missy

I am getting so frustrated with myself. I was banded on Sep. 6th and have lost 40-45 pounds, the hard part is I lose 5 pounds then gain 5 pounds over and over again, the same 5 pounds!!! I am able to eat everything. Breads, chocolate, Pasta, pizza, ect. and I eat everything I would of before but I try and stop when I begin to feel full. I still eat quite a bit, which I am wondering if that is part of the problem??? I don't eat a set amount just until I feel full. If I was eating pizza I would be able to eat 1-2 pieces then stop. I also drink with my meals. I drink Water or Iced tea with most meals, not a lot but a few sips each meal (maybe 1/2 a cup) does anyone have any helpful suggestions to help me get losing again? I do walk on my treadmill for about 1/2 hour a day 1-2 days a week. (I keep telling myself I will do it more after the holidays!)

Please, any help would be great!

Thanks!

Iust had my first fill on Sat. and am trying to figure out how much I should be eating at each meal? Should I just eat until I feel full or measure out my food first? I don't have any problems with getting stuck or sliming/pbing so it is pretty easy to get food down, I am just wondering how much is enough?

Thanks!

HI Melissa, I juscame across this post and could relate to it. I have been banded for 7 weeks and have been able to eat everything and anything. Even though I was still losing weight, it had slowed way down. I figures it was because I was not excercising and was eating a lot of junk food. I did get my first fill since I was really not feeling any ristriction and I can still eat quite a bit though. You might just be one of those people who can eat more than average and eat more things than others might be able to. I have the same thing, but I think it works against me since I know that I can eat everthing so I do. I have had to get past the guilt trip though and realized this isn't a marathon and I really need to eat realistically even if my loss might be more slower than I would like. I feel like I am not dieting at all and do very little effort as far as excercise but I am still losing weight and enjoying life!

Good luck!

P.S. I also know quite a few people who add coffee to their Protein Shake and have that for Breakfast every morning. You could try that and see if it works for you!

My first fill is 10/25 also. Am a bit nervous, and wondering what to expect. Wishing I could have that morning cup of coffee. Do you know if anyone drinks coffee after being banded?

I drink coffee every morning. I have not had any problems with it at all. I was told that coffee was fine to drink, the caffeine was not a problem, it is just what you put in it. I was a huge latte drinker, I now use soy milk or fat free milk and sugar free syrups or splenda. You should be able to drink it just fine though. Godd luck!

none yet, my first fill is October 27th.

My sister was banded the middle of July (a couple of mos before me) and since almost day one she has thrown up almost every meal. She is down to about 3-4 days a week of PBing but still does it. She can eat one thing on one day and the same thing the next day and will PB. She doesn't eat any carbs (or very few) and no sugars and very little fats. She also walks about 5-6 miles a day and I am worried she is going to get malnurished. She has seen her doctor and he has looked at her band and has said everything was fine. She even had her first fill at 5 weeks and when she went back to get her 2nd fill her doc wouldn't give her one since she was still losing weight! Of course she is going to lose weight, she can't keep anything down!!! :eek: She has explained the PBing to her Doc and he has no idea why it is happening! There has to be a better explanation than that! I keep telling her she needs a new doc!!! Has anyone else had this problem or have any advice? I think she might need to get the band removed or have them put in the VG band. She currently has the 4cc band. Any help would be great!!! :car:

I seriously doubt that your band has slipped. You would be throwing up all over the place and be in pain. So, relax. If your dr. thought it had slipped, he would see you immediately. You did call him regarding your fears????

I called and there is nothing they can do until they see me at the end of this month. I went to Mexico. My doc said he didn't think that was the case but really has no way of knowing until he sees me. So, I am just crossing my fingers! What about streatching your pouch, is that a possibility? I eat almost as much as I used to so I am hoping it is not streatched out! :eek:

I can eat more than a half a cup too, I have no restriction and no fill until December 20! It is all will power and I will do it! Another diet is how I am looking at it. Try to choose the right bandster foods, you can do this. My dr also said that it is very likely that I will gain before my fill, so it might be the same case for you too. Hang in there missy!

Thank you! And you too! I agree, this is feeling just like a diet right now which is what I thought I was avoiding from this surgery! :eek: But, I hope that after my fill I will begin to feel more in control. We can do this (now, I just need to believe that!!! LOL)

THANK YOU!!! You have put my fears to rest!!! :clap2: I didn't realize that I would be throwing up if my band had slipped! That makes me feel much better! Ok, I can relax now!!! LOL:)

pooh - I will sip and eat a cracker is what I have heard for the fills. Next tuesday, cant wait. Go to my first support meeting monday night. I can eat more than I want right now. I am trying real hard to eat 1/2 cup and not drink. The not drinking is the worst part to me.

:bounce:I dont expect to have a good restriction the first fill. Still... better than before banding. Keep losing everyone.

I m having the worst time eating just 1/2 cup! Is anyone else in this boat? And I feel like I keep eating all the wrong foods when I am eating! I have actually gained some weight and am getting very frustrated!:rolleyes My first fill is October 27th. Is anyone else in this same boat???

I have thought about all those things, but it is a sharp, stabbing pain that lasts two-three days and is worse pain then both my c-sections and my band surgery! I don't know for sure, but it seems like there is something wrong. I get better for a few days then it comes again. The only thing I can do is take 2 Vicodin and go to sleep! :tired It has been going on for the past 5 weeks, I am getting so tired of it. Hopefully it will just go away soon! Thank you for all of your imput, I have found it very valuable! :clap2:

Sorry, I counted and it has only been 4 weeks, not 5!!! LOL! :eek:

I have thought about all those things, but it is a sharp, stabbing pain that lasts two-three days and is worse pain then both my c-sections and my band surgery! I don't know for sure, but it seems like there is something wrong. I get better for a few days then it comes again. The only thing I can do is take 2 Vicodin and go to sleep! :tired It has been going on for the past 5 weeks, I am getting so tired of it. Hopefully it will just go away soon! Thank you for all of your imput, I have found it very valuable! :clap2:

Here is the question, I am really worried that my band has slipped! I do not feel anymore restriction and I am pretty much eating the same amount I was before my band. I am gaining weight and feeling like I don't even have a band. I am able to eat everything which has not helped! :cry How easy is it for someones band to slip? Is it something that is very common or not? Also, how does it slip, and how can someone prevent it from happening? I am sooo paranoid right now and I can't see my doctor until October 27th when I get my fill! I am really worried that I am going to have to get the band replaced and to have surgery all over again! Please help... anyone who knows anything about this or has experienced it. I really need some answers on this! :nervous

Thank you!

I woke up yesterday knowing that I was going to treat myself to a slice of pizza. It wasnt as good as I thought it was going to be and to my horror it went down with no problems. I was really hoping that it got stuck. I go for my 3rd fill on the 3rd and Im hoping that he fills me up. Now that my brain knows that it will go down, I can imagine the things its telling my stomach to eat. :omg:

I agree, I have found myself eating more breads since I realized that it goes down so easily! I have realized this is a bad thing! I guess I wish that it was harder to go down! Maybe after my fill that will change or at least restrict me to eat less of it! :eek:

This is totally normal, but not everyone does gain. It takes focus and determination to not gain prior to your first fill. I suggest you journal every morsel of food so you have an accurate picture of what's going in and work on activity if you aren't already. I could eat what I could pre-banding and it was frustrating. This period is called bandster hell because it's so difficult. Now that I'm filled, twice actually, I'm losing at a steady rate.

I know, I was thrilled with my weight loss. It was coming off pretty quick. I am glad I lost it but am just so afraid that at this rate I will gain it all back plus more! :faint:I was hoping I wasn't the only one gaining, but I can't live on liquids just to maintain my weight! I haven't been doing much exercise except walking 2-3 times a week, only about a mile though. So, I will try that!

AppleBlossom, I saw that you had Dr. Ortiz as well. Did you go to him for your fill? How was your experience? I am going for my fill Oct. 2th ( a week later than my 6 weeks :phanvan) I am hoping I will maintain until then and hope I get more restriction once my fill is in!

Thanks for all the help! :confused:

Hi Missy,

I've been having the exact same pain. I had my surgery about 2 months ago, and just in the last couple of days, I've been having a sharp pain on my left side (my port is on my right side) just below my ribcage. I've also been having a lot of pain in my left shoulder. It seems to be come on after I eat. I haven't called my doc. yet, but I, too, am wondering if anyone else has experienced this. Weird!

Liz

Your port is on your right side??? I have never heard of that! Mine is on my left side and the pain I am having is on my right. I thought it was kidney stones. I have had those in the past and it felt exacly the same. I went to my Doc and she ran a CAT scan as well as a few more tests. All came back fine, they said I was normal. I had my gall bladder out years ago, so I can rule that out.

I haven't had much port pain at all but the pain on my right side has been much more uncomfortable than my left by far! It has started getting better, but still feel it when I move at times. Hopefully will go away once other things start healing in there! :confused:

I have had no problem with bread at all. My sister got her band in July. She was never able to eat bread, still can't. But, even before her fill she couldn't get it down. Hopefully it will be that way after my fill as well! :confused:

I started eating solids 3 days ago. (I am 3 weeks post-op) The problem is that I had lost about 30 pounds and in the past 3 days I have gained 7 pounds! I was eating some sweets, but way less than I would of before! Is this normal? Do most people gain back some weight after transitioning from liquids to solids? Should I be worrying??? :nervous

I forgot to mention I'm surprised you're eating pizza 3 weeks out. Hope you're chewing very well, although it's been almost 3 years, seems I was still on mushies at that point.

At any rate, good luck on you band journey.

(Pizza, hmmm, I couldn't imagine eating a slice of pizza, maybe stealing the top off a slice, LOL)

I was allowed to eat solids at 3 weeks. I have had no problem getting bread down, but then again, I haven't had my first fill yet.

My doctor said I should be able to eat everything, just in moderation.

Thanks for the comments, I am glad to hear that. I was under the impression that drinking with food will stretch your band. I am glad to know the real reason! I will try to not drink, but to also know if I really need to drink with my meal that I can!!! Thanks!

I did talk to my dieticion, she said I should be able to eat anything that will go down at this point (I am 3 weeks out) She said even bread and meat. It has all gone down fine. She said to eat my Protein and veggies first then carbs. I haven't had any problem with anything going down, so I guess it should be fine.

Ok guys, I had solids for the first time today!!! :clap2: I went to a mexican restaraunt and had a Chimi changa with shredde beaf.. it was soooo good! :biggrin1: I had no problem getting it down at all, I did eat only half of it and was full, but, then I had flan as well. So, I overdid it a little, but I was sooo ready for real food! Hang in there... it is worth it~ :bounce:

I bought the vanilla whey Protein at Walmart, I add a scoop of it, 1-2 scoops of breyers choc no fat ice cream and 1/2 to 1 cup of skim milk and blend. I think it is great. i heard the choc Protein was awful. I am going to add it also to oatmeal and pudding

That's too funny! I actually heard the vanilla was bad! LOL! :biggrin1: That's why I have stuck to the chocolate! I really do love the chocolate, but I might try the vanilla some time! :rose:

I was banded 3 weeks ago and have had some bread. I had toast, a piece of pizza, and some wheat bread on a sandwich. I had no problem with it but have not had a fill yet either. Does bread become much harder to eat or impossible after a fill?