illuminationlady

I have heard of this happening at support group meetings where both types of surgeries are attending. At my support group meetings there are both types but we support each other. I found it weird that you wouldn't support each other. Strange people out there....

You could get a small fill...like .5ccs and see how you do. Best wishes!!!

Is it possible you have the flu or food poisoning?

There is some will power involved in moving to real foods. Your swelling is gone from the surgery and now you have no restriction. This time period can be very difficult for many people. I had a really hard time with it. I had to do everything in my power not to gain any weight back. You will be hungry until you get enough fills to have restriction. That being said, you will get more satisfaction out of real food and more variety. It will get you used to what portions are acceptable. You can still do your protein shakes for snacks. Just watch your calories very closely. I understand your fears but you must move on to food eventually. Why not start practicing now. Best wishes!!!

I, too, was very swollen after surgery (had a hernia repair too) and couldn't keep anything down. They had to remove all the fluid from my band and that did the trick. You need to stay hydrated. Without hydration you will feel terrible. Maybe you should call your doctor. And you did the right thing. Your just having trouble right now and this too shall pass. Hang in there. I hope you feel better real soon....

I was banded Dec. 16th and have lost 19 lbs. The scale was stuck for a while. I had no restriction. Now, after my second fill the scale is finally moving again. All total I've lost 37 lbs. But I know others who have lost a lot more. Hopefully, I'm on my way now...

It doesn't sound to me like you have restriction. Call your doctor and get in for a fill. Do you know how much fluid is in your band right now? How big is your band?

Until my second fill I had to do everything in my power not to gain any weight. It was terrible and I totally empathize with you. The swelling from your surgery has gone down and you haven't had the proper fills to bring you to true restriction. Some call this "Bandster Hell". I just made sure I ate healthy foods and not too much of them. It was very hard because now you are back on solids. Hang in there and don't expect too much from your first fill. I didn't get any restriction from that one. You can do this! Keep on this forum. It is a great source of support! Best wishes!!

That is wild!!! I never heard of such a thing!!!

So true!!!!

How many fills have you had? If you don't have restriction your band is not working with you. Sometimes it takes 6-7 fills before you reach true restriction. It sounds like you're not there yet. Get in to see your doctor and tell them what you're feeling. So many people get the Lap Band and don't follow up with the needed fills for restriction. I wish you the best!!!

Dr. David Oliak did my surgery. He's in Brea and Orange. I loved him. He has cutting edge (no pun intended) techniques and works directly with Lap Band on teaching THEM procedures so that ports don't flip and bands don't slip. He has a complete and total package with a Nut., 2 PAs and a behavioral psychologist that is an expert on weight loss. He offers support groups 8 times a month. He was even on The View. Check out his website. You can google him. Best wishes!!!

When I woke up from the surgery I felt terrible! I had nausea and pain. The nausea continued into the night and all night long. I tried to refrain from throwing up because I know it's bad for the band. In the morning the PA came in and took all the fluid out of my band. By that afternoon I was better and they sent me home. I had a hernia repaired and that may be why I had so much swelling. At home I took my pain meds for about three days and then stopped. I walked almost right away around my neighborhood with my daughters. This helps with the gas pain and healing. From then on it was smooth sailing. Hope this helps!!! Best wishes!!!

Too funny...lol...I got the book Breaking Dawn and flowers...no candy this year...lol

You say you've only had one fill but feel too tight. Normally, it takes several fills to reach true restriction. Also, I wonder if you are eating slider foods. Slider foods go down easy but are often high in calories. Are you exercising? How many ccs are in your band and just how full are you? How much weight did you need to lose and what is your goal weight? These are all question that need answered in order to give you a full response. Hang in there and you'll figure it out so that you're band will work for you. Best wishes!

Nope, never! Even during the time period when my band was empty and I had no restriction. I kept reading on this forum and getting the support I needed from all these wonderful people and didn't gain any weight. Now that I have some restriction, the band is working for me, and the scale is moving again. I did get stuck once but it was my own fault. I love my band and will only continue to grow (smaller...lol) as a person because of it! Best wishes!

After a "stuck" episode you're supposed to do liquids for 24 hours. Perhaps, as the others said, you should do liquids for a couple of days. Call your doctor anyway. Take care.

You will get different responses from people with this question only because we are all at different stages in our "band lives". I am 2 and half months post op and just now getting some restriction when I eat. This is difficult for me because I'm used to thinking about food all of the time! Someone who has been banded longer may not feel this way. After learning to eat with our bands, and with the passage of time, one may not feel this way. Eating, for me, has become more of a chore. You must eat small bites and chew, chew, chew. I cannot eat like I used to but am glad for it. Know that there is a psychological bond we have with food that must be broken. This all takes time!!! Best wishes.

I, too, can lose weight, just can't keep it off. I don't eat fast food or eat out much. I eat good, wholesome, healthy food...just too much of it! This is where my band will become a tool for me to be successful this time around. Once you reach "restriction" through saline fills the doc gives you it becomes difficult to overeat. My concern for you is that you aren't sure and you haven't educated yourself enough about the band. There are many "band rules" that we must adhere to. Otherwise, you could fail at this also. I took over 6 months of reading books and on forums before I decided. I went to several support group meetings. I had a one hour appointment with my surgeon and a 3 hour appointment with a nutritionist. I read, and read, and read about everything I could concerning living life with the Lap Band. March is very soon and to be undecided and uneducated going into this is scary. Please reconsider moving your date to a later time so that you can go into this with eyes wide open. Also, in your original post you seemed a bit unsure of the surgery center you have chosen. Make sure there is a complete package with your necessary fills afterwards! Best wishes always!!!

I can't believe the number of people on clear liquids and for so long! Two weeks is unbelievable! No wonder you have no energy. Hope you are all feeling better real soon!!! Best wishes!!!

At your next fill appointment ask for an aggressive fill. Comunicate with your doctors and nurses. Tell them you don't have restriction! I started with an empty band and on my first fill I got 3 ccs in a 10 band. NO RESTRICTION!!! So on my next fill I said I wanted an aggressive fill and was granted one. She added 2 more ccs. I don't think I'm at my "sweet spot" but definately am having to watch how I eat everything. I'm much more careful and eat less!!! Next time I want another 1 cc. Call your doctor. Communicate with him/her. Best wishes!!!

Congrats on being able to really start working. The pounds are going to fall of you!!!

The swelling of a fill can last anywhere from 12 hours to about a week. When you first get your fill you usually feel restriction right away and that feeling may go away due to the swelling going down. After several fills you the "restricted" feeling won't go away and you'll be at your sweet spot!

I was walking the neighborhood the day after I got home. Walk, walk, walk. As far as anything else I agree that after two weeks I was ready to do more. After 6 weeks I was completely back to normal.