Hi everyone

well i had my op at the end of may.. and found it very easy to go back to eating solids about 1.5 to 2 weeks after. I then found it really easy to eat just as i did pre-op , i was hungry etc just as before. (big dissapointment). I had my first fill about 6 weeks ago .. major disappointment, as i felt nothing !!! again i could eat just as i have all my life, a big plate full of 'normal food'. So have felt pretty fed up with the band, and thinking 'its just me' and 'it won't work' and has been a waste of time and money.

I had my second fill 2 days ago (with fluro), my hospital didn't give me a special diet at all afterwards, no recommendation to have liquid, mushy or anything. I didn't eat for about 24 hours, just had milk and then back onto food. It was only 2 days ago. but not really feeling any different in my stomach at all, i ate half a tuna sandwich (1 round of bread) and thought i could eat the other half without effort, but i waited about 2 hours before having it. Today i had a jacket potatoe and Beans, i stopped myself from eating it all, but i reckon i could of pretty easily ( i worry about stretching my pouch, but then I can't really see how i have a pouch as it can hold so much food ?) - or does the food just slip through the hole as i eat it ? I just don't know. I have had both of my fills under fluoro, so if it had fell off the doctor would of seen.

I do so worry this band has been a waste of time and £ !

I don't have the feelings you guys seem to have. I don't chew my food any special way.. just chew normally like i did pre op. I have not experienced anything close to a PB.

Since the 2 nd band fill i do have more difficulty swallowing stodgy food, ie bread and potatoe, its not painful just feels a bit harder to slide down ?? Do you think this is a good sign ? I am not sure ? Once things go down, then i feel just like i did pre-op (i mean i don't feel restricted). Since the second fill i appear to have a tighter feeling right down in my throat when i swallow . Does anyone else experience this..its not an awful feeling and not painful, just kinda tighter than before and a bit uncomfortable for a second or two.

Gosh this waffles a bit ? sorry its hard to explain.

I just want to have another band fill asap? its tough to stay motivated,, and i go very up and down, i dont' feel like i want to be patient ... which i know may sound silly. I just didn't know it could be like this, no one told me it may not work for me ? i so want to feel full up on a small plate of food.

If i feel no restriction, why is that ? how come some people do straight away and others (like me) don't.

Thanks for all your support.

Can someone please help me figure out how to get the weight loss ticker in my signature? I have tried to add it and for some reason it doesn't want to show up.

this is where I think the band is much more difficult & harder than other WLS - because we have to still work!!! I had my surgery in October and just had my 3rd fill today.

Same issues - I could still eat. I had to still really 'diet' to lose. My doctor does have about a 6 month post-surgery diet (low carb, etc) that I mostly follow, but I'm still HUNGRY!

Now, I think this fill is working. Remember, with lap-band you still have to watch what you eat & how much you eat. But, with proper restriction the band will become a great tool. It's just a pain to get there!

HI everyone

its good to read your comments. and thanks for all your support ,, its appreciated... i am waiting to hear back from my surgeon.. i can eat lots again..... i am worried because they told me last october the band was full up .. totally.. and if they add any more it will distort its shape... !!!! i have the swedish lap band,, is anyone familiar with this..... ?? the surgeon never mentioned it was a large band...

onwards and upwards and best wishes to you all

It takes sometimes 3 or even 4 fills to feel the retrictionand not feel hungry. I was restricted immediately after surgery because I had a hiatal hernia I didn't even know about. I have only had 4 fills in a year. I lost 100 in this past year. I am almost at goal. You definitely need to get enough Protein in first of all and stay away from carbs like bread rice potatoes and noodles. Get moving! exercixe and get your mind off food. alo, drink that Water you will see results! Good luck

Hi leedor!

I am a patient of Dr. Cywes as well and will also have a hiatal hernia repair along with my banding on Feb 7th. How was the pain for you? I have heard it will be a little more with the hiatal hernia. My initial goal is 100 lbs so we are similar in our weight loss goals. I am encouraged that you lost yours during the past year as that is my goal as well (by year end to be specific).

The one thing I have noticed a lot on this forum is all the people eating so many carbs. Being a patient of Dr. Cywes I know that you are on the same high protein/low carb diet that I started two weeks ago for my pre-op diet and that I will continue until maintenance. I think that is a large reason for the success of his patients. I am really impressed with how it has affected my hunger. I am rarely hungry at all anymore and when I am it is not the ravenous hunger I used to get when I was stuffing myself with carbs. I am hoping this means that my early weeks with the band will be easier since I am not having to go through carb withdrawal at the same time.

P.S. We have a small group over in the geographic support groups under Florida if you want to join us. There are several patients of Dr. Cywes there.

Congrats on your successful journey!!!!

HI everyone

its good to read your comments. and thanks for all your support ,, its appreciated... i am waiting to hear back from my surgeon.. i can eat lots again..... i am worried because they told me last october the band was full up .. totally.. and if they add any more it will distort its shape... !!!! i have the swedish lap band,, is anyone familiar with this..... ?? the surgeon never mentioned it was a large band...

onwards and upwards and best wishes to you all

Wow, I really hope that isn't the case! If it is, are you able to get another type of band like an Allergan?

hey there, are you drinking Fluid too close to your meals...washing your food thru the pouch

peabody

Well got my fill 2/12/08 and starting off good!

I recently had my third fill and so far so good. After gaining weight I had a reality check. I felt depressed but not surprised I new I wasnt doing what I was suppose to but I was always hungy. My surgent said he sees this all the time with people who dont get restrictoins when they need to. After an adjustment my surgent has me do two days fluids two days soft food then work my way to solids again avoiding soups and soft food. I relieze more then ever after this surgery that i am seriously addicted to food. before this last adjustment I was eating ice cream like crazy and my portions where out of control. This may sound weird but I have been helping a relative deal with acohol adiction and attended meetings with them that has been helping me I learned that I have to survender and aknowledge that I have a problem. Then I thought to myself if my relative can give up drinking then I should be able to do this. I would like to attend my baratric support group however its not helpful much because must of them have had bipass surgery and all you hear is the sucsess stories this web site is way more helpful : )