rosemanl

I've been banded a little over 4 years. I've lost 80 lbs and would like to lose 20 more but if i get my band tight enough for decent restriction during the day its too tight for sleeping at night. At night i will have reflux and cough up liquid. Has anyone else experienced this?

I guess I wanted the good ole days back when the band did most the work. I think you're absolutely right Jachut. Thanks for everyones input.

I had the same thing and i think alot of people do. I read this great book titled "the four day win - end you diet wars and achieve thinner peace" by Martha Beck. It explained the mental side of dieting. It really helped me. I still have a long way to go but it helped tremendoulsy!!!

I just have to share about this wonderfull book. I started reading it this weekend and it has already totally changed me. Its titled "The Four Day Win - End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace" by Martha Beck. She was on GMA (good morning america) firday (1/5/07). Totally new weight loss philosphy. I am reaching my thinner peace and weight loss enlightenment. I think its revolutionary.

Its GREAT!!! I've bought copy for lap-band doctor, emailed martha beck thanking her. It has really rescued me from my diet hell. I'm telling everyone about it. Its very freeing!!! Don't walk but run to your nearest book store.

The "Honeymoon Phase" to me was a time i had so much restriction that the mental battles were pretty much non-existant. I had so much restriction that there was no choice in the matter. The band decided i was going to eat a few ounces 3 times a day - no way around it. Since I never felt hunger it sure was a lot easier to make excellent choices. After a few adjustments to keep the strong restriction i started expriencing reflux and had to have some removed. At that point the "honeymoon phase" ended for me. I began to realize how much the band controlled head hunger issues. I'm still losing (slower rate), i still love my band, I'm going to succeed. So the "honeymoon phase" for me is just that - a phase of the long great journey.

Hi nutmeg1965, Dr. Scott is with the university, Dr. Pitt does it at Boone. I had mine done with Dr. Pitt. I have United Healthcare which took a few months for the approval to go through but they covered just about everything except for fills. Dr. Pitt charges $75 for fills which isn't too bad. Its good to find someone else in columbia!

There are some great water proof band aids that i used 1 week post op. I found them at Wal-Mart right along with the other band aids - sorry i don't remember the brand or name of them. They are completely and totally waterproof. I spend about 55 minutes at a time in the pool and when i took off the band aids it was completely dry underneath. Swimming is my main exercise so my doctor was OK with it. Also i did to a test before i went swimming - put a band aid on my arm and let it soak in water just to check.

"I knew that it was not going to end the war only better prepare me for battle." I totally agree. I have just begun to start referring to my band as "my secret weapon".

It does get harder the farther out you get. I think vetern bandsters would agree. My last fill (from 2.5 to 3.0 in 4cc band) gave me excellent restriction during the day but at night it was just too much and i was having coughing spells which led to vomitting at night. Had the last fill taken out (back to the 2.5). So now i'm waiting for a smaller fill which will give more restriction during the day without the night time reflux - i hope. The excellent restriction won't always be there, at least thats what my experience has taught me. I committed to the lifestyle change, diet, exercise as can be. Heck i've exercised every freakin day this week for 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to make sure i maintain until i can get my next fill and i'm dreading my weakly weigh in tomorrow. I'm seriously doubting i've maintained. Not trying to bring anyone down, just want you to enjoy the great restriction and weight loss your experiencing right now becuase it will probably get harder. I still love my band and pray i never lose it, but it could happen so i'm starting counseling monday so i can be prepared. Hope i didn't steal someone thread or whatever, but i really want the newer bandsters to do as much as they can with the great restriction they have right now. I'm miss mine (restriction that is).

I've hit a spot i'm comfortable with so i've started the maintence phase and i'm finding it a challenge. You don't have the "high" of being down a pound or so every week and the weight loss compliments have stopped because everyone has adjusted to your new size. It's just kind of a blah stage, but you still got to work hard at diet and exercise w/ out any glory. Don't get my wrong i feel better than i've felt in years, but its a very different place than the losing phase.

If you don't care about a couple of talking heads why read this thread?

I just bought a copy of Star magazine and looking at the picture of Star Jones. I totally agree she had WLS. Check it out. February 20th copy, page 62.

Very little carbs. My only sweet treat when i was doing atkins. If i remember correctly its pure fat. Yum!!!

"Also during that time I started coughing very hard while I was sleeping... so hard that I would vomit up any liquid I might have gotten down" I had the very same thing a couple of weeks ago. An unfill of my last fill cleared it up. I was happy with my level of restriction during the day but at night it was just too much restriction for sleep. I'm hoping my doc will give me some itty bitty fills so i find a decent level of restriction during the day with out night time problems.

Unfortunately he didn't specifically address the issues regarding buckle placement which is a somewhat newer process adopted in band placement. If i remember correctly this has reduced the band erosion from 3% to 1%. He's seems to me to be a very articulate and eloquent Bull S---er.

Exactly one year today (1/31) and i'm down 74lbs. Started in size 22/24 pants, 2x shirts and now i'm 12/14 pants and XL shirts. Couldn't of done it without the band.

Thanks Road Queen - I have noticed the scale hasn't been moving much lately, but i have dropped in clothing sizes, so that may be it.

I was curious if anyone else was at their sweet spot, but then seem to lose it. I currently have 2.75 cc in a 4cc band. I hit my sweet spot in May 05 with my 3rd fill and had another fill in July 05. The July 05 fill was too much and had that fill taken out during x-ray drinking barium (fluro?) due to lots of acid reflux. After the last fill was removed i could tell it was loser than i prefered, but i was able to lose weight so i stuck with it. My last fill brought me to 2.75cc was on 12/8 and i was really looking forward to restriction, but never got the restriction. After the 12/8 fill i could feel liquid gurgle through which is usually a sign of restriction, but it didn't seem to carry over to solid food. Has anyone else had a fill that never really kicked in? I know the first couple of fills may be that way, but by now i would think every little bit should make a big diference. I have another fill scheduled for 1/19 so maybe that will do it. BTW, i have not been drinking w/ meals and have been eating the right foods - lots of solid protien. Any thoughts? Thanks for reading!!!

First i would like to say i am so sorry to the mx cluster and their band erosions. I think of you all often and wonder how you all are getting along. I just wanted to throw a thought out there that my band doctor (Dr. Pitt / Columbia, MO)mentioned to me in my discussion w/ him on erosion fears. He said something about the buckle placement of the band is different now. I don't remember anymore details than that but since he said that i just keep wondering if maybe you all were banded before the buckle placement procedure changed. I'm really sorry i can't provide anymore details, but if nothing else it can give you something to start looking into. I hope you all keep us posted on your journey w/ out the band. I have learned sooooo much from your experiences and appreciate your openess and willingness to share!!!

Hi deltamist - I thought i heard some of the mx bandsters mention that they sometimes give you a fill (1 or 2 cc) at banding. Maybe that's what is meant by not needing a fill since they have already done 1 or 2 fills at the time of banding.

I have a similiar habit. I lick the sasoning off Doritos w/ out eating the chips.

Hi Micheala - I can eat popcorn when i don not have much restriction. But if my band is tight i won't touch it. I think i would be to easy for the pieces of husk to get lodged and that is very painful. As for straws i think you suck in too much air w/ them. Not sure the reason for too much air. Where are you in the lap band journey? lisa

hi pamdin, I also had my lap-band done by dr pitt w/ boone hospital on 1/31/05. I really like him too! Hope everything is going good!! rosemanl

Hi "with the band". I was banded 1/31/05 and had my 3rd fill on 7/21/05. About one week after that i started having acid reflux. I put up w/ it for 3 weeks and couldn't take it anymore so i made appt w/ my band dr who gave me pepcid ac and untightened my band. Have not had acid reflux since, but my band is looser than i like it. Maybe you might want to try OTC acid reflux meds to see if you get relief. The only other time in my life i had acid reflux was when i was pregnent.