Cleo's Mom

When your doctor took out 5cc's was that all of your fill? In my opinion that is a lot for a first fill and obviously too much for your band and you. It is your body and band so insist on smaller fills. I would not get 4 cc's put in for the next fill. Tell your doctor you want to take it slow. And make sure you drink water before you leave the office to make sure it goes down. I am glad you are feeling better. Take care.

Do not wait until tomorrow. Call now. This is an emergency. Didn't your doctor have you drink anything after your fill? And yes, you can be too tight after the first fill. Take care and good luck.

It sounds like you haven't reached your sweet spot yet and probably need an additional fill. Only 3cc's was too tight for me. I am at 2cc's now with the unfill. I don't hold out any hope that I will ever find my sweet spot. If you don't have any problems and are still hungry - then you probably need at least one more fill. What does your doctor say?

Have either of you two had a recent upper GI? At any rate, I am going for my second opinion next week armed with all my test results including CD's of my two upper GI's - one after my first fill and the other after my second fill. As an update: after this second upper GI - my surgeon called me in that day (even though it was not a day he sees patients) to get the amount of the second fill removed (1cc). I have felt a lot better since then, no reflux or heartburn or pain. I only have 2 cc in now. But I am still troubled by his attitude when I told him about all my problems after the second fill and before the tests - he said just to eat the protein and throw away all the other food and basically thought it was my fault - what and how I was eating. Well, when he saw that upper GI his attitude was completely different - my pouch and esophagus were swollen and everything was backing up. But even though 2 upper GI's and one endoscopy said I have a hiatal hernia he does not think I have one. That is why I am going for a second opinion - I want a new set of eyes looking at all of this.

Check with Magee Womens Hospital and West Penn Hospital. They have bariatric surgery programs that include banding.

Do you actually feel reflux and hearburn or is it just a discomfort that goes away. It could be an ulcer. I remember growing up that my mom had one and eating made it feel better. Are you on any acid reduction meds like protonix, pepcid, nexium, etc..? Maybe you need to be.

poodles: yes, it does seem like we are punished for losing weight by having to eat less and less to maintain or continue losing. You already started to lose again so whatever you're doing is right. Keep up the good work. I'm with you on the potato chip thing - they have the same value to me as street drugs do for a junkie. LOL. You can keep your chocolate, sweets and ice cream, just give me chips - which is why they cannot be in my house. Ever. Keep up the good work and good luck.

You said you had no co-morbidities and that your bloodwork came back fine. Did you have a sleep study? Did they rule out sleep apnea? What about a pulmonary breathing test? I presume you had all the heart stress tests, etc... If all of this too is negative, then go for the weight gain - it will be the only time in your life that you intentionally wanted to gain weight. Have fun, eat your favortie foods and wear your heaviest clothes. Good luck.

poodles: Even without weight loss surgery a woman should be able to lose weight on 1200-1500 calories even without exercising. We burn at least that many calories for metabolism, digestion, respiration, etc... Add exercise to that (as you have) and you should be losing. But at some point your body does hit a plateau. For each 10 pounds that you lose, you need 150 fewer calories to maintain that weight. So let's say you needed 2000 calories to maintain 200 lbs. When you lose 10 pounds and now weight 190 you only need 1850 to maintain that weight. At 180 you now only need 1700 to maintain that weight...and so on. And we all know about the 3500 calories per pound. So, you will eventually start to lose again. Your body is adjusting. And I TOTALLY agree with you that 800-1000 calories a day is too little - especially if you're hungry (like me). If that many calories satisfies you, then great. But you sound like me in that you need more calories than that. I was banded in Sept. and have only lost 10 pounds from the band (60# prior to and right after banding - on the liquids only - who wouldn't lose weight on that) so you've done great losing 44. It can be frustrating but with the band weight loss is slow. Hang in there and good luck.

Doxie: Your post just reinforces what I have always said. Get copies of all your tests results. If the doctor sees it, then you should see it. Don't take a "no one called" to mean everything was fine with a test. Always follow up with a call and always, always, always, get the test results yourself. Don't just let them tell you "everything was fine". Then start a file for all these results. You will be glad you did.

Some people who have GERD before banding get relief afterward. Others develop reflux and heartburn from the band. That was me until I had a slight unfill. Disucss with your surgeon about repairing the hiatal hernia during surgery. If your reflux or heartburn gets worse after a fill, then you need to have some taken out. But about 80% of those banded develop reflux and heartburn after banding. So, you need to discuss all this with your doctor. Good luck.

Just banded. I miss your Linda Blair exorcist picture from the infamous evil carrot episode. Do you think you might be too tight? Do you have reflux, heartburn or pain when eating? I was too tight at only 3cc, I am now at 2cc and have given up hope of ever finding my sweet spot and resigned to being hungry as I was before banding.

I sent my CPAP back (unused) many years ago - long before I started on the lapband journey. Like you, there was no way I was wearing that medieval torture device. There are many on these boards that swear by them and depend on them, however. Fortunately, I had a new set of eyes looking at my sleep study results and breathing tests and this doctor said I had mild sleep apnea and I was not required to use it prior to surgery. However, since you are required to use one by not using it you might be jeopardizing your surgery because the machines are set up to record your use. If you don't use it they will know. So, maybe you should call your surgeon and ask the reason for it's use. It usually has to do with the anaestesiologist (sp?). You might be able to get away with not using it. But you need to make your case and see what the surgeon says. Or maybe your insurance requires it. I don't know. Good luck.

What did you PB on? Not the carrots again, I hope. How long do you have to be on liquids? Is that by doctor's orders? Anyway, bringing soup would be a good idea or if you can't do that and they have shakes, I would just have a milkshake. It's protein and if it's just this once it should be okay.

Here is my update: After the endoscopy results my doctor ordered an upper GI on 3/19 (Thursday). When he saw the results that day he called me right in (he normally only sees patients on Tuesday afternoons) to get an unfill of 1cc - the amount he put in with the second fill. He showed me the GI film. My pouch and esophagus were swollen - everything was backing up and there was slower motility through the esophagus. Trust me when I tell you his attitude was completely different. He was very nice - no more blaming me like he was when I was telling him of all my difficulties (he told me then to just eat the protein and throw the rest of the food away and take my vitamins). I think he felt guilty. I got immediate relief with this unfill - no more reflux, heartburn or pain. But I am still hungry. My gastro doctor put me on a new med - called Kapidex for all these problems. I am still seeing another doctor from a center of excellence who has done hundreds of bands for a second opinion on April 7th. I am taking all my test results including the CD's of my two upper GI's. When my surgeon said he doesn't think I have a hiatal hernia - I told him the gastro doctor does this all day - everyday. This is what he does. We'll see what this other doctor says. Actually my current doctor suggested a second opinion when I saw him about all the problems I was having and I said "I don't want to do anymore. I don't want to eat any less. I am already hungry, etc... I just want the band to work."

I weighed 196 on the day of my surgery 6 months ago ( I am 5' 5") and 186 two weeks after surgery. I weighed about 180 last week - so I haven't lost much due to the band (2 fills, 1 unfill). However, I have lost about 70 pounds altogether from my own dieting, then the pre-and post op dieting (espeically the liquid only). I had to do a 6 month pre-op diet. Not everyone does. So most of my weight I've lost on my own. The band has not made me less hungry. When I got my sonogram for my gall bladder before surgery the tech referred to my as "tiny" as compared to others. If you are at the low BMI don't expect those big weight losses you see posted on here by others who have much more to lose and who may not have been required to do as much pre-surgical dieting.

Ha sido volver a su cirujano? Cuanto tiempo hace que tiene la cirugia y cuantas llena has tenido?

Not everyone throws up or PB's when stuck. The pain can be very intense - it can feel like you're having a heart attack. The pain intensifies as the stuck food moves through the band. At least this has been my experience the two times I have been stuck. An extremely painful and unpleasant experience. Not something you want to happen.

Dragonfly - I am so sorry about all your problems. Your doctor sounds like a jerk. It's not about the weight or a number on the scale - it's about making you healthier and you clearly are not. You have learned about nutrition on your lapband journey. You know what is healthy eating. Once it is removed you will probably have some residual swelling and won't be eating normally for awhile. Take it slow and when you're ready you can decide if you want another type of WLS. Don't worry about the weight - worry about getting healthier and stronger and feeling better. Take care and good luck.

If you feel stuck you could be too tight. Are you getting stuck when you eat all foods or only certain types of food? And are you getting stuck when you eat slowly and chew well? You might need to have an upper GI to see what is going on. As far as exercise - everyone is different. For me, if I know I have to go to a gym, I know I won't go. Others love the gym and want personal training. So I got a treadmill about 10 years ago and I use that while watching TV. I can adjust the speed and incline. Nothing fancy. You don't need to spend a lot. The fact that you recognize you are not making good food choices or exercising is a first step. Now that it's spring, it might be easier to just get out and go for a walk in a local park. Exercising will actually give you more energy. I will tell you that unlike others on this board, proteins do not make me feel full longer. Carbs do, but I don't eat a lot of them. Try this recipe. Make instant mashed potatoes with skim milk. Buy a rotissiere chicken (or bake some skinless breasts) and chop up some pieces. Put chicken in some fat free chicken gravy (Heinz makes it in a jar) and put it on top of the potatoes in a microwave bowl - heat for about a minute. You have protein and carb. Low fat, too and it might be filling. Add some sugar free canned fruit - like peaches or applesauce. Hope these suggestions help. Good luck.

hopeendures: The way I read your problems - this is a medical emergency and I would contact the hospital executives regarding getting this repaired at no cost to you. Don't take the $5000 to mean it is in granite. Of course they are going to tell you that. Many hospitals have patient advocates. If the hospital won't give you any recourse, then contact your state consumer protection agency. If they are no help, contact an attorney who handles defective products or medical malpractice. Sometimes you can meet them the first time for free. Contact your county bar association to find out. My point is - take control of this situation and don't continue to live like this. Keep a journal of all that has happened to you since this all started and get copies of all your medical tests, including operative report, and the CD's of any upper GI's. Then become proactive. Good luck.

Change my post to say "fruit punch, orange and raspberry" - sorry.

Try New Whey liquid protein (it comes in a tube) and mix it with the same flavor of crystal lite. I have tried the berry, orange and raspberry. It also comes in grape. It has 42g of protein in 3 oz. Good luck.

Sharp - I was only my doctor's 23rd banding patient. While he might be a good surgeon it has become apparent to me these past 6 months that he has little experience with the problems and complications of the band. It's a one size fits all philosophy. Sounds like your doctor is similarly inexperienced. That is why I am going for a second opinion to a doctor who has done hundreds if not thousand of bandings and works out of a hospital of excellence. I want a new, experienced set of eyes to look over everything that was done and said to me to see if I'm on the right track. Then I'll decide whether I need to change doctors. Good luck.

Sharp; You got some good advice from Jodi and NC but let me add my experience. I got banded in Sept. 08. I have lost a total of 70 pounds but only 10 from the band. The rest was either on my own or all the pre-and post-surgery diets and liquids only. After my second fill of 1cc which put me at only 3cc's in a 10 cc band I started to develop pain when eating, reflux, and heartburn. My doctor tried to tell me it was from my eating wrong and to just eat protein and throw the rest of the food away and just take my mulitvitamin. Well, first of all I didn't get the band to live off of protein alone. He ordered an endoscopy which showed my pouch was small and high and the band tight - plus a hiatal hernia. Still not satisfied, he ordered an upper GI which showed the band very tight, the pouch and esophagus swollen and motility very limited and slow. Without waiting for me to come in the next week, my doctor called me in the same day for an unfill. Once he saw the GI pictures he knew I was in trouble. Trust me when I tell you his attitude was completely different when I went in. He removed the 1cc and I feel much better. No more reflux or pain. Now - here is the hardest part. The band has NEVER controlled my hunger - not with 2cc's and not with 3cc's. And yes, I know the difference between head hunger, hunger, satiety and thirst. So, I have resigned myself that the band will never control hunger for me and I will have to just continue to eat healthy foods in smaller amounts. Anytime you have the symptoms you have, you are probably too tight. You are eating slider foods. When your new insurance kicks in, why don't you get a second opinion from a different doctor - one who has a lot of experience. Even if you have to travel far for this second opinion, it will be worth it. Get copies of all your test results, especially upper GI's (get the CD, not just the report) and see another doctor. If you and your friends aren't doing well it sounds like he is not addressing your issues. My philosophy about the band is this: The band is supposed to help you get healthier and feel better not make you sick and result in reflux, heartburn, pain and other problems. When it does, you need to demand answers and solutions. Good luck to you.