dizlizd

Everyone on this planet is different and we are all entitled to our opinions. Even if Spartan were not quoting facts, she is entitled to her opinion and can come here and express it.

Each one of us has had a different experience. We are all worthy to judge what we would do if we had to do it all over again,,IMO.

Woodstock, I went over a year with no fills because of the problems with food getting stuck, but I lost 86 lbs. in the process. Then I started being able to eat more with no restriction. My doctor wouldn't give me a fill right away because of all the problems I had before. He kept saying "Come back in a month and let's see if you're still losing". Well when I went back, I had lost a couple of lbs. so he still wouldn't agree to a fill.

So 2 more months down the road I'm at the same weight and he finally gave in and agreed to do a fill under flouroscopy. He ended up putting in 3cc. I went home and two days later, couldn't get fluids down, so I had to go back and have 1cc taken out. Now I'm back to where I was before the fill and can't get another one until April 20th. What I'm saying is, if it takes fine tuning and maybe another year for me to lose this last 30 lbs., I will be happy with that. Because at least my bowels are not permantly altered and if there ever is a problem with my band, it can be fixed. Even with the band I have had some difficulty getting enough nutrients. I can't imagine what it would be like with the bypass.

I agree with the others about the sugar cravings and the sweeteners. For a long time I was sweetening my iced tea with Stevia Extract (all natural). I got tired of that "not sugar" taste and discovered that I prefer my iced tea sweetened with very little sugar, just enough to take away the bitterness, so that's how I drink it. I put in less than 1/2 cup per gallon tea. And as for other sweets, when I crave them, I go for my favorite fruits. Believe me, I get in my fruit servings daily. That's my take on this whole thing. Didn't mean to write a book, sorry:confused:.

I've only had one fill and it wasn't enough so I am not at the "sweet spot" yet. I rarely get the hiccups, but everyone is different. I do belch a lot when I eat. As long as you can tolerate this okay, I wouldn't worry about it and they may go away in time.

I went over a year with no fill, but I got my first back in March (3 cc). I did fine the first day after, but the next day I couldn't even get liquids down. So I went back in and they took out 1 cc. Well, I think they took out too much because I can eat anything with no restriction. I mean I am keeping my portions small and everthing, but if it is something I really like, I might eat a little more of it. So there is no weight loss going on.

I called the doctor's office back and scheduled another fill (they said it had to be 4 weeks from the last one), so I am going to ask for .5 cc, because I already know that 3 cc total was too tight. I guess you just have to "fine tune" the fills in the band to get where you need to be. Hope this helps. :smile2:

Many thanks!

That was very good advice. I went in today and they took out 1cc. and that seems to be a lot better. I am not even burping when I drink and I can take my Metformin which is a large pill for my diabetes. So far, I have been able to eat a small amount of applesauce, some blended vegetable Soup and Protein Drinks. The nurse told me I could advance to mushy foods tomorrow and then to whatever I can tolerate. I just feel soooooooo much better! Thanks for your help.

Last night I started pbing after a few sips of a Protein drink, so I stopped drinking it. Later on I was at a women's group meeting and they served food. There were deviled eggs, so I just ate the filling of one and pbed it up too. I couldn't even drink any iced tea. All of it just kept coming up. Then when I got home, there was the problem of taking my meds, I take a lot. I couldn't take over half of them because they wouldn't go down.

This morning it started all over again. I took my meds one at a time with small sips of Water and that worked except for one, Metformin, which is too big and can't be broken in half. When I started on my Protein Drink, it just didn't want to go down, so I gave up. Now, a few hours later, my pills and Protein Drink are going down fine.

I had my first fill yesterday and was told to stick with liquids today. Every time I drink something, even Water, I burp a lot on each sip I take. It hurts in my chest after awhile. I had 3 cc's put in. Is this normal?

Hi, I have been taking Topomax for over 10 years. It curbs my appetite and prevents my Migraines that I used to have weekly. I take it at bedtime and the only side effect I have is a dry mouth. I think it works great. I have chronic depression and it also helps to control my mood swings. Good luck. I think you should give it a chance.

It must be different for everyone, because I was 1 year post op Jan. 8th and I have lost 85 lbs. with no fill. I have just now gotten to a place where I can eat more food and things don't get "stuck" as often. I am therefore not losing any weight right now. I am scheduled for a fill tomorrow under flouroscopy to make sure stuff will go through the band after the fill. They are going to have me drink barium and then they will X-ray to see if the barium goes through. If it doesn't, then they will have to take some of my fill out until the barium will go through. I just don't want to be able to eat anything I want like now. I have lost my motivation. I need that restriction to keep me in check.

I guess I'm frustrated with the amount that I'm NOT losing right now. I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm keeping my carbs low and my Protein high, I've been working out on the Wii Fit 3-4 times a week and I'm getting my Water in. I'm not losing anything. I had surgery on 12/9 and I just had my first fill last Thursday, they put in 3cc's and I go back in 4 weeks. I guess I'm just frustrated that the band doesn't seem to be working. I have no real restriction yet, and I know that's part of the problem. What am I doing wrong? Why does it feel like I've plateaued before I've really even gotten started?? I lost 24 pounds on the liquid diet 2 weeks pre-op and 1 week post-op. I gained back almost 12 pounds of that once I could eat again and now, I've RE-lost that weight, but, now, I'm getting nothing. Help, I need something here because I'm just getting irritated with myself!

You do need to be counting your calories, carbs, fats and Protein. Calories should be between 1000 and 1200 daily. Carbs can vary between 75g. and 125g. and fats between 35g. and 50g. Protein is the most important component and should come in no lower than 60g. and as high as 100g. If you are not getting enough protein, try adding Protein drinks like EAS Advantage drinks that you can buy at Walmart. They have the highest protein content out of all the ones available, 17g per drink. Just keep an eye on your portion size, make sure you eat at least 3 times a day, with 2 Snacks between meals, such as fat free yogurt or a fruit. The weight will come off if you are eating healthy foods in small portions each day.

I almost had LAP-BAND®® in June 2009. I started the pre-op diet and scheduled my surgery, but then I chickened out. Mostly because I'm afraid of having gas and vomiting for the rest of my life.

Here are my questions:

1. How often does gas and vomiting occur?

2. Also, can you see the port below your skin; is it obvious?

3. How long were you out of work?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I was banded Jan. 8th, 2009 and have lost 85 lbs. so far. The gas after my surgery was gone in a few days and the pain from the surgery itself was only bad the first 2 nights. After that I was just sore for about a week to 10 days. I started exercising at about 3 weeks out (brisk walking). You certainly cannot see the port below my skin. As a matter of fact, mine is difficult for them to find. I don't work, but I think my doctor lets patients go back to work between 10 days and 2 weeks. It depends on how well you are doing. It really was easy for me. I didn't have any problems. If you have any more questions, feel free to email me @ dizlizd@aol.com.

dizlizd - Kaiser Richmond is a Kaiser hospital in Richmond CA that does bariatric surgery - the other two are Kaiser Fremont and Kaiser So San Francisco - patients from N. California have their surgeries at one of the three. Most of us on this thread have had our surgeries in Richmond but anyone is welcome. Where did you have your surgery on Jan 8?

I had surgery in Columbia, South Carolina by Dr. Benjamin Tribble, a very good surgeon. My surgery was at Palmetto Health Baptist and Medicare paid for my surgery. I am a 48 year old disabled stay-at-home mom.

I think you should listen to your doctor, especially since it has only been 4 weeks. I didn't have a drink for 6 months and I am not saying you should wait that long, but your body is still healing from the surgery and adjusting to your new way of eating. Spartan obviously has a strong opinion about not drinking or eating anything unhealthy and that is her right. Most of us know that we will not be able to go all our lives without having some things that we love occasionally. You are going to do what you think you should do, but I would caution you not to drink at such an early point in your journey. That's just my opinion. When I did have my first glass of wine, I found like many others have said. I needed only one and I was tipsy. I rarely have a Cosmopolitan or Margarita which are my 2 favorite drinks.< /p>

Tamra, you made this decision on your own. Go with your gut. I had my surgery 1/8/09 and then had it all over again in August to remove some scar tissue from around the band. If I can go through it twice, you can go through it once. The benefits outweigh the things you have to go through to get there. Like one of the other posters said, they will make sure you are comfortable and take great care of you. Just look at it as a new journey that you are about to take. And believe me, after losing 85 lbs. I feel great. I know you will too. You will do fine. It is normal to have the jitters. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

As long as you are seeing progress in changing sizes, don't worry so much about the scales. Take your measurements and then take them again in about 2 weeks. If you are exercising and eating right, you will eventually lose. Are you measuring your foods? there is a web site called Sparkpeople.com that's free to use. You can track all of your nutrients in the food you eat, not only calories, but fat, carbs and Protein too. If you are working out a lot you need between 80 and 100 grams of protein to help build your muscle tissue and not lose it. Good luck.

Just had surgery. I have been feeling nausea every day- barely sipping food. When I do drink- mayby 1/2 hour later I wretch. I really didnt have gas pain but I do feel a 'restriction" in my chest( between the boobs) if I take a deep breath. I feel so miserable that i want to have the band removed right away. I cant lay down because I get short breath from that 'restriction' so I have been dozing sitting up. Any comments would help.

KayKat, I did not experience anything like this,but could it be that you are having a reaction to the anesthesia? Have you ever had problems with it before? If not, I would be in direct contact with my doctor's office, because I don't think this is normal. Sorry you are feeling bad. :mad:

Thanks Heather. I think I finally got it work. I'm new around here so what is Kaiser-Richmond, a hospital?

I didn't get my fill today. The doctor's office called this morning and the nurse practioner explained to me that she talked it over with the doctor and he was not comfortable giving me a fill because of all the problems I had swallowing in the past. They set up an appt. for me in 3 weeks and Judy said that if I hadn't lost any weight or gained, then they would consider a fill. Ugggghhhh!!

Thanks so much.

I started losing in the first week after my surgery. For some reason, I don't get hungry and after about 2 months out I started having a lot of problems with solid foods, especially chicken and beef and certain veggies and rice. I could only eat small amounts of food before I felt like it was stuck in my throat. That sensation has since gone away and I can eat more food now and my weight loss has stopped. I actually gained a couple of pounds in the last two weeks. This is why I want a fill. My doctor really didn't want to do it because of all the problems I had. That is why he agreed to do it under Flouro at the hospital where they give you the fill and then you drink barium and they x-ray you to see if the barium goes through your stomach and through the band. If it doesn't, they take out some of the Fluid until the barium goes through.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your responses. BTW, I have lost 86 lbs. without a fill. I think my band is just really tight to begin with. I have had a lot of problems with solid food until recently. Now I can eat more and more and I have stopped losing weight.

I am going for my first fill tomorrow and they are doing it under flouro at the hospital. I'm a year out and have never had a fill. What should I expect?

Nicole, I am new here. Can you tell me how to set up all the stuff at the bottom of your post? Especially the weight loss ticker, where did you get that and how did you put it on your post. I assume once you set it up, it will show up on all your posts. Thanks, Liz

Hi, My name is Liz and I had my surgery a year ago on Jan. 8, 2009. I have lost 86 lbs. and have had a lot of difficulty eating solids, but here lately I have no trouble at all and can eat quite a lot of food. I still eat healthy food, just too much I guess. I went to my doctor last week for a fill (my first) and they wanted to do it at the hospital with the flouro to make sure the barium would go through after the fill. I have read a lot of posts here and it has been very helpful. My email is dizlizd@aol.com if anyone wants to talk.