NurseShay

I have the feeling of pressure in my throat every morning- or every time I wake up also, for me its tolerable and has not gone away in the year and a half Ive been banded to the point that its now routine and I've learned how to deal with it- starting the morning with the sip test- and preferably a warm liquid like tea or coffee helps me . I absolutely cannot sleep without my head elevated by 3+ pillows especially less than an hour after my last bite to eat or sip of water. Morning time the band is known to feel tighter, also because you're sleeping and not swallowing for the most part people- especially those with allergies tend to pool mucus and combined with the "slime" us bandsters are known for and a tighter than usual band in the morning it feels kind of like being "stuck" on nothing every morning for me. If you're a newly banded you're going to feel all kinds of new and odd sensations related to the band, eating, drinking and the wonderful effects of gravity & simple times of the day! But unless they're causing you pain, sickness or other concerning feelings I wouldn't worry too much, especially if you've already consulted your physician. Feeling tight or feeling stuck is a totally new experience to you so it may alarm you- reading other peoples descriptions is no match for those wonderful first experiences so you may just not realize that these feelings are going to be normal or simply a part of your healing process. So try giving yourself some time to get use to the new feelings. The body and the brain have to adjust to this foreign object inside it and every morning its like the brain forgets and you have to wait for it to relax and get into a comfortable rythym with the band. =) Good luck!!

Hi all! I have not been on this site in quite a while though I check back for adivce from time to time. There seems to be a lot more San Diegans around now which is awesome. I'm about 3 months from a year out & am hating plateaus likes nobodys business. I'm about 70lbs down after 10mts but the last few mts have been a struggle to lose more than 2lbs a mt. Old habits crept back in so Ive decided to really make an effort to get into those terrible 2's. Support is always helpful! Anyone looking for workout or accountability buddies feel free to PM or email me! I'm in El Cajon. Best of luck bandsters!

Bandster hell is the period of time from getting banded to reaching a good restriction level. For most people its after a few fills. I'm about 5.5 months out and FINALLY out of bandster hell. I thought I was out of it on my last fill because I rarely had hunger feelings- but that's because I could still eat about anything, and quite a bit of it! Now I'm truly feeling the effects of the band & don't feel so much like I'm doing all the work. Lapband is no quick fix a lot of it is up to you & for the first few weeks/months its all up to your commitment! Best of luck.

I am scheduled to be banded on april 14th just 10 days away at the gastric banding center in kearny mesa just wondering if anyone else has been banded there and how their experience was? Trying to relieve these pre-op jitters that I may overlook something! I'm seeing a lot of posts about being in hospitals but my surgery will be performed in an out-patient clinic so any feed back with that would also be appreciated.

Hope it went well moo! I'm sure you're recovering nicely. Walk, walk, walk those gas pains away! :cursing:

Sounds interesting! Ill havta give it a try. Was it a good amount of people? Doesn't seem like many people know about the banding center...

I had 0.4cc put in my band last week & have had a phenomenol difference! I could eat practically anything I wanted before & now I truly can't. A few 10ths of a cc do wonders. I'm now at 6cc and came from 5.6. that last time my doctor put me at 6cc I could not even swallow water, I was salivating & naseaous! He took out 0.4cc & I was better. I was nervous to go back for a fill after that but now at 6cc I feel fine. I think our bodies adjust to the tightness of the band over time so in a few weeks you'll be able to tolerate that same 0.2cc that gave you trouble. Its a process! If it didn't take time they'd just fill up the band completely at surgery. Im sure you'll do fine!

I agree with what the others suggested you do. You definitely need to redefine your relationship with food. I had a rough 2 months in bandster hell feeling like I could not stop myself once I got to a desperate kind of hungriness. Cravings are torture! I never was a big sugar eater so cutting out soda & sweets came easy but I'm a carbs addict & soon after surgery found my way back on rice, pasta & bread daily. My new found weakness: brownies!! Fine time to start liking choolate. I also had a lot of stress at home & work and truly saw how much of an emotional eater I am. So I avoided my fill appt for fear of showing up after over 8 weeks still at the same weight or only losing a few lbs. I was actually my worried about letting them down! But I realized this is not the doctors battle its mine. Who cares if he's disappointed in me I need help & clearly I can't do it alone. Turns out I did lose a little (which is always better than gaining) & by going in for that fill I FINALLY have some noticiable restriction. It was like the honeymoon period again of when I was first banded & had a lot of hope this would work. I feel rejuvenated & motivated again. Please go to your doctor & talk to him & get a fill. In a years time you could have had several fills & found your sweet spot so something tells me if you're still feeling hungry enough for 3 meals plus snacks then you haven't gotten your restriction so the band is not yet able to fully do its job. If you live alone then what's in your frig is on you so find healthy things you actually like to eat. Personally I love salad with lots of veggies & sliced turkey or chicken. Buy evrything low/fat free. Ditch the soda for crystal light. Little changes will help & you won't feel like you're dieting. Swimming is good but some weight training is helpful to increase your metabolism. Once you see improvement on the scale you'll be much more motivated to make better food choices & get up & active every day. On bad days I try to remember that I'm in the middle of a competition with myself & try to find other avenues of stress relief rather than eating. BUT if & when I do slip up I don't forfeit completely; I eat that brownie and "owe" myself an extra workout. After an extra workout I don't make that mistake again- at least for a while. If you can't hold yourself accountable find someone to be accountable to. You can find excercise buddies online, here, youtube, WW, a personal trainer or even just a friend or family member that you call & check in with weekly. Don't give up!!! This is a vicious cycle its up to you to end it & reclaim your life. Best wishes!

Glad to hear it! I have yet to make it to a meeting as I work nights on Mondays but I always wonder how they are? I tend to chat with people in the lobby on my fill days so that's just as well. Weds I met a man doing his pre-op, a woman who had lost 60lbs & another who was actually gaining weight. So its always interesting. Let me know how it goes; if there's good turn outs maybe ill have to adjust my schedule!:redface:

How'd your visit go? It was so busy in there today! Wow, I have some restriction finally!

Ah, I'm there at 1. Well let me know how it goes! Wow you're up late!haha

Haha well I might see you there I'm going in for a fill today so good luck! Oh & by the way I'm in el cajon so we're neighbors! :blushing:

Moo I went to the banding center in kearny mesa in april. I responded to you on another post but in case you don't see it: it was a good experience. I've had no issues with them & Dr. Martinez was a very good surgeon. PM me if you need any more help!

Hey y'all... sorry for the late reply I don't get on here nearly as much as I did pre-banding! Yes the price is still 15,300. They accept care credit which you can apply for online. Although their interest rate is ridiculously high! I had my surgery 4/14 my highest weight was 380lb. Its been almost 4 mts I'm currently at 335lbs. Most my weight dropped off in the first 6 weeks. (That honeymoon period where I was truly on top of my diet/excercise!) Now I lose about 1-2lb a week WITHOUT much actual effort. I did plataeu at 342 for 2 weeks though. (Vacation!) I've had 2 fills. Should be on my 3rd but I skipped one last month because I went to the Bahamas. (Ps: yes the band tightens on airplanes- awful cramps!) Anyways I'm going in this Weds for my 3rd fill. I already have a bit of restriction. I eat half as much as I use to but still can eat more than I should be. As you'll read it'll take time to find your sweet spot. The short of it is: yes its expensive but its worth it. I survived it with no infections, mistakes or a padded bill. It was a flat rate for the procedure & a year of visits- no matter how often or little you schedule an appointment. And yes I would recommend them! If you're like I was and looking for particulars, here's my personal experience... My surgeon was Dr. Martinez, he's a really calm & thorough surgeon. Albeit the center can be a bit unorthodox... the director practically lives there & he had the habit of calling me at odd hours (as late as 11pm) to check if I was coming for an appointment the next day. All the staff is friendly. If you're self pay it will all go pretty quick. Basically you'll get it as soon as you want it. Only 1 week of pre op dieting, which is suppose to consist of liquids only (although they say if you must cheat eat low fat, low carb items once a day but absolutely NOTHING 12hours pre op.) Protein shakes (even slim fast ultra) is approved with their nutritionist. And yes these are the hardest weeks you'll face: the 1 week pre-op & 1st week post op. You'll do all your pre op testing right there at the center, took about 2-3hours. Keep in mind its all about the $ when you're self pay so consult your own physician also about getting the band & under going a surgery- especially if you have health conditions (namely heart issues or diabetes) because you will not get a stress test from the banding center. Stress tests are required by insurance companies becuz they help foresee any complications but self pay they're not as concerned since its on your dime. I never took blood pressure meds before but during & immediately post op my BP was off the charts- (a sometime common side effect of the trauma of surgery & also anesthesia) so much so they almost didn't send me home. Luckily they did because a transfer to a hospital & an over night stay without insurance coverage would have put me in debt! So know your health. Dr. Martinez did give me a 30day supply of BP meds to ensure I stablized ok at home & he also had me come in 1 week post op to check up. He did respond promptly to a phone call to his cellphone over that first weekend. The pain meds (liquid) did the job! They will tell you the procedure is 45mins to an hour but for me it was over 3 hours. He did fix a hiatal hernia he found for no extra charge. He says thats standard procedure if found. That was an awesome bonus becuz I have no heartburn anymore. I was there from 7am til 3pm. Was suppose to be from 7am-12pm. But they will keep you as long as they need to for no extra charges. Dr martinez is only there on Wed's so all surgeries & follow up fills -if he's your doctor, will be on a Weds. First week post op was not so bad. Yes there's some pain & definate cramping from the CO2 he puts in. The 2nd day post op was the worst for me. I couldn't sleep because the port incision was very tender. (Have help at home!) Don't let the first day fool you- you're still full of the good drugs & can't feel the full effect yet. But it IS bearable. I was not hungry for days post op. The hernia repair he explained caused the bulk of my discomfort so if you get only the band it should go smoother for you. I recommened always holding in or using a pillow or something as a splint when getting up or turning over in bed becuz the port incision is soo tender when disturbed early on. At first my scars were small & light then they darkend by week 4. But they're not huge & you keep the bandages on til your first follow up in 2 weeks. Fills: he does your first fill 6weeks post op. He doesn't bend on that rule. For me my first one was easy. Its not painful- he will numb you first & he explains what he's doing. His assistant is nice & keeps you distracted. Second fill for me was harder. I had a lot of scar tissue & he had trouble sticking it just right. Luckily you don't feel anything except pressure. He won't let you leave if you have discomfort swallowing Water. So I've never had a throw up episode. I have experienced a slight & quick stuck feeling but that was my fault from eating too quickly. Everyone is different & tolerates pain differently but personally I was back to work in 1 week & I'm a nurse. I've seen some people out 2 or even 4 weeks but unless you're lifting all day I cannot fathom the need to stay out that long. Overall the band in the begining leaves A LOT up to you. You can eat a lot of things for the first few months- soda & ice cream for instance will always go down smooth. Its empty calories so things like this you must have the discipline to resist. Please have realitic expectations! I wached youtube videos pre banding & secretly expected to drop 50lbs in 8 weeks. Not gunna happen! The people with drastic results took drastic measures. I don't work out everyday. But I workout 3-4x a week. I DO eat out but I try to make better choices. The band has helped curb my appetite for at least 6-8hours even after a small meal. I have not been able to have "seconds" since banding so it does take some of the pressure off you. I hope this helps answer your questions & relieve some anxiety because clearly from my original post I know how you all feel. My only regret is not doing it sooner! Good luck ladies & keep in touch!

Ccinlv great moral! Weight loss is a struggle. The weight didn't come on in a few months so can't expect it to magically fall off in a few weeks. I was truly hoping to be the exceptiion to the rules & drop 50lbs in a couple weeks but it is definitely harder to change habits then I first thought. But determination will presevere. Keep in my mind that without the band most of us would be many more pounds heavier than we started rather the 30-40lbs we are down now. Best of luck to you all!

Its totally natural to deal with gas & constipation post op. Even if you're not taking your pain meds currently you have undoubtedly been eating much less the last week & received meds during surgery & also that *wonderful* Co2 that adds to the loely gas pains/cramps post op. If you're miserable by all means contact your MD but adding stool softner or MOM daily for a while (especially while taking narcotic pain meds) is a good idea. I'm 2mts post op still deal with gas (especially after eating too much or fiberous meals) and constipation at least once a week. No where near as miserable as immediately post op though! The gas pain & cramps is awful I know.. walking, gas X strips, heating pads, colace (stool softners), massages & small meals helped for me. Best of luck!

Not married but in a long term relationship. In the begining a lot of the few I told about the band were against it for various reasons. My mom totally supported me on it but now I feel has made it a competition! She first lost over 100lbs on her own & maintained for 10yrs and has been recently gaining a little. Now with my results starting to show she's been wanting to make sure she stays thinner than me, sounds odd but I think it was a confidence booster for her to be thinner than all her daughters. I think its nice tho to have someone challenge me, keeps me focused. (Have to look on the positive side of situations!) My bf on the other hand has always made comments about me potentially leaving once I hit goal and told me stories about knowing other women who started dressing 'slutty' and partying a lot or straying after weight loss. I let him know that's certainly not my intentions but I do hope for & expect to be able to wear better clothes & feel more confident & do more. I'm in my 20's & never once felt comfortable in crowds always being the biggest one in the room. It would be amazing to not be the punchline when I walk in a club. I can definitely hear the insecurity in him now but I keep him involved & always plan the future with him so he can see my loyalty. Everyone needs reassurance sometimes. 'Fat me' & 'thin me' will have different personalities I'm sure bc fat me felt a bit unworthy & insecure so I expect some rough days ahead with people who knew me only as 350+ having to adjust. On the upside my bf does compliment me & encourage me to do whatever makes me happy as long as I don't become 'too skinny'! But yes it seems those I knew who have always been smaller than me feel threatened & a few of the ones I bonded with bc we're both heavy can come across resentful. But personally this is about me, my life, health & happiness and I'm just going to keep on full speed ahead despite others opinions. Overall best we can hope for is peoples support & tolerance. It does help to put yourself in their position tho from time to time & reassure them as most of know what its like to feel insecure. And I definitely agree wt loss does help those trapped in abusive/loveless relationships get the confidence they need to move on!

Welcome jean! Congrats on the decision to go forward with surgery. Its an amazing tool I am soo happy I did it in april! We have almost exact porportions. I am 5'10 1/2 (use to be 5'11'' before I got so weighed down) and at my highest I was 380, by surgery I was 360 after the pre-op diet & have since lost another 25lbs in a little shy of 2mts with just one recent fill. Honestly I'm not out running marathons or completely off all 'bad' foods but I am still steadily losing with the band. Its an AWESOME tool. All I keep telling people is I want to never have to shop in lane bryant again.lol and be able to ride the rides at amusement parks. Simple goals but they mean the world to me so I completely understand where you're coming from. Its absolutely possible! Good luck on your journey!!

I have the samsung moment (android) I'm headed into the market to find that app! Thanks for posting.

6 weeks post op for me, which according to the 'lap band journey' is the standard although not the rule. My doc says he normally does 4cc the 1st time but for some reason tried 5cc with me-- it was awful I almost puked on his shoes. That was way to tight for me so he slowly took some out as I sipped water & once it felt comfortable he stopped unfilling. I ended up wit 4.4cc's. Who knew .6cc had such a drastic effect! Then again everyone is different. I also had a lot of scar tissue which I expected bc I have a keloid over every cut I've had in my life so that made it difficult for him to locate the port. Thank God he numbed me bc he was digging around for @ least 20minutes searching. His assistant had a confused look on his face so I'm guessing that's not that common that it be that difficult to find so don't let my experience worry you! I definitely feel ill have some bruising but to finally get some restriction again is exciting!

Id get a slight unfill. Today I had a fill to 5cc I was miserable with just water! My mouth was watering I was naseous so I went right back in & had an unfill of .6cc it did the trick immediately! Maybe an unfill & try putting it back in 2 weeks give your stomach a chance to adjust. Best wishes.

Seems to me you're eating basically what they say we should be eating with the band at adequate restriction level. I think the purpose is to lose initially since the quantity you're capable of eating has suddenly shifted. Your metabolism will adjust. I go for my first fill in 2 hours!! I'm looking fwd to some restriction. I have no idea how my weights been doing in the last 3 weeks as I only weigh in at his office. But I feel like I've either gained or not lost any since my initial 30lbs. I can eat anything & now 6weeks in will power is fading. Any amount of restriction would be welcomed as I know it helped my first 2-3wks post op curb my appetite! As long as you're not constantly vomiting or unable to at least keep fluids down I wouldn't worry too much. Keep in mind to make good food choices since you only get a couple ounces at a time, each bite counts.