Hi everyone,

I'm just now starting the process & I meet with the surgeon tomorrow morning. I have a ton of questions for people that are actually living with the LapBand & not the Dr. that most likely doesn't have one..

Can anyone tell me what it feels like to have a LapBand?

Can you feel it?

Do you feel like it's hard to breathe?

Do you have a hard time swallowing?

What does getting 'stuck' feel like?

What is a 'stuck' episode? Does it get stuck in your esophagus or in the small stomach?

Does having a LapBand make you have heartburn?

Can you still eat spicy foods?

Can you still guzzle Water or will it be sip city forever?

Any permanent damage from it?

Do you like it or dislike it?

Thank you all in advance, I know some of these are silly but, I'm getting really nervous.

Can anyone tell me what it feels like to have a LapBand? It doesn't feel like anything

Can you feel it? nope

Do you feel like it's hard to breathe? No and if it does there's something seriously wrong

Do you have a hard time swallowing? Not if I take small enough bites and chew enough

What does getting 'stuck' feel like? Like a big lump in your chest/throat, usually with a lot of saliva (sliming). Can be very uncomfortable even painful

Does having a LapBand make you have heartburn? No, and if it does, it's too tight

Can you still eat spicy foods? yes

Can you still guzzle water or will it be sip city forever? I guzzle easily

Any permanent damage from it? no

Do you like it or dislike it? I love it

I agree with 2muchfun. However it can cause acid reflux. That will differ from person to person.

Thank you everyone, you've been so helpful! Now I want it like yesterday! I know how to diet & I know how to lose weight........I just can't keep it off! I think LapBand is just the help I need!

Wow, these are some very specific and interesting questions from a LBT newcomer!

Hi everyone,

I'm just now starting the process & I meet with the surgeon tomorrow morning. I have a ton of questions for people that are actually living with the LapBand & not the Dr. that most likely doesn't have one..

Can anyone tell me what it feels like to have a LapBand? 95% of the time, it didn't feel any different than not having a band. If I got careless with my eating, I'd feel some upper GI symptoms that would remind me of my band, and I could feel my port by pressing on my abdomen.

Can you feel it? No. I could only feel my port (see above).

Do you feel like it's hard to breathe? Nope.

Do you have a hard time swallowing? Only if I tried to swallo a bite that was too big or not chewed well enough.

What does getting 'stuck' feel like? Pressure and pain in my chest.

What is a 'stuck' episode? A negative consequence of careless eating. Does it get stuck in your esophagus or in the small stomach? Opinions on that vary. I used to think the food was getting stuck in my stoma, but later realized (from research and from other bandsters' stories) that it was more often getting stuck in my esophagus. In a way, it doesn't matter where the stuck food is. What matters is eating in a way that avoids any kind of stuck episode.

Does having a LapBand make you have heartburn? Very rarely. It happened when my band was too tight, when my band slipped, and when my esophagus was dilated. So, maybe 10% of the time I was banded.(Note: the reflux damage that sent my band to the trash can was "silent" reflux I'd had since the 1980's, long before I was banded).

Can you still eat spicy foods? Yes.

Can you still guzzle Water or will it be sip city forever? Guzzling water was only a problem when I was a new post-op and when my band was too tight.

Any permanent damage from it? No. Where did that question come from? Did someone suggest to you that the band could cause permanent damage?

Do you like it or dislike it? Loved, loved, loved it. It's been gone since 4/27/12 and I still miss it even though I'm having sleeve surgery on 8/16/12.

Thank you all in advance, I know some of these are silly but, I'm getting really nervous. There's no such thing as a silly question when you're considering bariatric surgery.

Jean- THANK YOU for your honesty! I love that you said that you miss it, I wish you much success with the sleeve! I guess the question about permanent damage came from me researching the internet like a crazy person....I'm so damn nervous & this is ALL I can think about! Way to go on your 90+ lbs!

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR REPLY!

These were some great questions and answers. thank you all and thank you SinCity for asking them.

One question from me - what does restricted mean?

I was banded 3 days ago so am still recovering from the surgery. My surgeon repaired a hiatal hernia at the same time which may make the way I am feeling atypical. At the moment recovery is going well, but I feel constantly like I almost have heartburn which I'm pretty sure is from the hernia repair rather than the lap band. My stomach area is still sore - mostly by late afternoon or if I move the wrong way (twisting movements are bad). This week I have lost 3kg (6.6lb) and am adjusting to not eating any solids but am excited about this new stage of my life.

Thanks, It's_Me! Not too sure I really know what restricted means...I'm sure someone will help us out!

So excited for you, Sianme!

I second too much fun.

I am two months post op and exercise almost daily. I hav a stationary bike and elliptical. I also do weights. No problems exercising...just lack of motivation like it has been all my life.

Can anyone tell me what it feels like to have a LapBand? it doesn't feel like anything.

Can you feel it? no not at all

Do you feel like it's hard to breathe? no never

Do you have a hard time swallowing? well I can't eat marshmellows and sometimes canned chicken to tough to get down.

What does getting 'stuck' feel like? the pickle thing was a good example

What is a 'stuck' episode? lots of sliming but mine has passed in minutes or less Does it get stuck in your esophagus or in the small stomach? not sure

Does having a LapBand make you have heartburn? no me

Can you still eat spicy foods? yes

Can you still guzzle water or will it be sip city forever? i can guzzle water but not sodas.

Any permanent damage from it? I sure hope not

Do you like it or dislike it? I like having it better than not having it. I don't think I could have lost weight without it. It is a tool that helps hugely.

I second what toomuchfun said! I love my band! The diet process is still, to me, a diet and is consequently difficult, but the band certainly makes things easier! I'm four and a half months in and I NEVER last this long on a diet. Having the band there keeps me accountable and having specific guidelines to follow has helped me be successful. Checking in with a doctor for fills has helped to keep me accountable as well. I rarely notice my band (discomfort-wise) unless I'm laying flat on the floor on my stomach with the kids, or like today when I'm sore because a resident poked around me like a pin cushion for two minutes to find my port until my doctor came to the rescue! I also want to add that everyone's experience is different. I have yet to get stuck at all or have difficulty swallowing anything so maybe the same will happen for you! Good luck with everything!

knock on wood - I have never had to throw up coz of something I ate

I'm trying to 'BUMP' this...

For the people inquiring about the Lap band. I know this info has helped me!

Thanks again, everyone!

Glad you are asking questions! Here are my experiences with the band.

Can anyone tell me what it feels like to have a LapBand? I only notice it when I eat. It doesn't feel like anything... But I know it's working when I am satisfied after a cup or so of food

Can you feel it? No

Do you feel like it's hard to breathe? No

Do you have a hard time swallowing? I do not

What is a 'stuck' episode? Does it get stuck in your esophagus or in the small stomach? It feels like it gets stuck in the lower throat but I know it's lower...it like tightness in my chest

Does having a LapBand make you have heartburn? No

Can you still eat spicy foods? Yes

Can you still guzzle Water or will it be sip city forever? I cannot guzzle abwholewater bottle all at once. I can take large sips ....maybe 1/2 c at a time

Any permanent damage from it? Not that I know of

Do you like it or dislike it? I love love love that it prevents me from over eating....