I drink wine all the time (not literally! lol) and have no problems. Red wine has fewer calories than white wine and some of the fruity flavored wines have carbonation in them too. I've also had Bloody Marys (vodka and tomato juice, basically) several times, those are yummy. That way I was having my veggies too! My surgery was just at the end of August, so I'm still too afraid to try beer or anything with carbonation. Have fun! ~Lauren

A lot of people gain weight when they go back on solids. It's very normal. I gained 5 pounds before my first fill, but lost 9 pounds in the three weeks since. Hang in there!

You sounds like me, Judy! The chew it up and spit it out thing gave me relief several times when my will-power was weak!

I'm glad you feel better Kimmizing, even if they are charging you out the wazoo! Keep us up on how you are feeling... Kathy, sounds like you know what you are supposed to do. That's great! I'm right there with you, I was hoping to be the exception! Lol. Oh well, reality has set in for me and I've decided to do the work. I'm SO much less hungry than I've ever been on any fad diet, so that makes it a lot easier, but I still have to make good choices. One thing for certain, drinking with a meal makes all the difference in the world. I tried it the other day and the food went right through. I felt like a cheater and I don't like feeling that way. Yep, I gotta follow the rules! Good luck and let us know how you are doing! ~Lauren

I can't stress enough, please don't cheat! I know the food is irresistible. That's why we are in this position we are all in, that darn delicious food. But the guilt you have now from cheating will be a thousand times worse if you cause your band to slip. You will have put yourself through surgery for nothing and wasted a great opportunity to change your life for the better. I heard Oprah say once, "As great as that food tastes, isn't nearly as great as it feels to be thin." I remind myself of that periodically. I want to know what thin feels like, it sure sounds pretty great!!! Please follow the doctor's directions, he has a good reason for giving them, he wants you to succeed! And so do we! > Good luck, tomorrow is a fresh new day! ~Lauren

I'd second that. Did they use fluoroscopy during your fill? Sounds like you may be just a tiny bit too tight, especially if a liquid like coffee is barely going down. Maybe just a tiny unfill is in order. Good luck! ~Lauren

Thanks guys! I'll try the chewables. I really feel like I should be taking a vitamin because I'm eating so little and I've had a few dizzy spells. The liquid centrum is literally the grossest thing I've ever tasted in my life, and I'm not a picky person! Lol. Thanks again, ~Lauren

I am really low on energy right now too. I think it's due to lack of food, because even after three cups of strong coffee, still no energy. I keep checking to make sure I didn't buy decaf on accident! Liquid vitamins = total nastiness, I have to agree with you there! lol. I've had a few things get stuck. Like you said it's usually due to not chewing properly, mine's usually just at dinner. I'm trying to eat slowly and chew and enjoy, but with two little kids meal times are usually very stressful. I usually have to get up three times per meal per child for something. That get's frustrating when you are trying to remain calm and enjoy a meal! "Mommy, I need this and Mommy, I need that!" So at some point I inhale a bite and it gets stuck. Lol. Let me know how you are doing! Take care, Lauren

Does anyone have a suggestion of a decent tasting vitamin? I bought liquid vitamins and they are so foul tasting/smelling that it makes me gag. If I buy children's chewables, besides the fact that they aren't geared towards adult needs, my kids will want them and how can I say no to a cute kid asking for a vitamin? Lol. I think there may be adult chewables, but I don't want to waste the money and them taste bad too. I already wasted 10 smackers on the liquid vitamins. Thanks, ~Lauren

Okay Phatboy, take a deep breath and relax. Now stop cheating!!!! Lol. I know it's so hard, I just went through it myself. It doesn't sound like you've messed up your band, but you shouldn't push it. Your stomach needs time to heal with your band in the correct place, so stop sabotaging yourself and think of how sad you will be if your band does slip. Trust me, if I can make it through the liquid stage (even if I WAS cranky and white-knuckling it the whole time!), then anyone can. I know everyone says that, but in my case it's true. I'm the most self-indulgent person alive! My thought process was always that I wanted to be happy for today, because I could die tomorrow, and food was what made me feel happy. Well, the way I was eating, eventually "I could die tomorrow" was fast becoming a possibility. I started having heart palpitations at 27 years old. It was a slow suicide for me. Don't sabotage yourself. Just get through the liquid stage. You CAN do it. You can. Now I'm SO glad I've made it through that stage, and you will too. I'm ready to start being proud of myself for a change. Be proud that you made the decision to get healthy and do your best to see it through. You don't want to lose your band. You can go on YouTube and watch video journals of people who lost their bands. You don't want to be one of them if you can avoid it. Good luck, you CAN do it! Hugs! > > > ~Lauren (sorry if I sounded harsh, I wasn't trying to be...) Oh, and you know what I used to do while on liquids? If I was DYING for a bite of something, I would chew it up and spit it out. That's gross I know, but I found that the food usually didn't taste as wonderful as I'd built it up to be in my mind... and I didn't have the guilt that came with ingesting it.

How are you doing Sue? I've lost 6 pounds since my fill last weekend! I don't even know how that's possible, but I'll take it! Yesterday I got dizzy, I think due to lack of food, but I'm going to try to take my liquid vitamins every day or so. The problem is that they taste really bad... Let us know how you are doing! ~Lauren

OMG! How horrible! I'm so sorry that your fill went so bad! I had mine last weekend by a Fill Center doc (I think she was actually a nurse practicioner), but she used fluoro and it went well. I think fluoro seems to be the difference in a lot of the stories I hear the don't seem to go well. You should make that doctor's office honor what they told you about the fill being good for two weeks. I certainly would try. Especially when they are doing it blindly! Let us know how it goes and good luck! ~Lauren

Men lose weight MUCH easier than women. My husband can drop 5 pounds in 5 days no problem, and he doesn't even have a band! PLEASE don't compare yourself to your boyfriend. Everyone is different, especially men and women. You should scold him for eating all that bad stuff before he's supposed to anyway, lol. Good luck! ~Lauren

Different docs have different rules. Dr. Ortiz IS clear liquids for like the first 6 days. Sorry, Snowbird! Lol.

Congrats on your first fill, Mikey! I had mine this past Saturday. I am feeling restriction finally!!! Yahoo!!! Lol. Let us know how it goes with the solids. Take care! ~Lauren

Shanny, I had my surgery August 20th and everything went really well. I was skeptical when my husband first suggested me going to Mexico for the surgery, rather than paying the $20k the doc here wanted. I thought to myself, "He is willing to throw me under the bus in order to save a few bucks!" Well, of course after I started researching I couldn't find anything negative about Dr. Ortiz online. I Googled "Dr. Ortiz horror stories" and "Dr. Ortiz reviews" just to name a couple and I couldn't come up with anything but glowing positives. So I decided to go for it. Everything was just as everyone on here had said all along. Dr. Ortiz and his staff were awesome. Everything was clean and nice and went as smoothly as I could have hoped for. The next day I was walking around Tijuana with my husband doing some shopping. I didn't believe I would be able to do that so soon after, even though I heard folks on here saying so. I was worried about being out of the country and what if something happened to me? But it was fine, and all the terrible scenarios that had played through my mind of what might happen to me if I dared leave my safe little life and take a risk for a healthier future were quickly set aside when I got to Mexico and saw what a smooth operation (no pun intended) Dr. Ortiz is running. Good luck with your decision! Take care, ~Lauren

Hi Sue! Glad to hear your fill went well! Mine was fine too. She put in 2.4 cc's. Hopefully that will give me some good restriction. I've been eating mushy food today with no problem, which worries me. I'm looking forward to seeing how I react to solids. While waiting at the Fill Center doc I met a couple of women who'd had their surgery from Dr. Ortiz too, so that was cool. Let me know how you do with your fill! Take care, ~Lauren

Kimberly, you are doing awesome, AWESOME! I just had my first fill this weekend, and if I can lose what you've lost in a similar amount of time I will be THRILLED! Be happy for yourself, at this rate you'll be down a whole 100 pounds at the one year anniversary of your surgery. I'd say that falls into the category of FANTASTIC! Keep your chin up! > ~Lauren