chayamom

I agree with you that even though I am eating less I am much more satisfied with what I eat. For one each bite is being eaten in smaller pieces and needs to get chewed better than in my pre-banding days. So I savor my food. The emotions of feeling terrible for overeating and still not being satisfied is mostly gone. And for that I cannot be thankful enough!

I'm not 100% sure what you mean by "eating like a skinny person" but I can explain how it works for me. I have found that dieting rules are so much simpler to follow since my band has been tight enough. I am guilty of grazing (not sure if that's a bad thing). What I love is that I can go out with friends, go to a wedding, or some other function and eat some of most of what is served including dessert. The difference is that I have only one or two spoons of some of the foods served including dessert - and don't feel like I cheated or that I did something terrible. If I see that my weight loss is slowing down more than I want I can track what I'm eating and follow a normal eating plan for me, and I will see the weight begin to move down again. To me this is the way skinny people eat. Moderation and portion control without feeling deprived. Good luck!

After close to six years of being banded, I finally began seeing results after switching doctors. Since October I have lost about 30 lbs. This last week I can eat more, eat food I couldn't before, and find myself hungry more often. Needless to say I am not a happy camper. I have an appointment scheduled soon but I was wondering if anyone can help me through this and/or has any information for me till I get to the doctor. I so don't want to gain back any weight but I don't think I'll be able to keep off everthing I lost if this continues.

Congrats! That is great! I recently asked my doc when do we start believing? Even though it's working there is still that disbelief that it will continue

I would be happy seeing myself in a 12 considering how hard it's been to see success. But my ideal goal is a 10. I just cannot imagine getting there nor staying there. Time will tell.

Update: I saw my GI today and we are trying different meds to control the issue. He agrees with me not to remove any saline from the band since it is finally working. I will reconfirm that with my bariatric doctor on Friday.

I'm with you 100%. I had gastritis before I banded. Since my band is working well I have heartburn instead. I was on omeprazole for the gastritis for way longer than anyone should but nothing else worked. Now I'm on previcid twice a day and still get heartburn at times. I have an appointment with my GI later this week. I hope he'll be able to resolve the issue for good . Maybe you should check in with your doctor as well.

Had another visit to my doctor yesterday. I am down 8 lbs. this month. Hurray!!! My band is finally doing what it is supposed to. I can't believe that it took close to 6 years in to figure out how to get it to work. I so gave up on it a while back. I feel like snoopy doing the happy dance!

January 2009 I had my lap-band surgery done in Brooklyn, NY. I followed the rules before and after the surgery and lost about 30 lbs. total counting the two week pre-op liquid diet. I went for fills regularly for a while but did not see much in the way of weight loss results. I would be asked if I feel any restriction, and I always did - especially the first day or two after getting a fill. I was always surprised by how much I was able to eat and what foods I could eat. It got to a point I felt like the band is just not working for me and I sort of gave up. Life got in the way and I stopped going back to my doctor. About three and a half years later I decided to go back to the same doctor after seeing another family member do really well with the band after years of having had no results either. At first we started with some fills and then she wouldn't give me another fill because she felt I was going to be too full. I went in with the attitude that there must be something wrong with my band such as a leak. The PA that I saw was ready to send me for routine testing and flippantly told me that in the worst case I can always have the sleeve done. I did not like her attitude at all! I also did not go for testing because should they find a problem I would need another surgery to correct it and mentally I wasn't prepared for that. Last winter I went on an OA type diet for about four months. I fell off the wagon and had a very difficult time going back on. Over the summer I ate whatever was served and/or was around depending on where I was etc. In May I had blood work done and my A1C was going from pre-diabetic into diabetic. I was still calling in pre-diabetic because I couldn't deal with it but in the back of my mind I knew I needed to deal with my reality. My father had passed away 5 1/2 years ago from diabetes at the age of 62. It was what pushed me to go for the surgery in the first place. This September I decided to look into having the sleeve done since a number of people I know were quite successful with it,I still believed there was something wrong with my band. I switched doctors and it was the best move I made! For one he explained things to me so much more clearly. Another thing he did for me was removed all the saline in my band and measured it. My band was not as full as the first doctor assumed. He right away gave me one cc. When I tried to eat after that fill it was like a light bulb went off - I remember hearing that optimally one should be able to eat about 1/4 cup of food in one sitting. This was the first time I could even imagine what they were talking about. In the first three weeks I lost 6 lbs, most of that in the first week. Last week I was back and the doctor told me that was very normal and being that I was able to eat a bit more he would give me a slight fill. I am so excited to see results!! I am still trying to figure out what an appropriate fill would mean for me. At the same time I began seeing my new doctor I also began exercising at the gym. The second fill coincided with a Pilates class that was way too difficult for me. I have been quite uncomfortable and I'm trying to figure out how much is from the band and how much is from exercising my very out of shape body. So I guess I'm still very much a work in progress. I want to see this weight come off and my A1C numbers dropping therefore I'm hesitant to do anything about the pain. I'm taking a watch and wait approach, if I don't see any improvement or cannot pinpoint what is causing my pain I will call the doctor by the end of the week.

I'm so glad to have seen this post. I am not getting as much fluids as I think I should be having since I also can only drink a very small amount at a time. I find warm drinks do go down easier but I do plan on discussing the issue with my doctor at my next appointment.

Look into chia seeds. It works great and you can make a pudding out of it. Check it out online.

I am also having this after my last fill. I'm trying to pinpoint if it is band related or exercise related. After reading the posts here I may just call my doctor tomorrow .

It is very interesting reading everyone's post. I have quiet a drawn out story which I plan on posting in the appropriate section but in short, five years after surgery and a doctor switch, I'm finally working on finding my green zone. At the same time I started exercising regularly. I'm trying to figure out whether the pain I feel is due to being too tight or due to a new exercise regime. All I know at this point is I want to feel better and I want the weight to start coming off. Any input will be very appreciated!

I had my third fill last week and I'm thrilled that I actually feel a difference in the restriction. Yesterday I was on the ny city buses quite a long time. I am having discomfort in my back about the same area I would feel when I eat too much. This discomfort has been around all day yesterday into today. When I lay down it goes away, when I sit I feel it even before I've eaten. Is it my band or is it just bad posture from the way I was sitting yesterday.

I had surgery on Jan 12, 2009 and I just had my third fill. I lost a total of about 30 lbs. I would like to know if anyone can tell me at what point does the brain start thinking of hunger differently? Any pointers on how to get there? Maybe I have a more difficult time while on shakes after a fill because I'm not getting satisfaction--I am not really hungry, but even after that I would like to think about hunger differently (more like a normal person).

I can understand the excitement! I had my third fill since my surgery (Jan 12, 09) this week and it feels like a miracle! This is what everyone is talking about. I hope it last. Next step is getting the weight loss to feel so good that I don't miss food (shopping, cooking, etc). I wake up tight and cannot eat more than 3 oz. of yogurt. I can't believe I'm doing ok on that for hours. Hope it continues. Good luck to you as well!

I was banded 1/12/09 and things have been going well thank g-d. I had my first fill eight weeks after surgery. The last twenty four hours I've been having a constant tightness in my chest that is uncomfortable. I have been able to eat normally, and during eating the pain goes away. Does anyone have any idea what this can be and at what point do I contact my doctor?

I just got my first fill on Tuesday and I would like to know what is normal. The first couple of days I felt restricted to the point that it took a long time to get my shakes down. It is four days later and I am surprised by how much I can eat compared to the first few days. What do most people really feel after fills? Are the first few days more restrictive than later on?

I am a stomach sleeper and its been four weeks since I slept in my favorite position due to the port. I am wondering any of you serial stomach sleepers--have you been able to get back into position? How long did it take before laying on or near you port stopped bothering you?

You sound like you've been through a lot! I know that even though I read what is read here and I have friends who were successful with the surgery, there is part of me that doesn't believe it could really work and last for me as well. I don't know at what point people really believe "this is really happening to me and it will last". I am at the point where all other diets have fizzled out and I'm waiting to see how it goes next. I know that this is different and yet I don't believe it yet! Also exercise is important for health but really what it boils down to for weight loss is less calories in than what you burn.

sounds like an interesting group and I would also like to join. I was banded 1/12/09 and keep on finding new things that leave me unsure and insecure. Having someone who has more experience than I would be very welcome. Some personal information about me: I am 42 years old with four children. I have struggled with my weight all my life. I am a in college and I work for an accountant. Needless to say exercise--which I never liked-- is much more of a challenge now than ever. The nutritionist says 30 min of anything including walking, 8 days a week. The surgeon says 30 minutes 3X a week is fine but walking doesn't count because as humans that's what we do. I don't have easy access to a gym or a mall that opens early for walkers. Today I went shopping with my daughter and we must have walked about 40 minutes with breaks in between. does that count or not??? I am also feeling like I don't have much energy--today anyways. Is this due to a lack of sleep, too stressed out, not enough Vitamins, not enough exercise, not enough calories? Do I sound confused enough??

I am so thankful you posted your question because I am so unsure of what should be happening now. I am three weeks post-op and on mushies for one week now. between the two week prep and the first week after I lost 17 lbs. then I put back about 2 lbs. which was very upsetting. Today I went on the scale and lost those two lbs. I am eating about 1200 calories per day. I have not started a consistant exercise program yet but I think I should be losing something. Listening to everyone here has been helpful.

I am a 41 year old mother of 4 who went through the lap band surgery on Jan. 12. I am currently going to college for a degree in social work and this surgery was a one step in remaking or taking control of my life. I am in NY, though I don't know if it really makes a difference in a mentor to be in the same location. I am looking for someone to hold my hand along this ride because every few days seems to bring with it something I'm not sure how to deal with. Thankfully my weight never went up beyond a BMI of 40 but my latest A1C showed that I was diabetic. My father is diabetic and I hope never to have to go through what he is going through. Even though I got from many people that they were surprised I was interested in doing the surgery, I'm very thankful that I didn't listen to them. For the first week after surgery I actually got a glimpse of what it can be like with the appropriate tightening of the band--I couldn't swallow much and the feeling of fullness lasted for a long time. Now that the internal swelling is down I'm getting hungry and yet at the same time I am afraid I'll put back weight I lost during the last three and a half weeks when I begin eating more than the protein shakes. I also need to start exercising and could use encouragement in that department as well.

thanks for the info regarding the online food diaries. Also do you have any idea how many calories I should be aiming for daily? I don't recall my doctors mentioning anything about that.

I started on mushie food this week and I want to know what is normal. Somehow there is safety in just having your three shakes a day and clear liquids (and not needing any more). I do get hungry faster than I have during the first week after surgery. My doctor won't give me my first fill before six weeks even though I have heard of people getting it earlier. My band is completely open and I don't know what size it is. I guess I'm afraid of gaining back what I've lost during the first three weeks (pre-op and the first week following). If I really keep track of what I am eating its not that much but I'm not weighing and measuring everything that goes into my mouth. Should I be? Any information you can give will be highly appreciated!