gdkeller

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH! I went to the ER today ,the Dr. who saw me is a bariatric surgeon. I expressed to him that I only wanted a small amount taken out, but he said "I could run the risk of returning to the ER again"and he recommended a 1cc unfill. I need to wait a month and then begin with .25cc fills until I get to my sweet spot. Darn I was almost there, if he had only done a small unfill I think that would have been it. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know how the day ended. Thanks again for your support!

I've been bandad for 2 years now and have lost 41 lbs, 20 lbs more and i'll be at goal. My problem is, I had a fill last week 3.5 to a 4cc band. Since my lap band I have had acid reflux and need Rx medication, and it's been working. Just in the last few days I have been up in the night "choking", last night It happened maybe a dozen times. Im able to eat and drink during the day, I do have lots of restriction and my consumption is a lot less, I feel this is a good fill. I do need to confess to eating later in the evening before bed, but have stopped this recently. Last night was the 1st night where I didnt eat or drink 2 hrs before bed, and it was the worst night ever for choking. Im worried. I'll continue to not eat before bed, up it to 3 hours prior. I'll call my Dr. and ask if I can take another Rx for GERD early in the evening. If that doesnt work, im worried about losing my band.

I went to Cancun last winter for a holiday, while there I went to see Dr. Perez. I had not been loosing any more weight for quite some time. I did have some restriction, but was working too hard in order to maintain my current weight. My band holds 4cc. and I was at the top. Dr. Perez was able to withdraw only 2cc of clear Fluid. No visible signs of leakage. He then (under fluoroscopy) filled my band to 3cc, and I felt more restriction, he could also see the restriction as I swallowed the barrium. I asked why I went from 4cc to 2cc. Keep in mind none of my other fills were ever done under fluoroscopy, so did I really get to 4cc?? Were some of my fills interstitial?? meaning, was the saline injected outside of the port. Another explanation I received: Evaporation!, really 2cc's evaporated. Dr. Perez left it was more likley I never received 4cc to begin with. Although this has happened, I still have restriction. It was also noticed that my band slipped, likley shortly after my surgery, it was hard for my surgeon to get the band in place from the beginning, due to a previous hernia repair. With all that said, I havent lost a lb since I've been back from Cancun! I still feel restriction, but mostly in the am, by the evening im hungry and it takes a larger portion to become satified. So im going back to a fill Dr. I know in Manitoba, no fluoroscopy, too bad! Hope you have better luck!

Does anyone know of a clinic in or around Cancun or the Mayan that does fills with fluro?

Yes they would be two different authors, but take from it what you need. Dont forget even though we dont "DIET", we still need to watch what we put in our mouths.

A dear friend found this and passed on to me, and I would like to share it with you! Print it! BAND AS A TOOL Find a good support system. I can't imagine going through my journey without Julie. I cannot stress that enough. Whether you join a support group or get involved with an online group or find a great banded friend, you need someone you can compare notes with. YOU WILL PLATEAU. You will get frustrated. You need someone to tell you "It happens." My husband and family have also been instrumental in the support process. They've cheered me on every step... and also made it clear that their love is not tied to my weight. 3) Get an attitude check. You can't expect the world. You cannot expect to consistently lose 2 pounds a week. You'll stop for a bit. But you cannot get discouraged. Keep doing the right things, and you'll be healthier for it. STOP DIETING. NOW. I really believe that choosing the band is choosing to free yourself from food obsession. Weighing meals and counting calories just transfers one obsession with weight loss, to another... a food scale. People in Australia and the UK, the ones who've had bands WAY longer than Americans have, have this perspective. The band is a tool to help you watch your portion control and helps you get rid of the hunger. If you're hungry all the time and feel like you need to weigh your food, YOU NEED A FILL. Period. Once you get to the right fill level, you'll know when to stop. You might not be able to eat much, but that will be ok. You won't be fixated on it. I ate 1/2 a taco for dinner last night. That's IT. But I wasn't disappointed: I got what I needed to eat. If I want a burger, I eat a burger. If I want some chocolate, I eat some. I don't eat the whole bag, because I DON'T WANT TO. I am not hungry for a whole bag. I just need a taste. You'll see as you go through the process, you'll start making healthier choices. I know I have. We eat as organic as possible. I am a total foodie, enjoying the good stuff, cause that's what I crave. If I were to sit down and add it up, I probably only eat 800-1000 calories a day. But I feel PERFECT eating that, so that is the right amount FOR ME. How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted Used with permission fromJessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P Author of "Laparoscopic Adjustable GastricBanding : Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery" You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2pounds per week: A. You may need an eatingadjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of "soft calorie syndrome" b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It's also a stomach irritant c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can't just eat what's easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highlyprocessed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthydiet. But don't avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don't need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner thanpeople who don't 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not thatgreat (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of dietmargarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzedfats from the body B. You may need a behavioradjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you're not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away,pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won't be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it's a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activityadjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 timesa week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physicalactivity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eatingand exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as "good" and "bad" e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a bandadjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriateportion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and largeportions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising andhaving a good mind set. F. You may need your bandloosened 1. There are times when you can't get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or isaccompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat ornausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you alsohave nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds.Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These aresymptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or othermedications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can alsomake the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe

Does anyone know what determines the size of band you get???

I liked your explanation, thank you.

I have a 4cc band and am filled to 3.5. I still have to loose 40 lbs. I did the 5 day test, and that brought the restriction back (thank goodness), but some people say they have gone over there band size.

Today is day 2 of the test, (protien shakes and water) headache's and a small amout of discomfort at the band. I know the headache's are from not having enough water, and the band discomfort I think was some indigestion, it disappeared after a few burps! The reason im doing the test is because my loss has stopped, no weight loss for about 3 months, I blame myself, I forgot the band was a tool and began eating without thinking (not to mention it was a hot summer and the wine went down real easy). What I started experiencing when I ate were two things, I would have reasonable restriction all day, then at dinner I would be sooo tight that I would slim and throw up right away, after that I would be okay and be able to eat the rest of my meal. Other times I could eat the entire meal and then some. My restriction was never consistant. Then I got tired of trying to figure out what was going on and just went about life, not really listening to my hunger or I should say not hungery but still eating. I think I have stretched my pouch. So here I am on day two, I hope this works!

Sorry to tell you this, but It probably will come back. I had a hiatus hernia repair several years ago to correct my heartburn. Last Sept I had a band and was told my heart burn would come back. I thought I was one of the lucky ones, No heartburn. Not until this summer, my heart burn is back and worse, but the good news is, ranitadine works wonderfully if taken every day.

I have heard of this happening, be sure to have your fills on an empty stomach, keep your intake soft on the 1st fill day, I'll use the protien shakes. Dont eat several hours before laying down. I have heart burn 24/7/365, I take ranitidine x 1 per day and that seems to keep my heart burn down quite a bit.