jerbear

I was banded 4 1/2 years ago and started having problems about a year ago that sounds very similar to yours. It turned out my band had slipped and had to have it replaced. Before they got to the point where they decided to replace it they took the fluid out and put it back several times. I got to where I couldn't eat anything but mashed potatoes and ice cream and cream soups. I now have a new band but the weight I gained during this time is not coming off very well.

I was taking B12 shots until recently. My doctor switched me to the nasal spray. I have not had blood work yet to see how it works. I do like it better than shots. I also get the combo of vitamins iron calcium and B12. My runs $15 a month

I don't won't to discourage you with my story but if your problem is the same as mine maybe this will help. I was banded May 2010. About a year ago I started having reflux problems and was throwing up. My bariatric doctor did some test said my stomach had slipped up to the pouch. They took out all the Fluid and waited a few weeks thinking my stomach would go back down. They started refilling band slowly and everything seemed fine. After a couple fills reflux started again. Again took fluid out. Again started to refill. This went on for almost a year. I was to a point where I threw up almost everytime I ate and was not sleeping at night because the reflux was so bad! I can't express how bad it was. I took protonix and presciption strength zantac daily as well as ate tums all day. I didn't eat past 6 sat up for several hours after eating. Slept on a wedge pillow. I tried it all. I had very little fluid in my band and the Doctor wanted to empty it for the 3rd time. Finally the bariatric nurse stepped in on my behalf and convinced the doctor to do surgery-she was convinced the band needed replacing. On Feb 4th I had my surgery. It turns out I had a slippage and the band needed to be replaced. I am 3 weeks post op and feeling great. At one point I debated on telling them just take it out and try to live without being rebanded. I am glad I didn't and now I am back to losing the weight that I gained while going through this fill/unfill process. I hope you don't need surgery, but you might want to ask you doctor or nurse if it's posssibly a slipped band.

I understand how you feel. I get to a point I don't want to tell people I had WLS. I remember one day a friend of mine that lost a lot of weight on Weight Watchers. We were together and someone made a comment about how much we had lost. She told them "she had surgery. I did it the hard way." I just explained that the band is tool and if I don't follow the rules I gain the weight back and I hurt inside :-(

BMI calculators are just guides. If you are healthy and your doctor and you are ok with where you are don't worry about it. Although I remember how excited I was when I went from 246 to 170 and in a smaller size. I said I was ok with that size. However my band continued to work and I got down to 136. Unfortunately I started having problems (that's another discussion topic) and had to have all the fluid taken out. I gained a few pounds and now that everything is resolved am trying to get back to or closer to my lower weight.

Get up and move as often as possible and move to get that gas out. You will start feeling better when the gas is gone. You may not have an appetite the first week or so. You still need to eat (using your doctors guidelines) to help the healing process and to get your strength back. I wasn't eating at first and when I made myself eat I felt better. Stay hydrated. And again WALK

You go girl! I understand how excited you feel. I went on a cruise back in March and was so excited to be able to buy a swim suit and wear it in public! Congrats on your progress!

I have a friend that has lost about the same amout as me, but she did it with Weight Watchers. She tells everybody she lost it the hard way-no surgery. I just want to scream! The band has been a great tool for me but I have exercised and have given up foods and drinks that I love to loose this weight. I work at it just like she does. I just took a different route. Just had to vent! Thanks.

The question I am tired of is "Now that you have lost the weight, why don't you have it removed?" Hello because I want to stay this size not go back to where I was.

They didn't give any reasons. I have been so careful to follow the rules and I can't figure out what I did. They said it's just something that happens sometimes.

I use the Atkins. It's convenient. I don't have to order it or mix it. The milk chocolate and mocha latte are my favorites.

I am having same problem and it is not because my band was too tight. My stomach shifted up above the band. They took all the fluid out and I had to wait 8 weeks to let my stomach go back down. When I went back in to start the refill I did not see my regular doctor and this doctor decided I need to have an EGD before refilling my band. He is also telling me that I may have to have surgery to fix it. I had to get an approval from our insurance and wait for a date for the EGD. I am scheduled to have it next Wednesday. It's will be almost 3 months since they took fluid out and I have gained about 15 pounds. I don't want the sleeve or bypass. I have been a success story with the band. I just want my band back and working like it did before all this started. I am very discouraged

Yes Nikki C please post the crockpot enchilada chicken. That sounds like a good one to do on my late days at work.

I can't eat pizza cause it gets stuck. Someone on Laptalk said it could be the cheese. I thought it was the crust. But either one, be careful of pizza. I love all the SEC but especially my Mississippi State Bulldogs Go Bulldogs!

Correction on Banded Date: Name, real or screen~jerbear Goal weight for September 29th~137 Weight on September 1st~147 Age~56 Dietary goal for September~Eat more Protein and drink 64 oz Water daily Exercise goal for September~walk 2 miles at least 5 days a week and increase time on elliptical (I can only do 15 minutes) Personal goal for September~Clean out my attic Date banded~5-22-2010 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~100 lbs What is your favorite Fall Activity?~watching my son march at high school football games and band competitions, watching SEC football, and the National Peanut Festival

Name, real or screen~jerbear Goal weight for September 29th~137 Weight on September 1st~147 Age~56 Dietary goal for September~Eat more protein and drink 64 oz water daily Exercise goal for September~walk 2 miles at least 5 days a week and increase time on elliptical (I can only do 15 minutes) Personal goal for September~Clean out my attic Date banded~5-22-2020 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~100 lbs What is your favorite Fall Activity?~watching my son march at high school football games and band competitions, watching SEC football, and the National Peanut Festival

I became B12 deficient as well as anemic. I have never felt so bad and tired all the time. Since upping my iron supplement and taking B12 shots I feel better. If you are getting what you need don't get the shots but if you start feeling bad get a blood test to see what you level is.

I was banded 2 years ago and have lost 110 pounds. I love to feel my collor bones. I know that sounds crazy but I touch my bones all the time. I just never had that experience before. My walking partner and I had to cut our walk short last night because of other obligations-we did 2 miles without breaking a sweat. I have to add incline to the machine to get my heart rate up. Before 5 minutes and I was out of breath.

I went on my first cruise this past April and did not gain. I ate and drank some of the "bad" stuff like the chocolate melting cake and a margarita or 2, but I took stairs instead of elevator, walked alot, and when I did eat or drink the bad stuff I did it in moderation. Stay busy with other things, take a good book to read by the pool and enjoy the non food related activities. One thing I would advise. Take some bottled water and Crystal Light packets. Their water had a taste to me.

I had really bad reflux and after having an upper GI was told that my stomach had pushed up thru the band. They took all the fluid out of my band. HOPEFULLy my stomach will go back down and after 6 weeks they will start putting the fluid back in. Has anyone else had this problem and how did it turn out for you?

I accidentally drank carbonated drink once. I was at a baby shower and was sucking down the punch. I got bloated and was miserable beyond discription. I found out ginger ale was in the punch. It took about 12 hours for me to be comfortabel again. Some of the fizz was out since it was mixed with other stuff but it still had enough that I know that I will NEVER drink carbonated drinks. Now I ask before drinking punch.

I was afraid to drink at first also but found out it was ok. The biggest thing is the added calories so drink in moderation. Also remember don't drink with your meal. Wait an hour and have after dinner drinks.

I have Tricare Prime and was banded 2 years 3 months ago.

I have never heard of PB2 so I googled it. How do you use it?

I am tricare and had to go through the classes and some differant evaluations, but I think it was my surgeon that required them. I was approved no problem. The nurse and nutritionist at my clinic said tricare is one of the easiest to get approval from. My BMI was 39 and I had sleep apnea and High blood pressure. I had a referal from my nurse pratitioner. I did not have to do the 6 month supervised diet. It took me about 9 months to do all the classes, evaluations and wait for my turn to get a surgery date though. I sggest to anyone thinking about getting a lap band to get started asap because it does take some time but I guess it varies depending on what your surgeon and insurance requires and the number of patients your surgeon does. My surgeon was the only one in his clinic that did lap band surgery at the time. He has someone else with him now so the wait time for surgery date is not as long.