LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

I've had my lap band for 8 years and unil about 1 year ago I went from 230 to 140. The band was greaat, it limited my food intake like I expected it to do. It didn't allow me to over eat. Prior to last year, I was maintianing my weight between 140 and 143 UNTIL LAST YEAR. I noticed that I was able to eat without restictions! I FELT THAT MY LAP BAND SOMEHOW DISAPPEARED. I told my doctor, he thought my band had slipped, however, the x rays did not show any change. I've been dealing with this ever since. I am now up to 170 and climibing. I tried other diets lose a few pounds then gain it back. My doctor just blows it off, telling me I 'm eating too much of the wrong thin…

My doctor has not given me a fill in 3 months. I have some restriction, but the weight is not coming off. I stop eating when I get full . I had my band unfilled last February and it has been downward from there. I'm feeling really defeated with this whole process. Now she wants me to keep a food journal. It's very frustrating.

After 19 .5 weeks, I think I am finally feeling restriction with my band.. I had a Fluid fill on Thursday and I am sitting here on Monday at work eating my chicken and salad for lunch and finding that I need to chew like I've never chewed before. The first couple of bites were a bit difficult to swallow so I'm slowing it down and taking smaller bites which is working well. I am actually at the ever elusive green zone??? I really hope so...

Hi, I am looking for people who were banded with TLBC in Toronto (now Slimband) to see if they have been advised that they are no longer going to support us free of charge. I called their last week and I was told that they no longer can afford it financially and it is not fair to their new memebers to honor those old contracts. They honored them for a awhile but since Dec 2013 they can no longer and as patients we are no longer obligated to seek services(fill and defills) from them since we don't have any contractual obligation with them. I can't seem to find a contract that I would have signed with them, not even sure if I got one. Does anyone else have a copy of t…

I will like to know if anyone had lap band done over gastric bypass. I had mine done in early March with in the 2 weeks i had lost a total of 23 pounds and can't drop a pound since then. I drink my protein and have my fiber I petty much have carb twice a week and my sugar count is 12gm and less. Nothing fry. I will like to get some feed back from anyone. Thank you.

3 years post-op with a total of 127 lbs. lost and I could not be happier! However, I would like to lose an additional 40 lbs. and cannot seem to be able to get past the after fill reflux. It is absolutely unbearable at night. Don't seem to have any reflux symptoms during the day. I have tried elevating my bed with books under the posts. I even bought a wedge pillow to go under the mattress and none of these changes had any effect on my reflux. Doctor gave me a script for Prilosec and no change. Had to go back to doctor and have fill reversed and now everything is fine as far as reflux goes. Doctor has no suggestions as to how to get past this situation. Does an…

Where Is your port located?

In one way I am a band success story. From having the band fitted in 2013 I started losing weight and never stopped went from 220lbs to 110lbs inside the year with very little problems. Then the band became tight, the heartburn started and the reflux unbearable when I got to the docs office I weighed only 106lbs ( I am short, only about 5ft 2ins) but he took a look a me and said complete unfill and if that doesn't work then out with your band. I went home a slowly got better, I put on weight to 114lbs, I could eat better and then I even dropped the reflux tablets. That was all in Feb 2015 and now even with the complete unfill all the symptoms are back and I am devastated…

New banded !! Any support groups around Las Vegas? I'm 4 days banded and I feel great

I had my lap Band surgery in December, my first fill five weeks later, and my second fill this past Thursday. I had no problems with my first fill, except for disappointment that I didn't feel any restrictions. With my second fill, however, I've had burning and pain at the port site. Is this normal? It hurts to bend or even touch the area around my port. It feels almost like it did two weeks post-op. Has anyone else had this problem and should I be concerned? I still don't feel any restrictions with my band yet, even with 2 1/2 cc of Fluid.

I was wearing size 18 women's jeans before surgery. I easily wore size 14 jeans today!! I decided to try them on cause my others were getting too loose to wear, fully expecting them not to button. Excited!! Haven't been able to wear them in several years.

Here is my new diet. Every morning I have one cup of coffee with two table spoons of half and half and 4 teaspoons of splenda. I eat one large scrambled egg with half a tablespoon of butter to cook them in. Plus 2 Oz of sausage. I also take 4 Bariatric vitamins throughout the day and emergen c everyday. For morning snack I have a protein shake. For lunch I have a protein shake and for dinner I have about 2-3 ounces of grilled chicken and about half a cup of veggies. If I'm still hungry before bed I have another protein shake. My carbs stay below 50 and my calories stay below 1300. I am starting a gym next month and also starting an aerobic swimming class 3 times a week. I…

Hi! I'm Stephanie. I have been banded for 5 years! I have been noted as being one of the success stories for my area. I lost a total of 137 pounds with hard work and then assistance of my band! After losing the weight, I had 10 pounds of excess skin removed and I was ready to move on with my life! My surgeon that removed the skin told me that in some band patients, as the swelling from my skin removal subsided, my band could potentially tighten. Did it ever! I got down to 147 pounds and eventually had trouble drinking Water (all of a sudden one morning). I went and talked with my lap band doc and he decided to take all of my Fluid out. He scheduled an upper GI and I wa…

Hey there. So...I had the lap band in 2008 and had a pretty stable and successful lap band life up until last year. I started at 225 and the lowest I got was about 165. My goal is around 155-160 so I was pretty close. Last year, around this time of year, I started having a lot of issues PBing and I could barely keep anything down. This went on for a few months and it was very difficult because I moved to a new state and the doctor there was giving me problems about scheduling an appointment because I had the surgery elsewhere. After dealing with it for so long, getting frustrated then finally throwing up blood, i decided to go to the ER. They unfilled me completely and sa…

Help help help. I need help loosing my last 20. I have hit a 2 year platau ! I am really In need of some daily diet plans. I really don't eat much I do tend to graze. Please need help

Okay so in 2008 I had the Lap band surgery that was covered by my insurance. For the first few years it was great and I lost a ton of weight, then one day it changed. For the last 4 years I have been in constant pain and discomfort, I didn't have insurance or the disposable income to figure out what was wrong with my band until recently. It turns out that my port has flipped over completely along with a major band slip. I have regained all of my weight but the main issue is the pain from the port. If any pressure is put on my port at all it feels like someone just gut punched me. I can't let Water hit it in the shower, loose shirts only and I can't even sleep on my left s…

Last night I attended my very first yoga class, and on top of that it was bikram yoga!!! Holy Moly, I've never been so hot and sweaty in my entire life. Anyway, I was eating my dinner about half an hour after the class and managed to get a bit of a stuck episode.. At first I thought it was just me not chewing properly as tends to happen when I am beyond hungry. However, I continued to vomit until around midnight - even with no food left in the tank. I am wondering if it is more the shock to the system with being in that intense heat, or even if the band could possibly tighten during such exercises?? I've woken up fine and have had no issues with eating or drinki…

Hey Fellow banded friends, I have a question? I just had a fill on 03/17/2015 and it was a huge fill. 5CC. I feel fine...Im eating less food, not hungry at all, and not feeling too tight. Thank God. But every time I drink Water I have this discomfort that I feel. I am not in pain at all. I can eat and food goes down okay. No vomiting at all. I eat slowly and hear for the burb and I know I'm done. It's just this discomfort. I also get hunger pains, my stomach starts to hurt like if I am hungry, but I don't want to eat. I still feel full and not hungry.

I need a buddy. I was banded in 2008 and did great. I lost 94 lbs and kept it off until sometime in 2011. My husband lost his job and our insurance in 2011. We have not had insurance since then to cover any fills or visits for my lap band. Was actually calling for a fill when he lost his job. Needless to say I have put about 40 lbs back on and I need it gone. I forgot how I felt at this weight and I don't like it. Stress of no job, comfort food, etc. was my excuse. I need someone who has been there and can hold me accountable. All the sites have changed so much. Even RealizeMySuccess.com is gone. I had my fill information there and my weight loss info. Is a…

All day my eating is right on point until I put my kids to bed and me and the hubby sit and watch some tv and spend time together. Then I fall back into old habits of eating and having wine at night and it's not good. Anyone have any ideas of how to change this habit?

So for the last six months, as you can guess, I have stalled. My weight fluctuates anywhere between 80.5kg and 82.5kg - but can I break into 79? My body says "no thanks". Bit of back history, I was banded 4th man last year at 98kg, when I stalled I was about 83/84 - but my 2015 goal is to drop 10kg to 73/74. I have 6.125cc in a 10cc band. My dr said this is the tightest I can ever go, I might need a teeny unfill but see how I get on. That was back in December. I do PB, but this is more down to rushing and not chewing, as I can eat the same foods again when I am diligent with no problem. I eat about 900 - 1000 cals per day, sometimes more if I have a drink of wine. Bu…

I know we are not supposed to be on a"diet ".....But roughly how many calories are most of you eating? I have lost 50 lbs but have stalled since Jan. ....

So I'm 2 days post LB...yay! Done Thurs the 16th. Overall doing well. I'm on a full liquid diet and they would like 50-60 Gm of Protein. So prior to surgery I got GENEPRO and unjury. I used both prior and noticed maybe a little gassy feeling. Today I made Soup with the Genepro mixed in. No problems. Had some Jello, no problems. Then about 3 hrs after the soup and an hour after the jello I got terrible gas pains! Like my prior labor pains, it was sooo bad. Took gas x, pain meds and laid down with a heating pad. So was this from the protein or the jello? Did it come back from surgery? I had very little gas pains today until this episode. My belly is still all bloated b…

Hi I just had my band put in 5 days ago and still feel so very bloated. When should this go down or does it vary? Thanks

Hi......I am going for my initial consultation for surgery this Saturday. I can't wait, been battling weight ever since I was diagnosed with PCOS 15 years ago. I am also insulin resistant. A somewhat unrelated question but how open have you been with people about having your surgery? I am open about my PCOS etc, I suppose it's kind of an excuse for my weight etc but I am not sure if I want to share about my surgery with friends etc. I don't want to lie to people but I am not sure if I can cope with the negativity etc.........any advise would be greatly received!

I was banded March 26 2014 it's been a year and a month......I've only lost 38 lbs so far but it's 38 pounds gone forever as long as I can keep pushing through.... I haven't had a fill in a long time but I'm going back Wednesday to get a little put in to kick things back in motion..... I'm really trying to hit my goal weight of 165 currently 207 looking forward to getting into ONEderland ! Any advice on meal plans quick preps I would appreciate it!

Hello! I was banded in July of 2010 and I am struggling big time! I have issues with eating and drinking at the same time..Also, I haven't been able to quit drinking Coke. I am looking for support groups in the Coconut Creek/Coral Springs/Margate area. I need to figure this out soon before I totally give up. Thanks!! Denise

Hi im from south florida and just found this site a few days ago. I read your post today, and I see your surgery is tomorrow. I had lapband last week July 12. You will be fine!!! It doesn't really hurt. I am one week tomorrow and feeling great! Good luck let us know how it goes.

Dr was impressed with how I'm doing. ☺️. He asked how I'm doing with food and all and said it sounds like I'm close to green. He only put 1/2cc in this time as he doesn't want to get me too tight. I definitely feel a difference. I have been able to go 4 hours between meals but always felt I could eat more than 4oz (tried real hard to keep myself at the 4 though). Yesterday and today I've been full much before my food is gone. I really hope this is it. I'd be *thrilled* to be in the green zone already. Not sure if it's possible but I'll take this while it lasts. I have no idea how I'll get my required protein now though as I struggled to get it eating my full meals.

Hi all. Just checking in with a question about fills. When you go to your doctor for a fill, do they remove all Fluid in the band to check how much is in there? I'm a Kaiser Permanente patient. Got the band in October 2013. I'm only down 30 pounds since surgery day. They originally sent me to a surgeon outside of Kaiser but last summer stopped approving referrals to see him as Kaiser now has a WLS in the area. Well, ever since, I see a physician assistant at Kaiser. He appears very inexperienced with the band. They don't even do band surgery there. Strictly gastric bypass and sleeve. So, they are obviously not too keen on the band. Every time I go for an adjustm…

I have an interview coming up and needed to buy a new suit because I look ridiculous in my work clothes. All too big. I went to Macy's. Now I live in NYC so the flagship store is my home store so it's giant and overwhelming and for years I almost never shopped unless it was online because honestly what was the point? Nothing worked. Went to the 7th floor plus size section and felt so overwhelmed with my choices. I have no idea how straight size women shop in that store. There's too much to choose from. I found a suit size 20 and was happy. I then started to shop for a dress for a gala for my son's school. This would normally put me in a deep depression and I woul…

My Dr told me I needed to do 10,000 steps or exercise for a hour a day. I have problems with this and need help coming up with more ideas. I Love to walk but due to my back I can not walk for long periods of time.

I took 2 bites of a chicken quesadilla sitting in a padded booth (ok NSV. Can fit into booth at a diner) which I KNOW is tempting fate and what do you know... I get stuck. Which I knew was a big possibility and I still ate it. Which explains why I'm fat. I knew something was bad for me and I still ate it. I guess it's a learning curve. Spent 35 minutes getting it up. Also how long after getting stuck does it usually take people to get it up? For me it takes up to 40 minutes. Ugh!

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow after having all Fluid drained from my band last October. I'm hoping the results of my upper GI yesterday say that I can have fluid added back! I've gained 40 pounds after a successful 137 pound weightloss previously. Prayers needed, please!

I'm 25 years old and been married for 7 years now. I was banded a year ago on 2/24/14, 5 days post surgery my dad had a heart attack them 3 days later he was taken off life support and passed away. We went through the 6 month required documented dieting together (he was going to have the sleeve), we were each other support in this process. He had just received his surgery date the day before his heart attack. I have been devastated since losing him and feel that this grief has hindered my weight loss process! Eventually I was able to pick myself up and keep going with the weight loss but I'm just stuck at this spot. As of today I have lost only 40pounds, I feel that I sho…

I had surgery in 2008 and everything has been great! Recently though, I keep having a burning sensation in my upper left. It happens when I drink Water, even when I'm doing nothing but sitting there. It's intermittent, but I'm worried that it may have something to do with my band. Does anyone have any experience with these symptoms?

I'm a Bander, so I cannot talk about other surgeries, and that is why I'm posting this under the lap band section... A lot of people talk about the fear of overeating by going with too much "Slider Food" The theory is, at least the way I understand it, is that no matter how much restriction you have, these type of foods will pass right through easily, thereby cheating the band, and eating around the benefits of having the surgery in the first place. Yes, I get it...makes perfect sense to me....but there is something people fail to mention, and I remembered it the other day when I sat down in front of the TV with a pint of Ben and Jerry's "Cherry Garcia" Ice cream.... …

OK.. i suffer from sinuses.. i have had unfills only to be filled again .. to be unfilled once again.. how do i know when it gets tight? reflux.. anyway i can untighten the band without getting a unfill? my dr told me mucinex, and Clear liquids.. i do this.. sometimes it works.. someimes it doesn;t.. Does anyone have suggestions. Please help.

I had a milkshake the other day and I think I drank it too quickly now I have curdled milk that keeps coming back up, how do I stop it from happening?

Is or has anyone claimed their surgery on their taxes?....even to get a little bit back would be great thanks

Hi, I'm being banded on July 29th. Any other July banders out there?

Hi everyone, my surgery went fairly well. But oh, that chest cavity gas was a bear. I really started to appreciate my Gas-x tablets. So far I have had a 2cc fill which I really don't think it has done anything. Looking forward to the next fill in four weeks. My weight also hasn't changed much yet...kinda bumming me out. The only thing that I am doing is continuing SugarBusters diet and walking my neighborhood.

Is it me or are the lap band boards slow the last few weeks??

I'm wondering if anyone with a lap band has had experience or advice from their dr about how to deal with a stomach virus or food poisoning that causes uncontrollable throwing up. This has happened a handful of times to me pre-band. It's miserable, but survivable. However, now that my band is adjusted, I know I have a small opening at the top of my stomach. Not to be gross, but it would be like all of your stomach contents violently hitting a small funnel opening - I can't imagine that going well. I wonder, if this happens at night, is it cause to get to a hospital emergency room asap and see if they will unfill you? It's on my list to ask my dr next time I visit, b…

Hi all, I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the juice plus capsules? Has any one taken them with the band? I'm getting married soon and I was told they are really good for hair and skin? ????

I had my surgery on Wednesday 3/25. I am still in SO MUCH PAIN! My doctor only prescribed toradol for pain and it's just not cutting it. How long did you guys experience pain-those of you that had pain? I know some don't have any, but apparently my pain tolerance just isn't very high. I wake up every morning barely able to move, I had tears in my eyes just getting out of bed this morning. I have two little ones and I'm just ready to be back to myself caring for them.

I am looking for people with excellent doctors to help me out. I feel like I am taking too many supplements. I have to take 2 calcium pills, vitamin K, a multivitamin, b12, 3 hair vitamins. Does anyone get enough vitamins from food? Is this what everyone takes? Thy have never blood tested me for my amounts, this is the standard for their office. If I don't have to ale all this stuff, I don't want to. I read calcium pils aren't good for your heart. I already have blood pressure issues. Please let me know what vitamins your dr requires? Tia.

I had my lapband surgery in 2008. In Feb. 2014 I started having major blood sugar crashes, extreme exhaustion, the shakes, tons of night sweats and other symptoms. I went to my lapband doctor and they didn't think it was from my lapband. I have had tons of tests, CT Scans, Ultra Sounds and blood work. I went to a Gastroenterologist and had a colonoscopy and EGD. My endocrinologist swears it is all due to my lapband. He also said that I had diabetes even with the blood sugar crashes. Now I have gone from being hypoglycemic to high blood sugars. I had most of the Fluid removed from the band and I have going to a nutritionist and we were able to stop the crashes. I…

I got a fill on Wednesday which puts me at 5 cc. I'm trying to give it a chance, but cannot swallow anything other than liquid. I can drink water and protein shakes (slowly). I tried eating cottage cheese this evening and it hurt horribly after 2 bites. I want to be able to enjoy a little bit of food. How long to wait before considering a little unfill?

I just donated over half of my clothes which no longer fit me. At the top of my closet were a few straggler pants etc. I took them out today and found a brand new pair of Lands End shorts. I have not worn shorts in about 7 years. I put them on and not only did they fit and a little loose but I didn't look totally horrid in them. I am so happy to be back in shorts even if I don't look like JLo.