Liz1531

Hello all! I've been banded over a year now and well it's just this thing in my body that makes it difficult for me to eat but hasn't really helped me in any life altering way to lose weight. Anyhoo, on Friday I noticed pain when trying to eat and since then have not even been able to get mushies down. I struggled with a bowl of yogurt and granola (broken up tiny granola) this morning. I had a hard time eating ice cream last night even. Oh and I know what your thinking (ice cream, no wonder she's not losing)!! But let me assure you the ice cream is out of sheer desperation as I was so hungry and didn't have anything else on hand that should go down easily. Okay, I was going off track for a minute. So, here's the thing, I've moved out of state and my doc is in TJ. I am BROKE and have no insurance and no doctor to go see. So, I am trying to figure out what is going on with me so I can plan my next move. Any advice is appreciated!!!

Thank you so much for responding. I was in so much discomfort and couldn't find any answers. My doctor called me and said to go on liquids for five days. I did this and now am almost 100% back to normal. I still feel a slight pain in the morning if I try and have solids for breakfast, but other times am able to eat foods that I couldn't before (like bread). I am going to my surgeons office in Mexico this weekend for a slight unfill and hoping that will take care of the problem.

IM Lori, you are the first person I've heard say the band doens't work for everyone and not to beat ourselves up over it. Thank you!!! I've also had the band over a year and have only lost about 10 lbs. Really more like 20, but I keep gaining/losing the last ten. I spent $8,500 on a surgery that hasn't worked for me. I can hardly eat anything, certainly no rice, bread or pasta. I eat a fraction of what I did before and yet the weight is still here! Now, I am afraid my band has slipped as it's extremly painful for me to even get liquids down right now. Live and learn I suppose.

It looks worse than it is. The needle isn't jabbing into your inards as it goes into the port so it really is a quick pinch. I must say that feeling the liquid go in is the weirdest part for sure. It will give you a tightening feeling.

I've been banded a year and have barely lost 20lb. It is very important to watch WHAT you eat not just how much. I have been eating WAY less this whole year, but it hasn't done a damn bit of good. The only way I can lose is by going low carb and no sugar which is pretty much what my doc says also. Eat protein first, veggies 2nd and anything else last. NO SUGAR.

I know a lot of people love their band and have done well, but I say it's a waste of money. I lost nearly all my weight on Atkins a few years ago and gained when I fell off the wagon. Anyhow, the only way I lose with the band is by getting back on Atkins. I paid $8,500 to find out that I have to TOTALLY watch EVERYTHING I eat and work out. The only thing the band helps with is that I can eat only a little. Sugar was more my problem, not quantity.

I have been banded for almost a year and have only lost 20lb. I could have hired a cook and trainer for the amount of money I spent and would have lost a hell of a lot more than 20lb. It's disappointing and embarrassing to say the least.

Anyone out there?

I have also always sabatoged myself. The only thing I can think of is that I need to get things right in my head or no amount of surgery will help me....

:eek:I have head probs too... I'm going to see a hypnotist on Monday and praying that will help me with the mental part of it. I also get so tired of eating a bite of Protein and getting stuck, that I am swapping dinner for a Jack In The Box shake more often than not. Plus the binging on junk food is just not helping. It's crazy that I can down an entire can of Pringles, but I can't eat more than a couple bites of eggs/meat, Pasta, bread with out getting stuck.

Hi ladies! I wanted to share with everyone what my doc told me today. I went in to make sure my band is okay and ask what I need to do as we want to get PG at the end of the year. The doc told me that they can't do fluro if I am pregnant and when you don't use fluro you run the risk of puncturing a hole in the port. As if to prove a point, the gal who went in before me went to another fill doctor and he did a blind fill and actually punctored a hole in her port and she must now get a new one. The gal was telling me before going in that when she was pregnant, she didn't get an unfill, ended up messing up the band and then it caused problems but she wouldn't let them remove until after delivery. Well, by then the band was so messed up and she was so sick they had to completely remove it. So, with the new port this will be her third surgery. I know many gals don't have these issues, but as a self pay patient I can't afford to take ANY risks, so I thought I'd share.

You look amazing! Congrats! I can't wait to be in your shoes one day! Thanks for being so brave to share with us!

I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz. I actually posted my whole story on his website blog thingy. It was a pretty smooth surgery. I was back at work Monday and didn't even need any of the pain meds. Truly the worst part is the gas!! That came and went for about two weeks. I was just back in the office on Saturday for a check up and they are so nice. Claudia knows my son and asks to see him every time we come in. She is great!

The doc pulled out a band and showed me how easy it is to poke a hole into the tube. It's a little plastic deally.

I think this is your new full sensation. It took me quite a while to get used to not being full in the stomach. I'd feel full in the chest/throat area instead.

Wow, I had my surgery around midnight on a Thursday, had my son's baptism on Sunday and was back at work Monday. It was a bit rough when my son would kick at me. I was also breastfeeding and couldn't take any of the pain meds because I didn't want it in my milk. All was well for me.

I can have it, but it isn't easy to eat. I'm not good with rice so I usually let a hunk of the rice fall on my plate and eat the rest.

I'm 8 months out and let me tell you my tricks. 1. I tell people I'm a weird eater and just like to graze all day and eat tiny bits. (This is how I explain only eating a little in public) 2. Order soups/mushies when out with friends 3. If people say anything about me losing weight I just say I'm watching my calories and trying to move more. (Since I haven't lost much, not too many people have noticed anything) So far so good!

I have little twinges here and there at the port site but not really painful. I just went to the doc for a checkup today and all is well. I am praying I can lose at least 20 more lbs by by bandiversary. Cross those fingers!

I love this post! I have also been wondering what is wrong with me and feeling guilty over EVERYTHING I eat. My husband, one year son and I all split one meal at a restaurant now and I still feel like I ate like a cow. It's taken be eight months to lose 20 lbs. That is so hard when I see so many others dropping weight left and right. I also noticed that if I don't work out, I don't lose. I HAVE to at least walk 25 minutes three times a week in order to lose .5-1 lb.

Holy moly.. I think I'm eating too much compared to everyone else. That could explain the VERY slow loss. Anyhow, here's my food today: B: Scrambled egg, 2 pieces bacon, few bites of toast L: 3/4 hot dog with most of the bun removed S: 3 bites of a Peanutbutter protein bar D: 2 cups salad with carne asada and 1/2 piece corn on cob S: 1 bite of lemon cake

Guilty! I hate being stuck and I ALWAYS go to the can and make it all come back up again. It's so easy, I just bend over and let gravity take over, no retching or anything. BUT, this is not healthy and I know that we should go on liquids for a bit after an episode.

I wouldn't try drinking anything... I did a few times on a natural reaction to feeling like I needed to wash down food and it just swelled up more. So not fun!!! I just went back to the doc today becuase I worried about a slipped band and found out I am not doing things correctly. Learn from my mistake and if you get stuck on something take it easy for a while... go on liquids for a day. I was scared straight today and will def not risk a slipped band again.

What helped me was to 1. WALK WALK WALK and 2. Lie down on the side that hurts. It was only really bad for about the first week. After that not so bad. Also eating the GasX strips like candy helped me. As for telling friends, all my girlfriends are so frickin tall and skinny they would never understand and I haven't told anyone but my hubby and mom. I just order soups when I have to eat out with people otherwise they notice me picking and not being able to eat a lot.

A body bugg is what they used on Biggest Loser. The device strapped to their arms. It measures changes in the body and so it can read how many calories you've consumed vs. how many you've burned. They are expensive, but I am dying to get one!!! I know that I am eating WAY less than before, but when I really write down all the calories I have in one day it's amazing how much more I am eating than I should.