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This is my experience too!!!! And it's making me MISERABLE! I HATE this....and have not been able to find answers. I called my dr. yesterday to follow up about it, and we've been playing phone tag, but her last message was that she does not know why my band is so inconsistent like this and she wants me to come in for a barium swallow to see if anything's wrong, so now I'm worried.... I hope lots of people respond and help us with this!

Hi there!!! It's good to hear about your journey! I also have problems with how my period affects my fill level, and currently have a call in to my dr. to get it l sorted out. Here's been the most helpful thing for me: 1. Solid Protein at EVERY meal. 2. Solid protein FIRST 3. No liquid calories Just stick to the basic rules and you should be good to go!

Okay, I need help. I swear that my band is Bi-polar, and I'm a therapist, so I'm not just saying that. I was banded 9-4-09, and have lost about 30 lbs total. One day, my band is great--I have to eat slow and stead, small bites, chew alot, and small portions. (4-6 oz of meat, and 1 cup total sides). Part of me thinks that's too much. Then, the very next day, I won't even be able to drink Water in the morning. Sometimes it won't be until 3pm until I can drink comfortably without BPing it up. Then, the day after that, I can eat WHATEVER I want--6 pieces of pizza. Help! Does anyone else's band do this? I know I have restriction due to the fact that I get stuck quite often, but then the next day, I can eat ANYTHING in ANY amount. HELP!! (ps, yes, I am trying to eat Protein first, and I am taking small bites and chewing....but the days I get stuck on water in the a.m. are the WORST!) Any advice??

My Dr. gave me a probiotic pill, and that has helped me drastically with the "fiber-related issues". i.e. pooping regular. You can also get Culturelle over the counter and this helps. I know this wasn't your exact question, but I thought I'd throw it out there just in case it helps....

Okay, fellow bandsters....I need help. It's been almost a year since I was banded, in 3 weeks it will be my one year bandiversary. I've only lost 25 lbs. I can't seem to lose weight! I've gone back to eating crappy, high calorie slider foods, and can't seem to force myself to make changes. I have been going swimming every night and doing some Water exercises (usually for at least 30 mins) a day. But, I'm having problems eating healthy. Here's what I've had to eat today: Breakfast: Fruit and Yougurt parfait from McDonalds. Diet Dr. Pepper Lunch: 2-3oz. pork tenderloin. 1/2 c. Pasta salad (Suddenly Salad) and 1/4 c. cottage cheese "Stress Snack at work": 1 can Pepsi Dinner: 3/4 baked potato with hot link sausage on top, cheese, and about 1/2 TBSP sour cream. For after dinner, I get lonely and will probably eat. I have leftover brownines, and will probably want to eat one with a glass of milk. HELP me! I am really getting bummed out with my lack of progress one year later....

Thanks for your thoughts! Here's a couple of mine in return: I have been MUCH better about my food choices until I feel off the wagon recently. I stopped journaling my food (which was helping a TON), and I have not had healthy food choices in my fridge. The hardest thing for me is that I have zero support. I live alone in a "new" town, and have no friends or family in this area. So, evenings are definately harder for me to stay on track. I have helped fill this time by swimming, which has helped me cut down on crappy food. Since I live alone and work long hours, it's hard for me to make healthy dinners and keep the fridge stocked with good choices. I CAN do better about this.... Anyway, I agree with all of you. I just need to suck it up and get back on the wagon. What have your struggles been with emotional eating, and how did you overcome them?

Hi guys? Just wondered if anyone out there is feeling a bit pissed off due to hunger? I am really sick of feeling this hungry...it's been about 5-6 weeks since surgery, and the hunger has been almost unbearable at times. And, as much as I hate to admit this outloud, I am PISSED OFF about it! However irrational this may be, I am pissed of the that surgery center that did my band did NOT tell me about the possibility of hunger. I know the band will eventually take care of this, but the LONGGGGGG process of getting to the point where you have enough restriction to get rid of hunger is MAKING ME ANGRY! :thumbup: I am pissed off because I CAN'T FOCUS ON ANYTHING ELSE! I feel like I'm spending so much time and energy on the hunger, I feel like it's controlling me. If anyone has found themselves feeling a bit pissed off because of the same thing (or anything really), it would help me feel like less of a freak if I knew I wasn't the only one who is feeling irrationally angry. Thanks guys! This website is a lifesaver!

A tip I read about once said to pour (not sprinkle) salt over the food that is left on the plate once you are full. This will prevent you from eating those last few bites. (And it feels "easier" than throwing it away). But, I am exactly in the same boat! I force myselt to eat even though it hurts sometimes. I feel like such a failure because I am 6 months out, have only lost 20lbs, and have a hard time stopping eating, especially since I know that after I burp, I will have more room to eat.

I have never been a breakfast eater, and have never liked yogurt, but I FINALLY found something that I LOVE! I buy "carbmaster" yogurt, Kroger brand, from the grocery store. It is 80 cals and 12 grams of protein! I buy the vanilla flavor... THEN, the best part, I buy fresh cut berries (strawberries, black, blue, and raspberries, pre-cut...NOT frozen!), and mix that into the yogurt with about 1/3 cup of low-fat granola cereal. It is so wonderful! Sweet, filling, and HEALTHY! I actually now prefer this "treat" for not only breakfast, but if I want dessert too. It's the only way I found to eat breakfast. The fresh berries are the key....frozen made me want to gag.

Today is my 6mth bandiversary, and I am feeling like the band hasn't really helped me. I have only lost 20 lbs!!! IN 6 MONTHS! I don't think I'm getting much of anything from the band. I DO have restriction...I am at 7.1ccs in a 10cc band, but I can still eat a lot of food (several cups, and can keep eating if I really want to). I know I need to be better about exercise and making good choices, but I don't know how the band is supposed to be helping me. Ugh, only 20 lbs. I am really discouraged. Any thoughts??

I was banded in Overland Park at Weight Loss Surgical Center...(on 135th and 69 highway-i think). I live in Salina, but try to make it back to Overland Park for support group meetings. I really wish I could find either some fellow bandsters around my area, or a closer support group. (KStateArmywife, how are you doing???) Have you been banded yet? Thinking about it? If so, where did you get it done?

This is what I would do if I were in this situation: 1. Schedule an appt. with the new dr., maybe a fill, to see if she lives up to the reviews. Until you meet with you, you won't know if she's a better fit. Also, you need a chance to ask questions, specifically if she also has a nurse who is the gatekeeper, etc. I would be honest and tell her what your experience has been like so far, so that she can shoot you straight. 2. If you like the new dr., I would definately transfer. 3. I would write a letter to the CEO of the medical center that your old dr. is part of. I would address it to the CEO (or whoever owns the company) and tell them about your experience because that is the person who cares the most about losing your business. Also, no CEO is going to make excuses like your dr. did for her behavior. He will deal with it because he's losing business. 4. In my letter, I would use bullet points or very clearly list the main few reasons why I was leaving the practice. Don't drag it out. The less words you use to state your point, the better you'll be. Anyway, don't know if this helps. Just thought I'd share what I've found helpful in the past. Good luck! Keep us posted!

Hi Guys, Just need some encouragement. I'm really feeling bummed and depressed lately. I feel like a lapband failure. I'm 3.5 months out from surgery and have only lost 15 lbs. I am doing the best I can....I need to be better about my exercise, I know that. But, I've just been really depressed lately--really lonely for the holiday, I think. And missing my best holiday friend....FOOD! Anyway, just typing it out. Hope everyone is doing well!

Is this real, or just in my head??? Just had my 3rd fill yesterday....I'm at 7.5cc's in a 10cc band. She tried to bring me up to 8 cc's, but the water wouldn't go down, so she took out .5cc's to bring me back to 7.5cc's. I am really worried right now because I feel so different than before. I feel TIGHT (except, I don't really know what that's suppsed to feel like). I am having a hard time keeping food down....and when I eat, I am really uncomfrotable. I am scared that I might be too tight, but I also am thinking that thist just might be the first time that I've been really forced to SLOW down and CHEW. Well, I have been working hard to go slow and chew everything to death, and eating is still super uncomfortable!!! My stomach feels really upset and on edge after putting food into it, and I felt like a runny milkshake earlier was not going down easy at all. (I thought a milkshake would be an easy food to get down.) Also, I tried to eat a bit of soup, and I thought I had chewed everything up really well, but I got stuck and puked my guts out at work. But, I have the tendency to overthink things.... What do you guys think? Is this all in my head, or is there a possibility I might be too tight??

So, I have to share with you all, because I have done my fair share of complaining on this board about my struggles since being banded. Tonight, I went and participated in my first workout class. I think it was kickboxing cardio, or something like that, but....for the first time in my whole life, I was proud of myself about what I doing with my body!!! I even got a bit emotional and had to try not to cry during the middle of it because I couldn't believe that me, at 270 lbs, had overcome my fear and was working out in a class with other people, and skinny beautiful women at that!! Now, I sure didn't get hardly any of the steps right, and I sweated in places I didn't think you could sweat, but I stuck it out, and kept on trying my best. I have ALWAYS wanted to work out like that, but have been too scared to try. It feels good to be proud of myself!

Hey Janine! I totally understand what you're probably feeling! In my experience, I didn't know any of the yucky details before my surgery....I just made the commitment because I wanted to lose the weight. Then, after surgery, I found the blog and started reading about what was happening to me....getting stuck, bandster hell, etc. I think it's really important to focus on the reason you're having surgery. There are good and bad points about EVERYTHING! Even if you were trying to lose weight without the help of the band, there would be good and bad points of every "diet" or exercise program. The band is no different...it just brings a unique set of challanges. I think you are in a really good spot, actually!!! You are going into this process FULLY INFORMED (about the good and bad), and you are going to have much more realistic expectations than I did when I had the surgery. Since your surgery is still a few months out, why not start NOW by practicing the lifesytle changes that the band will require (i.e. smaller portions, chewing, exercising....). The band truly is just a tool, and if you start the process now, it might help you deal with your fear. Think of it this way: while there are uncomfortable parts of the band process, it works for people, and those uncomfortable parts are worth it in the long run. If you decide to have surgery, you will go through the ups and downs, but one year later, I bet you will be feeling much better about your weight!!!! Keep us updated on your decision process!!! Good luck with whatever you decide to do....

What do you think has caused you to become depressed and anxious since surgery? You didn't identify one specific thing...can you elaborate more on what specifically is going on? When you are anxious, what kinds of thoughts do you have? Are there certain times of day that you are more depressed? Basically, I was going to write something back to you to give you some thoughts, but I don't quite understand what is going on....if you give more information, my thoughts might make more sense. Regardless, I understand feeling depressed/anxious since surgery. For me, I struggled most with anxiety....there are so many "rules" and I was feeling like a failure a lot of the time. Also, bandster hell lasted at least 2 months for me (I might just be coming out of it....this past week since my second fill has been MUCH better), and I had so much physical pain for those few months between port soreness and hunger, I WAS GOING CRAZY! Anyway, can you give us more information so we might be able to give you better feedback??

I understand where you are at! The liquids stage can be so hard!!! When I have messed up, I've had to ask myself why I decided to cheat in the first place--was I feeling left out of a group activity? Was I bored? Ect... figuring that out helped me come up with alternatives to cheating. Also, remember the liquids stage, as bad as it sucks, is only a temporary thing. Just do the best you can, and remember that your stomach really needs to heal right now. Be proud of yourself for this decision, and just get back on track tomorrow! You are doing great!

I feel like I've failed. Have just done AWFUL! And am so bummed out and upset with myself, I'm having a hard time turning it around.... Had surgery on 9-4-09, just had second fill on Monday. (6ccs total in a 10cc band). Today, I started the day out going to McDonald's for an ice tea, and ordered biscuts and gravy. (Felt bad about this choice, but then got over it and re-committed to making better choices for the rest of the day). Then, the ladies at work kept hounding me to eat a piece of pizza with them for lunch and I failed and gave in....I ate a huge piece of pepperoni, greasy pizza. Then, I felt like such a failure for not sticking to my plan, I stopped at McDonald's on the way home and ate a double cheeseburger!!!! I am so upset! I fell back into hold habits again today, and it's the first itme in 9 weeks! Why today??? What is going on with me? Why did I allow this to happen? Why did I even get the Lap Band if I'm not going to work the plan and make lifestyle choices??? Ugh, any thoughts on how to turn this around? I am really feeling down about myself....

I have ALSO felt this way, basically since day one after surgery, and I'm about 9 weeks out. I've struggled so much, and have felt so alone in this process. Also, I think for myself, since this is such a HUGE change, I have developed a lot of anxiety....it feels like I am focusing on this decision, the changes, trying to eat better, exercise, etc, that I am spending all of my emotional and mental energy on this lapband thing. I keep thinking that maybe the anxiety/depression issues are just part of Bandster Hell, but I am really getting worried that they're going to be permanent. One thing that has really helped me is keeping a "courage journal." I went to Borders, bought a fancy journal, and force myself to write down positive parts of my day. Somedays it doesn't have anything to do with my band at all, just about things that have happened in my day that were good. I'm really trying to combat the negative thinking. Good luck, and know you are NOT alone!!!

I am certainly no expert, and you are much farther along in the process than I am, but one thing I've had to do is a behavioral modification. I used to weight every single day and become obsessed with the numbers! I was like you, one day I'd be down 2 lbs, and then three days later, I'd be up 4. In fact, just over the weekend, I weighed and was down another 2 lbs. So, I got excited and weighed the next day and was up 1.5. So frustrating! It sounds like you are doing all the eating/exercising things correctly (except for maybe some hidden calories??), but weighing yourself all the time can contribute to so much negative energy. It has really helped me to weigh once a week, the same time and day each week. For example, I am a 8am on Sunday person. Anyway, hope it helps! I only wish I could have the determination and motivation that you do!! Good job!

What are you allowed to eat at this point? When I was about 4 weeks out from surgery, I was allowed to start introducing regular food back into my diet. Hunger was killer, and it was so hard to try and eat the suggested portion size. Basically, what I ended up doing was eating larger portions (about 2 cups at a time), but making really healthy choices. But, I have had little help from my surgeon's office...when I told them I was struggling, they basically just told me that it was part of the deal and there was nothing that they could do about it. This is such a frustrating time!!! I wish I had some good advice for you. Would your surgeon be willing to push your fill up a week? Keep your head up....everyone says that once you get restriction, everything gets a lot better. (I am still in the process of getting there, and it can be hard at times). Keep talking to your dr., and doing the best you can every day. Good luck!

Hi guys! I am 7 weeks out from surgery....I have 5 ccs in a 10cc band. I have been having pain at my band site....not my port site. I know it's my band site because they showed me on the x-ray where it was. It is right below my left boob, and my port is to the left of my belly button-ish area. Since surgery, I have been able to feel my band without pressing down too hard (I can not feel my port at all). In the last few days, I have started to have sharp pains at the band site (i.e. when I stand up, turn, lean forward, ect, roll over). I am starting to get worried that something is wrong. Has anyone else experienced this, or know why the band would be hurting 7 weeks out? Should I be worried??

Hi guys! I am over 6 weeks out from surgery. I have 5ccs in a 10cc band. Since surgery I have been burping like crazy!! Got stuck last week, and have been super sore since then, which is probably why I've noticed lately (every time I burp, I feel like the pressure hits that sore spot). I have been downing Gas-X chewables like candy, and it doesn't seem to help the burping go away. Any ideas on what else to take/do to help reduce and/or eliminate the burping?

I had the same experience, also with Tilapia fish. I didn't feel like I was vomitting, and I just leaned over the tub and it came up. But, that was one week ago today, and I am STILL sore! The next day, I was so incredible sore, I didn't even think I could stand up straight to go to work! It was horrible for about the next 5-6 days. In fact, today (day 7) has been a bit better. I ended up calling my dr. and going to see the surgeon just because I was having so much pain and I was scared. He gave me the all clear and just said that when the food got stuck, it was traumatizing for my esophagus, which is why it's sore. I will ALWAYS chew, chew, chew from this point forward. I hope this never happens again!!! It HURTS! (But, it sounds like you had a typical lapband experience).