candtwalker

Dec 27 , 2017 here.

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Sometimes, support can include "serious negativity". A black and white view of the world is not healthy, and seeing feedback that makes you uncomfortable as solely "negative" might make it harder for you to recognize and implement good advice. I know there is a lot of immaturity and some people may be downright mean but sometimes negativity may be important.
For example, if you post here that you're afraid you ruined your surgery because you ate a whole pizza, you'll likely get some negative feedback. This is because many of us (myself included) are subjected to a litany of idiotic classes by our insurance companies about diet. Moments of weakness are understandable but the answer isn't to baby people, the answer is to light a fire under people's butts to get them to make the necessary changes to make this surgery a success.

I do not feel the same as you, I love my band. I love the fact I have lost around 75lbs, it was well worth it for me. But I do feel for you. I have had my band since May of 2012, and I too miss eating some foods.
But as for you...you could go to your doctor and have him/her unfill your band completely. Maybe that would solve a lot of the not being able to eat solid Protein or vomiting when you eat too fast. I know when I had complications and had to have my band unfilled, I was able to eat anything (I hated that...I have no self control). If you have not given this a try maybe this would work.
I know a fellow LapBander who once a year for 1 one month will have her band unfilled so she can have a taste of bread, solid Protein and other things she is not able to eat with her band filled. Then after the month will have it filled again. I did consider doing this at one time, but decided against it. Maybe try this option. This is not the ideal thing to do, but realistically it may work for you...it does for my friend.
Good luck.

I do not feel the same as you, I love my band. I love the fact I have lost around 75lbs, it was well worth it for me. But I do feel for you. I have had my band since May of 2012, and I too miss eating some foods.
But as for you...you could go to your doctor and have him/her unfill your band completely. Maybe that would solve a lot of the not being able to eat solid Protein or vomiting when you eat too fast. I know when I had complications and had to have my band unfilled, I was able to eat anything (I hated that...I have no self control). If you have not given this a try maybe this would work.
I know a fellow LapBander who once a year for 1 one month will have her band unfilled so she can have a taste of bread, solid Protein and other things she is not able to eat with her band filled. Then after the month will have it filled again. I did consider doing this at one time, but decided against it. Maybe try this option. This is not the ideal thing to do, but realistically it may work for you...it does for my friend.
Good luck.

As you give no information on whether you've kept up with the surgery practice, you should make an appointment for an esophagram and, perhaps, loosening the band will solve the problem.

I know I am a little late responding, but I had this very same thing happen with the waking up choking and barely able to drink Water. I went to my doctor and it was a slip. I had to have all the Fluid taken out.
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Have you gone to the dr yet?
Sent from my SM-N910P using the BariatricPal App

Just had an unfill yesterday and liked reading about the mindset of eating like you're at maximum fill. Ultimately it is up to each of us what we decide to put in our mouth and how active we choose to be.
I just liked having the restriction....
Giving my band 2 weeks to calm down before I go for a small fill. Hoping I do well
I should know the rules to keeping this weight off by now!

I had an identical experience to what you are describing after having an unfill, and then refills. When I asked my surgeon why we "refillers" seem to report a lack of being able to refind original sensations of fullness/lack of hunger between meals/restriction, he answered "We don't know."
It's a drag, but it may be helpful to get in the mindset that your band ultimately doesn't do the bulk of the work after the initial, glorius first year (or so). Mine ran full power for the first year, making the weight drop off with little effort on my part, other than eating in a band-friendly way which was super easy due to my perfect restriction. Then I started having complications and a first unfill. I never found the original restriction once I was cleared to start refilling. As time went by, and my weight started slowly climbing, I told myself I had to throw out the fantasy that my band was going to do all the work for me. So I brought in my old tools (from my dieting years) and polished those off. The weight gain halted (I've been at the same weight for more than a year now--no losses, but no gains). I had to let go of feeling badly that I was "back to dieting" but you know what? At the end of the day, it still is easier, at least for me, to do this with a band (mine is now unfilled completely, due to other complications) than to do this as an unbanded person.
In short, I understand and have lived exactly what you are experiencing. My only "tip" is to "live like you have an active band" even if you aren't feeling it. (I know, it's not as easy as when the band was indeed active.)

Finding that "Perfect" balance between the right amount of restriction, the foods we eat, and how we eat them can be very elusive....
I've been doing very well with 7cc in a 10cc band....so well, I decided to ask to have 1/2cc taken out...
My Dr. and NP objected, saying "If it's not broke, why fix it"
I was doing so well, with no complications or ill effects....but in my head I had a plan to get that 1/2cc taken out, and perhaps continuing 1/2 cc un-fills every few months or so.
Well, they took out the first 1/2cc...and it disrupted that perfect balance I had....not only did my hunger and appetite come roaring back, but I was able to eat much larger portions per sitting...and become hungry soon after...
All that from 1/2cc !!!
I went back 2-3 weeks later and had that 1/2cc put back in...amongst the smiles of my Dr and staff as if to say "I Told you so"
So yes, it can be a very delicate balance to achieve...

"but I am still constantly hungry and not feeling near enough restriction (next to none). And despite the fact I am exercising daily, the scale still isn't moving!"
well you touch on a couple of the more vacuous definitions ("hungry/restriction") that are very subjective, and then insert the allegorical reality of objective science ("scale") by which to demonstrate dedication to process ("exercise") is failing.
I too have been frustrated by the fickle nature of My Little Angel of the Silicon Fist. The Lap Band performs for me, on average, "perfectly"......just as the 'perfect elevation' above sea level is the average between the Sierra Nevadas & the Jersey shores thrown in, if we can use metaphor.
I once went 18 months systematically tracking every calorie, every food, every exercise, and lost not one pound.
I was hungry too often and cranky too much. I suddenly realized in that period my pants had moved downward by 3 sizes, which I had somehow over looked.
And I agree we tend to focus way too much on 'what we want when we want it'.
Hunger is far larger a habit than I ever anticipated.
I don't know what 'feeling restriction' really accomplishes for the long run; it does thwart immediate hogging out on massive quantities of some foods. What is more effective for my own serenity, is to better identify that illusive break between 'feeling hunger' and 'feeling NON hunger'.
Usually the 'feeling restricted' produced far less results, and far more often the bleak emptiness of not being able to cram enough down with my eating shovel fast enough.
My goal is to be 'not hungry' rather than 'feel restriction'. Sometimes there is only 1 bite between the 'hunger' and 'not hunger'.
Feeling like a failure because of our fluctuating weight, is not a very scientific way to manage our emotional psychies.
Reverting to Bad Old Eating Habits now & then is a difficult behavior pattern to change. You can do it.
I have an antique Band: 4cc. I have been able over 12 years to only tolerate 1.6cc without major symptoms appearing.
So I treat myself as a part of a complicated cooperative association moving in the right direction for my goal, rather than flail myself for failing to accomplish what seems to have been an unrealistic goal.
Hope this gives you a few ideas.
Keep exercising!

I was attracted by the Title of your Post...Loose weight Fast!
My health problems were severe, my family history bleak...loosing both my Brother and sister to problems directly related to obesity....
I was told by my PCP to loose weight Fast...or else! And that was not an exaggeration on his part...I actually sat in his office and talked about whether I had made arrangements, was my Wife taken care of financially, etc...etc....
So in the end...I don't give a Rat's you know what, people can think whatever they want......I'm alive, and have never been better in over 35 years....it saved my life....
And yes...once I got through that initial first few months of adjustments...both for me and the band...it did become easy...and still is....
I don't need to make excuses or apologies to anyone for going through this...the proof speaks for itself....

Just cause I have to out him...the hubby who is ALWAYS hot now that he's losing wears thermal socks! He won't say he's cold, but you know he is!!!
It really is because we are losing our insulation. Not a bad thing at all though my natural heater is on the fritz you just can't count on that darn menopause to help you out when you want it to!

It's like a love/hate relationship I have with my band -- UGH! Damn if I do (with restriction) and Damn if I don't (a looser band).
I will tell you, after having a restrictive band year in and year out...sometimes it get OLD...at least for me.
With my old band, I had kiss a@@ restriction and lived with that for years, until I had saline removed and I honestly (welcomed it) because I was sick and tired of getting food stuck, slimming, etc. chewing, etc.
When my surgeon removed some saline back in 2012 due to a hiatal hernia and back pain when it was filled optimally-- I felt FREE.. a release from (lap band jail)...LOL....
I felt so free, I went wild....I ate a Five Guys burger, with melted cheese and fries without getting that ( Deer in the Headlights) Look...you know what I am talking about .
Then I had a delicious philly cheese steak sandwich with toasted bun, onions the whole nine yards....I was on a roll....
I continued my FREEDOM...Until my pants started to get tight...and then I had to go shopping again for a new size....
At this time, my band was still pretty empty, I could not fill it properly because I had back and chest pains from my hernia, so I continued on a downward spiral of FREEDOM....forget about ice cream and candy...you know the sliders we sneak and eat with a very tight band....I wanted REAL food...and I got it...
Well...50 pounds later and finding myself in a size tight 16-18 pants...something that I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN WITH A LAP BAND INSTALLED....HAPPENED TO ME...ME? I was the person that was obsessed with the scale, someone who walked at 5 each morning, in 20-30 degree temperatures for 6 straight years...because I HAD CHANGED MY LIFESTYLE FOREVER? EVER ...EVER?
Once I found a surgeon to HELP me repair my hernia, give me a second chance to get my "grove back" I was humbled and grateful..
THE MORAL OF MY POST IS...NEVER THINK YOU GOT THIS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HANDS....BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN COME AND TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU ....
When the lap band is UNFILLED AFTER YEARS OF EATING HARDLY NOTHING...your metabolism gets SHOT...and if you EVER have to get unfilled....THE WEIGHT CAN COME BACK QUICKLY...I GAINED 20 pounds in ONE month....
And oh yea....after I had ..had my feel of Burgers and Cheese Steaks....it was too late to eat Broccoli and baked chicken....no matter what I'd done with a LOOSE band...I could NOT get the weight off UNTIL I got my lap band properly restricted again.....
It took over 14 months JUST TO LOSE the 50 pound weight gain, I was FINALLY BACK to my old lap band fighting weight ...it sure was not easy like it was when I was first banded...
So while my lap band (SuzieQ) is working NOW in full over load.....I still want to stuff my face and I can't, I just can't do it.....and you know what? I glad.... ...
Please respect your band and cherish with love, because one day...you may find yourself IN FREEDOM with an unfilled band and that is a very SCARY place to be!

The most important point you make is that it is about YOU and YOUR Band.....I do not expect others to be like me, and others should not expect me to be like them.....
The list you made, there are items that do not pertain to me and my experience, and if I was to make a list, there would be items that make no sense to you....
Does not make one right and the other wrong....
Also you list things that YOU Experience...NOT what others have told you, or read, or whatever....When people say this and that, I much rather hear how it affects THEM...what happens when THEY do or do not do something....not what they THINK will happen.....
The best word of advice I ever received from my DR. was to learn to "Listen To Your Band"
I had no idea what he meant at first...and now, EVERYTHING I do is from listening to my band...not a set of rules, or what others experience....

Hey......We were stationed in Mayport! We were on the Semmes DD963 (decommissioned now) My daughter still lives there. I absolutely loved it!
Anyway, with Tricare Prime there is no waiting time period or nutrition class you have to attend. You will just have to do a phyc eval, but that is it. If you are using the base clinic, I would recommend changing you PCM to a civilian doctor.
Good luck!

I was given phenterimine for over a year by my dr. Now I have found out after numerous medical issues it should have only been prescribed for no longer than 3 months.
I took it 4 years ago ( for weight loss of course). It was great, I had a lot of energy, I could clean my entire house in about 3 hours (I have a 2200 sqft home) do high cardio aerobics for hours and I lost lots and lots of weight. It was wonderful! Then about 9 months into it I started having ringing in my ears. Which has now turned in to neuropathy on my left side if my face. ( it is completely numb) my eye sight got really bad while I was on the drug but slowly got a bit better , not completely. I have chronic dry eyes because of all this and to this day have severe headaches. Yes I lost almost 90lbs with the drug. And I felt great!
If i knew then what i know now, I wish I had never taken it because if the medical issues
My new dr says these medical issues will be long term and were directly caused by phenterimine !
By the way.......I gained back 102lbs taking me above where I started!

I have that sometimes, but I am 1 1/2 years out. When it happens to me it is gas. I lay on my left side and completely relax. It just works its way down and out.

I got the band because I wasn't about to give up my favorite foods forever. For me, that's just another diet and a recipe for failure.
I haven't given up any food I love. I believe in moderation not deprivation.

I went to my PCM the other day for a check up. She still has the old dinosaur weight scale. I had always wanted to not have to move that huge bottom weight past the 100 mark. I thought by the time I lost that much, those scales would be long gone! But none the less......it happened! 149.25 lbs. I did not have to move that bottom weight!!!!!!

[ATTACH]27938[/ATTACH]

I went to my PCM the other day for a check up. She still has the old dinosaur weight scale. I had always wanted to not have to move that huge bottom weight past the 100 mark. I thought by the time I lost that much, those scales would be long gone! But none the less......it happened! 149.25 lbs. I did not have to move that bottom weight!!!!!!

[ATTACH]27938[/ATTACH]

I went to my PCM the other day for a check up. She still has the old dinosaur weight scale. I had always wanted to not have to move that huge bottom weight past the 100 mark. I thought by the time I lost that much, those scales would be long gone! But none the less......it happened! 149.25 lbs. I did not have to move that bottom weight!!!!!!

[ATTACH]27938[/ATTACH]

I went to my PCM the other day for a check up. She still has the old dinosaur weight scale. I had always wanted to not have to move that huge bottom weight past the 100 mark. I thought by the time I lost that much, those scales would be long gone! But none the less......it happened! 149.25 lbs. I did not have to move that bottom weight!!!!!!

[ATTACH]27938[/ATTACH]

I went to my PCM the other day for a check up. She still has the old dinosaur weight scale. I had always wanted to not have to move that huge bottom weight past the 100 mark. I thought by the time I lost that much, those scales would be long gone! But none the less......it happened! 149.25 lbs. I did not have to move that bottom weight!!!!!!

[ATTACH]27938[/ATTACH]

I went to my PCM the other day for a check up. She still has the old dinosaur weight scale. I had always wanted to not have to move that huge bottom weight past the 100 mark. I thought by the time I lost that much, those scales would be long gone! But none the less......it happened! 149.25 lbs. I did not have to move that bottom weight!!!!!!

[ATTACH]27938[/ATTACH]

I went to my PCM the other day for a check up. She still has the old dinosaur weight scale. I had always wanted to not have to move that huge bottom weight past the 100 mark. I thought by the time I lost that much, those scales would be long gone! But none the less......it happened! 149.25 lbs. I did not have to move that bottom weight!!!!!!

[ATTACH]27938[/ATTACH]