bandfun4me

I agree with Cathy, Call the Dr as soon as they open. Have you tried warm liquids? I have had 9 fills and 1 unfil, have 8.6 in my band. The unfill took .4 cc out and relieved all the sliming and Pb'ing. Warm liquids worked better during the 3 weeks that my band seem to tighten everyday. But, on the other side, It will keep you honest, and will also loosen as your stomach wall thins out. I don't know how fast you have been losing wt. Most of my fills had restriction about 2-3 weeks before the band needed another adjustment. With only 4 fills and sitting at 7cc, that seems a little fast to me. It took me 15 months to get to 9cc. Good luck..

I was banded 1/18/08. Maybe you are leaning towards your old eating habits, since you say you can eat things that you have NOT been able to up to now. Could be scar tissue, could be the port may be tilting since you have lost a lot of wt., He may be hitting the edge of the port, maybe suggest he do a fill under the flouro Your stomach walls are thinning out greatly with your wt loss, probably why your restriction is less. I would ask for another fill if you are gaining wt and not feeling any restriction. I now have 8.6 cc in a 10 cc band , last month they had to remove .4cc. Much better now. I can eat my suggested amoount and not bring on the dificult sliming and PB'g I was experiencing for about 4 weeks. You are doing great, don't for get those plateaus, I am about 10 lbs from goal, very hard to lose, and I exercise about 2 hrs daily, cardiox2, wt trn , yoga. .Holding my own for now.

Yes, this is very interesting. I think I have used the term "chew to liquid" and read it as well. For me I used this term I believe in the context that I was experiencing a lot of tightness. Not just in the early am but at the other meals as well. And yes, I had to get an unfill. I think it came from either the meals following the upchucking and severe pb'ing. Probably being a little swollen. I think it is more a "saying" than an actual abitlity "to do". And yes, I had to get the right kind of food down to get my proteins in, I did not want to fall back on those foods we refer to as slider foods. So for now I no longer have to use that "process" at my meals. wonderful...

Good morning all, I was banded 1/18/08. I now have 8.6cc in a 10 cc band. 2 visits (1 fill/1 unfill) ago in feb 09, i got a 1.0 cc fill that brought me to 9.0. I was good for abotu 3 weeks, and gradually everyday it seemed as if I got a little tighter each day. I finally did away with both snacks at this point (these were the add-ons for my protein). At this point I slimed almost daily, and about once a week it all managed to come back up, I tried chewing longer, not working, so after a matter of eliminating the things that may be causing me to get stuck I finally ask dr to take a tad out. He removed .4 cc 2 weeks ago, I have not slimed, pb'd or vomited since then. After each additional fill the fullness lasted for awhile then as I lost more wt, it had a tendency to throw that hunger back in there. So now It seems I can eat aproximately when I need to eat and somethimes add that healthy snack in there as well. So since being banded This would be about the 5th time I have reached my "sweet spot". I am only 10 lbs from goal. So one part of the journey ends and the new part of maintaining will hopefully guide me for a long, long time. Hang in there. The journey will progress with time..:purplebananna:

Hey remember the bad food ALWAYS goes down without any issues. Such as chocolate, ice cream etc. So don't be misguided. Unlike the GBypass that are unable to eat sweet items due to dumping, us bandsters have to just stay away mentally. Cause Our body will not treat us that way. It will take some restrain. I try to live by the rule, if I have to pick it up with my fingers, such as a hamburger, sandwich, pizza and things like this, tacos, enchiladas. It is a BIG NO-NO. I will pay for it on the scale. No hiding the bad food choices. And once you are really restricted good - in green zone. These items will cause you some very unpleaseant grief in the tummy (possibly hours). So the sooner you get used to eating everything with a "tiny" fork and not your hands the better off you will be in the long run. Don't get used to eating around your band. The band is around your tummy not your lips....

I would say your body is holding on to everything since there is so little going in. Retaining water, Make sure you are drinking plenty non-caffeine liquids at this time as well. I have notice at T.O.M. that I won't lose any until it is over and then usually drop about 2-3 lbs overnight. but keep up the water and the exercising.

The carbonation in the soda may be causing your inflammation issues at this point. I thought that was also an issue in band erosion. Sounds like you may be trying to "work around" your band. It still is only a tool. You still have to follow the guidlines for successful use. Once the stomach wall starts to lose the thickness of fat this will probably ease off. They can check or "unfill" to see how much of the saline actually stayed in when the Tubing was hooked up to the port at the time of surgery. When I watched a Surgery cam on the Lapband. It showed the tubing and band started with the saline, but as if was hooked through the fastener and the port it was a natural squeeze to expel the saline, meaning dependign how thick your stomach was is to how muh actually stayed in the band. I don't think most of the DR's put any fill in at surgery because of the swelling. The swelling normally takes care of the restriction for the time being. The other necessary factors are exercise, that fat won't shed by itself.. You just need to get your metobolism started, a little at the time, you willmake it through this hurdle, and then there will be another one.. Good luck..

SODA?? I have not heard from anyone that was aloowed to drink carbonated beverages with the lap band. Very brave soul, I guess. WhenI had fill #9, I was good for about 3 weeks and then started getting tighter every day.. I re-adjusted what I was eating and the time I was alotted for eating(30 min). So I actully cut out my morning fruit/ yogurt. Then next I cut out the afternoon fruit. So I was down to ONLY 3 meals that I could not hardly get down what I should be eating. Protein shake in the Morning.The coffee gurgled as it went down as did anything else for the first 4 hours of the day, then I could have my breakfst of yogurt and cereal/oatmeal mix. I went 9 weeks like that, not losing any wt either, except after the days when dinner came back up at least 1x/week. So he did a .4 unfill, so Hopefully I will be back on track to losing that last 10 lbs. All my prior fills had either been 1.5, 1.0 or .5. The last one,I had I knew I was close but he gave me a full 1.0cc. I could have probably been ok with just a .5. ( I am 16 months out) I love my band, I woud=ld not trade it for anything, It keeps me honest..

Sounds like you need to up the mushies food a bit, make sure you are getting "protein". You are still in the "healing " period post-op. Fortified popcicles, yogurt blended up chicken anything that is mushy, you have to be eating or drinking all the time. I was about 900 cal /day for about 8 weeks, I added an extra protein shake(EAS Whey) just to make sure I stayed at 60-90 grams /day.Make sure you are keeping a journal of all your liquids and ounces, protein grams. Kep track of your vitamins, make sure you are taking at the correct times, not mixing. Call your dr's nutritionist. At 4 weeks you may still be moving a little slow, no weightlifting, plenty of cardio, the more you do the better yu will feel and it will make you thirsty and hungry. IU had no appetite fora long time. My husband asked me what would happen if I didn't get my appetite back.. I just had this stunned look on my face, as time went on it cam back slowly. I am now 16 months out, 10 lb from goal. I have had 9 fills (9.0cc) and the last being an unfill of .4cc in a 10cc band. I am pretty close to my green zone and have been for the last couple of months. Hang in there, communicate with your Dr office. They should be there to help you.. :cool2:

They do have some Whole Wheat from Ritz and Premium brand. I like them when I have to go liquid/mushy after a fill to put in soup. I will have one or two with low-fat peanut butter from time to time... Stay away form those white ones though, not good for you..

Remember this is the healing time. Don't rush things. One hurdle at a time. Give your band time to set, this will ensure you a long healthy journey. My dr gave us an exercise schedule and on day 3 we were to start walking 15 minutes, day 2 walk 15 min x day, after that wer were to add 5 minutes per day. The cardio is the fat burning core of your future exercise habit, Hopefully it will take the food habits place in your life. So treat your band right, heal, walk, drink fluids and repeat for the next year. All will turn out just fine. I am 15 months out. and 10 lb from goal. You will learn from your bad choices and chnage those old eating habits once and for all time. GOOD LUCK!!

My drs office suggested a new Sugar free Calcium Citrate choco flavored with D3 a250 mg calcuim. They are available on line at Bariatricadvantage.com. They are now takein advance orders on the lemon flavored. I like the Chocoloate just fine 60 chew per bag 15 cal the bag says they contain soy. Anyway you can get details online..

That sound like a bad deal. I have had 9 fills and not anything like that. The first fill he poked me 2 times and then we sent for the FLouro. Of course each time there was less fat on top of my port so it was easier to locate just doing a crunch with a pillow under my lower back. He asks each time if I wan thim to numb it before. Truthfully, He has filled some with and some without numbing, no different. Sometimes I have a tiny, tiny bruise and a little sore. Always do liquids two days(48 hrs) and two days mushies. The last fill I got which brought me up to 9 cc in a 10 cc band. I slowly got a little tighter every day for about 4 weeks. I was sliming almost everyday at least once a day. It takes time to adjust even being 15 months post -op. I am 10 lbs from goal. So probablyu no more fills for some time now. Jsut hard work now getting those last 10 lbs off, more extra cardio.. good luck hang in there. Ask for the fill to be done under the FLOURO next time.

If your band is tight in the mornings, you may feel a little pressure. Take smaller sips. Try drinking a warm liquid first thing in the morning. You want to be a little tight after a fill, or it is a waste. As you lose more wt, the tightness will go away, as your stoamch wall thins or the fats lessens, you will need a nother fill. This is the Lapband process. I have had 9 fills in 15 months, 9cc in a 10 cc Lapband. 10 lbs from goal. But if you get to a point when liquids wont stay down or mushies and that makes you slime or PB, you will need to get a slight unfill. Remember if you do upchuck any food at a meal, skip solid food on the next meal and do a protein shake, due to you may have some swelling at you band opening. Take your time and chew, chew till liquid. So the harder you work at exercising and watching what you eat the faster this restriction will subside. Good luck, it is worth working for..

SSH, sounds like me. I was banded Jan 08, My last fill was feb 24, until this fill I felt My portions were too large. so he gave me 1.0 cc that brought my total to 9cc in a 10cc band. I was good for about 3 weeks, and since then I feel like I am getting tighter and tighter. My coffee in the morning gurgles as it goes down. Prior to that fill I was having protein shake at 6 am eating a tofu wrap at 7am . now just a shake at 6a m and yogurt and cereal at 8:30 am. I am still tight at lunch. I really have to push my water. My next appt I may have him unfill a tad - .25 cc, that should work fine. I have lost only 4 lbs since feb fill. I am about 10 lbs from goal, so it is evern harder to lose. But I do think I am just too tight. I think my body cycles are adding to the tightness as well. I have 2 more weeks before I go back, so I know I have to chew, chew,chew. But I have now added a 4th meal, just ot get veggies and all protein in. Pb a little more often, no vomiting though, so this tells me I need to slow down a little more, use my timer to eat 30 min no more. Good luck. This is where I should be, but old habits still die hard. Mostly mental now.

Well, If you took care and let your stitches for the band set and the stitches for the port set. Di not lift anything heavyier than 3 lbs. Fed yourself lots of protein. You should not have anything to worry about. I am 15 months out. i had some Pb'ing from time to time, and upchucking a few times around 6 months or so. All is well. They just don't want you constantly vomiting which causes problems with the band. Once the scar tissue forms around the stitches for the band and port. You are set. I workout 5xweek and do yoga 4x week plus cardio. All is still good. I pulled a mucsle a couple of weeks ago. woriedme, but the dr wasn't. Ultrasound good. So follow the dr rules, chew , chew and then chew some more. till it is liquid. you will be fine. Take your time, your body will adjust as you go along. Good luck to all your new bandsters, enjoy your progress in little steps along your journey..

Ok, I am not alone. I have had this pain since last Friday evening. As I turned over to my left side during my sleep and It felt like a knife stabbing me, brought me up out of that bed. Thought my band had become unclamped and was pulling on my scar tissue for the band stitches or something. I have had pain(milder) pain everyday, dr though it was a pulled muscle. Went in yesterday, he check the port area, all ok and the placement of the band on the tummy is a little higher up. If I reach at the bottomleft rib and do a gentle push, it is a very bad pain, food or no food in tummy. He schedule dme for an ultrasound on tuesday, to look at the pancreas(lft side) and the gall bladder( rt side). Stil cant lie on my left side. It is just a constant dull pain about scale of 6. We shall see. It may very well be a pulled muscle.:thumbup:

This is a time for healing. Gets lots of protein in, walk, and walk , drink some more, walk, drink. You wont have time to think about food. The extra protein helps heal. The sutures in your band to outer tummy wall need to heal, no lifting over 5lbs. The band needs to get set and thne that will make your journey much better down the road.

Congrats to both of you as new bansters. Hang in there, You will feel sore for a few weeks to come. The more you are up and moving around the less sore you will be and the gas will go away much faster. I was banded 1/18/08, have had 9 fills and am 8 lb from target. Treat your band well, follow all your dr rules and take your time to learn to eat the right way. Do the liquids as they tell you, this is temporary, but something you will have to learn again for after each fill.You will have trials, no doubt, we all have. Hopefully you will learn the first time. Keep your eye on this site, you will find a lot of bandsters new and old that may offer up some really good ideas, Just remember your dr's office should be there to answer any medically urgent questions.. Welcome!!:thumbup:

I agree with Jacqui, I too have had this happen,I went from an 18 to a current 6/8. There are a few at work that make the comment how much more are you wanting to lose? I feel good now, 8 lbs from goal. I work out , walk , do yoga, wt training, something every day at least 1.5 x 6 days a week. I have earned it. They know you took it on yourself to do something and was successful. I think this does threaten some people. I started walking at lunch a year ago, now I have about 14 people that walk with me or in groups at lunchtime, anywhere from 30 minute hikes to a full hour, they sorta choose their pace group, everyday, and some even will walk in a rainy mist. Change, we all need a helping hand. For some people walking is when they feel like it. For me and most bandsters, walking is a have too, you become addicted in a good way. love my band

I have had nine fills with a total of 9 cc in a 10 cc band. 15 months out. My dr has done the fill with the lidocaine and without. I told him, no difference either way. Just a small stick. Of course my port does stick out a little, so when I lay back on the table, the pillow goes under my lower back and do a tiny ab crunch just so he can get the flat side of the port. I can't see the needle, but I have a habit of looking to make sure he puts it all back in there. Ha. Ha. Today I will get a slight unfill of .25 I have been very, very tight for 7 weeks, PB at least once a week. only lost 4 pounds. It is tough when you are this close to goal and maintenance. Being too tight can also cause the weight loss to stop. So do be very careful. Your restriction will change as your stomach walls shed that fat.:sad:

That makes two of us. I have been feeling this pain for 5 days now. Dr seems to think I pulled a muscle. not sure, when I push in gently under my left rib,I can feel the soreness. Dr will put me under the flouro on Monday, unless it gets worse. I have a hight threshhold for pain. So sometimes it is worse, mornings so far, I seem to feel more pain. Good luck, hope we can find a simple solution. I was banded 1/18/08, 15 months out. 8 lbs from goal...:glare:

I woke up 4 nights ago with a stabbing pain when I rolled over on my left side during my sleep. Left upper abdoman. Talked to the Dr on Monday, he thinks I have just pulled a muscle since I do yoga and exercise alot. Can't lie on my left side at all, very painfull. I am just wondering if anyone has had any issues like this. Wrong side for my Gall bladder. Port doesn't hurt. Pain seems to be deeper inside. He is gonna do the FLouro on Monday. we'll go from there. I wonder if it is possible if the band can come "Unclipped". Maybe it is just apulled muscle. I am still able to walk about 6 miles per day. Any thoughts?:thumbdown:

shouldn't you still be on Full liquids or mushies, maybe try emotrol(nausea) after you call your dr?