cinward2001

If you've been exercising, you could very well be putting on some muscle. But even if not, you've lost 1 lb/week. The average weight loss for someone banded is 1-2lbs/week, so try not to be discouraged. You're very early in this process with only one fill. Even IF you stay at 1 lb/week (and I bet it'll increase!), in a year, you've lost 52 lbs. That's a chunk! Cindy

Inconsistencies from one doctor to another are NOT good reasons to "push the envelope." Some doctors who perform LapBand procedures give their patients bypass instructions. Some doctors who perform LapBand procedures don't give their patients ANY instructions. Heck, there are just some doctors out there who shouldn't be doing any surgeries. The consensus is that you should give your stomach 4-6 weeks to heal after surgery. If that's being overly cautious, it sure won't *cause* problems. But being overly optimistic (as in, I can eat anything right now!) *could* cause problems. There will always be situations in which someone does something they shouldn't do and yet they don't suffer any negative consequences (such as drinking carbonated drinks). But getting banded isn't about continuing negative behaviors...it's about losing weight and getting healthy. Cindy

Think of it this way...you have stitches in your stomach that are designed to help hold the band in place (the stomach is brought up over the band and stitched in place). Eventually, as your stomach heals, scar tissue is formed to "cement" the band in place. Do you think that that has happened at 2 or 3 weeks? Most likely, it hasn't. My surgeon wants his patients to wait as long as possible for a fill...8 wks at least. He has a very low slip rate and I think that's part of the reason. I know everyone is eager to start losing the weight, but if it's the difference between keeping your band for the rest of your life, or having complications, waiting another month isn't that big of a deal. Cindy

I haven't read this entire thread, so forgive me if I'm duplicating something here. But please, if you're having a LOT of trouble keeping food down, please go get a slight unfill. Even if your weight loss is going great, keeping your band too tight (PBing a lot) can cause a slip. Now, if you're pbing because you're eating too quickly, not chewing enough, or taking bites that are too large, then those are behaviors that you can change. Also, what the fluoro shows during a fill is NOT a good indicator of whether or not your band is too tight. Fluoro is just a guideline...you really need to judge by how you feel. Cindy

I don't need to provide you with proof any more than I'm asking YOU to prove you know what you're talking about. There IS a difference between an *elective* surgery and something like an appendix removal or colon resection. But whatever...the only reason I replied to your post was because, in my opinion, you're doing a very BIG disservice to anyone who is pre-op, has a pre-op diet to follow, and is reading this thread. It's not easy doing the pre-op diet, and you're here saying "Oh, but you don't NEED to follow it." It's like when people argue about drinking carbonated beverages or not. INAMED says NO. But people will come on the board LOOKING for a reason to ignore that...so when people say that they've been drinking carbonation for years, it doesn't help.

Allison, buy some of the 2 lbs ankle and wrist weights. After your son is in bed, wear them. Just by adding a couple of pounds to your wrists and ankles, you'll burn more calories when you're fixing dinner, putting in that load of laundry, etc. But do NOT get heavy weights...too hard on your joints. There are also things you can do while you're doing chores. For example, if you're standing at the kitchen sink, do "kick backs." Just lift your heel to your butt. You can alternate legs or do a set number on each leg. You can then do side raises...lifting your leg out to the side. If those are too easy, then buy some resistance bands and do them with the bands. The key is to use every opportunity to move more while still getting things done that you need to do. Park further away from your work, take stairs instead of the elevator, etc.

Loreen, I don't think you're crazy for wanting the band out if you're that unhappy with it. However, I just finished posting to a similar thread about the *choices* people make when they're having trouble with their band. For example, even if you can't eat solid Protein (which is NOT normal, but we're dealing with what "is" right now), you still don't have to eat greasy, liquidy foods. There are soft Proteins, such as cottage cheese, refried Beans, soft fish. You can even do Protein drinks. I'm not saying that you'd want to live your life this way. But if you're still feeling restriction on an empty band, it may be that you're very irritated from the frequent PBing. Many bandsters, when they PB, will do liquids for the next few meals so that there's time for the irritation to subside. Unless you're just sure that you don't want to keep the band no matter what, try doing liquids for a few days. Then, progress to mushies...just like in your post-op days. Try to be very careful to NOT PB. If you can do mushies for a couple of days without PBing, then move on to solid foods. But choose GOOD solid foods. A hamburger, even without the bun, is not the best food choice. Make sure that you chew your first few bites VERY well and take time between those bites. Some people find that they have a "first bite" syndrome...where it'll feel like those first couple of bites are getting stuck and if you continue to eat, you'll PB. I experienced some of this in the first few months of banding. I literally had to chew a small bite very well, put down my fork, and wait a minute. Then another bite...wait...then another. After a few bites this way, I could "feel" things loosen up. But if I'd eaten one bite after another, I'm sure I would have PBed. I think that, sometimes, people get in this vicious cycle of PBing and then feel that the band simply isn't working. But it's usually not the band...it's what we're eating (and how we're eating it).

Living the rest of your life as an obese person because you don't want to give up pizza is pretty sad. Yes, I know you have other reasons for wanting the band removed, but they don't sound like very good ones to me. For example, if you had a slight unfill, you COULD eat solid foods like steak and fruit. But you first need to step away from the mac and cheese, chips and crackers, soup, and ranch dressing. Even IF you can't eat solids very well, you could be making MUCH better choices in your soft food. Cottage cheese, yogurt, soft fish, refried Beans...they're all soft foods and go down easily but they're high in Protein and low in carbs. Saying that you can't afford the groceries is an excuse, too...because, again, you *could* buy better soft foods. If it's your port that has busted stitches, that's often done as an office procedure. It's not a major surgery to stitch the port back down and as long as you can get the fills, you don't have to do it at all. I understand that not having insurance to cover fills can be a financial problem. But it makes me wonder why you got the band in the first place then? The fills are a lifelong commitment...at some point, you knew you'd be on your own. But look at it this way. You DO have the band. You already have a tool in place to help you lose weight. If you have it removed, you're most likely NOT going to lose weight on your own. Sorry, but only about 3-5% of people take the weight off and KEEP it off. So what kind of expense are you looking at down the road? Being obese can be very expensive in it's own way. I think it simply sounds like you're not ready to do what is necessary to let the band help you lose weight. If that's the case, get a complete unfill. For most people, an empty band feels like the band isn't even there. So you can try to lose weight on your own, not worry about fills, etc. If, at some point, you decide to use the band, then you can start getting fills again.

Everything that I've read and been told indicates that any rapid weight gain, as in the Last Supper Syndrome/gaining weight prior to surgery, significantly increases the fat in the liver. Even though the liver is being moved to the side, when it's excessively fatty, it's *easier* to damage. There have been cases of banding surgeries being *cancelled* after the doctor goes inside and sees how fatty the liver is. So even though you've been an OR nurse for 14 yrs, you might not want to second guess the surgeons who are doing this procedure. When they say it's to shrink the liver, I believe it is. If a doctor gives you a pre-op diet, you should follow it. Cindy

Many times, the first fill doesn't make a difference. Call and schedule another one!

GeezerSue, I would have known this was your reply just because of the negativity of it. First of all, what is considered a sliming or barfing "issue?'' Have I ever pb'd? Sure. Is it an "issue?" No. Do most people who PB do it because they're eating too fast, too large of a bite, trying to eat the wrong thing, or not paying attention? Yes. One of the sites I had in mind where most everyone is happy with the band has NEVER, in my entire membership time (almost 2 years) "swarmed on" anyone who wasn't happy with the band. We listen, we try to offer advice, but we don't criticize if someone is unhappy with it. Your comment about "well-minded" people is just flat out condescending. Because YOU had problems with YOUR band, you choose to think that the band is a risk for everyone, and for someone who isn't having problems...well, we're just not "well-minded" enough to know better. LOL But, yes, if someone is truly have PHYSICAL problems with their band (vs. the emotional and psychological problems of having to make eating and attitude changes), then they should have their band removed. Unfortunately, if you're having physical problems with either RNY or DS, then you're stuck with it. Cindy

Serenity, I don't agree at all. I AM thrilled with my band. I have no reflux or sliming and only occasionally PB. When I do PB, it's entirely my own fault...sort of like eating too much at Thanksgiving and then suffering the consequences. But I'm healthier now than I've ever been. It's possible, sometimes, to find a site that seems to be mostly people who have problems. I'm not saying LapBandTalk is that way...I honestly haven't been keeping up with posts lately. But if the majority of people here seem unhappy with their band, then I think it's the people and not the band. There are other sites in cyberspace where almost everyone is very happy with the band. Cindy

I love looking at everyone's before and after pics. :girl_hug: We had a birthday party for my youngest son today, and I was clowning around. My DH took a photo...it's not the best, but I thought it was fun. :mad: Here's me in Jan. '06 (right after banding) and one in Dec. '05: And here is me today: