2muchfun

I've found that most PCP/GP docs know only what they've read in their journals. No real life experience so they just mime the old tried and true, "eat less and exercise more" slogans. I've seen some banders revise to the sleeve and early on they seem to be successful. It's somewhat new so there isn't the data there to say it works all the time and continues to work? I know a gal in our support group who had the sleeve from the start and she's experiencing the same problem you speak of but she's having a difficult time controlling those cravings. For me, I've stalled now for nearly 2 years. But I know why? Me. I've fallen into this maintenance mentality and as long as I stay within 10 lbs of my initial 50 lb loss I've convinced myself that's enough(but it's not). The band still helps me eat less and I still eat healthy 90% of the time, but the cheats, Snacks and slip-ups are holding me back. So I got nobody to blame but me. Good luck.

Sounds like the only one who needs to get his butt kicked is married to you?

I spent some time looking back on some of our previous conversations. Did you follow through with the 1900 calorie a day diet routine your dietician recommended?(This makes me question the sanity/competence of this professional) Most of us do not diet. As you know, the band helps us feel satisfied with less food, much less unhealthy food. We try to eat healthy and exercise. And you need to burn 3500 calories to lose 1 lb of fat. You may lose 5-10 lbs of excess fluids our bodies store in the first few weeks so don't be deceived you're losing 1-2 lbs of fat a day. You may lose some fat but it's mostly Water. And I have to disagree with your nut. The band does not stop working.imo I think our bodies do tend to slow down on weight loss as we get to our set point but if you continue to burn more calories than you consume, it's inevitable that you will lose more fat but it may be painstakingly slow. But I doubt you'll lose any fat if you consume 1900 cals/day. Just remember why you did this in the first place? Most or all of us had WLS because every diet we tried failed us. Sometimes diets were successful, but maintaining that weight loss became impossible.

^5 Keep that attitude.

Find an exercise you like or love and it becomes so much easier.

My doctor said that our esophagus and pouch become more efficient at pushing food across the band making it seem like we have less restriction. Makes sense to me. Before the band, food just fell into our stomachs and now food has to be pushed and massaged through our stoma. As time goes by the muscles that contract to create peristalsis gain strength. This makes our pouch a more efficient machine. jmo tmf

Dill? As in dill pickle or dill the spice? Do you chop the shrimp into pieces?

Worms, I hate worms.

Don't mess around with dehydration! Keep an eye on this and keep sipping. If you start feeling symptoms of dehydration such as dark urine, headaches, extreme thirst, call your doctor and get your fannie in asap But I get the allergy thing. Just be wise and don't be a hero just to lose weight. Losing Water weight will just come right back as soon as you hydrate.

Hey cuz. Everyone's weight can go up and down 5 lbs in one day. It depends on how much you drink, TOM, sodium input, illness or stress. Don't sweat the scale going up or down now or even in the future. One day does not change the direction the scale is going unless you fall off the wagon for weeks. One day, even if you follow all the rules, your weight can go up or down, so if you're going to weight yourself every day, don't expect the scale to know the difference between a Water gain and fat loss. BTW-I was Danny Waggoner all through elementary school. I'm going to be checking out that Jack Daniels connection too. tmf

Hope someone from the UK is monitoring this thread so they can cast some light on how this works in your part of the world? Here(U.S.), it's either patient pays, insurance paid or aftercare is all part of the package. You definitely need a new doctor? You're in the right forum, but the topic headline and initial comments were confusing. Sorry. So, here's what I suggest: Start a new thread in the Lapband support forum. Just click on this link: http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/16-general-lap-band-support/ and start a new topic. Maybe the headline should be: Need UK Help Please? The headline may grab someone's attention who may understand your situation better? All of us here can walk you through how to make this work for you but the aftercare costs and who pays may be beyond our expertise? Hang in there, you can still make this work. tmf

I had no pre-op diet. Most people have a 2 week pre-op diet to shrink the liver. That will be up to your doctor. Some insurance programs require a 6 month supervised nutritional/dietary program? If you're having surgery in New Zealand, not sure what kind of insurance you have if you do? Best if you ask your surgeon and whoever is paying for the surgery?

All I read was a rant? What kind of help do you want? You said you were having it removed? Why not keep it and make it work?

I was thinking the same except maybe we're being "Punked"?

Why does the band not work? Oh, yeah, bands don't work, patients have to work? What a concept!

My vote is yes. I did.

Do you track calories and how many a day?

I feel so important now!!

You should pm Alex Brecher about this?

Sometimes the vagus nerve can be damaged or if there's some extra pressure on the nerve you can get a pain on the left side of your neck and shoulder.

Here's some videos that can re-acquaint yourself with your band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa3Lwt6ElIs&list=UL Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4jYJipQ7vc part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbdhf44ZweI&feature=relmfu Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF3TCKUn3YI Part 4 And here's another aid: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

Congrats on the NSVs. When you get stuck next time you shouldn't sip any Water or anything. Your pouch and esophagus are filled and adding water or Fluid on top of the food only pushes up against your pouch and esophagus. Can make it all take longer with more pain. jmo

I think they use some kind of algorithm including how many people like your comments and how many comments you've made.

Congrats! You're doing much better than most. What food do you want to eat and don't say cake or ice cream, that's a given Most of us just try to eat healthy and occasionally we all fall off the wagon for a day. Before band many of us would spiral into weeks or months of staying off the wagon. But now, the band helps to curb those cravings so it's so much easier to climb back on that wagon and pick right up where we left off. Don't beat yourself up if you fall once. It'll happen someday, just pick yourself up and start again.

Kaela, it's common courtesy here to at least like or acknowledge when people take the time to respond to your comments/questions?