thinme

I had similar problems last year. Sometimes I just needed to have my band loosened, but the problem never really went away. I ultimately ended up having to have an endoscopy and it turned out that my esophagus was a bit swollen and wasn't functioning as well as it should. The doctor explained to me that sometimes with lap-band patients, because we stop eating certain textured foods and don't eat the way we used to, the mechanism of our esophagus weakens, so what was happening is that I was eating and my esophagus wasn't pushing the food down to my stomach with a strong enough push and it was getting stuck, causing me to vomit and causing GERD. They emptied my band completely so my esophagus could heal and then slowly refilled it. Now I know how important it really is to eat slowly and chew VERY carefully. I feel so much better, haven't vomited in a long time, and am still losing weight. Good luck!

Hey all! Hope everyone's doing well! I've had my band for a bit over a year now, and while I have no regrets and would highly recommend it, it seems I'm at a standstill with my weight loss. I'm down at 163 from 235 and I can't seem to get the scale to budge from that! In addition, I've developed terrible acid reflux. I'm going in for an esophagram next week and a visit, I haven't seen my doctor or had a fill in quite some time, so maybe that's attributing to the lack of weight loss. But the acid business is awful- it keeps me up at night, and there are weird gurgling sounds coming from inside. Not from my stomach, more from my esophagus. Had anyone else had this? I really don't want to be taking reflux pills for the rest of my life, so I'm hoping this is something that will pass.

It sounds like it might be reflux. My doc told me that sometimes the band tightens on its own, even without a fill, so you should get it checked. Don't let it go too long, you can cause damage to your esophagus.

Yes! That's exactly what happened to me. My band was too tight, they took out some fluid. My doc said that as you get right around your "sweet spot" every .5 cc makes a difference. I had a .3 cc fill at my last fill, and I ended up having to go back to take out .1 cc and just today had another .1 cc removed. After the first .1 that came out, I felt better, but then it started again recently. I'd wake up in the middle of the night with vomit in my mouth and a burning sensation in my esophagus. The doctor also told me that the more acid you have building up in your stomach and esophagus, the tighter your band gets because your stomach and esophagus get swollen. They did an esophogram to make sure I didn't have slippage, which thankfully I didn't. She prescribed some pills for the reflux, hopefully that will work. Your band is probably too tight, you should have it checked.

HELP! I got a 3cc fill last week, and I think it's too tight! I was fine the first couple of days, but over the weekend I started experiencing night reflux and I've been vomiting all day. I can't even keep down water! I'm pretty sure it's because the band is too tight, but my doctor's office is closed on the weekends and I can't get any help until tomorrow morning. Does anyone have any short term cures, at least to hold me over until tomorrow? It's very uncomfortable!

Hi all! I lost 7 lbs in 3 weeks! Feeling pretty good, looks like the band is finally doing something for me! It was slow moving at first, so I was worried. The problem I'm having is that left shoulder pain- still! It doesn't seem to be from gas, I get it more often when I eat a little too much. Does anyone else have that? My doc only gave me .5 cc at this last fill since I lost 7 lbs fast, but I feel like that's going to slow me down! I'm just trying to be careful about what I eat, even though things are going down pretty easily.

Hi fellow bandsters! Well, it's been 3 weeks (banded on 12/14). I feel great, but I haven't lost a single ounce! In fact, I've gained 2 lbs since my surgery, but I've been reading on other threads that this is normal when you start eating solids after the 2 pre-op weeks and 2 post-op weeks of liquids and protein shakes! I've been doing everything by the book, eating 1/2-1 cup of food per meal, but I'm not feeling full. Any other new bandsters having similar experiences? I've been reading that this could be because some surgeons put the band in empty to give you healing time, but I feel like I'm ready for my first fill NOW, and my appt isn't until 1/21! Will they fill me early? I didn't have surgery to GAIN weight! Happy New Year!

Hi Natalie! I was banded on 12/14 and started solids last week. I did gain 2 lbs, but my doc said that's perfectly normal once you start solids after 3 weeks of eating practically nothing! She told me not to watch the scale at all for the first month and just focus on eating right and exercising lightly, and getting used to the band. After the first fill or two, then you can start watching the scale. Good luck!

Blended/pureed soups work really well for the mushy week, and they are very filling. I tried pureed veggie soup, split pea soup, or very mushy egg salad. I was so sick of the protein shakes and broths that ANYTHING was better! Good luck!

Tracy, I'm in hell with you! I was banded on 12/14 and don't have my first fill until 1/23! I have been able to eat anything and everything, though I am really trying to be careful and keep a journal. I've read many other posts here from people who say they went through the same thing and you need to just hang in there until your first fill. It is SO frustrating to see the scale go up instead of down, I know. Hang in there...

Hi fellow Delights! It's great knowing that I have friends out there in the same boat! Looking forward to watching everyone progress on this journey. I was banded on 12/14. I lost 10 lbs. on my pre-op liquid diet, then another 9 lbs. on my post-op liquids and mushies. Once I started eating solid food again, I gained a couple lbs., but my doc said that's normal since I had been eating practically nothing for 3 weeks! It's a little disheartening to get on the scale post surgery and see the numbers go UP, so I suggest to all of you to stay away from the scale until your first fill! My first fill is on 1/23, I just hope I don't gain ALL my weight back before then! My doc just said watch what I eat, keep a journal, and start light exercise. I'm feeling pretty hungry, I know they put the band in empty to allow healing, but I think it's pointless. I'm going to call my doc to see if she'd give my first fill a little early. But if not, I'll just keep watching my diet and praying! Good luck to all!

Do the doctors let you just decide on your own how much restriction you have? I didn't even know that was an option!

Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly does "tight banding" mean? I was just banded on 12/14, haven't even had my first fill yet. I know that the first few weeks after surgery are for healing, so I'm still waiting for the pounds to start coming off! I've been very careful with my diet, but I haven't started exercising yet. Does tight banding mean you eat even less than you would with the band as it's "intended" to be (for lack of better word)? Does a tight band basically mean just starving yourself, eating even less than the 1/2-1 cup of food? (Not judging, just asking!)

Yay, I'm not the only starving Bandster! I was banded on 12/14, made it through the liquids and mushies fine. I finally started solids, and I find that I am SO hungry! I have even gained back 2 lbs that I lost, though I wonder if that has anything to do with not eating any "real" food for a few weeks after the surgery. I'm really trying not to eat a lot even though I don't feel any restriction. Why don't they fill your band right away? I'm not having my first fill until 1/23, and I feel like I may gain all my weight back by then! Feeling slightly discouraged with this...

I just got banded on Dec 14 and I feel great! I was out of work for a week, I'm still a little sore at the incision area, but otherwise feel fine. The 2 week pre-op liquid diet is a KILLER! After 3 days of protein shakes I was dying for real food! But I hung in there, lost about 10 lbs pre-op. The first couple days after surgery were a little painful, but not terrible. You feel a little bloated from the gas and weak from the pain, so you're not that hungry anyway. Just make sure to drink as much liquid as you can get down so you don't dehydrate. I had the surgery on a Monday, and only by the following Sunday was I starting to feel even the least bit hungry. So the first week of post-op liquids was fine (my doc makes us do 2 weeks of post-op liquid). On Monday when I went back to work, I was feeling a little hungry so I had a fat free yogurt diluted with skim milk to thin it out. Other than that, I'm feeling good and excited! Good luck to all you upcoming bandsters!

HELP! I'm starving! I was banded a week ago, and my surgeon says I have to do 10 days of post-op liquids (like the pre-op diet). I'm feeling great, I'm back to work, and I feel like I can tolerate at least a little pureed food. I've read in some placed that most surgeons only make their patients do 4-5 days of post-op liquids. I'm scared of band slippage if I eat mushy foods too soon, but 10 days is a LOT! Anyone else have to do 10 days? Anyone out there start the mushy diet before they were supposed to and have any feedback? Thanks!

Has anyone actually experienced band slippage from advancing their diet too soon?

So I'm beginning to think that my surgeon's 10 day suggestion is really just a careful, precautionary move. thanks!

I'm supposed to be on clear liquids for 10 days, but I would LOVE some cream soup or yogurt! I don't know why my surgeon says 10 days when most other seem to say a max of 5. It's been 7 days, and I may just cheat and have a thin plain yogurt or dilute with some skim milk. Thanks!