nellie09

I was banded July 8th, 2009. I had up to 5cc's but then could only eat thin broth type soup and not anything more. I got an un-fill to 2.5cc's and am happy with what I could eat. I'm down a total of 64lbs and am at 208 (12/14 for my build) and am very happy where I'm at. I do vomit, have always done so when I eat something I don't chew well enough. I too feel like I fell off the wagon after my scare and I don't want to get another fill.

I'm in your club, too. I had my surgery July 09 and I lost 30lbs. I hadn't lost anything since January....and this week I finally lost 2lbs!! I was so excited lol. Almost 6 months to lose anything....I was quite discouraged to say the least. I never ate much to begin with, so I'm told by my doc that it's part of my issue. The other is that I have a lot of muscle mass as we found out in my physical therapy eval prior to surgery where you had to stand on that machine and it measured your muscle vs. fat mass. I'm a solid person. They say it takes longer to lose weight. I'm still discouraged. I'm sticking to it, but know it's a slow-go. I had hopes of 50 by summer, but now I'd be happy with just 10. I know the 10 is an unreasonable goal, too. I see a nutritionist every 6 weeks and I hit the gym a few times a week with my other band friends. Not much else I can do.

My port area is really sore, and my surgery was 6 months ago. When I sit "indian style" and crunch my abdomen it is quite painful. When I sit at my desk and lean over doing paperwork, it hurts. Does anyone else have this? It's sore internally, not external.

My doc said it's normal. It's stapled to the inside of the abdominal wall and when you sit your stomach muscles crunch and sort of tug on that area. He said soreness is normal, but if the pain lasts when you change positions and doesn't go away, only then is when it's cause for alarm.

I had 3 fills and the last one is the first where I finally started to feel something. Prior to I too could really eat anything. My doc told me a story about a woman who wanted the band ripped out and gastric bypass because she felt it wasn't working for her. He advised her to be patient and some people take longer to get going than others but it will happen. He gave me this advice because I too was feeling like it wasn't working. Since my last fill I lost 9lbs and I'm finally on my way. Hang in there, it will happen for you. I too am at 4.5cc's.

I had a half of a piece of pizza yesterday. I haven't eaten ANY bread since June....none of any sort whatsoever. It went down well and was beyond yummy, but after I ate half I felt soooooo guilty I stopped. It's the first time I cheated. It was New Year's eve and pizza was what we had with the kids. I don't think I'll cheat again, and maybe that one time was all I needed...at least I hope so! I just feel awful today still that I cheated. I feel like I let myself down in a way.

I had a low BMI of 32 and I'm happy I did the band. The weight loss is much slower and it's taken me more fills to start that process but it's still worth it to me.

For me it's a private journey. Everyone at work knows, but in my private life only a few. I've always been a private, very independent person. It's not because of fear of being judged but because it's journey that is my own. Everyone can cheer me on or not, but in the end it's up to me.

Going back, I was at the point of having 2 fills and no weight loss....I'm a solid person and size (16/18) to start. I called the nurse coordinator at my doc office and she said I need to see the nutritionist each time I come in and because no weight loss she wanted me to see the nutritionist. She repeatedly stressed that I needed to keep a food log and be honest, as if I would lie. She spoke to me like a child. I honestly feel it's a racket as my insurance doesn't require it. I heard she pushes this every visit...mind you it's an additional charge to see her (the nutritionist). I told her I was choosing not to see her but was told it was non negotiable. Whatever. I go to the appt and I ask the doc why it's neccessary EACH TIME to see her and he said it's not, but she gives some good tips. He said some people take longer for the band to kick in than others and goes on to explain that he had a patient who wanted the band ripped out and bypass surgery because it wasn't working. He refused and a few fills later it kicked in and that at patient was very happy and is now a success with weight loss. I just need to be patient and wait. During the fill with the tech present we discuss it more and he said it wasn't neccessary to see the nutritionist and I didn't have to see her that day. I go home and recieve a voicemail from this nurse coordinator. It states that I broke the agreement I made (no, I didn't agree...I was told I had no choice) and that she's disappointed in me and that in the future I will need to make an appt with the nutritionist a week prior in order to get a fill. I live 2 hours away and just can't get off work like that and she's well aware of this. I left her a voicemail stating the doctor told me I did not have to see the nutritionist etc. I have not heard back from her. This nurse coordinator has MANY people angry at the practice. Everyone loves the doctor, and is willing to travel the miles to see him but they're disgusted with her. She's the gatekeeper in all this. There's a new doc in town, she came from another state and there's nothing but rave reviews of her. I know right now 8 people who are transferring to her because of this woman. I'm considering jumping ship as well. I'm a grown woman and this coordinator is treating me like a child. I'm apalled that she thinks she can trump the doctor in decisions. As it is right now, the doc was right...that fill kicked in and I have lost 9lbs since December 3. I FINALLY feel some bit of restriction. I love my doctor but I'm not wanting to put up with this woman. I'm torn with jumping ship because I do like my doc a lot. I have an appt coming up and I really don't want to go because I'm not wanting to put up with this woman...you're required to call into her to schedule a fill. I talked to the doc about her last time and was told she's "going through a lot" and "had a bad weekend". I don't have to stay with him, but I want to...I just don't want to deal with her. I have a feeling I may end up going to the new doc. It's a shame she's ruining the doc's business with her attitude. This process is new with them, because they had a few patients who had problems due to what they ate...now everyone must see the nutritionist. The last appt with her she said "do you know why you gained weight" and my reply was that I just came off mushies and I would assume it's because I'm back on solids. She asked what I ate and said ok, that's good.....$30 please and I'll see you next time. No, I don't agree with that. Another time she popped her head in the ultrasound room just before my fill and said "is everything ok" and I said it was. She asked if I had any questions....nope. Ok, $30 please...see you in 6 weeks. I feel it's fraud and part of me wants to call my insurance company. This nutritionist now has an office in my doctor's office. If that's the case, he should be paying her salary and it should be part of my copay to him. I'm paying 2 copays for 1 office visit. It's wrong. I'm not having any eating issues, so there's not a medical reason to see her. Keep in mind, I work in the medical arena!!

I honestly believe there's kickback action going on as well. I am going to hand carry that letter so I don't miss any points....good idea. I don't think he'll do much about what's going on, but at least he'll hear it from me. It's sad because I do like him and the miles to get to him isn't an issue. He's was the only doc in the are that did any kind of bariatric surgery until this woman doctor recently. People drive a few hours to go to him. This woman doctor is a lot closer to me, but I had no intentions on changing until this issue. Yeah she's more convenient for me, but I'm a loyal person, however I'm not going to be "punished" because the doctor and I discussed and issue and made a decision. I'm not going to jeopardize my job with extra appointments because she's mad I didn't follow her suggestion. I'm in my 40's and I'm too old to be playing these games with her.

Unfortunately there's no CEO. The doc is solo. I do like the idea of a letter, but checking around the general concensus is that the same nurse coordinator is the gatekeeper in correspondence and phone calls to the doctor. She has a large part of this program. I'm not sure I'm going to get past her unless I go for the appointment and talk to the doctor directly. I may have to take the follow up appt with no fill to convey my experience and go from there. I think I'm going to make an appt with the new doc in town just to make sure I've got an option.

Yes, she accepts new patients and ones who are already banded. She also accepts my insurance and my insurance company is fine with the switch.

I slept in my recliner for the first 3 weeks for the same reason. Eventually I was able to lay back in a bed and now I even sleep on my stomach. Hang in there.

I'm at the gym 3 times a week with my group of band friends. I'm very active and always have been. For my job I have to be able to run and I like to keep that up. As for water, I've always drank a lot and continue to do so.

My problem is that I hardly ate to begin with. I'm used to eating only 1 meal a day. I'm 248lbs but I'm solid and a size 16/18. I am wondering if this band was right for me. When I had my physical therapy eval prior to surgery, they measured my muscle mass. The therapist questioned why I was getting the band and how I qualified. The pulmonologist and cardiologist said the same. I've never been a fan of bread or soda to begin with, and the new diet isn't really a change for me. I eat the chobani yogurt like I always did, drink the sugar free carnation instant breakfast. I talked with my doctor a lot before surgery and he said it will take me a little longer to lose as compared to others that are built different. I'm not the only one I know like this.

Yes, I'm experiencing the same as you. I was banded July 8 and have only lost 3lbs since my pre surgical weight. I just had my 3rd fill and am up to 4.5cc's with about no feeling of restriction or satiety. My doc says that I just haven't met my sweet spot yet but it will happen and to just have patience. This fill I had the other day now I can notice a bit of a difference. I too was hoping for at least a 30lb loss before Christmas but it didn't happen. Since this fill has me feeling a bit of restriction I'm keeping faith that the fills to follow will give me even more and start this weight loss process. I do exercise and I watch what I eat, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. My doc said it's all about that sweet spot for me because I'm doing all else right.

I appreciate this post. I'm 3 months out and haven't lost anything...actually gained 4 lbs since my 1st fill appt. I'm going to sample some of your diets and see how that goes.

Drinking something cold works for me, because it reduced swelling (or at least in my mind it does...logically).

I drink it daily. My doc never told me I can't have it. He just said to stop if I feel bloated etc but I haven't.

Hey there, I was banded the same day. I had a lot of gas pains, too. I am still feeling some discomfort as a matter of fact. I'm eating now and it's wonderful, but I do weigh myself every day. I have no restriction and get my first fill on August 20 because my doc does only every 6 weeks.

I was wondering how long everyone took off work when they had their surgeries? A few people at work got the band and one was back on Saturday after surgery on Wednesday. A few took a week. I myself had my surgery on Wednesday the 8th of July and I'm still home. I'm planning on staying home tomorrow as well, and I will see about Wednesday when it gets here. Of course I have a job where I can sit all day if I need to and my boss is accommodating. She's so accommodating that she said I can come in at 4am till noon to avoid people if I wanted. I may try that on Thursday. I may go in at 4am and work till maybe 9. I'll see when it gets closer.

I'm 10 days post op, onto mushies and I'm starving too. I have good days and bad ones with hunger. I have to stay focues....3 more weeks of mushies to go.

I'm 8 days post op and two days ago I spent half the day gently trying to figure it out. I'm not fluffy in my abdomen and still can't find it. I hope my doc knows!!!

I am 1 week post op today and started mushies today as well. I made fish, eggs and potato soup yesterday for today and I feel like I can eat the entire pot of soup, the entire fish and all the little individual egg containers I put together.

Catherine, I have no taken measurments and didn't think of it until you mentioned it. Thank you for the tip!!