CTgirl

Hi, I've had my Lap-Band for about 3 years and have done very well. The last few months I started having problems eating anything solid, with lots of pain and vomiting. Unfortunately I am one of the 5% that have suffered a slip. Anyone else out there dealing with the same? I had to have surgery to reposition the band, but am soooo afraid that it could happen again. I asked the doctor what I could do to prevent it from happening again. He said they are not sure why it happens, could be from excessive vomiting.........Just hoping someone else out there has been through the same!

Hi there! I have had the band for 2 1/2 years and have NEVER been able to eat a hamburger. It's one of the things that I miss once in awhile, but have made peace that I will never be able to have one again.

Hey everyone....i'm kinda new....banded on oct 31st, happy to have made it into the tenacious tens....was feeling great, but our house caught on fire Wednesday night woken at 1:00 am by smoke alarm...thankfully we all made it out okay....my SO had to be hospitalized overnight, so i have been handling all insurance adjusters, cleaning people, and contractors.....master bed and bath have to gutted to the studs, and everything in the room is unsalvageable....stress under normal circumstances, but i am feeling terrible.....i haven't slept in 2 nights...1st night 4 broken windows so house not secure and i was too afraid to sleep, and last night i was at the hospital with SO until late and then home straightening up for the cleaning service.... i can't seem to drink anything....feel so thirsty, but can't seem to get anything down....my kids have been at their dad's house, and with my SO in the hospital, i feel so tired and alone........sorry had to vent a little, but was hoping maybe to find someone here this morning to talk to...... eileen

Amy....how long does your doc make you wait between fills...the one thing that has helped me is knowing that once i have my first fill, i can get one every 2 weeks until i hit that "sweet spot"..... i know it will happen eventually......i have been overweight for so long and just feel so lucky that this tool is available.... i'll be paying it off years, i joke that it's like buying a new car, but i'd rather have this opportunity than a new car anyday..... my mom even jokes about me driving my new rolls royce..... none of us got to this point overnight....and i think alot of us are coming to terms with the fact that this is a tool, not a magic band that will instantly make us thin....it will be work, and we will all have our ups and downs, but we can all do it.....i know i can do it, and i know YOU can do it amy....you have been doing GREAT so far, and you've hit a bump in the road.....just try to get back on track and be kind to yourself....we are all in this together, and i know that i don't feel so alone when i see that others are struggling just like me.....don't let slipping back into some old habits for a day or two mess with your head....you have been one of the people that i have always looked to since i found this site for your positive attitude, commitment and sense of humor....if you're not feeling it right know, draw your strength from someone else.....read some of carrots posts...shes doing great now, and i know that i will be feeling like that someday too....i think that's the whole point of this board, drawing strength from others...we'll all probably take turns being the leader....you've been the strongest for a long time, just lean on the rest of us and you'll be back on top in no time......remember, one day at a time....i hope you're feeling better today eileen

Amy.... this will pass...put that day behind you and just take one day at a time... i can feel your frustration, and i know you feel like giving up, but hang in there for that "sweet spot"...i know it takes a different number of fills for everyone, but it will happen....you have been doing such a GREAT job so far.... all of us have had bad days...just look at it like that....nothing more...tommorrow is a new day....remember how far you've come so far and hold onto that.... we are all banded for a reason...we have problems with food....it's a process...we are all learning, and we all have good and bad days .... hopefully we have may more good days than bad ones.... please don't be so hard on yourself....you CAN do this....you HAVE been doing a great job....hang onto all your successes so far until that restriction kicks in !!!!!!!!! eileen

Judy....i agree with carrot....i work in a cardiology office, and the doctors give out free pedometers to all their patients and tell them to aim for 10,000 steps per day....one of the docs even says that walking is the best exercise because people are more likely to stick to it because it's easily accessible to everyone - just open your front door and go....just try to do something everyday, being consistent is the key...also...exercise is a big part of the program that you have control over....you just have to tell yourself that you are worth the 30 to 60 minutes a day it takes to help you reach your goal.... even if you don't make the right food choices some days, a little extra exercise can help decrease the damage on the scale, plus it makes your body more efficient at burning calories.....so forget that doctor, put on those sneakers and take a walk !!!!!!!!!!!! eileen:clap2:

holly.... my doc told me my band is empty( but is empty really empty or is empty really primed????) i'm SO confused :faint: (i can't get over how the protocol with everyone seems so different) .....i go on the 29th for my first fill and they only put in 1 - 2 ccs.....but, at least like your doc, i can go every 2 weeks after my first fill until i reach the "sweet spot"....so i am happy about that ....i can't eat everything like you, but i seem to be able to eat as much as i want as long as i really chew everything first.....trying to make good choices....i can't eat bread, but toast is okay ( had that once when out for breakfast) .... hopefully we'll all reach that "sweet spot" soon and the real work and weight loss will begin ..... eileen

saintluver.....congrats on your nsv....i can't wait to be out of plus size land....never to visit it again.....we started out about the same, but you're a little further ahead than me.....i can't wait to buy anything out of the regular women's department .... keep up the good work...i'm right behind you !!!!! eileen:D

Saintluver.....my first fill is on the 29th as well....i'm looking forward to having that initial post-op restriction....my doc said that my band is empty....i think they said they put in 1-2 ccs at each fill ??? eileen

Thanks again everyone..... luckily my clothes made it through okay...my dresser and things were in an adjoining closet...the insurance paid for them to be professionally cleaned and the salvaged almost everything.... poohlvr....you hit the nail right on the head...the stress has wreaked havoc on my stomach....drinking is the worst...especially i've always been a gulper....and this sipping just isn't working right now...then i try to drink to fast and i get that terrible pain....i really feel dehydrated today, woke up with my mouth so dry, but i also feel nauseaous...once i do get something down, it goes right through me..... hopefully this too soon shall pass ......eileen

Saintluver.....you and i have started out at the same weight...congrats on your weight loss....doesn't it feel great!!!! i on th other hand have gained and lost the same 75 pounds more times then i care to mention...i've always been able to lose the weight, but always gained it back plus more....i'm really hoping the band will help me keep it off .....but i still remember how great it feels to go down a size....just hold on to that feeing, it keeps you motivated to stick with the program...i'm going to follow carrot's advise and exercise!...exercise!...exercise!...... eileen

Carrot....thanks for the pep-talk...i needed it, i've just been walking the dog twice a day, i'm about 2 weeks post banding.....you reminded me how great you feel after excercising..the hardest part is getting started...think i'll go join the gym tonite .... eileen

the few times that i've had something stuck, i chew 2 papaya enzyme tablets and that helps tremendously!!!!!!! i've seen them at GNC and the Vitamin shop......they taste good too eileen

Thanks everyone for your support ..... i was feeling so lonely....so of course i feel like eating all my usual comfort stuff....big mistake....got stuck, came back up....but the stress seems to hve settled in my stomach because i can't seem to keep much in there...it comes out one way or another....the master bedroom is set to be emptied and gutted this week ( nothing in the room is salvageable)... looking forward to life getting back to normal .....glad you guys are here to talk to ... Eileen

Saintluver.....my nutritioist recommended chewable papaya enzyme tablets ( i get mine at GNC or the Vitamin shop)... they have really helped me the couple times it has happened..... eileen

Forestcat....thanksfor your support...you gave me some good ideas...my SO is home from the hospital, but just left to stay with his brother's family because he still is creeped out to be in this house alone....trying to drink more, getting little better but still not where it should be.... eileen

Judy...i'm wth you...everytime i write the check to make a loan payment, i swear i will never eat anything that is not on my doctor's list...i was given a pretty strick list, so i was a little surprised to see what some people are eating....i guess every doctor is different, but the long term diet the nutritionist laid out for me is just what i would normally eat while dieting, but now i have the band to help me not feel hungry while doing so. ( don't have that feeling yet but hoping for it soon - 1st fill on nov 29th). I had two bad painful, food stuck incidents, so i'm trying to remember to chew, chew, chew and to go slow.....who ever thought you could make a 4 ounce yogurt last for 30 minutes ?????? eileen

HEY EVERYONE.... i have also had a couple of food being stuck incidents...i remember asking the nurse pre-band "how will i know if something gets stuck? ....now i realize what a stupid question that was....has anyone tried chewing papaya enzyme tablets...they have helped tremendously when something seems stuck... eileen

Bandster 1007..... my doctor has you sign this little contract with rules...one of which is a protein shake a ay or life.....i have a couple different ones i use ..... isopure powder from gnc gives you 50gms of protein in 11 ounces of water.....i also use "unjury unflavored powder....you can mix this wth anything, crystal lite, soup...whatever...you have to order that online at unjury.com..... eileen

Apples.....most people have to do a pre-op diet...the liver lies directly over your stomach....when you lose weight, the first place you lose it from is your liver...since overweight people usually have fatty liver, this pre-op diet makes the surgery easier for the doctor, and safer for the patient....trust me, it's the hardest part of the whole thing, but almost everyone has to do it.....eileen

Thanks judy.....that was some great information...i'm bringing up the rear here, just banded on oct 31st...i had to have my gallbladder out first on oct 1st due to stones, and they had to repair a hiatal hernia during my banding surgery..... feeling good...but so sick of Clear liquids, thankfully he said if i was feeling good i could start Protein shakes and skim milk on tuesday......back to work tommorrow...it' a beautiful day here in ct, so i'm going to venture out for my first walk today..... Eileen

Mandi.... my doctor said to eat no more than 1/2 cup, even if you still feel hungry .....

edeva3 ...... i've ad to go on a pre-op diet for 2 weeks, but there was no mention of a specific amoint of weight i had to loose......i can see why you're stressed.....the Protein shakes have been great...i don't feel hungry at all, as long as i keep drinking liquids in between....good luck...i'm pulling for ya!!!!! Eileen

Hi everyone....i'm pulling up the rear here....counting down to band day...october 31st....i think the exercise ticker is a great idea... can't wait to catch up to the rest of you......eileen

kathryn....i feel the same as you...the first couple of days of the diet were hard, but since then things seem managable....my banding date is oct 31st and i too am hoping that this will help me through the 2 weeks of liquids only post-op........eileen