gotmyeyeontheprize

I'm two years post op and have lost 140 lbs. My last fill was over six months ago. Recently, I find myself getting stuck at almost every meal. No matter what time of day I eat my first meal, I'm going to the bathroom or grabbing a cup because it's coming back up. This happens within a few bites of the meal. Today, we went out to eat after church. I had taken literally two bites of my meal and had to excuse myself to the restroom. Once I cleared myself out, I was able to eat almost all of the remainder of my meal. Then, we had family over for Christmas this evening. A few bites into the meal, and I was grabbing a Solo cup to spit up my food. Now, about two hours and a glass of wine later, I was able to consume two helpings of brocolli casserole with no problems. I have no idea what is going on. I do know that consuming an alcoholic beverage before my meal seems to allow me to eat, but I can't do that all the time. Any ideas on what the problem may be?

I've been banded since November 2010 and have been fortunate in my journey. From preop until now, I've had an easy go of it with very succesful weight loss. Unfortunately, I just found out today that a friend of mine who was banded a year early than me by the same doctor is having her band removed tomorrow. She experienced an episode yesterday where she got stuck on some meat and continued vomitting through the night. When she went to the hospital this morning, the doctor confirmed that her band had slipped. The doctor told her that he could fix the problem, but she chose to have it removed. She had always told herself that if she ever had a problem with the band, she would have it taken out. Obviously, this news got my mind to wondering if anyone else had experienced this issue or if I would ever experience this problem. It is a very scary thought and I really am not sure what I would do if this happened. So, I would like to hear from you all. How long have you been banded? Have you ever had any trouble?

I had a fill on January 6th. My doctor always fills under flouroscopy. At the time, I had lost a little bit of Fluid but he only added a little more to what I had. I drank the barium just fine and did my three days of liquids as he requires. Last Monday, I began with mushy foods such as tuna. That went down well, but I had to take very small bites and chew, chew, chew for about 45 minutes. I've really not been hungry at all, but have been eating a small yogurt for Breakfast, which I have to eat about two hours after I get up because I'm so tight, tuna or canned chicken for lunch, and either canned chicken or Tyson's Anytizers for dinner. The Anytizers have to be cut into very small bites. It takes me around 45 minutes to eat a meal. Also, I can fill the yogurt travel all the way down. Over the weekend, I wanted to splurge on some Baskin Robbins. I love their Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae and ice-cream is my weakness. I ate about five bites and was stuck! At the time, I chalked it up to the Reese's and me not chewing them well. Yesterday, I decided to try ice-cream again and got a hot fudge sundae with soft serve ice-cream. Once again, about five bites, and I was stuck! Since I'm feeling the yogurt on its journey down, the ice-cream got stuck, and I'm having to take so long to eat, am I in the red zone or was I too comfortable being in the yellow zone before I had this fill and am not where I need to be in the green zone?

I do find it strange to get stuck on ice-cream yet I can get down chicken. It makes me wonder if it was actually the hot fudge that caused the issue and not the actual ice-cream.

Congratulations on taking the first step to a new you! With that said, you must do what is right for you. Research all of your options and go into this with an open mind. My surgeon also encouraged me to do the bypass because it allows for quicker weight loss. I went into this knowing that my band was only a tool and that I would have to learn an entirely new way of eating. It was the best option for me and I would do it again in a heartbeat! With that said, you chose what is best for you! Good luck.

Do you mind me asking what caused the slip?

Well, I went ahead and had my band fill yesterday. It was done under flouroscopy and my doctor said I had actually lost some fluid since my last fill. When doing the fill, he and I both watched the barium go through the band. Several hours after my fill, I started having trouble with fluids. Not consistently, but twice yesterday and once so far today. Since the fill, I've only had a couple of protein drinks, some clear broth, some sugar free popsicles, and water. When eatine a popsicle today, I started "foaming" and up came the melted popsicle. Am I too tight or just swollen from the fill?

I am keeping most everything down. Just had trouble a few times and have to take really small sips at a time. Maybe I've been so "untight" for a while that it is making me relearn the band?

After stepping on the scales this morning, I've gone from 214 at the beginning of December to 227! I knew I needed a fill a couple of months ago, but I wanted to enjoy the holidays. Major mistake! I have a fill scheduled for Friday and my doctor always requires me to stay on liquids for three days following then go to mushies and slowly advance myself to solids. Has anyone ever gone back to their all liquid preop diet just to get back on track? I really think this all becomes a mind over matter thing. I'm feeling the need to detox myself from all the bad things I've put in my body. When I first got my lapband a little over a year ago, I would not attempt to eat anything that was not solid Protein or low fat/fat free. Now that I've lost over 100 lbs., I've found myself going back to my old habits and it is showing. I really want to lose another 50 lbs. and need to get back on track. Any suggestions?

I'm so confused. I've got a fill scheduled for Friday because I've gained so much over the holidays. Yesterday, I attempted to eat a salad with a grilled chicken breast from Subway. Within about six bites, I was heading to the restroom because some of it had to come back up. Today, the same thing happened when trying to eat a lunch of fajita veggies and the cheese out of a cheese enchilada. Of course, once the food comes back up, I'm starving again. Any thoughts?

You all are wonderful and have such sound advice. Before the holidays began, I was eating larger portions and still getting hungry. Then, once the holidays started, I began eating all the candy, Cookies, and goodies that were soft enough to go straight through the band. After starting this initial topic, I called my surgeon's office. He still wants to see me on Friday to make sure that I do not need a slight unfill. Fortunately, he always does his adjustments under flouroscopy and will be able to watch how the Fluid is going through the band. I really think I've gotten off track and need to step up my game!

No, I haven't heard of the 5 day pouch test, but it sounds like something I need! Can you tell me the plan?

I feel your pain! I have fallen off the wagon in a major way. Needed a fill badly before Christmas, but I wanted to be able to enjoy the holidays. Major mistake! I stepped on the scales this morning and have gone from 214 at the beginning of December to 227! This is terrible!!! I have a fill scheduled for Friday and plan to go back to my pre-op diet just to get my mind right again. In my opinion, this becomes a mind over matter thing! Got to get my head back in the game.

I had a Christmas goody intervention this morning. Needless to say, I've packed on the pounds in the past few weeks. Being a teacher, there have been way too many soft, sugary treats come through my classroom the weeks leading up to the holidays. Then, of course, there were plenty of calorie packed goodies to indulge in over the weekend. Last Christmas, I was only a month out from surgery. So, I was "good" and stayed on track. This Christmas, I was in desperate need of a fill and made up for all that I missed last year. Today, after stepping on the scales, I told myself enough is enough! I picked up the phone, called my surgeons office, and scheduled a fill for next Friday. Then, I walked into the kitchen and threw all of the leftover treats in the trash, tied up the trashbag, and threw it in the outside trashcan! The next step is to get back to my fitness program. I've battled strep throat twice in the last three weeks. Between that and the crazy holiday schedule, I've missed out on my regular schedule of Zumba and bootcamp classes. Tis the season to throw away all excuses and goodies that block my path to shedding these last 40 lbs!

I know I should probably check the food area for this, but I usually don't find much updated material there. I need a good morning Protein drink or protein packed yogurt parfait recipe for Breakfast. My usual Protein drinks are the ones that are already mixed and low carb EAS or Myoplex...YUCK! I am also not a fan of the greek yogurt. IMO, the greek yogurt tastes like eating sour cream by the spoon full, even with added flavor....YUCK! I just can't stomach it anymore. In the past, I've tried mixing Protein powder with Water and frozen fruits. Again...YUCK! The flavor of powder I had then was vanilla and it came from GNC. To be honest, I just don't prefer the taste of any protein supplement. Even so, since my last fill, I am super tight in the morning and can't get enough protein in through something like Egg Beaters. Any Protein Drink or yogurt parfait recipes would be appreciated.

I had my third fill yesterday and am full of gas! It is very uncomfortable. I don't remember gas this bad with my first two fills. My doctor does my fills under flouroscopy and I am drinking liquids just fine. So, I am not worried about being overfilled. Has anyone else experienced it and when will it go away?

I was banded November 22nd and am not too far from my goal. Since I hit the 100 lb. mark, it has been a slow loss. That is partially my fault since I have been sampling foods that were a complete no-no before. My advice is to make sure your band is adjusted well. Then, slowly eliminate carbs and fat. My doctor only allows 5 grams of carbs per meal. If you are not exercising, start doing so ASAP! I swear by my exercise routine. I do a mix of strength training and cardio three times a week. Then, I try to walk/jog a couple of days a week. That is the only thing that has kept me losing at this point.

I can't decide if I should go for another fill or not. To be honest, I totally despise getting a fill. The process itself isn't that bad. I just hate the liquid diet that follows. Anyways, I've lost 114 lbs since being banded the end of November. I've only had two fills total and am unsure of the size of my band. If I'm not mistaken, I've had a total of about 1.5-2 cc. between both fills. Lately, I've found myself consuming more food in a meal. I'm a teacher and have not been on a good eating schedule this summer. I've only been getting two actual meals in during a days time since school has been out. Also, I've been enjoying ice-cream like it is nobody's business! I think I've let it become my third meal of the day!! With all of that said, I am still losing weight. I weigh myself once a week. Last week, I lost 3 lbs. So, should I go for the fill or not? If I don't have one this Friday, it will be the end of July before I have another opportunity.

You all are too funny! For supper tonight, I had 4 ounces of chili that I made with ground turkey. Within an hour of eating, I was in the kitchen grazing for something else. The same thing happened at Breakfast. I had 1/4 cup of Egg Beaters with two turkey sausage links and a bit of 2% shredded cheese. Within an hour, I was hungry again. I do know that my eating habits have involved a lot of snacking, which is something that I wasn't doing a month ago. That is why I can't decide if it is a fill that I need or a better eating schedule. By the way, lunch was ice-cream!

I think you are fine. I lost 22 lbs. during the two week pre-op diet! I've lost 114 lbs. in less than eight months. There were weeks when I would drop 7-10 lbs. Now, it is a steady 1-2 lbs. a week.

I did this too after about three months of being banded. I was eating 60+ grams of Protein a day, but it was still falling out. My doctor and beautician both told me that my body would have to adjust to the rapid weight loss and Vitamin deficiency. They were both correct. My hair thinned out for a few months. Then, it leveled out and is fine now.

Happy Bandiversary!! Congrats on your success!!

I think this is why it is best to go through the pre-op diet and do the three phases of eating post-op. It helps rid your system of all that junk that got us to obesity in the first place. It also helps you to learn how to eat less. With that said, know that you will be able to eat again. You will just learn to eat less. You have to listen to your body and learn it well. Your body will tell you when you are satisfied. When I go out to eat, I try to order off of the kid's menu if the restaraunt will allow it. I opt for grilled chicken and a veggie side. If that isn't an option, I order grilled chicken or some type of fish of the regular menu and enjoy the left overs the next day!

I am 7 months out and can eat popcorn just fine. Of course, I don't make it a habit to eat it all the time, but I do grab myself a handful when my hubby or kids have it. You will learn that you can not deprive yourself of the things you love. Learn to enjoy those things in moderation and as a special treat!

Well, my fear of getting the stomach virus with my band has become a reality. A reality that wasn't too much fun! I thought I would tell my experience for those newly banded. The virus struck suddenly. One minute I was fine. The next minute, I was vomitting! Let me say that the initial vomitting was not what I experienced with stomach viruses before being banded. For the first few hours, the vomitting was more dry heaves with some slobbery foam coming up. I contribute this to us bandsters not having much in our stomach at one time. After a few hours passed, the slobbery foam moved to liquidy stomach acid. I am assuming that was coming from the lower portion of my stomach. Fortunately, my surgeon had given me a prescription of phenergan suppositories to keep for emergency situations. I used five of them before the vomitting stopped. I called my surgeon's office the following day after the virus struck (why does this stuff always happen at night?!?!). His nurse told me to stay on Clear liquids for at least 24 hours and to continue with the suppositories if I felt the least bit nauseated. She reminded me of the risk of slippage with vomitting. She said I would know if the band had slipped because I would not be able to hold down Water and would feel a pain in my chest and into my back. Fortunately, no slippage! I am not sure how I dodged it though because I was vomitting every 10-20 minutes for about 3 hours. Then, every hour for about 5 more hours! Today, I have tried to eat some solid food, but it isn't going too well. The nurse told me my stomach will be inflamed around the band. So, I may have to stay on liquids or mushy foods for a few days. Just playing it by ear for now.