azmomof2

I was sleeveed Nov. 23rd, which was a revision from Lapband that was removed in July. I did great drinking post surgery and then mushy foods. I have lost 17 pounds but have been in a stall for a week and a half. With the lap band, I had a lot of regurgitation due to a slipped band. Now with the sleeve, I will eat small portions of meat, I am usually hungry, so I am thinking I am eating quicker than I should, I have been chewing thoroughly or so I thought, but usually 10-15 minutes later, I have the need to throw-up as if I ate too much, and it does come up. How do you know when you are full and how long are you taking to eat cut up meat? I am not on normal foods and slowly and trying to add in. I noticed I am not getting in all of my liquids since adding back in some normal foods as it takes about an hour + before I can start drinking again. How do you differentiate b/w head hunger and actual hunger? I know these are newbie questions, but I think the lapband created this PTSD with the vomiting, lol. I am going to start logging my food and was thinking of trying the KETO diet too. Any thoughts, tips, recommendations would be appreciated!

only 3 1/2 years. I lost almost 50 pounds and have kept it off, but the misery of struggling with food is ridiculous. there are times I can't even drink Water and my reflux, which I never had prior to the band was atrocious.

I have the band and do not want it. I am trying to get the sleeve. I think it will be a matter of time before the band will be removed from market due to the amount of issues. My band truly failed me. I have no slippage or dilated pouch. I have had nothing but issues with my band since the get go. Never found the sweet spot and more time than not, cannot keep regular food down. I am done with this thing!

Hi All-I was a self pay lapbander that was completed here in the states. I believe my BMI was around 33-34, 3 years ago. Since getting the band I have dropped to 150 pounds, give or take, depending on how horrible my band wants to be. I have only had a max fill of 4.50CC's in a 10CC band. Anyways, I am constantly struggling with reflux and stricture, so they remove Fluid. I gain weight as I have the hunger pains that I normally do not have. I have not had solid food since Jan.1 due to horrific reflux and stomach pain. I had an endoscopy yesterday and the Dr said I was inflammed and my issues are 100% the band. I then went to my bariatric surgeon and they took the remaining fluid out, I was only at 1.5CC and on Jan 2 I had 3CC. They did a barium test and they said everything looks perfect, band placement and everything. I said I have zero in my band and fluid is only trickling through. That looks like a problem. They said you are inflammed. I responded that if you look at my records, I am constantly going back and forth with 100% removal of fluid due to constant vomiting. I hate being in pain, I hate all the sleepless nights and that I cannot eat Proteins as they just come up no matter how small the bite and how much I chew. So my current problem, I want my band out and a revision to a sleeve. It hurts and I have stomach pain. I don't want to gain all my weight back that I have worked so hard to lose. I reached out to Dr Illan and he denied me due to BMI. I tried to plead my case that my BMI is what it is due to my band. I need to find a Dr that would do a revision with a sleeve so I do not go backwards. I still have 15 -20 pounds to lose too. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

This has been quite the journey thus far! I was a low BMI bander so I knew I was not going to lose a lot until 3-4 month mark. It is finally happening. I think what helped jump start it is 1) I had the flu-lost about 4#'s, then I had a fill that put me at 6.25CC (I think). This was way too much but I waited a month before going in to have some Fluid removed. I couldn't drink/eat any thing until about 11am and then maybe a bit and often times that would come up. I lost about 10#'s. Obviously that was not good, so when I went in for my next appt they removed 1CC. I was a little bummed b/c I wanted them to put me where I was at just prior to the Constricted fill but they said absolutely not. So, I have to work my way back:) I think one of the most challenging aspects of the band, which will forever be changed, is there are certain foods I just can't eat, no matter how small of a bit and no matter how well and slow I chew and swallow. I stay away from chicken, unless it is very juicy. The only type of bread products is flat bread and that I have to take baby bites and chew chew chew. Pasta-which I didn't eat a lot before, but craved here and there, is in very small portions. What I find odd is that I can eat my dense Protein bar with no problems, lol. I can see how people do gain wait on the Band and can abuse it. When I was beyond restricted, I would get a shake or anything liquid to try and fill me up. Yu really have to re-evaluate foods and items you once loved, you might have to sacrifice and not have them anymore (Sushi). So my stats to date: Starting weight pre-surgery 207. Weight at surgery 198 (they didn't want me to do the pre-op diet for the week or 2 because I couldn't fall below a certain BMI). Today's weight 179.2!!! I work out 5 times a week, 2 with a trainer and 3 on my own. My trainer wanted me eating every 2 hours a day and I just couldn't do it. For so long I forced my self to eat even when I was full I would still eat, now I am listening to my body. If I am hungry I eat, if I am not, I don't! So simple in theory right;) I hope you all are doing fabulous!!

I have finally started losing weight-woot woot! I am down 23#'s, still have 40#'s to go. I am at 6.25cc but I need to have some removed, since I can't keep anything down and can't drink anything until 10am due to restriction. Everything I eat comes back up, so this wed I am supposed to get a fill, but I am going to ask to remove a little bit. I haven't lost ant weight until this month, so that is why I held off in going back. Pathetic I know:(

I wish I had great news, but I still haven't lost. I had a fill and I am at 5.25cc, she wanted to be aggressive. I was good for about 2 weeks, lost about 5 #'s but have since gained back. I think my next fill is in August and I am hoping this does it. It has been hard to watch what I eat when I dont fill up. I am starting a personal trainer this week so I am hoping this helps. I also got my blood work done since i should be losing weight, my calorie intake isnt over 1200. I know I have low testosterone and i am getting pellet pills injected to help. If you have low testosterone you wont lose weight. I have not lost faith as I cant eat nearly as much as I used too which is nice. It is not seeing the decrease on the scale that is depressing! Dont give up hope, it will happen...at least that is what I am told;)

I went to dr normal in Scottsdale at true results. I just downloaded a calorie app that is nice since it allows you to chose quantities. I go Wednesday for a full, which I am looking forward too. One thing I do that I need to stop doing is drinking when I eat. I am so conditioned to wash everything down that I continued-unintentionally! Today I didn't do that and I felt much fuller. I am still hungry but not as bad and the feeling of fullness last-amazing, wasn't at the instructions lol!

I am doing good. I stopped losing once I was able to add back mushy food and I dont fill up like I was hoping. I go next week for a fill so I am praying that does the trick and the pounds start coming off!! How are you doing with your band? It looks like you are losing consistently, which is great!

Yogurt and protein drinks just didn't cut it! My stomach was growling and I just want food! So tomorrow I am supposed to start mushy foods, but couldn't hold out! I went to the store and bought chicken salad. I swear I could not spoon it in fast enough, before I knew it I had my half cup (note to self, put in bowl so you know to stop after a half cup. Good news is that I didn't vomit at all and I stopped myself at a 1/2 cup. I will wait a little bit and drink water...god I want something of substance but trying to stay strong...trying, lol. So far I have lost 7 pounds post surgery. I don't feel it since my tummy is still swelling (went back to work and I am walking a lot more than I anticipated). There are a few things that I have finally realized what were going on 1) there were a few times my stomach got tight between my rib cage. I felt like the wind got knock out of me. Ends up I drank something too fast or ate something to past. It was a weird feeling so I couldn't pin point it. 2) I was hoping that the hunger wouldn't kick in this fast. My follow-up in July 11th. I am assuming once I add food of substance in my system this will suppress the hunger and 3) after my half cup of chicken salad, I still do not feel full:( and my tummy is growling...I will stay strong and not deter from most of the protocol;)

I had surgery Thursday afternoon and tomorrow I will be back at work. I am sure I am going to be exhausted by the time I get home, but luckily I have a desk job;) NO pain meds yesterday except for last night, only to help me sleep, but it didn't work. Good luck to all that are going back to work tomorrow!!! Let the journey begin and try to take it easy:)

I am so sorry...sounds like you did a lot and just with the mix of things...they didn't sit right with you:( Try the Dramamine and see if that helps...I know what you mean about Father's Day, my husband wants lox and bagels for breakfast ( I love BAGELS!!!!), but I am on day 3 and I need to be successful so I am trying to stay strong, lol. Plus my daughter is sick, so I am getting out of the dinner thing;) Hang in there, you are doing great and it will get better!

I didn't have to do the pre-op either, but the day before i did all liquids out of fear I would go to the bathroom on the operating table, lol!

I had surgery the same day, and had diarrhea today after having my protein drink. Have you been on the liquid diet all week, if so, this might be why you haven't. Start taking your fiber, but once you start eating solid food, they will come. Also, surgery , anesthesia and the gas slow your system down which causes you to be constipated...no fun, but it will come...sad, when have we ever been so excited to have a bowel movement, lol!

Hi All, I am new to the board and very excited to here everyone's trial and tribulations of the lap band. A little background; I have always had an athletic build, but once i graduated from college, my weight yo-yo'd about 40 pounds + or -. I have tried every diet known to man, the only one that has typically worked is low carb/atkins. I have 2 beautiful children and a very supportive husband. I had a hysterectomy when I was 32 due to severe bleeding, but left my ovaries for hormones. Unfortunately, the past 2 years the pounds have packed on and I can't lose, regardless of working out and counting calories. I went to a bioidentical hormone Dr. and they did blood work and it ends up I have almost no testosterone in my system. So for those of you that are having trouble losing weight, you might want to get your hormone levels checked and not by your regular Dr but one that specializes in hormone therapy. Anyways, I am receiving pellets injections to try and get my testosterone levels up and will have blood work next week to see if it is working. low to no testosterone explains why I can't lose (Cant burn carbs, can't build muscle, I don't sleep well and have been super cranky-everyone gets on my nerves exponentially;). So I am working on the hormone side....my boss had lap band and told me to look into it. I have always been conscience of my weight, my dad has always ridden me about my weight wondering why i have gotten so fat-yes he says it like that. Of course in his mind he thinks this will cause me not to eat, but it is the opposite, I eat like I am a bottomless pit. Never feeling satisfied or full. So, I met w/ the lap band Dr and I am a great candidate (I think any self pay is;) the good news is that I have a heital hernia too (didn't know I had), so this significantly decreased the amount out of pocket. So my band was $5500, not the $9700 I was originally quoted. I have been reading and absorbing as much as possible. I had my surgery this last Thursday, came home, drank my liquids with no issues. Sleeping was a pain since I am a tummy/side sleeper, but last night I was finally able to sleep on my back. It is weird, I am so condition to satisfy myself with food. I am not hungry but my stomach growls. Like it is saying eat, even though i am not hungry. I have not thrown up or had reflux, but I do get a tightness in my chest-I am not sure why and it is sporadic, not all the time. Today I had 2 protein shakes, 1 for lunch and one for dinner. The first one upset my stomach and I had a quick bought of diarrhea, but that stopped as soon as it started. My afternoon protein shake I couldn't finish, so I had half and the other half later. I have also had 2 Greek Dannon Light and fit yogurt (this is the only Greek yogurt that taste good to me). The yogurt went down fine and filled me up. It is so weird since I NEVER get a full feeling. I really think a lot of this in our head, I know it is in mine and I am praying this tool is my saving grace! I am excited for this journey and can't wait to start exercising. I was able to drive today for a little while then one of my incisions bled a little, so I went home in rested. Here is to the start of the rest of our lives....we will be successful and we need to understand that the weight is not just going to drop off at once that is a gradual process ( I need to keep telling myself this, lol)...