sandman27959

OK, here's my perspective. I apologize in advance for the long post. Find the most skilled, smartest, most experienced surgeon you can find. You want the person that other doctors go to for advice. This will minimize the risk of an improperly placed or adjusted band. My surgeon is scary good and that's exactly what I wanted. He placed my band with one 1-1/2" laproscopic incision. Follow the rules to the letter. A lot of people (including me) have major psychological issues with food. If we didn't, a lot of us wouldn't be in this position. Stick to the fundamentals so you minimize the risk of problems with the band being a result of something you did or didn't do. I got my band in 2010. I've lost about half of the weight to my goal since then and kept it of - 60 pounds. I've NEVER been able to keep weight off that long before regaining it, so in that sense it's worked. I also "fell off the wagon" for a period and I'm back on now thanks to my surgeon's great advice. I've lost another 15 since my last fill and consultation with my doctor. I sheepishly went in to my appointment and explained the whole situation, and he told me something that really hit home. a. It takes most people about 5 years to REALLY learn how to use the tool correctly. I'm a food addict, so breaking the chain of addiction for me has taken longer than most already. Would I have done it without this tool? Absolutely not. b. Had I fallen "off the wagon" and had surgery that was non-adjustable, I would have little recourse. As it is, doc gave me another fill, reiterated the rules to me, and I'm now 15 pounds lighter because the band is restricting my hunger as it should. c. After a while, the "restrictions" of the band become part of your make-up. I can't run a 5-minute mile, but that limitation doesn't stop me from living an exciting, fun-filled life. The way I eat now is comfortable and part of my daily life. I don't miss gulping down huge portions of food, and don't miss weighing 300 pounds either. I know I keep suggesting this in my posts, but go to YouTube and search for "Dr. Paul O'Brien 8 Rules Intro" and watch all four parts. Dr. O'Brien is probably the most experienced Lap-Band surgeon on Earth, and these videos explain the mechanisms that make the band work. This information is what allowed me to get back on track. Long way around, but yes, absolutely I'd get the band again. It's saved my life. It's adjustable, it's reversible, it's effective. Recovery time is shorter. I have a friend who had bypass and has had great results too. It's an intensely private decision, but at least now you have one more perspective. D.

Depends on the brand and type. My Allergan AP-L ("L" for large) holds 14 cc's. I'm at 9 and am feeling like that's my green zone, but everybody's is different. I think the smaller Allergan AP-S (small) holds 10cc's. I went to the Allergan site and looked mine up. If yours is a different brand I'll bet you can find that at the manufacturers site if you know that information. Generally speaking, the larger a person is the higher their basal metabolism (or base caloric requirement), so larger people will tend to lose weight a little faster in the beginning. As your fuel requirement drops because you're getting smaller, your basal metabolism will shrink too. In other words, the deficit between what you eat and what you burn becomes less. This is a greatly oversimplified explanation. but I think you get the idea. D.

That's so cool! Glad to hear it's working out. I learned a little something about myself when this started happening to me. I had to learn how to graciously take a compliment about my appearance! This is the good stuff. Enjoy it. D.

I agree with running_scared. One of the main features of the band is that when it's adjusted properly it reduces (or eliminates) hunger between small meals. You're losing because you're being so diligent. When you get properly filled, it will become exponentially easier because you won't be hungry all the time. The biggest "ah ha" moment I had was when my doctor recommended I watch a few videos on YouTube. Go there and search for "Dr. Paul O'Brien 8 Rules Intro." This guy is an Australian doctor who's probably the most experienced Lap-Band surgeon on the planet. He explains the mechanisms that make the band work. I was having trouble putting everything together until I watched the 4 intro videos. Good luck! D.

Hey Erin! Getting that "stuck" feeling is one of the things that you have a great deal of control over. Just stay with the fundamentals your doctor tells you and you should be fine. Take really small bites, chew well allowing about a minute between bites, and stay away from anything really dry and you should be fine - especially now when you probably aren't feeling a lot of restriction. If you're like me, you're going to have to learn how to eat all over again. I always ate so fast, gulped down huge bites, and could polish off a meal in a few minutes. When I have had PB's (productive burping) it was more like vomiting, but not nearly as gut-wrenching because the food didn't have to travel far. (Sorry to be graphic, but that's the topic.) It wasn't pleasant by any means, but it wasn't the end of the world either. You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel afterwards. I just try to never do it because I don't want to stress the plumbing. Go to YouTube and search "Dr. Paul O'Brien 8 Rules." Great videos from a doctor who is probably the most experienced lap-band surgeon on the planet. Good luck and don't stress out over it. If it happens, just learn from it and try not to make it happen again. D.

OK, here's another perspective. I had surgery April 15th, 2010 and have lost 56 pounds since then. I just had my 3rd fill (I have the larger 14cc band) and I'm just now beginning to have a little restriction. Pretty much all of the weight I've lost up to this point has been my own lifestyle changes. Is it frustrating that the band isn't really working yet? Yeah a little, but it will work eventually. My extensive research before surgery taught me what to expect, and that is that there is a period before the band starts really kicking in that you're on your own. It's good you're venting, because I feel like that's one of the purposes of a board like this. I would also say "Trust the process." Do what your doctor tells you to do and don't look for shortcuts. Shortcuts are what got me into this mess (being obese). Your doctor has your best interest at heart and wants to see you succeed, so relax and enjoy the journey. If you do what you've always done, you're going to get the same result you've always gotten. I hope it works for you, and it will because you'll make it happen. Best of luck.

Hi Kimmy, Long time lurker - first post. Woo-hoo! I'm 3 months post-op and get a lot of the same questions from my friends and family. I think Cocoabean has it right by focusing on something positive when you don't have something special to share. The thing I try to remember is that most of the time the people who ask are coming from a caring place and are genuinely interested, so I don't think of it as pressure. Keep on keepin' on. D.