juliegeraci

I have been banded just over 2 years and have had at least 20 fills and unfill. You may be like me and have a very fickle band. Be prepared for the worst. It can be quite costly if you don't have insurance that covers fills. Just be aware.

I have heard positive and negative on the sleeve. Positive: no fills, immediate restriction, no PBs unless you really push it. Negative: you can go septic and die. It stretches out over time just like the bypass. I think you still get dumping syndrom but I'm not sure.

My packet consisted of a binder with dietary requirements along with a sheel to all my evals ie. nutritionist, phsych, EKG and blood. Chances are you need to get some tests done prior to surgery if you haven't already. Good luck.

The thicker stuff is called omnipaque (spelling). It is exacty like saline but thicker for small leaks. My doctor uses it all the time on me. It is not dangerous.

Hi Slim, you are almost there! Congrats on being banded. I have been banded 2 years and am 20 lbs from goal. Good luck to you!

Dr. Robert McKeen at SouthBay Bariatrics is awesome!

1/2 cup food is about right with good restriction however if you are eating mushies and not too many solids proteins then you are too tight. I wouldn't take too much out though. If your fills are covered under insurance I would start with .02 then maybe .03 for your unfill. It sounds like you are almost there if you can get more solids down. Good luck.

Yes completely normal. I had a major breakdown right before surgery the day before. Like how did I get here. It is normal and you should congratulate yourself of seeing so. Good luck with your surgery and weight loss!

I would make your appointment with the dentist today and just ride it out. Advil is good and a vicodin or 2 will not hurt. Good luck this week.

Hi BJ. Right now I'm at 3.18. 3.2 is too tight for me but I am starving. I can't imagine that .02 which is litterally 2 drops of saline can make that much of a difference. I am going to have a barrium swallow in a couple week so we shall see what is going on. Wish me luck. Julie

I would call your doctor. Chances are you are just swollen and will require liquids for a couple days followed by mushies then solids. It has happened to all of us although 6 hour PB is rather long. Good luck.

Thanks Jodi. How long have you been banded now and how are you doing? I've been banded 2 years and I'm down roughly 70 lbs with 20 more to goal.

Keri, sound like you don't have good restriction., Some bandsters can lose on 1 cup of day, for me its more like 1/2 cup. I would go get a good fill first. I would change Nutritionists too. You can do this with the help of your band. BTW, popcorn goes down like sand so its no wonder you ate the whole bag. Try and eat more solid protein. You can do it.

Do you have any pain medication in the house you can pop? You aren't banded yet., correct? Try taking 4 Advils.

That is beautiful. What a great NSV. Congrats!

That is totally irritating and you have every right to be a bit angry. Good luck on Tuesday.

I saw a woman in my surgeon's office who was at least 200 lbs overweight get banded without issues. Go for it! Just find a surgeon that will do it. Mine would but he is in Northern, CA.

Glad you are feeling better. The 6 week mark is key, especially for abs. You have stiches which hold the port in place so please be careful.

You have a really good attitude. Sometimes the ones we love can be the most supportive or visa versa. In your case, you are surrounding yourself with people like us. Congrats on getting banded and being so curageous. Lapband is a life change.

Hi Jacqui, I have the same fear. My doctor only took out .02 of my fill which is litterally 2 drops and I am gaining weight. I see him next week to figure this all out. I need restriction to lose but I seem to get too tight. Wishe me luck trying to find my sweet spot.

Jodi 620, good job on not going back to smoking. I haven't smoked in 2 days. Its totally a habit for me which begins with my a.m. coffee. I just don't go sit where I use to smoke now. I am also on Chantix which helps. I was suppose to quit on day 7 and I was down to maybe 2-3 a day but it took me to day 10 or 14 to actually stop. This is the 2nd attempt so wish me luck.

Hi BJBean, I flew after my slight unfill to Hawaii. I've been back for over 2 weeks. I just think I need a slight fill or maybe I lost part of my fill. I'll know next Thursday.

3.2 is too tight, 3.18 is too lose. I have gained 5-7 lbs since the middle of June. I am starving. I at an egg and toast for breakfast, a small bowl of chili verde at 11:30, a weight watcher full size terriyaki chicken at 12:30, a devil egg sandwich with the chili verde, an orange and some carrots. Should I try and eat some solid protein? I just can't stay full.

I've been banded 2 years and constantly have food dreams. Not sure exactly but it might be a phsyci thing.

Right now I am really struggling with the right fill level. I am one of those that can't get enough fills and unfills. I was at 3.2 and I had trouble getting in liquids and then I had problems with solids . He took me down to 3.15 and I started to gain weight so now I am up at 3.08 and starving. I am not sure what is going on with my band. I think I'll order a barium swallow when I see him next week. I don't mind eating a softer diet but the hard to take in liquids really scared me. It took me like 30 minutes to drink a small glass of water. He said that sometimes the stomach lining thickens around the band and it can make you tighter. As far as exercise goes, I do realize that I need to do more of that. My plan is to join a local gym with a friend of mine. They have a 30 minute circuit which my sister, who works there, swears by. Wish me luck. I am really struggling with these restriction issues.