soshal3

I think what you are experiencing is normal. It took me about 6 months for my mentality to change about desiring food, even if I wasn't truly hungry. Desiring to chew, taste, swallow and feel full the old way. The lap band changes your relationship with food in my experience. That change does take some time and you will "challenge" the band and not be able to keep it down. Eventually, you will tire of this and learn to live with your band, physically and psychologically. I had my band put in March 2009. I lost 115lbs the first year and have since maintained that loss (I'm 145lbs, 5'7".) Currently, I can eat just about anything if I eat a bite or two and then wait 15 minutes to eat another bite. That's ok for the taste and act of eating, but I feel it's hard for me to get my nutrition that way. I bought a vitmix blender...IT'S GREAT!! For me, my strategy is to make sure I get my fluids, protien and vitamins in first, then I dabble with eating bites at a time. I feel so much better and more energetic since I've began using my vitmix blender. It will liquify ANYTHING. I really missed my veggies with the lapband. I can't tolerate the skins of veggies. In this blender I can put in any mixture of veggies, skin, stalk and all and always a bit of kale, to make a liquid veggie drink. I add a good quality chicken bullion for taste and my powdered protien and I have a vitamin, fiber, fluid, protien packed tasty drink. I've done yogurt and blueberries as a smoothie and can tolerate that too. I thank GOD for this machine. These drinks don't replace all other foods, but they are the base to my nutrition. Everything else is extra and for the act of eating, chewing, and enjoying a few bites of regular food. For me, this works and it quite satisfying and certainly health boosting. Of course, I still enjoy a dilly bar whenever I want one and haven't had any weight gain what so ever. I remember the dietitian saying you shouldn't have to puree foods to be able to eat, that you were too tight if you had to do that. But they tell you to stew, or slow cook things until they are mush....whats the difference? The difference is cooking out all the nutrients is not good. The vitamix blender liquifies raw veggies, retaining all vitamins and fiber. I don't have stock in this company, I am truly just very excited to have come across this. It's very expensive 350-400 bucks, so I thought about it for 6 months before I broke down and got one. Best investment I've made since I got the lap band. I love the lap band!! Us bandsters just have to figure out how to have optimal health with the restriction that has allowed us to achieve our healthier weights.

For Spirit, Type 1 or TYpe 2? I see the other post said Type 2. No matter which you'll have to cut back on any meds or insulin you are on. In the case of TYpe 1, you will always need some amount of insulin, but much less than before if your eating is limited. Type 2, many will get off of all meds/insulin, but some won't and eventually, even those that get off all meds/insulin may need meds again at some point. Type 2 diabetes is progressive so over many years you will continue to lose beta cell function and make less and less insulin. That progression is genetic/.environmental so it can be different for everyone. Just an FYI. Both Type 1 and Type 2 be cautious about hypoglycemia....cut your meds/insulin back as needed. Halve the pills/insulin and discontinue if necessary (if you don't have TYpe 1.)

You may have to keep cutting back on your meds/insulin. Careful of lows. Do you have Type 1 or TYpe 2?

Hi There, I've had the lap band and my daughters want to get it also. My oldest daughter has Type 1 Diabetes. She's on an insulin pump as well. I would be interested in connecting the two of you so she could get more information from you. If you would be interested in corresponding with her I would really appreciate it. You can email me at soshal3@msn.com. My name is Robin Hibbs. Her name is Shelby McMurrin and she is 22 years old, has a daughter that is 7 months old. I work as a Nurse Diabetes Educator and had some reservations due to the starvation ketones....just scared for her, but completely understand why she wants it and know it would be a great thing...it has been for me! Thanks! Robin

Hi Everyone, I'm Robin, I've had the lap band, and I also am a Diabetes Specialist RN and have been working with diabetes for 15 years. On a personal note, my daughter was diagnosed at age 10 with Type 1 (on a pump 2 years after dx) and my Father and Brother both have Type 2 diabetes....as well as a slew of other family members. I really want you to know that losing wt DOES NOT make diabetes go away. The lap band is restrictive and helps you to lose wt. Once you lose wt your cells are "smaller" and need less glucose to operate, therefore you require less insulin to get that job done (insulins job is to put glucose, sugar, fuel, into all of our body's cells.) The pills people take for diabetes manipulate this process in a an effective way. Some help your cels to open up easier to let the insulin bring the sugar in, some decrease your natural glucose release from your liver's stored "energy", and some stimulate the cells that make insulin to make more insulin. Then of course, their is insulin replacement. Insulin is a hormone in our bodies that we can not live without. So, when you lose wt, no matter how you do that, including the lap band, you reduce the workload and require less assistance (meds) to achieve better glucose levels. This is great! It makes it easier for you to achieve near normal glucose levels and protects you from long term diabetes complications.....but the diabetes is still there and continues to progress. The rate of your body's ability to make it's own insulin diminishes over time and that rate is different for everyone but most folks need insulin 5-10 out from diagnoses...some sooner, some later. The lap band would be a good choice for wt loss and health improvement across the board, including for your diabetes. However, the other wls, where they re-route your intestines has been recognized to "cure" diabetes in some of the research. Talk to your surgeon about both surgeries and together you can decide which would be best for you and your particular situation. Robin

Hi Stacy, I have gotten my first fill and felt good restriction for a couple of days then much less restriction from that time till now, a week out. I suspect I need another adjustment. I understand it's pretty much "poke and hope", and several adjustments may be needed until you have optimal restriction. How does optimal feel? How does too tight feel? Too loose I'm sure I'm feeling, but any description you can give will be appreciated. Thanks, Robin

For myself, the pain/discomfort of lower ab pain and port pain has nearly all went away. I am 5 wks post op and feel great. Unfortunately, I have gained back about 10 pounds but think that an adjustment will help me out, which I get in one more week. I think you are too soon from surgery to be thinking reversal. You haven't even had time to heal yet. Give your self a chance and wait till you heal and have had chance to really assess the lap band's value for you before making any decisions. I think you will be glad you did.

Hang in there. It's too soon to be considering removal. I had mine 03/11/09 and experienced some of the same you are talking about, however, it all went away and I feel great now. I think its just the healing process and your body's adjustment. You aren't even at 6 weeks yet....relax, get your nutrition and fluids in and heal. I would bet that it will all resolve in time.

Hi Everyone! I'm 47, happily married to a wonderful man, have two grown daughters and one grand-daughter on the way. Same ol' story....weight up and down all my life, seems mostly up for the last 15 years. Am beginning the process of getting the lap band and am very excited to find this site for support and information share. No surgery date yet, will let you know. Good luck and happy Monday to all.

I completely understand your motivations to want to have the lapband, be healthy, and live longer .....and to not have to feel the need to cover yourself on the beach! I get it all! The psych appointment went well as far as I am concerned. Will have to see what the shrink thinks;-) She told me that if she didn't have any concerns that she feels she needs to see me again for (depression, anxiety, etc.) then within a week they will call me to make an appointment to see the surgeon. Here they want you to quit smoking for 8 wks prior to surgery. Thats been rough. I am opting for more low CHO foods at this point and have a very strict diet for the two weeks prior to surgery (to shrink the liver so it's out of the way for the surgery .....low Carb diet.) I'm hoping to have the surgery the first week or mid of March. I have to have all my co pays paid up front 2 wks prior to surgery as well. Thank goodness for some income tax return because that will nearly three grand. They also told me that smoking can cause ulcers so they don't want smoking after the band too. I would like to say goodbye to the cigs permanently, but not sure if I will be able to. They did tell me that because of the swelling I wouldn't feel hungry even before an adjustment until about the fifth week when the swelling goes down. Here they don't do the first adjustment until after the 6th week. I worried that I couldn't cook for my family prior to and 2 months after the procedure to lessen my temptation....and have prepared for that by letting them know they are on their own with the food until I am ready to cook for them. They are supportive....in theory anyway :-)

Thanks for the repsonse Ronda. Congratulations on your lap band and your success. I had the psych appointment today and hopefully will be seeing a surgeon in a couple of weeks. I'm excited about gaining this tool and a higher quality of life. How has the liquid diet been for you?

Thanks! It may take a bit to know my way around this site. I will be having my surgery very close the time you are having yours. Our weight, height and goals are very close as well. I see the psychologist tomorrow but they estimate that I could be having the surgery either at the beginning or middle of March. I'm excited, but nervous. How about you?

Thank you for the welcome. Looks like you are very near your goal. Congratulations!

I posted in the intro area but am new....know nothing at this point...and can't find my own post. Can you help me get started here?

Just learning to navagate this site.... testing

Hi! I also have BC/BS (Fed) and have been told there is no 6 mth MD monitored dieting/failure required. I have just began the process. I went to an introductory education seminar Jan. 19th. They said it generally takes 3-4 months to get through all the appointments and actually have the surgery. So far I've only had one appointment to speak with the nurse regarding the procedure, history and physical, etc. and the financial office to discuss insurance coverage and my out of pocket expenses. This week will be busy with Dietitian and Psych appointments. I'm hoping to get through all the hoops in record time and have the procedure by the end of March (wishful thinking )