It has been almost a year since my lapband. I went to doctor to have bypass but because of too many hernia surgeys in lower abdomen, they wouldn't do it. That was the reason I wanted the bypass, to lose the weight to stop hernias from happening. They did lapband instead and it has been a huge frustration and only about 50 lbs. lost in a year. All of the bypass surgery people at the place I work (and there are many) look at me like I am a big loser and not in the right way. They have all lost 100s of lbs. Also, I have a horrible gas probelm since the day I woke up from the band being put on. Nothing seems to work and so it keeps me from eating properly. I feel like my food gets stuck in esophagus and it is scary. The gas starts everyday at 3:00 pm and lasts until 10-11 pm. It is very uncomfortable to say the least and pushes up in the little stomach and keeps food out. I am sitting here wondering why I let them do this to me. I feel like a total failure and more frustrated than I have ever been in my whole life!!!:cry Because of the huge frustration, I eat stuff I shouldn't when I can get it down. Stuff that made me fat in the first place like cookies!! I know it's dumb but food was my last vice and it would probably be easier to cut off my head! Anybody else out there can can relate or give me some good advice???:think

Miserable in Michigan....

Have you talked to your doctor about the food getting stuck? It sounds like you may be a little overfilled. It sounds like you're in a vicious cycle and I'm wondering if not eating properly is causing the gas...? Maybe you're lactose intolerant.

You should be so proud of your 50 lbs! You are right on track for 1 lb a week, which is a faster rate than many bandsters. Remember - a year from now when you're still losing, a lot of those bypass coworkers are going to be struggling with regain.

I'm in Michigan too. Please feel free to PM me if you want to chat. Good luck to you! (((HUGS)))

Hello Vanhos, I'm so sorry you're feeling down about things right now. Maybe all you need is a little refocusing. Like Anne said, your 50 pound loss is awesome. The average loss is 1-2 pounds a week, so you're right in there. Slower loss means a healthier more long lasting loss. Chin up, the others might beat you to the finish line, but you'll look better and feel better!

So, how about taking a good look at your food choices now. Are you drinking enough Water? Are you remembering to chew carefully and eat slowly? What types of foods are you eating? Are you drinking carbonated drinks or spicy foods that are causing the gas? Are you eating enough Protein? Are you eating too many carbs? There are many reasons why you'd be gassy, and I don't think the band is one of them. Take a good look at your diet. Journal your food, including the amounts of protein you are eating. This will help give you a clearer picture of things.

I know it sounds glib to just list off things like this, but the truth is they are all important in your successful weight loss and general health. Try not to be discouraged. You are doing very well and perhaps a bit of tweaking is in order.

Anwyn and Photo Nut:

Thanks to you both for your response and advice. I am working with doctor and he did scope 2 wks ago and said all was fine. He gave me drugs to make stomach work better as he said food is sitting in "big" stomach too long and building up gas in "little" stomach". Drugs made me feel horrible as I suffered many side effects from the drugs, like confustion and constipation and leg cramps so I just quit them. Guess I need to start journal food again faithfully and try to get back on track and tell doc what drugs did to me. It is just so hard to stay positive so I guess I will start hanging out here a lapband.com with all of you girls who have it together. Thanks again:)

I too am having gas pains that are driving me crazy. I know I'm a new bandster & that this could very well still be CO2, but it's screwing up my life. I'm trying to pin-point exactly what causes them. I use fitday.com for tracking my food... but now I'm keeping a diary too. It reads something like:

6am pain: 0

9am pain: 1 -- slight shoulder twinges, but nothing bad. Drinking Isopure Protein drink

11:30 am pain: 5

12pm pain: 7, drinking AchievOne Protein Drink

1pm pain: 1 (perhaps the pain was from being empty?)

2pm pain: 3

2:15 pain: 6 (what on earth?)

2:30 pain: 7 eating chili (on the empty theory)

2:45 pain: 1 (wow, that was fast!)

3:30 pain: 4 more in stomach then shoulder (hmmm, maybe ate too much?)

4:30 pain: 1

I don't know that this is going to help, but I've got to have SOMETHING to give my doc. Just walking in & saying I have gas isn't going to help him much.

My current theories:

possible food allergy

swallowing air while drinking / eating

getting over hungry

over eating

all of the above?

Good luck with your pain, hope they figure out what's up! And congrats on your weight loss, that's awesome!!!

Janet, that's a brilliant thing to do, taking specific notes like that. It sure looks like being too hungry is exacerbating your pain, doesn't it? Perhaps being banded is making you experience hunger differently now, and you're not used to it. Things do feel different inside when our stomachs go from being football-shaped to hourglass-shaped, and it can take time to understand all the new cues.

Vanhos, I'm glad you had a scope and saw that nothing was wrong. Perhaps you could try logging notes in the same way, and really trying to identify your pain triggers? That is a great start and could really show you something important.

And I too want to congratulate you on losing 50 lbs! RNYers lose faster, no question, and comparing one to the other is pointless. For a bandster you're doing great!!

I was also getting horrible gas that started in the afternoon - it was my Protein bar in the morning. I guess that I am sensitive to sugar alcohol because once I switch to a brand without the sugar alcohol the gas went away.

I think your 50 lb loss is awsome and you should be proud of yourself!! We may be a little slower but in the end we are a little firmer.

Good luck,

Are you exercising Vanhos? It makes a really enormous difference to how much weight you''ll lose. Not just a stroll round the block but putting some effort into it within your abilities five or six times a week for an hour type of exercise.

Many people loathe it but its really really necessary.

But 50lb a year is a great loss. You're body and your health will thank you for losing that weight and they'll thank you for losing it at a slow, steady pace. Dont compare yourself to bypass patients, who often regain a good portion of what they first lose.

the best thing about the band is it doesnt force you to do anything. You can choose to begin working properly with it if you've been a little off the wagon at any time and it will always be there ready to support you.

I remember reading in several different places that after a year or two, bandsters and those who have had the bypass are pretty much even in the amount of weight they lost. But I've also read that quite a few bypass patients regain a lot of the weight they lost so quickly. Try not to compare yourself with them...it's like comparing apples and oranges. 50 pounds is a year is great!

Emily

If you are the type that enjoys a good sneer, just wait until they are regaining and you are looking good with a whole arsenal of healthy skills. The looks they give you will be much different. Good job, and keep up the incredible work.

I know a great deal of bypass patients, both in my family and at work. And you wouldn't believe how they are struggling after about 18 months. It seems like all they think about is food and many are having a very hard time trying not to gain it back. So just think about when you have finally reached your goal, slow and steady, and you are still looking good and feeling great. Several of them are even back at Weight Watchers and other weight loss programs again.

hello.iam replying for the very first time tonight,iam 1 year post lap-band and iam so depressed. i have gained weight and i still am getting food stuck in my throat and it feels like my esophagus is going into spasm. then i vomit. i can't possibly get another fill, it's too tight already but not enough to stop me from gaining weight dors anyone have any advice? iam thinking of going to having the bypass thanks, sally69

:cry please help me with some advice i have been banded for 1 year and i gained weight not lost:cry i am so depressed and cant get anywhere.

Vanhos,

What sort of medicine did the Dr put you on? There is a drug called Reglan and its purpose is to dump what you have in your stomach. Maybe if that wasnt what he tried with you he can give it a shot next time. We use it alot at the hospital and I have taken it a few times. Never noticed or heard of nasty side effects like you stated. But people are all different and have different effects from one thing to the next. Best of luck and 50lbs really is fantastic. Where would you be if you still had that extra 50lbs? I can't wait til I can be banded and would relish that 50lbs even if it did come off slowly. The slower it comes off the easier the weight will stay off and the easier it is on the body to bounce back into a better shape. Keep up the fantastic work and keep us posted with your effects. I agree with P"Nut concerning the lactose intolerance thing. It is worth checking out.

P' Nut is right on the money. You need to evaluate the food choices. The band is not malabsorbtive, you make high calorie choices, and the weight will not come off.

I aslo agree that you need a little unfill. You shouldn't be vomiting like that. You need to call your band doc, and tell HIM/HER this whole story... immediately.

Sally69 - I have seen many experienced bandsters on this board respond to posts like yours and they always say that when a band is as tight as you say yours is, we often resort to eating soft foods or liquids in order to get anything through the band. The trouble with soft foods and liquids is they usually tend to be high in calories and sugars. So you'll actually be gaining weight, rather than losing. You should be able to eat hard Proteins like chicken, fish, possibly some red meat and also veggies and fruits. This balanced diet of proteins and good carbs is what will help you lose those poiunds.

I would suggest that you go talk to your doctor and let him know what's going on with you and have him check your band and your esophogus. I would also suggest getting an unfill. Having the band so tight, and putting yourself through this is only going to produce damage to your esophogus or possibly cause your band to slip. Don't put this off another day.