LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Hi Everyone, I would like to be the Nebraska Bariatric Pal support group leader. I am a lap band patient who has lost and has kept it off. I am very passionate about helping people get to their weightloss goals. It doesn't matter what surgery you chose. What matters is that you are doing what it takes to get healthy. I live in Western Nebraska and would be willing to cover this area. I also oversee several support groups in this area. I wish everyone the best of luck in their journey. Mona

Owing to the surgeon today and hoping to get my first fill. I was last there in February and he asked me why I was losing so much weight. That have my brain/emotional side permission to cut back on exercise and not pay as close attention to my portions and food choices. Now I have gained 10 pounds back and could just kick myself. The band is just a tool, and it is my job to use it responsibly. Hoping today puts me back on the track to weight loss and healthy choices. Thanks for listening!! Putting it in print makes me accountable.

I love my band but boy is it confusing sometimes! I have worked so hard for so long at losing weight that it's difficult for me to give up the idea of dieting. In my mind, I'm no longer dieting- I'm simply watching what I eat. No point in having a band if I'm going to eat garbage that slides right through it or things that impede weight loss, right? So when I saw my surgeon this week, he suggested I "stop being so controlling and let the band do the work". His point was not so much to stop watching WHAT I eat but more one of making good choices and then letting the band control the quantity. He says I am close enough to proper restriction that it's time to give up that co…

I am celebrating 3 years of being banded and have lost 60 lbs. I only have 20 more to go. Here is my problem. For the last year I have been in a consented struggle with my band and reflux. I currently only have 3.5 cc in a 10 cc band. I have been working with my doctor. She adds a little like .2 cc on Monday and now I have reflux again. If I go back she will take me back down and I will be ok and wait a month to six weeks and go back for another fill. She will add a little and I will be fine. This has been the cycle for a year. I have only lost a couple pounds since the cycle began. At the beginning of this I was almost at my goal but was really sick from reflux…

I had my band put in place in 2004, and almost from day one had nothing but complications.. My port flipped twice; the first time I had it replaced and wasn't able to tie my own shoes for 3 months, let alone sit in anything but a straight backed chair. It was miserable. The second time the port flipped, I didn't have insurance and couldn't afford to repair it so I just lived with a tight band and pain over the port site. I finally got insurance again the first of this year and consulted with a surgeon for removal. Couple hoops later, I was approved and had my band removed this past Tuesday, April 15th. I'm completely, 100% confused. Having this constant pain in my…

Hey I'm from Dayton, Ohio was just trying to see how are the Ohio bandsters are doing with their weight loss.

I'm on day 1 of my full liquid diet and I thought I would share a yummy recipe. My surgeon says I can have anything liquid based that is thinner than pancake batter with no lumps. This morning I made cream of wheat with milk but also added part of a protein berry smoothie. It was delicious! Fruity and sweet and very filling. I would have eaten it before being banded. I'm really struggling to get enough protein right now so every little bit helps.

In the past two weeks I have put on 10 pounds. I panicked when the first 4 came on and decided it was time for a fill appointment the doctor was unable to locate the port. He rescheduled for next friday but in the mean time I feel like all my weight is coming back with vengeance. I eat under 1500 calories and most of it actually gets stuck what's going on?

I am new to this, but I have done three weeks of pre-op liquids/shakes and am waiting anxiously for my band date! This forum has been a blessing to me and can't wait to be able to post my progress on here as well. Good luck everyone.

A little scared, just left a message for surgeon. We have been moving and all of a sudden this morning I have a bruise around my port area. Ugh hope it is nothing. I was banded 3 months ago so it kinda is freakin me out.

I am new to this, but I have done three weeks of pre-op liquids/shakes and am waiting anxiously for my band date! This forum has been a blessing to me and can't wait to be able to post my progress on here as well. Good luck everyone.

Happy Easter Everyone...what are you going to have for supper? Mine is going to be very simple and done in a crock pot...turkey and veggies and even some cranberry sauce too-but just alittle bit!!! Hope you all have a wonderful day with whatever you celebrate!!!

What are folks doing with all the extra skin hanging after loosing 150+ so far with another 50 to go (yes I was very big)? Should I consider removal now or wait until the end? It is having an emotional effect on me now

When I started the band process in September last year, I didn't know how much work it would be on my part. I just knew it was the least invasive of the three surgeries. As I went through the pre-op protocol and was told to change my snacking habits or else the psychologist wouldn't clear me for surgery, I got really ticked off. How dare he? Well, I turned the anger into action. When I did that (gave up tv eating) I then understood why he said that. It required discipline! Of course, if I wouldn't stop tv snacking every night, I wasn't going to have success with a band. I didn't know that but he did. I guess I thought everything would just magically change for me without…

well i am finally in green it took a few years !! But here is y problem i dont eat a lot i mean last night for dinner we had home made boboli piza i can eat 1 small slice and i feel like i ate a 5 course chicekn dinner . today for Breakfast i had a avocoda . then lunch was a spinach slad with some fresh motzerella on at and a small amount of some shopped walnuts and i cpuld not finish that . and ok this after noon i had a few pieces of cut up bread in some flavored olive oil but bread really sometimes does not agree with me but i do crave it once in a while . I do like to have thise veggie straws for a night snack sometimes . i have not lost a sibgle lb or gained but i s…

Hi all! I'm 1 month post op today and all I can think of is a real (as opposed to diet) Coca Cola! I haven't had one in over 40 days now and today is the only day I'm craving one. Hopefully the ONLY day lol... what do you all do in this desperate time

I am on this journey to a healthier me for myself. unfortunately now that I am almost 4 weeks post-op and not losing any weight I feel very ashamed. I am ashamed when someone asks me how much weight I have lost..they don't ask because I look like I have lost...they ask because they expect me to drop the weight so fast. These are people I love so much and they do not mean to hurt me, but I am finding myself focusing on what other people think than what I need to do for myself. When I focus only on how I feel, I do so much better. Does anyone else have these issues or advice?/

I am in a really good mood today. Even though according to my doctors scales I'm up 2 lbs. He took me off 2 of my pills, not bp or cholesterol yet...but he says maybe my next 6 mths I will be able too. But what has made me really happy he signed my release to exercise so I can now go to the Cantrell Center again and work with a PT in the pool so I can maybe start losing again. I know that my increase was due to the fact I was told that I had to increase my daily intake...but am doing really good at posting everything to My Fitness Pal. So looking forward to moving ahead with band life and losing weight up to my goal!!! Hope you all have a great weekend. Thanks for listeni…

This journey is very frustrating sometimes where I go 3-4 weeks with barely any movement in the scale. I am a scale person not a measure by clothes person because I can lose 50 lbs and not go down a pants size or shirt size (I have a large bust that prevents that and the last place I lose is my legs) I have lost 31 lbs so far and saw this morning a number on the scale this morning that I have not seen in 3 years!!! Wow! I really want to lose 4 more lbs by the end of the month and I'm going to try super hard to avoid carbs and sugar to do so! I'm shooting for -51 by the end of June to get me to onederland

I'm plannig on getting a nice tan MINUS the tan lines this year with a couple of visits to the nude beach in NJ. Anyone else???

Im coming up to 48 hours after removal. My surgeon just said to return to a regular diet. But the hospital had me on clear liquids and told me to slowly transition. So, I'm thinking the next step is almond milk or tea with milk. Does anyone have any thoughts on post removal diet? I have a follow-up on Thursday, so I'll ask my dr then. But in the short term advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks-Leena

It's my 11th day after the removal of my band. Today I headed back to the gym and hit the weight machines. I've been biking at home just to keep from going stir crazy. I feel so much better without my band. I'm back on a regular diet, well regular for me as I don't eat meat. Raw veggies have landed in my fridge and in my stomach as well. I'm so weary of having another surgery. I saw my surgeon for a post-op visit and am on 500-700 calories per his instructions- more if I compensate with exercise. So my butt will be regular at the gym. Has anyone opted not to have a revision and still maintained or lost more? I've been reading the horror stories here and have m…

Okay, this is embarrassing, but maybe somebody has a suggestion for me, so here goes. I started Aqua Zumba this year and love it. I was on hiatus from the pool for four weeks per doctor's orders after my banding. I went back last week and everything was fine, except I noticed how much my stomach fat bounces in the water when I jump. Because it's so soon after surgery, I got worried that the tugging up and down with every big movement was going to harm my band or port sites internally. I'm not sure what to do about it. It didn't hurt when I was done, but I sure could feel those muscles inside. My question for banders is, can I bounce like that without worrying? If you do w…

Does anyone have any recommendations for lap band surgeons in Nashville, TN? Right now I am leaning towards maybe Dr. Spaw at Baptist. If you had someone else, please share your experience. Thanks!!

I am a nurse in the ER, and occasionally I have to eat fast, or I have to wait until I am STARVING to eat. When either of these occurrs, I take bigger bites and chew less and don't wait between bites. Not intentionally, it just happens as a result of rushing. I'm afraid I have or will stretch out my new stomach pouch. I wonder how much bad behavior your new stomach can take before it is stretched. Anyone got any info on that? I don't want to screw up...

I mean no disrespect when I ask this question - but it seems that there are two distinct 'types' of banders - those that are looking to lose weight by any means necessary (even if it's surgery), and those that are making a lifestyle change. I know that when I started this whole process over a year ago, I had behavior modification classes, and spent weeks on mindful eating, etc. -all mandated by my surgeon. But when I see the posts from people two weeks post surgery eating taquitos, chicken strips, and things involving high calorie dressings/sauces and asking about ice cream in Protein shakes - I wonder what is the mindset of that person? Why go through all of this?…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/healthy-relationship-to-food-habits_n_5107037.html Excellent article, and after a year I am actually starting to see some of these manifest themselves in my own life.

Maybe this should be under the "What is the rudest thing someone said" post, but her goes. I got my lapband 8 years ago and was at around 120 lbs (way below my goal weight for my 5'7 height). This was due to a special diet I had to be on. I looked way too thin and just plain sick. So, I had some Fluid taken out of my band and gained some weight, up to 140 lbs, which is probably a healthy weight for me. A physician that I work with came up to me and whispered "have you gained weight?". I explained that I was way to skinny and needed to. He said "you are getting chunky". What the ^&*$ !!! I tried to laugh it off, but it really messed with me. I know I am healthi…

HOw long before a flight should I have a fill? Been banded in January and had 1 fill so far. I have an appt today and am going to Puerto Rico next Friday.

I was banded on march 7th and am going in for my first fill on April 7th. My question is this: is it normal for weight loss to stop when going from liquids to solids? I haven't lost an ounce since going to solids. I lost 14 lbs the first 2 weeks, but nothing since. Not sure if this is to be expected or not. Does this typically improve after a fill? Haven't really been working out much either. Just getting over pneumonia and regaining my strength/endurance. I'm sure exercise will help the situation. Thanx for any info/help.

Have recently dealt with 2 major tragedies. First I was served divorce papers the day after I came home from surgery and wound up divorced 3 weeks later. Depressing but not unexpected. Then my youngest child made an EPICALLY stupid decision that has rocked the family ( what's left of it). I have had a hard time keeping track. Although I find going to the gym helps me get a mental break from the situation. So how do all of you cope when tragedy strikes? Maybe some ideas to to help prevent me from detailing.

I am new to Gainesville Florida and am looking for a doctor to do my fills who also uses the fluoroscope. Any suggestions?

I got my band Oct of 2012 and have only lost 40 pounds at first. Now since my one year bandaversary I have gained weight. I am having such a hard time losing. I have a 10 cc band (I guess) and have 7cc fill. I have not seen my Dr in months for another fill because I was ashamed of my weight gain. I fell like a failure and thinking about having the band removed. I am at the point that I just have to accept that I will always be a fat girl/mom/wife. My body is never going to change to matter how much I want it to. I feel like I wasted everyone's time and money getting this wonderful band in. I feel ashamed I have not lost any weight. I can eat full meals and…

I make a pumpkin Chili recipe I saw on here a few months ago and of course I loved it and now I can't fine it. Wondering if anyone else made it or knows who posted it. I want to make it so bad.

Hi guys I was just wondering how many calories should you have per day also fats, carbs, proteins

Need some advice. I'm

I'm still in the pureed stage but have an egg question. Every diet I've ever been on has taught to only eat egg whites- but I haven't been told that with this new lifestyle. Does anyone have insight?

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So next week is three weeks I have been banded...and I start mashies/ soft food. Some examples on my list is tuna salad, eggs, runny oatmeal ect.. I am actually terrified to start eating. Did anyone have trouble with mushiness ? Or will it all go down easy?

Even though I'm sleeved, glad to find this sub-forum of low-carb eaters. My husband and I were sleeved together and we're following low carb as well. I wanted to share my blog site which has lots of low-carb, high Protein, largely paleo and largely gluten-free recipes. They're easy, many require very little skill or time to cook and I try to mix up the types of cuisine. I also have lots of pressure cooker and crock-pot recipes. If you are on full liquids I have some high protein Soups for those who are sick of sweet Protein shakes, as we were. I do NOT make money off this site, I just do it for fun and to help others with WLS who are not comfortable with cooking. I ho…

Hello fellow night owls. A little snippet of my story.... Over weight my whole life, entire family is over weight, mother and brother in law are banded. Husband is in great shape. I have done years of research and finally made it happen!! Very excited about my journey, but am in so much pain and discomfort, it actually had me weeping! Having given birth to 4 beautiful and healthy children, it takes a lot to make me cry. I am very aware that you get referred pain from the stomach/ diaphragm area due to either or hernia repair, gas, or just pressure from being swollen. I feel like my shoulder has been dislocated and someone keeps trying to reset it!! For the love…

Ok... I need more Calcium and Vitamin D in my diet. I don't do much dairy... so I'm thinking milk... either to drink or put on Cereal. What are your favorites? Whole? 2% ? Skim? or do you like Almond milk ? Soy Milk? Coconut milk ? Flavors? Brands? Thanks!!

Going to get my first adjustment tomorrow after having my baby girl 3 months ago. Man am I nervous! I was so deep into the banded life when I got pregnant and now feel like I've forgotten everything! I have about 25 lbs to lose to get down to my pre pregnancy weight and about 80 total to goal. Had an incredibly easy pregnancy after a slight unfill and I have an amazing band baby that reminds me every day how important my health is! Time to get back up on the horse!!!! BTW...here's my band baby, Emma Catherine!

I recently went to the doctor and he told me I had elevated levels in my parathyroid. Anyone have issues with this and is this common with Lapland? thanks for any help.

Hi, my surgery is May 2 and I start my liver shrinking diet April 18th. I'm looking for a mentor or buddy. I figured I'd stay now before I encounter any trouble and I need some that had gone thru what I am getting ready to go through! !

Hi all, Long time lurker, but looking for some help now! Brief history: Lap Band surgery in 2006 Lost 100 lbs and have been struggling to maintain it. Have had complications (leaking band, infection, etc) and am on my 3rd band. Now another complication, my tube has disconnected from the band. My options are: complete removal of the band, OR reconnection of the tubing. After the last surgery in July 2010, I went into a deep depression and did not get my band refilled. I just couldn't face the deprivation and the daily struggles any more (this was MY experience living with the band). My lapband surgeon and clinic are of no help and neither is my fam…

I am scheduled to have an EGD on Tuesday. I had to take x-rays to see if there was a possible slip. The x-rays confirmed that instead of the standard positioning of the band being at 45 degrees, it's more at a 25 degree angle. They had to take all of the fluid out of my band. I'm really worried about this. What could have caused this? Is this the same as a slip? I'm not sure if it's because my band has been too tight or what. I've had really bad acid reflux for the past month/month and a half. I'm not really too educated on these types of things so it's all new to me. I've been banded for a year a month.

I am on my 2nd round of 2 week pre op diets. The first time I lost 17 lbs but my surgery didn't happen because I had recently had URI and the anesthesiologist couldnt get my oxygen levels to stay high enough when I went under. So, it is rescheduled for April 22 and I am 1/2 thru the 2nd preop diet. I'm having a very hard time this time. My weight is going up an down like a yoyo...I am bloated, constipated and emotional as hell! Trust me I am drinking plenty of liquids! AND unlike last time, I am hungry. I may be pre menstrual but that seem unlikely as I had my last cycle in March (it lasted 2 weeks) and the one before that was 6 months prior!! I've lost 57 lbs since …

Wow, I'm watching The Today Show and saw a segment on low cal meals. The size of the servings was absolutely HUGE! The biggest thing I've learned on this journey is portion control and here is a diet 'guru' telling people to eat a huge volume of food. I get the we have an advantage in this battle but it was thinking like that that was my down fall!

So I went in for my 3rd fill this passed Tuesday and the dr put in 2 ccs to give me a total of 6. I did my liquids that day, mushies on Wednesday now on to Thursday. I started with yogurt and that was fine, lunch I did mashed sweet potatoes and for dinner I tried some chili. I didn't get stuck but felt like it was very very close. So I did the same yesterday. And even saltines made me feel like I was going to PB. Today I tried to eat a salad and grilled shrimp ( I'm taking 3 SMALL shrimp)for lunch and up it came. Water goes down no problem. So I'm wondering is my body still adjusting to the fill or should I have some removed?