Sojourner

Are you getting enough fluids to keep yourself properly hydrated? When newly banded, I did not realize that nausea can be a symptom of dehydration. You should not ignore feeling this way. Start sipping water to see if that helps, but in the meantime your surgeon should be contacted to be informed of how you are feeling. When I was about 4 weeks post op and attended my scheduled appointment with my surgeon, and complained about nausea, he sent me directly to the ER to get IV hydration. I'm not saying this is your problem, but my experiences. I hope you feel better fast...

Many, many broad generalizations referenced in your post. The reasons for the possible diminished availability of the band are many... Would like to know the research studies which provided the details you write about in your post. J/s...because what you have written is not even close to my experience.

Yes, it does seem to be the trend among both surgeons who specialize in Bariatric surgery, and general surgeons who perform bariatric procedures as part of their practice. After moving to another state and encountering significant issues which needed to be addressed, my surgeon in Florida referred me to a former residency class mate who practices much closer to my current summer residence. He told me he no longer would place a band in any patient, and gave me a choice. Either he could totally empty my band, or offered to remove it. I was both surprised and shocked by what he said. My surgeon who placed my band told me that they still offer the band but the rate of complications and need for ongoing aftercare were the reasons he was steering patients in a different direction than the band.

It can happen to anyone who loses a significant amount of weight. I ended up with a case of pancreatitis about 6 months after my band was placed. Subsequent testing diagnosed that there was no evidence of any disease or stones; my gall bladder simply had stopped working. Why or when my gall bladder stopped working will never be known, and the surgeon felt that my weight loss simply amplified the problem so it could be discovered. It is not a difficult surgery to recover from should it be necessary.

Recovery from food addiction is basically the same as other forms of addiction. Awareness is the first crucial step, and you are aware of what has happened to cause your weight gain. I am aware of how drastically my eating habits and patterns have changed over the past months. And I am a self confessed carboholic. Yes, every day we do have the opportunity to re-commit to doing the best we can to get back on track. I feel it is important to understand the reasons we allow ourselves to engage in behaviors to sabotage our efforts to remain compliant with eating. My band has been empty since June, and everyday it is a constant awareness of staying compliant to remain with good food choices and portion amounts. I have continued to lose weight, but only because of exercise on a regular basis. You have taken the first crucial step...do your best to take back control of your eating. Self talk helps...ask yourself does the sandwich, Pasta, or whatever allow me to stay compliant and reach my goals? If the answer is "no", then you have a choice to make. I hope all will be well with your band...

Everyone has some foods which they cannot tolerate well...and I can no longer tolerate corn. I will only have baked sweet potatoes as they have more nutrients than white potatoes. I was advised by my surgeon to minimize my starchy carbs, such as potatoes of any description and corn. I have sweet potato perhaps 1-3 times a month. I prefer cauliflower or green Beans. The foods you tolerate may be different. That's why you have to experiment and learn what works for you. Your nutritionist should have given you some guidelines to follow as far as food choices go. Best wishes for a successful weight loss journey...

Mrsto is correct with regards to specialist physicians not aware of or understanding the special nutrition needs of a bariatric patient. Those physicians usually have their focus within the parameters of their specialty practice. That said, everyone is unique at what foods they tolerate, and certainly a priority needs to be getting proper nutrition. There are never ending debates regarding the role of carbohydrates for a Bandster diet. Certainly, whole grains are preferable to processed white grains. However, my surgeon has stressed to me the extreme importance of understanding that carbs are our enemy when it comes to reaching our weight loss goals. He has also stressed the importance of meeting the daily goal for Protein grams. I believe is is a misnomer to believe we can eat anything we want and expect to continue with weight loss. Eating carbs can lead to craving carbs, and couple that with fats from oils and you can have a prescription for weight gain. It would be best for you to consult with your nutritionist and/or bariatric surgeon to discuss what they feel is the best diet for you to follow. If there are serious medical issues which your cardiologist feels need to be addressed, perhaps the two physicians can discuss your situation.

Because bariatric patients have a much lower amount of food eaten, it is essential that we take Vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure that we are getting the nutrients for proper nutrition. Your bariatric surgeon or nutritionist should have given you comprehensive instructions regarding their recommendations for vitamin and mineral supplements. If not, it would be a good idea to contact your nutritionist for precise instructions. If you are unable to tolerate your chewable vitamins, ask the nutritionist for options to an alternative supplement.

When a band is "primed" at the time it is placed, it is the same thing as an individual who has no prime Fluid at placement, and then goes back to the surgeon for fills. The band that is primed is considered filled. Resulting restriction can come from the prime fluid just the same as if a patient sees their surgeon post op for fills to gradually increase their level of restriction.

Yes, stress definitely can cause your band to tighten up. I have noticed this from my early days with my band. My stress currently comes from my son's deployment to Afghanistan. There is nothing I can do about the situation, so I keep myself immersed in ongoing projects around the house. I also have no Fluid in my band, and some days it is difficult for me to swallow even Water. Exercise is my salvation, a win-win for me. Very sorry for your loss...best wishes to feel better fast!

It is normal to feel apprehension when you are moving forward to have surgery of any type (especially if you have never had any surgical procedures). Banding is not just surgery, it also means a commitment to a lifestyle change that will allow you to move towards a healthier life and all the benefits which come with it. I viewed my band placement as an opportunity to regain the health that my weight was taking from me. My surgery had to be postponed for over a year due to medical reasons, and that made me even more motivated to move forward with my band and changing my life. Truthfully, there can be complications, and all surgeries have risks associated with them. The odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that your surgery will have no complications. Post op, if you are determined to follow the instructions from your surgeon, eat proper portions, make healthy food choices, and exercise, you will minimize your odds for post op complications. Complications do happen, and the key is to not ignore the messages your band is sending you. Knowledge is power, and the more you learn about the band and the lifestyle changes a successful weight loss journey require the more successful you can be. We all know the realistic long term risks to remaining obese. That was where I was when I decided to have my band placed. The amount of weight one loses is not as important as the health benefits one gains with weight loss. As the saying goes, you will never know what there is to discover if you do not have the courage to lose sight of the shore. The band is a highly self empowering tool, as your motivation and compliance will be the key factors to the level of success you achieve. Though I have had complications post op, I would definitely choose to have my band placed again. It is vital to understand that not all of the complications one may experience are the fault of the patient. Best wishes whatever path you choose to take.

Since being banded, I have lived in both warm and colder climates. In neither area did I ever notice anything approaching a correlation between tightness of any of my rings and feelings of tightness or looseness in my band. Was your physician referring to a specific type of ring?

There are specialized blood tests that your PCP can order to either rule out or confirm a autoimmune diagnosis. You should not need to see a rheumatologist for a Dx. The rheumatologist may be better able to manage an autoimmune spectrum disease, however I have had much better treatment outcomes with my board certified internal medicine PCP. I'm sorry you are having to go through all of this...it's scary and when you don't feel well all of that is amplified. Perhaps your PCP can order additional tests for you to rule out specific disorders. What was the name of the test you tested positive for? I hope you feel better and have some answers to your questions very soon...

Another reason which I have found to have an effect on how tight my band feels is stress. The more stress you may be experiencing, both consciously and sub consciously, the tighter the band can be.

Mornings that I am home for breakfast I enjoy crustless quiche. There are many creative possibilities for what to add. I add a variety of cheeses and/or meats, and/or veggies.

As others have already posted, there is a psychological side to our relationship with food. For success with weight loss, one must change their relationship with food. That means you eat to live, not live to eat. One should understand the core issues associated with understanding their eating habits and patterns to learn effective ways to manage their thoughts and feelings. Food is not the answer to anger, stress, or boredom. Another consideration is understanding that habitual overeating can precipitate complications with your band and esophagus. All surgeries come with risks, and with the band, not following the rules of eating post op means a possible risk to your health and well being. Do some additional research so that you are aware of both the risks and benefits to make an informed decision Whatever path you choose, best wishes...

Ditto what mrsto posted... Weighing too frequently can set you up for unnecessary negative feelings about what the scale says. Not weighing too often allows for continuing to feel good about what your efforts are every day. Also, small fluctuations in your weight are normal, but many can become discouraged by seeing them, and then question what they might be "doing wrong". I do my best every day to make good meal choices and exercise. Weighing myself every 2 weeks or so allows me to see progress without the self doubt or negative feelings about a lack of progress. Do the right things, and the weight will come off. Another thought...my band and my weight loss journey have served to allow me to acquire a life skill that eluded me for many years...patience! Best wishes...

My surgeon advised me to wait a year, and I did. Alcoholic beverages are empty calories, which as a new Bandster you need to avoid. Also, post banding, less alcohol will have a greater effect on you. The best approach is to discuss this with your surgeon.

The best way for you to become immune to what others say, or do not say, is to become more self-validating with your great achievements. I am focused on the positive results I have achieved with weight loss through my own determination and perseverance, and I can feel good about that. I don't need anyone else to validate for me what I know to be true. Some people are reluctant to give others compliments because they may not have a positive self opinion of themselves. Do your best to not allow what is said or not said to bother you. Keep up the great work!

Fast food restaurants do not necessarily mean unhealthy eating for Bandsters. When my husband and I are on road trips, I am able to find healthy choices with salads, grilled kid's meals, or an occasional wrap which I unwrap and have the contents for my meal. Mindful eating, and raising your awareness of everything which you put in your mouth goes a long way to helping to keep you from snacking along with your children. I only allow myself 2 snacks a day. One is low fat cottage cheese, the other is a teaspoon of Peanut Butter. Planning ahead for your fast paced life is the key to being able to maintain healthy eating. Anticipating you will need a snack, and having healthy choices with you are effective means to maintain compliance with prescribed eating for success. Been there, done that, all is possible if you are aware and motivated to lose weight!

Is there a GNC near you? They have a very consumer friendly refund policy on all of their products, and several excellent choices that meet the nutritional needs of bariatric patients. I use their Wheybolic Extreme Protein powder ( half portion), mix it with 1% milk and add ice in the blender. I actually like the taste of the chocolate and Cookies n cream. This journey does become easier with time. Best wishes for a successful journey...

Your headache could be related to dehydration also. Try to sip Water to be sure to stay properly hydrated. Withdrawal from caffiene can also precipitate a severe headache. This is a good time to find a type of Protein shake that you can tolerate or even like, as periodically you may have to return to a liquid diet after your band is placed. There are many options, some research and tasting should help.

Having to take daily medication is an acceptable way to manage heartburn. But it is not normal to experience daily heartburn, or something to be ignored or taken lightly. No doubt you are within the parameters of what your surgeon advises. As per my surgeon, experiencing heartburn was one of the symptoms we were advised to contact him about immediately. This was due to the propensity of risks for additional complications. I don't believe it is prudent for me to tell another poster to take even an OTC medication. This information should be from their own surgeon...j/s.

Welcome to the post op phase referred to as "Bandster Hell". Known for the time before fills when a bandster heals, and hunger returns. It is important for you to continue to follow the eating rules given to you by your surgeon so that you will not stretch your pouch. Yes, this does eventually get easier to cope with, but some people never get to the green zone, and have to take more responsibility for their compliance with eating the way and in the amounts which your surgeon advised you to. Just because you can eat more than the prescribed portion does not mean that you should. Best wishes for a successful journey...

My band is totally empty of all Fluid, and I have a considerable amount of restriction. I am almost in the elusive "green zone" with no fluid. When I did have fluid in my band, it was too tight. Everyone is an individual, and no two people have identical experiences on their weight loss journey.