faybie

Wow! congrats on one year! you look fabulous! Good job!

I have no experience, however I have read that other people can't even keep Water down if their band has slipped. Try doing a search of "band slippage" or something like that and you will find information. Good luck.

I had the same thing that you are describing. I definitely think you should call the Dr. just in case it is not the same. I was eating bites that were too big, then I would have reflux, it was irritating my esophagus causing pain, discomfort and the feeling of a lump or stuck food. My Dr.'s office recommended taking smaller bites using a baby spoon and fork about the size of my pinky nail. I immediately started doing that and haven't had any problems since, except when I eat too fast or too big bites because I am not concentrating. Good luck and still call your Dr.

One key thing is to remember that the first month is for healing and not losing weight. My Dr. regiures you wait a month before your first fill whether you have restriction or not. I personally had a lot of battles with my "head hunger" when I first got banded. Three days out even though I could barely get down Soup, my "head hunger" was telling me that I could easily eat a double cheeseburger and french fries. My "head hunger" was wrong. So, take a step back and make sure that it is really your stomach that is hungry or is it your mind? I had more problems fighting my "head hunger" than my actual stomach hunger. Remember it is better to eat small 1/2 cup meals 3 hours apart then to eat huge meals 6 hours apart just after being banded. Also, soup will never keep you full as long as Protein will once you are healed. The best thing for you to do is follow your Dr.'s orders. I called my Dr. and told them I was hungry sooner and they allowed me to eat sooner like I described above. Good luck, It takes a lot of will power before you get a fill in my opinion. The lap band is not the "easy way out" it takes committment and will power. I know you can do it!

Welcome Dee! glad you joined.

ditto, walk walk walk is my best advice too! Good luck!

Measurements log sometime before surgery hips: 49 7/8 " waist: 41 7/8" chest: 45 1/2" 8/30 day of surgery following pre-op diet hips: 48 7/8" down -1" waist: 40 1/2" down -1 3/8" chest: 44 3/4" down -3/4" 9/18 hips: 48 3/8" down -1 1/2" waist: 40 3/8" down -1 1/2" chest: 43 3/8" down -2 1/8" 12/2 hips: 47 1/8" down -2 3/4" waist: 38 7/8" down -3" chest: 42 3/4" down -2 3/4" rt thigh: 26 1/8" lf thigh: 26" calf both: 15 1/2" bicep both: 12 7/ 8" 01/06/07 hips: 46" down -3 7/8" down 1 1/8" from last month waist: 38" down -3 7/8" down 7/8" from last month chest: 42 3/4" down -2 3/4" no change from last month rt thigh: 24" down 2 1/8" lf thigh: 24" down 2" rt calf: 14 3/4" down 3/4" lf calf: 15 1/2" down 1/2" rt bicep: 12 7/8" no change lf bicep: 12 1/2" down 3/8"

Measurements log sometime before surgery hips: 49 7/8 " waist: 41 7/8" chest: 45 1/2" 8/30 day of surgery following pre-op diet hips: 48 7/8" down -1" waist: 40 1/2" down -1 3/8" chest: 44 3/4" down -3/4" 9/18 hips: 48 3/8" down -1 1/2" waist: 40 3/8" down -1 1/2" chest: 43 3/8" down -2 1/8" 12/2 hips: 47 1/8" down -2 3/4" waist: 38 7/8" down -3" chest: 42 3/4" down -2 3/4" rt thigh: 26 1/8" lf thigh: 26" calf both: 15 1/2" bicep both: 12 7/ 8" 01/06/07 hips: 46" down -3 7/8" down 1 1/8" from last month waist: 38" down -3 7/8" down 7/8" from last month chest: 42 3/4" down -2 3/4" no change from last month rt thigh: 24" down 2 1/8" lf thigh: 24" down 2" rt calf: 14 3/4" down 3/4" lf calf: 15 1/2" down 1/2" rt bicep: 12 7/8" no change lf bicep: 12 1/2" down 3/8"

Interesting I just discovered a few things that I didn't know... using this website http://www.bmi-calculator.net/ I found that... 1. I am 7 pounds away from being just "Overweight" down from Obese Class 2. woohoo! 2. That according to my body fat calculator I need to lose 64 more pounds, which puts me at 133 not 145 (my original goal) according to my frame size.

I had this same problem too even before my first fill. I constantly felt like I had a lump in my throat. It turned out that it had been caused by not taking small enough bites. Therefore I was having terrible reflux and the pain from the reflux was irritating my esophogus causing it to feel like I had a lump in my throat. I was advised to take bites the size of my pinky nail and the problem magically went away. Now, I am two fills later and I have never felt that way again.

I wear "Body by Victoria" full coverage. I tried so many bras when I "grew" out of the sizes that Victoria's Secrets carried and never found a bra that I liked. I am so thankful that I can wear their bras again. The full coverage bras have wider support on the sides than most of their other bras. Good luck!

Robin, I know exactly how you feel. The band is keeping me sane too during the holidays. I am able to enjoy all of the foods I love without "over indulging". If I don't have room for something I really wanted at a meal, I pack it up and have it for dinner. I still feel satisified without being glutonous. Kutia, I stayed at the 200 mark for one and a half months. I went down a whole pant size and never lost a pound. If you get "stuck" at a certain weight, use your clothes to help you. If they are feeling more loose then you are still "compacting". I think compacting is very healthy because you will have less saging skin in the end. Happy Holidays everyone!

December Chat link, see you there! http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=338691#post338691

Here it is our December thread. This thread is for August 2006 Bandster December chat. ABC stands for August Band Crew. Happy Holidays!!

Be sure to check out our running totals page, we are soon to break 2000lbs. Wow! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=24026

I could eat a cup to a cup and a half before a fill. I would try to keep it to a cup in fear of stretching my pouch. My first fill kept me restricted for about a week. My second fill the restriction didn't kick in until about 2 weeks AFTER the fill. Now with my second fill here is what I can eat: for Breakfast I can eat about 1/4 cup lunch 1/2 cup most times less. for dinner it is 1/2 to 3/4 cup with a 1/4 cup snack later. I too get hungry in the afternoon, this is when I have been having my Protein supplement drink.

Yes the pain is normal. It takes about 5 days total for the massive pain to subside. I just took my pain meds and slept through the worst days. Just know that the next 2 weeks will go by quickly and you will have been through the worst of it. If you are feeling like you regret it, try browsing the before and after pics. That always perked me right up when I was down. I did that every day before surgery and for at least two months afterward. Now just the fact that I am two sizes smaller than when I started is encouragement enough to believe this is the best thing I have ever done! Keep your chin up the hardest part will be over soon.

I read that people were recommending

Grats Shadylady and Betje! Grats on making your goal Shadylady how awesome.

I had a lot of reflux my first two months of being banded. The nurse told me to start taking smaller bites. As soon as I did, no more reflux. A bite that my husband would eat is 8 to 12 bites for me. Also, reading and understanding the rules is only part of the battle. You will also have to overcome old eating habits and very difficult things like head hunger. I have never choked, not even during a PB. I also have a weak stomach and can get sick easier than others. I have had no problems with that. I expected to be more sickly on the band, surprisingly I have had no such problems

I agree with ReneBean, if you weren't sure then you weren't ready. You wouldn't want to be regretting the surgery. I think you made the right choice for yourself and you can always change your mind. The other way around would be more difficult.

Hi Kathy, Very good question, I remember wondering the same when I first came here. PB stands for "Productive Burp". It happens when you eat too fast, something that doesn't agree or if you don't chew enough. You will feel a lump in your throat and before you know it, what you just ate comes back up covered in lots and lots of saliva.

Good luck on your Disney trip Bug. I wish I had my band when I went to Disney this past June. I gained 5 pounds with all of the walking. I am sorry to hear about your port being flipped. It did that all on its own?

Robin, I would go for a third fill. It has been almost 6 weeks now. I have heard some people in other threads say that it took them 5 times to get and stay at their sweet spot.

Hey guys! I have missed you guys so much. I am glad to see that everyone is doing well. Sorry to hear about those of you who had fill problems this month. It's great to get back on and see everyone's numbers have down. I am back! I had a LOT of real life stuff to get organized and now I am all done. I will head over and update the running totals thread today some time.