Getting Frustrated!!!

[skinnyjenny08 0]

Hi everyone- ive been banded for about 5 weeks now. and to be honest, i dont feel any different!!! i feel as though im eating more than i should, or thought i would. i lost 18 pounds the first 2 weeks, including the pre-op diet. but now im afraid ive gained a few pounds back. i havent had my first fill yet.. i get that october 8th! my mom has been banded for several months now and she tells me that after i start getting my fills the weight will start coming off, that this is normal. she also said that things i can eat now i may not be able to after i start getting fills. my question is: anybody else going through this?? and is there light at the end of the tunnel or is always going to be like this? im starting to wonder why i did this if nothings going to change. ugh!!! help please!!!!

[Ange05 0]

Dont worry Jen, im with ya.

We have very similar circumstances.

I was banded about 5 weeks ago aswell and I lost 15 pounds and no more.

No weight is coming off what so ever.

I have had 1 fill already but it did nothing and I am going back for my second on October 22nd.

Hang in there, you just need the right restriction like I do aswell, then the weight will come off with smaller portions. Yes there will be some things you wont be able to eat once you get suitable restriction, but I see it as a small price to pay for weight loss.

I have 4ml in a 10ml band and it's not enough for me as yet, but everyone is different.

I am eating normal meals at the moment, doesn't feel like I have even had surgery, so I know what your going through.

Edited September 27, 2008 by Ange05

[Emilie1 3]

Jennifer,

Where in Texas are you located? I am in the Austin area. I am not banded yet, but should be on Oct 13th. I know you need to give your band time to heal. It is a tool and it will work just give it time. Good luck...you will do great.

[gone 4 ever 6]

Listen to your mother. This is perfectly natural. It is called bandster hell. This will be until you start getting fills and hit your sweet spot. I know it is frustrating but hang in there.

[NukeChik 1]

Listen to your momma, she's right. Nothing prepares you for the frustration you feel the first 2-3 months after surgery. I have been banded for almost 9 months and I wouldn't say I got good restriction until about 6 months out. It will take awhile to get you at a correct fill level. Try and be patient.

[winchester2514 0]

I was banded about 3 weeks ago and I also feel I'm eating to much. I lost 11 lbs the first two weeks and now this week only 1. It's a little fustrating. However, I'm going to heed the advise from your mom and the rest of the bandster's and wait until I get that perfect fill before I start to panic again. Thanks everyone.

[skinnyjenny08 0]

Thanks for all your comments!!! oh- and emilie1 im in clifton, tx!!!

[jillrenee15 0]

I am in the same boat as you. I am only 2 weeks out, but on mostly solids already. I can't eat quite as much as I used to, but about half. I'm not losing anymore either. I lost 12 pounds the first week, then nothing. But I am honing my lapband eating skills. Small bites, chew thoroughly, nothing to drink with meals, eat slowly. I feel confident once I get a fill the first week of Nov. I will start losing again. I do feel full for longer. It is hard to train myself not to snack like I used to. That is the hardest part for me, oh and no Diet Coke is killing me.

[DanTheMan 0]

I got my band about a year ago. When you have the procedure they don't put anything in the band, they just clip it together and allow a few weeks for the stomach to heal around it. I recall that a part of the stomach is even folded over and stitched to help keep the band from slipping...all of this needs to heal.

I think I had my first fill after about 4 weeks. When you a fill, it irritates the stomach and as a result it swells. It takes about 2-3 days for the swelling to go down for you to see just where you stand for that “fill”. My Doc gives me a “fill”, sits me up, and has me guzzle some cold Water. He always says, "That should pass easily".

Before my 3rd fill I felt as you guys do—very little change. I did start to notice I couldn't eat as much which was a good thing. I also took notice that it was sometimes a tad harder to "swallow" food. "Swallow" isn't quite the right word. It's more like having something "stuck" further down but essentially I had no difficulty eating the same old stuff and nearly as much.

After each fill, it was difficult for about 2-3 days and then it was essentially back to how it was before the fill. Again, a lot of stuff was only a bit harder to swallow past the band but I did notice that I was fuller faster and my appetite was less.

I went about another 6 weeks before going back in for another fill. This time, I couldn't swallow my Water. The ice cold water just sat there behind my breast bone. He took out a little and I felt the water rush past. That was an interesting experience to say the least. This time I really began to notice I was satisfied sooner and my stomach capacity was going down and the speed with which I ate my food was slowing way down too. Chew chew chew, was the order of the day. This still wasn’t where I wanted to be though, as all I had to do was chew enough and I was "fine".

It was after my 3rd/4th fill that I really began to notice a real appreciable change. French Fries were now off the menu as were was things "potato". pizza was now gone too and all things “doughy” ESPECIALLY sweet potatoes. I had this 3rd fill right before Thanksgiving and I recall sweet potatoes ruing the rest of the day for me. It’s noteworthy that the time between my 3rd and 4th fill was very short. I had learned by now that where I was within a week after a fill was where I was going to stay unless I went back in. Around here is where I really learned how to defeat the band. Chew chew chew and have something to wash it past the band. “Defeating” the band is not hard to do. Having something stuck and washing it past is also a very weird sensation. It's almost like swallowing twice. I would take a bit, chew it, swallow, and often I would just sit there waiting for it to “pass”. Vomiting (due to blockage) was now occurring around 3-4x/month. My body turns into a saliva generating machine when I have a blockage plus my nose runs like it’s in a 400 yard dash. If the saliva and . . . other stuff . . . doesn’t wash it down, then I’ll soon be looking at a jelly fish in the toity bowl. If you don’t understand what I’m saying, your day will come.

I think I’m now on my 6th fill (maybe 5th). I can’t recall. But now, a year later, and 55+ pounds lighter, I’m "in the zone". I love soft scrambled eggs and they love me. I miss “All You Can Eat Sushi” but that’s okay. I haven't tried any since my last fill last week but we'll see. A dollar-menu McDonald’s double-cheeseburger is a LARGE meal for me now. That’s my max capacity of what I'll do for any given meal. A double cheese takes 10-15 minutes of chewing. I’m a big burly guy so, all my life, it’s been bite-chew-chew-GULP. I’ve also learned to just walk away from my food and to listen to my stomach/band. I get fuller MUCH quicker (and it’s not just a feeling) and I’ve learned to listen to that sensation.

My last fill last week was aggressive to say the least. It was about 4 months since my fill before this one and I lost about 4 lbs/month in that span. My Doc (a great guy!) gave me 1 ½ cc’s. He had me drink and I didn’t tell him that I could feel it barely drain past. He probably would have taken some out but I WANTED a big fill and I got it. Plus, I knew the swelling would go down a bit and if it was too much to handle, I could easily go back in. Right now I imagine I’m working with a passage-way not much bigger than a kernel of corn or a sweet pea. When I drink, I feel it slowly pass. I’m actually glad to be here because here is where I want to be. I still eat the same stuff, just MUCH slower and much less of it and I’m fuller even quicker. Good times.

My only regret is not going in sooner between “fills”. The moral of my story is that it may take you several months and several fills before you have the true physical restriction for what and how much you can eat.

[DanTheMan 0]

..... no Diet Coke is killing me.

I never stopped drinking DC. I always dilute it either by pouring room temp DC over ice or adding Water at the fountain. I guess that's why I've never had a problem--I've never in my life liked the stuff straight from the can or fully carbnated but I cannot do without the taste. I go about 60-40 DC to Water. I can't do without my caffeine free DC!

Funny thing is . . . I had to join this forum to learn that soda was out. I guess my Doc either never told me, "no", or my brain gave a, "la la la la la la", in return.

[Florida 0]

Hi,

I am very new to all of this, your post is alot of great info but, some of it scared me a bit.

I had my surgery on 9-24, i would have thought that that far into it it got somewhat easier, i understand the life style change but, i am a bit nervous.

Hope all is well, donna

[rcruz 0]

I got my band about a year ago. When you have the procedure they don't put anything in the band, they just clip it together and allow a few weeks for the stomach to heal around it. I recall that a part of the stomach is even folded over and stitched to help keep the band from slipping...all of this needs to heal.

I think I had my first fill after about 4 weeks. When you a fill, it irritates the stomach and as a result it swells. It takes about 2-3 days for the swelling to go down for you to see just where you stand for that “fill”. My Doc gives me a “fill”, sits me up, and has me guzzle some cold Water. He always says, "That should pass easily".

Before my 3rd fill I felt as you guys do—very little change. I did start to notice I couldn't eat as much which was a good thing. I also took notice that it was sometimes a tad harder to "swallow" food. "Swallow" isn't quite the right word. It's more like having something "stuck" further down but essentially I had no difficulty eating the same old stuff and nearly as much.

After each fill, it was difficult for about 2-3 days and then it was essentially back to how it was before the fill. Again, a lot of stuff was only a bit harder to swallow past the band but I did notice that I was fuller faster and my appetite was less.

I went about another 6 weeks before going back in for another fill. This time, I couldn't swallow my Water. The ice cold water just sat there behind my breast bone. He took out a little and I felt the water rush past. That was an interesting experience to say the least. This time I really began to notice I was satisfied sooner and my stomach capacity was going down and the speed with which I ate my food was slowing way down too. Chew chew chew, was the order of the day. This still wasn’t where I wanted to be though, as all I had to do was chew enough and I was "fine".

It was after my 3rd/4th fill that I really began to notice a real appreciable change. French Fries were now off the menu as were was things "potato". pizza was now gone too and all things “doughy” ESPECIALLY sweet potatoes. I had this 3rd fill right before Thanksgiving and I recall sweet potatoes ruing the rest of the day for me. It’s noteworthy that the time between my 3rd and 4th fill was very short. I had learned by now that where I was within a week after a fill was where I was going to stay unless I went back in. Around here is where I really learned how to defeat the band. Chew chew chew and have something to wash it past the band. “Defeating” the band is not hard to do. Having something stuck and washing it past is also a very weird sensation. It's almost like swallowing twice. I would take a bit, chew it, swallow, and often I would just sit there waiting for it to “pass”. Vomiting (due to blockage) was now occurring around 3-4x/month. My body turns into a saliva generating machine when I have a blockage plus my nose runs like it’s in a 400 yard dash. If the saliva and . . . other stuff . . . doesn’t wash it down, then I’ll soon be looking at a jelly fish in the toity bowl. If you don’t understand what I’m saying, your day will come.

I think I’m now on my 6th fill (maybe 5th). I can’t recall. But now, a year later, and 55+ pounds lighter, I’m "in the zone". I love soft scrambled eggs and they love me. I miss “All You Can Eat Sushi” but that’s okay. I haven't tried any since my last fill last week but we'll see. A dollar-menu McDonald’s double-cheeseburger is a LARGE meal for me now. That’s my max capacity of what I'll do for any given meal. A double cheese takes 10-15 minutes of chewing. I’m a big burly guy so, all my life, it’s been bite-chew-chew-GULP. I’ve also learned to just walk away from my food and to listen to my stomach/band. I get fuller MUCH quicker (and it’s not just a feeling) and I’ve learned to listen to that sensation.

My last fill last week was aggressive to say the least. It was about 4 months since my fill before this one and I lost about 4 lbs/month in that span. My Doc (a great guy!) gave me 1 ½ cc’s. He had me drink and I didn’t tell him that I could feel it barely drain past. He probably would have taken some out but I WANTED a big fill and I got it. Plus, I knew the swelling would go down a bit and if it was too much to handle, I could easily go back in. Right now I imagine I’m working with a passage-way not much bigger than a kernel of corn or a sweet pea. When I drink, I feel it slowly pass. I’m actually glad to be here because here is where I want to be. I still eat the same stuff, just MUCH slower and much less of it and I’m fuller even quicker. Good times.

My only regret is not going in sooner between “fills”. The moral of my story is that it may take you several months and several fills before you have the true physical restriction for what and how much you can eat.

Thank you for your prospective I realy needed this I am on my 4th month out and I feel NOTHING I have hopes it will start to work soon as I get my 4th fill...:thumbdown:

[DanTheMan 0]

Hi,

I am very new to all of this, your post is alot of great info but, some of it scared me a bit.

I had my surgery on 9-24, i would have thought that that far into it it got somewhat easier, i understand the life style change but, i am a bit nervous.

Hope all is well, donna

Donna,

What part scares you? Let's talk, er, post about it.

Dan

[DanTheMan 0]

I, like some of you, lost sight of the biggest feature of the band--it's adjustable. If you're not happy where you are, go in, talk to your Dr and get a fill.

I was disappointed for a long time. My expectations were not managed as well as I would have liked them to be, but, I didn't belong to this forum then, either. I went into this thinking it was adjustable because one size didn't fit all, reasoning that there are small petite (on the inside) women and big 6'+ plus men like me with shoulders as broad as a door frame.