Yep, I'm finally here. That fourth fill on Monday did the trick. By yesterday afternoon, I decided to try some real food. First, I had a yogurt which went down real slow. Then, I tested myself w/a solid dinner of chicken apple sausage, asparagus (slightly overcooked on purpose), and pasta. I took very small portions and cut everything super small. The skin on the sausage was a little irritating, but went down OK. But, having the leftovers today at lunch, I got stuck bad. Still no PB. I had to just tough it out until it passed through. Lesson learned... remove the skin on sausage!!! :eek:

Its kinda like now is when I really GOT my band. All of the stuff they taught me that I would need to do (small small bites and chew chew chew) was not necessary before and now, all of a sudden, it is. I'm gonna take it easy w/dinner tonight and maybe just have lentil stew or a black bean soup that has been waiting in my pantry for just such an occasion. The really good thing is that I'm still not hungry so I really don't care what I eat. :eek:

I am a little worried about tomorrow, though. I'm going to a friend's wedding tomorrow night and have no idea what is on the menu or if it will be buffet or served to us. I usually am not a fan of buffets, but I am really really hoping for a buffet this time so I can pick out just a little of the things that I think will work for me. I just really don't want to end up having a stuck episode in public and at a special event like that. My plan is to locate the nearest bathroom ahead of time and cut my food really really really small.

Working in my favor are two things. First, all of my friends know I am banded and I am sure she will have sat us all together. So, at least all of my tablemates will know why I am eating such miniscule portions and skipping on meat or dry chicken if that's what is served. They are all very supportive too and won't make me feel weird about it. The other thing is that the bride's own mother is actually banded. So, maybe, just maybe, the menu is actually band friendly. Could I actually be that lucky? :w00t:

And then as soon as I survive this wedding, what do I have next? Easter dinner! At least I am hosting so I get to choose the menu. I'm gonna make ham and really creamy delicious scalloped potatoes. Haven't figured out the rest of the meal, but my MIL is bringing baked apples (totally soft and band friendly) and coconut cream pie. Yum! Still gotta figure out some other sides. Really, I think the ham is the only thing that I'm not sure of. I have never baked a ham myself and just hope I can do a good job so it is not dry. And, the good thing is that the only outside guests are my inlaws and they also know I'm banded and are supportive.

You know, the thing is that even though everyone knows about my band and is totally supportive. They just haven't seen me ever get stuck before. :eek: And, I would hate to have that happen in front of them and then have them think badly about the band. All of us who are banded know its a learning curve. Every time we get a fill, we have to relearn what works for us and what doesn't. But, from an outsider's perspective, they see you get stuck or in pain once and they think... oh, the band is bad, makes you sick all the time. Oh well, I guess I can't start worrying now about what people think. :tongue:

Why why why??? Why did I just decide to try some of the leftover pasta as I was serving it to my kids? I just got the most stuck I have ever got and I am no longer a PB virgin. I think that episode has cured me of any desire for pasta. I think it would've been OK if my stoma wasn't already irritated from getting stuck earlier today cause I had a little pasta last night and it was fine.

Ugh! Why did I not stick w/my plan to just have mushy stuff tonight? It was just so impulsive and easy... dishing up some pasta for the kids, why not have a little myself. Dumb, dumb, dumb! I'm gonna go back to liquids until the wedding tomorrow night. I hope that will be enough time to bring down any swelling I must have in my stoma now. Yikes!

I have finally found out what "stuck" means. I went out to dinner at Applebee's and ordered off of the weight watchers selection. I was eating broccoli and omg, I started burping and then I drank a little water hoping to get it moving.... Needless to say, I left that brocolli in their restroom. Never again? Then, a few days later I was eating some roast beef, and I felt like i was going to have a heart attack. No matter how much i chewed, it wouldn't go down right. I am the worst eater for taking big bites but now I'm learning to eat slower but still, those 2 things don't work for me.

I've started losing again and now i'm up to 15 lbs. Can't wait to get my first fill in 2 weeks! I'll keep you posted. Happy Easter!

First for your event try baking a spiral ham in a crock pot for 6 to 8 hours in pinapple juice and some brown sugar, when done, place it in a nice dish covered with a jar of cherries and juice-I used two jars of cherries, great holiday meat choice. I experiment alot since being banded and last night I had two filet mignon 2 ounces each of meat--I seared them in a fry pan first, cook for five minutes on each side low heat in olive oil and then take out and then bake in oven for 25 mintues on 350 heat. Turn over every 5 minutes untill your desired doneness. I cut two up into very tiny pieces so I had at least a cup full to eat, of course my three dogs shared the rest with me. I had a 1/2 cup with carrots and peas mixed. No problems and felt very comfortable and full afterwards. Weighted myself in the morning and maintained my weight so I am satisfied. I have been loosing about 2.84 #s a week since Jan 10. I did have chicken the other day and had my first stuck episode. Within a minute I was ok, and no problem. In Apr I will go for my 4th FILL for a total of 8 cc's in my 10 cc band. Now I am just trying to control my weight loss myself-practicing self control and exercise, it's working but slowly. We are banded for weight loss and have all the time in the world-one year to reach our goals. We can achieve so be positive, and enjoy life as a bander. Glad to share thoughts, Ken

Thanks Ken I will try this recipe for ham sounds so tasty. Happy Easter imaluckydog