Thats All Folks

A band too tight is dangerous and can lead to slips. If you call your doctor's office, tell them what is happening (in detail) and they still say they can't help you for a month then it's time to find a new surgeon. That would be completely irresponsible and downright dangerous on their part and you deserve much better than that.

Congratulations!

Well you're right, vomiting with the band is very dangerous and can lead to slips. We can't tell you whether or not you did any damage because we're not doctors and can't examine your band. If you're worried, make an appointment with your doctor to have it checked.

You'll have to ask your doctor about that one. They all seem to have different rules. I know I couldn't until I was 4 weeks post surgery.

First, you must realize that restriction in the band usually doesn't come until after multiple fills. It takes time. As far as "eating like a pig", that is up to you to control, not the band. The band isn't supposed to physically stop you from eating anything. It's your responsibility to control your portions and always will be. Stick to band sized portions (a cup or less of food per meal), follow your post op diet, and be patient. Best wishes.

There is no magic amount of fluid or number of fills. Everyone is different. Some need very little, others need a lot, it's all dependent on your anatomy, band placement, and band size.

There are cases when the band doesn't work, or fails, by no fault of the patient. However they are the exception not the rule. Most of the time, the person fails because they're simply not taking the necessary steps to be successful with the band. A great number of band slips are also the patient's fault, more often than not it's from having a band too tight for long periods of time, vomiting regularly and not seeking help from their doctor to stop it, carbonation, and even regularly over-eating. The band is work, make no mistake. But if you're willing to do the work and follow the rules, the odds are definitely in your favor to be successful.

Ugh yes, that's very normal. It's awful, I won't lie. This will sound crazy I'm sure, but I actually found sleeping on my stomach helped. I'm a tummy sleeper anyway and the pressure on my tummy really felt great and eased the pain. The trick is (and I learned this from a nurse after a c-section), not to try to roll onto your tummy. That will pull and hurt. Literally (carefully) crawl up the bed on your hands and knees and gently lower yourself onto the spot you want. When you want to get back up, do not roll, Again, bring your arms and legs under you and gently push up onto all fours again and ease yourself off the edge of the bed onto your feet. For me, this was a huge lifesaver and I've done it after every abdominal surgery since then.

sugar free Popsicles were a lifesaver for me, too. My doctor told me to sip from a little medicine cup and it should be gone every 15 minutes. It is a but tedious but it did help monitor my liquid intake.

YAY!!! That's so awesome!! Congratulations!!!

Does your doctor say you can have solid food now? If so, then yes, you can. If no, then no you can't. Follow your post op diet instructions.

Skinny Cow makes some really good, low calorie, Cookies and candies. Of course you want to stick to the serving size recommended and add it into your daily calorie allowance, but they're great to satisfy cravings. Healthy Choice makes some frozen Greek yogurt that's good, too. I agree with ajtexas- it's a lifestyle change not a diet. You can have treats just in moderation. I know I do!

My BMI started MUCH higher- it was 72. I weighed 421 pounds, so I weighed a lot more than you do, too. I've lost over 170 pounds in 11 months. I still have about 85 pounds to lose, but that's a heck of a lot better than where I started and I'm confident I will lose it. You most certainly can lose the weight you need to with the band, you just have to be willing to do the work it requires to be successful with it.

Actually, I understand what you're saying and don't understand how people can say their band is tighter a couple weeks after a fill. Swelling makes the band tighter, not looser, so that would result in the band getting looser as the swelling subsides. Not tighter. I asked my doctor about this after reading it on here numerous times. He told me it's psychosomatic. He said the Fluid doesn't "settle" in the band and there is no physical reason for a fill to take time to "kick in". He agrees stuff like PMS, stress, even temperature can effect the band tightness but a band doesn't magically get tighter two weeks after a fill without outside factors influencing it.

Are you on a low carb diet? That can definitely result in that in that with some people. Low carb diets tend to be much higher in fat.

Personally, I'd go to whichever hospital your surgeon is on staff at. Good luck

Hunger is a natural and necessary body function. Band or Bypass, you will still feel hunger. However, the band does very much curb your hunger. It's entire purpose is to keep you satiated on less food for longer periods of time, which it does very well. I've been banded for about 11 months and I can easily go 4-5 hours between small meals without hunger. I've even skipped meals entirely because I wasn't hungry and simply forgot to eat.

Congratulations!!

Maybe that's a typo? 14cc bands are the biggest they make (that I'm aware of) The green zone means you're satisfied on much less food for longer periods of time. To be more specific, you can go at least 4 hours without hunger after eating a cup or less of food.

That's an awesome NSV! Congratulations!

Every doctor seems to have their own idea of what works and what's necessary. I had 5 stages- Clear liquids, full liquids, mushies, soft food, solid foods. I'd ask a lot of questions and go by whatever your doctor advises.

I've been banded for 11 months and never thrown up. In fact, you're supposed to avoid vomiting at all cost when you have the band, so if someone is throwing up all the time, they're doing something seriously wrong. As far as women having all kinds of problems, for most, it's just the opposite. All the obesity related health issues get better if not resolve, even women with PCOS are much better after surgery and weight loss. Being nervous is normal, just be sure your case of nerves is from facts rather than fiction. Getting all worked over myths and false information is a waste of your energy. Best wishes, you'll do fine

You're very lucky you're not a sweets person, that will help you SO much! While I definitely can't eat nearly as much as I used to, I know all the bad junk foods are definite sliders for me. chips, cakes, ice cream, etc... slide right through and I could eat a ton if I let myself. So, in that respect, I can see how people "fall off the wagon" if they're not careful.

Hang in there, the first couple days are rough but it gets a lot easier relatively quickly. You'll be amazed how "normal" you'll feel again within a matter of days. Best wishes!

It's a figure of speech. Much like when an alcoholic says they "fell of the wagon" it means they're drinking again, when a Lap Band patient says it they mean they've reverted back to old unhealthy eating habits.