ABLOND

I wish to thank everyone for your comments and suggestions, they are great! It is good to know that I am where I should be and there is a light at the end of the tunnel (alittle farther down the road). It is good to have a resource to turn too...you all are wonderful!!!
As for the shakes I don't get to see a nutritonist until the 10th of April (my next fill)...so I am just doing what the NP's in my doctors office tell me, they have had this surgery as well...and even after many years still drink shakes. I don't drink them with my meals but as a meal, just for clarification. I don't drink anything with my meal, stop drinking 30 minutes before and 30/45 minutes after.
Thanks again everyone...this site is a great place to get answers.

Every day is different for me. I was banded on jan 6 and some days I am not hungry at all while other days I am ravenous. I am stuck at 213 startin weight 239. I hav only had one fill and will see my doc nect tuesday for another one. I have been exercising but the weight isn't coming off as quickly as I would like. I would like 2-3 pounds a week but cannot get passed 212/213 for some reason. I know I should probably eat less but I haven't had any bread, rice,pasta, or sweets since the surgery. I drink a Protein Shake for Breakfast and lunch and dinner vary. I know I need more Protein though. Help! I am not liking bandster hell.

For the two original posters who had surgery in January, please try to feel happy with your success so far... The weight will NOT come off in "our" time, but it will come off. Please also don't compare yourself to others, since this truly is an individual journey. My own journey has taken me through six fills over seven months. I can officially say, "I'm in the GREEN." You will get there too. Best Wishes

I do the shakes and they fill me up fine.

sleepingarby, the shakes are thick and seem to keep me satisfied ..... My nutritionist has not told me to stop them as of yet.....

I feel your frustration. I was banded on 1/17 and have lost 25 lbs...and just got some fill in my band last week (didn't have anything up till then) ....and I'm having the same issues as you...but bread is giving me problems (guess I shouldn't be eating it anyway..lol)....I don't care much for the Protein bars either, so I do the GNC Total Lean Protein shake...Strawberries and cream tastes like a milk shake, the chocolate wasn't all that good (only Protein could mess up chocolate..didn't think it was possible..lol) My main problem is 4 oz or 1/2 cup isn't filling me up, or keeping me not hungry for 4-5 hours...but I have also been reassured that this is a process and will take time and the Green Zone is soon to be ours...just keep holding in there.... Good luck..

I had the band July 2012 and have a shake every morning. They fill me for 3-5 hours. I use a lot of ice so they are very thick.
As for meat I can only have ground beef or filet mignon. I eat veal chops and lamb and baby back ribs. Very tender chicken at home. I buy Bells and Evans only.
I eat salmon a real lot and shrimp. I am from Boston and lobster is a staple here and I can't chew it anymore.
Good luck.

I feel your frustration. I was banded on 1/17 and have lost 25 lbs...and just got some fill in my band last week (didn't have anything up till then) ....and I'm having the same issues as you...but bread is giving me problems (guess I shouldn't be eating it anyway..lol)....I don't care much for the Protein bars either, so I do the GNC Total Lean Protein shake...Strawberries and cream tastes like a milk shake, the chocolate wasn't all that good (only Protein could mess up chocolate..didn't think it was possible..lol) My main problem is 4 oz or 1/2 cup isn't filling me up, or keeping me not hungry for 4-5 hours...but I have also been reassured that this is a process and will take time and the Green Zone is soon to be ours...just keep holding in there.... Good luck..

I think I will too, I'm gonna have to wipe the drool off my key board...lol

Muscles that massage food through the stoma strengthen when you have the band. Before the band there was no restriction at all. food just fell through the lower esophageal sphincter. With the band in place, it's harder for food to push through the band/stoma. This can enable those muscles to become a little stronger.
It can appear your band is looser but in many cases it's not. Keep getting fills. It took me 6 fills to reach the green zone. I've had about 9 adjustments now. Band maintenance is important.
BTW-Bread can cause insulin spikes that make you hungry an hour or two after consumption. How much Protein do you eat?

that sounds awesome. You say you made "lettuce" wrapped? What type of lettuce did you use? Tell me everything you put on it...please, you have my mouth drooling..lol

if you think you need to call the doctor, you should
even if its nothing......it will rest your mind...... let us know whats up.

I had my last fill about 5 months ago and everything has been great until today. I woke up around 4 am because I was coughing. I noticed that I also felt like there were bubbles in my throat. About 5 minutes later, I threw up a small amount of clear Fluid (maybe acid??). Throughout the day I've had some Water, part of a smoothie, and a cheese stick, but something doesn't feel right. I don't really feel like it's going down...it seems like it's just sitting in my throat. Send there are still lots of bubbles.
I'm thinking things may be a little aggravated and I need to do liquids for a few days, but I don't want to make things worse by waiting too long. Has anyone else experience anything like this?

Now see I don't understand I was told not to drink thru a straw on account of the air bubbles causing gas.

I know what you mean, there is just so much to learn and right when you think you may be understanding, you realize that you don't...lol But at least I'm not alone thanks to this site...

You are so right. I've let myself get discouraged so quickly. I didn't realize that I wouldn't have fill in my band immediately after surgery or that I may take months to get to where my band is working. No ones fault but my own, because I failed to research enough. Or had I found this site a year ago I Would of been a lot more prepared. But you are right with God all things are possible and without him I never would have gotten this insurance with the insurance I have. It was definitely a God thing.

You've come this for....had WLS surgery...got some fills and lost a nice chunk of weight...GIVING UP NOW IS NOT NOT NOT AN OPTION! Hang in there.
I understand the whole thing with poor food choices...I'm there right now and struggling. Every day is a struggle and a decision but I can't and won't go backwards....im trying to take one day at a time and move forward and some days are easier than others....but i refuse to give up.....I hope you will hang in there too.
Go see your doctor and get the help that you need. Like someone else above said that is what they are there for. Get there now and seek help so a 1 lb gain doesnt turn into something bigger that will only make yourself feel worse.
YOU deserve only the best...but you must reach out to help yourself...you CAN do it! Keep us posted!

I had my surgery Oct 17. My first fill was December 1st. He put 3.5cc in my 10cc band. I had my fourth fill 2 weeks ago so I now have 5.75cc in my band. Since my surgery, I'm only down 5 lbs which, to me, isn't enough. Though I knew it took a while for the band to be adjusted, I didn't think it would take this long. Since this last fill, I find I can't eat in the morning. I've read here that some people wake up with a tight band and I wondered how that could happen but it has happened to me. I feel as though I'll have a stuck episode if I eat. So, I'm with you in that I didn't think it would take this long to get the weight loss rolling. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what satiety feels like because I don't have it yet. What makes me stop eating now is the feeling that something is going to get stuck. Not because I feel satisfied. It's a learning process and I'm trying to figure this all out.

By the way this link here has a lot of good info on the band and how it works. It is a very good straight forward read without all the techno babble.
http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

I agree with the others that slower is better only because you do not want to start overly tight and then have some removed just to only have a little more added it back in. Basically it would be best to avoid that see-saw fill in and fill out action.
That said my first fill was a big one as my band was empty but as you can see it still was not enough to put me in the green zone. I haven't had a fill since Jan 2012 but I am feeling due for one soon.
11cc Realize Band:
1st fill 5/29/12 5cc
2nd fill 6/12/12 1cc
3rd fill 7/02/12 1cc
4th fill 8/14/12 1cc
5th fill 9/4/12 1cc
6th fill 1/29/13 .5

My fills are shown below in my signature. I agree fully with the comment above...imho it's best to go slowly, and remember to stick to your postop directives which are designed to give you maximum satiety. It is important to use both the band and your eating plan to promote fullness...don't rely on the band alone as that won't do it for you. Dense Proteins first! While you are in the losing phase, cut out anything that provokes the "must eat more" feeling because believe me, even with a band, you can eat more.
My philosophy is to stay with the lowest fill level possible, so you have somewhere to go as you lose weight and lose the viseral fat around your stomach, and need to get more fill. I've read bandsters who go right up to a high fill level with the thought that they will lose weight super quickly, live on Protein shakes and think it is normal to PB or vomit every day. That is no way to live, at least for me.

You're a worrier aren't you? LOL...No need to worry. I've never heard of anyone stretching their pouch on liquids or mushies. I think you may have a misunderstanding of how your band and pouch operate. When you have time, watch all of these videos. They're much more informative than any seminar I went to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa3Lwt6ElIs&list=UL Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4jYJipQ7vc part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbdhf44ZweI&feature=relmfu Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF3TCKUn3YI Part 4

If a half cup is not keeping you full then eat six small meals a day. At least you will feel fuller longer.

I know it's aggravating but the slower the fills the better you are at not being over filled. I know you don't feel a difference as of yet but you will. Going slow gives you time to see exactly when you finally feel the difference. I have 3cc's in my band and have plenty of restriction. I got 1.5 both times and it was it. Its been two years since I had a fill. You don't want a large fill then have to go back and get some removed. Its frustrating yes but being too tight is hell.

What is PB2?