La_madam

I really had no misconceptions, I did extensive research for many months prior to my band. I spoke with people who were banded, emailed Inamed constantly.Read up on everything I possibly could about the band, joined the support groups before being banded. The thing I think most people here have misconceptions about is the pace of weight loss, with the band the weight loss is much slower then the bypasss and the band is not a magic wand, we still have to do some of the work. I read about peoples frustrations not loisng quick enough.

PBing on purpose is the ticket to slippage!!! Plain and simple! For those of you who do it. Stop! Are you crazy to risk losing your band like that! Chrerish this tool you are fortunate to have. Use it wisely! It makes me sad to read that you people are doing this on purpose. Did your doctors not tell you the risks of pbing often???

Thanks Barbara465 I recieved my gift today. What a beautiful Angel. I love Angels, they are all over my house. I also love the coaster /plaque " Sing like nobody is listening" I can not sing for Beans but when I sing I sing like no body is listening so it is perfect for me and the pampered chefcookbook will come in handy for me. I just this week got a new oven and have not been able to cook for over a yr.due to my old one breaking on Thanksgiving last year. I love to cook and to try new recipes. Thank you so much for all of the gifts. I love them all!

Sent mine out Saturday to where the weather is frightful and freezing

This is most likely your soft stop signal, it is your signal of your bodt telling you to stop. For me I got an ice cream headache, others I have heardfrom got a runny nose, a hiccup or a pain in the shoulder. Listen to your body..if this pain in the jaw only happens when you are eating then I would bet it is your signal to stop.

NSV's are far more important then what the scale reads. Do not let the numbers on the scale dictate your success or failures with the band. SIt down and make a list of all of thethings in your life that have changed since the band. Are you happier? healthier? Is your family happier? Buying cuter and smaller size clothes? Not needing to take blood pressure meds or other obese related meds? Do your feet and joints ache less now? If you answered YES to any of these questions then you are not a failure!

as long as you are able to eat solids without PBing on them on a regular basis and you are able to drink liquids with no problem this is normal. Many bandsters can not eat until later in the day.

Hi Welcome, do not worry, you are normal. Try having some protein shakes , the protein will help curb the hunger and keep you satisfied longer. One thing that worked well for me was blending my protein drinks with lots of ice, they werethickerand kept me full longer. Hang in there this is not how your life will be, it iwll amaze you once you start gettingyour fills how littleyou think about food. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We all were once at where you are now.

One thing I learned when eating beef/ prime rib etc...I would take me bites of meat with a bite of veggies. canned green beans worked best. Somethingto do with the veggies and meat together on my fork in my mouth helped to get it down better. I have also heard others try dipping sauces when eating beef...like BBQ, ranch something to lubricate it a bit. Very wise of you to stay on soft foods andliquids for a few days. You are possibly one of the lucky ones who has restriction without a fill. I was one of those for the first 9 weeks post op. It is a learning thing, you will find things that you can andcan not eat with trial and error. Good Luck

The good thing about the band Vs. the bypass is weight loss is slower so the chances of flabbiness are less. Also eating your 60 grams of protein helps with not getting flabby. If you are not eating enough protein you can lose lean muscle mass which makes you flabby. I lost over 100 lbs in 18 months. and I have no intentions of getting any kind of tuck or skin removal. you should be OK

I was walking around downtown TJ shopping the day after my surgery. You will be fine, the pain is minimal, the worst you may have is gas pains, and not able to enjoy a full Christmas dinner, I had my surgery right before Easter, so Easter dinner was a drag I was on liquids but as far as being mobile physically I was in great shape. but mentally I just missed the food

Cheryl, your surgery was just 4 days ago. I will bet you that the reason you are having trouble taking the meds right now is that you are still very swollen from your surgery. Give it some time for the swelling to go down. This may just be a temporary thing. I had problems taking meds in the beginning too, but as each day went by things got better and once I started getting my fills I was still able to take meds, the key is to take them with a big glass of water preferably warm water, it opens you up where as cold water restricts. wash the meds through your pouch.

Do these spasm happen after you have just eaten? I ask because there is something called the soft stop. This is a sign where your body is tellingyou that you are full. I have heard from others that they get a pain in their shoulders, others have the hiccups, for me mine was an ice cream headache, others get a runny nose. SO if this is happening after you eat or during your meal this could be your bodys signal telling you that you are full since bandsters never get that "Thanksgiving" full feeling anymore.

Amen! I was a successful bandster. I would never consider the bypass. I would be obese for the rest of my life. Bypass for me is way to risky too many possible complications and side affects from it. I had a friendtell me the other day he was having the bypass after seeing my success the entire way with the band. I asked him why would he have the bypass and take the risks and deal with dumping and malabsorption issues for the rest of his life when he can have the band. His answer was the success rate was quicker with the bypass. Quicker is not always better. Most bypass patients I know look unhealthy, pekid, flabby and suken in faces because of the rapid weight loss. Not to mention the higher risk of gaining the wieght back after the 1-2 year window of opportunity once their pouches are stretched out. Just my opinion. Go with your gut, listen to your heart. DO not let anyone deter you from your choice what ever it is.

Yes, I did,I had esophagitis. I got esophagitis from a horrible PB and did not follow the rules after a PB. Have your doctor take a look at your esophagus. If you are still bringing up food this often, you are too tight. Only living on liquids is not how the band was designed to work. Don't risk slippage, call your doctor, go in for a small unfil of .2 or .3 cc's. Give your esophagus a rest. Otherwise this will just continue as a vicious cycle. My band eroded. I will never know if my esophagitis played a role in my erosion or not. They were several months apart. 1.8 cc's in a 4 cc band is a sizeable fill for some and not for others but if you can not eat solids without bringing it up then I would say it is your enemy. Is your Dr. aware of any of this? I ask because I know from my own experience that if I could not eat solids without bringing it up my Dr. would have me is ASAP for an unfill. Call your Dr. be wise, do not jeopardize your band, this is to be a lifelong tool. You are fortunate to still have yours take care of it. What good is it to you, if you are not losing weight and living on liquids? This is not how the band is suppose to work.

Way to go Sue, this is a great post, I am happy to hear you are doing so good.Keep it up, 35 lbs is nothing now.

Start your day with Protein, hard Proteins, they will stay in your pouch longer and satisfy your hunger longer. carbs will only crave more carbs so you wil lbe hungry sooner and often. Also look forsome kind of soft stop signal from your body telling you that you are full. for me it was an ice cream headache, others get a runny nose or a hiccup or a pain in their shoulder. maybe yours is the heartburn. Remember just becasue you can eat it does not mean you shouldeat it, the band is a tool not a magic wand we still have to do some of the work. Also loaded with carbs. Water load between meals, this will help you to feel full..more protein less carbs will also help. Hang in there you are not alone . I was once where you are at. it gets better. Justtakes time, it is a learning thing

Did I miss something?

Good For you for having and endo at your 1 yr mark, so many bandsters do not have this test and think all is fine with their bands since they have no symptoms. I had an endo and was eroded and had zero symptoms. I hope your results are good ones, I would like ot think that if the results were bad your Dr. wouldtell you right away..so to me NO news is good news. Keep us posted

Who is your Doctor? There is noy way my Dr. would allow me to not be able to eat solids. You are to tight. Period! The band was designed to stillbe able to eat solids when filled properly. I am suprised your doctor would tell you not to worry, if in a few days after follwing his instructions there is no change in your restriction you need ot have that .25 you did not want in the first place removed. Be wise, too tight of a band can result in amny bad things. Your health and lomngevity of the band is what is mot important, without your band weight loss wo'nt matter. This is not a race,,it is a journey....

It has been 1 year today since my band was removed due to erosion. I am happy to say that after one year of being bandless I have maintained my 100+ lb weight loss. I still fit in my size 10-12's . It has been a struggle I can not lie but I am determined to never go back to where I was before my band. My band did it's job.It The rest is now up to me. My head is going in the right dierection. I was fortunate to have such great success with my band . This board has given me wonderful support throughout my entire banded and unbanded journey. I am trying to still lose a few more pounds but if I dont I am happy as long as the scale is not going in the wrong direction. My PCP told me that if I can keep my weight off for an entire year my success rate of keeping it off for good is high. Iam very proud of myself. Thanks everyone for all of your support!

This is for all of those who are participating in the Xmas exchange this year. Please post 3 things you would like to recieve or things you collect etc.. this will make it easier for your secret Santa to shop for a gift. For Me: 1. Candles 2. Anything with Angels ( I collect Angels) 3. Lotions, Perfumes anything that smells good.

liquid calories after the post op phase are wasted calories and go right through the band they give NO restriction. I stayed clear of any liquid calories. Most doctors wil ltell you to not drink liquid calories and stay away from soft foods that also go through the band to quickly.

How many of you who have been banded for over a year with NO complications have had an endoscopy to acutally make 100% sure your bands are OK. Had I not had an endo I would of never known my bandwas erodod. I had zero symptoms I was erodoed so just because there are no complications you feel or see..an endo is the only true test to make sure your band is not eorded. Many of us here who eroded had no problems or symptoms, or complications. Be wise get an endo on a yearly basis.