DebraSV

Me too! . They took fluid out. But I totally lose the appetite supers sant effect. Ugggghhhhh. Why at 3.5cc at one time I was at 5.3cc I just don't know what went wrong. This whole last year my body just seems to fight it.

Lap band worked great for a year. Not slipped but can't take a fill.

Have already called. They said to come in if I stop urinating. To push liquid. Then get in 1st thing Monday. If those don't hold I will have to go in. But I have already experienced the eroom. They have little knowledge and call the surgeon but my or may not ever get around to taking out fluid. Weird to be up to 5.5 ml and now just over 3 with major struggles!

Have already called. They said to come in if I stop urinating. To push liquid. Then get in 1st thing Monday. If those don't hold I will have to go in. But I have already experienced the eroom. They have little knowledge and call the surgeon but my or may not ever get around to taking out fluid. Weird to be up to 5.5 ml and now just over 3 with major struggles!

Ok. So I'm just getting this app. But I see many posts about really bad struggles. I think I'm joining the ranks but if anyone has advise I'd love to read it. ...I got banded over 2 years ago. 1st year was wonderful. Then stress hit and my stomach went crazy and I kept having to take fluid out. Then they adjusted my stomach meds and over the course of 4 or 5 months I gained 10lb.i went back last week for a small fill. Did great through Friday. Then yesterday I couldn't get anything down. I'm starting to do the same today. I need the presume for appetite control. But I don't seem to tolerate it now. I don't know what to do .

I have not contributed or participated in a very long time, But I hope this may be of some help. I have made wonderful progress with my lap band but it has not been without significant issues. I lost most of my weight by November last year (9 mo). But starting mid May I started having more and more problems with eating. After a month of losing way more food than I was able to keep I finally talked with my nurses. I had to go in and have a couple of ccs taken out of my band. Which I did NOT want to do. But it turns out my sensitive stomach did not go away with lap band surgery. I have a limited capacity to take in the Protein shakes, so I have to use them judiciously. I can use Lactaid to help, but after a few days in a row of one or two, that's it. I tell you that because after a fill I have at least 2 full days when i really cannot eat. Most mornings I cannot eat, but I have to use something to get my Vitamin and meds down without me getting nauseated and I was using the shakes for that. That had to change. Once they got me past 4cc, I really had to work at what I could eat. Crackers worked but they are not what they want me to eat. I found that for Breakfast I need very little, but I have to go with whatever works. The rest of the meals I am able to stick to my plan pretty well. When my stomach is super irritated I have to revert to bland slider foods. if that does not calm things down my next step is to check with my GP to see if I have some kind of stomach virus or UTI going on. More times than not I do. If none of those work, then my final resort is to call my surgeons office and have a little taken out. I always put it back in 2 to4 weeks. I have found that texture is everything, and anything that is cooked dry or stringy is never going to stay down for me. But overall I can eat a wide variety, I focus on the protein, and try to keep it "chunky". I am to a point that I do use fruits for Snacks from time to time, but I don't eat a lot of snacks as a norm. On days when my band is tighter, I sometimes have to eat 4 or 5 very small meals to get enough to keep me going. After having several tests and a couple of upper GIs we can clearly see my pouch is pretty small. I often have symptoms of a slip, but it has been checked many times and I have had no slippage. Its just me. I admit it can be very aggravating, but it definitely beats the alternative. Though there are many struggles, they all seem minor in comparison to being able to achieve a pretty healthy weight. I know I will never be skinny, but I am so much better off than I was. I never thought I would wear mediums as a norm, but Here I am. So if you are having similar problems, just know it is a very manageable situation.

First- What exactly is sliming? Also, How do you know you need a fill or just need to adjust eating? I have not had a fill in about 6 weeks. I have been losing about 2lb a week ( except for our 2 week cruise where I did not gain!!), and things are slowing down to about a lb. a week. I have not been following any real quantity rules, because I have only been told to eat Protein first, then greens, then carbs. I was told my band would basically limit me to 3/4c or so per meal. And I am so tight in the morning that all I can get down are liquids, or carb loaded things that dissolve very quickly. Protein comes back up every time. lunch is about a 3/4c limit. But I have always had an evening appetite issue and even though my quantities are much better, I am still able to eat well over a cup for dinner. Like I can eat a full cup or more of green salad and still get 3 oz of meat down with no issue at all. Sometimes I can even add a little carb to that. I guess I'm asking if I should get a fill and let my band restrict me more, or if it is something I should kick will power in for and just make myself eat less? I was really hoping to let my band get me to a point where my portions were such that I would not have to worry. That I would simply have to worry about making good choices. What do you all think? Especially those of you with lots of experience?

Wow. No I had not seen those videos and that's a lot of info. Clearly there are some differences in my surgeons guidance and the guy on the video. I know my band was placed with approximately 25-30% of my stomach above the band. I also find it very interesting that my doctors really don't want us drinking with the meal at all. They prefer 30min prior and 1 hr after. Also they prohibit carbonated beverages because they supposedly stretch the band. So not quite sure how to apply the differences. But I am definitely eating too fast, and my bites are probably too big at least 50% of the time. I also have a tendency at night to eat until I feel full,so that is definitely not good. Thanks for sharing the info. I am probably still more in the yellow than the green since I do get hungry, and I definitely eat more than 3X per day, so I have lots of room for improvement.

If you could follow my progress it was very similar. I lost about 6 lbs in the post surgery liquid phase, and then nothing for at least 3 months and 3 fills. I went into surgery at like 215lb., and After the liquids I sat at 209 for the longest. But I was expecting that, I was told that was a norm. I was told to focus on protein then green veggies and if I was still hungry I could add some carb. I did lose inches regularly, and there were a few occasions ( usually special events) where I strayed a little, but not much. Then I got a fill and it was really tight. I lost like 3 lb and over that month got like another half lb off. Then I got my next fill, and had to have a little removed, but the pounds started coming off pretty regularly. But it is still slow. Which is really good to allow your skin to catch up and you look and feel so much better. I am still not sure I have hit the "green zone" or if I will have to kick in will power more because things are slowing down again for me. But I ma hoping to gain some insight on that when I go to the doctor in a couple of days.

I had issues with my last fill. they kept me on liquids for 2 days. When I never loosened up at all they had to take a little out. But I have never tried papaya enzymes, or meat tenderizers or aloe or anything.

SO Excited. I am finally dropping. I think I have it the green. I am at 5.4 cc in a 10 cc band after my last fill. BUT I am really struggling with getting things stuck. I know part of it is eating too big of a bite, but it really happens without me thinking; Esp. for my evening meal. But I also struggle with eating too fast esp. during my evening meal as well. But I have managed to get stuck several times since my fill last Wednesday. I don't want to go back and have Fluid taken out until I know that I am just too tight. But does anyone have suggestions for remembering to cut food up really small, and chew really thoroughly and eat slow, especially when talking or trying to operate on a time line?

2muchfun, You may be a genius! I had really not considered this as a possibility before your post last week. but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if that was a lot of my problem. So I started really trying to determine, not hungry v. full v. overfull. And I had a whole weekend of no sticking!!!! I have found that I am to a point that not hungry is pretty much 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of whatever. But when I stop at that point I don't last but a little over 2 hours. Full is usually around 1 c to 11/4c. And when I stop I am still comfortable but I tend to last about 3 to 4 hours. I also found that when I over do it by a bite or two I get that tickle at the base of my throat that comes just before I feel stuck. And then the burps set in. I have also discovered I have about a 2 bite tolerance or range between full and too full. Thanks so much for your post! It has really helped!!!

Just curious. I have really been struggling with irregularity. I haven't had those issues in over 18 years. But I may go 3 days and things get pretty backed up. Does anyone else have these issues? Solutions? Our doc recommends Milk of Magnesia, but it does nothing for me.

I am not getting much of the signal until a few minutes after I stop. Then I almost always get burping hiccups. I'm guessing that may mean I have gone too far? I am cutting things up really small to eat. but just last night I put a piece in my mouth, began to chew, then felt a large portion slide down my throat, and yes it got stuck. I really have to make sure the food stays forward in my mouth. If it gets past my back teeth, its gone! This is quite a learning curve.

Thanks for the insights. So I may not quite be at the green zone yet. It looks like as I cut smaller, chew more and slow down, I can still put a good bit away, I have now gone 2 consecutive days without a stick ( knock on wood), and realize that the stuck episodes just really make me not eat. So as I focus on the habits i need i am eating more than I think significant weight loss will allow. I will just have to see. I love the idea of the small spoon and cocktail fork Bandista! and can really relate to how ridiculous this slow eating is! Wow I hope I can learn in less than 10 mo.... but who knows. The stubborn runs deep!LOL SO does anyone ever get in a hurry to eat and go? If so do you just skip the eat or what ? I had no idea I did so much squeezing of meals into my schedule. If I don't have a full 45 min to 1 hour its pretty hopeless for me.

Just a followup since I got this started. Thanks for all the advice. I tried the fiber and alone it did not help. I tried the Mg tablets, but they did not help either....since Milk of Magnesia (MoM) doesn't do it for me, I guess I should not be surprised. But I did find that acidophiles(a probiotic) did the trick. I keep taking the fiber as well, I am sure I can use it since my fruit and veggie intake is way down overall. This combination seems to do the trick for me in case it helps anyone else. My fluid intake is also really important. But overall feeling MUCH better!

Thanks for all the input. I had no idea it was such an issue with so many! I did search several related terms and found nothing. I Mau not have done it correctly. I think i will try the Mg and if necessary a fiber supplement.

Question, do you have to worry about too much Mg i the system? I have high BP and am just curious. never mind.... Web MD says this...Magnesium is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth or when the prescription-only, injectable product is used correctly. In some people, magnesium might cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other side effects. Doses less than 350 mg per day are safe for most adults. When taken in very large amounts, magnesium is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Large doses might cause too much magnesium to build up in the body, causing serious side effects including an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, slowed breathing, coma, and death. think I will try it.

Nothing Big. Had my first fill yesterday and all was well. Surgeon was pleased with my healing and that I had kept the weight loss form all fluid diet off. Seemed like I was doing things right so far.

When was your surgery....how much did he give you for the first fill....and when do you go back to see him? And since it was your first fill, did the Dr. explain why he was doing it? What was his objective? I'm always surprised at how many people were never informed as to the expectations from the fills.... My Dr. was very clear...he referred to the Yellow-Green-Red chart on the wall and said THIS is where I we want to e, and THIS is our goal.....(Green Area) My surgery was 17 Jan. I was given 1.8cc and received an additional 1.8cc. All I know is we are trying to gradually get me to the "green zone" for steady weight loss. I was told this would probably reduce my intake quantity slightly, and I would feel tighter initially due to some swelling. Other than that not much was discussed. I was to stay on liquids the rest of the day, and I did, but I cannot really feel that any swelling took place. My intake ability is down about half a cup. And I feel full a little longer. Is there anything else I should know. He did tell me he woudl expect me to need another fill or two before I reached my "green zone."

I have to say my surgeon would not agree. But my personal experience would. I find drinking before helps me get fuller faster. Not sure why I am not supposed to do that I just know I was told not to 30 min prior and 60 min after. However, I absolutely cannot handle the fluid after I eat. maybe a sip for clearing my throat or something, but it is more than my stomach can hold. And if something is tight, it definitely doesn't help that situation for me. I was told that drinking after causes the food to move through faster. I just can't handle it, so I have to wait at least 45 min or so.

For my bigger pills I had to cut them up into 8-10 pieces and just for caution I put them in applesauce to get them down. But i do find that a sip or two of water before a meal has not had any negative effect for me. I do avoid the liquid after eatting,though, when I have felt I needed a sip or two because of a crumb in th ethraot or something a ittle spicey it made me feel miserable.

I don't know that this is any help, but I can relate. I am pleased at my pre-op weight loss, and my Dr. and nurses were very emphatic to let me know that prior to my first fill was all about getting well, nit losing weight, I really did not expect to gain. But working on 3 weeks post op I got too adventurous I guess and am now up 2 lb. But I hvae not followed anything rigidly becasue I have tons of Jello and SF pudding and Yogert left from the post op period, and I was only at a no-eatting status for 3 or 4 days. I have had lots of fun with gas, which is also very normal, but between trying to figure out if I can choose foods that will help ease that, and seeing what I can and cannot eat comfortably, I ahve not kept up with carbs and such. ALSO I found out that they were not kidding about how muc you could eat after the swelling was gone. Though my portions are significantly smaller I can easily put away 2 or so cups of WELL CHEWED food. Sometimes I run out of time before I run out of hunger. I a also trying to manage that often I get hungry after only 3 to 3.5 hours. Sometimes drinking helps but somethimes not. Though I strated learning and practicing the "right " habits back in September, I found out that I was not nearly as consistent as I needed to be. So with all this learning and healing I have not been true to the chunky low carb diet as I should be and therefore have gained. It really helped me to do a ton of reading on this site both befoe and after surgery. By reading I was aware that my weight loss would likely start slow. And truely I will be happy if I haven't gained by my first fill. I have also found out that not everyone has the same issues. Fore example, flour tortillas are trouble for me , the softer the worse, Some noodles from Soups no less are also troublesome. But I have no issues with eggs and toasted bread. Softer bread I can only handle in very small and tiny doses. I do fine with lettuces as long as they are cut really fine or shreded. But otherwise they can give me trouble. It just goes on and on. Based on what I have read and what several others have said will power is huge on the front end of this. And since we can eat more early on exercise is much more important. I am trying to keep a perspective that I hope to have started regualr weigt loss by the end of March or so. I am not sure that you will ever suceed without some degree of self control, so It is really great that you are doing so well on that end.

I am curious, I am4 days post op. Everything I eat causes massive gas. Is this normal?

I cleared all the pre-op checks yesterday and I report to Surgery early Friday Morning 17 Jan. I am anxious and excited. I am very anxious about keeping up with all the lifestyale changes that are required. But I have done pretty well through all the prep for surgery. I also have a number of minor stomach issues that could meke things a bit more complicated, so that makes me a little nervous. I am looking forward to getting this weight off my knees and adopting an eatting lifestyle that will benefit both myself and my husband as he is diabetic and I do the cooking.