GoingforGoal

800-900 calories. Of course that is what works for me. I cannot workout due to physical restrictions. This was also done through months of logging and finding my sweet spot. At 1100 cals I gained. I would not dare to go below my 800 cals but my body had adjusted to this new intake and it's what works best. I do ensure adequate protein intake 60-80g daily

hahah but doctor I only had one forkful I promise ahhaha

Go GREEN

Congrats and welcome to bandland

Sorry to say hon but this is a wait-it-out situation. The top things to help is to be as active (walking) as much as possible, mobility centralizes the co2 and allows for quicker absorption. Some use heating pads to bring some comfort. Stay on top of your pain meds, it make help dull the sensation but there's nothing worse than a double dose of pain also. Some will recommend Gas-X but this is only for abdominal/intestinal gas not intraperitoneal "trapped" gas. You have to wait for the CO2 to be reabsorbed and released by the body..and that takes time

Ok I don't know what profession you are in. But I'm a nurse. Goody day seems to be everyday. Although cookies, cake etc seems appealing, it can get quite old after awhile. So we always love the person who goes against the grain and brings in breakfast bagels, yogurts, cheese sticks, veg/fruit trays etc. No problem redefining "goodies"

Jackie085, quite the following ey? lol I'm not familiar w/ your previous posts that the responders posted about. So I'm just going to respond off of this one. I'd like to thank you. Not because I believe your approach is correct (why all the drama?) but that the information is always valid. I agree, there are too many people undergoing this procedure who are completely ignorant of potential complications, how to identify when you are having a complication and what to do when when you are having a possible complication. The reality is, ignore it and death may very well be the inevitable end to your complication. There is a severe lack of education when patients cannot describe simple symptoms of a slip, erosion, getting stuck etc. How in the hell are you going to react properly and get proper intervention if you can't even identify the problem. Rather, too many people come on LBT for advice. Well, I read posts daily and the advice varies and not all of it is reliable. LBT should not be a supplement for true medical advice by your bariatric surgeon. Every procedure has it's risks and we weighed them prior to having the procedure. Complications and risk lie in the small percentiles. However, that is no excuse to not educate yourself on those complications. This article is just a little reminder of what can happen if you think you can outsmart your band, period.

Shantelle, the weight loss will help with the aggravating acute pain. Pain will always be apart of our lives, but I think manageable is what us degens look for. Just to be able to participate in normal functions is great. I'm happy to say that I have managed to get myself back into horse back riding. Something that I wouldn't have dared to do just this past January. These are those NSV (non scale victories) they talk about and this one just makes me feel as free as being at a healthy weight

Wow, I think this is the first time I've heard this. Sorry for that..geesh you must have the strictest dr out there

I noticed hair loss. I take vitamins, biotin etcetc Although it will not prevent hair loss it will support hair growth

Could you be more specific with what kind of pain/where, how long does it last, is it piercing or more like discomfort etc. Do you have any history with getting stuck etc. Slips are usually accompanied with new or increased signs of acid reflux/GERD, increased appetite and ability to eat more (or not at all) etc. Only way to know is to have a fluro study to be sure. Unfortunately the options are endless from eating too large of bites to erosion.

Shantelle, Hello fellow degenerate LOL. (bad joke). I too have DDD and have 3 herniations. One so severe I complete compression on the spinal nerves that cannot be visualized via MRI. I too will require a discectomy in the near future as well as fusion in the (hopefully longterm) future. I was banded in 2009 at 250#. Got pregnant a year later. Ended up in a major car accident that put my back into acute strain (bursitis, sciatica and severe loss of ROM). I couldn't do passive PT nonetheless real cardio/weight lifting. After 8 long months, my neural symptoms finally subsided and I am now on spinal injections to manage the inflammation/pain every 2-3 months. After I was back to 'normal' (which is back pain not all the other bells and whistles) I resumed my diet. I've lost 40-45 lbs since January and am now at goal. I NEVER did a day of exercise during the entire time I had my band. There's just no way. The weight loss has helped tremendously with my back pain and I feel it has helped to resolve my neural symptoms from the accident. I am just at the point where I am considering some core exercises to strengthen accessory back muscles. Dead lifts, ab crunches, leg presses etc are all hard nos for me. It terrifies me to try because my back is so vulnerable and easy to sprain (which means 4 days of bed rest for me). So yes it is possible. I don't find my wl was slow at all, quite the opposite. However, do recognize that your caloric intake for 'sedentary' lifestyle needs to be decreased in order to lose the weight. IM me if you wanna chat.

Some generic guidelines you hear are 60-80g protein minimum, 3 meals a day 1/2-1 cup per meal, no drinking w/ meals or 30 mins after. Sometimes the band restricts what we can eat (ie I do not do well with starches). There are plenty of menu ideas both on this site and if you do a generic google search for lapband menus. Many bariatric centers post their post surgery menu and ideas as well to give you a good starter list for what to buy at the grocer and what foods to focus on. If you are simply eating out, eating 'normal' ie high fat/carbs than the band will in no way help you. Food selection is paramount. Also, getting to green is equally important otherwise 'dieting clean' becomes very difficult as it was pre band. I too recommend seeing a nutritionist or changing doctors.

(Pressing the Alarm) I call bs. No need to be polite in this situation. I would have 'enlightened' this professional and stated she was apparently unfit to teach my child about long term health and weight management due to her apparent ignorance and lack of attention to detail (ie your 30# loss). Not that I see it as our role to correct others with misperceptions of the lapband, but boy o boy, if someone insists I'm in the wrong-game on! I know much of this is personality types etc, however, that's precisely the point. There are so many patients who are vulnerable, who are new and learning themselves, some who struggle, and even those trying to cheat their band and themselves. We don't need 'professionals' like this instigating self sabotage. Like you, I cannot eat heavy starches. I get stuck every time. It's been so long that I no longer even desire these foods. No way in hell the "FUTURE" is going to change that and I don't want it to either. I commend you for taking a role in your daughter's health. As a lifetime obese person (or ex now) it has always been my #1 priority to ensure my children won't end up the way I did. This does not come through force, restriction, diet etc rather education, reinforcement and enrollment in family activities. I am so proud my first son is conscience of healthy eating, my 2nd sons fav food is broccoli and all three of my boys are at their ideal weight. It truly one of the best gifts us parents can give our children

I have to add that everyone's experience w/ the band is different. My band indeed restricts what I can and cannot eat. For example, heavy breads like pizza are impossibles for me. I have hard times with pasta and rices too...and I'm not complaining. I no longer crave it and it's helped me tremendously in the carb reduction department. Some meats can be problems like thick cut meats or dry meats so I take precautions and make slim cuts, marinate and ensure I don't over cook them. The band will NEVER prevent you from eating sliders and of course those are the culprits (ie milkshakes, icecream, cookies, cake etc) they dissolve readily and slide right past the band with some serious ramifications in the end (weight gain!). You still need to exercise self control. The plus side (for me) is that when you are in green the band does help limit the quantity you can eat and thus cheat days don't have near the damage it use to have

Sounds about right (wink) Give yourself a full week to recover from pain and initial GI issues.

I take vitafusion vitamins and vitamin D gummy chewables. They taste great and easy to go down. I bought them at walmart, sensibly priced I would avoid the gummies that are sugar coated..they are too sweet

I've spoken to someone who had theirs well over 20 years. Of course they are not from the US because it was approved in Europe long before here. Band is intended to work for life as long as there are no malfunctions or complications.

Some docs require a preop diet others not. Also it's patient specific. I didn't have to go on one but my husband had to do the 2 week liquid diet. Just depends on your start weight and how likely you have fatty liver. Consider it a detox opposed to a weight loss, trying to slim down that liver as much as possible. That can't be quantified through a scale. Even if your doctor says no diet is necessary, try to get yourself ready by making nutritious choices. If you are put on a diet, try not to focus on the #'s on the scale as much as being compliant (that's hard enough)

Has your doctor ever checked w/ an xray to confirm placement. Sometimes if there is a slip the only symptom people experience is increased appetite and gaining weight. Not to imply this is the problem, but it seems that your band is otherwise intact as there is no apparent leak. Like lulu mentioned, some of us require no fills and others require max fills for that green zone. Unfortunately there are some that the band does not work for at all. For us with effective bands, it's hard to relate, but this is a hard truth. Also, just so everyone knows that the band is an option for lower than 40 BMI or self pay and for other countries. I converse w/ a quite a few foreign bandsters who are in BMI of 30s. I know it's hard for us to wrap our heads around getting the band for a mere <50 lb loss but the band does not only allow us to lose but also to maintain and long term 50lb overweight people struggle with that aspect just as much. Back to topic, I have no idea what your daily menu looks like..maybe you can type one up super quick and it'll give us an idea as to what and how much you are eating.

Congrats

So day one didn't go well. Is there a plan B? Drop in daycare, family/friends who can babysit etc? Something to stress w/ hubby is that if you prolong your healing, healing takes longer. Additionally you risk injury, infection, fatigue etc so it's super important to get any support you can. I have 3 kiddos as well and I know how challenging it can be.

Hey Tina, I'm with you. I don't do shakes all the time, but they are always stocked in my pantry as my go to. Sometimes the band's tightness fluctuates (time of day, hormones, dehydration, hell the weather) so shakes are a great way to ensure nutrition when you know food is going to be problematic. It's also a great 'on-the-go' option for those rushed days. 60-80g protein can be achieved w/out the shakes. I don't consume as many cals as your doc recommends also. Just need to look for those high protein options but I wouldn't get rid of your shakes. Do you use them as meals or just supplements between meals