VegasGrace

I feel your pain! For real! Just know this..... if you go in for fills like you should....you will reach a point where you will physically be limited on the quantity of food you can intake. Once that happens....you will lose weight. I ate like a pig for years, did after being banded, too...although I tried to diet. Once I got restriction, that in itself was a tool for me to begin to relearn how to eat. Good luck!

I didn't have a mushy stage either. It was liquids for healing and then as soon as I wanted to try solids, I could. But I had to be cautious. I was eating regular food by weeks end. And even still now, if I find something isn't going down well, I won't eat it.

Saw your post and wanted to let you know I was also a June bandster, best time of the year! I was banded in 07. And look at me now. The band can and does work! Congrats and keep us posted on your progress.

Hi, no problem. You didn't flame me...you stated what I stated. But you just missed what I said....my last statement. Exercise is vital for a healthy life...and I'll say it again 'exercise is important for a great life. And I disagree, everyone on the board has different experiences. And we all have many ways of accomplishing the same thing. So if a member comes to the board frustrated because what they are doing isn't working out for them...they can read what others do. They will get many ideas and they can decide what they'd like to try or bring to their doctor's attention. And for those that can exercise....great! But there is a small percentage of our population who are wheelchair bound or do not have the use of their legs for whatever reason. For these people, like me.... aren't able to use their large muscle group for typical exercise. They 'move', can do arm exercises, etc.....can be active...but just because they don't exercise by your definition...well, it's all quality of life. Although I've come from a wheelchair and walker...yep, the kind with a basket and seat..... although I don't 'exercise' by your definition, my quality of life is enriched by the band and weightloss has given me more mobility. And now I can actually walk the length of a grocery store, or enjoy walking out to my garden. So like I said my post was for those who aren't like you and most people...it's for me and people like me who have limited mobility. But your post was great....people who can exercise should...but at least they know they have options.

Hey, I'm back. My daughter wants lipo around her waist. Although it's cosmetic... ever since she was little she has had this 'band' around her waist. She's always complained year after year but now that she's 18, lost alot of weight from babyfat (she never was heavy...maybe pudgy)...that band is still around her waist. Tijuana is our place to go to MX. As I can't afford traveling deeper into the state...unless they offer a shuttle or something from the border. Any recommendations?

Erica, glad you said that. Someone [seeming like they genuinely wanted help] came on saying they were at a plateau and were frustrated. I recommended eating a Krispey Kreme and a coke (or what they could get down...it's so sweet I have a hard time eating half of one). Needless to say, I was blasted for my comment. Everyone else said exercise more, eat less, count calories, food journals, etc. Simply.... at a plateau, the body does need a little shocking as you put it. The body needs to know you aren't trying to kill it (starve it to death thereby going into survival mode and ceasing weight loss) and 1 dose of something sweet usually does the trick. It will also 'move' you as well.

d Oh, I see, you mean like failing at diets...failing at the band. I get it. No, actually to answer you....I haven't read that at all. I've heard some having been banded years before with no weightloss...but they admit to not getting their recommended adjustments. But someone actually getting adjustments and not losing weight...never heard of it. But I have read a few bandsters claim they had to get an unfill because the restricton was too much....only to read on that still eat alot. Others wouldn't call that restriction...but because they have a need to eat alot of food, they do. For sure the band isn't for everyone. A potential patient must commit to giving up large quantities of food. And not what they consider large...what the doctor considers large.

Not had a problem with gas. Now bad breath....that's another issue!

Inamed recommends 4 weeks in between fill adjustments. Of course, every doc is different and will alter the recommendation to suit his/her need, or yours. Mine followed the recommendations exactly and it only took 2 fills. If your insurance limits the amount of fills, ensure you don't get less than the recommended fill. I'd go early in the morning so that if you need to go back for a slight unfill you can do it that day, or the next. Getting overfilled isn't an emergency as anyone can skip a meal or two...might not be fun...but you won't die or anything. But being over restricted can cause complications.

I love the language of math, that's why I did so well with the Atkins diet a few years back. A fat cell must have carbohydrate to metabolize it, aka shrink it. Those who just totally avoid sugar/carbs will not lose weight from fat. Also, the only type of fuel the brain can utilize is carbohydrates...that's why when some diet and drastically reduce sugar...get memory problems and can't concentrate. If you don't supply the energy for the body thru food...the body will turn to the reserve ....fat. So if you can't burn calories like me due to whatever reason wether it be handicap/disability/or laziness... don't fret. The science supports actual weightloss without exercise...but it's more difficult. Exercise is important for a great life, that's for sure. But if you can't, you have other options like I did.

I wish I could tell you but I'd ask your doctor. Sometimes symptoms can be brought on by dieting in and of itself including dizziness and light headedness. During any weightloss program, a patient should stay close to their doctor. I was prescribed HBP meds but couldn't bring myself to take them. I was in shock that my weight had brought that on and was really confused. It wasn't the wisest thing, I know and could have been dangerous. But a month later I had the lapband and during my next checkup....the doc took me off the meds.

Wow, I eat them. But not like a whole bag pre-band. Just 1 or 2 now.

Inamed recommends patients receive 2 cc for their first adjustment 6 weeks after surgery. That's what I got. They then recommend .5 cc every 4 weeks until you reach that spot. I got that with 1 fill of .5 cc. Inamed really knows their stuff.

I thought people did. I read about band failures and patient failures quite frequently on this forum. My thinking is people may tend to 'quit'...thus fail. Someone can only fail if they themselves quit. If the band is defective, that's another thing.

Don't worry about weightloss for the first few weeks after surgery. Enjoy this time and eat. Restriction will come, just give it a chance. If you allow the band to do what you are paying it to do...you'll lose the weight. And to answer your question, 6 weeks...that's when Inamed recommends the first adjustment; however, every doc is different.

Well, it's a guidline really, not a rule. Reminds me of Pirates...remember the line about the code?

Afraid of it? Never heard about that...don't know of anyone who is aftraid of Atheism. Might not agree with it, but afraid? I don't think so. But unlike you, if my child (being a child) wanted to be exposed to something that I didn't agree with...I wouldn't let them. I don't agree with MTV so it doesn't come thru our house. I don't agree with smut magazines so it doesn't come to our house. I pitched a fit when a Victoria Secrets catalog came. Parents should monitor what their children are exposed to. I guess if my daughter came home and asked me to see something like SAW or some other horrible flick, I'd say no. There is no benefit. Now, if she said she wanted to learn more about the holocaust and wanted to watch Schindlers List or something....I've have to seriously consider it as it would add to and enrich her life. What I'm getting at is personal preference. Just because I don't want my children exposed to certain things as a child doesn't mean I'm keeping them from things that would make them a better person, on the contrary, it's about responsible parenting. And those movies you mentioned, we didn't see them because they didn't look interesting. Another movie with talking animals and war...haven't we done that enough? My kids think so. So, afraid, no.

Wow, to shorten that list it should have just said, "After being banded you may not can eat certain foods. Just try a small amount and chew well. If you have an adverse reaction, put it on a DO NOT EAT list." I eat alot of those foods on the list as well. And there are some foods I can't eat that aren't on the list. But just because I have a problem with it doesn't mean someone else will.

Wait a minute! You've lost 23 pounds and haven't even had an adjustment and you're wondering why you aren't losing more weight? WHAT! You are the luckiest bandster I know. You shouldn't have lost your first ounce until after you reach restriction....any weightloss is a bonus. So consider yourself bonused!

Hmmm....mine is like a pear, not apple. But I have no clue. My doc said if you drink Water under fluro and it doesn't empty as fast, but it's not the restriction....that's the stretched pouch...you can see it on the monitor. I just don't know why the abrupt halt in weightloss. But don't give up...you've definitely come to the right place to ask...someone will surely give you ideas. Good luck!

Wow, never even thought of that...and they are good? What brand are they? Is it Creamscicles brand...whatever that is or does it go by another name? Thanks for your post! You've given us something new to add. I don't see why it wouldn't work...but always ask your doc.

Hi, I was like you, thinking how could it work since I can't diet. Haven't dieted and still don't diet nor do I exercise (but you should) Let the band do it's job and you'll lose the weight.

Many will say it's because you should drink Water. Many will say because the carbonation will cause the stomach to 'blow up' with air and stretch. Others will say because it will rot out your teeth. And then there's the new research released saying diet sodas can actually cause you to gain weight...hear that one yet? Something about because of the taste, your brain expects it to be sweet...therefore doing something to the metabolism...but the sugar never comes and so....well, it's supposed to not help in weightloss. I'm sure others will respond but my doctor has told me no such thing and I from time to time will have Mt. Dew or Coke. I used to drink 3 a day preband, but over the past year I've gotten down to about 3 a week. My goal is to give it up altogether...but this is a process.

The simplicity of the concept. It's not rocket science. Plus the costs are so much cheaper and by looking at it over a few years, the costs are way less than WW, gym memberships, diet foods, pills, tears. And then there's the fact that if I ever need to, I can adjust the band to help me KEEP IT OFF. My twin had a RNY. She's happy with the results, but I am too.

I think Whoopie Goldberg could do well with the lapband. She's talked about how...well, she publicly goes on diets...but they have always failed her. She loves chips, as did I. But she shouldn't be too thin, though. Part of her persona is her presence. Oprah even looked horrible a few years ago when she dieted...she was too thin and it didn't look good on her. I like to see, especially on tv...real women. Not everyone was meant to be a size ZERO. And to see a range of sizes on tv is good for kids.