My story, sad but true

[jennhatten 3]

My name is Jennifer and this is my story. It all started after my divorce. I had been gaining steadily since my youngest daughter was born. I tried weight watchers, exercise programs and carbohydrate addicts diet. I would lose no more than 20 and then start gaining again. I explored the lap band option and found good news. My insurance paid for it! I had my surgery in 2008 and started on my journey to losing 80 pounds. What I didn't know was that my hair would fall out, I couldn't eat anything healthy without throwing it up. I started bruising easy and my body hurt all the time. I tried some 5K's and walking but anymore than that I felt like my body had been tossed around in a cement truck. My doctor at the time kept stating that I was eating wrong and I needed to chew better. It didn't matter, I still threw up and sometimes threw up Water and my pills. I got another fill and immediately had to have an emergency unfill. I started gaining again. I lived on Protein shakes and mashed potatoes but only a little. Again, the doctor didn't listen and I insisted on having an unfill. Over the last few years I have gained back up to my pre-op weight.

Now, I'm starting over again. I went to another doctor who told me it was normal to throw everything up and to be miserable. My band looks good and there isn't anything wrong. He went on to tell me that my diet was wrong and I was told wrong. He explained that I should only eat dry dense meats and doughy food and that no one should eat fruits and vegetables because all they are is sugar. This goes against everything I have ever read or learned. I went into this process to be healthier and stronger, not to feel like a bulimic, weak person

At this point I'd like to use my band but I feel like I have no support and no one understands. I have been reading about food intolerance and inflammation during that "time of the month" causing banders problems. It seems like everything that could go wrong it has. I do want to continue this process but I really need some help and support. I need advice on how to deal with the pain everytime I eat. HELP!

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Wow. I don't recognize that advice you got whatsoever. Can you try to find a doctor in a bariatric center of excellence? This attitude seems way off, and you seem to feel that it is too. I hope you can get your band working for you with a doctor who feels right for you.

[lisacaron 5,075]

@@jennhatten I'm sorry to hear of all the troubles you have been experiencing, and happy for you that you are working your way back toward being healthy.

It is good news that your band is in good order and ready to help you on your journey. The first thing I have to tell you is that you need to find another Dr. It is NOT normal for you throw up all the time. You should be able to eat anything and everything. Yes there are some people who experience food intolerance, but that is true for everyone not just WLS or banded patients. You will learn as you go what works and what doesn't and how to modify your life style around those things.

The key to eating with the band is practicing good eating mechanics. That does not mean eating soft and mushy foods or living on shakes. Mashed potatoes are not doing anything for you. There is precious little nutrition to be found there.

Another key to being healthy is eating healthy, and that includes fruits and vegetables. Now it's true sometimes these items are hard for banded patients to consume. They may have stringy or rough bits that can become trapped in the stoma and cause a bolus that blocks up the stoma stopping food from passing.

So these items should be minimized to avoid this, but if you cook vegetables well and eat fruits that you chew well and avoid things that might be difficult to swallow like apple skins etc you will be just fine. Another way to add these nutrients to your diet is by blending them if you need them.

The number one nutrient our bodies need is Protein. Protein is not stored in the body for any length of time, so you must replenish it daily. You can do that in the form of eggs, chicken, fish, beef and many other things like Protein Bars and shakes. Not consuming enough protein could be the reason for hair loss and weakness.

So my advice....

Find a Dr. that is a band specialist, on that has a nutritionist on site and can help you learn good eating mechanics.

For today...start from the very beginning. Go back to pre-band...were you on a pre-op diet? Follow that for a couple of days. Reset, and begin practicing good eating mechanics. Cutting things into tiny pencil eraser sized bites, chew chew chewing the food you eat, taking a minute between bites to allow that bite to pass the band before taking another bite. If you stack up one bite after another this could be the pain or stress you feel as your esophagus works harder to push the stacked up food past the band. Sit down and eat a meal, avoid distractions if possible. Plan your meals in advance and drink lots of Water.

In no time you will be back on track and most importantly feeling better!!!

Make an appointment with your regular Dr. for some blood work to find out if you are having any deficiency in vitamins/minerals or need any additional supplementation to start get a good chew able Multivitamin.

Kick up your heels welcome back on the band wagon!!! Here we go!!!

[Bandista 7,466]

Hi there, so glad you found this forum as we all get a lot of support from one another here. It's good news on your band being fine -- now to begin anew. The links below in my signature really helped me understand so much about how the band is meant to work. I didn't use Dr. Simpson but I sure read his site -- a lot of great information there. And the Golden Rules of Lapband helped me a lot, too. Good luck to you and don't give up. Choosing yourself and your healthy future first and foremost is a tremendous step. Best wishes!

[Sharpie 3,306]

You need to find another Doctor Immdiately. none of the stuff he told you is true. It is not at all normal to throw up all the time and eating doughy foods and no vegetables is so unhealthy. doughy foods will cause sliming and throwing up. do some research and find someone who is a bariatric specialists. I have had my band 2 years and have not experienced any of the things you are describing, however I have an excellent Doctor who gave me nutritional information and was very conservative with fills. Best of luck to you and coming on this site and getting advice is a good step.

[jennhatten 3]

I went to there rules class today. It is quite apparent that they are misleading everyone. The center is pushing people to eat "dry, dense, doughy" foods. I questioned it several times and was told it was not necessary to eat veggies. The doctor that originally performed my surgery has closed shop so I will be taking my records elsewhere. Thank you all for your suggestions. I will NOT be going back.

[TheProfessor 378]

Good for you jennhatten for taking control back over your banded well-being...! Like the other banders who have commented, I am perplexed and utterly astonished at the advice that was given you re: food choices.

I was banded by a wonderfully reputable surgeon in Toronto who said Protein, veggies, greens, high quality nutrient rich food was key. Very few carbs (no doughy foods, certainly no breads or simple carbs...) exercise, small portions, healthy, healthy, healthy!

And as for veggies and fruits, they are a great source of fibre, a wonderful source of Calcium... especially those greens and non-root based vegetables (high GI carrots, potatoes tubers... anything that grows in the ground).

This is your opportunity to eat smaller portions of delicious healthy foods... and when eaten right, no sliming or vomiting. Vomiting and productive burps are NOT normal... they are the exception, not the rule. They mean you are taking bites that are too big, not chewing your food to a paste before swallowing or not waiting 45 seconds between bites.

Learning curve...we're all on it with you!

Get a bariatric specialist to support you and let the NEW stage of your journey begin WELL!