prdmommyof3

Hi Fellow Bandsters, I was banded 3/31/10, 10 months ago. To date, I have lost 20 pounds. I go into my surgeon religiously every month for a weigh-in and fill. Ususally, I go in soon after a fill for a slight unfill, because I end up not being able to eat or drink. I chose my surgeon b/c he was labeled as the leading weightloss / LapBand surgeon in AZ. I now wish I NEVER had it. I am always "stuck", I feel like I can eat MAYBE a meal a day when I'm lucky. Usually, I can't eat more than a bite for my meal at any time of the day. I know that means I'm too full, but when I go into my Dr. to let him know that I cannot eat, and he can't see that I've had a loss, he makes comments like, "Obviously you're eating enough to maintain your weight." "are you measuring?" Before the band, I worked out 6-7 times a week in a boot camp routine and on my own (hard workouts). Now, I don't have energy or patience to play with my kids, let alone work out. I am EXHAUSTED, so stressed, depressed, short tempered and so so so incredibly frustrated with LOOKING at my food and not being physically able to eat. I feel like before the band I could make healthy choices on what I ate...now, I'll eat anything that the band will allow, even if it isn't healthy. I can't do it anymore. I am going insane, and it is really messing with me in every aspect of my life! I joined weight watchers to help with my choices and accountability. I am allowed 41 points/day. I can manage to eat 5-8...and if I get stuck I cannot drink Water either. No one at work knows I have the band, but they've all created a new saying about people who aren't hungry...."You're pulling a Melanie today. You're just going to absorb your food by staring it down." I see my Dr. again on Thursday. I need some support/advice on what to tell him about how I'm feeling because I feel like he really doesn't listen to me or believe that I really am STARVING TO DEATH. He just thinks I'm making bad food choices, but the truth of the matter is that my metabolism is completely SHOT and in starvation mode. How can I get him to listen and really hear what I'm saying without the judgement and preconcieved notion that I'm lying?!?!? Thank you for all your comments. Melanie

I'm right there with you, and it sucks! I got my band 3/31/10 and have lost 20 pounds (started at 217.5, now 197.5). I cannot eat anything, and for 2 days haven't even been able to drink more than 1 gulp every few hours. I HATE HATE HATE this, and am starting to wish I never had the lapband. I cannot seem to find my sweet spot; either I have way too much in or my Dr. takes out too much and I don't have any restriction. I have decided to go in tomorrow and ask him to remove Fluid. I've joined weight watchers, but cannot even eat 5 points throughout the day. When I tell my Dr. I can't eat, he says, "You're obviously able to eat some things since you're maintaining your weight." and won't take out fluid. I am literally going insane from not physically being able to eat. You definately need to ask them to take out fluid. Not being able to eat is not healthy physically or mentally.

I am so glad I'm not the only one dealing with this dilema! I am 3.5 mos post op. I had my 3rd fill 6/28. I "think" I'm at 3 cc's in a 10cc band. That day, only had liquids. on 6/29, I had some applesauce. I could feel it going down slowly, so it took about an hour to eat a single serve cup, but it went down, never got stuck. That night, I tried some canned chicken...HUGE mistake! Got stuck and couldn't even get Water down the next day. Went to have my Dr. unfill then refill my band. All was OK. Ever since then, when I take 1 bite of pretty much anything...I get stuck. Liquids are the only thing I can eat. On RARE occasions, I can eat without a problem. One night, I actually ate 2 slices of pizza! That's the most I've eaten, and pretty much the only "solid" food I've eaten since I got my fill. Now, I have an appointment on 7/19, and am SERIOUSLY considering asking my Dr. to take a little out. I'm hardly eating anything, and (if you can believe it) am not losing ANYTHING either. I just don't get it. HELP!

So, here I am, nearly 3 months POST OP from my lapband surgery, and extremely disappointed in myself and my (lack of) progress. I was 217.4 on surgery day am only at 209 today. I got my 3rd fill yesterday, and let me tell you...I am THRILLED. Until yesterday, I didn't ever "feel" my band. KNEW it was there, but never felt full after a small amount, got stuck, or anything. It makes for a very trying time telling yourself to portion control when you don't have a full sensation yet. Anyway, last night, I could even feel yougurt passing slowly, and today, the same thing with applesauce. No problem keeping it down, but I can definately feel it taking it's sweet time to go throught the band. I am FIANLLY hopeful that I will start to see some progress. Slow to start, but so hopeful that THIS IS IT!!

To my knowledge, Aetna is very specific & firm that they do NOT cover ANYTHING related to weight loss. They do offer discounts on Gyms & programs like Jenny Craig, but when it comes to dieticians, surgery or things of that nature, they specifically state that they don't cover anything. Let me know if I'm wrong

Thanks guys! I'm sure he really "knows" what is in there now...taking into account what he left in after surgery (if anything) and what he put in yesterday...but he didn't want to tell me. Just thought it interesting, since "most" people on here have their fill dates followed by amount under their signatures. Thanks again!

Hey guys! I was banded 3/31 by Dr. Simpson in AZ. Yesterday was my first fill. It was completely painless, in fact, the only thing I felt was pressure and a "popping" when he hit the port. I was amazed at how little it hurt! I asked Dr. S how much I had in my 10 cc band now, and he said, "I don't know. It doesn't matter." I guess his philosphy is that he adds Fluid until he feels a back pressure, and then goes a little more. Does anyone else have a Dr. that doesn't measure, or even care about, the amount of fluid in your band?:w00t:

6 weeks out...11 pounds down. Try not to compare yourself to anyone else....easier said than done, I know, but it will drive you crazy.

Thank you to you all! I know that I haven't gained 5 pounds of FAT...in fact, I'm pleased with the way my clothes are fitting. I know i haven't lost nearly what a lot of you are losing directly post-op, but accept that I need to be proactive with measuring, exercise and NOT DRINKING. That's a really hard one for me!! Still, I really appreciate the consouling you've all given me. I don't feel as disappointed or depressed anymore. Thanks!:biggrin:

Wednesday last week was week 5 post op, and the first day of a normal diet. I joined the Mother's Day challenge (obviously did NOT meet my goal) and was weighing myself every day. I got easily discouraged because I wasn't losing ANYTHING, and it was suggested to me that I only weigh once a week. I took that advice, and this morning, when I stepped on the scale, my heart sunk when I saw 211.0 vs. the normal 206.8. WTF? I don't know if it's because I'm eating normal foods again, or what, but I am so afraid to go to the Dr. on Thursday because I know he'll be disappointed. I'm afraid he won't think I'm trying hard enough...and I really am trying! I know I'm new at this, but I am having THE MOST DIFFICULT time not drinking when I eat, and measuring foods seems pointless, because I am so unsatisfied and end up eating Snacks because I'm so hungry. Has anyone else experienced this right before their first fill??

Thank you a million times over for posting this. I am on week 5 post op, down 9-10 pounds, depending on the day, and am just NOW starting to accept that this is my HEALING time, not weightloss period. I am looking forward to month 6 when I can (hopefully) look back on this post and be happy with my choice to get lapband. I wish I had done it earlier! I chose Dr. Simpson here in AZ, because he is the leading surgeon for LapBand in the West, and thought that by choosing HIM I would be hit with the REALITY of the lapband and how it works and what to REALISTICALLY expect. Although I am happy with my surgeon choice, I have to say that his initial consult was far less informative of realistic expectations than I had hoped. Having said that, I know that there are several support groups that he offers that I have NOT attended. I believe the irrational and unrealistic expectations I had on losing a lot of weight right away are my fault for not better educating myself. I know that this is a tool, and I know that there are support/informative meeting groups out there to help me understand how to use this new tool, yet I have not made the choice to attend. I did make the decision when I got the lapband to NOT tell anyone who didn't need to know. I only told my sister, my husband, and my boot camp trainer, because I didn't want to be watched like a hawk or judged for the time it took me to lose the weight.

I am so sorry you've had to deal with all of this pain & suffering!! I really hope you're able to recover soon and wish you luck on your future weight loss efforts.

Today is week 3 P/O and I'm down 11 pounds. Dr. seemed to be happy with that, even if I'm not.

Thanks JoJO for that reality check. I guess I'm just desperate to see the effects, I'm not really taking into consideration that in 6 months, I COULD be 40 pounds lighter, which is a lot of weight. It will come...it will come... I have to keep reminding myself...It's only been 3 weeks!

Hello fellow banders! I am 3 weeks post op tomorrow...and getting discouraged because I haven't seen the scale moving in the right direction. Now, I had the HUGE and QUICK weight loss of 10 pounds about 2 weeks post op...but nothing lately. I asked my Dr if this weight loss was typical, and he said, "This is the most rapid weight loss you will see, so don't get used to it." It kind of bummed me out. If this is the most weight I'll lose in a month EVER, then why do I see so many of you inspirational banders losing so well? I wonder what (if anything) I'm doing wrong? I'm still on liquids...get to start my 2 weeks of mushies tomorrow...and then have 1 week on solids before revisiting my Dr. to see if I'm ready for a fill. So....my question to you is... How long was it POST OP before you started losing weight at a steady pace? Thanks!! :ohmy:

That is so interesting! I never knew that a port could be placed in that region. I'll be interested to know what you find out!

10 pounds a month is great! Don't be so hard on yourself!! Great job on the 40 pound loss!!!

hmmm....stayed the same. Oh well...at least I didn't gain. I'm on week 2 post op, still on liquids. I go for a checkup on wednesday, so hope to get a fill date then! Great job to all you losers out there!! Lets keep it up!

I'm day 9 post op and have lost 9 pounds so far. ** Whoot Whoot ** Of course, I'm on liquids only, so I guess initial rapid weight loss is to be expected...so, my question is: How much did YOU lose during you post op diet before your first fill, and did you stall? I lost all 9 pounds by day 5, and since then have remianed the same. I'm not complaining, 9 pounds is 9 pounds, but I think I got over excited seeing suce a rapid loss and now nothing...even though I know it's normal. I am on 3 weeks liquids & 2 weeks mushies. Thanks!!

Thank you so much to everyone's posts! They were very reassuring that I'm still "normal"...well, as much normality as there can be with the band I mean! The pain is kins of like a cramp after you eat then exercise...more like if I pulled something. But, it's very intermittant...so I just have to deal with it. Good luck with everyone's journey!!:smile2:

Hey fellow Bandsters! I was banded 3/31 and have some questions for you. 1. I periodically have a sharp pain on my lower right abdomen, in the lower fat roll, opposite side of my port when I walk. Is this common? 2. It's day 7 post op and I'm, of course, on full liquids. I sustain myself with 2 Protein Shakes a day, a cup of Soup for lunch, and V-8, Water, and sometimes sherbet or SF jello/pudding. For 2 days now, my intestines have been VERY unhappy and I've been very crampy with gas & the runs. Is this also normal? 3. Throughout the day, my insides are VERY loud. I'm not sure if it's hunger or my upset intestines, or a combination of both, but it makes for a very...umm....interesting feeling. I can't decide if I'm hungry or full...and that feeling alternates all the time. Is this normal? 4. When I feel like I have to burp, I really have to contort my body to allow the air to come out. I sometimes hiccup instead of burp, which is SO PAINFUL. Is it typical to have to "help" air up past the band? Does this last forever, or usually go away? Thanks for all your help!! :thumbdown:

Me too! I'm a bit intestinally upside down but otherwise feel great!

The world is full of cruel and judgemental people...and those who have not have the band, let alone ever had to live their live obese...just have NO IDEA. I didn't want to try to change my life and at the same time have to deal with the judgements or "supervision" of various family members/onlookers knowing that their thoughts would not be supportive, so when I was banded 3/31, I only told my DH (of course), my sister, best friend & dad. That's it. I didn't tell my mom, because I know she is competitive and very judgemental, and I didn't tell any of my brothers, co-workers, or other friends because I didn't want to have the CONSTANT doubts shoved in my face. I also didn't want to be discredited for the progress I will be making, because as the PP's said, Yes, I have the Band, but like a screwdriver, it is a TOOL and won't do any good unless you're willing to put in the work and change. Just know that those who matter to you support you and your journey...and those that don't support you...well, they just shouldn't matter either. Good luck!

I'm right there with you re: the vomiting! I'm on day 6 PO and still have a whole 2 more weeks until MUSHIES! I can't believe it!! Great job on your 22 pound loss; are you able to see or feel the difference yet in clothes?

I'm in for 20! If I lost 20 pounds by MD, I would be at 189...Not only into ONE-derland, but lower than I can remember in 12 years!! HEAVEN!!