shelyshely

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for this post. I don't feel so alone anymore. I got my lapband last July, lost close to 20lbs but have slowly gained 10lbs back. My doctor is a real jerk, he loves to hear himself talk, if I get to ask a question I am usually called down for the way I'm asking it. The words I use are always in question, such as "Should I..." was how I started to ask about bite sizes, he stopped me and started into some spill about the word "should". I never got to ask my question, I gave up. He is always very reluctant about adding more to my band, he won't tell me how much I have, he says that is not important. After my appointment with him this past Wednesday I have decided to find another doctor, I left there feeling so beat down. I'm sorry I wasn't here to complain about him, I was here to thank everyone who has posted here. It has given me hope. I had my 6th fill Wednesday, I had my usually two scrambled eggs this morning but had a hard time finishing them. I made myself eat them because I knew I would be getting hungry about an hour before my lunch. I was soooo wrong, I felt so yucky all morning and when lunch time came at 11:30 I couldn't eat. If I put anything in I felt like it might come back out. So at 1:30 I finally starting feeling hungry and had something. I hope this is the beginning of my sweet spot. But even if it is not I feel so much better after reading everyones stories and I feel like it is so close. Again I can not thank all of you enough!

Thank you Knaroz for the dinnerware suggestion, I love it. I think I'll go after work and get me some baby forks and start using our smaller plates (I think they are dessert plates). And as a lot of you said just eating slower, I already do that to an extent but I think I could slow down even more. From what everyone has said it looks like it is up to me to control my portions until I get to the sweet spot, I just hope it is around the corner. I think I am just suffering from a slight case of depression, I broke my arm 4-weeks ago and had a steel plate with twelve screws put in. My husband trying to make me happy would buy me Cookies, candy and trinkets during my time off from work, so I fell back into craving Snacks and sweets. Now I am back at work as an office manager (did I say this was a work related injury) they put me in a smaller office and said I should just answer the phones (they don't want me to over do it) they rarely ring. Business is so slow I read CNN stories all day and fight falling asleep at my desk. I think the boredom at work, the aching arm, physical therapy, and cravings are all bringing me down. I just need to get over this hump in the road. Thank all of you for your support it has given me some hope.

I'm so confused, on my second adjustment I told my doctor that I was trying to cut back on my food and control my intake, he corrected me and said "You don't work the band let the band work for you" he went on to say eat until you are full. I know this was not a free pass to gorge myself and eat like crazy, I still try to contain myself and eat a sensible amount of food. Well I have not lost any weight at all and at my last adjustment which was fill #4 he seems to be concerned that I have a 14cc band with a little over 10cc, he won't tell me exactly how much is in the band, he says that is not something I need to focus on. But he did tell me that the misunderstanding of the pouch filling with food and giving a feeling of fullness is a misconseption that most bandsters hold. He said the purpose is to slow down the eating process so that you will eventually stop eating because you feel that you have been eating long enough so therefore should be full. Here's my real issue: I don't have a problem eating anything, I can eat bread, rice any meats, anything. Some stuff sticks a little (rarely) I just stop eating for a minute and it passes through and I continue on. I need the band to work for me like he originally said, I have no real self control that's why I'm the way I am. If the band is just there to slow me down but I can still eat as much as I always could and anything I used to eat this is not going to help at all. My dieting record is three months then I lose all will power and go back to my bad habits. Someone please reassure me that this is not all there is, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and the band will assist me in my control issues. I need it to help me more than this, I'm losing control.

I broke my arm Jan 20 and had surgery the 21st to put in a steel plate and twelve screws. I have taken generic percocet and lortab, no problems swallowing them at all. Told the emergency room and my surgeon that I have a lapband. My question is does anyone know if these drugs will bother my band? I know it is kind of late to be asking that now, but today is the first day I can actually type. This morning I have a sore muscle kind of feeling in the band area. My wrists are starting to hurt too, my husband thinks all of this is coming to my attention because I am taking much less pain medication and my arm is not bothering me as much so other parts of my body are starting to show their signs from the fall. It has been a week and a half, can I still have aches and pains from then. I'm going for an adjustment in two days so I will of course discuss it with them when I get there. Just wanted to know what you all thought.

I just had my 3rd fill and decided to try Silk Almond Milk in my protein shakes. It was really good but about 45-minutes after I had the worst stomach cramps and then spent a lot of time in the bathroom. It was bad! I finally had to take an imodium. Has anyone else had trouble with Almond Milk? I think I will try it again but on the weekend and try a little at a time until I can tolerate it. I really want this to work out not only for the great taste but for the health benefits.

I too am a slow loser, I'm 4-months in and have only lost 17lbs. I haven't gone down in clothes sizes but the clothes I was stuffing myself into are now loose and I'm always having to pull up my pants as they bag off. I think us slow losers need to post more often to support each other. I really beat myself up when I see someone in my time frame has lost mega weight. When family ask I always say I've ONLY lost x-amount of weight, my husband scolds me and says you have lost and should be proud of that and quit thinking I haven't accomplished anything. Congrats and great job at your success Zeniada and all of the slow losers, at least we are now LOSERS!! Slow Losers Unite!!

My first scheduled fill; Dr. took some out, not sure why I had no real restrictions. Second scheduled adjustment he put some in but wouldn't tell me how much. It has been three weeks since then and I feel no different at all. I have actually gained 2 lbs. I can eat anything. I'm scheduled for my next fill on Dec. 1, should I call and request one earlier? I need some advice.

I'm in the same boat Summer, I am 3-months in this weekend and I've starting gaining weight. I didn't have to do a pre-op diet so I haven't lost much at all. I was down 15lbs but I've gained 4 back this week. I'm getting worried, I try to control my eating but sometimes those old habits creep back in. I don't go back for a fill until Dec 1st. I'm really getting worried about my self control. Let us know how things go for you after your fill, I hope this is the one that will do it for you. Third times the charm, isn't that what they say.

I went for my second fill yesterday. After it was all over my husband asked him how much he put in and he said that is not important. What is important is how I feel and that is what I should concentrate on. I kinda understand, this way I don't obsess with cc's I pay attention to how much I can eat, how slow or quick and when I feel full instead of thinking oh I have so-&-so cc's I should feel this now. My first fill wasn't even a fill, I found out he had put in 3cc's during surgery and he decided to take a smidge out on my first fill which caused me to eat like I always did. Although I did my best to control myself but there was nothing I couldn't eat and no amount that was too much. I didn't gain or lose weight during that time. So this morning I have eaten a banana but I'm scared to make my usual scrambled eggs, not sure if I can eat. Also don't know what to take for my lunch, usual chicken breast or Soup? Is anyone going through this in the dark on how many cc's they have? Is it working for you? Would knowing be more helpful?

Congratulations, I know you are just thrilled. I'm no longer rolling over the top of mine and I'm so excited about that; can't wait to reach your level.

So to my surprise I found out that I had 3cc in my band from surgery. I had no idea, no wonder food was getting stuck. After we discussed me taking 20-25 minutes to eat he decided to take out a tiny bit. He didn't really tell me how much but did tell me to come back in 4 weeks instead of 6 to adjust again. I'm kind of disappointed because I was so ready to start getting fills and eventually finding my sweet spot. But before I thought I was working with a empty band so now I know I'm not and maybe my mind will assist me. He did tell me to quit letting myself get hungry and waiting until the next meal time, eat when I feel hunger. I was drinking a V8 at work to tide me over until meal time, he said no more liquid calories, eat food when I need it. Oh and the needle, it wasn't so bad he numbed me with something that prick was uncomfortable but I didn't feel the needle at all. The worst was him pressing down on my stomach around the port I was so sore when I left. I think I am a little swollen around the port and my scar is purple now.

I'm leaving in about 15 minutes for my first fill. Everyone has said it is not as bad as you think, but I'm still really nervous. My stomach has been torn up this morning. I'll be so glad when this is over.

I'm a bank teller, had surgery on Friday went back to work on Wednesday and left a little early that day. I was really tired that whole week afterwards and should have taken that week off. Everyone knew I had surgery so they were really helpful and understanding, no one wanted me to over do it. The pain wasn't so bad I was just sore and felt weak, my pants were also uncomfortable so I had to wear pants that I would normally only wear at home to work.

I have been so tired lately. I work outside of the home and at home I'm a web designer so I get up and get on my computer before I leave in the morning and come home and get back on the computer. I'm too tired in the morning to exercise, when I get home I want to nap so bad. I get a least 8-hours of sleep every night. The house needs to be cleaned so bad but I don't want to do that either. I just want to sit or lay on the couch once I finish on the computer. Could I be lacking Vit B maybe? Any ideas?

I feel like I'm dehydrating, my mouth is so dry and I know my breath is suffering, or should I say the people around me are suffering from my breath. My Dr. recommends no liquids an hour before you eat, of course none while you eat, and none 2-hours after. So that is a total of 3.5 hours. Three meals a-day comes to 10.5 hours with no liquid, I sleep for 8 hours, so 18.5 hours leaves me 5.5 hours in the day. I don't know about you but I have to stop an hour or so before bed time or I will be up peeing. So what I'm getting at is I'M THIRSTY, I'm grumpy, I'm not losing weight, and I'm making the people around me miserable. I'll see my nutritionist next week when I get my first fill and I will talk to her about this but I was wondering what did your doctor tell you about being dry?

I get my first fill next week, it will be 7-weeks post-op. I am so hungry all the time, I hope this helps a wee little bit. I was losing a pound every two weeks but this week I have gained 2.5 lbs. So Sad

I will get my first fill in one week, sometimes I forget that I need to eat slow, small bites and chew, chew, chew so I have gotten stuck a few times right in the middle of my chest. Is that where my pouch is, it seems so high up and if I don't have any real restrictions yet how is it going to be when I do have a fill. I ate a boiled egg yesterday thinking it was soft and slick so there would be no trouble, after about two or three bites it was stuck, and they weren't that big of bites. I am looking so forward to getting the fills started I am sooooo hungry and I am trying to control myself. I have done well since surgery, I've lost 6lbs but this morning I have gained 1.5lbs, so sad.

I'm a bank teller in a very small town, our parking lot is really small and there are no stairs in the tiny building. My work schedule is different every day of every week, so it is so hard building a routine. I think I am starting to panic on the exercise thing because I go to see my nutritionist next week when I get my first fill. On our first meeting she had us sign a contract stating what we were going to do in terms of exercise. Needless to say I have not done that and I don't want to fess up to it. I have been so super moody and down this week. I know finding something that gets me moving more will make me feel better and increase my weight loss, I just need to figure out what that is. Thanks for all of you uplifting words and suggestions, I don't know what I would do without all of you.

I have found that if I chop or slice a boiled egg I'm fine, I just can't hold a whole egg and take bites out of it. I think it is mostly me not taking small bites and not chewing enough. I'm looking soooo forward to getting started on my fills. I have been so hungry the last two weeks that my body is aching. I eat and two hours later I'm hungry again.

I understand where you are coming from. I am getting my first fill next week, when is yours? I am scared to eat, I want this to work so badly that I keep falling back to the soft foods choices. I've been living on Peanut Butter with Protein mixed in, Protein drinks, V8, pudding cups, tuna, eggs, some chicken and fish. I have eaten wrong for so many years that I feel like all food is going to be bad for me. I liked the weeks right after surgery because it was so easy, we were so limited on choices and they told us exactly what to have and when. On my own I suck. Although, I have found a great site with some cool recipes that I am slowly trying maybe it will help you too. theworldaccordingtoeggface She has had gastric bypass but she has some great tips and ideas.

Thank you TrishFish, at first I thought drinking was prohibited because it would fill you up, then the nutritionist said it would wash your food away too soon and make you hungry sooner. But she didn't cover the pain part and you are so right. I have gotten stuck a few time and of course take a sip of Water which usually comes right back out. But I never associated it with the pain, ohh the pain. I am going to try and stop grabbing something to drink when I sit down to eat and get myself trained before my first fill. Just had my Breakfast of cream-of-wheat with no liquid, it fills so wrong not to be sipping something. And Chickadee81 thanks for the web site link, I'm loving her recipes. Can't wait to do some shopping so I can try some. This is such a great place to share and learn, I love all of my fellow bandsters.

After 10 days post-op I had a phone appointment with the nurse, she gave me to okay to start pureed foods and move to soft at my own pace and to be eating regular foods (without liquids at meal time) by the time I come in for my first fill. She said to eat until I was full. I had tuna that evening and it was fine. I went out to a mexican restaurant with friends a couple of days later and ordered cheese enchiladas, chewed them well and they were fine, didn't eat all of my food, probably could have but it was taking me too long to eat. From that point on I have had just about anything that I can chew well, haven't tried any red meat yet and no bread, tried bread once and it got stuck (no more for me). I'm about three weeks away from my first fill, the nurse said I should be able to eat anything and to eat dry by that time. That is where I think I will struggle, I need Water when I eat, it just makes me feel like I'm washing the food down. I feel like it is going to get stuck if I don't push it down with liquid.

I feel the same way Jamie, I watch everything I eat, don't want to gain the little weight I've lost back. Keeping my calories/carbs low and feel like I should be losing more weight. Are we living off of our reserved fat right now? Will our body get used to low calories and eventually give in and let us lose? Everyone says it will happen I just can't wait until it does. I keep thinking next year at this time I will feel so much better about myself, physically and mentally. We can do it!!

I never seen him before or after surgery, he seen my husband to let him know I had a hernia he took care of, but he never came by to see me. I'm going for my first fill on Sept. 9th, not sure if I will see him or a nurse.

I'm 16 days post-op, I haven't had any problems drinking everything goes down so easily. I was told I could start eating soft foods last Wednesday and progress to solids by Sept 9th when I get my first fill. Eating tuna has been a breeze, I sampled a piece of beef at a wine tasting that went down great. Had cheese enchilada's with friends at a restaurant, no problem. Well needless to say I have been feeling like I have no restrictions at all, I'm invincible, can eat just like before. Oh, so not true, I was out shopping and grabbed a grilled chicken sandwich brought it home took a bite swallowed, took another bite still good, third bite stuck, OMG ran to the bathroom but didn't throw it up, it never came up but slowly went down, I drank Water after and seemed to be fine. Decided to go back to cream Soup for dinner went down good, had company and started drinking wine, way more than I should have, but was okay. This morning had my coffee, fine, then my Protein Shake wouldn't go down I was also swallowing a Vitamin at the same time, I had to wait until it slowly went down and sipped the rest. Now I took a big swallow of water and it got stuck and was hurting for a minute. Right now my throat and chest are hurting, not real bad just uncomfortable. Have I irritated my stomach, hot liquids are going down easily but not cold or room temp? I'm going to do liquids all day today. What have I done to myself?