HappyMe2009

Happy Me....I am right there with you....Banded Dec 2nd 2009 and I have lost a total of 20 pounds and I have done EVERYTHING they have said. I am super frustrated and I don't know what to do. I am at 6ccs and I cant go ant further because i get really sick when they fill it more and when they take some out I can eat anything. You are not alone. I am right here with you.

Guess the saying is true that misery loves company because I was "glad" (for lack of a better word) to see that I am not the only one that this surgery has not worked for. It's even worse because NOBODY (friends/family) thought I "needed" it and now that I did it and haven't lost ANY weight, they all are giving me the silent "I told you" looks. Very disheartning and disappointing. I tried EVERY diet/exercise/liposuction/massage/pill/ and still, here I sit...

hey that is so shittt to hear the doctors shold be able to dosometing for you where did get srgery?i had mine same day i worcester,mass,, to date i lost 102 lbs,,and iave 6,5 cc out of 11

Yeah lpglarry - it's shitty to hear and even more shitty to experience! I had surgery at Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC and CONGRATS on all your weight loss!!

Hi Delights! I was hesitant to even read this thread because I am so disappointed with my band and results and I knew reading all of your success stories would make me feel worse about my lack thereof... I was banded Dec 7, 2009 and I have NOT LOST ONE POUND. I have actually gained 3 lbs since then. I have 10cc's in an 11cc band and haven't been back to the doctor in over 6 months. There is no leak (as of last check) all 10cc's are there, the band just never got tight enough for me to cut back on the foods I like. Breads - no problem! Anyway, just checking in and sending sincere CONGRATS to all my fellow December Delights on all your successes!

OH how I WISH this was a problem for me... I can eat ANYTHING I want, have never been "stuck" or any of the other mentioned problems with the band. I am at 9.9cc's in an 11cc band, and had my surgery in December '09... :blushing:

So glad I'm not alone in this one... my SO teases me that I sound like something from Jurrasic Park! :thumbup: I'm 8 months out and still gasing, burping, belching, stomach gurgling away...

I am currently in the same situation and I feel like my ship is sinking fast... I was banded December 7th 2009, and I have lost about 8 pounds since then! I am up to 9cc's in an 11'cc band and I can still eat bread, have never had anything get "stuck", never slimed or PB'd or anything that lets me know I am in band land. I can not eat quite as much as I used to pre-band, but I can eat ALL the same foods. I had taken up walking 3 miles a day 3-4 times a week and I did this for a month thining that would give me a "boost" and when I went to the doctor last month - again - NOTHING. I don't have any motivation and I am starting to regret putting my body through this for it not to work. I have ugly scars in my stomach from this operation and only 8 pounds to show for it. I didn't tell many of my friends or family about having surgery, but those that I told didn't think I "needed" it and now that I'm six months out and still look the same, all I am getting is "I told you so's"... I did my research and I thought I was making the best choice for me to FINALLY get a hold of my weight gain and after being initally denied by my insurance, when my appeal got approved I was rejoicing!! I thought this was it and all the years of battling my bulge would soon be behind me as me and my band tackled the never ending world of food... NOT so much. I am torn between going for my appointment next week and just saying "to hell with it" and not going back at all anymore. The doctor has already told me that I am the only patient he has ever had that has had this much Fluid in their band and still not be fully restricted. ~sighs~ :thumbup:

Hi Delights! I haven't been online in about a month b/c I just didn't have much to "say" about my progress thus far and I am REALLY getting discouraged about having the surgery. I have had 5 fills and now have 8cc's in an 11cc Realize band, and I just ate a turkey sandwich (:cool:).. I am walking 3 miles a day 4 times a week and I haven't lost any weight since about a week post-op. (:eek:). I was set to go back for a office visit on the 28th, but I called yesterday to schedule another fill for next week instead. I just don't know what the problem could be. Yes, I eat less than I did before, BUT I can eat ALL the same foods I did before. I have never had a PB or had anything "stuck", not that I want to, but at least I would FEEL like the band was in there. I haven't read any posts, but I am sure you all are doing well and congrats to you and your successes.

Thanks for your replies. I won't give up, it's just so frustrating because I thought for SURE 5.5cc's would give me some restriction and it just really disappointed me that it didn't. I just want to FEEL something other than the hard spot where my port is! :cursing:

Banded 12/7/09

First Fill 1/5/10 (4cc's)

Second Fill 2/2/10 (1.5cc's)

Total 5.5cc's in an 11cc Band and guess what.. NO RESTRICTION!

I was so looking forward to being banded and having this "tool" to help me along the way, but the tool isn't working yet, so it's so hard for me to get motivated to do anything different than I did pre-band because I still feel PRE-BANDED. I log on here and read all the success stories and see all the weight loss tickers moving and it seems like everyone is having such success and here's little (pun intended) ole' me with the scale not moving and eating what I want with no problem. I haven't had ONE episode of food getting stuck, no PB'ing, nothing to even let me actually feel that the band is there! I know from reading other's experiences that those things are "no fun" but believe it or not, I am actually looking forward to going thru something like that, at least I will know that the band is in there and it's making it's presence known. No, I'm not exercising. I'm not motivated to exercise. I wasn't a huge eater before the band, I just ate the wrong things. I know everyone's band experience is different, but I thought some things were across the board, like bread and guess what... 6 inch subway sandwich is not a problem for me. I go back next month for a 3rd fill but it just seems unlikely that I can go from not feeling anything to the 3rd fill being the "magical one" that turns the switch on. I thought this was a process, a gradual increase to the beloved "sweet spot" and I have yet to begin the climb.

I'm just frustrated and venting. I was supposed to take my monthly "progress pictures" but I don't even want to do that because they will look the same as the December and January pictures!

CONGRATUALTIONS to all of you who are having sucess and reaching milestones and goals. I am happy for you and I hope you keep up the good work. Your stories are an inspiration....

Congratulations on all your hard work paying off!

The scales aren't moving and I am not exercising because I HATE exercising in my house and it's too cold outside to walk or ride my bike so I'm "stuck". I don't have restriction after my first fill and my second fill is in about 2 weeks. Perhaps that will give me some restriction, that will then allow me to eat less, thus sending the scale downward and landing on the motivation I need to get up and walk on the treadmill or use the wii fit. *SIGH*. I know that I have to do my part and the band will work for me eventually, but I am just suprised that I haven't been able to get the band to kick in at all yet. I can eat anything I want. Not all in one sitting but if I keep going bck, eventually I can eat it. Never had one stuck episode or PB'ing or anything to let me know it's in there. Nothing. Not to mention my S/O didn't want me to have the surgery in the first place b/c he thought I looked fine and he loves me the way I am (was), so now that the post-op swelling is gone and the first fill didn't provide restriction past day 2, all I hear is "so what did you get an operation for if you can still eat like you did before?"

I am just rambling and venting because I am a little blah about it all right now. I was so excited to get approved and ready to start my new life, but without the band doing what it's in there to do, the work is all on me and if I could have done it all by myself I wouldn't have needed a band in the first freakin' place!

Whoosah...

Thank you for your replies and additional information, I have a much better understanding now. I AM SO GLAD I FOUND THIS FORUM!

Actually, I think, the amount of Protein you are supposed to have per day is based on your weight. Here's a bit more about that: How Much Protein Per Day Should You Eat?

Apparently, it is bad to have too much protein according to this website: Too much protein can harm your body - on MedicineNet.com

I did a google search and here are the rest of the results: too much protein - Google Search

Thank you for your reply and this information; I am going to read it now.

I know we are supposed to have 70 grams of Protein a day, my question is: Is 70 the max or the minimum? Is there any "harm" or "benefit" in having more? Can I have "too much" protein and if so, what is harm in doing that? If I drink 2 Isopure drinks that's 80 grams plus the protein in any food I eat so I know I am going over 70 grams a day.

Your thoughts/input please.

THANK YOU JODI! Can you explain the difference you feel from 6.5cc's to 8.5cc's?

__________________

I think the difference is that my band is working. It is doing what we have all saw it do for other pople. I eat a small amount and am full, I am satisfied for around 3 or 4 hours. I am loosing weight like crazy, at least for now, I am sure it will slow down soon....thats OK though. I know the band will still keep me in check, and keep me loosing that 1 to 2 lbs a week. I literally cant eat more than I should. As long I am eating the right things, ie. no sliders.

I get stuck now if I eat too fast, too big of bites, or do not chew enough. I am really not hungry till about 10 a.m., at that time I eat a pack of oatmeal, or 2 boiled eggs. At lunch, I eat a Lean Cuisine or a Grilled chicken salad, maybe half of it, so like half of an 8 inch plate. For dinner I do high Protein Beans or chicken or pork, with a side. Nothing really any different than my family, just less of it. I do not snack at nite, never after 7 p.m. If I do need an after dinner snack, I have an orange, or a low fat yogurt.

Oh and lots and lots of Water all day! I drink roughly 100 ozs a day. It really helps!

Hope this helps! I know you can do it!

Jodi

*exhaling* I feel so much better now... THANKS EVERYONE for responding. My time is coming!

I love the Ice and Spray Bottle ideas. I am a BIG (no pun intended, lol) drinker/eater. As a matter of fact, I would often get full off of my liquid intake before I could finish a meal. I'm talking 3-4 glasses of Water, or diet tea/soda with my meals! Needless to say, this no drinking "rule" has yet to be followed by me..:thumbup:

What I have started doing is using my sippy cups to drink out of when I eat (even at restaurants, ) and that gives me the sensation of having liquids with my meals but it greatly limits the amount I drink and I've found that I ususally won't drink a full cup now.

Good Luck!

Jeez! I didn't realize that the needle

was the size of an ice pick!

:cursing:

Thank God they numbed me first.

And the nurse was pushing in DEEP.

I'm like, "uh, no...that's my spine."

It was very strange.

Discovered that I already had 3cc's in the band.

Doc and nurse were surprised.

I told them that I didn't have any restriction

since the swelling went down.

"Normal" they said.

So they added 1 cc giving me a total of 4 out of 10 cc's.

But what the HELL is with the hiccups, folks?!

I NEVER get hiccups and now after I eat,

I burp (like a MAN!), and them BAM...

hiccups like there's no tomorrow.

Please tell me what's up with that?

First it was the sneezing...now the hiccups.

:thumbup:

, that's FUNNY b/c when I saw that fill needle I started to sweat and wonder HOW/WHY/WAIT.... I had no idea the needle was that big but when he numbed me first and then impaled me, I felt NOTHING... all was well with the world!

I haven't had the hiccups but I belch like I am in a contest now! OMG and them come from deep down and rumble their way up and out... so embarrassing (sometimes) LoL

My doctor said it didn't matter what color or temperature the liquids were after my fill. Just no solid foods for 24 hrs. I could eat "mushies" and any liquids that I chose.

Wow, you look Great and YES I can totally tell the difference. Congrats and Keep up the good work!

1 - how did they check to see if you had a leak?

They took all the Fluid out of the band. They knew they put 6 cc's in so they knew that 6 cc's should come back out...and it did.

2 - at 8cc's when you could only drink shakes, how long did it take you to realize that and how did you know? Did everything you ate come back up? EVERYTHING?

My doctor doesn't require 24 hours of liquids after a fill, so I first knew at dinner time. I was being especially careful since I didn't know which foods would give me problems with my new fill so I took a small bite and chewed really well, but I had immediate pain. I ended up drinking a gulp of Water to bring it back up. I thought perhaps I might be swollen so I just stayed on liquids that day and the next...but even by the next day and the day after, whenever I tried to eat anything at all, it got stuck. So I stayed on Protein shakes until after the holidays rather than disturb them.

3 - were you measuring to make sure you were only eating one cup of food? How was that broken down in Proteins, fats, carbs?

I didn't need to. I wasn't able to eat 'foods' at all...not even a bite.

4 - what caused the swelling that gave you the sense of restriction?

Some people get a bit of swelling after a fill. It's just irritation to the stoma. No big deal. It goes down. I never had that until this last time.

Thank you for sharing your info. I always ask a lot of questions and I figure there is nobody to better get answers from than someone who has already done what I am trying to do.

I ws banded on 9-30-09...I have 8.5 cc's in an 11 cc Realize band. I just got that last fill on Friday. It brought me from 6.5 to 8.5 and boy the difference. I was having my doubts as well. I wasn't loosing all that much, i had no restriction. Doc made me feel better about things tho, he said it was very normal, to keep doing what I am doing, and the weight WILL come off! Sometimes we just need to hear that.

THE WEIGHT WILL COME OFF!!!

You are doing all the right things, dont get down on yourself! Remember, if you got instant restriction, you would be in shock! Things would get stuck all the time, you would be starving and miserable! Think of this time as a learning curve, getting you ready for the big test!

Hold on , be patient, be diligent, it will happen!

Good luck ! Jodi

THANK YOU JODI! Can you explain the difference you feel from 6.5cc's to 8.5cc's?

Yep, it is...too early that is. :thumbup:

I was banded on 11/3 and had my first 3 cc fill four weeks postop. Had another 3 cc fill two weeks later. A week after that, because I could still eat anything and as much as I wanted (if I chose) with no sign of restriction, I went back in and they pulled it all out to see if I had a leak.

Nope, no leak. 6 cc's in the band and no restriction. So they put in another 2 cc. Oops...now I could only drink Protein shakes. So a week later they took out 1 cc. Bingo! Restriction! I felt full after eating 1 cup of food and was full for about 4 hours.

On a sad note, that restriction disappeared (after two glorious weeks) yesterday or the day before so apparently I am still not at my sweet spot as I thought. My restriction was just from swelling. The good news is that I was set for another fill appointment this Thursday although I'm guessing they won't be so aggressive this time since I'm obviously getting close.

.

WOW! Questions:

1 - how did they check to see if you had a leak?

2 - at 8cc's when you could only drink shakes, how long did it take you to realize that and how did you know? Did everything you ate come back up? EVERYTHING?

3 - were you measuring to make sure you were only eating one cup of food? How was that broken down in Proteins, fats, carbs?

4 - what caused the swelling that gave you the sense of restriction?

Sorry for asking so many questions, but I am trying to get this band figured out...

I'm glad that it helped. Trust me, I know how difficult it is to be patient but the results are SO worth it. Gradual weight loss, as opposed to drastic weight loss, is more sustainable and easier for your body to adjust to. Try to concentrate on each day being one day closer to your goal.

Something that really helped me was keeping a journal of where I was at. I vowed not to read over it until a month had passed since each entry, so when I went back and read it was so easy to see how far along I was coming.

You can do this! You got the surgery, you made a HUGE step in the right direction, now just focus on being good to yourself and enjoying each little milestone (ie: the first time you put on a smaller size, the way your clothes start to feel, how much easier it is for you to walk a block, etc). I used to have my boyfriend wrap his arms around me and note the progress of how tightly he could grip

I am going to print this! And what a CUTE way to mark your progress and get a big hug at the same time! I love it! :thumbup:

Trust me, you aren't alone. I was banded in November. I currently have 4 cc's in an 11 cc band. I don't have any restriction either. I can eat anything. I even find myself not chewing well at times and it doesn't get stuck. I have to stop and remember to chew, chew, chew. I even gulp Water at times and have to stop and remember to sip. I'm going back for another fill next week. I'm hoping it will give me some restriction. Don't give up! It is a work in progress. It just takes time to get to the right spot.

If i didn't know any better, I would have sworn I wrote this myself!!!

This thread has been very helpful and I thank you all. I had my surgery in Nov '09 and had my first fill on Dec 29th. They put in 4 cc's, I felt nothing different so went back the next week and got 2 more cc's put in and now at a total of 6 cc's. I am beginning to feel some restriction but have not seen the weight loss I had hoped for. But listening to all of you has taught me to be patient and remain positive.

I concur with your post. We can and we WILL do this!