Sultan Dablool

I am banded since 14-02-2012 and have had my last fill in january under x ray, the DR said this should be the last fill. From time to time my colon irritated plus my port area, and the band became tighter,I also feel a pain (1 out of 10) around the port area and a pain in my abdominal when I swallow food or liquid ( only with irritated colon symptoms appear). I can eat very well and have no problem with food. When I said irritated colon I mean I have a lot of gas and don't go toilet often and hear the gas noise in the colon area.
I went to my GP last month when this symptoms appears, as my surgeon lives in another city. The GP said my stomach seems to be soft, he rang my surgeon and the surgeon advised for two days liquids as he thought that I have an irritated port or band. I followed the surgeon advice and went to a liquid diet for two days which it doesnt seems to help a lot, however the symptoms goes better day after day and only the port area pain remain there. Yesterday I am having the same symptoms again but much less than before. I assumed the colon problem is causing the pain around the port area because I believe there is a pressure of gas around me and looking for a way to go out but all blocked !
Please need your thought and advice.
Thanks and sorry for the bad English

You're doing great! Congrats on your band anniversary. You have lost more than 1/3 of what you want to lose. That's fantastic.

Today I am celebrating one year with my gastric band. I have lost already 16 kilos. I am not really sure if that sounds good but I feel pretty good. I wish if I lost more but I did my best.
I started 144 kg and now 128 Kg. Please let me know if I am doing good, your support is very important to me.
Thanks :-)

Congrats on your year....and I agree if you are smaller...feeling better about yourself....Your doing GREAT !
Happy Band Anniversary

Hehe can't eat more than 2 slices now! :-)
Thanks for your support.

Today I am celebrating one year with my gastric band. I have lost already 16 kilos. I am not really sure if that sounds good but I feel pretty good. I wish if I lost more but I did my best.
I started 144 kg and now 128 Kg. Please let me know if I am doing good, your support is very important to me.
Thanks :-)

Hehe can't eat more than 2 slices now! :-)
Thanks for your support.

Today I am celebrating one year with my gastric band. I have lost already 16 kilos. I am not really sure if that sounds good but I feel pretty good. I wish if I lost more but I did my best.
I started 144 kg and now 128 Kg. Please let me know if I am doing good, your support is very important to me.
Thanks :-)

You know after 19 months I look at restriction a little differently from months back. The band isn't here to punish us. I'm learning that this tool helps us not feel as hungry after our advised amount of nutritious food. However we are all human and I still enjoy not so nutritious food!!!! to me restriction to me is the feeling of not being hungry between meals. The feeling if restriction is also the feeling of satisfaction after a one cup serving size. It should not be choking or PBing ( but it happens for many reasons). I just have to remember to slow my eating down, smaller bites, and more chewing. Hope this helps:)

I am glad i found this topic..my dr is conservative as well..it can be frustrating because surgery is risky and costly not to see the results expected..i feel like my struggle is near where it was before surgery. And maybe i should have gotten the sleeve. But then i people with other surgeries that have regained weight and are opting for the band as well...i do agree that having a serious talk with our dr is due..or find one that will fill us more..

I was banded in Feb 2011 and have struggled since. It's been a long year and half and i've only lost 25 pounds and that was mostly in the first couple months. Well i finally got my 4th fill last Monday - i'm up to 8.5cc in a 10cc band. Woohoo - I finally have restriction. It is so awesome - i've lost 3 pounds in 4 days. I've gotten "stuck" several times because i'm used to eating faster. I've had "pb" for the first time ever because i eat too fast and too big of bites. this is awesome. I'm eating such small portions and get full and stay full and it is so wonderful. I actually know that this is going to work now. Ive hit the sweet spot and it feels wonderful. For those of you frustrated like i was - keep getting those fills when you hit that sweet spot you will definitely know it.

I don't think many Dr's in Aus use Midband. The majority use the Lapband or Realize Band. I think Midband is made by a French company.

Maybe it shouldn't but unfortunately it is. It doesn't matter what kind of WLS you have you still have to do your part. None of them will make good choices for you and none of them will make you exercise.
The problem is that you are likely to end up with a band that is too tight and too tight bands lead to slips, reflux, aspiration and other complications. Unfortunately even a band that is tight enough to do this cannot stop you from eating "bad" foods. Foods such as crisps,chocolate, icecream,crackers etc will still slide right through.You will be hungry as these foods are not satisfying and you will probably gain weight.
It seems to me as though you were not educated about how the band works before getting it. Lets go over a few things.
It doesn't stop you eating the wrong stuff.
It doesn't make good food choices.
It doesn't guarantee weight loss
However if you work with it properly it is a very powerful tool that will assist you if you make good choices.
Next time you get a fill follow the Dr's instructions. Generally they require you to stick to liquids for the rest of the day, then soft foods as tolerated the day after. Skip the pizza. If you want to see if your band is working then have a meal of firm Protein (beef,chicken, lamb,fish) with some veg and a good quality carb. Take small bites and chew well. Your aim is not to eat until you feel ill or stuffed but to eat until you are no longer hungry. Then see if you can go a couple of hours without needing food again. Note I did not say without wanting food again as there is a huge difference.

Sorry, A lot of us make assumptions people have Lapband or Realize band. I was just reading up on the Midband which is used in Australia. Makes sense to me now.

I can not eat more then I piece of pizza. And no you don't need to test your band, Its not like it is in charge you are. Eating until you are stuffed is what got you here. My Dr would have flipped out if I went back because I could eat a whole small pizza never heard of a 7 cc band.

Hey there, I had my surgery the day before you did (4/26). I have had 3 fills, and am up to 6cc. I don't think I am at the green zone yet, but I definatiely do feel some restriction. I have an apt this week for my 4th fill and am hoping will have full restriction after that. I definately can't eat like I used to. I have to eat slow and less or the food will get stuck and that hurts.
Most of the weight I have lost was due to the pre op and post op diet. But, I must confess, I do not measure my food. I eat until I am full, but eat whatever I want just less. I just think that if I wanted to be on a diet, I wouldn't have paid all that money and put myself through surgery. I know that I probably won't loose as much as if I did follow their diet rules, but I'm ok with that. If I could follow a diet I wouldn't have had surgery. I know that doesn't sound right, but that's how I feel.
Good luck and keep in touch!

For the first 4 mths after my surgery, I could eat just as much as I had before. I could eat a large Quiznos sandwich, a bowl of broccoli cheese Soup and still have room left for dessert. I didn't watch what I ate at all. I didn't lose but maybe 5 lbs during the first 4 mths. But I didn't gain either. After my 3rd fill, the band started magically working. Over 2 yrs later, and a couple of extra fills, I'm about 10 lbs from my goal of 135. Now I can eat maybe 5 bites of a sandwich, a cup of broccoli cheese Soup, and have no room for anything else! I still eat bread, rice, Pasta, and everything else - just VERY small amts. It's amazing I can survive on the amts of food I eat. But I can and my size 7 jeans show it!
So yes, it's very normal to be able to eat lotso pizza until you get proper restriction. When you finally do - be careful. If you attempt to eat like you did, you'll regret it!
Good luck!
Marci