ElfiePoo

I lost mine way back but a couple times I asked the waitress if I could order from the Seniors menu and explained why. Usually they say no problem. Sometimes they had to get a manager but then the manager approve it. I think they figure when they see a fat person wanting to order off the seniors menu, they must be telling the truth cuz we wouldn't normally choose to eat less.
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I have arthritis in my right knee, right hip and in my hands and found that going low carb relieved a lot of the pain. So I wasn't surprised to find this:
"Harvard Medical School researchers have determined that in certain individuals, the body's natural response to carbohydrates can trigger the immune system. The immune system thereafter attacks the joints, which can result in arthritis. Thus, limiting carbohydrate consumption may alleviate arthritis pain."
I've heard from others that just eliminating processed carbs (breads, Pasta, etc.), not necessarily going low carb, helped with their arthritis.
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What does this have to do with the conversation at hand? Now I have to ask myself why someone who supposedly lost 139 lbs is resorting to bullying behavior and attacking someone else about their weight? You know what you just did is a defense mechanism for an insecure personality?
Goodbye Flyguys...life is too short to waste on nasty people.
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CM,
I make no judgments and I'm not suspicious when someone says the band isn't working for them. I do take time to ask questions because one thing I have learned is that many do not know how the band operates. There's an awful lot of misinformation out there and much of it coming from the doctors!
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Your band is 'totally' full...as in you have a 10cc band and there's 10cc Fluid in it...and you're still hungry? Do you have any issues with physical restriction because a band that is completely full would likely cause problems with stuck episodes on some foods. So, a few suggestions.
I would either find a new band doctor...or *make* OSU work with you. In either case, the first thing you need to do is find out if it really is full since you're still hungry. They can do this easily enough by drawing out the Fluid to see what's there. This would at least rule out a leak.
Then, make sure *you* are following the rules. Many surgeons recommend a low carb diet so a typical day might be 1-2 eggs for Breakfast and 3-4 oz of Protein and 1/2-1 cup vegies for lunch and dinner. No slider foods. No drinking with meals.
Then pay attention to your body. Are you really 'hungry'...or is it just a desire to eat? Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference at first and we need to really pay close attention. If you think you're hungry, have a cup of hot tea or coffee or bouillion...or even hot Water. It soothes the stomach (and even the mind) long enough to determine whether it's true hunger. Sometimes it's just the ticket for getting you to your next meal.
Is it possible the band has failed you? Yep...but I wouldn't go there just yet.
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Not surprising. Despite studies showing that fat is not the problem...carbs are the problem...some people just can't get rid of their blinders...and the nutrition/diet industry has huge blinders.
Studies show that people on low carb/high fat diets lose more weight and improve their lipid profile twice as much as the low carb/low fat diets. Studies show that carbs cause people to get fat...not fat. Keep in mind that low carb is under 60gm...not 160gm as some programs like to believe. For some of us, even 60gm is too much. I generally eat 30-45 and never over 45. If I do, I stop losing...even at 1200 calories.
If you're monitoring what you eat in something like fitday.com and know without a shadow of a doubt that your carbs are under 60gm, your calories under 1200 and your fats around 60%...then I'd take a look at your carbs again because you might still be eating too many...or maybe even the wrong kind.
If you're happy eating a higher carb diet, and losing and have no issues with metabolic disorders (e.g. diabetes), then there's less motivation to do a low carb diet...but if you *need* to do a low carb diet, then torturing yourself with a low fat diet as well seems pointless given that studies show the higher fat, low carb diet is not the problem they thought it would be.
Good books to read on the subject:
The Diabetes Solution by Dr. Richard Bernstein
Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes
The Great Cholesterol Con by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick
Good luck with whichever WOE you choose to do. Bottom line - the best way is the one we can stick to for life.
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You recognize that you are a carb addict so wouldn't adding simple carbs back in be counterproductive?
If your goal is to remain in ketosis, then you'll need to avoid simple carbs as well as grains, starches and fruit. You can, however, eat 'green' vegies. So salads with full fat dressings, meat/poultry/fish/eggs cooked however you'd like and any number of vegies - broccoli, green Beans, asparagus, brussel sprouts...think 'green'. That will keep you in ketosis.
If you know you're addicted to carbs, the best thing you can do is keep it simple and clean.
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I think you're all very smart for realizing the band isn't working for you because *you* aren't doing your part and while some might think another type of WLS might better serve you, the reality is that they won't help either unless you get a handle on your eating. Good luck to you all!
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I have a butterfly above my ankle so I doubt it will change much. Although it is a barometer for shaving my legs when it turns into a moth.

I would ask your doctor to give you specifics or point you in the direction where you can find specifics. If he won't do that, then I'd be tempted to disregard his 'opinion' and tell him you want the referral anyway (assuming you need him to refer). Our doctors are only human with all the same emotions we have and it be just that he and this guy had a bad falling out somewhere. If his is the only dissenting opinion and you're getting glowing reports from others who've actually used the band surgeon, I'd go with that.
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I have a butterfly above my ankle so I doubt it will change much. Although it is a barometer for shaving my legs when it turns into a moth.

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I have a butterfly above my ankle so I doubt it will change much. Although it is a barometer for shaving my legs when it turns into a moth.

I have a butterfly above my ankle so I doubt it will change much. Although it is a barometer for shaving my legs when it turns into a moth.

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Fills
My fills were over and done in less than 30 seconds and it didn't hurt any more than accidentally stabbing myself with a pin when quilting. It's nothing like getting an injection of an antibiotic.

Band Slippage
Band slippage is rare. Most surgeons now tuck a fold of stomach over the band (sort of like an elastic waistband) to hold the band in place. The people most at risk for band slippage are those who get their bands so tight that they are getting stuck and throwing up the offending item on a frequent (several times daily) basis.

Not being able to have carbonated beverages
It is a myth that drinking carbonated beverages will expand your pouch and recommendations vary by surgeon. Some say 'never'. Others, like mine, had no restrictions after the first month. Whether or not you can tolerate them...well, that's something you'll have to find out. I like the Faygo carbonated pink grapefruit Water and I drank it several times a week. Only once did I have a problem and that was because I took a big gulp. I 'oversploded' as my son used to say. So your chugging days are most likely over.

Not being able to eat certain foods
I had this problem when I was overfilled. When my surgeon heard I couldn't eat certain foods and had at least one stuck episode a day despite following the rules (small bites, chew well, no drinking with meals), he said I was too tight. That was when I learned I was not looking for physical restriction but cessation of hunger. He took almost 3cc's out. Bingo. Now I could eat anything I wanted as long as I followed the rules.

food getting stuck
Well there's no guarantee this won't happen even if you do follow the rules and your band isn't overfilled since the band can tighten and loosen on its own. However, if you start your meal with a hot drink, that seems to help loosen the band. I would always take a small bite, chew well and then wait to see what happened. Sometimes it would go down hard...meaning it didn't get stuck but I knew if I continued, I likely would. You learn to listen to your band.

Excess Skin
Can't help you there. It is what it is but you can cover excess skin up with clothing. Nothing covers up the fat.

*#1 THING* FAILING
Failing is never even trying. So you get the band and you find it's not the right method for you. At least you tried...and you'll never know unless you try.

You listed some good reason to at least try. Focus on them instead of the fears.

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Let's face it...the primary 'relationship' in our life was to food and all other relationships revolved around it. Some people grieve over the loss of that relationship but I don't see it as a 'loss'. I see it as a relationship that had to change. I still love food and that's never going to change. What has changed is that it is no longer my primary relationship. I can get together with friends and family now and I don't need to have a plate in front of me to enjoy their company. I can go to the movies without getting a big bucket of popcorn. I don't need to buy the munchies for long car trips. None of that happened overnight and sometimes it still rears its ugly little head but I'm getting better at squashing it down.
So don't grieve the loss...just change the relationship.
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Unfortunately, these sites are making several assumptions that skew their belief that we don't need magnesium supplements. They're assuming that everyone is able to eat foods typically high in magnesium. Since I don't eat grains, fruits or starches, that leaves me a much smaller 'pool' to choose from. They're also assuming that these foods actually contain the amount of magnesium they are reputed to have. As studies over the last decade are proving, magnesium levels are declining in these foods because the soil they're growing in has been over-farmed...thank you corporate farming. They're also assuming that the person is not taking medications or has some type of medical problem that hinders their body's absorption of magnesium.
I did, however, find a few naturopathic sites that answered my question...and I went back to Dr. Bernstein's book and read more thoroughly. Apparently excess magnesium is not a problem for people with healthy kidneys and is eliminated through the bowel so one way of telling if you're taking more than your body needs is loose stools. On my last blood work, my serum magnesium levels were normal, but based on Dr. Bernstein's book, I had her also test red blood cell magnesium. That came back as low.
But thank you for taking the time to try and help.
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I'm 54, mom to 3 adult sons, 2 cats and 2 ferrets. I'm a 'constant student'. I think I've been in school, taking at least 1 class every semester since I graduated from high school. Love books and love learning. As a result I hold several degrees, a master and a doctorate. Currently I'm halfway through a program on naturopathic and holistic medicine and finishing up a program as a master herbalist. I'm also the founder and owner of a 16 year old essential oil import company that sells essential oils to pharmaceutical companies, naturopathic doctors and aromatherapists.
I'm not holding my breath for grandchildren since my two older sons and their wives are in one state or another of working on their masters or doctorates and focusing solely on careers. Normal for mid-20's and they have time but I am looking forward to being a grandma some day.

Please forgive me for being blunt...
You need to get an unfill. If you're having days where you can't even drink the necessary fluids to keep you hydrated and you're living on slider foods...you are *too full*. If you're unable to eat Protein and vegies...you are *too full*.
Frequent episodes of ejecting stuck food may not 'technically' be called vomiting, but it is still damaging to the esophagus which was not designed for that kind of frequent abuse.
The band was designed to put pressure on the vagus nerves which tell the stomach to stop producing 'ghrelin' (hunger hormone) so we can eat a normal meal (e.g. 3 oz of Protein, 1/2-1 c vegies) and be satisfied for 4 hours or so. It won't stop you from eating as there is very little 'restrictive' component.
No WLS will do what you want it to. You can eat your way around all of them...including the bypass. Just ask those who've had one and now weigh more than when they first had the surgery. WLS is only a tool...and I know people hate that word...but that's what it is. *WE* still have to be willing to make the necessary changes in our eating. We have to be the ones to choose to eat the right food and choose to put that fork down.
My .02...get your band completely unfilled and allow your band area to rest for 3-4 weeks. My guess is you're probably dealing with swelling from the stuck episodes. Then I'd do several days of Protein shakes...again, to let the band area rest *and* get the sugar out of your system.
You need to stop eating the junk and get yourself on some type of eating plan that you can follow. Most importantly...you need to stop expecting the band to do all the work. No WLS is going to fit that criteria. Don't look for the band to stop you from eating. Look for it to stop the 'hunger'. *That* is the sweet spot.
No...4 years of not complying with the rules of the band are not 'proof' that you will comply with the rules of bypass. I am sorry if that seems harsh, but in this instance, I really feel it is best to be blunt.
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"NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – An older kind of Lap-Band weight-loss surgery could lead to severe complications over the long haul, Belgian researchers said… The surgery works by placing a silicone band around the top portion of the stomach to restrict food intake. It has become an increasingly popular option in the battle against obesity, but some experts have worried about its safety. The Belgian team found that as many as half their patients, followed for at least 12 years, needed to have the band removed in that period. And in more than a quarter, the band had gnawed its way through the wall of the stomach.'"

You guys do know this thread is over 3 years old and the OP hasn't posted in what looks like forever so may not even be here?
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Atkins is very flexible and the 1 cup of vegies is a recommendation and not a problem for most people...including those who have the band. If it is for you, then obviously eat less. My own surgeon's plan is pretty much the same thing (3 oz Protein and 1/2 c. vegies) although he's into the whole low fat thing.
Also, neither Atkins or Beach are fad diets as you seem to be implying. Fad diets are generally not nutritionally balanced and are not sustainable for more than short periods of time. Neither definition fits Atkins or South Beach.
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I just posted about this on another thread. Oz invites these people on and then sandbags them. He doesn't allow them to really go into any explanations and he makes what he says look very reasonable while using excess exaggeration to make his opponent look foolish. His producers say this is because "after all, this is just entertainment." I wouldn't get my hopes up that this will be any different.
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I just posted about this on another thread. Oz invites these people on and then sandbags them. He doesn't allow them to really go into any explanations and he makes what he says look very reasonable while using excess exaggeration to make his opponent look foolish. His producers say this is because "after all, this is just entertainment." I wouldn't get my hopes up that this will be any different.
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