cfred

Hi everyone, I just had my band removed on Friday (4 days ago) and my Dr told me to stay on Clear liquids the first week, but I could have Protein shakes and then thicker liquids the next. The third week I could start adding food to my diet. For those of you who have had their band removed, how was your diet afterwards? I'm asking this because I think my Dr is still trying to treat me like a WLS patient. I am so ready to start chewing some food...

Hi everyone, I go in for my first fill tomorrow and I'm really excited about it. I had my surgery on May 10th and with preop diet and everything have lost almost 30lbs. I'm very happy I've also maintained that loss. I was wondering if anyone felt restriction on their first fill??? I've been told that a lot of times you don't feel much at all on the first one. Thanks!

Hi everyone.. I haven't logged into this site in ages... Today would have been my 1 year of having my band. At six months I had to have emerg surgery and have my band removed.. I had a slippage and it had to come out. I am probably one of the very few people that is so glad the band is gone. From day 1 it seems like I had problems. Each time I'd get a fill, my body would not accept it and the fill would have to be let out completely and I'd have to go on liquids to correct the "minor" slippage it caused. Each time I'd get a fill so we could "try" it again they'd put less and less. Out of the six months I had my band (my band was removed Nov. 9th) I was on liquids 80% of the time. I was miserable during all of this. Two weeks after my band was removed I re-joined Weight Watchers.. so now I'm a points counter again. Since the band was removed I've lost 25lbs.. not it's not coming off fast but I don't want it to.. I have made a promise to myself that I will keep my weight off. I was very successful with WW in the past and why I didn't just stick with it.. who knows. To all of you that are having problems with and struggling with keeping or taking your weight off. Just remember to take one day one meal at a time. We ALL have our ups and downs!! My total weight loss is mostly from WW... I lost 48lbs with the band in 6 months. When I decided to get the band, I was thinking that life would be a little eaiser but boy was I wrong.. regardless of how you chose to lose weight it's ALL hard. No matter what you have to just be patient with your self and each day!

I didn't understand why my Dr. said liquids for 2 weeks. I went one week (almost ate a little at my work Thanksgiving lunch) but he told me to start eating again... adding things slowly. I am proud to say that my band was removed last Friday, Nov. 9th and so far I am down 2lbs . I will not gain this weight back - I joined WW and counting points. Good luck to everyone with their band removal!

Oh my gosh, please don't tell me that!!!! I had a slippage so I wonder if that is why they put me on such a restricted diet? Did you have problems and that was the reason for the removal or did you just remove it because you wanted to? HMM - maybe I'll start slowly introducing foods... just a thought.

Hi Scout, I had my band removed on Friday, Nov. 9th. I had to have an emerg surgery from slippage - second one in the 6 months I had my band. Seems like everytime I would get a fill, it would close up on me and slip. This last time was really bad though. I will say that I am actually looking forward to my journey without the band! I will admit, I love to eat. But I have lost 130 lbs before on WW, I will use WW again to help me get to my goal weight! As long as you have faith in yourself, it can be done! Don't listen to others, only listen to yourself! Have a great one! :eek:

HarleyNana, You know, I am taking the band being removed okay. I know that everyone is different but I did not have a "great journey" with my band. I was misrable for 1/2 of the time. I was on a cruise with my son and hubby and 1/2 way into it, my band shut up and slipped. That's no life. This last time, I was in so much pain - I just can't continue like that. I was very successful on WW and again will do that program. The band works for HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS of people. There is the small % that it doesn't work for and I was one of them. Who's to know??? My Dr was even surprised at all the problems I had because I never abused my band. I was to afraid to! Good luck to you! Just remember it's a journey and you have to take one day at a time!

I am sorry but I disagree with this 100%! I had the band for 6 months and in those 6 months I was a perfect band patient. Even my Dr and his staff could not believe that I had a slip - twice! I think some bodies just do not accept the band - like mine. Every time I'd get a fill, about 4 weeks laster the band would give me more restriction and it would slip. This last time, my stomach almost burst from it. None of this was from my fault. I would eat like a band person is to eat. I never hard anything to get stuck, I was afraid to. I guess after having a slip you don't "try" things. The band when it wasn't filled worked for me... when it had a fill, it did not. This last go round, I was ready for it to come out. I was in so much pain from the slippage for a week. In the hopital with tubes down my nose for drainage from the pouch where you stomach makes it's own acids. It was horrible. It's been 2 days now since my band has been gone. Am I sad - of course who wouldn't be, but there are also the thoughts in my head that my health is important and I can finish this journey another way. The band is just a tool to help you... it helped me start out, I eat right now, I workout more than I ever have in my life... I can finish this. For those of you who think you MIGHT have a slippage - please go see your Dr. It's very important to get this looked at. With having 2 - I just couldn't take it any more. Plus the last one was so bad I was in to much danger to keep the band or to have it replaced. Everyone be good on your journey... because that is what it is. Crystal

Well today I hit my six months with my band.. Yesterday - just one day till my 6 months I had to have my band removed. My Dr took me in for emergancey sugery. I had a horrible slippage. This was actually my second slippage in the six months. The frist one was from a fill being way to tight. This second one, no only was my fill tight ( I am one of those rare people that after a month or so the fill gets much more restriction) but I had a stomach bug and the two did not work well together. Needless to say I was deathly ill for a week from the slippage and when I finally went to the Dr they did an upper GI and I was rushed to surgery then. They were afraid that my stomach would tear from the slippage. That is how bad it is. I will say for me personally the last six months - yes I did lose by my Dr's paperwork 65 lbs and I am proud of that.. but all of the sickness I had, I am somewhat glad my band is gone now. Don't get me wrong. I am also a little sad. I will be rejoining Weight Watchers. I have a head start and I can lose this last 40lbs. I have faith in myself to do that. I am on liquids for 2 weeks to help heal my stomach and then I plan on joining. Everyone on here has been great. I enjoy the boards so much. I don't think I'll be visiting to often anymore. I need to start with my new lifestyle now. Some may ask, am I going to get rebanded. Right now the answer to that is NO. My Dr said that the chances of problems after being reband are even higher and after what I went throught the last week. I never want to go through that again. WW has worked well for me in the past, I just need to give it another fair chance. Thank you all for the support you have given. Good luck to everyone You will do great, the band just wasn't for me. Crystal

Well today I hit my six months with my band.. Yesterday - just one day till my 6 months I had to have my band removed. My Dr took me in for emergancey sugery. I had a horrible slippage. This was actually my second slippage in the six months. The frist one was from a fill being way to tight. This second one, no only was my fill tight ( I am one of those rare people that after a month or so the fill gets much more restriction) but I had a stomach bug and the two did not work well together. Needless to say I was deathly ill for a week from the slippage and when I finally went to the Dr they did an upper GI and I was rushed to surgery then. They were afraid that my stomach would tear from the slippage. That is how bad it is. I will say for me personally the last six months - yes I did lose by my Dr's paperwork 65 lbs and I am proud of that.. but all of the sickness I had, I am somewhat glad my band is gone now. Don't get me wrong. I am also a little sad. I will be rejoining Weight Watchers. I have a head start and I can lose this last 40lbs. I have faith in myself to do that. I am on liquids for 2 weeks to help heal my stomach and then I plan on joining. Everyone on here has been great. I enjoy the boards so much. I don't think I'll be visiting to often anymore. I need to start with my new lifestyle now. Some may ask, am I going to get rebanded. Right now the answer to that is NO. My Dr said that the chances of problems after being reband are even higher and after what I went throught the last week. I never want to go through that again. WW has worked well for me in the past, I just need to give it another fair chance. Thank you all for the support you have given. Good luck to everyone You will do great, the band just wasn't for me. Crystal

Hi everyone, This morning I fill horrible... I mean horrible. I can't keep anything down when I tried to drink my protein shake it HURT SO BAD and then it came right back up. (sorry TMI) Now I have nothing in me but I still fill awful. I'm wondering if this could be a fill that is to tight (again - second go round for me) or could I have a bug or something?? I'm going to call my Dr but they do not open for another 1 1/2 hours

I had a goal yesterday on Halloween... that goal was to not eat one thing sweet - candy, Cookies, cake - NOTHING... My office was full of goodies, of course we had candy at home to give out.. I DID IT!! :whoo:I did not put one thing sweet in my mouth :clap2: YIPPY!

Okay, last week was great.. each day the scale was going down.. I lost 4.5lbs total over the week. This week is a DIFFERENT story. I'm stuck... the scale has not moved at all!! Is this normal?

Way to go!! Doesn't it feel great!! :clap2:

At my Lapband support group the other night a suggestion was made to make a list of your NSV's and mark them off as you reach them... we'll I'm marking one off!! :whoo: I was just walking here in the office... I'm wearing a dress today (something I do not normally wear) and I noticed that my legs are not rubbing together!!! :clap2: WOO HOO - I love this!

Honestly, if you meat their "criteria" then you should not have a problem at all! I haven't had one claimed denied and refiled. They have all been approved from the get go! Good luck to you!!!

Hi jbrad, I also have Federal BCBS.. I was approved for my surgery in no time. I had my surgery back on 5/10/07. If you have a BMI of 40 or over then you should have no problem. They to said that they wouldn't preapprove and would wait until after the surgery. I was a little worried about that but it all turned out GREAT! As a matter of fact, my Dr's office was not worried one bit about the approval. Maybe you should find a new office that is more familiar with the Federal plan. From what I understand, it's one of the easiest to get approved with.

I was just wondering if this is common for everyone. I was banded in May and currectly have 2cc's in my band (9.75 band) It seems like at night I can eat so much more. The morning time, I can only drink a Protein shake. At lunch I can eat a small meal. But at dinner it seems like I can eat more... As the day goes on, my appitite get bigger - is this normal?

How often do you weigh yourself. I tell myself each and every week.. "Okay, this week I am going to only weigh on Saturday morning" but it never turns out like that... I seem to weigh myself everyday. I see that I'm losing but if I could just make myself stick to a one time a week weigh in, I think I'll be happier with my results.

Of course every Dr is different but my doctor says no food or drink 4 hours prior to the fill. Then after the fill he will let you know now long of a liquid diet to stay on. I've been on a liquid diet afterwards anywhere from 24 hours to 4 days. I think it just depends on the restriction you get.

Great ideas lauren0728! I think the journal is wonderful... I think I'll go to Target today and get one just for my weight loss... even though I'm 5months post op, I can start today! The hiding the scale idea is a good one but won't work for my family. My husband works nights, me days... I'll never see the scale! Heck, come to think of it, it just might work. He can bring it out on his days off!! Hey, maybe that will work!

Hi everyone, It's been a while since I've posted on the thread.. I was banded on 5/10/07 and so far feeling great.. It seems lately that the scale is moving much slower than it did at first. I have 2 cc's in my 4cc band and I believe I have pretty good restriction. My last fill was WAY TO TIGHT and that was the worse feeling ever. I do not want to have that ever again... I'll stick with the band being a little loose than tight! Congrats to all of you who have made it to ONEDERLAND! I'm on my way.. I have 7.5lbs to go and it seems like this is where I'm stuck! I'll make it there one day! :whoo: and once I do, you'll ALL hear about it! Good luck to everyone... I think I'll check in more often. It's nice to "read/talk" to people that are in the same boat with around the same time frame working with them!

I agree... I wish I could make myself stay off of the scale. I'm one of those that go up and down but overall in the week I have a loss. Make sense? Well when I see that "up" that KILLS me and a lot of the time that sets my mood for the day. My husband HATES the scale :Banane10: I really surprised he hasn't thrown it out yet. Maybe I should try and set that as a NSV this week... Can I stay off the scale until Saturday morning... HMM... could be a thought. :Banane10:

I love spicy food but am afraid to eat it. I'm afraid that I'll want to drink with it.. Has that been a problem with anyone?

For me the Protein shake does keep me satisfied until lunch. I usually have my Protein Drink around 6AM and have lunch around Noon.