hiddnstar

Im so sorry to hear the problem you are having. One of the symptoms I had were esophogeal spasms and signs of reflux (must have been silent reflux). In my case, my body could not support the band. I struggled with it for 3 years before having the band removed. I feel so much better now! I am finding that I learned a lot during those 3 years and I am continuing to lose weight! Don't give up hope of reaching your goal, even if you can't revise. I was pleasantly surprized that I really did develope new eating habits, have a different relationship with food, and am not afraid of being hungry! I'm also finding that healthy foods are calling my name and when I eat something, like for instance, ice cream, it really doesn't taste that good -- and I can take it or leave it. I just recently realized that! So, please know that all is NOT lost ! Continue on with your intervention; use the energy from your commitment, realize that you are in charge band or no band. I empathise with you and wish I could give you a big hug. Try to regroup and show your strength. You're going to succeed no matter what! Come what may! ~hiddn

Its wonderful to hear so much success and happiness! Yay! ~hiddn

I had my band out in September and it was relatively easy, thank goodness. It seems to me that I gained 3-5 pounds, but after about a week I was losing again. I continued to eat as though banded and ate low carb. I had a lot of nausea for about 8 hours. I was also up all night, though not for any particular reason - unless the anti-nausea meds keep you up? I didn't have any pain to speak of. I thought I was on pain meds thru the IV, but I wasn't. Just anti-inflammatory. I did, however, use pain meds at home for a few days. One thing that really really helped (though it seemed impossible when I read the orders) was that my surgeon included walking 5 times a day to his written at-home orders. My surgery was held up, so I didn't get out of the OR until 6pm or so. I spent the night and the doctor agreed to discharge when he saw me at 7am. THEN it took several hours to get that done. By 6pm the day I went home, I walked outside for about 5 minutes. After that, I went out for 10 minute walks, 5 times a day. It helped keep me active, helped move the gas they pumped me up with, helped pass the gas from the intestines, and helped structure my days! I highly recommend it. It's not like I was eager to do it, either. I forced myself to do it and it really payed off. What is everyone doing to facilitate weightloss now that you are bandless? I feel so very much better without the band - my body could not support it. I know about 7 people at work who have the band and never feel it inside them; they all love their bands!! And it's wonderful seeing them each get healthy and look great! The Lap Band just was not for me. ~hiddn

Hi Bandista! Thank you for the recipe and instructions! Chicken soup sounds pretty easy to make. I was thinking of getting an already cooked chicken (because Im not real good at cooking it)...but how would boiled chicken do in chicken soup? And if thats ok, how long do I boil it? I'll use white meat. Gosh! have to run...dr. apppt! Thanks again! ~hiddn

Hi! Does anyone have a very simple chicken soup recipe? I am not the kind of cook who can just put together something delicious! I can bake, but not cook. I'm looking for a clear broth (probably store bought organic) and will bits of chicken, carrot, and celery. Would onion be something to add? I don't want a slick of fat on top. I've had exactly what I want and am trying to recreate it without a recipe. Does anyone know a trick or process that will produce this kind of soup? I feel like an idiot because it almost seems like people are born knowing how to make chicken soup! But I wasnt! I need step by step instruction. I really want a very simple but satisfying clear soup with a few ingredients and no noodles or rice. And not from a can, though I do plan to use organic broth from a box. Thank you for any help you can be. I hope everyone is enjoying the day! Yay for Fall! Soup weather! ~hiddn

Thank you! I looked at the recipe and it looks like something I can do! Thank you for the link! ~hiddn

I like this one: Pork Stew 1.5 pounds pork shoulder (aka: pork butt) garlic powder 1 box chicken broth 1 cup diced onion carrots chopped small celery chopped and de-stringed 1 can of stewed tomatoes Little red potatoes, cut up salt and pepper to taste 3 T. butter, softened 3 T. flour (or Perfect Blend gluten free flour) I cut the pork shoulder into chunks, sprinkle on garlic powder and sear them. Then layer the meat, onion, potato, carrot, celery. Add the stewed tomatoes and then pour the broth over the whole thing. I cook mine for 10 hours on low. 1/2 an hour before it's done, mix together the butter and flour. Then drop by tablespoon into the crock pot and stir. This will thicken the stew. The meat is very tender and the flavors of the other ingredients go together nicely. I hope you like it! ~hiddn

Congratulations! I'm glad to hear things went smoothly for you. My surgeon gave written orders for me to walk 5 times a day after surgery. At first I was shocked at the expectation, but once I got into doing that, it was great!! I set a timer for when I needed to do a walk and would walk 10 minutes. (the first few days it was 5 minutes, but I quickly went up to 10). That is close to an hour walk a day! For me that is over 2 miles...which REALLY shocked me! One reason to keep moving is that it keeps your stamina up. Plus it helps with the removal of the gas they used to bloat your abdomin up during surgery. It also helped with my mood, giving me a sense of accomplishment since I couldn't do my regular activities. It helped structure the day! So, it's one idea I wanted to pass on to you. Walk every 90 minutes of daylight. Take good care of yourself while you focus on letting your body heal this first month. Since I was eating a lot less, I decided to buy all organic foods. Be kind to you. It's wonderful that you've provided this intervention on your own behalf! ~hiddn

Hi I can't find the answer in the Rules section and need to get to work, so can't search any longer----but my question is, does anyone know what "This Topic Locked" means? I saw it on one thread and assume no one else can add anything. Please excuse me if Im posting this question in the wrong place; Im just not seeing where to find the info or ask the question. Thank you! ~hiddn

I especially like what you said about the difference between eating to get full and eating to satiation. One of the most frustrating things for me with the band was I never felt full. I really missed that sensation. What you said is a really important piece of information that I think would help a lot of Lap Band patients right off the bat. Another area I felt lost about was getting a fill. What is restriction supposed to feel like? My surgeon seemed to expect me to know! If anyone can accurately describe the sensation of what restriction feels like as you drink the glass of Water during a fill, that might be helpful to a lot of people just starting out. It sure would have been helpful to me! Thanks again, Missy, for providing some really good info! ~hiddn

"She also said most people with a band suffer psychological trauma as well as physical trauma." Hi! I found this intriguing. Can you say more about what she was referring to? ~hiddn

Thank you to everyone who answered my question! ~hiddn

Thank you for answering! I wonder where she went. She was really helpful and very successful, tool. I appreciate your answering my post! ~hiddn

Hi! When I first started coming to Lap Band Talk in 2010 there was a member named, Indigo Girl. She was already at goal and posted a lot of very helpful information. Does anyone remember her and does anyone know whatever happened to her? She was a member of the Lucky Sevens (I think that was the name...it was people banded in July of a particular year I believe). Thank you for any help you can be! ~hiddn

Thank you for sharing that! ~hiddn

Thank you! I can feel you coming from your heart Good luck to you, as well! I love your outlook on life. ~hiddn

wow, you've been thru the wringer. How are you doing now? Was it helpful to eliminate those foods? What is the next step? Hang in there! ~hiddn

Hi again! Yay! Good choice you made!! I wanted to tell you, too, that because of your post earlier, as I responded to it, I was reminding myself of what works for me. I just got back from finishing my 3 miles of walking! You email inspired me. I also learned that someone reaching out is just as powerful a "giving" as someone reaching back! Thank you! Keep up your good work and be kind to yourself! ~hiddn

I really like what you had to say. You gave your own personal reasons for a very personal type of surgery. And I especially like that you have been successful!!! Yahoo! Let's get this "trespassing" thing OUT of our combined forum!! Being at odds with people who are dealing with the very same medical issue we all have (obesity) doesn't make any sense....and we're all doing the best we can do right now. Some days we're doing pretty well, other days not so much. Thank you for your reply! ~hiddn

HI! I SO know what you're talking about! 27 pounds from goal is wonderful! Do you have plans for how you will Celebrate reaching your goal? Would it help to focus on that for a while to get thru this particularly hard time? One thing that has helped me is to practice accomplishing goals. Like, my goal for today is to walk 3 miles. (so far I've walked 1.5 miles...but it's still light outside!). When some piece of food is calling my name, I make my goal to not eat it until tomorrow. (and then what usually happens is I feel so good about not eating it that I don't eat it the next day either!). It's helped me to remember how good it felt when I stuck to my weightloss focus and passed an opportunity to do otherwise. It feels so good to recognize the power of your own intention! I know all this is just talk, but I hope it may light a fire under your own imagination to come up with what may work for you. Remember to love yourself. What a very loving thing you've done for yourself to have stayed so focused and to have lost so much weight . One of my personal goals is to get below 200 pounds. I once got to 201!!! and then suddenly I was 204, then 206....all the way up to 235. Talk about self sabotage!! I was having complications back then. Im back down to 216, now. I know what it feels like to wake up in the morning knowing I stayed on-goal the day before. It really fuels my day! It has helped me to focus on the excitement of the whole thing!!! How many people are in your life who have done what you have done! It also helps me to be successful one more day... and one more day....and one more day. I'm glad you wrote here. If nothing else, please know you are not alone. Ever. ~hiddn

Thank you for posting the link! Their after pictures are amazing and very motivating! ~hiddn

Very good idea to have a good sit down with your doctor. I wonder how old the oldest person with a Band is and how it has been for them as they got older? I had my band removed because my body could not tolerate it and I am continuing to lose weight without it, and fairly easily. Congratulations on reaching and keeping your goal!!!! It's great you have the foresight to start making plans about what to do in accordance with your situation and what's best for your health. I hope you'll share what your doctor says! ~hiddn

Wow, this thread seems to have gotten out of hand...I can't keep up with who said what. I hope the belief that seems to be stated in this thread that ANYone is "trespassing" on here will end right now. I think people with different opinions, different backgrounds, different ways of expressing their experience, and especially people who have chosen a different solution to the same problem I have (obesity) can really add a lot to the discussions we are all here to have. I'm not here to agree or disagree with anyone. Sometimes I read a post out of curiosity and sometimes I read it because I think I might be able to help and sometimes I read it because I think it might help ME! And I guess I have assumed that is why we're all here. Assumptions tend to get me in trouble especially when I assume someone elses intent. I hope we can all get back to some clarity here. I hope all are welcome on this site. And as we all know, being respectful of eachother's differing view points is a must. I have learned a lot from people with completely different view points than mine. Sometimes hearing from them cements my own point of view even stronger, but there are times when it has really helped to see something from a different vantage point that I wouldn't otherwise have seen. Amanda, I hope you'll pop in as you like along with anyone else who would like to be part of supporting each other on one of the most difficult things we will ever do in this lifetime. ~hiddn

Hi This is a very touchy subject. I've read about different reasons the Lap Band is decreasing in popularity --- the rate of complications for one, the economy (as in insurance companies paying for inplantation but leaving patients stuck paying for removal if that becomes necessary--so patients opting for a different kind of WLS that as more predictable complications which tend to come early on rather than years down the road). There are all kinds of articles quoting studies of Lap Band success and complications showing opposite results. One study says one thing, another study just the oposite. ABC News has broadcast info about one study that shows an alarming rate of complications. I would like more detailed info about why, exactly did those specific people have complications. Like many people on this site, I believe education on how the Band works and YOUR part in making it a success is key. I remember being so excited that I could get banded and lose weight that I didn't care how it worked - - just that it did! And I thought I was so very lucky that my surgeon only required that I lose 20 pounds before surgery and attend 1 support group meeting (along with the basic requirements of tests and the psychological approval). I was banded within 2 months of my first consultation. There is a weight loss and metabolism center an hour from where I live (Im in a rural county) that has people go thru an intense educational process with written TESTS you have to pass, a diet and exercise program you must participate in for 6 months, and all kinds of classes and support available (including a cooking class and a walking class in which the surgeon also participates!). Only then will you sit down with the surgeon to discuss what you need to lose further weight. Many many people who go there find out they are actually losing a lot of weight without surgery! And there are also those who choose to add more oooooomph. After 6 months of eating well and exercising regularly, they simply add another tool to their already successful weight loss program. They continue with the program having added some oooomph and are quite successful all around. The surgeon's who are involved with this center rarely remove bands and don't see the rate of complications that have been reported in studies. That being said, there are other reasons a Band may not be appropriate for someone. I'm not sure what kind of additional tests could be done to make sure a person's body can handle a Band. For me, my body could not handle it but I didn't know that. I was very uncomfortable from the very beginning of being banded and had only a little restriction after 3 fills; I needed more Fluid in the band in order to get true restriction, but my body was too sensitive to handle any more fill. I had my Band removed. (I DID lose considerable weight during the 3 years I had it inside me!! And I continue to lose weight now that it's out. I don't regret being banded). There is a real mix of people on this site with varying degrees of success and difficulties. My impression of those with great success is that they use the band only as the tool it was designed to be. It is only 1 part of their weight loss journey, not the whole kit and caboodle. I have read that surgeons are shying away from Lap Bands because they have to be continually involved with Lap Band patients (with fills and un-fills and complications that tend to come later on, not in the beginning). Sleeve and GP patients tend to have complications in the beginning (IF at all) and once those are resolved they are good to go (though malnutrition issues need to be monitored, of course). Lap Band patients tend to do great in the beginning but can have slippage, erosion, and rejection by the body later on. (This is one thing people who are considering being banded need to consider when choosing the band. Is your insurance company likely to support you later on if there are complications? Like 10 years from now?) I hope with all the continous research on obesity and what causes it in the first place, a new education of the public will commence as it did with the dangers of cigarette smoking and second hand smoke, etc. Hopefully down the road obesity will be fully understood AND avoided or the cause treated successfully in the first place. Maybe 50 years from now WLS will be uncommon because there is no need!! Wouldn't that be amazing! That's my view at the moment. I didnt realize I'd gotten so wordy! ~hiddn.

Slice a banana and heat it up in the microwave for 1 minute with a little bit of butter. (or half a banana for 1/2 a minute) Hot, mushy yam! Comforting hot tea and a good movie. Hot Thai tapioca! I hope you feel better, soon. ~hiddn