lmtorb

I've been experiencing difficulty with my band for over 9 months. Some days I can't eat anything, including liquids, other days I can eat a horse. I have NOTHING in my band now due to nothing passing through during my last x-ray session. Now my doctor says my band has slipped and needs to be replaced. He also said the reason I can eat so much is that all the food stays in my esophagus, which has essentially turned into a 2nd stomach. I feel like a cow with multiple stomachs!! However, my insurance will only pay to have the band removed and not replaced. Am I in danger by waiting to have this done? I'm afraid what will happen when I am bandless...... I initially lost close to 100 pounds and have gained about 30-40 back. HELP! Anyone else ever gone through this??? :help:

Does anyone else wake up with a "sour" stomach? I had been having trouble with reflux and have helped that a LOT by not eating anything after dinner and taking Prilosec. But I still seem to waken with a sour feeling in my stomach. Any suggestions how to prevent this? Anything I can eat/drink to calm it down? I've tried chewing Tums or Rolaids, etc., but would like to just eliminate this completely rather than have to treat it every day.

I was also told that allergies can make the band "tighter", but it's sort of misleading. With allergies, you generally produce more mucous (mostly in your head!) and a lot of that can accumulate in your pouch. This can form a sort of plug around the stoma and make the opening much smaller. Mine is worse in the morning. My doctor and dietician suggested taking a swig of Robitussin or something with Guaifenisin (sp) in it and that should help that mucous thin out and relieve some of the tightness. Makes sense if you think about it!!! Anyway, I tried the Robitussin (generic works fine) and it has REALLY helped me. Drink it about 20-30 minutes before a meal and see if that helps.

Hi--I live in Weatherford, which is about 15 minutes west of Ft. Worth. I was banded July 17th, 2003, by Dr. Adam Smith of Ft. Worth.

First, CONGRATULATIONS!! I know how difficult it can be, but sooooo worth it!! I had my surgery July 17, 2003, just shortly after yours. And I'm right on track with you with only 3 pounds to go to hit MY "century mark"!! Isn't it a GREAT feeling!?! Hang in there and let's lose our last "half-century" together!!

Hi, I also started rather slowly, but now after 6 months and 3 fills, I've lost about 75 pounds!!! So, as you've read before, just be patient and let yourself heal and slowly get used to this new way of life. Once you start getting some fills and restriction, you should be well on your way to a decent weight loss. The ONLY complaint I had about my pre-surgery meetings and information from my doctor was that he didn't stress to me how I probably would NOT lose weight right at first. I, like many others, came out of surgery thinking....."OKAY!! Let's start LOSING!!" But in reality it took a couple months before things really started happening. I would have felt better emotionally if someone (my doctor!) had told me this was "normal" so I wouldn't have gotten so impatient and frustrated at first. So, difficult as it may be, just hang in there, do what your doctor tells you, get some fills, then go shopping for smaller clothes!! It will happen!!

I just want to add one more thing. I also seem to have a lot of problems when drinking anything cold (non-carbonated, of course!). It seems like a good swallow "sticks" and causes a lot of pain. I know cold causes constriction, but will I go through life having to drink room temperature Crystal Light??

This post was very timely for me!! I was banded 6 months ago and have lost around 70 pounds. But lately it seems nearly every meal is unpleasant and difficult. Food seems to stick and I PB quite a bit. But then, all of a sudden, I'll have a couple days with NO problems. Then the cycle begins again. Anyone have any ideas why this is happening? I can't go on dreading meals, but if I get some taken out will it give me TOO much freedom??

Before I was banded last July, I was told that generally (not always!), the "bulk eaters" tend to do better than the people who like to just snack on and off all day. The reason being that the bulk eaters now get that same feeling of satiation they crave with a MUCH smaller amount of food, whereas the people who snack all day can still do so to a certain extent. The band is a tool, and CAN be misused by those who continue to have the need to always be eating a little something. They can keep eating all those little snacks and sabotage their weight loss. I was a bulk eater and have lost 70 pounds in 6 months, with the loss not really starting for a good 6 weeks after banding. But again, this is just something someone told me.....don't know if it's always true! Everybody is different, as all "experienced" bandsters will tell you!!

Thanks so much to everyone who replied to my initial letter. I HAVE talked to Larry about this some, but I don't think he realizes how much it's bothering me. I just feel like more of a failure than ever standing next to his obvious success!! And when people say "He's an inspiration to all of us to do the same and lose weight" I just want to TELL THEM about the band, but would never do so. He's used the band correctly as a tool and deserves all the credit in the world for hanging in there and going through the good days and the bad days, and I don't want to take that credit away from him. But at the same moment, I don't want people to think I'm just a weakling with no willpower who can't/won't try as hard as my husband. It's the proverbial rock/hard place situation, I guess. Again, thanks for your support. This website has helped us both more than ANY other resource through his/our whole journey. Marcia

My husband had lap band surgery last July, and 5 months later, has dropped 70 pounds!! I am SOOO proud of him and he looks and feels soooo much better. That's my main feeling about this whole journey. But......I'm having problems I would like to bring to this forum. I am overweight with a BMI around 34, so don't qualify for my insurance to pay for the lapband surgery for me. I've been on every diet known to mankind and do the typical yo-yo dieting. My issue here is that my husband has NOT told any of his family or mine that he had the surgery. He says that he is just eating smaller portions and slowing down a lot. While that is true, it's also a half-truth! He has the wonderful tool....the lap band!! So now our families oooh and aaah over him and say how GREAT he looks, then ask me "Are you doing the same thing?". Well, that makes me feel like total CRAP. I am very uncomfortable in this body but just cannot seem to get the wt. off and keep it off. My family hasn't said those direct words to me, but I can feel it on the tip of their tongues right after they go on and on about him. His family are the ones who are asking if I'm "doing it, too". They don't ask it in a demeaning way, but it hurts my feelings and makes me very, very sad. I want nothing more than to just feel HAPPY for my husband, but my emotion of feeling guilty and frustrated seem to be prevailing lately. I almost don't want to attend our family dinners, etc., because I know the same thing will happen over and over. Again, I am THRILLED with his weight loss, and that's the main thing!! But are there any other spouses or kids or friends out there who might be in the same boat as I?? If I had the money, I'd get the surgery done and pay for it, but that's not possible. If anyone has any words of encouragement, I'd sure appreciate it. This is really making me depressed and I'm struggling with feelings more and more. Which makes me EAT more and more!! Thanks for listening to all this rambling!! Marcia (Larry's wife)

My job requires me to be in the car driving all day and I carry a protein bar with me at all times. I get hungry between meals sometimes, and it's better to keep a protein bar with me than risk driving through Wendy's for a Frosty!! They DO help me and get me through 'til the next meal (the bars, not Frostys!!). Just be sure you get the ones without tons of carbs. I've tried several brands from Sam's and like quite a few of them. Just gotta keep an eye on the ingredients rather than go by how attractive the packaging might be!

I remember when I was in Wt. Watchers that they claimed many medications can cause weight gain, including antibiotics. Were you on any for your throat? Make any other changes in medicines? Even Advil taken for more than a few days can cause you to retain water, according to what I was told. Did you cut back on drinking with your sore throat? If so, you may have tricked your body into retaining fluids it already had. Try drinking more water now and it'll flush out the "bad stuff" you've accumulated.....

This all sounds SOOO familiar to me! But I am now about 2 months post-op and had my 2nd fill last week. Up until that, I could (and, unfortunately, DID) eat pretty much what I wanted. The 2nd fill has slowed me down considerably! I'm thinking maybe ONE more, but that should do it. So try to be patient and believe what all the others ahead of you have said: don't worry about losing until you get some fills!! I really think the doctors and information we get should stress that more. I went in thinking I'd start losing right away, but once I went on mushy and/or solid foods, the weight didn't come off. I didn't realize it can take MONTHS to get to the proper fill level and really start serious losing. But......it's worth the wait!! I've come this far, so I'll keep at it until I hit that elusive "sweet spot"!!! Everybody who hasn't had a fill yet........Be patient, know you're NOT alone, HANG IN THERE!!!

I really think this man had ample opportunity to become educated but just didn't do it for some reason. He had his surgery done by a doctor who is with a pretty well known group down here that has had great success. They offer lots of meetings, support groups, etc. He just chose not to use those resources. So I feel he was given what he needed support-wise, but just didn't take advantage of what was out there. I use this board and every other resource I can find for education and support!!! Thanks to everyone for responding!

Alexandra, Larry, not Leo, but in answer to your question, yes, HE was the one who wanted it and he seemed to be all fired up about it. It just didn't last long. Mystifies me as well!!! I'm doing everything I can to do the opposite of him!!

I would like to tell this story to reinforce the fact that the band is a TOOL, not a "cure" for weight loss: My wife works with a man who had the band one year ago. She thinks he has only had one fill. To date, he has lost a total of 5 pounds!!! He has failed to get fills when needed and is able to eat pretty much what he wants, and does!! He does not eat Protein first, and often not second or third. He finally heard her talking about me getting my second fill 8 weeks post-op, so he scheduled one for himself, probably out of guilt. He now is trying desperately to force down bread, cheese, crackers, and any other type of carb you can imagine. He told her he JUST NOW learned that he should not drink when he eats, so apparently he has not listened to his doctor and/or dietician. I don't want to discourage anyone out there by telling about his 5 pound loss in a year, but DO want to let people know that they MUST use the band to their advantage and not try to sabotage it just to see if they can. I can't imagine going through all the appointments, arguments with insurance and then the surgery just to try to "beat the system"!! I am doing well myself and love it and feel so much better!! But for those of you who think the band is a magic solution, you need to get that idea out of your thoughts. It takes work, but IS very do-able if you just make a little effort!!

Sarah, I had my first fill and only felt good restriction for a few days, then just mild restriction for a few more days, then back to eating pretty much anything and too much of it! I called my doctor, but unfortunately he and his staff were at a conference for a week, so everything was delayed. I finally had my pre-fill session with the dietician (something my dr. requires) yesterday and am getting my second fill Thursday. She said the majority of their patients find the proper restriction at fill #3, but everyone is different. That's just what happens with most of their patients. And she said it is normal to go through what I had happen with a fill....loosens up pretty quickly if it isn't your "sweet spot". She told me as SOON as I am to the "I can eat all I want" phase, to call and get in for another fill. It's just SOOOO individualized! My doctor also stands by not filling too much at once to avoid overfilling and not being able to swallow your own saliva. Better to go forward slowly than to have to go backwards at some point! So try to be patient and your body will tell you when you're at your optimal restriction. Prior to that, ride the waves and listen to your body and keep in close touch with your doctor and know that you WILL get where you need to be!!

Since they go down fast and don't stay in my pouch very long, I consider them a drink.

Boy, I sure had the SAME question after I was first banded. I lost 17 pounds the first week, then things came to a screeching halt. If you read more posts, you'll find that until you get a fill (or two, or three.....), the weight might not come off very fast, if at all. In my case, I've had one fill and still not feeling restriction. I'm going for #2 soon and hopefully that will help. So what everyone says is true.....just concentrate on eating proper foods and healing the first few weeks and don't worry about losing weight until you get some decent restriction. Believe me, you are NOT alone!!!

Spring, Thank you again for all the helpful information!! I have to learn to be patient....you're right!! I DO like broccoli, so I may just try that as you suggested. As time goes on, I'm sure I'll find out what works best for me and what doesn't. Thanks for taking the time to help me out so much!! On to fill #2 and hopefully more restriction at least for awhile!!

JC, Please keep us posted! Hopefully in a few days the saliva ordeal will be overwith. I still get the "golfball" when I eat too fast or don't chew enough, but it passes. Sort of a warning for me to SLOW DOWN and CHEW!!! If you do have questions beyond what this website can handle, PLEASE call your doctor!! That's why he makes the big $$!!

JC, I didn't spit up huge amounts, but just sort of like right before you are going to throw up.....Sorry, that's gross....but true!! From what I've heard and read, if you can not swallow your OWN saliva at ALL, you do need to see someone ASAP. If you were able to get the shake down, tho, you probably just ate it too fast. Do you feel like you have a golf ball in your throat/chest? I have that when I eat too fast or don't chew enough. Partially gets worse by panicking, tho, so try to relax and maybe sit in a comfy chair for awhile. My body did all sorts of "weird" things for the first week post-op that scared me to death, but nothing ever happened that was truly bad or hurt me. Each days gets better. But if you are to the point where you really can NOT swallow your own saliva and would like to see a doctor, then by all means, do so!!

Spring, Thanks for your ideas. My surgery was July 17th and I have had one fill of 1.0 cc. It gave me some restriction for a few days, but I am pretty unrestricted now. Waiting to schedule fill #2. I just don't get full until I've eaten quite a lot right now, but I know this will change with a fill. If I eat the mushy food, I get hungry WAY faster than if I eat something more solid. Maybe I shouldn't be worrying about this until I get more restriction????

JC, I experienced the excess saliva after I ate for a few days after surgery as well. It eventually went away, either by itself or I ended up automatically eating/drinking slower and that eliminated it. I was told by my doctor that I was VERY restricted right out of surgery and wouldn't need a fill for a LONG time, if ever. Well, two weeks later, I was barely restricted. Have already had one fill which helped for a few days, then right back to non-restriction. I'm in the process of scheduling fill #2. So be aware that even if you are pretty restricted right after surgery, a lot of that swelling will go down and you may need fills sooner than you think. But that's what the band is for, so I'm saying "fill 'er up!" Just wanted you to hear from someone else who was told they were very restricted right off the bat......