duckydoom

It's so hard, because I come on here and see so many success stories, and then I read the negative ones, and I just get so conflicted. I admit I made my initial post out of extreme frustration, and I don't want to make any rash decisions... it's just been so incredibly different than I ever expected. I knew it would be long term, and take lots of effort on my part, and I thought I came to terms with that completely. I just had no expectations of the struggle with finding the sweet spot where I don't get physically ill. I'm glad that I posted this though, I'm getting lots of input on the up and downside of the band, and it's calmed me down to the point where I am thinking a bit more rationally myself, weighing pros and cons, and all of that good stuff. I really hope that I can find out if it's a slipped band, or if it's still my pouch being fussy. I'm on mushies today, so we'll see how that goes

All I can do is sigh sadly at that. I still 100% want it to work out... I want it SO badly, but I'm so sick of not having any control. Hopefully my visit on Monday will give some answers. My doc mentioned the possibility of a slipped band, but seemed sure that the unfill would cure it if nothing else. I'm a perfectionist and wanting to give up is just the biggest suck ever.

I think I'd be more inclined to stick it out if there were any rhyme or reason to what causes the stuck episodes. If it were just sliming, I could totally do that (not being flip about it, either) - but it's full on body wracking vomiting that has me laid out for the rest of the day, and then only able to have liquids and mushies for at least 3 to 4 days after. I've had burst blood vessels from the force of the vomiting. When I made the decision to be banded, I knew that there would be major adjustments needed, but I definitely had a picture in my head of something a bit more formulaic and structured as to what I could or couldn't eat. You've lost an amazing amount of weight - has your journey been this frustrating and/or barfy along the way?

Definitely sticking with liquids and yogurt as the most solid food I'm doing until I get to see her next week. Thank you for your kind words

I haven't been on the forums since I got my band... I'm bad at keeping up with stuff like this, but I'm needing resources at this point. History: Banded 8/21/12. Roughly 18 months. Was at 6.5 ccs in a 14cc band. Back down to 2.5 ccs so I can hopefully start over and get back to a positive place where I have restriction, but can actually get things down. The fullest I'd been was 7ccs, but was having trouble with sliming and getting stuck on a daily basis. With 6.5 I was still getting stuck weekly, having symptoms of inflammation, and generally being frustrated and feeling like a failure. Turning to sliders because they were easy. My highest weight was 233, I got down to 203, and now I'm back up in the 220-ish range. I've tried to work with the band, but my doc has convinced me that it's one of the finicky ones, and that we apparently just have to start over. I was ready to ask them to take it out, but I'm willing to start over again. Does anyone have any advice? Motivation? Suggestions? Anyone been through a similar situation and had a positive outcome? I got to the point where I never knew what would trigger my band. One evening I could have Pasta and still be starving with no feeling of restriction, and a few days later, wouldn't be able to eat a basic salad without getting sick. I hope to be better at keeping track on here... lord knows I need the motivation 98 days until my 5 year wedding anniversary cruise, and I want to be able to feel good, and lose some weight again so that I can keep up with hubby on the hiking trails we're scoping out. Thanks for reading!

Oh, wow. Best to you in your recovery. Can I ask how it's going so far? Even though I hugely doubt I'll do any sort of revision surgery, I'm still curious how it's going for you after having the band out. Is there any extra soreness where the port was? I have two friends who have had amazing results with the sleeve.

I'm commenting on this for a hopeful update... how did it all end up? I'm seriously considering removal as this point (same issue, PBing constantly, never sure of what is going to set my band off), and am hoping to get some advice. I hope all is well with you.

I'm at the point where I've asked for removal. I've had it 18 months, and have had nothing but issues, and I'm nowhere near my goal weight (which is frustrating since I'm throwing up all of the time...) They keep calling it a "fussy band." I have other words for it, but I think intolerance is a good way to describe it. It was so frustrating to have hope in this as a tool, only to have so much trouble with it. I know what you mean when you say you feel like a failure. You're not at all! But it still is so frustrating to not get anywhere when others have had such awesome stories to share. Can I ask how long your recovery was from the removal surgery? I'm really not looking forward to another abdominal surgery, and I don't plan on getting any sort of a revision to a sleeve or bypass. I just need to have an idea about how much time to save up for recovery.

I almost went to the ER Friday night... I was being really gentle with my band, liquids only while adjusting back to full capacity, and then Friday at lunch (11am for reference), I had an oz of salmon. Chewed well, had it on its own. Very filling. Had some liquids a couple of hours later (I do 80 oz of Water minimum a day). Soon after I started bloating horribly. My entire abdominal cavity felt like it had initially after surgery (that really awful full feeling where there's so much gas that the skin is tight and you can barely move). Took a gas pill - this was about 4pm. By 9pm, I was miserable. So full of gas that I was nauseated, visibly bloated, and near tears. I wasn't feeling full from food at this point, and I hadn't had anything since the salmon. I went to bed, and woke up at 1am in excruciating pain. I tried tums this time, and immediately got sick. Turns out all of the salmon that I ate hadn't gone down at all. I was throwing up until about 3am, got two hours of sleep, and then got up to work at 5 for an 8 hour shift. SO happy I work from home. I'm so close to giving up. I'm terrified to eat solid foods. I actually went as far as to buy a week's supply of Soylent, a new nutritional product that's coming out (fascinating premise, seems legit), just to have something different than my muscle milk and yogurt. I called and left a message for my nurse this morning. I want it out. Now I just have a hoarse voice from vomiting and my port site is sore, two days later. I have an appointment to go in next Monday, so I guess I'll see what she says then. I'm certainly not getting another fill. Not meaning to seem ranty, though I know I am. Thank you for reading and replying to my thread. I'm just so frustrated at this point. I figured with an unfill I'd have less fussiness - salmon wasn't a problem before when I had Fluid in my band!! I've been miserable almost constantly since having the band - I don't understand why it isn't working for me.

At what rate did your doc fill your band? You've done pretty spectacularly, it seems overall, even with the fussy band and starting over. I'm really hoping that it ends up positively for me. I found myself on a couple of the "lap band complication" boards and threw myself into a tizzy... but reading stories of people who have actually lost the weight (and I agree, I just want to keep losing even if it's only half a lb a week) and have had any success are bringing me back up. I have two friends who have the sleeve, and I know if it had been covered by my insurance I would have done that instead. I think the worry that I made a mistake in having surgery at all is what really gets me. I haven't gone past my highest weight, and for that I am thankful... but I want my health back, and that involves the scale moving down!

I definitely don't feel the signal when the pouch is full, and that's what gets me, I think. I used to be an emotional eater (may as well be 100% honest) and would gorge myself to the point of pain, and occasionally eat through said pain,so I'm not sure if that's part of it. Its something that I've definitely worked on, and now in my reaction to stress I run for the treadmill rather than the refrigerator, and working against boredom eating is something else I'm still struggling with. I always have to make a conscious effort to chew as well, since part of my emotional eating was basically gulping... but I get to the point where I feel like a cow just chewing on her cud. Portions are definitely smaller, but calorically I'm still at around 1200-1600 depending on if I've worked out that day or not. Thank you both for your kind responses. Seeing again that people HAVE actually made it with the band is definitely reinvigorating. I'm just hoping that I can make peace with my pouch and have my own success again.

I'm 5 weeks post op and a couple of months into being full vegan, and I haven't had any issues getting my Protein at all! I make myself hemp protein/banana smoothies in the morning, I eat lots of lentils, hummus, other Beans... I can get down a bit of falafel, seitan actually isn't that hard to deal with, I make tofurkey wraps with seasoned tofu fillings (I sell Pampered Chef so I blend the tofu and add their spices), tempeh is the only thing I have had that has been close to giving me a stuck episode, even with plenty of chewing it's just something that makes me very aware of what I've eaten. TVP is fun to experiment with as well - if I'm running late for work I throw some in a tupperware with Water and PC spices (usually the spicy tangerine) and a diced tomato. Top with some Daiya cheese... nuke it when I get to work, and it's wonderful! Quinoa and rice work well, too. Here's some recipes I've been experimenting with: http://yourvegangirlfriend.com/2011/07/08/protein-packed-and-soy-free-diy-vegan-yogurt/ http://yourvegangirlfriend.com/2011/09/09/peruvian-black-olive-sun-dried-tomato-quinoa/ http://www.dailygarnish.com/2010/07/how-to-make-your-own-protein-powder-mix.html http://www.elanaspantry.com/soothing-chai/ http://www.vegancoach.com/how-to-make-seitan.html http://www.eatingrules.com/2011/10/how-to-make-seitan/ http://vegancrunk.blogspot.com/ http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2007/09/vegan-omelette-for-one.html I just bought the Vegan Crunk cookbook, and I am ridiculously excited to try out some of the recipes. food.com is a good source as well - I've found some recipies for things such as tofu tzatziki that are just to die for. Good luck!! Keep in touch if you'd want, I can be your guinea pig trying out recipes in advance lol.

Man oh man, still pushing myself a bit too much - last night we took a walk around the block and then I had to go directly to bed, lol. Unloaded/loaded the dishwasher this morning, and I've been sitting down ever since. I'll be glad when the fatigue goes away - I'm day 5 post op today, down 4 lbs since surgery, down 17.2 from my preop liquid diet Abs are even feeling a bit better, too. Don't know if I'm brave enough to venture out of the house yet though, haha. I hope everyone is feeling well today, and good luck to tomorrow's bandsters! :)

I figured I wouldn't say anything too incriminating just in case I have a lot of work folk on my personal fb page, and they're a bit too gossipy for me - I figured it'd be easier to just make a separate page so I can keep up on all of the pertinent lap band news without being "made" lol

I have been burping like a frat boy I have had to really work on forcing my fluids, but also monitoring how much I'm taking in at a time so I don't overdo it. I haven't had to slap my chest to get fluids down, but I have had to in order to get some burps out. I have a little tickle in the back of my throat that seems determined to ruin me - I had my husband go get me some cloraseptic (sp?) spray because every time I cough it just feels like uber torture. I don't have kids to chase after, but my dogs are definitely taking advantage of the fact that I'm not fully up to par - especially the younger one. He's having fun pushing my buttons and seeing how far he can go. My older one is more cuddly and trying to make sure that I'm okay, lol. Stinkers, I tell ya.

I hear ya, sister. Today was the first day that I wasn't cursing the day that I'd decided to get my lap band. I'm off the rx painkillers right now, and just taking the occasional swig of children's liquid tylenol. It's still a bit of a struggle getting in my Protein shake and liquids, but only because I'm used to chugging (I'm a fast eater/drinker by habit). So, that's been pretty frustrating. I know we shouldn't be weighing ourselves just yet, but I am (yeah, I know, I'm bad), but it's the scale that's keeping me motivated. I've also been watching quite a few youtube videos and reading the boards for inspiration (thinspiration? I hate that word, but I guess that's what it is). I figure it's only going to get better day by day, and it truly has. I've had a few projects to keep me occupied, but my days are mostly pacing around the back yard with the dogs and napping, to be honest. I know it sucks right now, but it improves so quickly... and just think of how awesome you're going to look when you get to your goal! Keep your eye on the prize, and it makes it so worth it.

Today is day 4 post op, feeling substantially better, not so gassy, just a sore back from sleeping on my danged wedge pillow, and my abs are still tender. I'm finding that I want real foods now, though I'm having problems with taking all of my liquids in - I'm amazed at how full I actually have been feeling. It's good, but my head hunger is trying to force it's way in... argh! Good luck to all of you with surgeries coming up in the next week - and to those of you who are newly banded - congrats I also made a facebook page for my wls journey if any body is interested, as well as my youtube channel that I've had going for awhile. May provide some laughs (though it still hurts to laugh at this point, lol) http://www.youtube.com/user/duckeedoom http://www.facebook.com/bandnewducky

Anybody have any tips for someone recently banded (8/21) and looking to move towards a vegan diet? My husband is on the "bandwagon" with me towards a healthier diet, and wants to start living a vegan lifestyle. The Eat to Live diet seems pretty extreme for me, since my stomach capacity is going to be so reduced, but it'll work gangbusters for him. Any suggestions as to what folks use for supplementation for the Proteins? I would love not to get burned out on one particular kind (ie soy). Thanks, everyone!