Tootarts

txbandit, Just wanted to put in my 2 cents for what its worth. I had a problem over a year ago. I had thrown up a hot dog that I ate too fast and couldn't stop throwing up. Then that night I had heartburn really bad for about a week and I finally could hardly sleep. I had a barium swallow and my stomach had come through the upper part of the band, which led to a type of erosion. Anyhow I had an unfill to let my stomach get back under the band and to relax. It took many months to get better. But I didn't need surgery. Unfortunatly I gained 40 pounds in this whole process. This time around I've had to get more fills to feel restriction due to my stretched stomach, And I finally have restriction and I'm loosing again. Yay! But I'm up to 10 cc in an 11 cc band, so I have to be careful this time around..

Cheri, I have had nothing but problems with my band for a while now. Because of it I have gained back all the weight I lost. I feel so defeated. I thought I was the only one gaining but after seeing your post makes me wonder how many have regained the weight? I bet ya we are not the only ones.:party:

Thats such a good point! He would have seen it was empty had he pulled out the saline. Man it's so complicated.

I've had so many problems with fills, this seems like such a game and I'm sick of playing. I got a hernia from being overfilled, and believe me you know it because it hurts really bad (and I had a small one). Apparently the large part of the stomach tries to sneak through the band to the small side and it's very bad. No food will fit through the band but more important it can be very dangerous because of infection, this is according to my doctor. So I had an emergency unfill and have been monitored for 2 months with floroscopes. In the two months with no restriction I have gained 10 pounds! So I put myself on Doctor Atkins Diet just so I don't gain anymore weight. I go for the start of the roller coaster fill ride on the 15th.:redface: You know this is weird too, my doctor said that he doesnt pull all the Fluid out to check fluid levels anymore because all the fluid never really comes out. Has anyone heard of this before?

I've seen a bunch of postings on here about being too tight and I have to admit I was so tight that I ended having a small herniation of my stomach coming through the band. Thank goodness it was caught in time and my band was loosened and it straightened itself out after 2 weeks and I'm fine now (even though I've gained 6 pounds so far). I'm waiting for a small fill in 3 weeks and this time I plan on being way more careful. I was at the eating only chocolate and chips with dip stage oh yes and soup. When I would eat most everything eles I would vomit, so I pretty much ate nothing. You know I really didn't loose as much as you think I would have. So learn from my mistake and be careful about being too tight.

I thought being too tight was a good thing but in reality you are not doing your body any good. If you can't even eat any protein I totally agree with salsa that your body will suffer from lack of nutrition. Try a small unfill, you can allways get another fill thats what s so great about the band.

I had my first 2 fills under floro in the hospital and everything went just fine but my 3rd fill I had lost enough weight that the Doc said he could probebly find the port without floro. So I went into his office to have the fill and oh my word he had to dig to find the port I don't know how many times he took out the needle and tried and I almost passed out, it was such a strange feeling. I have never passed out before so I was freaked out by this experience. It ended up I had to go under floro to get my 3rd fill. I was so scared about getting another one that I had a 4th floro done at the hospital too. But the 5th one I bit the bullet and tried it in the office and it's been fine ever since.

Hi December bandsters........:eek: I must admit I only visit occasionally just to see if there's anything different or interesting or if I'm having problems and want to see if others are experiencing the same thing..... I guess in a way it's a good thing because it means many of us are doing great with our bands and leading normal lives, but it's nice to see other december bandsters on here anyway!

I was not happy in the first year of my lap band experience, it took a lot for me to get it just right as far as my fills and the insurance to pay for the fills and what to eat and what not to eat. But when it all started to work and I had enough fills and started loosing on a consistant basis I felt a lot better about my lap band decision. I still fight the demon sugar on a daily basis, I am totally into chocolate and it's never going to change for me. I don't exersize enough so I have good days and lots of bad and thats why I still need to loose quite a bit but more but I am happy with what I've lost so far. I never have lost this much in my life and kept it off for this long and it feels really good. Believe me I am a baby and if there where another way for me I would not have had the surgery. But I am glad to date that I did have it.

5'2" When I was 245 lbs. I wore a snug size 22 pants and 3x tops. Now at 178 lbs. I wear a snug size 14 pants and 1x tops (boobs haven't shrunk much)

ok I admit it, I am a huge baby when it comes to pain! It hurt like hell for me and I was in pain for quite a while. I took 2 weeks off from work and I thank god I did. Just like getting any type of surgery it takes time for your body to heal itself and everyone takes pain differently. After all is said and done it is SURGERY!!!!!!!

Hi Kelli, I've watched you do so incredibly well at loosing while I slowly gained around 5 pounds but that was because I didn't get a fill for 7 months and I ate nothing but candy and ice cream and chips and clam dip. I didn't get a fill for so long because it was a combo of I couldn't come up with the 500 dollar fill payment (my insurance would not pay anything, now they pay half) and getting an appointment with my doctor is almost imposssible because he is so over booked all the time. Of course before the band I would have gained everything back plus! Anyhow my suggestion to you is you need a little fill ( I too am ready for another fill). even though you feel your in a good fill space. The last fill I got I was really tight and It kick started me back into dieting. Anyhow thats what I plan on doing once more in a few weeks when I go see my doctor, get it really tight!!!!!

Congatulations that is such an amazing result! You should be so happy!

I went to a town meeting last week and it was taped, I didn't really think about it but I saw it on tv last night (A local chanel). There I was as huge as life and the worst part is i was sitting back too and you can see my fat rolls. Here I was thinking wow I've lost over 50 pounds and I feel better but Oh my god I still look like a huge blimp, talk about a self esteem downer. I feel so embarassed what a rude awakening...............:think

Thank you everyone for your remarks You really make me feel better about my acomplishment of loosing the 50 plus pounds........I felt sooo bad this morning because I had a dream about the show and my fat rolls. It's amazing when reality slaps you in the face but your right Crishel I really need to not loose my focus because I could have been 50 pounds heavier on the tely...THANKS

Dear IMandet, I have a question for you? Are you restricted enough? I too was eating way too much and wasn't loosing any weight in fact I was gaining and I finally went in for a fill and everythings been working well. I'm loosing and feeling more motivated and man thats the key to any weight loss program no matter what the weight loss program.

Dear M, I found Hawaiian Punch (Light) satisfies my cravings for sweets and snacks, it's only 10 calories for an 8 oz serving. If I need to chew on something I eat 4 or 5 crackers or some tortilla chips. I also allow myself a planned dessert every day. I have a rice pudding in those little cups in the cooler isle or popcorn single serving size or a peice of fruit. Believe me It's been a tough battle for me on the lapband and I've had to learn to eat slower and get more protein in each meal because it does stick with you longer and to try not to drink at least 30 minutes after meals. Hope this helps.......

Congratulations ................ My

I want men to look at me and hold open the door instead of looking away and knocking me over............I want to look HOT in a pair of jeans and a white tank top and yes oh my god I want to wear boots that go over my calve. I know this sounds awful but I want my gorgeous friends to be jealous of me for once...........

I'm a mainer

Hi, I too have suffered all my life with migraines and since I had surgery I have had 1 and it was not really a bad one. So I think I fall in the stats you mentioned.

Good luck with your insurance. I'll let you know I have had such a hard time with insurance. My original insurance was amazing, it covered my whole lap band. Except for the nutritionist and the physcological evaluation I only had to pay 20% for them. I also had to have a physical trainer and had to pay 400 cash for him (my doctor insisted all his paitients see him) Then my husbands company changed insurance carriers to BCBS and they pay nothing! I have to self pay all fills and believe me they are not cheap. I would have probebly been thin by now if we had our old insurance.