akmgball

I've had my lap band for about 5 years now. At first I was loosing weight slowly (due to other separate health problems) then last summer, i lost a huge amount of weight very quickly due to extreme stress, and where my port is I was having discomfort, so i went to my new doctor who told me I had to gained weight and that would help with the discomfort, but did not want me to gain too much. I am 5'9 and I was 135lbs and he told me i needed to be at 160lbs. He is not my original doctor that did my surgery and fills. We moved to a different state. Over the last 5 months I (reluctantly) have gained the weight the doc told me to, and even though some of the port discomfort is gone, I now have constant heart burn and acid reflex and pain under my ribs after i eat (I had my gallbladder removed last year) or drink too much I do not drink any alcohol, soda or things like that mainly water tea sometimes and coffee and food has been getting stuck more than it use to. It is extremely hard for me to get back into the doctor, but do see my family primary monthly. I am wondering what type of tests should i ask my primary to order to make sure everything with the band is ok. And if anyone else has had similar problems and what helped. I'm thinking of trying the apple cider vinegar to help with heart burn acid reflex but am open to trying something

I am in Willits. I have wanted to do a small liquid diet for awhile now, unfortunately I have to wait just a little longer to really be able to do it. I have tried a few different protein types and flavors and just don't like them, i know i should force myself to drink them so i know it's my own fault on that side lol. I went to a dr in ukiah, he's really nice and everything, he even did my sons gallbladder surgery but i found a place in Santa Rosa that is allot like the place i Originally had my surgery done. It's a complete weight loss support team basically. When i first started this journey we lived in Kansas and before even seeing the doctor, there were classes i had to attend, and see a nutritionist and things like that, and after surgery, I continued to see the nutritionist every 2weeks, then once a month, what I really loved most about it, was allot of the ladies who worked in the office, all had weightloss surgery of some kind, and were always there to help and stuff. I am really hoping the place in Santa Rosa will be the same. A good support always helps. My family has been wonderful, but at times they get a little upset cause I am so mad, upset because all the weight i gained back. Over the summer i got down to 130, and i will admit that was too much, i'm 5'9 and i looked like i was sick rumors even went around town i was on drugs, gotta love mendo county lol but i knew 130 was just too small, but i only wanted to gain 10lbs, well i ended up gaining 40, so when i talk to my family about how upset i am with the gain, they are more worried about me not being able to eat, and everything getting stuck. there are days i don't eat at all which drives them crazy. I drink lots of water, and i do drink a 20oz special coffee, usually have about 3 of them a day, each one has 4 shots or sometimes 5 shots of espresso and sugar free chocolate and caramel syrup and a dash of milk so sometimes that is all i have a day.

I have the lap band, but had to be on the liquid diet and smell the food cooking for the rest of the family it is a very hard thing to do. If your allowed the sugar free popsicles I would put them in a bowl and chop them up a little and eat it with a spoon, sounds weird, but it did really help. I would also use different seasoning in my broth, and once in awhile would add a can of like diced tomato, then would strain any and all chunks out, depending on the thickness i would strain a few times, but it would help with a little flavor. Hope this helps. Good Luck on your journey!!!!

I am also in N CA and I finally found a place to go to see a doctor in Santa Rosa, it's still a couple hour drive but hopefully worth it. I am now just waiting on my original lap-band doc office to get my records sent out. I am still having a hard time eating, basically at this point I am eating whatever doesn't get stuck. I am still gaining weight, and working 3 jobs, plus being a mom to 2 teenagers I am always on the go, so I'm trying to bring a variety of food with me since i don't eat fast food. My primary did have me do a few test that I will be able to bring the results with me to Santa Rosa, and hopefully get some answers. I am really thinking about getting the band removed and having the sleeve done, so I'm making list of questions to ask the doc when i get to go see them. I will up date as soon as i can

lovebug_0766 what does that mean dilated? did you have to have the band removed? i recently gained alot of weight back, i am back up to over 165lbs, and even though ive been trying to get to 145-150lbs max, i cant once i started to gain nothing stopped it and the heart burn and reflex is out of control. I dont want to have to get the band out, i am terrified i will gain all the weight back.