2muchfun

Banded in November 2011. Still lovin it. I wouldn't go for the entire/partial stomach removal methods. It was the band or nothing. But, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I think there are those of us who just needed that extra push to eat less and the band did that for me.

It is normal to feel hungry. The band doesn't take away that sensation. It just helps/forces you to eat slower so you feel satiated sooner. Liquids just pass right threw the band so you won't feel satiated till you eat solid food.

I know exactly what you mean. If the doctors would have told me I had to have a bypass or take any part of my stomach out I would have not had surgery. It was lapband or nothing for me. I think I would have been more successful early on if I'd been aware of this new KETO Low/Carb way of eating. I think the combo would work well for me.

A year ago I was feeling some pains right where my band was. We were going to Scotland for 17 days and my wife wouldn't go unless I saw my doc. My PA suggested I visit a cardiologist. I did. After a stress test they concluded that I may have angina caused by a blocked artery. So, in for a angioplasty I went. They ended up stenting my circumflex artery a week before going to Scotland. Made all the difference in the world. Good think I did it since my 12 years younger wife walked by butt off. What a great country you have. And what a culture although I think your ancestors could have killed a few less people.LOL Don't hesitate, check it out. If I hadn't, I might not be here to write a response to your comments.

I think most of us had differing experiences. For me, I just started feeling satiated longer. Looking back I probably had too much saline in my band most of the time. Getting stuck and regurgitating food seemed like the norm and now I know it shouldn't be. I've had most of my saline removed but got a fill a couple months ago. I think some of the lessons of eating slower with smaller bites has paid off for me. I'm on a Keto diet now and the combination of Keto and a band partially filled seems to be working for me. Just stay away from processed foods, starches and sugars.

I've read where people have had violent vomiting and their band survived just fine. Vomiting just increases the odds of failure. I have read of many bandsters and all the other surgeries who vomit every day and the gastric acid eats at the esophagus and teeth. These are usually little vomits that usually are re-swallowed but the acid is still there.

Vomiting has always been a fear of mine with the band. Your stomach convulses over and over again. This can cause the band to slip or move so much that it can affect the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve goes up and over your left shoulder. You might want to have some fluid removed to see if it solves the problem. Your band may have moved or slipped a little and it's putting pressure on that nerve? Good luck. tmf

Like Suznty says, it's a lifetime of adjustments. How much your band is filled isn't a criteria for measuring when the band works. I've seen people with no saline get plenty of restriction and success. Every body is different. Every stomach is different. Most surgeons place the band in the same place on the stomach but if the placement is lower there's more bulk to fill the circumference of band. Think of the band around your wrist and then around your upper arm. It's going to take more saline to fill a band around a skinny wrist right? I'm 6 years out too and had all my saline removed back in June but I got a new fill this last week. I can't feel anything yet so it may take a couple more adjustments to get back to my fighting weight. But, back in 2011 when was banded I lost 12 lbs the first few weeks and then nothing for 3 months. Took about 4 fills to find some restriction but 6 to finally find that sweet spot. Good luck. tmf

You must be very tight for the band to make such a difference. No way to tell unless you get a small unfill before flying sometime to see if it's the band or what? tmf

I've read on this forum where some folks have a similar problem and had to have their gall bladder removed. How did your scan go? tmf

First, is your band adjusted so you feel restriction or satiety if you eat solid food? Are you eating small again? Small bites, small portions, big chews? For me, Atkins is the best way to re-start this all over again. I too fell of the band wagon and I'm restarting all over again. Just remember to eat protein first. Stay away from slider foods like soups, chips or anything that has empty calories. If you want some meal plans respond and I'll try to suggest some good ones. Eating high protein is easy. It's ignoring the breads, rice, potatoes and junk food that's hard for most of us. Good luck and get back to me if you need more advice. tmf

GoWalking, I too thought I had a handle on my weight problem but obviously not. I sure love food and it was sweet to imbibe in the foods I'd sworn off for several years but I'll be 70 this year(I hope). Like to live another 10-20 but not gonna happen if I don't get control of this carb beast in my head. Good luck with a new boyfriend. And no matter what we were told or what I told everyone on this forum, it's still a damn diet, only it's a little easier to manage with the band. tmf

Sharpie, Good to see you too. I see you roped yourself a big tall cowboy!! You both look so happy. Already hit my first plateau. Just 10 days in but I'm fussing for no reason. I know it's going to take time.

Shannon, You should have a much higher possibility of success since you've lived the bariatric life for so long. Too many lap banders did poorly because they couldn't make the adjustment to eating the band way. There were a significant number of patients whose bodies just didn't accept the band too. Mostly esophageal incidents, slips, dilations and poor eating habits caused most of the incidents. But you should have expectations more in line with how we banders live. Good luck.

Thanks for starting this thread Julie. I'm a reformed Lapbandtalk/Bariatricpal addict. I'll be posting here more often again. Been away enjoying being nearly skinny for a few years. Some heart problems caused me to not exercise for a while and I've gained some back. Got a refill yesterday so I'm spunky to get back to dropping some lbs. Been on Atkins since the 3rd and dropped about 7 lbs. Mostly water loss of course. Now comes the hard part. Now that I've depleted a lot of the glycogen in my body I'll only be looking at 1-1.5 lbs per week and sometimes nadda per week. It's still easier than no band at all. Looking forward to this new year.

Good to see some old faces. I had my band unfilled back in June after I had a stent put in an artery. I did OK but I'd gained weight due to not being able to exercise from a blocked artery. Had my surgeon put a few CCs in yesterday. Back on the Bandwagon again. Sorry to crash your #7 but so glad to see some of the old crowd are still around. I've got to lose 30 lbs to get back to my fighting weight. I'll be lurking if you don't mind. TTFN

That would be a question for an attorney I'm afraid. But my guess would be no. You would have to prove that the leak came from a defect and not caused by the surgeon.

Do you track calories? Do you feel like the band is working? What I mean is do you feel satiety after a small meal and does it last 4+hours?

Losing weight isn't symmetrical every day or week. Carbohydrates, sodium, menstrual cycles, stress, traveling and medications can all cause our bodies to retain Water. 1.5 lbs is only three glasses of water. Easy for our bodies to retain this much in one day. You'll see similar posts like yours and you'll continue to have similar experiences over the rest of your life. It's natural. But you are doing so well, keep going, never let small setbacks like this effect you. Again, it's going to happen.

You can always pay for their yearly program and avoid the ads. Not sure it's worth the large investment they ask though?

Most plication patients lose weight faster than the rest of us. Keep going!

Hard to tell but most antibiotics are absorbed in the duodenum. Shouldn't take long for them to get into your system but antibiotics don't work as well as they used to. Mostly because germs and virus strains have developed immunities to many ABX. Maybe try another ABX? ABX will only reduce pain if they do what they're intended to do and usually days after taking them. And only because they're killing germs or allowing the body to heal itself.

She's already in the directory but with no patients so far. Usually you make the connection when you set up your profile. It's best to do it on a PC. Some android or I-Phone apps don't allow easy access to every corner of this huge site.

Good advice.

My fills were always performed by my surgeon and only one was a little painful. Otherwise it's just a pinch. I think experience and art play a part in injections. For example, I've had blood drawn many times and on a handful of occasions it was very painful. I really appreciate an experienced artful phlebotomist.