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.

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.

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:

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.

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

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.