LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Hey everyone! I haven't posted in a while but I got my Lapband about 3 years ago. Needed to lose about 100 lbs and at one point lost almost 70. Recently I have gained some weight, and although still down 50 lbs since presurgery, I still feel like my lapband is failing me BIG TIME. First of all, I never ever felt what other people have described as the "sweet spot" of restriction. I felt the same hunger i've always felt and could get everything down. Still, determined not to fail, I carb cycled, worked out like a beast and lost the weight. I kept asking myself if the band was worth it, but felt that i would still do it again if I had to choose. If nothing else, it was a…

I can't take it anymore....I have had this band since 2004.I have just about gained all the weight back and I am a secret bulimic because I am constantly throwing up and sliming.i want a revision to the sleeve.I don't want another needle in me...my port is always sore.I feel disgusting.I am seeing Dr Adam Goldstein in a week.

The addiction of the scale is a battle I've been fighting for about a year now. During the weight loss phase I would only weigh in when I went for a follow-up with my surgeon monthly, then I started maintenance where I only follow up once a year so I started weighing weekly then it was twice a week and now sometimes I'll weigh myself twice a day. It's become an obsession more than the tool it's meant to be. At first I would get discouraged with the normal 3-4lb flex (that I wouldn't see at monthly weigh-ins), now more of an issue has become when I see those 3-4lbs. go away in my mind it gives me the "ok" to be more lenient on my choices. Any one else notice the mind g…

So let me start this by saying I know we should focus on alot of other things besides the scale...but easier said then done. For the past 3 weeks, my weight has not budged. It's the same when I wake up and when I go to sleep. I have been good with my food and drink choices and I also exercise...so here is my question...what is the best way to kick start my metabolism? Would too little calories per day cause this? Because to be honest I have a crazy finickey band...where some days I don't even feel like eating because it's too tight. Or I can only eat dinner...but I can never eat before noon...ever. Any insight or help would be appreciated.

Anyone in these areas? Who was/is your surgeon? Which hospital? Are you following any local support groups? I'm in Ellenton (very near the outlet mall that will become my best friend in about 6 months!!!). My surgeon is Dr. Rehnke and I'll be at Palms of Pasadena on the 19th - one week from today. Yay!! Looking forward to meeting more from this area. Rosie

Hello All, I have been a long-time lurker of those boards but am posting for the first time in need of some advice and support. I have been banded for about 5.5 years now. I have originally lost about 90 pounds from an all-time high of 270 lb and had gone down to 180 lb by the end of the second year before slowly settling for 190 lb for a couple more years after that. The issue started last year. I hadn’t gotten a fill in over a year and a half at that time and that last fill (only 0.05 cc) helped stabilize my weight at 190 lb and prevent further weight gain. I was starting though in the last few months to feel really tight, pbing on a regular basis because I was ea…

What are some ways of cooking . Im in 2wk of liquid, my dr say i can start try cream of wheat. I get my 1st fill, 18Aug. 20lbs,

I have had the lap band for 7 years, and after years of misery, I have decided to have this stupid thing removed. I haven't called for an appointment yet. I just started a new job and my insurance will soon kick in. As soon as it does, I am calling to make an appointment with the surgeon who put it in. I have had nothing but problems since day 1. Every single fill I got was too tight. I would be fine the first day, but then the next day I wouldn't be able to keep a thing down, not even Water. I would be in terrible pain, and I always had to go back in to have some Fluid removed. This went on for about the first year, then I decided to not even bother with going back in fo…

Down here in Australia, winter is starting to set in. One thing I do love about winter is a great soup!!! Last night I made a delicious chicken noodle Soup which will see me through for my work lunches for the next week at least. Can you share any of your warm, hearty soup recipes with me please?? I have a few in my arsenal, a pretty good vegetable soup and an amazing curried pumpkin soup, but would like something new to try. Give me your best....

I woke up this morning with terrible pain down my spine. That's where I hurt when my gerd acts up. I took 4 Zantac, hour later I ate 4 saltines. Nothing worked. 3 hours ago I drank some chocolate milk, which soothes it instantly. But, then hurt within 30 minutes. I ate a container of Greek yogurt, that finally got rid of it about 2 hours ago. I just now ate a lil cabbage and sausage, no spices. It is back. I haven't had a big issue with it in over a year, with the exception of slight acid reflux once in a while at night. What does anyone suggest? I am hurting. (i have no fluid in my band because of some erosion)

Hey all I was banded March 2015 and since then, I've had almost constant nausea (even when I don't eat) and last night I had an allergic reaction to something I eat fairly regularly (product containing soy) all day and the months leading up to this, I was nauseous every single day. I take phenegran to control it. I'm not getting much help from my surgeon, he hasn't called me back in 3 weeks. Also I had an endoscopy 3 weeks ago after not being able to eat for 4 weeks due to nausea and it turns out I had polyps on my stomach. I'm able to eat now but I'm always nauseous. I have asthma and allergies pretty bad and last night I had an allergic reaction that sent me to the e.…

I had the Lap Band put in November 2011. I haven't had any problems with it until about a month ago. I have been having really bad upper abdominal pain and especially around my port area. I have also had some severe acid reflux and can hardly eat anything without it causing my acid to flare up. I am taking an antacid daily but it doesn't seem to help much and it's a maximum strength one. It sometimes hurts to even touch the skin over my port area and I sometimes can't lay on my stomach. When I do lay on my stomach I can feel the port being pushed on and it's not very comfortable at all! I actually went to the ER 3 weeks ago because the pain was so bad. They did blood work…

How much did you weigh when you finally got pregnant? I suffer from hypothyroidism and PCOS and I had surgery in April. Too soon to get pregnant or try but I'm just curious and hopeful and want to hear some success stories :-)

Anyone ever experienced anything different when flying after getting the lapband? My port area seems a bit swollen and sore.

Hi gang, I'm looking for a good Protein powder - unflavored - to use in a Soup or even just chicken broth. Sweet drinks get sooooo old!!! I really like the Syntrax flavors (green apple and twisted cherry), but I long for something savory. I know a lot of powders just clump up in hot liquid. I'm not sure about the syntrax unflavored. Or if there is anyone out there using another brand. Please let me know! Thanks

I was wondering what you guys eat in a day. Mainly about how much at one time and what kind of food you eat. I need ideas for meal planning and I want to know how much (volume) you can eat becaue I can eat a lot at one time. Thanks!!!!

Hey banders! I'm curious if anyone has tried to eat raw oysters with the lap band. I'm usually pretty good about being able to eat most foods by dinner time (I wouldn't think of trying this during the daytime when I'm much tighter)...but I can image a whole raw oyster just sitting on top of the band with no where to go. Or maybe it just slides right through?? Has anyone with an adjusted band tried this? I'm sure it depends on band tightness, but I wanted to poll the group to see if anyone had an words of encouragement or warning! Thanks!

I see on here a lot that when someone stalls, or gets off track, there is a push to go "back to basics". I'm wondering what that means to all of you (specifically with lap band since I believe the "basics" of other surgeries are different). For me, recently I was battling with a band that was too tight. Even though I was losing weight, I wasn't eating healthy and I was throwing up 3-5 days a week (some days constantly). I got an appt with my surgeon and she loosened the band but was confident that my problems were behavioral. I was eating slow and taking small bites, but she asked if I waited a full 30 seconds after finishing a well-chewed bite before having my next bi…

I was diagnosed with lipedema today. Is there anyone out there that has this disease? From my understanding it is the pooling of fat and Fluid in your legs. My cardiologist described it as a redistribution of fluids and fats. Since I have had WLS, the fat is looking for somewhere to go and it has chosen my legs. I currently wear support stocking to help control the pooling, but I am fighting a losing battle. Does anyone have experience with this?

I got the lap band on 2013 (February) it has work for me excellent from 387lbs im down to 203lbs, the only thing is that the first meal of the day will get stuck right away and have to throw up. After a couple of hours I can have a meal perfectly fine. Any recommendations!?

Hello everyone, I wanted to reach out to others who have been where I am mentally or are where I am. A bit of a history on my story I had surgery in May of 2010 and did great the first few months. Had many fills there after and about 2 yrs after surgery had to get almost 100% unfilled for I was pregnant and wasnt gaining any weight. after the baby roughly 6 months I went in for an adjustment. 2 years after that had 5 CC taken out as I was once again preg. bringing us to the present. I have had fills since my last child was born, but truth is I havent really felt any restriction or gotten that stuck feeling in quite some time, not that I like that feeling. I am trying …

So I believe I'm in the green because of the small amt I can eat in a sitting (4/5oz). Problem is, it's about 2 2/12 hrs until I'm hungry again... No matter what I eat! I'm following the drinking rules and all but I don't know what else to do, really don't think I need another full and it's not head hunger... Anyone have the same problem?

I've never had problems with my gall bladder but I think the last 2 days I've had GB attacks. I'm having one now and the pain is severe! I know with other WLS they give you medicine to avoid this due to rapid wt loss. I don't have that medicine because the loss is to be slow. I've lost 19 lbs in 7.5 weeks. I'll have to call my surgeon Monday and will do a liquid diet, no fat til then. Going on a cruise in 2 weeks.......

Hi guys my surgery day is tomorrow Aug 5. I'm so glad to start this journey. I have been struggling with my weight for about 4 years now. I have tried Weight Watchers, Atkins fad diets like soup and cabbage diet. And it seems like none of those worked. I used to do a workout call supreme 90 whenever I was getting extra pounds and it will come off and one day that stopped working. I did find out that I had deficiencies in D and iron. Although my thyroid test was fluctuate my doctor determine that I did not have a thyroid problem. Meanwhile the pound adding up. Although I do not have diabetes or high blood pressure or anything like that, I do have bad back and knee problems…

Some times it's in the "small" things. Today I wasn't prepared so it was a lunch on the run for me which meant stopping at a convience store to find something to eat. I ended up with 2 cheese sticks and a strawberry bowl. I had waited way too long to eat so once I started it was like I was full on the first bite. (I know better then to wait that long), Any way, I finished my cheese and moved onto the strawberries. I was only able to eat three and my band was like no more so I stopped. Later this afternoon I was feeling like I needed something to munch on because my head was telling me hey you didn't eat much for lunch, you need something else, so I went on break and…

I am working with ASMBS on an outreach project called This Time It Counts, and I would like to ask for your participation, please! It’s for members who have had LAP-BAND Surgery and have seen results already. Being a part of the campaign is easy. Just post a short video of yourself telling your LAP-BAND Surgery story and post it on This Time It Counts (the instructions are on the page). In your video, you can talk about your LAP-BAND Surgery journey. Also, you can mention and talk about how BariatricPal has played a role in your LAP-BAND Surgery success . This project will help reach thousands of potential LAP-BAND Surgery patients who are trying to make the right …

Maybe some people can eat slow, not drink right after meals, and follow a low calorie diet perfectly right after getting banded, but as my posts clearly show ???? I really don't think I can stick to those rules or changes in my eating habits until I am forced to after having enough fills. I am at 5cc now after 3 fills and definitely not in the green zone yet, I start off doing good after each adjustment but then as I realize I can eat how much and whatever I want still, etc. Its hard not too.. Obviously or I wouldn't have a weight problem in the first place. Is there Anyone here that didn't adhere to the rules of the band until they had to? Until they had enough fill…

I'm happy to finally find people who understand the struggles! I have attended support groups, but most patients now have the sleeve. I had my LapBand surgery about 7 years ago. I had a really difficult time though out the first year trying to find my "sweet spot", once I did, I was golden. I lost about 50-60 lbs without any (real) trouble. I was pretty tight, but learned to adjust my life. I reached about 10 lbs of my goal weight when things started going wrong. I hadn't had an adjustment in over 2 years, but all of the sudden, I couldn't eat, hardly drink... I had a complete un-fill and after some testing, my Dr. diagnosed gallstones, and I had my gallbl…

Surgery at KCBaratrics next month, anyone else in the area?

Hi all, i know everyone is different, but i just want to get a general idea of how many cc's it took for people to get in the green with a 12cc band...

Looking for a local mentor to help me through this process. Surgery date is Aug 19th 2015.

There will always be tomorrow morning. The only difference between one day and the next is what you decide to do with it. What you do does make a difference, too. Even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time, and even if you seem to be headed away from your goals rather than toward them, you are the most important actor in your life. Every day we make choices. Every evening as we get ready for bed, we are the consequences of the day’s choices. The final choice we make at the end of the day is to either give up, especially after a discouraging experience, or to rededicate yourself to your path starting the next morning.

I have a question..(had 2nd fill yesterday and forgot to ask). I have never been just a plain Water drinker. I do drink tons of decaf tea. They probably sounds silly but is that as sufficient as the water? I remember in the pre-op stage they said you can substitute crystal light so wouldn't decaf iced tea with artificial sweeter be ok? As long as we are hydrating?

Hello I had my Lapband done in Dec 2005 at NCMC ( Dr. Johnell Office)... I was doing pretty good... fr 323 to 267 lbs... I had a good diet going and was working out daily. When my hours at work change ( was from 2PM x 10 PM to 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) seem like my diet ended and I stopped working out. I since then regain my weight....DR. Johnell no Longer has his practice with Banner Health. Now my problem is I have my insurance with Banner Health, so I am looking for others that have the same insurance as I like to get back into a doctors office for fills and follow ups. If you work for banner health and are getting fills from another provider please contact me. T…

I'm 29yr and was just banded 6/19 my start weight was 220lb and I'm 5'. From preop diet to now I am at 201. First off this is tough stuff!! I absolutely hate protein shakes...tried so many they stink!!! I'm still on full liquids and its just as hard.... I force down 4oz of protein shake in the morning (holding my nose) and another at night... In between chicken broth, jello, water, cream soup... I have started to feel like I made the wrong choice but I think I just need a reminder of all the good. My question why can't I have fruit smoothie!!! :-( anyone else here close in the process like me that we could journey together???

I just need someone to tell me that once I get to the green zone..and just with the band in general, that it's not a diet.. I am so tired of struggling with diets, counting calories, trying to follow certain meal plans, etc. I want the stress and the struggle to be done! I just want to be able to eat less and be active and lose the weight, then maintain it

Since my lap band im unable to drink beer, get very very bloated. Please tell me what y'all are able to drink.....

Starting out at 198 (kinda) **** Hi folks. I don't have as much to lose as somebody who is, let's say, 302 pounds. I weigh 198 and have been at this weight for quite a while. I go to the gym once a week (it used to be more) and I eat an average of probably 1900 calories a day. My diet is currently free of most processed sugars and all soda, focusing on high Protein, low carb, and frequent salads with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. I do have several cocktails each weekend. I have the band and want to get to my goal weight of 145. ***** Hi folks. That person above is me - today. I was actually banded 16 months ago. I started out at 302. I lost weight like crazy an…

I've just done a quick conversion from metric to imperial, and realised that if I was one of my fellow bandsters that live north of the hemisphere, I'd be celebrating Onderland!!!!!!!! Happy days everyone xxx

Hi everyone. I don't post to often but read fairly often. I'm so drained. For weeks I haven't felt right. I was banded in Nov 2013. PreOp I was 305, Day of surgery I was 287, and today I'm at 218. I'm quite happy with my progress. I've learned to use my tool. I work out and get about 1500 calories in a day, usually. But the past month has been a struggle to just get in 600 calories. It's like everything I eat makes me sick. Then I caught my son's stomach bug 2 weeks ago and that did me in. I vomited too many times to count in 24 hours and that was with anti-nausea medicine. Once I recovered from that I developed horribbbbbble acid reflux. I wake up nightly by chocking on …

Anyone from Utah out there?

I had my band placed in July 2009. I initially felt great and lost 60 pounds. I couldn't eat the meat and protein requirement. I vomited all the time. A few years later, I was extremely constipated and nauseated for months. I had a colonoscopy (nothing showed) and endoscopy. The endoscopy showed I had developed Barrett's Esophagus. So, I had acid reflux after the band but never had heart burn or obvious symptoms. This turned my bottom esophagus into the lining of my stomach. The dr also said I had IBS. In another year I had a hiatal hernia. It's now 2015 and I am nauseated several days out of the week. I gag randomly throughout my day. I get sick very easy. My stomach is …

I'm a little over two years post op and throughout this journey I've constantly struggled with finding that LINE where I'm always mindful of my choices but yet don't obsess over them, where I can live my new life but my new life doesn't control or change every aspect of ME. So, a few months ago I decided to take a HUGE step out of my comfort zone and chose to let my "new norm" do it's thing which to me meant not coming on this site, not counting calories, not journaling my food, you know the things I thought healthy people didn't worry themselves with. This was a huge eye opener for me! During my hands off approach I flexed 5lbs which isn't the end of the world, it …

Did anyone's surgeon do blood tests for B12 or iron deficiency at some point after surgery? I'm almost 9 months (down about 70lbs since pre op) and my surgeon hasn't done any testing. Wondering if it's something I should ask for.

Does anyone know of a support group that has a good turn out, a clothing exchange, and tips to share in this area??

Can anyone explain why some days our band feels tighter than others?? I've been going along just nicely for s fair while... Smaller portions, chewing more, stopping at full... Today though, I just can't seem to eat and have had a few stuck episodes.. I am much better now and just happy to call it a day on the eating for the day... Obviously still not used to the little surprises we get along the way.

How much can you eat when you're at your sweet spot? Be specific...approx. how many bites of food and what kind of food. Like if it's Soup...is it a cup or half cup or if it's meat...is it the size of a deck of cards or smaller? If it's a meal...what does it consist of and how much? I'm just having some problems and I'm trying to figure out if I'm eating too much or something.

I am sure this has been discussed many times. There are so many different doctor recommened quantities. My doctor said I should be able to eat most of a Healthy Choice meal or about 8 to 9 ounces of food. Some say 4 ounces. Just curious what everyone is doing.

Does anyone use the 21 day Fix program?

Looking to see if anyone north of Austin looking for someone just to chat or support or maybe even get together once in awhile. I was banded November 27th...down 25lbs...