Elisabethsew

I have never experienced the foam thing. When I PB, I get that horrible tennis ball pain in the upper center of my chest and the nausea sets in. I have enough time to get to the bathroom and what comes up is what went down. Thankfully, I am getting used to fill #3 and proper restriction and am very careful to chew, chew and chew some more. Are you PB'ing long after you've eaten?

Tim, you won't have to tell the surgeon you didn't follow the pre-op diet. He'll be able to tell once you're in surgery and he looks at your liver. Post-op, you're likely going to be on a liquid diet for a week or two. I would not advise cheating during that time. As for success after your banded, that depends on how much you are willing to work to become healthy. Go through the kitchen (and favorite hiding places) and get rid of all the crap food. Stock the place with some healthy foods. Search the recipe section for food choices during the post-op period and print out the ones you like. The band will assist you in learning to eat healthy but it doesn't perform miracles. You CAN do it.

Try freezing 4 oz portions of fat-free, sugar-free puddings (60 cals). Freezing them makes them taste like creamy ice-cream and it takes a while to eat it when it's frozen. Get all the chocolate candy bars out of the house STAT. They are pure liquid fat calories and a lot of them.

I have 4 oz of lite ricotta cheese in the AM after a cup of coffee and that really keeps me satisfied until lunch time. Tomato soup was another filling meal for me.

I was directed to go back to fluids until it was no longer sore or painful to swallow and then do a day of soft foods before going back to solids.

You look wonderful and have accomplished a lot. Congratulations on your success and your 2 year anniversary. Enjoy!

I had no restrictions the day of the fill. For the rest of the fill day and the next day it's liquids and then a day of soft foods and then back to solids.

I agree with everyone here. Pick up the phone and schedule the fill.

My surgeon flat out tells his patients at the first meeting that a patient can "beat the band" if they want to. It seems like you got "comfortable" with your weight loss and have slipped into a comfortable (but unhealthy) routine. So... time to start all over and get into the band routine. Since you've already lost 60 pounds, you're an expert in knowing what you have to do and how to do it.

You must be talking about the mini rice cakes. The large ones are 50-65 calories. The nutritionist told me that popcorn was on the "don't eat" list but I can tolerate it so I occasionally eat it. I try to avoid rice cakes because I find them addictive! LOL.

My insurance (BCBS) would not pay for the psych or nutrition consults. They cost me $250 and $200 respectively and payment was demanded upfront.

It takes 6 weeks for your body to heal from the surgery. Since the band is not inflated at all, it's unlikely that you'll feel full or notice any difference that before you were banded. Once you begin the fill process, you'll notice a change but remember, it can take 1-3 fills before you "know" you were banded.

My surgeon now only does the lapband but he has a partner who does other weight loss surgeries including the roux-n-y bypass. If the surgeon does not feel the procedure he is performing is helpful for the patient, it's unethical for his/her to perform it. The only point my surgeon did make was that volume eaters tend to be more successful than junk food eater with banding.

Carrie, you're doing great and so near your goal. Congratulations! Joe, I think what you're going through is normal and it does sound like you're do for a fill. I recently changed things up a but because of the hot weather and the temptation to not cook and just eat whatever's handy. I have 4 oz of lite ricotta cheese in the AM for the protein and it's filling. Lunch has been some cereal (1 cup with 4 oz skim milk). For an afternoon snack I have a 60 calorie pudding and dinner is a hard protein (usually fish or chicken), 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/2 cup of rice or noodles. Try changing up your diet and tracking how much you're eating. You look GREAT and have made wonderful progress.

I think it's sometimes difficult to get one's point of view across in this medium. Sometimes people "read" the meaning as different than it was intended. Once I see people attacking each other, I tend to not follow the thread anymore. What I would like to see is people asking for clarification before assuming and going on the defensive.

Go back on the prevacid for a week or two. I had the same thing after my last fill and it only lasted 2 weeks.

You're losing tons of weight. You're already victorious so don't waste anytime on MDs who are insensitive. Next time you make an appt. be SURE to request that you NOT be seen by this MD. Although, if you're even lighter, it might be a feather in your cap to see her again. LOL.

Miper, you admit to eating junk food, eating out a lot with the kids, and eating despite the "stuck" feeling. All of those things are what you're not supposed to do. Junk food goes down very easily, is packed with empty calories and doesn't keep you full. Start planning your meals, drink water, track your caloric intake and measure out your portions. I force myself to measure out a cup of cereal because I'm used to filling the bowl and that's nearly 2 cups. Eat until you're satisfied and not full. You CAN do it.

The amount of fills and fill amount is dependent on the person and his/her unique anatomy. I have 6.5 cc's as of fill #3 and that seems to be just right for me.

I believe every obese person has to hit a point where they say, That's it, I need to make changes for ME." One could liken this to an alcoholic hitting rock bottom. If someone WANTS to know how you're losing weight he/she will either ask directly or make not so subtle hints. So, unless asked, I don't offer.

Consult another surgeon, you definitely can lose weight with the band. Because it takes some people a few months to get restriction, the process can take longer initially. Also, you won't lose as fast as with Roux-n-y but it all balances out after a few years.

Your band is just fine but you definitely need more restriction. It took me until fill #3 to know what real restriction was. Like you, I felt nothing after the first fill. Call your surgeon and move your second fill appointment up.

Bands can be filled beyond the maximun advised. Find a surgeon and talk to him/her about a slight fill. Consult a nutritionist or join an organized program like Jenny Craig to help you get back in control.

I have to admit I'm not into piercing but congratulations on your GREAT progress and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Did you just have a fill? If you can't get water down easily, the band is too tight.