NaNa

If you've had some esophagus "issues" this means you've been too tight before, remember the band is a tool, I know it can be tough losing weight with the band, but we can't rely heavily on the band to do all the work, without causing complications. It's a 50/50 deal. First you have to make sure you are eating dense Proteins to promote satiety, sliders and junk will pass right through the band and if you are too tight, you will always be hungry because you will not eat enough to stay satiated for 4-5 hours between meals. Remember you have to do your part too, having restriction is only a small part of weight loss and success. You have to have a plan and stick to it, have a daily exercise regimen that you can stick with, count your calories of everything you put in your mouth, drink plenty of Water, sometimes thirst can mimic hunger. Also acid reflux can mimic hunger too, so if you have heartburn or reflux you may need to start a PPI like Prevacid. If you get your band filled again, remember it's not all about restriction, you only want enough saline to dim your hunger and not stop you from eating, the band is not designed to do that, it's designed to help you stop eating and pull back from the table. Also measure your food, think of a pixie cup, only eat no more than that per meal or 4oz. You can do this! Good luck.

With a properly restricted lap band (not too tight) most people can eat a variety of foods, just smaller amounts. Some foods are more bothersome to lap banders such as dry chicken, thick doughy breads, hard apples, chinese food, rice, since it can swell inside the pouch. I can eat all foods, if I choose to eat bread, it has to be thin, toasted and crunchy. Ideally you should be able to eat most foods as long as you eat carefully and chew well, and if you are very restricted, wait a few minutes before taking the next bite to ensure it goes down to prevent getting food stuck and vomiting. The lap band pouch opening when restricted is the size of a pencil eraser and food funnels down like a drain, if you pile too much food in at one time, especially thick food, it will pile up and come back up, or worse get stuck in your pouch. While losing weight, most people are advised to steer clear of white bread, rice, potatoes, sugar, flour, etc, anything white. If you can't eat most solids (without pain or frequent vomiting), something is either wrong with the band, or it is too tight.

The choice to have a life altering surgery should be YOURS and YOURS alone, not your surgeon because years down the road if you have any issues they will be on you and on you alone. I know many people that have had the Bypass and over the years have had numerous complications and their surgeon never had to see them again after the first few years, many are living with life threatening Hypoglycemia and other chronic issues and the surgeon could care less and they are pushed back to their PCP or internist or other medical doctors to deal with their long term issues. You have to first figure which surgery YOU want and can live with, some people do not want the lap band because it requires fill adjustments and some do not want a foreign object in their body. But again, the Sleeve, Bypass and DS weight loss surgeries have foreign objects too such as staples, which can cause issues too long term, like staple line disruptions which can cause chronic stomach issues. The band requires maintenance and most people get yearly Upper Gi's to check the position of their bands, some people cannot afford this, but again, with ANY weight loss surgery you will have some type of maintenance like Bypass, Sleeve and DS folks have a different type of maintenance of bi-yearly or yearly labs to check for Vitamin deficiencies, many people think having the Sleeve does not require this, but it DOES, since removing part of the stomach also removes a large chuck of the stomach where critical B nutrients are absorbed, and they are seeing long term Sleeve folks with many vitamin deficiencies as the Bypass folks now in a recent study I just read. If I was diabetic, I may have chose the Bypass, but the risk of complications outweighed the benefits for me, and also I don't like the idea of dumping syndrome all my life or long term hypoglycemia that so many Bypassers have. There are also risks with the Lap band too, there is a very high complication rate, but most are not serious, if you get immediate attention to any problems -- and not let any problems go to far which can cause emergency band removal, but the band may require repeated surgeries and you need to make sure you have good insurance and plan for any unforeseen lap band problems. Also, If you are thinking about the lap band you need to arm yourself with knowledge of how the band works, how to avoid complications, making sure the lap band is a good fit for your body, you can get all this information from reading the lap band contraindications on the lap band website. I've had lap band inside my body almost 8 years and I don't regret it, in fact I just had a new band put in last year due to a hiatal hernia and pouch dilation, but my issues were caused by filling the band too tightly about 7 years ago, and also my first surgeon did not repair a hiatal hernia which over the years started causing reflux if I wanted my band tighten optimally. I decided to get a new band placed rather than revising to the Sleeve or Bypass because I see too many people struggling and gaining weight back after 2-3 years and most Band to Sleeve revisions are not successful because many Banders have tighter restriction than with the Sleeve and I have seen many have not lost any or not much weight at all after they revised to the Sleeve, virgin Sleevers tend to lose more and I was not willing to risk removing my stomach for hard core dieting, for little or no weight loss. Good luck

Congrats! The sweet spot is sweet when you get it, it's like golden high .

First fills are rarely effective, it usually take about 3-5 (every 4-6 weeks) before your band works optimally, for some people it takes a bit longer, depending on how much is added each time. After each subsequent fill, and you notice you are getting near your green zone, your fills should get smaller and smaller. Give it about 2 weeks, for many people it takes about 2 weeks before the fill settles in. This is why it is very important to see your surgeon every 4-6 weeks the first year to ensure you get your band working properly, sometimes it may take many tweaks, or small unfills to get it adjusted in the green zone for effective weight loss. Getting the band sure requires patience! But hang in there, you will get restricted soon, keep eating Protein first, and veggies if you have room and measure your food up to 3 to 4 oz.

Sounds like you had a good ole fashion band whipping. I've had a few in the last 7 years and they are no fun. None of mine required emergency unfills, but I have had food stuck for SEVERAL hours and vomited for hours until the food came back up with my first lap band, but I surely thought I was gonna die. Many people have had to get their bands REMOVED in an emergency from obstruction, one girl I know about 6 years ago was out eating with her family at breakfast and ate a biscuit (BAD CHOICE) and the biscuit got stuck so bad, she vomited repeatedly and could not stop, removing all the saline from the band did not help, they ended up removing her band that same day, her stomach was just too obstructed. I would say MOST of lap band removals are from either eating too much food on a too tight band (which eventually will cause horrible reflux, damage esophagus) and frequently getting food stuck and vomiting every single day.. When you get restricted optimally, there are some foods you should never eat, or eat with EXTREME caution, these foods have caused people to get their bands removed which are thick bread, hard apples, grilled dry chicken, chinese food, especially the rice, it's gummy and will swell, and will cause obstruction, I've had repeated vomiting from it with my old band. You have to eat band friendly foods as long as you have a restricted band, bread and bagels are not lap band-friendly, all of your food should be moist, like baked very moist chicken and not grilled, things like low calorie Protein based casseroles, anything in a crock pot, like stews. Many people will say they vomit every single day, but they forget to mention that they tried to eat a burger and fries, these foods will cause obstruction and vomiting on a very restricted band. Some people will vomit so much until they cause band damage and once the band is damaged by slippage or dilation, unfilling will not help, and they will get reflux so bad until the band will have to be removed. It's not really hard living with a band and avoid vomiting but you just have to choose your food wisely.and chew well. Sorry about your experience, hope you and your band is on the mend.

Wow! You look like a different person. You must feel on top of the world.

Remember fills should not be "automatic" they should only be given when "needed" a few people never need fills, but most do. If you are still losing weight and your hunger is dimmed most of the time, it is probably a good idea that you cancel your fill until after your vacation, and then re-evaluate after you return from vacation if you truly need one. Just enjoy your vacation! You will have plenty of time to get that fill.

I totally agree! Having had the band for almost 8 years, many people get addicted to saline like a drug! Some will not let go of any saline, if the scale is moving in the right direction, until it is WAY to late and they have irreversible band damage either to their esophagus or pouch, which causes horrible reflux and often band removal. It should never hurt to have a band, I know sometimes it can be annoying and tricky to find the green zone without being too tight, but you have to ease up on restriction and once you get near the green zone, the subsequent fills should be very small like 0.1 and never a big fill.

Thank you Joe! I really loved my 4cc band, wished I could have kept it, but in order for my surgeon to repair my hiatal hernia they had to removed the 4cc band since they don't unbuckle without destroying the entire lap band system. I've had my new band going on 10 months and I am hopeful!

Did you get your band deflated when you got pregnant? I've heard of so many having issues with restriction after pregnancy IF they did not remove saline prior. Also you got pregnant really early after your band placement. You could have a hiatal hernia, most don't show up on a normal Upper Gi series, mine did not, they usually can tell with an EGD, endoscopy what is exactly going wrong, you may want to ask your surgeon for an EGD to get to the bottom on your pain. Good luck!

Could you provide a little bit more information? Like when did you have your surgery and what were you eating and do the pain come and go or is it persistant, we are not doctors, so we can't diagnose your problems, we can just try to share the experiences we've had.. Typically back pain can be a variety of issues, it can be a hiatal hernia, eating too much food, or some type of inflammation.

Your are welcome! And congrats on your upcoming surgery!

Thank you! Small world, Dr. Moazzez placed my first band, are you still in Northern, VA? By the way you look great! I think I was Dr. Mo's 10th band placement, so I guess I paved the way for so many....

Sorry, but it sounds like your band has already slipped, or you have a bad pouch dilation. I would not wait a few weeks, this could further damage your body and lessen your chance of healing without band removal. If you have not got all the saline removed, I would do that asap for starters.

You are hungry because your and is not working yet, 4-6 weeks is for healing. Once your band is filled optimally which can take 3-5 fills ideally one month a part, most people hunger goes away. Most people call this bandster hell, until you get restriction, also you are a light weight, and it may take a bit longer for you feel good restriction. Until then, measure your food, and try to fill up on lean healthy Proteins.

When you first get banded, you have to have a plan and goal and see your surgeon often for fills especially in the first year. You also have to be very motivated and optimistic! You can do this!

I have not posted on here in a long time, ( a few years) I used to be a regular post on Obesity Help too, until all the band bashing made all the veteran bandsters leave. It seems like a place now for people seeking revisions from the band to something else, and it is no longer a place where anyone with a lap band or seeking a band should post, in my opinion. I also got busy with life, marriage, traveling, etc, living a great post op life, and I have not posted in any forum for a while, and thought I would come back home to LBT to share my journey /accomplishments and struggles and help newbies. I had a hiccup in my journey last year due to an un-diagnosed hiatal hernia that was never repaired during my first band placement, which also contributed to a small pouch dilation (surgeons were not routinely repairing hernia back in 2005), and had my old 4cc/10cm lap band replaced with the new AP small band. I had to switch surgeons to seek a highly qualified revision surgeon because a lot of surgeons are now moving away from the band which in my opinion, at least until a "new buyer is chose for the lap band" which is a disservice to those who really want bands, and what I've read and researched, those who are really wanting lap bands need to search carefully for band-friendly surgeons to offer great aftercare, which is more important than getting the band. Aftercare is the key to success with the band, and having a surgeon that believes in you, and will follow your progress. I was on vacation recently for about 3 weeks out in California and Vegas and I put back on some pounds by eating sweets and I want to take those pounds back off. I started my journey in a size 26 8 years ago, and my lowest size was 8/10, I maintained my weight in a size 10/12 for a solid 6 years until I got married and started having band issues last year but, I settle around a size 12/14, which is not too bad considering where I came from. I am overall happy with my new band, however my old 4cc band felt tighter, and I got restriction quicker with my older band, than with this new AP small band, but I am happy with my new AP band because I have never PB, or had any real issues so far, and I am very optimistic with my new "improved AP band".

I have to agree with others, it seems like you may need an unfill instead of a fill since you are not able to get in enough water or liquids to induce weight loss, also you may want to increase exercise.

Thanks everyone! Donna, yes I will need to get a tummy tuck and arms and thighs done, unfortuntely after yo-yo dieting for years my skin did not snap back, so I have loose and extra skin also, but it does not look that bad, but I want to get plastics done anyway to feel better about myself. Take Care and thank again everyone!!

:)Hello, I don't post on here very often, but I lurk sometimes, I thought I would share my lap band two year aniversary pics here as well! I have lost over 130 pounds with my band so far, I am not at goal yet, I had a brief unfill back in May from my band tightening up and that has caused a set back in getting to my goal weight, but overall I am very happy with my lap band and results so far:). Here are my before and after pics so far!! Thanks so much for your support! March 2005 about 326 About 200 pounds July 2007 - Now about 190ish

Hello, I am a little over a year out and I am happy to say I have not experienced this PB but once and it was mild and it happened right after my tightest fill in my band, I was eating at a restaurant some lamb and some of the food came back up. I have slimed before in the mornings when I am tighter and this is usually when drinking something too cold. But no I have NEVER had a problem with vomiting, thank god I have lost over 100 pounds without having to vomit....also I am over a year out and I have NEVER gotten aggressive fills either all my fills have been conservative about .5cc per fill in my 4cc band. I have to admit I am really tight now and I have 2.7ccs in my band and I have to be very careful to chew good and not drink really cold liquids otherwise I could easily experienced PB/vomiting...the bottom line is the MORE SALINE YOU HAVE IN YOUR BAND AND THE LESS CAREFUL WITH CHEWING ONE IS...THE MORE LIKELY YOU WILL HAVE A PB... Also the more YOU put into weight loss the better off you are without having to depend solely on your lap band...Caution some newbies have already gotten agressive fills too early and have either experienced band slips or total UNFILLS...it is wise to go slow with fills...NOW after I have lost over 100 pounds...I feel like I can cruise into onederland easily since I exercised like crazy to get the bulk of my weight off and now I can enjoy a tight band to help get the remainder of my weight off with little effort and hopefully without any PBs...:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Hello Sheryl Lynn, I am over a year out and I cannot understand when people say they can no longer eat or tolerate certain things either...:noidea: ...biggest mystery of banding I guess. However, I am pretty tight at this moment I have 2.7ccs in my 4cc band and have CAN eat ANYTHING I WANT...no food I cannot eat that I ate before I got my band. There are foods that I CHOOSE not to eat often because they are fattening like bread, Pasta and potatoes. But my band does not send to the ladies room each and every time I eat meat, I just follow the simple rules of taking pea size bites and chewing well, I don't have to chew many times either just like a normal person would fully chew their food when eating...no magic just real simple and I DO NOT EAT AND DRINK with my meals otherwise I would probably have some embarrasing moments. I have slimed many times, but not on food on crystal lite in the mornings when I am tightest and I have to have my liquids at room temperature at this time since anything cold will further restrict the band around the esaphagus. When my band was overfilled, I could not barely eat ANYTHING...not only meat, but I just could not eat without pain, my band does not discriminate on certain foods, if I can eat solids I can eat all foods... By the way I looooooooove my band..:biggrin1: Take Care.

Sunta, Congrats on your awesome weight loss despite a band leak!! You rock!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: