I've been either throwing up, getting heart burn, or stomach aches. After a full year on the band, I'm on 8.5 cc out of 15 and I still can eat as much as I want. I paid $20K for this procedure and all it does is make me sick...

I felt the same as you...very little weight loss...but basically no side effects--until my last fill in February. Now, I've lost almost 20 pounds, but have reflux, sliming, and food getting stuck if I don't carefully chew every bite. I just posted to another thread this morning about the reflux and said that, as tough as it might be, I'll take it to get this weight loss. I'm not hopeful that I might actually be able to lose this weight. Have you tried talking to your doctor about a more "aggressive" fill? That's what I needed. I went 1.5 years with only approximately 10 lb. weight loss. I feel like I am on my way now. (I also know that exercise has been very important for me.)

I hope talking with your doctor might help, I"m with you!

I just signed on to find ideas/help with the fact I haven't lost any weight at all this month. I have the slimming and PB nearly EVERY DAY but I haven't lost any weight in almost a month. It is hard to believe you can eat so little, throw up what little you do eat, and still not lose weight! Since I am still having these probs, I was putting off getting another fill. Am i going to have to fill to the point i can't swallow ANYTHING to lose start to lose again? I have lost 57 pounds and I really think I am on the right track, but this PLATEAU is really discouraging! Keep trying, don't give up the ship, we'll get there together! God Bless!

I've been either throwing up, getting heart burn, or stomach aches. After a full year on the band, I'm on 8.5 cc out of 15 and I still can eat as much as I want. I paid $20K for this procedure and all it does is make me sick...

Ditto for me.

Sadly I'm 1 1/2 years out & have port pain but the gas & nausea have been better since I had ALL the fill removed. Throwing up is still brutal even with minimal restriction.

Best of luck to you.

Ok, you all need to post this stuff on smartbandsters.com and have the nurse Jessie guide you. That thread is really good (not that this site isn't) and Jessie is the bomb.

I must be missing something with the web address for smartbandsters.com. Any help? Thanks.

lol! Got me! Can't get there from here! I get some sort of off-the-wall site! lol!

Smartbandsters is a yahoo group. You might have to set up an arbitrary yahoo mailbox but then you can access it very easily.

I can't access that web site either. Wish I could sounds like a great site.

Guess we will just have to keep each other company! lol! But in all seriousness.. I have found an EXHORBINANT AMOUNT of help and support on this site. I appreciate every e-mail and every tid bit of info I find on here! Good Luck to All! and hope to see LESS OF YOU SOON!

We will NOT give up! It's been over 1.5 years for me and I've almost lost 50 pounds. As I mentioned earlier, the first fills did nothing until this February fill where all the sliming and getting stuck and throwing up started. However, I've lost about 20 pounds from this fill, so it feels like it is worth it to go through all this...though I have had some rough moments...

HERE IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...I realized last night as I was having trouble sleeping that a lot of my reflux seems to be related to lots of mucus from the pollen in the air. I had started taking some benedryl liquid at night this past week to help me sleep. (I've been sick with bad headaches and a GI virus.) Last night I did not take any benedryl and the sliming, reflux etc was the worst ever. I realized at about 2AM that the problem was mucus drip and got up to take sudafed (The benadryl knocks me out for hours and I couldn't afford to over sleep and not work). About an hour later, I noticed that the sliming was greatly reduced! I'm thinking the spring allergy season is REALLY affecting the sliming and reflux...especially since it was almost nothing once the sudafed kicked in. Could that be having an effect on any of you????? Just a thought.

I still have59 pounds to go to get to the highest I would be willing to stop at (though my surgeon thinks I might not make that due to other health issues including severe hypothyroidism). I would, ideally, like to lose another 69 pounds. It's okay with me if this takes several more years. I figure it will stay off more easily if it is slow. I also reviewed all of the 5 year medical studies on Lapband success rates before my surgery and the numbers are really good for long term success. (In comparison with gastric bypass, bypass is faster but the longterm success rate with lapband is at least as good than bypass. And, recently, some surgeons are doing lapband surgeries on bypass patients who have failed to keep the weight off.)

Let's hang in there....

Debbie, Until this last fill, I went months without losing. IT was VERY depressing. Here are some good pieces of advice I got that helped me...

If you are not exercising, do something--anything. If you are exercising, change what you are doing. I swim since I have severe arthritis. One of the nurses at the bariatric specialist I went to for years(and kept gaining the weight back) told me that your body gets too used to whatever you are doing and the exercise eventually becomes ineffective. (Whew, I had kept adding time and increasing speed and wasn't losing weight. ) she suggested changing it up, go walking or hiking instead of swimming for some days--or for awhile and then go back to your favorite exercise, changing up things.

Change meal times to earlier in the day. BTW, I did this because of the reflux and sliming--and it seems to be helping a bit.

Make sure you do something for yourself. Go try on some clothes that you are almost into to motivate.

Make sure you are drinking as much Water as possible. The big negative of the band is that I don't drink as much water as I used to. I used to drink OVER 100 ounces every day and more in the summer. With the need to sip, instead of gulp, I find it hard to get it all in. Maybe I'll be back to that by summer. Before this last fill in February, I could still gulp and suck in 100 ounces easily...in a short time!

Hang with those who are supporting your efforts. Let me know whatever I can do. I need you all too!

Goldenmom - Great thinking outside of the box!!!! That's what we have to do sometimes because each of us will react to this journey differently. My doctor also told me that I probably wouldn't get to the weight I wanted to be at because statistically it was probably not going to happen. I told him to hold onto his statistics and I have been at my chosen weight now since last August.

Keep working that band and finding the solutions to the problems. You're doing great. Remember this is not a race it's a journey. Enjoy all of the experiences along the way. Last night's biggest looser really hit home as the people went through all of the emotions when they were shopping for new outfits. I remember being that person and remarkably I was standing in Macy's when it really hit me. I stood in the isle for quite a while trying to sort through all of those feelings. Maybe it's just Macy's...LOL.

Vicki, THANKS so much for your kindness and support! And, I LOVE the photo of your beautiful pup! (In addition to my 3 2-legged kids, I'm also the mom to a choco Lab and 2 beautiful Goldens rescues)...

I am so thrilled to hear that you surpassed your goal! I am 55 which is another reason my doctor said I might not make my goal, but I tend to be quite stubborn and persistent! I intend to go for my ideal goal and hearing that you have made it, gives me strength. Unfortunately, I've worked towards (and then away from) my ultimate goal MANY times over the years. That was why I knew the lapband was right for me--and why I will put up with these "side effects." This is just too important to me. When I was younger, I would run anywhere from 5-15 miles daily, and often starve myself, only to "fall off the wagon" and go back up. The process destroyed my knees (both have been replaced) and my metabolism (which was slow even when I was thin).

That's why I'm determined this time. Now that I have finally gotten a fill that works (this last one is the first that has actually been effective), I am so happy. I'll take losing slowly as long as I manage to keep losing. I know, like every other process that there will be times I don't lose. (Heck, I didn't lose any for much of a year until this fill!) But, this is a tool that is (now, at last ) working. When I was young, this was probably more about looks AND SELF ESTEEM. Now, it is about health and self esteem. I had my children later --and had 6 miscarriages in between--my first healthy one at 30, then 35 and my last at 41. I want to be healthy and strong to be able to be active with them, and with grandchildren perhaps one day. And, I love my work and it requires a very high energy level, as does my "avocation" maintaining my farm and providing a loving safe home for horses, dogs and cats....most of whom have had rough lives.

Anyway, I won't stop until I get there, even if it takes a long time. And, I will work hard to stay at goal when I get there...there is too much for me to be doing in life right now.

Thanks again, Vicki, for your wonderful success and your support.

Goldenmom - Wow what a mind blower! I'm 56 and reached goal at 55. I have horses, dogs and cats. I gave my mother a choco lab for her birthday a few years ago. Now my husband and I raise Cavaliers. I used to show my horses but when I got heavy quit. Somehow being perched up on my show horse weighing in at 265 in skin tight clothing didn't paint a really pretty picture. :wub:

Just be careful with the reflux. It can cause huge problems if it goes on too long. Try doing things like not only eating earlier in the evening but also drinking a warm cup of tea/coffee prior to eating. REALLY pay attention to those pesky little signs that you've had enough. Sometimes it can be a slight sigh, a sniffle, etc. Also, pick foods that agree more with you. This may mean switching up Breakfast type things or something like that. Obviously you have been checking out the allergy drip. I wouldn't have thought of that but will keep the information handy. Some people even have to stop drinking 2 hours prior to bed to keep from having problems. Once you find your key, you'll be ok.

I love being a normal weight. I've added new hobbies that my husband and I really like to do. We now rockhound, I ride my own Harley (very timidly), and I make jewelry with the stuff we find. I can't tell you how nice it is to squat down and not have to look for the nearest helping hand/thing to assist me in getting up. I thought that after a while it would become so common place that I would forget to appreciate it. Not so, I am in awe everyday over this freedom.

Let me know if I can help out in anyway. Feel free to PM me.

Vicki

Hi Vicki!

Thanks for the great advice! What, by the way, are the things that can go wrong if the reflux keeps up? I think I figured out what I've been doing wrong...I fell into bad habits that I haven't done since (even before) the surgery--what with all the Easter chocolate and stuff we had around...I went to the doctor today because I felt so sick overnight!

I love hearing that you have dogs, cats and horses too! I did the same thing...gave up riding for much the same reason...and my knees had gotten so bad. (Had to have them replaced about 7 years ago, hips are next).

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am for you about wearing slim size clothes!!! I cannot wait! Today, dressing to go to the doctor's, I decided to try out the next smaller sizes of bra and panties I had here waiting for the moment. They fit--easily. I put on one of the smaller shirts that has fit--but a bit tight--and it is perfect. And, weight was down another pound. The shorts were already too big (had bought them for my son, but he's taller and bigger--muscular so I kept them to wear), but I like very loose shorts. The main thing was that they were very lightweight. When I went to the back, the nurse was going to skip the scales. (This Family Practice has 3 offices and I hadn't been to this one since presurgery--though everything is on computer.) I asked her if I could get on the scales (she was surprised--I usually HATE getting on.) I was so happy to see progress --even on the doctor's scales.

When she opened my file, she noted how much I've lost since I was last seen in another office (20lbs). The funny thing is that I didn't lose ANY more weight from that time more than a year ago until the last fill almost 3 months ago! This is the fill that is making the difference!

Even at this weight, I'm able to do so much more than I have in a long time. I'm so determined to get ALL the weight I want to lose off (my goal versus what my lapband doc thinks I'll be able to do).

Also wanted to share another minor similarity we share--though in TOTAL REVERSE!! When My husband's wedding gift to me was a motorcycle--not a Harley, but an Enduro (road and trail bike). We liked riding so much, he gave me his and got a bigger one. I was a wimp though...too many folks tried to run me off the road, so we only used them for trail riding. (Though Jim continued to road ride.) We got rid of them several years later.)

I just joined this group the day I first posted. What does PM mean? I'm guessing "private message." If so, not sure how to do that...please feel free to PM me! laura