IM_LORI

I've done a few tricks. 1. crushed them into yogart. 2. Swallowed them in pieces, (dont like that one) 3. see it is available in capsule form, that you can open and swallow the contents. I do that with my Nexium and it works great.

Listen, it's NOT you who is failing this, right now it's your band. EVERYONE goes through this girl! You are in bandster hell. And quit knocking yourself in the head blaming yourself. You are essentially in the same position right now as before your surgery. You couldn't lose the weight alone then, and your probably won't do it right now. Your band is lose, you are hungry, you have no restriction, same as 3 months ago. Until you get to that "magic" fill level, it's hard. Many people don't lose, some gain. It sucks I know. Schedule your appt for a fill. If you still feel the same in 2 weeks, schedule another. BE AGGRESSIVE! You paid for this, demand what you want to get the results your entitled to. You WILL get there. When your band isn't tight, it's like not even having the surgery. Get to that ideal level, and then it will be 75% easier to do the things your suppose to. Eat Breakfast, lunch, dinner. No Snacks, no drinking 1 hour after meals, cut carbs, bread, Pasta, rice, focus on Proteins. (meat, eggs, cheese, Carbmaster yogart is great, Protein shake with a fruit mixed in for breakfast, HUGE tossed salad with raw veggies for lunch) YOu can do this, you will do this, but get over this ridiculous feeling of failure. Welcome to BANDSTER HELL sis! I just got out of there this weekend. I had a tight fill, and now I'm back on track. You'll get there too, but learn to be demanding.

Anyone else feel like they were scammed by Dr. Dalyand his "program fees"? Anyone used his services? Are they worth the extra $2K?

Breakfast, I do a Protein smoothie every day. 1 cup milk, or soy milk, 1 scoop Protein powder, some fresh berries, ice cubes, throw all in the blender! Voila! Delicious. Lunch: HUUUUUUGE lettuce salad with tons of raw veggies on it. I may even take an hour to eat it. I swear by Miralax. So many people deal with constipation from the limited amount of food we eat. 1 scoop of it in my morning coffee keeps everything moving normal. Snacks: apple, 1 of those BIG jumbo pickles, Protein Bar, 1 Carbmaster brand yogart (12 grams protein in it)

If he offers some "program" for his patients, good luck to him. Your paying him for the surgery, final. I've heard of surgeons doing this and when they contract their rate with a particular insurance group, they agree not to charge the patient additional out of pocket, outside of the normal deductables or coinsurances. THe first year, most people do NOT need $2,000 of fills! Come on! The support classes may be beneficial, but NOT for that price. That racketeering! WHat is this doctors name? I'd post it all over the place and send him a copy of the posting! What a flake.

oh girl! Don't feel bad. Everyone does it. And this is nothing new to your doctor. Get back to your basics. 1. Go get a tight fill. 2. Start eating your Breakfast, lunch, dinner. No snack. 3. Don't drink for an hour after meals. 4. Cut bread, Pasta, rice, and focus on Protein. Review all your info again, meet with your Dr., dietician, and you'll get focused and back on track. We've all been there. Read below as well, this is a great save when you've been "derailed" . Another interesting idea from the BE website, this plan is similar to the 5 day pouch test that I posted a few months back... However this is a 3-5 day liquid only diet to get you over those bad habits we all tend to slide back into at times, also can help kick your carb/sugar cravings. It's similar to the way you eat/drink after a fill and we all know how those pesky pounds drop off right after a fill, it's not the fill itself working at that point it's the liquid diet. The only time I am "tight" these days is when I have my period so I usually do something like this on those days and I usually see 1-2lbs lost in those 3 days so maybe something like this would be a way for all of us to reset the bad habits and kick start our weight loss once a month?? The 3 Day LPT does not require special recipes and is only for three days. It does help you get back on track with your eating, AND allows more flexibility with your choices. Here is the 3 day Liquid Protein plan for those who may be interested: Many ask, “What does LPT stand for? What is it?” LPT stands for Liquid Protein Train. It is used by people who have gotten off track (or just plain derailed!), need to de-carb themselves (to get rid of that nasty urge to snack or overeat), or to jump start weight loss again. It also helps you to get in touch with how you feel when you do eat or drink (feeling full, stopping when you have the full sensation, etc.) I searched the message board recently and came up with several questions and responses by others... My final conclusion is that there are really no solid or set in stone rules. However, here are some general consistencies when people decide to do the LPT. Who Should do the 3 Day LPT? 1. If you have gotten off track (or just plain de-railed in your weight loss journey!), then the 3 day LPT is for you. 2. If you find that you are addicted to carbs, are eating junk food, are snacking and grazing, then the 3 day LPT is for you. 3. If you need to jump start your weight loss once again, then the 3 day LPT is for you. 4. For those who have no weight to lose and are not addicted to carbs, this is probably not necessary. Before You Begin: 1. How many days will I do this program? Normally it’s done for 3 days. You may choose to continue for up to 5 days. Anything over this might be excessive. 2. Will I drink ONLY Protein shakes or will I add a light supper? The choice is entirely up to you. If you are able to get rid of carb cravings by cutting back to eating a light supper (high protein), then you may want to stick with drinking shakes all day but a light supper at night. However, if you are overly addicted to carbs and need a more aggressive approach, the full liquid shake only approach may be the best for you. Preparation for the Program: 1. Make sure you have plenty of protein shakes available – there’s nothing worse than to be in the middle of a program and run out of products! Stock up on high protein, low carb, low sugar and low calorie protein powders or ready to drinks. Bariatric Eating sells a wide variety of great tasting protein products. 2. Decarb your pantry – get rid of foods that you should not have (crackers, chips, Cookies, high carb sugar free products) as these will be a stumbling block to you. Also, the purpose of the LPT is to get back on track and away from those items that cause you to fail. You don’t want to sabotage your own success by having these tempting products in the house. They do have a tendency to call your name at the most inopportune (usually your weakest) times! How It's Done: 1. Drink a Protein Shake whenever you feel hunger (whether it be real body hunger or head hunger) – one person said they drink a shake every two hours. I figured that if a person would start at 6 am, drink a shake every two hours, this would allow them to drink up to 8 pm! (Sounds great) 2. Consume a minimum of 800 calories for the day 3. You may drink fluids after consuming protein shakes. The "30 minute wait period" before drinking after food does not apply in this case. Keep in Mind: 1. Get off sugar products 2. Some people include a few additives in their shakes to help spice them up such as a little Peanut Butter, or sugar free Davinci syrups, or a little bit of fruit (although fruits do have carbs, so it depends on what your preference is). If the additive causes you to crave more, DON'T add it. 3. You may want to include thin Soups with light vegetables, yogurts or custards as they are considered full liquids. 4. It has been suggested that if you are exercising, drink a protein shake right before your workout. Transitioning Back to Normal: 1. If you are doing full liquids for 3 days, on the fourth day you will want to add a light supper. When comfortable, add a light lunch until you are back to your 3 meals a day. The LPT will help you to be more in tune with how food makes you feel. In other words, you will know when you are full on a meal. Stop there, do not overeat. Listen to your body and pouch when it says its full. 2. If you did liquid all day and a light supper at night during the 3 days, then just add your light lunch back into the routine.

sounds like the nightmare I just lived the past 7 months. I just had my gall bladder out last month. some days felt like constant pressure, LOTS Of pressure up under my ribs, where it would be hard to breath. Some days felt like a stick was wedged inside me under my ribs. Other days felt like a knife was inserted under my right ribs, and went into my back, and made it nearly impossible to breath. Then I'd be sore for several days afterwards. Classic gall bladder. Take that puppy OUT and life will be good again.

Gas, it's moving through your band, or back up from your stomach. It makes twitching, bubbling, gurgling feelings. Does that sound like a possibility?

Heyyyy girl! I"m over in Costa Mesa. First of all, your doctor is as concerned about your weight as your are, and this is his job. HE's not going to judge you on a personal level. He'll get you some basic info, and probably refer you to a bariatric surgeon. There are some great ones in the area. email me your address or phone and I"ll catch up with you later! I"m at work! hehe

your averaging OVER 2 pounds a week! That is incredible! Especially since right after your surgery, you don't even have a fill yet! Thank your lucky stars that you are losing, cuz a lot of people don't until they get a fill, and some gain! You'll make it, I promise, just wait until you hit the ideal fill, and the pounds will drop quickly.

I'd just enjoy your life right now. You'll get to cut out all those things soon enough, and with your band, it won't be hard. Right now it's a struggle. Cut out SMOKING if you smoke. Prepare for post-op recovery. Lots of sugar free jello, popsicles, chicken & beef broth, crytsal light, protein mix powders, etc.... Does your doc require you to do a preop diet? Many don't. I think that last week I ate everything I could think of that I knew I'd miss in the future! hehehe

oh girl! You are getting worked up over nothing. I had my band 10-19-2007, and I just had my gall bladder out last month. The band was a little more difficult pain wise, as I had a lot of retained air inside. But in terms of difficulty and life threatening mistakes, this is a no brainer surgery. From start to finish, 45 minutes. There isn't a whole lot of detailed skilled required, like a neurosurgery or something. You'll wake up, and you WILL! You'll feel like you did too many sit-ups at the gym, and you'll be moving slowly for a few days. You WILL NOT DIE! Do you have chronic heart of lung issues that your concerned about? Severe reactions to anesthesia? If not, you're going to be fine, and be one hot looking babe in a couple years !

yep, been there. Mine was the beginning of some GERD. Gastro esophageal reflux. The irritation to the distal esophagus causes the skin to be sore inside, and you actually feel the food scraping as it goes down. Not sure if that's it or not, but it sounds suspicious. I found not eating 2 hours before bed help, and my doctor gave me Nexium to take as well, as I had it very severe. It blocks your stomach from producing acid. Gall bladder? That could be another possibility.

Smooth Move I think has Senna herb in it, which is a stimulant laxative. Long term it's not a good idea. Your smooth muscles of your intestines become dependent on it, and over time you need more. Use a fiber. I LOVE Miralax. Eating the limited quantities that we do, and focusing on Protein, we kind of don't get all the raw fruits & veggies that we are used to. I have a major problem with that as well. My gastroenterologist told me to take 1 capfull a day, and can use it as long as I need to. Its a little spendy, $20 for the large bottle, but lasts a month if taken daily. BELOW: Product Description:Smooth Move provides gentle, overnight relief from occasional constipation. Senna leaf promotes bowel movement by direct action on the intestine. A single serving provides an effective dose of sennosides from senna leaf, which have proven stimulant laxative action and are generally recognized as safe and effective by the USFDA. We include additional digestive support with fennel, orange peel, cinnamon, coriander and ginger to ease discomfort and reduce cramping. Warnings:Duration of use: Stimulant laxatives should not be taken for longer than 1-2 weeks without medical advice. Contraindications: Ileus, acute intestinal inflammation (e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), appendicitis, abdominal pain of unknown origin, severe dehydration states with Water and electrolyte depletion. Notice: This product contains senna leaf. Read and follow directions carefully. Do not use if you have or develop diarrhea, loose stools, or abdominal pain because senna leaf may worsen these conditions and be harmful to your health. Consult your physician if you have frequent diarrhea or if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Ingredients:Senna leaf, Proprietary blend: licorice root, bitter fennel fruit, organic sweet orange peel, organic cinnamon bark, organic coriander fruit, organic ginger rhizome, orange peel oil on gum arabic.Notes:How does it taste? It's sweet and slightly bitter, with citrus-orange and spicy notes... best tasting laxative you'll ever drink!Recommended Use:For maximum benefit, medicinal tea must be properly prepared. Pour 8 oz. freshly boiled water over a tea bag in a cup. Cover cup and steep 10-15 minutes. These steps directly influence the amount of beneficial components that will end up in your teacup! Gently squeeze the tea bag to release any remaining extract. Drink 1 cup at bedtime. If necessary repeat the next day, not to exceed 4 cups in 24 hours. Children 6-12 years: Drink 1/2 cup at bedtime. If necessary, repeat the next day not to exceed 2 cups in 24 hours. What is MiraLAX? MiraLAX (Polyethylene Glycol 3350) is a new kind of OTC laxative. It is safe and effective* and treats occasional constipation by working with your body to restore its natural rhythm. MiraLAX is the #1 prescribed laxative—it has been the #1 choice of doctors for years—and MiraLAX is the first prescription laxative in more than 30 years to be made available OTC. Prescription Heritage For years now, MiraLAX has been prescribed most by doctors—more than any other laxative—and now it's available without a prescription. MiraLAX works with your body's natural rhythm to relieve constipation safely, without the harsh side effects of cramps or gas. In fact, MiraLAX actually reduces cramps and gas that can be caused by constipation. No wonder your doctor prefers MiraLAX. For constipation, doctors prefer MiraLAX more than any other prescription drug or OTC laxative. Doctors recommend MiraLAX more than fibers, stimulants, stool softeners or mineral oils to relieve constipation. The Most Clinically Proven Laxative Medicines can work differently for different people. To decide how to treat their patients, doctors look at the clinical research. The active ingredient in MiraLAX has been studied and proven safe and effective in more high–quality clinical trials than any other OTC laxative. In 2005, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) reviewed all of the clinical research in North America for OTC laxatives. MiraLAX§ is the only OTC laxative that received a "Grade A Recommendation"‡—their highest rating. No wonder MiraLAX is preferred most by doctors. Some OTC laxatives that you can buy today have been available for 30, 50 or even over 100 years. You might think that because they have been around for a long time, they must all work for you. But in their 2005 review, The American College of Gastroenterology concluded that there is not enough clinical research on either stimulant laxatives or most bulk-forming laxatives. If you have tried other OTC laxatives, then you already know whether they work for you. If you have found a laxative that works, you may still want to give MiraLAX a try. It has been shown that laxative users preferred MiraLAX when compared to their usual laxative.† It is no coincidence that before it was available OTC, MiraLAX was prescribed by doctors more than any other laxative. MiraLAX is different from all other OTC laxatives MiraLAX works with your body to relieve constipation. MiraLAX restores your natural rhythm by using the body's own water to gently increase the frequency of bowel movements and to soften the stool so it is easier to pass. Relief with MiraLAX is a normal, easy and complete bowel movement. As it works it provides more comfort and less straining without uncomfortable side effects. And you can control the urge to go. MiraLAX does not cause cramps or gas. In fact, MiraLAX actually reduces the cramps and gas that may be caused by constipation. Imagine. Your body back to normal. That's what MiraLAX can do. Add MiraLAX to Your Favorite Drink MiraLAX is taken once daily. Each bottle has a white dose-measure built into the cap. MiraLAX dissolves easily and completely (no grit) when you stir the powder into any everyday beverage (4-8 oz), such as water, juice, soda, coffee or tea.

YOu have to tell the doctor what he wants to hear. Find out what his standards are for a fill, and feed him that information. Some are real stingy about you requesting a fill. Mine just says if you see a stagnant period of 2+ weeks with no loss, then it's time. Tell him your eating a 12 inch subway, with meat & cheese, all the bread and your hungry an hour later! hehehe That should do it!

Your eating STEAK! I can't believe it! WOOOOOOOW

1-2 pounds a week, consistently is what you should expect. But STEAK? STEAK? you can eat STEAK? I know of NOBODY with a band that can eat steak! I'm guessing you could use a good fill. If your eating things like steak, and it can go through your band, then most every other food is going through very quickly and your not getting that full feeling for an extended period of time after eating, which may be causing you to eat more. Just a thought

It's EXTREMELY rare for someone to react to silicone, and that is what your band is made of. Some people will react to the foreign body in their body, and their body will not heal around the port, and much like a sliver in your finger, it gets inflamed, swollen, red, and tries to push the port to the surface to get it out. That would be a typical reaction if your body wasn't accepting it. It's most likely like your doctor said, a food allergy, clothing, soap, etc..... Wait until your done with the Prednisone and then if it continues, contact your surgeon. But I'd relax if I were you, and not focus on the band causing it. We tend to blame EVERYTHING on our band, and often overlook the obvious, which is usually the real reason.

OK, problem 1. Why are you waking up at night? Are you hungry? Get rid of ALL the junk you have, throw it out. Go shopping and buy healthy snacks. Get back to your basics. If you're overeating, you aren't filled to your idea spot. Go get a fill, talk with your Dr., and get back to your basics,,,,,,,, Eat high protein foods, breakfast, lunch, dinner. Do NOT drink after you eat. Wait for 2 hours. If your band is filled tightly, you shouldn't be able to eat a lot of food, and shouldn't be hungry immediately afterwards. Once you eat the healthy things that your suppose to, there shouldn't be room for the junk. If you feel you need to snack, apples, carrots, an egg, chicken meat, high protien items, low carbs help fill you up and keep the carbs down. Completely cut out the breads, rice, pasta, chips. You can do this, you just need to change your current plan. WALK! Go for a walk every morning if you can, and every evening. YOu have a great family, have them join you for one of the walks. I've fallen away from the basics a couple times, and I find I get out my reading, hit this site, talk with some support friends, get a fill, and get my mind-frame back on track and it works. Good luck!

OK, here is my nightmare rendition of my gall bladder experience. Just want everyone to know NOT to blame all the problems on the band. I made that mistake for 7 months. I had it in Tijuana Mexico last October 19th, 2007. GREAT experience. I'd do it all over again in a heart beat. Late November I had my first fill, 1.6 cc. very small. Within 1 month I was miserable. Couldn't eat, always felt so full I could hardly drink. So we assumed too tight. I went back and got it all out. Still felt too tight. By January I was getting reflux. Another month, MAJOR gastro-esophageal reflux and a complete inability to eat any sort of meat, spicy foods, fried foods, etc..... It got so severe I got esphageal erosion, major scarring of my esophagus. The scarring was so extensive, I had to have 4 endoscopies to dilate it back open enough to get food down. I lived off of liquids and ice cream for months. Numerous CT scans, ultrasounds, barium swallows, ER visits, living off pain meds. Nobody could ever figure out why by "band" was causing me so much problems. I lived off of Nexium for acid reflux and it didn't work. Finally my gastro-enterologist, late July, told me I needed to take my band out. I had lost 75 pounds at this point. I very willingly went back to my surgeon in Mexico demanding to have my band out. At this point I didn't care, my lifestyle was so compromised and miserable. I was so sick, missing work constantly, in horrendous pain, couldn't sleep lying down for months, horrible pressure in my mid-chest area that would radiate to the back. So are you getting any clues yet? I go down my my original surgeon in Mexico, ready to have my band out that night, and as he's asking me TONS of questions, he notices one thing I say. I don't get food stuck. I don't choke on my food, I NEVER vomit, never slime, never have troubles actually eating. It's always just pain, and acid reflux coming up my esophagus. He told me he didn't think it was my band, but to look at my gall bladder. I told him numerous ultrasounds showed now stones. He says it may be acalculous cholecystitis, basically a diseased non-functioning gall bladder, but not stones. I came back to the states, had a HIDA scan, which checks gall bladder function, not for stones like an ultrasound. My gall bladder function was 8%. I had my gall bladder removed August 1st, last month, and every problem disappeared completely overnight. The day I came home from the hospital, I could eat again, ANYTHING I wanted, and in MASSIVE quantities. I was shocked. I had lost 75 pounds not from my band, but from my gall bladder causing bile reflux up my esophagus. I had a swollen pancreas from the bile being so backed up. It was swollen, inflamed, elongated and ready to burst when they removed it. The entire time, every single ER doctor, my gastro-enterologist here in the states, and my primary care physician, kept treating me for heartburn. I kept telling them this was NOT heart burn, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't lay down, can't eat, have horrendous pain. When they finally realized they mis-diagnosed me for 6 months, they were ALL profusely apologetic. Unfortunatley my symptoms coincided exactly with when I had my band placed, and they were all so narrow minded they never looked outside of anything except it being band related. Within hours of getting the results of the HIDA scan, I had 3 physicians calling me, writing me Rx for pain killers urging me to see a surgeon immediately. I called, and got an appt for a consult 2 weeks in the future. I was shocked! I was soooooooo sick. I called their office 5 times a day for 4 days asking if they had any cancellations. The last day, I went to their office myself, crying, fever, shaking, pleading to get it out, and I actually stated if he couldn't do it that day, I"m sure I could find directions on the internet and do it myself They got me in the hospital within an hour, and removed it. So since August 1st, life has been GREAT! Now for the first time, I am finding out how the band works. 11 months later, how ironic. I'm 25 pounds from goal, and this is HARD now! I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and definately need another one this weekend. It was a lot easier to lose when my gall bladder was bad, cuz I couldn't eat anything! hahahah The weight FLEW off. But I feel great now, have energy again, can sleep, NO REFLUX! my esophagus has healed about 90%. THere is still a small amount of scarring and narrowing but it's managable. I have NO confidence in the doctors here. The only thing they heard is I got my band in Mexico and they looked no further. THey assumed I went to some quack surgeon down there. The only favor my gastroenterologist did for me, was to tell me to get my band removed. That prompted me to contact my original surgeon in Mexico who found the real problem. THe funny things is, when I look back at it all, my original problem I went to my primary care doc and told him I think I have a gall bladder problem. He ordered an ultrasound and found no stones so they quit pursuing that avenue. I had complete intolerance to meats, spicy foods, geasy foods, all typical of gall bladder. Pressure in the epigastric area after eating, also very typical. Pain in the mid-chest, to right rib area, radiating into the back, classic gall bladder symptom. Everybody missed it though because it absolutely started within weeks of getting my band. I'm happy again, life is GOOD! :embaressed_smile:

no sense in trying to fix what ain't broke! I too, went at 6 weeks for a fill, assuming that's what we're "supposed" to do. 1.6 CC, too tight. I went back and had it all out. I never never needed a fill for 7 months. If you'r losing 2/week, you don't need a fill. Some people naturally feel the restriction of the band alone, and don't need to be filled. Maybe in a few months, but leave well enough alone.

so you thought the rest of your entire life, you would never ever eat a candy bar ? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Wake up girl! You still can have an occasional treat, just not on a daily basis.

Comfort foods: sugar free hot cocoa warm chicken broth sugar free jello sugar free hard candies coffee with 1 pkg Equal and 1 Tlb Sugar free Hazelnut Creamer Diet Root Beer with some 1/2 & 1/2 in it, fiz removed, over ice :biggrin: sugar free popsicles, 5 at a time! Done that! I too like to eat 24/7

Oh girl, you must feel miserable. THe band works successfully for 40% of the people. So the odds are not in your favor. Fortunately I landed in there. Are you sure your too tight? Are you getting stuck on food? Unless you are, you maybe have a little flexibility for a fill still. ALWAYS ALWAYS eat your proteins first. At every meal. 3 times a day. After you finish, then allow the rest of the meal. Most of the time you should be too full to finish the higher carb items. EAT YOUR SNACKS! Morning, afternoon, evening, a fruit, or some nuts. Do not drink. Review all your basics and jump back to it. Do a fill, do a week of liquids, and get back on track. If it just doesn't work, realize you still have other options, sleeve, r n Y, duodenal switch, etc... Don't feel like you failed though, because the band does not work for every person.