La_madam

I farted like any normal person and burped like any normal person pre band But I have noticed since banding that I'm constantly gassy ..farting all the time. I know alot of you can relate but one other thing I have noticed and have paid close attention to is I do NOT burp anymore..I'm thinking that it could be why Im always so gassy with a rumbly tummy. The gas only escapes from one end (my butt) now not (two my mouth and butt). Do any of you have a hard time burping now that you are banded. I just do not burp! I have also noticed that if I go too long in between mealsand wait until my hunger is out of control I get horrible gas cramps..anyone else experiencing this? It makes for me eating alot less when I'm starving cuz the gas cramps are so uncomfortable. Isint this a great topic ..I feel like I can share anything with all of you

I am helping a friend with some research who is interested in having the Lap Band, any of you from the Illinois are have any good Dr.'s to reccomend so I can email him the info?

It has been 1 year today since my band was removed due to erosion. I am happy to say that after one year of being bandless I have maintained my 100+ lb weight loss. I still fit in my size 10-12's . It has been a struggle I can not lie but I am determined to never go back to where I was before my band. My band did it's job.It The rest is now up to me. My head is going in the right dierection. I was fortunate to have such great success with my band . This board has given me wonderful support throughout my entire banded and unbanded journey. I am trying to still lose a few more pounds but if I dont I am happy as long as the scale is not going in the wrong direction. My PCP told me that if I can keep my weight off for an entire year my success rate of keeping it off for good is high. Iam very proud of myself. Thanks everyone for all of your support!

I keep reading about the same thing here over and over again so I wanted to put my two cents worth in for all of you new bandsters that it is perfectly normal to not lose weight during the first 6 weeks. You have NO fill...the band is desigend to work it's best with fills! It is also normal to not lose during the liquid phase since you are not taking in hardly any calories. You know that old addage that our bodies will conserve whatever we put into it if it thinks we are starving it and that is what is most likely happening during the liquid phase. It is also normal to see a gain when you go from liquids or mushies to solids so do not panic...Do not fret or get discouraged. Most of us here were where you are at one time or another. Once you are healed and getting your fills things will change I promise. One thing I have learend during my 17 months with my band is there are going to be times when I do not lose on the scale but I'm losing inches. I'm also gaining my life back so when the scale doesnt move, think of all of the possitive things in your life that have changed since you got your band. For some of us it has been getting off blood pressure meds, for others it is getting off insulin, for others it has been more energy,for others it is no more sleep apnea and for others it is No back or joint pain. My list is endless of all of the possitvie things that have happened since my band You get my drift, I'm sure. Do not let the scale dictate your success or failure with the band. The band is a lifelong tool, this is a lifelong journey it is going to take some time but the key is patience. The key is to also follow the rules to a degree. Do not go and get a fill that is so tight you can not take in solids and think it is smart cause you will lose wieght that way.You have all made the first step to a happier healthier life. I can not stress enough the importance of patience. The band is not a miracle or magic wand, the pounds are not going to fall off. If you have the right mindset, one day at a time, the good with the bad, you will succeed. Patience Patience Patience!!! P.S. Did any of your Dr.'s tell you that the first 6 weeks is not about weight loss but about healing? Any weight loss during the pre fill stage is a bonus? THey should have if the ydidnt ..this was my Dr.'s biggest stressing point to me before he sent me home after surgery. How many of you got the Inamed Handbook after your surgery? This is very helpful to all of us not just the newbies but to us who have been banded for awhile. Here is the link you can go to and print it from your computer http://www.inamed.com/pdf/health/94829F_LB_Patient_Book.pdf I hope my two cents worth helped you in some way Best of luck to all of you

Know one knows the answer to this ...I eroded and I was the perfect bandster patient. I lost 104 lbs in 18 months I did everything right. I am fortunate to have been so successful with my band before it eroded and got as much weight loss with it as I could, others here who eroded were not so fortunate. I also am happy to report that is has been 1 month shy of 2 years since my band was removed and I still am wearing my size 12's. In two years I have only gained 10 lbs. That is a victory for me. I learned alot with my band, it did it's job as a tool to help me, the rest is now up to me. The only advice I can give to those who have their bands still is to use it to the best of your advantage, you never know if or when you will erode. Some may never erode but some will. Get as much out of your band as you can.

The first six weeks is for healing, it is not to focus on weight loss. Any weight loss during the pre fill stage post op is just a bonus..your thoughts should be on healing right now, not countingcalories, the drinking during or after a meal is the rule for once you get filled.

How long have you been banded? I had these symptoms, had an endo found out it was gastritis. Had to have my fill removed for a month to let my esophagus rest.

I had zero symptoms, I was losing weight, I was not too tight. Things were going great. I was just going in for a routine endoscopy. My Dr. reccomends and endoscopy 18-24 motnhs post op. This is where my erosion was detected. Many who have eroded that I know had no symptoms, this is why it is so important to have an endoscopy 18-24 months post op regardless

if you can not eat solids, you are too tight PERIOD! The band was designed to always be able to eat healthy solids, refer to your inamed handbook . may think they will lose by not eating or only eating mushy or liquids, not always the case. Being too tight can result in may bad things for you and your band.if you say you were at 1.8 and went to 2.2 go back down to 2 you will be amazed at the difference in having as little as .2cc's removed still giving you restrictio nbut yet still lose weight. Also one thing for me was I just did not get restriction from the fill level in my band but also from the foods I ate. Why do you want to speed up your slow loss? This is not a race. I would never wait to see if it would loosen up..think what you are doing to your body, health and band in the meantime. Be a smart bandster, be wise cal lyour doctor, have a little removed because the 75 you think you are saving by not going back in will be a heck of alot less then the ER bil lyou wil lget if you do not go in and you become dehydrated, reflux, your band slips. Trust me I know what I am talking about here, and I know any of the old timers who read this will agree with me. I eroded and I was the perfect bandster, never too tight, never took NSAIDS, never abused my band, I followed ALL of the rules so if can happen to any of us.

junk food always goes down easier, if you can not eat meats, or veggies I would say you are still too tight. Consider having some fill removed, goingfrom 2.5 to 2.3 will make a huge difference in being able to eat solids yet still lose weight, it is only .2 cc's. Remember the band was designed to be able to still eat health solid foods. if you can not do that then you are too tight and I am sure your doctor will agree.

I eroded, and I was a perfect bandster, never used NSAIDs neverdrank carbonation, never overfilled, always called my doctorwhen somethingout of the norm was going on. I ate good, did not rely on my band to do al lthe work. I did everything I was told to do and I eroded. I was fortunate though to have such great success with my band by losing over 100 lbs in the 18 months I had it. It has been a year and a half since I eroded and I am maintaining my weight loss. I miss my band but I am determined to never go back to where I was pre band. Erosion is a fluke thing, can happen to anyone. The only thing you need to do is use your band to the best of your advantage and make it work for you in the event you ever erode. Dont foold around, lose the weight while you have the chance.

Have you considered being unfilledfor 30 days orso then being refilled? I ask becuase I had to have an ufill for a procedure at that time I was at 2.5 in a 4cc band. After 30 days of no fill I went to be refilled and was only able to go to 2 cc's with out it being too ttight. I asked my doctor why was I so much tighter at 2 then I was at 2.5, he told me it is a strange thing and it happens to alot of patients things shift around during your unfill phase..many of his patients get refilled after an unfill and can not go back to their original fill level. Maybe you just need to unfill for a bit then fill again, just a suggesstion. Good Luck :girl_hug:

Good for you for recognizing this, now it is up to you to change this behavior, at 2:00 when you are bored and want to eat..go for a wlak, exercise, read a book, change do something to get your mind of it at that time, come here at 2:00 read post get support. Do whatever it takes but do not give into the boredom and then eat. you have a head start because you realize the pattern,now react upon it! Good Luck!

Never heard of this before. Cal lDr. Kuri, he needs to be aware of this.

It has only been one day...what you are feeling is totally normal, some of it is the anasthesia still in your system some if it is the reality that your eating habits will be changing, food has been your friend for along time I am sure or you would not be here... it is like losing your best friend but once you get past the post op phase and see the weight loss you will see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just know this, you can stil leat with your band and enjoy food..I lost over 100 lbs with my band abd still enjoyed food. It was just in alot less quantities. Do not give up, it gets better most of us were where you are at right now and we are all here to help you get past this phase. You can do this!!!! I promise it does get better, this is the beginning of your new life.

I agree with Betty...walk walk and walk

B-100 complex will give you alot of energy..if you can not take pills get it in liquid form. I swear by it! Also up your protien intake, this too will help with energy.

You made the right choice to go back to your doctor to have a slight unfill.. You are wise bandster.

I have a good idea..have.1 of the .3 removed. You will be amazed at the difference as little as .1 or .2 will make still leaving you enough restriction to eat solids like and lose weight Do not be foolish, too tight can lead to many dangerous things. You want your band to last as long as possible don't you? Who is your doctor? I know if I told my doctor I could only get down liquids he would demand I come in for a slight unfill. Is weght loss so important to you that you would risk your health and your band? The band was designed to be able to eat solids and if you can't then you are too tight PERIOD! Inamed and your Dr. would agree to this I am sure. Do not mean to sound harsh but I have been living without my band due to erosion and I was the perfect bandster...never did I get to the point where my band was so tight I could barely get food down. I lost over 100 lbs and have maintained for 1.5 years now. Do not be foolish..too tight you can slip your band, you can get reflux and if you do then you will be forced to unfill your band completely for a period of time. If you pB often because you are too tight you can rsik your band slipping...I hope others here some of the old timers here with lots of experience chime in and tell you the same thing Iam telling you. You are blessed with a great tool ( the band) use it wisely, this is not a race to lose the weight is is a journey, a lifestyle change. The band does not do all of the work, yoiu must work with your band. Good Luck, I hope you make the wise decision.

hey housecatgirl, if you really want to inspire then post a before pic as well. so we can all see for ourselves the real reasults you have acheieved. hard to beleive no scars whatsoever!

I can only speak for myself. I had my band removed due to erosion on November 28 2005 after having it for 18 months and losing 104 lbs. You may have initial restriction after the band is removed due to scar tissue I did for a week or so, I think it was just from the sweliing of surgery. You will be able to eat anything and everything you want with no restriction.. I know I live it daily. I struggle, I battle this demon daily but proud to say I am winning this battle and beating the demon. It can be done but in my opinion it is definately a head thing. If you are not right in your head, not band, no diet, no bypass will work long term PERIOD! I am finally right in myhead after a 40 yr long fight. Since Nov 28 2005 I have gained 6-8 lbs. To me that is normal for any woman given any time of the month. If you are being true to yourself about finally understandig why you ate and the way you ate then maybe you will be successful in maintaining your weight loss like I have. You are the only one who can do it...band or no band. Just because we had the band we still had to do some of the work, the band did not do it all. Best of luck you on whatever you decide.

Sorry but I need to bump this thread due to all the newbies here who think they are not losing enough weight and are struggling.

Read this thread below...it will help I promise. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/struggling-new-bandsters-t9148.html?t=9148&highlight=for+struggling+new+bandsters

my concern for you is if you can not follow your doctors orders from the start...how will you be able to follow the bandster rules throughout this journey? Doesnt matter how tight band is and how many fills you have, it you are notcommitted in your head, there are always ways to eat around the band. Even with our bands ( a great tool) we still have to do most of the work, the band will not do it all.

Iam an advid tanner, have been for many years. after my surgery I just put sunscreen over my incisions and have had no discoloring or problems