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Dear God, I'm so, so sorry for what you've been through. I don't know anyone in the Atlanta area but perhaps you should call the Obesity Control Center in TJ. They have lists of American doctors if patients need emergency help. You can find them on the web. I hope this all works out for you.

if anyone's experienced this. I am not a lap-band success story thus far. I was banded in April 07. I've had two fills- had no restriction after the first and what I thought was restriction after the second. But- I would have days where I felt as if I had no lap band at all and days where I PB'd from liquids. I called the office in TJ where I had the surgery done and they said I had a "finicky band. They said I should wait a little while and see what happens and come down to TJ again if it didn't get better. Well, my elderly mom got very ill and I've been caring for her so I hadn't gone down (that was 4 months ago). I was able to get more down if it was liquids (yogurt, ice cream) or soft (mashed potatoes, pureed fruits and veggies, chocolate. Protiens are virtually impossible except for some very soft fishes and occasionally eggs work. I cannot get bread or pasta down and forget fruits and veggies. Then, about 2 weeks ago I got a bad stomach flu and threw up for two days. Ever since, I feel like anything I eat is scraping my insides and I feel like the port feels different from the outside. I'm going to TJ Saturday but was wondering if anyone had any ideas about what's going on. I've been so sad and frustrated about the band because it was a big deal to do (emotionally and financially) and so far it's a bust. I know people on this website say that the band doesn't fail, people do, or that the band isn't a solution, it's a tool, but I have to say, it's been hard to eat healthy when I can't get down meat,veggies or fruit. Any insight???

I am having the same issue and I was actually coming on to find out how you know you've slipped. Can you tell? Currently, I am Pbing sometimes on almost anything, especially animal proteins, then other times can eat large amnts of almost anything. If I'm having a run on PBing I get so damn hungry that I eat loads of yogurt and ice cream. I've actually gained weight! I have to go to TJ everytime I need to fill or have it looked at so I'm resistant. I am having a hard time understanding how this all works if sometimes I'm tight and sometimes I can eat anything. Any clues?

I just started a new thread yesterday with almost the same exact situation as you're having. I'm not losing weight because I find myself filling up on the high calorie things I can get down- like ice cream and chocolate. Can't help you with any solutions but I feel your pain.

I got a fill a few weeks ago. I sometimes have restriction, sometimes not. However, I get stuck all the time. I've read other people saying that junk food goes down easier than good food and though it was BS but I am having major problems with meat, chicken, fish, fruit, many veggies and starches like Pasta, potatoes and breads. I can however eat yogurt, ice cream, cheese and chocolate with abandone. Anyone else experience this? I chew very well, take small bites and don't drink when I eat and I still get stuck. But by the end of the day, I'm starving since I've PB'd most anything solid I ate. So I fill my stomach with yogurt and ice cream, then I feel horrible. I don't think I'm too tight only because when I do get food in I can eat plenty before I'm full. It's very confusing. Any info would be appreciated.

I got my second fill about a week ago. I can drink anything, I can eat most starches and veggies as long as I chew, chew, chew. But, it seems like no matter how much I chew steak, chicken, lamb...I get stuck. I've PB'd multiple times on protiens, even with small bites and a lot of chewing. Anyone else have this issue? And if so, any suggestions on how to deal with it?

Hi, I was banded April 24th and just had my second fill yesterday morning. I have not lost any weight since surgery and in fact put some on once I started on solids. I'm so envious of all of you with your big weight loss. I got filled to 2.0 by my doctor in TJ (ORTIZ) and am feeling a little restriction for the firs time. I find it so disheartening but I walked a long and vigorous walk this morning and vow to keep it up. The doctor said not to worry, the band will work for me once we find the right fill, and I'm sure he's right. It's just that I was hoping to be shorts worthy by the summer , and I'm definitely not!

you can buy whey protein powder at the health food store and mix it into anything else you drink or sip (carnation instant breakfast, soup, pudding), it has a creamy taste and is a really high quality protein and easily digested.

I think you may be experiencing the resumption of your appetite. After the surgery, I had no appetite and I thought that was a result of the band and that I was feeling true restriction. After a week or so, my appetite returned with a vengence and I had no restiriciton (but did have sticking and even PB'd once). Then I looked on this site and realized that I shouldn't expect to have an restriction until one or more fills. I just got my second fill today (I'm on liquides for the day) and will soon see if I have restriction. Read about "bandster hell" on this site for more tales on this subject. Good luck!

cannot give you words of wisdom, only company in your feelings. i posted before on this but continue to feel frustration that i have absolutely no restriction and am gaining weight. i know the band is only a tool but as you have stated, if i could limit my intake without the band doing it for me, i wouldn't have gotten the band in the first place. my confusion is that i do get stuck sometimes if i don't chew meat long enough or take a big gulp of something starchy but that doesn't translate into getting a full feeling. once i'm unstuck i can continue eating without feeling full. the only real change i've noticed is that i'm so thirsty all the time, which i'm assuming is because i'm not drinking with meals so i'm probably getting less fluid than i usually do. i drink glasses and glasses of water between meals but it never seems to quench the thirst. mostly, i feel sad that it's almost july and my surgery was in april, i thought by this time i'd be down 20 or 30 lbs. not up 6!

had my first fill two weeks ago. no restriction in terms of feeling full sooner but i do get stuck once in awhile if i don't chew enough. wondering how soon i can get another fill and if anyone else has had this experience?

I too was banded almost 2 months ago, have had one fill and have actually gained wieght since the surgery! I'm not having restriction, although I do get stuck if I don't chew foods thoroughly. I am hoping that with my next fill things will change. Right now, I feel like I spent money and put myself through surgery and it's all a waste! I'm feeling like a failure and like I'm hopeless.:scalesno:

I feel like I'm a lot thirstier since I've been banded. (Unfortunately I'm still hungry!) I know I'm not drinking with meals but between meals I find myself unquenchably thirsty, drinking glass after glass of water and still parched. Anyone else experiencing this?