Melissannde

Whatever you lose is wonderful! Celebrate it! I lost 2.. count them.. 2 whole pounds during the immediate post-op period. It wasn't until I was back on solid foods that I started losing well. Hang in there, it will happen. And cultivate patience. The weight didn't arrive overnight, it will take a little time to leave too. Sometimes I think when they install the band, they remove our patience.

I will admit upfront that I might be a bit biased towards the lapband since that is what I have... The lapband is configured with several individual "pillows" that hold the Fluid. In theory, if one pillow leaked, the others would maintain and you'd still have constriction of the stomach. The realize band is a continuous tube (or maybe a more than one tube), a leak might seriously alter constriction. lapband the port is sutured in place. Realize, the port is "clipped" into the muscle. The realize band comes with a low-profile port, I think it might be possible to use a low-profile with the lapband, but it's not standard to do so. It's not uncommon for the realize band to take a little more fluid on average to reach good appetite suppression. All that being said, if you are having to make the choice between insurance covering one and not the other.. go with the insurance. As an earlier poster said, they both work if you work them.

I had 3cc's put in at surgery and had very little issues with post-op swelling or with being in bandster hell. I think it really helped me get off to a good start. YMMV

About the size of an english pea or a (normal sized) pencil eraser.

What about popsicles (sugar free) or chicken broth? Tea (decaf?) is probably ok to drink too. Were you not given a list of things that were ok for each stage?

Because a normal BMI is a fallacy for Athletes, those who've been obese for a long period of time and post-menopausal females. My PCP does not want me to try to attain what the BMI charts say is normal for me. He thinks I would be risking hip fx's if I had so little padding on my hips and fell. The "big bones" theory isn't total malarky. Those who've been obese for an extended period of time do tend to have larger bones (generally the weight bearing bones..legs, hips, etc) due to the stress put on them by weight and that does skew the BMI charts a bit. Fat %, while harder to measure, is a better goal. I'm also striving for a healthy waist measurement (1/2 of my height) and a good waist/hip ratio. If a normal BMI is what you want to attain.. go for it. It's not my goal.

If by "eat normally again" you mean burgers, fries, pizza, Pasta in GINORMOUS quantities.. No, I don't want to eat normal again. I'm not quite at goal, but getting close. After two years of being banded, eating lean Protein and low carb veggies IS my new normal. I don't want to go back to eating junky foods on a routine basis. Do I have chips and salsa when we go out? yes, I do a little. Do I eat Queso.. yes, a little. Do I have them at home and indulge daily? NO! The key is moderation, not deprivation. You can always, always, always "eat around the band". IMO the pulmonologist had no business relating a negative band experience to someone who's considering the surgery without explaining how the problem could've been averted! I eat all types of protein and as long as they are tender (not soft.. there's a difference) I have no trouble the majority of the time. I seldom get stuck at 2 years out and have good appetite suppression. To those who are having issues with various types of protein..a couple of suggestions. 1) warm drink or cup of Soup immediately before the meal (ie, don't wait 30 minutes before eating the protein) 2) use a "food lube".. ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce, gravy, etc. whatever you like to lubricate the meat. yes, it will add some calories, but as you're not "drinking" the stuff.. it shouldn't matter all that much and usually helps the meat go down. Recently I've been enjoying using greek yogurt as my lube. Yes, it is a change in lifestyle, but a good one. You can do it!!

Now is the time to practice the behaviors that you will need as a bandster. Just make it a game.. if you forget right now, it's not a big deal. Later on, you will know if you took too big a bite or didn't chew well enough. Just practice tiny bites, chewing well, using a smaller plate. You can do the small utensils if you want, I never have. I want to be as "normal" as possible.. I just take small bites off the regular utensils. You can also start practicing not drinking with your meals and holding off as long as you can after eating to drink. Between meals try to drink as much Water as you can. Congratulations on making steps to a healthier life!!

I didn't lose much at all .. maybe 2 lbs.. until I got back onto solid foods then it started dropping off fast. Hang in there.

I don't like prepared meals either. I find they are too high in sodium and I can make things that taste much better. I'm like Sistersue, I cook large meals when time allows and then portion out servings for me and freeze. Right now in my freezer I have bandster portions of chicken, beef, turkey, pork.. all I have to do is pull them out and add a veggie and I'm ready to go. It does take a little planning ahead, but once you get going, it's not that difficult. If your PA told you to limit carbs, they should give you more detailed information on what they want you to try to achieve or else set you up an appt with the Nutritionist to help you. JMO

I personally don't drink carbonation as a regular thing at all, regular or diet. While the idea that carbonation will stretch the pouch, may or may not be a myth, I don't have any desire to use myself as a guinea pig to find out. I do understand the craving for that tingly, scratchy cold feeling of the diet coke hitting the back of the throat... and have given in a few (maybe 3 or 4) times in the two plus years I've been banded.. poured a few ounces into a mug and drank enough to get that feeling and gave the rest of the can to my husband. IMO an indulgence of soda or champagne on a special occasion would be fine, as long as it is sips and the occasions aren't too frequent. The other reason to avoid sodas is that they leach Calcium out of the bones.. and with weight loss, we are at risk for losing calcium out of our bones anyhow. I'm a case in point. My bone density has decreased by 20% since banding. There are plenty of other things to drink besides carbonation. JMO

Personally I don't believe in HCG. I don't want to add extra hormones into my body. Also VLC diets screw up your metabolism. And I lost as fast as many RnY'ers with just the band and following the band guidelines.

It can happen. Make sure you are using BC until your body settles down. Enjoy the ride.

Look up "Body Dysmorphia" Many people have it, both the obese, formerly obese and never obese.

Put your 3oz of Protein and 1/2 cup of veggies (or whatever way your doc says to measure your meals) on your plate, do NOT put serving bowls on the table... Eat your meal, then get up from the table and get busy doing something for at least 20 minutes. If you are truly still hungry after 20 minutes, have more (non starchy) veggies. Basic bandster guidelines: (your doc may vary some in their ideas...if so, go by what your doc says) No liquid calories (except 2 servings of non-fat milk). No soft foods. Two 3-4 ounce servings of protein every day. Always eat the protein first, then the produce. Avoid bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes, and other starchy foods. Consume 20-25 grams of Fiber every day. Eat only three small meals a day. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Stop eating as soon as you feel full. Do not drink while you are eating. Do not eat between meals. Eat only good quality foods. Avoid fibrous food. Drink enough fluids during the day. Drink only low or no calorie liquids. Avoid carbonated beverages. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

you feel the pain/discomfort/"stuckage" at the middle of your chest because the stomach is a lot higher than you think. Some of it is referred pain, but some of it is because the stomach is just to the left of your liver which is under your right ribs.

If my doctor set a goal weight for me, I have no idea what it is. I'm not sure if a "normal BMI" would be appropriate for me either. The BMI is not accurate for athletes, people who've been obese for a long period of time (our bones are heavier and skew the numbers) or for post-menopausal women. I fit 2 of those 3 categories... and working on the 3rd. I never really set a hard & fast goal, I sorta set a number that sounded attainable. Each time I get close to that number, I back it down by 5 or 10 lbs. So far that has worked for me. For example, for a while my goal was 175. When I got to 182.. I decided to set my goal at 170...etc. Hope this helps.

I've not been through this personally, but from reading on OH, yahoogroups, lbt for the past 2 + years, I know it is possible for slips to happen. And an unfill and rest is often all that is needed. Do your best to use your bandster skills and knowledge to control your intake and make good food choices. I'm not sure why your new surgeon is suggesting removal if the band won't go back into place on it's own after a period of rest. Sometimes they can reposition the band and and you're good to go again. I would question the choice to remove the band. However, in case a removal is indeed necessary, I'm glad you're going to research the sleeve. I think I would have a sleeve if my band and I failed each other. Best of luck to you!

Resale shops. Ross. Marshalls. Goodwill. Freecycle.org do a google search for "cheapcycle" groups in your area. ebay. blujay.com Have fun!

Not a failure. Some people lose fast, some slower. While the slower is frustrating, you just might have less loose skin issues. AND you will avoid possible gall bladder problems that fast losers sometimes experience. One thing I'd like to really suggest is to change your lapbandtalk name. Calling yourself "Zumba-fattie" can't be encouraging psychologically. Please be kind to yourself.

Hope this answers your question. The black is what I wore before banding, and how I can get both legs into one leg of my old pants. This is 2 years, 5 months after banding.

Absolutely no problem at all on you posting on the lapband board. The reason I was asking if you had a realize band is that they are known for usually taking a bit more Fluid to reach "the green zone" than the lap band. That was the sole reason. Regarding the "carbing too much" that you mention above.. if you're still eating white carbs (bread, rice, Pasta, potatoes, etc.) yes, that can be an issue that causes hunger when your blood sugar drops again. Those foods tend to spike our bld sugar, making us feel good temporarily, but when it drops again.. here comes that hunger again. And getting off of them for one meal isn't enough, takes about 2 or 3 days. Hang in there.. and hope you get a good response this time.

Dave's comments/suggestions are right on the mark. If you have an 11 cc band, it's probably a realize band? And I think I read somewhere that the AVERAGE amount of Fluid to achieve good appetite suppression with those is about 6 or 7 cc's. I weigh and measure my food (3oz Protein, 1/2 cup veggies) eat that and get up from the table. If 20 minutes later I'm still hungry, I eat more veggies. Usually I'm fine after the 20 minutes. If you're eating till you feel full.. that's part of the problem. I'd suggest using some sort of portion control for a while and see if that helps. Best of luck.

I'm not sure exactly why you are still having issues, but I'm so sorry you're going through this. Is there any stress (besides not being able to eat, obviously) going on in your life? Stress can make our bands feel tighter. Try sipping on some hot or warm tea, it's often soothing and sometimes relaxes the band a bit. I don't know your location, but if you're where it's really hot right now.. that could be a factor too. I think it would be wise for you to call your surgeon and make an appointment to go in. It could be that they placed a band that is just too small for you as an individual. I know you hate to make that 2 hour drive, but sometimes we gotta do things we don't like. Best of luck in finding some answers.

I live in a small town. I'd say most people know I had surgery, some don't know what kind.. but most know. I've NEVER received one unkind comment or heard anyone say anything negative. I have overheard some people talking about me, but it was something like "she has done so well". Everyone is very supportive of me and my efforts. I have yet to do a before/after on facebook. And I'm still thinking about it, but not sure I will. Mainly because I have fb friends who I haven't seen in person in 30 years and they have no idea of the struggles I've gone through with my weight. I'm not sure I'm emotionally strong enough to deal with comments. I do share with private groups. I understand wanting to keep it quiet though. I don't advertise that I had WLS on facebook, and used to not talk about weight issues at all.. but I'm gradually coming out of my shell in that regard. It's a process. Here's me, showing how things have changed in 2 yrs 5 months.