PamJ4

I agree, Janell, that I am also very happy for those who are on the fast track and have lost a lot. For those of us who are making slower progress or are still struggling, the frustration level is high. I was originally told my VG band holds 10 cc's but later found out (months AND months later) that it holds 14. At 7 ccs and eating at least a cup and a half without drinking means another fill is coming for me, hopefully next week. However, I know I need to exercise more and am still having some trouble with the no drinking before/during/after the meals rule. :teeth_smile: I do feel better than I have in a long time and 35 lbs. is STILL a chunk of fat I've lost (hopefully forever :thumbup:) and want to stay positive, looking to the future for more successes even if they come slowly. My mom is having some of the same issues, so at least we've got each other for support. This site has helped me a great deal because my surgeon is an hour away and I haven't found a way to get to the support groups often.

I have some of the same concerns, bgrand, as you regarding stagnant weight loss and time having gone by. I was not given a fill schedule either, but I recently heard my surgeon telling another patient that if the scale hasn't moved down 2-3 lbs. in 2 weeks and you're following all the rules, you need another fill. There is no set amount per fill and it all depends on how tight it will feel to your doctor when they insert the saline. Without drinking, I can still eat a dinner plate full of salad, so I know I've got to get another fill....and the fact that if I eat a smaller amount, three hours later I'm getting famished. Neither should happen if I'm set up correctly. When the band is at the proper tightness, small meals only should fit and weight should be continually and gradually dropping. It is very frustrating that it doesn't happen quicker, but of course weight loss that is slower is longer lasting and more permanent.

I was banded a year ago and have only lost about 35 lbs. to date (factor into that a 6 month hiatus in a lot of activity due to blood clots after the surgery.....). Frustration over not having lost more in a year's time is a MAJOR understatement!:Banane06: My VG band holds 14 ccs and it is at 7. I'm often hungry during the day (even though mornings are tight) and if I eat a small meal, my stomach is growling later at night for more... Not sure if I need another fill or what?!?! :Banane03: Anyway.....what is the recommended calorie allotment per day for a bandster? I know at this point I can eat at least a cup or so of food (which many people in my support group say is 'about normal' - who knows!) but that doesn't seem right to me since I'm on a plateau with my weight loss the last few months. Very very frustrating. Especially when people at work know you have a band and are looking at you to see what you've lost (and keep asking....) and are watching what you eat. I feel like a failure but I'm so not willing to give up after all I went through. Any help or advice is very appreciated! :Banane11:

I don't know what I would do without LBT at times! Very often the doctors (who many have never had a weight problem, but are sensitive to the issue and want to help) have their own idea as to what is going to happen and how, but it's not the reality. :confused2: Having these wonderful people on the boards share the good, the bad and the ugly is the key to keeping your sanity sometimes. I was banded by a team of surgeons at a hospital one hour from my home, so it is not easy to always make their monthly weeknight support groups. Whenever a nagging question or curious idea comes up, this website has been invaluable in helping me get the answers I need. And there's so much to see and read!!!:biggrin2: Just hang in there and stay in touch with LBT! Banded by Dr. Erbella and Dr. Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL - 6/27/07 Weight loss since surgery = 38.5 lbs. Blood clots discovered 8/1/07 Current fill in VG band - 6.5 cc's Next fill - 6/9/08 (hoping this one will tighten it up enough for a while....)

Thank you for posting these experiences... My mom and I have been banded for about a year but we were given the original impression by our weight loss center and surgeons that we would be much further along than we are. What we have found out is that the weight loss is much slower than we ever expected and we need to pursue more fills until our band is tight enough to keep our weight loss going. We're not giving up, though, and that is for sure!!

For six weeks no bending, no lifting over 5-10 lbs., no strenuous exercise other than walking, and no swimming whatsoever (jacuzzi, pool, ocean). The more you get moving the better you'll recoup; just stick to those rules so you don't have problems with healing the sutures or infections. Good luck!

I have a 10cc band with 6 cc in it (after 5 fills). My question is.....how do you know when the fill is set correctly? I was originally told you would only be able to eat not more than 1/2 cup at a time and feel full without drinking before/during/after meals like we were taught. I can feel the food "plopping" right through the band and can still eat 1 cup or so of food. My last fill the surgeon wouldn't add more saline because he said it felt too tight. I realize I still need to exercise more and that I'm eating too much on occasion, but I end up famished by dinner time. That spells disaster for keeping portion size in check. Even though I had blood clots after the surgery that slowed me down, restricted my exercise time, and kept me from getting fills right away, I wish I were further along with my weight loss. Any thoughts or ideas are very appreciated. Banded 6/27/07 - Dr. Erbella and Dr. Bunch, Bradenton, FL Current weight 261, loss of 34 lbs.

Frustrated as well about not losing fast enough (of course, the holidays do make it tough to get through). I've lost 32.5 lbs. since banded late June last year.....BUT, I had blood clots after surgery :faint: (birth control was the MAJOR clincher, so beware ladies!!), so I was unable to exercise properly or get fills due to the injections needed for the band. Now that I'm down to my last month on blood thinners and starting to get back into the gym, I want to crank up my weight loss. :dance: My big question is....how do you know when you have enough liquid in your band? I was under the original impression that when you can only eat not more than 1/2 cup at a time you were "there." Even following the lap band rules - no drinking before/during/after meals - I can still eat 1 1/2 cups before I feel full, but not stuffed, just satisfied. :hungry: In my thinking, that sounds like I need another fill. I have a 10 cc VG band with 5.5 ccs in it but I can feel my food plop right through the band. My doc said (when he gave me the last .5 cc) that 6 ccs felt too tight, but I'm just not convinced I'm set up right. Can anyone who is more experienced than myself give me some insight on this one? Any advice is appreciated...:help: Banded 6/27/07 at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Brandenton, FL. Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, surgical team.

Not enough protein = hair loss. Too much, not sure other than maybe high calories/fat in your diet and not enough variety in your foods. Everyone has highly recommended Isopure, which you can get at GNC, which tastes fine and can be mixed with water. Each "shake" contains 53g of protein - 2 scoops of mix to 12 oz. water - but the 3 lb. container is about $60. It's worth it if you are having trouble fitting in enough protein each day. I was told to aim for 60-70 grams of protein daily by my dietician. Also, I've been told by my surgeons that potatoes are okay (any form - although, try to avoid fries for the obvious reasons). First fill 9/10 - 3 cc's Second fill 10/8 - 1 cc Third fill tomorrow ...... hope this will set me up correctly since my VG band holds 10 cc's ......weight loss hasn't changed much in the last 2 months! :cry But I'm still thinking positive and hanging in there! Banded by Dr. Erbella and Dr. Bunch @ Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL - 6/27/07

I am in a predicament and need some good advice from those of you who were/are in my shoes. My band was put o 6/27/07 by an excellent team of surgeons, but after the surgery I had several things occur - a thrombosis by the IV site (which went away after a week), an allergic reaction to the liquid hydrocodone (a mid-night call to the surgeon 24 hours later solved that one with Benadryl), and a severe pain in my left leg which lasted 8 days after surgery (then went away for 4 weeks!). Well, the pain in my leg was overlooked due to med reaction I experienced but when it came back this past Monday and wouldn't go away, a blood clot was suspected. By Wednesday night, I was in the ER then admitted for a calf blood clot - which apparently, scarily enough, had been there for 5 weeks!! Now, I've been on birth control for 18 years and I know that increases your chances, and for some reason I feel I should have been told to discontinue that a few months prior to the surgery. No one in my family has a history of blood clots, but now after having spent 3 nights in the hospital, I'm on blood thinners for the next 6 months. They did a CT scan and found 2 clots - one in each LUNG - that the doc feels fairly sure broke off from the one in my leg. I was not even aware of them, so they were very small. But.........now I have to cancel my first fill on 8/13 because they are afraid I'll bleed too much. What I am wondering now is if I should keep my appointment on 8/30 because although this blood clot issue is of number one importance, I just can't see having gone through all I did to get the band to put it off for 6 months while on this blood thinner. I'm on what's considered to be a low dose, but I want my weight loss to begin and maybe that will help things all the way around. Anyone that can share information that will put my mind at ease or give me some good advice is appreciated. I have no illusions as to the seriousness of this complication and have to completely stop the birth control, but I'm too young to be worrying about heart problems and it scares me. :help: Banded 6/27 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL

How long did you "take it easy"? Reason I ask, I'm a teacher and due to report back to work next Monday. The doc at the hospital said it was okay to return to work but I'm a bit scared to say the least. My room is upstairs and I'm concerned about doing something that might be too much strain too soon. I can't take a medical leave just now otherwise that might be a possibility....but I do have all of this week to recover and be on bedrest. This is scary stuff and I'm still processing the whole thing. Also, I thought the blood thinners dissolved the clots but today my PCP told me that all it does is keep more from forming. Should the ones in my system be a concern, I wonder? Are you still on blood thinners?

My surgeon did say not to get discouraged because it is very normal for lap banders to gain a few pounds in between going off liquids up to the first fill. I am one of the unlucky ones who has to wait almost 6 1/2 weeks post op to get my first fill, but I'm staying optimistic and trying to compensate on those days when I overdo it. So far, I've gone up and down about 3-4 pounds, but as of today I'm back where I was post op. :whoo: My fill is August 16th, so I've got to hang in until then. I hope he puts in 2 cc's!! And I can't WAIT until I can get back to the gym.:dance: Banded 6/27/07 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL

Here's something that might help.....there is a terrific list of Protein shake ideas/mix ins as well as a basic recipe for Protein shakes, although you can use any basic vanilla mix in a book I found. (My dietician recommends a bare minimum of 60 g of protein daily for lap banders.) The book is called "Before & After - living & eating well after weight loss surgery" by Susan Maria Leach. Although the book is mainly about her transformation after gastric bypass, the first part of the book is a journal of her journey and much of the thinking and changes she went through still applies to bandsters. :bandit Anyway, the second half of the book is full of recipes and such. The book goes for about $20 or so online, but I checked it out at the library. If you want me to send you the list (I typed it up on Word so I could keep it in the kitchen but couldn't upload it here for some reason), just contact me directly. Good stuff! :hungry: Banded 6/27/07 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL

My team of surgeons tack the port to a hernia mesh and then put clips all the way around the mesh to the muscle. Back several years ago when they first began doing lap bands, they had some patients that had the port flip over, making it impossible to do a fill (not really due to anything severe the patient did). So since then they've used the mesh. Inamed was so impressed with their technique that we were told a few nights ago at our support group that Inamed is going to adapt that procedure as protocol for putting the port in place. Makes sense to me - that is why I think it is always a good idea not to be one of the first for a new procedure....gives time for good old trial and error to kick in to perfect it. Banded 6/27/07 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL. :cat:

My team of surgeons stated no exercise until 6 weeks, that is when the main healing time is up. One of them did, however, state last night at our support group that your body will continue healing that are of the body for up to a year later!! :wow2: They also said no pool, no jacuzzi, no bathtub for 6 weeks either. Until you hit that point, walking is about it (you're not even supposed to be bending over...). I'm just finding it tough to lose weight now because my first fill is scheduled for 8/16 and I miss going to Shapes due to the workout restrictions. I know that will really help me lose more in the meantime! Banded 6/27/07 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL.

My mom and I were banded about 2 months apart (hers on 5/2/07 and mine on 6/27/07). She was getting very discouraged about her lack of weight loss for a while after surgery (I'm at that point now also). :grouphug: Starting with the 10 day liquid pre-op diet up until 6 weeks post, she lost 25 lbs. and I lost 20. I keep saying hang in there until the fills get going, knowing that the restriction would help with more weight loss. My surgeon says this time frame is more like dieting on your own... :hungry: Anyway, she has had two fills (first time 2 cc's and the second 1 cc). She stated the same opinion that was brought up that she felt it was a way for the docs to make more money, due to paying a specialist's co-pay for each visit. The doc assured her that there was a protocol to follow to see how the body adjusts to the fill, so it can't be rushed. She has a VG band (as do I) which holds 10 cc's, so it is frustrating until it is set at the right point. :confused: We just have to be patient and follow the process. I get my first fill on August 16th and every fill 2 weeks thereafter as needed (can't wait). Banded by Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL :cat:

You were lucky - my surgeons had me on not only a 10 day pre-op liquid diet (that didn't include cream soups!) but a 2 week liquid post-op diet. They finally "paroled" me at a week and a half to the mushy stage, which I have a little over a 1/2 week left of that. The thing I find most interesting is some of the foods mentioned on this site that they are eating are on my "forbidden" list from my hospita -things like popcorn, anything fibrous/stringy (asparagus, broccoli, celery, pineapple), anything doughy/sticky, and dry meats such as pork and even some beef. I WAS told :whoo: that I can have thin crust pizza down the line in moderation and for that I am truly grateful since I love the stuff!!! Giving up Pasta and rice is bad enough. Only time will tell what my body will tolerate. Banded 6/27/07 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL :cat:

I was banded on 6/27 and am still learning so much about this topic. This website has been one of the BEST sources of information! It occurred to me while I'm in my last week of mushy foods that it would help to track my Protein intake along with checking fats, sugars, and calories. I created this template to help me on my new journey to make sure I eat the right amounts (and look back if I have trouble after a meal to see what exactly I ate that might have been the trouble) and so forth. Maybe some of you will enjoy using it also! Banded 6/27/07 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL. Nutrition tracker.doc

From what I've heard and researched, beer is the one of the worst forms of empty calories/carbs you can consume. A glass of wine is actually good for the body and won't hurt the band. The problem with anything carbonated is that it can stretch the "pouch" doctors created when they put in your band. This will hurt your weight loss in the long run. A stronger drink won't hurt as long as consumed in small amounts on rare occasions (again, empty calories). If you do drink, try to eat when you do as well.

I had 6 challenging months with a Humana HMO, but finally was approved after my search started. :whoo: This is a good thing, because w/o insurance it would have cost me $16,700 for the 2 surgeon team & hospital I chose. There was a requirement, though, for patients paying via insurance to pay a program fee that was a small chunk out of pocket, but it was well worth it due to the expertise of our surgical team and the care we received both pre/post op at this incredible hospital. My mom and I both had surgery done a month and a half apart at the same place. We first spent months of doing our "homework", then went to their seminar in January, and then had surgery - Mom in early May and me at the end of June. Mom had an easy time of it because she has Cigna and their approval was automatic as long as she had the documentation. The seminar was invaluable in letting us know what type of paperwork to begin collecting, although I already knew most insurance companies required 6 months up to a year's worth of monthly doctor monitored care w/ possibly appetite suppressants. I already had almost a year's worth of care under my belt when we went to the seminar, so that was covered. I even had a year's worth of gym membership by that time also. The surgeons informed me that I would have a real fight :boxing: with my insurance company due to it being an HMO (and I'm under a school district contract/policy, so...) and that they had NEVER had a Humana patient before that got approval. :omg: I informed them that I planned on being the first, due to all the documentation I had collected. Preliminary calls to Humana told me I "could" get approval if I had all the steps followed and paperwork. I can only hope what I went through in gaining approval helps future Humana HMO patients that come to them. It wasn't that Humana people were rude (a little condescending, yes) but every time I called, I got a different set of instructions from a different person. Very aggravating sorting through the bureacracy! My PCP was terrific in writing a letter supporting my medical need for the surgery and copied all my files/labwork going 4 years back along with a bunch of other needed papers....needless to say the fax to Humana was 53 pages long!!! Humana told me to expect 2-4 weeks for their review board to look over my "case" and then I would hear back. Within 3-4 days after that massive fax, I got approval. :clap2: It was time to celebrate!!!! :whoo: I've heard it said that if you don't get approval from your insurance company and it goes into appeals, forget it - you'll never get approval. I say to those of you in that situation, what have you got to lose? Keep trying! My case goes to show you that even what looked dismal at first turned out to be the cloud with the silver lining! Banded 6/27/07 - VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL :cat:

Two weeks out and feeling good! My port area's still tender, but otherwise I'm ok. Gas X chewables are the best for burps that won't come. If it's shoulder/back pain, it's from the CO2 gas they pump into you during the surgery...your body just has to absorb that over a few days. I'm scared to death of vomiting (which I haven't yet:thumbs_up:) because it can cause band slippage - but they do tack the stomach to itself over the band to help keep it in place. I was just wondering who has had this as outpatient (myself included) and who stayed overnight? My doc said overnighters were mainly sleep apnea patients and those with complications, otherwise you go home within 8 hours like I did. Banded 6/27 - VG band - Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, surgical team at Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL :cat:

Sallen21, you hit the nail on the head - I've always said that people with other addictions are in better shape for success ONLY because they can give theirs up forever and never need it again or have to come in contact with it (whether it's smoking, drugs. etc.) whereas I feel a food addiction is more challenging because you HAVE to eat to live. We have to tame the demons that drive us to overeat and use it as a way to make us feel good. Me personally, I laugh with my doc when I say that I have NO problem with becoming an exercise junky! Now that I'm 2 weeks post op, I'm looking forward to my fills because that will remind me of the complications (vomiting, band slippage, severe blockage) will keep me in check. Lap banders have come too far, worked too hard, and paid too much to allow those controllable issues to cause us to fail with this great tool... Most of us have tried every we can think of before having this surgery; it was a last resort for me, so I'm giving it a chance! :clap2: Banded 6/27 - Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Bradenton, FL - VG band :cat:

LOL - I wondered about the toilet tongs, but figured they were for the obvious!! Anyway, does anyone know if Isopure comes in forms other than liquid fruity flavored? The dietician at the hospital where I had my surgery seemed to indicate it came in a non-flavored powdered form so you could add it to any food (at least, I think that is what she said). Tonight I had tuna salad and cottage cheese, so it tasted like ambrosia after almost 2 weeks of Soup and more soup. I don't mind the Protein drinks - you can even add a bit of sugar free pudding mix to them to get a variety of flavors (choc Protein shake + banana cream pudding mix - don't add more than a tbsp. or so or you'll have thick pudding - ha!). The health food store has the spiru-tein brand and they have a Cookies and cream that is really terrific, just needs a little extra splenda so you can fake like you're having a shake from Chik-Fil-A.

My doc said most bandsters won't like how the carbonation feels going down nor the burping attached to it. Also, many people states it stretches the pouch, and that is something we do not need! They suggested allowing it to go flat first if you really like the taste of a particular soda. Of course, that makes it lose some of its appeal, too. Me, I'm a huge Diet Coke fan but I haven't had it in weeks and really don't miss it. Banded 6/27, VG band, Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL

Hi all - I was banded 6/27 and the first few days were awful. Had the same doubts of what in the heck did I do to myself?! I didn't have a sore throat or back/shoulder pain as I was told to expect. Did have an allergic reaction to the liquid hydrocodone the first night, a thrombosis at the IV site that lasted a week, a killer pulled calf muscle that lasted slightly over a week and all the other mess you guys mentioned, too - burping like crazy (thank you, Gas X chewables!!), some chest pain near the port and belly soreness. :sick This week I feel much better, but I am so sick of eating soup!!! The silver lining on my trials is that I'm 20 lbs. down :whoo: since starting the liquid diet 10 days pre-op. Once you get past the hump of the first week it does get better and you feel more optimistic! But, I have to tell ya, I have been hungry - even through part of the first week. So those of you who wrote that you're kind of dieting on your own until your first fill sounds so true! It's weird, but each night I'm having different dreams about food - one night Chinese, one night something else...so I know I'm hungry and sick of liquid food!! A few more days until mushy, thank God! Our first local support group is in 2 weeks, so I'm looking forward to that, too. We have to remember there's such a huge part of this that is psychological and emotional... Good luck everyone on your losses! Banded 6/27 - Dr. Jose Erbella and Dr. Gary Bunch, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL - VG band