LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

So, I've had it with my closet and need suggestions for dealing with clothes. Targeting surgery for Aug / Sept. I'm not worried about having nothing to wear, because I have complete wardrobes in sizes 12 - 22. I even have one pair of jeans in a size 10, with tags still on, from my best weight loss effort many years ago. Even if Calvin Klein is out of style (is it?), I'm still going to wear them just because! All the clothes I do wear won't fit into my closet, because it's full of clothes that are way too small. I was thinking about pulling everything out an putting into tubs by size. Then, as I lose weight, I could donate one size and pull out the tub with the next…

Alright people.....how many of us just can't eat carbs??? The only time I lost any real meaningful weight in my life was when I went on Atkins. While there has been lots of talk about how harmful that diet is to your body, the fact remains that I think my body just refuses to lose any weight until I stop eating carbs. I'm not advocating eliminating fruits or veggies or all carbs in favor of bacon and real butter, but I think that as long as I eat white rice or pasta, eat breads or any other type of refined carb, my body is gonna hang on to every pound I've got. So my new years resolution is to eliminate as much refined carbs from my diet that I can, which is har…

I will make this short & to the point.. I am worried that my potential food addiction, emotional eating, mental hunger & cravings, my bipolar/mood disorder, my lack of sticking to diets ongoing for 12 years, the way I get depressed and moody when I feel hungry from lowering my calorie intake, the way I use food to comfort myself to be happy temporarily, the way I eat when I am every emotion from happy to stressed to sad, etc. etc.. I want to succeed with wls so bad..I want the depression from being overweight to finally end, I want this void I sometimes fill with my emotional eating to stop.. Can anyone relate? Have the same concerns? I need to hear suc…

I have moved in the last four years and the only local physician in-network has stopped placing Lap Band... She actually talks negatively about it. Needless to say, I didn't go back. It has been three years since my last follow up and I am failing. I have never lost more than 15 pounds with the band, but it did not come back. My last visit I had a stretched esophagus so they took the fluid out of the band to heal the esophagus. I want to see a new physician and I am looking for someone close with a good reputation in the Hershey/Harrisburg area (17033). I would like to get back on track and If that isn't possible I am willing to consider other options. I am also …

So it's summertime and I'm craving what else? None other than ice cream and milkshakes! Ugh! This was becoming a problem. Until I remembered how I used to make a nice little chocolate smoothie from protein powder, ice, and a little bit of milk during the early post-op period. So I decided to try something similar. I used 1 scoop of Quest peanut butter protein powder, 1 cup of Silk Cashew Milk, and some ice. Threw it all in the blender and WOW! AMAZING! It's just like drinking a peanut butter milkshake. You could do a little less milk and more ice to make it thicker too. Anyway, it ends up being something like 135 calories for the whole thing AND you're getting your protei…

Hi all, I was banded just over a year ago, and had really good results so far. I am eating healthier and exercising regularly however do have the odd slip up - especially when it comes to eating too quickly. I find it a lot easier to eat vegetables, however particularly struggle with most Protein - I don't tend to eat carbs now as I have always struggled with them. For the past 2 weeks I have been struggling to keep solid food down. I should mention I can have fluids / soft foods which are fine but I am worried I have had a slip. For example, I have just had some carrots and hummus and feel fine, I can also have porridge for Breakfast. My only symptoms are the …

Just curious I just watched the 8 Golden Rules for the first time. I am (as of today) 20 days post op and as I progress through my diet one instruction that my NUT was adamant about was not drinking 30 min before a meal and an hour after. One of the golden rules he talks about that not being the case anymore. Right now I am so scared to damage anything I follow every bit of the prescribed "recovery" diet to a T. So can I have sips of Water with my meals later on when I get braver?

So I need some advice. I have hit a plateau that has lasted more or less for the last month and I am getting frustrated???? I was banded on Jan 8th 2015 and I am down 45lbs. I am feeling great and moving so much better than ever before. The scale is just stuck and over the last few weeks my stress has turned into stress eating. I have not been making the best food choices and I have actually gained 2-3lbs. I just want to know what others have done to break their plateaus and to stay focused on their goals. My next goal was to be down to 50lbs by my birthday which is on July 6th but now I am stresses about that goal. I know things take time and will take their own course …

I had my first fill today. The surgeon was going to put 2-3 cc's in the band. When he put that amount and I had to drink water, the water would not go down. He had to withdraw the fluid until the water went down so I ended up with .5 cc for my first fill. He did however say that that was good because it won't take as long to get to the green zone and that I am responsive to the band. We'll see how the next month goes. I go back in July.

So my surgery was due on 12th of June, got a call Friday to tell me that it was being postponed AGAIN! Because I needed a psychiatric assessment! So over the weekend I have been eating like a woman possessed, I thought im not getting my surgery for another few weeks I can have my food freedom again for a while, so this morning I get a call from the nurse saying the psychiatric assessment is no longer needed and the surgery is still going ahead on the 12th! Prior to my phone call on Friday I had been doing the post op diet for 8 days, My question is, would I have done much damage to my liver shrinkage over my weekend foodathon, which didn't include alcohol and only 1 pud…

I was Oct 14 im only down 15 pounds.i have three fills restrictions lasted a couple weeks and then nothing i can eat all except bread like i never had it done. I have cancer and the meds is an appetite enhancer so i get to fight two evils :-(

After a loss of about 100 lbs. and bilateral hip replacements, I looked at myself in the mirror and was horrified at what I saw. My lower body was badly swollen from the surgery and my skin on my face and neck especially, hung and sagged. My hair was falling out from the weight loss and trauma of two surgeries in less than one year. I went to see a therapist to help me with my issues and have been working with her for more than a year. Shortly after starting to meet with the therapist, I had to undergo yet another surgery for an unexpected health issue. I had now been through three major surgeries in a span of 12 months. Now that I am really starting to feel healthy…

Do you find food is more or less of an issue in your life now that you're banded? I'm wondering if it's more of an issue because of all the preparations needed, or less because you're just not hungry as much. Other thoughts?

planning on getting lap band with plication but a little worry about my stomach being folded , i mean how long will it be safe to have it folded...?

A week early. But I was bored so wrote this anyway Well, nine years ago I weighed 248lbs at 5' 4" tall and 55 years of age. I didn't have any significant co-morbidities except moderately high blood pressure (which had to be controlled by meds) but my knees ached, walking was not enjoyable, even going upstairs was an effort. I felt lethargic and bloated all the time, I seemed to have a constant mild headache and had bad migraines every month or so. I was ashamed of my size. My all-time highest weight was around 290 and I had lost around 40lbs by a calorie-controlled diet a couple of years earlier and kept it off but I was starting to lose control again. Fast forward 15…

March 9th - surgery April 1 - first fill 0.5cc No change May3 - second fill 0.5cc No change June 3 - third fill 1cc this time Ate fine for supper (dr orders was liquids til late that night) chewed well, tiny bites, no problems. This morning can't keep anything down, cereal, ham slices, protein shake..... I had to manually make my self relieve the stuck food by vomiting. Later able to drink shake, yogurt, soup broth. Felt like it was on its way to get stuck so I stopped. I'm still starving but I stopped to keep from sticking. Will it start to loosen up and let me eat and finally be full?? I am going to see how the weekend goes but again, starving. Up till today I …

I got my lap band in 2007 and for a while I was using it and went from 340 pounds to 240 pounds. However shortly after getting the band I got into an abusive relationship that caused me a lot of stress. In 2011 I stopped going to the doctor entirely and I have been overeating ever since. I am back up to almost 300 pounds, which is only 40 pounds less than my highest weight pre-surgery. I am now divorced and I know I need to be accountable and go back to see a doctor. I have moved since the surgery and wonder if I should drive the few hours to see my initial surgeon in order to get a referral to a surgeon/doctor in my new town? Also if I have stretched out my pouch is th…

Hi Everyone, I've been looking into weight loss surgery for some time now and just had my first consultation with a surgeon. I'm leaning towards having the lap band and wanted to get some opinions/advice from people that have had the surgery. I'd love to hear the good, bad and the ugly so I know what I'm getting into. Here are some questions I have. Don't feel like you have to answer all these questions! Just looking to hear some opinions on the surgery. Thanks in advance!!! ???? -What is a typical meal like? Either Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Everything I hear makes it seem like so much of what you eat comes back up and a lot of the healthy foods, like Proteins an…

I recently had 3cc removed from my band. I've been having a great and I mean great deal of gas. I am not eating anything "junk". I eat meat, veggies and fruits period due to an auto-immune issue. My diet has not changed at all since the removal, even the amount I'm eating is the same. no carbonated beverages etc.

Hello ! This is my first posting. I am 66 yrs old. Same old, same old story off weight and diet yo-yo history for as long as I can remember. I am just beginning my journey with lap band surgery. Here is my history: My top weight ws 412. I am currently 256 on 5/20 at the orthopededic surgeons office. For the past 12-18 months I have battled with the same 5 lbs and no weight loss. I NEED TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENTS IN BOTH KNEES ! ASAP !!! My food program for the past four years has been a rigid glycemic index diet to ward off diabetes 2. That dietary switch changed my life's eating probably forever and took away 156 pounds. Once I was stuck on this plateau with…

Haven't been on for a while thought band life was going awesome. Below my goal weight by 15 pounds. And now I have gained 10. Constant feeling that something is stuck in my throat and having horrible problems with my neck and shoulder on left side. Scared to death my band has eroded. Seen my pcp who is sending me to ortho and ENT doctors, but I am afraid they are going to say the band is the problem. Just have that feeling.

I got a band in 2011. I had no success. But I know that's on me. But I'm ready to use it now. I'm just not sure what to do. Do I go get a fill? We don't live in the same town or near where I got it done. All fills will be out of pocket, but I can deal with that. I really don't understand how to use the band and how it's supposed to help. I've had to fills and never had any restriction. I do still get food stuck ever so often, but I never have restriction. Any advice?

I got a band in 2011. I had no success. But I know that's on me. But I'm ready to use it now. I'm just not sure what to do. Do I go get a fill? We don't live in the same town or near where I got it done. All fills will be out of pocket, but I can deal with that. I really don't understand how to use the band and how it's supposed to help. I've had to fills and never had any restriction. I do still get food stuck ever so often, but I never have restriction. Any advice?

After 2 weeks of my scales saying 'thanks but no thanks' I finally have a shift after my weekly weigh in.. Granted, it's only 1kg, but I'll take it. It's a real motivator to finally see it moving in the downward direction once again - now to just keep it that way. Even better than the scale moving, my BMI is now below 40!!!!

Does anyone know where to buy non-coring needles or huber needles or needles that can be used for fills in the UK? There are several places in the us but they don't ship to the uk

Ok, I know a rant is not how I should introduce my self but Im just frustrated! To start I was banded in march of 2008, My highest weight was 465 lbs and I lost down to 382 by the day of surgery. Things were sorta bad from the start, My doctor didn't want to give me fills because she said I wasn't losing fast enough and would only jump on to me when I went in so I tried to avoid it as much as possible. Finally at some where between 7 and 7.5 cc in a 14cc band I started losing weight, I was puking with every single meal (pretty much every bite) but I lost weight none the less. Then the GERD kicked in and it was BAD, it sent me to the ER several times thinking I was havi…

I have not contributed or participated in a very long time, But I hope this may be of some help. I have made wonderful progress with my lap band but it has not been without significant issues. I lost most of my weight by November last year (9 mo). But starting mid May I started having more and more problems with eating. After a month of losing way more food than I was able to keep I finally talked with my nurses. I had to go in and have a couple of ccs taken out of my band. Which I did NOT want to do. But it turns out my sensitive stomach did not go away with lap band surgery. I have a limited capacity to take in the Protein shakes, so I have to use them judiciously. I …

Been on this forum a while....I did leave for a while, about a year....it started to get to me and I had enough. When I first had my surgery, and found this site, (Lapband Talk)...there were many veterans I considered my mentors, and followed their personal testimony's with interest... But they are all gone......left. I noticed there are many other people who are doing well that just "Drop off the Radar"...did they have a major setback? Failure? Speaking from own feelings, I don't think so......bottom line, successful people simply do not fit in here, and don't have much in common....other than once upon a time they were beginners also. *****I am 100% successful...…

This is 5 weeks post op

Hello! I joined this because I have a meeting with a surgeon next week to consult on a lap band. I'm nervous and I don't know if I should do it or not. I have just had 2 kids back to back, my youngest is 6 months and my oldest 20 months. My weight is out of control and I am always hungry. I have literally been either pregnant or nursing for the 2 years and I am just used to eating more and I am miserable! I see mixed feelings on the band but I really want it! My concerns are silly but I am freaked out about the port. Can you feel / see it? Also does food make you sick? I have more concerns but I just wanted to get an overall opinion or if anyone has any insight. I need…

So I've seen many people and veterans post the comment "and my band lets me know when I eat what I shouldn't" and variations of that comment. I have fullness and I'm learning well when to stop eating. I have also done well at avoiding foods I shouldn't eat but have had no issue when I have let's say candy (rare). So tonight I'm working extra, a night shift, that I rarely work. I use to eat a lot of junk during this shift. So I slipped for the first time and had some junk (much less then before but still)...I feel a little sick to my stomach but not terrible. No other problems. I have wondered what happens to people when they make the above comment....sick, diarrhea,…

Need to know if I have to go to where I had surgery or can I check for a cheaper place, I am paying for the my lap band surgery, because my work insurance would not pay... but now I need adjustments and need to find a place that will work with me making payments.

I had surgery on 5/11/2015 and the book that my surgeon and support nurse gave me told me to avoid carbonated beverages for the first and second stages of my post op diet due to the air. Will I ever be able to drink them again? I really enjoy the zero drink and the ICE drinks that don't have sugar and carbs in them.

Lets just write how old we are, where we are living currently, like the city, and state, and then we can contact people privatly by messaging them if were interested. Cause with the people on here, its hard to tell who is single, who is not, and who is even interested in trying to date. Make sense... So I will start.. I am 28, I am a mom of 2 kids, I just got banded on the 24th of this month, I am about 5'9, and I live in the Portland, Oregon area. Open to a long term relationship. Contact me via private message... :thumbup::wub::frown:

Hello, has anyone recently had their band removed due to erosion and decided not go get another surgery? Also, if your insurance did not cover the surgery to put the band in, did it cover to get it removed? I'm pretty depressed and upset by this, but I do not have a choice and I do not want a sleeve, which is what the doctor suggested after removal. Also, for anyone that had this done, did you start gaining the weight back or could keep on losing? I'm hoping I have learned my lesson and will continue to eat like I'm banded and just try to keep myself full with Protein and Water, but right now, I'm just at a loss, I just had the EGD done today and this happened unexpected…

My surgery is April 6 in excited and nervous at the same time. I was told that gas x strips is a no no. I should walk walk walk.

Geez this weight loss thing can be tiresome. 2nd week in a row with zero loss... I know we all go through this and I'm not going to give excuses - just need to vent how frustrating it can feel!!!

Yesterday was 6 weeks since I became banded! I don't regret it at all!! I had lost 26 lbs pre-op by the day of surgery. Since surgery I have lost 14lbs, slightly more then 2 lbs a week so on target. I'm back to my gym and doing 45 min cardio, some circuit work as well. I was cleared to start abs today My surgeon had put 2.5 cc in my band at surgery and I got an additional 1 cc today. Since getting my band I definitely can't eat even half of what I use too in volume! It increased some this past week so it was time for a fill. I've only had one stuck episode (boy that hurt) and seem to be doing well with eating slowly, small bites and chewing well otherwise. The fill didn…

My snack food is popcorn. Can you still eat this? Or should I be giving it up all together?

Hi all I just have a quick question, I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I was just wondering if anyone has felt their band move before (up or down). Like, if you bend over or similar? I have felt this happen a few ties in the bath and while bending over to shave my legs or pick something up from the floor. There is no pain, just a weird pressure. It goes away when I feel the band move back into place. Hopefully its nothing to worry about. Thanks

5 weeks post op. Other suggestions?

click here to see story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3098288/Fashion-label-Lilly-Pulitzer-slammed-customers-images-taken-inside-company-s-office-reveal-fat-shaming-cartoons-posted-walls.html I found this article on a website and the link above has a picture of this clothing designers office with a couple of pictures showing fat woman and some comments next to the pictures.. its no wonder women of size dont like to shop at stores...i myself at my highest had to buy clothes online...one because i was too big to park in parking lot and walk into the store much less stand for 5 minutes.......and two it was easier to not have people looking a…

found this at my dr's office yesterday thought i'd share

some of you know the local news and my dr's office asked me to do a commercial..they have approved the footage and i am sharing with you....cant believe i am but i am..with my ole man and kabo the doberman

I am 2 weeks post-op today (May 27, 2015) and a couple of things have happened. 1. Someone (other than family) noticed my weight loss today! 26 lbs Since May 1st when I started the pre-op diet. 2. My blood glucose levels are awesome. I have stopped taking short acting insulin and reduced my long acting insulin by 40% I am so encouraged by these results that it has helped me stay focused and really want to eat healthier and exercise more. I have not cheated yet and that is something that I thought I would have a real problem with. Only problems I had were left shoulder pain (it's now gone away) and slow to heal scars. This is turning out to be the best decision I've …

A couple of us from Friendswood and Texas City Area have meet once for coffee or a bottle of water at Starbucks so we could talk about our experiece and would like others to join us. Men or Women are welcome. It doesn't matter what Dr you used we have different Drs. Also you could bring your spouse or a friend whatever makes you comfortable We are open to meeting anywhere that is public so people will feel safe. If you are interested just reply to this thread. It was really fun meeting others that are going through the same thing. We said an hour but we talked 2 hours. But people could and go as they want We thought we could meet once a month or more if some want to. …

I am 5 weeks post op and had my first fill yesterday. I was so nervous but it was nothing to be nervous about. I was weighed and had lost 18 pounds. I had a chat with the nurse, who was happy with my progress, and said as I've been doing well I don't have to have a fill but then we decided on 3cc's. I was asked to lay down, she found the port instantly and in a couple of seconds it was done, it was a few seconds longer this time as she had to check if there was already any fluid inside and there was...1 cc! So now I have 4cc's. I go back in 3 weeks, I'm excited to see what I can achieve till then. Now back to fluids for 2 days, sloppy 2 days and then back to normal food. …

Need to not give up, ive had lapband for 3 years this summer. I lost some and gain some back. I have two months this summer where i can dedicate to lose some pounds and get healthy. What works for you? I hate having this tool and not take advantage of it! Please help!

Weirdest thing, I was banded in March of 2009 and never had any issues and had great success with the band. I've lost over 100 pounds. About two months ago my port started getting tender it got progressively worse. I started running fevers and the pain was bad but not unbearable. I went to my band doctor and he said the band needed to come out. He put in the request for band removal surgery but my insurance denied it. He appealed and they finally approved it. It's started getting bruised and now I can't even tolerate the sensation of anything touching the area. Has anyone else experienced this?

I am 38 and started rapidly gaining weight 8 years ago (always been a little curvy though). I've been to several doctors who will only tell me to eat less and exercise more. I am very active and I eat healthy. My problem is portion control (and pasta). My BMI is 38% (5'6" and 240lbs). My doctors will not send me to dietician or give me appetite suppressants. I have tried on my own for the past 6 years and have continued to gain weight. All tests come back normal so it is not medical. I really want the lapband surgery. I am at the point where I just don't feel comfortable even clothes shopping with my daughters (3 teen girls) - let alone swimming or going out with friends.…