TheBandedPeach

It's ok I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you...Your body will naturally tell you what you want to tolerate and what you can't. Even if it does actually take a PB or two, trust me after that you will sooooo learn your lesson, LOL. It may be a little difficult at first once your band finally get's to it's tightest point, but trust me you learn to break the habit much faster and easier then you would think. Totally smart buying the baby spoons BTW. I love using small forks, spoons and little saucer plates and baby bowls now when preparing my food and eating it. It just makes the whole experience more fun, and easier too. You will see how your eyes start to magicly change along with your stomach... It's totally cool. Our bodies are so adaptable! P.S. Don't get discouraged if you find you can eat very easy or a lot at first. Some bandsters (like me) have their bands very loose for the first couple months, and I felt like I was (almost) able to eat like normal. It just depends on your doctor and what size band you get. Mine was a 14cc extra large. It helps to know your band and how much fill they put in each time. Don't be scared to ask your doc about that. ; ) :welldoneclap:

I heard they lowered the limit If I were you, I would go through the motions and process of getting started and just see what they say. More then likely you can do it. I waited years just because I didnt think they would take my insurance, and boy what a waste of time! Turns out they could, and now I'm banded! Good luck! :Dancing_wub:

Hey guys I just read a post about someone who was feeling really sick and stuck and they couldn't figure out why for a long time..... finally they found out that she had a LOT of congestion, drained her and now she is good as new! I was having bad issues at about 4:30am this morning with congestion as well. I am pretty convinced now that that is what it is... if that's the case, then the good news is it will probably go away! I wonder if they have Musinex kinda stuff that is not huge horse pills...?

Yeah I totally noticed that the more congested I am, the harder it is to eat. I actually wake up in the middle of the night from it now and have to "discard" the mucus. Gross, but man that makes so much sense! :welldone2:

Hey BTW I noticed that you have lost almost 80lbs being at 1000-1200 calories. That gives me a lot of hope, thank you. After my band tightening on Wed. I am finally feeling restriction. I am not eating only 3 bites, but I am definitely eating less then before and FINALLY dont feel like I am starving. Now I truly hope that I will start dropping again!

I am excited because yesterday I made a few calls and found a new one right near where I live! Hopefully no more 45min/1hr trips to the city for follow ups and fills! Wish me luck that they take my insurance! I can't WAIT to get away from the old docs and get new ones! WHOOOOT! :Dancing_wub:

Hey just letting you guys know that I am working on a building a new website where I will be able to sell the Genesis for hair & nails on there for us all. I used to take it all the time and BOY did I see a huge difference! I will post the link as soon as I can, I promise! :Banane35::Dancing_wub:

I was told 6 weeks between fills, but since It was so loose and I was complaining (as well as gained a pound), they let me get my 3rd one within a month.

It's ok ;)I am not too worried about it. It's a fluke with my insurance because it just switched over to something else, and I wont have to pay anything, BUT just to make a point... the fill docs make a LOT of money off your fills, whether insurance pays or not. They don't want you to have just one and be gone.. it's a slow grueling process for many of us who were not blessed with extra good docs.

I finally figured out that once I was tight enough everything became so much easier. Now I can eat no more then half a turkey sandwich and my body tells me how slow to eat it. It's really nice to finally feel like hard work and starvation has been taken off my shoulders. You will understand too once you get to that point of finding your "sweet spot" with the band. Yes, I would think it for sure would have to help weight loss because you automatically want to eat less when you eat slower. Carbs, sugar, artificial sugars, etc, all do act like drugs in our systems and that is mostly why we ended up where we are in the first place. Just be proud that you decided to take it upon yourself to try to end the cycle. :waytogo:

I'll admit that I have been really thinking about switching docs, but scared my insurance wont cover other places or that there will not be anyone else around... I think I will look into it cause the madness has to stop....

Mine and his staff pretty much suck (except one woman named Julianne who I can call with any questions at any time) and your friends have it REAL good (or extra good). I agree with Rachel. Mine is very similar to yours, ALTHOUGH I have to say that when I go for a fill it is done at a hospital under flori-whatever its called with the white chalky barium junk, and they have a dedicated doc for it every time. As far as communication goes, I have learned you need to push for what you need and not let them control you if there is a problem. I have had to seriously grow some woman ballz with these guys

I posted this a few days ago on here.. some agree, some don't... Hope it helps. Hello, I decided to post this because of the importance of us bandsters getting in higher amounts of nutrition and Protein in our diets, especially during the full liquid phase. So many of us blindly go to the grocery store (as I did at first) and pick out any Protein shake that we feel will just taste good, not knowing that most of them out there are so bad for us and do not really do our bodies justice. The point of this surgery is to get healthier, not sicker... So here is a PHENOM link about protein powders from one of my most favorite health & nutrition gurus out there. His name is Dr. Mercola, he is an alternative doc and he actually has an office in Schaumburg, IL near where I live! ~Enjoy!~ :Banane40: Better Protein Powders (videos & info)

I am also almost 4 months post op and ALSO just went for my 3rd fill yesterday afternoon and have just over 8ccs in mine, but have an extra large 14cc band. Mine is very tight after yesterdays fill and I am always told that I should do liquids for 48 hours every time after a fill. This is the tightest I have ever been, but I tried solids right away and was fine just taking very tiny bites, chewing well and only eating no more then 6 bites per meal. It seems to be working so far, but you may be even tighter then me if you have a smaller band. Do what's comfortable, and if that means just liquids for a while, then so be it, but don't be scared to tell them that you think it may be slightly too tight and they need to adjust it again. My fill doc says to let him know the next day if there are any problems and he will do a quick adjustment for free. Never hurts to ask, as you did. :thumbup:

Ok it's been a full 24 hours since my 3rd fill yesterday and for the first time it feels like it should! ...I also got a bill in the mail for $415 for the last one... Don't forget how much money they make off your fills (whether your insurance covers or not). They want it to take forever. Demand the tightness to where YOU need it! When I found all this out, I had a longggg talk with the fill doc yesterday, and "WAHLA!" I'm FINALLY where I need it! Eating has finally been great and satisfying. A few bites and I am good to go! I don't even feel hungry (STARVING more like it!) anymore like I have the last 3 months. Now I have faith that ya'll will get there too. These docs are a pain to deal with, but remember.... ~It's YOUR body. YOUR in control. That's why you did this in the first place, right?~ :welldoneclap:

This will sound gross, but it could be congestion. I get that a lot at night and worried about what would happen after the band. Now i just work harder to get it out as soon as I feel it. :cryin::puke:

I went through exactly the same thing,or should say going through the same thing. They never explained to me just how long it takes with fills. I heard that you have to find your "sweet spot" with your fills and it takes a little while. I felt it was not tight enough and that's why I was saying the same as you and not losing weight (for over a month!). Finally today I had my 3rd fill and MADE them make it really tight, and now for the first time I am really feeling what it's supposed to do! I am sure you just need to get there as well. I wish you luck and will come back to this to see how your doing later and report myself as well. ~GOOD LUCK!~ :clap:

OK, this is on and off the subject first started by Sdart.... Let me make this clear. From day ONE I have had communication issues with my doctors and have been nothing but emotional and frustrated over it. There is so much contradiction between the staff and their "instructions" towards their patients (me) that I am ready to pull out my already falling out hair! I have the WLS Doc telling me one thing, the Surgeon telling me another, the Nutritionist telling me ANOTHER and their stupid little meal plan booklets saying another! Thursday (July 15th) I decided to march into the office with all my complaints and confusion (as well as mentioning other people's information from this forum that I had found). The main doc there just danced around my concerns again (making me feel like I was there merely as a ridiculous person wanting to make trouble) and was shocked at my expressing that I was eating 1 - 1 1/2 cups of food and said word for word "No, 3 bites." She said I gained a pound because 1 1/2 cups of food was too much. She said "No, do not count calories, count bites". I also told her that I was eating salad because other greens made me gassy and it caused too much abdominal pain. She said "No salad because it slips right through. Only lettuce on the sandwich is ok." (Also, when I complained about pain around the band area again and asked if it can ever get irritated, she said no. I couldn't understand why she would lie like that?) Today I had a new fill scheduled and the band is now so tight that I can only eat about 1/4 cup of food or less. I am counting my bites while gritting my teeth with frustration. Granted, I am so anxious to finally feel full and not stomach pain from starvation, that I have welcomed finally a feeling of "restriction". At this point, being this tight seems to have only helped me feel better and finally not hungry (and I don't mean "head hungry"). What I was told 3 months ago 3 bites of food per meal starting with Protein, then veggie, then carb. Then start again: protein, then veggie, then carb as 3 more bites, but no more. 3 meals a day, no snacking. n What I was told 2 moths ago I asked...."How many calories should I be eating a day?" Surgeon says... "We don't pay attention to calories, just relax about it, but 800 per day." What I was given 1 month ago (on a sheet of paper given by the Doc) Bulky Foods These bulky foods sit above the band, leaving you full and satisfied. 1/2 turkey sandwich 1/2 mini bagel with one scrambled or hard cooked egg 1-2 ounces Water packed tuna mixed with 1 teaspoon low fat mayo 1slice whole wheat 1 slice lean deli sliced ham 1slice low fat American cheese 1/2 mini bagel 1/2 plain grilled chicken sandwhich 1/2 plain grilled turkey burger 1/2 small, plain grilled hamburger LAP BAND DIET Eat 2-3 meals per day. No snacking. Take 1-2 bites, wait 10 min before you take your next bite Choose bulky food that will leave you full and satisfied DO NOT drink your calories: Only water, crystal light or sugar-free drinks. Stay away from soda. Wait 45 min after you take the last bite of your meal before you drink any liquids. What I was told 5 days ago Doc- "Your gaining weight. You should not be able to eat that much (referring to the 1- 1 1/2 cups of food). 3 bites." I need an honest opinion. Should I be contacting a lawyer seeing as how I have also been in the ER 3 times since the surgery? Just a thought......

I agree and I welcome it! I spent the weekend at the pool and could hardly eat a bite! I was so happy cause I lost a pound. I have been struggling to lose due to a band that is so loose. I only have 8cc in an extra large 14cc band. I purposely go out in the heat now just to not feel hungry!

Have you thought about asking what size band you have? Maybe yours is extra small and they need to put a larger size band in you? I found out from someone else's post that there are different size bands! Mine is an extra large and cant seem to get tight enough, then again they have only put 8cc's into my 14 cc band so far... uhg... I go for another fill tomorrow AM. But yeah, I would totally ask your doc about that!

Hey, just wanted to be clear and make sure I didn't scare you or anything with my previous response.... While there is a small chance that it could be psychological, I was reaching for alternative answers/ideas for you. Definitely listen to the others and try to get answers out of your docs as well or first. You may just be super sensitive to it or have a very small band. My doc told me that I have a 14cc extra large band, so I am having OPPOSITE effects from it. Mine can't seem to get tight enough! And in return am losing much slower then others. Hope you are finding solutions now, and or getting used to the feeling of having a band. Good luck!

Very interesting you guys! Thanks Acadia, I knew you would come thru again

Yes, for sure talking has made a world of difference! If I hadn't spoke up years ago, I would still be frustrated every night and thinking it was me, me, me. We are looking into raising his testosterone levels in natural, alternative ways and seeing how that works. If that fails, then we go to the stronger stuff but now I at least know he wants it and tries every time. I do know, though that sex will be WAY easier once the weight is gone. It's exercise! And throwing around 300lbs is not easy. I can't wait to throw around 150 instead!

Thanks, I appreciate the sharing! I agree that the depth that he goes into can be overwhelming. I can't say that it is possible to agree with everything one person says 100% either, but for the most part I am happy with his info

Hello, I decided to post this because of the importance of us bandsters getting in higher amounts of nutrition and Protein in our diets, especially during the full liquid phase. So many of us blindly go to the grocery store (as I did at first) and pick out any Protein shake that we feel will just taste good, not knowing that most of them out there are so bad for us and do not really do our bodies justice. The point of this surgery is to get healthier, not sicker... So here is a PHENOM link about protein powders from one of my most favorite health & nutrition gurus out there. His name is Dr. Mercola, he is an alternative doc and he actually has an office in Schaumburg, IL near where I live! ~Enjoy!~ :Banane40: Better Protein Powders (videos & info)