southernrootslbc

yes, mine would always slip through. i could feel it as it did. i would usually get tired of eating before i got full. it did help some in that i couldn't eat in big gulps like i used to. i had to slow down, but that was about it. i could eat way too much as long as i chewed it pretty well. now i have to eat way smaller bites and chew, chew, chew like the nurses kept saying i would have to. and it stays in my pouch and makes me feel full for a long time.

this was my seventh fill. i'm at 6cc in a 10cc band. of course it varies for everyone. how does your doctor judge when you've had a big enough fill?

southern - something you said in your later post really caught my attention - i'm about 1-2 months behind you on surgery i think (i was july 5) - just had my 4th fill - 7.5cc in 14cc band - and this last fill was the first time i felt "anything" - meaning that i could tell i had a band in there. What i feel at this point is about 1/2 the time i eat (no rhyme or reason on time of day) i feel the food slowly (and sometimes painfully) moving through the band hole - right after i ate it. So, nothing was staying in the pouch for any length of time - which is ultimately the goal. Is that what you experienced before you had this last fill? And now is it that food is staying in the pouch for a while so you feel the saitey (sp?)? Just curious - if that is the case you are giving me hope that maybe my next fill will "work" - because even though i now feel many times the food "passing through" the band - i'm still hungry much sooner than i should be - so i'm really hoping the next fill does the trick by actually keeping the food in the pouch for a while before it passes through. How many cc are in your band and where is it at now? THANKS!!!

i've not been having acid reflux. i was just having regurgitation in my sleep. i really think that i was just not used to having a fill tight enough, so i was used to being able to drink and go straight to bed. well, now that i'm tight, that Fluid was coming back up into my mouth during the night... that's what i was calling reflux. it wasn't acidic, though.

i didn't have any of it last night. i think the fill is loosening some on its own and i flushed my pouch with hot tea then waited a while before going to bed.

before this last fill my band wasn't really holding anything in my upper pouch. it would pass through a little slower than normal, so i had to slow down and chew pretty well, but i could still take pretty big bites, and i wasn't getting the satiation. because of that, i could pretty much eat or drink right before bed and have no problems. obviously i've gotten a wake-up call! it's good, though. this is the first fill i've had that made me feel like it's working how it ought to. it's just weird for me, because fluids are harder for me than solids, so in order for me to get the fill that i feel is right for me, i have to be too tight by my surgeon's test (able to pass Water in 3 seconds).

and yes, i hear ya loud and clear on the crappy food thing. i think of the band as a tool to help me with my diet. that being said, i believe in moderation in all things. if i completely deny myself treats, i'll end up bingeing. i just take a common sense approach to it, which is what my surgeon recommends. he asks that half of everything we eat to be Protein. then veggies. and then if we have room for it, the junk. that way we're getting the Protein and nutrients we're needing without feeling deprived. unfortunately, sometimes i'm on the run and can't always have the most balanced meals, but i generally try to, and i always make sure i get my protein. the one example meal i gave here was just that... an example. it's not my typical meal. it was just to get the point across that right after a fill, i could eat WAY too much.

I haven't posted in a long while because I got so frustrated with the very issues you discussed. I just gave up and haven't lost any weight in over a year. Although I have already lost 100 lbs, I still have a lot more weight to lose. But there are things that you have said in your posts that remind me of me so much that I had to post to you. First is the reflux thing. I had it so bad at night time that I would cough up acid at night. If that is happening to you, please,please get an unfill. It is a warning sign that you are too tight and all kinds of serious damage can happen if you stay that tight. I really hate to be unfilled but I don't want to die from complications either!

The other thing is, I know you don't want to hear about it anymore (neither did I) Is your food choices. At first I ate only a little bit of food that is considered a no-no. But that quickly escalated to eating those foods everyday. I am not in a good place right now. Sure I could blame it on all the horrible things that are going on in my life such as, my mom has dementia, my dad is losing his mind, I have high blood pressure and a slipped disc in my back. But there will always be horrible crap in my life and I have to learn to deal with it. I really hoped the lap band would have helped me deal a little more, but again, I have to stop eating that crap. Plain and simple. My husband is helping me out by giving away all the food that shouldn't even be in our house. So I make sure that I am ALWAYS prepared with good choices food where ever I go. Yes it is a pain in the ass when everybody else is ordering the potato skins appetizers and I am eating something like a little chicken breast or sipping on Water. But the way I feel physically the next day is a feeling I want you to experience. It's this great feeling called healthy. I don't get to feel that too often. It's having energy and wanting to take a bite out of life. Anyway, I am getting away from the point of this post. It is to be sure that you are not too tight and to fill up on all those filling foods that stay with us for hours. Thomas' has a multi grain English muffin for 100 calories, a healthy dose of protein and Fiber too. I stay full on that for a hours. Well I have gone on but hopefully you will get back to me on that acid reflux issue.

Good luck. You can do this

thanks everyone for the replies. fran, perhaps dehydration has something to do with it. very good to look into.

i'm feeling better about things this evening. i didn't have the reflux as bad last night. a nurse once told me that one of the reasons it's so hard to get anything down in the morning is because saliva pools in the pouch overnight and gets too thick for Water to permeate. he suggested drinking hot tea to clear it. i tried that today and did much better with the fluids... i just have to do it throughout the day, instead of just in the morning. maybe those of us with this issue have thicker saliva (which could have something to do with dehydration??) i dunno... i'm just taking stabs in the dark.

i feel like i'm in the perfect spot as far as solids go... can probably eat about 3 ounces in a sitting. i was just worried about the problem with the fluids and the reflux. i'm having a cup of hot tea right before bed to flush out my pouch. i'm thinking that'll solve the reflux problem altogether... fingers crossed.

and no fears... i don't make meals out of chips and dip! and i rarely eat chips at all. even before i had my band chips were never my drug of choice. sweets are my weakness. they just came with the sandwich i ordered, and i was horrified that i could eat the whole sandwich and the chips less than a week after the fill! obviously i shouldn't have eaten all of that... but if i had willpower where food's involved i wouldn't have needed the surgery. also, i tend to crave healthier foods when i have more restriction. i want lean meats and greens when my fill is tighter, so if i'm not getting tight enough it really messes me up!

Okay, you've had the issues I'm talking about! The things that everyone else can eat for Breakfast, like yogurt, is really hard for me to get down. Even right after the surgery when they gave me Jell-o, I wouldn't eat it, (still won't) because it was so painful! But solids I can eat without a problem. It makes me worry that I'll never be able to get a fill right, since they base the fill on how quickly liquids go down, not solids. It makes me feel much better to see that you've had so much success, even though you have the same issue. And I'm glad to find someone else who's had the same problem. At least I'm not a total freak!

Oh, and I'm not saying I had chips and dip... of course I wouldn't expect to feel full from that. I had an entire french dip (a roast beef sandwich on a hoagie roll) with a serving of chips. I shouldn't have been able to eat even half the sandwich if my fill were tight enough, ya know? There's no way I should have been able to eat that much so soon after a fill. So that means to me that my fills aren't tight enough, and I think it's because they're basing my fills on how quickly Water goes down, which is freakishly slow for me. See my frustration??

I've found at times (my band is ENTIRELY different now since it was unfilled for another surgery, I can eat much more and eat everything, I too seem to have no sweet spot anymore) that I would have trouble with the weirdest foods. Its stuck with me - I approach yogurt or any sort of fruit juice with extreme caution, expecting instant 'stuck' and pain, but I have always been able to eat bread! Soup - very difficult - steak, quite easy. There's no rhyme or reason to it. Although I'm glad after nine months unfilled to be almost full but still able to eat an apple this time round, it also means I just no longer have as good appetite control from my band.

Whilst I agree with you that the occasional treat wont hurt, chips and dip will probably always go down easy - those are slider foods and you will always be able to overeat them. Now, try a steak or some eggs or a piece of toast and judge your restriction from that.

While I appreciate your feedback, you've missed the point of my post. My surgeon has said that I can eat anything in moderation. I don't make a habit out of eating french dips and chips. I usually eat lean meat and veggies, but I also don't deprive myself of occasional treats. And quite frankly I don't think I should have to justify my diet to you... that's between my surgeon and myself.

My question is if anyone else is having the problem of having a harder time with liquids than with solids. If you have an opinion on that issue, I'd love to hear it. However, if you just cruise posts to judge people on their eating habits, please skip to the next one.

Why are you eating French dip & chips at all?!!! No band will work if you don't change your eating habits dear. I understand your concern & how you feel but I'm worried your miss using the band as it's not there for the purpose of continuing to eat poorly. If you change the type of food your eating you may not get reflux or have ANY problems at all. I'm sorry if this sounds aggressive, it's not meant to be but seriously chips?

I'm over six months out of surgery. I lost a lot of weight right at first, and then progress stagnated. I think I was just never getting tight enough. The method my provider uses for the fills is to sip from a glass of Water and adjust it to where it takes approximately three seconds for the water to pass through the band.

I think my problem is that it takes longer for fluids to pass through than dense foods. A few days after getting my last fill, I was able to eat an entire french dip and serving of chips... but I couldn't drink water quickly. Is anyone else having this problem?

I finally got them to give me a really tight fill this last time. I have to drink fluids very slowly, especially in the morning, but it seems like I'm finally getting the restriction I need on food. Of course now I'm worried I'm too tight. I'm having reflux now during the night. I'm going to try not drinking anything an hour before bedtime and seeing if that helps.

I'm just really wondering if maybe I don't have a "sweet spot." I know it sounds weird, but if I can process solids better than fluids, how will that ever work for me?

Bah!

Yaaaaay!!! Congratulations!!

i ended up getting banded by dr. wellborn on 5/6/11. i haven't regretted it a bit. i also shopped around, but settled on him because of his experience and his staff. it's been amazing having nurses who have been through it. it's like having mentors who just happen to be health care professionals

I got my first fill about 30 hours ago. I did fine until right now. Now I want FOOD!! That's why I logged on... to see if anyone else was able to eat food at this point after the fill. It makes sense to me to eat as my body is telling me... so long as I don't overdo it, and actually listen to my body. So now that I know other people can eat soft food this soon after a fill, I'm going to, too! (Yes, cheating is bad, but so is hunger!)

i'm seven-weeks post-op, and i'm going for my first fill wednesday. i definitely have the ups and downs. somedays i feel really tight and others, i have a full appetite.

you must have a pretty conservative surgeon. by my third week i was already on soft food (not having to be pureed... i could have deli meats, ground beef, etc.). i can now eat everything and haven't had any problems.

i'm not a veteran at this by any means, and i don't suggest taking my word over your surgeon's, but how i've gone about it has been to listen to my body. when i started being hungry for something more substantial, i ate something more substantial. i knew that otherwise, i'd end up eating the wrong stuff and failing like i had at all my other diets. (i also think that a lot of us have a complex about failing, because we have on so many previous diets. i don't think it's a helpful mind-frame, so i'm working on being happy with progress, instead of expecting perfection).

as for the weight, how often are you weighing yourself? it's hard for me not to weigh myself every day, but i think it's good to maybe go a few days without weighing in. if you weigh too often, it'll definitely vary a lot, because a million reasons from Water retention to how full your bowels are.

best of luck to you. just know it gets much easier.

have you found a Gummy vit that has Iron in it? i prefer the gummies, but i've had no luck finding ones with iron!

I take 2 adult Gummy Vitamins every day. I have purchased the Target brand and currently have the Sam's Club brand. They are all fruit flavored and tasts just like Gummy Bears. I want to say they are around $10 for about 3 months worth.

i was having those exact same issues. the shortness of breath was bad enough i called my surgeon. he said it was because we don't breathe as deeply during the surgery and recovery, so our lungs get gunk in them. i saw my regular doctor today about the fatigue. she ran my labs, and i was a bit anemic, but she said not badly enough to cause serious problems. i've been taking geritol tonic (an Iron supplement), and that seems to be helping for me. however, it also sounds like you may be lacking nutrients altogether if you're still on mostly Clear Liquids after all this time! i'd put a call into your surgeon, if i were you. good luck!!

i was banded friday and started sleeping on my stomach monday night. it's a little sore, but it helped me at first to hold a pillow up to my abdomen as i was laying down. somehow the gravity of my gut being pulled down seemed to be the most painful part to me.

if you still aren't able to get comfortable, you can always try putting a pillow under your knees when you're on your back. that really helps with back pain. i also had my head and neck elevated to where my body made a low "v" shape. that was the only way i could get comfy on my back.

i'm self-pay and was banded last friday. i chose the band over the sleeve, because i like that it's reversible, and i felt like it was the safest option. if i were in your shoes i'd do it. i just paid $16,000 for mine here, because my insurance (blue cross/blue shield) wouldn't cover it (and i had a bmi of 52!!).

if i were you i'd do everything possible to ensure a good surgery... research your surgeon A LOT!! stick with the pre-op diet and start exercising now to get your heart and lungs strong. follow the instructions they give you to a tee! there are still complications that can pop up, but they're much less likely if you follow the rules.

if i have any complications from the surgery, i'm also left to fend for myself, which is scary. insurance won't cover a dime of it if the problem is a complication from the surgery. so yes, definitely keep that in mind. however, to me, it was worth the risk.

another thing to consider is that a lot of doctors in the states won't maintain a band they've not put in themselves. i'd think a lot of doctors would make an exception if you've moved there from another country. however, just to make sure, you may want to call some surgeons in the area you think you'll live and ask if they'll maintain your band when you move back.

best of luck, whatever you decide!

it definitely looks more like a bruise now. it's bluer than red, so i've kind of relaxed. thank you guys so much for your feedback!

i had to stay under 800 calories for mine. i didn't always do it, but i exercised like crazy to make up for it. my saving foods were turkey breast with happy cow low-fat garlic and herb cheese. i'd also make a huge spinach salad. i made my own vinaigrette using vinegar and Water instead of oil. then i'd put a little bit of fat-free feta cheese and just a few craisins (watch it, though... they're high in sugar). i'd get to eat a whole plate of food for about 100 calories. very satisfying and tasty. i also sauteed broccoli in a tiny amount of olive oil and a whole bunch of garlic. i'm not a big fan of veggies, but the garlic hid the taste. i could eat a large serving of it for next to no calories... and it's amazing how broccoli went from gross to delicious when i was STARVING!! i'd also drink a Protein shake for Breakfast. my doctor suggested i do a Protein Shake for breakfast and lunch, but i simply couldn't do it. i was too hungry. i varied it a little and was still able to lose 13 pounds pre-op, and my surgery went great!

best of luck to you. my experience is that the diet is SO much easier after the band. you just have to get there! best of luck to you!

i'm day two post-op, and my wounds all look gross, of course, but my port wound is really red and itchy around it. it almost looks like a bruise. is this normal or is it getting infected?

also, does anyone know how soon after surgery i can quit worrying about getting a blood clot? i'm exercising and all that jazz, but i still worry that i'll get a clot. what's the time frame those pop up?

anyone? anyone?

I'm being banded this Friday, and I keep imagining what it's going to feel like not being fat. I've been this way for 25 years. I have no clue how it feels to be a "normal-sized" adult. As I was learning my identity, forming my personality, etc, I was always the fat girl. I was wondering if that feeling ever goes away.

I'm getting banded this Friday, and I'm kinda freaked out about the thought of all that skin just hanging around. I'd really rather not have PS; although, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. What I'm wondering about is how successful exercise is in treating excess skin. I've done lots of research on it. Some people swear that if you exercise enough the skin will eventually shrink; while others say that you'd have to exercise enough to completely replace the fat with muscle in order for you not to have excess skin.

I was wanting to hear it straight from people who've gone through it. I know that it depends on a lot of factors (age, genetics, etc.), but have you guys had any luck shrinking your skin through exercise? If so, how much and what kinds of exercise are you doing?

Yes, I can eat anything as long as I stay under 800 calories, but that basically breaks down to two Protein shakes and a Lean Cuisine for dinner. I'm very thankful that they didn't put me strictly on liquids. I wonder why some surgeons are stricter than others.

I've been pretty bad on my diet. Eating very healthy, exercising, and steadily losing weight, but certainly not following their guidelines. Hopefully nothing horrible befalls me.

Can you eat anything as long as you stay under 800 calories/day?

All I can have on mine is two Optifast shakes, Jell-O and Water I'm suppose to drink this other stuff too, but it was GROSS!!!!

But I have definitely struggled.... I think the pre-op diets are unrealistic too. BUT its only two weeks out of your whole life! Just stick with it, it sucks, but it will be over soon and you will be skinny!

(That's what I keep telling myself)

wow. i so can't relate to that. i love fluids. on the bright side, at least it won't be hard for you to give up liquid empty calories!

Yes, I can have either but the Water isnt hard cause it Water. It's hard cause i dont drink alot .. I can go all day with this 20 oz water and still not finish it.. I know thats sad..Lol..

I'm also trying out different Vitamins, because I'm being banded May 6th. I tried the Bariatric Advantage, and it did taste pretty bad, but it had nutrients I thought were probably more specifically for bariatric patients than Flintstones, such as Vitamin E, which is supposed to be good for skin (and hopefully somewhat help with the excess skin problem). I also take a Gummy pre-natal vitamin, but I haven't found any gummy vitamins that include Iron. As I recall, the Flintstone Vitamins had more iron in them that Bariatric Advantage, so I think I'll probably end up taking one Bariatric Advantage and one Flintstone Vitamin daily.

I couldn't find the link to the negative calorie foods. Could you post it here for me? I'd really appreciate it!!

I was just wondering if you saw on here in the nutrition area theres a link for negative calorie foods? and if we eat them do we actually count them?

Can you drink tea or Crystal Light instead of Water? Good luck to you!

I am on the 2 wks pre opt diet. Low Carp, No Sugar and High Protiens of no lower then 60 grams no higher then 80 grams... this was not easy.... Its 2 protien shakes and 1 meal.. My meal is 4oz chicken breast with .5 cup of green Beans and slices of avocados and 2 shakes. I snack on apples or even some tomatoes. I drink the Lean Body ready to go...only one I found that I liked.I have my surgery on May 3rd. I'm a bit nervous cause I know am not even close to drinking all the water I should be.. am lucky to get one 20oz of water a day:( , so far I have lost 8lbs... Good Luck to everyone!!

I hadn't seen that. I'll check it out, though. Thanks!

The surgeon's nurse told me that I could eat all the celery I wanted, because it has negative calories. I asked her if I ate a whole plate of celery, could I then apply all the negative calories to my diet and eat a huge cheeseburger. She said, "no." :-/

I was just wondering if you saw on here in the nutrition area theres a link for negative calorie foods? and if we eat them do we actually count them?