Lisa99

Thanks Bitter, My allergies aren't related to my band, I've had them all my life. But the drainage does seem to be going into my pouch and causing big problems. I took benadryl last night before bed and it worked wonders, so my worries that something was wrong with my band is gone...just need to see the doc on Monday and get a prescription for the allergies. Thanks lisa

Hi everyone, I've been experiencing some very weird symptoms for the last 2 or 3 weeks and I think I just realized it may be due to untreated allergies...but I wanted to see if anyone has experienced the same. I'll be banded a year on Sunday and my last fill was in February. I've had no issues at all until recently. I feel like my pouch is always full and when I eat I can take only 2 or 3 bites before I'm full. I'm also experiencing some weird "foaming" sensation at night. Last night was so bad I had to sleep sitting up because I felt like I was drowning. I thought I had something seriously wrong so have an appt with my surgeon on Monday, but I just realized that this is the time of year when I have bad allergies. I've never taken anything for them, just suffer through for 4 - 6 weeks and then it's all over. But...is it possible that my symptoms are being caused from the pouch being full of mucus from my sinus drainage? Does anyone else experience seasonal symptoms like this? Thanks for your help! Lisa

4cc band filled at 2cc. Last fill was 6 months ago. First thing in the morning, it's hard to get even a Protein shake to go down. It's better by noon - 1pm when I can eat about 1/4 cup of food. By night time I can eat about 1/2 cup. Something has happened recently though in that I can't eat as much as I used to be able to. My last fill was six months ago, but starting about a 10 days ago, my ability to eat has drastically changed. Never had this happen before, so am waiting to see if it will go away on its own before calling the doc.

I would suggest you get a slight unfill. When I was too tight I ate the same way you are and didn't lose a pound for almost 3 months. Once I got a small unfill I can eat just about anything only in very small portions. I'm back on track and have started losing again. Good Luck,

There are too many factors to be able to predict the outcome. One side of the coin: it depends on the surgeon's skill, how well post-op instructions are followed, what technique they used, which band was placed. Then the flip side: complications can occur even if the surgeon is perfect and instructions are followed to the letter....so bottom line, it isn't predictable.

Faith, Good for you! I know those first 3 - 4 weeks feel like an eternity and the hunger (for me anyway) never seemed to go away...but it ended up being kinda like childbirth. Miserable during, but quickly forgotten after. I'm 10 months post-op now and am what I think is perfect restriction. I can eat anything only in very small portions....good luck on your journey.

:faint: the little guy says it all

no slamming from me. Agree completely. The other ones that leave me shaking my head in wonder are the posts that say "....I'm less than a week out of surgery (or 2 days in one case several months ago) and I just had to have a (piece of pizza, sandwich, chips...pick one)....what on earth are they thinking!!?? Maybe they weren't given enough information on the dangers of what they're doing...if that's the case their doctor should be ashamed.

In the mornings maybe 1/4 cup By midafternoon closer to 1/2 cup By dinner 3/4 - 1 cup It also depends what the food is. Soup is just about unlimited, but the chunkier and more texture the food has the less I can eat. I have about 2.5 cc in a 4cc band and can eat just about anything, but fill up very quickly so I think I'm at the perfect spot for me.

Welcome! I've been banded since Sept 06 and also had less than 100 pounds to lose. I would make the same choice again in a heartbeat, but you want to be careful about comparing your weight loss expectations to the results of someone else. When you have less to lose, it can go much more slowly. My first few month the weight practically fell off, but the closer I get to goal the slower it becomes....but don't worry! It is far better to lose slowly than to not lose at all! Good luck, you'll do great Lisa

Yes Gadget Lady, I know the exact answer to your question. In the 1970s I was 11 years old and the oldest of 3 kids. My alcoholic abusive step-father regularly mounted my mother without using protection. She became pregnant twice in less than a year. Each time he told her that she had to have an abortion or he would leave her. She did as he told her each time....abortion was not her choice, but she did what she was told to "preserve the family"....there are MANY sides to this debate.

Chrissy, I know exactly how you feel about not wanting to get an unfill, but if you don't get more comfortable please don't hesitate to get a little taken out. I had my third fill in Feb. From the 1st day that I moved back to solids (day 3) I had trouble eating solid Protein regardless of how well I chewed or how slowly I ate. Since I was afraid to get an unfill and go back to unrestricted ability to eat I suffered with the fill for more than 3 months. Finally called uncle and admitted my husband was right...my husband is also banded and kept threatening to put me in the car and take me to the fill center since I was PBing at just about every meal! I had a TINY unfill (only .2cc). Before I had 2.8cc in a 4cc band and now I have 2.6cc. The difference was instant and WONDERFUL! I still get full quickly, but can eat chicken, fish and beef, salads, veggies, etc. I still can't eat bread, pizza, or other dense carbs but that's no loss! I'm no longer drinking shakes, eating ice cream and living on food that would "slide". And because of the unfill my weight loss has started up again. PLEASE don't be afraid to get a slight unfill...you can always get a small refill if they back a little too much out. good luck!

When you're at the liquid stage it tends to be low in carbs. One of the reasons that we lose so quickly on liquids is that the liver can store up to 100 grams of glycogen (which comes from carbs). And for every gram of glycogen there is additional water/fluids stored as well. As we diet (especially low carb versions) the glycogen stores are depleted and the excess Water is excreted as well. Once you start eating carbs again, the glycogen is built back up in the liver and water is retained as well. Good news...the regained weight isn't fat...it's just replenishment of what the body naturally stores in the liver.

When you're at the liquid stage it tends to be low in carbs. One of the reasons that we lose so quickly on liquids is that the liver can store up to 100 grams of glycogen (which comes from carbs). And for every gram of glycogen there is additional water/fluids stored as well. As we diet (especially low carb versions) the glycogen stores are depleted and the excess Water is excreted as well. Once you start eating carbs again, the glycogen is built back up in the liver and water is retained as well. So...when you start eating more carbs, your weight will jump up quickly because the liver is restoring the lost glycogen and water.

Yep. Only by buckling back down and eating fewer than 800 calories and stepping up the exercise do I get the scales moving again. But I didn't get the band to stay on a "diet" so I'm not worried about it...

I've been banded for about nine months and my fullness feeling is felt in the middle of my chest. The feeling is completely different from the feeling of fullness I used to get from overeating. I've even had one occasion where I went to long without eating and my stomach was still growling even though I felt the "band fullness" in my chest....it was quite odd, but happened because I ate too fast.

I asked my surgeon about this. I had rotator cuff surgery about 8 weeks after the lapband surgery and about one month after the cuff repair my hair was falling out in handfuls. She said some people's body reacts to the stress of surgery by making their nails thin and their hair falls out. Thank goodness it only lasted for about a couple of months...my hair is back to normal now and it's been about five months since my cuff repair.

For some people just getting banded is all it takes. My surgeon has had a couple of patients who got the band, got seriously motivated, cut out all foods except lean Proteins, vegetables and fruits, and lost all of the weight they needed to without having a fill. For most of us mortals, it doesn't work that way....but if it works for you, then that's just incredible! :clap2:

My doc told me if you have a glass full of the liquid and you can see the bottom of the glass it qualifies as clear liquid. So broth, Isopure, crystal light...

We have UHC. My husband had a BMI of 42 and serious high blood pressure. UHC approved him in about 10 days. I think it all depends on whether or not your employer has a no weight loss surgery clause.

Hi Syrah, It may take more than one fill to feel restriction. I have the smallest band and it took 3 fills to get it right. But the 3rd fill has lasted now for months.

<p>My doc is one day of liquids, then the next day mushies and the 3rd day back to solid foods....but I know all docs are different.</p> <p> </p> <p>What I've done when I'm really hungry that first day is make up a protein shake but put about 1/8 cup of raw oatmeal in the blender with the protein powder. Blend the heck out of it until the oatmeal is no longer visible. That mixture keeps me full much longer than just a protein shake.</p> <p> </p> <p>Good luck, I know hunger really sucks!!</p>

when you're in the liquid stage, you can add unflavored Protein powder to Soups, Jello, crystal light, just about anything. I did it for both liquid and mushy stage and had no problems getting in enough protein. The brand I use is called "Any Whey".

A great mushy is any kind of mild fish or canned chicken mashed up really fine and then topped with a fat free alfredo sauce recipe that I have. Once you get to regular food the alfredo sauce is great over just about everything! My current favorite is to have a small bed of brown rice, a piece of broiled tilapia on top of that and then the alfredo sauce with tomato, onion, mushroom and spinach added to the sauce..YUMMY!! Here is the recipe: Quick Creamy Alfredo Sauce 1 c evaporated skim milk 1/4 c liquid butter buds 1/4 c flour 4 tsps fat free chicken broth (broth, not the crystals) 1/4 c fat free parmesan cheese 1/4 tsp minced garlic salt and pepper to taste In a small saucepan over low heat, blend flour, butter buds, skim milk and chicken broth. Add garlic, salt and pepper. Cook until sauce thickens. Stir in parmesan cheese and serve immediately over anything you want! I often leave out the parmesan cheese and garlic and use the base as a basic white sauce. I then can add reduced fat cheese if I want a cheddar cheese sauce. I don't have problems with Pasta, so this cheese sauce makes a killer mac and cheese...not as tasty as the real thing, but a darn good substitute if you're really watching fat and calories. The recipe as written makes 1 3/4 cups of sauce and has 63 calories.

I'm at good restriction and have no problems drinking water the same way I used to. The only difference is that early in the morning the water sometimes "gurgles" through the band so I have to drink a bit more slowly then.