skylily

Hello Wow you have to go through a lot of tests to get approved. I'm Australian and all I had to do was have blood tests - from what I recall. Let me cast my mind back... Went to my doctor, asked her to refer me to a lapband surgeon, met with him, had blood tests, saw his inhouse psychologist and dietician and had a date set for surgery. Not all on the same day though. Good luck with everything. xox

I'm sitting here reading everyone's comments whilst sipping on a delicious glass of a citrus flavoured sparkling mineral water. Sugar-free of course.

mmmmmmmmmmmmm pizza yes one kilo = 2.2 lbs... so I lost 6.6 lbs Thanks for your kind words, you're such a sweetie. I agree, it's much better listening to somebody who has walked the walk... not some skinny minny with the metabolism of a hummingbird. (I just googled which animal has the fastest metabolism and it is that beautiful little bird... there you go, a bit of trivia for you lol). Don't let miss cat bum lips put you off from getting a fill though. You're STRONGER than that. Hope you're feeling a little better when you wake up and read this. SkyLily xox

Fair enough

Yes gulping is not advisable

I have thought about this a fair bit and I have come to the conclusion that 'carbonated drinks stretch your pouch' is a myth. It just seems a bit trusting to take that statement at face value. For a start, there are actually two holes for the gas to escape, either up or down... if food is blocking the down bit, then up it comes... I know that from experience LOL. The pouch is made from an elastic material and the brief time a little liquid is effervescing in it is not enough to permanently stretch it. I know if I drink carbonated drinks too fast that I pay for it either by burping or it coming back up... but I don't believe it can stretch our pouches. I am not advocating drinking sugary or alcoholic carbonated drinks... all I'm saying is that I don't think a bit of sparkling Water, soda water or sugar free diet sodas is going to be bad for us. We have to deprive ourselves of so many things, why deprive ourselves unnecessarily?

I sure do agree about the sweet spot. Chasing that is like looking for a pot of gold at the rainbow's end. I come across this link http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html in another post on the site which I found a worthwhile read and whilst I don't agree with the whole article there were some points that I found very helpful to consider. After the past few days on the five day plan I have decided to proceed like this... eat a small amount whenever I am hungry. I agree with you.... 1 cup of food three times a day is unsustainable. I'm just gonna have half to a full cup when my body tells me to... not my mind lol. I'm gonna listen properly and make sure I am really hungry. I am not going to let myself become ravenous just to stick to three times a day because that to me is self defeating. I am doing a food diary now and as long as I stick to about 1000 cals a day give or take a bit, then I will be doing well I think.

Hi elcee, I have to agree with the part I have quoted below. Research and realistic expectations are so very very important. If I had've researched extensively off my own bat and not relied on the propaganda from the lapband websites and from the doctors surgery then I would not have wound up so disappointed with it all. I have had to have a period of mental adjustment and go through all that... accept that the band is not perfect for me, that I do have set backs with it, but that I am now ready to just forge on with what I have. It doesn't work as well for me as for some, but it does work a bit... so now I just get on with it and continue my journey. I am not at a point of trying another WLS because at this stage I don't believe any of them are that great. I may change my mind down the track if they create something safer and more foolproof... but right now, I have decided against any of them as being an option for me. If however I was suffering ongoing, every day pain and trauma like some of these ladies are than of course I would not hesitate in getting the band removed and researching other WLS. I feel so very sad for them all. It's such a big thing to go through to get the band done and when our hopes and dreams are shattered it's just so depressing. I wish them all the best in whatever they choose. Thanks for the suggestion about the support group. I am in the country, but I have a appt next week with a lapband doctor and I will ask him to source out a local one for me. Just being on this site and researching has helped me refocus, so I think a support group may be helpful. I have always been a 'I can do this by myself' type of person, but I am coming to believe that sharing stories and offering and accepting support is helpful. SkyLily x

Thanks klh1197 You poor thing. Mine was perforated too but it wasn't noticed or picked up in the swallow hence being at home for five days before the emergency surgery. So I'm glad you at least didn't have to go through that, but how absolutely AWFUL for you to wake up after the op to find out you weren't even banded after all the struggle it takes to just get on that damn table in the first place! I know you weren't asking, just expressing your frustration etc... but noone can help you decide what your next step should be. I think what you're doing now is good... reading the forums. I presume you're reading the sleeve and other forums as well. Read, read, read as much as you can! On all the forums you will read glowing reports from some, struggling stories from others, and a few horror stories thrown in as well. Make sure you read the good, bad and ugly viewpoints. We all have a tendency pre op to read the good stuff and try to ignore the bad because we wish and want with all our hearts for something to help us with our problem. I think all the WLS on offer can help us to varying degrees but at the end of the day it still falls back on us to put in the hard yards... it sucks but that's just the way it is. None of the WLS are a walk in the park and all require more effort on our part than you hope to have to give really. All come with their own sets of potential complications. I imagine with your reading etc you've already gathered that knowledge by yourself. I would have liked to be more aware of all of this before I went ahead with WLS... I still would have done it... but I wouldn't have got so disappointed along the way. I'm now back in fired up mode to put in a long haul effort of diet and exercise etc... BUT these are things I could have and would have done by myself anyway without WLS. It would just have been nice if the band had've aided me more than it has. This is my truth and viewpoint... as I keep saying there are many others and it helps to see the whole picture. Good luck on deciding and the best of luck with whatever you do. SkyLily xox

Hi Grandy... your husband's remark... because the pain is usually worth it... in our eyes. Sorry you're in so much discomfort... I knew it would be no walk in the park you poor thing. When (notice I say when and not if ) I lose a substantial more amount of weight I'm going to get my chin/neck area done. And yes I did lose 3 kilos these past five days. Two of those in the first two days. I think I have slipped quickly into starvation mode though. I will try to up the calorie and carb intake today as both have been negligible this week. BUT I feel clean and lighter and determined... and trying to ignore the pissed off feeling of "arghhhhhh not again". Hope you feel better soon Ms Grandy. SkyLily xox so I

Hi Holly This may help you to get back on track... it's pretty full on, but it's only five days. http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html I am on the eve of the fifth day THANK GOD!!!!!!! Have lost several pounds this week and am mentally back on track. Personally, my band doesn't do much in the way of appetite suppression but something like this helps naturally shrink your stomach, which helps fight the hunger pangs EVENTUALLY. As I said the five day thingy is pretty full on and I did get shocking headaches for three days, and have felt continually woozy... but I persevered and am glad I did. Good luck... it is NOT easy. xox

Hi Kristy, sorry to hear about your problems. Contrary to what some people like to believe many of the problems lapbanders suffer they don't bring on themselves. It's great that some people get off scot free and don't have any pain or stress from complications... and I LOVE hearing success stories... but the holier-than-thou people who can't help putting their two cents in and come off sounding like zealots are just silly and annoying! I truly hope you feel better soon and the best of luck with your future. xox

Thanks for posting this link. I went and had a read... what a great article. I think it should be handed out to every potential lap bander... what we are often told to expect is so different to this... BUT this is what makes sense. So thanks again... food for thought!

Hello, I understand exactly how you feel because I have suffered from the same thing. It wasn't a matter of the band slipping with me it was that I needed a bit of unfilling. Perhaps with your first fill it aggravated under your band and it won't settle unless you get the Fluid taken out. I also needed antibiotics to get the infection under control. I unfortunately cannot tolerate a decent fill because of what you have described so I don't have enough fill in the band to make a decent restriction. Which sucks big time. What should happen is that they do a barium swallow and check the liquid going down etc. Then they will probably unfill you and hopefully that will alleviate your pain and then maybe you can try again with a small fill down the track a bit. I have been banded two years and it is a year since I last went to the doctor and that was to get an emergency unfill. I have been too scared to go through it all again because as you know it hurts and is very scary. I'm booked in for later this month because I have decided to give a tiny quarter .25cc fill a go. Fingers crossed! I hope so much every thing works out for you and it is something minor that needs adjusting. GOOD LUCK. xox

Hi Kitty Kat No, it's not always due to over indulgence... though it can be of course. It can also be due to the band being too full, or a swollen or infected stomach or eosophagus?, or simply because the band just doesn't suit some people and things don't go according to plan. It's great you are still in the zone, I hope you stay there for a long time and be satisfied on half a cup. I think when you progress to more solid food you will discover what the lack of a good chew can do. Good luck with your journey. xox

LOL

Fantatstic!! Well done.

Good evening Grandy, it's 9.12 pm in Victoria, Australia and it's a chilly dark hungry night. Thanks for your message, it's very welcome. I hope your eye work goes off smoothly... and yes, it is vital to do things to feel good. I love my nails and hair looking good and I don't own one set of unglamorous bras... and about 30 gorgeous ones LOL. The Imelda Marcos of bras! I'm the only one who gets to see them BUT I know I'm wearing them. As to the five day thingy http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/day5.html... OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! I started yesterday morning so am on the end of the second day now. I woke up this morning feeling brutalised lol. Headache, sluggish, bad breath... the old ketone breath... I haven't missed that! I drank so much Water and other liquids yesterday I woke up SIX times last night to go the loo!! I'm glad day 3 looks brighter... am already dreaming of eggs and tuna... amazing how a bit of deprivation makes simple things seem so desirable. It is good you are starting it on the Saturday and not during the week. Will make it a bit easier than going into work feeling the day 2 horror. I am feeling back in determined mode at present so when the five days are gone I'll just settle back into low carb, low cal, exercise blah blah blah hahahaha... so crap... but what can we do? Don't really have a choice do we? I've decided I'll try to do the five day thing every few weeks, maybe make it a monthly thing... well that's the plan at present! I also joined a site called http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ so I can track my food and weight etc. I haven't done that before diligently so hopefully that will aid a bit. Anyway, thanks again for your message and good luck with EVERYTHING... the eyes, the job, the stress, the plan, the hunger... WE CAN DO IT... even if it's by a 2 steps forward, one step back method... we'll get there eventually. SkyLily xox

Hi Gaylene, you're not on your own in fact if you read through the site long enough there seems to be many in the same boat. Sorry you're struggling, it is frustrating and saddening. I hope you find some way to get the head hunger under control soon and find yourself losing again. Good luck. xox

Hi Grandy... putting aside the fact that I LOVE Sponge Bob I get what you're saying. Some bandsters have genuine problems with the band that cause pain and inadequate restriction... so the tool just doesn't do its job... and then there are others who realise that even though the band does work for them that they are still slave to a lifetime of dieting etc. I hate that I still have to have the diet mentality... I thought I was actually going to be free of that and because I supposedly wouldn't be able to eat much that the food part largely took care of itself... without being ridiculous of course and eating junkfood etc. If I could actually feel the restriction I'm sure my journey would be easier... that's why we got the band in the first place! I'm sorry you're struggling... none of this is easy and as you say we need to support and encourage each other and maybe one day we'll have our own success stories. Good luck Grandy. SkyLily xox PS I am trying to kickstart my losing again with doing this five day thingy this week starting today http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/days1_2.html.

You're not saying anything that the people who have posted here don't already know. If you have read the stories of these members it is not a case of 'something greener' it is a safe of something safer for them that actually gives adequate restriction. We have already covered the 'it's not a miracle cure and it's only a tool'... however if we are to have a tool we want one that is not damaging us and that delivers its function... then the rest is us up to us... we're not idiots... but thanks for your concern.

Hi Simone... you're right, it's not the band that loses the weight, it is you, and your triumphs belong to you! We do need to lead healthy lifestyles, which includes some exercise. Apart from weight loss benefits there are others too... staving off osteporosis etc. The band is a tool though, and as such, it would be nice if it did what it is supposed to do to make our journey easier. That's why we get it. I hope you get your band seen to sooner rather than later, it sounds like you're in an awful place at present. And yes... I'll keep swimming... to not do so would be to accept drowning... and I value myself far too much for that. Thanks Simone. xox

Yes it is a process... and so much more complicated than we ever figured hey swrktp! You're right about the judgements re 'failing'... we do it to ourselves and some successful bandsters are sometimes guilty of it on this site as well. Saying that there are some very nice and encouraging ones as well that possess empathy. All I want is real restriction, which is why we get the band, without acid burning my throat and waking up in the night throwing up Water and food. In other words I want to avoid pain and fear. Is that too much to hope for? I've gone into google overload recently and I have to tell you... if I can't get this band working for me like it ideally should than I may get a Sleeve... which was originally the first part of The Switch op, and now can be done stand alone... and if the Sleeve doesn't deliver... which I would work very hard to ensure it would, then eventually I would go ahead have the second part done so that I will end up with The Switch. (aka as DS or BPD-DS). I would prefer it not to come to that though. It seems like no matter what path you take there is almost always a regain after the loss, which may be months or may be years... the way I see it is the more that can be lost in the first place than the better it is. SIGH lol xox

Hello, I was just browsing back through the old posts and stumbled on yours. You poor thing, going through all that. If you're still around this site, how are you doing now? xox

You must be so pleased! What a great achievement. If the band could help to control my appetite I would be rapt. The way it works for you and your result is what I dreamed of pre band. Well done!