LadyMaggie

Frustration? After my first fill I GAINED weight....I felt this was all a big waste of time and effort........2nd fill was 50-50,
3rd was a charm....
But don't worry...it does work....like 2muchfun said it is called "Bandster Hell"
That time period between surgery and finally getting the band adjusted to you comfort level....

You'll be in "bandster hell" until you get the fill that gives you enough restriction for the band to work it's magic. That may be 1 fill or 6. No one knows. Till then, like our esteemed forum member B-52 says,
"Until there's restriction...It's just another diet"
tmf

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping for some advice. I was banded on 9/20/12. In two months I lost 30 lbs. Since then--around December I haven't lost anything, they wouldn't fill me last time because I had a head cold. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow And will voice my frustrations.
Essentially what I feel is happening is that after a fill I'm good for about a week or so and feeling full during meals. After that though, I feel like my body is adjusting to more food and I just continue to eat because I'm not full. I have been making all sorts of low fat & low cal food (so many new cookbooks) so I know I'm trying. I just don't want to feel like I'm a failure and I did this for nothing.
Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have suggestions on what to do?
Thanks for listening

Hello. My name is Christopher. I'm a long time food addict. I had the lap band surgery two years ago and I joined Overeaters Anonymous, a 12 step program like Alocholics Anonymous.
I lost 180 pounds, but I've started gaining it back. I discovered that my eating habits and addiction to sugar/flour is still with me. I have a lot to change and learn about my food.
My nurtienist recommended this site to keep track of my weight loss. I still need to lose about 20 pounds. I stll go to Overeaters Anonymous meetings in my area. It helps. OA made me realize that I'm addicted to sugar and flour. I am a food addict.

I had lap band surgery in April 2012; I have an AP Large Lap Band that will hold 14 cc; my band currently has 9 and I am NOT in "Green Zone"
I did ask my surgeon what happens when I get near 14 and still do not have restriction and his exact words were "that never happens"
~ Good luck on your journey ~

My band lets many life changes "control" it. Temp changes, travel, stress and even time of day. The big one with the most power is MUCUS! Now that I am finally truly in the Green Zone, I realize just how much impact post nasal drip has on my ability to eat. Since I have year round allergies there will be many problems ahead if I can't figure out how to work around it. This past week I had the flu and a cold. Hunger is never a problem for me but we all need to eat. My thoughts are that the mucus is filling my pouch and it's not leaving room for food. I can drink most things without problem, but if it is chewed I can't get but a bite or two and done. I am even having problems with my meds; most are very small but I have to space them out right now.

My Dr. is concerned about the size, he said that many times erosion comes from larger pills like ibuprofen resting at the bottom of the Stoma and dissolving rather than passing through. I have a prescription for liquid ibuprofen.

There's a psychological component to why we are all SO obese that we had to go through freaking surgery to fix it. if it were that easy for everyone to stay on track with the band, maybe we could have done this without it. Your post reminds me of people who have told me over the years to "just stop eating" or "just work harder."
People's battle with obesity is individual. Your reasons for eating may not be mine. Your path to success is true for you and you alone and I'm glad you were able to succeed! But the "one answer fits all" attitude just doesn't apply here. It's why the diet industry is so huge - one diet doesn't work for everyone.

1 year ago I would have said exactly the same thing. I lost easily and was having no issue maintaining. I thought that people that whinged and moaned etc were just using excuses. Now I have a lot more sympathy. The first couple of years are EASY - after that it gets so much harder.
Things that were difficult to eat become easy.
The band does not give you the same feeling of satisfaction.
You eat what you are supposed to but get hungry again soon afterwards.
Simple solution - get a fill as obviously if this is happening it means a person is not in the green zone.
Well it's not always that simple. For some unknown reason reflux rears it's ugly head, when this happens Dr's unfill or won't fill past a certain point.
But that shouldn't be a problem should it, because by now we should have the good eating habits down pat? Well it is a problem. I know what I should be eating and that is what I eat but then I get hungry again. When the band is not controlling your hunger it is like it was preband. What makes it worse is that you know how good things can be and you desperately want to be back there. To me the weeks after surgery weren't bandster hell - they were easy. This is bandster hell!
I don't think I'm alone with this problem. A lot of the long term successful bandsters seem to have the same issue.Some of the names have slipped my mind but I know Jachut is one.
There seem to be a number of these threads atm, B52, yourself to name just 2.I understand where you are coming from but I promise you it is not quite as simple as you try to make out. Please stop "preaching" at us and keep your fingers crossed that you are lucky enough to always remain in the zone.

Bibliophile,
This morning a very successful bandster posted a very nice topic: "Somtimes I just have to say...."
Since I can't say it any better, I copied and pasted some of his post here:
Now I know I'm going to get flamed for this by the "Know it all's" But personally, I do not understand how that can happen...(Short of a medical problem)....
Either your band is adjusted to where you are in the Green Zone, or it's not!! To me, that is the only thing that is important...
Two characteristics of the Green Zone is HUNGER CONTROL, and PORTION CONTROL.....yet I read posts about how people say they were doing fine, then started to eat anything and everything in sight...out of control...Does Not sound like being in the Green to me....

I'm confused now my surgeon told me u do get restriction so u physically can't over eat it may take a while to get to that as they do fills by stages but I can't understand why people are telling her you don't get restriction when u clearly do? Some people can't eat certain food that's nothing to do with head hunger is it that's restriction? Sorry but that article makes no sense to me!!

I would never flame you B-52, I respect your advice A LOT and I envy your journey with the band.
However, for me, the green zone has been very elusive! I've been there twice for very short periods of time and been very happy, and then suddenly my band decides it's too tight and then I start to have propblems. I actually had a slip and had it surgically repaired and added plication. I am now back in the process of having the band refilled. I've got 4 cc's and feel absolutely no restriction yet. Now I've moved out of state and had to change doctors... really hoping my new doctor will give me another fill without having to put me through a bunch of tests first when I see him in a couple of weeks.
For me this has been a very frustrating journey, but I'm not giving up yet!!!

It was esophagus spasms!! Omg! Worst pain ever. I have to heal before tightening the band again!

I remember when I first committed myself to go to a gym....Before I was banded, but right after I was Dx'd with Diabetes.......
So there I was, a (fat) 56-58 year old man, sweating like a pig on the elliptical.....I'm looking around and checking out the staff members...you know, the super fit young girls who wear those super tight spandex workout clothes that say "STAFF" across the back in big yellow letters.....
And you know what was going through this dirty old man's mind when I was looking at them???
"Man..I sure hope those young girls know CPR, and they weren't just hired because of their looks"
No exaggeration...it really worried me....that's the shape I was in both physically and mentally.....

Sorry but I do not agree. I didnt do any formal exercise and lost 220 lbs in 23 months. While certainly its benefical if you exercise you can still lose weight with out it...I did. Granted I had to keep your calories at 1000 but I averaged a 10 lbs a month loss. When I started walking I still kept my calories at 1000 and I didnt lose any more or any less.
People who are bed ridden and cannot exercise will lose weight if they resduce their calories.
In my opinion, To say not to get the band if you arent going to exercise is short sighted because it can work.

I have an AP Large Lap Band, with my surgery in April 2012; I currently have 9 cc in a 14 cc band and just hit "Green Zone: THIS month. . . too long in Bandster HE** ---> glad to be leaving HE**!

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I have been drinking Water all day. As long as I keep plenty of ice in it, I have no problems drinking it. I also just had a piece of grilled chicken with some spinach for dinner and I did not drink my water with dinner. Waiting 30 minutes is hard though when you want to drink so bad, but I'm gonna do it.

My sister and I were interviewed on Huffington Post Live. She has lost 207 and I have now lost 275 lbs. Here is the link: http://huff.lv/VomVRy
Hope in Your Future is Power in Your Present !
Lee

All anyone should do on this forum is speak and share their personal experiences...GOOD AND BAD.......I learn from both!
I may say things that others do not agree with....but hey, I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true for me from my experience...what I have found to work, and not work, for me.......and that's all we should expect from each other......and let the reader decide....
My respect for other people is not exactly based on what someone says, but how they say it.....if they start their discussion with " This is what I have experienced" or even a simple " This is what my Dr. told me to do", my respect for that person increases 100%. Does not matter if I agree or not because their statements carry some authority
But there are people who will tell everyone what they should be doing, and condem people for what they are doing.....you look at their profiles and wonder where is this coming from? They could not possibly be there themselves to know so much about it.
I also have stayed away for a while....I have also learned to simply block certain people....don't know if they can readmy posts, but I certainly cannot read theirs....
Ad I am sure there are people who have me blocked.....no big thing.
But I will ALWAYS say what I have found to be my first hand experience wit,h this WLS, take it or leave it, but I have proof it is true, in my case anyway.

Health issues, PMS, weather, altitude, and even stress can all effect the band. Not for everyone, mind you, but it's possible.
I'd talk to your surgeon and see what he recommends.

A specialist once told me we should try to wear sports bras as much as possible and just keep the fancy ones fir going out. Much better for stopping the droop

I'm sorry, but I just need to say it. Some of you really annoy the piss out of me. The reason for the forum is so people can vent and ask questions.
Not so long ago all of you were fat, and I wonder how many times you all heard " well it's common sense dear, if u want to lose weight just exercise and eat better!".... Did you all follow that common sense, and very true advice? No, you didn't! Do u want people judging you because you didn't heed that advice and instead got a foreign object In your body?
If the band works quicker for you, that's great! But some people including myself are going to lose slower. I also know some of you have the band with plication..... Now did you ever stop to think its probably physically easier for you to follow the rules?
I for one, know I get hungry almost every damn day and have to make myself not cheat. Maybe its because my band isn't full enough? At least thats what im hoping for. I also know I wake up 6-7 days a week and exercise my ass off for at LEAST 1 hour and my weight loss is disgustingly slow. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way, and would like to ask others if their experience is similar and what I can do, but hey that'll annoy you right? My goodness, you've just heard it sooo many times before!
Jerks.

I've tried it on my own countless times over 30 years...everything from Dr supervised diets, acupuncture, hypnotism and drugs......
Failed at everyone, and gained the weight back.....
My story is I have absolutely no self control or discipline when it came to dieting.....went ok at first, maybe 6 months, then hat was it....
i HAD to have surgical intervention to prevent me from doing harm to myself...preventing me from overeating all the time....
I am happy to say that for me, this has worked, and I am not afraid of ever gaining the weight back as long as the band remains in place properly filled.....
But traditional dieting???? Not me.....