LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Hełlo Everyone. Thank God for this site. I was doing so good 2 days ago RESPECTING the band and last night I just plain abused it. It started with a simple "slider-food item". An innocent "low carb" cracker. And it just went down hill after that. I ate the entire bag. And then... I ate some pizza crust. No toppings. Just wanted a piece of the crust. Weird. Then, . It got bad enough that I made a special trip to Subway, and got 3 macadamia cookies. The thing is, through out the entire binge, I knew I was doing wrong. Yet, I continued. I sabotaged all my previous efforts. This morning, I have started on the right foot. Square one. I just hate when I give in to behavior …

Hi everyone, i was banded ydy. When i took my meds last night (i broke the big ones in half) I could feel that they were kind of stuck. Which got me wondering how do i take all the supplements we are supposed to take every day? What does everyone here do? I really dont want to chew them. Sara

How did your weight loss affect your marriage? Did you partner have trouble with it?

I'm getting banded in late March or April. I'm almost ready, I have to cross a couple more things off my list. I'm new to this site, and I love it! I just don't have any friends! Will you be my friend, lol!! Add me!! Thanks!

This thread is home to all your pictures! Post your before shots, your before & current, or before & after.

For those who don't know me, my lapband successfully helped me lose a lot of weight. I had 3 stress-free maintenance years and then about 14 months ago, it sprung a leak. There have been two attempts to fix the leak (revisions), but I'm still leaking today. In the first 7 - 9 months after the leak started, I gained weight. About 33lbs in total. In January or so this year, I decided that enough was enough and started calorie counting to lose. I've lost about 13lbs since then, almost all of that in the first 6 weeks. Also in early Jan this year, I fell on my butt while roller skating and fractured my tailbone, and was in consistent pain for about 8 weeks (and just start…

I just don't feel like eating today. I don't really have an appetite. Is it okay to drink protein shakes once in a while for this kind of situation?

I'm headed to my 6 wk post op appt & will get my first fill:) Thank goodness because I am sooo hungry all the time & can eat more than I could just 2 wks ago. I have been careful of what I have eaten & began exercising so the weight is dropping, just SUPER SLOW!

I had a fill under x-ray today and the doctor had a terrible time with it because my stomach was spasaming so badly. So now I have to go back every two weeks and have a fill under x-ray. right now I have a dull pain right where the band is placed. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this normal? i am so sick of this band

Well everyone, tomorrow is the last of the February surgeries, can you believe it!? We'll all officially be on our way to our new selves! Let's wish Frederic and MCE good luck tomorrow! We'll be thinking of you!

"]I've had ban for nearly three years and lost 100 pounds and hit my target weight I've had no problems with my band up until 6 months ago where I prolapsed and have had to be emptied three times since then. This is my third prolapse in 6 months and it does not seem to be fixing itself so must get it removed. I have three questions. 1 has anyone had repeated prolapse and if it does fix itself can I just keep the band and not have it filled and attempt to maintain my weight lost? 2. I'm only 3o pounds over ideal weight is it worth getting another band because I would not consider getting sleeve or any other stomach cutting procedure 3 what problems should I consider afte…

Hi friends....I had an upper GI this morning due to acid reflux I've been having, turns out I have slight pouch dilation! He said my band is in perfect position however...whew! He just instructed me to continue taking OTC acid reducers as needed, and there is nothing else we can do. Has anyone had this?

Hi all, i find i still choose the wrong foods to eat and of course that leads to vomitting. I do try to eat small and slow. But everyday is different. Some days i hav no problem and others days i can vomitted at every meal . Is anyone else having similar experience

I am not banded yet but I think things will be moving along pretty quick now since I just got financing (self pay) for it through my credit union. Anyways, I am trying to change some things before hand and one is to stop drinking Diet Coke. I have drank Diet Coke since I was a child and it is literally the only things I drink. I never drink Water. My addiction is so bad that when my stomach is unsettled or I am throwing up, the only thing that can settle my stomach is a few sips of Diet Coke. If I were to drink water at that moment I would start throwing up again. I have half way attempted to stop drinking it before but did not last past the first day of headache…

Hi all, Im going to Wal-Mart and Sams tomorrow to look at supplies pre-op. Any suggestions on what brand/flavors, powder/ premix? Do i need "Wey" powder? Not even sure what that is? Thanks all.

My story has been a long 10 year roller coaster ride both in weight and emotion! I was banded at 18 in California. I was just under 250 at 5'1". I had an easy surgery and started losing pretty quickly. After a couple years, I was down almost 100lbs and feeling great until suddenly, in August 2005, I couldn't swallow Water. My band had slipped and badly. I went into surgery the next day to have my band fixed, but due to erosion, it was removed and as the surgeon put it to my parents, he "MAY have punctured my stomach trying to navigate scar tissue, but it was difficult to tell what was a puncture and what was an erosion." I was devastated to put it lightly and spent 9 da…

I've had ban for nearly three years and lost 100 pounds and hit my target weight I've had no problems with my band up until 6 months ago where I prolapsed and have had to be emptied three times since then. This is my third prolapse in 6 months and it does not seem to be fixing itself so must get it removed. I have three questions. 1 has anyone had repeated prolapse and if it does fix itself can I just keep the band and not have it filled and attempt to maintain my weight lost? 2. I'm only 3o pounds over ideal weight is it worth getting another band because I would not consider getting sleeve or any other stomach cutting procedure 3 what problems should I consider after …

I've been looking into lap band for almost 5 years now. Money has always been the holdup. I finally have it saved up and now I'm having second thoughts. Should I try to do Atkins? Go back to weight Watchers? They never worked (long term) for me, so why am i even considering them? Did anyone else experience this when it was finally time to have the procedure scheduled? I'm a self pay so once I call and make my prep appointment, my surgery will be scheduled 2 weeks out. I guess it's so close and I'm just getting nervous. Encouragement please!!! Lol

So, today is my lovely wife's 14th anniversary of her 39th birthday. She's been on a paleo type of diet with some concessions and lost about 25 lbs and is down to about 138 lbs. Looking good. She said all she wants for her Birthday is a pizza. So, we know this high quality pizza place that we both love. I save myself for this treat 1 or 2 times a year. I'll only be able to eat one or 1 1/2 slices but it is so worth it. I love the band and I love the fact that if I follow the rules I can still eat my favorite foods within reason. And no, there will be no cake and ice cream.

Truvia vs Splenda ? I'm having oatmeal every morning ... My question is ... Is oatmeal ok ? My Vitamins are sugar coated (lil creaters) I don't know if they have to much sugar... The reason I'm asking is because I have been in the 230s for over a month now... Trying to figure out what I need to add or cut out! Any suggestions will be appreciated Thanks!

Hello everyone! I stumbled across this site during my research on the band. I have been researching for awhile now and have scheduled my first consultation with the surgeon (Dr. Shin, in WV) for March 21. Needless to say, I am very very very nervous! Did I mention I was nervous? I have been making a list of questions for him, have a support buddy who is going with me, but still scared. Is that normal for just a consultation of am I just blowing it out of proportion? The thing that scares me the most about this procedure is being put to sleep. I have only had one surgery in my life and that was a million years ago when I had a tonsillectomy! I wasn't scared just happy that…

It's almost been 4 months since my banding. I had one fill in January and I have only lost 20 lbs. Is anyone else at a Standstill with their weight loss? I had some Insurance issues so I can't go for another fill until March. I've also bee having some sick issues? Food seems to be backing up, but I think I am eating to fast and its making me get sick. There is also a mucus issue. Trying not to be too graphic, but is anyone else having these issues?

After my last fill, I finally felt that elusive feeling of restriction. Well, that feeling only lasted a few days. Is that normal to have restriction and then it goes away? It only heightens my suspicion that I may have a small hole or leak somewhere, possibly in the tubing. (Which could be possible as I have been stuck in the wrong place for a fill previously!) I have been loosing, as I have lost 65 pounds since my surgery in August. I have 8ccs in a 14cc band. How much does it take? I know everyone is different, but I had no idea it takes this much fluid to get to the Green Zone.

Please give suggestions .....Thanks!

I'm at 4 ccs and I'm still getting hungry between meals and the small portions aren't enough but it seems my band is pretty tight. Is it something I'm doing wrong?

Hey guys big fan of the site, I've been a lurker Saturday is my 2 year Bandiversary! I have had 2 CCs in my band from 2 weeks after my surgery until today and I have lost 130 pounds. But over the past month I have not been able to eat anything so I went today and got completely unfilled and I plan to keep it that way for a while. Does anyone else have 0CCs or 1CC? Just curious as to what you're able to eat as opposed to when you had a few CCs in.

I don't post many questions here because I am (in my own mind) a band expert, but today I had an experience I can't quite figure out, so maybe y'all can help me with it. Also: an NSV is a non-scale victory - a weight loss benefit unrelated to the numbers on the scale. This morning I drove to a liquor store up in KY (this TN county and all the surrounding ones are dry, so KY is the nearest place to buy booze) to buy 100-proof vodka so my husband can make a cordial he calls “stumpblower” out of the pulp he extracted from last year’s blackberries. At the liquor store I had to ask one of the guys working there for help finding the 100-proof vodka. He was maybe in his late…

Tomorrow is my first time for a fill. Can anyone tell me how it feels and what to expect?

I was banded in July '10. Things were going great. I had lost almost 70 lbs and was feelin great. Then my husband lost his job and we lost our insurance. We have struggled pretty bad. His insurance paid 80% of my surgery but with only my income I couldn't afford to pay on my bill and being ashamed of that I haven't been back to the Dr since. It's been over a year since my last visit/fill. Everything was going good. Then the stress started, and the depression. Seemed like every time I ate or drank I didn't get full. I was eating a whole footlong flatbread sub. Or a regular meal then the very next day I couldn't even get a drink of water to go down. This would go on for a …

Quick question...when did you guys have your 1st alcolholic drink after getting the band? I am 20 days post op and down 25 lbs (including liquid diet) This week has been hectic and exciting, celebrated my 2 yr anniversary with my boyfriend and today is his birthday. Just wondering if having one glass of white wine will do any harm? Tganks for the input

I got a fill Feb 4, 2013 I felt fine but now I'm starting to pick up weight I no longer 165 I'm 180 I went from a size ten to a size 12 I'm depressed.

Having a hard time with emotional eating..been stressed lately trying not to reward myself w food just quit smoking.. I am seeing a therapist so many issues so little time... I feel like because I don't have alot of money when I want to treat myself food comes into play IM really trying not to act on this How do others deal with emotional eating? Thanks

Ok so I see all these posts where people are ready to give up before their journey truly begins and it makes me sad. So I am sharing my store. I was banded about 4 years ago. I didnt get it. I knew it would be hard but it was even harder then i imagined. And I did not have this forum or the chat room where I have made such good friends so I quit. I just stopped trying. It was too hard. I felt too bad. I suffer from depression and I just tucked the guilt from failing away and led a life of junk food and sliders. That is until I really reevaluated my life. Found this site and spent time reading posts. I came up with a plan. I talked to my family first and once I had their …

Hello! I'm a 30 years old and I've had my band since 07. At first I lost close to 60pds over the past few years I have fluctuated up and down. My concern is I can't keep food down. Some days I can eat and seem like I never get full and can hold things down and then the next day I can't keep anything down. I vomit often (sorry about that) on a daily basis! I'm really worried about esophagus cancer. I got this surgery to help me live a longer life and I'm worried it could make my life shorter. I'm alway anemic and I have awful heartburn nightly. I'm at the point where I don't know what to do! Do I take it out? Two of my Aunts had this surgery as well as a long di…

My insurance goes for approval at the end of the month. Im soo nervous in need of ppl who have had the surgery for advice and support! Preferably women.. No men plz! Looking to connect threw fb, its just easier! Any takers?

How was wondering how everyone's journey is going? I had my surgery May 11th and I'm down about 65 pounds. I am so happy with my band, it has been a gift from God!!! Y'all have a blessed evening.

Hi everyone. Happy Friday. Hopefuly everyone is well. Has any one ever experience port pain (not stomach pain), but specific port pain while eating or drinking any thing ? My theory is that when we fill our pouches with any amount of liquid or food, if as the pouch becomes full, it puts pressure on the band and as that happens, the band pulls the string attached to the port. That's my theory. What do you guys think ? Does that happen to any of you ? Thank You.

Well today ( 11/11/09 ) I made it to the doctors office... I weighted in @ 345 so I had to reset my ticker.. It came out 5 lbs over so I will call my start date today. My blood pressure was good, no issues there. I took a look at my chart and my last visit was on 8/5/08 my weight then 287.7 lbs.. Man that hit me.. I could not believe I let myself go that way! I saw a New PA and she was cool. I told her my issue and she said thats ok, time to start over a new beginning. I thought that was nice of what she said with a 57 lbs weight gain.. After a brief discussion she began to feel for my port but could not find it. She went to get the other PA ( who I have seen before …

Hi everyone, I was banded this morning, not feeling too bad. I have been drinking water and had an ice pop since ive been home. I just asked my husband if he could bring me some broth. Well he read the label and its not zero fat, so he wont give me any. It is low sodium. Does it matter if i have it just for today? Sara

I am really looking forward to my surgery but every now and then I find I am getting butterfly's in my stomach.

Instead of mother-daughter lunch dates, we are going to have a mother- daughter fill date I have been banded for two years and three months, and after almost two years of struggling to be approved, my nineteen year old daughter was banded on Valentine's Day. She says it is the best Valentine's gift she will ever receive. I started at 244, and hit goal weight in nine months, then lost another 30 pounds by my one year bandiversary. After being told I looked too thin and ill, I gained 15 pounds and have retained my weight since then. I am able to do this without feeling like I'm missing out on anything, I eat what I want, just less of it, less often. I hope and pray m…

Hi guys, Today i have my pcp apt for a physical and to get my medical clearance letter. My surgeon required that. (I saw the surgeon before i talked to my pcp) But, i'm worried that she wont know how to write me the letter as she is a np. Can any of you tell me what was written in your letter so i can have an idea to tell her? Thanks

Hiya Looking for some advice I had my band about 3 years ago and have lost almost 100lbs, still got a good bit to go. I'm being sick quite a lot just now - with anything and everything - drinks amd foods. Is this a slipped band??

I'm so very excited to move from Clear Liquids to full liquids. It isn't officially supposed to happen until tomorrow, but after reading other post op diets, I decided one day early wouldn't hurt me. I enjoyed a yogurt today, some milk, and I had a couple of Protein Shakes. I feel satisfied! But I have a question. All along when I drink something, I feel the need to burp afterwards. Even if it is only a couple of sips of Water. This is not new to today's diet changes, but has been going on the whole time. I have no fill in my band at this time, so really there isn't much restriction other than some possible swelling. So my question, the burping--is it gas from…

My son called me tonight, he is 20 years old and in college. He has been doing a lot of weight lifting and has noticed that he has stretch marks on his arms and across his chest! He is freaking out! I, for some reason, have never had them. I was wondering if there is anything that can be used to lighten them up so they are not as noticeable.

I have Learned To Never Compare Myself and My Weight Loss to Anyone Else!! I Lost 4 Pounds Yesterday and I am Happy With That!! I am Only Good At Being Me!! Some People in the Waiting Room at the Doctors Office, was Comparing Themselves to Others Achievements and Discouragements! I said Learned to Go At Your Own Pace Not Someone Else's!! I am Happy with my 4 Pound Loss Cause I Gained More Determination to Keep Up The Good Work!! Love All of You!! Happy Tuesday!!!

I'm over a year out, and have not been sick in any way til now. Sore throat, fever, sinus congestion, etc. Can I take Nyquil? I can't remember... I'm sur there's a thread on here that answers this already, I'm just feeling too bad to search! Thx for any replies.

Do any of you guys drink liquids at a specific time slot, say between 10:00 a.m to 12 Noon. And then stop, so that you don't have to drink anything after luch or dinner, and consequently maximize a feeling of satiety ? Just wondering how may people do that or do something similar to that. Do you guys any specific liquid "routines" besides the no liquids rule before and after a meal ?

I had a last Friday 2/15 . 5 which took me to 7. I was fine all weekend but then Monday I felt like it may be 2 tight. I did protein shakes for 4 days instead of 2 then soft foods for 2 , normal diet now. I have lost 12 lbs since Friday 2/15 . Is it normal to fill to tight not until 2 days after the fill??