Cocoabean

If you have trouble with solids and are relying on sliders, then you probably don't need a fill. Eating highly processed, calorie dense foods that don't hold your appetite for long could be part of the problem. If you had a little less restriction and could eat meats and foods with better nutrtion, do you think you could cut down on your overall caloric intake?

When are you returning? I have a desk job, also. It still was not easy. Get up and move around as much as possible. I drank Special K protien Water mix. It gives 5g without the thickness of a shake. The fatigue will get better with time. Each day will show improvement. Keep yourself hydrated and moving, can you do half days?

Oops, sorry I posted in the Men's room...didn't see the forum.....(bows out gracefully now)

No one is required to get a fill. There should always be discussion between you and your doctor prior to a fill. If you are happy with your satiety level and losing at a good rate, you can wait on a fill. There are bandsters who have lost all their weight without getting a fill.

Thanks, Bob! I had lobster! It went down sooooooo well! Yummy!! 3 years until I am eligible to retire, oh yeah!

That IS what stuck feels like. Probably no permanent damage done. But our doctors give us rules for reasons. Part of the liquid post-op is so that our stomachs do not have to grind and risk tearing the stitches that were placed to hold the stomach around the band. Go back to your proper post-op diet and consider it a lesson learned. Forgive yourself. But you might mention it to your surgeon at your next visit.

For me, chicken breast and hamburger are the meats that give me problems. I still eat hamburger once in a while, but not chicken breast. I also have problems with finger foods, where I tend to take bites that are too big. Dense, doughy breads are sometimes a problem, but it is hit and miss since my last fill. Usually when I get stuck, it is pilot error, not chewing enough, or taking too big of a bite. I got stuck this morning on some potato. I was talking to someone and not payint attention to eating, that is what usually causes it for me! As to fill level, everyone is different as to what provides adequate restriction, and it is also dependent on the manufacturer. I have about 6cc in my 10cc AP Standard band. Some people prefer tighter, some looser. Some have larger bands. Everyone's anatomy is a bit different. If you have more fat around your stomach, the band will fit tighter.

Slippage can occur, but it is not common. Your friend is trying to make a positive change in her life. I believe banding is about the only bariatric procedure being done on teens in the US. I could be wrong, though. You should not try to change her mind either way. Gaining knowledge to talk it over with her is great, but it is ultimately a decision for her and her parents to make. If it were my friend on here, I would want her seeking information to be a sounding board for me, but then supporting me whatever decision I make, even if she disagreed with my choice. True friends don't always agree, but are there to lean on eachother for strength.

The short answer is that if you have a newer band 10cc or larger, if unfilled, you should be able to eat everything. An empty band provides restrcition for very few people.

Great post, and well done! The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked before going ahead with surgery.

Comment qbout NJSizzla's last. I think part of the newly started theads is lack of experience on LBT. I think some do not know there IS a search feature, and sometimes the search can be overwhelming. How many times have we seen a first post in the middle if a thread asking for advice that isn't at all related to the topic at hand? I will admit to being a newly banded person who posted, "why am I not losing?" (please note proper use of "losing" vs. "loosing"). The veterans helped me out a.k.a. Set me straight. I already knew the answer, but in the moment of post-op rush, pain, hunger, joy, and excitement, I had forgotten. It was nice to get a kind respnse from the vets. So, to the long-timers, it seems to be repeated, but to those posting, it might be a first ever post. I try (don't always succeed) to be cognizant of how my respnse might be received. My pet-peeve? Using PB when slime is meant. PB or Productuve Burp, meaning you burp and something comes up, like a baby burps up milk. Sliming and then yakking the stuck something up is NOT a PB in my mind.

Welcome home Melody! I'd put the weight to just being off your regimen and eating out. No matter how well you eat, just getting restaurant food seems to do it. At least for me! Sliming in a jury box was personal experience! I was a juror in a pretty high profile case here. Took a pill and then ate lunch. The pill got stuck, along with everything I ate. Which wasn't alot. But there I was, with a wad of paper towels sliming away in seat #3. There were two defendants and two juries, so there was a jury straight across from us, also. Staring us down, if you will. The gallery was full every day. It was fun trying to casually spit into a wad of white paper towels! At least the judge didn't stop the proceedings to ask if I was ok. Yeah, good times! :biggrin:

What comes to my mind is that she's been able to get her diet and exercise habits to a point that she's had all her fill removed, and maintained her weight loss without it. To me, if she has any fill in the band, then she is still "using it." There are also bandsters who have successfully lost weight without any fill. The band itself provided enough restriction to assist in the weight loss process. Does the lack of fill mean their bands are not helping or doing anything? I don't know. Only the individual can answer that. I'd be interested to know exactly what she meant. For me, personally, I know I will always need to "use" my band to keep the weight off. Take away my fill, and I'd be a struggling fool.

Hey Stacie, you are having a complication, so I think you'd be covered. If not, I've heard of surgeons doing like what Bob is doing, insurance coveres anesthesia and band removal, then you pay a revision fee. Just a note and for what it is worth (which is $0), I'd not hesitate to switch to bypass if my band had to come out. Hang in there. Don't forget, I am going to send you my hubby. That will help pass the time! How's your pressure doing these days? Mine still dips at odd times. Walking down the street at our local Oktoberfest, I started feeling faint. Weird. I hadn't even had any beer at that point! We had to quickly find a place to sit down for a bit. Bob, congrats on the date. I'd suspect there will be quite a bit of pain. Keep the pain meds near by! Not much else to report here...oh wait...yeah...I was taking minutes at a 3 day meeting for my bosses boss and his peers. 14 managers. Well, guess what happened??? Yep, I got stuck! DORK! Why I thought it wise to eat something on a short break, I don't know. Especially why I thought a few bites of a doughnut would go down well, I REALLY don't know. I had to excuse myself three times for the urps. Fortunately, there were presentations going on at the time, so I was mostly able to sneak out and do my business. What an idiot! Not quite as bad as sliming in the jury box, but dangit! :thumbup:

I am sorry, I don't know. Your state might have a website that could tell you. My guess would be somewhere in the 30 business day range, but that is purely a guess. Also, your plan's benefits guide might have the process spelled out with timelines. Check there. I hope you hear soon!

Gotta go with Melissande on this one. Call you surgeon NOW. Even though it is after hours the service can page him or her. A prescription for anti-nausea medication can be called in to a 24-hour pharmacy. Heaving is one of the worst things we can do to a band. Don't wait, get help.

Hello and welcome! This is a great place to be for information and support. Yes, I would do it again. No question about it. Have you checked with your insurance company to see what their requrirements are? Part of their request for you to see your doctor is to get you started on any pre-approval programs you might need. The sooner you get them started, the sooner you get them done. Whether you decide on bypass or band, the requirements and tests needed are generally the same. What questions do you have?

You might also be a slow loser, I was. Many of us are. The band literature says 1-2 pounds per week AVERAGE. 11 pounds in 3 months is nearly a pound a week. When I was actively losing, I averaged 3/4 pound per week. It was frustrating as all get out. But you know what? I have lost 70 pounds. Look long term. You are down 11 pounds in 3 months. Over a year that is 44 pounds! You also have the band to help you keep it off. Is that something that would have happened pre-banding? I know for me, 44 pounds in a year is a great loss. Not exactly the rate I'd like to lose, but better than gaining! This is for life. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Besth wishes!

While it is possible to lose weight during the post-op phase prior to fills. It is done with traditional diet and exercise. The tool of the band doesn't really kick in until your fills give you proper restriction. 1-2 pounds per week average is what we can expect. Some lose more, some less. If the stitch area is red, inflamed, hot to the touch, or draining, or you have a fever call your surgeon again and be seen or go to an Urgent Care or Emergecy room. Otherwise, if the skin is healthy, there is not much that can be done. I had an incision on my foot that came open after stitch removal, it was about a half inch long. There was no redness or tenderness, but it scared the daylights out of me. I went to urgent care. They explained to me that they could not restitch the wound and unless it was infected there was nothing to treat. They put a bandaid on it to keep it clean and sent me on my way. If you have ANY sign of infection, get seen.

broth should not hurt going down. I would definitely put in a call to your surgeon. Try some ice chips in the mean time. Could be that you somehow irritated things and have some swelling. But definitely check in with your medical team.

If fluids are not going down, call your surgeon. You should be able to drink. Staying hydrated is imperative. Check if you have a fever, if so, it is another reason to call in. If something feels wrong, don't wait.

Hey Everyone! San Diego California I am a Management and Program Assistant (MPA) for the Federal Aviation Administration. My co-workers and I call ourselves Umpa Lumpas.

Doing an unfill because of the altitude I can understand. There are many bandsters who have trouble with tightness at altitude. To me, for what it's worth, that is completely different than being unfilled to be able to eat more.

Congratulations! You are doing well. Keep up the good work.

I have heard of it being done. Personally I would not, because I had the band to help me learn new eating habits. Would you be doing it to be able to eat more, or to avoid possible problems? For me I'd claim the latter, but do the former. I know myself. To have an unfill would invite dangerous behavior in my book. Where do you draw the line? Vacations, long weekends away, family celebrations? I have postponed fills when I had a big vacation coming up, due to the fact that fills can be fickle during the time shortly after. My first fill was due a week before we had a Panama Canal cruise scheduled. I waited until after the cruise to have the fill. I was very worried about having a complication and not being able to reach a bariatric surgeon. Otherwise, no, I'd not have fill removed to go on a trip if I was not having problems.