Chris S. - L.I.

Thanks for posting that inspirational pic! And congrats on the great job you have done.

Delarla, I'm glad your surgery went well and that you should be feeling a lot better soon. Just wanted to tell you to try Gas X tablets for the uncomfortable "gota burp" feeling. Also keep a heating pad on whatever part hurts. It helps alot! And I'm sure you already know to walk as much as possible. I'm off in a little while for a check up appointment at my surgeon. I've not been a fast loser and it's my fault. I'm eating things I shouldn't or things that are easy going down. My head tells me I'm hungry and that stinks. I haven't been exercising either and I hope that will change with the nice weather we've been having finally. But I'm still thrilled that I had this surgery and I'm sure you will be too!

I will try to check in at that time too.

I know people personally who have lost over 100 pounds with the Lap Band. I also know someone who just recently had Gastric Bypass and although I haven't seen him since his surgery I have heard from his friends that he now has an "odor" even thoough he is an immaculate man. They couldn't even be near him for a conversation. I really don't know why this happens and if anyone here does I wish they would explain it to me. Now, I'm sure this doesn't happen to everyone but I think I'd die if that was one of the side effects and it happpened to me. I never even considered GB surgery. I'm almost 8 months out and have lost 48 pounds. I'm behind most banders and it's because I really don't watch what I eat like I should. I'm thrilled with my decision and I'm sure that one day I will get to my goal weight.

First thing I would ask is how many bands has he placed and then I would ask if he has a support group. The support group is very important as far as I am concerned.

Hi. Sometimes that happens to me and when it does I usually take a break, walk around a little bit and then come back and try a bite again. Most of the time it helps and then I am able to continue to eat maybe having to take another break again but in the meantime eating very slowly and chewing alot and taking tiny bites. I think the reason it sometimes happens for me is that I forget I have the band and take a piece of food like I used to and not chew enough. It's just a suggestion that sometimes works for me.

Are you sure your doctor said "clear liquids" and not "full liquids"? After the surgery I had protein shakes, yogurt, sugar free jello and puddings and soups that were mostly creamy.

Does anyone else have this problem? I am having sharp pains in both shoulders. The area is in the front between my collar bone and my shoulder. What should I be doing for this? BTW I'm 7 months post op. Thanks.

I think Leo is right. Sometimes you have to eat different stuff to get your metabolism into gear. It's not a bad idea to "shake thing up" a bit.

Dan, Just wanted to let you know that evryone of us is different. Some of us need 4 fills (me) and some of us need none. There is a guy in one of my support groups that I know personally and he hasn't had any fills and has lost 130 in the first year. Just keep doing what you are doing.

Wow! Congrats! I can't wait to join your "under 200" club! Keep up the great work!

OK... so I've been able to eat large portions usually at night and therefore decided to schedule a fill. Plus I haven't been losing except for the same pound up and down for weeks. Today I went to have a small turkey sandwich on Italian bread for lunch and ended up puking. I think maybe it was the bread or I ate to fast or something. But should I still get a fill tomorrow???What is the perfect balance between eating and having a fill that is the right one? Please answer ASAP with your thoughts. Thanks

No one responded to my post but I fugured I'd let you know what happened. I went for another fill on Wednesday and went from 2.2 to 2.5 and as of today I have lost 3 pounds. So I guess we're on a roll now. I just hope this keeps up.

Coleen, I wanted to respond to your post but actually I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry for all you have been through. What happened with the original doctor? Where did he go? When you checked out the doctor who did your surgery did he have a lot of patients and a support group so you could find out if anyone else had problems from his surgery? And this new doctor, how did you find him? He sounds like a real jerk. .25 of a cc is just about a drop of saline. My last fill was only .3 but that is because I was already at 2.2 so it was just a tweak. If there is any chance you can get down to Long Island I can give you my doctor's name. He has done about 370 lap bands so far. He doesn't do any other WLS. When we get fills we get a script from him to go to another hospital and a radiologist does the fills there under fluro. I sure hope things start going your way soon. Regards, Chris

I'm getting my 4th fill on Wednesday and I'm worrying that I'm doing the wrong thing. Soemtimes I PB but I'm not sure it's because of restriction or because I eat too fast or don't chew well enough, although I haven't done that in awhile. I was able to eat alot of food yesterday which included Baked Ziti which I know is a no- no for a lot of Banders. The NP at the doc's office said if this doesn't do the trick I will have to go see the nutritionist. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to be on an "eating plan" but just be eating less. I sure hope this fill works. PS How are we supposed to keep up with the fills if when we go, most of the time we have lose some of the fluid that was put in from the time before?

For the gas one of the best things you can do it walk. Keep walking around your house if you can't get out. I had my surgery in Sept. so here on Long Island the weather was still nice so each day I would take it slow but get out and walk a little bit in my neighborhood each day going a little further. I also took Gas X tablets and it helped. ALso a warm heating pad was very soothing. And if you can get someone to "burp" you it can help. LOL.

I have (or had) sleep apnea for about 3 years now. Because of the surgery I have lost about 40 pounds and because of that I don't use my CPAP machine anymore. When I reach a 50 pound loss, I will go for another sleep study to make sure I am OK without the CPAP. So the good news is....if you do have it, when you lose weight you should be able to get rid of it.

My scars are not raised but are a sort of purpleish color. Anyone else have this? Do you think the Curad stuff would help?

Wow. This is exactly the same problem I am having. I am always looking to eat more at night. I have tea and a Protein drink for breakfast, something small for lunch and definitely more for dinner and then I am always looking for something around 9:30. (I go to sleep around midnight) The thing I am wondering about is how long it takes the food to leave your stomach. If I am eating around 6:30 would my stomach be empty by the time I go to bed (if I didn't have something at 9:30?) I guess I will have to try this new plan!

I think you are fine. After all, you are not eating solid foods yet. It is not uncommon to not feel restricted. Personally I wouldn't worry, but if you have any doubts you should call your doctor.

Are you supposed to be eating regular food? Were you on liquids for the first two weeks? What where your surgeons instructions? Also, the first 6-8 weeks are for healing so you may not feel restriction.

Babs, Thanks for the post. Obviously you are a successful bander so you know what you are talking about. I am still trying to figure out what a good fill is. I'm at 2.2 right now and I can't really eat anything in the morning. One morning I couldn't drink my protein drink Lunch is a little better. But sometimes when I'm eating all of a sudden I realize I ate one bite too much and I have to PB. Since the restriction seems to change minute by minute I don't know if I should get another fill. When I eat dinner, the first few bites seem to get stuck and then if I walk around a little and then eat some more, I can continue eating. Please explain what my meals should be like if you can take the time. Thanks.

I am just curious why you had a fill if you were losing weight? You've lost 34 pounds in less then 2 months and that is wonderful!!! I'm almost 6 months out and am finally at 40 pounds. I know everyone and their doctor are different but I'm just surprised you got the fill since you were definitely losing without it. One of my guy friends in my support group has lost 125 pounds in less then a year with no fill at all. (Don't ya just hate men!! LOL)

Lupe, What other methods of losing weight have you tried? I think most of us....well, let me speak for myself, have tried just about everything. When I went for my consultation and the doctor went through a list of weight loss mehods, there were only 2 of them that I did not try, NutriSystems and Optifast. I'm actually one of the lucky ones who were on Phen/Fen amd didn't get hurt. People like me are the ones who have this surgery. If you are planning to self pay, I guess you don't have to prove that you tried just about everything. But if you are planning on doing it through insurance your BMI must be a certain number to qualify and you have to prove you've tried to diet in the past usually through a doctor.

I have been reading the posts and alot of people seem to be stuck at this weight loss. I am 5 months out from surgery and have lost 38 pounds but most of this was lost at the beginning. I have had my 3rd fill and I do have restriction although at night I can definitely eat more, but I am getting more sensitive to certain foods. Lasst time I had my fill I lost around 5 pounds. This time 2 pounds. My fill was on Jan. 28th. Anyone have anything to tell me???