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

I am So excited!

But I am a little worried about what she will say about the surgery

I know she is a big believer of natural weight loss

but hopefully I can help open her eyes

this is a beautiful thing!

Thanks so much OCC

Cassie

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 :-?

Hi everyone... thought that I would try and get some info to maybe help me out here. I was banded oct 4th and was doing real good,,between,the pre-op diet and after surgery I lost 23ilbs total. Now that I went back on solid food and being carefull what I'm eaing [cause I don't go for my fill till nov19th],,I put on 5lbs. this makes me soooooooooo upset that I'm scared to death to eat at all. Is this normal? Can anyone give some tips how to eat with this thing till I get my fill,,,,please help ( I don't really want to throw in the towel and don't want to feel like a failure.

terbear

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

Hi Kym,

Thanks for the suggestions.I will try rum and diet coke and see what happens.I haven't tried drinking any soda since my surgeryI've been so afraid.I was wondering, would wine be okay to have?

I know i need to avoid anything with a ton of sugar and calories.

Have a nice day:-)

Valerie

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

I had surgery on September 25, and so far have lost between 19 and 24 pounds depending on the day. I know this is a lot and I am very excited, but I am getting discouraged at the same time. I seem to lose 2 pounds here and gain 2 pounds there. In the last two days I have gained 4 pounds. I just started eating last Thursday, and stuck to the liquid diet pretty faithfully. Unfortunately since starting back on solids, I am trying to watch my portions and the quality of food I am eating, but still can't seem to continue to drop consistantly. I know that until I have my first fill, which I might add isn't going to be for another 2 or 3 weeks, I will probably gain some of the weight back, but I have been so encouraged by my weight loss so far, I feel I will be failing until I start losing again. I also have come to the realization that I really don't have any or much restriction, though at some times I do. Up to this point I have thankfully only PB'ed once and it was not very bad, but this morning I ate a hard boiled egg and thought I was going to die....won't make that mistake again. That was this morning, but yesterday I felt I could have eaten a house as hungry as I was, so I finally gave in and ate a hand full of chips, but got right back on track after that eating healthier food. Then to my disappointment I had gained 2 pounds when I got on the scales this morning. I am really starting to obsess about what goes into my mouth and getting on the scales each morning....#-o Any encouragement or advise would be greatly appreciated.

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!

I sooo feel for you all. But, if I can make it, like Lauren said, anyone can! Especially if waiting to catch the plane home and right next to our gate was a Starbucks and Pizza Hut next to each other and being able to talk myself out of a frappacino(liquid), then anyone can survive it. I adore Starbucks! It was so hard.

I WILL say this though...I got to a point about the second week where I was so starved and having a full blown pity party, that I saw something so good(can't remember what it was), that I chewed it while leaning over the garbage can and spit it out. Not everyone likes that idea, but it helped more than once. ; ) I did not make a habit of doing that. Only when I was so hungry I couldn't stand it. Once, I almost passed out when I accidentally swallowed some really moist chicken. I was so freaked out that I started shaking and was so scared I was going to PB or throw up or something. Nothing happened, but that fear was enough to stop taking chances and behave and take care and listen to my band.

I have never PB'd or vomited yet, and don't plan to. I feel very in tune with my band. Right now I am in serious need of another fill. It's that time of year where weakness to certain foods is getting too easy to eat....if ya know what i mean. LOL

Take care and take care of your band.

Peace,

Judy

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 had my first fill on 10/6. I notice a difference but only slightly. It is weird because some days I feel like I can't eat anything and other days it is no problem.

I guess it is finally sinking in what everyone has been saying. It is only a tool not the total solution. DARN! I was hoping I would be the exception and I wouldn't have to do anything. I guess it is time to take things into my own hands. I am going to shoot for 2 pounds a week by really listening to my band and stopping when I am no longer hungry! I am also going to eat the protein first and not drink with meals. We shall see. This isn't as easy as I hoped it would be. But I WILL NOT waste my $8,500.00. My family made a tremendous sacrafice for me. I need to make it worth it.

Starting weight 240

Pre-Liquid Diet 233

Pre-Op 220

1 Week Post Op 217

First Fill 222

Today 220

Next Monday 218

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

What size band do you have? I'd call the doctors office and get some advice right away.

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

Hey Lauren...I'm so happy for you...loosing 6 pounds since last Saturday...WOW...I have only lost 2 pounds but I can feel the restriction and know that it is working. As you can see from my post to Suzanne, I've had some trouble with food getting stuck, it is very painful. Have you experienced this? I bought those liquid vitamins right after the surgery and was able to take them twice...I just can't seem to make myself continue to take it because it tastes so terrible and makes me feel like I'm going to vomit it up. I'm just gonna try to eat vegetables cooked real mushy and I drink V-8. It is a darn shame that I can't stomach those vitamins because they weren't cheap to buy...Are you feeling like you have a little more energy? At this point I don't have tha much more energy, but with me, from past experience the anestesia seems to take months to work out of my system so I'm blaming it on that right now Keep me posted on your journey and I wish you all good things.

Take Care....Sue =D>

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

i was banded a week ago and i followed the clear liquid stage but when it was time to go to pureed foods i skipped to mushy foods like very runny mashed potatoes and i just had mac & cheese with zero restriction, no pain or anything. I am feeling very guilty about cheating and am afraid i could have messed up my band. would i know if it slipped or anything else was wrong? has anyone else eaten these types of foods this early?

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.

I had my first fill in TJ on Saturday Oct 6th...I missed my connection from LA to San Diago so had to deal with rearranging my flight to San Diago and then back home, calling the clinic to advise them I would be late and then they had to contact the driver who was picking me up at the airport....on the way to the clinic we stopped at the Sheridan Hotel and picked up another girl who had her second fill done the day before but she could not keep anything down so was going back to the clinic to have some saline removed. She was still sick when we left. She was a beautiful young girl, not really overweight but her family was very overweight and she didn't want to end up like them...she had her surgery in March of 07 and to date had only lost 7 pounds and was again on her 2nd fill and obviously very discouraged. They told her it was because she was not really that overweight to begin with.

My fill went great....I was aware of what the procedure would be like because of the postings on this site so I was not so scared. The doctor who did my fill I wish I knew his name, but he was wonderful...he had the best bedside manner ever, and when he was talking to me he used my name alot which made it seem very personal. It was so interesting to see the procedure on the monitor and to be assured that everything was in position, and after the fill the flow of the barium and then water went down without any problems.

I think Dr. Ortiz and his staff are the best. My appointment was at 12:30 but because I had missed my flight I didn't get to the clinic until 2pm which is when they closed....the staff there could not have been nicer which I really appreciated as I was stressed out by missing my flight etc....

Today I will stick to soft foods and liquids, and I already feel restricted in the amount I can take in.

Have a great day everyone....Sue

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

I got my first fill last Friday. Did not go to Ortiz in TJ. My bad!!!!! #-o

I had a "blind" fill done locally because I was trying to save time and money rather than going to Dr. Ortiz in TJ. Dumb me!

First fill last Friday cost $300. And that was for a physician's assistant to do it!! Not even the doctor!!! When I first called the office about getting fills, I asked tons of questions, one was "how many fills has the doctor done?" Their answer: "thousands"... Hmmm, yet, I got a PA. Maybe the PA's been doing fills for years too, but I still think I'm being over-charged! ((He was very nice, I'm not putting him down for being a PA. I'm just shocked that I was charged so much and I never even met the doctor!!))1.5 cc was put in at first because I was asked if I wanted to be agressive and I said "yes". A drink of water got stuck, so .5 cc's taken out. Was STARVING all weekend, and no restriction.....

Flash forward 4 days to Tuesday. Went back to doctor for more... I was thinking .25 cc's or so... Ended up with another whole 1 cc!! Total = 2cc's. In the office, I felt fine. Water went down OK. Restricted, but not overly so. =D> Cost: Another $100!!!!!!!!!!!!!

However, for the rest of the day, I wasn't able to swallow anything w/o PBing and sliming!! Now too restricted!! Can't even keep down water!!

So, yet ANOTHER appointment tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to take some out at a cost of $50 . Total thus far for first fill = $450, and not sure if they'll get it right this time!!!!!!!!!

So, who knows when this money pit and frustration will end!!?? When I first called this local doctor about fills, they told me the initial $300 was good for about 2 weeks of adjustments. LIARS!!!!!!!!!

They keep charging me every single time!!! Saying too many patients "abused" getting fills and unfilled for holidays etc, so they charge everytime now. OMG!! What idiots! THIS WAS MY FIRST FRIGGIN FILL!!!! And they told me $300 would cover adjusting it for a couple of weeks!!!! I'M PISSED!!!

((Side note, the PA was impressed that my Lap Band surgeon -Ortiz- was the author of LAP BAND FOR LIFE, because they recommend that book to their patients!!))

This is ridiculous!! I should have gone to Ortiz in the first place!!!!!! It would have cost $100 for him to do my fill using flouro x-ray, $140 for r/t plane ticket, $130 for Ortiz's driver to pick me up and drop me off from San Diego to TJ and $85 for one night in hotel room. Total = $455 for friendly professional people I know and trust!!!

Did I make a mistake? I don't know. But right now I'm kicking myself!! #-o

Just took a sip of water and PB'd it up and slimed!!! A SIP OF WATER!!!!!

I'll update tomorrow after my 3rd appointment. Maybe I'm just cranky because "Aunt Flow" just arrived today!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting weight: 7/01/2007; 235 lbs 33.7 BMI

Surgery weight: 8/13/2007; 224 lbs 32.1 BMI

Current weight: 10/09/2007; 204 lbs 29.3 BMI

Goal weight: May/1/2008; 159 lbs 22.8 BMI

1st fill: 10/05/07 1cc then 10/9/07 1cc = 2cc total OVER RESTRICTED!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

This is my first post, and I am trying to understand a few things. My boyfriend and I were both banded on September 27th. I have been so excited and have had a pretty good restriction up until this weekend. My boyfriend can eat and drink just about whatever he wants and has already lost 20 pounds since the surgery. Me, on the other hand, I have been following the post op diet just about as closely as possible, and have only lost 15 pounds, and that includes my pre-op weight loss. This weekend I just couldn't stand it any longer and I had a little bit of mac-n-cheese and some mashed potatoes, but he ate chicken, chips, mac-n-cheese, all kinds of things, and is still losing. I am going back on my liquid diet today, but I am still getting very discouraged pretty quick. We can start eating REAL food again on the 18th, but I am getting scared that I am only going to go back to my old ways and start gaining again. Any help or thoughts would be much appreciated.

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

Are you Dr. Ortiz's patient? I thought he recommended clear liquids for the first week. Am I imagining my next couple of weeks worse than they really will be?

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

So as you guys know who keep up with this forum I had my surgery on 08/27/07, 6 weeks ago yesterday. Yesterday on my 6 week mark I had my first fill with Dr. Acosta at OCC. He gave me 1.8 cc's and the fill was painless and quite interesting to watch on the monitor. Like most I was scarred I had a slip but he quickly assured me there was no slippage. I left with no pain and was out of there within 30 minutes. I had no restriction what so ever before this fill and am dying to feel some restriction after my 3 day liquid phase due to the fill. So I'll be back on the boards to let ya know how my restriction feels on Thursday, maybe Friday. Wish me luck. Hope you all are doing good. Also...keep us UPATED people!

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 Lauren...How did your fill go? My fill went great. No problems at all as far as the fill goes...I did miss my flight from LA to San Diago which put me about 1 1/2 hour behind schedule...I got to the clinic at 2pm but the staff was so nice I could not beleive it....The fill was so easy. Today I will stay on liquids and soft food (like mashed potatoes I'm having for lunch)...then tomorrow they say I can begin eating food again. Tell me how your first fill went.

Take Care...Sue

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

I had my surgery in March 07. After reading a few posts I feel that I'm not doing as well as I should be. My doctor is very strict in making sure that you follow the pre surgery diet and actually loose an amount of weight before surgery. I started the process in May2006. Back then I weighed in at an embarrassing 367. On the day of surgery I weighed in at 337 so i had lost some weight. I've had 2-3 fills now, and as of today October 4th I'm down to 282. So since i started the process i've lost 85 but since surgery its only been 55 and i see that others have lost alot more than i have in a shorter amount of time. I go back in november for a fill, which i might go sooner because i can eat a whole salad which is great .. love it. but if i eat chicken lately.. it feels like its sitting in my throat, and then i end up throwing up, and feel completely better. I read about band slipage and i dont think its slipped or anything because i'm not constantly throwing up every day.. its only here and there and when i eat certain foods.. any ideas?? am i on track or what??

My doctor says the expect a weight loss of 1-3 lbs per week.. but as u can see its been 8 week.. so it should be around 16 lbs. i'm at 11 i guess i feel behind...

May 25,2006 367

Pre-Op- 3/5/07 337

Surgery- 3/19/07 337

1st post-op 3/29/07 319

1st fill- 5/2/07 321

2nd fill 6/29/07 307

3rd fill 8/9/07 293

current 10/5/07 282

NEXT Appointment- 11/7/07

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