poconomom

Hi lapband mom - I have the same problem - I got banded a year ago and have only lost 12 pounds!! Doc says I'm a slow loser - yeah right - I'm pretty much full at my band. I haven't gone to the doctor in 3 mos tired of paying money for nothing. I could lose 12 pounds on weight watchers - what did I need this band for?? I eat much less than before but pounds don't come off. And no, I'm not drinking my calories (ie shakes, ice cream, candies etc) I've been to an endocrinologist everything is normal. I'm 48 and I guess that doesn't help but at this point, I would have been better off going to a fat farm for a year - than having surgery!

Morning everyone - I too am NOt a Success Story. I have been logging my food - I eat under 1,000 cals get the 60-70g of protein, hardly any sugar etc. Exercise is limited due to problems with my knee - in physical therapy now and going to get shots in my knee. My band is almost full - days when I have restriction, days when I don't. Some days I can eat pasta, other days not even a bite. Got my band April 13, 2009 - it is now Oct 28, 2009 over 6 months and barely 12 pounds down and those 12 pounds came off the first 2 weeks after surgery. Kept getting told need another fill. Well, go back to dr. tomorrow will probably get an x-ray. I am so frustrated! I feel like even if I was an anoreic I probably would not lose weight. I was 212 at surgery and this morning I was 203. Tomorrow I can be 200, next day 204 - and by the way, I take a water pill for my blood pressure which isn't high but has a tendency to just shoot up (genetic problem). I feel your pain - I thought that by now I would be down at least 20 pounds, hopefully closer to 40. I feel like this was a waste, the people at work know I had the surgery, see how little I eat and still no weight loss. Hopefully, tomorrow's appt will help.

Amy, so you are a slow loser? I was banded 4/14/09 and have lost 12 pounds - which was the first week after surgery. I have not lost anything since - in fact this week I am up 3 pounds ??? Doing the same thing. I have had 3 fills and still don't have the "sweet spot" people talk about - I have 6cc's in and wonder if I'll ever get there. I eat about 1000 to 1200 calories a day which is what they said I should have. The only food I have problems with is real bread - can only have a nibble. Everything else no problem - I can eat meat, chicken, pork, fish etc.. not an issue. So I don't know what is wrong - I am starting to lose my motivation like Kelly is talking about. Wondering why not just live on ice cream and cookies - not having them now - eating good food and still not losing so why not? But I haven't given in ---yet--- I go for another fill this Thursday (9/17) hopefully this will be it - They told us during our 6 month classes that the first year is easy the weight just comes off - after that you have to work at it and exercise like everyone else?? If this is easy what will the next year be like? Thanks for listening.

blackcherry2002 - how long did it take for you to get the right restriction? I am so frustrated - I was banded April 14, 2009 - and I've only lost 12 pounds! I have had 3 fills and still no real restriction except for regular rolls or bread can't eat that but crackers, chips no problem! I watch what I eat and still the scale doesn't budge. Next week I go for fill #4 - I'm at 6cc's right now - I need to lose 75 pounds. I thought this process would be so much easier and quicker. I'm questioning my decision at this point.

I'm glad I'm reading these posts because I am really frustrated. I am at 6cc's in a realize band and the only restriction I have is I can't eat the roll with a hamburger or hotdog. If I have protein ie chicken, cheese etc.. I can eat quite a bit. No where near the 1/2 cup serving they talked about. My doctor makes me wait 6 weeks now in between fills and I have had 3 fills. I have only lost 12 pounds which I lost the first 2 weeks after surgery. After that I have lost NOTHING. I keep thinking what have I gained from this? Hopefully, the next fill will get me to my sweet spot - I am really praying - I'd be happy losing 1 pound a week at this point, at least it would be something!

I have had 2 fills - up to 5cc - I'm not feeling anything! I can eat and drink together! I am really bummed wondering what the heck did I do this for? I have to wait till August 6th for another fill. The only weight I lost is the 2 weeks after surgery. THis is really frustrating. Has anyone had the same thing? I wish my doctor would do a fill sooner.:tongue_smilie::frown::thumbdown:

I got banded 4/14/09 - I have only had one fill and have no restriction whatsoever. I have only lost 10 pounds (212 down to 202 - 5 foot tall) and that was right after the surgery. I am so afraid I'll gain weight. My doctor will only do a fill every 4 weeks! I wish I could get one sooner. How do you all stay motivated and not get depressed? I am struggling with this and feel like I got banded for nothing. How do you all stay focused?:tongue:

I am so glad to hear others' comments. I had my band in on 4/14/09 - have only lost 13 pounds - most the 2 weeks after surgery! I got my first fill on 5/22/09 and actually feel less restriction than before. I called the doctor's office and they told me it's due to the fact that you get used to having the band. My weight hasn't changed but I really was hoping for it to come off faster. The doctor's office told me what everyone is writing here that it will take a few fills before I get to that "sweet spot". And my doctor does the fills on a schedule - no more than once every 4 weeks. So I have to wait till 5/25/09 for another fill. I hope this one will get me to the point where I eat only 2 ozs at a time. Right now I can eat a regular burger but it just takes me a lot longer than usual. I'm also not eating any junk because I don't have the restriction I'm soooo afraid of going to the doctor's and gaining weight! So I guess the band is teaching me patience along with watching what I'm eating. :party:

No chg for me. 1st fill is next Friday 5/22/09. Hopefully the scale will start moving then.

My starting weight - 212; today 204; target = 192. Can you post this for me? I am having problems. Thanks, Pocono Mom

jms462001 - glad to hear it gets better. My port area still bothers me although I can do more. I want to do crunches but I'm afraid to, I'll wait till my next doctor appt when I get my fill. when I bend over to get something or sit in a car for a long time is when it's worst. I have another 8 days left and then I go to work - I hope I can sit without too much discomfort.

Hi Amy, I am feeling pretty good. Slowly able to do more & more so complaints here. Weight loss has slowed down quite a bit. I guess it;s time to start moving now that I'm feeling better. A maxi dress is a long dress - floor or ankle length. They are awesome for the summer. I'll even be able to wear them to work. Did your weight loss slow down after surgery but before a fill? I've seen posts calling it Bandster Hell - I started at 212 and am now at 202 - I want to get under 200 but it seems like the scale isn't moving at all. Oh well. BTW - can you feel your port? I can and it gets me weirded out a bit - I don't like to touch it. Ech

I was banded 4/14/09 and have had the same problem. Thank goodness I'm off from work till 5/13. I'm also 5' and it seems when I sit the waistband always hits the port area. This past weekend it was soo hot here in the Northeast that I bought 2 maxi dresses and was so comfortable since there was nothing hitting my port area. I hope this feeling passes with time - otherwise, how am I supposed to do crunches?

Had my first post op on Thursday (the 23rd). Down 8.5 at doc - another pound today - Yay! Pain in left shoulder is finally gone. I read on another thread that the left shoulder pain is a nerve by your esphogus and diaphragm. Since I had the hiatal hernia repaired, this makes sense. I have also . noticed that if I eat too fast or too much, the pain comes back. So I've slowed down on the eating and no pain! Benefits dept from work called today and told me my doctor extended my return to work till 5/13. So I guess I get more rest. Glad I get it. I don't know how some people go back after 1 week - I am still so really tired. I guess with a hubby, 2 kids and 2 dogs and a cat there isn't much time to rest. I had a cleaning lady come in to clean - it hurt to bend over - happy now that house is clean. I guess I'll just relax for a couple more weeks. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can get some walks in.

It took 10 days before DH and I got back to it. I was just way to sore, tired and worried I would open up an incission. Hubby was ok with waiting. Well we finally got to it today, had to be more careful due to incisions but I couldn't wait anymore and doc said go for it - if you feel like it. Just reassure your wife you still love her and the fella down there will wake up when it's time. Like someone else said - when the urge comes back she will be wild - just make sure she gets a lot of other affection in the mean time.

If you are having too much protein you will be constipated - also drink LOTS of water. You physically must have a BM if you take in enough water.

My doctor told me if I got hungry before my 1 week post op appt I could eat (soft foods and chew a lot) . I got banded April 14th and I'm down 10 pounds and eating. I don't eat anything like I used to. I had shrimp a couple of nights ago and I was full with two shrimp - that's it 2 shrimp. I just had a chicken and cheese quesidilla with fried onion and salsa. I can't eat the whole thing I am definately full and I think the onions may have been alittle too much (or it could be the liquid vitamin I took too - not sure) But my doctor said the band is not a torture device - it is a means to help you lose weight and it definately has helped. I have had yogurt, scrambled eggs - they take a long time to eat and you have to chew a lot but I would be nuts if I had to have only liquids. That would be torture.

Re: Independence Day challenge for Bunny Bandsters permalink PharmaGirl ----------------- 20lb --------------------- ? -------------------- 1 May --------------------- ?-------------------------- ? NYLady --------------------- 20lb --------------------- ? -------------------- 1 May ----------------------? ------------------------- ? Lingling--------------------- 20lb (9kg)--------------- ? -------------------- 1 May ---------------------- ? ------------------------- ? JayTee---------------------- 20lb --------------------- ? -------------------- 1 May ---------------------- ? ------------------------- ? MrsMitch -------------------- 20lb --------------------- ? -------------------- 1 May ---------------------- ? ------------------------- ? ALuv82---------------------- 30lb --------------------- ? -------------------- 1 May ---------------------- ? ------------------------- ? Band_Groupie ------------- 15lb ---------------------- ? -------------------- 1 May ---------------------- ? ------------------------- ? Kaner ----------------------- 20lb --------------------- ? -------------------- 1 May --------------------- ?-------------------------- ? Scoobydoo --------------------- 25lb --------------------- ? ------------------ 1 May --------------------- ?-------------------- ? TerriLynne --------------------- 20lb --------------------- ? ------------------ 1 May --------------------- ?-------------------- ? Hopeful41411 -------------------- 18lb -------------------- ? ------------------ 1 May -------------------- ?-------------------- ? Hannah Jay -------------------- 20lb -------------------- ? ------------------ 1 May -------------------- ?-------------------- ? JWL08 _____________18 lbs _________?___________1 May _____-____?______ Abbie-pie -------------------- 30lb -------------------- ? ------------------ 1 May -------------------- ?-------------------- ? Poconomom --------------------------20lb-----------------------------?----------------May1--------------------------------?

My doctor told me I could go to food as soon as I needed to. I did cut it up really small and had one little piece at a time and chewed well. It took me the same time to eat the few pieces as it took everyone else to eat their dinner. Both the chicken and shrimp were very moist. I had no problem with either. I will have scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning. It makes me feel like I have real food. I want to try as much as I can before I go back to work. I'm home for 2 weeks.

Good Morning Tuesday Bandsters - feeling better today. last night my family got chinese food for dinner. I sat with them and had 2 shrimp and 2 tiny pieces of chicken (from chicken and broccoli) I also had 1/4 of the broth from wonton soup. I was full! My nephew kept asking me - you're full from that little bit? (He's a growing 15 year old with a bottomless pit for food - ahh to be able to eat like an adolescent :thumbup: ) But surprising to me I was full. But I keep getting bad gas pains in my shoulder after I eat. Has anyone else had this problem? I went to the storm yesterday to get some light weight sweat pants since I'm still too sore to wear regular pants and my shoulder would start killing me. I swear, the shoulder pain (gas?) is much worse than the surgery. I take Gas X constantly and move around a lot but I still have this awful pain in my shoulder that comes and goes. If someone has found a way to get rid of the shoulder pain (gas) please let me know.

I too was banded on Tuesday - and I still feel very, very bloated. I still have gas pains, in my left shoulder - it kills. It seems after I eat or drink anything, the pain comes back. The pain in my shoulder is worse than the soreness in my abdomen. I feel like I want to try some real food - I'm going to try scrambled eggs tonight. The kids have their cousin and friend over and I'm getting them pizza delivered. I wouldn't mind having some but I won't. I'm noy physically hungry but the brain is giving me trouble with wanting to try things. I still weigh the same as I did the morning of surgery even with only having liquids and some sugar free pudding. I know that is due to being on IV's for over 40 hours and being swollen, but it is frustrating. I guess I want to see the scale move somewhat. Today after taking a shower I put makeup and jewelery on, that made me feel alittle more human. I know months from now I'll be very happy I did this but right now it's harder than I thought it would be. :tt1:

I had a hernia repaired also. I too have had it alittle difficult to get the deep breath. I am 2 days out and it is getting easier. Haven't taken pain med today - finally got a shower - slept pretty good last night. Right now I just am frustrated since I am home and want to do things but I can't.

I finally got banded on Tues the 14th. I stayed overnight came home yesterday evening. I was really sore yestersay - mainly the incision where the port is - the other ones don'et hurt at all. Got a shower today and feel better. Not taking any pain meds. I'm still very bloated from the IV and the gas. Nothing like not eating for 3 days and coming home heavier but I know this will go away once I get rid of all this excess fluid and gas. I sit, walk and sip liquids. I'm bored because I have things to do around the house but I can't bend over to bend. Oh well, maybe I just need to learn to relax.

My doctor has me doing Atkins 2 weeks prior to get rid of the fat in the liver. On day 2 - so far no real hunger just head hunger - supposedly after 2 days your body detox's itself from the sugar, white flour and bad carbs and the head cravings go away. I hope so! I am craving foods I normally wouldn't have!:smile2:

Hi April 14 bandsters! I too am getting banded April 14. On Tuesday I started the Atkins diet. My doctor has you follow that 2 weeks prior so that I don't have a fat liver. I do mis my carbs right now, not because I am hungry but because I can't have them. I'm going to have my DH take a before picture this week so I can post it and use it for my journey. I'm not a scrap booker either but I think if I take a picture monthly it will help motivate me during the times that this may seem too difficult. Just like looking at a picture and not realizing how much weight I have gained I figure looking at a picture and seeing how much I have lost will really help. Besides getting the food we'll need after surgery has anyone done any other last minute things to prep. I will be home for 2 weeks after - which I am really glad since it'll help me get used to the new eating way and to know what I can eat and what I can't. Good Luck to everyone and keep posting here.