outside*looking*in

I have 8cc in my 9cc band and I am not at that elusive sweet spot. Although, I have never been able to eat the same amount of food as I did pre-band since day one. For me it seems that my quantity of food stays the same (5oz at a meal) but the time it takes to get hungry in between meals is slowly changing.

I am not sure if I understand you correctly. Are you thinking that you can not have those things while you are restricted? But if you empty the band the passage will be big enough to tolerate those foods? Everyone is different in what they can tolerate. I can tolerate breads, pasta and rice with 8cc in a 9cc band. I don't have them often since my doc wants us to eat in a certain order (protein, vegetable,fruit - then you should be "full") I do know that I have a more difficult time with potatoes and thick foods like hummus. I would say the only problem you would have is weight gain:sad: Best of luck.

Well - this morning I weighed on my home scale as I do every morning. Wrote down my weight in my log book and went on with my day. A few hours later, while folding clothes, I realized that I am 100lbs down from my highest weight ever recorded! I lost 30 of that on my own and stayed for a while then started going up and back down those same 30lbs. I lost about 10lbs pre-op. I am 8 :thumbup:months out and with the help of the band I have lost another 60lbs. I am hoping to be in "onederland" by Christmas.

I have been having issues with digestion or something to the point I am afraid to eat. I have been to the band doctors twice in a week. The first one gave me a script for Pepcid but said it does not sound like the band is the problem. Come back in two weeks if it does not help they will plan an endoscopy. I asked him if I should see my primary care doc about it and he said, no - anything to do with gastro problems I should come to them. Well, I could not wait 2wks as the pepcid was not helping so I went back yesterday thinking they might unfill me a bit to see if that helps. Nope, that doc (the head of the practice)said it did not sound like the band and told me to take 2 pepcid and if it does not get better in a MONTH they would schedule a endoscopy. I can not go through a MONTH of this. So, I am wondering if I should just see my primary doc about it? I figure it can't hurt since the lap-band docs can not come up with a solution. :thumbup:

I am 8 months out so this is not related to the pain just after surgery. All though I did try gas-x. I constantly feel as though I have an upset stomach. All of my problems are located below the band. It actually feels like as soon as food passes through my pouch into my lower stomach, all of the problems begin. Like something is just sitting in there stewing and percolating. I will have to go to my primary anyhow to try to see if I can get a referral out of him for the endo (I am self pay). I just want to feel normal again. :biggrin: On a good note, today I feel a wee-bit better. I am nibbling saltine crackers and they seem to be helping (knock on wood!)

IMHO.....it should be like finding out the sex of your baby. Up to you to want to know. It is YOUR body after all. Still, I can understand the doc not wanting pt's to focus on the number. Best of luck.

Way to hand in there. It reminds me of a PA(with my PCP) that asked me if I eat off of my daughters plate when she is done. That mad me so mad! Besides, have you ever seen the end result of a 2y/o eating. I barely want to touch HER let alone anything on her plate! Maybe next time you go the PA will have been trained to be "fat friendly". Good job on your weight loss and continued hard work!

So love your post and reply's!

Wow that was quick! Congrats! Have you had time to research everything and have all your questions answered? I am 8 months out and new questions form every week. This is a great place to come for some insight. Not all doc's require the pre-op but it seems like most do. A low-carb type diet (minus all the high fat stuff) is about what mine required. Congrats again.:thumbup:

Everything Betsy said. Don't give up the fight! :thumbdown:

Well - I am on my way with all of the appointments needed to get to surgery. One thing I needed was a script/note from my PCP for clearence to have surgery. I thought this was a strange request but I went to my primary doc today and asked him about it. HE WAS MAD!!!!!! Not at me but at the surgeons. He said that they are "not playing nice in the sand box" He is of course worried about his liability and I can totally understand that. I explained to him about the ekg, chest x-ray and blood work that I have to have done with the surgeons office before surgery and he did not care. I totally get it, he has to cover his butt. But I am not going to go through all of it twice! I have to pay for it for surgery anyway. Did anyone else have to get a note from their PCP? Was it a problem? I am just getting frustrated now.

So EVERY TIME I get a stomach ache I worry that there is a problem with my band or a problem that can lead to it having to come out! I am almost 8 months out from my band surgery and 3 months out from having my Gall Bladder removed. About 3 weeks after my GB was removed I started getting a burning sensation in my stomach every now and again. It never comes up like acid reflux but just makes me uncomfortable all day. Then I stress about if this is a problem with my band or could it be a result of bile constantly dripping into my intestines??? Did I eat something that did not agree with me. Should I call the surgeon or my PCP?? I guess I worry a bit more since I was self-pay and if this had to come out, I would not be able to afford to have a different surgery.

Went to the doc today and he suspects Gastritis. He put me on Pepcid daily and a follow up in 2weeks. If I continue to have symptoms in that 2 weeks he is going to do an endoscope. He says at 8cc in a 9cc band I am pretty tight. I don't feel it like I have seen others describe. I don't get stuck, I don't pb/slime. I can still eat my 5oz of food at each meal and not feel full but mostly satisfied. I asked if developing an ulcer meant that the band had to come out (which I have read on other post) and he said no. That it will be treated the same as treating someone without the band (relief). So, I hope the pepcid helps the irritation in my stomach (I have not had actual reflux) just a dull burning sensation.

I choose the band because I was too scared to have my stomach cut and switched and what not. I liked that the band is less risky procedure. The down side is now I am always in fear of something going wrong with the band and it will have to be removed. Since I paid out of pocket I think the fear is a bit worse. I also don't like having to wait for proper restriction with fills. I have, however, lost about 60lbs in 8 months and feel great about that! Sometimes I wish I had looked into bypass a little more. But I am sure there are things that I don't know about that they have to worry about. Best of luck.

I am still struggling with the changes. I have lost weight. I have had stalls. I have had to have my Gallbladder removed. I still don't have complete "restriction" with 8cc in my 9cc band. And NOW all of the sudden I am dealing with gurgling and gas when I eat?? I am grateful for the 60+ lbs I have dropped. I am grateful that I don't PB, slime or get stuck (only rarely get stuck and I just stand up and it is gone in a minute) I am ALWAYS worried that when I feel a sick feeling in my stomach that there is something wrong with my band and it is going to have to come out! (self-pay). I am curious how many people who had the surgery in the same month are at restriction and how long it took them to get there. I keep wondering if maybe I DO have restriction but just don't know it?? I can eat my alloted 5oz of food (sometimes wanting more) and still get hungry in between. After 2 hours I start feeling hungry and by three hours the stomach is growling and I will start feeling ill if I don't eat. I am sure I will figure this thing out one day! Best of luck to everyone.:smile2:

This is probably not what you want to hear but I am 7months out and up to 8cc and still don't have the kind of restriction that I see other people post about. I certainly eat less than before! I measure out my 5oz of food and sometimes it satisfies me and other times not so much. I really think (and hope) I am close since I only have a 9cc band! Of course, everyone is different and I really wish I was one of those people who could have got restriction at 3cc or so. Best of luck.

AWESOME!!! WAY TO GO!:thumbup:

Midol has acetaminophen and caffeine plus a diuretic in it. I have not taken Midol but never have a problem with Tylenol. I used to take Advil for cramps but my doc said they were a no no until about 4 months out and then only the liquid gels. Well, I finally tried them last month for my cramps and I will NEVER take them again! I had upset/sour stomach for 2 days! I guess it all depends on how it sits on your stomach. Can't hurt to call the doc/nurse.

I was banded in Feb '10 and went in for yet ANOTHER fill today. I now have 8cc in a 9cc band. I am HOPING this one will do the trick. I have had minimal restriction (never true restriction) since being banded and for the last 2 months I felt as though I have actually gone backwards and feel MORE hungry. It has been 7 months of "bandster hell" for me. I will not know until I go back to normal foods though. MAN, I really wished I was the one who did not have to even get fills to reach restriction. Best of Luck

It has been all positive so far. In fact, I even went back a month ago to have Dr. Koppman remove my Gall Bladder. The staff is always nice and ready help with any questions or problems. I am still not at that "sweet spot" for restriction but getting closer. Weight loss has slowed down but I will get there. I am still plugging along though. Best of Luck.

I had mine out a month ago and I was banded back in Feb. I slept a lot the day of but the next day I was feeling pretty good. For me, the pain was not bad. I did however reach up too high to grab a heavy casserole dish and slightly pulled open an incision so be careful of those incisions. Best of Luck

Thank you all. I felt fine yesterday but I did feel a little icky last night. I have not had experience yet with being too tight and since I have not had pb's, stuck episodes or throwing up I was not sure if that was the problem. I will be seeing the doc if the reflux happens again. I don't want to trade being overweight for feeling bad all the time. Thanks again:smile2:

I had a fill the other day and have had a sour stomach every since! I have tried tagamet and pepto but it does not really help. I had a few episodes of this before my fill but it only lasted a few hours after medication. I have not had any PB's or throwing up, not even reflux in my throat. I have had heavy menstrual cramps for the past two days and thought this could be adding to my restriction. Is sour stomach a sign of being too tight?? I will call the docs on Monday but any input for now would be nice.

Boy...there are a lot of adjustments to make after having this surgery! I mean -I knew all about the small bites, chewing well and stuff. I guess the head hunger vs. real hunger is a biggy. I must say that I am only just now starting to feel hungry in between meals. At first it was more that I wanted flavor and texture, not that I was hungry. I am FINALLY on normal foods but I have noticed that I have been getting a little bit of an upset stomach after I eat, especially in the morning. Also, I have added back two protein shakes a day since they seem to keep me full longer and I don't mind the taste. I guess for me it is safe until I start eating with my stomach and NOT my eyes. I also have to- have to -have to -have a small snack between lunch and dinner otherwise I feel like I could eat everything in sight including the pets! And do it without taking small bites or chewing well. Good thing I go for my first fill in five days. Hope I will feel some sort of restriction.

did your doctor give you a fill at surgery?? I have seen that some do this and maybe, if he/she did, it is too much for you?