LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Ok here's my story and was wondering your thoughts. In 2009 had a 10 cc realize band put it. Worked awesome. Lost 120 pounds. Then on a family vacation a bite of a hot dod got stuck and body tried to throw it up, didn't work spent the next 3 nights in a D.C. Hospital. Long story short I broke my band! But at the time we didn't know that. So a few months went by and I gained weight. Went in for a fill, and felt fine next day could eat like I did pre band. Doctor was clueless, he just keep filling me. Couple more months and zero restriction. I decided to change doctors (my original one had just been kicked out of the hospital for too many law suites or something…

I had Lapband done in 2006 in Wisconsin. It was not a successful surgery for me. I now live in Texas. Since living here (year and a half) I discovered my port is disconnected. Now experiencing pain and a lump in the area of the port. I found a doctor, in network, and my insurance company gave me the billing codes for my situation, which would be a technical reason. Today, I was told by the clinic they charge $500 to transfer care. No other explanation except, their policy is a $500 fee to transfer care. Not billed to my insurance, out of pocket, just to get in the door. Didn't say anything regarding the $500 being applied to future charges. Has anyone ever heard of this s…

How much loss did you have with the band during induction. I'm going to low carb again. This is the only way I can lose. I want to see if this helps at all before I make an appointment for another fill. I would ideally love to lose 6 lbs by the end of this month... We will see.

I Didn't believe that the TOM could cause restriction, but I'm starting to see a pattern. I get stuck every time my monthly just about to start. I thought this was an old wives tale but I'm beginning to think it's true. Does this happen to anyone else?

Today I'm at the pre opt appt thank god I call because I thought it was next Monday. Lol

It's going on three years since I've gotten banded. I started at 214, got down to 172, back up to 186. I am hoplessly failing the band. My problem that I didn't consider before the band, I'm a GRAZER! I literally do what cows do, I graze. All day, every day. I wake up in the morning thinking about food. I go to bed, just having had a snack first. UGH! The lapband is amazing in that it helps with my portion size, and it keeps me from eating a bunch of carbs, but it doesn't keep me from eating two pounds of bacon throughout a day. I don't know what I'm really asking of ya'll or what I'm doing. I just don't know where to turn.

Hello. My name is kelly. I needed a little bit of advice. You see, I am 19 years old and got banded in august of 2014. Well i cheated from the very begginning. I ate mcdonalds two days after surgery. I havent gone back to see my doctor. I kind of just never showed up to my appts for my fills and stuff. I am able to eat as much as i could before surgery. Like for instance, not too long ago I ate taco bell nachos, two burritos, and a crunch wrap and could probably fit a little more if i really wanted to. Its no problem. But I am ready to get back on track and do things how i am supposed to and lose this weight. No more excuses. It is all my decision and if i cheat its not b…

I was banded on Nov 12, 2014. I've been doing very well, until a seperate physical issue arose. It left me tired and hungry from my symptoms. I'm eating too much now and getting pain. It's stressing me a lot and I seem to be returning to old, bad habits! I just need the right encouragement to get back on track that understands these struggles! Thank you!

Hello all! I was banded in August of 2013. Two weeks ago, I realized I was able to eat a bit more than normal but still not too much. In hindsight, I realize my band was likely too tight before and I didn't realize it. I did have several episodes of food coming back up. I feel different now but great. The problem is, nothing changed... No adjustments. I was just able to eat more one day. Any idea what may have happened? Unfamiliar with signs of band slippage but also unsure if that's a possibility because the amount of food I can tolerate is still limited. (approximately one cup.) Has anyone else ever experienced anything of the like? My surgeon is 3.5 hours away &…

Ok...so hopefully I don't upset anyone with this. I know we all gain/lose at our own rate. And healthy is what we all want to be! but what are realistic goals? I feel like I need something to work towards...but would I be setting myself up for failure if I put a number on how much I wanted to lose each month? And does anyone out there use shakeology or thrive? And do we need it? Or is the band along with our lifestyle change enough? I feel like the band is an excellent tool...I just don't know if I should be doing anything else in conjunction with it....besides eating less and moving more. I'm going to discuss this with my dr. When we meet the first week of Feb.…

I, like many other bandsters like to keep my surgery private. Unfortunately, I work in a position that requires the wearing of a uniform. When anyone is injured, or for females who become pregnant, we are required to move to desk duty and wear civilian clothing. My surgery was done 12/31/14, which I took several days off for after informing my Supervisor (no way around it). When I came back, because of the healing process, I had to be placed on desk duty for the 4 week healing period. Of course the rumors fly because everyone assumes I am pregnant. No one will ask if I am even ok, except for the ones who come in on the following shifts. If they ask, I just tell them I am …

Need ideas for soft foods. I start my soft food stage this coming Friday, so excited, as only having liquids sucks (4 days po)

Hey! I am new to this forum and have been just cruising around and reading. I am about to begin the journey towards LAP-BAND...I am going to the education seminar for Dr. Steinberg next week. I am very excited as I have prayed about this for a couple of years, but our previous insurance would not cover it. Our new insurance pays for it, so I am going for it. :biggrin: I was wondering if there is still anybody out there in my area?

Hey I had a quick question... And it might sound silly When you are having soup broth or a creamy soup Do yall measure liquids? Yogurts? Will it hurt if I don't? Just curious and wanted to hear yalls opinions

Today is going to be a day that happens occasionally living with the band...I already can predict how it will be. First, it's 5 am, having my coffee, playing on my laptop. I will head to the gym and run my 5 miles when they open today at 6. Then I will have my high Protein smoothie. My wife and i will then drive to the train station and head into the city to see a Broadway play this afternoon...after which, we may or may not have dinner...I DID NOT make any reservations, so we will probably just head back to Penn station, then head back home. By the time we are back in our car, and have time to stop somewhere to eat, it will be about 8pm....my poor wife has to eat…

I'm 12 weeks pregnant and have not had morning sickness during this pregnancy except for a few mornings when I know I just needed to eat (never vomited). But in the last week or two I've been getting more nauseous and I'm so afraid that I'm going to either find out that my band has slipped or I'll vomit and it will slip. I'm completely unfilled just for reference. Tell me I'm crazy. If it continues, I'm going to go see my band doc. ETA: I am noticing that my stomach is rumbling really hard because it's on empty, but when I take even one bite sometimes I'll get the "I overdid it" left shoulder pain.

I had a fill on Monday and have been eating fine but am not able to drink without throwing up, does anyone know why?

I had fill no. 2 today of .5ml (first fill was 3ml). That was at 3.00pm this afternoon having had lunch at 12.30pm. It's now 7.20pm and I have no desire at all for dinner... First time I've had this feeling and I like it... Lets hope it lasts...

Hey guys! I see there was a group for the Dallas area and wanted to know if they meet anymore or if anyone is interested in starting one ? I was banded 5/6 and I'm searching for work out buddies

Does anyone see Dr Hololver? What was your experience like?

First note, it has literally been years since I have thrown up. I have always been really healthy- I haven't even had a cold in years. Vomiting had nothing to do with my band and it was just once. I had a reaction to a medicine I took yesterday morning. I didn't have any food in my stomach, just coffee. I have been had a slight cough since then, not just at night. My cough is not bad at all; just irritating. I know that if it gets worse to let my doctor know but I'm not worried at this point. My question is how long will this last?

So back in July I got sick put on about 50 pounds in 12 days. They took everything out of my band since then I put on another 30 pounds so in total 80 pounds. I had lost 210 pounds. I am starting to get fluid back in my band but this time the weight doesn't seem to be coming off like it did when I first had the surgery I was going down 15 pounds a month but right now I am not loosing anything! Any suggestions on what I could do?

Hi, my journey started 6 years ago today and up until a couple of months ago all was well, but now I'm having problems, really bad acid reflux to the point im sick , I have to take 90mg of Lansoprasil a day to keep it at bay, the hospital group who I had it done with don't want to know unless I pay £500 for swallow to see what's going on or £150 to have some fluid taken out!!!, I can eat nearly everything but fluid I'm finding hard to swallow and the gurgling noises I make after drinking is really embarrassing . Any suggestions would be helpful oh and if put on 1.5 stone

Banded fall of 2013. Lost 63 lbs over 10 months post op. But for some reason my capacity to eat more food and not be satisfied for extended periods has occurred. I do not vomit nor do I feel nauseaus. I have regained 50 lbs of the 63 mlbs lost. I am a male, 270 lbs and have 7.5cc in a 14 cc band. My surgeon is a wonderful Dr but very conservative with fills Tends to only give 3/4-1 cc per fill per visit if that much.. Also he often tells me that I am to blame for my overeating (which I am) that I am using food as a "drug"....I feel I am not getting the most out of the band itself. With that all said, I did not have the surgery to feel hungry again 20 minutes after eati…

I had my lap-band done on 27 November 2014 and have had one fill and due for another this Friday. Has anyone ever felt that they have a stitch in their side (on the port side)? Is it connected to the Lap-band or just some random thing that I'm feeling at the moment?

I am beyond thrilled to let you know that I am over that horrid slump of last week and have managed to lose 1.5kg this week - bringing my total weight loss so far to 13.5kg. I really believe that getting back to my usual work routine was a big help. I am heading to the surgeon tomorrow for my 2nd fill which I am so happy about. As mentioned previously, I am able to eat a decent amount of food although I am making pretty wise choices. I've managed to massively reduce the amount of bread that I eat. In my old ways, I could easily polish off 2-4 slices of bread per day without even thinking about it. I really thought that reducing bread would be a difficult thing fo…

Boy do I really need to work on it! I am about three weeks post op and in Stage 4 eating (after soft foods/"eat anything"). For lunch I had a small grilled chicken salad no dressing to save calories. While eating it, I read an email that our boss had bough us pizza. UGH. I wasn't going to do it, but I was still hungry at the end of the dressing-less salad. The not one but two slices were flimsy. Barely any crust, sauce or anything. I hate to even log it in my MFP but I have to. Can't wait for first fill. Pressure in my stomach didn't happen until 3O min or so after finishing. Sad.

Hello! My name is Simone 24 married with two babies 16 months old and 3 month old! I have always struggled with my weight throughout childhood into adulthood! When I was pregnant with my first daughter Victoria I reached 140kgs and developed gestational diabetes after I had her I made the decision to be banded! I met with the surgeon and scheduled the surgery for early December 2013 I then found out after losing a few kgs I was pregnant with my son! So my weight loss journey was put to a holt while I was growing my baby boy I gd to get the Fluid removed due to myself losing too much weight for the pregnancy the general surgeon that removed the fluid may have damaged my po…

I have noticed that I have an awfully lot of flem in me. When I get sick that is what it mostly is. Sometimes when i burp flew comes up then too. Is this normal? Does anyone else have this problem.

Well here goes...I literally backed out of Gastric sleeve surgery last minute and I feel like a looser having failed myself yet again..I was sitting there waiting for surgery for hours and hours all hooked up to the IV and within 1/2 hour before surgery I backed out. I guess Im not mentally ready for it and couldn't bring myself to justify cutting half my stomach out on an otherwise healthy body. Im 295 right now, but have always been very active and have no real health issues other than a genetic blood thing that would pre dispose me to clotting. Im just afraid to do the gastric sleeve, and was wondering if the lap band was a viable option for me at this time. I hav…

I copied and pasted, below, some of my early posts from the first few months after band surgery. I was so enthusiastic and on board with my new lifestyle. I was fully committed to learning everything I needed to know in order to succeed. I did not want to hear anything from anyone who was saying their band didn't work out. There were people who posted that they followed band rules and lost their band due to slips, erosion or esophageal dilation. I countered that very few complications are band caused. I suggested that perhaps they over ate, ate too fast...you get the picture. I was wrong to do that. It's true that early in our band journey we NEED to hear posit…

Oh man, I love this!!! I can't believe how much difference it makes to use a Ninja blender for a Protein drink! I took my usual 8 oz skim milk and Bariatric Advantage chocolate powder and put in 2 tbs healthy Peanut Butter and some Fiber powder. Blend. Then some ice. WOW!! It tastes like a frosty from Wendy's ...no, even better!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all, Question to all lapbanders. I just had a recent fill 1/7/15, that put me in 6.5 cc in my band. After that fill, I cannot sleep at night, kept having acid reflux at night, coughing ...these things never happened to me until this last fill. Moreover, I kept on throwing up esp when I eat protein like chicken. Even oatmeal in the morning seems to be a problem. I guess I shouldn't eat in the morning? Any advice would help. I have scheduled a visit on 1/13/15 with my surgeon. I think I should ask them to remove some fluid.... Thanks for your time...

I am a year and a half post op. I have lost almost 60 lbs. I take 12+ scripts a day and have a dozen or more chronic conditions. I have no regret in my decision for lapband. But since 6 months post op I have been losing what little hair I had. I need to have ideas on how I can get more protein in my diet that aren't too complex...on a low budget...a deep depression and can't make myself eat much. I have only 3 cc in my band. So if you can help...Tia

oops triple post

oops triple post

One of the healthiest and tastiest things that Portuguese people eat is their Soups. Their creamy and filling and full of Vitamins. This is a Soup for people who hate to eat vegetables and who don't get enough minerals and vitamins. There are many variations so I will start with the basics. The base for any Portuguese soup: -1 cup cubed pumpkin or acorn squash (Portuguese use pumpkin but I bet you can use any variation of squash and it should be nice, I know it sounds weird but trust me these soups are great!) -2 cups carrots cubed -1 medium onion chopped -1 cup scallions chopped -2 medium potatoes cubed or 1 can of Beans (your choice they usualy use navy or b…

Hi there; I am contemplating having my band removed. Does anyone have mid thoracic back pain? I am convinced that the band has something to do with it.. Am I crazy?? lol

I really need some help or answers if anyone out there has ever experienced this problem. Starting in Oct. I came down with pneumonia, went to Dr. had the usual Zpack, Steriods, Shots, cough pills, plus 3 inhalers, EVERYTHING! In Nov. I am still coughing, my PCP sends me to a lung specialist, she sent me for these breathing tests which I did not do so good, also lung Dr. sent me for MRI's. Tests came back negative with cancer but lung capacity and breathing functions were very very low, not good. Never a smoker so I was not scared about cancer but concerned somewhat since I am having these issues. Ok, she tells me long story short possibly my HBP medication could be m…

Hello Band Buddies We will be holding the Lapband coffee Group in Brampton for the month of October a week earlier because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Lapband Coffee Group – Brampton Monday, October 6th - 7:00 p.m. Second Cup (Located in the Longo’s Plaza) 7700 Hurontario Street, Building E, Unit 504 Brampton, ON The Lapband Coffee Groups are open to EVERYONE who has had Lapband Surgery or if you’re looking into the lapband process, recently banded, or a long time "Bandster". This is a great way to find out about the lapband from individuals who have had the surgery and to ask questions or just listen to individuals share their lapband journey experience.…

Hello all! Does anyone have good smoothie recipes using Protein powder or good amount of protein from another source? Cheers all! Jess

Well looks like i have a medium sized hiatal hernia...hmpf! Is this a reoccurring thing for lapbanders? My Dr says he wont put bands in people with reflux issues or hernias. I wonder if the band itself caused this? Any ideas? Find out Aug 18 at Dr visit whats to be done.

How many calories are we suppose to be under? Does it depend on the individual?

Hello - I am waiting for approval for my lap band surgery. I will be 62 in July and have breathing problems along with high blood pressure, kness that are begging me to loose weight, and legs and feet that love to shoot pain through out my body. My question to you people over 60 is-- do you think the surgery is working well for you? Have you had any problems that you might not of had if you were younger? Was the recoupe time longer? I have a problems with choking right now. After my surgery do you think I will choke more? I am just scared to death of surgery, however, I am also scared of what will happen if the weight does not come off. Can you feel the lap…

Hi all, as I type this I realize many of us banded folks feel like giving up, for me I'm afraid this is my only option. I was banded in June of 2010 and lost 100, since I have lived life and life has taken its toll. Death of loved ones and a divorce has pushed my eating over the edge. I have gained quite a bit of the weight back, I'm afraid I have stretched my pouch or esophagus. I can eat full meal and feel no restrictions. Occasionally I get stuck if I'm in a hurry, but I know how to deal with that. And the most damaging habit is now drinking with meals. I see my doc in the morning and pray after the flora he will tell me no damage to my band, pouch or throat. I …

My last two appointments I was not able to get a fill which I need....The first time I was only able to get maybe a few drops but the second time the band pushed back and wouldn't allow a fill. The weird part is my file said I have 8.5cc but they are only pulling out 5.6cc's. I had an upper GI done and there is not a kink. My band is supposed to hold 10cc's. I am soooo confused but I am hearing that the bands are having alot of issues now. I was banded in 2010 and curious to know what is the issue. The doctor said it may have a kink but it was confirmed no kink. Have anyone else had this issue and if so, what was your end result?

I've had my band in for 4 years now and lost 192 pounds. I still struggle with it, as its still teaching me how to eat properly (slower, and smaller amounts). Still working on those bad habits. But i was wondering how long does the band work for...is it just left inside you when no longer fit for purpose. That's one thing I never asked about when having it fitter.

January 28th is my date. I meet the surgeon this Thursday. I'm not on any diet yet. I suspect I will be after the visit. Calling all January buddies

I'm new to this forum, so I just wanted to say hi, and see if there are any others out there around my age. I am 72, but people tell me I don't look it (yeah right LOL) I had the lap band 5 weeks ago, and I hope to get my first fill on Monday. Everything is going pretty good for me, and I really want to get some restriction so I am not so hungry. At first I wasn't hungry, but once I start eating, I want to eat more and more. Anyway, I would like to lose 60 more lbs. I have already lost 25 since Feb. 25. So I am right on target. I live near Boise Idaho. Bye for now. McKenna:tt2: