lorena st

I've been banded for a little over 3 months with no fills, but losing weight. I'm just not that hungry any more. In the last week, my band feels 'tighter", but I haven't had a fill. I also had a couple of "sliming" incidents during this past week, as well (this hadn't happened before). Has anyone else experienced this? Weird.

I can't wait to get into those Size 8 to 10 clothes in my storage closet. Who cares if they are 15 years out of date! I'll wear them anyway as a celebration and make my husband take me out in them. Maybe, people will think I'm retro, not just odd.

My doctor gave me a really good book. It is called "The Lap-band Solution: A Partnership for Weight Loss" written by Paul O'Brien, MD (2007). It is published by MUP (Melbourne University Press) and The Centre for Bariatric Surgery, Melbourne Australia and the American Institute of Gastric Banding. Well written, easy read, easy to find information and interesting stories. I can highly recommend it. I don't know if it is available on Amazon, but hopefully it is. PS...I just checked, it is on Amazon and apparently there is a 2011 edition as well.

Great post! My ah-ha moment happened last September, 2011 at my full physical with my doctor. I was considered morbidly obese, by the BMI charts (I wept in her office over that news, I knew I was fat, but I didn't realize it had gotten that out of control). I had been on cholesterol medication for about 6 months at that point in time. My doctor also informed me that my blood pressure was very high and I would need medication for that. As well, my blood sugar was very high and I was pre-diabetic. We discussed the options at that point in time and this surgery seemed like it might work. I had the surgery in October, 2011 and I think it literally saved my life! I am now off the cholesterol meds, my blood pressure is normal and my blood sugar is normal. I also just transitioned from obese to overweight on the BMI charts. Life is now good and I look forward to becoming normal weight in the next few months.

Wow, sorry you had to deal with that kind of stupidity. Just ignore him and let karma deal with him later.

I am glad that only my husband and this forum know about my band. My husband likes the weight loss, my new figure and is never critical of my decision or me. This forum, supports me even more...thanks all of you. Even better, I like the new me! My kids and family just think I am losing weight by dieting and I prefer it that way. This journey is tough enough, without the criticism and jeolousy that weight loss/changes can bring out in some people. I'm not sure what you can do about non-supportive people, especially after the deed is done. I would just refuse to discuss that topic and if they did not respect that, then I guess I wouldn't be talking to them at all. Sorry, no better advice.

You are recently out of surgery and have to be very careful with what you eat. Perhaps you could try some scrambled eggs (high protein and easy to eat). I used to have 1/2 of a Jugo Juice protein shake (they really filled me up and have about 180 calories and they are really good for you). Tropical protein shake was my favorite.

I used to drink diet coke, but gave it up when I was banded. That was my doctors advice. If you want something sweet to drink with no carbonation or calories, the Crystal Lite mixes are good (I like lemonade flavor).

The quick answer is NO, the weight just not fall away. You have to work at it. What the band does for me, is allow me to stick to a diet for the long term. I stll have to watch what I eat and drink. I keep a daily food log and count my calories. If I want to lose weight, I have to stick to around 1000 calories per day. When I plateau, it is usually related to a period of higher calorie intake (I am on vacation or travelling for business). I have just come off a 2 month plateau (I was travelling a lot!) and the amazing thing about the band is I didn't gain any weight. That is a first for me.

I don't really get a full feeling...I just get a not hungry feeling when I have had enough food. I have eaten too much food a couple of times and was really full. That was not pleasant. I was very unconfortable and my stomach ached. I just don't do that anymore.

Don't worry...just keep following the rules and the weight will come off. I also have issues with salt and fatty foods. We had take-out Chinese food for a party last week and I gained a couple of pounds overnight. I didn't eat very much of it, but the salt/fat content was just too much for me. To top it off, I was ridiculously thirsty for 2 days afterwards and it took me 4 days to get rid of the water weight.

My doctor also says, don't eat if you are not hungry. Enjoy the feeling of not being hungry.

I echo many of the thoughts expressed here. Keep track of your daily calories and mix it up a little (low calorie one day, moderate the next and so on). Some people go back to the post surgery diet for a week or so to get the pounds moving. I just finished a two month plateau and I felt the same as you are feeling now...frustrated! If you are hungry and can't wait 4 hours between meals, then you may need a fill to kickstart the process (that is what I ended up doing) and I am losing weight again. Good luck.

Complications...you should know about them and be aware of them and get yourself to your doctor/hospital, should you experience any of them! It is important that you understand what you have done and it is obvious that you are concerned about your decision. We all make decisions, daily, that have multiple best and worst case outcomes. For me, doing something about being morbidly obese, outweighed many of those other issues. I am one of the many best case outcomes on this site, I am losing weight, I am no longer obese and I am headed towards my goal weight. Good luck with your journey and keep asking questions.

I can sort of feel the band...it's like there is a bit of tightness on my left hand side, near the base of my ribcage. The port is easy to find, it is that hard lump just to the upper left of my belly button. I can feel it easily when I lie down. I can really feel the band, if I eat too much or too fast (I get an ache on my left hand side).

I just finished a 2 month plateau and it was frustrating. The basic problem, was me. Too many empty calories (ie: alcohol, sweets, carbs) and I also needed a fill. I was travelling a lot and eating too much and too often. I didn't gain weight, but I didn't lose any either. You've gone to get the fills/unfills, so it must be the calories. Seriously look at what you eating daily and add up the calories. That one glass of wine a day or that chocolate bar can mean the difference between losing weight or not losing weight. If all else fails, I've seen some members go back to the post-operative diet for a week (the dreaded protein shakes!) to get things moving again (and remind themselves of the rules). Good luck and keep us updated.

Excellent news. I've lost 65 pounds and I carried (more like dragged) in a 40 pound container of cat litter the other day...I couldn't believe that I carried that much weight and more on my body! Keep up the good work, it is worth it.

Congrats...I hit onderland today (after being on a two month plateau). It feels great and even better, I am more than halfway to my goal. Have a great day and celebrate (I know, I will)....Cheers

I am glad to hear that you are losing weight and exercising. Part of the lapband journey is figuring out what works for each of us. There are rules/guidelines to generally follow, but there is flexibility to those rules. Everyone has a different reaction to being banded and each person has to figure out what works for their body and their metabolism. This is what separates the lapband from a strict diet plan. The main benefit of the lapband for me, is it allows me to stick to a diet for an extended period of time (I would have given up 30 pounds ago, if I was on a traditional diet plan). Good luck on your journey and happy exercising!

I am glad to hear it...sounds like you need to avoid spicy, heavy foods for a while. As other posters suggested yogurt, low calorie puddings, cottage cheese, protein-fruit smoothies, etc., might be a better idea until you are healed. And if your throat is raw and dry in the morning, you could be dehydrated and you should up your daily water intake. Hopefully, you aren't coming down with a cold (an alternative reason for a raw, dry throat)

20 ounces (is this a typo?) of anything at one time is likely too much food, especially spicy food. Even with mushies you should be aiming for much smaller quantities (like 4 to 8 ounces) at each meal. You are just pre-surgery and you have to be very careful with what you eat and how much you eat at any one time. If you meant 2 ounces, then spicy food still gets to me (I get bad stomach cramps) and I am 5 months post surgery.

I drank milk (along with a multivitamin) as a substitute for the protein shakes (I wasn't allergic to them, I just couldn't stand the smell or the taste of the shakes). For comparison: 2 cups of 1% milk-220 calories, 5 grams fat, 14 grams carbohydrates and 18 grams protein. 1 protein shake (Slimtime)-230 calories, 8 grams fat, 27 grams carbohydrates and 16 grams of protein. Nutritionally, they are very similar and once you add a multivitamin, they are even closer. My doctor had no problems with this substitution. Check with your doctor/dietician and see if they approve.

Benefibre, 1-2 teaspoons mixed in a big glass of water per day. I took it regularly, until I was regular again (for me, this took about 1 month). I don't have that problem any more, but if I did, i would go back on the Benefibre immediately. Benefibre has no taste, no smell and doesn't affect the thickness of the liquid you add it to...so a glass of water tastes and feels like a glass of water (none of those weird, thick gels).

I feel your pain...but, you are now in the healing phase (for at least the next 3 to 4 weeks). You need to follow your doctors diet rules and recover. Talk to your doctor about the gain (it is likely fluid retention from surgery), but really the serious weight loss starts after you have healed. Good luck and try to be patient.