MistyD65

Where in your body do you feel the squeezing sensation?

You know, fills and good after-care are such VITAL parts of being banded that they should be included in the price of everyone's surgery cost - as many or as few as are needed. Not that that is likely to happen, but it should. Having the right amount of restriction is the make-or-break factor in the success of most bandsters. I think the statistics on weight-loss with the band would go way up if everyone got the same standards of follow-up in the year after surgery. Having said that, RUN, don't walk, to make an appointment for a possible unfill. Take your paperwork that shows where you were told that fills are covered for a year. They may say that the $110 for "office visit" is something separate - if so, that information should have been upfront before surgery. Either way, this is your health. Be an advocate for yourself and get everything you are entitled to, and work with your surgeon to get that band working for YOU!

Huzzah!! :hurray:Thanks Alex

Rice is one of those foods that seems to give a high percentage of banded people a problem. So it's not surprising that you had trouble with it getting stuck. If you try it again, take tiny bites and chew well, and if it STILL gets stuck, you may just have to write it out of your diet in the future. I eat no-fat, sugar-free yogurt for breakfast every morning and will sometimes have either an egg or a low-fat string cheese stick with it. Lunches are usually 1/2 cup chicken or tuna salad with crackers, and 1/2 cup of vegetables or fruit. Supper is usually my big meal with my husband. I'll have 3 oz of grilled chicken, grilled hamburger patties, baked fish or some other meat plus 1/2 cup of vegetables. I'm not a person who requires a lot of variety in my meals. Some things I try to keep on hand are low-fat cheese sticks, light yogurt, refried Beans, eggs, high-Fiber crackers, canned and frozen vegetables, bananas, apples, Peanut Butter, South Beach High Protein Cereal Bars, canned tuna and chicken in Water.

It is different for almost everyone. My doctor just wanted me on a high protein, low-carb, low-fat diet. Some require a diet of liquid protein shakes. The purpose is usually to try to reduce the size of your liver before surgery.

You've been banded less than two weeks. Most doctors would still have you on a liquid or mushy diet. This is a time for healing, for letting the band settle into it's place around your stomach and for the stitches placed around it to heal. Eating solid foods would not be the ideal thing for your band right now. I'd say you are uncomfortable when you eat because you really shouldn't be eating much yet. What are your surgeon's post-op diet requirements? As far as eating habits go, that is something that you are going to have to work on yourself. Have you always been one to eat very little during the day, then go wild at night? Or is it just a result of the discomfort you get when eating now?

What exactly are your "concerns about social situations?" That phrase intrigued me. I initially thought you were referring to having to eat so much less, until Restless Monkey mentioned the possibility of nerves causing more restriction. I'd like to know what your concerns are.

Last week: 254 This week: 253.4 0.6 loss for a total of 50.6. I was really afraid I would be up this week, so just over half a pound lost is fine with me! And that's even after having half a Cuban sandwich at Cheesecake Factory last night. Granted, I did have broccoli rather than fries, and I ate about 1/3 of the half of sandwich without bread, so I'm sure that helped. Slow and steady wins the race!:tongue2: Oh, I almost forgot - I was chosen as "Queen of Committment" at my Curves for December! I've been going faithfully Monday-Friday since I joined at the beginning of October, except for the almost 2 weeks I was out of town. And even then, I managed to get in 3 work-outs at a Curves there. I really enjoy my work-outs and they make a world of difference!

I agree. You are seriously going to be dragging after a few days on zero calories. I was only taking in 300 a day for the first week and I was very shakey and weak by the 5th day. My doctor only required clear liquids on Day 1. Then modified full liquids for 3 weeks, which was basically 2 oz of liquids (which included low-sodium broth as well as fruit juice mixed 50/50 with water) every 15 minutes. In addition, I was to drink 2 oz of a Protein drink every hour. Good luck sticking with your doctor's requirements. If it was me, I think I'd have to double or triple check to make sure I couldn't also have broth or something with a few calories in it. As it is, take it easy and don't be surprised to feel the effects. Take care!

Thank you for the update Diane. I'm so glad your daughter is doing well. I hope she will indeed be able to continue to have some of the positive effects of being banded, even without having one in place.

Yeah, most of the time "my band slipped" is inaccurate. It would more properly be said that "my stomach slipped". And it's shameful how many people are practically abandoned by their doctors after being banded. That's why I was determined to find a surgeon with a team approach and good aftercare. And even then, I found out much more about the day-to-day living with the band here on LBT than from my surgeon.

Joi, you have the right attitude to make this work.:scared2: A wonderful meal idea I picked up here is chicken and tuna salad made with Tostitos Spinach Dip. Just mix canned tuna or chicken with the dip. I use about 3 tablespoons of the dip with 1 big can or 2 regular sized cans, and add some Splenda-sweetened pickle relish. It has much less fat than making it with mayo. I usually have 1/2 cup of the salad with some high Fiber crackers, and some fruit. It is my lunch most days, and I find myself craving it! You could also probably eat it with some salad greens. If you will make it a point to eat Protein first, I think it will really help you. I went on a sandwich kick a couple of weeks ago, and even though I was using a high fiber/low calorie bread I could still feel the effects of the higher carb count. It made me want more, and I got hungry faster too. And smaller bites with lots of chewing are a MUST! You may find that there are some things that you just can't eat, no matter how much you chew them - eggs, bread, fibrous veggies seem to be common culprits. But for the most part, small bites and chewing well will allow you to eat many things. You can do it!!:cursing:

Diane, I was thinking along the same lines. Diane (the original poster) said that her daughter's band had slipped twice before, which made me wonder if she had been thowing up a lot - not just PBing - because that seems to be one of the primary causes of slippage.

Wow, her band has really done a number on her! I'll keep her in my prayers as she has surgery. Surely they will use a brand new band if it is decided to put one back in place. With the unexplained loss of fills in the one she has, it would seem to be called for.

Lisa, I think this is what you are looking for: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f30/anyone-jacksonville-20865/ It is in the Lap Band Support Groups Forum >Local Lap-Band Support Groups >USA Local Lap-Band Support>Florida Local Lap-Band Support Hope that helps!

Thank you!

You are in Houston? I'm in Katy. Who did your daughter's banding? And thanks for your kind words. I've lost more weight since my surgery than I've ever been able to lose before, and I'm excited to start working on the 2nd 50 pounds. :cursing:

I don't get the Quick Links drop down menu when I click on it on the Home page. It works on the other pages, as far as I can tell. This has just started either today or yesterday.

Is the twist between the upper pouch and the band, or between the band and the stomach below? (Trying to get a visual) I hope everything goes well for your daughter. I've said a prayer for her, and for you.

I weighed on Friday and was 254. That's down 4 pounds, only 6 to go!!!

LisaMarie, if it is taking you a whole hour to eat, the reason you are not feeling full may be that the food you are eating is already beginning to move through the band into your stomach. Eating too slowly can be as problematic as eating too quickly, for that reason. Most recommendations I've seen for meal length is 20-30 minutes. If you are taking small bites and chewing well you should not be PBing and sliming regularly. It is quite possible that you are too tight. You don't want to be so tight that you start turning to "easy" foods to escape from PBing.

Here's a link to the FAQ about abbreviations used here: Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - FAQ: Lap-band Abbreviations PB: Productive Burp -- what happens when something eaten can't go down due to restriction has to come back up. Different than vomiting, because the food is not coming back out of your stomach through the band again. And slime refers to the thick saliva that usually accompanies a pb. Your body's attempt to lubricate what is stuck in your esophagus to get it OUT! lol

Tracie, 44 pounds since October 16th is AWESOME!! A loss of 1-2 pounds a week (after the big initial post-op drop most people have) is right where we should be. Anything over that is a bonus. And weighing twice a day has the potential to be less than helpful, and even discouraging. Weight fluctuates during the day and day to day for any number of reasons. Set yourself a once a week "weigh-in day" and let THAT be your official weekly weight. I admit, I do usually step on the scale every morning, but I don't give much importance to those numbers. I certainly don't let one day's slight gain get me down because I know, if I'm doing what I'm supposed to, it will more than likely be lost and then some by Friday (my weigh-in day). You are doing a wonderful thing for yourself, as we all are! Congratulations for taking control and living the life you want.:cursing:

I only used ready-to-drink Protein drinks after my surgery. I really liked the Muscle Milk chocolate Malt flavor. Labrada Lean Body Strawberrys and Cream was also good. ANd if you are looking for something that's NOT a shake, Designer Whey's Protein Blitz drinks are excellent. They come in Orange Mango, Grape and Fruit Punch and taste like Kool-aid to me. I have to say, I hated the EAS ready-to-drink shakes. But that was just me. I've heard some people say they hated Muscle Milk. Before I had my surgery I did extensive taste-testing of Protein Drinks, since I knew I would be on them pretty much exclusively for 3 weeks post-op. I went to GNC and the Vitamin Shoppe and bought individual drinks, then sat down one day with my husband and tested each one. Found some I couldn't stand, some that would do in a pinch, and the ones that became my go-to drinks. It was well worth the money and effort for me.

This waiting time is a good chance for you to see if you can make the lifestyle/eating changes that you MUST make to be successful with the Lap Band. You will have to change your eating habits, and for many of us the band is not much help at first. It takes some time to get to the right amount of restriction after healing from surgery, and during that time you are pretty much going to be depending on the change in your eating habits for weight loss. The one thread that runs through everyone's Band experience is that the Band is only a tool. It is up to you to use the tool in a way that makes it work most effectively. But it IS a marvelous tool, and I'm so thankful I have mine. :cursing: Good luck and best wishes as you begin this journey!