dman3998

Does anyone have a technical explanation why some bands get tighter after many weeks or even months after a fill? and you need to get a small unfill? This seems very odd that this would happen. I understand immediately or even up to a week or two because of swelling. Maybe if you gained a lot of weight back, which would be against any concept of the band to begin with.

Apparently it is different for everyone, depends on how your stomach likes to be squeezed! I had my first fill yesterday, got 5cc and in the office was just able to swallow. after and today so far it is like nothing has happend. I and drink easy. I have not had much in the way of solids yet but so far does not seem a problem for me. I suspect that some have major swelling and so will get some extra restriction. as long as you can get liquids down and keep them, you should be ok as soon as the tum gets calmed down.

If you haven't read it, there is a really good sticky at the top of this forum that explains fills pretty clearly, I get it now! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-lap-band-actually-works-fills-refills-41738/

I have read that warm liquids like broth and tea help with the swelling more than cold Water. Cant say from experience for that solution, one thing is for sure you will get dehydrated fast if you can't drink anything, and you will have more problems than you know what to do with if that happens.

I am a little disappointed because I don't feel like I have any more restriction than I did before. but I am not eating solids for a few days so that may change. I have read that some fills take a few weeks even to kick in. I would like to know the physiology behind that because it would seem to be counter-intuitive for that scenario. I can see some swelling a few days after an adjustment, then some loosening. but to not have any restriction for several weeks then all of a sudden bam your restricted just doesn't make much sense. Other than that I feel perfectly normal! so I am not really complaining too much.

No sweat, no problem at least so far. I am really starting to like my doc too. at first I was not sure about him but at this point he is top notch compared to some of the yo-yo's you hear about. This first fill was great, he found the port and had the needle in me before I knew what happened. He had me sit up and drink Water as he was filling untill I had restriction, then he took out a little bit. I have 5cc in a 14cc band. I am thinking that is pretty good for the first time. He says he wants to get me to the sweet spot ASAP. I am all for that, none of this "sneaking" up on it 1cc at a time. He is pretty conservative on most stuff too like I am not suppose to be back on reg food for 5 days. but He says the band is not helping and doing its job till it is filled right so he wants to get it right quick. He says 5 weeks before next one. Now after all the time and effort it seems like things are getting under way.

NOPE it goes on for the rest of your life! if your still on liquids and puree, that was the problem for me. as soon as I started on "REAL" food, like solid proteins and veggies, it went back to normal.

The theory behind this one is not to fill the pouch with Fluid and wash thru the food you just ate. So you get a full pouch of food and stay full longer. As far as I know there is no Medical reason for this. Seems every doc has their own advice on this one too. mine says 15min before and 30mins after.

looks like I am a week behind you, I really like your attitude, I could use some of that Iron will. I am getting the first fill in 2 days and hope for the best. I basically can eat any thing and almost as much as I want right now. Just has to go down much slower. I mostly eat the right foods just too much of them. I am hoping I dont have to go 4 or more fills before I have any restriction. It seems most have to have at least 2-3 before it starts working.

actually you are not likely getting enough Protein right now, but when you graduate to soft and real food that will change you should start Protein drinks soon too. that feeling on the left side is not a full feeling it is a too full feeling. I think things are not settled down yet. it went away after about 4 weeks or if I didn't eat too much.

that wont last long, after a couple weeks you will sell your soul for some "real" food!!! then it's welcome to bandster hell. But you will live through it. then it will be all worth it. Glad you are doing well so far!

you are not alone that is for sure we all have the same problem or we would not be on this site. It is obvious your doc does NOT have his crap together. you are hungry because you do not have enough fill in your band. I mean if we could do this without the band we would not have needed it in the first place. I would see if there is another doc that will do your fills that UNDERSTANDS what the band is for and how it works he apparently is clue-less. now quite a few seem to go 2-4 fills before you get restricted enough to feel it and not get hungry between meals. you did not say how much fill you have. It seems like from what I have seen so far it takes at least 5ml for most to get close to the sweet spot. I would see what he does this next time and ask how much fill you have total. if his answers are not meeting your needs tell him austa la Pasta and find someone that will. You hang in there it is a process and a journey that takes time. Dont give up now you have a shot at being normal you need to run all the way with it!

' It is a bit different for everyone but I suspect you will be able to muster up the strength and go to it. you will NOT feel like talking in church and you will probably feel like crap in general. The shoulder pain may be in full swing by then. I had an annoying stomach pain for a week. not bad enough to not be able to sleep or go to work but made me feel very grouchy and dont bother me most of the time. The not eating thing (and you should only be on Clear liquids anyway), can be explained by saying you haven't felt very good for the last couple days and your stomach is upset. which would not be a lie at all and let them all assume you have some kind of flu or whatever you just have to not correct them. I applaud your decision to DO SOMETHING about your problem. that is GREAT, just remember it is a process and the banding is just the start.

I was told that bread, Pasta and rice and any other starchy or stringy foods like asparagus, celery, some meats like steak and pork. tend to "plug" your stoma once you get your fills to the point that you have the "proper" restriction for 1-3 lbs of weight loss per week and not hungry for 3-4 hrs after eating. It is different for everyone and even on different days. some people can eat that stuff or some version like wheat bread but not white bread, and some cant eat anything even close to it. hardly anyone has a problem during bandster hell. You didn't say when you were banded. there sure is a ton of conflicting and totally BS information from the Docs and various health care people. I tend not to believe most of it unless there is an overall thread of consensus, AND it makes sense to me.

guess it would depend on how fast you want to lose the last 35lbs. if you stay low on the carbs, you will burn fat. keep up and increase the protein to prevent muscle loss.

Protocol? what's a Protocol? I think that is a Doctors reply because it's the wild west out there in Band land surgery. I am suppose to follow a 5 day regime of total liquids for 2 days then 2 days of puree and some mushies then a day of mushies and soft stuff then I can go to real food. We shall see.... first fill is next Tues the 24th of Aug.

That is a strange deal, I can chomp down a rib eye (not filled yet) no problem I say chomp but it's really really small pcs and chew chew chew. but even puree on the chicken and its getting stuck/tight what ever you call it, It does not want to go down. had it come up too, even slow mo on the down side. it just doesn't like the ride I guess.

During that period I had a lack of protein and calories in general and was VERY moody and cranky. as soon as I got more normal levels of nutrition I was fine.

Never heard of that one, I would think it was just the opposite, I suck a ton of air when I "sip" on Water and ice use a straw and dont get near as much. Besides no one ever heard of burping?

I have no problem with that, I am sure it's just fine BUT my point is some Doc's are causing UN-NECESSARY mental pain and anguish by having patents follow some BS plan. for example what does it accomplish to make someone do a liquid diet BEFORE surgery? if the goal is to lose weight fast before the operation then a restricted diet of REGULAR food works just fine. If there is no problem to eat regular food 3 weeks after surgery why do some think we need to wait till the 5th week? or not even give you a plan at all? again it only makes life miserable and it sucks bad enough. Same deal with fills. that is even more of a wild west scene seems to be what ever the doc thinks about it. there apparently is NO STANDARD procedure! I think the docs aren't going to do anything different EVER unless one of the band suppliers does a definitive study and comes up with the best course of action to follow and highly recommends the docs follow it. I am sure they do it now for the actual band placement, but that is a small part of the big picture long term and overall. Maybe the AMA needs to get involved as this is a relatively new thing only been approved since when the early 90's? Maybe all banders should get together, draft and sign a petition and send it to the Band companies and the AMA. I dont know maybe they are working on it all ready. Sure seems like a free for all out there and WE are the Guinea pigs. sorry to hijack your thread, just venting. what ever you eat, remember small, slow and chew chew chew! kinda sounds like a country song...

Only 2 weeks post op and back to regular food? Man the Docs that do these surgeries need to get their acts together. some but not all have you on liquids for 2 weeks and purees the 3rd week, mushies and babyfood the 4th and not start real food until the 5th week. I just started real food and pretty much eat anything I want. just small bits and chew it till it's almost puree anyway. and swallow/eat real slow, that is the really hard thing. When I eat too fast its back up at you time. really sucks. need my first fill then the fun should start and the reason to do this band thing. scheduled for the 1st hit on the 24th I am hoping for the best but almost every one takes at least 3 shots or more.

CHEAT? what do you mean Cheat? no way, if you cheat on the post op plan you could die! I mean reeaally, Cheat? wouldn't dream of it why I would rather drown in a chocolate mike shake than cheat.... Humm that sounds good, well maybe cheat a little. I mean we are only addicted to food no big deal, cheating never crossed my mind not even 47 times! well maybe 46 times. :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::huh2::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: After reading the MILLIONS of posts from everyone on the different post op plans I have come to the conclusion that the medical community for the banding procedure care is out to lunch. some docs are ultra conservative all the way to "ya have a T bone when you feel up to it" so I just did my own thing and when I felt like I could handle it I ate it. Now that is not my advice to you. my "advice" is to do what your doc said but Just telling you what I did. I did feel it was important the 1st 3 weeks to go with the liquids and mushies because I think the real deal is you have stitches in your stomach and need to heal them before your tum has to digest chunks of solid foods. it can get to rockin around trying to get solids down the hatch, jumping up a day or two early to the next phase with a mushie or two is not likely to cause any harm but I am not a doc so don't listen to me. I still think the entire banding industry needs to have some standardized guidelines for the pre and post op care. Cheat? sure but I would NEVER admit to it:)

my doc said take it easy for a couple weeks than only do aerobic stuff, no weights til 6 weeks. then he wants a full mix up of strength training and aerobics. I hate to exercise so that works for me but I have started biking and have found it is much easier after only dropping 25 lbs. I am sure it will get better and better as the lbs come off. I cant miss a day either none of the Monday, Wed, Friday stuff, it's all or nothing. Only up to 20 mins /day on the bike but will get it up to 30 soon. still hate it but is getting tolerable.

Mine said no on the nuts too, but think because they are so calorie dense not because you cant process them. Not sure about the pop corn, I suspect it is individual if you can tolerate it and not get stuck, popcorn is pretty low every thing, and good roughage too.

I suppose if you get technical about it, it's all a "mental thing" most of us are not normal because we have some really screwed up in the head stuff. Unfortunately the band does not "fix" that other than be a physical reminder not to stuff the face at any particular time. We truly have to reprogram our minds to not use food for comfort, boredom and any other reason we can think of to eat. Now it must be eat to live, instead of live to eat! That seams to be the tough one and the most important for long term success. I think developing good habits will be the start of that change. IT"S A PROCESS!