cwm812

I did the same thing! I didn't start exercising until I had 80 lbs off. It really worked, and it kept me from hitting a big plateau. I never would have kept losing without exercising. Cindy

I think you may need a slight unfill. I've been banded as exactly as long as you and over the last 6-9 months, my band has gotten tighter. In fact, I have a checkup with my band doc tomorrow and I was thinking about asking for another slight unfill. I have 5.3 in my band right now. In the last few weeks, I've noticed more heart burn and reflux. Also, I find myself gravitating towards easy-to-eat foods like chili and Soups. I haven't been stuck a lot, but I know from previous experience that this means I'm getting too tight. When this happened last summer, I didn't pick up on it right away and it kept getting worse and worse. As soon as I got my unfill, I felt much better. Because I was able to handle more solid foods, I actually ate better and I ate less. I even lost 5 lbs right after my unfill. I'd go see your doc and see what he thinks. The good news is that if it gets worse, you will know what to do. Don't wait too long. Being too tight is not a good thing! Cindy

Thanks for the response. Even though I agreed to speak, I'm a little unnerved by it. I'm not the kind of person who has saved my fat jeans or documented this process with lots of pictures. Your tips will definitely help. Cindy

I've been asked to be the speaker at my surgeon's support group meeting next month. They've asked me to give just a general overview of my experiences with the lapband, It sounds boring so I thought I'd ask you for topics. What would you like to hear about from my 3 years of experience with the lap band? Cindy

I was given pills to take for pain immediately post-op. When I questioned taking pills, I was told I wouldn't have a problem, and I didn't. That said, last month I had another outpatient surgery (not band related), and I could just tell the stress of the process had really tightened my band. I took one look at the vicodin pill he prescribed for pain and decided to split it with my pill splitter. There was no way I wanted to risk getting stuck, just after surgery. I've never pulverized any meds or gotten the liquid equivalents. I always find it amazing how the advice varies from surgeon to surgeon. I trust my doc, but they can't all be right! Cindy

No pre-op liquids for me! My only instructions were to not eat after midnight the day of surgery. My doctor doesn't find the pre-op diet useful (I asked). Cindy

Let me tell you, when you lost a lot, it gets even worse. I've stopped telling most people how much I've lost. I hate that look on their face while their adding up the numbers and figuring out how much I used to weigh!

I think most of us take pills regularly, although there are some people who have problems. I'd give it a try. No one likes getting stuck, but I'd hate a lifetime of crushing my medicine. Cindy

Congratulations! I think you've figured it out! The idea is to live your life and lose weight. If it takes a little longer, so be it. This is not a contest to see who gets thin first. I always feel sorry for those people who think they can't eat anything fun, or need to eat in a certain order or at a certain time. Jeez...it doesn't have to be like that. Cindy

Rosie....I've got to agree with you about dieting. I got this band, so I could lead a normal life and that life doesn't include obsessing about my diet. I spent enough of my life counting calories, carbs and WW points. All it ever got me was heavier. I eat pretty much the way that you do. I eat very little fruit. It just doesn't seem to fit in. I do eat whole grains and veggies, but I try to skip as many white carbs as possible. For dinner, I do exactly what you do. I'm not making 2 meals! The only difference is that I do exercise. I work out on an elliptical 50 minutes 3 times a week. I didn't start exercising until I had lost 80 lbs and it was much easier to do. I think activity is going to be the key for you. I understand that it's hard. In the beginning, I just tried to add a little movement wherever I could. I'd take a few more trips upstairs in our house. I starting doing more gardening. I think you will do better when the weather warms up. The one thing about exercise is the more activity you get the easier it becomes. Cindy

Good luck, Carol! You'll find the whole process much easier when the band is in place. It's just the extra help you (and I need)! Cindy

I eat salad regularly and have never been stuck from it. The only problem I have with salad is if raw carrot are involved. Unless they are shredded, they get stuck easily. I'd give lettuce a try.

That's exactly what most "normal" people don't understand about the obese. I was always the star of any weight loss program I joined (WW, LA weight loss.....), until I failed. I'm good at following directions (if they make sense), but doing it for a lifetime with all the things life throws at you was another thing entirely. What I like most about the band is that, for me, it's like a leash. I can stray off the diet and overeat, but I can't go too far. I do have restriction and I have from day 1. Yes, I could down all the milkshakes and chocolate I want, but with real food, I can only eat about a cup. That keeps me from sliding down that perilous slope. I've been banded nearly 3 years and I have had my forays to the dark side. Every Christmas, I tend to eat all the goodies in sight for a couple of days and I gain a few pounds, but then after the holidays I am able to get back on track, with the help of my band. Once I start eating real food, I'm not hungry and I am able to get the weight off in a week or two. Another big difference between the band and all those diets, is that I don't feel deprived. I pretty much eat what I want to eat, but much, much smaller quantities. I keep my band pretty loose, so I can eat everything. It's a wonderful feeling to eat a cup of some fabulous dish and be just as satisfied as if you had eaten a huge portion. I do love junk food and sweets and there I do need to use some willpower, but I give into it regularly. I think the leash aspect of the band allows me to eat a small piece of cake and not half the cake. It's just what I needed for consistent weight loss and a happy life. Cindy

I know I sound like a cheerleader for the lapband, but I truly hate when someone is told that it doesn't work if you have >100 lbs to lose. Why wouldn't it work? You lose weight the same way regardless of what weight you start at. Fortunately, my doctor never thought that I was too fat for the band. He thought I would do well, but he never promised that I would lose all of my excess weight. Right now, I'm 28 lbs below where he thought I'd be. The band doesn't work this well for everyone, but I can tell you that you can lose 150 lbs and you don't have to be "perfect" or "fanatical" to do it. Cindy

Me, too. I've tried some of the pills, but I only got minimal help. The weird thing is that it doesn't seem to be related to anything I eat. It's pretty much constant. I will try the lemon juice. Any other ideas? I'm getting tired of being teased by my teenage sons! It's pretty bad when you can outfart an 18 year old boy! Cindy

Wow..I'm pretty surprised that your doctor said that. There are many WLS surgery patients who are great dieters, but who always gain it back. When I was your age, I lost 140 lbs. I exercised regularly. Then I got pregnant, too. Over the next 20 years, I kept losing and gaining the weight back. I'd lose 70 lbs here and gain 100 back.I did it at least 5 or 6 times. By the time my son was 10, I was over 300 again. The band is great for people like me (us?) because it gives the help we need to stick with it over the long haul. The success you've had dieting will only help you with this process. All that said, I truly believe that you shouldn't go down the surgery path unless you're sure. But I have to say, that I think you would do great. Cindy

Thanks for posting. It's great to know that I am not the only one who fights the junk food demons on a daily basis. I do allow myself some treats, but now that I'm trying to maintain, it's harder to know where the line is. I just said to my husband this afternoon that our family has been eating too much junk and we need to stop. I haven't gained any weight (yet!), but I know the way this goes and I am not gaining any of this weight back!! This lapband journey has been amazing, but I always have something new to learn. Maintanence is my latest struggle, too. We will win, we have to. Cindy

I have to agree with both of you. When your in the medical field a long time (20+ years for me), you see how this all works. I was really impressed that my doctor never tried to talk me into a bypass, even given my high starting BMI. In fact, I was told I would do well and that at 2 years out, most of their band patients had the same weight loss as their bypass patients. Sometimes I wonder if all this negative talk about lapband success has much more to do with the poor lapband aftercare at some practices than it does with the lapband itself. Surgeons like to do surgery. They like to cut something and fix it on the spot. The lapband isn't like that and the aftercare is at least 50% of this process. A successful lapband experience takes much more than a beautiful placement of the band. If you truly want a lapband, understand what you are getting and how the entire treatment plan works, not just the surgery. See which WLS fits into your lifestyle, not which one the surgeon likes to do. Cindy

Herb, What info do you want? I've had my band for nearly three years. My life is pretty much the same except I'm much thinner and eat really small amounts. I can eat all foods, but I do avoid soda and beer because they make me feel a little queasy. You do need to eat slowly and chew well, but I can't say that it effects my life very much. Eating out was a bit of a challenge in the beginning. I have learned to order an appetizer (or something small) and steer clear of the bread. I can eat bread, but if I go near the bread basket, I won't have room for my meal. Much of these types of changes vary from person to person, so my experience may not be relevant. I keep my band pretty loose, so I am able to eat everything and rarely get stuck. As far as weight loss, I am still losing, but very slowly. I got to my original goal weight at about 2 years 4 months, then I lowered my goal by 5 lbs and hit that a couple of months later. I still am losing about a lb a month, but I'm not really trying. I'm mostly trying to figure out how to maintain and if I want to lose more. If there's something specific you wondering about, let me know. Cindy

I'm guessing that you take a bigger swallow when you drink Water, but the other drinks you sip more slowly. I'd try drinking water fairly warm (if you can do that). It makes you sip, instead of gulp. You might even try a straw. Many doctors don't want their patients using straws, but I tend to sip more slowly when I drink with a straw. Cindy

I don't know why it works, but I take these enormous pills every morning and I don't have any problem with them. You might want to try it and see how it goes. For whatever reason, anything in a capsule form (no matter the size), I can take. Solid pills, like large vitamins make me feel nauseous, but don't get stuck. Go figure...

I certainly agree with the poster who said to do the research and makeup your own mind. I went to a seminar for the bypass and I knew that I wouldn't even consider it. For me, it was the band or more endless tries of diet and exercise. The sleeve wasn't readily available when I was banded. For me, the key is that the band is adjustable. That point creates a few problems (lack of restriction early on, ...), but it also gives you incredible flexibility. I've tried keeping it tight and I've learned that looser is better. I am able to eat everything, although there are days when I am tighter and I have trouble with a few foods (mostly chicken). I plan on having my band for the rest of my life. I don't know what health issues may crop up, but I like knowing that I can have the band unfilled or even removed if needed. Try doing that with a bypass or a sleeve. Surgeons, for the most part, like to do a surgery and have it over with. The aftercare required with a band is generally not their strong suit. I think that's why so many prefer the bypass. I am fortunate that at my practice they have a bariatric specialist who does the aftercare. They let the surgeons do the surgery and a medical doctor handle the rest. It really works well. Cindy

I'd think about a small unfill. After about 2 years, my band tightened up and I started getting signs that took me a few months to add up. Once I figured it out and had the unfill, every problem was solved and I rarely got stuck any more. My only regret is that it took me months to put all the clues together. The signs I had were: lots of gurgling after eating (to the point of being embarassing) acid reflux at night trouble eating solid Proteins Trouble drinking normally in the morning (I had to sip slowly) Since I knew that a lot of this was normal band stuff, I didn't think I was too tight. The difference for me, was that none of this happened before. The best thing about an unfill is that if it doesn't work, you can always go back and have more added.

Honestly, I'm not sure if you're too tight or too loose! If you're mainly eating sliders or you can't eat enough during a meal, you are going to be hungry. Last summer, my band started getting tighter for whatever reason. I started eating Soup and chili constantly. I'd supplement that with chocolate and ice cream, occasionally. Although, I was eating very small amounts, I didn't lose any weight. Eventually, I decided that I was tired about getting stuck all the time and I went to my doctor and told him that I didn't care if I never lost another pound, but I hated living like this. I asked for a small unfill. He wanted to remove .5 cc, but I said only .2. It was magical. I felt so much better. My stomach stopped making weird noises everytime I ate and I could eat some solid Protein. I went back 3 weeks later and had the other .3 cc removed. Now I could eat almost everything and (here's the best part) I lost 5 lbs after the unfills. Eating solid food, is definitely a key for me. Since then, I've only lost a few more lbs, but honestly, I'm not trying to lose right now. I'm pretty happy where I am. Foxglove is absolutely right, that most people are too complacent about their health care. I'm just not sure if a fill is the answer for you. I'm very lucky. My practice has a bariatric specialist who is NOT a surgeon. He does all the after care and he is excellent. I will say this. I'd try something and I'd start with your doctor. No matter which way you decide, you will know in a couple of weeks whether it is working. If it is doesn't work, there's always the other option. I hope you find what works for you. Cindy

You should always follow your doctor's instructions, but it's fairly common to not have a pre-op diet. My only instruction was to not eat after midnight the day of surgery. Except in rare exceptions, my practice (Center of Excellence) doesn't require a pre-op diet. I, like you, was stressed over the impending surgery and ate horribly. All went well. Despite a high BMI, there were no problems with my liver and surgery went very well with no complications. Cindy