Sandy Cohen

I am almost 6 months post op I was banded last August. To date I have lost 65 pounds - have maybe another 30 to go. I did not get a fill until last week. They repaired my hiatal hernia during surgery and this provided enough constriction without need of a fill. However, I lost so much my stomach actually got smaller and suddenly there was no constriction at all so I gave it and went for a fill. Feel so much better now. I also returned to work after a year and am trying to keep up with the gym since I am back behind a desk all day. It's still a battle for those of us that love food - I know I just love to eat - so having the appropriate fills are important and the food choices are vital - I live on Long island, New York. I don't know anybody in my area who can be a band buddy would love one!

I was banded in August of last year and have just had my first fill (hiatal hernia repair made constriction) and I have lost 65 pounds so far with about 30 to go. It's great best thing I ever did just have to obey the rules.

hang in your body is not going to give you an easy time with any change at first. I like the bariatric shakes (brand is Bariatric Advantage) they taste the best have lots of flavors. I keep away from places like GNC they are overpriced and their protein shakes are often high in calories. Protein is not highly dissolvable to begin with so the more protein the harder to mix. I went through so many types of protein shakes and powders when I was pre-op so many of them taste awful. If you have aTrader Joe's nearby theres are great taste good lots of protein and cheap - powder in cans. Good luck!

Constipation seems to be an on going issue for many of us I had surgery last August and still deal with this issue. I am a notorious non thirst quencher I get so caught up working during the day I forget to drink and have had constipation episodes where I just want to die from the pain of either stomach cramps or trying to pass what feels like a brick. Water, water, water, and fiber, fiber, fiber, fruit and all that. Gotta keep things moving smoothly. Read where fiber comes from if you don't really know you may be surprised. I eat a lot of squash it helps - I buy bags of grilled eggplant and squash and sauté it with some nice fire roasted tomatoes hit it with some parmesian and it is delicious taste like eggplant parm without all the fat and keeps that nasty constipation away.

I looked into this because I contemplated moving and my doctor moved farther away - no groups want another doctor's patient and I was told by my doctor the way to get around this is to go through the manufacturer of your device, whether it be lap band brand or realize, etc. they are responsible for making sure you have post op providers and with their referral you can go to another doctor. I discovered this after making upteen calls and finally approached the support staff in my own bariatric groups office. Good luck!

I think its important to adhere to a structure - eat about the same very day - I go to the gym after work so if I feel depleted after work before dinner I eat a handful of peanuts for an added boost I know I'll work them off anyway. Don't pay attention to how many calories you are burning as long as you don't go over your daily intake of calories and you work out to feel good it doesn't matter - I never pay attention to what I burn I watch how much time I am on a bike or elliptical and count repetitions and each time I try to raise the bar and set higher goals for myself. The calories your burn thing will make you nuts! I had surgery last August, had my first fill last week, and am down 65 pounds and counting - only about 30 more to go :-)

I had surgery in August 2011 and have lost over 60 pounds to date and have never had a fill. I know this is really weird. I had a hiatal hernia repaired which I heard was very bad I was even shown a photo but it just looked like some kind of egg bash in a skillet - whatever. So, I live with what feels like a too tight lapband. This is horrible at times when I try and eat foods too dense/solid to go down no matter the chewing, and I have to run into a bathroom and purge quickly. I try to keep these episodes down to a minimum and stay in my safe little world of oatmeal, yogurt, more yogurt (did I mention greek, frozen, any kind of yogurt?) my favorite grilled eggplant and zucchini with fireroasted tomatoes (notice all mush again). I eat chicken salad now and again but for the most part have become almost all vegetarian other than fish. I often wonder if I can do this forever. Like now, when I came home to a dinner left for me on a plate - a fried pork chop with mashed potatoes. And I think yeah I can do this and I chewed and chewed and till ended up barfing it up. Eating out sucks too unless its appetizers and dessert. I find I can eat dessert and still lose weight. I lost weight over Christmas even though I ate the apple rhubarb cobbler in 3 times in very small amounts. My problem is the paranoia that begins when I take a bite and I have to do the 5 minute wait and see thing. Sucks after 6 months. I am not a big water drinker either although I do make an effort at times. Constipation is a major problem for me - sometimes it hurts so bad I cry when I do go - other times I just freak that I can go 5 days with no bowl movement drink milk of magnesia and nothing happens the next day until I have more. I have been on line int he drugstore clutching MOM, prunes, etc. That sucks too. I work out about 3 times a week - I like the way I look - but I hate the way I feel inside. The other side of the coin from my side is I see people in the surgeon's office getting fill after fill and losing little weight and complaining about that which I think is the norm for most - I feel like perhaps my surgeon did not take into account the enormity of the repair to the hernia and then banded me and did not realize what living with this much constriction was going to be like. So, what do you all think? I'd love to hear. Most people hear all this crap and shrug - they are also overweight and don't really care to hear somebody who is losing weight whining. I have a 21 year old daughter who weighs about 250 pounds and I would never tell her to get banded and her father thinks its great and wishes she would and I'm like no no don't tell her that uyy shes too young to have to either go through the anguish I do or worse yet have it and she doesn't lose. Overall I cannot say I have a better quality of life - I am healthier than ever and look good but the eating experience is definitely a bummer. and considering I was never much of a drinker that how I get through social meals now I can always sit and nurse a drink maybe two - ever more than that though. If your ever in NYC check out the Red Hot Coffee Cocktail at Southern Hospitality OMG so good tastes like a red hot candy and the glazed banana pudding with the warm nilla wafers on the bottom this is in a very small potion for humans and its wonderful you can really enjoy it without the guilt because its in MODERATION!!! I ordered a second one because I had to relive the ecstasy the first one provided :-)