leelee7

Jesse, I don't have any type of answer for you but I do have a question of sorts for you. I was banded in 2008 and lost about 90 pounds total. I stopped going to see the nurses (never saw the doctor after the surgery) due to utter disappointment with the way I was treated. I am not a young woman and at my age felt I was doing well to be losing weight yet this nurse felt I just was not losing it fast enough to suit her. She just made me feel so much like a utter failure that I just gave up and quit going to the clinic. I never was one to stay with diets through to the goal was met so I may have been looking for that excuse to do my own self in; she was just the excuse I was looking for and my husband went along with me. I continued to lose some weight but soon fell into the trap of giving up gradually. I began eating the wrong foods again, drinking during meals and slacked off of exercising. Needless to say, I have put back on a lot of my weight. My problem is I never did have more than 1cc of fill in yet I still have bouts of foods getting hung up or "stuck" causing me so much pain and vomiting. This occurs several times a month. I am able to eat a large quantity of food...never was just able to eat the 1 cup of food they said I was to eat and be satisfied with that. For example...I can eat a large bowl of salad with two boiled eggs, chicken and loaded with vegetables. This will fill me up and is a meal for me but it is a huge salad. I just don't think a banded person should be able to eat a large salad like that or be able to eat a bowl of soup and a sandwich. Is this an indication that my band may have slipped or be eroded? What symptoms did you have? How did they find out that you had the problem you have? I am back up to 268 lbs now and I am so unhappy and miserable. I am swimming everyday for an hour but that alone is not going to do it. I don't know what it is going to take to help me. I am too old now for the gastric bypass surgery and frankly too afraid of it. I would appreciate your response to this email. Thanks Jesse. Jodi

I quit going for weigh-ins and fills or any check ups of any type for my lap band. I have regained approximately 35lbs of my lost weight since my surgery. I still have some reflux when I eat certain foods and have the vomiting. The shape of my stomach has changed. What happens to the band after this length of time and is it still any good...does anyone know? I appreciate any help with this.

Thanks Kim, Actually I have always had trouble with vomiting. Not with everything I eat...just things like rice, breads, pastas, some meats (beef and pork and some chicken), etc. It just seems to happen too often. I first thought the fill was too much and the nurse took out almost all of it. All that did for me was make me hungry all of the time and still caused me to get food 'stuck' way more often than I felt it should. No matter how long I sat at the table (and I was always the last person there) chewing...it happened. I don't mean to say it was every meal or every day, but it has happened a lot. More than I have heard others complain of. I know I need to return...just getting the nerve to do so. So embarrassed.

Hi, I can identify with your problem because I am in the same situation only it has been nearly three years for me now. I don't know what caused me to just give up exactly but it would seem that I have. At first it was the nurse at the hospital where I went for my fills, etc. (she was so rude and always coming at me with a negative attitude) and I should have just reported her and gone onto another nurse. Perhaps I was really looking for an excuse to stop anyway. I was still losing weight, even though it was only 3 or 4 lbs a month sometimes but I wasn't gaining...I am not young, I am in my 60's and losing is not so easy any longer. Sometimes just to exercise is really an effort, heck just to get out of bed is an effort...lol! After I quit going for weigh ins and fills, I continued to lose and exercise for a while and then began to slack off little by little...you get the scenerio...then the weight began to start coming back on. I now am almost to the weight I was at the time of my surgery and I had lost almost 40lbs before I had my surgery. I am afraid of going to the mark where I can't get back down again. I have acid reflux at times and know I need to have this fill removed. I noticed you remarked about the shape of your stomach area changing...mine has too. I just thought it was weird but I have never been shaped like this and attributed it to my aging. I know the answer is to return to the clinic but hate to go back to that nurse or the other one for that matter. Neither of them are too forgiving (that isn't really the word I am looking for but cannot think of what word I need here). They just don't seem to have my interest at heart just like they are there for making money and that is it. I have never seen the doctor after the surgery...just two nurses who don't really know all that. One had the surgery before and does know more than the other one. As for emotions...I eat all the time. I am always hungry as it seems. I use food to console me all the time, especially potato chips...seems that I only want junk food. I haven't been able to eat meat since I began this ordeal and that is something she kept getting on me for. Of course I was not eating junk food back then but she told me I had a mental problem with food and that was why I couldn't eat meat. I could eat it if I blended it but otherwise it got stuck; only fish or some chicken was what I could eat and she thought I was a mental case. That was the day I quit going to them, I told my husband what she said and he hit the ceiling and I guess that sealed the deal for me...he never liked me going there anyway. Jodi

I have had several fills and have always been told to do liquids the day of the fill and to do mushies the next day and after that go back to foods as normal. Each doctor has his or her own set of rules on this or so it seems.:smile2:

I was coming on here tonight to ask questions as well to seek help. I was banded July 2008. I lost 68 lbs and was at the point where I was losing only one to two lbs every month when I went for my weigh in. I was not filled to capacity but to the point (I believe at 7)and was having episodes of vomiting too much so asked to have some of the fill removed. I think she took too much out(the nurse) because after that, I was able to eat almost anything (I still cannot eat steak, rice, pasta or scrambled eggs). Upon returning to see her in 3 months, I had only lost about 4 lbs and she began giving me a stern talking to...even suggesting that I see a counselor inreference to why I eat the way I do...well that isn't hard to answer, I like food and although I am trying to not eat so much and trying to eat the right types of food, it isn't coming off as quickly as she wants. I failed to mention that I had a medical problem during all this that prevented me from exercising for a lot of the time after the surgery and was in a wheelchair for a long time. I feel that exercise is a big part of the weight loss as well. She made me so angry that I quit going to see any of the nurses. I am almost 66 years old and felt that I didn't need to be spoken to in that manner by an overweight nurse. She was rude and insensitive to say the least. I now realize that there was more to it than just her, there were other things bothering me. I feel much better emotionally but not physically because I have gained some of my weight back. I am afraid to go back because I don't know if I will need to have the band removed or what. It has been since February this year since I have been to weigh in. Any suggestions on how to handle this?

Hi, I recall that during the first two weeks after my surgery, I experienced a lot of gassy pain (sometimes really uncomfortable). I didn't know what to do, I had not remembered being told to expect that, so I did the next best thing and went into the Lapband chat room and asked about it. The folks in there were great and I was able to get an immediate answer to go get gas-x and to do some walking. Do not drink from a straw, do not drink carbonated drinks and watch gassy food for these first few days after surgery. You have a lot of swelling in there that has to subside yet. Anytime you need help, just go into the chat and ask, those folks have been through it, believe me. They can help! Jodi

Hi, my name is Jodi and I had my surgery July 2008. I have had 4 fills and am presently at 7cc's. I have never been told (and although I asked about it, I never pushed the issue further) just what is causing me to throw up so much. I have been reading your post today and now realize it is because I am simply full. I barely get a few bites of food in me and something seems to get caught, then the pain begins, then the slime...and you know the rest. I know if it happens after one or two bites, it is because of the type of food (too dry, or not chewed up enough, etc.), but now I know it is because I am not able to tolerate more than 1/2 cup of food. Good grief! It takes an anvil to fall on my head for me to catch on to things. I have lost a total of 59lbs but only 34 of those have been since the surgery. I really messed up during the holidays...I am paying for that now. I do think I will reach my first goal, but it takes a lot of dedication on your part. So many think the Lapban is the magic cureall, but it is a tool to aid you in your goal, and if you use it properly, it can work. It is slower than the gastric bypass, but we chose this route for various reasons and I for one will take this any day over the other option. One thing I have had a hard time getting across to my friend who had the surgery a month after me is that (she insist on drinking while she eats) she is defeating the purpose of her band if she doesn't wait until at least 30 minutes after her meal to drink. She cannot get it that she is just washing the food out of the pouch and therefore not having the feeling of being full very long. Ok, I have rambled enough. Thanks for dropping that anvil. Good luck with your fills. Jodi

Hi to all you Butterflies, I just located all of you. I was banded July 14, 2008 and I am trying desparately to lose some of this weight. I am sad to report that I haven't been giving it my all. I have had two fills and although they do cause me some problems at times, I am not getting the feeling of being full. I usually have a protein shake in the morning and then a meal in the evening. The evening meal is not being regulated strictly, for example tonight, I had grilled chicken and steamed cauliflower (nothing on either with the exception of salt). Just shortly after I began eating, I started getting the pain in my chest and had to take a Tums, which alleviated the problem after awhile. I later returned and ate just the cauliflower...my puppy ate the chicken. There are times when I can really put some food away, I could eat an entire sandwhich and salad and not feel stuffed. I am not losing much weight now. I am unable to do much exercise because of injury to my foot and due to neuropathy problems. I do take water aeorobic exercise twice a week though and do upper body exercise. I am 64 years old and although I am not losing a great deal, I am losing a few pounds each month. Does it ever improve? Does anyone know? I am hoping that with enough weight loss, my foot problem will improve (not the neuropathy...that is unfortunately permanent) and I will be able to exercise more. Well I feel better just sharing this with someone and look forward to checking in with you all from time to time. Jodi

Hi Army Wife, My PCP is a doctor in Killeen and I was referred to Scott and White to be banded. Everyone at S&W were just terrific...they treated me so nice and were so informative. Since the surgery I have had two fills and have seen the nurse each time...not the doctor who did the surgery. I see the same nurse each time, she spends plenty of time with me, answers all my questions and concerns. I can call anytime there is a problem or anytime I have a question. I must admit I have not attended the support group meetings like I should be doing, I just cannot remember to go to the darn things and I haven't anyone to go with either. I know my husband would go with me but he probably hates to. If you are unhappy with the care you are getting at your clinic now, you had better speak up. There will be plenty of visits and fill dates that you must attend. I remember that in the beginning the shrink that I saw recommended that I see another doctor in Austin so that I could get the surgery sooner...he told me that S&W was overbooked and running too far behind. I went to see the doctor in Austin but realized that I couldn't possibly go that far all the time for the visits. He was a great doctor though. Tricare was going to approve him too, but in the same time frame, S&W had already scheduled my surgery date. So much for the shrink's information. Good luck on whatever you decide to do...keep me informed. Jodi I still cannot get that darn ticker thingy to work for me...don't know what I am doing wrong...can't get it to my profile.:cursing::thumbup: LOL!

<STRONG>mslittle you are doing great...17 lbs since your surgery....that is terrific. Whatever you are doing, it is working so keep up the good work. I am not such a great role model, I keep sliding off track. I do well for a while and then quit exercising, or if that is what you call it. I have so much loose flab that it takes forever for it to catch up when I begin to move. I really need to get serious on some type of exercise program. I just wish I had a partner to work out with, someone to help keep me on track and to keep me from snacking or falling off the wagon. I am still losing but not very much. I need to get back on track. You will soon be passing me by. keep on doing the job you are doing mslittle...keep up the good work...don't get off the track...keep going girl. Jodi</STRONG> <P></P>

Hi Christi, my name is Jodi and I am a wife of a retired Army Command Sergeant Major. Of course we have been retired for a lot of years now but live in Texas close to Fort Hood. I had my Lap Band surgery on July 14th of this year and so far I am happy with the progress that I am having. I had my first fill on August 11th and it was very simple, no pain involved...nothing of what I was expecting. I still don't feel restriction yet, but know that is something that comes with time. Tricare does take time to make their decision on whether to grant you the surgery or not, I was fortunate I guess that I got mine in less than a year from application. I applied in January and took my seminar in March, saw the shrink two times in March and April and started Nutrition classes in May. I was notified by Tricare that I was accepted for the surgery in June and began my liquid diet the first day of July for my scheduled surgery 14 July. Keep the faith...and I will be pulling for you from this end. Jodi

Hi, I was banded July 14,08 and had my first fill August 11. I have no idea how many cc's were put in, but I don't think they are giving me any restriction to amount to anything. I did have a problem the first day that I was allowed solid food after the fill. I vomited so much(on two bites of food apparently not chewed enough,or too big of a piece???to pass) since then, anything passes through although I am extremely careful to take tiny,tiny bites...I thought those were tiny bites too. Stay away from celery...my problem was stir fried celery. To get back to the subject, I am hungry a lot...but in checking with a lot of the folks on here, that is very common and some don't find their 'sweet spot' until several fills down the road. It will come though, just have patience and keep faith. Stick to the diet and exercise. You can do it, you have gone through this much and gone this far to achieve your goal...don't give up now and lose heart. Give it some time and keep going for the goal you have in mind, it will come. It will all be worth it. I am hungry a lot but I try to drink plenty of water and it helps as well as the Lipton diet green tea with citrus...it is great. I also eat the sugar free popcicles like there is no tomorrow when I crave something sweet. I have so much trouble with my feet from neuropathy and have a hole in the bottom of my foot that has been there for a year now (will not heal and I am not diabetic) so it is hard for me to exercise. Swimming is out of the question because the doctor is afraid of staph infection. I do what I can in the exercise department...I have 110lbs to lose to reach my goal and I intend to get there some way. I have not stuck to my diet completely so don't think I am sounding like a saint there either. Every time I goof, I jump right back on to the diet plan and try to exercise an extra amount. Don't beat yourself up but don't give up either. They say that you gain some weight during the phase after the liquids because the food taste so much better, but you will begin to lose after you get into a routine. Just keep the faith. Jodi

Hi there, I was banded on 14 July this year and had my first fill on 14 August..three days later I tried to eat some Chinese food while on a shopping trip with my daughter and granddaughters. Big mistake was on my second bite with not chewing the celery enough. I am talking a pain that became so intense I was miserable for hours. I was scared to death that the vomiting would do harm to the band. The pain remained for some time after all the retching was over. I was so sick and weak for the rest of the evening...I am still so cautious when I am eating a meal. I still hesitate as to what to eat. I have yet to eat any raw vegetables. It is so important to take tiny bites and to chew, chew, chew. You will only feel that pain once to know that you don't want to have it happen again. When the nurse did my fill, I laid back on the exam table with a pillow in the middle of my back, when I did a crunch she put the needle in my port. I didn't feel a thing. So easy! I drank a small glass of water afterwards with no problems. Of course I don't feel full at all when I eat, guess I will be one of those who has a hard time finding their "sweet spot"! I am under the understanding that it can take several fills before you get to that point though. Just do what you can to eat the right foods and exercise as much as possible. Listen to me giving advice that I should be following...LOL! Keep me posted on your progress. Jodi

Dear Patch, what a wonderful testimony of how well folks in their 60's respond to this surgery and the routines they are subjected to. I have to admit that I am having a difficult time with the exercise portion of the program thus far. I am now out of the wheelchair but since it is difficult to walk without stumbling, I must still use a walker. I have so much pain in my foot...too many problems to go into detail, but I have been doing some upper body exercise. Your progress is really fantastic Patch. I sometimes wish that I lived in the city where I could walk on even sidewalks at least or get to a gym easily enough. I have to drive some distance just to get to any type of gym or community center. That usually requires someone driving me until I get this boot off of my leg. Someday! We do have our vehicle back from the shop after the car accident, now if folks will stop running into us, we will be ok in that department. LOL! Helps to have more than one vehicle. By the way Patch, I am originally from Baltimore. I moved here to Texas when my husband retired from the military. I left home at the tender age of 18 and never returned there to live. I haven't been back to visit since 2000. I hope to go back this fall but also hope to go back a few more pounds lighter. Actually I would like to be a lot of pounds lighter but know that is out of the question but since they haven't seen me in so long, it will be ok for them to see me now and then when I lose so much more perhaps by next fall, they will be in for a big surprise. Me too! Any good recipes to share? Thanks again for sharing that encouraging newsletter.

Wow are those so great recipes you just wrote. I am ready to try them just as soon as I can. I am not on mushies any longer but I am still eating the soups that I made and froze. LOL! I am not one to waste food, besides, they were so good. I blended everything. I tried the vegetable soup with garbanzo beans, then Mama Leone's soup (yummy!). It doesn't bother me that they are that consistency. I made so much thinking I would be on the mushies for so long and went in for my check up. The nurse told me I could eat what I wanted to. Go figure. I am still basically eating mushies with an ocasional treat of something solid thrown in. LOL! It looks like I will not get my first fill until sometime in September (was banded July 14). That is ok though, I guess that is about normal. I just wish I could get with the exercise routine of some kind. Bum foot and leg will not allow much of any kind that involves standing.

Hi all, forgot to introduce myself. I am from the Fort Hood area, married for 45 years to my DH who is retired Army Special Forces out of Fort Bragg, NC but ended up his career here at Fort Hood. We liked it here at the time (1981) and retired here. We have one daughter and three grandchildren. I was banded on July 14th of this year and only regret that I couldn't have done it at a much earlier age. I am in hopes I will get rid of all this extra baggage I have been carrying around for so many years and be able to enjoy traveling again, especially with my grandchildren. I am so glad to find this group. Best of luck to you all.

Even though you are on the borderline with the weight, the comorbodities outweigh that and you should be ok with Tricare on that. You should be good to go. Best of luck to you Gal.

Hi, I am confused. Are you still scheduled to get the surgery with Dr Symmonds in Temple on Aug. 27th or are you planning to get the surgery in Austin?

I made a banana pudding dessert yesterday that was great. I used a lg. package of sugar free instant vanilla pudding with 1% milk made up and chilled. I whipped together 1 8oz. pkg. fat free cream cheese and 1 8oz. container of fat free cool whip. I folded in the pudding then folded in three mashed bananas. Let set for at least one hour and serve. I don't know the total calories or the protein, etc. but it sure is great tasting, so much in fact that my husband and grandson ate it as well.

Hi, I live in Killeen...actually not in the city, but have a Killeen address. I was banded on July 14 and Dr Symmonds was my surgeon also. I am doing well and just entering my post op diet stage of full liquids. Five days of those. Yeah, I actually get to have cream of wheat and some yogurt. I have lost weight on the liquids though. I really had a great experience at the hospital, everyone was great there...they really treat you so nice. Don't forget like I did to ask what kind of band they used on you. I did and now must try to find out. That was one thing I was told to remember to ask and darn if I didn't forget. Heck they had me on so much medication, I was lucky to remember who I was. I have not had much pain with this. In reality the pressure in the chest between the breast area is the most annoying. According to the majority of folks in this forum, it is attributed to gas pain. GasX has helped some and I am using the Prilosec. You are welcome to email me if you would care to. My email address is Jodim7@aol.com and my name is Jodi. I am 63years old, soon to turn 64 and wish I could have done this years ago. If I would learn to follow directions, I would do so much better, but I do have such a hard head. Caused my port area to bleed a bit today because I decided to wash windows. Not smart, guess I should have waited another week for that. I have lost 34 lbs since this all began back in March of this year so I am starting to feel better. Had a spurt of energy I guess. Anyway, let me hear from you. Jodi

Stace, I just had my surgery on Monday 14 July and came on here to ask the same question, so guess it is a common thing to happen. I was told to take Prilosec OTC (by the nurse prior to surgery). I have begun taking it, but it takes a while to get into your system, I presume. I have this pain constantly, so am guessing it is heartburn. I am also having a problem with a searing, burning pain whenever I bend over the slightest bit or turn the least bit in bed. The pain is coming from the port area wound. Guessing this is normal as well....you having this problem? How are you coming along with the liquid diet? Are you having success with knowing when you are full without getting overfull? I haven't had much appetite, cannot stand broth, so that is out for me. I am now on phase two or full liquids where at least I can have liquidy cream of wheat and yogurt added to my diet. I have also added grits to give me something salty. I needed those...they really tasted good to me. Funny how something normally so plain taste so great now. LOL! I cannot eat much of course, but am having a hard time with not drinking during my meal. I am also having a hard time drinking enough liquids and taking all of my vitamins. Not use to either. Good luck with your diet and your weight loss. Where do they get the ticker goal loss thingys? Any idea? Jodi

Hi Sharon, I am supposed to go in to surgery at 10 am but of course like they told you, that can change. I am so anxious for this to get moving. I know we will be on a strictly liquid diet. I was so ticked on this one...first few days had nothing but liquids, then found out that I could have vegetables and salads (of course nothing except vegetables on the salads). I just use lettuce and tomatoes and a spritzer salad dressing on it which satisfies me just fine. I have a protein shake in the morning and a salad at night with a lot of crystal light and green tea during the day and evening as well as a few sugar free popcicles in the evening. Now that diet after the surgery....hmmm! Of course I may not feel like eating anything. My main problem is drinking enough fluids and exercising enough. I have a problem with one of my feet and it sure makes it difficult to exercise and I cannot go swimming until it heals. Hopefully if I get enough of this weight off, it will heal enough to allow me to be able to swim in a public pool. I haven't had the privilege to speak to anyone who has had the surgery except those on these message boards and for the most part, they don't seem to think the pain is too bad. I am not thinking about that too much, I am concerned about how I will be about eating and keeping the food down or getting it down. I detest throwing up. That is my biggest fear. We must keep in contact as much as possible ok? I have only been to one support group meeting...hospital is a few towns away and with this foot (my right foot, wouldn't you just know) it makes driving a problem. I can call you if you want. Jodi

Getting nervous, yet excited. Next week July 14th I have my surgery. We also put our home and our property on the market today...been so busy here getting ready for all the changes going on. I haven't checked in lately and I have been on a fourteen day liquid diet...going ok, well did cheat one day with one meal. Sure was good had grilled chicken meat cut up and avacado. Not to bad, but felt like I was cheating big time. Not looking forward to the clear liquid diet after the surgery, but only for five days so might not be too bad. Those sugar-free popcicles sure help a lot. I know I have some band day buddies in here. Any response? Need support folks!

Hi Everyone, Although I have posted to the Lap-band forum before, this is my first to this group. I am being banded on July 14th and although a bit nervous, I am extremely excited and ready to get onto my new life. I am only sorry I didn't get this done many years earlier. I just hope it works ok for me and that I continue to lose all this weight so that I can finally travel again without being miserable. I have so many problems with my legs and feet due to Neuropathy and my being overweight. My obesity has really caused numerous health issues that will hopefully change for the better once I lose this weight. I need all the support I can get to help me stick to my diets. I have been doing well on this 14 day liquid diet pre-op. I must admit I did cheat one meal by have some grilled chicken which was wonderful. There wasn't much of it (in the past, it would have been only enough for a taste) but still cheating. I know that the Neuropathy will always be with me, but the sleep apnea as well as so many other problems will hopefully taper off or go away altogether once I lose most of this weight. Getting the surgery done at Temple, TX. Anyone else from the area? OH yes, another question unrelated to Lap-bands....Sharon, is that a Bischon puppy in the picture you have on your info? I have one also.