DizzyLizzy

The band is a simply a part of a team that includes you and your doctor (and their staff as mine has a dietician and exercise guru he works with). You all have to work together. But the brunt of the responsibility is on YOU! YOU have to follow the band rules of eating properly (nutrition and amount) and EXERCISE and YOU have to let you doctor and staff know if there are problems or if something isn't going as expected. They can't read your mind.
When I went back to my doctor for the first time in over a year and discovered I gained 20lbs of the 70 I had lost, I said, it's totally MY fault!!! Although I exercised faithfully, I wasn't eating the right things, I ate too much, and I didn't come see you guys routinely as I should have. I know I've gone through some stressfull stuff over the past year, but that is no excuse, I messed up with my badn. And he said, "I am proud of you, because most patients will not admit to their responsibility in lapband setbacks and those are the ones who don't do well, because we and the band separate can only do so much. The rest is up to the patient. That is why I know in the end you will be a success, because you understand your responsiblity of it and that us with the band are a team and have to work together!"
Lapband is not easy, it's a permanent diet, a lifestyle change, and the patient has to own up to their responsibility in eating right and communicating honestly with their doctor and being honest with themselves!

For those of you who have or are looking to take your band out, have you tried keeping your band in with all the Fluid removed first?
I had to have all of the Fluid removed from mine because I stretched my pouch. But even without any fluid I have some restriction still and cannot totally pig out like I could prior to getting my band, but I can eat pretty much anything as long as it isn't too dry. And I've still mangage I think to lose a couple of pounds over the last 5 weeks since I had the fluid taken out. (waiting to get on the doctor's scale for confirmatin of that).
Just curious as to why if the doctor says there is nothing wrong with the band, why removing fluid hasn't helped for those of you who say you can't eat at all.

I HATE looking at mine but I do it every single day. I keep a copy of it on my fridge as a reminder of what that big white box did to me in the first place!

You have only had your band two months? Well you have several options, have it removed, or get rid your negative thinking. Didn't your surgeon tell you it takes months for things to kick in for the band? You have to get to good restriction. Maybe your body just doesn't lose weight fast. Why on earth are you comparing your weight loss to others? This will really mess up your mind. I lost an average of 5 to 6 lbs a month and then had an eight week stall. Guess what, I eventually lost all of my weight and then some and have kept it off for six years. IT IS NOT HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU LOSE THE WEIGHT, IT IS KEEPING IT OFF PERMANENTLY. The band works if you let it. Good luck.

Thank you all so much! I'm very careful what I eat...I measure my Proteins, but I'm not writing it down. I guess that's where I need to start. I've had one fill and go back on the 25th. Your advice and encouragement is very helpful. I did do my research, but it seemed that the forums I read pre-op were through rose-colored glasses. I've started my exercise program, so that coupled with proper tracking should put me on the road o wight loss. I guess we all feel that self-pity at times? Thanks again.

Hi all
It might benefit some of us, so here is a little recap of what have I done in the last week and how did that effect my night reflux-night cough-heartburn-constant PBing scene:

the liquid phase of the 5 day pouch test described above really helped: I started experiencing less and less issues with eating normal food later in the week
as I've always been really tight in the morning, I stick to my Protein shake/yoghurt based breakfasts every morning not to upset my system first thing
I do take particular care to eat taking tiny bites (the nail on your pinky should be the ideal size) and to chew-chew-chew consciously - for me this is the hardest part
My daily diet AGAIN focuses on Protein based items - just like at the beginning of my banded life

I had been following all these rules and experienced much improvement in the daily pain going away and being more comfortable with regular food around lunch-dinner time.
However, I still had night reflux and night cough issues, waking up cranky and achy every morning, my throat on fire from stomach acid and reflux...
And then my doc sent me an email with some really bad news... The hospital I used had my surgery done closed down the banding programme (governmental hospital, not private - although I was a private patient) and there is no other establishment currently in place to pick up the pieces. And yes, that means that thousands of banded patients at Hungary are left without any after-care for the time being. No adjustments, no follow ups, no new surgeries... The hospital only deals with emergency cases when the band needs to be removed without delay... Don't ask me to explain. It cr*pper than cr*p and I'm busy now finding an alternative solution.
At the bottom of the email giving me this "great" news - basically: I cannot have my adjustment (taking Fluid out) as I planned in July - he left me with 3 temporary solution which "might help":
Drink camomile tea 1 hr - 30 ming before going to bed
Last meal of the day should be no less than 3 hours before bedtime (as I'm normally turning in at 10, that means last piece of food goes down at 7pm latest)
Do not drink 2-3 hours before going to bed - apart from the camomile tea mentioned above

I hate camomile tea, but I had to give it a go... And you know what: it works!!!
I've been doing the above 3 points in addition to my previously mentioned re-discovered good habits and ever since I've been sleeping through the night: no reflux, no coughing - just peaceful sleep all night!
And all this is great, but my main focus must be still to see a doctor as soon as possible and have my current level of fill looked at and evaluated: I believe although the "bad things" has stopped, I still too tight for living with it too long.
And that's my advice: no matter what kind of "home remedies" we come up with here, and how do they work for some of us- if you have recurring reflux issues or the way your band behaves changes for the worst for an extended period of time your first port of call still should be your doctor!
By the way: if anyone from UK reading this: do you know a specialist who might be willing to take up my fill schedule - I'm thinking private?

It's ok it happens.just see what u did differently.for me I gain 3-5 lbs a week before my period and I notice I fluctuated up last week.I figured out I wasn't getting my Water in .

I agree with Kat...there will be fluctuations with your weight. It's important to be aware of everything and how much you eat, and not become obsessed with your scale.

Stay the course; you have already proven you can be successful with loosing weight...and this is definitely a journey, and not an event!

Best wishes as your successful journey continues!

Stay motivated! It happens...and it is funny how even a pound or two can change your whole perspective...I experienced this for a month and a half...lost and gained between 2 and 10 lbs with no net loss...very frustrating...hang in there...it gets better...remember it's a journey....
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I did not get restiction until 10.6 in a 11 CC band. I measure my food so even though I wanted more food I was'nt eating it. Each person is different.
FYi some offices have NP doing fills. I haven't seen my surgeon since about a month out.
My NP would ask "If you measure out your food; can you go 4-5 hours before you are hungry again?" If the answer was no than I would get a fill. As I got closer to restriction she added "As you get close to finishing your portion do you get a feeling of satiation?"
If you are exercising 3 -4 times a week you need to add more sessions. My doctor wants at least 30 minutes daily.

Wow! I must agree with everything said here...........my story:
I had a stuck episode on Thursday May 31st. Went to bed, hoping I'd be ok in the morning. I was okay with liquids, but not much food. Continued on thru Saturday I was able to eat some "easy" foods......Greek yogurt, soft babybel cheese etc. then Sunday night I took a bite of my husbands quesadilla, while on the phone with my sister and bam! Stuck! Ate way too fast, I know I did. Well, ended up not being able to eat OR drink the rest of the night. All night, had reflux. Then I couldn't eat or drink the next day Monday. I called and made an unfill appt with my surgeon. But then I was up all night that night Monday. Tuesday came and I just wanted to die! The horrible feeling of an elephant sitting on my chest (esophageal spasms), back pain too and now dehydration! I was starting to panic. My appointment wasn't until Thursday, his usual day in the office. Well, by 6 pm I realized I could not go another night, let alone 2 more. My husband was out of town/state for business and my kids were both at sports practice. I called my dad to come take me and then I called the surgeon. I left him a message on his cell phone. My dad lives 20 minutes from me and then I am 40 minutes to the hospital he is at. Doctor called me and said to go to ER, get IV fluids and he'd meet us there.
I'd had a stuck episode before.....Nov 2010. The ER folks knew what to do, got me hooked up on IV fluids and called my doctor. This visit ...... NOT exactly the same. They didn't "have any experience with lap-band, not sure what to do". Seriously? I told them I needed IV fluids after 48 hours of not being able to drink or eat anything, even Water. They ended up running all kinds of tests.....EKG cuz I had "chest pains", even though I knew what they were, (and it was normal), a chest x-ray, then a barium swallow/IV contrast test. My nurse was thrilled I got down about 4 oz. of the bottle, and I was then "stuck" and my chest was killing me! But the tech doing the contrast thing kind of yelled at me about not drinking any. I explained it was now 50 hours without being able to swallow even water!
I kept asking them to talk with my surgeon. He had called a few times the doctor running the ER. Well, they ER doc waited for results........and still NO pain medicine! I was furious. They gave me Diladad - and it made me nauseous and my head zoomy and never touched my pain. Ugh! Results came back - I had a slipped band.
Dr wanted me admitted that night and a revision the next day. He would be by that night or next day. Finally I got morphine and into a room at 12:30 am!
Had troubles, like the nignt doc put Diladad on my chart so I didn't get new pain meds until 9 am! Surgeon emptied my band of all saline left (4 cc) and that helped!
Anyway, had revision surgery on Wednesday when a cancellation in the OR happened at 11 am. Turns out.......the band did NOT slip, but with all the PBing from Thursday before and on the next few days.......the stomach came up through the band, a hernia. But he was able to fix it all, plus keep my band inside me! Yay!
My biggest fear was losing it! My original banding was 06/15/2009 and after 3 years I am down 88 pounds. I'm 5'8" and at 150. I cannot imagine life without the band. I'm finally "normal" and feel sexy-ier than ever before.
So......I'm back at ground zero, starting over. No saline at all right now and he wants me on full liquids for 2 weeks. I'm determined not to blow this 2nd chance, so am back to reading my books on what to do, stages etc.
Dr. says that being stuck and PBing, aggravates the esophagus and stomach. They swell and need time to go back down. But I kept trying and trying hoping it would work but it didn't and made it worse. And yes, stress is bad for it. And dehydration. Triple whammy baby! Also, doctor said reflux is a definite sign of being too tight.
So........in my stubbornness to not get an unfill cuz I didn't want to gain, I will likely go 6 weeks with no fill! Ack! Hope to maintain.
Lesson learned........don't mess around! If I have reflux.......go to the dr for a sleight unfill. If I have esophagus spasms, go to liquids only! And if more than a day, call the doctor!
I came home on Thursday and realize I have lost a whole week to this! Wow!
Off to find a Mix-1 Protein shake and I hope to keep my stomach from rumbling too loudly. Day 4 almost done!

how are you doing on losing inches?? that is so fun to experience too.
Are you amping your exercise? Our bodies get used to whatever exercise we
do, we need to add or do more.
we love to walk the dogs, had a regular route we took all the time. I decided I was bored with it and ended up adding another 2 1/1 to 3 miles to the total walk! I didn't realize how much more I was doing??

I had 5 cc removed 4 days ago and feeling a lot better after going to bed (reflux). I have 40 more lbs to lose and have actually lost 2lbs since the unfill. I'm going to try to keep my band and lose the weight with my already given tool. This band has helped me to lose nearly 50lbs and now it's time for me to help it with the last 40. This positive attitude is all coming from an unfill.

I have a strong feeling the Sarah (Sweethear181) might just wrote the most important thing about it - at least in my case.
She wrote above: "My doctor explained to me that the reason I had this snowball effect was because we never really let my stomach heal and my stomach lining kept getting more and more irritated and kept swelling over time."
I had a really bad episode on Wednesday with the re-heated shepherd's pie and I draw the line: this is it! I need to do something to survive until mid July! So I decided to do a 5 day pouch test (as per Kaye Bailey at 5DPT), starting with 2 days full liquids. So that's what I've done yesterday and today - and I feel great for the first time! (meaning: no heartburn, no pain, no daily mini-burping). So tomorrow is soft Proteins - including a fab tuna and parmesan patty which actually tastes really good. Probably with mashed cauliflower or sweet potato.
I did this once just before Christmas when I had an allergic reaction to some strange food I ate at our company Christmas party - it totally helped back then.
And it seems to be working again. How great is that!
In a worst-case scenario, I can keep it going until my appointment. At least I still have all the nutrients I need and not feeling hungry all day. Not to mention the fact that I might just "heal" myself by going back to post-surgery basics... Did I tell you I suspect that lack of attention to detail in what and how I'm eating are the core reasons of all these troubles?
A year ago, in the months following my surgery I was so disciplined: with measuring everything, not EVER going over a cupful of food per meal, eating lots of Protein and not even thinking of putting any non-helpful food in my mouth. I've lost that sometime ago... I got lax and complacent with the rules. This weekend I will re-read a few of my WLS related books and will do everything to get back to the disciplines I used to follow last summer.
I do not believe I have a slip - at least not at my stomach and band.
I do have a slip in my head: all my priorities have been tilted because I lost over 60 lbs and I think I rule the world. I don't. And all the rules I was told to follow post-surgery I still have to follow. And I will have to - forever. If I want to keep my band. And I do, that's for sure.
So that's my standing point now. And I'm committing to it 100%.
Apart from re-reading books I will also revisit my food diary: see what I used to eat which did not give me grief and let me lose weight.
By the way, I'm reading Dr Steven Peters' book The Chimp Paradox about mind management. Just this morning I've stumbled across this line:
"If things go wrong, or you have failed at something, all you can do is to start from where you are and what you have got and then begin again."

Amen

I've had a problem with this before but my circumstances started a little differently. I filled my band too tightly about 2 years ago, this made it hard to drink Water and i had acid reflux really badly. I waited till the next day to see the doctor because their office was already closed. By the time I got to the doctor i was puking blood because the acid reflux had hurt my stomach lining. I got an unfill and that's when it all started. 2 weeks later I still felt way too tight and it felt like my band was getting tighter. I was going to go to the doctor but I ended up with the stomach flu and kept needing to puke but my band was too tight and nothing would come up. I went to the ER and they unfilled some more (at this point I had taken out 1.5cc). I felt a lot better for the first 2 or 3 months but then it started to snowball again. I felt like my band was slowly getting tighter and tighter even though I wasn't getting any fills. I decided to go to the doctor and get another unfill. We decided to take out another 1.5cc and it was great, although I could eat a ton and I did gain weight I finally felt OK. My doctor explained to me that the reason I had this snowball effect was because we never really let my stomach heal and my stomach lining kept getting more and more irritated and kept swelling over time. Now I feel much better, I just got my first fill in 2 years and after 3 unfills. They kept looking for slippage but that was never the case, my band always looked fine. I know it's hard to get an unfill and gain weight I think in the long run it would have been better if I had just had a large unfill in the beginning but I was too stubborn to do that.

You have to work with your doctor. I found that out the hard way, not going for a year and gaining 20lbs. The band doesn't work the same for everyone so you have to work with your doctor to get at the right spot for you. And it doesn't work the same all the time. I know for me changes in my health, mood, stress, all affect my restriction. Until you can get to your doctor, follow the meal and exercise plan they gave you (I hope they gave you one) and stay away from empty calories and sliders. Stay encouraged!

You have to work with your doctor. I found that out the hard way, not going for a year and gaining 20lbs. The band doesn't work the same for everyone so you have to work with your doctor to get at the right spot for you. And it doesn't work the same all the time. I know for me changes in my health, mood, stress, all affect my restriction. Until you can get to your doctor, follow the meal and exercise plan they gave you (I hope they gave you one) and stay away from empty calories and sliders. Stay encouraged!

I remember in my seminar, they said the number one reason for failure was not following up with your Dr. Make an appointment, it so important to keep you on track. Make sure when you eat you are eating protien first. It really does fill you up and keep you fuller longer. You need to get back to the basics of the band and get in and see your Dr.
My brother had band surgery 3 months before me. He lost 80 pounds with no fill in his band and he has never been back to his Dr. He thought this was great. I've lost 152 pounds in 2 years and I bet I've been to my Dr. 15 times. He's put every pound back on....?

haha, yes! A magic wand is just what I need. I too never listened to the naysayers who warned the honeymoon would end. And to be totally honest, a lot of it is ME. The band is there, it does give restriction but my behaviours have overridden it a lot of the time. Unfilling really derailed me, and although my band has never been the same, neither have I. And I truly believe that the treatment and resulting menopause has played havoc with my metabolism, those sugar cravings came outta nowhere, and were SO strong. I lived on nothing but coffee and biscuits for the last part of 2011, until I went onto HRT and testosterone. That's when I regained all the lost "sick weight". Since then, I have struggled.
The trouble is, people think after eight years banded and five years at a BMI below 21 that you're 'cured'. All of my specialists (not my lapband doc) have expressed the belief that I shoudlnt need it anymore. So have my family and friends. What they dont get is that my body has lived on 1500 calories or less a day for the last seven years. I cannot EVER eat what I shoudl be able to eat. With the help of the band, i have starved my body into a depressed metabolic state - that is what we are all doing and why weight loss is rarely permanent without weight loss surgery. It is insane that I can weigh 145lb by eating so little and exercising so much, i should be emaciated and skeletal. I eat way less than everyone I know. Life has to be a diet for EVER more to keep this weight away.
I would not hesitate, not even for a second, to have a new band or revise to a different surgery - although my clinic does bands and bands only. That does not mean I could not go somewhere else, it would just cost me a lot as I am entitled to revision surgery with no out of pocket cost where I am. I dont regret the band for a second either. Afterall, hard as the last year or two have been, I'm still only 65kg. I have not regained weight and am close to the bottom of my healthy weight range. It just used to be so easy. But it would be way harder without my (not so well functioning) band. So I guess we struggle on and accept we were put on this earth with bodies that want to be cuddly and it is just our lot to work hard to be the way we want. I dont really know many people that can absolutely eat what they want and not exercise and stay thin into middle and old age.
The ones I actually envy are my myriad of friends who are fat and happy, live the way they want, dont beat themselves up over their weight, see it as normal. yes, they are prone to certain health problems, but I have seriously created a mental monster for myself over this. I cant tolerate a 2lb weight gain without feeling disgusting,fat, disappointed in myself. I restrict my eating every single day, i exercise like a fiend, its a pretty hard job. In a lot of ways I wish I just didnt care. But I would even choose to live with heartburn than be fat again. Sad but true.

Kristie, keep track of what you eat and make sure that you are getting your Protein in. The protein keeps your metabolism up and helps you lose weight faster. It also causes you to fill full longer. Good luck and dont get discouraged! It will happen. One other thing, dont worry when you splurge. We have all done it. Just think of it as an opps and get back on track the next day!!

No, you're not crazy. I've been there dieting long term, even with my band I'm still struggling. I work out all the time watch what I eat, but my body sometimes just doesn't want to coopoerate, and then often times neither does my brain or my willpower, lol.
Everybody is different. Do what you think is best for you, nevermind what anyone else has to say about it!

All my best friends gave me similar advice. "Just do what I do", as if my situation and genetics are just like theirs. People who are thin or can lose weight easily don't understand so don't seek their advice unless you want negative responses. Even my wife questioned my decision for two years before surgery. Now she's a believer, but before, no. And she's a healthcare professional.
HAHA, the shrink I had to go to for BCBS approval told me I didn't need surgery and that her good friend had WLS and lost a ton of weight but put it all back on. The shrink wanted me to go on this P90X BS and come back to her office 3 times a week at $190 a visit. Kiss my what?
tmf

No you are not crazy you are making a good healthy choice for youself I to tried every diet every pill wirh exercise and lost nothing! This is not a lazy way out the band does not magically make you lose hundreds of points its a tool, aid, step in the right direction for healthy weight loss. Stay positive we are here for support weve been where you currently are!

Well before my band, I was having acid reflux issues and other issues and learned then that esophogeal cancer happens in association with untreated GERD. For me, the band appears to have resolved my problems with acid reflux to great degree (though not completely).
It's true that band people often do deal with reflux, so indirectly the band may be more highly associated. But band aside, issues with reflux can cause this. For me (and maybe for many) it was a risk pre-band.
I recognize I could face band-related risks going forward, but I also resolved or lowered quite a few risks too.
I hope the treatment works for you. I assume they will remove the band for you now? It's one of the things I liked about the band- that it is removable.
Best of future health to you.

Status update, went to the dr today all is well my pouch is back to what it should be no more heartburn and have started taking my time with eating again which is sometimes hard since I work an the emergency room. I've also went back to counting how many times I chew. Still trying to find a decent Protein Shake that keeps me feeling full...any suggestions? I'm pretty much starting from thw beginning again and will have my first fill in three weeks.