Dancing Fool

I've had a lap band for 3 and a half years. One of my New Years resolutions is to recommit to the rules of banded living and get back to the conscientiousness that I (and a lot of us, I'm guessing) had back when our bands were new. Its not like I'm totally running wild with my eating and drinking; its just that I had gotten a little sloppy with the basics, like eating slowly, taking small bites, chewing thoroughly and drinking at least 64 oz. of water a day. A new year is a great time to resolve to do better. Wishing you all a successful 20191

I'm not sure what you mean by can't hold down liquids. If you literally can't get liquids down past your band, I'd go back to the doc because you will soon become dehydrated or worse. If instead you mean liquids go down slow and taking a huge gulp would not be comfortable, I personally would not be alarmed if this was occurring the day after a fill. Either way, I would call the dr's office and describe what's going on and get their advice on whether to come back in or wait and see.

You should go to a bariatric doctor to see if all is well with your band and your stomach. Also, do some pondering on whether you are now ready to commit to living within the rules of post-bariatric surgery life.

I'm celebrating my 2 year surgery anniversary in a few days and want to Celebrate by buying myself an excellent body weight scale. I've been using an old WW digital scale for years and the thing that bugs me is that I can weigh myself three times in a row and get three different readings on it. So - what's your suggestion for the Best Scale Ever - or the best type of scale (digital? balance beam? analog?)

Thanks to you all for the suggestions.

Remind yourself why you got this surgery in the first place. You had major surgery and had a major portion of your stomach amputated for a reason. Keep that reason in mind! Also remember that you have a powerful tool that you can use to get to your goal - your sleeve. You can do this! It sounds you are not sure exactly what to do, food-wise. This would be a good time to check in with your nutritionist. I find that I do best in keeping to an effective eating plan when I consistently remind myself that I am a bariatric patient and that obesity is a chronic disease and I am under treatment. I was self-pay so I can also fall back on my mantra "I didn't pay $$$ just to sit here and eat like a fool!" This may sound like a bummer but it works for me.

Another method for getting enough Water which might work for someone who is nervous about drinking a lot at one sitting is to sip constantly through the day. Use a water bottle with measurement indicators to check your progress throughout the day. Just little sips, but take them often throughout the day. Once you've had a bit more time with your band and what it can handle, I think you will come to feel okay about drinking a cup at a time. Water should trickle right on through past your band, so it shouldn't be a problem. I can understand, though, being nervous about such things those first few days after being banded.

If you are in the green zone, you are where you need to be so don't be concerned with "restriction". I think "restriction" is a term that we toss around a lot in the forums but is not a helpful concept when it comes to using the band to lose weight. When I go for a fill, the PA at the surgery center asks about what I've been eating, how much, and how soon do I get hungry after a meal, and checks how much I'm losing. I've never been asked by a medical professional how much restriction I feel.

Here's wishing you the best for your surgery and recovery. If you're like me, you will come to love the fact that you don't eat the way you used to, or some of the things you used to. My Lap Band gives me the mental space I need to make the right food decisions. While some of the stuff I no longer eat sure was -and still is- yummy, it feels so much better to be in control and able to say "No!".

Have you tried eating meat with sauces to keep it moist and taking itty bitty bites? if this doesn't work, I would guess you truly are in the red zone.

I had my surgery on a Wednesday and went back to work the next Monday. (I have a desk job).

Love it!

My band gives me the freedom to choose to say "no" to food that hinders my weight loss.

Of course the people who are posting in a "Gastric band to bypass revision" are people who had problems with the gastric band. That doesn't tell us anything about percentage of the total GB population who are/are not having problems. People who have no problems with their band are not going to see Dr. Rutledge complaining about their band, and probably are not posting in forums on revisions. The plural of "anecdote' is not "data".

Can you direct me to a source for the 80% figure? And to a source that shows "most banders" feel it is a con?

For Lap Band surgery, it is common for people to go home a few hours after the surgery. I arrived at the surgery center at 6:30, entered the operating room at 8:30 in the morning and was sent home around 11:30.

This is my first Christmas season after WLS, and I'm ok with not partaking of all the goodies and treats at parties and get-togethers - not hungry for them and not missing them. But it seems like eating the food, talking about the food, ooh-and-ahhing over the food is the main activity at these festivities. If I'm not participating in the food-as-recreation aspect of the party, what can I do to still be a part of the festivities? How do you handle it?

Thanks for your suggestions. Perhaps I do have native wit and charm, but 'm not skilled in conversation and small talk. So.... taking Twinhappy's suggestion to walk around with a Water, and turning it up a notch, if I bring a fabulous fancy goblet to the party for my water and some berries to float in it, I will have a festive conversation starter right there in my hand! I think I'll try it!

If you haven't done so already, call your surgeon's office ASAP. This sounds like a bad situation to be in. I hope they will be able to give you prompt relief.

Keeping your band too tight for so many years didn't give you any opportunity to form good eating/lifestyle habits and no doubt contributed to your medical problems. Did your surgeon's office do any pre-op patient education concerning this?

Seems like there' d always be room for air to come back up. If there's room for food to pass down,there is surely room for air to pass through, no? If you didn't have issues with swallowing air before with your CPAP, I don't think the band would change that.

OneDollarBill - replacing the yolk with hummus is pure genius! yummy too, I'll bet.

Getting back to the title of this thread, if your weight loss plan is mentally draining, maybe you should be seeing a therapist as well as a NUT. Your food plan may or may not need a change, but if it stressing you out, maybe you need to work on the emotional aspect & stress management.

My screen name is Dancing Fool ecuase I love Zumba and, well...

Hi there. I am recently banded and so far, I'm loving it. No troubles with food coming back up or reflux. Typical breakfast for me is fat-free Greek yogurt sprinkled with Kashi Go Lean. Typical lunch is sliced deli turkey and some veggie on the side. Typical dinner is broiled fish or lean meat, with a veg on the side. I like turkey chili too, and it works well in my meal plan. I found a chicken salad made with yogurt in place of mayo at costco -- it is delish and it too works well in my meal plan. My surgery was quick and recovery was quick and uneventful. I went into the operating room at 8:30 AM and left for home by 11 AM. I had surgery on a Wednesday and went back to work (a desk job) on Monday. My advice to someone looking into a Lap Band would be to consider follow-up care after the surgery when you are choosing your surgeon. Good follow-up care requires a surgical practice with experience and commitment to its Lap Band patients. You should expect to be visiting your surgeon's office regularly throughout the first year so be sure you are willing and able (financially and travel-wise) to do this.