La_madam

I had bowel obstruction surgery and the first thing they did was unfill me, and I was glad they did, better to be safe then sorry. I just now started getting re-filled. 3 weeks ago I had 1cc put in and Monday of thisweek I had another . 5 cc put back in. Do not bealarmed if you do not go back to the fill level you were at prior to being unfilled. I was at 2.5 cc's before my unfill but no way can I go back to that it is too tight. He tried putting me at 2 ccs on Monday and the barium was barely going through..so he backed off to 1.5. I asked why patients who are unfilled cant go back to what they were prior to being unfilled and he said there is no explanation other then movement and shifting, whatever that means. I know I had 2.5 in my band befor I was unfilled I saw it all in the needle when he took it out.

They should have it available in chewables..try Wal-Mart or Target or Sav-on You may find it difficuult to get a capsule down right after surgery, there is alot of swelling

Doesnt look like enough calories to me... We have to eat in order to lose wieght. You should be between 1200-1500 a day, any less then that your body will store any food you put into in fear you are starving it. Where is your 60 grams of protein in that days worth of food? Where does your water intake come into play? All of these thinbgs are very important. Try adding a few more calories in the way of protein and see if eating a little more helps..I know it soundscrazy but it is true, got to eat to lose wieght, healthy weight that is, sure we can starve ourselves and lose lean muscle mass but then we get flabby Plateuas are normal, try not to worry to much Good Luck

How did I know you were going to say Dr. Ortiz? he is very good about his phone calls to his patients and those who are inquiring info. Dr. Ortiz in my opinion is very kind and caring. He is my Dr. and I think very highly of him.He has been there for me then entire 15 months of this journey. He will take all the time you need in answering your questions. My friend was banded by him 6 weeks ago and had over an hour telephone consult with him doing exactly what you will be doing, asking questions prior to his surgery. Dr. Ortiz has placed the band on many teenagers. KarenB who is a member here, her teenage daughter Hanna was recently banded by Dr.Ortiz, I know she will answer any questions she can for you about her experience.Send her a PM.. I was just in TJ yesterday at Obesity Control Center ( his office) having a fill. Good Luck tonight, I hope your phone call goes well.

Kylie, who is doing your surgery?

My mother was a Bi-polar Diabetic, so when her sugar went wacky her bi-polar epsidodes were horrible, my brother and I would run & hide. Never heard the words "I Love You" growing up..no hugs, no affection.( I tell my boys I love them everyday and hug them everyday) My therapist thinks my childhood is where my OCD stems from. Nothing I ever did was good enough for my mother, I just never seemed to measure up to her standards..my mom died 7 yrs ago and honestly, I miss her despite how she treated us growing up. She would be very proud of me now with my weight loss, that was the one area she showed concern and love for me as a child, she was 98 lbs at best( many think she was anarexic) while my dad, brother and I were all obese. She tried everything to get me to lose weight, fat camps, Jenny Craig, Diet Center, Weight Watchers.nothing ever worked or if it did it was short lived and gained the weight back within months,..today she would be proud. My father was never a man of many words or emotion, he loved his gambling and still does to this day, but is also a very successful business owner & investor, just another disfunctional childhood here

Hi Bronson, Welcome to LBT And best of luck to you on your upcoming surgery I wish you lots of success

Vera, great Job..only 20lbs from goal. Congrats andI wish you thebest on your upcoming surgery.

Kathy, I'm happy to hear you are feeling better with your un-fill and nice job getting to one-derland! Who cares how you got there..you got there I hope you find this level of fill works for you..not too tight so you cant eat but just enough to continue to lose wieght. It's amazing how so little removed or put in can make a difference. Have you ever measured out what .4cc's looks like? it's not much but oh what a difference.

As a child I was sent away for a summer to a "fat" camp..this is one opf the behavior modifications I was tought, to this day it has stuck with me..I do exactly the same thing and my husband hates it when I ruin my food..another thing I learned at that camp is to always leave atleast one bite of each item on your plate..

Glad you arehome and resting... Walking is the best medicine to get that gas moving and out!

Great Pictures, it is so great to know bandsters from LBT get the chance to meet in person. I love it when that happens

I know United Health Care covers the band here in California..my girlfreind just had surgery here in So Cal 3 weeks ago and was approved quickly..good luck to you , I hope the same for you.

Just got back from my 2nd fill of being unfilled for 2 months, I now have 1.5 cc's. Let's see if I can get to goal with this ammount. I feel a difference all ready with just drinking liquids. He tried to put me to 2.5 like I was before I was unfilled and there was no way, complete shut off..and then he backed down to 2.0 and still the barium was barely going through. I asked why after an unfill you can not go back to what you were before the unfill, he told me many paiteints can not and there is real no explanation for it, so Iam now at 1.5...I will just have to see how this works for the time being and let my head do more work then the band.

Thanks Christina You are so sweet These last few lbs are the hardest..however I was unfilled from April 20 until June 20. That doesnt help thesituation Then had 1'cc put back in June 20th , Iam going to see Dr. Ortiz today for some more fill...He told me if I needed more then to come back in 2 weeks , well it has been 3 weeks today. I need a little more. When I was unfilled due to my bowel obstruction surgery I had 2.5 cc's ...so 1 cc is like nothing to me. Im greatful I have not gained in this time, that justtell me I have learned something over the last 15 months. Having no fill for 2 months and only 1cc for 3 weeks and no gain is a victory in itself. Iam hoping by Labor Day I will be at goal..that is my desire andwhat Iam striving for. Thanks again for thinking of me and cheering me on!

Junk food craves junk food Once you put the carbs & sugar in your mouth, you willl graze all day, never be satisfied and never be full..this is a proven fact. Start your day with strictly Protein, it curbs hunger and cravings! NO CARBS & Drink lots of Water. I have been where you are, I know how you are feeling, it is a battle but a baattle that can be won Hang in there...PROTEIN..PROTEIN...PROTEIN today, no carbs, no junk! You can do this One Day at a time

Linda, what you are experieicing sounds just like Gastirtis. I was diagnosed with it, I had an endoscopy and it showed gastritis. Here is a link about Gastirtis, sounds just like it to me. There is a difference between gastritis and GERD http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=342EF017-2230-45E3-9B6C9D069CEFA6DE&dsection=2 The burping, the burning, the pain in your stomach Ask your Dr. to do an endoscopy if you are really worried about your band. He will be able to see what is goin on down there. Also ask him if you could take some Prilosec OTC, it helped me alot. I was on Nexium and prilosec OTC for 2 months, my esophagus healed , the gastritis is gone.

I use Splenda, Equal and sweet & low, it depends what is available when I am out, at hone I use equal it is just my sweetenr of choice, not because my Dr. told me I couldnt use the others.

My experiencine with flying since my band is YES my band tightens after I fly, I seem to retain water after I fly which leads me to believe why my band gets tighter, also I find different climates from traveling affect the tightness of my band. Personally, I would not get a fill right before a major vacation. I would hate to be too tight and not have a doctor who is experienced with the band near by in the event I could not eat or drink...besides vacations are meant to eat and drink a little more the you do at home I like to enjoy myself with that aspect of vacation ( food & drink)..Just my opinion and my experience.

I always know how much there is in my band, my doctor tells me what he took out and exactly what he put in and he is always right on the number when he takes out. I like knowing personally.

Frank also it is proven that carbs crave more carbs and sugar craves more sugar. I know for me if I eat carbs and sugar I graze allday long and I am never satisfied or full . Most soft foods are full of carbs and sugars except for eggs and cheese

Well since you are on only mushies right now, you may not feel the restriction. Once you go to solids you should feel some restricton. Remember the band does not restrict soft or mushy foods. I bet when you go to eat a piece of chicken you will feel a difference. I can eat mashed potatoes or a baked potato and feel nothing but give me a piece of chicken and WHAM restriction! Also like Kathy said, in the larger bands it does require more then one fill to notice a difference. It also happens where your first fill may take a week to kick in, I know mine did. Most Dr.'s want you to wait two weeks to get another fill. Restriction also comes from the foods you eat like I mentioned above, junk foods goes down easy, hard Proteins dont. Wait and see how it goes once on solids and make sure you eat your hard proteins first. Carbs will crave more carbs so if you are eating lots of cabrs you may be hungrier often. It is so true for me. I can not eat carbs in the morning or Iam hungry all day long. Give this fill a few more days and some real solid foods, then come back and letus know how it is going. You may be supirsed

I think alot of the clothing the teen girls wear these days does not help the situation either. At my sons high school he and I are always commenting on how the heavy girls dress. My sons favorite thing to say in a question tone is " She looked in the mirror and thought she looked good?" As a child I would of never left the house with my belly hanging out or low waisted jeans.so tight I had to squeeze into them Nor would my mother of let me leave the house looking like that being an overweight child.

If you are PBing everyday, maybe you need to rest your stoma and esophagus and do liquids for 24-48 hrs, this could be another reason you are PBing everyday, swelling does happen after a PB and many Dr.'s reccomend 24 hours of liquids after a PB.It becomes a vicious cycle if you dont, al lyou will do is eat. pb, eat, pb.. I PBd once and it was a doozey but did not listen to my Dr. and do 24hrs of liquids and I got the worst case of esophagitis ever..very painful.. I was forced to be on liquids for 2 weeks. Not fun! Good Luck to you I hope you get relief soon

Frank maybe if you went to 2.5 instead of 2.8 you will be much happier, the smallest ammount removed can make a huge difference in still having restriction but yet still being able to eat solids and lose weight. Good Luck