Pam P

BANDED IN AUG 06

FIRST FILL 1.8

SECOND FILL 2.2

THIRD FILL 2.4

IN A 4.0 BAND

I'M AT MY SWEET SPOT, HAVE BEEN SINCE JAN

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TELL WHEN YOUR THERE

Pammie,

Congradulations! How wonderfuld to be where you are. I am at 1.8, only have restriction on certain foods, and the restriction is not what I expected. Unless I'm very careful I've had to much before I know it. This isn't the sweet spot, right? Any where along the waybefore you got just the right fill did you have this experience?

Hi, I think you've asked a good question. I can only speak for my experience, and don't know if it's typical, but I'm starting to think it is. I was banded on 12/1206, and had very little restriction before my first fill. I did feel like something was stuck a couple times before that, but figured I just didn't chew enough. I stopped eating and tried again a couple hours later. After my first fill 6 weeks later, I realized that my idea of feeling "full" was not going to be the same as what I felt before. I've found that the things I should be eating seem to get stuck after just a few bites, but the things I shouldn't eat can go down by the buckets full! Not that I'm eating buckets full, but sometimes more than I should of these things. Before this surgery, I thought that I would feel full on small amounts of food, regardless of what they were, but haven't found this to be the case, which is a bit disappointing. For me I find that I have to stop eating when I get the "things are about to get stuck" feeling. If I go past that, I do PB. If I eat the things I should be eating, especially my proteins, that happens fairly quickly, and I guess that's what it's designed to do, but sometimes my stomach is actually still rumbling and hungry feeling, and I can't get enough down to feel satisfied, so I just wait for a short period and try to eat a few more bites. I now know that I'm not actually going to feel "full" like I did before and have to recognize that when things are about to get stuck, that's my "full" sign. Sometimes it's enough, sometimes not, and sometimes it doesn't come soon enough! Like they say, this little band is fickle!! All in all, I'm down 37 lbs., it's going slower than I wanted, but I'm not giving up and I'm happy I did this, even when I'm dying to eat my half a chicken breast and it won't let me!! Hope I didn't confuse you too much! Good Luck!

Kim

Hi,

Ditto all your comments. I too have been trying to figure all this out. It's not what I expected, but I'm determined to make it work, since it seems to for many others and since I've spent a lot for the band. At first I thought it was just me, but now I'm finding other people having the same experience and asking the same questions. I was banded on 1/15/07, no restriction from that, and got my first fill on March 1st. I won't get another until after I come back from a three week trip to Paris, as I don't want to take the chance on complications from a too full band or whatever in a foreign country. When I come back in July I will go for another. Right now I'm at 1.8cc and have easily painful restriction on some foods and none at all on others. It seems possible that the people who don't do well with the band are the ones who don't learn that pre-full (pre-painful) feeling and resort to eating the things that don't give that problem, and probably too much like we have been doing all along. Just a guess at this point, but am thinking the idea is to have enough of a fill to give that "could easily be painful" restriction on as many foods as possible, while still being able to get some of all foods down, and then learning to recognize the new "full" one bite before and stop. I wonder though if I would ever consider this a "sweet spot". I would love to hear more comments from others.

When it felt right for that one week, I just felt full after eating very little. i don't think good restriction should necessarily hurt, I have to remind myself to eat slowly though otherwise food does get stuck and uncomfortable. Chicken is terrible for me sometimes. My chest does hurt sometimes like you said. I have 2.5cc and I'm scheduled to go next week for another fill. I've only lost 20lbs. so far. Part of that is learning to make better food choices when I eat. 3cc might do the trick if I get that much. Julie

Hi, Again thanks for your response. I'm starting to put this together ... what it is I can untimately hope for. It is odd what gives problems. Chicken sticks if you aren't very careful, bread too, but tortilla chips ... no problem. I was very happy to read response from Kristi Ann to a question I asked about that much pursued "sweet spot". Very informative and encouraging. Read it. Good luck with your fill next week. Please post after you've had the chance to see what you get. I'll keep good thoughts that you hit it.

there were a few days, not just after a fill either, where i thought perhaps my band would need to be unfilled a bit--but i hung in there and drank fluids only. i think with all of us some days we can eat better than others. and to be honest, when i was filled last...i was telling staff "i think this is perfect" as i tried to hold down the thick barium crap they made me gulp. the dr was surprised because he had expected to take some saline out. i then ran to the bathroom to pb as soon as i walked out of the office. lol it felt too tight but i wanted restriction so bad, and sometimes it feels that way for a couple of days after a fill anyway so i didn't want to take any out if that tight feeling was only temporary. my plan was to return if it didn't work out, and luckily i didn't have to.

sorry about having no restriction. must be discouraging...i can just say, don't give up! i know someone with 3.8ccs in her 4cc band and she has had perfect restriction for 6 months so far. it will work out. >

Kristi Ann, thanks so much for you VERY informative answer to my question. This does sound like a "sweet spot" to be in. It really gives me something to aim for knowing it's possible. I've only had one fill ... 1.8cc. I'm going to Paris for 3 weeks on June 19 and think I'll wait until I'm back to get another fill. This is not because I want to be able to eat more while I'm there, but because I know how to handle this level of fill without complications. I'm afraid if I get another fill before I go and somehow it's too much and I have to go back to TJ and then leave the country not knowing where I stand, it could be scarey. At this level weight loss is slow to nonexistant, but it's easier to not gain which is an achievement in itself. It gives me something to look forward to when I get back. I dream of attaining that perfect or even near-perfect fill level that you have. Enjoy! And thanks again for the info. I would still enjoy hearing more about this from you or others who are experienceing what it is we all hope for. Viva la "sweet spot."

I just thought this was kind of cool... You can actually watch the operation and what exactly happens to you, or a person who is about to have a lap-band procedure... If you have a weak stomach you may not want to watch!

http://www.or-live.com/hartfordhospital/16...ex.cfm?r=orlive

Thanks for the link. I found it really interesting, but must say I'm glad I have already had the surgery. I think it would have probably made me more nervous before hand. Having already been throught it, I found it interesting to see what had gone on while I laid there completely unaware. Also I'm amazed that it seemed such a breeze and that I was out shopping the next day. No wonder I had pains from the gas for a time after. Incredible that that was then only after effect with all that poking about.

Just wondering if there are Los Angeles area banders.? I am looking for a support group. I don't know anyone in my local neighborhood that has been banded. :-?

Hi,

I am from the LA area... Los Feliz, around Griffith Park. I would be interested in a support group, but we'll need more than two. Who else out there in or around LA is interested?

i've only had 2 fills. my second one took me up to a very full 3ccs in my 4cc band. i'm hoping things stay the way they are, because i've had PERFECT restriction since january!

Can you please describe what "PERFECT restriction" feels like? I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Is it like too much food at Thanksgiving? Is it feeling like food is stuck in your gullet and your about to pb. Can you eat maybe 1/2 cup but have to do so slowly? Is the restriction on all but really soft foods or do you have to stick to only certain foods in order to have it? I would so appreciate you response to these questions. Also anyone else who is experiencing this perfect level of fill ... could you describe it to me. Thanks so much.

Hi,

I'm in the same spot as you for the most part. I had my surgery Jan 3rd and have already had my 2nd fill. I'm at 2.5cc and had good restriction for about a week and now wonder if I need to go back for a 3rd which I am more than willing to do. I'm just wondering how long it takes for the fills to really start working, so I'm waiting to hear responses to your question.

Julie66t

Thanks for your response. I am frustrated though hopeful that I can get this figured out. Too many people are so happy with their band, it must work when you get it right. I, like you, am not giving up. At this point, however, I am confused. 1) The good restriction you had for about a week after your second fill. What was that like? Was it like I described with chicken... where it almost hurts in your chest? Did you feel like that with most foods? Is that what we're looking for? I, personally, had not realized it would be so uncomfortable, but okay if it keeps me from eating I guess I can deal with it. 2) What is the average fill level? Do you know? I'm only at 1.8cc. 3) Have you lost much? I read in one post that when you get the right level of fill, the weight goes like chocolate melting in the sun. I have not experienced that yet.

Hello...

Just got back this afternoon. Got banded on Monday. It was a great experience. Everything went like clockwork. My incision sites are a bit sore, but this pain in my upper body (assuming it's gas pain) is killing me. I've taken Gas X strips, I've walked and walked and walked, I tried the heat pad this afternoon, my hubby even tried massaging it. The only thing that helps are the little disolvable pain pills they gave on discharge. The problem is I only have one of those little pills left and I'm going back to work tomorrow. Please tell me this pain will go away soon. It is a sharp stabbing pain up in my shoulders. It feels like a knife is just sitting in there. Also... is there anything else I can take that will help?? I was thinking of trying to find some liquid tylenol, but thought I would seek your advise first.

I'm completely happy with my surgery!!! I just need a little help with this post op pain. I didn't get any sleep last night at the Lucerna and am hoping to try and get some rest tonight since I'm home.

Thanks for any thoughts or insight!! I really appreciate it.....

ps. How long does this pain last?? What is "normal"???

Theresa :-)

Hi Teresa,

It will go away and it is normal. I was especially sensitive to the gas and had pains even after two weeks, though with lessening frenquency, until finally they were gone. I was so concerned that I call OCC. I was told not to take GASX. That the pain was irratation from the gas they used not from gas itself. Advil helped. I cut it up to be sure it didn't stick. Anyway, take heart, it will go away.

I was banded by Dr. Ortiz January 15. The surgery was easy. The gas pains were a drag (I was told not to take GasX by the way since the pain was from irritation caused by the gas not by having gas), but went away after a couple of weeks. Apparently I was unusually sensitive to the gas. Still it wasn't that bad considering. After the three weeks of liquids I felt no restriction. Six weeks after the surgery I went to TJ for a fill. The procedure was a breeze. I was in and out in 20 minutes. The fill was 1.8cc. Now I have restriction with certain foods; chicken, bread, sticky rice for instance. Other things: crackers, well chewed vegetables, most things really, go through fine. With the first group I have to be super careful. One tiny bite too much and I'm in misery, one more bite & pbing follows and it 20 minutes before I can focus on anything other than the pressure in my chest. This is not what I expected. Is it what you guys experience? I guess I was naive, but I thought it would be like eating a lot at Thanksgiving dinner.... feeling full. This is more like feeling something is stuck. Would the "Sweet Spot" be another 4 to 6ccs, or whatever, so that I have this "restriction" with more foods? I can't eat just chicken and bread. I started at around 218 and have lost about 13 pounds, but a lot of this was due to the liquid diet phase. It also seems that the restriction is more severe at times and not so at others, but from reading on this forum that seems to be common. I just haven't read much about the restriction actually being easily quite uncomfortable. Can some one explain the "sweet spot" in their experience?

hi there. so i went back today to the dr. for my second fill after she informed me that the reason i'd be getting that stabbing pain feeling in my chest means those are foods to avoid. so basically my favorite foods are kind of problematic. if i wanted to eat cottage cheese and scrambled eggs, i wouldn't be so fat. it's the mac and cheese and pizza and french fries that have always been my favorite foes. i spoke to my husband on the way home from the dr visit and i'm like, listen, i don't ever want to go back to eating an entire pizza, but i want to be able to enjoy a slice now and then, or eat half a sandwhich now and then.... i mean. i don't want to be depriving myself of my favorite foods forever. i mean, as i told the dr. i ate two small teaspoons of kraft macaronie and cheese, (which i thought would be ok because it is kinda soft and saucey) and those two bites caused horrible pains.... so what am i saying. i guess i'm just confused because i thought the lap band would be a tool to help me manage my caloric intake? i never realized i would be eating completely different foods (although i knew i had to give up my diet coke-gasp, which i was going to have to cope with)

so now my band is filled as of today to 1.5 cc. and i'm just wondering if other people eat until they feel full/ satisfied? what is a typical intake for a meal? less than 1 cup? are any of you guys struggling with having to give up some of your favorite foods? i love eating carbs so much!?

i guess i'm just kind of down becuase everyone seems so positive, and yea, i'm loosing weight. but when your only eating bitefuls of food and excersing, that's got to happen right? i mean i wish i could say i was eating until i was satisfied but i'm not. i'm eating to avoid horrible pain in my chest--which depending on what it is i'm eating, is a very small ammount. i mean, i won't ever be able to eat a burrito again, big sigh. this is just so hard??! did any of you have any similar experiences in the beginning? does the band adjust over time, so that while i might not be able to eat a bite of sandwhich now, maybe in a few weeks i will?

gosh. this post is just a long rant, so i'm sorry. i'm just frustrated and wondering if any of you guys can relate to this place i'm at now?? if so, would LOVE to hear how your are managing??!

thanks so much!!!

rachel

Hi, Chan!

I was banded 2 days before you. I'm in Kansas, USA, and I, too, didn't go to Dr. Ortiz (though he is obviously a popular guy!)

I had some pretty severe "gas" pain, too. As the CO2 used to "expand" the abdomen for surgery tries to escape, it can be very uncomfortable, especially under the collar bones and shoulder blades. Some things that can help are walking (I literally paced the floor a good share of Saturday night) and heating pads. I couldn't tell from your post whether or not you had called your Dr's office, but if things don't get better or you think your pain is from another origin, don't hesitate to call them! That's why they make the big bucks! :-)

I hope you'll soon be feeling much better!

Kelly

I had those pains for 2 to 3 weeks. I didn't expect it to be so extream. It does finally go away

Hi,

I am in EXACTLY the same place you are. I had my fill 2 weeks ago with 1.8cc and I have the same problem with the same foods you do otherwise I don't notice much restriction. I will probably head back in 2 weeks for my second fill. From what I understand this is totally normal and it's ok to return for a fill this quickly. Hang in there, we will find our exact restriction soon. Julie

Hi Julie,

Glad to know I'm not the only one experiencing this. I imagine I too will be getting another fill soon, hoping to find that "sweet spot" where you feel full after eating 1/3 of what you used to eat and the weight just starts to "melt like chocolate in the sun"...as one bandster said happened to her. BUT I am somewhat concerned because I think with more of a fill there will be foods I will have to totally give up, and will the "fullness" be this discomfort that I feel now when I eat chicken, bread etc.? I had featured it more like, "Oh, that was so good, but I'm stuffed and can't eat another bite," not "Oh, this is is really painful, and I think it's stuck in my gullet and I'm going to have to go burp it up." It's certainly an adventure.

Hi,

I am in EXACTLY the same place you are. I had my fill 2 weeks ago with 1.8cc and I have the same problem with the same foods you do otherwise I don't notice much restriction. I will probably head back in 2 weeks for my second fill. From what I understand this is totally normal and it's ok to return for a fill this quickly. Hang in there, we will find our exact restriction soon. Julie

Hi Julie,

Glad to know I'm not the only one experiencing this. I imagine I too will be getting another fill soon, hoping to find that "sweet spot" where you feel full after eating 1/3 of what you used to eat and the weight just starts to "melt like chocolate in the sun"...as one bandster said happened to her. BUT I am somewhat concerned because I think with more of a fill there will be foods I will have to totally give up, and will the "fullness" be this discomfort that I feel now when I eat chicken, bread etc.? I had featured it more like, "Oh, that was so good, but I'm stuffed and can't eat another bite," not "Oh, this is is really painful, and I think it's stuck in my gullet and I'm going to have to go burp it up." It's certainly an adventure.

Hi Kevin,

I remember you, of course. We rode into TJ together. Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. Your advice about listening to the band makes sense. Glad to you are doing so well. Thanks again.

Pam,

I'm we met on the Jan. 15th at OCC. I was the only male there for a fill or any procedure for that matter. Terry C who had surgery the same day as you did is getting her first fill on the 22nd of March.

What you are experiencing sounds very normal. I didn't pickup anything from your message that is outside the normal mind-bending education most bandsters go through. If you can let the band continue to talk to you and be open to its teaching method then your eating habits will start to bend to its demands.

You may want to try other protein sources or even as I do from time to time supplement my food intake with a high protein shake to make sure I get the nutrients I need. I am vegetarian and allergic to soy so I have to do the shake thing to keep protein intake high. After losing 70lbs. my hair started to thin out and I realized it was time to up the nutrients.

Hey you started at 213 and you are at 204 - thats called progress! Congratulations! Kevin

I was banded on January 15, '07. I took the pre-op and post- op very seriously, follwed to the "t". The surgery itself was a breeze. After the 3 week post-op I was excited and nervous to start solid foods. Slowly but surely I realized I had no restriction, and though I tried not to do so began to gain back some of the weight I had lost on the liquid phase. Six weeks after surgery I returned to TJ for my first fill. Again the procedure was a breeze. I got a 1.8 cc fill which I was told was the maximum for the first fill. After 3 days of liquid again I slow and carefully began solids. Here is what I found and where I am now. I have problems with chicken, tuna, salmon, bread. I have to take tiny bites and chew, chew, chew. If I forget, these foods immediately clog and pbing follows. Unless it's one of these foods, I notice little or no restriction. I'm not sure what this means. At least I'm not gaining weight and may be losing a little, though vey slowly if at all. It's been 2 weeks since the fill. I have a tax business so I can't get back to TJ until after Apr.17th anyway. I trying to follow the rules - only solid foods, etc. I notice that my cravings are less and that helps, but I don't think this is altogether what it's suppose to be. I sure hope not because I don't think I will get very far on my weight loss goal with so little restriction, but with more of a fill will I be able to get chicken, etc down at all? I would love the imput of those further along this road than I. Thanks in advance.

Starting weight(1/8/07): 217

At surgery (1/15/07): 213

At 1st fill (3/1/07) 1.8 cc: 208

Currently (3/17/07): 204.4

OK, I'm going to stick my neck out on a limb and hope that nobody will think I'm a freak for posting this, so here goes. I was banded on Friday, January 26th by Dr. Ortiz. Everything went well for the most part, but when I woke up yesterday morning and thought about the fact that I have a band in me, I became really anxious and wondered if I had done the right thing. It's so strange to think that I have a foreign object in my body and that it was my idea to have it put there. I find myself thinking, "What in the world have I done?" and "Why did I do it?" I'm really anxious to have a big ol' piece of plastic or silicone or whatever suddenly inside me.

Has anybody else ever had second thoughts, despite a lack of complications? Maybe I felt that way because I came home from Mexico weighing exactly what I weighed when I went down there and I expected to drop several pounds since I went a few days eating (drinking, actually) so little. Or maybe I didn't give it enough thought and rushed into it. So far I've not had any problem sticking to the liquid diet (but I sure can't wait to get to actually chew something!), but I'm just feeling really anxious.

Is this normal? Am I freaking out for nothing?

Linda W.

You are past your clear liquid phase now, but would like to address the subject for others - including myself being 6th day post-op. My niece had surgery in April and said they were given jello immediately post-op at the clinic so I tried it. The first time it left me feeling a bit uncomfortable, but my niece who is also an LVN said I probably didn't squish it enough in my mouth. I tried it again making sure to squish very well and, though it was better, I still became a little to aware of my "little stomach" feeling full for my liking. I have decided it's more a 3rd week food for me. I have read that how well you adhere to the guidelines in the first there weeks determines how well you do with your banding, so I'm trying really hard to do exactly as instructed. It is somewhat confusing. Some of the material seems to say something slightly different. Some people seem to move to thicked liquids sooner than the second week and do fine, but I am terrified of stretching out my "little stomach" (I don't like the term "pouch") or causing the band to slip so I'm toughing it out. Today and tomorrow! I am dreaming of tomato soup and Slimfast. I haven't been hungry - though the growling from my "lower stomach" is disconcerting- it's just boring!!! I'm keeping my eye to the future to get me through.

Hi Pam,

I'm new on this board and am considering scheduling surgery for February. I'm also on the lower side for the BMI at 5"4 1/2 and 170 lbs. What's your BMI? When is your surgery scheduled for?

Hi Mindysa,

My BMI is around 34, certainly higher thatn yours. My surgery is 1/15. I am on preop diet now...stark, but I doing my best to stick to it.

I too am super nervous, but to me it's like... how could I not be? Like you, it's not the pain of the surgery that worries me . And I am not worried about the competance of the doctors or having the surgery in Mexico. My neice, who is a nurse, did mucho research and then had the procedure with Dr. Ortiz and had no problems and is very happy. What I am so concerned about is the unknown. How can I really know what it's going to be like until I do it? There are lap band failures. Will I be one of them? Do all this and barely lose any weight? Will I have some kind of terrible complication which will make me worse off than before? They say you can have it removed, but they don't do that for free. I'm doing the pre-op diet now, and it is stark... talk about deprivation. And after this week the surgery and three more weeks before solid food. Yikkkks! Why am I doing this? The worst is when I wake up each morning and think, "I can't do this." It seems unreal. But then I just have to figure that I made a rational decision to have this surgery during the months that I thought about it and researched it and talked to my doctor about it, and this is just fear of taking this very big step - which it is. How could you not be nervous, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't move forward.

hi pam

when you get the answers to these questions will you please post them!

thank you

debi

Apparently the cost of removing a band with no complications involved is $6,800, at least at this time. I really hope I'll be very happy with it because the idea of paying to put it in and then paying to take it out is not pretty.

From the first time I contacted the clinic to my surgery date was 34 days. I could have had a much earlier appointment, but I needed the time to get my things together. The clinic is really good about working with you for a date that works. I found once I decided I wanted the lap band, I just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. I am very glad I did it, though right afterwards I had some doubts. I think that everyone does when they get home, you still are not totally feeling normal, not eating any solid food, feeling some pains on and off and wonder if you are crazy. Now that I am two months out, I am thankful I have done this and look forward to getting closer to my goal. So far, I am 20% of the way to my goal.

Julie C

Nov 6/06

For me it was 12 days from call to surgery date.

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know if Dr. Ortiz is using the new Advanced Platform band? If there is an advantage to this band I would like to have it. Lori, could you find out if he uses it?

Thanks,

Susan

6 days and counting!

What is a Advaned platform Band?

I am calling tomorrow when the office reopens to arrange for surgery, but have a lot of questions. What is a VG band? Who decides what kind of band you get? Why is one used for some people and the other for others? If your BMI is just barely in the qualifying range do you still do the pre-op diet? If you decided to have the band taken out, does it cost the same as it did to put it in?