FitGirl

How did you like your doctor?

My GERD has been bad when I was 120 pounds and when I was 220 pounds. I am 10 years out, gained some weight back but still glad I did it. I was a normal weight most of my life until my mid 30s...exercise nearly every day for 40 some years. Still, I got heavier and heavier. Like food too much and stay up late at night at computer and get hungry and eat too late! Have to starve myself to lose weight...always cling to weight and gain easily for 30 years. Had large hiatal hernia fixed when band was placed but its back somewhat. I am glad I had the band surgery but may change to a sleeve. I recommend the band, especially if you have been struggling and struggling with your weight for years. Its only a tool, but a pretty good one. I have probably stretched my band...that's my fault. I say do it but don't be surprised if you GERD eventually comes back. Good luck! Take the leap!

I am four years out this month. Yea! I lost 80 pounds, but am discouraged because I have somehow regained 30 pounds over the last 1 1/2 years. I just got tightened again....this is the last band fill, because on flouroscope, this is the tightest I should be. I exercise nearly every day and watch what I eat, but my body just wants to gain weight. I was a huge proponent of this surgery, but am confused as to why I have gained weight. I won't go back to being too heavy....wish me luck. I really need it.

I have developed a sweet tooth also and don't eat very nutritionally now that I am banded. I ate so much better when I was heavy. Just don't feel like eating much or the wrong things - soft stuff, chocolate, ice cream. I shouldn't wonder why I am at a plateau for months. We just have to try to be better girls! Banded 4/08 Weight at Surgery 228 Current Weight 153 Goal 130

Oh man, am I. Was doing so good, although I lose weight slowly. Banded two years ago next month and down 80 pounds. Cannot get last 25 off. Been losing and gaining 1 to 2 pounds since before Xmas. I exercise too! Very frustrating, but then again, my tastes have changed. I ate very much more nutritionally when I was heavy. Now I favor liquids, creamy soups, ice cream, candy - have developed a sweet tooth ironically. Am low in iron due to bad diet. Just don't like the way food feels in my stomach sometime, although I don't think I am too tight. Drinking coffee and Diet Coke too...probably doing everything wrong and I am a scientist! I will try harder.

I am thinking about it. I was only heavy for 15 years, but it don't go back where it was at this age, does it? Frustrating cuz I have always exercised. I lost 80 poungs, 20 to go...sagging a little bit too!

I am with you. I MUCH prefer soft foods, especially earlier in the day. Can eat anything later in evening, but I love creamy soupy foods before that and even after sometimes. Its not good, not right, but feels right doesn't it?

Must be ignorant, but what's PB?

Hello all. I am the woman who just SAILED through the lap band surgery, recovery and months afterward. I was banded end of April 2008, did fine with my first fill of 1 cc and THEN felt like I was going to die after my 2nd fill. Word to the wise: be careful after your fills. I thought one day of liquids was fine and I thought the second day that I could eat mushy food. Turns out that a multi-grain 1/2 bagel and cream cheese the day after my 2nd fill (1.5 cc - total 2.5 cc's now) might have gotten stuck, according to my doctor. I was fine all day and then ate a smallish amount of well-chewed food that evening. I was in SO MUCH PAIN for 3 HOURS! I threw up 8 times! First time I had ever thrown up since the April banding 2.5 months earlier. I threw up not only my little amount of food, but also lots of clear liquid. The internet informed me that this was saliva that your body makes to try to move the obstruction through the stoma. I am not a baby, live in chronic pain every day for 45 years - BUT this is a PAIN I WILL NEVER FORGET. Must be what a heart attack feels like. I recovered finally but was very frightened. I am a biologist, so I knew something was very amiss. I may not even get filled again. I am losing slowly, but losing. This last fill restricted me very much. I can hardly eat much at all. Big lesson here....be careful of what you eat. The problem is you don't know what you can eat until it creates a problem for you. Tried chicken nuggets from McDonalds, made me feel bad, hamburger was ok - strange....cole slaw didn't sit well tonight. I wish you knew ahead of time. I thought a multi-grain bagel would be fine, I had eaten them before and it caused (maybe) such a problem I nearly went to the emergency room. I panted and moaned for 3 hours. IF I get filled again, I will definitely follow my doctor's instructions better and not think that, just because I did so well in the first few months, that everything is the same now. Believe me people, THIS PAIN WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY ! Worst pain I ever felt, ever!

I ate solid food sooner than I was supposed to and felt much better! Try it, just don't overdo it. Get that protein and carbs in....

I was banded and a hernia fixed on 4/25/08 and my shoulder still hurts when I eat too fast or the wrong things. It is really strange and was my only real pain after surgery - that left shoulder, from air in the abdomen (referred pain) and I am not sure what now, 2 months later...

BadgerMom - read the FitGirl response to your response to Pen.

If your friend had it done at UW - they are insanely and ridiculously rigid. I say this as a medical professional. I was banded in IL and they are strict (of course I had no solid foods for nearly the full first week) - but I think UW is way too anal about this, to the point of being counterproductive.

You are NOT supposed to drink with a straw - ever again! Too much air. Didn't anyone tell you this?

Those prices are a crime! Yes, I think the shots are important - but my insurance covered them. Then again, people do die from blood clots. Try to find a cheaper source.

I could eat ALOT (as much as before my band - done on 4/25/08) about 3 weeks after surgery. I STILL can eat more than I thought I could - even after my 1st fill which was in early June. HOWEVER, some times I can only eat a little bit. Also, some foods bother me sometimes and not others. Sometimes I discover I must have eaten too quickly or gulped my food, or not chewed properly:thumbup: because I have had a few episodes of major pain. I mean, tremendous pain with sweating and salivating - but I HAVE NOT thrown up. My doctor says it takes a good while to "get the hang of this band thing" and that IF A BAND had slipped, you would not be able to keep ANYTHING DOWN. I even asked for an upper GI to make sure, but I don't think I really need one. I hope to more restricted after a few more fills, but honestly - many times I have forgotten completely that I even had this done. I have to remind myself to "do the right thing." Hang in there...I am a biologist and I could have sworn my band was gone!

I feel like I am bloated too and I can eat a horse. I was banded 4/25 and am already on solid food, no problem. I need that fill! In a few weeks...But, truly sometimes I have pain and I think its gas. Hang in there everyone!

For those of you recent post-op's, call your doctor or nurse. You can have blended foods quicker than you are told. Just check with them. You will gain a few pounds, but you will find your sanity again. Just don't overdo! Listen to your stomach's cues. Don't overeat!

I had diarrhea for a few days too, on the liquid diet. Its ok now that I am on the blended diet.

I drank it right away, just less. Listen to your cues.

Yes, I was banded April 25 and a hiatal hernia fixed too. I only had pain once and that was below my diaphragm, probably because I ate too much. My shoulder however has hurt for over a week. I would check out why you are in pain.

Hello. I am thankful for this website and look forward to dialogue with all of you. I was banded on April 25 and am doing just great. My biggest complaint is that my left shoulder has been hurting since the surgery. I was told by an anesthesiologist in the hospital that it is referred diaphragm pain and also from the air administered to the belly to view your organs during surgery. And, I am getting alittle bored with this liquid diet, but I have lost 9 pounds already. This is amazing for me because I cling tenaciously to weight despite being a very athletic person. Looking forward to talking with you all!

Hang in there. The second day seems to be the worst for some reason. I had to stay an extra day in the hospital because of it. Felt great the first day and the third, but the second felt like I had the flu (temp, drowsy, cranky, headache). And, my shoulder has hurt for five days after the surgery, really really bad sometimes. Get walking....I am doing 20 mins on treadmill every night.

I was banded 4/25 and felt great that day - up and walking 3 hours after surgery. The next day I thought I was going to die. I even stayed a second night in the hospital. I ran a low-grade fever, felt fluish, had a terrible headache and all I wanted to do or could do was sleep. Third day, felt great again. I felt like I was coming down with something the second day, but the doctors and nurses were not worried. As to the shoulder pain, I still have it 5 days later. It hurts so bad sometimes, I cannot believe it, honestly. Hang in there....it gets better.