GayleTX

I'm 2 years out, have lost 160 lbs. I am still 30-40 lbs from where I'd like to be, but if I never lose another pound I am happy. The band is always there to help keep you in control. After getting my body detoxed from the carbs, I have had no problems with cravings. It's a wonderful freedom from the hold that food had over me.

36 BMI sounds positively svelte to me!! I started at 62 and now I'm at 34 and mighty proud of it!! Bet there were some whose BMI might have been less than yours BUT their labs were NOT....healthy living it's what it's all about and sounds like you've got that handled!! Good job!!

For the first couple of months (til the swelling went down) I crushed mine (got a little mortar and pestle from amazon.com) and took them with applesauce. After that, I just broke them in small pieces and took them in small amounts....... then eventually began taking them whole again. Best of all......now I don't need ANY meds!!

Do I have a thought? Yes, I do. Don't do it. You have raw stitches in your stomach. Solid food is going to rub on them, press them, irritate them, loosen them.....all kinds of things that will cause you to wish you hadn't eaten that food. It may not hurt when you eat the food, it may not cause you a problem for months.....but anything that weakens the stitches or pulls the band loose is something you are going to regret maybe even a year or two later when the band slips and you have to have it replaced.

We should never get in too big a hurry for the 'next' fill......it often takes one or two weeks for a fill to kick in. Going back too soon is asking for trouble. We need to act like a grown-up and use some common sense with this band....the goal is not weight-loss by puking, the goal is to modify our eating habits and get healthy.

Got good news at the fill center yesterday.....did the barium swallow and Xray showed that everything had fallen back into place! I had been on liquids for 2 weeks and had no hope of it going back where it belonged - but it did! They did put in a tiny fill and today I ate a small normal meal with no problems. They did tell me, tho, that once a band slips it is prone to slips again so that I need to be very aware of any symptoms.

Two weeks later........ Went back for Xrays today after 2 wks of liquids (and really mostly liquids for 5 wks before that)......and the slippage has 'fixed itself'!! I was so relieved! I went over there fully expecting to be scheduled for surgery but it looked good. They did tell that once a band slips it is prone to slip again so I'm not getting too cocky. They just said 'be aware of symptoms'.....I'm not sure what that means - I didn't really have any symptoms before except I couldn't hold much food even tho I didn't have any fill in my band....and I'd quit losing weight even tho I'd been very compliant. Maybe that's the symptoms? Anyhow.......thanks for the PM's and well wishes. I think I'm gonna go on vacation next week!!

My cardiologist suggested wls to me.....then when I went to my PCP for a referral letter he said he'd do it....then wrote a letter saying he didn't think I needed it, I should just 'try Weight Watches.' He hardly knew me and then he lied to me and then I left him! So my cardiologist wrote the letter. I got my current PCP when I'd already gone thru the pre-ops....he didn't approve, didn't understand anything about it. Two years (and a 160 lbs later) he hardly acknowledges what I've accomplished. I've taken him literature but he just doesn't seem interested.

Don't mean to alarm you, but my friend''s port had to be replaced just a few months after her banding. It turned into a real situation......you might mentionit to your surgeon if it doesn't feel better soon.

Any time you plan to have an abdominal surgery of any kind you need to get your band COMPLETELY EMPTIED!! The possibility of having food get stuck or having a PB or vomiting episode is not a risk you want to take with stitches in your body......the discomfort alone is bad enough but the risk of ripping stiches is even worse. You can start refilling just a few weeks after your surgery when your stitches (both inside and out remember) are sufficiently healed. You can't just go back and 'fill 'er up'....you'll need to work up gradually again but probably not as slowly as you did the first time. Hope your surgery goes well!

I have a friend who was banded recenlty by Dr. Rodriquez....her husband is a physician and they did a lot of research before choosing him for her LB, so that speaks well for him in my books. If I have to have a revision and insurance co. (I've changed co.'s since being banded) won't help out, I'll certainly consider Dr. R.

Sounds like acid reflux, yes. Have you called you doctor? Many of them put their band patients on meds as a matter of routine. I had terrible reflux after my 3rd fill, decided I had an ulcer, had an EGD and they said my band was too tight! You might also try eliminating any citrus or dark choclate your eating as well as coffee. I also had to eliminate my arthritis meds......I knew we are never supposed to take NSAIDS but did it anyhow because of joint pain - now I dont - I hurt but at least I don't have relfux! Don't let it go too long.....relfux can badly damage the esophagus and give you problems you don't want!

Mine has gone from 62 to 34.......and I've got 40 more lbs to go.

Thanks for the kind words and well wishes, SoCalGal and Kat.......the liquids are going fine - I still have no appetite or desire for food even after 5 days of liquids - I'm having visions of my lower stomach being wadded up in my pouch and keeping it feeling 'full'...that's probably not the case but that's what I see in my mind's eye.:w00t: The only symptom I'm having is a slight burning sensation where the esophagus empties into the pouch....feels like an ulcer feels if you've had that experience. U'm going to cut back on my coffee...maybe that will help. I'm so thankful I have lots of good Protein on hand and that I really enjoy them. Mice Milk is very soothing to an irritated pouch....so sorry it's going out of productin. But Labrada Lean Body is almost as effective....just not quite as good. Best wishes to all of you!

Part of the problem you are having is the Medifast itself...ugh. Use this time to find some good protein you really like and can 'doctor up' with sugar free syrups and berries. There are some that are as good as Starbucks when made warm and as good as DairyQueen when make into a shake. EAS and Whey Gourmet and Nectar are some of the brands I like. Some Starbucks will sell you syrup or you can find Davinci syrups at WalMart or TJ Maxx, among other places. There are some great recipes on DaVinci Gourmet – Flavored Syrups, Sauces And Tea Concentrates and wome on Bariatric Eating - Protein, Vitamins, Gastric Bypass & Lap Band Info, Post-op Recipes, and Help.

That sounds very much like what I have been experiencing. I haven't lost a pound in 4 mo. even tho I've been very compliant and eating just the same as I did when I was losing 10 lbs a month (I'm 160 lbs down). And it seemed I could eat less and less....I even started to PB again for the first time in a year. Yesterday I had an Xray and found I had a badly slipped band. I have no idea why. So I'm on liquids for 14 days then we'll decide what needs to be done....it will more than likely be a revision of some sort. They told me to come in IMMEDIATLEY if I PB'd again or had any pain..... a slipped band can become serious if the circulation to the lower stomach is cut off. Don't wait too long to see your doctor.

Johziel.......would you do the world a favor and post what you said here on the main board. I see so many people being rebellious about the eating rules and almost bragging that "I ate whatever and it went down fine and didn't hurt...haha". They may not know for weeks or months whether or not they did damage. Maybe sharing your experience will be a warning to someone who is pre-op or a newbie and is on the verge of doing that very thing. I just found out yesterday I have a slip (after 2 years and no problems)....I'm on liquids and up in the air right now. Hope you continue to do well.

Oh, janine...hugs to you, sweetie. I am so very sorry this has happened to you! That must have been a frightening experience! I found out just yesterday that my band is slipped but we don't know why....right know I'm on liquids for 14 days and then we'll see what happens but it will probably mean a revision. I'm 2 yrs out, have been exteremely compliant, have lost 160 lbs (with 40 to go). I am scared.......scared of life without my badn. I have ridded my body of diabetes, high blood pressure, gout, arrythmia, etc. I can walk again and have a life again. Can I do it without my band? I hope I can but I don't want to. I do hope you do well and that your doctors and insurance company will take good care of you.

Marimaru......sounds like you are doing the right thing, the safe thing for your body. I had a complete unfill last summer before I had PS.....and I still felt like I had restriction for about 3-4 weeks - that was a relief!! I could see myself gaining 20 pounds while my 'fat apron' removal was healing. But it didn't happen. I think the key may be in avoiding the white carbs.....they cause your blood sugar to bounce and make you think you're hungry when you really are not. You won't feel deprived and you'll be able to control your eating and staying on track. Be sure and track your food intake on something like fitday and keep your Protein count high to keep your metabolism going at full speed. I, too, have a slipped band and am going thru the 4 wks of liquids til we can figure out what to do. We can do this!! It's too important to not be successful in getting thru this bump in the road. Hugs, Gayle

Well, I joined the Slip Club just this afternoon.....after 2 years of successful life with the band. I went for a routine fill 6 wks ago because I had quit losing - doc did a flouro, said my pouch was dilated. So he unfilled it and said eat light and come back in a week. After doing some board research, I went on liquids, waited 6 wks and could tell things were still not well - I still had restriction and even had one PB (first in a year!). So I went to a different clinic today and they told me after 2 xrays just what I had already 'diagnosed' myself......my band has slipped - badly. I don't know why or when. I've been extremely compliant, have not overfilled my pouch, haven't vomited in over a year and that was not bad. So....I'm on liquids for 7 days, mushies for 7 days and I go back (Unless I have a problem of some sort and then it's 'get back ASAP' they said). Apparently a slipped band can be serious business. I'm trying not to panic - but this band has changed my life, it has saved my life, in fact. I don't want to lose it! I'm so very afraid of going back to having diabetes and high blood pressure and not being able to walk and living on medication (I don't take anything at all now and I run all over the place!). So....I'll just go by the rules and hope for the best. I have said all along we are just willing rats in an experimental lab but I didn't care - it was working for me! So maybe the doctors will learn things from us and our slippages that will make ife better for someone on down the line. Best wishes to all of you.....we'll make it through this!! Hugs, Gayle

If you plan to lose weight very fast, none of the high starch things you listed (pasta, etc) are good choices. They keep your carb count high, your calorie count high, and keep your blood sugar bouncing. It's much easier on you to detox yourself from starchy carbs - you won't have nearly as much problem with cravings if you will do that and you won't feel deprived like you do probably do now when you are on a 'diet.' You'll be surprised how easy it is with a band (after you get good restriction, of course)....I never would have believed I could live without those evil carbs but it has made all the difference. As far what you just 'can't' eat (as in 'wont' go down and stay down')....it is different with different people. And it's different from day to day with many people.

SOCALGAL......what are the symptoms of a slipped band? And how do they determine if that is the problem? :thumbdown: I had a complete unfill about 6 wks ago (had just gone in for routine fill and dr said my pouch was dilated, needed to rest, emptied my band)......but it feels like it has more restriction now, even after 3 weeks of liquids and 3 wks of normal foods, than it did before. I even PB'd last wk. and I haven't done that in a year (since I learned to eat right!). I go back next week but I'm concerned there is a problem of some sort - slipped band? Any other ideas? TIA!!

sfeiner.... cheddar cheese soup on fitday shows it has 20% fat (about the amount we need in our total diet for balanced health) but it also has 20% protein (which we need, of course)....one cup has about 265 calories - not bad for a meal. So when we're out and need a 'safe' meal to eat in public without worrying about getting stuck, guess the soup is a pretty good choice.

If you'll post your food when you eat it on something like FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal or Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, Food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate, it will automatically count your calories, protein grams, fats, etc. Keeps you honest with yourself and teaches you food values. Even after two years I use it every day. If it goes in my mouth it goes on fitday!

Heck, no, I didn't cheat. I knew it as for a reason (to shrink the liver and remove the fat from around it to make the surgery easier - in some cases to make it even possible!)........ and I could think of nothing worse than being put on the table, the doctor taking a look at my innards, refusing to do the surgery and sending me home. Can you think of anything worse than having everybody back home say, "Pssssst......did you hear about Gayle? She was TOO FAT for FAT SURGERY!!? Dang! How humiliating would that be!!???? So, no, I didn't cheat. I used good Protein shakes and vegetable broth and SF Jello and SF pudding and lots of Water and tea. Once you get the carbs out of your system (4-5 days) the craving gets better and you can do it!!