JUNE 2009 Surgery

Cindylouwho4220 · 10-28-2009, 05:11 PM

I haven't posted in a long time but wanted to say...I think it may finally be working! I had a lot of problems after surgery (June 25) and the doctor had to take all the saline out of my band. I went Monday and had my 3rd fill. Now I can barely even drink anything. I have learned what sliming is! I am hoping by Friday I can have soft foods. If not I will call him and let him know it super tight. Sounds like some of you have had the same path...arghhhh. I also understand why people say this is definetely not the easy way out!!

NYGuy · 10-28-2009, 08:06 PM

WOW!

It sure looks like lots of us June Journeyers had similar experiences... summer fall doldrums, discouragement and FINALLY a fill that gives some real restriction and makes, for me anyway, finally feel that the band is my partner.

I could barely keep my weight, much less lose weight in August, September and until last week. I'd bump up and then diet like hell to claw my way back down. The band wasn't really a factor at all.

Then a week ago Monday I had my last fill. And now ....
well FINALLY! I eat lots of small meals now--can't really eat big ones, and finally the readout on the scale is consistently moving in the right direction!

Woo hoo! I wouldn't let them take a molecule of saline out of my band. And if the weight stops coming off, we'll be adding at least another half. The fill meister tells me when you get close to the zone even a quarter cc can make a big difference, and I suspect that some of you fellow travellers are exactly in the same place!

Now back to the game.
Go Yankees!

NYGuy · 10-28-2009, 08:10 PM

ps... cindylouwho or anyone?

what's sliming. I think I have experienced that a couple times in the last week.

Bob

Padanelle · 10-28-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYGuy

ps... cindylouwho or anyone?

what's sliming. I think I have experienced that a couple times in the last week.

Bob

Hi Bob!

Sliming is another term for PBing - something gets stuck, and you keep "vomiting" saliva. Hopefully, whatever food is stuck comes up, and you can beathe easy again. Sigh...

It amazing how much saliva our body produces. lol.

NYCgal - joan

isaviolinist · 10-28-2009, 09:48 PM

Hey everyone - just wanted to update. I got my fill today. My doctor originally was thinking that he didn't want to do it because I had lost 10-12 pounds since I last saw him (about 4 weeks ago), but he looked at the size of my opening under fluoro with contrast and said that it did in fact look a little big so he added 1 cc (he tried .5cc first but the opening still looked a little big when I drank the contrast). Based on the amount of fluid we have put in so far, I should have 9 cc in the band (after this fill), but before he filled me he could only withdraw 7cc or so, so he said I now have 8 ccs. He mentioned that 1 cc gets stuck in the tubing and is impossible to draw out, so I'll go with that. Anyways, I'm on liquids for a week (3 days clear, and a few days after that with full...I love liquids diet, I always lose a lot) so I won't know if I have restriction for awhile. But please keep your fingers crossed that this fill does the trick for me!

elleaitch · 10-29-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaviolinist

Hey everyone! I'm going in for a fill today, so I'll let you know if I get to my sweet spot (I feel like I'm close). I was just wondering if all of us banded in June were at, or close to our sweet spots yet? I'm really hoping this fill does it for me. If you've reached your sweet spot, how many fills did it take?

What IS this sweet spot I keep reading about?

Padanelle · 10-29-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elleaitch

What IS this sweet spot I keep reading about?

Hi Louise,

The sweet spot is when your band is basically at a 'perfect fill' - you've reached the right restriction.

Joan

elcee · 10-29-2009, 07:07 PM

In theory the sweet spot sounds great but in reality I believe it may be elusive. I think a lot of bandsters end up too tight chasing some notional sweet spot where they can eat small amounts and not be hungry between meals. I think a lot of it is still down to good choices and a degree of self control.

I had approx 3.5ml in my 10ml band. Could eat just about anything prior to my last fill 3 weeks ago but still got hungry inbetween meals so had a small fill of .3ml. I have PB'd or got stuck far too often in the last 3 weeks. I would start eating and feel as though there was some kind of lump in my throat preventing the food going down. I PB'd foods that should have been easy such as tinned fish, mince etc . I thought it would get better but it didn't so yesterday I admitted defeat and got an unfill of .25ml. That means my total fill is probably around 3 but I don't know exactly as my Dr's do not take the fill amount out to check as it is now believed that that can cause problems.

It felt so much better to be able to eat proper food without discomfort. I believe I still have restriction as I am still only able to eat less than preband.

I think one of the problems is the 3 meals a day and no snacks philosophy that a lot of Dr's adhere to. I believe that this is unrealistic. Yes I can go for 4 hours without getting hungry which gets me from breakfast to lunch but lunch to dinner is normally about 7 hours and this I can't manage without a snack.So long as it is healthy I don't see this as a major problem.

NYGuy · 10-29-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padanelle

Hi Bob!

Sliming is another term for PBing - something gets stuck, and you keep "vomiting" saliva. Hopefully, whatever food is stuck comes up, and you can beathe easy again. Sigh...

It amazing how much saliva our body produces. lol.

NYCgal - joan

Thanks Joanie,
Coincidentally, I had my first real sliming episode after lunch today. I get it now. Boy do I!

ifyourstomachoffendsyou · 10-30-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcee

In theory the sweet spot sounds great but in reality I believe it may be elusive. I think a lot of bandsters end up too tight chasing some notional sweet spot where they can eat small amounts and not be hungry between meals. I think a lot of it is still down to good choices and a degree of self control.

I had approx 3.5ml in my 10ml band. Could eat just about anything prior to my last fill 3 weeks ago but still got hungry inbetween meals so had a small fill of .3ml. I have PB'd or got stuck far too often in the last 3 weeks. I would start eating and feel as though there was some kind of lump in my throat preventing the food going down. I PB'd foods that should have been easy such as tinned fish, mince etc . I thought it would get better but it didn't so yesterday I admitted defeat and got an unfill of .25ml. That means my total fill is probably around 3 but I don't know exactly as my Dr's do not take the fill amount out to check as it is now believed that that can cause problems.

It felt so much better to be able to eat proper food without discomfort. I believe I still have restriction as I am still only able to eat less than preband.

I think one of the problems is the 3 meals a day and no snacks philosophy that a lot of Dr's adhere to. I believe that this is unrealistic. Yes I can go for 4 hours without getting hungry which gets me from breakfast to lunch but lunch to dinner is normally about 7 hours and this I can't manage without a snack.So long as it is healthy I don't see this as a major problem.

My nutritionist allowed snacks. It helps me get thru. Especially now that my band is tighter and I can't always eat enough at meals.

I do get first bite syndrome sometimes. Or it may take a few more bites, but I'll get pain and and some pbing unless I take very, very small bites and chew thoroughly and swallow only a little at a time.

I think I'm pretty close to my sweet spot. However, the sweet spot changes as you lose weight because the band loosens. I have 17 more lbs to go and that might require another fill if the band loosens again.

Padanelle · 11-08-2009, 01:44 PM

November is our 5 Month Bandiversary! How is everyone doing?

I was banded 5 months ago today and had hoped to have lost 50 lbs by now. I'm aonly 2.3 lbs off, so that's not bad, considering I didn't loose anything in Oct (actually lost & gained the same 5 lbs). Nervous about continued weight loss from Thanksgiving till the New Year. Its going to be a challenge...

Joan

isaviolinist · 11-08-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padanelle

November is our 5 Month Bandiversary! How is everyone doing?

I was banded 5 months ago today and had hoped to have lost 50 lbs by now. I'm aonly 2.3 lbs off, so that's not bad, considering I didn't loose anything in Oct (actually lost & gained the same 5 lbs). Nervous about continued weight loss from Thanksgiving till the New Year. Its going to be a challenge...

Joan

Congrats to the June bandsters! And congrats, Padanelle on your weight loss!

Nov 18th will be my 5 month bandiversary (seems like it happened a long time ago -- but it actually it was just 5 short months ago).

I have lost about 72 pounds since my preop diet. The past few weeks have been a struggle for me however. I got down to 208.2 which is almost 75 pounds lost since my preop diet beginning of June. But I have gained 3 pounds back to put me back up to 211 or so, and am struggling to get those 3 off again. So frustrating as I was so excited to be within the last 10 pounds of making it to onederland (which was my Thanksgiving goal...not sure if its gonna happen now). I would really like to be back down to a flat 208 by November 18 (10 days from now which is my 5 month bandiversary) as that will be 75 pounds lost. Keep your fingers crossed for me...

Padanelle · 11-08-2009, 02:46 PM

Violinist, I can so relate. Every time I loose a few pounds, I struggle for what seems like weeks to keep it off. Those milestone goals - 50, 75, 100 lbs - only add to the frustration when we don't reach them. I had aimed for 50 lbs by Halloween, which seemed quite doable, since I was down 45 lbs at the beginning of Oct. HA! No way, Jose.

I know I should rethink how I set my goals, but its not as much fun to aim to loose 48 lbs, unless that brings me to a milestone weight. Sigh...

keamreeves · 11-09-2009, 08:18 AM

Its been awhile since I posted anything because I have been so busy working and going to nursing school. Anyway I just wanted to share a bit of good news and a milestone that I have reached. I am offically in underland or onderland which ever. Lol I have not been under 200lbs in over 17 years and WOW it feels great even thought I can't see it myself but hopefully that will come. Well just wanted to share hope eveyone is dong great too. By they way total weight loss is 44 lbs. surgery done in June.

keamreeves · 11-09-2009, 08:37 AM

I am at my sweet spot had 3 fills and my last one was Sept. 9th 2009.