B-52

October 27, that is still just shy of 3 months? I understand your dissapointments. I was there also, actually gained some weight within that time period. It took me 4 months, 3 fills before I could honestly say the band began to make any significant changes. There are people here that needed less, some never have had a fill and aare doing fine. I happen to be one of those who needs it. Just stay with the regieme of eating right, excercising, etc, and it will all start to fall into place eventually. I know, when people would tell me that it would make me all the angrier, but it is true!

For me, I Can't eat anything in the morning. I have a Protein smoothie mixed in the blender with some berries, etc, and I have to take small sips with that, and have it gurgle as it passes through the band. As you say, My band loosens up during the day also, but I prefer to stay with liquids of very smooth foods for lunch such as Soups, etc. I have read many posts here over the last year from people who say they can still eat what they want, and mention things like Burgers at McDonalds, and french Fries, etc, etc. If it works for them, then that's fine. I am at the point with this surgery, that the types of foods I eat has greatly changed, and if I did attempt to continue with them I feel I would be a mess! I find that when it comes to eating and choosing foods, it is like walking through a minefield sometimes. I'm by no means saying this is you, (how couild I possibly know) but I have noticed there are some people who come and go here that complain about "Vomiting" and not being able to keep food down, and then I read from people here that it appears they just cannot let go of their past eating habits and choices of foods they consume. Then they abuse their band, which becomes irratated to the point they cannot keep Water down, and complain and feel they need a unfil.

Ok, I read your original post wrong. Just for some info, I had a kinked tube once. My port and tube are very near the surface and is easily to feel. The tube snakes a little and for some reasons one curve pulled in and make a tight kink (blockage) But this was noticed when he was trying to pull the Fluid out, and was getting nothing, and the plunger kept going back in. Just the opposite as your experience. He had to massage the tube area with his finger as he pulled on the syringe.

I remember reading when I was first banded, that with all band the maximum Fluid that can be put in a band is a % of what the band's capacity is. So a 10cc band for instance, it's maximum fill would be around 8 cc's. it was in the Realize literature. Can probably look it up on their website. However: The proper procedure when giving a fill: The first step is to take a empty syringe and remove ALL of the fluid fist. By doing this the Dr. can compare the amount he takes out, to the amount that was previously put in and determine if there are any significant leaks. He is also supposed to check for discoloration. He then takes a fresh syringe, and fills it with fresh saline to the original amount PLUS any additional. This way he knows EXACTLY what he is putting in He should not be doing any pushing and guessing your max'd out.

The answer is simple.....YOU NEED TO GO SKIING MORE!! As a side note, I wish people here would give opinions based upon their own personal experiences, and then let the reader decide.

This is your PRE-SURGERY Diet?? Do you have a surgery Date??? How much you loose is between you and your Dr. Mine told me I had to loose 20lbs before surgery or he will postpone the surgery date. Did not care what I ate, or how I ate, just I needed to loose it or else. My surgery was on a Monday, and I had my final pre-op meeting with him on the Friday before. It was then I had my final weigh-in. So it was not a question if I was bad or not, it was "How Bad Did I Want This Surgery?" After jumping through hopps for a year to get approved, I was not going to let this last hurdle get in my way. Incedently, the saturday between final weigh in and surgery date, me and my family went out and did a "Last Meal" pig-out at a resturant of my choice. Then fasted all day Sunday, Monday went without a hitch.

It pays for the website. Just ignore it. I participate on other message boards, mainly "Custom Auto Clubs" where we do not have advertising, BUT we are asked to PAY an annual "Donation" $$$$$

Good. I haven't chewed anybody out all day. But I'm gonna be the good guy. Last week was my 60th birthday so I'm feeling grandfatherly. I don't see what the big deal is. You probably ate like a pig before you got banded, why would you not want to now? What has changed that would modify your behavior? It's as though you bought a new car, but t's not going to get you anywhere untill you put some gas in the tank. And your band does not have any gas in it. WELCOME TO BANDSTER HELL!!!!!! The first 4 weeks were very tough for me. I got a fill at 4 weeks. Then I went home and gained weight before I showed up for my 2nd fill 4 weeks after that. In other words, it took me 8 weeks before I started to feel any difference at all. Up to then, it was as though I was not banded at all! People kept telling me I have to do this and I have to do that....be strong...have some disipline....S***! I could do (or try to do) all that without going through all this surgery stuff. THERE HAS TO BE MORE TO IT THAN THAT!!! IT took me 3 fills, 12 weeks, after surgery before there was something real I could start to work with. But even then it took more time to learn the lessons of being a true bandster. So, be strong.....have some discipline......do this, and do that.....it will get better. And don't worry, you didn't ruin anything, and you are too newly banded to stretch anything.

Was this your 4 week checkup after surgery? Are you saying you threw out your post-op diet and did your own thing? Did you loose or gain weight during this 4 week period? Lastly, what did your Dr. say since you did not get a fil. I can give you my 2 cens worth, but. Need to know the above first.

Everybody who has the band has restriction. Everybody who has the band, runs the risk of getting stuck because the passage through the band is smaller than without being banded. It all comes down to what foods we eat, how much we eat with each swallow, how fast we eat, etc. When someone is tighter than the next person, the rules are the same. Only difference is the amount of food is less, and the types of food change. Plus it takes less food to feel satisfied. There is a fine line between being tight and too tight. It is constantly a balancing act for me, always running the risk of making mistakes. I got stuck today. I had a green salad with small cut up pieces of buffaloe chicken for lunch. Got stuck, slimed and pb'd in the sink. Rested 10 minutes, then came back and resumed where i left off, finished my salad being more careful and aware of what I did wrong. I made a mistake, I crossed that line. It happens. It's as simple as that. I could get a unfil, and that risk would be reduced. But I like it here.

Yea, that! I eat Ice cream, but mixed fruit and such can sneak by un chewed with the slider stuff and cause problems.

Will be banded exactly one year on the 31st of Jan., have not had one single problem other than getting stuck, etc., but I chalk that up to the learning process of new way of eating. Easiest weight loss program I have ever been on, and I have been on them all. Actually, surgery was my last resort and I do not regret it for one second. The band is in control! No one tells me what and how much I can eat except for the band! Listen to it and you will succeed. 10 lbs from goal, find the last few are the hardest.

Look for my bill in the mail.......

EVERYONE has experienced this. There are as many opinions here as there are........ Well, lets just say everyone's got one and there really is not any good rhyme or reason, it just is. I've been at a plateau for 2-1/2 months now. Yesterday, Sunday, it was very cold and I was completely happy watching Football all day on TV. Unfortunately, I also grazed all day with some popcorn, some chips and salsa, cheese, etc.and a Beer! I thought I probably blew it big time, and I will have to pay extra attention next day or 2, maybe go all liquids. This morning I went to the gym. After workout, I weighed myself there and I dropped 4 lbs! Go Figure! All one can do is continue doing what you're supposed to do, and be assured it will pass, sooner or later!

I would say No, IMO, in her case. The band does give some behavior modification.....over eat and you will experience pain, and/or vomiting. It has definitely changed my approach to food! It takes somewhat of a even tempered individual to understand, "This pain in my head only happens when I constantly hit myself in the head with a hammer" so "If I stop banging my head with the hammer, the pain will go away" DUH! People with addictions know all too well what the outcomes will be....they just don't care! They're either in denial or have a "Death Wish" I've known both, and lost some friends at an early age. Getting banded, Strictly IMO, would probably create more damage than help. I don't think, again IMO, that they would get the Physc. clearance which is part of the pre-op testing. Compulsive disorders are all the same, it's just the "mechanism" that changes. Eating, Alcohol, Gambling, Drugs, Smoking.....generally brough about by anxiety. I know many Dr's prescribe Welbutrin, but to what success, I don't know.

I'm just the opposite. After being in the Green Zone, I have no interest in food whatsoever. And I'm talking about the Man of the house who used to love to cook! My Lasagne is famous and still requested at family get togethers. Now, I just have no interest in food! I can go to the grocery store and just wander around and not get anything other than the absoulute essentials. I used to see things, and come with ideas on the spot. For me, I say it is the band. It does not make me feel full, but it send the signal to my brain telling it I do not need to eat, as though I was full. But I'm not. Sounds confusing I know, but one of the characteristics of being in the green zone is No Hunger between Meals! How else can I define that feeling?

I'm sure it's good, but something about the term "Mega Shake" gives me images of the old days before being banded.....attitude I suppose, pleasure in makeing anything "MEGA", such as MEGA Ice Cream Sundaes, MEGA sandwiches, MEGA Steaks, Mega order of Fries, etc, etc. Looking at your recipe, and after being banded a year, the word Mega is just not appropiate to me anymore in terms of portion size. Now it is more a Taste of this, and a Taste of that. I can take any of the 3 items you mention, Yougurt, shake, or Fruit Cup, and that can be a meal (portion size) in itself! Let alone combine all three. Like I said, after being banded a year, and living in the green zone, my attitudes, and terminology I suppose regarding food, has changed. The terms "Mega or Super Size, or Jumbo are just not used when referring to anything I eat/drink! But I read all sorts of things here, and I find everyone is different, It's the end results that are important. Good luck on your weight loss journey!

First, congratulations. My question is, if you are banded, what was it that was so "Dammmm Hard" for you in the process???

You are describing what is referred to in the medical field as being "HOT" meaning infection. See your Dr. for antibiotics. Also, you can get some steri-strips from any drug store to close the incisions. If they are rubbing on your waistband, apply the largest band-aid you can find in the drug store to act as a barrier, AFTER you have closed the incisions with steri-strips. But see your Dr. first about the infection. Your wounds will not heal! You need to keep the incisions closed, the tighter, the less of a long term scar you will have. Also, I'm surprised you did not have to meet with your Dr. 1 week after surgery. It's at this time they inspect your bandages, etc.

When you say swallow , do you mean when you swallow your food? Does it happen when you swallow Water? Is it worse early in the morning than in the evening? For me, I can "feel" my band 80% of the time with every swallow. I would not call it a lump, but perhaps close. For me, that's just the way it is and I live with it. I just make sure I take small swallows, no matter what it is. It can hurt if I gulp water! Let alone food. There is a band there after all, and it is controlling how and what I eat.

I went to a "All You Can Eat" Chinese Buffet, complete with carving stations, suhi bar, raw bar, ec, etc. I KNOW I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT INSIDE ONE OF THOSE EVER AGAIN!

I don' recommend it, but I had to have my "Last Official Dream Dinner" of my choice, knowing that will never happen the same way anymore. I say I do not recommend it be ause I would not want to see anyone screw up their surgery. I had to loose 20 lbs prior to surgery. My surgery was on a Monday. The Friday prior I had my final meeting and weigh in with the surgeon. Everything was a go. Saturday my family and I went out to the restaurant of my choice for a "Pig Out" Sunday I fasted all day. Nothing but Water. Monday went without a hitch.

If I learned that someone who was working for me was lying and being dishonest, I guarantee they will not me working for me much longer.

That's a little odd, I was given a "To Do" list with all things I needed to complete while I was on the SWL. So when that was done, we reviewed everything, and if it was a go, I met with the surgeon and scheduled the surgery date. Also, the SWL was not acceptable from my PCP. I had to sign up for a Bariatric Weight Loss Clinic. Those consisted of weekly appointments where I was weighed in, sat down with the Dr. and reviewed my weekly status, and then had to buy all the shakes and Protein bars. My insurance did not pay for this, and it cost me $180 a week out of pocket, for 6 months! Granted, 3 months into the program and it went to every 2 weeks. And like evry other diet I have ever been on, I did well in the beginning, lost weight, then started to gain it all back.

I'm a moderate drinker, and I have not changed at all. I treat it as if I would with any other diet....be aware of the calories you're consuming.