lapbandliz

Also, the band is the regular Inamed Lap-Band.

I was banded 1 year ago. Up until about October last year, things were going along just fine and I lost about 50 pounds. Then, I started having trouble getting food down. So, over the course of several months, they kept taking the fill out until now there is no fill whatsoever in the band. The radiologist showed me the x-rays today. He said it looks like the band is in place, but he didn't have the films from last October to compare them to. He showed me on the x-ray that my stomach opening is 1 cm or less (because of magnification). Its no wonder even liquids now sometimes are a problem. If the band hasn't slipped, what could cause the stoma to get smaller with no fill in the band to compress it?

Help, I've had so much trouble swallowing and have other allergy issues as well. Last night I couldn't even drink water because it got backed up and wouldn't go through. I saw my allergy doc today and he sent me to have a barium swallow. My esophogus looks good, thankfully, but my band looks too tight. It is only opening about 1 cm, maybe even less. The problem is, I have NO FILL. They told me I could wait til Monday to call my weight loss surgeon, but I'm really scared. What is going to happen to me? Are they going to have to remove the band? What could be wrong? Any help and advice would sure be aprpeciated!--I'm scared, hungry, and miserable.

I'm coming up on my year anniversary and I've had no progress since about September. I started having problems swallowing and they are still not resolved. I'm eating all the wrong things and feel miserable when I have to throw up. When I try to eat good food, it takes so long everything is cold by the time I've finally finished it uncomfortably. I've had all the fill taken out of my band so there is no restriction. My willpower is non-existent. I just don't know what to do to get back on track again and have no emotional energy to even try. I just want to hibernate and be miserable. Any words of advice???

Anybody recommed a doctor in Colorado Springs? I think Dr. Snyder in Denver is great, but I would love to have a doctor close by!

I love to make pizzas using large Portabella mushrooms. Just put some olive oil on the pan and then make your pizza using the mushroom cap turned upside down as the "pizza crust". Then just pile on your ingredients: sauce, cheese, veggies, turkey pepperoni, etc. It really is very, very good!

Hi, both me and my husband are banded, too. We were exactly one month apart. I was banded on Feb 19 and he was banded on Mar 19. He has lost 87 pounds now and I've lost 56. It was absolutely the best decision we ever made. I do think it was good we had some time separating our surgeries because we could take care of each other. Good luck! Our daughter is about to get banded soon, too. So, this is turning into quite a family thing!

Hi everyone! I am just starting to look into the Lapband system and I was wondering if anyone had any doctor recommendations or other doctors to stay away from! Thanks for your help!

I just got off a plane, too. And, not only did I not need an extender, but I fit in the seat with the armrest down and the tray table came all the way down!!!!! I was so excited!!!! I still have a long, long way to go, but hey, its a start!

I'm having the same problem, but my blood work doesn't show any deficiencies. Could diet still be the problem, though? Fortunately, I had a lot of hair to start with, but I've lost close to half of it---i'm really scared. I'm losing a handful everytime I wash my hair and quite a few strands every time I run my hand through my hair. Are the rest of you losing this much?????

I've had 2 fills so far. Since I was filled in April and May, I have only lost maybe 5 pounds. My surgery was Feb 19 and I've been pretty much stuck since I started eating regular food. My husband, in the meantime, got banded 1 month after me and has lost 57 pounds! My total is only about 30. I'M SO DISCOURAGED!!!!! I know I'm eating more than I should-but usually no more than 1200 calories. How can you NOT lose weight on that little bit?

I'm eating about 1100-1300 calories a day and I'm still hungry. My stomach just churns and growls. Sometimes this happens even after I eat...I still feel hungry. It really gets me late at night. Needless to say, my weight loss is slow. I've had 2 fills, do I need another one? I can get really stuck while I'm eating if I eat to fast or too big a bite, so I'm not sure that making the band tighter is really what I need. Please advise.... thanks!

Hey, I like the name taradactyl wings.....very descriptive. I also have the same problem with clothing. Now that I'm losing weight, I can almost get into a 20 on the top - except for the sleeves. Also, since I've lost 34 pounds, my thighs are starting to have this "lovely" rippled, sagging effect, too. I think I'd be willing to have a scar, if necessary. A scar is better than the hanging bat wings and ripples above my elbows! Has anyone tried the body wrap thing????? Please tell me it works!

Does anyone know what I can do to help my arms get smaller. I'm losing weight in other places, but not at all in my arms. Because, I'm getting smaller in my body, my arms look worse than ever! What can I do? Has anybody tried bodywraps or cellulite cream? I'm doing exercises, but nothing is helping. My dress size is down by at least 1 or 2 sizes, except for my arms. This is a real problem! Advice, please??

I guess I haven't checked in lately. My weight loss really slowed down from before my 1st fill until last week. I think I've finally started losing again, but it is very slow. I am trying so hard to lose another 30 pounds by mid-August when we are going to Yellowstone. Then, I hope to lose another 10 or so by November when we go to Europe. I want to be able to walk, climb stairs, ride horses, etc. Any advice on how I can speed up my weight loss?

Please take tornado warnings seriously. I was in one before and it is the most scary thing I've ever experienced! I grew up in Florida so I was used to hurricanes and severe weather, but this happened in East Tennessee! The car my husband (then fiance) was in, was totalled around him with glass and bricks and debris everywhere. And the brick building I was in fell down around me with those concrete tables and umbrellas blowing around like paper. I was told that someone had to pull me down because I was starting to lift off the ground. All I remember is one minute I was looking at the sky grow black and thing starting to blow toward the plate glass window and the next thing I know, I'm about 10 feet away on the ground with 3 other people and the building is gone! I'm very thankful that nobody was hurt or killed. We didn't have a scratch on us, but had bits of debris and glass embeded all the way through our clothes. I tell you all this to encourage you to heed the safety warnings. This happened to me 28 years ago and I still get very uneasy where there is severe weather around.

I know it's April 4, but I want to be on it, too--water and exercise. Maybe if I concentrate on those 2 things more, I'll begin to see the scale move.

What am I doing wrong? I'm getting so frustrated! I'm eating less than 1200 calories a day. I'm staying fairly active. I have not lost any weight in over a month! It seems like the only weight I lost was the 8 pounds before the lap band and then the 17 in the first 3 weeks after surgery. Now I have just stopped since about March 12. What can I do? I'm so upset!!!! I wanted this to work so badly. Why isn't the weight coming off?:think

Thanks for all the encouraging words and advice. My husband is doing much better today. The Dr. released him from the hospital this afternoon so we're back home now. His fever is gone and he's getting around pretty well, but still in a lot of pain. Now we are working on trying to get all the protein in, with limited 2 oz. of liquid at a time. The gas is still in there, but he's trying to move and walk, so hopefully that will disappear soon. Thanks again!

Hi everybody! My husband had surgery today and has had a really hard time. I wondered if any of you have had similar things happen and how you recovered. I had my surgery 1 month ago today and it was very different from what my husband is experiencing. It began with the dr. coming out after surgery and telling me that he had a really hard time. Most of my husbands weight is in his belly, so I guess that is what made the surgery more difficult. But anyway, the dr. told me that he wanted to do the gastric x ray before he would even give him ice chips or Water. They took the xrays 3 times before it finally passed through his stomach. His stomach is hugely distended and he's been in a lot of pain since he woke up. He has not been able to pass any of the gas in either direction and is really nauseaus. Now he has developed a slight fever. I'm really getting very concerned. He says he can feel his sips of water go all the way down and it hurts all the way down. Have any of you had an experience like this? What should we be expecting? Is he going to be able to come home tomorrow? Is all this normal? Please give us some advice. And for those of you who pray, your prayers would really be appreciated! Thanks.

My husband is also a pastor. I had my surgery on 2/19/07 and his is scheduled for this Monday, 3/19/07. I hope we will both be as successful as you both have been. It will certainly be much easier since we will be going through this together and eating the same foods. How has your church family handled all this? Congratulations to both of you! I'm so happy for you!

I thought they only did the gastric bypass in Hershey. That's why I went to Harrisburg to the Weight Loss Clinic and Community General Hospital. It was a small hospital, but they've been great. Just a thought....

I was banded on 2/19 also and have lost 21 pounds. I'm so hungry!!!!! I've also been fighting the tiredness and fatigue. I'm trying hard to get in my 60 gr of protien a day. My doc told me to eat the 3 meals (1/2 cup soft food) and supplement with 1 protein shake a day. That amount of food is not even beginning to be the least bit satisfying and on top of that the scales just aren't moving. Its been over a week since I've seen any change at all and I haven't had more than 1100 calories a day on average. If we don't have any restriction at this point, why do we have to limit our food intake so drastically? I keep hearing that when the band is filled, that's when we'll start seeing results and won't be hungry anymore. Is that right? Please tell me it is, or what is the point of going through all this?

Is your doctor with the group in Dalton -- Dr. Ponce, etc. or Dr. Walter Rose. I've heard nothing but good about Dr. Ponce. If you can't find help in Chatt, go to Nashville or Atlanta.

I know exactly what you're talking about. I just started mushies on Thursday last week and did great until yesterday. I don't know what happened to me. I ate my whole meal last night. Granted it was grilled catfish, mashe potatoes and cooked apples. I only ate about half at the restaurant, but when I got home...I just devoured the rest of it, along with a whole biscuit. Then tonight, I ate half a carton of ice cream! WHY DID I DO THAT---I was doing so well. It's like I'm drawn to it and just can't stop myself. My husband is getting banded on Monday and after seeing me eat a whole meal last night, he's wondering if this is going to work for either of us. Hopefully, he won't find out about the ice cream. The last thing I want to do is discourage him, and also since we are self paying, I don't want to waste the 24,000 we're spending! Any advice to help get me back on track? I don't think my doctor will give me a fill until April 13. :cry