YngGram

Hi VA ladies. I am here with you. I am in Northern VA, really King George. I had my surgery done by Dr. Brengman and it went really well. However, I have not been behaving the last year, so I am about to pick up the phone to make the needed appointment. Good luck on your journeys.

How long since your surgey? I was the gas master with Constipation for about 2 weeks. Almost every meal stills give me gas. Drink Drnk, and slowly ad somethin g that always makes you go. My personal treat is International Creamer with the first cop of cofffee. I am gurgelying right now. Keep some gax-X untill I settle down.

Thank you ladies! My husband is on me daily to eat. Most mornings I feel to tight (mental), I just know that my tummy is not yet open for business. I will have a coffee to get started, then some Water to do my meds. I look up and it's 3 and I haven't eaten anything. Yesterday I had a coffee, a shake and 2 bites out of a club sandwich. My tummy was still closed to business and I was fast reaching for my enzyme tablets! Two weeks ago I ate a hamburger no problem, I just never know what will go. I think it's best not to eat just to eat, but if we don't eat enough and get that water, we don't loose weight. Catch 22

It is crazy, but being to tight can be the cause. I don't think most docs would encourge you to do another surgery if there isn't a fixable problem with your band. He may just run an upper GI to see how things are flowing before he'll do anything. Good luck

I honestly don't feel the restriction, never have. Can't remember how much is in my band, but I know when I've had to much. Last summer I found that my band gets tighter when it's hot. I had a couple of bad "stuck" incidents and I just kept trying to eat. This made my stomach swell and the problem got worse. I ended up having an unfill to get relief. If I get in enough fluids and my Protein I loose weight, if I don't nothing happens. I rarely feel hungry, so I guess it's working like it should. The biggest thing is to get in front of and maintain your protions, because this is why the band works. My doc says that if I follow the rules of amounts, I won't fill full but satisfied. If I take my time eating and chew well I won't get stuck. It was wonderful for me, I got my 3/9 as a size 22, in May I got size 14 jeans for Mothers Day. Now 2 years later I am a 12/14 and happy to still be there, but I do treat myself a little to often. Cold weather, I want hot Soup, it's easy to eat to much and I don't get enough Water. Hot, well I am sliding back into southern sweet tea; this is my biggest downfall. It can be done. Just look closely at your amounts of food, get the protein in first. I think they told me 2 bites of protein for 1 of veggies or whatever. It does work, just stick with it.

First congrats on getting your band. I was an overnighter so I'm sure they were giving me something there. I was released with a slow release med tube. Pain and nauesa weren't a problem. I was on Protein Drinks and broth for two or three days, If I remember, I was told it might take over an hour to get 4 or 5oz. down. I just sipped and sipped. No straws! You will not starve, it is best to just do a little at a time as your tummy is still very swollen. My problem was the dang gas. It woke me the first night I was home. To combat this you need to move around. Just get up and walk through the house to help it move. Most important do whatever your doc told you to do for relief. These are the things I was told and they worked for me. Good luck

Getting in the Protein really isn't hard. I go for no less than 65g per day. Pick your favorite flavor and roll on. I am the same way, if it tastes nasty it aint going down. Slim Fast power or Canation Instant Breakfast with skim milk, touch of instant coffee, ice and a blender. 1/2 cup OJ, drop of lemon juice, 1/4c s milk, ice and blender. These two got me through in the beggining. Lots of smoothie receipes are out there. I can't stand soy protein, it does not disolve. I use whey power in vanilla from Wal-Mart, with whaterver fruit I have in the freezer. powder milk added to these will add extra protein. Good luck

You just may be eating to quickly. This happens to me when I do that.

I think you might look at the choices you make. Get your Protein around 80 a day, get in the water! And then there are regular meals. Try to eat about the same time every day if possible. Hunger has never been a problem for me and I have to be reminded that I need more than one meal a day. I am "starting over" tomorrow. I was banded 2 years ago and went from 240 to 178. I this without much exercise, giving up my sweet tea dropped 4lbs in about 2 days. I use a bread plate to eat from and I don't do seconds. I didn't reach the goal the doc set because I just think that 135 is to small for me at my age. It won't look good, and I did this to feel better and it worked. Winter is hard for me because I want Soups and chili and bread and hot chocolate. Warm weather it's easier for me to get my Water in and when it's hot I have never really wanted food. Also, when it is hot I am tight in the morning and can only sip down a Protein Drink. I mix in instant coffee and powder milk for the taste and extra protein. Keep working at it.

From what I have seen every person can eat different things. I can eat some days that I can't eat others. I even can eat something for lunch WILL NOT go down for dinner. With a fill your stomacha can be irriated and needs a few days to recover., My doc has me not eat before a fill and then liquids for 2 days and then 2 days of soft foods. Get in the Water, or at least a water based product like Crystal Light. I use a 32 oz McD cup, fill it and I'm done when I have drank it twice.

I have found that if my Water intake is down, so am I. I tend to let is slip in cooler weather. If my Protein intake is low, I am exhausted. No matter what I eat if it isn't the right stuff it doesn't do anything for me. If I don't try to be active I become a stone. While I really don't exercise, I try to move around the house doing the daily chores. I take an Iron pill twice a month, all my system is able to handle. Calcium, Multi Vitamins, B6, B12 and Biotin daily. I am over 50 and have many "life" issues that can keep me down. The supplements help me to feel better. You really need to eat, simply put the car needs gas (sry) to make it go. If you are tight in the mornings, I am, try a Protein Drink like Carnation Instant Breakfast or SlimFast with skim milk. Deli meat and cheese take care of my lunch, or a grilled chicken tender and a veggie at lunch. Somethings I have learned recently about how it is supposed to work is because my husband now has diabetes and food intake is his control. I wish this had been explained to me with the lap band. Our bodies just won't drop the weight if the right combinations and portions aren't provided. It is about so much more than calories. Also, sleeping might not be restful enough. To much sleep can be as bad as not enough. Try to put eating right and sleeping on a schedule.

Never have felt my band, but my port is right up front always. It is a little tilted and I swear it has a pimple on it on the inside but no pain.

Sorry but, HA HA! Over 2 years and gas is just with me. So much better than it was at first, it would wake me during the night. Now some foods more than others, if my first meal is heavy. Also if I eat, no matter how light and get in the car or sit for a long time. I guess I just need to move around so things can adjust.

It never crossed my mind!

Some people are to stupid for their own good! What if the same had been said to him? Men are really sensitive about the big changes they see in us. We can't help it, our attitudes change about ourselves, we dress a little different, a little more outgoing and we are happier. Age doesn't matter, I am 53 and I like it when people notice the change, it is hard work for us and the husbands are happy for us but not sure how our change will change the relationship. There is an older gentleman, at lest 75, with a portable oxygen tank that goes out of his way to speak to me when he sees me weekly. My husband teases me, but I find it funny that he is watching this old man.

I didn't have a hunger problem after surgery. I felt really lucky because it made it easier for me to work with the band. I lost weight, felt good and and very few issues. I can eat almost anything, even bread as long as I don't try to eat to much. I did have my Carnation Instant this morning, and I will try some turkey for lunch. I try not to eat just to eat because it gets me into trouble. My band is tighter in hot weather and some foods give me a little trouble, not getting stuck just uncomfortable after a bite or two. Last year I had to get an unfill, waited to long to go back and gained about 7lbs that I have been fighting ever since. I just have to keep my mind on what I'm doing so I am on track. I really thought that at 2 years I would have reached my goal. I am glad that I haven't gone back up to 200 so there is some happiness.

I was banded in March 09, I didn't loose as much as I would have liked but I found myself happy. My problem is that I don't get hungry. In the morning I am a little tight, Protein drink/slimfast got me going. I have become a coffee junkie so that's my start point. now. I am a late nighter and a late riser(10), my DH is usually fussing because 3 p.m. comes and goes and I still haven't eaten. I do about 4 cups of coffee and Water, but I just don't feel a need for food. HELP!

Sounds like you need a slight unfill. I keep Papaya Enzyme tablets with me to get relief when I forget to eat slowly and get stuck. I get it at Wal-Mart. Good luck.

I have had some bad moments because after having a fill in Oct. of last year my band tightened and starting in March I would have a problem every now and then. By June it was every meal. What helped was chewing 4 or 5 Papaya Enzyme tablets. I get them at Wal-Mart and always have them in my purse. I use them even when I get indigestion hours after eating. If I am stuck I just chew and head to the restroom, the pills will let the slime come and give me relief in minuets. I don't get much of a warning to stop eating, it is just one bite, and it's wrong NOW! Love my Papaya

I had my surgery on October 20, 2010. Healing well, eating better. However, because I won't get my first fill until November 30, I feel like I am a month behind in losing the weight. What should I expect for weight loss after my first fill? I know that everybody is different, but will I see any loss in the month after?:thumbup:

Congrats. Now remember the fills don't make you lose the weight, your choices will. What you eat and how much. I lost on my preop diet, eating what I thought was a lot of food. And right after surgery I lost and only had very little in the band. My first fill was at about a month and I continued to loose. Was banned in March as a size 22, for mothers day my daughter bought me size 14 jeans and they FIT! So yes the weight will come off if you follow the rules. Good luck.

We hear alot about streching the pouch, but does it shrink? There is the Pouch Test, and to me that seems to be the goal, and the docs seem to put patiens on 4 or 5 days of liquids to get them back on track. Does anybody know?

My band tighten on me after a fill in 10/09, all was well until March and once or so each week I would have a problem until it was every meal every day. Got an unfil in July, but waited until Oct. to get another fill. Gained about 12 pounds, mostly from stress eating and all the jeans I bought last year are just a little tight. I am so mad at me and the even after the fill the scale is not coming down. I am FIGHTING the urge to get up and have a Cinnamon bun right now.

I was banded on Sept 10 and have lost a total of 20 pounds, however I do not feel it is due to the band. I have been filled 3 times and the funniest things happen. Some days I feel restriction and other days NONE!! Can someone please tell me how to know if you need a fill or not?? I chalked the pbing up to not eating slowly and properly. I was able to eat a whole steak sub with no issue, I feel my portions should be alot less. Just wondering if anyone has this issue and if you are at your "sweet spot" how do you know that??

KP

Please keep in mind that you still have to make the choice about what goes in. There is no reason you should have even tried to eat that sub. bread usually doesn't go down well and beef is hard for many people to do. You could be setting yourself up for a really bad situation. The pain that will be involved will let you know that the Band has the real control. For me temps, what I ate the day before as well as how fast I eat make a difference. Make good choices and try to keep the food at 1/2c. It works if you work with it.

I sometimes feel that I have air trapped somewhere in the middle and it makes me feel like I ate a goat. I am bloated and uncomfortable even if I haven't eat in a while. It's as if I got in trapped when I ate and it just sat there until the food got down to it and added the pressure. It can't come up in a burp because of the food and it's blocked on the other end.

Very normal since they pump in gas to do surgery, it seems the body doesn't absore it right away. I felt bloated for about 2 weeks, lived for my GasX and I found it very uncomfortable/lightly painful for over a week. It does PASS!:frown: