jhawkchick75

Thank you all so much for your feedback! It makes me feel better that i'm not alone on this one. My fill went well today - I didn't see Dr. Malley, but saw a NP and she said it was very normal. As you all said when you don't have as much fat there to cushion it that can make for a bit of discomfort. She also agreed that running might be a reason too, but nothing to worry about. She said a lot of folks have trouble too when they are leaning over the sink to do dishes or over the tub to wash the kids which I can also see. I got .2cc today. She didn't want to give me a fill, but I insisted. She asked me what I eat on a typical day which sounds OK, but there are many days where I can eat way too much and I don't have the best willpower, so I really need that restriction. One morning I ate tater tots for breakfast! I know, I know never should have gotten them, but they went down fine. I am up to 3.1 now and she asked me to really up my protein especially since i'm running now. I hadn't had a fill since March and i've lost 15lbs since my last visit there so 15lbs in less than 3 months i'll take that. I had soup for lunch and then a bit of pasta for dinner and all went down fine so i'm good to go. I'll go for solids tomorrow so hopefully there will be some restriction! Thanks again everyone!!

WOW!! That is fantastic good luck on your 12K! That is so great! I was pretty proud of myself for 4 miles - dang! Let me know how it goes! Mine is going to be on my birthday in Sept so will be pretty eventful for a couple reasons. I have friends coming into town to run with me.

I've also heard about 20 to 30 minutes and you should stop. I haven't been good at this, but my goal also for this week is to start measuring. I've been told about 2-3 oz of meat then about 1/4 cup of veggies and if you are still hungry 1/4 cup of potatoes/carbs. I've also heard if it is more like pasta, oatmeal, etc...to only do 1 cup. Just got another fill so i'm going to really focus on my portions. It's always hard b/c you want to make sure you eat enough so you aren't hungry an hour later then eating around the band, but want to not eat if I am full. Tough one! But i'm gonna stick with the measuring and see how i do. Good luck!

So for you veterans I need some advice... Lately i've been having some discomfort in my port area. I thought it was from increasing my workouts - i'm training for a 5k so i've started running a few times a week. But tonight I noticed that the discomfort is mostly there when i'm sitting on the couch. So my question is, could it be a matter of how i'm positioned? I always lay on the couch with my back propped up on the arm. So I guess kind of laying down but propped up. Not sure if this is possible, but it almost feels like it is pushing on my ribs. I've also noticed that it's been a little weird to lay on my tummy as it puts pressure on it. Again, might sound weird but could it be that there is less fat there and so no cushion for the port? When I put my hand on my tummy I can feel the post much easier it is almost starting to pooch out. Getting into some uncharted territory so wanted to see if anyone else has had something like this. Always have that small fear that something is wrong. I have my 5th fill tomorrow so i'll ask for flouro this time. Have had it every time but last time and I haven't had a fill since March so it will be nice to check everything to make sure it is OK. Here's to hopefully finding that sweet spot!

Before my surgery at the OCC I called and they gave me a list of all the doctors that would see me within a certain radius of my house. I assume they will still do that, so give them a call. I called two of those they gave me and went with which one felt most comfortable.

I only lost 7lbs from surgery to my first fill and my fill dr said that was great. He told me many people gain during that time. You shouldn't be counting calories during that time and should drink quite a bit and keep yourself hydrated and getting nutrients in you. This time is for healing not weight loss and if you do lose then great that is just gravy. Good luck!

Hi there! You can read my stats in my signature so I won't retype them, but here is a bit of my experience... I have lost over 50 lbs now and I feel great! Everyone is different, but once I went on solids I gained some back. However shortly after that my body got back on track and I started losing. I am getting my 5th fill tomorrow - I do OK with my hunger, but still feel like I can eat too much and can eat anything but bread. I'm hoping that one more small fill will do the trick. This process takes time, so you need to find ways to motivate yourself. For me, I don't look at the big picture and make tiny mini goals for me to get me though. I also remind myself where I would be right now if I didn't have this done and it is not a pretty picture! So do what you need to do to keep in a positive frame of mind. Good luck!

Looks like you all had a fantastic time! You look great and should be very proud of your accomplishments! Keep up the great work! =D>

So glad to hear it might not be as serious as you thought. Please keep us in the loop on what you find out!

Nope I am self pay that is just how much fills cost at my place. Was $250 for the first and then $100 after that. Found me a nice deal and he is one of the well know drs here in town so it makes me feel good.

Hey there! Your sweet spot is when you are just right and have just the right restriction. You can eat small amounts and as long as you chew a lot and eat slowly that you rarely PB. My fill doctor has a chart that goes from green to yellow to red and on his chart and it helps you describe what you are feeling so they know if you need a fill or unfill. I am definitely not at my sweet spot yet. Have another fill on Tuesday so i'm hoping a small fill will do the trick. Definitely don't want to be too tight. It was my TOM this week and that always makes me wicked tight and I don't want to feel like that all the time.

Ditto to what everyone has said. I did the same thing and thought I needed to go on the "farewell tour" of my favorite places. Sadly I did it - even went to Red Lobster in San Diego the night before my surgery. Looking back now I soo did not need to do that. Mind you everyone is different and some feel restriction after the first fill but that is rare. For me, i've had several fills now and the only thing I can't do is breads. And even thin I can do really thin crust pizza and crackers. Smaller portions of course, but I can still do anything. Even after the first fill I could still do some bread. I get another fill on Tuesday and don't get me wrong i'm not gonna lie...I am worried about what might be out of the picture after this one and do have the urge to go get those things one last time. But as i get farther along in this process it just doesn't bother me as much. Easy for me to say 7 months along, but I do want you to know it does get easier! I used to eat McDonalds literally like 7 times a week (sometimes more than once a day) and if you would have told me 7 months ago that I would go weeks at a time without it I would have told you that you were on crack! But I haven't had it for almost 3 weeks I think - honestly can't remember it's been a while. I'm sure i've screwed up their inventory at the McD's down the street! What you are feeling is completely normal, but know its not the end. Good luck!

My first meal was Chef Boyardee Raviolis. Not the healthiest thing, but I wanted to test the waters with something soft. I took it slow, but besides things like steak and what not i pretty much went back to normal. Well, not normal b/c normal was horrible crap foods but you know what I mean! Everyone is so different, so just take it slow, feel it out and see what works for you. Enjoy the ride! In "food and drink" I think it is, there is a post where folks are talking about what they eat on any given day so check that out. Good luck!!

Wow....I can't even imagine PB'ing that often!!! I feel like I PB too much and I only do it maybe 3 times a month. All from flat out not eating slow enough and not chewing well. I have "thrown up" maybe twice since being banded in October. I didn't read their comments, but just from what you said they are not doing this right and are really lucky they haven't slipped their band. But from what I know that is rare. They are gonna be in a world of hurt and are wasting a LOT of money!

You will be there before you know it!!! When I got back into a size 12 pants I stood in the fitting room at Ann Taylor and cried like a baby! Thank God they didn't hear me! As you hit each milestone - take time to appreciate it. Do something nice for yourself and make sure you take pictures. I took pics every 10 lbs and even though with some of those there wasn't a noticable change, i'm really glad i did it. It is nice now to look back at. Keep up the great work!!!

Congrats!!! The best advice for the next couple weeks is to take it easy!!! Keep drinking a lot and walk when you can it really helps with the gas. Good luck!!

I've never tried them, but I do the chewable Centrum and I do like those. They are orange flavor. There are also some called bariatric advantage and they gave me some samples at my fill place and they were really good, but a little pricier than the Centrum. They were grape and berry flavored.

Here are some of the things I eat on a normal day... Breakfast - EAS protein shake - snack size bag of Kashi Go Lean cereal (dry) - Eggbeaters (single serving) with low fat shredded cheese - Quaker weight control oatmeal Lunch - Cubed ham, cottage cheese and an apple - Deli sliced lunchmeat rolled up with a piece of cheese dipped in mustard and carrots - Hearty soups or Wendy's chili and crackers - Flavored tuna packets and veggies or applesauce - sometimes cottage cheese Dinner - Weight watchers or Lean Cuisine meals w/ veggies - Taco salad (don't use shell and do a few tortilla chips) - Fish and veggies - Turkey chili - make mine extra thick with extra beans I try not to snack, but if I do I do - Quaker delights mini rice cakes - Cheese (laughing cow and crackers or just plain cheese) - Glass of milk - Cottage cheese

Unfortunately it is just a trial and error thing. For me I can't swallow the muscle milk and i'm an EAS girl. Doesn't taste amazing, but it's the only one I can do and don't mind it. See if there are places where you can just buy a small one or samples. Same with chewable vitamins...i've eaten some nasty crap!

Don't you LOVE that! I'm sure you will make a splash! I am hoping to run into one of those this weekend! Don't want anything to do with him anymore, but just the look on his face is good for me!

My 15 is coming up this summer/fall. The 10 year was very interesting so i'm interested to see how the 15 goes. BTW...neither of you look like you are even getting close to having a 20 year reunion! You all will turn heads!

I agree I would go to another doctor if you have one in the area. Sounds like they need to be more aggressive with your fills. Also, what kind of stuff are you eating. Make sure you are not on more slider foods and you are eating things that will stick with you and keep you full. If you are following all the bandster guidelines and still having trouble then i'd definitely find a new doctor. Keep your chin up! Hopefully you will be able to find the answer and get on track!

Great job! YOu know my weight seems to come in spurts. I will lose weight but not inches then vice versa - never seems to happen at the same time. Not sure if you have been measuring, but that is probably what is happening. Way to go!

I am a wuss and I don't think the fills are a big deal at all. You don't even feel the needle going in and you feel some pressure when they are trying to get it in the port, but that still doesn't hurt at all in my opinion. I get another fill a week from today and I can't wait! I hope I can finally find my spot. Never have had good restriction. They are a piece of cake. Only thing that is painful is giving them $100 bucks each time!

JUST had that happen about a week ago! My purse was out of reach so I couldn't get to the ziplock in time. Went all over my floorboard on the passenger side it was so gross!!! But I agree thank god it doesn't smell really. But it was a pain in the butt to clean up!