slimmap

It is different for everybody. For me it is filling not hungry anymore, full.

I too have a 10 cc band. I have a lot of issues with acid reflux so I can't go too tight. But before I started getting the reflux problems I felt fantastic restriction at 6cc's. Good luck and don't give up!

It sounds like you just have a virus or something. I just had a fill yesterday and can barely keep any food down. I think this is an overfill.

You are right about where I was when my first acid problems started. I was around 6 or so in a 10 cc band. I had pretty good restriction going on but then the holidays were here and I sort of ruined it. I think I stretched out my pouch from eating too much. So instead of trying to shrink my pouch with a few days of liquids, I went in for another fill and I started waking up at night coughing and getting the acid. Looking back, if I could go back, and what I'd do if I could do it over, would have been to try adding in a snack or two instead of going in for another fill. You know, something heavy that will stay in my pouch for a while. Also I'd remember that the band can be very temper- mental. Some days I would be so tight and other days it felt like I could swallow a watermelon and nothing seemed to fill me. There is a lot of trial and error as well as patience. I am not telling you what to do but you may want to experiment with different foods and write them down. You know, kind of a list of foods that stay in your pouch a long time and those that don't keep you so full for very long. Read other people's posts. I learned a lot from reading what others have tried, what's safe and what isn't, you name it. it's on these boards. Just don't push it like I did. As I said before, you sound exactly like I did when I first started out. I did push it. I wanted to get tighter and tighter. I wanted to get that weight off and I wanted it all off now!!! And it bit me in the a*s . I shouldn't complain. I lost 100 pounds. But I still need to lose a lot more and all of this is such a pain. So anyway, slow down and remember that you are still new to all this and it is better to take it slow than to have to go backwards with an unfill. I am tired and have to get up early for work tomorrow. So good night to all and I will talk to you soon.

Well that is exactly what I thought too. And I did try every type of acid reducer out there. But here is the problem explained to me by my doctor: if you are having the types of acid that I was having, it means your band is too tight. If you keep your band too tight you can have serious problems that will result in your band having to come out, or worse. The worst case that I have heard about, on the 5:00pm news, no less, is the acid that continues until it srarts to eat away at your esophogus, resulting in cancer. So that is why it is such a big deal to not try to deal with a too tight band.

Your band is still fairly new to you. It sounds like maybe you are just trying to see what you can and cannot get by with the band. Please don't think I am accusing you. I still do it and I bet a lot of other people do too. Anyway, what I was experiencing at night was coughing with a nasty taste in my mouth. It wouldn't start right away. I'd be asleep a couple of hours before I started coughing. Then I'd just cough all night. I thought that I was getting a cold! What really stinks is that this happened when I had a good fill. Then I'd have to have some Fluid removed from my band due to the "acid cough". But then I didn't feel tight enough. That is why I am not at my goal today and it really makes me mad. But I am going back soon for a very very tiny fill. Good luck to you. When I first started out there were people from all over the world who sent me posts of encouragement, or warnings, or whatever it was that I needed. I will never forget that most people were trying to help me. I still appreciate it. So know that when you see a post from me I am not ever going to be mean...concerned maybe, but not mean. So have a good one and watch out for the "acid cough" !

It's happened to me before. It isn't that big of a deal, as I was still able to get the fill I needed. I think (am not sure though) that the worst case scenario would be that your doctor would have to fill you with that fluro/ x-ray whatever they call it. This really isn't anything to get too about upset I think.

I haven't posted in a long while because I got so frustrated with the very issues you discussed. I just gave up and haven't lost any weight in over a year. Although I have already lost 100 lbs, I still have a lot more weight to lose. But there are things that you have said in your posts that remind me of me so much that I had to post to you. First is the reflux thing. I had it so bad at night time that I would cough up acid at night. If that is happening to you, please,please get an unfill. It is a warning sign that you are too tight and all kinds of serious damage can happen if you stay that tight. I really hate to be unfilled but I don't want to die from complications either! The other thing is, I know you don't want to hear about it anymore (neither did I) Is your food choices. At first I ate only a little bit of food that is considered a no-no. But that quickly escalated to eating those foods everyday. I am not in a good place right now. Sure I could blame it on all the horrible things that are going on in my life such as, my mom has dementia, my dad is losing his mind, I have high blood pressure and a slipped disc in my back. But there will always be horrible crap in my life and I have to learn to deal with it. I really hoped the lap band would have helped me deal a little more, but again, I have to stop eating that crap. Plain and simple. My husband is helping me out by giving away all the food that shouldn't even be in our house. So I make sure that I am ALWAYS prepared with good choices food where ever I go. Yes it is a pain in the ass when everybody else is ordering the potato skins appetizers and I am eating something like a little chicken breast or sipping on Water. But the way I feel physically the next day is a feeling I want you to experience. It's this great feeling called healthy. I don't get to feel that too often. It's having energy and wanting to take a bite out of life. Anyway, I am getting away from the point of this post. It is to be sure that you are not too tight and to fill up on all those filling foods that stay with us for hours. Thomas' has a multi grain English muffin for 100 calories, a healthy dose of Protein and Fiber too. I stay full on that for a hours. Well I have gone on but hopefully you will get back to me on that acid reflux issue. Good luck. You can do this

Am almost 2 years out and have lost 120 pounds so far.Today I noticed that where my port is, it aches. It is not a sharp pain, just a dull ache. It's happened before and has gone away but today it is really noticeable. Maybe all the rain in the air? I don't know but would REALLY appreciate if anybody has experienced this and if they found out what it was. Thanks.

sometimes I get port pain too. It lasts for a week or two and then one day I realize it doesn't hurt anymore.My concern for you is that you can't swallow your saliva.That sounds like you are way too tight. Just a thought, you know. But we are supposed to be able to swallow our saliva. Maybe talk to your doc about taking a little out and see how that goes. Good luck.

I was going to ask the same thing too. I can't have anything to drink or eat for hours and hours before bedtime. Otherwise I am having big problems.

Well, I have not personally been in OA, but my sister is and has done very well. Sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right group, or chapter of OA. That is what makes a difference for her. She also considered lapband surgery but as of yet has not done it. I did. I last 125 pounds now,more or less. I feel that the band has finally given me control over my eating. I just couldn't ever wrestle the weight off any other way. Am I still a food addict? Yes. I always will be probably. But, for me, lap band has given me a fighting chance against the constant failures of so many diets and healthy eating plans. Ultimately, you will have to make that decision for yourself. My sister is still about 80 - 100 lbs overweight. She exercises regularly and tries to eat right and has the great support of her OA group and of course God. But she still can shovel the food in when she is stressed out.So maybe go to a few informational meetings for lap band. Yes it is a drastic move but for me, that is the only way I could have a chance at any hope of being healthy. Sorry I didn't have any real answers for you. With things like these you can't worry about anybody else except what is right for you. Not whether it will work into how a group views you. You know, lap band also has many support groups, not just on line. Well good luck in whatever you decide.

I had almost forgotten about this post. I first asked this question almost a month ago. I am glad you are feeling better. I have come to the conclusion that it isn't anything dangerous. Next time it starts, ask yourself if you've eaten too much. That is usually, but not always how it starts for me. Anyway, enjoy your weekend.

Yes. It will stop hurting. Just one day you will think," Oh, it' not hurting." and you will be relieved. At least I was. It may come back and then disappear. But it will go away.

The only thing that I can guess is that this happens sometimes when I've eaten too much. But I don't know if that is the answer. What do you think?

Well, good luck to you. I have two sons also.I remember how much energy they require! But they are so worth it. I hope you are back on your feet and chasing after them soon.

My goodness! I had an infected port but it didn't look like yours at all. Are you in serious pain? What will happen after they remove your port and you have healed? Will they try again? I know you don't want this taken out. What a bummer! But it looks like you have a very serious infection. Could that be what the back pain is about? Might the infection have spead ? I am not a medical professional, but that is what it soulds like. I hope you are on some heavy antibiotics. Please let me know how you do and what happens next. Good luck.

First of all, I love your user name Ghostdog. It's pretty cool. Next, I wanted to tell you what others have said. You are not insane. So many of us are in the same boat as you are. We all struggle. I came to the conclusion the other day that I am a foodaholic the way some people are alcoholics. And I have to take it one day at a time. Sometimes it is one minute at a time. But do remember you are 40 pounds down! That is great! I have read posts from people who have gained everything back and more. So you see, things are still going your way. I have been see- sawing for quite some time now. It is always, "I've ruined today, I'll start fresh tomorrow." Well, after reading some of the posts to you I have decided to go back to the basics and write everything down after I have measured it. Maybe you will try it also. You can do this! Please post again and let us know how you are doing because there are a lot of us who care.

Us lap bandsters have to look out for each other! I am glad that you can get some broth down. It just all sounds so painful. Hang in there and remember what you said about paying attention to what your body says. If you still feel something isn't right, get yourself back to the doctor. Otherwise, good luck. You are going to do great.

My goodness!! How are you feeling now? What an ordeal you went for...I am so sorry. The good news is that you are going to be okay, right? I am really glad that you persevered and took care of this. I don't blame you for not wanting to replace the band. You can do 25 pounds. With someone supportive, you can do anything. I am glad that you posted this because I was wondering what you had found out. Wow! I never thought this! Well take care of yourself because your body has been through a lot. By the way, did the doctors say why they think the band did this? Or do they not really know. Let me know. I will keep you in my prayers.:smile::thumbup:

Yikes ! That is a scary thought to have to deal with. I can get food down though. My band is pretty loose and almost anything can get through it.That is part of the problem...either keep it too loose and feel okay or have good restriction and cough up acid. I am at Day 2 after fill. We will see which way it goes. Thanks for the very important input you gave me.

I would really talk to my doctor if I was you. It is probably nothing...maybe scar tissue? But if it scares you or hurts, listen to your body and at least call your doctor. Good luck. Let me know what happens.

I do not know what is happening with your band but I have had a lot of the same problems you do and I am frankly disappointed in my band. Yes I have lost weight but whenever I get a fill that seems to be effective, I get terrible, terrible acid reflux symptoms. So back to the dr to get unfilled. This costs me $250 a fill or unfill as I am self pay. Then I am back where I can eat anything and have to rely on will power. I don't have a lot of will power though, so more frustration! I have been back and forth hovering around 2 cc's in my 10 cc band for the entire year of 2009. I feel like I wasted a whole year. So yesterday I went back for just a little tiny squirt of a fill 1/4 of a cc. I hoped and prayed that this little bit would give me enough restricion to lose more weight. But I am afraid again because my throat feels so tight. I guess I will hang in there and hope that I don't wake up in the middle of the night coughing up acid again. So all I can add is that "I feel your pain!". If I can help you in any way, let me know. All I know is that this is not what I had hoped for.