starsinmyeyes

Unfortunately you will get stuck again....because from time to time the foods we are fine with one day, are our enemy the next. It changes with fills, with time of day, tenderness and moisture, texture, amount, etc...but you have the key...chew chew chew!

I'm not absolutely sure....but I think they are carbonated. I have had the smallest size, sugar-free slurpee. I drank it slow, but felt burpee...so I havent had one since.

I call my lap-band...."Lappy". Rhymes with happy.... It's her silly nick-name, but she helps me to be happier than I've been in a very long time.

I'm prone to infections, so I couldn't do the Mirena or the Nuva Ring. And I had unbalanced hormones with the pill. The Depo caused nausea and weight gain. So I am now using the Ortho Evra Patch....so far so good.

I was banded 2 years ago and in the recent 4 months i've lost a significant amount of hair. After having blood tests, etc, the opinion of my doctor is that I'm not getting enough protein, I am anemic, and have low B-12 levels....all of which can contribute to hair loss. So, i am revving up my nutrition with good foods and vitamin supplements, as well as, using some good shampoo and hair treatments. All of this seems to make a difference...hope my hair continues to make a come back.

I had several people try to talk me out of having the surgery...but I would never change my decision. I am so happy and feel incredible. I agree with everything the others said.....it's all up to you, it's your body, your life, you are the one who will do the hard work, and you are the one who will feel great after the weight loss. And by the way....those who tried to talk me out of the surgery are now praising me for how much work I did and how great I look.

Largeaslife thank you for the reply....I know I have been worried about any unfilling, I wouldnt want to start eating too much. So, the upshot is I can probably increase my calories to maintain my weight once I reach my goal or I could keep losing. I have a medium frame and I dont want to get too skinny...just feel great like I do now. Congrats to you as well!

Thank you Mandagay....come to think of it I did watch the LapBand on youtube before the surgery.

I am 26 lbs away from my goal weight and I am definitely in the green zone....ever since my last fill last November I have been losing weight and inches pretty steadily. I changed my goal weight...I originally thought 175, then 165, now I say 155 lbs. But, honestly I think I will just go until I feel like I'm at the right weight, so it could be sooner than my current goal. But, I have a few questions....when I reach my goal, do I continue to lose weight? do I get un-filled a bit? also, does anyone know much about laser liposuction/body sculpting? I would like to tighten up my arms and thighs and would like a less invasive option.

I wake up choking as well and I had my surgery almost 2 years ago. I think I have not digested my food yet or had liquid still in my pounch. But when I choke it often feels like acid reflux. So my doctor put me on Prilosec and it has helped a great deal. I just make sure I dont eat or drink within an hour or two of bedtime and if I do have anything close to bed I prop up with pillows. Ever since I have made these changes I havent woken up choking. Hope that was the end of it.

I have had that same problem off and on with fluids and solids. Right now warm fluids like tea, soup etc. work best for me. I can't tolerate bread, lettuce, certain fruits and veggies right now. But, last time after a fill I was able to eat a lean steak and was doing great with salads. At my last appointment I got a small unfill, just .5cc. My doctor thought perhaps my band was too full, but I am still having the same issue. I can't figure it out, but I'm still losing weight. I'm just hoping for a time when certain foods no longer get stuck and I still feel satisfied with a small meal and of course I continue healthy weight loss. Well, good luck to all of us trying to find our "balance" or "sweet spot".

I am very tight in the morning as well. I can usually sip water, hot tea, etc...then after being up for a few hours I drink a protein shake for breakfast. I usually have to eat soup, or something saucey and moist for lunch, then by dinner I can eat normally as well. I find that if I am planning to eat a meal that is full of bulk and substance like meat, salad, etc I drink a lot of water to get my stomach ready. Plus we are supposed to drink a lot of water anyways. I have noticed a decline in weight loss as well and I can only think its because I am eating more at dinner which means more calories, and then not being as active as during the day. I have had my band for over a year and I am now only going every 3-4 months for a fill, so it's not like I was just filled and got too tight.....I just have had to adjust my activity level in the evening and excercise self control at dinner. I am hoping that I see some better results like what I was experiencing before. Perhaps try that too and see how it goes....or pay a visit to the doctor. Good luck

You are still very new to the band. I would give it some time before you try beans. I am 1 year out and eat beans very often with no problem....I have 6.5 cc in my band and feel very tight. Some foods I have probs with are soft lettuce, breads that are not toasted, some meats .....the key is to chew chew chew. Your mouth is now part of you digestive system, so chew at least 20x with each bite of any problem food. Good luck to you on your journey!

All I feel is the intial stick when he numbs me. Then nothing during the fill. He is doing just fine thanks. My doctor is actually one of the best Bariatric surgeons in California...people travel from very far just to see him. One time I saw his partner, another doctor who did not numb me before the fill and it was really more uncomfortable and more anxiety producing than anything. I prefer to be numbed and not just be stuck like a pig. I really enjoy the fact that my doctor cares about my comfort and it should really be like that for everyone, a positive experience all around. Additionally, it really depends on where your port is placed...not everyone has it in the same spot. Mine is directly below my sternum, right in the middle...a very sensitive area. Anyways, good luck to you and it's great that you don't feel anything when you get your fills.

LOL! Yes, my first fill I thought that I would faint when I saw that needle. But now I have had 5 fills since my surgery and I just take a deep breath and don't look at it. My doctor is so friendly and helps me feel relaxed when he fills me. When he gives me the numbing medicine and I feel the needle go in he says "I'm numbing it....ouch, ouch, ouch" and then I am numb. I don't look at the needle still in me when he has me sit up and sip Water either. Crazy experience....but I know that I will lose a good 3-5 ls of weight right after my fill, so I am very motivated on fill days. Good luck to you!

I usually lose about 3-4 lbs after a fill. So not as large of a loss as yours, but still losing. I only do liquids the day of then switch to soft foods for maybe 2 days after, then back to regular food. So, it sounds like your liquid diet has something to do with it. My doctor said the same about losing fat around my organs and the band losening over time, even after hitting my sweet spot. Great weight loss for you though....continued good luck!

I was banded July 29th, 2010. I have lost 55lbs so far and counting. I have had a few stalls along the way, around the holidays mostly. But I just keep moving on. I haven't been exercising for the past month or so, but I am kicking myself in the rear and joining the gym this weekend. I am also really looking forward to the daylight savings time change, because my favorite exercise is walking outside in the evening, and it is pitch black by the time I get home from work. I have trouble eating some things, like bread, which is no surprise...so I eat flat bread or pita sometimes. I have trouble with meat too, unless its fish, ground turkey or moist chicken. I find myself having Soup for lunch because I fear getting stuck and throwing up at work. But it also helps keep my calories down. I love veggies and salads, without lettuce, lol, that gets stuck too. I have trouble eating first thing in the morning, so I drink a Protein shake for Breakfast. My caloric intake fluctuates between 800 and 1200 a day, but I always get my protein and my Water. I get dumping syndrome with sugary foods, so after that happend 2x I never have touched sugar again. That has been a good thing for me, as I had been a cake and ice cream feind. I was hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) before my band, and now I no longer have the symptoms unless I forget to eat a meal. I have so enjoyed shopping for new clothes...I went from a size 26 pants down to a size 20 pants. When I run into people who haven't seen me for a while they cannot believe how much smaller I look. I haven't been at my current weight, 242 lbs, for at least 10 years and pre-baby, so I feel absolutely awesome. I find myself walking with more confidence, not feeling winded when I walk, able to sit in office chairs with no problem, and a lot of people tell me I look taller...that's funny to me because I am only 5'4". Well, I really hope that my weight loss continues at a steady pace....actually I know I will lose more once I am an exercising machine, lol. I really hope that by my 1 year mark I have lost another 50 lbs...I would love to be 100lbs down. Oh, I also have my 20th highschool class reunion coming up in October of this year, so I am really looking forward to being close to my highschool weight and looking and feeling awesome. I wish all Bandsters good luck and success in their journey to a new healthy lifestyle and I know we can all do it! Stay motivated and connected to this website...it's awesome to have a place to express yourself, get support and get much needed information!

My port is the same place as yours and it's working great for me. I have a friend that has her port just below her rib cage on the left side. I guess it depends on each patient and the surgeons judgement.

All of the scenarios in which banded people throw up that you listed are true...but if you follow your diet and do what you are supposed to do, you shouldn't have a problem. I was too tight and threw up, so I had a liitle fluid removed from my band. Sometimes I take a big bite and don't chew well enough, then I have problem...it can happen very easily and it a very real possibility with the band. well, good luck to you.

I went in for a fill 2 days ago. I was at 6cc's in a 9cc band. I had been doing great and seemed to find my sweet spot, but I did start to get hungry and eat more a week prior to the fill. So, my doctor filled me up to 6.6cc's As usual he had me drink a bottle of water and eat yogurt before I left the office to make sure I wasn't too tight. I was fine. I went home and had some soup for dinner with no problem. Well, the next day I went to work and had a protein shake for breakfast then soup for lunch. Next thing I know, I could not keep my lunch down. Later that night I had soup for dinner and could not keep that down. I was starving, so I tried broth, tea, jello, etc...could not keep any of it down. So here I am another day and not able to keep anything down. I called the doctor and he wants to see if I can keep down fluids today and then go in for unfill tomorrow. My fear is that he will unfill me too much and I will start gaining weight. I have worked so hard and my weight loss has been slow and steady...I would hate to fall back any in my progress. I am hoping that maybe since I was just filled, it just needs time to adjust and maybe between now and tomorrow I can actually keep things down. Has anyone had this type of problem ? What happend? Anu suggestions?

I have had Muscle Milk Lite. I've tried both the chocolate and the vanilla...I prefer the chocolate. They do taste good, actually better than the others that you mentioned, more rich and creamy. Another good shake that I have been drinking, upon suggestion of a fellow bandster, is Premier Nutrition Protein shakes. They sell them at costco, a case is about $24, also come in chocolate and vanilla, they have an amazing 30g of protein!, 1 gram of sugar, and only 160 cals each. I personally love these even more than the Muscle Milk Lite. Well, good luck and hope you find the right Protein Shake for you.

Hi there, No actually when I posted that I had my fill about 2 weeks before. I did do the liquid and soft food diet right after, but as soon as, I started to eat the solids is when I began to PB. I still am PB'ing with solids, so now I am trying to focus on the easy to go down foods, ie soft foods, that won't cause problems. But hey I'm losing weight. So, it's not all bad What an interesting journey this has been so far...but I am getting used to the change in the lifestyle.