catfish87

No slip....my band had come "unbuckled". It happens....VERY rarely. They could have put max fill in and it wouldn't have done anything to provide the restriction its designed to do. Fluoroscopy showed it very easily.

So you've been banded about a year. Sounds like you probably just dieted well to lose the initial 23 pounds, then gained the weight back.....with little to no help from your band.... Sounds familiar to me! Have you had a fluoroscopy check to determine all is well with your band? Thats where I'd start. I can tell you from my experience they can put a lot of saline in the band, and you may not have adequate restriction. There can be issues you wont know about until they actually SEE what's going on. It's depressing and aggrivating to think we've went through all pre-ops, testing, surgery and then what.....seems like nothings changed and it's just a diet. I too, stopped going to my surgeon for over a year....I was embarrassed I had gained weight back as well. But I eventually did go back, and my surgeon was very understanding. After all, if I was good at dieting, I would have never needed the surgery. We figured out what the issue was, corrected it, and got my band adjusted correctly for me. I'm sure your surgeon has seen similar cases where someone has gained weight. I'm glad you've schedule an appointment. Hopefully you'll find out why your band isn't doing what its designed to do. LIMIT PORTIONS and control hunger. It will do this....when properly adjusted. Best wishes!

Congrats John and welcome to the "other side". As you stated, take one day at a time and you'll do great. Best wishes for a speedy recovery and much success.

@NewCyn I agree with the importance of following up with your surgical team....EVEN and ESPECIALLY if/when things aren't going good. Your post is a good reminder and wake up call to those who get a lapband that the followup care is so important. I always pay close attention to folks who have experienced complications as you describe, and try to learn from them to avoid similar problems. I do have a couple questions though to help understand what to look for or be aware of: Did they determine how your intestines "wrapped around your port"? How would they have caught this during a routine checkup with your surgeon? What is the treatment for this complication? Thanks for any info you can provide. I wish you a speedy recovery and best wishes in the future!!!!

5 mile run this morning after work.

@readysetgo611 GREAT job!!! Sounds like mixing up your cardio worked well for you! Congrats and keep it up. You'll be running 5k's before you know it. Today was Hiking/mushroom hunting for me. Thought I'd go biking after a short trip through the woods, but ended up finding several and got in a nice 2.5 hour walk.

I'd say, BE HAPPY! ENJOY! You say you're getting in plenty of liquids. Some people talk about losing all sensation of hunger... and they seem to be doing quite well.

REO Speedwagon "Keep Pushin' " I used to be lonely till I learned about livin alone I found other things to keep my mind on And I'm gettin to know myself a little bit better Whoa , I keep pushin on Keep pushin on, yeah Goin through all the changes I made so many mistakes, oh yes I did Tryin to leave behind the heartaches And sometimes I think I was a little bit crazy, oh yeah Whoa, I keep pushin on [Chorus:] Keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin on Keep pushin, keep pushin, you know you have got to be so strong Keep pushin, keep pushin, well even if you think your strength is gone Keep pushin on [solo] Well it's comin together I finally feel like a man, oh yes I do I never thought that I'd be where I am, oh Everyday I wake a little bit higher Whoa I keep pushin on, oh yeah

How ironic! I was just thinking about you yesterday, wondering how you were doing.....guess you answered that question with a big AWESOME!!!!!! Congrats!! You really need to continue to get on here and post more of your successful accomplishments. Keep on Peddlin' my friend!

If I consume more than about 30 g of liquid Protein in a short timeframe, I can get a little upset stomach feeling. Not really sure why, but it happens occasionally. I've also read, take it for what its worth, you don't absorb more than about 25-30 grams at once anyways. I usually will stick with 30 grams or less at any one shake/drink. Seems to work better for me. YMMV.....

26 miles on the bike today before work. Lets GO BLUES!! and Cardinals tonight.

Congrats and great job!

@@Alex Brecher Maybe you can help Joanne? Thanks!

Yea for the new trike! Can't wait to see the pics and hear about your first ride. Congrats!

26 miles on the bike today, then 2 hours walking....and FINDING the morels! MMMMM.....mmmm! http://connect.garmin.com/activity/485175988

5km run this morning, then a nice hike looking for mushrooms this afternoon. No mushrooms yet, but the walking was fun.

Great weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks. Walking/hiking, got home this evening and went mushroom hunting/hiking. Didn't find any morels today, but still had a nice hike. The mushrooms will soon be up here. Happy Easter everyone.

26 miles on the bike this evening after work. What a great way to relax! Nice comfortable pace. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/481849490

@@takuwinds Please don't let one or two folks on this site's opinion/tone get to you....I've been here long enough to realize the majority of us are here to help. Most us aren't perfect and understand the struggles of WLS. You got some great suggestions from others already, but I wanted to add a post I replied with earlier, about my experience after my hiatus from seeing my surgeon....I didn't go see him for over a year....embarrassed at myself because I had gained weight too. But trust me, they understand this. That's why we go to see them in the first place. I wish you much success!! " Like you, I've been through that phase when my band wasn't adjusted correctly for me. My loss stalled, stopped, then I actually gained some weight! I was embarrassed, felt like I had failed, the band wasn't gonna work for me, etc. I've written about it on here before. FINALLY, I had a friend encourage me to go back to my doctor. I went....not looking forward to the chastising I was sure I would get....and deserve. But that wasn't the case at all. My surgeon and I discussed my situation and he was very encouraging and understanding. He showed me why.....it was right there in my charts/records he had. I'm a failure at dieting long term. We got my band adjusted correctly for me, and IT made all the difference in the world. You've taken the most important step....you're going back to see him/her. I wish you much success in your future. NEVER, EVER give up! :)"

Great ride Terry! And nice pics from the site too!

Hi Enuf! Totally normal! Not a lot of us were told about this "bandster hell"....but it's very real for many. It was for me. The swelling from surgery subsides, and you feel no different than before banding. Exactly how it was for me too. Rest assured, after you start getting adjusments, the band works. Until then, its just willpower that will get you through this phase. Hang tough and do your best to limit your portion sizes. And try not to test the types of food you can eat. Stick to your surgeons choices and allow yourself to fully recover from surgery. There'll be happy days ahead! Best wishes!

weights and 25 minutes on the spin trainer at the gym this morning.5 km walk in the park this evening.

I know this runner girl! Great job my friend!

Great advice from the others...A bike shop, with the correct fit for you makes all the difference in the world. Here's is a reply I made to a similar question last year: Posted June 30, 2013 - 11:18 PM #8 I've been cyclilng since about last Feb ( 2012 ). I was around 250 lbs when I started. I bought a couple different "cheap" ( think K-mart ) type cruiser/ maybe 5 speed bikes. Rode them a couple times and took them back....very uncomfortable! I had a friend that rides A LOT take me to a bike shop.....what a difference! Theres about three main types of bikes you might consider, depending on your terrain, and budget of course. First would be a type called a "comfort or hybrid" bike. The sit more upright, and as the name suggests, lots of folks find them pretty comfortable. Your weight should not be an issue with a quality ( think $350-700 range ) hybrid. Giant, Specialized, Trek, and many more manufactures make a LOT of different models. They are good on paved and/or small crushed stone trails. They are a bit heavier than a road bike, but can still provide a good workout in varied conditions. A good all around beginner bike in my opinion. Then there are road bikes. Expect to spend between AROUND $800 to well over $4000 for a NEW, good road bike. At first, they may look uncomfortable due to the position you ride in...more bent forward. But for me, its actually MORE comfortable, no strain on your back! I personally ride my road bike 95% of the time ( a USED TREK I found at a steal of a price at my local bike shop! ) It's just so much more comfortable to me and the workout is MUCH, MUCH better for me. Then there are mountain bikes.... and I can't offer any opinion on them. What I will offer is this. If you are serious about riding any more than a few minutes here and there, its absolutely in your best interest to find a bike shop....EXPERTS at finding one that fits you properly! Nothing....repeat...NOTHING, is more important on the bike than a proper fit. Some shops may charge you to "fit" you for a bike, ITS WORTH IT! You can take their advice, buy from them, or look around on places like craigslist. There are HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of bikes on it in my area. Lots of folks buy on an impulse...then use it for a coat rack, or a dust collector. Expect you may pick one up for half price of new...sometimes less! But going to that bike shop will give you a good idea of the type/size you are looking for. I started as I mentioned, cycling last spring (2012)....and after a couple of miles I was winded...tired! But I stuck with it...one mile becomes two, then three. Just like any other form of exercise I suppose. But then a funny thing happened....It really doesn't feel like exercise to me. I enjoy it! About three weeks ago, I did my first Century ride, 100 miles. This month, I've cycled a little over 600 miles...and 28,000 calories!! But it all starts with one mile....Best of luck to you! My new ride: Apr 2014

Congrats on the accomplishment! Sounds fun