AnnieMae

I was banded 9/30/08. I managed to lose 30 pounds but have gained 8 of that back. The ONLY change I have noticed is that if I eat too fast food will get stuck and I will either have to wait until it goes down or bend over and let it come back up. I DO NOT experience a full feeling any sooner than I had in the past. I feel stupid for not being able to lose more weight but I also feel that the band was supposed to help me eat less and keep me from getting too hungry. Nope. Not happening. I'm scheduled to see my doc in followup Monday and I am afraid of what he is going to say as I am sure I will be 3-4 pounds heavier than when I saw him last about 8 weeks ago. I have 7ccs in a 9cc Realize band. I am now wondering if I should have had a gastric bypass instead of the lap band and if I my insurance (BCBS of RI Healthmate) would cover the surgery? Any suggestions welcome. I see the dr. Monday 8/17/09. THank you!

I had my Realize band placed in September 2008. I had an endoscopy last month by my GI doctor primarily for esophageal dilatation. After the procedure he informed me that he could not detect any restriction with my band at all. How is this possible? I have very little "wiggle" room left in my band and am almost at my fill limit and yet I have gained back nearly half of the 30 pounds I lost in the first 3 months after my band placement. I see my LAP-BAND® surgeon Friday July 2 and I am once again afraid to get on the scale. It is true that I am eating too much but that is simply because I am hungry! I have never ever felt restriction and am so depressed about gaining this weight back. I think I have become obsessed with food which makes losing even more difficult for me. The funny thing is if I eat too fast or take too large a bite I will either vomit or need to stop until the food goes down. How in heck can I have no restriction and yet get food stuck??? What the heck is going on?? Any ideas would be appreciated! PS: Even though I am eating too much I am seeing a behavioral therapist and I am exercising routinely.

Hi Janet. I'm Annie from Rhode Island. I had the Realize band inserted 9/30/08. I have a total of 5.5 ccs in the band now but still no restriction (I do get food stuck sometimes, however). My dr. schedules every 6 weeks as he is soooo busy. I return to him next Monday and this time I am afraid to go as I have not lost any weight and may actually have gained a pound or two. I sure could use your help. My problem is sweets and they sure do go down easy! I had lots of will power in the beginning but have lost no weight the last 2 months. Any words of advice? Thank you so much in advance.

I pretty much feel doomed. I get food stuck at times but do not experience early feelings of fullness. I feel like I'm back to square one.

crzy: I am down to 197 ( 1 lb lost) -- slow but steady. please post in the challenge. Happy Easter! Thank you

I ate a hard boiled egg this morning too fast or didn't chew well enough and experienced the worst "stuck" episode ever. This time I actually experienced the "sliming" I have read about (if long threads of thick drool is sliming). The pain was intense, I started salivating, I tried the downward dog position, all to no avail. I was at work and had to run to the ladies room and to my surprise I actually vomited (not just productive burping) the egg and the yogurt I had been eating. This was a frightening experience for me and I hope I have learned a lesson. I have had trouble with hard boiled eggs in the past but this was the worst! I think I read somewhere that if you vomit or get food stuck you should revert to soft foods for a while. Anyone know if that's what I should do? I'm starting to get hungry....

Hi all. Down another pound (now 197). Slow but steady I guess....

Hi there. Weigh in this morning was 198. 2 pounds lost. :frown:

Hi there. My user name has been changed from mrsezova to AnnieEmmm. I am getting divorced...

Banded Sept 30. Lost nearly 30 pounds, gained back 5. I have had 3 fills for a total of 5 ccs in my Realize band but still have not reached a point of restriction. I do experience foods getting stuck at times (banana, hard boiled eggs, some breads) but other than that it is as if I never had surgery. I've lost the motivation that kept me going long enough to lose 25 pounds. I thought the band would help with my appetite and while I realize it is ME who chooses what to eat, I thought by now I should have lost 50 pounds. I see the dr. Monday and he will probably only put in 1 more cc (or less) and then i will have to wait another 6 weeks to see him again for another fill. Does anyone have any advice for me? When will this band kick in? :thumbup:

THanks for the input everyone. Firstly, No fluro is used for my fills. They are done in the doctor's office and they don't even hurt but at this point I would put up some discomfort if it would help. My portion sizes are too large and that's because I'm hungry! If there are any suggestions or questions I can tell my doctor at my appointment tomorrow please let me know. Thank you all!

I would like to join this challenge. Do I put my stats in myself? If not, here they are: banded Sept 30 weight 223 Current weight 200 goal weight 141 goal by july 4 170 Thank you!

I was banded Sept 30, 2008. I have lost about 25 pounds so far, at one point I was at a 30 pound loss but.... Anywhooo, my last fill brought my Realize band up to 5ccs total in it. I have noticed food will at times get stuck at about the level where my neck joins my chest. It feels like a hard ball is stuck in there. It will eventually subside but it is very uncomfortable. My question is this: If I am experiencing food getting stuck than why am I not experiencing restriction or a feeling of fullness? It is obvious something is different with this latest fill. However, any weight loss to date is of my own doing, not from the band. Anyone have a theory as to why I can get food stuck but still be hungry?

I have the Realize band and currently am at 4 ccs. My first fill was 3 ccs, my second was 1 cc. I definitely need another fill but my dr. schedules the visits and he says no earlier than every 6 weeks. I was really disappointed that he only gave me a fill of 1 ccs last visit. With the exception of an occasional sticking episode, I feel I have no restriction.

I can normally eat bread and toast, however, last week I had a South Beach Pizza and experienced what I consider to be a "stuck" feeling. It did go away eventually. I may have eaten it too fast. I have 4 ccs in a Realize band.

Rockbandster is extremely adamant about promoting the Lap Band and bashing the Realize band. I have been noticing this for a while now and no longer pay much attention to his/her posts. However, I wonder if he/she is on Lap Band's payroll? I have never seen such determination and passion from one person about one specific topic. What's the real deal here?

Hi Suzanne. I tried getting in to see my doctor sooner but no luck. I had my surgery Sept 30, my first fill November 10, and hopefully another fill but not until Dec 22! When I see him Dec 22 I am going to ask for a sooner return visit. If I don't need it fine, if I do need it I won't have to wait another 6 weeks.! What is the usual time frame between fills? TY

As silly as this sounds, I wish I would get something stuck or have a PB. While I have lost 22 pounds, it has been simply sheer willpower after the first week post op. I have 3ccs out of a possible 10ccs in my Realize band and I cannot tell I even have a band. However, I am sorry you are having a problem.

I just read an article on MSN about sugar. The article said it is as addictive as cocaine or morphine!

I was banded 6 weeks ago. I had my first fill (3 ccs) 3 days ago. I am still supposed to be on soft foods but I just had 4 Oreo cookies and 1 1/2 graham crackers. Obviously my restriction has not kicked in yet and cookies are not allowed on my diet anyway. I realize I myself must stay away from the junk food and that the band won't do that for me, but if I werent hungry I would not have grabbed the cookies? Am I doomed?

After about the 5th day post op my appetite returned completely. I had my first fill last Monday November 10th. The dr. put in 3 ccs. It has been a week and I still don't notice any restriction. I stop myself before I overeat but I really wish I knew what true restriction feels like. I had to wait 6 weeks for my first fill and I don't go for another until Dec 22 -- another 6 weeks! This is going to be a very difficult holiday season.

I also had the dry heaves during the night following my surgery. It was horrible and all I could think of was I'm going to make my new band slip! The next morning I had gas pains so severe I thought I was having a heart attack. I had an EKG and cardiac blood work taken and I stayed an extra day in the hospital. In my case the Gas X strips did nothing. Walking did help, however.

I had my first fill yesterday. The dr said liquids for 2 days and then soft foods for 2 days. I should have asked him why but I did not. Does anyone know why?? I passed the drinking Water test in his office after the fill. Anne in RI

I had my first fill today!!! 3 ccs in a Realize band. I was scared to death BUT all I felt was a pinch and a few seconds later it was over!!! I felt really foolish for being so scared.