catfish87

Depends... How much are they adding each time? Are they filling blindly or using fluoro? You can find lots of folks on here who have similar #'s of fills. It may just take a small amount more, before you will get to that magic zone. WHEN you do, its wonderful! I believe everyone should have at least some of their fills using fluoro, it'd be nice if all were done that way, but it is more expensive. Fluoroscope fills can SHOW, NO GUESSING, how much restriction you have and if everything looks good with the band. Maybe take a look at this if you have time. http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

Awesome job! Congrats on your success!

I'm three and a half years post band. I have had ZERO band troubles, not one. I didn't even give 100% effort like a lot of very successful folks on here do, and yet I am still down over a hundred pounds since surgery. And still losing. This little device has turned my life around! I just let it work its magic, now that I am in that wonderful "green zone". I can do anything I want now. I feel better than I ever remember.

CG, I really enjoy your daily post and reading how wonderful you are doing with your WLS. Your determination and success is and should be a huge motivating example to others here. I'll be keeping your family in my thoughts.

I have no issues with spicy foods now. Pre-band, different story. Mine acid reflux is totally resolved, no issues at all for me.

That is whats so great about this surgery. Its adjustable! Glad you're in a happy spot now too.

If you can, please update your profile with surgery date, etc. Here's a comment I posted in another question similar to yours: Being hungry post op, prior to restriction, isnt really uncommon at all. Unless your surgeon put in a fill during surgery, some do, some don't, you're in whats referred to as bandster hell. That time when you don't have restriction and its nothing more than a diet. I COULD have eaten just as I did prior to surgery. Do your best to follow your instructions from your surgeon. This is the time when YOU do the work. Keep up your exercise as much as you can. Hopefully, you have a doctor that will progress your fills and get you to that level of restriction that will provide you some portion control help. Don't get discouraged by the first few weeks if you're not seeing weight loss, it'll happen. The green zone for me, came when I finally got to what I consider proper restriction. I can sometimes not be "hungry" ALL DAY now. I can eat a small amount, and stop. Then I feel satisfied for hours. I have ZERO problems with heartburn, reflux, etc. Everyone can be different with their level restriction. What really matters is, is it working for YOU.

Yea! So glad to hear you two have this option available. It's very beneficial in my opinion. Not only for restriction purposes, but to see everything looks good. I wish you much success!

Hi Blondie, You mentioned that they say "you are almost to the green zone" so I'm assuming they are doing your fills using fluoro? If not, they don't know how close you are to restriction, they're guessing. You say you dont even feel like you have a band? From my experience, if you're really that close to proper restriction, you definately know you have a band. If....If, they are guessing, ask for a fill using fluoro, I think you will find it useful. Heres a link describing the process: http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

No. You just stand up with your back against the Fluoroscopy machine table, they give you the barium to swallow, and then they can SEE if everything is good and your amount of restriction. Its as described above, kinda like a live xray. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended....by me. Check out this link if you choose to: http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

Congrats! Hope you are recovering nicely.

I was given a nasal spray pain med. I don't recall what it was. (I THINK it was a spray version of Lortab ) I used it for a couple of days and it worked well. Not sure I'd have been wanting any pills for a few days...on a clear liquid diet and taking pills?? Doesn't seem correct to me, but each doc is different.

I use the android app on my samsung phone. If I go to add food, it's the second line. "scan barcode". It may be device specific....

Do I think you should try? Of course! Is it going to be easy...no way! I dare say, 99% of banded folks have felt exactly as you are right now. Hence the name bandster HELL. Every single thing you do as far as exercise will help. If your doc wants 1000 calories and you feel you youre giving your best effort and are closer to 12-1500, thats your best effort. Thats all anyone can ask of us, our best effort. Until you get to that restriction level that will help DRASTICALLY, it really is just a diet. You can do it though, one day at a time.

Being hungry 4 weeks post op isnt really uncommon at all. Your swelling from surgery should have subsided and you state youre working out like crazy, so....its normal. I'm sure that isn't what you wanted to hear, but it was a reality for MOST of us banded folks. Unless your surgeon put in a fill during surgery, some do, some don't, you're in whats referred to as bandster hell. That time when you don't have restriction and its nothing more than a diet. Do your best to follow your instructions from your surgeon. This is the time when YOU do the work. Keep up your exercise as much as you can. Hopefully, you have a doctor that will progress your fills and get you to that level of restriction that will provide you some portion control help. Don't get discouraged by the first few weeks if you're not seeing weight loss, it'll happen.

I'm David D on loseit, add me! .....if you want to.

I started using LoseIt a couple of months ago, just to see where I was at. I like it.

Congrats and thanks for sharing!

Don't get discouraged so soon. I'm 3 1/2 years post banding and I still am learning! Some folks take a long time to get to proper restriction, and until you do, its really willpower...a diet. Try to follow your surgeons advice as best you can. Try slowing down your eating, chewing really well. Maybe hiding that scale for a couple of weeks is a good idea for you. I promise, this band does work! It takes a while for some, like me. You really can do this....never, ever give up!

Yea for you for not giving up! I will forever be a vocal voice in support of fills using fluoro...it was the ONE of the major reasons I am achieving success. I was so close, so very close to thinking this isn't going to work for me either...... Read my story for how it helped me. It really works, when and if you get to proper restriction. Hopefully, one day soon, all fills will be done using this method.....otherwise, its just a guess. Never, ever give up! Maybe check out this page if you're interested: http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

I'd certainly have it again, and I'd def stay with lap band. IT REALLY WORKS! If I had a discussion with someone considering WLS, as I did last night at a support group meeting, I would tell them to research band with plication. SO many people I read about on here take forever to reach proper restriction, even if they do go to their surgeons as directed. Every day you can read the following, "So frustrated, losing hope, not losing, I'm eating too much, etc, etc." I'd also make 100% sure that my fills were going to be done using fluoro, instead of the guessing method. Just my $.02

Good advice from the above posters. I'd add that according to your surgeons profile, you must have been one of his first patients, because he has three years of bariatric experience. Lots of folks on here have more experience with thier band than he has, again, this according to his profile. My band now DOES provide me restriction, no question about it. I have NO HEARTBURN, NO REFLUX, just great restriction. My fills are also done under fluoro, while doing the barium swallow. It is frustrating for you, I know. If you can afford to, continue to firmly explain to your doc that you do not have restriction...then look elsewhere for relief. BTW, was your surgeon the one who filled you initially when you had good restriction? Maybe his "tight", or proper restriction is different than someone else's??? Happens lots of times on this forum too. Best of luck to you!

You're probably just full? I like polenta, but know that IF, which I didn't, I had tried it a week after surgery, I'd have felt the same thing....my first couple baby bites of mashed potato's about the beginning of the third week post op, I felt that fullness. Unless you let it cook/soak for quite a while before you ate it, it may have swelled some. Especially if you drank something afterwards. If it was as thin as you describe, it should have went straight through the band area and into the stomach. Take it easy for the rest of the evening and I'm sure you'll feel better in the morning.