Mysticalks

Hey everyone! I'm a full time college student and attend classes Monday-Thursday for about 4-5 hours at a time. I don't get breaks in between classes, so it's not too possible for me to eat a meal during that time. I know that Protein is usually the type of food to first grab onto when in hunger mode, but it's virtually impossible for me to take a big ol' thing of chicken or other poultry/meat to school. I tried to leave it in my car once and eat it on the way and back from school- let's say it didn't do too well sitting in a hot car for that long, eeeh!

Does anyone have any ideas of a filling snack that I could eat while walking to classes? Ideas are MORE than welcome!!

Hey everyone! Thanks for even MORE advice :-) I've decided to take it one step at a time, and focus on the positive. I'm actually pretty proud of myself-- tonight, my sisters went to get take outs at Panda Express and asked me if I wanted anything. As tempting as it was, I decided to make the right decision and stick with a side of Mixed Veggies (only 90 calories)! They're on their way back, and I figured that while they eat their Chinese food, I can still enjoy some yummy veggies and not feel so left out! Sure, it's probably not as delish as Orange chicken, but I know how awesome I'll feel later just knowing I made the smarter choice.

Aimee, so sorry it took this long to get back to you. I'd LOVE for us to support each other in order to keep ourselves going!! I could definitely go for a lap-band buddy to go through this with me :-)

I'm so fortunate to have people like you all on this site to still give me hope and motivation! After reading the replies, I already feel that boost of energy to just go on and do it. Thank you so much...what would I do without you all?

I have a 10 cc band and I've been filled to 9.5 cc. My surgeon wasn't too keen on filling me even to 9.5 cc because he said that the hole being created by the lap band was almost closed completely. I definitely feel restricted, but even when I eat Protein (chicken, steak, sausages- all lean!), I can most definitely eat more than 2-3 ounces. I can probably eat about 5 ounces of Protein and then even eat around 2-3 ounces of fruit or veggies or carbs along with it. My food intake has lessened significantly, but my surgeon and others in the WLS office have told me that I shouldn't be able to eat more than 4 ounces of food, tops!

Am I doing something wrong maybe? I don't drink with my meals or 30-45 minutes after them, and I start with the protein on my plate and make sure to chew it pretty well before swallowing. Maybe I'm eating too fast....I thought about that the other day.

By the way, my surgeon is SO mean. I'm terrified of him. Don't get me wrong..he's one of the best surgeon's in the Southeast (he's incredible) and that's why I chose him to perform my surgery. I'm scared to go in and tell him that I might need another fill. I know that sounds ridiculous, but the thought of him weighing me and seeing no progress is making me nervous already. Phew...

I'd like to reply to FatMe's post. In specific:

"What bothers me are the ages of people getting surgery. Surgery is suppose to be a last resort. Most older people have spent years trying everything they can think of to lose weight but now it seems to be a quick solution."

I'm 22 years old and got the surgery when I was 21. Yes, I'm young. Lap band surgery WAS the last resort for me. I remember going on my first diet in Kindergarten. I was 5 years old and while all of the other children ate pizza during our class's "pizza party", I sat there holding a bag of carrots to munch on. Ever since, I've been on a rollercoaster ride with my weight.

I've been on every diet known to man, and have cost my parents (and myself, when I turned 18) thousands upon thousands of dollars on diet plans, nutritionists, gym memberships, and everything else. You name it. When I followed a diet that assigned me a number of calories appropriate for my age, height, gender, weight, etc., I wouldn't lose a thing. I was 100% strict and have always had the willpower to stick to a plan. When I turned 16, I started TELLING the nutritionists, consultants, etc. that I wouldn't go on the diet unless I was given a plan for 1000-1200 calories tops. I wouldn't lose a thing if I were to eat any more than that, and that included at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise daily. This is a ridiculous amount of calories, especially for a growing child/adolescent.

My point is... I feel as if 18 years spent on extreme weight fluctuation, diets involving starvation, and feelings of disappointment, anger, and failure are plenty of reason to believe that my WLS was a last resort. I may be young, but I've wasted my entire childhood striving to be healthy (while every plan failed), and I refuse to spend my adulthood as an unhealthy individual, starving myself, while I know in the back of my mind that nothing else has worked.

Phew! After all of that, I just wanted to say that I appreciate your post...it's really nice to hear other people's views on the surgery because many people are too shy to express their opinions. Keep it up!

I am 5'4'' and I was 218 lbs when I got my lap-band surgery performed. I had PCOS, insulin resistance and high blood pressure. I was only 21 years old and was taking about 10 pills a day on average for those 3 health issues. Since then, I don't take metformin, which caused many problems for me by itself. Although I've only lost 26 lbs so far, it's made a world of difference for me regarding my health. I don't have as many hypoglycemic attacks anymore, I've cut down on my medications, and I can actually RUN on the treadmill now! As much as I dieted and exercised, I couldn't lose more than 1/2 lb a week and I would lose motivation and stop. Everyone has their own case, and just because the scale says one thing, someone's weight-affected health tells the truth about whether they should go in for WTL. Plus, I don't think it's anyone else's business whether that person has WTL anyway. It's their money, their health, and their choice. It's been fantastic for me so far, and I couldn't have made a better decision!

Hey everyone..it's been so long since I've been on this site, and I've decided that it's time to reach out to my fellow bandsters to give me a swift kick in the butt.

I was banded October 31, 2007, and have since lost about 26 pounds (I'm 5'4''; Start: 218 lbs/Now: 191.2 lbs). I saw my surgeon in April, and he was very happy with my progress. I was so motivated and AWESOME with watching my weight and following my surgeon's diet and exercise program for me until the beginning of summer...

Since early May, I've completely stopped following the lap-band diet. My eating habits have gone back to what they used to be in my worst days- Cookies, cakes, Pasta, etc, etc. For some strange reason, I've managed to maintain my weight through eating all of this crap. I told myself I'd start back when the first week of school started (last week), but of course, it didn't happen.

I'm honestly sickened with myself. I feel terrible because I understand how fortunate I am to have the band, but for some reason, I keep screwing up. I don't have that motivation that I had when I got my final fill. I need to get back on track because this is my only hope for a healthy future.

Please offer suggestions to me on how to get back on track after going off the handle. What motivates you to stick w/your program every day? Support is always the first step, and I only feel comfortable talking about this with you all. Thank you!! :biggrin:

-Kara

I'm so relieved to find other college students on here. I was banded on October 31st, and got filled to 9 ccs less than 2 months ago. I can FINALLY feel it working now! I'll answer any questions you may have about having the band while being a college student.

If you don't drink alcohol, then please disregard the rest of this message. LOL The biggest problem I hear from other banded students is avoiding alcohol, so I'm assuming that it's of some concern to you bc it was for me.

I love partying, and I drink more than I should. As much as the surgeon tells you to avoid alcohol, you might just give in sometimes if you're anything like me. You already know that drinking really should be avoided as much as possible. I only let myself drink 2-3 times a month now. Here's some random advice from my experience (I wish someone would've been this straight forward with me).

1. Never drink to the point of throwing up (I did this just last weekend, eh!) I didn't know this until a week ago, but every time that you throw up, you're taking a risk at your band slipping, which means that You'll have to go through another surgery to remove it.

2. Avoid beer at all costs--I didn't listen to people when they told me that it's VERY uncomfortable! The gas builds up so much that it feels almost a little painful/uncomfortable...I felt it after 1/2 a beer. It was even worse when my friend brought out the funnel- very bad. Everyone is different, though.

3. If you're going to drink, stick with the clears. I only drink either vodka or tequila (least amount of calories), and I either drink it straight, or with DIET soda. If you're going to take a chance with beer, drink only light. I wouldn't suggest it though bc it'll take longer for you to get drunk off of beer, so you'll end up drinking more of it (wow I sound like I need to go to an AA meeting)

4. Drunken munchies- After being awesome on my diet for like 3 months, I partied, got the drunken munchies, and actually thought I could consume a Big Mac. I threw up after 3 bites from giving into my craving. I can't even tell you how I regretted that in the morning. Try to avoid eating while drunk bc you'll forget that you have the band..

I was told 3 times that I should wait to get the band until I've "grown out of partying", but I've proven everybody including my parents and my surgeon wrong by proving that you can still have a great time in moderation AND see awesome results. I hope this helps you in the future, and if you don't drink at all- MORE POWER TO YOU!

I think that if I ate 500 calories a day, I'd probably die of starvation! lol...those poor metabolisms

On February 21st, I was filled to 9 ccs total in a 10 cc band under fluoroscopy. I could tell that it was one of the doctor's first few times of performing a fill on a lap band patient (it wasn't my surgeon performing the fill). They filled me up to 9.5 ccs at first, made me drink the barium, and asked me if I felt tight- I answered no, but they still took out .5 ccs!! I asked my surgeon 3 days later if it'd be possible to go for another fill, but he said no

Tonight, I was able to eat a 6 ounce steak and maybe 5 ounces of grilled chicken for dinner before being full.

For the past week, I've been sick, and have maybe thrown up 5-6 times. I read somewhere that vomiting can cause the pouch to stretch, so I'm worried that I'm able to eat so much because of the pouch stretching.

My question is...do you think that I'm able to eat so much from my pouch stretching, or maybe I should be filled more to restrict the eating??

I'm SO worried! Please help...

Hey all!

I was filled 2 weeks ago for a total of 9 cc's (I have a 10 cc band). I remember reading many sources on the band and was told that after the final fill, you should only be able to eat 3-4 ounces of food at one sitting. Now, I'm aware that 3-4 ounces implies "coarse protein", and I have been following that rule, not drinking until about 30-45 min after my meals, and eating 3 meals a day. I must say that I definitely do NOT eat 3-4 ounces...I eat more like 6-8 ounces and feel full. The band has worked great so far, but I'm wondering what any of you suggest. How much were you able to eat after your final fill? Do I maybe need more fill? Thanks!

Hey everyone...Garth happens to be my cousin. I also watch the show periodically (when I'm not too busy studying!). I have a 10 cc band and asked Garth to recommend a surgeon in ATL for me to have the band done- I must say that he is a fantastic doctor and is concerned for the well being of his patients, so there is nothing to worry about. The doctor that he recommended to me is Dr. J. K. Champion who also happens to be an amazing surgeon. Good luck with your surgery and let us know how the consult goes!!

I lost 6 pounds between my surgery and my first fill, and my second fill is on Jan 21st. As you all know, the holidays came, and I cheated so badly that I guess I lost motivation in what I was doing, and went back to eating crap every day. I'm not full at all, but of course I only have 5 cc's in a 10 cc band. I don't know- maybe it's because I'm getting so impatient and so frustrated with the whole thing because it's already been about 10 weeks and I've only lost 6 pounds. I just can't seem to get back on track with my dieting and exercise. My family keeps buying these brownie and cake mixes and I fall into the trap! I'm so disappointed in myself. I feel like I don't deserve the band. I just need that motivation back because I want to lose this weight- I'm just getting so impatient. When am I supposed to start only eating 3-4 ounces? I'm so frustrated...

I'm 7 weeks post-op and the soreness in my port area JUST went away about a week ago. My doctor told me that it takes 6-8 weeks for the pain to completely go away, and it might come back slightly after working out. I remember thinking to myself that the pain wouldn't ever go away, but it does, so don't worry! I understand how annoying it is for you though!! Just be patient and I promise it'll go away.

Hey everyone,

For about 3-4 days I've been getting slight pain (it feels like) in the lower right side of my back as well as the lower right side of my body. I tried to figure out if it was from my port somehow, so I pressed on my port site slightly and the pain got worse. When I would stop putting pressure on my port site, the pain would go back to the way it was before- minor. My port was placed about 2 inches under my chest on the right side. Has anyone else experienced pain in this spot? I'm wondering whether it'll go away with time or is a problem...Thanks!

Crazy,

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having so many problems with the band :huggie: I can't say that I've had the same problems as you, but I wanted to reply to try to make you feel a little bit better! You're definitely not the only one in pain. I helped my sister move out of her apartment two days ago, and my port is killing me OUCHHH! I can barely move. Not to mention I have bad acid reflux to go along with it. I've been taking left over percocet from my surgery and it's been a life saver. Are there any stronger medications that your doctor will let you take to allow the pain to lessen a bit? I would think that you'd be allowed to take painkillers if you're experiencing so much pain. Stronger medicine will also help you drift off to sleep. This is going to sound very stupid, but are you sure that the pain is from complications with the band? You might have the port infection as well as some other problem that can be causing the side and chest pain. When I have something crazy going on with my body, I first think of the band because it is so new, but I also consider other reasons why the pain could be there. I do suggest you ask your doctor if you can take something stronger than tylenol. I hope I've helped at least a little. Keep us updated. Hope you feel better!!

I've been getting pretty bad acid reflux for the passed week or so when I eat ANYTHING! I had never had problems with heartburn or acid reflux before surgery...my doctor puts all of his band patients on protonix for the first month post-op, but a week after I ended that medication, I started getting very uncomfortable (not painful) acid reflux. I know that acid reflux is common when bands are too tight, but I've only received 1 fill so far (5cc's in a 10cc band) and I don't even feel that restricted! I've tried taking extra tums, but it doesn't do too much good. Any suggestions on what to do? What kinds of foods trigger acid reflux? Thanks :huggie:

Hey all! I was banded on October 31st with a 10 cc band. I just had my first fill this passed Monday (December 10th). My doctor told me that I was being filled with 4 cc, but ended up putting 5 ccs in my band. I couldn't eat much yesterday, but today I don't feel restricted at all. I was wondering how many cc it took everyone to finally be at that point where you could only eat 4-5 ounces at a meal? My doctor told me that I might not feel restriction right away, but I did yesterday. I've heard that there is a "delayed" reaction where you might not feel any more restriction until 1-2 weeks after the fill..is that true? Thanks!!

Hey! I've always slept on my tummy, so sleeping on my back was a real pain to me. My back actually started hurting after a good 1-2 weeks of constantly lying on it! I began sleeping on my side 2 weeks post-op. It was a little painful for me, so I would sleep on it for about an hour just to give my back a break. As for my tummy, that took about 3 1/2 weeks. Only painful when I would try to get up (strains the stomach muscles). I'm 4 1/2 weeks post-op now, and I sleep on my stomach perfectly. Hope this helps!

Good luck with your surgery! You're going be just fine. This is the beginning of a lifelong journey for you! Please keep us updated with how everything goes. (By the way, I have relatives who live in Israel!)

Oh- I forgot to add that I'm only 3 weeks post-op and don't have a fill yet. Oops- it's always good to mention that in posts, so people know how far along you are

Hey! Definitely not a dumb post...I wondered the exact same thing about a week ago. I asked the nurse at my doctor's office, and she said that usually people do not have restriction without the fills. I was definitely happy to hear that because I'm probably hungrier now than I was pre-op (EEK)! I mean, I'm sure there are SOME people out there who feel a little bit of restriction without a fill. I don't know- maybe not! As for your question, for now, let's leave the answer as "there is no restriction without fill" until somebody posts the opposite! Haha

Hey randiik. I'm not quite sure about the other doctors who are around the Acworth area. I live in Marietta, but location wasn't the reason why I chose Dr. Champion. I had spoken to maybe 5-6 doctors and Nurse Practitioners to ask them if they had heard of any good Bariatric Surgeons, and every one of them said Dr. Champion without hesitation. If you go on Highway 75, he is literally JUST off of exit 267B. He's absolutely fantastic. I've heard only amazing things about him. If you go to Bariatric Surgery Georgia - Gastric Bypass - Weight Loss Surgery by Dr. J.K. Chapmion (I think I gave out that website in my last post-eh), you can get a lot of information on him. If location is most important to you, try to go to obesityhelp.com (I THINK that's the website- someone correct me if I'm wrong!!), and you can do a surgeon search for your area. Good luck!!

How often do people get fills? Is it every 6 weeks? I have no idea what kind of band I have. I didn't even know there were different kinds until a few days ago. Is one better than the other? I thought there was a general lapband that everyone had. I'm only 2 1/2 weeks post-op, and my first fill is on December 10th and I'm really excited!! For those of you who were banded by Dr. Champion here in GA, do you remember how many cc's he put into your band during your first fill? I know he is very cautious and likes to go slowwww, but I'm worried that he will be too slow and I'll have to live with being this hungry for even longer if he decides to fill me with 1 cc for example. Of course I have no idea what kind of band I have, but to the rest of you who were not banded by Dr. Champion, how many cc's was your first fill? Thanks!!

Yankee, I can't even tell you how relieving it is to hear that I'm not the only one who is a little bit down about not losing that much weight so far. It's always been SO easy for me to gain weight and hard to lose. I'm currently 2 1/2 weeks post-op, and I don't feel as if I've lost a thing. I've really been trying. 3 meals a day and 1 snack. No drinking until 30-45 minutes after the meal, stick with lower fat, more Protein, less carbs. I'm hungry in between meals and don't feel satisfied after. My first fill is December 10th, which seems like a lifetime away, but I'm forcing myself to stick to it. I weighed myself about a week ago and it looked as though I had lost 3 lbs. On Friday AND Saturday, I had a relapse and went overboard with the eating. But I didn't let it get to me and started again today. It sucks because everyone I run into first asks "so how much have you lost so far?" and I feel like I have to lie even though they don't understand that the band doesn't work like that- you don't just get the surgery and drop pounds and pounds immediately. Everyone thinks it's like Gastric Bypass and it annoys me so much. Anyway, besides for complaining (haha!), I guess the point of my reply is to tell you that I'm in the same boat as you are, and it sucks, but we've got to just keep it going until the 1st fill!! The benefits will come eventually...don't give up! Let us know how everything goes.

Hey! I'm on your exact medication. Effexor XR 150 mg. My doctor didn't say anything to me when looking at my medications. He just said to continue them until further notice. I am 2 1/2 weeks post-op and my first fill is on December 10th. I've been swallowing my effexor whole since the first day I got home from the hospital. I suggest you continue to take them whole, but if you are finding that you are having a problem with that, call your doctor and let him know. If you aren't having a problem with it, keep on going, and ask him again when you get your first fill because I'm sure things will switch up and change regarding medications then. Good luck!!