jst4kel

I was banded Jan 08 and was very happy with my band. By August 09 I had lost 86 lbs, but began vomitting often and not keeping much solid food down. By Sept 09 I was admitted to the hospital for a weekend stay and my band was emptied of all 6cc saline. I was told that my stomach had gotten so swollen that it was almost completely closed at the band. I was left unfilled for 6 weeks and in that time I gained 35 lbs. I had 2 adjustments by Jan, but had no restriction and have now gained back 55 lbs. My doctor can't find a reason that my band is not giving me restriction, so he suggested changing my path and choosing bypass or the sleeve. Just wondering if anyone has come across this. Thanks for any input.

I too had to have an unfill. I got an adjustment in Jan. 2009 and as the months went on, my restriction got tighter and tighter. I was excited because I was losing weight and feeling good. Then about Aug. I began PB'ing often, way too often, and kept putting off going to the Dr. because I was losing weight and so many people were noticing! But my hesitation caused major stomach swelling and by Sept. I was completely blocked to the point no fluids would stay down. I rushed to the ER after calling the Dr. and they removed all 6cc. I was able to drink and keep fluid down. The Dr. would not see me for another adjustment for 2 months to give the swelling time to go down and during that time I ate like there was no tomorrow. Now, I'm not saying I ate a whole pizza or anything like that, but after only eating grilled chicken, salad, and fish for 9 months, I ate anything I wanted, just in smaller portions because I still had some limit to how much my stomach could hold. Well, by the time I went in for an adjustment, I had packed on 30lbs. New adjustment of 3cc did nothing and by the time I went in for the 2nd adjustment after the unfill, I had packed on a total of 40lbs. So much of my hard work was down the drain. I got very depressed. So I had one more adjustment a couple of weeks ago, up to 5cc and now have some restriction, but have been losing 5lbs, putting 5lbs back on. Up and down. I can't eat everything I want, but can not get full on the right foods. So, I am not giving up and you shouldn't either. I had the surgery because I am a food addict and this is not going to fix itself overnight. Hang in there. I sometimes have thoughts of wanting to be like I was this summer, surviving on 1 chicken breast for the whole day, but then I realize that was not good for me either.

No way! I can't eat bread or fries. Maybe the patty if it is thin, but when I am at my sweet spot, 5 or 6 small bites is all I can take without PB'ing.

My Dr says the liquids are important because of the added pressure on your stomach after an adjustment. You don't want to eat anything that may scratch and cause bleeding or an ulcer. I am always very gassy after an adjustment, could that be your swelling? I keep Gas X strips in my purse and usually two will do the trick. Good luck!

I like WalMart's brand (Equate) Childrens Chewable Vitimans. They are inexpensive and not too big, so the taste is not bad at all.

The first thing out of a persons mouth when you talk about food is, " I didn't think you could eat that." Your pets get to know that "look" and sit patiently with you in the bathroom while you PB. Your friends and co-workers modify menus at get togethers so that you can eat also.(I have awesome friends and co-workers!)

I do have regrets from time to time, but they are stupid regrets. I regret not being able to eat a buffet. HELLO! That is part of the problem I had that made me and kept me fat. I am losing weight slowly, large numbers the first two weeks, but now it averages 1 to 2 lbs a week. I am most proud of keep the weight I have lost off. By now, before surgery, I would be packing it back on after 3 months. I am 100% satisfied with my decision to get Lap Band. As for fills, they are quick (10 min.) and painless with my Dr. because he does them at the hospital which is right across the street from his office.

I was told to drink through a straw to keep from gulping my liquids. I haven't had any problems with it.

I am having a hard time getting my recommended 60g of protein a day now. I refuse to drink any more Unjury. Just the smell makes me gag. Any suggestions on how you get all your protein in? Some days I may skip breakfast just because I am not hungry at all, so I think that is where I am falling short of meeting my goals.

Thanks to everyone who gave me ideas. I know I should not be drinking my calories, but I am still kinda stuck in the old diet phase of "Do not eat if you are not hungry". Did that too many years and it is hard to break the habit. I know breakfast is important, but sometimes I just find eggs and cheese too boring. I did find a South Beach bar that has 19g protein, 220 calories. High in calories I know, but a good alternitave for me vs. no breakfast.

I was banded Jan 24 and have no problems with vomitting or diarrhea or any complications at all. My worst complication is that I am still able to eat all those foods that got me to this weight, but I just can't eat as much as I could before. I am still having issues with eating correctly when I know that those bad foods are not making me sick.

I am eight weeks post op, had my first fill last week, and still can't feel my port and I know exactly where it is cause I saw the needle in my stomach!

I like to put dill on my cottage cheese. Not very exciting, but it breaks up the boringness of just cottage cheese and gives it a kick!

I know just how you feel! I was gaining 1/2 lb each day for the first 6 days after surgery. Try to cut out high sodium soups and drinks. I was told it was just fluid retention and it would pass. And it did. I started noticing how much sodium was in the things I was taking in and once I cut back on them, it dropped almost overnight. I was having chicken broth 3 times a day, major sodium and I bet tomato soup is full of it too. My doctor told me to weigh myself daily, but I had to stop because I got so frustrated seeing the number go up and I knew I was taking in 600 calories a day.

You can get a cherry limeade slush! The lemon berry slush is awesome also.

I understand where you are coming from, I was banded 1-24 and lost 11lbs on the liquid diet one week before and 12lbs the week after surgery and not a pound since. But on week 3 I began to get hungry and started eating "off the diet", so I am to blame for some of it. I am having issues with fluid retention also, so my weight fluctuates daily. Hang in there, I am going for my first fill next week, so I hope to drop a couple of pounds before March ends. You are doing well already and I understand your frustration, but you are already ahead of the expectations.

I had surgery 1/24 and the week before I was on liquids and lost 11lbs.Yeah!Dr. told me to weigh daily after surgery and lost 12lb by day 7.Yeah! Weighed on day 8 after starting mushies and sticking to diet plan exactly and gained 1.5lb.Boo! Day 9, gained .5lb.Boo! Today, gained .5lb.What the heck is going on? I could be gaining wt. eating tons of crap like I used to. I am not hungry, but eat three meals a day, no snacking. I am getting in at least 64 oz. fluid, mostly water, and for once am honestly following the plan. Getting 50-65 gr. protein daily.Why is this happening to me? If anyone has had this experience, please give me your insight as to what is going on and how you resolved it. I swear this may cause me to become anerexic!I am paraniod about calories now.

PeachesPJ, try some Milk of Magnesia for BM's. I just one dose helped get me going.

I was banded 1/24 and was not hungry until day 5. I did have many times when I saw something on T.V. and thought, "That would be so good right now" but was not honestly hungry until day 5. It is still hard for me to be able to tell "head hunger" from true hunger. And honestly I haven't felt true hunger but a few times. Hang in there until you get to mushies.Try eating S.F. popsicles, they helped me because there was chewing involved. My dr. allowed me unlimited amounts of them, counting them as liquids. If you are really, honestly, stomach growling, hungry and you are doing well, call your dr or dietician and see if you can progress to mushies for maybe 1 meal and maybe that will help.Good luck, I understand your frustration and hope this passes soon.

I am 7 days post-op and hoping to be encouragement for those of you waiting to have surgery or just a couple of days post-op. I feel great, no soreness from the incisions and all the gas pain is gone. I did get tired rather quickly while getting ready for my Drs. appt. It was the extra time and strength to blow dry my hair and style it and apply make-up. Haven't done that for 8 days. I am 12lbs down from the morning of surgery, which is 23lbs down total since starting the liquid diet. My first few days were ROUGH but now I know it was so worth it!Good luck to all and I wish you much success!!:biggrin:

Alfie, I am with you. I was banded 1-24 and just yesterday I began to think the food commercials on TV were looking pretty good. Today I experienced my "new " stomach growling, but I have been on liquids for 3 weeks also. I am just counting down to day 7 when I can start blended food. But getting fluids down is not a problem for me. I have had some major gas attacks that scared me to death, but for the most part, it has been smooth sailing.

I had lap. gallbladder removal Dec. 2005. My stomach was very sore for 6 or 7 days but had no outside sutures, just steri strips. My only uncomfortableness was going from sitting to standing and stretching my stomach. I had lap band lap.4 days ago. Major issues with gas and bloat, but not so much stomach sorness from the incisions. I again have no outside sutures and just steri strips. The only thing holding me back from going to work now at 4 days is the bloat and gas pain.But it is much much better today than the past 3 days.

I had some trouble with bloat from the gas they use and was much more comfortable staying overnight and having someone look after me for 24 solid. I was also a little dehydrated from being on liquids only the week before, so the IV's helped a bunch. I am so glad I was required to spend the night. But that was my personal experience and you may have an easier or harder time than I did. Good luck and I wish you much success!

I followed a liquid diet for 9 days pre-op and lost 11lbs. I was only allowed diet drinks, water, sugar free jello, chicken or beef broth( add 1 chicken bullion cube to chicken broth to make it more manageable), 1/2 c. lowfat cottage cheese twice daily, and one slim fast optima daily.Oh yeah, and sugar free popsicles. They came in handy when I felt like I needed to chew something.Good luck and if you change your mindset now, after surgery will be much easier!

Well, let me just tell you it was not as easy as I thought it was going to be. I had surgery 1-24 and was scared the most about the IV being placed. I had my gallbladder removed two years ago and that was the most painful thing, the IV. I was the first surgery of the day at Centennial in Nashville, TN. IV went in no problem. Everyone was super nice to me.Dr. told my family the surgery went well and he could tell I had stuck to the pre op liquid diet(broth, water, popsicles, jello). But after I woke up I had a bad time with the carbon dioxide they pump your belly up with. It caused me to have chest pains on the left side and I had so many specialist come by to see me it scared my family and friends, not to mention me! After an attempt to do a CAT scan and the contrast they injected TWICE did not show up they finally took me back to my room. As the evening progressed, the pain in my chest got better. But they were still concerned about a pulmonary embalisim(blood clot in the lung) so a nurse kept coming in and taking blood to check. Not so much pain after the surgery as being uncomfortable with all the bloating and not passing gas. Never had this problem with my gallbladder surgery. So I spent the night in the hospital and got up periodically walking the halls. Must have really looked like crap because when the day nurses came back in the following morning they all were shocked at how well I looked! Dr. was pleased with the progress and had me do a chest x-ray and swallow test before releasing me. The crap you have to drink was very nauseating to me. But at least I was cleared and was going home. My x-ray did show a small amount of pneumonia, but I had also went into the hospital the morning of surgery with chest congestion. Day two I am still very bloated but really not in pain. Slept great once I got home. Working in 64oz of fluids is so much harder than I thought! It is amazing to drink 4-6 oz and my belly to be FULL! Praise the Lord!Sorry for such a long post, but wanted to share my experience with anyone who is curious, since we all experience different things.Oh, by the way I had already lost 11lbs the week before on the liquids, so I am well on my way to my goal!