Justme9786

Glad to hear that you are going in the right direction. Everyone has their set backs....I'm currently in one right now! I broke my ankle and was out of work not able to walk for 2.5 months....imagine....sitting at home doing absolutely nothing but watching TV and eating whatever's in the house.......ya, I did it. I tried to stay healthy, but alas, it's hard. So I'm getting back on track now that i can actually work out again and I've been getting my meals back on track. Take one step at a time. Reward yourself for the little things. Even if you only lose 1lb in a week..........thats a pound lost! I try to be as self motivating as I can be. And yes, there is such thing as coservative lap band doctors. I think the trick with them is that you don't want to go in really hard saying things that make it appear that you are not willing to work with the band... Instead, try going in saying, I'd like to try a little tighter fill and see if that will help me eat smaller meals more times a day to get my metabolism up. It doesn't have to be a drastic fill, just something to kick in the restriction even just a little. Keep us posted on your progress, we're rooting for ya!

Funny - most of the naturally skinny people know eat alllll the time. More than me! They can eat whatever, whenever, and not gain weight. They don't have to worry about eating or not eating like us. Everyone uses the band differently, but from my experience, i've learned that the band is not intended to make you "stop" eating... yes, it should decrease your hunger and not make you eat as much, but really, it's supposed to just be a tool to get the eating under control to a normal level. Remember before you had your band...you probably could eat twice as much as the person next to you and still feel hungry or unsatisfied. The band shouldn't be used as something that makes you go all day without eating. It should help you get into healthy eating habits, like eating small meals more times a day. Again, everyone's different and how they use it, but i don't beileve it's used to prevent eating when you naturally should eat. At least 3 times a day. I choose 5 times because it works for me.

I eat about 5x a day....my normal routine is: Bfast: coffee then two pieces of whole grain toast w/light butter 1030ish: some sort of 100 cal snack 1230: usually a small salad or a lean cuisine 3ish: another sort of 100cal or less snack, sometimes pudding 5-6ish: dinner, I'm a vegetarian so I usually have a piece of fish with veggies or some sort of dish like boca or morning star products. I try real hard not to eat after 8. This set up seems to speed up my metabolism and keep me satisfied all day. If I go too far in between I too get nauseous. Plus I drink tonnnssss of Water.

Sorry to hear that you're having difficulties. Have you spoken with your surgeon? Do you go to support groups? Are you exercising at all? You say that when you chew lean meats that it comes back up, are you chewing chewing and chewing more? The band is just a tool and the tool only works if the operator knows how to use it. Constantly being down about the entire thing or thinking of yourself as a failure, will only make it worse. Instead of being negative on yourself, try to find out WHY it's not working, even if that means you may be at fault. I know I have eaten horribly even with the band and have gained weight, but I can only blame myself. The band can be very successful and I know tons of people (including 4 of my family members) who are walking proof that if you work WITH your band, you can get there. Hang in there and keep us posted.

Thanks for the link PattiGirl66... If you're doing a low carb diet, this definitely isn't on the list for foods to eat lol But if you're watching your calorie or fat intake, this is a good snack! That's what I watch for when eating, not carbs. I have never been able to do the no to low carb diets (successfully anyways).

Have you been to any local lapband support group meetings? Seems like you need a boost in confidence and a boost of some support. Yes, this site is great for support, but sometimes actually GOING to a support group meeting will do wonders. Check with your surgeon to see where they are hosted. You'll be surrounded by people who understand the struggles and will give you advice. Also, speak with your surgeon. You may need a tighter fill. Sometimes it takes going back multiple times before you find your sweet spot or "green zone" as this site calls it I guess. The band is just a tool, it really is more up to you to make the committment to stay focused and remember what the end result is. We all have slip ups where we eat what we shouldnt or more than we should, but it's not about focusing on those moments, it's about picking yourself back up and going forward. Best of luck to you!

SO good! Especially the brown sugar cinnamon ones. I have these for my 10-11am snack and it hits the spot!

You may be one of those bandsters that need a lot in their fill to feel anything. Everyone is different. I have a 10cc band and I am at 3.9 and it's *almost* a perfect fill for me. The highest i have gone is 4.4 and I could barely eat anything. It may take you quite a few fills to feel anything. Hang in there.

Banderama-no worries for asking. We are here to voice our opinions. It's all a matter of opinion and voice to be heard. So anyways.... My pre-op diet was shakes prescribed by my physician. 5x a day which equaled 800cal. Which was NOTHING compared to what I WAS eating. Some doctors will say it's okay to incorporate one piece of chicken a day that has absolutely no seasoning, only boiled in Water. My doctor didn't say I could do this, but I did on 3 of the days because I thought I was going to die. The only other thing I could have was the sugar free jell-o like, 1 or 2 a day. I think it is good you are asking because you should be prepared to be exhausted. Don't plan anything where you will have to be on top of your game, because you will feel pretty darn weak due to the decrease in calories. Keep hydrated with water to help you stay full cause you will be feeling SOOOOOOO hungry. BUT just think of what it's for. In the long run, you will be so happy that you went through a few weeks of hell for the outcome you wanted. I lost 14lbs on the 2 week pre-op diet. As far as post op, you're generally on a clear liquid diet for a while still. Once you get your first fill you'll most likely be on a clear liquid for a day or two and then full liquids which, everyone's interpretation of "full liquids" varies and what people can tolerate varies lol I know that I was able to tolerate mash potatoes that were very watery....not traditional thick potatoes...whereas, some people can't tolerate mash potatoes. Very much a trial and error period once you start introducing foods again. Best of luck to you!!

To me it sounds like you are not eating enough. 3-4 bites before feeling full does not seem normal to me, even as a bandster. My first suggestion is to call your doctor. Second is to get a slight unfill. Until you can do either of those things, I would recommend increasing your calorie intake. I'm not saying go eat ice cream and gorge out on liquids. However, some things that have helped me when I wasn't able to eat much and have had similar sypmtoms you describe were to first drink LOTS of gatorade. Second, I always have tomato Soup on hand. They have some good campbell soup ones like Zesty Tomato Soup or Basil Tomato Bisque...etc... and I sip on that. Also, the idahoan instant mash potatos have saved me numerous times....pour em in with more Water than you usually would and then heat for like 4 minutes and munch on those. You can make them pretty watery and still tasty so they can go down. These things are not part of my "normal" diet...I only resort to this diet if I have not been able to eat at all. For me, it has always worked.

Fills are a breeze! Good luck to you!

ibuprofen definitely can be an irritant on your stomach, however this is with excessive use. If you are alternating between ibuprofen and tyelenol, it should be okay. I just wouldn't overdo the ibuprofen. Especially if there is no food to help absorb it.

Same here. I'm in FL and CVS has liquid form of it. This is what I found most useful for the pain.

She is right....on the flip side of what I said initially, if you're not eating ENOUGH, that could be why too. I try to force myself to eat small amounts at least 5x a day to keep my metabolism going. Breakfast 8am Snack 11 lunch 1sh Snack 3-4ish dinner 5-6ish and I try REALLY hard NOT to eat past 8, even though I do get a craving now and then Which I've found when I do get a craving for something in the evening, a 1/2 cup of healthy Cereal (like Special K or Kashi) w/fat free, lactose free, organic milk ....usually does the trick.

Sometimes your body needs change....especially when you've reached a plateua. Try switching up what you've been eating with a big twist. For instance, I used to eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner (with a little variation of course) everyday, and then i realized I hit a plateau....I just switched up my routine and started to see some weight come off. Also, are you exercising? Remember, the band is just a tool. It has helped you lose 33lbs so far, so it's obviouly worked thus far. But remember, once you start losing weight, your body requires less and less calories to maintain and even less to lose. So if you are still eating the same amount, but not burning any, that's probably why youre at a plateau. Trying incorporating some sort of work out routine a couple of times a week. Even the simplest things can burn calories and help. Do sit ups, crunches, walk, jog, etc. Anything that would make you burn more than you usually would, would help. Hang in there... you'll have ups and downs with your journey, but keep your head up!

Lol...okay no need to yell.

I am 4 years post op and have no regrets of getting the band. The above poster is right that it is a little frustrating with the sweet spot search, but once you find it, it's bliss. I am at my sweet spot and can eat pretty much anything I want within reason and portion. I was initially only 20lbs away from my goal weight, but due to an ankle fracture and not being able to walk at all for 2.5 months, I gained some weight back. This is all MY fault, not the bands. The band is a tool and if it is not used properly, will not be successful.

How are you drinking the Water? Lots at a time or just sips? If you are just sipping and it hurts, you may need to get a little taken out. I would call your surgeon if thats the case. You can sometimes expect it to be a little tighter right after the fill just because it is swollen, which is why they tell you to go on a liquid diet for a few days after a fill, but if you can barely keep liquids down, it may be too tight.

I'd say just make sure you have your meds by the time you get home and to get up and start walking as soon as you can. My experience was that the actual procedure area wasn't what was the most painful, it was the gas pain that forms in your shoulder area (generally). The best thing for that is to get up and walk around. It helps the gas bubble to move and eventually dissipate. Gas X didn't work for me for that, but liquid tyelonol 3 did. So I would recommend speaking with your surgeon about that, prior to start of surgery so you don't forget once you get the lovely hospital meds

I didn't even realize from your first post that you were still on liquids....totally read over that one! Glad the pain was relieved by a little wind release Sometimes it's simple things! I constantly carry the gas-x dissolvable strips because I get gas quite frequently. They seem to do the trick in most cases.

Everyone is different. Sips of hot liquids helps me not PB in most cases...usually if I catch it before it's a really bad "stuck" feeling....and I rarely PB. Same with my sister, she sips hot liquids and it usually helps. But then there's my mom who can't sip at all. Having the lapband for the past 4 years I have learned that you have to find what works best for you. Not everyone is the same. Some can and some cant.

It really is a personal preference, but I opted for the band. The initial surgeon I saw tried to convince me to get the bypass, but i felt that it was far too invasive. I was only 21 when i got the surgery. The weight loss is slower, but it's still weight loss. Don't they always say, to lose weight slower is healthier? I have a hiatal hernia (likely due to band) and also had to have my gallbladder removed, which with any extremem weight loss a lot of people have to have their gallbladder removed. Overall, even if I do have some side effects, I am satisfied with my band. I can eat almost anything I want, just in the right portion sizes. And, I like the fact that my surgeon knows me after seeing him so many times for fills and unfills. It makes for a more personable surgical experience. My mom, dad, sister and brother-in-law all have the band too....we are a big band family

Do what your gut tells you. If you are not comfortable with the surgeon, seek a second opinion. I know you've vested all this time already, but it's possible that all of that may not go to waste. If you've already been cleared by psych and nutrition, you may be able to forward that onto the next surgeon. Doesn't hurt to look into at least. Do what's best for YOU.

If you can, try sipping on some warm/hot liquids when that happens. I know one of the golden rules is to NOT drink while you are eating, which is very true, but if you feel that stuck feeling, sometimes just sips of hot liquids like tea or coffee can help.

Cknight- thank you for sharing the reality of what CAN happen if youre not careful. I would seek out an opinion from a physician on the vomiting of blood. Though it cold be band related, it could also be something else. And if it is band related, like a slippage, it could get worse. And also if you are still taking reflux meds, you should get hat checked too...possibly get some Fluid if not all of the fluid taken out of your band so that it may heal. I know weight loss is all of our goals, but your health is what is the most important! Please keep us updated