mrsteacher

I had to have my band removed. I wasn't having complications, however for some reason the nerves in my upper part of my stomach didn't tell my brain I was full. I don't know. I could eat as much as I could before the band, even when I was at max fill. I have a friend who is doing well, but I eat with her every day at lunch and she can still eat more than I can. I have never been a big eater, so maybe my normal full was the same a lapband full. I only had the band for 6 mo. I have lost 35 pounds, but that was due to the strict diets that go along pre and post op.

The surgeon is a little baffled because of the lack of restriction, but was told that if he moved the band down an inch or so, the nerves would register fullness. I went back in for an adjustment, but was sad when I woke up to find that they had to remove it because I have an artery that leads to the liver too close to the stomach. Oh well, my next step is to make sure that I am not insulin resistent. I don't eat a lot and exercise 4-5 times a week hard (~600-700 calories burned each time.) I take synthroid daily. I am now back to being frustrated and feel like there is no hope again. UUGGHH!

I had my band put in in Feb. I am going in on August 3rd for a revision of some kind. I don't even think the Dr. knows what he is going to find. I have no problems except that I have never had great restriction. He said that nothing has slipped because I had the upper GI. He filled the band to max and still no restriction. I was told something about a phantom band, whatever that is.

Has anyone ever heard of the band coming unclasped. I am hoping that is what they find. I am not looking forward to the surgery again. If my insurance covered it, I would get the sleeve.

Its great to hear everyone is doing so well. I am down 51lbs and I have to say I feel great, I LOVE buying new clothes, and people are really starting to notice the changes. I have had four fills since the surgery (not counting the first fill they put the band in with) and the last one I think I have hit my limit so I am hoping my weight loss will speed up a bit from here.

I am glad that all Feb. Bansters are doing well. I am sorry to say that I must be the statistic for not working. I have had three fills. I am at the max as far as the amount. Now that I still have no restriction, I have to have another surgery to see what is going on. Something about a phantom band. Whatever, i think more that they don't really know. I am waiting on insurance so that they can redo it. I am still down 30 pounds, but working my butt off to stay here. Keep up the good work. It gives me hope that eventually mine will work for me.:tongue:

I had surgery on Feb. 16th. I am a little confused. I have had three fills. The first one was 6 weeks after surgery. I know that I am at capacity for fills and I don't have restriction. I had an upper GI and everything looked in place. the surgeon inquired about having no restriction and being at capacity. I don't have a leak because he pulled all the Fluid out and measured it. Now they call it a phantom band. Something about nerves blah blah blah. basically what it means is that I have to do the surgery and again and have the band lowered. uugghhh! Anyone else have this phantom band?

I was banded in Feb. I had my third fill yesterday. The surgeon had me get an upper GI because he put quite a bit of fill in on the second trip. He wasn't sure why I wasn't having the restriction. GI came back okay, but he said it looks the same as the day of surgery. He thought that I had a leak. Yesterday he removed all of the Fluid to find that the total amount was still in there. He said that for the particular band i was at capacity. He is somewhat baffled that I don't have the restriction. He said that he will continue to tweek it. I am on fluids for 48 hours. I guess time will tell.

I kind of think of a funnel. When I drink, I figure as long as I drink slow enough that the liquid can flow through the band at a steady pace I am okay. If I drink too fast the opening can't keep up with the flow and backs up into the stomach while waiting to catch up. I might not be even close, but that is my visual.

Yeah, I figured it out.

Good Wednesday to all! We are half way through the week.

Exercise roll call - today, I walked for 20 minutes and did about 10 minutes of step.

What did you all do?

Traci

I started Monday with 30 min. and 1 1/2 mile. Tuesday I didn't go to the gym, Today I walked for 45 min. which ended up being 2.5 miles and almost 300 calories burned. I am slowly increasing my speed, but want to start off somewhat slow. I am lucky because my small town has a great workout facility and I see many of my friends when I go in. It is almost like a meeting place. I want to start lifting, but haven't been given the go ahead yet. Good luck everyone. While i am on the treadmill, I plan my summer outfits. Makes the time go faster.:confused:

hey i am in with the excericise report. although I dont love to excercise, it doesnt bother me to do it. i actually am a little displined and do the elliptical precor machine every morning for 35 minutes on the weight loss cycle. i was banded on 2/4 and have lost only 13 pounds since and seem to be gaining weight since i started eating although i have not exceeded 900 calories on any given day. it is frustrating. i have gained 3 pds since i satrted eating on wednesday the 24th. im not sure what the problem is. i was so hungry today i ate a piece of chicken too fast and as my old habits would have it i did not chew up my food and had my first throw up, it was painful whe the food got stuck. now i am scared that my band may slip. any advice???

Don't get discouraged. Maybe you are building lean muscle mass from working out. I was banded on the 16th and just started back walking about 1 1/2 miles yesterday. I didn't walk fast, just took my time. It was only 35 minutes, but it was a start. I have lost a total of 25 since the pre-op and post op diet. I have to start a lower dose of synthroid; that scares me. I am afraid that the weightloss will slow down because of that. We will see.

Hello I was banded on Feb. 16th, can someone give me hope on this post op diet

What is your pre-0p diet? Everyone seems to be different.

Chrissy,

You will be fine...2 weeks out you will be able to eat all the things that you used to, with a few exceptions. I cut out bread/doughy things, rice, soda, cake-like items...but I have never actually known if they cause problems, I just decided to limit those things, or not eat them at all, and I have had no issues, and I was banded 2/13. You will be fine, it was one of the easiest surgeries I have ever had. Good luck!

iq

*e

I had my surgery on the 16th. When were you allowed to eat other foods besides liquids? I am suppose to be able to start mushies on Monday. I have to admit, i had eggs this morning. I am very active and I feel like I am out of steam with the liquids. The egg went down okay, and I feel fine. If I feel like everything is good, tonight, I might have low fat refried Beans. Am I wrong for having an egg today, instead of waiting until Monday?

I had a 40ishm BMI, and I haven't always been big. I started about 10 years ago. I kept complaining to the doctor that I was gaining tons. She blamed it on my age at the time. I was 30. She checked my thyroid a couple of times, and it would always come back normal, but the highest range. Finally after 5 years and not being able to lift my arms because of weakness she checked it again and I was off the roof. I wonder if she would have given me medication when I was 160 pounds I would have gained the weight. Now I am on it, and can't eat small enough portions on my own to lose the weight. I am hoping that the lap-band works because it limits my food intake to what my body will burn off using the sythroid. Sometimes I wonder if I could have lost it one more time on my own. Sure, but I would not be able to eat such small portions forever, and I would gain it back. I am glad I made this choice.

Thanks Babe, I was lucky that I didn't hold too much gas and liquids. You will probably lose more than three pounds. It might be taking your body a little longer to get rid of all that was put in it. I don't think that I will continue at that rate.

I had my surgery on the 16th. I have also lost around 21 pounds so far. I lost 11 pounds on the low carb. pre-op and 10 pounds since the 16th. It's been one week to the day. I am feeling much better today. Port is a little sore, but I am not reminded of it everytime I move.

Unjury does have a chicken Soup. I haven't tried it, but I have the unflavored and the chocolate. I like both of them. The chocolate can be used for make believe chocolate milk. It really does taste good. The unflavored goes well in crystal light. It makes it a little different, but not much. I was told that clear liquid protien means to mix with Water or crystal light. No milk. I think that your liver will be fine. I was on a low carb. high protien two weeks before surgery. Even the night before I had two beef patties with no bun for supper. Dr. said my liver looked great. I didn't cheat, but kept with the diet.

Six days out and i was able to coach my 15's volleyball team all day at a tournament. I am not always careful when I throw a ball or bend to pick one up and Im sure that I might feel it tonight. hard part was not eating throughout the day. I couldn't eat any concessions, so I had two protien drinks and Water. By the end of the day I was feeling pretty weak. I get burpy whenever i eat or drink. I really hope that goes away.

Banded on Feb. 16. I feel great. I will say however that I am hungry. I have two weeks of full liquids, then can start mushies. I was told the reason not to cheat is because your stomach needs to digest non-liquid foods which can cause the band to slip. I had an easy time, but I do not want to do it again. I can eat cream of wheat. I don't have trouble getting it down, but I make myself only the few ounces that I am allowed to have. I keep thinking that at 5 weeks I won't have a fill and I will be healed. I am going to have a few bites of Mexican food. I don't think that we can deprive ourselves of a normal diet. We just need to be careful not to over do it.

I had mine on Monday. I felt wonderful. I thought "cake walk." Now it is Wednesday morning, and I am much more sore. Not unbearable, but the port and fullness has made itself known. Still, I am feeling good. Tuesday might be a little early, but i guess it can be done.

i only have to have Clear Liquids for the first 48 hours. Then I get full liquids. I have no swelling so I am drinking more than 1 oz of Soup. I have to have 60 oz. of liquid.< /p>

I teach 5th grade. I had my surgery yesterday. I am very lucky that I didn't have any of the gas pain. I remember from my gall bladder surgery that was the worst pain. I dodged a big one. I am feeling really good. Of course I have some pain in the stomach, but really am happy with the pain level. I took two weeks off of school. I didn't want to take any chances. fluids are going dow easily which I am happy for. Helps get my fluids it. A teacher that I work with is also getting lap band in march. I was her guinee pig.

I am hoping that the swelling will keep me from being hungry for at least a little bit.

were you not able to sleep at all? I go in the morning. UUGGHH! I am nervous, but they say that is normal. right? I have lost almost 12 pounds on my pre-op diet and I am now under a 40 bmi. I am glad that they take the initial weight. the weight has come off fast, but there is no way I would be able to do this high protien and low carb. diet without the help for a long period of time.

Okay, I am even more nervous. I visited the forum of people who had to get thier bands removed for this reason or another. Probably the wrong thing to look at this close to surgery :thumbup:

I get banded on the 16th. I am nervous, but ready. I passed the valentine party test. I have been on the pre-op diet of high protien and low carbs. I didnt cheat at all, even when my students had their valentine party. My classroom smelled like a chocolate factory. I didn't have one bite. I used crystal light to lean on. Not the same, but I am proud of myself.

You are so lucky not to have to do a liquid diet!

Have you found the Feb. '09 section yet? I bet you'll find someone with a 2/16 date there, if you haven't found one already.

I have to be on this diet for two weeks. I had eggs for Breakfast and chicken for lunch. I sent all of the house goodies to my daughters in college. My poor son who is still at home is wondering if he is doomed to chicken for the rest of his home life. My husband has dedicated himself to better eating. He isn't over weight, but he could make some better choices. Crystal light is keeping my cravings controllable. Day one almost down. I better go to sleep now (3:30 in the afternoon, :tongue:)