anglov

I dont' think it is the band either. I have days that I can barely eat beause I am tight and then the next day I can eat everything with no problems. I was told stress plays a factor and can make the band tighter. Not sure how that works but who knows. I have not been losing weight just staying the same for a little bit but most days I feel I am in the green zone so I don't want to get any fills right now. I think if I actually exercise maybe the weight loss would kick back in. I have lost 92 lbs so I guess what I am doing is working for me. The key is finding what's right for you. Everyone is different.

Keep in mind excess breads will cause you to gain weight. Pizza is a carb fest and if you are eating it for breakfast, keep words break and fast, you may need to switch up what you eat. You are breaking the fast from overnight. I always eat pure protein in the mornings. Usually eggs. Just a thought. I know it's what works for me. Protein first, veggies second and if still hungry carbs. At each meal I eat a salad plate size of food per my doc.

I am not on any special diet. I was banded 8 months ago. I eat what I want but like QTNEY1, in normal or smaller portions. There are some off limits foods because they cause issues and steak, being one of them, was my all time fave but that's okay. I can deal with that. It takes a while but eventually you can get back to normal. I was 350 lbs and I am down 91 lbs in 8 months. I know my weightloss is not the norm. My surgeon said if I lose 40 lbs a year I would be doing great. I guess I am rocking it! It has been a blessing. It's a tool and you need to treat it as such. It is not a miracle but it is fantastic when used right.

I hate exercise and I don't exercise not that I am proud of that. I really need to because I have tons of excess skin. Now that a good chunk of weight is off I plan on starting but that is still a work in progress.

You are lucky your insurance paid for it. Mine didn't so I am self pay. Don't take that for granted. You are truly lucky so embrace it!

First...virtual HUG!! I know this is very frustrating and it's hard when you are going it alone and by alone I mean not with someone who has had lapband or getting it as well. Other's mean well but really don't understand and sometimes end up saying hurtfull or insensitive things.

As DADKINS8 said, this is redefining your relationship with food but also with yourself. You have to come to terms with what you are doing and why. Pre-op sucks. Plain and simple. Once you have the band you have a whole new focus but you will have your band helping with the decisions. It won't be so stressful.

I feel your pain with the protein shakes. They are just plain nasty! I see people talk about the shakes they love. Really? I never found a one that I could drink without gagging. I have this thing with food textures. Liquids should not be gritty. YUCK!

Keep your eye on the prize. This will all be worth it. When you are looking back you will be proud of all that you have gone through because it will make you that much stronger. Those of us here will be with you along the way.

The gurgling always cracks me up and I hope that others can't hear it. I found out sometimes they do. LOL!! You are fresh from surgery so there is swelling and tightness. It will ease up as the swelling goes down. When you get fills it will probably do that again. I know mine does. Try the GASX strips for the gas pain. I also found a heating pad was my friend for back/shoulder pain or just to lay on my stomach. It was soothing.

I had a hiatal hernia fixed at the same time as well so the extra pain is normal. Warm liquids are good. This is what my surgeon's office told me. They said cold stuff actually restricts while the warm liquids relaxes your esophagus and the opening. I thought it sounded silly but it's true for me. I drink hot cider 15 min before a meal and the food goes down easier. Hot liquids may do down easier since you have some swelling. Good luck!

I had surgery 8 months ago. My blog is http://anglovato.blogspot.com/ if you would like to visit and read about my early days. Any questions feel free to send me an email. I would be happy to help you through this.

My port was tender for a month or two. It takes time especially since it is in a spot that you are constantly moving. Eventually it does go away. When I get fills sometimes it is a little tender when she is poking around to find it but really no troubles.

I am embarrassed to admit I do not exercise at all. I really need to but honestly because of my weight my knees and hips couldn't take it. I feel much lighter and am starting to look into some classes they offer at work. Part of the reason is how embarrassed I am of my size. I have social phobia so being in a class is hard for me or being in a room with a group of strangers sends me over the edge. It is a work in progress and I think with my new improved self esteem I think I will be able to try it.

CONGRATS!! You are doing fabulous!

It feels good to get into clothes that didn't fit! I actually was really bad about getting rid of clothes that were too small. Wishful thinking I guess but I did keep some in a storage bin. Really glad I did. I have been able to go to my "bin o'goodies" and shop for clothes to wear. LOL. Mostly jeans but hey it beats buying new when I know I will be getting smaller. I have been getting into clothes that I haven't worn in 6 years. Jeans are pretty universal and I had some pullover light jackets. I pulled one on that now fits and when I reached in the pocket there was around $12 wrapped in a reciept from April 2006. I kid you not! I had not worn that in almost 7 years now. Keep up the good work. It only gets better and better. You never know what suprises you will find!

Hey Congrats! I remember when I had the surgery I no longer needed my reflux meds. Having said that, a few months after the procedure I had a month of really bad sliming episodes and my esophagus was irritated and I had heartburn again. Tums was not cutting it. I went back on Protonix and skipped my fill that month. I only took it for two weeks but I will now keep the meds on hand as a precaution. I have found that tums or rolaids just doesn't help as well as just taking a Protonix when I feel it coming on. It is nips it right away. I have only taken 2 Protonix since then and that was a few months ago. Just a little insight from my situation.

NO reason to be nervous. This was my 3rd fill and the 1st time I had a problem. I also had a different person give me this fill and she had a hard time finding it. All the other fills were done by the same person and she was great and no problems. It's a fluke. I have no idea what caused it but now that I know what to do to help it will keep me from getting panicky.

This is a fantastic journey full of ups and downs but at least here you have plenty of friends to be there for you and have a true understanding of what you are doing and why. You can't always get that from friends and family outside the band world. This was my present to myself. I as banded 5-10-10 and turned 40 in July. Well worth everything.

my doctor never has us on a liquid diet after a fill. It is mushies and no meat, bread or pasta for 24 hrs. I was filled on Monday and Thursday has a sever episode with food getting stuck after one bite. Now today I feel normal again. I don't look for the restriction so much anymore. I look to see that I am eating appropriate portions at each meal and that I am not hungry for 4-6 hrs between meals. That happened to me last month and I was considered in the green zone so no fill. Two weeks later I was getting stuck quite often. Then a week after that I was eating HUGE portions at each meal even though I wasn't hungry for 6 hrs between meals and I still lost. I got the fill Monday and other than getting stuck that is the only real "restriction" I have felt.

I was banded 5-12-10 and am down 53lbs so something is working. I don't count calories or fat. I just eat whatever I choose in moderation and stop when I have my full feeling. It's all about listening to your body.

It is true that sometimes a person is too overweight to have surgery safely. That may be the reason for the doctor wanting you at a certain BMI. The surgery has some risks anyway and the heavier you are the higher the risks. I know it seems redundant to lose weight so you can have surgery to lose weight. You may need to find another surgeon who can take a better look at your BMI or simply ask the doctor at your next visit why he feels you need to lose weight to have surgery to lose weight? Maybe his explanation will put your mind at ease or make it make sense. Good luck!

Tina I agree too. Since the surgery I am off diabetes meds, reflux meds, cholesterol meds, and my BP is now so low we are going to be cutting my meds for that back and hopefully will be off them completely soon.

I have more energy and I think I carry myself more proudly since the weight loss. I got my hair done a few weeks ago. Nothing drastic, it was my usual do. The VP of the company walked up to me last week and she had been meaning to tell me that my hair is absolutely cute that she loves it. Now, it's the same haircut/style I always get but I guess with the weight loss it looks different. I was so proud when she said that. I know I look people in the eye more when I say Hello whereas before I tended to look down I assume so no one would notice me. Things have definitely changed for the better.

The Lap Band Experience

Have you tried just spreading peanut butter on hot toast? The PB melts and is gooey! Fantastic with a little milk. I grew up eating that for breakfast each morning I had school.

Remember that you are the priority not the weight loss. Take care of yourself and everything else will work itself out. Find someone to talk to that won't be judgemental. Sometimes talking it through can help you realize the cause of the issues that are holding you back. Definitely the illegal substances are not a good thing but you know that. Anytime you want to chat, give me a holler. Every one needs somebody, a friend. We are all in this together.

I was banded on a Wednesday and was driving that Monday. I went back to work Thursday of the following week. No problems. It all depends on what you do. I sit at a desk all day. I was a little sore but fine.

Sometimes two hours before bed isn't enough. I had reflux for 20 years before surgery. They fixed my hiatal hernia and I was acid free for nearly 2 months. This last time I didn't get a fill and a few days after I started getting reflux again. I can say anything acidic, tomato based, fried, heavy, carbonated can all cause problems. Not eating can cause reflux too. I slept on 3-4 pillows every night for some 20 years too. That helps. Over the counter reflux meds may help too. Check with your doc like they said. You may need something different.

I have heard that weight loss can cause hormonal changes. That may explain why I get super emotional and have severe cramps like I did as a teenager. That sucks!

I have had 2 fills and was told I was in the green zone. I was on vacation and eating more than usual but I lost 8.5 lbs in 3 weeks and wasn't hungry for 5-6 hrs between meals. I didn't get a fill on the 26th. I go back in a few weeks and I think I need a fill. I am not hungry so much as I am grazing and eating all the time which is not good. They told me too about 5 fills is average. I think they were wrong when they didn't give me a fill.

I had my surgery on a Wednesday and went to my daughter's first dance recital the next day. My hubby took me and I did fine. No real discomfort. I only took meds the 1st day and then at night only the next two. My doc wouldn't let me drive regardless for 5 days. It's a crap shoot at best. There are some who had loads of discomfort for a long time and then there are those that have no real issues at all. If you aren't telling anyone then the hard part would be to explain why you aren't eating or drinking. I would suggest not going since it is a real outing with drinking, eating and dancing. That is a lot. My recital only required sitting there. You do need tofocus on you and your recovery and that might over stretch yourself.

Just remember to take all that you hear onsite as opinions and personal experiences. I too was self pay. I paid over 15k for mine. It was the best investment. I was scared it wouldn't work and then I would have wasted my money. Remember it is a tool and how you use it will be the deciding factor. I started with needing to lose at least 120 lbs. So far I am down 46.5 lbs and I was banded May 12th. Anything is possible but it is up to you. I look at this way...15k divided by 3 years(that is what my doctor said it would take to lose the 120 lbs) divided by 52 weeks is about $95 a week. I think I save that much a week by not eating out as much and also not drinking soft drinks anymore. The best investment.

What a mean thing for him to say. Why would he purposefully put your port farther back? I'm sorry you are having trouble. It shouldn't be that way. I hope it goes better.

everyone is different and everyone has had different experiences with the band. For some the weight loss is fast and others it is slow. In the end, it is a personal decision. As my doctor told me, the band is ONLY a TOOL. It is not the magic cure all. The benefits you get from it and how you use it are up to you. It may only help you stick to weight watchers or Jenny Craig better or it could help you make a major overhaul in your eating habits. It is simply a tool and nothing more. I had my surgery May 12th. I have lost around 45 lbs or so. I have had some bad eating episodes but overall I am very pleased and wish I had done this years ago. I didn't have any surgical problems. My health is improved and I believe my quality of life. Just remember, everything you read on here is our personal experiences and our opinions. You can definitely gain weight with the band because there are ways to get around it. Again the whole it's a tool thing. Good Luck!

It definitely is an experience. With sliming you can feel the excess saliva building up and you feel like you need to spit. That is your body sending secretions to help the food slide on down. At some point if it doesn't go down you will feel the gag feeling and well heave ho but for me it only comes from the throat so its like whatever was in there "pops" out. Sandra is right, you feel panicky but dont. There are times when it is so severe that I feel pain in my chest.

Walking around helps some. It allows gravity to give you some help. Sipping warm water, not cold, but warm water helps it go down too.

I have had a single bite get stuck the moment I swallowed. I have learned that 1st thing in the morning everything gets a little stuck. You get used to it really and then you learn what works and it's just another thing. It doesn't happen all the time. There are times I can eat bread no problem and then I can eat the same bread later and it gets majorly stuck. Same thing with pasta. Sometimes it gets stuck and sometimes it doesnt. I find that if I am really hungry I rush eating and hence the getting stuck.