JustDoIt130

Hi everyone! I have not been on these forums for sooooo long- and it was the band forums...anyways. I had my band placed in January 2012. All was well, I lost some weight- then I didn't. Had a hernia repair and band refill, but have been so off track for so long. I definitely learned to eat around my band. And now I have a constant lump in my throat that my doc things is ghost reflux- I don't feel any burning like typical heartburn, but have this lump in my throat- especially at night when I'm trying to sleep. And I wonder if it's from the band. I still have restriction, I still can get stuck but I eat around the band, etc. I have been doing better and have lost 25 lbs and I know that no WLS is magic. I just wonder if revising from a band to sleeve would get rid of the reflux, and I also worry about the foreign band in my body...idk, what do y'all think? I would have to be self pay this time, as I'm 99.999% sure my insurance won't cover it. But it would be worth it, and maybe jumpstart my health journey again.......

I will definitely give this a try- emotional eating (bored and mad, usually, LOL), is my downfall.

You have to re-learn how your band is after every fill. I had no stuck episodes until 2 fills ago. I had a few episodes with the fill that was 2 fills ago, and now with this last fill I have had more, and really have to watch it now. I really have to chew, can't have dry stuff, and have to have teeny bites of protein. It's not fun, but it will probably happen to you. It's more like a gag and throw up than the gut wrenching throw up you sometimes get with a stomach bug. It's a learning curve!!!! Nicki

1 oz cheese? I too like the greek yogurt and have one at work almost always. Nuts, a Protein bar-watch the sugars.... Good luck!

Kyime-Lou- that's almost 3.5 lbs a week, that's awesome!!!

Mine's named Magic...........

I love them too. Try the vanilla. I do 1 scoop, 1 Tbsp sugar free pistachio pudding mix (dry) and 1 c skim milk. Yummm! Or 1 scoop vanilla, 1 c trop 50 orange juice and about 6 frozen strawberries. I use am immersion blender (also called a stick blender) to blend all my shakes. Easy to clean. When I do my chocolate splendor with 1 c skim milk I also add a couple ice cubes- makes it really cold. Also try the chicken broth. It is similar to lipton, imho. You just can't have it too hot - only 130 degrees, I think, or the protein clumps.

The right choice is the one that you think is best. Everything has risks. For me, I really didn't want my insides re-routed or taken out, ala bypass and gastric sleeve. The band is not easy, it takes WORK- you have to commit, follow the rules (eating small bites slowly, not drinking with meals or after, eating solid Protein, not "eating around the band" with unhealthy junk). You have to exercise (most people do). You have to watch what you put in your mouth. Good luck in your decision. I am so happy I did it, I've lost over 70 lbs in 6 months. Nicki

I know I'm not a man, but.....as DH said, that's not stopped me yet! I am just 42. Boy do I wish I had done this earlier. Started at 284 lbs, lapband surgery on 1/26/12, and down just over 70 lbs in just over 6 months, now. It is a tool, not a magic pill or button. It is WORK and you have to COMMIT to it. I decided I was worth it, finally. I make time for my workouts. I eat right, follow the rules (solid Protein, eat at least 80 g protein daily- it would probably be more for you since you're a man- lower carbs, I log everything into my fitness pal). I workout at least 30 minutes a day- and usually closer to an hour- at least 5 days a week. It's not easy. I am close to- or possibly at- restriction, I just had my 5th (?, lost track) fill. I have a little over 10 cc's in a 14 cc band (the doc decides the size of the band, I have the large. The standard is 10 cc's. Depends on your anatomy). I eat slowly (so hard for me), don't drink with my meals or for at least 30 minutes after (I thought this would be impossible, but it's not). To make a long story even longer- you have to be prepared. You have to be committed. It's not easy! It IS worth it. I am worth it. I feel so much better, I look better, I have a better outlook on life- and I can wear cuter clothes!!! It's a process, it's not instant. Good luck!!! I too wish I had done it sooner, but better now than not at all!!! Nicki

Yep, the pain med will be liquid. Also get some children's Tylenol just in case you need it- I was off all pain meds pretty quick. I second KRussell- I wish I had taken measurements, but I do have full body pictures- in tight exercise shorts and a sports bra- yes, even at 284 lbs. At first I did them about once a week, now it's about once a month. It's fun to go back and look, I can't tell much of a difference until I look at the pictures (other can really tell, it's harder for me!!) As for the pill thing- I do the chewable Vitamins too, but do have a bigger L-Lysine that's not chewable, but I can break it in half (it's scored) and even with about 10.5 cc's in my 14 cc band I can swallow the half no issue. Just make sure from the pharmacist that any pills you take (I know none now, but in the future or for antibiotics, etc) that you can cut them or get them in a liquid form. Nicki

Have you had- or can you get- a fill? Maybe after time it's a little looser- I have heard that it will lose a little saline after awhile just to evaporation.....or if you lose weight it can make it a little looser as you lose internal fat....

I use a digital food scale and then just regular measuring cups. I measure things like chicken, etc with the scale- 3-4 oz depending. Then I use the regular measuring cups for things like carbs- pasta, potatoes, etc- I tend to just eyeball the veggies, but use the regular measuring cups if I do want to measure. I think they're a must have- especially the food scale. It keeps me honest as far as portion sizes are concerned. Mine has grams and ounces, and a tare function so you don't measure the weight of the container. I use it almost every day, banded just over 6 months. Hope this helps! Nicki

Really good ideas, ones ITA!!! For me, the not drinking with meals and the eating small small bites, chewing thoroughly and eating SLOWLY were so hard! I had thought to try it before being banded, but didn't do it, and it was an adjustment. I still get "first bite syndrome" where I don't chew that first bite quite enough and feel tight/mini stuck. I'm working on it, though. I really second the walking - especially right after surgery after you get home, and for the next days. It REALLY helps with the gas (they pump you full of gas for ease of moving around your guts). Also, start an exercise program- even if it's just walking, or carving out the 30 minutes or whatever, just to start making it a habit. Good luck, I am a very happy bandster, lost over 70 lbs in 6 months- I was banded on 1/26/12. I do follow the rules, and exercise and eat solid Protein and avoid slider foods. I'm in it to win it!!!! Nicki

Hi Minos- a lot of us January bandsters post in the introduction section- there's a January bandster thread. I had my 6 month bandiversary on 1/26, and like you I wish I had done it sooner. Then I banish that thought and am glad I did it at all. The hardest part? Really, nothing has been too hard. The few days after surgery with the all liquids- that was hard. But nothing really too awful. The best part? I've lost over 70 lbs in 6 months! I'm almost half way to my goal- and my personal goal is lower than my surgeons. I like to exercise, I feel better about myself- in all ways- physically, emotionally- at home, at work, etc. It has been such a great change- a great and permanent change! Join us all on the January bandsters thread in introductions!!! It's a great support system. Nicki

I'm sorry for your friend, for sure, but very glad for you!!! How wonderful- and I feel the same way! I'm not totally in the green zone yet, but still down over 70 lbs in 6 months- almost halfway to my goal, feeling SO MUCH better about myself and my life- and love to exercise. I still can eat more than I expected to with the band, but know I'm not quite in my sweet spot yet- and just because I CAN doesn't mean I DO. As I tell my surgeon and PA every month when I visit to check in and get a fill- I did not do this to be average. I did this to succeed and lose the weight forever!!! Nicki