adorkbl

I just wanted to say I am sorry for the pain and reflux you are having. I have been having issues too... but not quite as severe. I had an EGD a few weeks ago and was diagnosed with severe esophagitis and a hiatal hernia. My Dr wanted to remove my fill or remove my band. I changed my diet drastically and that has helped. I am hoping to avoid losing my band.
Some diet tips:
~Avoid spicy foods such as those with pepper, chili powder, curry, and nutmeg.
~Avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea.
~Avoid greasy and fried foods.
~Avoid hard foods such as nuts, crackers, and raw vegetables.
~Avoid acidic foods and beverages such as tomatoes, oranges, grapefruits, and their juices.
~Take small bites and chew food thoroughly.
~Drink liquids through a straw to make swallowing easier.
~Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
Sorry I don't have a lot of advise. Just wanted to give you some support. I hope you can find relief!!

Buy yourself a cute new outfit in one size too small. Buy yourself some cute new workout clothes to wear now! I bought some new shorts, tops and workout bra yesterday and I worked out both Saturday and Sunday! You did it once, you can do it again!

I know exactly how you feel, and I think that a lot of people have bariatric surgery (of any kind) hoping or believing that it'll work like magic without any effort on their part. Sometimes that's because of poor pre-op education...not that their doctor lied to them, per se, but the bariatric team didn't give them the whole story.
But to be fair, I think that LBT members who are struggling, disappointed and suffering complications have as much right to post about their journeys as anyone else. If it seems that there are more negative posts than positive ones, it's probably because people tend to post more often when they're having problems than when they're doing fine. When I'm not in the mood to read the negative stuff, I do my best to ignore it.

First and foremost, this is not written to offend anyone or upset anyone. I log in daily every morning for motivation. I understand that not everyone is a complete success with the lap band. However, I believe that if they look deep inside and evaluate the situation, they will see that the majority of the time the fault lies within. Of course there will be some where the band simply didn't work, but I believe that is the first excuse people throw when they don't see the weight coming off and staying off as they hope for. We all are different and will all lose weight at different speeds. I'm 17 months post op and have been a slow but steady loser. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want it lose it very fast. But for me, slow and steady seems to be the way my body and the band are working and I'm good with that. Every pound lost is one pound the right direction. However, for the people who say that they hate it...that their doctor lied to them... that they want it taken out and gone...can you do it without it?? If so, why in the world did you get it in the first place? From my experience, this is so much more of a mental journey than a physical one. If you absolutely hate your band and wish you have never done the surgery, that is your decision and I will respect that. However, I just don't want to continually read over and over again that the band failed someone. It is a simple medical device, that is all.

Or the first time since being banded!! No more soups!! No more chili!! No more purées!!! Last night I had some steak (medium rare), cut into pinky sized portions. Ate about three ounces. Had some cold slaw and mashed potatoes, too. All in all about 5oz. No sticking, no problems, but did I ever feel full!!
Now if that seams like a lot, keep in mind this time last month I was at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas kicking back a Quadruple Bypass Burger (2lbs of meat, not including the bun.) stacked with 15 slices of bacon, with a side of fries and two cokes. No feeling of satiety.
So to be able to go from 3lbs of food to 5oz, it's a damn miracle!!

I second that Premier Brand Ready To Drink Protein Shakes are very good.

If you want eggs then try soft poached - they are far easier to eat.

I am self pay also and my surgery is in the morning. What made me consider the lap band is when my nephrologist told me that I will develop kidney disease later in life because of my weight. I am already on Lisinopril/HCTZ for high blood pressure. You need to be healthy for you boys! They need you. I could have paid off my truck with those 10 g's but my health is more important. My kiddoes need me. You know, I came home from work one day and noticed that my legs were swollen......I actually had pitting edema like when I was pregnant. That edema sure as hell was a wake up call! Let's see....I already have hypertension, am overweight and my sis has Type I Diabetes! No thanks! I could already see my grimm future being overweight! I am scared to have the surgery but it's do or die! Stay positive! Consider this......maybe the general anesthesia is still lingering in your system and causing you to be down in the dumps...

So on April 16th was my 2 year anniversary with the Lap Band. I lost a total of 100 pounds. Felt awesome, but did nothing. It just fell off. Then had a major life move and stopped doing all I used to and slowly gained weight back. Found out I had a slip and had that corrected. Still gaining. I've gained a total of 36 pounds back. Depressed, hated my self and the band. The Band was a waste of money... blah blah blah......
Went to my doctor to whine and complain what a waste of money it was. Well he spent over an hour with me and we talked. I finally realized 3 things.
I DIDN'T EAT THE CORRECT FOODS.
I DIDN'T DO ANY EXERCISE TO HELP ME.
I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY SUCCESS OR FAILURE.
The doctor gave me a small fill to bring me up to 7.5 and I changed my attitude. Week later following a 1000 calorie diet, drinking my protien shakes, NOT drinking while I eat and only eating about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food, I've lost 9 pounds. Funny thing is, I am NOT hungry!!!!!!!!!
I feel different. Not bloated, more energy. Funny when you do the right things, good things happen.
Exercise? Well, still working on that. Walking a bit and doing some small weights but it's more than I used to.
So the moral of my story, when you start blaming the band look hard at yourself and say; "Am I doing everything I am required to do?"
Dr Myers in Greenville, PA is an outstanding Doctor that took the time to help me understand that my weight loss and future is in my hands. That small piece of plastic is not in charge, I AM!!!~!

Good luck with everything! I was banded in 2007 and recently "started over" so far since December I've lost 40 lbs, and I feel great! I'm officially less than 100 lbs from my goal, it can be done I promise!

This is one of the biggest things I am working on. I am doing so good right now with my eating and losing weight since I recommitted. Then I read about bad experiences, and about people who are miserable, hate their band... etc... and I get all depressed and worried that my success will be short lived. Stay focused on your experience. Everyone is different!!

Hey! I was handed in November like you and have about the same CCs in my band as you. I get this pain, you feel the food going through your asophegus and it hurts, then once it passes the pain is gone. it lasted for one bite when I was at my second fill, now it's the first 3-4 bites and longer if I don't chew well.
Here's how I avoid it: have something hot beforehand, Soup or tea, it relaxes your stomach. While you cook nibble on a few things, chew them really well while standing up, by the time you sit down you'll have gone past that first bite syndrome. Chew chew chew and rest your fork between bites. It's a long boring process to eat so keep busy with conversation or tv or a book or something...
The pain is mostly in your chest right? I think it is something normal with the band...

It took me a LONG time to listen to my band. I don't think my head was 100% in the game. I did really good for the first 6 months until I had my gallbladder surgery and then a port leak. Then I let everything go. I stopped following the rules.
The last few weeks I have re-committed and am actually LISTENING to my band. I am consistantly losing 1-2 pounds a week. I stopped eating out. Completely. I measure and weigh my food. I use smaller plates. I eat 3.5-4oz of dense Protein (usually Salmon) and 1/2 cup of green veggies (usually asparagus). And I stop. Sometimes I want more. Sometimes I feed some to the dog. On those nights when I can't eat as much, my "stop" signal is tightness in my chest, runny nose, hiccups, or I sigh. If I don't chew my first bite well enough I get stuck and slime.
It is AMAZING the difference when you slow down and follow the rules. A month ago I was eating out ALL the time with hubby, drinking with meals, eating waaay too much. I had the same fill level as I do now, but was eating around my band. I didn't want to deal with it. I didn't want to stop eating those foods. I didn't want to stop eating ice cream.
If you follow the rules your band will make itself known. I never get that full in the gut feeling. It is more of, I'm not hungry anymore. I evaluate each bite... Am I eating this because I am hungry or because it tastes good and I want more? Hopefully someday it will become less concious and more natural.

That is an awesome question and I hope lots of bandsters read and reply. What most bariatric patients don't know or aren't told is how/why the band works. There are a couple of sites out there that expain the true mechanics of the procedure and it's very interesting. When you eat and your food passes through the top part of your stomach where it leaves the esophagus, it stimulates a hormone to be produced telling your brain that you've eaten. It takes about 20 minutes foryour brain to get the message so... if you're slamming a bunch of food down super fast, you've already eaten way way too much by the time you get the stuffed feeling. That's the point of eating very slowly with the band. A meal should take at least 20 minutes.
I've been banded over a year but I figured out pretty quick that "full" doesn't feel the same as it did before. When I would get full before the band, I was full down in my lower belly and would get a tight bloated feeling. With the band, the feeling is up high. I confused "stuck" with "full" for several months before I finally figured out I'd eaten enough. Sometimes I can eat more at one setting than another which is really strange. My doctor said that your stomach is a moving organ and the band can be tighter from one day to the next or one meal to another. I've had instances where I take 1 or 2 bites of my meal and I start getting the heavy saliva build up, gurgling, etc. It makes me mad because I know 2 bites isn't really a meal and won't keep me satisified for very long. It's usually because I ate too fast or took too big of a bite. I set it aside and then finish it later on when I feel hungry again. My meal size changes based on the time of day. In the am, a shake is all I can handle. I drink a premier nutrition shake from costco. At lunch I have cottage cheese or tuna or salad w/some Protein. I eat Soup if I'm in a social setting because I rarely get stuck and don't ahve to worry about making a bathroom trip. I can eat a few crackers but not bread. dinner is protein, green veggies. I can eat a little Pasta but I have to be careful to eat super slow. I still struggle with night eating and since I'm not as tight late in the day, I can graze pretty easily so I have to really be focused and not let myself eat stupid stuff after dinner.

I dont mind answering.....
1) How Long ?
I've been banded a little over a year and I would have to say that it's still not normal. I have to be very careful to chew, eat small bites and slow down. This will always be in the font of my mind. I don think that should or would change.
2) Anything to Quicken Your Adjustment Period for normalcy?
Nope...Everyone has to learn on their own and in their own time.
3) Anything you wish you would have done differently?
I wish I would have stayed away from negative posts on this site...its just pointless to compare yourself with another banders success.

Hey People.
I would like to help you all with some modifications, so you can incorporate some Fresh veggies, and spices in the chilli, yet still get the authentic latino taste.
1. Substitute the Salsa...for something more homemade.
you will need...
2 Red Vine tomatoes- diced
1 Small Onion( Big equals Genetically modified)- diced
1 small bunch of Cilantro- chopped
1 small bunch of "Recao". Go to any latino market, supermarket and produce stand for that)---Chopped
1 Yellow Bell Pepper- Minced or diced
Optional------1 Jalepeno, crushed, or pureed w/2tbsp of olive oil or coconut oil
For the Taco Seasoning ( which has Tons of sodium) here is what you can use
Goya Sazon con Achiote- Low Sodium
or
3 tbsp- Paprika
1tsp- Salt
1tbsp- Crushed Black pepper
1tsp of onion powder
1tsp of Hot crushed red pepper
Use this mix for every 1lb of meat/or poultry....
If you guys need some more tips, don't fret to holla....
Much love and Success to you all.

Read a book. Do an activity you enjoy. Something to get your mind off of the obsessive thoughts of the food you want.
Don't give in. Divert those thoughts!!!

You are so me!!! Dairy Queen is EVIL!!!!Lol! Karen

Thank you guys for your input. I went to the Er the next am and they give me fluids and my dr took 2cc out and I immediately felt much better I guzzled so much Water after that it tasted like steak. Again thank you for all your advice.

What I have found from reading people's stories, 90% of the time people say "Lap Band didn't work for me" it should really read "I didn't work with my Lap Band"
Too often go into this surgery thinking it's some magic bullet that will make them lose weight without any work or change on their part. They don't follow up on their fills so they don't have any restriction and can eat as if they weren't banded at all. Or they eat small amounts but unhealthy foods, high in fat and calories. Some even eat around their bands, washing food through with Water so they can eat more or eating slider foods like crazy.
You must change your eating habits for a life time and work with your band. It's a tool and just like all tools if you don't use it correctly then it's not going to work.
It is pretty rare the band to truly fail someone, usually it's a matter of the person failing themselves.

Just stop eating around the band. Do it now before it becomes just another bad eating behavior. I mean it. Just stop.
I spent too much of my banded time eating around my band. It is REALLY hard to follow the rules once you know how to cheat them.
Start over now. Back to basics. Dont beat yourself up for past bad decisions. Just do it. Remind yourself of the reasons why you had this surgery. Don't self sabatage.
You can do this.

My doctor was adament about no smoking. And believe me, if you smoked your doctor smelled it as did the nurse and anyone else around you who doesn't smoke. Sorry but that's very true.

Just stop eating around the band. Do it now before it becomes just another bad eating behavior. I mean it. Just stop.
I spent too much of my banded time eating around my band. It is REALLY hard to follow the rules once you know how to cheat them.
Start over now. Back to basics. Dont beat yourself up for past bad decisions. Just do it. Remind yourself of the reasons why you had this surgery. Don't self sabatage.
You can do this.

My exercise has changed over the last year. At first I was walking 30 minutes about 5 times a week. As time went on I increased the intensity. Right now I am exercising 3-4 times a week. I mix in jogging and walking each with each workout. I am currently able to jog for 12 minutes without stopping. My goal is to run a 5K sometime in May-June.