Cocoabean

I agree with VLP. When you are eating, how big are the bites? Remember they need to be teeny tiny and chewed very well. The pain you describe is that of food getting stuck, and the saliva goes along with that. Here's a link to slippage info from my surgeon's website. http://www.thinnertimes.com/weight-loss-surgery/lap-band/lap-band-complications/slippage.html

I hate it, I don't do it (rarely anyway). I've lost weight, but am not as healthy as I could be. I am more active than I was pre-op, but I could certainly be more-so. I go in fits and starts. Say I am going to be a good little bandster and start a walking program. It lasts a couple of weeks, then I slack off. I have an arthritic knee which provides me a great "excuse." We have a pool, but it needed replastering. That has just been done, but it is still too cold, another good "excuse." Well that one is true..the Water is about 65..aint no way, no how! But I think Rachel is correct, bandsters who exercise are more successful than those who don't. You also won't find me on here asking why I am not losing when I know darned well I could be exercising more and not consuming alcoholic beverages from time to time. However, my blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good, my cholesterol is good. I wear a size 10. I am a happy clam!

I was on BP meds prior to surgery as well. My surgeon took me off of them the day before I had my op. Now my pressure is about 90/65 without meds. I, too, have had some near fainting spells. My PCP says he sees it sometimes in his patients that have lost significant amounts of weight. Not just the ones who've lost with surgery. He says something seems to go haywire with the signals to the veins to keep the pressure steady. For me, it happens when I have been standing for a prolonged period. All of a sudden my pressure plummets (and so do I). If I can sit down when I first start to feel woozy, I am fine. But my pressure has gone as low as 80/50. NOT fun!

Hi DSB, I am 47, female, in the San Diego area. Been banded for about 3 1/2 years. Down about 70 lbs. 3 lbs down before getting fills is actually great! Before you get fills, the band is not doing much for you. You did that all on your own. Even the first fill might not provide all that much help. Feel free to ask any questions you might have!

It's wonderful he misses that tradition! There is no reason it cannot continue. It's not clear if all of you go out or just the two of you. If it is all of you, just order some soup and then share something with some of the others. You'll be able to get plenty without them feeling deprived. I am sure some of the children cannot finish what they order, yes? If just the two of you, get an appetizer and then share the entree. appetizers can be high in calories, but if eating out is a splurge, it can be a safer bet than a full entree. Many restaurants charge a split fee these days, but when I order an appetizer as my dinner, I use that plate for a bit of DH's Protein and all is well. We just share the entree and appetizer. There is no reason you cannot go out to eat and enjoy yourself. It just takes adjusting your attitude. As Jack said, you don't need to give your life story to the servers. Although I did have one time when my band was too tight, I ordered a side of refried Beans and rice at our favorite Mexican restaurant, and I was unable to eat even a few bites. We go there often and the server expressed concern that I was unhappy with my order. So, I explained it to him. I took the leftovers home and ate on them for 3 days. Until I got an unfill. Just because you have a band doesn't mean your family has to change all of its food related traditions!

Many people do. I would not have been able to. I caught a cold right around the time I was in the hospital. So my recovery was slowed by that. Yes, having a cough after abdominal surgery was such great fun. My advice to everyone is to plan for the worst and hope for the best. I took two weeks off, tried to return after one, but ended up doing half-time the second. I know not everyone has the luxury of writing their own schedule as I do, but if you plan to return on Monday after your surgery--at least have a contingency plan in case you can't.

Of course you are welcome here!!! Welcome aboard!

Realize recalled some bands due to an issue with where the tubing attaches. Here is the link. http://www.ethiconendosurgery.com/newsinfo/clinicians/1066 No bands were to be removed from patients. Just existing iventory replaced.

The only thing that consistently gives me problems is chicken breast meat. Everthing else is hit and miss.

Yes, he is amazing! He's retired, I am not. He does a lot around here. And to think, I was ready to accuse him of sabotaging my scale.

Hello everyone! So, I've been banded over three years. Been maintaining for over a year now. Recently my scale has gone up a few pounds and I have been in a fair bit of freak-out about it. My eating habits have been the same. So, I am thinking maybe I need a fill, but with my hunger unchanged, I really didn't think I wanted one. My scale is a Health-O-Mether scale that has a non-digital read-out that is elevated to waist level. So, I do enjoy some alcoholic beverages from time to time. So I stopped that. The weight was still going up ever so slowly. I also noticed that the scale wasn't zeroing out as it should be, so I wasn't totally convinced that it was accurate any longer. My clothes have been fitting the same, which is how I normally keep track...but still. All those familiar games were coming back....oh, I had salt...oh it's TOM coming...I must be "backed up." Have I change medications? No. hhmm...not drinking enough Water? No, that is OK. Then WHY is it creeping UP??? So, after I'd put on about 5 pounds. I looked very closely at the scale. I noticed it was closer to the wall than usual. So, I decided to move it away from the wall an inch or two, I re-zeroed it and BU-BAM!!! 5 pounds gone, just like that! Apparently when DH cleaned the floor he moved it a bit. Lesson to be learned....? scales are fallible, and not the only measure of success--which I already knew...But I could not believe that as soon as I moved it a hair away from the wall, it was fine! It was just close enough to the baseboard to mess it up!

Well, 44 lbs in 24 weeks is 1.8 pounds per week average. Bandsters should expect about 1-2 pounds per week. You are perfect! When I was losing actively I averaged 3/4 of a pound per week, but you know what? I got there! Like you, I eat stuff I like (well, not EVERYTHING I like, I try to make good choices overall). I have not ever felt deprived. I still enjoy treats, just not as often or as much as I used to. Congrats on your losses so far!! Isn't it great??? Woohoo!!

For me, I had a hard time getting my head around eating a smaller amount. While my brain said I was satisfied, my "mouth" still wanted more sensation. It took a long time to reconcile that. Taking smaller bites helps, because it draws out the eating process. When you are used to eating an entire enchilada and suddenly you are full on half that...it is an odd sensation.

Some stuff I had taken in. It was cheaper than buying new work clothes. The rest....OUT! It wasn't easy, but out it went. Interim clothes I got at Target and Walmart. I used skirts and stretch shirts. In fact, I just got rid of one of my transition skirts. I loved it, but it was falling off me, it was so big. I'd wear it at the risk of tripping over it if it fell around my ankles! Funny thing now, I am actually wearing out stuff. Something I never did before, my size was always changing upwards too rapidly.

The only difference I have ever noticed if I drink with a meal is that sometimes it will make me feel stuck if I take too big of a drink. If I sip, no problems, and I don't feel hungry any sooner. My surgeon doesn't have an issue if I drink a little with my meals.

Yes. Mine varies from day to day, but then sometimes it just goes a LOT tighter than normal. For me, it seems to be related to getting out of my normal eating routine. Like when I travel for work or vacation. I do something unusual and it triggers a stuck episode which then waterfalls to a whole series of fun times to be dealt with until everything calms down. I just recently was able to put it all together and figure out what was happening. We were on a two week trip, the first week I kept trying to eat Breakfast with morning coffee. I kept getting stuck everyday. One day that started too early for even the attempt, I decided to skip it and bring a Protein bar for later in the day. I was fine. Ah ha!!! Even though I was just having melon and yogurt, it was too much too soon and not what I normally do, which is have coffee then wait until I feel hungry to eat anything. Lesson learned. Band isn't ready for food until it signals. Don't even try feeding it unless it asks. I was on a work trip last week. It was the first trip I've been on in a loooong time that I did not have issues with getting stuck.

Yes, unfilling is the first, most conservative treatment for a slipped band. it is somewhat a misnomer. Actually your stomach has come up through the band. So they remove the Fluid to allow the stomach to return to its previous proper position and rest a bit. Hope all goes well for you!!!

I had to count mine! Could not remember for sure. Could only find 3 at first, because they've all faded so much. But then I found the other two. So I have five. My hubby kindly offered to give me another if I wanted. Thanks Hun!

I was told one to two weeks. I took one, attempted to go back the second, but ended up half time. Everyone is different. Plan for the worst, and hope for the best. I am fortunate I have a very understanding boss.

Some bandsters keep ziplock baggies in their cars for such occasions. I made a no eating while driving rule years ago. It's really horrible. I hate seeing people eat while driving--just ugh! Ok, pet-peeve complaint over. But, for us, it is really a recipe for disaster.

Bread sometimes gets stuck for me, but not usually. I was not placed on a low-carb diet. The only foods I have continuous problems with getting stuck are doughnuts (who needs them) and white meat chicken. My surgeon prefers his band patients have a bit less restriction, and be able to eat a wider variety of foods.

My loss would often stall for several weeks, then take off again. My daily routine... coffee on the way to work. Once I get hungry....a couple of graham crackers with Peanut Butter, a Protein bar, or oatmeal. Weekends vary ... maybe Cereal, piece of toast..maybe eggs and a piece of bacon. lunch..I can eat Pasta, I often do noodle dishes like Auntie Chuns (I think) that have pretty good protein with 250-400 calories per serving. Just watch the sodium if you have blood pressure problems, I no longer do. Sometimes I have leftovers from the previous night's dinner. Or I'll grab half a sandwich and salad at the cafeteria at work. After work I usually have a cheese stick or a yogurt (I need the probiotics). Dinner is some sort of meat about 3 oz, 1/2 cup of veggie, and some starch. I'll have a cup of milk after dinner, just because I love it. That comes in at about 1500-1700 calories a day. I am maintaining now, and it works out just fine for me.

Immediately after surgery doctors are not as concerned about calorie intake and content as healing. I was placed on Clear Liquids for the first week. No mention of Protein. Just clear. broth, Water, juice. That sort of thing. My surgeon didn't care of I got in 50 calories or 5000 calories, as long as they were clear liquids and I was hydrated. Same thing when I moved to full liquids. You most likely have some swelling giving you some restriction. Unfortunately, the immediate post-op phase is about healing, not about feeling comfortable, full, or satisfied, or counting calories. All of that will come in time.

You had a lower starting BMI than many bandsters. I'd expect your weight loss rate to be on the lower end of average. You've lost 15 pound so far, that is actually great for 3 months! That is 1 1/4 pounds per week. Bandsters can expect 1-2 pounds per week AVERAGE loss. For you to be losing that right off, including your post-op healing phase is fantastic. If you are thirsty, you are not drinking enough. You should be drinking 3-4 liters a day. Thirst is the first symptom of dehydration. My average weight loss was 3/4 of a pound per week. I think you are doing fantastic.

Weesie, you being calm-ish about it will help him to be OK with it. My hubby gets more upset than I do. Mainly because he doesn't like to see me hurting. I keep the dramatics to a minimum during a stuck episode. It is kind of funny, he can often tell before I can that I am getting stuck. Something about the far away look in my eyes as I am evaluating. Follow your bandster rules. That will go a long way to minimizing problems. After a fill, go very easy for a while until you see what your new restriction level tolerates. There are lots of folks on LBT who have never had a stuck episode. I am not one of them. But I take it in stride. To me, it is a risk I run...sort of a cost of being healthier and thinner. I'll take the trade-off. The best defense for a stuck episode is that at the very first sign of discomfort you STOP EATING! Give it a few minutes. Once the pain is gone, then you can continue with your meal. If you keep piling food on top of a potential stuckage, that is a recipe for disaster. Yesterday, Hubs and I were having some chicken wings at a sports bar. I had taken a bite then went to say something to him. As I drew breath to speak and hunk of chicken slid down my throat unchewed...OH $H!T!!! I haven't had that happen in about a year and a half. Normally I pay very close attention when eating, even if in a big group of people, convo is second to what is in my mouth. So, that was my last bite for a few minutes until I determined the results of such a boneheaded maneuver. Turned out it must have been small enough and greasy enough to go through the stoma. But had it gotten stuck, I'd have slipped into the ladies room and taken care of it. It would have been over in minutes. I'd have been back to enjoying my day. A lot of it with our spouses is about our attitudes. He sees me take it in stride, and so does he.