catfish87

I had a partial unfill (for the first time ever) a few months back. (End of Jan/begining of Feb if my mind remembers correctly) I THINK I my problem was I had gotten sick, took some cold medicine (with NSAIDS in them) and found it a struggle to even get down liquids. Possible inflammation in my stoma area?? Third day of that and I called my Doc...He did the usual fluoro and HE DECIDED I needed "some" removed. He said the fluoro showed signs of some slight reflux. I didn't ask how much he took out as I just figured he knew best. IMMEDIATE relief...no problems whatsoever, except as expected, HUNGRY/eating too much and of course started gaining a few pounds....actually about 15 over the course of the next two months. I went back in Aprl, and discussed with him my eating habits, and then found out he had removed .8 cc's. He added back .4, and said see you in a couple of months. I was still eating too much (although better) and finding it somewhat of a struggle to not snack, especially in the evenings. I went back last Thursday and had lost 4 pounds, discussed my eating/etc with the surgeon again and he checked everything again and added .2cc's this time. He did say my band looked PERFECT, so that was the best news. Then he started chatting about other things, running/cycling and life in general....almost as though he wasn't even concerned in the least bit about my band. I guess that is a good thing... So for me, as others have said, it's really about the restriction being tweaked until everything just "feels right"..... and it doesn't take much one way or the other to make a substantial difference once you're close. Best wishes Labwalker and congrats on your successes, both on and off the scale!

I took two weeks off, then "light duty" for a couple of more weeks. I work in an industrial setting (climbing/lifting/etc) and have a LOT of paid sick time....so I wasn't in any hurry. I had a pretty easy recovery IMO.

@@dlmyvette I'm not sure if you're aware, but this is posted in the Gastric Bypass forum? Maybe @@Alex Brecher can help relocating it to the lapband forum? I'm also coming up on 5 years post op (lap band) and I'm always interested in long term band topics. My question is: When you go to get adjustments, does your fill Dr/PA/whomever do your adjustments using fluoroscopy? You said something that really caught my attention "It was tough and it didn't seem like I had control over my eating"..... I think most all of us on this forum have experienced this at some point....thats why we're here to begin with. For me, only when I get my band at correct adjustment, does the band provide that control. I can't do it by myself either. And it's a small tweak here or there that really makes a big difference!

@@parisshel Glad to hear you're getting back to close adjustment. Hope this one is the "sweet spot" I went last Thursday myself. I think he put .2 this time, getting me back real close to where I was before having a bit taken out in Feb, due to my irritation.

@@Leepers Nothing really ever determined as to the cause. I had many test ran. Blood test, Heart ultrasound, Brain MRI, Holter device, etc. Everyone just always suggest it's dehydration.....I can't hardly believe thats all it was. I haven't had any more serious issues, but will occasionally still get lightheaded when standing up after being seated for a while...and its USUALLY after I've been exercising quite a bit beforehand. My blood pressure is "normal" to low now. Last time I had it checked it was 116/70....so who knows. I can certainly be scary when it happens though. I hope you find what caused/is causing your issue. Take care of yourself!

Cheering up a Sweat "10K" local race today. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/530116307 I was hoping for under an hour when I looked at the race conditions. I'm not fast by any means. My personal best at 10k is 58:27. It was VERY humid this morning at the start...100% humidity according to my garmin. I just ran by HR. There was a guy I ran with the entire race....actually, he'd run/sprint some then walk. We probably passed each other at least 10 times during the run... back and forth, back and forth. I figured he was in my age group 40-49. I ran the entire race without walking, grabbing a Water bottle at the halfway point. He passed me with at the 9.5 K mark and I just didn't have much left. As they announced the winners, I ended up 4th in my age group....7 seconds behind 3rd place, and we were about a minute and 20 seconds behind the 2nd place guy in our age group. Kinda wishing I'd had pushed a little bit more....as I don't have a 10k medal. I was less than minute and half from getting the 2nd place medal....oh well, there's always the next one. Happy Saturday all! Edited to update the times after they posted the official results.

Now thats a good way to start the weekend! @Mikee57 Congrats on the NSV....there will be many more to come!

@@Lady Lap Band Congrats! I remember when I first started on this site wanting to read from people who had "experience"....and success, JUST LIKE YOU! Here's to the next 5 and many more happy years to come!

For me, I know I needed another fill if I was eating too much at once, or was eating too often. I'm not referring to eating because of boredom, but actually feeling hungry before next meal time. My band solves BOTH of those problems when correctly adjusted for me. My surgeon nor nutritionist have ever given me any calorie "goal"....except eat less to lose more. He did tell me at least 80 grams of Protein per day (after initial post op diet phases) and lots of Water. And it works well that way for me....less net calories = more fat lost. Depending on your exercise routine/calories burned, and BMR, your calories needed to lose weight could vary a good amount. I've read people saying they need only 600 all the way up to 3-4000....depending on activity level.

@@LadyDiva618 Good job on sticking to both of them! You can totally do two 5k's in one day. Just have some liquids in between.....wine? I'd do them with ya, but I'll be in Indy that weekend. I'm on nights tonight, so no meeting for me. I'm gonna do the Cheering up a Sweat 10K Saturday at Maryville firemans park.

I used to have heartburn somthing terrible, pre banding. I haven't heartburn even once since my band....almost 5 year ago now. And I enjoy VERY spicy foods at times.

I wouldn't ever consider myself an expert, but I've got kind of a unique experience with my band....UNUSAL to say the least. But it's my story....sorry for the long post! I had my band installed in Sept 2009, I was soooo excited to be able to have this surgery. It would do what I had failed at....LONGTERM weightloss/control over eating too much! That was the promise.... I followed my preop and postop "diet" to a TEE...never cheated once. The week after surgery was easy....at least for the first few days...NO desire to eat. Then comes week two and full liquids, week three of mushies (oh that first "bite" of mashed potatoes....I still remember it 5 years later! They were sooooo good! The next week, was progression to "regular" foods as tolerated. So I'm now a month post op and thought things couldn't be better. I was following what and how much I was supposed to eat...everything felt great! I went in to my surgeon ( and he really IS the best, IMO ) every appointment as scheduled. Forward another month, and I'm starting to notice I'M HUNGRY! Way too often... Starting to become a struggle to control how much I eat. I continue to go to the surgeon for the next 5-6 appointments...we talk, I say I'm hungry, get a BLIND fill ( antiquated, outdated and IMO USELESS way to do a fill ). This continued for about a year postop....and it had really become a struggle, just as you describe. Will I be up or down with my weight? I was trying...but starting to really get frustrated and ready to throw in the towel. Another couple of months goes by and by then I'm really eating too much...NO control ( hey, I'd been dieting for over a year ). I didn't go to my surgeon for over a year....and gained back about 25-30 pounds! I was embarrassed to say the least....I was gonna be a failure at SURGERY!...... I had met a friend who had also had lapband about 5 years prior to me, and she made me go back to my surgeon....boy was I gonna hear it I thought.... When I get there, they had this new device in the office, fluoroscopy machine. They can see your band, the restriction level and other things. My surgeon welcomed me in and was so fantastic....he said lets take a look. MY BAND HAD COME UNDONE/UNBUCKLED...... I had been on a diet all this time. He scheduled surgery asap and fixed it. And I couldn't be happier with the results. I know this is longwinded, but the point to MY story, is you've just been banded a little over a month. PLEASE don't get frustrated already. Continue seeing your surgeon, getting adjustments, and hopefully soon, you'll find your sweet spot with the band. Until then, IT IS a diet...just do your best. Thats all any of us can do. Best wishes!

It's TOTALLY NORMAL for a lot of us to "gain" a couple/few pounds right after surgery....think of all those bags of liquids they pumped into you during surgery. For me, it was a week pre and POST op of Clear Liquids...less than 100 calories per day for two weeks. I didn't go into starvation mode....my body found LOTS of excess fat to live on those weeks. Hang in there for a few more days, following your surgeons recommended "diet".....it'll get better!! Best wishes

I never had post op gas pains to speak of....at least not that I can remember. But I took ALL my pain meds. No pain here!

WTG!!! @@naenaern777 You are REALLY doing great....and increasing distance already. Congrats! I ended up doing 35 miles on the bike today....was planning on 50, but the lady at the blood donation center said take it easy today.......OK! Happy Hump day all! http://connect.garmin.com/activity/528471885

Just a thought...UNTIL you can get in touch with your bariatric surgeon: If someone put you on a "clear liquid" diet, maybe they don't want you taking in Protein for a day or so. Trying to give your stomach/system a rest for a day or so?? As for Liquid Protein, I use New whey Liquid Protein shots at times. Best wishes on a resolution!

Up way to early this morning, so went to the gym at 3:30am....30 minutes weights, 20 minutes on the bike and one mile run on the treadmill.

This pretty sums up what I was going to say....Proper restriction, for me, was the most important thing. Keep going to your Dr. and you'll too, find that sweet spot. It takes time for some of us. But It's so worth it in the end. Best wishes

Thats GREAT news Terry! Here's to many enjoyable, healthy years to come. Happy riding my friend! You and TMF have got me thinking....of getting/trying a MTN bike. After all, you're the one who said its better than sex...... What am I missing??!?!?!

Your Doctor said "carbs = pounds" ? That sounds like the Atkins diet approach to me....been there and done that. Lost 80 pounds and gained 100 after I quit doing it years back. For me, it was CALORIES to excess, that equalled pounds. I am almost 5 years postop and eat almost every type of food I want. Lots of fish and chicken and lots of steamed or grilled veggies. I eat very little red meat, and almost no bread, mostly by choice. Other than that, there's only a couple of foods I CAN'T eat at my restriction level. pineapple and brussel spouts do not work for me. But I can live without either of those. I don't drink soda's...and haven't since banding. But I now drink beer when I want. I DID NOT for the first year or so. Here's a quote and link from a very often mentioned WLS surgeon on here...Your surgeon and staff may disagree. "The problem is not "carbs" the problem is the kind of carbs that you eat. If you eat highly processed foods, it will cause you to increase your appetite - wanting more food. So learn about the glycemic index, and how it will help you curb your appetite." http://drsimpson.net/weight-loss/weight-loss-glycemic-index/weight-loss-glycemic-index/weight-loss-glycemic-index.htm Best wishes on whatever you decide! As others have said, you only live once...make it the best you can.

Congrats on your success and it's refreshing to hear from HAPPY people!!!! Yea for you!

Are you using a PC or mobile app?

I am healthy....my main goal....but I'd still like to lose some more fat. I'll just keep on doing what I'm doing and see what happens. I've given up on stressing over some magic scale number ( at least most of the time ). I just enjoy my new life now. Sounds like you have done VERY good as well! Congrats to us longterm banders!!

I'm a bandster.... Low carb and an endurance events longer than about 90 minutes don't work for me either. I just hit a wall at about 90 minutes if I don't take in any carbs. I've only done half distance's and probably won't do a full marathon....just not sure I want to dedicate myself to that....YET. For me, a half takes about 2 hours at a reasonable pace, as I'm not a fast runner. I did my last one eating some carb heavy meals the day before and had half cup of oatmeal a couple of hours pre run. During my last half, I had some electrolyte drink mixed in with Water, and took a GU gel every half hour. And a pack of energy beans at the one hour time. At the end I felt great...that worked for me. YMMV. I really like Fiddleman's pre workout plan if I'm going on a longer bike ride...say more than 2 hours. I usually have some oatmeal before starting, then I personally find Clif Bars to be what works best for me during the ride. I will eat a half one at one hour, then another half about every 30- 45 minutes. I don't think I could do bars during a run....although I've never tried.