screeden

good topic. i too think those who say the band didn't work for them just thought the lbs would fall off immediately, not just a gradual process, which is better for you anyways. when you lose slower, you don't get the extra saggy skin that most get with the gastic bypass cause they loose the weight really fast. it is a tool that you have to work with, if you don't work with it, then it won't work for you at all! can't keep eating the crap that got you there in the first place, no point in getting the band if you are going to continue to eat crappy foods.

i love my band, yes i have had a couple of stuck issues, and vomited, but that was my own fault by not chewing well or eating something i shouldn't have eaten.

I mainly just count my Proteins, make sure i get 70 grams at least daily. then i just kind of watch what else i eat, making sure it is lower calorie, lower fat things. i don't really watch my carbs too much, i can eat Pasta and whole wheat bread with no issues. i am 8 months out and have lost 50 lbs and 4 to 5 dress sizes now. i can wear a size XL and it has been forever since i could do that. i am 10 lbs from my pre pregnancy weight with my first son and i can't tell you how estactic i am about that. i also do lots of walking and do cardio/weights 3 days a week.

Bandsters hell is the 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, when you are on liquids then mushies then soft foods, which gets really old after awhile, cause you want to eat something solid, but know you can't yet.

the green zone is when you have good restriction from fills, can be from the first fill all the way to the 5th fill. i got good restriction by my 4th fill, i was full faster, satisfied longer, but could still eat things like Pasta, rice, corn and tortillas and whole wheat bread with no issues, but not alot of it. i would say 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups a food at a meal fills me up. even Soup sometimes fills me up for a good 4 hours.

Dr. Malley, he is awesome. love him. staff nice too!

i did broth for the first 7 days, then went to cream of Tomato, potato Soups. i know it sucks, but you are healing and need to adhere to the instructions on eating the doctor gives you. i was so happy to have Soup after a week of broth and Jello. go to lapband.com and there alot of recipes for all the stages.

i bloat up like mad when it is that time of the month, i drink liquids for the 1st 2 days of my period and that seems to help, and no i don't lose one ounce during that time.

where are you from??

ask them what hospitals and surgery center's they cover??

i think they have to classify it as 2 procedures, insurance makes them do that. it is two procedures, just done at the same time so you don't have to be opened again. insurance companies are money whores who want you to pay them but don't want to pay for things you need.

i am sorry, but lmao! anyways, yes it should not be any issue. i don't have any "problems" with that issue at all

you are not doing anything wrong, you are still healing from surgery. you are not even 3 weeks out yet, the lbs will start coming off soon enough. are you drinking the Protein Shakes? your body needs Protein, i make sure i get 70 to 80 grams a day. i get 35 alone from my morning Protein Shake every day. how much are you eating? your body is probaly in starve mode right now and it is holding onto everything you take in right now. once you start eating regular foods, it will get better. this is banders hell keep up the exercise and get the Proteins in.

check out lapband.com, there are great recipes on there for all the stages.

once you are done with the mushy stage and get to have soft solids, it is alot better. it is called bander's hell! it will get better though. try lapband.com and look for recipes for all stages.

Mylanta gas chewables, heating pad on the shoulder, lots of walking around and do not drink from a straw, makes it worse. the gas sucks so bad! but it will go away!

wow, what an a-hole. that is messed up. i would file every complaint i could on this guy. he should not be practicing medicine. you should be restricted by now, at least have 7 cc in that band. that is crazy. i am 8 months out and am 3/4 full, and will most likely not get any more fills, if i do it will be minimal. i would be finding a new doctor asap. no one needs to be treated like that.

i had the Protein Shakes the first week, just drank them slowly. go to www.lapband.com and you can get tons of recipes for all the stages, to shake things up with the broths. i know it sucks, banders hell, but you are still very swollen. i did the broth for the 7 days, just mixed it up with the recipes i found for a change. after that first week it does get better. i was so happy to have cream of Tomato Soup

i completely understand. i totally freaked out the day i got my surgery date cause it became real to me. i was a mess! but i talked to my 2 good friends who had it done and have had great success and they talked me off the ledge. I am down 46 lbs and 4 dress sizes since April and i couldn't be happier. yes i wish it was more lost, but i know it will happen. the holidays have derailed me but i am getting back on track January 1st. Some people can eat like they did before, just smaller quantities. others can't eat certain foods. everyone is different. i can eat chicken, eggs, tortillas and whole wheat bread, even popcorn. as long as i chew my food well and take small bites, i am good. just talk to other's about the band, the good and the bad, there is that with every single diet and surgery. you will be fine. just breathe and take it one day at a time.

yeah, that is awesome. congrats to you. happy for you to have such a huge weight loss, new changes in your life. i am too so ready for onederland, will be there soon

this is me everyday. i don't get truly hungry until around 1pm. i have warm tea or coffee in the morning to help the tightness, then i drink a Protein Shake in the mornings. afternoons i have tuna salad, or chicken salad or egg salad. sometimes i have Soup, just make sure you get your Proteins in. for dinner, i eat a sensible dinner, if i am hungry before bed, i have a greek yogurt.

it is normal to be tighter in the mornings.

mine just feels like a little pinch, kind of like your finger pricked for blood sugar tests. every one is different.

i know, isn't it great. i overindulged at xmas, but nothing like i would pre-band. i eat, just alot smaller portions now, about 1/3 of what i used to. i can tell when i need a fill, that i start eating more, and can eat things i shouldn't. i was tight after xmas, too many sweets and wine, but on liquids, creamy Soups for the past 2 days, hope to be feeling better soon. congrats on your weight loss!

i feel your pain, i was horrible this holiday season, ate way more than i should have, it was so hard to not eat all the foods that i love. i made a smaller plate and took small bites of everything. i did overindulge and boy did i feel it the day after xmas. i was soooo tight and swollen after eating way too much xmas eve and xmas day. so yesterday and today, i have been taking it easy, drinking warm liquids, drinking my Protein Shakes and eating creamy Soups. you are not the only one that is having troubles, we have been overindulging for years now and it was every day, not just holidays. i notice that when i am stressed or that time of the month, my band gets tight. you are doing fine, just jump back on the band wagon, get to exercising, up your Proteins, watch what you eat. start over and move on! you have not gained so that is good, might need another fill or just go back to the beginning. good luck

you are not a failure, like the PP said, you stalled at the weight loss. you just need to start over from the beginning and move on. we all make mistakes, believe me i have made alot lately. holidays were a huge issue for me. still wanted to eat everything in site, even though i knew i couldn't, i mentally still wanted too. it is so easy to fall back into our old habits, we had them for a very long time.

i am wondering if they are talking about the table that you lay on, that can move you up or down during surgery. my surgeon somewhat stands his patients up during the surgery so everything is settled down into place as he places the band. of course there is a foot plate so you don't fall to the floor. other than that, not sure what kind of equipment they would mean otherwise.

losing 23 lbs in 2 months is nothing to be upset about. That is fantastic! You should lose slow, 1 to 2 lbs a week is optimal. It takes several fills to get a goo restriction. I know sometimes it can be frustrating, but there will be times you will hit a plateau. You are doing great, keep up the good work.

i agree with the PP's, enjoy the holidays. get the fill after the new year