elcee

I'm with Betsy. To me restriction is not being unable to eat certain foods or having a stuffed feeling. But it is about being able to feel satisfied on smaller amounts. I went for a fill recently because I was getting hungry quicker as it points out in the article but also because the smaller portions of food were no longer satisfying me. I normally eat 1 egg on 1 slice of toast for Breakfast and feel fine until lunchtime. I was eating the egg on toast and was still HUNGRY. I wasn't trying to see how much I could eat or looking for a hard stop but I knew that I needed an adjustment because of this. It is interesting that the article talks about how quickly the food passes into the stomach. For a long time we were told that it sat there for ages which didn't make sense when you could eat something and get that instant stuck feeling. If it was supposed to be sitting there then why would you feel this sensation immediately after eating too big a bite - theoretically the sensation should have only occurred a lot later. It would be interesting to know exactly how long it does take for the food to pass through with a properly adjusted band. The article is also interesting in what it omits. Nowhere does it scientifically explain how it creates the feeling of being satisfied on the smaller amounts for a long period.

Most people that have their bands removed regain at least some, many all of their weight. Is it possible that your band is too tight? Maybe just having a little fill out will help.Or maybe you could try having your band completely unfilled for a while. That way you will be able to see if it makes a difference and if you are able to maintain the weight loss but it will still be there if you decide you do in fact need it. Many people in your situation seem to have converted to other forms of WLS such as a sleeve. But just be aware that sleeves themselves do seem to have problems including reflux.

I drink lime and soda or lemon lime and bitters. I have been told carbonated drinks are fine so long as they don't cause me any discomfort. These kind of drinks, when served in a glass, have a lot less gas in than something like a can of coke anyway.If you let them stand for a while then they have even less gas in.

I am booked for a hysterectomy at the end of Oct. Surgeon likes to unfill the band for the actual procedure. This was worrying me as my surgeon is about 1.5hrs drive each way. Not a problem for the unfill but I was concerned about when and how I was going to get refilled after surgery. I managed to find a surgeon in the same town as the hospital where I am having the hysterectomy who was willing to take me on.I have an appointment for an unfill the day before surgery and he has said that he will come and see me in the hospital to put the fill back in again. I was quite relieved. I can imagine that otherwise being stuck at home bored and unable to drive anywhere I would comfort eat and put weight back on again. Good luck with your op. Jacqui, I hope everything is going well.

Go into the VSG ( vertical sleeve gastrectomy) forum . You will find lots of people that have converted and I am sure they will be more than happy to answer all your questions.

What problems are you having? Maybe if you post them you could get assistance here. In Aus it is fairly standard practice to see your surgeon preop, for the surgery and the first post op app. After that fills etc are normally done by another qualified professional but not the surgeon which if you think about it makes a lot of sense. if you have a problem and need to see the surgeon you need to make a specific appointment requesting that. To have your band removed seems a little bit extreme. Why do you think your band is malfunctioning? Is it maybe something that you are doing/not doing that is stopping you from getting the results that you desire. If you do genuinely have a band problem that you need to be firm and insist on an appointment with the surgeon. But if it is something else then it is quite likely that someone here may have the answer as collectively we have a lot more hands on experience than some of the fill nurses.

Not sure what is going on but it seems that every time I go out of the site and go back in I have to relog in.It never used to do this, I used to be able to stay logged in for weeks at a time. It is very annoying, can someone please tell me how to fix it. I have got the remember me box ticked but it makes no difference.

You may feel that your face looks a bit older but overall you look so much younger and healthier. Fat does not make anyone look young. The only place it has an advantage is in the face as it does help to plump out wrinkles. But I will take my slightly crepey neck over the double chins I used to have anyday. Most men (or at least the ones I know) would choose a slim body with a slightly older looking face than a young looking face with a fat body anyday. i know there are some that are exceptions but.............. Not that that is important!

That is so sad. My heart goes out to her family and friends.

You should go to the VSG site. You will find lots of people there that will be able to share their experiences.

Your weight loss tends to taper off so you don't really need to do anything. Some people have some fill taken out so that they can eat a little more but for lots of people that isn't necessary.

I can't believe you are even considering this. It so not worth it. There is another long thread on LBT re the same issue.It does seem to be a very strange first post. It makes me think that maybe this was posted just to raise some controversy.................................................

I sympathise. It's the most horrible feeling. It happened to me a couple of months back after too much wine the night before! Had I been able to throw up I am sure i would have felt better a lot sooner.

Amazed that you can eat raw broccolli. I can only eat it really soft. Mind you I don't think I would want to eat it raw! I had slow cooked beef in red wine casserole with mashed potatoes, all cooked by hubby cos I worked today.

Sorry to hear about the problems you have had. I take meds normally the same way as preband - to date I have had no problems. It just shows that everyones band experience is different and that what works for one person may not work for the next.

I haven't had stomach pain from overeating since being banded. If I overeat it hurst much higher up - where the band is. Just wondering how you can feel the pain in your stomach as normally the band lets you know before you get to that point.

I did homemade veggie soups with chickpeas, lentils or some other kind of bean added to them to up the protein and then just blended them. Yummy and much better than more sweet stuff.

I'm female and haven't been advised to take calcium. I didn't know osteoporosis was an issue after banding, it's not something my surgeon ever mentioned.For us females I think it is more of a concern after the menopause . I do find that since being banded I eat a lot more dairy than I did previously - lots of greek yogurt - so that would probably help.

Isn't there a chain of places called Fill Centers USA that will fill you regardless of where you were banded? Try looking them up and see if there is one close to you. Don't worry about the flouro/x-ray. It is not necessary. The standard procedure here in Australia is to fill without them and it doesn't seem to cause any problems.

You are extremely lucky. I have heard of other instances but they are very rare. Are you actively dieting, low carbing , exercising lots or what? Obviously just being banded has been enough for you. in some ways this is probably similar to those instances where they hypnotise people into believing they have been banded. It must make something click in your brain. Well done.

Are you using patches or anything to help? Personally I would get any help that I could rather than just trying to tough it out on my own.

Have you spoken to your Dr? I would think they need to run some tests to see what is going on.

looking good.

Actually you are probably dying a lot less than you were while you were smoking. I don't know the specific risks with smoking and banding but surely they are not important,the risks of smoking are so great anyway. Isn't the reason that you are being banded to get healthy and prolong your life? If you start smoking again then you may as well not have bothered. Of course if you want to smoke yourself into an early grave that is upto you but I would take the band and everything that goes with it as being the start of a new healthy lifestyle and that includes giving up smoking as well. Think of all the money you will save, think how much better you will smell etc etc. yes it's hard but you CAN do it.

gotta love what kids ay.