brianb

Thank you Skiddles. Thinking I need to get a little removed. Beer and soda are so painful I don't even try anymore. I used to love both, but haven't had either in months.

As usual, I agree with B-52 as well. There seems to be a lot of misinformation around the band.

I think you are right to be careful drinking with the band. I feel pain while drinking Water and eating as well. I do drink Water, but I wait a couple of minutes then resume eating a couple of minutes later. It takes me a very long time to eat a tiny amount of food.

I've been assuming that sipping was the way it is with the band, but starting to wonder if it's just too tight. Maybe I need to go to the doctor and see about having Fluid taken out of the band.

Drinking Water in the morning hurts. I have to take tiny sips spaced out for over a minute per sip. Even at this pace it hurts a bit. Later in the day, I have to sip and drink slowly, but the pain isn't as bad.

For me, I've come to believe that the band means pain, but then I remembered some people on here seem to have great weight loss success and never mentioned anything about pain eating or drinking.

I want to think it through carefully before getting an unfill as I've read many posts about people that were doing pretty good until they had fluid removed from the band.

No question. I would do it again, but gastric bypass or the sleeve instead. The band certainly worked, but it's been very painful and annoying. Also the significant possibility of a slip or erosion pushes me towards another type of WLS.

thanks! brianb - that's very good information to know. surgery in 1 week.

Awesome! You have so much to look forward to!

Hmm, 10.6 CC is a bit. I'm guessing she is just trying to play it safe with the 0.3 CC fill.

I'm not far behind you at about 8 CC, but I couldn't possibly take any more fills. Just more proof to me that everyone requires a different amount of fills.

Congrats on the band and doing it even though it is self pay. The cost of those fills definitely hurt. Mine are $150 a piece.

It took me 5 fills to hit the green zone. I was sure after almost every fill I was there, but after a few days, my horrible appetite would come back.

It's been weeks since my last fill and I have almost no appetite until dinner. And dinner is 1/4 of what I used to eat with little to no snacking after. Definitely in the green zone.

In my opinion it seems like it's more the amount that is in the band than the number of fills. I did a very rough check of other people on this site and on average it seemed most hit the green zone around 6.5 CC. Some as little as 0 CC and some as much as 12 CC. But, to me, there seems to be a trend around the 6.5 mark.

And don't want to have another 14+ years obsessed with my weight.

...

Finally my battle with food is over, I can now live my life..

Exactly how I felt

Have to agree with the other comments...

Throwing up Water? I'm deathly afraid of stressing my stomach around the band because of erosion and slips.

If you are throwing up Water, it seems like there is a risk to the band because of the stomach working so hard, churning, contracting, etc... trying to get things by the band. With it moving so much, wouldn't that increase the risk of a slip or erosion?

Not to scare at all. I think you will be fine, but probably not something to mess with in my opinion.

I would go in and have some removed if throwing up water.

So-- I had my third fill and refused a fourth because I keep getting stuck. Several times a week, I have to "spit" out food stuck above my band. I feel this is self-induced( though time of day influences it as well.)

I'm actually scared of another fill. I am afraid I will actually choke or vomit. I'm hungry. Some days I feel like i can eat and eat and eat( bottomless pit!)

I'm hungry every few hours.

I'm guessing I am not in green zone but I'm afraid of more fill!

Any advice? I'm modifying my bites and chews, but I've even been stuck on yogurt!

Boy, that sounds like the green zone to me. I'm even wondering if you overshot and are in the red a tiny bit. All of that PBing/vomiting doesn't sound right.

The chart in the doctor's office claims that we are hungry in the red zone. I don't understand how that is possible, but it's strange that what you describe is similar to what is described as the red zone.

I'm kind of where you are at. Three PB episodes this week. All of them avoidable though. I just need to slow down, chew more and eat less. Right now my focus is zero PB/vomiting episodes. I'm concerned getting stuck and vomiting is the reason for band erosion and slips for a lot of people. Just a guess.

I personally think you are right where you should be and just need to practice on eating slower, eating less and chewing more.

How's the weight? Another sign of the red zone according to the doctor's chart is not losing weight.

I haven't been to the doctor for about a 2 months i haven't lost any weight. I was on all kinds of depression medication and stopped taking everything. I know that weight gain is a side effect of stopping medication like that, however I'm scared my doctor is going to get mad that I haven't lost any weight. I have an appointment today to get a fill, I just don't want the doctor to get at me or deny me a full... Has anyone else went through this?

I think if the doctor is decent at all, he/she won't get after you. They should be supportive and understanding.

While it does happen that people are denied, I think the chances of that are pretty low. Sounds like you are just being too hard on yourself.

I think it's awesome you are going in for a fill and trying to move forward.

I would like to ditto GuyMontag above though. Have the same question and concern.

My eating habits appear to be changing as of right now. Dang, this left over chicken does not want to go down.

I see what others are talking about now about leftovers. Will see how it is in a few weeks.

One thing I noticed right away after the 4th fill was I wanted more chips. I did have a few last night, but didn't want to start a slippery slope of eating around the band, so I stopped and am back to primarily Protein.

I definitely will not give up carbs though. Love them too much to cut them out completely. Also don't think it's healthy. So, for me, a balanced diet of carbs and Protein is the goal.

While I'm balanced with carbs and Proteins, junk food and fast food is still a real problem for me.

Hey so your words def spoke to me-- so how are you eating as you get to green zone- I have days where I can eat but others like today that I can barely keep broth down. I am at 5.8ccs of my 10ccs band and lost 50lbs since surg in Dec 12

Things seem more consistent for me, but I'm sure that is because I haven't been in the green zone. It seems for a week after a fill I can eat whatever I want, but not very much of it. Slowly as time goes, I can eat more and more. I'm betting the initial restriction is just swelling from the fill.

I've had two PB/vomiting episodes since being banded, but both were easily preventable if I had eaten slower and chewed more.

I've read others talk about this kind of fluctuation you describe. I haven't seen a lot of discussion on it, but I would think it's got to be pretty normal if someone is properly restricted. You seem to be doing well with your weight loss which makes me think you are in the green zone. For whatever that is worth

I'm at 7.8 cc now. She told me with this one or the next I should hit my sweet spot. It seems like everything hinges on the sweet spot so I have this ideology that when i hit it, ill have mastered my lapband lol.

Personally, I think you are 100% correct. I've read too many posts claiming this to be the case for me to believe otherwise.

Also, I have seen a few cases at a support group that make me believe you are right.

Thanks for sharing your CC amount. It is very interesting.

And I think we will both be skinny for winter. Ah, what a freaking relief that will be

Yes, they lose weight fast, but some gain it all right back because, unlike lapband, when they stretch its permanent.

Brilliant! So well said. Exactly how I felt, but never stopped to really solidify the thought. That is dead on.

Just had my 5th fill. I'm not gonna say my 5th and final because I thought my 4th fill was my final fill. I don't know why but, every time I go I feel like, "ok this is the magic dose and now I'm gonna get skinny"

Me too. I felt this way on my third fill... and yesterday had my 4th. I'm sure it's going to happen. I'm at 7 CC now. Thinking chances of hitting the green zone soon are high.

Thanks so much for sharing. You echoed so many of my own thoughts, concerns and frustrations.

I have little doubt we will both be in the green soon.

I've gone back within 4 days. My first fill was on a Thursday. I turned around and went back the following Monday for a second fill.

There are a ton of differing opinions on this subject. Mine is that you won't likely get any restriction until you get to at least 6 CC. Some people here have had over six fills and are above 9 CC. Others have an empty band and claim to be in the green zone (I'm a little skeptical of this).

I personally felt a bit of restriction on the last fill. Thought I was in the green zone for several days, but it's starting to subside. Have my 4th fill scheduled today.

Thanks again B-52. You and several others on this board really have helped me understand the lap band better.

(and don't use the excuse of "Slider" foods....I can go on about how that is BS also)

That certainly has been true for me so far. Sliders fill me up as fast or nearly as fast as solid Proteins.

I have to say, I've kind of been thinking the same thing. I do wonder sometimes when people claim they can gain weight on slider foods if they might be on the edge between yellow and green zone. I certainly hope that is the case. I love slider foods and hate to think that one day the band will fail me in this department. If that happened, I would have to rely on will power to stop myself. Will power never seems to last.

I am not losing! I am doing everything right! Following all my directions eating no more then 1000 calories a day, I've had one fill a d do t really fill any restriction, but if I'm following all the rules shouldn't I be losing regardless of how tight my band is.

Certainly would think so. That said, my first thought was... I wonder if she is actually eating a lot more than a 1,000 calories and doesn't realize it? It's so easy to do if you aren't recording/tracking them.

I don't track my calories, but with restriction, I'm hardly eating so it would be pretty pointless.

I've read several posts that people do feel restriction with only a single fill (and sometimes no fills), but on average it seems to take people at least 3 or 4 fills before they notice their appetite decreasing.

Definitely going to vary depending on the person and amount of each fill, but based on the posts I've read, the average seems to be 4 or 5.

I'm in the green zone with 3 fills, but they were pretty big fills. At 4.6 CC, the band was giving me almost no help. At 6.0 CC it has drastically decreased my appetite.

Post is getting a little old, but have to say this has been my experience. B-52 nailed it.

All the tearing of muscle creates inflammation which, I believe, is mostly Water retention.

My weight always jumps for a few days after starting a workout. I jumped 3 pounds almost overnight this last time. This initial weight gain though falls off within a week then I usually see a huge weight drop.

I was told right away by my doctor, but was skeptical and choose to wait several weeks and then took it slow at first.

Thinking this is a no brainer. Time to find a new doctor.

5.9 CC isn't bad, but it seems like most are over 6 before they hit the green zone and stay there.

Definitely worth getting a second opinion.

Really sounds like the doctor doesn't know what he is doing and is a jerk to boot. Ugh.

Yeah only a few select people know I am having surgery- my aunt because she's my ride to and from the hospital, my primary doctor

I think that is smart. Hardly anyone knows I've had it either.

It will be interesting to see reactions as weight drops. I lost 20 pounds pre-op and already saw a noticeable change in attitude towards me... So pathetic how we are judged by our appearance.

After reading this topic, I'm planning on keeping this a secret from most of my family. Even my immediate family.

Bottom line- if someone chooses to put the almighty dollar above their long term health, that's their choice. But as the saying goes "you get what you paid for" and that goes for both products and services.

Interesting statement. Lot of people seem to think this way and it does seem to be true more times than not, but you can easily be overcharged in the U.S. and get sub standard care.

Research seems to be the key to a good purchase, not price.

For instance, Dr. Ortiz seems to be a much better choice than many U.S. surgeons.

All that said though, I don't think I would ever consider Mexico seriously for the surgery. Just too many scary stories and no recourse if they are negligent.

when I'm in the green zone, I actually FEEL like I can't eat anymore once I've eaten a little bit of food. I'm right now sitting in front of a plate of food and I've had 3 bites and feel no desire to eat anymore because I feel like I can't take another bite.

DITTO

I've read countless places (books, articles, posts), that the food is no longer above the band within a minute or two of the last bite, so we should be able to continue eating, but as you said, there is no desire.

I've also read countless posts that after a week of feeling like you are in the green zone, it can disappear. I'm hoping this fill actually did it. It's a week today and I'm still feeling satisfied on very little food.