MeganA

I've been banded almost three years. I had a complete unfill about a month and a half ago due to reflux. I have spent that time eating things and amounts I hadn't for three years...and I loved every minute of it! I did feel like I was on a band vacation. And it tasted so good. But you know what- after a few weeks it started to not feel so good. I felt bloated. I felt like food consummed me again...it was on my mind every waking moment. I felt like a drug addict again waiting for the next available opportunity to get my fix. I remembered what it felt like before I was banded to eat a whole meal and still want another whole meal. I missed feeling that satiety of being satisfied after a small amount of food. It's funny that three or four bites of something can make me feel more satisfied than a whole big plate or two at the Chinese Buffet. The band works on satiety- being satisfied not necessarily full- for me anyway. Like I mentioned, I had a fill yesterday and it was such a comforting feeling to know that I have my tool back in action and on my side. I feel like this is my second chance to loose more weight and get to my goal of 100 pounds lost in three years. So, in a very long answer to your question- everyone is different with the band and you really don't know how you will feel until your banded. Some people are like me and are still a complete food addict but the band helps me manage it. Megan

Since I've been unfilled I've had two roller-dogs from the gas station and I've savored both like they were forbidden fruit. I've also made a couple of brats on the grill and those were heavenly, too. But, I miss feeling full on a few bites more than I miss hot dogs at this point so I am VERY ready for a fill. Megan

It never just stops until you learn and relearn and relearn again. Some people are just faster learners than others. Me- I'm almost three years out and I still make a mistake or think I can get away with more than I can once and awhile. Megan

I don't think there is a special place where guys with more traditional values hang out :-). I believe that if you make your idea of what you want your future to look like very clear you will get rid of the riff-raff much more quickly. As soon as I decided what I wanted- that I wanted to get married but probably not have children...it was a lot easier to date because *I* was doing the choosing...not being chosen. I am now dating a wonderful man that wants many of the same things I do- and ALL of the important ones. Guess where I met him- match.com. Your profile allows you to make it very clear what it is that you are looking for. The hard part is figuring out exactly what that is. Megan

Since there is no "life with no fill in the band" section, I thought maybe you guys could help me out. I had all my Fluid removed due to reflux, etc...and I have to leave it empty for a month. I can't believe how much my band helped with head hunger. It's driving me crazy. I think about food all the time. When I'm eating lunch I think about what I'm going to have for dinner. I had forgotten how much food ruled my life. I have not one ounce of restriction. What I have learned is that even with three years of struggle to learn new habits, without my band I am a raging food terrorist. I shovel it in. I take huge bites. I want chinese food for every meal. I thought at first that the more bulky food would help keep me full...but I never feel full unless I feel sick. I'm lucky...I still have my band. I feel just terrified about what would happen without it. I am so sorry for those of you who have lost it. This is really hard. The scale showed a three pound gain in a week and a half. Megan

My doctor does all of my fills under floro. I love it because I can watch on the tv screen as the barium goes through. I can see what it is that I can feel...if that makes sense. Since every body is different and every doctor is different then every fill will be different. I think a fill is a steal at $100. That's only one month at weight watchers!! Good luck! Megan

Who is I8Everything really? Wow....we'll REALLY miss you when you go. Are you gone yet?

Who is I8Everything really? Wow....we'll REALLY miss you when you go. Are you gone yet?

I admit it . I hide behind Lisa all the time. She'll say something and instead of supporting her publically I send her a PM. I realized today that that isn't being a very good friend. So, I herby stand behind DeLarla. Sure, there are probably more gentle ways she could say things, but then she wouldn't be DeLarla. I have no time for anyone who comes onto LBT with all the answers. It doesn't help anyone. Go write a freekin' diet book and sell it to all the suckers who think that there is one way to lose weight. Tell people about YOUR experiences, not how you think they have to do it. Who do you think you are, anyway? Tellymelly...you need to reign yourself in. Don't ask the moderators to do it for you. Megan

I admit it . I hide behind Lisa all the time. She'll say something and instead of supporting her publically I send her a PM. I realized today that that isn't being a very good friend. So, I herby stand behind DeLarla. Sure, there are probably more gentle ways she could say things, but then she wouldn't be DeLarla. I have no time for anyone who comes onto LBT with all the answers. It doesn't help anyone. Go write a freekin' diet book and sell it to all the suckers who think that there is one way to lose weight. Tell people about YOUR experiences, not how you think they have to do it. Who do you think you are, anyway? Tellymelly...you need to reign yourself in. Don't ask the moderators to do it for you. Megan

BandedMama....I feel your pain. I'm unfilled and eating like a maniac. I shovel and wolf and pack it in. It feels so good and then it feels so bad. I love being able to eat things I haven't been able to for so long. But now the scale is showing it. I, too, feel like I have learned nothing. I have put my faith in my band- that when it gets filled again I can tackle my demons again. I miss my band very much. I miss feeling full on a few bites. I can't believe how expensive food is! I need my band. But I refuse to beat myself up for my addiction. I just can't start that negative self talk again. I am trying to be ery forgiving of myself. Sometimes it works, othertimes it doesn't. I hear ya sister.... Megan

I've always had a hard time following controversial threads because I read too fast and skip over the good parts. I leave the good stuff for Lisa to cover! And as usual...you have in only the way you can. I love LBT because even though my band is empty and I have eaten more in one day than I used to in a week, I still feel like a success because I can come here and talk to others who have had the same thing happen...and who have overcome it in one way or another. I feel like I am broken inside. I am not like other people. I have no shut off hunger valve. And then I got the band. And then I met you folks who were broken like me and I didn't feel alone anymore. People ask me all the time how to lose weight. For awhile I was cocky and said "Just limit your portions, eat Protein, and learn that no food is good or bad...you just make different choices". Now with my band empty, I have learned that I really don't know how to lose weight and I have no business telling anyone else how to. Now if someone asks, I will say "Get a band". And then they will have to learn what works for them BECAUSE IT IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE!!!! Failure is not trying. And Lisa, Geezer, Paula, NewSho, Michelle, Jack, Leatha, Vines, Penni, Donali...they are the definition of success to me because of how hard they are trying. Love you guys! Megan

I love you guys! Thank you so much for the responses. Babs- sorry to hear that you are struggling. Thank you for the suggestions about having healthy stuff at all times- I am going to do just that. I had forgotten how easy it is to eat the bad stuff - there is a reason they call "fast food" fast. And after not being able to eat any for so long it's been the first thing I think of when I am hungry. Barbara-I would say that chinese food is surely one of my triggers. I think they put something in it to make you addicted. Penni- Sorry to read of your struggles. I would be right there with you without my band. Lisa-You are so right. I've actually been seeing someone for a couple months now (didn't mention before because I didn't want to jinx it:-)) and he has stuggled with his weight. He is always open to sharing and to picking something a little better for us. But, that's what we do together- we eat. No wonder I like him so much. He loves to ride bike, though...and one of these days I'm going to join him. Oh god I'm scared. Sue-So very, very true. I have found that those old voices from three years ago are really only under the surface. I have struggled to keep from labeling myself again. Thanks for the reminder. Thanks to everyone else for their replies. This forum is the best support. Megan

Dr. Ikramuddin at the U of M Fairview has worked with Mexico patients in the past. His number: 612/625-8446 Good luck! Megan

I have to warn you- I can't eat frozen meals when I'm really restricted. Most are noodles or rice with some Protein. They are a great sized portion- especially when you are newly banded and are getting used to the smaller sized meals. Megan

I second what everyone else has said. Stay away from the RNY groups. I wonder if that is where your real angst is coming from. Eat some carbs. Your nutritionist isn't helping with her thinking that dieting is the way to go. But do NOT, NOT NOT NOT get too tight too fast. There is a reason that Dr's go at restriction slowly. What is your hurry, anyway? Slow down...you're in for a very bumpy ride if you don't get your expectations under control. 60-70 pounds is totally do able with the lap band. Just not in THREE weeks. Megan

fingers, toes, arms, legs crossed for you!!! Megan

Having weightloss surgery sure does shake a person's emotional and mental stability, doesn't it? You're not alone. This is a tought road. But it's way too early to regret something that isn't even working yet. I have two suggestions: 1. Eat. 2. Get some mental health help to manage your expectations. My favorite quote is "Expectation is the greatest source of suffering". Why suffer? Unless that's just what you're used to doing to yourself. Megan

Um... I dry humped a gangster because I'm cool like that. Nice. Megan

Analoren- Soft food is not the answer to a too tight fill. Soft foods typically have more calories than regular food. It's very difficult to get in Protein when you are too tight. You may cause slippage. You don't need recipies for easy foods to eat- you need an unfill!!! Megan

AHHHHH...sweet relief!!!! I had an unfill last Thursday and felt instantly better! The Floro showed that I was almost completely closed off...no wonder I was so miserable! And I had the stomach flu on top of it!! So, they took out all of the Fluid and send me on my way. I can't believe how uncomfortable I have been for so long while eating. I keep waiting for something to hurt but it doesn't. I can eat things that I haven't been able to for YEARS! I had a peice of toast and thought I'd died and gone to heaven. What I'm finding is exactly what Alex said- I don't think I'm eating that much more- my meals may be a bit larger than before but I don't snack because the meals keep me fuller longer. I'm amazed! I even had a couple of peice of orange yesterday. HEAVEN!!! Thanks everyone for your support through this. I'll keep you posted! Megan

So I've been struggling with reflux since my last fill about a month ago. It's gotten steadily worse- especially at night so I started taking Prilosec and I cut out all alcohol and coffee. I stopped eating by 7 every night. Some nights were ok, other nights I would wake up coughing on gross stomach stuff. Then I got the flu and it got a whole lot worse! Not only did I have the nighttime reflux but the last few days have miserable with cramps and I thought I was going to throw up. So, I called my Dr. and described my symptoms. I go in today at 1:00 for a complete unfill. And I have to stay empty for a month!!! I'm so scared! Do you know how much weight I could put on in a month if I'm not careful? But then the other part of me is excited...maybe I can eat some noodles...and Chinese food! I can eat Chinese food!!!! Have I not learned anything? Noodles and Chinese food are not good for me but I DON'T CARE!!!! You guys are going to have to help me keep on track during this month of the empty Band. Anyone else had this experience? What did you do to keep from going overboard? Megan Megan

You're too tight! A small unfill is in order and you'll be back in business. The slime is caused by your esophogus being irritated. This signals the spit producers in the mouth to go into overdrive to try to lubricate the food that is stuck. Good luck! Megan

I think it's all a matter of perspective and expectation. I, too, was worried that I wouldn't ever lose weight- that I'd fail with the band like I did with everything else...well, that's just not the case if you follow the rules and do your research. Sure, it takes a while to lose with the band, but so what? Because I have been overweight my whole life, I also tried to set some realistic expectations. I know I will never be a size 8 unless I get deathly ill or have the gastric bypass. Neither of those options sound like a good idea- so I decided that if I ever got to be a size 18/20 (from a 30/32) I'd concider myself a success. Well, here I am! Some people start their banding journey where I am now, but I have the rest of my life to chip away at the rest of my weight if I want. I don't know if this helped or not...best of luck to you! Megan

Alexandra- FRUIT!! I will be able to eat fruit!!!! I forgot all about fruit! Oh, how wonderful to eat a piece of watermelon or some grapes. You've eased my mind already. Congrats on dipping below 30 BMI. You should be so proud of yourself... Any idea when you'll get another fill? I'm curious to see how that process goes. Thanks for your quick response...you're the best! Megan