reconciler

I am going to sleep at night almost sitting straight up, yet occasionally I'll awake an hour or so after falling asleep with the feeling of food backing up in my throat. When I had this before my dr. took the fill level down but then of course I wasn't restricted enough. I now feel as if the restriction is right and both he and I think I could up it even more; I'm now at 2.6 cc and have been banded for 2 years. Would appreciate hearing from any of you who have had this problem and come up with solutions. I'm not eating after 8 pm except for a cup of herbal tea. ALL ADVICE APPRECIATED. Thanks.

I am going to sleep at night almost sitting straight up, yet occasionally I'll awake an hour or so after falling asleep with the feeling of food backing up in my throat. When I had this before my dr. took the fill level down but then of course I wasn't restricted enough. I now feel as if the restrictio is right and both he and I think I could up even more; I'm now at 2.6 cc and have been banded for 2 years. Would appreciate hearing from any of you who have had this problem and come up with solutions. I'm not eating after 8 pm except for a cup of herbal tea. ALL ADVICE APPRECIATED. Thanks.

Thank you!

I just have a cup of tea, and maybe a small piece of cheese. Do you think that could be the culprit?

Thanks for your reply. The funny thing is, I may have reflux but I get hungry, can definitely eat more than 1/2 cup to a cup, and know I should have further restriction. I don't know what to do about this weird contradiction!

Thanks. I will check with him.

I started the mushy food stage Sunday night but have been seriously overeating in the evenings. I'm fine during the day, feel full, but am finding the evenings very har4d to manage. I lost 16 lbs. the first 2 weeks and want to keep going in the right direction! At night I'm not eating any6thing I'm not supposed to - just more of the food-processed chicken with salsa on it - and I ate 2 cups of Faje yogurt as well as watermelon and 2 Tofutti fudgicles. I feel I'm going out of control! Any advice, help - I need it!

That's amazing you're over 8 cc's and were banded in August! I was banded July 17 2007 and progressed to a 3cc fill which I had to get unfilled the next day, went to 2.5, then to 2.75 when I pb'd for over 2 weeks every other day. I lost weight but had to get unfilled in order to rest my esophagus. Now I'm at 2.25 ccs and feeling kind of hungry. Overall I've only lost 17 pounds since my surgery. I'm very disappointed. When I'm not restricted, I still binge. You're doing great - continued good luck!

Hi - I was banded on 7/17 by Dr. Rumbaut in Mexico, and am following up with Dr. Fielding at NYU. I have had 2 fills, 2.5 cc and am not doing well at all. With the first fill of 1.5cc I didn't have any restriction, and with the second fill of 1 cc just 5 days later I had great initial restriction, but it quickly wore off. I'm back to overeating after feeling discouraged because I have lost only a little weight. I feel a nutritionist who has worked with lapband patients could be very helpful to me and would prefer to go here, in Westchester, rather than NYC. However, I will consider anyone in the tri-state area. The nutritionist in Dr. Fielding's office seems a little on the young side to me. I'm wondering whether anyone can recommend an experienced, excellent nutritionist. Many thanks.

Hi - I was banded on 7/17 by Dr. Rumbaut in Mexico, and am following up with Dr. Fielding at NYU. I have had 2 fills, 2.5 cc and am not doing well at all. With the first fill of 1.5cc I didn't have any restriction, and with the second fill of 1 cc just 5 days later I had great initial restriction, but it quickly wore off. I'm back to overeating after feeling discouraged because I have lost only a little weight. I feel a nutritionist who has worked with lapband patients could be very helpful to me and would prefer to go here, in Westchester, rather than NYC. I'm wondering whether anyone can recommend an experienced, excellent nutritionist. Many thanks.

Everything's gone well since my surgery last Tuesday except I think I'm still quite bloated and don't know if it's still from the operation or what I'm eating which are only Protein shakes mixed with fruit and/or yogurt or cottage cheese; chicken broth with blended potato; and Tofutti 30-calorie fudgicles. I also don't know what I'm feeling in my stomach - a tightness - is from the healing (there is still a little soreness) or I'm drinking too many liquids. Or this is part of the healing process and it will disappear soon. I would appreciate any ideas! Thanks.

I'm doing much, much better, thanks. I started "mushy" foods on Monday and it's made a world of difference- I'm no longer gassy or bloated. And as of 2 weeks I lost 16 pounds. But this week I'm eating too much in the evening - I'm eating the right foods but too much of everything - it"s as if I don't have the band. During the day I'm okay. Glad you're doing well.

Thank you for calming me down, Christy!

My husband had a knee replacement this past Weds. so I haven't been posting. I was very gassy and bloated until yesterday ( I was banded on 7/17). As of Thursday I've lost 14 lbs. so I'm pretty thrilled. Don't yet feel I can get into full exercise mode yet. How are others doing? Anyone exercising yet?

I was banded on the 17th and just now feel I can go back on the treadmill - but at a slower pace than I did and gradually build back. I will continue weights and squats. I exercise to feel fit, to bend down easily, to squat easily, go up and down stairs without huffinf and puffing. So yes I will continue forever!

Thanks everyone. I'm going to take the dairy out of the shake and see how it goes.

Dear New CC, I have only informed my family, no friends (not even real close friends). I find that my daughters are somewhat judgmental that I'm not losing the weight the regular way. I tell them they are completely entitled to their views but I"m out of options and feel this surgery can help me. So I don't want to deal withy the rest of the world as well, at least not at this point. I'm an open person, so this is different behavior for me. I think part of it is I don't everyone watching me to see how slowly or quickly I'm losing weight on the band. So when I'm where I want to be, I'll probably tell people. I'm not ashamed of it, but maybe I am a little, that I couldn't lose weight the conventional way. Anyhow, I understand why you don't want to talk about it and I agree with you. I find I have enough support from my family and these boards - I don't need any more.

I was told I could drink anything if it could be drunk through a straw. In Mexico, I showed my doctor my protien mix and she said it was fine. Now I'm adding yogurt or creamcheese plus a cup of blueberries but I'm blending it completely in the blender. I'm using the whey protein isolate. I thought this was all okay as long as it was completely liquified and diluted, which it is. You still think this could be the problem? Plus, I am putting 3 splendas into each shake. Thanks.Kat and Betty, would appreciate your continuing to share your thoughts. This is a little bewildering.

Hi Bananie - I'm reading your message and then looking at your loss record. I think it is absolutely amazing you've lost that amount of weight in 8-9 months. Just from that accomplishment alone, I think you can do anything, and I don't even know you!

Yes, my bowels are fine, it's just my belly that is so distended. Sounds like I need to have patience. Thanks so much for the reply.

HIPPA regulations prevent HR from telling anyone at work why you're out, only that it has been medically approved. I do think it's odd not to say anything, especially when so much personal information gets shared among co-workers. I agree with the person who said just sweep it into the hand surgery. Btw, I would try transferring in the company if I were you, or find another job. Bad bosses are HIGHLY stressful.

Hi Hip, I totally get it. I am a compulsive overeater and have literally tried everything, including injecting myself with Byetta, a diabetes med ( I don't have diabetes - yet). It was my weightloss doctor/internist who recommended I consider lapband surgery. I was very worried about my cravings, even with the band. But I decided to go ahead with the surgery which I had done last Tues., July 17, because it was clear that the band is a tremendous control tool. It helps keep me in control - in a very big way. I think Valzie's suggestion to get some therapy is an excellent one. I talked to someone who had the band done a year ago and has been very successful with it. She feels that therapy is critical, at least in the first year, because the underlying compulsive eating order doesn't go away, but it's much easier to address the issues with a lapband. Another thought which has helped me a lot: when I stopped smoking, I missed it terribly but I also loved the freedom I felt from not having to have a cigarette right after Breakfast and continue with my 2 pack habit throughout the day, not to worry that I was running out of cigarettes, not to think about I had to buy them before this event or that event. Overtime that freedom not to smoke became more important than anything else and now, if it were declared cigs didn't cause cancer, I wouldn't go back, that's how much I don't like it. We can't give up food like cigarettes so the challenge is different. Right now, just 7 days post-op I'm still on liquids and somewhat bewildered how this is all going to work out, but I do feel a freedom from not having to compulsively stuff myself. When I stopped smoking I realized that if I even took a drag of a cigarette, I would be right back. So I never kidded myself. I feel similarly about this surgery. I have to follow the rules or it won't work. If I deviate, I'm kidding myself. I am looking forward to solid food and basically eating healthy. Best of luck - I know you'll make it.

Hi Linda, I see you were banded by Dr. Lopez and am curious how the experience was with him and his team, and how youre doing. NYU Medical Center gave me the names of 2 dr. in Mexico, Dr. Lopez, and the one I just used, Dr. Rumbaut. I got banded this Tuesday and have no complaints other than th usual soreness. I thought Dr. Rumbaut and his team were wonderful, the hospital really beautiful ( private rooms, amazing polished granate bathrooms) - the only drawback was the nurses didnt speak English. It was one night in the hospital, discharged the next day and 2 more nights in the hotel. 5 p.m. of the discharge day the dietician came to the hotel to address the group and Dr. Rumbaut showed up as well. The fee is $9500 (thats on a supersaver day the hospital gives him, otherwise the fee is $10, 600. I have friends interested in the procedure and would like to tell them about Dr. Lopez as well, so any details you can give me would be most appreciated. Many thanks. P.S. Arent you glad you did it????

hello all july bandsters, especially those banded on july 17th. I haven´t been able to post for quite a while. My computer at home needs to be fixed and while I have a Blackberry, I cant access this whole site nor can I reply to it. Finally Im in a hotel where I can access the boards but since its a Mexican keyboard I cant find certain things, like apostrophes. So please excuse. Ive been able to skim quickly the last 2 boards (people are waiting to use this machine), and everyone sounds real up. Lynette I couldnr find the orginal source of your discomfort. You ate a pancake by mistake and it backed up on you? Were you very ill from that? Sorry, Im sure you explained already but I couldnt find it. I was banded in Monterrey Mexico by Dr. Rumbaut on Tuesday. Everything has gone very, very well so far. 24 hours after surgery I walked through a huge mall. Today Im going to a museum and an antique center. If I get too tired I will come back to the hotel. I think that Dr. Rumbaut and his team are very strong. All the docs and the dietician are expert, professional and warm. It seems to me their overall program is very good. My only criticism is that the nurses in the hospital (which, btw is beautiful, much nicer thanhere) dont speak English and one has to keep getting someone to translate. The hospital plans to remedy the situation by putting all the international patients on the same floor and keeping a translator on the floor. The nurses are already getting English lessons. So that was frustrating, especially since Im here by myself. It seems that many if not most U.S. hospitals do the procedure out patient. I have to say Im glad I was in the hospital overnight. Theres a lot going on, you are in discomfort but everytime the doctor comes by you learn something more and youre being watched carefully and tended to. So I valued that and would have wanted it even if I had someone with me. Then 2 more nights at the hotel and home the next day. So far Im drinking liquids and thats okay. I still could eat, meaning I do have an appetite, but I wont. Im committed to making this work and through the followup support from Dr. Rumbaut (who also had the lapband) and all of you guys, I know I will. I would love to stay on and really message back and forth but Im using the hotels computer and have to get off. I will try to get back in later today. Its interesting I wasnt the least bit nervous about the surgery and those of you who have the surgery coming up - go in confidently. This is really an important thing we re doing for ourselves and our families.

Sorry I've been so out of touch. I was on vacation and then my computer crashed - completely. So I'm here in Monterrey Mexico just with a Blackberry, which makes it very hard to read the threads. I hope everyone who had surgery last week is doing well. It is so frustrating not reading your accounts, you have no idea! I'm having my pre-op testing this morning with Dr. Rumbaut and then an appointment with him this afternoon to review the surgery tomorrow. I have to fast this morning until the tests are done and then liquids until the surgery. This should be easy since I've treated the past 3 weeks like the Last Supper! I'm nervous but excited and know I've made the right decision for me. The only tension right now is the Hamptons Inn where I've been put up. It's in a strip mall shopping center and the surrounding area is a highway where you wouldn't want to take a walk. The hotel is somewhat grimy, the staff at the front desk don't speak English that well, there's really no lobby, no restaurant. Not at all like a Hamptons Inn in the States. The mattress and pillows are terrible and it's impossible to keep the bottom sheet tucked in, although I keep trying. So I did not sleep well last night. I had hoped there would be a park to walk in but it's all a commercial busy highway. Lynette, how are you doing? Yours is the only name I can remember, this is so frustrating! Again, I hope all went well and is going well with the July bandsters!