ljuht115

HELP - I did a ton of searches on the forum and found what I could, but here is my story - I started exercising about 3 weeks ago (heavily, weight lifting and aerobic excercise). I was at 2.8 in my 4 cc band. My last fill was 4 weeks ago. Two weeks ago I started to feel ever so slightly acid reflux. Didn't think much about it until I went in for another fill this morning (went from 2.8 to 3.2) Acid Reflux is more prominent all day today. I am also due for my TOM, not sure if that has anything to do with it. I have been sticking to 900-1200 calories a day so I am not overeating that I can tell (my trainer wishes I ate even more). My question/concern for everyone is - is there such a thing as a senstitive fill? Could I be overfilled? could I have damaged my band doing sit ups and bench presses, etc? I had a small hiatal hernia that was not fixed at surgery, could this have gotten worse with strenuous exercise? The story I get is that acid reflux/hearburn is just BAD period, but has anyome experienced it where it is not bad, just irritating (I have never had a problem with it before). I do not PB, rarely does food get stuck, I can eat tenderloin and chicken, etc no problem... I get full farily quickly, i don't overeat or drink decaf coffee. I have not lost a ton of weight recenly due to working out but have lost inches and body fat. Please someone share their experiences withe me - I suppose I will call the doctor, but maybe I am overreacting (which I can do) and don't want to make a big deal out of nothing. HELP!!!! Scared in Seattle:help:

3.6 in a 4.0 band but they said I have a 5cc band limit. I am just starting to feel restriction for the first time where I can't eat bread, etc. I have had no problems with any foods until now since my surgery.

Talk to your doctor in before you go in for surgery so that when you are in pre-op and you ask for something for nerves (usually they give you valium) they are prepared. I suffer from anxiety as well and had them do that for me. Good luck

I have been out of touch for a little while but need your help. (I also posted on the fill post). Lets see - 4 weeks ago I got my third fill to 2.8 cc's - about 3 weeks ago I started working out with a personal trainer major weight lifting and aerobic activity, about two weeks ago i started feeling a slight irritation in my throat. Today I got another fill and have a definite feeling in my throat. I am concerned about either slippage or an overfill or a streched pouch! I do not eat more than 1200 calories a day now (this includes my morning protein shake for breakfast) lunch (sandwich, usually tuna or pb with s/f jelly) Dinner - a little less "official" but NEVER overeat, I do not nor have I ever PB'd, I have gotten stuck about 5 times in 4 months. I get full easier now. I don't know if others have had temporary issues like I am having (did a lot of searches on this threat and most people with this issue had symptoms way worse than where I am at). Please respond if you have a free moment, I don't usually post much I know and sometimes don't get much feedback for whatever reason, but I am concerned something could be wrong - I don't want to overreact (which I can do) but want to know if what I am feeling is normal or not. :help::help::help::help::help::help::confused::confused:

Hi...There is a surgeon in PR: Dr. Rafael A. Iglesias in Guaynabo, PR. You can do a search in the American Society for Bariatric Surgery: www.asbs.org and you will find 3 surgeon in PR but only Dr. Iglesias does Lap Band. I'm considering doing my Lap Band in Mexico because my insurance won't cover it but Dr. Iglesias doesn't work with outside patients...Don't know what to do...In Mexico is less expensive there is also a Dr. in Dominican Republic. You can contact me at acuariojrg@hotmail.com found it through google...

Hi Jocelyn... Fellow Puertorican here, but in Seattle, WA... Good question.. I just wanted to say hi and give you my support. I was banded about 3 months ago and it was the best decision I ever made. Was just down there for a family matter 2 weeks ago. I will do some searching as well and see if I find anything as well. I highly reccomend you find someone and check them out before your surgery... GOOD luck and keep in touch. Nice to find a fellow Page Ranking bandmate... :ranger:

That is actually not true - I am a lap band patient and my doctor does have me on vitaming B-12 shots every other week.... He also has me on Vitamin D every 3...

Hi everyone... I haven't checked in since before my first fill. I will try and make this short... I got my first fill a few hours before I left on vacation on the 29th. It worked really well the first week and a half or so. Dr. Srikanth put 1.8 cc in my 4cc band (seems like Dr Oh does the same thing). I felt good restriction, got full quickly and it would last for hours. (no PBing or Sliming). Later last week I started to get really REALLY HUNGRY!! Worse than before I started with my pre-op... Well - my follow up appt wasn't until July 30th. I called on this last Monday and pulled it in to today (We can't get another filled for 3-4 weeks after each fill) so I made mine exactly 3 weeks and 1 day.. I saw Terry this morning for my fill. The Dr actually puts in a tintsy bit of liquid at surgery (to test the band for leaks) as Terry pulled out almost 2 cc's of saline before putting it back and also adding another .4 cc, so now I am up to 2.4 cc's in my band and back to liquids and Soups for 48 hours. I plateaued as well and have only lost 1.8 lbs in 3 weeks. It is hard not to have the things you want when you are so hungry and I have to see how this fill affects me. I made another appt for 4 weeks out as a follow up, but hope this get's rid of the hunger... I sure would love to hook up with some of you sometime. I live in north renton and work in Bellevue so making the meetings for me at st francis are a longshot. Maybe we could do some sort of gathering once a month. Still love m band but can't wait till I hit my sweet spot! Sue11 - SO Sorry to hear about your pup. I am a dog person as well and went through this last year. Take Care!!! :rain:

Hello everyone - I had a fill on the 29th - the Dr. put in 1.8 cc in a 4cc band - It worked GREAT the first few weeks, but this week has been pure torture. I am hungrier than I have been since even starting my protein liquid diet pre-surgery! I ended up moving my follow up appt from the 30th to tomorrow and am SO glad I did. I HATE being hungry to the point it feels like my stomach is jumping out of my skin. I still have a protein drink for breakfast (sometimes I make a decaf unsweetened soy latte and add the chocolate protein powder for a mocha) tuna or a lean cuisine for lunch and by dinner I am starving. I am trying to stay at 800 calories a day which is tough now (remembering when I struggled to get enough food in for the day. I am going to see if I can go up to 2.5 cc on the next fill. I feel some restriction when I do eat but it doesn't last for long. Is this a similar story for most people trying to find their sweet spot? I am stuck at a plateau as well but think I am still loosing inches (I am really short) CONGRATS to all of you!

Hello A mayzing Bandsters - I have been gone from the post for nearly two weeks due to vacation and just plain being busy. A few quick things (It took me three hours to get caught up on everyone) First - I did get my first fill on June 29th - I did feel restriction the first week which was good since I was on vacation for 10 days. When I came home I was about 1/2 lb lighter. I did watch what I ate to a point (still stayed away from sugar, bread, rice, caffeine, snacks, etc) BUT, i did indulge in some wine and a few cocktails of crystal light pink lemonade with some vodka while on holiday with no problems. I did learn a few things from this: 1 - I don't have the same desire for wine/vodka like I used to when I socialized with friends. 2 - I CAN stay away from the white food group along with the other items my dr recommends we stay away from. I am almost 31 lbs down since preop and surgery. Which is the good part. The rest, I am right where most of you are at... This week I have not felt the same restriction I had while on vacation - and today I am starving!!!! I called my dr to see how long we have to go between fills (3-4 weeks)! I am two weeks in with 1.8 cc in a 4cc band. Maybe like some of you my restriction will come back??? Is that POSSIBLE???? I cannot believe how hungry I am tonight! The thought of being this hungry with my stomach yelling at me when it is empty for the next 2 1/2 weeks sounds harder than it has been throughout my whole adventure in Lap Band World. (Or, my mind has conveniently let me forget some of the difficulties =-).. Food wise - I can eat anything so far that I have tried. Mostly protein based foods, and I still do my protein shake in the morning's cause i like them and I get good protein that way. Water - Manage to get down 40 or so oz a day (I need to work on this still). Vitamins - take them when I don't forget which is most of the time - NEED to improve and make sure I take my liquid calcuium daily! Anyhow - it is great to see how well everyone is doing and that I am not the only one learing to figure out when I am full or if I ate too fast, etc... I missed the posts while I was gone and love having this post in particular to hear where everyone is at as a barometer for our new lives! Sorry for the long post! :ranger:

Sue11 - Are you feeling restriction now after your fill. I do fine in the am and lunch time, but come dinner, the past two nights I have strayed (with soft food chewed well) but still more goes down easier than even last week. I thought I would be one of the lucky ones and feel restriction until my first fill (I still do somewhat in the am) but no more.. =-(... I feel horrible like I am letting everything go down the drain. it is hard for me to remember the fills is what is supposed to get me to my goal weight, not before - ARRRRGGGHHHHHH..

I am in the same boat being hungry and not making great decisions for myself. I get my fill Friday morning and hope I feel like I did the first 4 weeks when I would eat and get stuffed fast. These last 3-5 days have been true bandster hell. I am afraid that I will not get the resriction again and also worry since I can eat more am I harming anything even without a fill. I can't finish a whole plate but can definitely eat twice as much as before (I have stayed off sugar, caffeine and the white food groups though) HELP - Please tell me/us that the restriction is real and will come back! I haven't weighed myself in 2 days cause I am afraid at what it might say. =-( Frustrated in Seattle...

Hi Sue - Wow - I thought Dr Srikanth was strick - at week 4 we were able to move to puree'd food. You had surgery the day after me. Week 4-5 is purreed' - then mushy kinda stuff week 6-7... Have you tried pureed foods yet? I get my first fill the 29th.

WOW - My instructions state nothing more than 5 lbs for 8 weeks...

Hi there - a few things that helped me a lot - heating PAD - helps with the gas and the pain Don't move around too much other than the walking to help alleviate gas Pain MED/Tylenol - whichever you have that you are using - it is harder to control pain if you let it go on too long. I use Champion whey chocolate Protein powder and like it quite a bit. I now mix it half and half with Water and sugar free soy milk! Tastes just like a chocolate shake.. I hope that helsp - it does get better!!!!! You are probably still very swolen from surgery as well... GOOD LUCK

Hello - I initially was going to take 1 week but found I needed more time - I had surg on a Wed and didn't return to work 1 1/2 weeks basically. Everyone heals at their own pace - some much quicker than others - so it is hard to really say. Maybe prepare your boss for the worst case scenario and then if you feel better soomer, go back. I was low on energy the first week.

Hello everyone - it sure sounds like everyone is progressing well. I just thought i would touch base real quick since it is so easy to sit on the sidelines. Food wise I am doing pretty good. Lost almost 3 lbs last week which was good. I am eating puree/mushy food as both go down very well (getting my protein drinks in as well). I do get full but as day's pass I find that I am not uncomfortable after I eat like I did even two weeks ago. I am paying close attention to the head vs real hunger and only eating when my stomach is actually crying for food. Question for the women on the Post: Has anyone noticed their TOM being delayed due to the surgery? (no I am not pregnant) My port pain is now gone (unless I irritate it somehow). I am still gassy but think that will be around for a while... I also get my first fill on the 29th and feel ready for it. I go on vacation for a little over a week on the 4th and really need to watch it. I don't want to gain 5 lbs back and then spend another 2-3 weeks getting back to where I started prior to vacation.

I LOVE this post. I seriously had to think about beer and realized, I didn't drink that many, a few times a month and will miss it, but the feeling of being banded, it doesn't even sound good to me anymore (right now anyhow at 4 weeks post op. Of course being a good driker I did find a few things I will allow myself when the time comes (I am still not drinking yet as I am still in the healing stage): If you like Japanese food, sake has NO sugar and is 37 cal per oz. plus no hangover Wine (I LOVE wine but still can't bring myself to smell it yet) Vodka with any s/f mix (i.e. the have s/f cranberry juice, crystal light, etc...) I will not go back to sugar, they kill me on the hangover anyhow more than any liquor...

Kaylali - Could you tell looking back that your port had flipped? Mine is still tender pretty much 4 weeks post op and this is a concern of mine. My Dr says it is normal to feel sore/tender for up to a few months post surgery so it is hard to tell - I go in for my first fill on the 29th. When do you have to have it fixed? Wenjea (and all my other fellow bandmates that are out there going through banster hell), how did you do today. You are right it is another day, I did really good on my food I think, protein drink for bkfst, thai soup for lunch and a protein shake for dinner. MUCH better than yesterday. I fessed up at work and my co-workers are very supportive, I was scolded very sweetly and was asked to remind myself why I got the surgery =-)... te he... Thank all you guys for the support, I really want to do this right and not loose my resolve. Wenjea - hang in there!!!!! Of course I have another question: it is my TOM pretty much any minute and my back/diaphram area is killing me. Is that normal or possibly due to the changes in my body with the band. My dog also got me in the front right side of my stomach right under my boob (sorry guys) and it is also really sore. Take care .......

Thank you so much - this is what I needed. For it to be okay not to be perfect. My major concern was band slippage but I think I am far enough into this that it should be okay. I don't know what I would do without this link. I ususally stick to my thread of may bandsters but was so scared that I did something wrong (which I kinda did). I will stick back to my doctor's regime as best I can but 12 weeks total without real food reallu got me.. I will keep the PM in mind Kim - thank you for the kind words and support. This is why I am here.

I am in trouble - I was pretty good with my diet all weekend and blew it with two small slices of pizza. I feel full - I don't feel nauseus - I KNOW I shouldn't have done it. At the same time I also want to see what I will and won't be able to handle... i know I shouldn't be doing this. My Dr. has the most strict rules than any I have seen to date (except for those that went to my dr.). I fully intend to follow his instructions for the next 5 weeks (as I don't really get to move to hard foods for 10 weeks post of which is why I feel bad about the pizza. Does anyone think think I have seriously hurt my band? Has anyone done something close? There is so much that I know but I felt like if I had to have one more Protein shake I was gonna scream as that is all I have really had since May 10th! I dunno - feeling confused, embarrased, scared.... HELP..

I am in trouble - I was pretty good with my diet all weekend and blew it with two small slices of pizza. I feel full - I don't feel nauseus - I KNOW I shouldn't have done it. At the same time I also want to see what I will and won't be able to handle... i know I shouldn't be doing this. My Dr. has the most strict rules than any I have seen to date (except for those that went to my dr.). I fully intend to follow his instructions for the next 5 weeks (as I don't really get to move to hard foods for 10 weeks post of which is why I feel bad about the pizza. Does anyone think think I have seriously hurt my band? Has anyone done something close? There is so much that I know but I felt like if I had to have one more protein shake I was gonna scream as that is all I have really had since May 10th! I dunno - feeling confused, embarrased, scared.... HELP..

Hi Wenjea - The beautiful thing is it was just one night. How are you doing today? I have not been perfect either, but it has been with Soup, won ton yesterday, and i had a smidge of breakfast with fathers day, 1 tbsp eggws/cheese and 1 tbsp of homemade has browns... Oh yeah and the 2 oz of ezells chicken and mash potato Friday night (BOY WAS I FULL)... The sugar is the enemy for us (and others even w/out the band). You are NOT weak, you are human! Don't beat yourself up.. Remember the first 6 weeks are for healing, not weight loss. So hard to remember but it is true. Take it moment by moment and don't give up cause of one little slip. Your weight loss post op is great, remember that. You have worked real hard at that and i bet in the long run you will continue to do so... I have been doink ok. NOT drinking nearly enough Water, my TOM is right around the corner so I am having cravings. Actually made brunch for my family today and it was a workout in itself this morning. I transition to mushies this week and have been practicing so I know what to expect food wise while at work and what to bring with me. I can also seem to get anything down but whatever it is I fill up really quick. Is won ton soup bad???? I get my first fill on the 29th so I am in the same boat as you in a way.. How is everyone else been?

debbie1k when did you have surgery... are you walking around and using the heating pad to loosen things up?

debbie1k when did you have surgery... are you walking around and using the heating pad to loosen things up?