Bruce Peter

Hello everyone, It's been a while since i last posted here si please forgive me, but I need some guidance advice. I had a 4cc band implanted in 2006. I wasn't vastly overweight , only 270 lbs, but I couldn't control my eating and diets were not working for me so I self funded the surgery. Since then it's been a constant struggle for me. Initially I lost about 30 lbs at a gradual fill of around 1.2, but I eventually plateaued . It was very difficult for me. I couldn't eat hardly anything without throwing up. food would get stuck which caused a great deal of discomfort and I always felt hungry. I was eating mainly Soups. Then I took a trip into higher altitude and all hell broke loose. I couldn't eat anything at all, not even fluids. My doctor told me that was normal and to see him prior to the next trip up... He also told me that most people fill to around 2.5-3.5. I can't tolerate more than 1.2 as I said. The last fill i had brought me to 1.5 (sea level). I did that on a Thursday, by Monday I was dehydrated because I couldn't get anything down, not even fluids. I went to him and had him remove all the saline. That was last spring. I've never gone back. Even now, with a .2cc fill I still get "stuck" unless I drink Water with my food, and of course, the weight is going back on. Has anyone else experience this? Can anyone offer any advice? Thank you in advance. Buddy

Now I can eat what and how much I want as long as I drink Water. Last night I did get stuck and threw up eating wings. When I was filled I could eat a fair amount once the band cooperated, which wasn't often. Like the poster above, I still felt hungry though.

Now or when I was filled at 1.2?

I'm ok now as far as throwing up at least. I'm at .2CC,s now but if I dare go up I'll have those problems along with major reflux

Hi folks. First, thanks in advance for your support. I can always count on help from this board. First let me say I was banded 3-31-06. To date I have lost 38 lbs. I'm quite happy with this. However recently, about 1 week post the last fill, I have been having trouble eating virtually everything. Here's a scenario... I'll wake up, pour a cup of coffee, take a sip and I'm done. I can't take another. I feel uncomfortable and ready to through up. Burping helps but it's nex to non existant. The day pretty much goes that way when I attempt to eat anything. Soups, soft foods, anything. Usualy I can get a cup of Jo down later in the morning but that's it. Then miraculously, I'm able to get some food down, not much, but a small portion around dinner time. Then the port shuts down and all ships are left out to sea... I call it the port, lol. Sometimes it's open for business but most times it's closed. I am at 1.6 which I don't think is very much. Has anyone experienced this? HELP! Hungrily awaiting your responses. B

I just don't understand how one minute I can't eat the next I'm eating with NO issues. I theorize that the stomach contracts or goes into a spasm of sorts, closing off the access for food. Now, If I can just figure out the formula for getting it open, I'd be happy as a pig in s... Yesterday is a perfect example. I woke up, attempted to drink few sips of coffee. Major pain and discomfort. So during the course of the day I nursed a jar of mandarin oranges. 1 or 2 at a time. Each time it was painful. Later around 2:00 pm I attempted some eggplant parmesan with no success. We decided to take the family out for a bite to eat. Once we got there they brought some bread and an oil based topping. I was able to eat very small pieces of bread at first, then larger and larger pieces until I ate almost an entire piece (sliced french bread) Afterwards, I negotiated a full bowl of Soup, one crab cake and a bunch of hinly sliced onion rings. All this with no pain or discomfort. This morning pain upon the first sip of coffee. Jack the last fill was .2

Thanks guys. I thought 1.6 was low. I see that it's not. I began to have these symtoms a week after my last fill, 4 weeks ago. But like I said I thought 1.6 was low relatively speaking.

Why is it advised to have no fluids with meals? Thanks Bruce

Hello all, I am 8 weeks post op. Lost 20 lbs so far. My diet has consisted of a good mix of protien and carbs, no junk and much smaller portions. My question is this... My support group leader, a fellow bandster, suggests a total protien NO CARB diet. The equivalent of Atkins. Her stategy is to prepare me for later when I am more resticted and in need of protien. While I realize protien is very important to my diet I am uncofortable with this diet plan. I have not yet tried the protien shakes. What types do you guys drink? What are your opinions? Many thanks

Hello everyone, I have been absent from this board for some time. I am 2 months post op. So far I've lost 20 lbs. However I have been stuck here for three weeks. I got a very small fill 3 weeks ago, 1/2cc. (I have a samll band). What has happened is I beging to get hungry between meals and I graze. Mostly with either cottage cheese with fruit, avacado's or penut butter. My old habits have returned and I eat more that I need. My main meals are small, mostly protien and some veggie's I need some advice here as to how to address this. Thank you! Bruce

I was banded 3-30 also. I am still sore but I was able to sleep on my side as of Sunday. Went back to work today but couldn't last past 2:00.

Ok, After all the positive feedback I have gotten here I have decided to go for this. I'm psyched! Thanks to all for your encouragement and support. I have contacted Dr. Rumbaut and await his response. If I may ask for some more advice here. I am planning a trip to the carribean in early February. I can't possibly get the surgery done before early January. If you were in my shoes would you wait until after the trip? Thanks in advance.

I was not so much worried about post op complications as I was about being around all that food and not being able to eat. I would be on the mushy stage. I dounbt there are a lot of mushy resturaunts around. Bruce

Hi all, I have a low bmi, 38. I am not sure that I should be considering this. Most of the people I speak to have bmi's much higher. Medical people here in the states won't touch me. They tell me I should diet. The point is I have tried and failed at every diet there is. I gain weight in the end. I am at my wits end. I hate the way I look and the way I feel. Am I wrong to want this? The doctors here sure made me feel that way. Is there anyone here who can identify with me? Any one here that had a low bmi? I feel like such a looser. Help Bruce

thanks, I just took a look and it requires either sleep apnea or diabetis. Did you suffer from either? Bruce

none, just overweight

Thank you everyone! I feel alot better now. Nickie, Can you share your experience with Dr. Rumbaut? How did you get checked before surjury? Did he refer you to a stateside Dr? I assume one must have a pre-op consultation, yes? Bruce

Thanks Jeff

Does anyone here know the formula used to dertermine BMI?

Hi folks. It's me again with another newbie question. I am a grazer. I munch before meals. While do I eat full meals I still continue to graze after meals. Will I feel so full that I won't be able to eat more? If I do graze will I burst the band? Thanks in advance Bruce

If it were as easy as changing my eating habits I wouldn't need lap band. There must be more to this. HELP???

I think I have some misconceptions here. I was under the impression that banding will help me to NOT eat so much food. I further thought that I would not be hungry between meals. Am I all wet?

Hello all, I have been following this forum for a little while. I am considering lap band surgery. I have a couple challenges. First, I am below the minimum weight here in Ny. While I am 85 lbs overweight, my BMI is to low. I weigh 265 and stand 5'10". The local Doctor here says I need to wiegh 285. So far I have only been accepted by a Doctor in Mexico. I really don't want to travel there. Canada is also an option but again I would prefer to get it done locally. It has been suggested that I cheat when weighed but I simply don't see how that would fly. Too, If I have it done here I will likely have insurance pay for it. Any suggestions? Second, Once the surgery is done, assumingly abroad, how often will I need and how much will it cost me for fills? Will a local Doctor see me if I have the surgery done in Mexico? Lastly, Once banded for say a year or so will I be able to eat most any food? Or will I be limited. If so how. Sorry for the newbie questions. Thanks in advance. Bruce

Thank you everyone for your response. Keep em coming Bruce