Melissannde

I have a 10cc band and have had good appetite restriction since I got to around 4 or 5 cc's. What happens is that as you lose weight, you also lose some of the fat around your stomach and the band becomes lose again, then you need another little fill. So each dress size most folks need a little adjustment. Also the band isn't supposed to "restrict" what we eat.. it's supposed to dim our appetite so that we can make healthier choices most of the time. This might be helpful to read: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Hang in there.. the band can and does work for many people.

In my experience, the small sips is for the immediate post-op period and a while during the first 6 weeks. I was eventually able to drink fairly normally again. I still cannot take HUGE gulps, but I can drink adequately to stay hydrated and I workout alot, although not outside this time of year. I do RPM which is estimated at a 13 to 15 mile ride... Everyone is different however. If you get to where you can't drink enough to stay adequately hydrated, you may have too much Fluid in your band and this is fixed by a small unfill. easy enough. Hope this answers your question.

I'm not sure what your question is, but I'm so sorry you're having problems. I would suggest that you review the basic bandster guidelines and make sure you are following them as best you can. If you're not journaling your food intake, start. You might be eating a lot more calories than you think you are. Are you moving your body more than you did pre-surgery? Are you attending support group anywhere? Read over Dr. Simpsons article: It's not about restriction and see if it is helpful to you. The band is not supposed to control how much we are able to eat, it's supposed to help with appetite suppression so that we can make better and healthier choices (most of the time.. no one is perfect. ::smile:. Anytime you cannot drink.. you are WAY TOO TIGHT. You should always be able to get fluids down. Hope some of this is helpful. I'm so glad you're reaching out for support.

When you bake it, put something like chicken broth, a canned Soup or salsa over it, then put tinfoil over the pan to trap the moisture while baking. You could also invest in a crockpot, people report good success in putting chicken in it, covering it with salsa and cooking all day. You could also try cooking thighs instead of breasts. Breasts while lower calorie, tend to be dryer. Thighs are much moister. And last of all, Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store is usually VERY tender.. the whole bird. Hope this helps.

www.wlsvitagarten.com check out the post about flintstones. not a good choice. Also, viactiv is calcium carbonate. We should be taking calcium citrate.

If you are bringing stuff up with EVERY meal (or nearly all of them), you are most likely too tight. I think the idea of getting an UGI (upper GI) study is a very good one (some people call these barium swallows.. my radiologist friend says he doesn't like that term.. if a barium swallow is ordered, he does an esophagram. For band evaluation, a UGI is more appropriate). If your band surgeon is unwilling/unable to help you, ask your PCP to order an UGI for you. I'd seriously consider getting a small unfill. .5 to .2 cc's might be enough to relieve the problem. The other clue that you are too tight is this sentence: When i have my fills I have to go back on liquid and soft foods like soup and mashed foods for about 3-4 weeks You shouldn't need to be on liquids/softs for that long. At the outside limit.. maybe a week. Preferably back to solid Protein in a day or two according to my doctor. If you continue to throw up as often as you say you are, you might be risking a band slip eventually. Even though there's little to no force behind the vomiting, it's still not very good for the band or you for that matter. Best of luck to you.

I've had one small unfill about a year ago and it did not hinder my weight loss. I did feel a tiny bit hungrier for a few days, but it wasn't extreme. I pushed past it with extra Water and some cheese sticks. You do NOT want to be vomiting daily.. that's way too much. you are risking band slippage with that much refunding of food. If you get a slipped band you're looking at the removal of all Fluid and even possibly more surgery. Please call your and make an appt to go in and discuss your problems. They may be able to help you without an unfill. And if you should need an unfill, if your last fill was, for example, 1cc, they might be able to take out 1/2 cc and you'll still have good appetite control, but no refunding. Some suggestions to get you through until you see the doc: Try drinking something warm first thing in the morning.. coffee, tea, even warm water with lemon. Warmth tends to loosen the band and makes things easier to go down. A few bandsters find that the opposite is true for them, that cold works better. In any case, prime the pump with some liquid before trying to eat. I find that 1/2 cup greek yogurt with fresh or frozen blueberries and a packet of stevia works well for breakfast for me. It's soft enough that it can get past my tight morning band, but solid enough to keep me full a while. Other people like to do Liquid Protein. Try to find something that you can eat within an hour or two of getting up. Most people lose weight better if they eat breakfast. Steelcut oatmeal is another breakfast that might work for you. When you eat lunch or dinner, cut your protein into tiny bites, about the size of an english pea. Chew thoroughly until mush. Try using some sort of "food lube", bbq sauce, ketchup, greek yogurt, gravy.. whatever appeals to you. Sure these things have some extra calories, but you won't be using all that much. I find a tablespoon or two is sufficient. Put your fork down between bites. Don't read or watch TV while eating. Use a minute timer to time between bites. Do whatever you can to slow down. 5oz of chicken is beyond what my doctor recommends, we are supposed to keep to 3oz (maybe 4) of protein per meal. However, if that was all you were able to eat all day .. I certainly understand wanting more. And I know every doctor and patient are different. If you can't get the daily vomiting under control, you must see your surgeon to get some help. Best of luck to you.

I remember questioning whether or not I had made the right choice.. even being a bit sad that I had chosen the band. But I eventually got a hold of myself.. decided, you've got the band, let's work it to the best of my ability. When I asked my oncologist if I was healed enough to have another surgery.. she asked what I was thinking of and I told her lapband. She said something like "If that's what you want to do to yourself". I blew it off figuring she wasn't well educated on the various WLS and perhaps thought I meant the RNY. Now when I go back to see her she's all enthusiastic about my loss and has several other patients who've been banded. I never asked my PCP his opinion. It's my body, not his. My suggestion is to try your best to make the band work. Follow the eating plan your surgeon recommends as closely as you can. Move your body more than you did before surgery. Drink your Water. Get fills if/when needed. And see if this works for you. If it doesn't, you can look into a Sleeve, RNY or DS. Good luck!!

Jacqui, Just a quick hijack of the thread to say that as a fellow cancer survivor, I don't find it strange or crazy at all to mourn the loss of a body part. I too feel mutilated. I had a doctor try to scold me for those feelings. I'll never go back to him again, nor will I ever recommend him, even though he might be a very good physician.. he knows nothing of emotional support. Thank GOODNESS he's not an oncologist. Your feelings are valid and natural I think. So glad you're doing better.

When I had my first fill 2+ years ago, it was quite OUCHY because I was still tender from surgery. My experience was that the next one and subsequent after that, the fills were no big deal at all as I was no longer sore. I hope you will have the same experience.

To hold the skin in place while exercising, you could look at "shooter sleeves" that basketball players wear. There are also compression shirts.. some are made for hot weather wearing.. UnderArmor makes some called "Heat Gear". Academy has its own line called BCG, but I don't remember if theirs is designed for hot and cold weather. For every day wear or hiding or whatever of arms.. look at a line called "slimpressions". I don't have any, but I know others who love it. I'm a bit self-conscious about my arms, but I refuse to wear long sleeves in the summer to hide them. I look at the loose and saggy skin as my badge of courage that I have worked so diligently to lose the weight.

I avoid HFCS like the plague.. so I don't know if consuming it would make me feel bandless, but your response doesn't surprise me.

How much Protein are your trying to consume? I have no trouble getting in 60 grams over a whole day. I do not freak if it's say.. 50 one day and 70 the next.. or even lower than 50...as long as I'm AVERAGING 60 grams a day. Breakfast is usually 1/2 cup 0% greek yogurt which will have 10 to 15 grams, depending on brand. Then I add a little bit of Kashi Go Lean Cereal .. more protein and it's CRUNCHY.. yes!! and a bit of fresh berries (blueberry &/or strawberry). Sometimes I'll add a little protein powder.. sometimes I won't. After my morning workout, I drink protein.. either skim milk or 1/2 scoop Syntrax nectar. lunch is 3oz of protein of some kind (chicken, tuna, salmon, turkey, etc.) which is usually about another 20 grams of protein. Don't forget that veggies & grains have small amts of protein in them too. Late afternoon, if I get a little hungry and it's going to be a while before I can have a sit-down meal... string cheese is a favorite hunger-stopper and has 6 grams P. dinner.. another 20 grams in 3oz of beef, chicken, turkey, etc. It adds up. My question to you is what are you eating? Are you eating about 3oz of some kind of meat at each meal? Maybe if you listed what you are eating we could suggest where to make some changes.

I was SMO. A malabsorptive surgery (RNY or DS) is not appropriate for me because of other medical conditions. The sleeve was not being done by my surgeon at the time I was banded. I've lost over 200lbs by using my band to control my appetite and exercising. Your beliefs would leave me obese. Gee thanks.

Liquids the day of the fill, soft/mushy foods that evening, back to regular the next day. If anything gives trouble, go back to the previous stage and progress slower. Banded 2 years, only once have had problems with a fill being too tight. My fills are usually very tiny. .2cc's. A larger fill I would definitely progress slower.

There are 3 amounts of fill: too little, too much and just right. Different for everyone.

I agree with Cindy. I think you should interview a few more bariatric surgeons. I was nearly your size and a good 7" shorter and only had 1 day of clear liquid before surgery and the surgeon had no issues banding me. Sounds like to me that your surgeon isn't as skilled as he could be. Congratulations on losing 20lbs already.. Fantastic!! and yes, you will want to lose the rest after you get the first 50 off. Right now you're just disappointed and perhaps a bit depressed that you didn't get banded... Keep on pushing for your surgery. Find a more skilled and experienced surgeon.

Call your doc's office back and tell them that you're waking up at night with reflux. They need to get you in earlier. If need be, go and sit in the office and wait until they can see you. Nighttime reflux is nothing to mess around with, it can lead to aspiration pneumonia!

Try room temperature Water. That goes down easier for me. You don't "need" cold drinks, you just became accustomed to them. People survived eons before electricity and cold drinks were readily available. If you do try a cold drink, you may have to take tiny sips for it not to be uncomfy.

If he (your doctor) really means "tight" and not just "enough Fluid to dim the appetite".. that concerns me. I hope your band journey is uneventful. I started out near where you started and I've only had my band tight one time.. and went back for an unfill in a few weeks.. and should've gone back sooner. I don't mind having to drink my Breakfast (or eat something soft, like yogurt), but I do not want to be so tight that I cannot usually eat 3 or 4 oz of Protein and 1/2 cup of veggies at lunch and dinner. If you look at my ticker, you can see I've had pretty good results. Again, I acknowledge that we are all unique individuals and there's a great range of what works for each .. but keeping a band unduly tight is usually not a good idea. Yes, you were trying to be helpful and positive, but the information you are sharing just doesn't fit the mainstream.

You're welcome. I don't mind disagreement.... heck, I might even learn something.

It's also possible that they're jealous of you and your phenomenal success! You are losing at about 3lbs a week.. lots faster than average.

I HOPE to goodness you are misusing the word Tight, to mean enough fill to dim the appetite. The band should never be tight. And actually, the band usually loosens with hot or warm liquids.. not cold as you suggest. But we are all individuals and there are a few who do loosen with cold.. but it's not the norm.

Ultrasound is not radiation at all. It's done with sound waves. Glad your breast issues are just a cyst.

There are people on the yahoo group "Smartbandsters" that have been banded more than 10 yrs.. still doing well. Also on the DFWBandsters yahoo group are long term successful bandsters. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DFWBandsters