viking_girl

I was banded in 2009 and did very well for a long time, lost just over 80 pounds.... and then my band started to rebel. Even though I had been in the green zone for some time, suddenly I was always too tight. After that, we never have been able to get this thing right, so it has been a cycle of fill/unfill. I put a lot of the weight back on. I just had a fill the other day and it is too tight... but it is a two hour drive to get there, so it is very hard to fit it in to a busy work schedule and a super tight budget. Back in the green zone days, I was following all of the rules and doing everything right..... since then, I have had periods of doing well, and there have also been periods of I JUST DONT CARE. But this is the thing. My children's father may have cancer. We don't know how that will turn out. But it is more important than ever that I get this right. I need help. In a bad way.

1martini, how did the fill go??? SO sorry I haven't logged in for a while. I had a fill, then a slight unfill... and I started going back to WEight Watchers for the weekly accountability. Weight is slowly on its way back down again,, thank goodness. Now if I could just manage to get out bed and go to the gym!!

The other thing to note is that is you are too tight and not eating enough, you will NOT lose weight. I am fighting that myself right now.

Very glad your cancer scare turned out well... nothing raises your blood pressure faster. :/ Well, I am not as tight as I was, but still supertight. Mostly liquids, occasional mushies, or a couple bites of something soft. Can't get to SLC for unfill just yet thought .... DD is having her first baby today. Maybe this afternoon if I am lucky, but so far, this baby is really just on his own time schedule. Sometimes it gets crazy at work and I can't log in here, but if anyone does Twitter, I am there @lifeafterband ..... I am in and out of Twitter all day due to work. It always helps when someone pops in just to say -- HOW ARE YOU! That is really what I need right now.

YES!!!:thumbup: I am diabetic, was on 2 meds prior to surgery and doc wanted me on a third. I was completely off meds TWO DAYS after surgery and my HA1C is now in the normal range. My blood pressure was high ..... now hovers between normal and slightly elevated.... I have been off all BP meds for several months. In terms of my health -- the lapband was the best thing I ever did!

I am sure every person is different, but in my case.... stress and hormones are usually my problem. I just had a slight unfill today. My nurse... who also has the band, said her band gets tight with air travel.

This post is pretty old... can you give us an update on what happened??

I had my surgery last year and I actually planned it for October..... after all the summer time goodness but early enough that I was healed and eating regular food by the holidays. I didn't want to be sipping a protein shake while everyone else got the good stuff.

You have been drinking diet coke?????????????? Well I am just envious because carbonated drinks are the one think my doctor has absolutely forbidden. :/ Otherwise, if your band is too tight that can cause acid, and a slight unfill will relieve it.

I would love an icy diet coke right now!!

So, there are really two things today. First is just a basic update. I had an unfill, and I immediately put a few pounds back on. A week ago, we put a bit back in. Only this time, we took a look at the numbers. Each time I had an unfill, my band was at 2.25 and 2.5 CC. So, we filled it to two and we will see what happens. I have restriction in terms of how much I eat at one time. But I am still hungrier than I want to be throughout the day. I really need to journal what I am eating. But the BIG news.... with a drumroll please..... I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2002. Pre-surgery (2009) I was on two medications. I was able to maintain good numbers throughout the day but no matter what I did my fasting blood sugar each morning was always high. My doctor had just recommended a third medication. My mom and dad recommended the Lapband. Within two days of surgery, my blood sugar was under control and I was able to go off meds. I just had my HA1C drawn for the first time since surgery, and I have to say, I am thrilled. Pre-surgery, I was over 7.0..... just dont remember the exact number. As of today, my HA1C is 5.3 percent...... NORMAL!!!! Of course, I know enough about diabetes to know I am not "cured" ...... I have a strong family history of the disease. It will not go away. But the longer I can keep these numbers in check, the longer I can prevent some of the horrible pain my grandmother went through before she died. That makes it worth the rough days when I am too tight. And did I mention.... I really miss my grandma.

I know just what you mean. I just got married to a man who LOVES to go out to eat. I just an so thankful that he is not judgmental and does care a fig if I only eat two bites of a meal, no matter what it cost him. In the meantime, I have learned that Chili at Wendy's is great, and on a good day, a junior burger. But usually, I cant handle too much bread. I also like the "chicken selects" at McDonalds. I have always been a McD's hater but this chicken is actually good... real chicken. And it is good cold too, so if I cant eat it all at once, its all good. Or a crisp burrito at Taco Time.... even if I can only eat half. But really, I have figured out that a little cafe where I can order a cup of soup is even better. If my husband really wants to go out to eat, Olive Garden has yummy soups! Or, we go to a little Mexican place near us that makes a fabulous pork tamale smothered in enchilada sauce. I usually cant eat the rice and beans, but really enjoy the tamales, and they are so tender they work well even on a bad day. You are awesome to brown bag it... my kids are still small so sometimes it is just crazy and I have a hard time thinking that far ahead and it gets me in trouble! And, I am with you.... time to get on the band wagon again!!! Ugh... the holidays.... still a challenge even with the band!

I am certain everyone is different, but I have noticed that if I eat just a little bit too much, or sometimes too fast I will get the hiccups. If I pay attention and stop there, I am fine. It is like my warning signal. And the times I dont stop there, that is when I will throw up.

I wont say my craving for carbs is gone.... but much much much lower. The reality is.... if I can no longer eat an entire single slice of cheesecake, there is no fulfillment. And if that is the case, why bother? If I eat a meal, and I am full to the brim, so there is no room for dessert, then there is just no room, so why bother? Of course, it took several months to get there, so be patient..... one day at a time.

on your first fill...... everyone is different but in my case, each time was slightly more restriction until we got it right. I would go into the office, they would do weight and blood pressure. Then, a little poke to numb the belly, then another poke to add fluid. My nurses usually give me just a bit of water to make sure it goes down with no issues, then you go home and see how you do. Sometimes it takes several tries, so your job now is to pay attention to what you eat, how often you eat, how long after a meal does it take to get hungry. Same thing as now.... eat til you feel satisfied (not full and uncomfortable, but satisfied.) Maybe it is more than 1/2 or 3/4 Cup, but the point is.... that is the long term objective and to try and accomplish that without the right restriction in your band will just make you crazy. Good luck!! Amy (lifeafterband) on Twitter

Take your time and do what feels good to you. If you need an extra day, don't sweat it. Right now the primary goal is to let your body heal, nothing more. If I remember (it has been a year) I was on Clear liquids for 5 days before I could add in things like cream soup. There is plenty of time later to worry about getting your Protein in. It is cold and rainy and gloomy here today, so what I will recommend to you: sugar free hot apple cider mix. Delicious and comforting..... fix a mug and sit back to rest and get well.

YES!!! It gets better. My doctor advised me that the weeks after surgery are for healing, not for weightloss.... to let the band tell you when you have had enough. Eat til you feel satisfied. I know for me, I was still eating less than pre-surgery, even if more than thought I "should." By doing this, I gradually decreased what I was eating with each fill, so it didn't seem as painful as trying to stick to tiny meals from day 1. I am just past the one year mark, and I have lost 95 pounds. Hang in there!!

You betcha... happy to. And I am glad you made an appointment. Your story makes me very pleased with my clinic...... My first year of care was included in the price of surgery. As much or as little as I need. That includes visits to the clinic, support groups and classes. I just entered into my second year, which costs me $300. Again, for as much or as little as I want. The nurses provide the care.... I havent seen the surgeon since my follow-up visit following surgery. And all of the nurses have had the band, so they know just what I am going through. I love it. I "only" have to drive an hour and a half. But I have to admit, I love to visit the city, so it is one of my guilty pleasures. :w00t: But....back to you..... if you dont have support at the clinic, you know you have it here. :thumbup:

I had to go for an unfill today. I understand this happens. But I am having to face the fact that I may not get the restriction I want, period. I hit my sweet spot early in the spring and did very well for several months. But then suddenly, I was tight and had to have 1 cc removed. Over time, we put it back in and I just barely started losing again. I had .75 removed today. It seem s my stomach is quite sensitive to hormone changes and stress. So, when my hormones go crazy, I get SO tight. Stress=tight. My hormones are all over the place and can be elevated for 2-3 weeks at a time. Randomly. SO it isnt easy to predict and work around. So maybe the better approach to is seek less restriction, to give myself more flexibility for this sort of thing. I realize I will still have SOME restriction, so I am still better off than no band at all. I have been going to the gym again, so I just have to work harder. And yet---- SO FRUSTRATED because I have lost 95 pounds as of today. 5 more pounds to first 100 lost 16 pounds to go and I will be under 200. I havent been that small since my first baby. Who will graduate from high school this year, by the way. But for now, I can drink without vomiting. That is something.

Thank you.... I am trying. Inside my head, there is a lot of whining. I want the band to do the job for me. It is easier that way. But, the reality is, I can puke my guts up all the time or I can realize it just isnt going to happen the way I want it. Not a lot of choices in between. Unless you count sitting on the couch eating cheesecake. (Just kidding!) The thing is.... if I have to work harder at it, then I will need more support. My husband is fabulous, but also very wrapped up in renovating a house for us right now. So I kind of feel like I am on my own in this right now. But I am so close to the 100 pound mark, that I CANT STOP NOW.

[quote Do you have any recommendations as to how to go about this and what a good fill level is, although i know it's very individual? I know the best I did nd felt was just before I had my first fill. I already had 3ccs from the surgery and was losing wieight. I wonder if I should try that again and build from there as neccesary. I just hope I can get them to do it, but heh, it is my body. Many thanks, Su There is no such thing as a "good fill level" and dont let anybody tell you there is. Everyone of us is different, and the only good fill level is the one that makes you feel successful, without feeling crappy all the time. Listen to your body. The whole point of the band is to fill or unfill as needed. If you need it, get it done. You are absolutely right: It is YOUR body. It is YOUR money that paid for the band. It is YOUR time and money to travel that far to get a fill/unfill. YOU are the customer. Make sure you get the care you need. :w00t:

You are right to go for the unfill --- I am going through the same thing as we speak. I dont know CCs, but I know I hit what I thought was the perfect spot and I was losing weight very well. Then suddenly, I was going through the same thing...... cant eat what I was eating before, vomiting, horrible pain in my back, and acid. I had 1 cc removed a couple months ago, and we have slowly been filling me up again and I just started losing again. Then suddenly, I am super tight again. I was up half the night last night either throwing up or fighting the acid. I had .75 removed this morning and I fill SO MUCH BETTER. My nurse is amazing -- of course, she has the band also. She explained that the stomach is a living organ and changes in it can change how the band feels. For me, hormones and stress seem to affect my band. I hope your unfill helps. If not, dont be afraid to go for another.

But they do have a lot of other valuable nutrients. I am actually one year post op and I make my protein shakes with 1 packet carnation, I scoop protein powder and I cup milk. That SF mix sure improves the flavor a lot. :wink2:

Yes, I think the center will dictate what tests they want. In my case, I lived an hour and a half away and they were going to let my primary physician do the tests, but then they wanted the results sooner, so in the end, they did them anyway, which was fine. I think it would be premature to do testing before the seminar, because every center seems to require something different. Also, something else to think about.... it seems like you are in a hurry to get this done, but having been there already, do you really want to be on a liquid diet through the holidays? I know I would have had a really hard time sipping on a shake while my family eats turkey.... or having mushies for Christmas dinner. I think early January is a great time for surgery. I actually had mine in early October last year.... I waited until all of the fun summer things were behind me, and I had plenty of time to get back on real food before the holidays. It worked like a charm for me. OF course, I do understand if there are financial issues that dictate the date of surgery... just wanted to give you something to think about.

It has been 3 months since I posted, and you would just never believe all that has happened!!! First off, I am only down two pounds from my last post. Remember, had just had 1 cc removed. Since then, most if that has been replaced, but it has been this cycle of gain-lose-gain-lose. SO.... still 8 pounds to go to reach that 100 pound mark. But, I have been a little distracted.... that Marine of mine came home from Alaska EARLY.... he got home August 5 and I had an engagement ring on my hand August 7!! :wub: We planned a whirlwind wedding so that my kids could start in their new schools at the beginning of the school year, so the wedding was August 28 and I wore a size 18 wedding dress!!! I will have to figure out how to post some pictures. :smile: Since then, it has been just craziness..... moving from my large home to his small home, putting lots into storage for now. He is renovating another home for us, so we will be moving again next summer. Last week was my first time back to the gym in all the chaos. I am back down to the beginning..... 15 minutes on the elliptical, went just three days last week. :thumbup: Going to try and bump it up in the next two weeks because I really want that 8 pounds GONE. I am at a point now that I desperately need to reach that goal and feel good about it.... struggling a bit here. SO there you have it...... eight pounds in the next two weeks, hoping-hoping-hoping!!!!