bandedehs

Just so you know you are not alone...I was banded on 10/21/11. I have a 4 1/2 yr old and a baby that will be one yr old on 4/16! And I work full time. And I commute 1 hr to work & 1 hr home b/c my mom keeps my girls & she's in between where I live & where I work. And I used to be a gym rat before I had 2 little ones & a husband & a house out of control... I weighed in at 267lbs when I had surgery & now am at 247. Have 5cc's in a 10cc band. I have restriction. I eat protein first & then veggies/fruits & yes I have a sweet tooth & i indulge in a little low-fat ice cream or a piece of chocolate. The band does keep me from overeating...Lord knows I've thrown up enough from eating too fast or too much! But I get hungry & I'm struggling to find a window of opportunity for exercise. I actually cook dinner most nights so when you factor in the clean up & getting babies ready for bed (& yes my hubby helps)....my time is gone...'scuse me...MY time is gone. Thought I'd have lost a lot more by now since I eat so little. Been feeling like this is just another failed (& very expensive) attempt to leave the fat girl behind...

I have a good friend who is about 2 yrs out from her LAp band surgery & she is having severe acid reflux issues. her docs DO believe it is band related b/c she got better when they removed all fluid back in Nov. 2011. They let her "rest" w/ an empty band for a couple of months & slowly added a little bit back to help her maintain. She made her goal weight before the reflux issues showed up. Long story...shortest version (haha) is that her docs have said she really needs to let her band stay empty & possibly remove it b/c the reflux has done so much damage to her esophagus that she will not be able to use the band anymore. Her docs did say that it's roughly 4% of WLS patients that have this kind of reflux stuff. Usually if you have reflux---the weight loss helps it.

I also drink coffee every day...about 2-3 cups in the a.m. while getting ready for work. The nutritionist I saw said they recommend not taking in coffee/soft drinks b/c 1--they want to make sure you understand you need to get in 64 oz of really beneficial, hyrating fluids like water/unsweet tea & if you fill up on coffee/diet soda they essentially help dehydrate you. And 2--coffee or soft drinks (caffeinated or not) have acid in them that leaches calcium out of your bones. since there is not good long-term studies on bariatric surgery patients & their bone health...they want us to be aware of the risk. That is also why it is agood idea to take calc/vit D supplement. I continue to drink my coffee w/ a little creamer but I'm taking my supplements.

You do have a way w/ words & I love it! I feel your pain. Banded 10/21 & down about 20 lbs. Weighed at doc's office last Friday & was truly 20 lbs down from surgery. Weighed this a.m. & was up 3 lbs & let me assure you....i've been making even better choices in food since last Friday b/c the nurse pract I saw gave me some good advice on how I was eating around the band w/out even realizing it. Too much mushy food (tuna/chick salad) & not enough really solid food. So I too will flail around like a 3 yr old...shoot...my almost 5 yr old stomps feet & rolls eyes w/ the best of 'em! Come on Mr. Scale......we need a break!!!!

I was banded on 10/21/11 & have lost about 20lbs. I have 5cc in a 10cc band & that amt was acquired from surgery & 2 fills. Even when they say your band is "empty" at surgery--there is a little bit in there to help hold it in place. As for feeling restriction after surgery-it is my understanding-you will feel some restriction b/c of tissue swelling after band placement. I was restricted for a few days after initial surgery but had a real problem adjusting to being so hungry. So I actually introduced mushy foods a little earlier than suggested. But my doc's office said I handled it fine & did not do anything dangerous. And I am staying w/ 5cc for now (waiting on a 3rd fill) b/c at my last appt I figured out that my eating habits have not changed enough...been having a lot of vomiting & stuck issues. I tend to eat pretty healthy, but I eat fast & I was so used to eating large amts of healthy foods...I'm still adjusting.

Totally agree. People think that if you got "banded" you ought to be dropping weight like crazy. I'm 4 months post-op & only 20 lbs down & have been discouraged. Until I saw the nurse pract. at my surgeon's office & she "got in low gear" (don't you love that saying?) w/ me & helped me see that I haven't really been using the band like I should. I've been so discouraged b/c I too have lost & gained 100's of lbs over my 40 yrs of life & I struggle finding the reason that I sabotage myself. But I think at that appt last Friday I had an "aha" moment & realized that this band ain't the easy way out. I already have learned how to eat around it, so I know I better get myself in line if I plan to use this thing & not have wasted the time & money.

I just have to add that you are not the only one who "feels sorry" for the food left on the plate. I swear I look at what I should leave & think...."oh I shouldn't leave it. I took it out & hate to throw it away. It's just a little bit. blah. blah. blah" Completely irrational, but just how I feel all the same...

Just wanted to say it is funny that you are expecting snow, b/c it is going to b 70 degrees here today & 80 tomorrow. Just funny reading from different parts of the world...

I think everybody's got some kind of trigger...something we miss. Hubby & I do not eat out a lot & when we do, I'm usually glad I can't eat the amt I used to. But for Valentine's (at my request) he took me to a fancy, schmancy place that is a "farm to table" experience. Communal table for about 15 folks. Chef uses products he's grown or gotten from other local farmers. 5 course dinner. I knew I better start out like I could hold out, you know? So I had a bite of the bread & a taste of the salad, but by the time the succulent, utterly awesome filet arrived...I took about 3 bites & had to leave the table, go out by our car & puke. Bathroom was so close to the table I knew they'd hear me in there! I was embarassed...mortified actually & ticked off that I couldn't "enjoy" this meal. When I came back to the table--they'd brought out dessert & I took one bite & pushed it over to my husband (who by the way is very thin & was at his gag limit as well). so the chef (who brought out each dish & explained it all) & his wife were worried about me....I ended up making up a story about having to check on the kids & that's why I left the table 3 times & couldn't finish dessert. I didn't know any of these folks & didn't feel like explaining LAP band surgery to any of them. So we left $120 poorer w/ part of my dinner on the ground & we laughed & said "maybe we shouldn't do that again anytime soon"...live & learn w/ the band.

I am 4 months post-op & dealing w/ similar issue. Amazed to find how easy it is to get "junk" food or soft/mushy foods down while it is so hard to get the "good" foods down. I often find myself having to cough & spit up the chicken I was trying to swallow. But after some serious self-evaluating & some "in your face" advice from a banded friend......I believe that part of my problem w/ the protein foods is that I may think I am chewing, chewing, chewing....but in reality I am trying to force some half-chewed pieces down too fast. Because I am still in a hurry to get through supper (2small kids to feed & keep on track for bedtime). I do so much better during the day (in my office or on the road) b/c I truly take my time. I'm just suggesting you take a long, hard look at how long it actually takes you to eat. You may be rushing the meats or more solid foods more than you think. I only have 3cc in a 10cc band & I am not losing much weight. My hubby thinks that is crazy b/c he knows how much I vomit trying to eat dinner. But I know that during the day & even after everybody eats supper....I'm tired of trying to force chicken down so I get a bowl of sugar free ice cream or I have a handful of hershey kisses. What I need to do is chew, chew, chew & get that protein in. All that said--2 of my banded friends (each has lost over 70lbs in 1 yr) believe I need another fill. They say that will be the one that will FORCE me to slow down & I'll see that I am still eating too fast.

I've also wondered about grinding pills, b/c my surgeon's office tells LAP band patients the same stuff as gastric bypass patients. I've had 2 very small fills....I think I have about 3 or 3.5 cc's in a 10cc band. I have pretty good restriction and I am able to swallow tylenol capsules as well as a pretty big glucosamine supplement. I'm using a chewable vitamin, but have had no problem swallowing others I mentioned. I'm not crushing everything. Don't think it is necessary.