OK - I'm going to say it I HATE MY LAPBAND!!!!!!! (LONG)

I too am disappointed in my weight loss at this point.  I am 50 lbs down and I feel so much better and most people think it has been so much more since I have gone down several sizes.  I recently tried to switch doctors and was refused due an ethic concern.  Waco is not a large town and there are only two centers here.  I may go to Dallas.  I also have sleep apnea and I have used a CPAP for 7 years.  I use the nasalair thing, not a mask.  Maybe ask for it or something different so you can benefit from the CPAP. It will really make you feel a lot better and maybe help what appears to be depression.  If you are not taking an anti-depressant, maybe it would help, or maybe a change if you have been taking one.  I think that some of my problem, and maybe yours too, is not enough exercise.  I always plan to do more, but it just doesn't happen.  These are just some ideas. 

Since early to mid January I've been a gym rat.  I'm getting in at least 45 minutes of hard exercise (I sweat like a dog when I'm working out) about 5 - 6 times a week - so I don't think that is it.  I'm on Effexor and have been on it for years - maybe a change would be good.  I'll certainly talk to my PCP about it!

Jewel...take a deep breath and relax.  Wake up tomorrow and start out by tracking your food on Sparkpeople.com. Try to stay away from the simple white carbs, and focus on protein.  Call around and see if you can get hooked up with another doctor.  Have you asked Dr. Curry here on this forum?

Do you need a fill?  Can you practice the "band rules" like eating small amounts again, and chewing well?  Are you drinking enough water? I know  it sometimes can be very depressing reading some of the stories here...believe me because I've been there.  I was banded 3 months ago and have only lost 20 lbs which is pretty pathetic, but I am choosing to NOT compare myself to others.  I won't  say that I am not jealous because I'd be a liar if I did.  I AM jealous of certain people who post here...some who have  never had a fill and have lost an amazing amount of weight, or others who have had only like one fill and are losing like crazy...I absolutely LOVE these people, but I can't help but be a little jealous.

Everytime I get discouraged, I try to just get back to basics.  I at times will find myself not coming here, but then realize that I need this site and these people.  Don't stay away...together we will all find a solution.

Get back to basics, drink your water, make sure you are eating enough for the amount of exercise you are doing and talk to your MD.

Hope any of this helps!  Don't give up and try to look on the bright side...there is ALWAYS a bright side!

Sue

Jewels -

I'm not banded yet, but your post answered my question about whether it works for everyone.  I'm afraid that I'll be one of the ones that it doesn't!  I'm sorry you are struggling and even more sorry I don't have any answers for you.  I would encourage you to discuss your insurance situation with your surgeon - let him know that your insurance will be changing and that the new one  will not cover a revision.  Maybe (just maybe) he will consider the revision when he normally would not.  I've learned to be up front with my doctors.  I marched into my PCP's office last August and told him I wanted LapBand and that I needed his help to do it.  Be assertive with getting what you want/need!

Hang in there!

Julie,

I didn't read all of your responses....after reading a few they all said pretty much what I was thinking.  I know you are just needing to scream out in frustration.  I don't blame you.  I get upset at my slow loss, but I know you are really suffering.  Quit punishing yourself. Tell your surgeon one last time that you want RNY or you will find a new surgeon.  Some people just need the extra added malabsorption.  (((HUGS))) to you.....I hope you can find a way to make this or another surgery work!! 

Jewels:

I am so sorry you are having such a hard, painful time.  I know what it's liked to be depressed, and you sound very depressed.  You say you are on an anti-depressant but are you seeing anyone for some therapy?  Some medications do make it hard to loose weight.  Talk to your PCP about this.  I agree with most everyone else, I would get a second opinion.  You are just going to get yourself so frustrated you will get more and more depressed.  It will totally consume your life.

Stay in touch with this forum and speak up whenever you want.  It helps to get it out rather than keeping it in.  Try to think of the glass half full, and try talking positively to yourself.  It helps me, I actually talk to myself everyday to help keep myself up.

Take care of yourself and God Bless.

Brenda C.

Jewels...I am so sorry!!!  I hope you can get a revision sooner rather than later.  Maybe you just need malabsorption.  Always know that if you need support, I'm here for you!

Rant on girlfriend!  If your surgeon has stated he doesn't know what else to do to help you then he should be behind you getting a second opinion 100%.  He probably won't be though out of vanity.

That being said...go with your gut and search out a second opinion.  If your band is placed correctly and you are getting restriction, then WHY aren't you losing.  What is your surgeon's answer?  If he doesn't have one he should be looking to find one and if he isn't he should encourage you to do so.

You are one of the most gung-ho bandsters I've ever seen and to see you struggling is a shame.

Now for the questions...you knew they'd come right?  What are your portions like?  Are you trying for protein first?  Do you get stuck?
Have you taken your measurements and how are your clothes fitting?

My husband thought he was failing the band until he got up to almost 8cc's.  Then he discovered he wasn't chewing properly and his band wasn't really giving him restriction.  Now he chews better and he has real restriction and he's been losing.  Long road there.

Give me the rundown.  We're gonna figure this out!!!  I know you've gone over all this with your Nut, but is your Nut BANDED?  Is your doctor?  Have they been there and done that personally?  Let's work together and btw...tell the family to f-off if they don't have anything positive to say because it's NOT helping!!!

Hi Kris -

First let me say you look stunning!  You don't look like you (not that you weren't stunning before - this is just a different type of stunning!)

Ok - so first (this is an example of a great day) - I am eating mostly protein and am unable to get to vegetables etc.  Right now I can eat about 3/4 of a medium chicken thigh.  I'm doing a protein bar or hard boiled egg for breakfast and generally some lunch meat (turkey or chicken) and a couple slices of cheese at lunch.  For snacks I'm eating sf popsicles.  I'll occasionally throw in another protein bar or piece of cheese if I'm starving. 

On a not so good day I ususally do the same as above but hit my sons school snacks and have a couple packs of fruit snacks or a couple packs of goldfish or something pretty carby.  On an awful day I'll grab a candy bar out of the vending machine.

I don't have a lot of restriction right now - I had a complete unfill in January and got my first fill after my unfill at the end of February.  Prior to my unfil I was puking daily and could eat about 5 bites - now I feel slight restriction but my surgeon doesn't want to put much more in so I'm not puking again. 

Any thoughts??

Lots of thoughts.  You aren't getting 1000-1200 calories and if you're working out you NEED those so your body will keep up the burn.

Make yourself some chicken salad or tuna salad and get some of the new Club crackers(multi-grain)...they are yummy!  You'll be eating well and feeling like you're cheating at the same time.

Easy chicken salad recipe(might sound weird but tastes out of this world! I make it in a large quantity because my husband and kids love it too.):
3 large cans chicken breast(walmart brand is what I use or whatever is cheap...drained)
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup miracle whip
1 packet hidden valley ranch dressing mix
finely chopped celery
finely chopped onion
Mrs. Dash Table Blend(I like a lot...use whatever you'd prefer)
pinch or two of Basil to taste or not...I like it.

With good restriction I can only eat at most 4 crackers topped with the chicken salad.

I am one of those people who can't eat in the morning.  I drink coffee to loosen my band.  If I can I'll do a Carnation Instant Bkfst.  Some people don't think shakes are good for you but I've found that a morning one can keep my calorie count up where it needs to be for burning.  When my calories dip I know it because I don't lose.  If it's not the calorie intake it's the need for a fill and behavior modification.  I thought my restriction was good.  Chris thought his was too.  But he wasn't losing and I noticed he could still eat some things I thought should get stuck.  We got fills and had to adjust ourselves to cutting stuff smaller and chewing better.  Neither one of us are still great at it.  It's a head thing.

Let's break down what you ARE eating.

Breakfast...not enough calories.  One protein bar OR one egg...not enough.
Lunch is good.  Try string cheese if you like it cuz it's lower fat and good protein and easily transported.
Dinner:  You should be able to eat a whole thigh.  A breast is more meat and you might not get it all down, but thighs are smaller.  1 thigh isn't a lot of calories either.  Add something.  Or...are you full?

We just found Barilla Plus Pasta(yellow boxes at Walmart).  It's got 2-3 times the protein of regular pasta.  It's tasty.  Maybe add a couple fork-fulls of that with a couple spoons of a veggie?

It doesn't look like you are getting enough calories to me.  I know you said some days you get a boatload and others you eat "good".  Still....on the "good" days you might not be getting enough.  Too few is as bad for us as too many...maybe worse.

We do the chicken salad for lunch or dinner...sometimes both.  It doesn't get stuck if you eat 1/2 the cracker at a time.  I get stuck if I try to eat the whole thing in one bite.

Let's work on this.  Go back to logging everything...or at least writing it down.  Once you get a feel for the right amount of calories you don't have to do that anymore.  If you see you are eating too little, toss in a shake to bring your numbers up.

ORRRRRRRRRRRRR....try the plateau buster diet for a week or two and see if it gets you back on track with portions.

You HAVE TO get enough calories in when you work out or the good ol' starvation mode sets in.

Let's fix this and show all the nay-sayers where they can stick it!!!