general_antiope

There's a psychological component to why we are all SO obese that we had to go through freaking surgery to fix it. if it were that easy for everyone to stay on track with the band, maybe we could have done this without it. Your post reminds me of people who have told me over the years to "just stop eating" or "just work harder." People's battle with obesity is individual. Your reasons for eating may not be mine. Your path to success is true for you and you alone and I'm glad you were able to succeed! But the "one answer fits all" attitude just doesn't apply here. It's why the diet industry is so huge - one diet doesn't work for everyone.

Hi Twin, there is vomiting and then there's productive burping. Vomiting is a normal reaction if you don't chew food well enough and a piece gets stuck in the band. Vomiting involves your body emptying your stomach.To avoid that, chew well and follow your doctors guidelines. Thick chewy food will get stuck. Productive burping is less intense than vomit. You basically burp and food will come out but you won't keep going. It doesn't hurt and once the food is out you feel perfectly fine. This usually happens if you have air trapped under some food - so eat slowly!

Hugs - it all comes in a big mess then theres smooth sailing. Even nature cannot make a storm that lasts forever!

So i'm getting rebanded since my band has leaked or become disconnected several times over the past 8 years. My surgeon thinks that the port placement (on the right under my ribs) was putting strain on the band and causing it to crack, leak, and become disconnected. Has anyone else heard of this or experienced this? Did you get your band replaced or removed?

Lee, thank you for posting! I watched your video and shared it on Facebook Thanks especially for the thought regarding "if you don't replace what food does for you..." - It is absolutely true.

Hah, my first time around I cried and had tantrums, screaming in my car alone going "IF I COULD DO THIS I WOULDN'T NEED THE BAND!" hahaha. and I only had to do 7 days. I start my pre op diet in 10 days. It's hard not "getting the pizza in while I can" but I can't seem to help myself.

Does everyone have an in person support group they will attend? My doc is 2 hours away in NY so I don't. The local docs here are complete jerks and want nothing to do with anyone else's patients, so I'm without real life support. Will definitely be hanging around here a lot more to connect with other LB folks. That's the one thing I want to do better on this time around is the connection with other people. I was very isolated with this journey. (I got a divorce right after surgery)

I'm on my second tour with a new lap band - getting a replacement on Feb 4. I lost 96 lbs eight years ago in about 8 months. It was RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME. Every DAY I would weigh myself and be down 0.5 lbs or something, and every week I was losing 2-3 lbs steadily. I had to keep buying clothes, but it was funny how I would go pick up 18's and realize I was a 12 by the end. I had a big problem looking at the waistline of 12's and realizing I fit in them, and needed belts. I never wore belts. I never tucked anything in...it was surreal.

I notices my band would get right during PMS or if I was sick. I thought I was crazy my doc told me that within a 30 day period my band can certainly fluctuate. it will calm down again, drink fluids, etc. your stomach may be aggravated or inflamed from the cold. I'd worry if it lasts more than a week or two but it sure wouldn't hurt to check with your doc.

Depends on your doc ... But if in 2 weeks you're still hungry and able to eat big portions and bread you may need a bigger fill. FYI - my first banding it took 4 months of incremental fills to get the right one. I lost only 11 lbs tul the right obe, then BAM! There went 100 lbs Many people I was banded with got the right one within 1-2 months....everyone is different but NO you shouldn't be hungry! You didn't sign up for this surgery and lifestyle to suffer with hunger and lack of weight loss. Your doctor can fix it! This is totally different than how you have probably lived your life up until now. Call, call, call.

Grats!!! Yay!!!

I didn't read the comments because I have had enough of them to last a lifetime! But obesity is the last safe publicly permitted bigotry. Racism, sexism, homosexual disparagement are not politically correct anymore, but fat people are still allowed. Cause they're weak, and self indulgent. High functioning alcoholics or hot chicks with drug problems are OK because at least they're not FAT. Society sucks.

Call your doc and get a fill! You will be shocked at how you feel with the right fill promise.

The math will always owe you:) if my scale gets stuck I'll drink more water, too. Helps move fat out.

Totally makes sense my therapist told me pizza hut was my boyfriend. Consistent good feelings, every Friday night I would have happiness. Not being able to eat was like losing my best friend.

I was also confused why a non lb patient was endorsing the sleeve in a lb forum. But hey it doesn't matter how we get to our goals as long as we get there, right? I recently had an unsolicited opinion of why I should get the sleeve and not rebanded from a local support group leader. This person knew nothing about my history or my doctor and was extremely rude and patronizing about my choice. She made me feel like I was ignorant, uneducated, and stupid. I will admit I had the same first reaction as ChezNoel, but after reading through the thread am equally falling on my sword. I guess I'm a little testy from well meaning people injecting their unsolicited opinion. All my life people told me how to lose weight or how to think, which I guess makes me feel like I am always wrong. Deciding on the band by myself was the first time I did something because I thought it was right. And i had huge success! Perhaps I need to work on my confidence in myself, lol. And not be so sensitive. Anyway. All thats internal and has Nothing to do with the original poster. By the way, you look just awesome! I AM very happy the sleeve works for you. And thanks for sharing your experience. If my replacement doesn't work I will be looking into permanent solutions, and the sleeve is at the top of the list. I never stop learning about myself.

Protein will help you feel full longer but when you have the right fill the hunger is eliminated. For me hunger would also get huge during pms but subside afterwards talk to your doc.

Patience is hard, but trust in the band. The all or nothing attitude is just a symptom of food addiction and it will melt away. Follow your guidelines, listen to the band, and you'll wake up one day realizing you lost 100 lbs. The funny thing is, when I lost 90 in 8 months from my first banding, it didn't seem as amazing as I thought it would feel. I mean, it felt right. Like I was finally where I needed to be, and was feeling happy for the first time in my life. Happy and content. Full. Eating for me was more than physical hunger - the band helped me heal emotionally too. I know this is especially true - I have a broken unfilled band and I'm an eating machine. I can't stick to a regimen. I am emotional. I'm ruled by hunger. I can't wait for my surgery.

What is Bandster hell? Ive been banded before but am getting a replacement. I had the 4cc band and now I'm going to the 10 cc. I always needed fills....is it possible to feel restriction with no fill??

Hi there. Your band is probably empty so soon after surgery. The docs want you to heal before adding restriction. An empty band is pretty much like not being banded ... It doesn't curb hunger or portions. Once you start getting fills you will feel a huge difference.

It's so great to have the support of your family! I know what you mean with your questions...lots of people have a relationship with food that is very, very difficult to overcome with willpower alone, and frankly I think may be impossible to permanently change. When you get the magic fill, your entire world changes. It is like nothing I've ever felt before. (and two of my friends who got banded agree) The biggest change I am looking forward to again is to NOT think about food. When i'm filled right, I actually talk more at meals, have more interest in the world, not just fantasizing about stromboli or pizza for dinner. You don't realize how big your world gets when you get smaller

I want to join!! I'm approved for Feb 4 - I'm getting rebanded. I had rare and annoying mechanical malfunctions over the past 8 years with my old band. I was VERY successful The first time around and I definitely want to get on this ride again! I gained most but not all of my weight back this past year when the band disconnected (!) while I was pregnant. I lost 100 lbs when it was working and LOVED my life! It was exciting and scary and everything you guys are experiencing ... And once I had the magic fill my life changed. Looking forward to being a newbie again.

Hi all, I live in Delco. I've been banded since 2004, but I'm having rare and weird (and frustrating) malfunctions with my band. First the port leaked. Got it fixed. Then my tube had a crack in it. Got it replaced. Now my entire tubing came undone during my pregnancy and my doc is replacing my old model band with a new one on Feb 4. I'm looking for a buddy. I've been there, done that, lost 100 lbs, loved my life, and worked hard to maintain an 80 lb loss while my band was unstable. With this last break, I gained weight (with pregnancy) and am ready to start over again. At least I am not starting from the beginning - Instead of 130 lbs to lose I have 70-80, so that's something.

I love this topic. I'm fat for many reasons listed by others above. My mother has been undiagnosed bi polar all my life and has anxiety which I think I have inherited...not the diseased but certainly I've had serious anxiety crop up that I handle on my own My mother grew up deprived with no food and as a result she rarely cooked and we always ordered out. pizza, cheesesteaks, or horribly non nutritious food to cook. My mother has been overly critical of me and my weight/appearance since I was five. I'm never good enough as I am. My mother went through decades of therapy and realized she would feed me to shut me up, or occupy me, as I was an active child. The family scapegoat, the extrovert. Food was taught to me as a hobby. Molestation as a child Abandonment issues - birth father, step father Childhood abuse Food is my boyfriend, according to my therapist. Pizza Hut never lets me down. It's always the same joy. The taste is emotional for me, food fills an emotional need for me to feel secure, safe, loved, all of which you can see from the bullet points above. I can diet, I can plan, I can exercise. I can't stay with it, because food is my mother, father, best friend, etc. When I'm banded, and the band is filled properly, the mental chatter disappears. I cried the first time I realized it was 4pm and I'd FORGOTTEN to eat all day. I never felt freer in my entire life than when I was banded and filled properly. I could make good decisions FOR ME, I could love ME, I could make myself safe and secure all because my hunger trigger (also probably my trigger for love, security etc) was silenced. I had no screaming hole to fill. I simply had vague hunger and the need to nourish myself.