katjab

My band tighened on it's own when I was sick a month ago. Does anyone know what makes this happen?

Mine seems to have tightened before but only for a couple of days.

This has gotten me back on some bad food choices; since I now have trouble with some food going

down, I consumed a lot of liquids and soft foods like mike shakes, candy, etc. Eating those foods does not

satisfy me as a meal so then I seems to eat more of those foods or try to eat real food and have problems.

I'm even having problems with salads and I've never had that problem before.

Anyone know why????????? Thanks.

P.S. It's been a year now since I was banded, thought I had all this figured out.

Could be the area is inflammed after PB but usually if water's going down, you'll be ok.

Sometimes I think it's the foods that we eat that do not give us that full feeling. Also are you taking time to sit down and enjoy

your meals? If not, this will leave youfeeling hungy. You may have stretched your belly out and need to liquid diet for a few days!! Good luck.

Hey Tim,

Hope you are home and doing good. Keep up with the liquids until scheduled to go to solid food and you will do great.

That's just great that they are so helpful...

I'm trying to put all this in my mind but keep wanting to know Why did your band slip?

You know us banders, we can't get enough info on different do and don't. So I really think any

reasoning would be helpful. Thanks for you time.

I had breat reduction in 2003 and it was the greatest!! There was some senistive areas for about 9 months but now you would never know. Plus my neck and shoulders feel much better.

Otherwise my nipples would just about be to my waist and pointed down!! now they are out there!!

Hey Blacdimin,

Yes there usually is excess skin, depending on the elestically of your skin. And alot of that depends on your age. But excess skin is much better than fat. The excess skin can be covered with your clothes. Also after you reach your goal and stay there, some insurances cover skin removal in certain areas. Alot of it depends also on exercise and how tone your skin is to begin with.

I had surgery in Oct 2006, so I'm 9 months after surgery, I've lost 64 pounds and trying to get to my goal of 160. I am 5' 9".

Even with the excess skin, I would still do it all over again because excess skin is better that fat!!

Good luck

Maybe you have stretched your stomach. Usually the doctor will suggest a liquid diet for 2-3 week to get back to normal. We all have those bad eating habits of eating too much!!

It should go away when you start to eat a more balanced diet. Good luck.

Teresa,

I have the same problem. You just need to find a laxative that works well with you. Some are too strong, some don't seem to work at all. Also remember the water helps 100% in keeping you from getting conspitated. But it's not the same as just drinking it when you get that way, you have to drink the water to keep from getting conspitated. Hopefully, if you get that under control the hemroids will not show their ugly side. Good luck!!

Kathy

I did not realize this forum was set up by him. That's good to know...Thank you

Be sure to bring a little extra incase there are more than three people traveling from the hotel to the clinic and the clinic back to the hotel. Mrs. ortiz drives you to and from and you may have to take a cab if there is no room in her car.

Is there not a surgeron in your area instead of traveling out of the country? That would be worth a lot to me to know that my doctor is close by.

That is strange that he would says that and not have any real info about that or maybe he just didn't want to take the time to explain what is known about too many adjustments. Many there are various different reasons why the port could be damaged. However you would think he would have thought of that when he was adjusting you and adjusted you different like maybe a small amount of increase so that you would have less adjustments since you did have to be unfilled.

I had to be unfilled 1cc and I go back next week. It's been about 6 weeks so I'm hoping for an adjustment.

Do you know what brand of band you have or how much it holds? I've been told there are several different brands. How do the doctors deceide which band is for you?

Keep searching for the truth and keep your chin up!!

My port area healed fine however when I ride the 4 wheeler or the golf carts we use at work to go to other buildings, I feel my port moving around!! Also have to be careful about pushing things with my stomach. Never noticed how much went against my stomach. At wal-mart my stomach used to help push the cart, just holding something against your stomach is no longer possible. We all learn that we have an implant in our belly and how to deal with. Just be careful!!

Can sympathize. I am a week out on my 4th fill and I'm thinking it's abit too tight. Good news is I have lost 9 pounds in the past week ( i know most is from just emptying he system, but I did climb the tallest mountain in Colorado this last Saturday or Gatorade and Goo alone.

I'll give it another week to see if things loosen up. If not, maybe a slight unfill. Like those of us who have had the band for awhile know, this thing is fickle and you never know from day to day exactly how it'll work.. but it does work. Good luck, be patient, and listen to your body.

Tom

Current Weight 239

I had a fill that took my 4cc band to 3cc. I lost 11 pounds in 14 days. But then I ate something that would not digest. Actually it was a hot dog. It wasn't stuck like some things do. After 4 days of heartburn and indesgine, I went back to see the doctor. He said all my systems were says the band was too tight. So he removed 1cc. I feel like I have no restiction now and have even gained a few pounds back. I got back next week and I'm looking forward to being adjusted again. Hopefully 1/2 cc may be good. Of course, what ever the doctor suggests!!

Has anyone noticed the difference with food going down better when you are standing verse when you are sitting? Seems like when I'm sitting, some food is gonna just sit there. When I'm home, I can get up and walk to the kitchen, tv etc and it just goes on down. In a resturant, the only place to really walk to is the restroom. That makes your friends think you are PB.

Thanks you any help!!

I think's it's more fat-free than sugar free. And I think yes it's all to reduce the liver.

It does help to get your appetite down and some may thinks it's a test. If you can't prepare for the surgery, can you eat correct after surgery? I didn't cheat because I was scared the doctor would know because of my liver and send me home without surgery.

If you were going to have 1 last meal, I would make it at least 2 days before surgery to help clean your intensine tract.

Aren't you suppose to the day before have a cleaqr liquid?

Good luck

How weird is that? My port is right at my belly button. ( my valve stem as my husband calls it)

I have problems with things other that a post, why is that? Ex: my profile, etc.

Also why the spam and porn on the forum?

Thanks

Kathy

EM6446,

Yes it is wroth it!! Lap Banders may have to change the way we eat but that's what it's all about; make food changes that we could not do without the lap band!!

Again yes it's worth it!!

You WANT restriction...it is good! Restriction is what keeps you from overeating!

Donna

I think some of it that some people also are not morning eaters. I used to always want to eat after getting out of bed. Now my day starts at 4:30am, I drink coffee, juice or water until 10am. Then I eat a little bit, as the day go, seems like my appitete does also.

I sometimes sleepwalk and my husband telss me I make groceries disappear!! So I think it's just that we are all different before surgery, we are all different after surgery even though we had same surgery.

Hello,

I'm 23, male, about 6'10 and 280 pounds. I've always been overweight and have had minimal success dieting. I tend to lose some and bounce back up until I get to 299 before I panic and start losing again. Recently I was diagnosed with M.S. and high blood pressure so I need to lose weight. I once tried Phentermine but I felt super hyper and had anxiety and was emotional and felt kind of mentally crazy while on it so I got off of it. I'm considering lapband. I need to lose a ton of weight and doing it on my own is so slow and I seem to always bounce back up no matter how motivated I feel. I think lapband will help give me a jumpstart and keep me motivated to continue. I also think I have sleep apnea although I haven't gone to the doctor about this.

So what's holding me back? Well a few things.

1. I've never had surgery so I'm a bit scared of that. Surgery seems SO extreme to lose weight. I feel like I should have the control to lose this weight myself. I know there's nothing wrong with doing this to lose weight and be healthier. It's just hard to shake that feeling and the fear of stuff going inside of me. It's just weird. I'm kind of uncomfortable with the thought.... but wow... help in losing this weight would be amazing. How was the actual surgery? How was the pain? Did you recover quickly? Scarring? Any complications? Anything I should keep in mind?

2. It's hard for me to imagine not being so overweight. I've been single all of my life so far since I'm so self conscious of myself. About 5 years ago I got down to 230 pounds and WOW I felt like a million bucks and gained so much confidence. I gained it back though and that kind of fell away. I'm doing okay in life but I think losing a ton of weight would help me get a better view on life. I want to do more and enjoy life more but I feel like I'm being held back. I want to run a block without worrying if someone is looking and see my fat bouncing around. It sounds silly to be so self conscious I guess but that's how I am. Strangely enough even though I want these things, thinking of myself being like 170 pounds, is unimaginable! I can't remember weighing that little. I guess I feel like I've gotten used to being how I am. How have others coped with this? Is it just so great to lose the weight that this problem goes away? I'm probably just overthinking this aspect.

3. I hear a lot about the extra chewing and the small portions. One thing that I wonder: Are you still able to enjoy food? Cutting back and eating healthier is great. But I worry that this will hamper the process of eating so much that I will be missing out on enjoying eating anymore, which everyone is supposed to enjoy. Is it as simple as eating less, chewing more, and watching what you eat? Also, how do you deal with restaurants? Do you find they often have something you can eat or do you get doggy bags if you go? Being in college, late night restaurant trips are bound to happen.

4. I have to get a doctor to referr me for insurance to cover me. Has anyone had to deal with that? I have a fear that he will think I just need to try dieting harder and push this off. He is the doctor that prescribed me phentermine before that didn't work out for me. However, next year I won't have insurance. I need to get this process started this summer so I can get it done before school starts back up or early in the semester. Any advice for this or dealings with it?

5. Not a reason, but a question. How long did it take from the point of start to finish. As in seeing the lapband doctor to having surgery? If I get this, I have to squeeze it in before or early in the next semester of college. I'm a bit worried about if the timing will work. The place that does it couldn't give me a precise timeline due to things like doctor issues, insurance, etc, etc.

Sorry for all the questions... I am so wanting to do this but at the same time since I don't know anyone who has had it, it's been hard to get answers to these key things. I figured you guys would have great answers to these things as many of you can probably relate to much of this. Thanks in advance!

IF you are thinking about it, that's a good start. Food is not the same. You learn that you don't get the emontional enjoyment out of food that you used to but we sometimes eat the wrong foods and we get bloated, gas, stuffed feeling, etc. We are all food addicts that fall off the wagon sometimes!!

I always thought of bypass as to drastic but the lapband is removable if you have problems. I was banded in Oct 2006, have lost 60 pounds and would not it again in a heartbeat. You just have to change your attitude about enjoying food. Food and sleep are things our body needs and we usually give it too much!! Go for it!!!

Hey , Judy. This is Elizabeth we were banded on the same day. Sorry that you are having alot of problems. God knows that I have too. Let me tell you how hungry I am... LOL. I fixed dinner for my husband and daughter. I had cooked some smoked pork chops which taster like ham... I was a dog.. I was so hungry I took my husband bone after he ate the meat and suck on the bone...LOL.. MAN WAS THAT SO GOOD< JUST TO TASTE SOMETHING I WANTED.. My husband died out luaghing.. He said now that is bad. But I tell you it was soooo good the just taste what I couldnt have. Needless to say I haven't done it again, but I just had to have a different taste than soup. I have been week and cried to myself cuase I WANT FOOD! BE strong , because I we have one more week to eat some food.

I know!! We all know. I just had to avoid situtations where there was food in the begining and sometimes still do or make a fast exit!!

As far as your being hungry, keep with the liquids. They do fill you up but they don't last long. I was eating a popsickle every 30 minutes!! Also broth is good and I did soak a cracker in the broth.

Keep your chin up!!

I have 3 insurance questions. I have good insurance now and am deliberating whether to have lap band or bypass.

1. My current insurance will cover both, but if I switch insurance due to changing jobs, will my future insurance disallow fills because it was a pre-existing condition? I don't want to go with the lap band and then be unable to afford the fills because I'm paying out of pocket. (By the way, how long does one keep getting fills?)

2. Does anyone know of an organization I can join to get GROUP insurance that does not depend on my job, such as AARP, professional organizaitons, religious organizations, etc.?

3. I have a friend who had bypass and said that she can not get new insurance at all because they disqualify her because she had bypass. Is this common? Ways to avoid it?

Thanks,

JodyG

Jody,

My doctors insurance person did everything for me to get pre-approved so maybe contact your surgeron. Also your BMI and other things determine if you should get lapband or bypass. I will say bypass to me is too extreme and more problems later.

Just keep pursing the idea. I first contacted the doctors in Sept 2005 and had surgery in Oct 2006. I changed insurance because of changing employers and the doctors office did everything.

As far as an outside insurance company, I thought about that also but PROBABLY once you have consulted a doctor, they can say it's pre-existing. Check it out, it's a good idea!!

I think you guys are kind of missing Debi's point. I don't think she is saying it's a waste of money or she regrets it, more that one goes into this thinking it's a magic cure and in reality it's not. When I went in for surgery some months ago I thought I wouldn't be able to eat very much food, so I would lose weight, so I would feel better about myself. The truth is that without dealing with all of the emotional issues real progress cannot be made. We all know there are ways around the band so it still comes down to choice and getting active.

Mostly everything I read before my surgery was "ra, ra, surgery has changed my life, ra, ra" and for me I am still making poor food choices, when I am hungry I forget to chew slower then the food get's stuck and I feel like I have the worst indigestion. I have lost about 30 lbs in total but my mood swings are still as erratic as they were. I hate myself for 'breaking' my diet, I feel bad I have spent $8K and I am not make better progress and I have to say my husband is wondering why I am not getting closer to looking like Cindy Crawford. I am wondering that myself.

Debi is not saying that you shouldn't have the surgery, more that whomever is considering it should realize that the food addiction just doesn't go away post op and if you are considering surgery you should go into thinking that you still have to work at getting every lb off.

Knowing what I would now, I might have considered intensive therapy to deal with my 'food issues' and got healthy emotionally instead of wedgy-ing myself into losing weight. But that's neither here nor there now. I will succeed, it will be just a long, very emotionally charged and painful road I will walk before then!! Debi, I understand exactly what you are saying!!

I understand also!! The LB is a tool not magic. It's me that is not following the rules all the time.

We have food addictions and will always want food that is not heathly and want too much of it.

Also I'm within 20 lbs of my goal. We all know how hard those last 20 pounds are.

I also had to have a reverse adjustment and that just opened me up to eat more!! My next appointment is not until 3 weeks and I'm looking forward to an adjustment because it helps to get my appetite back in check!!

I'm sure we all eat more than we need. Practicing portion control is as hard as exercise!!

I have lost 60 pounds since Oct 2006 and could not have done it without the LB or if I could have lost it I would not have been able to keep it off. I have yo-yoed all my life.

The LB is not worry free but I would have it again in a heartbeat.

Just my 2 cents worth!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19296700/

This is true of lap banders also. I have never had an appitete for drinking but do sometimes enjoy a little drink. It will make me lightheaded quickly.