white rabbit

Hi folks, Emotional eating is sabotaging my efforts to work with my band. It's got so bad that I made an urgent call to my Dr to get an unfil because I've inflamed the restricted part of my stomach. And in the two weeks of unfil I've put on 14lbs!! Whilst the weight gain is getting me down, I'm more worried about the emotional eating. If I can't get a grip, the operation will have been for nothing - and I could do some serious damage to my body. I've been keeping a journal and I'd say that 95% of my eating is driven by non-hunger. Seriously, it's that bad. books on the subject suggest developing self-nuturing strategies to fill the void instead of using food. Thing is, I can't think of any that are appropriate or offer immediate relief. It's a little difficult to take a relaxing bath when you are at work, or mediate when family are demanding things. Any ideas or strategies I could use to control or lessen my emotional eating drives?

Hi, I need advice. I was banded 18 months ago and everything was terrific. Went a little to restricted too fast after 6 months and had a slight defill (back to 1cc in a 10cc band) Everything returned to normal. No pain, 'normal' hunger signals. Great. About 8 weeks ago I went for slight refill (.5cc increase). A week after gorged myself on sweets and alcohol (emotional eater). Severe wind and pain just below chestbone for 3 days - was told to drink peppermint tea and put on antibiotics. Pain went away after 24hrs. Began to get scared mentally. Last two weeks have been aware of mild indigestion at night and a lot of burping. Getting really scared. Although probably minor in the grand scheme of things, this is not something I want to deal with. My consultant said that band removal was not possible. Clearly this is nonsense. I'm aware that I'm probably over-reacting but what's the dangers of having the band removed? My band is stiched in place - is this going to be a problem? Basically I'm terrified and feel in a catch-22: don't want the band in because of all the negatives but taking the band out seems really dangerous too. Any help much appreciated.

Leeds has a good reputation for obseity surgery. Don't know of any specific surgeon though -- maybe muggle (earlier post) could help you.

All the best Karen. I know that people we depend on can make us meek and mild, and when we are emotionally vulnerable too, it can make our task even worse. When I'm in situations like this, I write down a list of points that I want answers to - that way I'm not fobbed off or misdirected. And it helps my self-confidence so that I can assert my needs rather than become aggressive or compliant. You seem to have a sound head on square shoulders. Fingers crossed.

If the Murdoch brothers (who were tycoons could get legal aid), I'm pretty sure a sharp lawyer could work the system to get you legal aid. Where there's rules, there is always a way round them.

Hi Karen, Several options available: 1. Get Dr A to fit a telemetric band he's been getting a lot of press attention for -- the first in the UK to alter the band restriction digitally without the need for a port, tube or injections (this might help with one of the medical problems) 2. Second opinion -- go to UK hospital group (Anne Diamond recieved corrective surgery there following her disaster in Belgium) or BUPA website on obseity surgery (they suggest 3 different bariatric surgeons: two commercial and one private NHS). 3. Negative press -- GMTV, the Daily Mail and other media outlets would love this kind of story. They may pay you some money -- enough to pay for corrective surgery. 4. find a lawyer on legal aid -- got to citizens advice about legal aid, ask the UK lapband forum for advice on lawyers and generally ask around. Ultimately, it depends what you really want. Dr A will have malpractice insurance so suing him, whilst a nice revenge, isn't really going to hurt him - but it will make you feel better temporarily. Depending on the severity of your problems, it could even make you rich -- but maybe not slim! Before they cut you adrift though, I would make sure that the problems you have suffered have not left you with permanent health problems. That would be the worst of all possible worlds. PM me if you want to talk.

I couldn't agree with you more! It's amazing how creative you become went you just want to stuff food into your mouth. And it's terrifying when you realise that the band is not the miracle cure you thought it would be. It hasn't magic'd away your demons and after the operation there is nowhere else to run - it's just you, them and a 4 mil band. I have a friend doing a round-the-world yacht challenge to 'test himself'... I realised the other day my challenge doesn't even involve leaving the house, is a lot less exotic, infinitely harder but ultimately more satisfying. With each pound lost my smile gets broader - and I know that when I reach goal, I will get pleasure every day for the rest of my life. Don't let head hunger, compulsion or other food addictions win -- they can be conquered with a little creativity supported by band restriction.

Jack, I've read a lot of your responses and they always make so much sense to me. I like the 'reach' idea. I'm looking forward to the day when my craving for Water is the same my current desires for chocolate and biscuits! Got to admit guys -- my mentor tells me its going to take 2 years to successfully retrain my brain and habits. That's just downright depressing. But, as the moto goes - never, ever give up. Even if it takes me 5 years, I'll know that I'll have finally conquered this self-inflicted addiction.

Both -- I don't know whether I was too restricted but everytime I ate Protein I would burp like mad, and it was getting to the stage were I would PB once a meal. So I switched to carbs - chips, biscuits, even chocolate. They were chewy enough for my mouth the think it was eating something and mushy enough to go through the stoma. Problem was, these types of food were completely 'off program' and I hurt my mental attitude. Result: they didn't fill me up - so I ate more of them; they were technically 'illegal' - so I was in a guilt trip and ate more of them; they didn't take much chewing - so I got lazy at chewing and swallowed large chunks... you name it, I did it. Fortunately the damage I've done is minor and correctable. It's been a real wake up call for my eating habits. Problem 1. realising I'm an emotional eater Problem 2. learning the difference between full v satiated v no-longer hungry.

If I nibble rather than bite-and-chew something then I don't seem to get the burps. But I fart all the time. Reach for the TV remote, oops there one goes. Bend over - try not to stand down-wind. Stretch, yawn, smile... you name it and I fart. I wonder if it's because I've had my gall bladder removed?

* I've learnt that to survive modern eating lifestyles I have to (i) prepare, prepare, prepare; (ii) overcome shyness and ask the cafe (or whatever) to prepare me something 'off menu'; (iii) invent a socially acceptable excuse or allergy for not eating with people; (iv) persuade my friends to eat at different places. * I've learn't that my brain is my own worst enemy. For the past month I've been trying to eat healthily but with my old eating attitudes. Sausage, bacon and egg might be good sources of Protein but they are high calorie foods. * I've learn't it is easy to slip 'off program' without even realising it. Sucess requires constant viligance -- which I'm hoping will eventually create new unconcious behaviours. For me this means daily monitoring my calories and exercise levels. * I've learn't the band means business. I can either live in pain by eating inappropriately, or I can work with the band and let it teach me a whole new way of living slim.

For tasty meals, nutrionally balanced and quick to make try the mayo clinic www.mayoclinic/health/heathlyrecipes For loads of recipes (140) that can be coverted at different stages of Lap Band (pureed, semi-solid, solid) try the book "Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery" by Patt Levine and Michele Bontmpo-Saray. Patt Levine had WLS in 2003 so knows what she is talking about. And the recipes are really easy to make.

I've lost about 15% of my hair and I'm 5 months post op. I've got some Nioxin hair products and that seems to be slowing it down, and I'm taking Vitamins for hair, skin and nails. I've started to wear my hair in a different style to hide the thinning. Can anybody tell me how much Biotin you are taking. I can only get hold of vitamins with 66mg of biotin. (might be a UK restriction).

I'm having exactly the same problem. After being a 'model' bandster and turning into my Dr's 'star pupil' the wheels have really come off. Everytime I look in the mirror I see old-woman sagging skin; I'm losing hair at an alarming rate; I've learnt how to eat around the band, oh and three days ago my worst fear came to pass - I PB'd. I'm sure some shrink would have lots to say, but lets face it, the effort of changing your life is supposed to produce good results - not an 80-year body on a 36 year woman!

Hi, I'm 5 months post-band with 2 fills and losing hair. After reading the threads on hair loss (very helpful) and some pretty extensive information searching on the Web (mostly rubbish) I cam across the following statement from a medical site: "high Protein can lead to hair loss. Stop taking Protein shakes and bars." This seems to make sense to me. When I lost a lot of weight before (130lbs in 18 months) I didn't experience hair loss. 5 months post band (50lbs loss) and noticablely thinning hair. For me the only differences are: rate of loss and taking protein shakes. I'd welcome others thoughts on this.

I need a hug... and some practical advice. I don't know where to start so I'm just going to blurt it out. I called the Dr out to my mother today and got told she had probably had a mild heart attack. She refused to go to hospital. Two weeks ago, the Dr told us that mum's kidney's were falling and she was facing dialysis. Life expectancy was less that 1 year. They are now getting better, but nobody knows how much, for how long or anything. In January she tried to commit suicide because of all her health problems. That was a shock to my system. You see, my Dad died in 2002, and mum lived on her own for 12 months but during that time was in hospital 3 times for serious health problems. The last admission they put a pacemaker in. I brought her down to stay with me until she had recovered - but she ended up in hospital and never went back home. So since 2003 she has lived with me. That took so readjustment. I'm single and an only child - so I don't really have anybody to talk to. And my friends have yet to go through this crap so can't really understand my problems. I've never felt so lonely, so overwhelmed, so terrified in my life. Since mum has lived with me she has had 3 major operations. I've got to the point where I just don't want to deal with this crap anymore. I'm 35 yo - one of the reasons I had the band was so that I didn't end up like my mother. Every time her health deteriorates I lose it emotionally. The last 3 years have been hell, and I can't concentrate on work. I'm picking fights with my boss and it looks like I'm on track for failing my probation requirements in 18 months - that's a laugh from high flyer to waster! So that makes me angry and scared. I want desperately to live a more carefree life. I keep trying to put things into perspective but mum's deterioration is just relentless. And the worst thing for me at the moment is that I go for a fill tomorrow and I just don't know whether it's a good idea. Because of the trauma I'm putting on weight (!?!) so I need the fill, but my head is in completely the wrong place to work with this band. I hate her, I hate her, I hate her...

I've just been reading the lapband complications forum and am completely freaked out. I'm now terrified that if I PB I'll get some horrible oesophagus diesease 2-3 years from now. So can I double check something: burping without bringing food back up is OK (i.e. gentle, non-reflux, non lesion inducing) but PB'ing is not so good (irritates the oesophagus and can create future problems). Are there any rule-of-thumb stats on safe levels of PB'ing?

Thanks for all the terrific advice. I tend to over-magnify things and lose perspective. So small issues become big problems and then I get mugged by my insecurities. Having the band is such a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It's forcing me to (i) acknowledge and then (ii) deal with all the lifestyle/personality/relationship/emotional stuff that made me fat in the first place. It's not always easy, but then neither was being fat. The difference is I knew my boundaries as a fat person - I'm just learning what they are as a bandster.

I adopted the 'ignorance is bliss' approach before, during and shortly after being banded. Might not be the best policy in the world, but it gave me enough courage to have the surgery without worrying about 'what ifs'.

I told my mother and my best friend. My mother has been fantastically supportive. My best friend didn't want me to have it done. I went on holiday with her 6 weeks after being banded. It was horrible. It was like I had gone on holiday with a stranger. It's touch and go whether we will remain friends. I'm really sad, but it's my life and I don't want negative people around me at this time.

I agree with Babs - the aftercare is absolutely critical to success. I'm based in the UK and went with a specialised weight loss company. The consultant put the following argument to me: surgeon's simply do a technical job of putting the band in place - so you really want one that has done the job many, many times to reduce the possibility of surgical complications. Supporting the patient afterwards however, is the job of others who are equally expert in their roles. So, the consultant (not the surgeon) conducts my band fills, I have a personal dietician, a dedicated weight loss mentor and access to an 8 week behavioural programme following surgery. Each member of 'my team' is there to offer different types of support -- something the average surgeon is neither qualified or particularly interested in doing.

Banded 12th April 2006. Lost 48lb. First band fill was 18th July. Lost further 6lb in 6 days, then 2 things happened. Moved on to solids and my period started. Have put on 4lbs - which remained after the period - and I can't stop eating. Getting concerned about the eating because I feel out of control again.

The obvious food differences are: Courgette = zuccini Aubergine = eggplant chips = fat french fries Flat Parsley = Cilantro and you have lots of different foods. I have no idea what swiss or provolene (?) cheese is, or egg substitute. Also, the Brits talk about weight in stones instead of pounds. 1st = 14lbs. So my goal is to be 11st (154lbs)

Hi Marci -- I'm relieved to see that others are having the same problem as me. I had a band fill 3 weeks ago but haven't really experienced much restriction (apart from white bread - that was really unpleasant!). Otherwise, I can eat pretty much anything I want, and in pre-op quantities. Like you I feel hungry alot more since the fill! My nutritionist has advised me to eat between 40-50grams of Protein a day to fill full. I'm trying, but have also booked a second fill for next week. I really hope it will work this time.

Crisps = potato chips. Thanks for the advice. I've just spoken with my weight loss mentor (I think we do things differently in the UK) and she agreed with all your comments. Basically, I've been starving my body of nutrients resulting in very real cravings for instant energy. Clearly the result of poor food choices and falling into old diet habits (they didn't work then so why I expected them to work now I don't know). They warned me that having the band would be like a baby learning to eat again - and they were right! It's tough having to unlearn/relearn what healthy eating means. But I'll do it.