Topaz

Hello all, I have not been on in a long time. I was banded 2/2007 and have had very slow results. I have no support so decided that well I need to find it! I go this Thursday for a fill and ready to get back and start losing again. My local support group meets during my work hours and about 20 miles from my home so feel pretty isolated. I am 44, 2 grown children, no grand kids, married. I love to camp, play computer games and work as a registerd nurse at our local VA. I live in Spokane, WA. Drop me a line if you get a chance or if you are also looking for a buddy.

I am not sure. I have been banded since Feb 28th 2007. And really have only had a 20# weight loss since then. I have had a fill that felt good for a very short time. Then it was that I felt restriction all the time and started to reallly watch what I ate. All I was eating was soft foods that would go through the band. Yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, salad for some reason has always gone down easy. And was in the end taking in higher calories and was just maintaining for months. So I went in and they took some out. That seems to have helped and then again had no restriction so again went in and had more put in. And again was too tight, lost 7# in one week by not getting anything down so had it let out again some. I can feel restriction, gagging/stuck if I eat the wrong things such as bread. But now again, after they let some out I either feel after one bite that I am stuck, or else I can eat anything I want quantity does not matter. No real consistency. So was thinking, maybe it is too high. I do not have any reflux issues though.

I am curious if anyone has had this problem. That the band was placed too high so that you ended up with basically a stricture instead of a small pouch? And if so, how was this fixed or were you able to even fix it?

Thank you all for your advice, scheduled for a talk with my doctor tomorrow morning and hoping for another fill.

Hello, I love this site, and to finally find others that can relate has aleviated some stress of the unknown. I was banded 2/28/07 (301#), did not have my first fill till 6 weeks after (291#). Saw my provider in May and I had lost 7# (284) so thought I did not need another fill. Went back in June and gained 1#, had my second fill. We decied on the 2nd fill when he asked me about restriction and portions. I told him I felt a little when I had some of a hamburger, he was appaled that I was eating bread, lol. Well, I did not know I was not suppose to at that time. So 2nd fill and no bread, can tolerate some crackers, small amounts and chew a lot. So my question is, I have stayed 284#, it has been almost a month. I have a hard time with hambuger. I can eat eggs, some soft chicken, and fish. Then some days it seems no matter what I have first even something soft I have a lot of restriction then eases up some. I do not get the full feeling. It is like either no feeling or pain from something too big trying to get through the band. Any thoughts out there, I am so fearful of failing with this. It has helped in many ways as far as a tool, I have found when in a rush, there is no eating quickly no matter how fast you chew hehe, Protein drink maybe. It will just make you hurt. Even if I wanted to binge I can't physically so makes me stop and think. THIS IS MY REAL QUESTION!! What does the sweet spot feel like? What can you eat and not eat? Can you get enough protein in? Can you drink Water easily at the Sweet Spot? About how much food do you eat at a meal. Total 1/4 cup, less? And if onlhy 1/4 cup how are you getting in the protein. Anxiously awaiting what some of you have to say:ranger:. On my doctors scale, it would appear I would need a fill and will ask for one. I just don't want to be so restricted that I can not get enough protein in without living on protein drinks!! To tempting to spill over into the milkshake area. Thanks, Terry RN PS. As a nurse you would think I could figure out some of these questions on my own. But just not the same when you are asking people that have not walked in the same shoes;) So glad I found you all!

There are chat rooms here? And anxiously awaiting what you are planning. Too far off for me to committe right now but I love Vegas:)

I had my appointment for bypass 2/17/07 but artificial sugars give me headaches. I was told I would be dependent on them for the rest of my life. After lots of soul searching I opted for the lapband. I was not ready for that much of a life change. I am very addicted to sugar. And when you have your sugar fix you are more confident in saying, okay that is it, no more sugar. Then the low comes, it is a hard few days but when you kick the sugar for a few days, hit a hard atkins type till you are so sick of cheese and meat but then the sugar craving is subsided untill you feed it again. Remembering the hard few days to get it out of your system often helps me avoid an impulse for sweets. Just not worth it. I have heard of stevia, where can I get some? I would like to try it. Thanks for listening!

Hello, I noticed there is Nurseangel hope I spelled that correctly that may be in my area. Is there anyway to pm someone on these forums. I have seen people talk about hair loss. For my, I have VERY thick hair and down to my butt. My hair was everywhere, haunting me! I really really had to force the Proteins and I just am not a Protein shake person. But it has paid off, my hair has finally slowed down as far as falling out. I was also told that the thicker your hair the more you seem to lose. Keep up the proteins, love fish, is seems to go down fairly well for me. Hoping for my 3rd fill. I think I need a little more restirction and need to slow down and chew better, fingers crossed. hw 321/ sw 301/ cw 284/ goal 180. Dr. Pennings, Post Falls Idaho - The BEST DOCTOR ALIVE hehe:scared:

What type of proteins are you trying to take in? It may take you a couple days/ week or so for the swelling to ease up. Do you have a history of back pain? You could have back pain just from the positioning of when you were in surgery. But if you have any concerns give you doctor a call.

2 weeks post op, were you on liquids all this time? I believe about my 3rd week I started on soft which included yogurt. Yogurt should help with thrush problems. Lifting restriction? Notify your provider regarding your incision incase they want to put you on antibiotics and use some sort of dressing. Always better to be safe then sorry. You paid for the procedure, don't feel like you dont have the right to ask questions about your procedure and your body. Hope all works out well, and you have fast healing!

Thanks for your replies so far. I guess that is my quandry - I am not losing so my thinking is I need to get another fill. But I am not satisfied with what I can eat now and my choices would be even more diminished. As far as the Protein, for me it is an issue because I have had problems with my hair falling out and it has finally started to slow down with me really pushing Proteins. And those are harder to push cuz they are harder to get down as far as meats for me. Just thinking outloud, could I need a unfill so I can actually eat what I think is regular food. Do people out there eat like tacos? chicken and rice, pizza cuz of the bread gags me and no big loss for me there. I mean I don't mind the eating less part but the can't eat variety at all because it hurts is the part I don't like. And then I get real hungry so then faced with another Protein shake (YUCK), yogurt, cheese or the always scrambled eggs, and chocolate can go down just fine - naturally sigh:). Do you two eat regular food? I guess I really need to get down and dirty and have a talk with my doctor. I feel like I have totally secluded myself from several healthy foods. I was hoping to eat with my family but much much smaller portions, and feel full. But now it is like a diet, making stuff I can eat because I can not get down what they are eating. Please tell me more, what others have done? Thanks for being there!!!

Hi, I can not tolerate any artificial sweeteners and had Optifast 5 weeks before surgery and then liquids 2 weeks after. Lots of popcicles, Jello of every color for variety, Water, broth, more water, juice, Protein shakes. I myself did not feel hungry after my lapband for the first week. It will all be worth it! 321 pre-surgery/301 surgery/ 286/170 Dr. Pennings, Post Falls Idaho

Hello BonJosie, From my personal experience I also felt no restriction. And that is normal. What you are eating at this time will easily go through your non-filled band and some bandsters never feel their band untill their first fill. If you are concerned I suggest you give your doctor a call to convey your fears and concerns, you paid for it and it is their job to educate you. You are their customer and should never feel bad about asking questions. Before my first fill and when I started on regular food I was able to eat anything, tacos, bread, you name it. I ate slow and tried to chew a lot! Was getting discouraged but after my first fill I started to understand that this will be a process and can take time to find the right fit. Good luck! 321 pre-surgery/301 surgery/286/170 Dr. Pennings, Idaho

Hello, I had my lap band done 2/28/07, have lost only 15# since and trying not to get discouraged. Reading through the forums here has really helped me not to lose faith. I have had 2 fills and trying to decide on getting another one. I am down 1# over the past month but also have not exercised regularly. At my local support group which is gastric bypass and lapband it is hard to get information pertaining just to lap band. No one could really me to what I should be feeling, what resriction feels like. My hair falling out has slowed down as I have tried to increase my protein. I have been trying to find and force myself to use protein drinks. Thank you all for being here and sharing your journey with me. Banded 2/28/07 321 presurgery/301 @ surgery/286/goal 170 Dr. Pennings Idaho