SFC_Mom

I feel like you, that I am not quitter, and successful at most things I try, but this weight is something that I can't seem to get a handle on. Currently I am doing well, after getting banded in 2006 and having a leaking tube repaired in 2009. I had regained all of the weight I lost and thought I was a failure. Now that my band is working again, I decided to approach it with a renewed sense of committment. The biggest help to me has been my diet journal. With it, I keep myself accountable for every bite or sip that goes in my mouth. It is tedious at times, but helps me stay on track. Along with my journal, I plan my meals the day before. If I don't do that, I almost always make some kind of bad choice, either something not low fat or low in carbs, or something that gets stuck. (Never fun in public!) Exercise has also been a huge benefit. I battle depression and found that exercise helps fight it. When I don't exercise, the gloomy feelings threaten to take over, but running on the treadmill or climbing a bunch of stairs on the stairclimber seems to help purge those negative feelings. Unfortunately it only lasts a day or two and then I have to exercise again! But it is better than a pill and actually helps my weight loss too. And it feels great that now I can actually write in my journal that I ran X miles in whatever time, when before I would get winded from walking. Maybe you and your husband can find a way that you can exercise together, and then it becomes more of an activity and less a chore. Even just casual walks together beats the zero calories you burn sitting on the couch. The most important thing is that you have not given up. You deserve to be healthy! You can do this, one day at a time. Best of luck

I like ISOPURE. It has the texture and almost taste of gatorade, and it has 40g of protein and 160 calories. I drink it after I work out, especially if my protein intake has not been high enough.

Kat, To be so sudden, I too agree it might be a leak. I had a lessening of restriction and ignored it, thinking it was just me stretching my pouch. I found out the tubing broke, which is very unusual and more likely you might have a leak of some sort. If I had known that, I wouldn't have beat myself up for being such a failure. I need to change my ticker but I am back to 200 lbs. Best of luck

I just found out and was looking for similar cases here and yours was the closest. I am not sure why it happened but I think I am going to have it removed. This pain is something like I have never felt before and never want again. We will discuss other options when I get in to talk to the surgeon.

I started having pains just above my port and went in to the doctor. I have moved since getting my band, so it was just my regular provider. They did a CT scan and my tube has come detached from the port and is poking me. May be worth asking about.

I understand what you are going through. I was banded a little over six months ago and have lost about 40 lbs and am at a plateau. I have only had one fill, so I know another will help, but my biggest problem is that I don't really follow the band rules like I should. I cheat with soft foods like mash potatoes, cheese, soggy cereal; some calorie drinks (like yummy coffees), and other things I know are not good for someone that wants to lose weight. I am going to go back to the rules, like eating one cup of food, tiny bites, lots of chewing, taking my time to eat, and no drinking with food. Keeping a journal and tracking your intake helps, and might surprise you and show you where some hidden calories are coming in. It worked before the band so I think I am going to try it again to help stop me from mindless eating, like m&ms. I agree with you that I should not need any other help losing weight since I have the band. I know that if I get back to basics I should start losing some weight. I hope that might work for you. If it is not your issue, at least know that we are here for you and wishing you the best.

MomX03, I have three children and a demanding job. I could not afford to have alot of down time and didn't think I wanted to alter my anatomy forever. Here is a study that helped me make my decision. Research and then make the decision that is best for you. Good luck! Five-Year Study Of The LAP-BAND® Show Significant Benefits over Lap RNYGB http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/cmsID,8222/mode,content/a,cms/

I am a Soldier in the Army. I needed the lapband to help me control my weight before I ate myself out of my career!

I am sure everyone has slightly different instructions from their doctor, but you should probably stay away from pop corn and other solids til you are healed a little more. I went to the movies at about the same time, and I just took the little cup of icing my husband had to dip his cinnamon pretzel in and had a few licks of that. It wasn't as good as popcorn and candy, but that kind of stuff is what got me in this posistion to start with! Good luck!

Darell, I am on day 10 and still feel a little weak sometimes, but it is definitely related to my fluid and protein intake level. I wasn't able to tolerate much more than a few oz of clear liquids til about day 4 or so. Try to start with a warm cup of decaf tea or coffee to help relax the stoma. Some people recommend a heating pad on your chest before you try full liquids. Then try to get some high protein liquids. There are so many out there, but I just use slimfast low carb, 20g of protein and they tast good. If you can't tolerate that much at one time, check out the "favorite protein drink" thread (or something like that) I saw one person post that they found a protein supplement that was something like 20g in 3 oz. Worth looking at. Be sure to also sip water constantly to keep your fluids up, try room temperature instead of cold. Hope this helps, and I agree with Carol that you should call your Doc or nurse if you don't see improvement soon. Take care and good luck! Dessia

Sorry, I didn't mean to be cryptic. I am in the Army, one of the few institutions allowed to legally discriminate based on physical limitations. I understand why, though. It was definitely alot harder to lug all my crap around (30 pounds was the vest and armor alone) in Iraq being overweight. They believe it is all a matter of will power though, so no helping with weight issues. I am also concerned they could use this (the lap band) as a reason to kick me out, but thankfully they are so short of people right now, that if I don't tell them and make a big issue of it, they probably won't either. But I get weighed in every 6 months, no matter what. As for leaving the U.S., I would have paid more to do it here in the US, but the surgeon in my area would not even return my emails because my BMI was not high enough. Funny, he will now do my fills and see me, but would not have done the surgery. Oh well. My doctor did have more experience than the doctor here though, so it wasn't really a difficult decision. An with my BMI at 34, I don't feel it was vanity. And why should this surgery not be allowed by certain weight people? (Warning: tangent!) Cosmetic surgery is often for vanity, and carries many of the same risks as lap band, with the general anesthesia and infection, etc. No one tells them they are not ugly enough! Or that their boobs are already big enough! If you want it, and can pay for it, there are no "standards" saying you are too ugly, too pretty, too busty, etc. I mean some men get calf implants! Anyway, sorry for the tangent. I just think it is a decision the person and their qualified medical professional should make, not some arbitrary number.

Hello everyone. I was a lower BMI patient. I paid myself, and my insurance does not cover it anyway. I was "only" 70 lbs overweight, but it was getting higher and higher every year. I exercise regularly and have tried multiple times to lose weight and keep it off. Should I wait another 10 years til I gained enough weight from all my failed attempts? Should I have wasted what was left of my youth until I had diabetes? Oh, and my weight is a job requirement and goes on every performance evaluation. Should I have waited til I was heavy enough to lose my job? Even if it wasn't an overt job requirement, how many people don't get that job or promotion because of someone's bias against heavy people? I think it should be up to the doctor and patient. If insurance does not cover it, that is their choice and they should not be lied to. I would have borrowed from whomever necessary to get this done, and I am thankful everyday I did. Good luck to all struggling. Hopefully things will work out one way or another to get healthy.