TaniaG

It's been a long while that I have been off this forum but thought I'd come back for support and information.
Can anyone tell me if they had a hernia after bypass. What symptoms did you have & did it need to be removed?

Hi!!

I was banded in 2011. Went from 240 to179. In went back up to 240. Had similar problems as you regarding the fills and acid reflux. My doctor also suggested converting to bypass. I did that this June. This was my experience with the conversion.

Two days after surgery I wasn’t able to keep down liquids or soft food.

My follow up appointment was a week later where my doctor removed my drain. After that it went crazy!

I immediately felt extreme pain and was admitted into the hospital. The next day I had emergency surgery to fix the leak that caused the pain.

I woke up in the ICU with a stomach tube. there was so much scar tissue from the lap band that the leak couldn’t be fixed.

I went on to get an two infection that required drains.

I had two laparoscopic procedures in hopes of getting a stint. There was too much damage to place one.

I stayed in the hospital for 2 1/2 weeks.

The leak healed on its own thanks to God. During that 2 months of healing I was being fed by the stomach tube. I wasn’t able to eat or drink orally for 2 months.

At this point I’m looking at getting a dilation because it’s difficult to eat and drink some liquids.

I’m weighing 166 from 240.

This ride continues and I hope the dilation ends it all with Gods help.

Think about this decision long and hard. Had I removed my band then waited a few months for the bypass I don’t think the outcome would be the same. However, God only knows.

Hope this helps you. Please send a message if you have more questions.

By the way I’m 47.

Hi Paigepatches!

I was banded in 2011 and was very similar to you. I lost 60lbs. in 5 months.

All was going well I was getting my regular fills but the last fill I got in April 2013 was an over fill. After that point my band stopped working well for me.

Over the next 4 years I've have several upper GI's, Fluid taken out little by little, all fluid removed, and now I'm at the point where my doctor wants to remove my band in exchange for the gastric bypass. I'll be having surgery I'm hoping at the beginning of June.

Lap band failed for me. I'm now at the weight I was in 2011, time of my lap band surgery!

I'm hopeful this procedure will give me more weight loss and maintaining it.

Hope this helped. Good luck!

I honestly don't know why I left the support of BPal but glad I'm back. I'm thinking that's why I struggled for this whole time. New year new hopes right?

I have my band filled to 7cc and I go back to my dr later this month gonna get some added in I know I'm not in my green zone yet.

I added a ticker to my post in hopes that will make it a lot more real for me. I plan to weigh myself once a week.

I've been on winter vacation for two weeks, go back to work Monday. Looking forward to it being at home messes up my eating properly and my workouts not to mention we just finished two food filled holidays lol!

My plan is to workout daily climb mountain twice a week maybe three, treadmill nightly, and cardio in the morning I tell you its hard to get started but once I see even the slightest result I am committed.

My plan for eating is to measure, measure, measure!!! My doc told me a long time ago to stop eating after five spoons full and well I didn't take his advice.

My outlook is to make my band work for me and get the weight off the way the band was intended to work.

Ok, sorry I think I rattled on enough. Enjoy your wknd

Hi there!

Boy can I relate!!! I got my band in 2011 and started strong and continued that way with loss and gains along the way. I'm still trying to get to my goal, 30 lbs. to go, its a struggle and I know I need to workout and follow a strict diet to lose even with my band.

Don't give up it takes time to make the band work for you I'm still learning that.

Tania

Hi Atlantak

I'm just returning after being off for close to three years. I gained 6 lbs since Oct. My dr had to remove the Fluid in my band due to some complications. I went in before the holidays to get 7 cc and I'm back on track!

I've had my band for almost 3 years and have lost 55 lbs within 6 mths but have put back on 30 of those lbs!!!!

This is why I decided to get back online for support. I need to find a way to make my band work for me.

It seems like your doing great!

Well it'll be 3 years since my lap band surgery and honestly it's been an up and down climb. I haven't been online for almost three years!!!!!

I started off strong and lost 55 lbs. and since have gained some and lost some. Didn't think i"d still be up and down with my weight after getting the band. After almost 3 years I still haven't found a way to make my band work for me. This is the year however!!!!

My first fill was 4cc then my second fill was 3cc. @ 7cc I have much restriction, but can eat when I take very small bites and chew very well. I can't eat bread or certain types of pizza/pasta. I think its good for most carb type foods to be difficult to keep down, so am leaving my 7cc alone. Does anyone have a bigger fill than 7cc and how is it working? I have an 11cc Realize band. Thanks. Gail

Hi,

My first fill was this past Wednesday. Dr. put in 4 cc's and I have some restriction but I am looking forward to more restriction. I'm hoping my next fill I will have the same results you are having. Thanks for your info.

Hi

I had my first fill today too @ 4:00 pm. My dr put in 4 cc and then I had a drink of Water and did just fine. My dr even told me to come home and eat something to make sure I can keep it down and I did just that and I was fine.

Sorry your first fill didn't go smoothly for you. I hope you can get it fixed tomorrow. I hope your weather clears up too

Good luck.

I know that because I don't have a fill yet that this is probably the reason why......but I can eat pretty much anything and a lot! just about as much as i was before I got banded 3 weeks ago! I don't even feel like there is a band in there!

When you get a fill, does that help you to feel full with less food? I know that is a stupid question, I mean, I know that is what it is supposed to do right, but I didn't expect to be able to eat this much! Right now I am eating a lot! and with no problems, bread, chicken, pretty much anything!! It's not hard for me to eat over 1500 calories. Did anyone else go back to eating what they did after they got banded (without a fill)? And did it change once you got a fill or two?

Hi there,

I have the exact same problem you do. Thursday will be 4 weeks post op and I can eat anything BUT don't. I measure my food and the food I eat is low in fat. Measuring saves me!!!

I get my first fill on the 26th but need to call and try to schedule for this week, hopefully Thursday. I want that filling of fullness that I felt 2 weeks post op. At that time I could eat 1/2 cup of food and get full, now cup and a half to 2 cups!!!! Totally don't like that.

I assume the swelling around the band is gone and that's why I can eat more??? Is that true?

Hi Friends,

I have a question....I was banded on April 21, 2011 and when I drank and/or ate I would get full very quickly. I could eat 1/2 cup of food and fill full.

Now, almost a month after surgery I don't get full as fast, can eat cup/cup and a half of food.

Is this because the swelling is going down around my band and am needing my first fill?

Has anyone ever experienced this before their first fill?

Hi All,

I hope everyone is doing well. I tell you I had a rough start...I was banded 3 weeks ago tomorrow and had a hard time dealing with the decision I made. However, I got through that first tough week and I am going STRONG!!!

I worked out Saturday, took a spin class and no pain at all!! Monday another spin class, Tuesday climbed A Mountain (thats a mountain close to NMSU, called A Mountain after the NMSU Aggies). It takes about 30 minutes to climb up. Its so great, I tried a different trail up and loved the challenge. It was actually easier to climb than before I got the band and I have only lost about 15 pounds!!!! I'll be running it in several months!!!

Today I did the dreaded yard work, I hate yard work but its a great workout. Tomorrow back to the mountain and Friday and Saturday spin class. WooHoo!!!!

I'm very happy with my decision to get the band and look forward to weight loss and becoming healthier and stronger!!!

Good Luck to all of you

Well, i got my Firm express dvd's last week and they are great but kicking my butt!!!!!! I really like that they are only 20 min workouts and once you get started they keep you motivated and before you know it i was done with my workout!!!! If anyone has the dvd's please let me know what you think, or if we can create a challenge for ourselves!!! As you my know i am only 9 lbs away from my dr's goal, and these are the hardest lbs to get off. So if there is any one who is doing any excercise challenges please let me know also.

Let me know!

Hi there,

I love the Firm series!!! Which ones did you get? I started doing the Firm about 3 years ago (that was my workout at home).

I really loved them, a great workout and in a short time. I'm not using them any more though I wanted to try and do different forms of exercise. I hope you enjoy them because you will surely see results!!!

Good Luck!!

Hi All,

16 days post op and back to working out.

Before surgery I would spin and thought why not try it this morning. It was awesome!!! No pain at all. Did 50 minutes of a pretty hard spin class...so proud of myself.

I'm looking forward to the weight falling off now that I'm back to spinning and eating healthy and LESS!!!!

Totally happy......I don't regret gettin the lap band anymore

Good Luck to you all.

Ok I've slipped up a few times since I'm suppose to be on liquids full liquids and mushy food. I had my surgery 4-28-11. Well at 1st you're cool cause your're so sick you dont want anything to eat or drink. But around that 3rd day when those hunger pains kicked in I've had a few slip ups. The first time I was hungry and nauseated at the same time so i had a couple of saltines. they went down no problem, The next time I had 4 dorito chips no problem. a few days later I was so hungry so I tried a half cup of Cereal with milk and again no problems. The worst is when I tried a small bake n break cookie again no trouble. Well I'm pretty well done with the cheating not for any particular reason other than I just lose interest in the food soon after I start chewing. I did make sure to chew,chew,chew! But anyway none of the cheat food made me sick. Was it suppose to? The only thing I've notice after the surgery so far is that I get crazy hungry but as soon as I start to eat I dont really want it much after that. I stop eating the minute my tummy quits growling. Now I do still have an occasional saltine because the hunger pains make me so nauseas,but its like only 1 1/2 crackers. Why are the hunger pains so strong? Why does the hunger pains make me so sick? Shouldn't the crunchy food irritate me? I'm not eating it anymore either because well I know i'm not suppose to...lol

Hi,

I had the same horrible hunger pains. I got the band on April 21 and I couldn't stomach the Protein shakes but I did have the broth, condensed Soups, jellos, and cream of wheat and couldn't get rid of the hunger pains. At my follow up appt. my doc said I could start eating scrambled eggs, cereal, even chicken as long as I chewed the heck out of it, lol. Hunger pains went away, YAY!!!

I'm pretty much eating healthy food for Breakfast, lunch, and dinner but I get full very fast. I can eat about a 1/2 cup of food and get full, I love that!!!!

Maybe you should check with your doc and ask if you can introduce some foods that will fill you for longer periods of time. Might work.

And yes I can eat anything but its takes some super willpower to control that bad habit and chose healthy foods over junk foods.

Before my surgery I bought a cookbook, Comfort Food Diet Cookbook and it is loaded with great, simple recipes that I make now for lunch and dinner. It also has diet Desserts that taste great but are super lowfat, low sugar

Good luck

Hello all,

I'm considering having my lapband procedure done in Mexico.

Has anyone else had theirs done far from home?

I would really appreciate your comments and or advice.

Hi,

What state are you in? I had my surgery done in El Paso, TX which is just miles away from Mexico. I have a great dr, Dr. Ben Clapp.

Are you considering Mexico to save money? If so, this is not the time to think of saving money. If something should go wrong there is really nothing you could do.

Hi All,

Feeling GREAT!!!! I know I lost 10 lbs when I went to dr. office on 4/27 but have lost more since then. Not sure how much because I have a lousy scale. Need a new one...already on list of things to buy.

Still have some gas after I eat lunch and dinner but food is going down good. Its funny how I get full so quickly....love that!!

I just created this weight loss ticker and copied and pasted it and hoping it will stay every time I write a new topic or reply to someone. Did I do this right?

P

Hey All,

I am from Puyallup, WA and I was banded 9 days ago, on April 18, 2011. I had my surgery done by Dr. Robert Michaelson out of North West Weight Loss Surgery (he operates out of the surgical center there, but my surgery was done at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland.)

I had my first follow up yesterday, and between the 7 days pre op liquid diet and 8 days post op, I am down 24.4lbs already. I have 195.6lbs left to go...and I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm really looking for support from people who have been banded, because I am having some emotional issues. I have anxiety already, but it has gotten worse since surgery. I want to stay positive, but it is hard when I am crying and scared everyday. Any positive advice or words of wisdom?

-Thanks!

Liz

Hi Liz,

Boy, can I relate!! I was banded on April 21, 2011. I felt totally the same 2 days post surgery. I just started crying and couldn't stop for about 3 days. It was very scary!! I even called my doctor the Monday following and told him I wanted it OUT! Of course he said no, I had to wait a month. I blamed the anestitia (I know I misspelled that word, sorry) and the pain meds, tylenol with codeine did not help me.

When I went in for my follow up almost a week later I felt better and I am willing to try it, I do get the anxiety but only because I have had nausea for the past two nights, not sure why but its a pain in the butt!!! I want everything healed and I want to be back to pre surgery health. I know I need to be more patient but its hard at times.

I have started some soft food and that has helped me feel more like myself prior surgery. I lost 10 pounds and glad to hear you lost almost 25 pounds, thats great!!!

We both need to try to stay positive and know this is going to help in the long run.

Knowing it can be removed does put my mind at ease though. In order for me to be successful with the lap band I need to be completely happy with it.

Just curious out there. I had my lap band in July 2010. Well as soon as I had it put in I felt this strong anxiety of I need this object out of my body. Well I did not tell no one except for when I got on here for support n the people on here told me to just relax n get used to it, chill out. Well I tried so about 2 weeks later i had a major panic attack n I had to tell my husband n the reason I din't wanna tell him is because I had wanted it for years people, years. So to make a long story short, my Dr Ross whom is just wonderful person put me on Anxiety med and it did it's job for so long and fast forward to ten months later April 2011, went in and talked with him n he said he thinks I tried my best and that he will now take it out. Thank God ,Thank God. Dr Ross said there is a very few select few that cannot handle objects in there body and I'm just in that %. I know it's affective because Ive heard to many of yall being sussecefull with it. I lost about 25/30 lbs but for me it was the ten worst months of my life beside my mother passing. I was just wondering if this has happened to any one else out there. So I've had it out for 5 day's now and I could not be happier. Not sure what my direction of becoming a healthier person is but I surely no it can be done. Glad the lap band has worked for so many but so thankful I got to get mine out:)))

Hi trish1

I'm glad to hear your happy and congratulations to you. Although I have only had the lap band for little over a week I did experience alot of anxiety 3 days post surgery and I actually told my doctor I wanted it removed, he told me I had to wait at least a month because it could be dangerous to remove so soon. He also told me to give it time and see if I could adjust to it. I told him if in a month I felt the same I wanted it removed, he agreed.

I am doing better and am willing to try. Its not so much that I have something foreign in my body but the nausea and gas. I rarely ever suffered from nausea prior to surgery and if that does not go away with time I will have it removed, nausea will be hard to live with on a nightly basis!

How do you feel now that it is out? Did you have to be on a liquid diet after removal? Is your stomach back to its pre lap band state?

Hi Everyone. I'm getting banded May 3rd. Actually my surgeon recommends start solids as soon as you can tolerate it. after the banding is done. My surgeon is awesome and I've seen some wonderful results from alot of patients.

Hi LoriAnn81,

Yeah my doctor pretty much said the same thing, I did follow his recommendations and some solids are going down better than others. But I gues thats to be expected.

Good Luck and let me know how it all went

You're so welcome!!! Protein shakes are so hard to stomach for me, even herbalife! I think I'm just so tired of them. I bought the special k ones, but they are loaded with sugar (18g). I was told ensure is the best. I don't know how they taste though. I'm on musies now and have been eating salsa that I've made. I'm trying to get as much Protein in as possible though. I know your hair can fall out if you don't get at least 60g of it daily. How are you feeling??? I'm still in lots of pain and I become extremely tired very quickly.

Hi Eloisa

I'm glad to hear I'n not the only one who doesn't like Protein Shakes. I was beginning to think everyone liked them....Yuck!!!

I'm doing really well, my incisions are almost healed and no pain at all. I have been pretty active, went out last night with friends and danced a few songs.

But I still have some nausea, especially at night. Not sure what's up with that. Doc really couldn't give me an answer when I asked him.

Any problems with that on your part?

Hi!!! I was banded on the same day and I called my doctor Tuesday to see if I could eat mushies and they told me absolutely not. They also told me that my band does have some Fluid in it and that I could really hurt myself. I know every doctor is different, but I'm almost afraid to put something solid in my stomach (even though I'm hating this stage)....I would take it slow and just be careful

Hi!!!! great we share our lap band dates. Thanks for your reply.

Well the liquid diet phase was hard but I could do it a little longer. food is going down well, I do get full fast....thats pretty cool!

But I think at night I will stick to a Soup for a while longer. I absolutely can not do the Protein shakes!!! Well I can do Herbalife Protein shakes from a nutrition store that makes them in my hometown...their delicious!

Hi Fellow Lap Banders,

I'm new to this forum and glad to be part of it.

I was banded last Thursday 4/21/11. I went in for my folllow up appt. yesterday and dr. told me I could start solid foods. That was great but should I really be eating solid foods already? I mean he's the doctor, right?

Another question, for the past two nights I have had nausea and a little gas. Will that pass with time? I am only a week post op.