MMDLynn

:frown:Okay Guys - this is the perfect thread for me. I'm need some help please!!!!! I was banded in Sept 08, I had a fill in Oct and was not restricted and only lost a few pounds so my next fill was in Dec. This time the fill was very tight - and I had problems eating and drinking. I would throw up or pb after almost every meal so I waited 30 days thinking that I needed to concentrate on eating more slowly, chewing slowly. By Feb I was still having a problem so I didn't go back to the Dr - I changed the foods I was eating and began to eat more soft foods like, Soup, chili, Beans - less meat. I cannot eat chicken prepared in any form, baked, broiled, nuggets -etc not able to keep it down at all. I finally called my dr and he suggested that I come in to see him. He didn't want to take any Fluid out but he can't seem to figure out why I'm not losing any weight. It has been 3 months since my 2nd/last fill and I only lost 3 lbs. What the heck is that about -something is really wrong here - why did I get the band?! I have PCOS so my hormones are out of balance and I know I have metabolic syndrome - I'm not getting enough Protein or keeping it down, so my hair is falling out by the hand full and my nails are brittle and breaking - plus my skin is like sandpaper. I'm constipated and miserable, afraid to eat for fear of PB'ing - won't go out to eat at all for fear of spontaneous pb. At home only eating 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup once daily of soup or yogurt, chili, beans. I cannot eat eggs or chicken, meat other than ground turkey in chili. I also pb when trying to eat 1 or 2 spoon fulls of egg salad, chicken salad or tuna salad. Mr Dr. reluctantly did a slight unfill today - very tiny amount removed. I'm still afraid to eat, but I can drink fluids without any pbing, so hopefully I can start eating without an issue. Now I don't know what to do -eat - I need to lose weight and It's not coming off! I thought at 6 months I would have at least 60lbs gone..... Should I only consume liquids for a few days and wait to move back up to solid foods? I just don't know what to do. 6moths post surgery and I've only lost 26lbs.....that's 1 pound per week overall -but 23 of those pounds were lost during pre-surgery liquid diet and the first month post surgery. The last 3 months I only lost 3 lbs - something is wrong here. Can anyone here help me??????:tongue_smilie:

I have PCOS and had lap band surgery 6 months ago- however, my weight loss has been extremely slow on 27lbs total (this is including the 2 week pre-surgery diet & weight loss). I'm fully restricted, even went back in today to have some saline removed as I have been having trouble with all foods & beverages for the past 3 months. I immediately throw up after eating only 1/4 cup of food or liquid. I don't know what to eat or how to eat and my hair is coming out by the hand full, I'm assuming to a lack of Protein intake. Women with PCOS also suffer from metabolic syndrome due to the imbalance of hormones. I'm not on b/c pills but I'm still taking Metformin for the insulin resistence. Yes everyones hormonal make up is different so the severity of the symptoms of PCOS vary. My endocronologist supported me having the lapband surgery - but I was not prepared for the extremely slow weight loss -only 1/2 per week.

Hi Twiley, Yes I had a really bad sinus infection that caused major problems with eating both day and night. I was banded in Sept 08 and I caught a cold the a few days after my second fill first week of Dec 08 that turned into a really severe sinus infection. I would take a bite of any food item and immediately throw up. I had a lot of post nasal drip whenever I would lay down and would wake up nauseated - as my pouch was filled with mucus. My surgeon suggested that I come in for an complete unfill if my symptoms didn't improve. He also suggested that I drink a citrus fruit juice-grapefruit or orange in the morning to help clear out my pouch -then I could drink tea or coffee. It was also better when I could eat and keep it down if I ate hot mushies like chilli or Soup or mashed potatoes. However any pork, chicken or veggies would immediately come back up after 2 bites. I've only started to feel better/clear sinuses a few days ago so I'm still strugglig with when & what to eat. I've had no problem with liquids just food items. I havent' had the unfill yet as I'm hoping things will improve moving forward. However if I continue on this path for another 10 days I will have to go back to have a partial unfill.

:thumbup:Okay I got my first fill this morning and I'm down 20lbs officially (that includes 1 wk pre-op diet). I was expecting alot of pain from the injection since I am not needle friendly but it wasn't bad at all! I received 2cc's and I am stuffed! I could barely drink the cup of water my doctor gave me. He says he fills the band as tight as possible first then he had me sit up with the needle still sticking out of my stomach. He then gave me water to drink and he removed salin until I could comfortably swallow the water. That left 2 cc's in my band. My initial reaction was immediate burping but not like I had to throw up, it was like I had a huge air bubble in my esophagus. I couldn't drink another teaspoon until 3pm when he told me to try some soup and if it went down without any problems I could resume my regular diet. However, if there any PBing or regergitation, I needed to come back immediatly to have some more saline removed. I think I'm okay though. I hope the weight starts to drop now, I'm so ready to be out of the 3's and into the 2's on my way to 1-derland!:smile:

Thinks are not moving for me I've only lost 8lbs. and I've been at a stand still the last 2 1/2 weeks. Whats your diet & exercise like? I'm really stressed out because i thought I should be losiong more than this and I don't know what I'm doing wrong....can anyone help?

I'm not sure if this is the right answer of not, but I think it's because the stomach is so small that the food that you consumed was either not chewed enough to pass through the esophagus and into the stoma to be broken down and pass into the small stomach pouch. You could also have a stomach that is full already and this last bite took you over the limit. The reaction is the same - hiccups (generally), a tight feeling in your chest/esophagus. Then you have this need to throw up, but it's something you cannot control - you don't have that mouth sweat reaction (at I don't) one normally felt -pre-band when they were nauseous. You feel this immediate mucus production in your throat/mouth and then the hiccups start followed by the up chucking of the last bit you tried to consume. It's almost like your body is making room because the pouch is too full and since the food nor the water/beverage can pass through, your body's natural "fight or flight" /self-protection reaction kicks in - if it can go down, it has to come up & out. In the beginning I think we all have a hard time realizing just how small the stomach has been reduced to and how much it can truly hold. I also think the hunger pains are part mental (old habits die hard) and part meal choices. If you are only consuming- liquids, soft mushies (pudding, Soup, oatmeal, cottage cheese), these are passing through the stomach pouch probably within 60-90 minutes tops. If you are drinking while eating mushies too, you are forcing these semi solids through the pouch even faster. This means your body is sending signals that you're not full, i.e. - feed me, so you stay hungry. Well anyway - that's my take on it based on conversations with my surgeon. I just so anxious to get my first fill on Thurs this week so I can start dropping more lbs. I've basically been at a stand still for the past 2 weeks. No gain and no loss. 7 lbs lost pre-op 2 week diet and 8 lbs post-op since 9/02/08. I'm getting really impatient though.

Hey Debbie - how much weight did you lose between your surgery date on 9/23/08 and this week?

Yes he is great - did you lose weight before your first fill or did you lose and then stop? I'm so concerned the scale is causing major drama for me. I've only lost 15lbs over the las 8 weeks - I had surgery 6 weeks ago, so this weight loss includes the pre-op lbs. lost. I thought for sure that by now 8 weeks into this project I would have lost twice this much. I'm eatin the way I was advised ...the only thing I am not doing is hard core exercise. Anyone out there able to share their weight loss results between surgery and first fill. Also weight loss after the first fill and how long between the first and second fill? I'm dying to hear. Thanks Mitri

Hi Kathy, I'm in the SW Suburbs-Brookfield, but work in the Rolling Meadows. Were you banded locally? Has your surgeon/Dr. explained why your loss is so slow? Are you working with a Bariatric Nutritionist? My weight loss is slow as well, I've been banded 5 weeks and go for my first fill next week. I lost 7lbs during the pre-op diet but I've only lost 10lbs since surgery so I'm a little disappointed. My surgeon told me that he was not concerned if I lost any weight at all prior to my first fill. He said the weight would start to drop after the fill and that I would know when it was time to get another fill if I had 2-3 consecutive weeks with no weight loss. He also warned me that the average loss with the band is only 1-2lbs per week. Are you exercising? What are you eating daily, do you keep a food journal/log? If you want to talk or need someone to walk share the journey I'm here!

Not all facilities include fill fees with the surgery costs, so don't go in expecting that. Should you change facilities your fees/costs for each fill will probably not be covered.

You're right Kiz, I meant not to drink with meals and each meal should keep me full for 4-6 hours. When I see people post weight loss of 25-30lbs. during their first month post OP - I have to wonder what am I doing wrong.

Hi Nina, you've lost a great amount of weight - how much of your 28lbs was post op? What are you eating daily? I'm so confused I'm trying to get some answers as to why my loss is so slow.

I was finally banded on 9/02/08 in Chicago by Dr. Shayani. I did have to do an pre-op diet but I did lose 7 lbs. before surgery. However since my surgery I've only lost and additional 13lbs and tomorrw is 1 month post op. I'm confused as I don't know what to eat. My Dr. says eat food - no mushies, liquid shakes, etc. He says I should eat to fill the pounch and not drink any liquids between meals and each meal should last 4-6hours. I still don't know what to eat though. I thought I would be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks post op, followed by mushie foods for 2-3 weeks then onto soft foods 2-3 week after that. Then it would be time for my first fill - or at least this is the plan that so many have posted on this web site. My Dr. is totally against liquid shake supplements, so I'm all confused and don't know why I'm not losing any weight. After 3 years of trying desperately to get Insurance approval for the band - I now have it and the weight just isn't coming off they way I expected. Can anyone help me????

You don't have to continure seeing the surgeon that performed your lap band surgery - especially one that is not cooperating with you. I would look into seeing one of the recommended doctors above -but first call to have a phone consultation if possible so that you're not wasting time trying to see a Dr. that doesn't have any opening. Think about it - there are hundreds of Lbanders that get their surgeries in South America and then come back home to the USA to follow up with local Dr.s for all fills. Don't settle for less than average support from anyone - you deserve better than that!

Okay now I feel like a complete failure! I only lost 15lbs and I too had surgery on 9/02/08. Today is 3 weeks later and I havn't lost any weight since I weighed last week Tuesday. My surgeon told me to push past the mushy stage and try to eat solid Proteins until I get that stuffed feeling - is this why my weight loss has stopped? I don't have a fill scheduled until 4 weeks from now and if I remain stagnant at this weight I will die! Now the solid proteins (chicken, eggs, etc.) really are hard to take in and I've had a few episodes of PBing afterwards. I've only done this new eating since my post op visit on 9/11/08 - but I think I had better go bacdk to liquids & mushy foods - I need to lose more weight before the fill. Can anyone help me???? What foods are okay on the mushy food list?

I need help.

Thanks to Jeni, I too had my surgery performed by Dr. Shayani at St. James Bariatric Center in Olympia Fields, IL last week Sept. 2nd, 2008. It was by far the best decision I've made regarding my health in a long time. There was practically no pain, just some discomfort. My incisions look like a series of 5 paper cuts,with the exception of the port site -it is the longest and deepest cut. I've lost 15lbs. since my starting weight 1 month ago. This included the 2 week pre-op diet and the 1 week post op check today! I'm so excited but hungry now - no fill scheduled for 6 weeks by Dr. Shayani. He is absolutely amazing -the best bed-side-manner you've ever encountered! I highly recommend him.

I had my lapband surgery on Sept 2nd at St James in Olympia Fields, IL by Dr. Shayani and it was so simple. I stayed overnight for observations no complications before, during or post surgery. The staff was great and Dr. Shayani is by far the best surgeon I've ever encountered. He has the bed side manner of doctors you've seen in the movies. He calls you, emails you - his follow up is just unbelievable! He's simply the BEST! I feel a little discomfort, but no real pain. The most discomfort is coming from the excess gas in my stomach due to the air they had to pump in during surgery. The scars are small and I can't wait for the pounds to start melting away. I'm not hungry so it's difficult to get in all the Protein and Water I need to consume daily because you get full so fast. It's easy to feel the feelin of satiaty. :tt2:

Carly can I just say THANK YOU! My surgery is Tuesday 9/02/08 and this is exactly what I needed to know. I'm so anxious right now and not knowing what to expect was really taking it's toll on my. Your experience has really helped me so much!

Hi Jill, I too keep a crazy schedule like yourself and I train in the classroom at a 24hour call center. I started my pre-op diet last week and I've been doing the following - I purchased the wide mouth Water bottles - 20 oz. Life Water or Propel - I purchased 6 just to have a round number. I drank the water out of them all - and I use them to store my daily Protein shakes. I mix each shake 8oz and store 2 shakes per bottle to bring with me to work. Plus 2 bottles of water and I also have a Protein Bar in case I get hugry in between shakes. I have my meals at home - no matter what time of day or night that I'm home and it's usually a medium to large salad with only lettuce (no iceberg as it's only water has very little nutrition value). I add 3-4 oz protein - chicken, turkey or fish and a sugar-free low or no carb, low cal salad dressing. That's it. While I'm at work I drink the half a bottle of the shake - wait 3 hours and have the other half, in between I drink one of the 20oz bottles of water. Believe it or not after the 3 day of this diet I wasn't really hungry - don't get me wrong my craving for sugar and bread was driving me crazy day 1 & 2, but by day 3 90% of my cravings had disappeared. It's working for me so far - my surgery is a week from Tuesday - Sept 2nd! I'm so excited! Good Luck - you can do it - just think of it a preparation for your new lifestyle.

I'm using Medifast it is the same as Optifast and a little cheaper. Go to Medifast1.com

I was denied by BCBS in the fall of 2005 at the time my BMI was 49 and I was insulin resistant with PCOS only. I have since gained weight with a BMI of 53 as of May 2008 and become a full type-II diabetic with high blood pressure on medication and joint pain. I was approved in 5 business days after the paperwork was sent through to BCBS. The only difference this time besides the increased BMI/weight and hypertension was the 12 month physician monitored diet/weight loss plan that went with it. In 2005 BCBS requested a 6month plan, but my Doctor said let's make it a year so that there is no excuse from them. It worked and over the past year I tried 4 different diet plans, weight watchers, nutrisystem, Jenny Craig and FDA low fat, low calorie diet - I gain 18lbs during these 12 months. Don't give up keep trying - they have a set rule that they follow, 6 month physician supervised diet, at least 2 comorbidities BMI over 40 - they simply will not approve if these 3 things are not met unless there is a really great medical risk. Don't give up!

My doctor said that the pre op diet varies from patient to patient and that some people including surgeons compare the requirements for Gastric Bypass to lap band. The Gastric Bypass requires a minimum of 2 weeks pre op liquid only diet to help remove fatty deposits from the liver because the surgeon must go under the liver for the bypass operation. The lap band requires manuevering under the liver as well so a pre op diet to reduce 10 lbs -i.e. liquid diet prior to lapband is all that is really required, but the surgeory can still be performed without it. It just makes it easier on the doctor and patient if there is at least a 10lb pre surgeory weight loss to deflate the liver by reducing fat. My surgeon said that most bariatric surgeons perform both bypass and lap band and stick with one platform to keep things simple, so they put all patients on the bypass preop plan.

I'm so happy for you Laura! I got my surgery date too it's on Sept 2nd!!! I am so excited for the two of us - I promise to check in after surgery too to give an update - you do the same!