health1st

Myra, I eat A LOT more than than what you are. But I think you are doing it right. My Doc said 3-4 ounces 5 times a day. It really isn't that much, especially if I'm exercising. I wonder how people do that too?! Janey, I only got a glimpse of what was going on but it was nasty and in my opinion, somewhat immature. Someone was having a melt-down. From the little I read, I think it was the right thing to ban them. They seemed to be way out there.

LindaV, when I stepped on the scale at the Docs yesterday, and I thought about turning around and spitting, thanks to you! 3loves, my weight loss had really slowed so I just got my first fill too, Sept. 6. Too soon to tell if it is enough, BUT I had some pain just eating cottage cheese with a few blueberries for the first time last night. I didn't like it. No PB's but it hurt. I'll avoid that at any cost. I don't think I'm gonna make the Sept challenge and be under 200. BUT I can ride my bide 6 miles (up hills) and swim 3/4 of a mile and I feel great. So I'm happy. Hopefully the fill will help the weigh loss. It really makes me afraid to eat tho.

Popped my cherry! (Do people still say that?) Got my first fill yesterday at 18 weeks postop. 1.5cc in the VG band. QUESTION: this is new to me, I've never PB'd. How long does it take to feel pain from something you ate that doesn't sit right? I did fine on liquids and mushes. Then 8 hrs after fill I ate some softend blueberries with cottage cheese. About 45 minutes later I had a LOT of pain in my chest, at the bottom of my breast plate. It lasted about 20 minutes with pain in my left shoulder (like gas). I thought I was having a heart attack. I burped and burped and it finally went away. Can you get pain so LONG after you eat something? Getting used to this restriction may take some patience for me. Being very careful today.

I've always thought that my body took every calorie possible from food. And this makes sense. For our past of feast or famine it would be a good thing, but not so good for these days of feasts.

Newbie section is great idea...that way all the repeated questions that end up in all forums could be in one place. It took me a while to figure out searches. It would be good for newbies.

Interesting research on microorganisms contributing to obesity. Bugs in our guts!! New York Times-August 13, 2006 Excerpts "If microbes do turn out to be relevant, at least in some cases of obesity, it could change the way the public thinks about being fat." "I wanted to find out everything Gordon knows about the bugs in our guts, and how those bugs might contribute to human physiology — in particular, how they might make some people fat. " .......... Gordon first began studying the connection between the microflora and obesity when he saw what happened to mice without any microbes at all. These germ-free mice, reared in sterile isolators in Gordon’s lab, had 60 percent less fat than ordinary mice. Although they ate voraciously, usually about 30 percent more food than the others, they stayed lean. Without gut microbes, they were unable to extract calories from some of the types of food they ate, which passed through their bodies without being either used or converted to fat. ...........Gordon likes to explain his hypothesis of what gut microbes do by talking about Cheerios. The Cereal box says that a one-cup serving contains 110 calories. But it may be that not everyone will extract 110 calories from a cup of Cheerios. Some may extract more, some less, depending on the particular combination of microbes in their guts. “A diet has a certain amount of absolute energy,” he said. “But the amount that can be extracted from that diet may vary between individuals — not in a huge way, but if the energy balance is affected by just a few calories a day, over time that can make a big difference in body weight.” Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/13/magazine/13obesity.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=f843a5b06faa63f8&ex=1313121600&adxnnl=0&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1157418486-4z6r0JgpR1tVLqEl1NLjlg

Welcome, lots of good info here. It is smart to get all the info you can.

I got wind of something going on but had no idea. I spend about 1 hour a day on this board. I never saw any of the posts in question. I wonder if most of us never even knew there was a verbal rumble going on, or if we stumbled on to this stuff, just went to another thread. I read this one because I saw PNut in the title and she's always had great things to say. I could be wrong, but my guess is the people who engage in this brouhaha either directly or by just reading are the minoirity. Most of us just want to learn more about being banded.

Lexi, I support babs, it never hurts to get a second opinion. Fellow bandsters can provide "lay" information but most of us aren't medical people and really are just guessing and sharing our own limited experience. Having a 2nd surgery is worth getting as much info as you can up front.

Can't really offer any "long term" experiecne. I am only 17 weeks out from surgery. First surgery May 2 with 5cc band, rebanded due to slip on May 5 with VG band. Rebanding is the same surgery as banding. They went back in thru the same incisions. Still no fill, scheduled for one next week. But I've NEVER pb'd or vomited or had anything get stuck. I don't know if it is the VG band or I pretty careful. Sometimes I eat too much but no vomiting. Good luck and it makes sense to get several opinions.

bandster16, you win!! did they tell you why your band slipped so soon?:

When I get frustruated, it helps me to remember where I was, where I am going. I thought maybe some bandsters could share their experiences, The GOOD (now), The BAD (pre-surgery) and THE UGLY (whatever). Here's mine. THE GOOD: Being able to walk from the grocery store to my car without being in tears from the pain and wondering if I'll make it! THE BAD: Pre-surgery...going to a restaurant with friends and not being able to fit in the booth The UGLY: A sister who is VERY negative about my surgery and has stopped talking to me.

Littlebird, how are you doing now? Your post was a few days ago. My experience of a slipped band is a lot like a Fill that is too tight. Can't swallow even a little water, lots of pain, I never vomited but it can also be a symptom.

Dianer, I was rebanded 4 days after 1st surgery. Never left the hospital. My husband calls me "twiced sliced". My first band slipped immediately; And I never vomited. The Doc said I had lots of adheshions around my stomach and maybe when I coughed right after surgery it slipped. But I was in a lot of pain right away. Like swallowing razor blades. Anyway, the 2 surgeries and 5 days in the hospital really took a lot out of me. It took weeks before I had any energy at all. And about 8 weeks before I was feeling normal. BUT feel great now! It took a while to say this but I am glad I had the surgery.

squiggle, so glad you are doing better. Congrats on the new job too!

Ginger, for a no fill discussion check out http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=22164&highlight=towel GayleTX, I disagree (friendly disagree) with you about fills. My Doc said a study of banders in Australia showed that 30% lost weight without getting a fill. Most bands are only 1 inch in diameter, then visulize sticking your stomach inside the 1 inch diamater, along with some fat and there isn't much room for food to pass, fill or no fill. For me, it explains why getting a fill is so individual!

NewSho. . . .I didn't know heat was a band factor. BUT so true. I actally get nauseous, faint in extreme heat and definetly tighter, NO HUNGER. Is there a place to get more info on this?

BJean, you really didn't change the thread. It is all about trying to figure out what works for us individually and with my limited experiece, the band really is individual. So many different experiences. Isnt' this board great for learning!! Good for you to get as much information as you can!

This thread started with talk of fills vs no fills, I am set for my first on Sept 6, at 17 weeks out. It is time to get a fill, I am just too hungry. I still have restriction as I can eat a lot but not like my pre-banding days. My honesty is that pre-surgery they told me the lapband helps me lose weight but I have to work with it. They told me I'd have to change my lifetime bad eating habits and change my attitude AND the band would help me. I just didn't hear it! I was so desepate, I grasped at a possible solution with so much blind faith and HOPE that it would help. And it did. Everything they said was true. It only works if I work with it. AND it is so HARD to change a lifetime of bad habits BUT I NEVER could have come this far without the band. I don't have to like changing my attitude but I love feeling BETTER! But it isn't easy.

Congratulations@!! You look fantastic and thanks for sharing your success!

Isn't this board great!!! When I was where you are now, pre-banding, I did a little experiment to see what it might feel like to eat like a banded person. I ate a few smaller meals, slowly, chewing and chewing, like I was banded. I also tired it when I ate out with my husband. It was a very interesting experiement. The "feelings' that came up were overwhelming. Like I was going to be cheated, someone was going to eat all the food and I wouldnt get any, I was tense, and anxious. Being banded didn't help with those "feelings", I had to deal with them. The band did keep me from being hungry. BUT I still have to be conscious of what I chose to eat and how I eat it. BUT what the experiement did show was that the chewing, chewing, chewing small bites did fill me up faster, and being conscious of what I was eating really helped even pre-banding. It also showed me how crazy I and unconcious I had become regarding food. I went back to eating what I wanted but I kept practicing the chewing and it came in handy after I was banded. Just a thought.

Bandit, The questions of just how much is the band and how much is me?? It makes total sense. Some people really do lose and keep weight off without a band, I was just NOT one of them. And I can relate to my mind saying "that's enough" before I get started. It is always such a surprise to hear it. I wonder if deep down somewhere in my brain, that thought was there, I just NEVER could hear it! I was totally UNconscious when it came to food. The band makes me stay conscious. I can see how that consciousness would wear off over time, especially since I can eat anything. I had serious complications with the band right out of the gate and I still wonder. The pain and 5 days in the hospital were horrible!! It was 7 weeks before I could do much of anything. It took a lot out of me. But right now the band is helping AND I don't want another surgery just yet. So I'll go with it. But there were days!!?? I sometimes wonder if I hadn't had the complications would I be MUCH more caviliar with what I eat??!! I'm afraid so. I love to break the rules. BUT PLEASE keep me posted on your journey. I really want to understand your questions, your process, your years of experience and I am sure it will help to me at some point. It already has. I learn so much from everyone on this board. Thanks for sharing and thanks for you honesty.

Leona, That's great. Isn't it funny how the little things, like gulping water becomes so precious. Instead of donunts, I couldn't wait to eat a carrot and gulp water. Keep us posted on how you are doing. You are young with your whole life ahead of you, how exciting. And it is so wonderful that you won't have to struggle with weight your entire life unlike some of us old "farts". And have some fun at school.

"The purpose of the band is to have restriction that limits your food intake by force." NYC: It is just my opinion but I don't think the band's purpose is to limit our food by force. The band is to help us feel full faster when we work with it. I don't think it was meant to be a horrible experiece that makes us vomit and be in severe pain when we don't make good choices (I know you can make good choices and still be in pain, hence the over-fill). I try to make good food choices and then the band helps me feel full faster. My Doc made it clear that I'd still have to make some behavioural changes and learn what head hunger is.

Even with no fill there is restriction. Have you ever held a lapband in your hands. If you look at a lap-band you can see that even not filled there is a very small opening, depending on the band, about an inch in diameter. Then picture your stomach is inside the band. That makes the opening even smaller. With the stomach inside the band and the band (unfilled) my guess is the hole is at the most 1/2 inch and in most cases much smaller. I still have restriction. It also makes sense on why the band is so fickle, filled or not. The slightest irritaion make our stomachs swell and the hole gets smaller. It may change day to day.