LapbandKAB

Hi all. I'm 3 years in with the lapband. I've lost about 70 pounds. I wasted about 1.5 years during the process as Kaiser suddenly stopped letting me see the surgeon for any more follow-ups (Kaiser approved my lapband surgery and follow-on visits for about a year but once they got a bariatric Dr, they no longer allowed me to see my original surgeon outside Kaiser). The Kaiser Dr was never there and I always saw a physician assistant who was terrible in doing fills. Anyway, after months of no progress losing, I got fed up and decided to go back to the original surgeon and self-pay and, since then, I'm back in losing mode. I went for a fill in July but felt as though I couldn't swallow saliva and with a plane trip and vacation in the next few days, I sort of went into panic mode that something bad would happen while I was on the trip. So, I went back to the Dr the day after the fill to have a slight unfill. The Dr thought that had I not had a trip coming up, things might settle down in a day or two but seeing as I was going on a trip, he did remove a bit and told me to come back when I returned if I felt I needed more added. That's exactly what I did. So, two months later now and I feel as though I could use a slight fill. So, last Friday I went in and got some fluid added. I weighed exactly the same as I had two months prior. No loss, no gain. Since Friday, I'm getting some fluids down and was able to eat some yogurt yesterday. On occasion this past weekend, I have had to to bring up some fluid (nice way of saying I made myself vomit) because it felt like it was sitting in the pouch and not going down. Saturday I only did fluids, to include water, protein shake, tomato soup. Sunday I added yogurt. I hesitate to run back to get an unfill. But something has started happening that ever hasn't happened before. I go to sleep just fine but find myself waking up a few times a night sort of doing like a belch or something where I can taste something acidic. I go to bed feeling as though nothing is stuck yet it seems overnight, something is going on. Could my own saliva be collecting in the pouch? I have not ever had issues with this band other than trying to get to the right fill level. No issues at all. No heartburn or anything else. Just this nighttime thing is making me concerned. Hopefully, it dies down in the next several days. I want to stick this out and not run back where surely too much would be removed and I'd be in the same boat again. I know this is a rambling post so sorry about that. But, does this weird night thing happen to any of you while you're sleeping? The first night, I did get up and made myself bring it up and it was the tomato soup I'd had earlier that I thought had gone down just fine. It didn't happen Saturday night but last night, same thing happened. I woke myself up with a sort of belch type of thing and had an acidic taste in my mouth. I made myself vomit but there wasn't much of anything that came up. I've just never had an issue while sleeping. Do any of you know what I'm talking about?

Thanks. I'm also a self-pay and I called the office today to see if I could get in but my Dr was in surgery. I asked if any other Dr could do it and they said they like to stick with the same Dr for their patients. She asked if I could go to an ER. I reminded her I'm a self-pay and that a visit to the ER would likely cost me thousands instead of the $100 my Dr charges me for adjustments. The first I could get in is Wednesday afternoon. I went to buy some Pepcid 75 I believe it's called and I hope that gets me through to Wed. I'm also hoping maybe things will settle down by then and I'll be fine. It's so crazy to take some out and then there's not enough in there. In hindsight, I wish I'd have gone with the sleeve but I'm going to keep this going as best I can! Glad you're feeling better.

Thanks for the reply. I never thought of GERD/reflux. Also, I'm thinking when I said I felt as though something was stuck in the pouch, it probably was my esophagus. It's hard to tell exactly where it is stuck. It's just so hard to get the right amount of saline down. I know if I go back, probably too much will be removed. Eventually, I'll get back in the right zone. I'm going to see if the same thing happens tonight and if so, I'll head back in tomorrow for the slight unfill. Thanks for taking the time.

Hi all. Just checking in with a question about fills. When you go to your doctor for a fill, do they remove all Fluid in the band to check how much is in there? I'm a Kaiser Permanente patient. Got the band in October 2013. I'm only down 30 pounds since surgery day. They originally sent me to a surgeon outside of Kaiser but last summer stopped approving referrals to see him as Kaiser now has a WLS in the area. Well, ever since, I see a physician assistant at Kaiser. He appears very inexperienced with the band. They don't even do band surgery there. Strictly gastric bypass and sleeve. So, they are obviously not too keen on the band. Every time I go for an adjustment he insists on removing ALL the fluid in the band. He says it's to ensure I don't have a leak. I don't have a leak! I had a test done where they watch you swallow and can see your band on a monitor. My band is perfectly placed with no leaks! He removes the fluid and I see him flicking the syringe to look at the measurement all the while I see fluid coming out the top of the syringe. So, already, he's messing with what I've got in there. He puts fluid back then loses track of how much he's added. If I'm going to have fluid added, that's all I need. He screws everything up by removing and then reinserting because he's not careful when he's got the syringe full of fluid. I've been going through this for months with him. I told him last time that when I see him next, I don't want him removing any fluid. I just want him to add some. So, today is that appointment. I am going to not allow him to remove fluid if he tries to. Just thought I'd check with you all to find out if your band filler removes everything each time you go for an adjustment. Due to these screw ups, I'm not at the green zone and I've only lost 2 pounds since starting with the Kaiser people last August! That's crazy. Are my Kaiser band people nuts or is this common procedure?

I did go for a fill and asked the PA to just add a bit without removing everything. He did so. So, we'll see how this fill works. I remember there was a time that I would have to slowly sip coffee in the morning because of tightness. That seems to have gone away months ago. I still don't have that feeling of tightness. I don't have a leak. When I had that tightness though is when I seemed to be losing weight. I weigh the same right now as I did one year ago. Gotta keep hanging in there and up the exercise.

Hi all. I recently had 7.3cc in the band and was doing frequent vomiting though I was losing weight. After about a month, I went back to the Dr and he took me down to 7.1 when I told him about the vomiting. In a month at 7.1, I didn't lose a thing and felt no restriction so I had to call him back and go back in. This time, I saw a physician assistant. After explaining everything, he added some Fluid and brought me back to 7.3cc. I was a little ticked because I had told him that was probably too much and that 7.2 was likely what I needed. But, because I hadn't lost an ounce at 7.1cc, I decided to just give 7.3 another try and chew, chew and chew some more. However, before I could leave, he told me I needed to drink a bottle of Water. My previous Dr only had me do a few sips. The office is not convenient to me and I had to get back to work for a meeting. So, I ended up drinking faster than I should have and immediately had to throw it up. So, they wouldn't let me go. Instead, he removed some and put me at the 7.2 which is what I thought he'd do in the first place. I finished the damned water but it took me a long time and I missed my meeting. So here I am now at 7.2cc and I feel no restriction like I did at 7.3. No circling the drain sound anymore which is how I knew the band was working. No burping which was another sign for me. Seems I can eat with no restriction at all. I'm going back in on Monday and will ask to go to 7.3cc again. Obviously, making me drink a bottle of water when I had to get back to work was a bad idea and that's why I vomited. I guess at 7.3, I probably was eating too fast and not chewing until I had mushy consistency. It would appear that 7.3 is my losing zone and that I'll just have to eat more slowly and less. But, at least I will be losing. At 7.2 now, nothing is happening. No restriction and no losing. I'm thinking 7.3 might be my green zone but I didn't recognize it as such. Does this sound like it could make sense and that if I am very conscious about chewing and portion control, 7.3 could be my magic number? Gosh, I wish I could just get acclimated to this band and be at the proper level in a continuous losing mode. Hopefully, it will come. Thanks!

Well, in case anyone is still following this thread, I went for my upper GI today. I drank the barium and then once the test was done, the Dr showed me all the pictures he had taken of the barium going right through the band with no resistance at all. It didn't stay in the pouch. I told him I suspected the Physician Asst didn't know what he was doing when he did my fill two weeks ago and that I suspected he put the Fluid inside my fat rather than inside the band. He said there is no problem with my band at all and that it is perfectly placed. No slip or anything like that. He told me he'd send his report to the WL surgeon and that I'd be called back to have the fluid put back in. In the meantime, I'm trying desperately not to gain what I've lost to date. I just knew there was nothing in there because I have zero restriction right now. I think I will insist that the fill be done by the Dr and not the PA.

Hope you're doing better, Andy. I finally spoke with the PA who filled me and they've decided to do an upper GI on me. He said it was about time anyway because I'm at my one year surgery anniversary. Is it common for bandsters to have an annual upper GI or something? I don't think I've ever had an upper GI before. Before I was allowed to leave the hospital after the surgery, they did stand me in front of an xray machine and made me swallow and they watched the stuff go through the band. Is that an upper GI? Anyway, allegedly I've got 7.4cc in the band and I have absolutely no restriction at all still. It really worries me. I'm hoping nothing slipped and that the inexperienced PA shot the Fluid into my fat instead of into the port! They are supposed to call me to schedule the upper GI so until then, I'm just trying not to gain anything.

Hi all. I had a Dr appt and because I had been vomiting/PBing a lot, the Dr removed all the fluid just to see what I definitely had in there. I had to switch Drs due to insurance so this was my first visit with the new Dr. I had 7.3cc in there (I thought I had 6.5cc, not that the amount matters). He put 7.1 back in because 7.3 was too much. Well, I'm no longer vomiting or PBing but I definitely don't feel any sort of restriction at all. So, I obviously need to have some more added. I'm wondering though if going from 7.3 to 7.1 is really that much different. And, if I go back and tell him I'd like him to up it to 7.2, would that make that much of a difference? Could it be that 7.1 is not enough and 7.3 is too much and that 7.2 might be the green zone that has eluded me to date? In your experience, can small amounts like this really do the trick? Thanks!

Good luck, Andy. I hope they can get it right for you.

I'm considering going back to the surgeon and just paying out of pocket. He has a fluro machine right in his fill room. At Kaiser, they have to schedule a fluro room separately so the 3 times I've been there so far, it has not been under fluro. In hindsight, I never should have let Kaiser fool with the band once they made me go there instead of to the surgeon who put the band in, I was vomiting a little bit but should have tried chewing more and eating slower. I probably wouldn't be in this boat now. I was losing then too.

Update! I went to the Dr on Monday and saw the physician assistant. I explained I was getting no 'signals' and that I vomited at the 7.3 fill at the previous appt due to guzzling Water. So, we went from the 7.2 I had in there back up to 7.3. He handed me a bottle of water and told me to drink. I drank with no problem. I felt no restriction at all though. No gurgling sound that I normally get to let me know the band is alive and well. So, he upped me to 7.4cc. I finished a bottle of water. He kept asking if there was restriction. I told him probably. It is very hard to make the decision as to whether there's enough in the band when he's standing over me waiting for my answer with the needle sticking out of my stomach. I can't really tell until I can go back to eating solids. So, here I am 3 days after the fill to 7.4 and I feel no restriction at all. I had my surgery at Virgnia Hospital Center and saw the surgeon until a month and a half ago when Kaiser Permanente disapproved my referrals because they had a bariatric surgeon on staff now that'd I'd need to do my follow-ups with. Since I've gone to the Kaiser Dr, I've not had any signals of satiety at all. I am so torn at this point. I wonder if I have a leak in the band. The physician assistant I've seen pokes around quite a bit trying to find the port. I'm wondering if he sprung a leak somewhere. So, I will have to send them an email that something is wrong and I need to come in and they need to do it under fluro or something so they can see what is going on. I am really getting worried. Last night, just to make sure, I ate quite a bit. Normally, after a fill, I'd get the hiccups or feeling of getting stuck. I could have gone on and on eating. No signs of anything. So, again, the band isn't doing what it is supposed to do. If I could diet normally, I wouldn't have to have gotten the band. What good is the band if it allows me to keep eating? They will think I'm crazy if I write back and tell them something isn't right. But, I have no choice. So, I'm really bummed out wondering what the hell is going on. I guess I will have to give it a few more days just in case I suddenly start to feel restriction but somehow, I doubt that's gonna happen if it hasn't already.

Yeah, I agree it sounds weird but that's what's going on with me. I've not ever been able to guzzle Water since I had the band. In fact, when I took all the pre-op classes, I was given a medicine cup and told that's how much I'd have to sip at a time after the band was placed. I can still get my water in when I'm sipping, it just takes many, many sips throughout the day and I can't guzzle it like I did at the Dr's office. I know this all sounds crazy because how can there be such a difference between 7.2 and 7.3 for me right now? But, it is what is happening to me. I suspect the band is a bit different for each one of us. I'm not losing at 7.2cc and I'm not getting any signals whatsoever. I don't want to go another 2 months at 7.2 and not lose anything. I've had this band in almost a year now. I was 233 on the day of surgery and I'm 204 right now. Probably most of you had lost more than that after a year. So, I've gotta get this thing right for me. 29 lbs is not a whole heck of a lot. But, I will talk to the PA in detail on Monday before he does anything.

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I'm going to go back in on Monday and talk to the PA. My signals for satiety at 7.3cc used to be the gurgling sound, hiccups, mild burping. So, I think the band was doing what it is supposed to do by acting as my tool to let me know to stop eating. I think I wasn't doing what I was supposed to do. I probably took one or two bites more and, therefore, would go to the sink and make myself vomit it up because it felt stuck. The vomiting was always a voluntary action on my part. At the 7.2cc level I'm at now, I'm not getting any of those signals. It's like there's no band in there. So, I'm just looking to get the signals back and then make a conscious effort that when I get those signals, STOP EATING immediately. I think 7.3cc was the right number for me. I just didn't realize it and wish my Dr had perhaps taken the approach B-52's Dr did and recommend I stick with the 7.3cc because I was losing, but to be much more mindful of the signals. I think I blew it by going back for the unfill. What I should have done was work harder to listen to the signals I was getting. I'm trying to live my life with the band the right way and I do know vomiting is not a part of it. I'll keep at it and will hopefully be in a good place with it very soon.

2muchfun - I'll try your way and see if eating more solid types of foods gives me the feeling of satiety. Right now, I don't have it at all. It's been 2 weeks since my slight unfill and since then, I've not lost. In fact, got on the scale this morning and I've gained since that appointment. I do think I need a slight bit added but I'll try and see if eating more of the foods you eat make any difference. Thanks and may we all remain happily banded!

Hi again. My typical day consists of a 35g Protein shake for Breakfast. For lunch, usually 1/2 to 1 cup of tuna with light mayo or egg salad with light mayo. Maybe a wedge of laughing cow cheese. For dinner, I usually like a salad with a protein it in (either chicken or turkey breast sliced very thin or a few shrimp). I was really losing a lot when I was in a vomiting/PB mode but I knew that wasn't a good thing for me. So, when he removed some, I thought it might be just right but I don't feel any restriction or satiety right now. I really have to be careful that I don't overeat. So, obviously I need some more added to the band but I just wondered if such a small amount could make a big difference. I don't go back for my follow up until 2 weeks from today so I'm trying to stick to my meal plan even though I feel as though I'd have no trouble eating more.

I had my surgery in Oct 2013 at a place where Kaiser Permanente sent me because at the time, they didn't have bariatric surgeons on staff. I followed up with the surgeon for 6 visits. I have 6.50cc in the band (or so I thought). Kaiser is now sending me to their own bariatric surgeon now that they have one. My first visit with him was today. I've been vomiting, so I know I needed to have some Fluid removed. At the original surgeon's office, I had 6.25cc in June and he added .25 so we thought I had 6.50cc in there. Well today, the new Dr removed all of the fluid just to make sure that I did have 6.50cc. He was going to remove some so I'd be somewhere in between 6.25 and 6.50. As it turned out, I had 7.3cc in the band. We know I just needed a little removed so he took me down to 7.1cc. So, we'll see how it goes now. But, has that happened to any of you where what you thought you had in there (and so did my original surgeon) was not correct?

For me, a bag of Cheese Puffs or Cheese Curls (whatever you call them, they practically melt on the tongue). Every now and then, I have a few.

Hi Susan. Sometimes I can do salads and other times I can't. I like to buy the prebagged stuff (because I'm lazy) and it seems now there are a few brands that do a finely chopped version (I buy the Dole one). I find I can tolerate the finely chopped better than the regular bagged salads. Of course, chopping that up finely would work, too. I usually put a little sliced avocado in it with some fat free blue cheese dressing. I love when my band will tolerate it because it's delicious. Sometimes, it just doesn't go down well though.

Hello all. I'm 9 months out from surgery. I had my fifth fill on June 25th so I'm at 6.50cc. I seem to be one, like others I've read about here, who can only get down a protein shake in the morning, something mushy for lunch, and most times, a cup of food at dinner. What I've been doing while at work is making one of those cup of noodle things but I pour off all the liquid (and, hopefully, all of the sodium) and just have the noodles for lunch. I often hear people say they can't eat pasta but I can, though I am careful to just have the one cup size for lunch. For dinner, it's often a crap shoot as to what and how much I can eat. Sometimes, I can have a good sized salad with a protein (tuna, turkey meatball, etc). Other times, just a bite or two before my band starts making sounds. But, the weight is coming off and I feel great. What I'm finding though, is that my band seems to fluctuate on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes I can eat a good amount one day and other days, even coffee seems like it gets stuck because I get that old 'circling the drain' sound when I take a drink. I guess my question is that I wonder if other people have that with their bands. Can some of you eat pretty decent one day and then the next, struggle to get even liquid down? This sure is a learning experience. You'd think I'd know how this all works after 9 months but I'm still trying to figure things out. Thanks!

Just went on a mini vacation for a few days at Nags Head NC. Wow, from Thursday through Saturday, I couldn't eat much at all. I kept ordering things when we were out but I wasn't able to eat more than a bite or two before my band started talking to me (and I mean that gurgling, circling the drain sound). I must be getting used to the band because it really didn't bother me too much that I missed out on all the food I normally would have over-indulged in. Such a major part of my past vacations had to do with eating! I was a little bummed I couldn't take part in the seafood buffet at Captain George's but luckily, I could order a small bowl of clam chowder off the menu, though I couldn't eat much. But, I got home yesterday and last night, I was able to eat a fairly good sized salad and 3 shrimp. I guess it's a crap shoot on any given day. Unfortunately, I have found a bad food that I am able to tolerate on those days when the band is very tight. Cheese-Puffs. They practically dissolve in my mouth and satisfy me on those days when I'm not eating much. That's my shameful confession. I did lose a few pounds over the vacation and find myself now 1.5 pounds away from onederland. Lady VS, sounds like what happens to me on any given day bandwise isn't so unusual.

Bandista - I'm with you. So glad I did this and learning as I go. You're doing great. I see from your stats you crossed over into onederland. Yay for you!! I have 4 pounds to go until I get there. I know we're not supposed to compare ourselves to others but you've lost more than I have in about the same timeframe. I was 233 on the day of surgery (lost 11 on preop diet) and I'm at 204 now so that's only a loss of 29 pounds. My doctor agreed that was sort of a tad on the low end after 8 months, so that's why he added more about a month ago. Better than a gain though which is what I would be doing if I didn't have the band.

Thanks, blacktxbelle. I have watched bandedwendy videos but I don't recall one where she talks about this. I'll check it out. And, good luck with your surgery! I'm very happy I did it but it has been a learning process for sure. 9 months out and I still have questions. I could have had a baby by now! :-)

This lapband is gonna drive me to drink. I had my fifth fill on April 30th and I thought I might finally be in the elusive green zone. I wasn't able to eat a lot and lost several pounds. I loved it. Here we are, June 4, and little by little I find I can eat more and more and the weight loss has slowed to nothing. I'm going back on June 25 for my next appt. But, because I lost several pounds just after the last fill, I know my Dr will hesitate to add anything. Even though I tell him I lost it all in the two weeks following the last fill and none since. I do find I have some days where I can eat normally and other days where I can't eat much and feel like I'm going to PB or vomit. It's all just so wishy washy. I almost wish now that I'd gone with the sleeve. I guess I'm not really asking particular questions here, I'm just frustrated. I wonder if this thing will ever get adjusted perfectly and I'll be in the green zone with steady weight loss occurring (slow loss is fine as long as it it steady). It is frustrating having a very conservative Dr because I'm a Kaiser Permanente patient and each time I see the WLS Dr, I need to get a referral approved by Kaiser. Of course, I'm reasonable and don't want him to add if it means I'll vomit. I realize I have to do some of the work and the band is just the tool but darn it, if I could control my eating, I wouldn't have needed the band in the first place. So, I just expect the band to do more for me than what it is doing right now. Thanks for listening.

I think I needed a little reality check. I am NOT hungry when I tend to eat more at night. It's the old habit of mindless eating while watching TV that has come back to haunt me. I sort of wish my band didn't loosen up as the day goes on though. That would be very helpful to me. But, I realize that if my Dr were to add even a bit more saline, my daytime eating would be a nightmare. I like how my daytime eating is right now. I just need to remember to chew, chew, chew and take small bites. I think when I veer off from that is when I feel like PBing. Time for me to take up crochet or knitting or something else to occupy my hands while I'm watching TV at night. I need to try harder.