bandedshopgirl

Does anyone have ANY info on the connection of the vagus nerve and lap band surgeries????

Can someone recommend a GOOD lapband book to read with lots of info on what and how and when to eat...I have been unable to find one at the library or book store- Thanks!

Which message board is Dr Hekier on?...ie...what's the best way to ask him this question? Thanks!

I know EXACTLY what you are talking about!!!! I was banded Dec05 and right now have no fill in because when I do get just a tiny fill, I get first bit pain...no matter how small the bite or how much I chew....it's HORRIBLE if you have never experienced it. I also feel like a failure and keep asking everyone what I have done wrong???? My original surgion said that my problems indicate that I am just not a band candidate and pushed to do a gastric bypass. I have switched surgeons and he feels that he can go in and readjust the band making a larger pouch and doing a vagautomy (sp?) and he feel that will "fix" my problems. I am currenly trying to figure which is best...to try the band again or just do the gb....hard decisions to make but I know that if I was unable to do this on my own at 40 yrs old...for me, chances are that I will not be able to loose without some type of assistance. Just wanted you to know that you were not alone! Good luck!

I was banded Dec 05 and have had constant problems with eating anything once I was even slightly filled...and stayed hungry. First bite pain was a major issue! I have been UNfilled since Oct 06. I am seeing a new surgeon in the same practice and he says I have 2 options...1 would be for him to remove the band and replace it lower creating a larger pouch at a different angle which he thinks will make a big difference or 2 would be to remove the band and do a RNY. I am 340lbs, 43 yrs old and have gained 40 lbs since being banded. I am in fairly good health other than my joints are giving out due to the weight. Does anyone have thoughts on what they would do or has anyone had this situation come up?

For those of you that have lost a significant amount of weight, do/did you drink protein shakes like adkins protein drinks (especially for breakfast)? Did you feel that protein drinks slowed your weight loss at all? When I did Atkins several years ago, many people then said that the protein drinks hendered their weight loss......but that is all I can get down b4 lunch and I am not doing Atkins with the band ...just trying to make healthy choices....Just curious...

I have struggled with the band for almost a year without much luck! I have a couple of question I hope you guys can help me with... 1)I hurt when I eat until I burp and then I feel better. Especially if liquid is involved...anyone else experience this? Any thoughts? 2)What happens when you drink carbonation (like diet 7-up)? I have been told that is a huge no-no but if burping helps wouldn't the drink help with better burps? Please guys, I need help to make this a success! Thanks!

has no one drank carbonated drinks since their surgery???

I was banded Dec 2005 and can honestly say that I have NEVER felt that full, not hungry feeling without being at the point of pbing. I have read so many post about how with the band you will eat smaller meals because you will feel full but I have never felt that way. I either have no restriction (doc did an unfill yesterday) or too much (1.0cc) and am experiencing pding and first bite syndrome. What am I doing wrong and how can I make this band work?

I need everyone's help! To start with, I am a horrible cook and own my own business (so not a lot of time) so we eat out ALOT!!!...which is what has helped pack the lbs on both hubby and me. I have NEVER planned menus for dinner...so that I would go to the grocery store and buy what was planned for that week. Can some of you give me examples of what you fix for dinner that you can eat after banding (I was banded Dec 2005 and have had major problems with 1st bite syndrome)...so I am trying to start fresh...I want to fix healthy quick meals...I get home at 6:30pm with everyone starving and I need to stop eating out and start cooking but I don't know where to start....PLEASE HELP!:help: . Instead of my health improving after surgery...I have headed in the other direction and I MUST get the weight off!

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions! I still struggle with making myself sit down and write a grocery list based on having a menu planned for the week. To be such an anal planner I am so opposite when it comes to menu planning! I will try to do better and keep you guys posted

For those of you that are loosing and for those of you that eat "regular" food (no gourmet cooking...lol) what is a typical daily menu for you?

I was banded Dec 2005 and have not lost much weight....many problems with pding and eating in general and haven't felt like exercising so my metabolism must be 0 because I don't eat much and am staying at 300 lbs. I need some motivation on what to eat and how to get my metabloism going...I'm bummed because I had such high hopes on where I would be 6 months down the road from banding! Thanks in advance for all help!

I have had 3 or 4 fills and each time the dr has had to do un-fills that day because of such pain just trying to drink water. I STAY hungry and unfortunately can get down pop-corn etc but have real trouble setting down to a "healthy" meal and when I do, it can take me 3-4 hours to eat. I can never eat b4 lunch which sounds pretty normal but lunch is a struggle and then I snack alot at night because that is when I can eat. I go back to my surgeon next week but she is stumped too. I just seem not to be able to tolerate fills and we don't know why? BUt in the mean time I do not eat half what I did be banding and still not loosing???? I can eat solid protein (usually drink protein shake for breakfast)but not real good with chicken...The problem is that carbs go down fine and I know that is a BIG problem but I am sooooo hungry! PLEASE. I am soooo frustrated!

Has anyone heard that some docs are adding another "step" to the lap band surgery?...they are cutting "something?" to reduce hunger....just cutious. I was banded 12-19-06 and have had major problems with first bite pain...just this week it has gotten better and I can eat BUT I am hungry ALL the time. I'm afraid to get another fill next week at the docs because I don't want to go back to first bite pain BUT I think I need a fill to help with hunger! Thanks for comments! Wendy

I just got an update and the docs here are experimenting with cutting a nerve to help control hunger....anyone heard of this??????? I am just mastering first bite pain and am scared to get a fill worried that it might trigger what I have been experienceing the past 5 months but I am HUNGRY ALL THE TIME! any thoughts????????????????

This morning I noticed a horrible pain in my right upper side a certain way I moved...feeling the area, I felt a hard "spot" and at first thought maybe a hernia but I can't feel my port which should be below the hard spot I felt about 6 inches...so I guess my port has moved. I had a hard night last night with food being stuck and pbing...could this have caused it? I have had a hard time since day one with first bite pain. PLEASE, can anyone give info?

I was banded 12/19/05 and have had trouble every day since ! 90% of the time when I eat, two bites later and I am in SEVERE pain. yes-I am taking small bites and chewing til it is almost liquid and after swallowing, it hurts right under my breast bone...(almost as bad as labor pains were!) There is no rhyme nor reason. Every once in a while I can eat something and it doesn't hurt but most times after only 2 BITES I hurt and end up in the bathroom for 30-45min until sometimes I make myself throw up so that it will stop hurting. I am not having "head hunger" because my stomach is making the grawling noise. I am having really bad headaches and I don't know what to do next. I have had 2 fills (both ending with some fill being taken back out that afternoon. I have also been 2 weeks ago for the swallow test and everything looks great. I am begging for help!!!! My dr tells me that either I am eating too fast or not chewing. I tell her that all this starts after just 2 bites and my hubby has even started watching me try to eat to make sure I AM chewing...he is also at his wits end. I go for another fill in 1.5 weeks and I am so depressed. Has ANYONE else had this much pain after just 2 bites?...and the funniest things is....the only thing I have NEVER had pain from is popcorn??!!??...it makes NO sense. Please guys, give me your openion...suggestions....It happens with chicken, ground turkey, hamburger, lunch meat, shrimp, fish....I don't know what to do from here!!! Thanks for listening and for your input!

I am having a REALLY hard time. I was banded 12/19/05 and after 2 bites most meals, I have horrible pain and can't eat. I would love some feedback from anyone who has also gone thru this. Thanks!

Do you know why some people suffer from this and others don't? My doc keeps telling me I'm doing too big of bites or not chewing properly...but I know better! I am VERY frustrated!!!!!!...and in pain most meals!!!!!!

I seems like even b4 my current problem, I experience pain due to eating almost on a daily basis. I am chewing and eating slow but still am having problems. (swallow test was normal today and band is in correct position) IS there anyone else out there that experiences pain often. My kids even say we know when it happens mom because we can tell by the look on your face!

I had my 2nd fill a week ago...had to go back that afternoon and have some taken out...hard pain all afternoon. After 3 days on liquids I seemed ok and was able to eat Fri & Sat but at lunch on Sun something got stuck and it all started. I know what PB is but what does PB stand for???? Anyway, I have had horrible pain and pb/throwing up since Sun...even with liquids. I go to the doc today but I have had sooooo much pain that I am to the point of wanting my band removed! What am I doing wrong??? My protein drink got stuck this morning!

I just got back from the hosp and had the swallow test this morning. While they didn't find ANYTHING wrong...it was VERY informative...with a great Radiologist that explained alot. I could swallow fine and the band was in the perfect position. He did show me on the xrays where the band lies in relation to the stomach and esophagus. The "pouch" that we are told about seems to be as much in the esophagus area as it is in the stomach area and he went on to say that when we have pain it is probably coming from the esophagus and not the stomach...and that irritation can continue to make things worse...ie...when there is any problems, go back to liquids and lets things calm down a little or like you said, it becomes a viciour cycle. I still have not heard back from my surgeon. I don't think I need an unfill because I was ok for about a week after my fill b4 all this started. I am still concerned and irritated because I evidently didn't do enough research b4 I jumped into this...I had no idea the pain would be sooooo BAD and I have a pretty high pain tolerance. Anyway, thanks for listening!

I just got back from the doc...I go for a GI/swallow test tomorrow. I have lost 7 lbs in 7 days and I am STARVING!!! I'm anxious to hear the results and see what the docs have to say. To be honest, I have had pain most times when I eat since surgery but they kept saying that I wasn't chewing properly...after that pain, I keep trying to tell them that I chew more than anyone knows! Anyway, I'll keep you posted. Thanks!

For those of you that have lost or are loosing well, what is a typical menu for a day in your life. What do you eat, how much and when? Thanks for the help! (I am 2 months post op, not loosing at all and not eating healthy because healthy hurts...unfortunatle "junk" goes down fine. Thanks!!!!!!!