BirdGirlEm

I can eat salad, just chew it well. My doc says most people can eat more salad than other foods so beware overeating.

I am just getting over a nasty virus myself. I have basically been living off sugar free hot chocolate for a week. If the post-nasal drip is killing your appetite you may want to try some over the counter meds that treat congestion. Your primary care doctor should be able to make a recommendation. I have no appetite when I am sick like that so I totally sympathize. If you find that you have gone a few days without enough fluids, your are tired and weak, and dizzy then you may need to see the doc about IV fluids to rehydrate. This can happen even without the band. Good luck.

Try a stool softerner such as Colace, not a laxative which can cause painful cramping. Walking stimulates peristalsis, so take a walk to get things moving. This is a great thing to do post-op anyway. If all else fails a gylcerin suppository is a safe and effective method to get rid of a blockage. MOM (Milk of Magnesium) is good but can cause cramping. Best bet is to avoid constipation all together. I add Benefiber to everything I drink. The fiber gummies that someone else mentioned are also great. I use them before meals alot (they make me feel full faster). Drink plenty of fluids as well. Good luck, I had this happen at one point post-op and it was very unpleasant.

soexcited... I have had a similar experience. I have worked hard not to turn to the foods I used before the band, and have been successful. The problem is that I can eat large volumes of "approved" foods now. I can eat a large salad and a whole chicken breast. My doctor never gave me a diet to follow, and has said he doesn't believe in that, instead we are told that we can eat what we want, just not much of it. Still I have given up the trigger foods for me, no doughnuts, no Cheetos, no chips, etc. But without any restriction I have to rely on will power to stop eating, and if I had the will power that some people here claim to have, then I would not have been fat to start with. Sorry but the band is a tool and if we didn't need that tool then we wouldn't have qualified to recieve it. I do agree that you have to see the doc and find out the issue. You also have to find the part of you that was willing to endure the surgery and recovery and tap into that when you are faced with meals. Since I am dealing with the same thing I know how hard it is, and I have not been successful myself. If I had the mentality to deny myself constantly and to be satisfied with 900 calories a day then I would not have needed surgery, and neither would you. Good luck and let me know what your doctor says.

Sounds like your body needs Protein. PB is loaded with calories, try some other sources of protein and see if the craving goes away. Otherwise, maybe you just needed some PB.

Chest pain should always be checked out by a professional. While it is probably band related, it could be you ate too big a bite, ate to fast, or ate something that inflamed your pouch, you cannot risk being wrong. Until you are familiar with the feelings from the band you need to have chest pain assessed by your doctor.

Hi, I am new to this site but have had my band since 9/16/2009. Immediately I had severe dehydration, part of which is related to a medical condition I had before surgery. I was assured repeatedly by two surgeons that the band would not influence my ability to drink large volumes of water necessary to maintain my fluid volume. I have to consume between 2-3 liters a day, often in 500 cc boluses. I was just not able to do that with the band. A month after they placed a PICC line and I have given myself daily IV fluids ever since. I am not too upset by this since the fluids actually help with my primary condition and are sometimes used to treat it regardless. But this spring, immediately after a fill, I lost all the restriction I had before. I was able to eat a small meal, feel full for hours, and not feel hungry. Now I am hungry all the time. I feel my fullness low in the belly, where my stomach is rather than high up where the band is. So there is an issue there, and I am struggling to get this resolved even as my other health problems worsen. I don't know what to do. I need my band examined but have been unable to get to the doctor's office. For instance I had an appointment today but passed out and fell down while getting ready so had to cancel. On top of this, I cannot exercise. The doctors knew this before the surgery and said it would be fine. But that doesn't appear to be the case. I have gained back 15 pounds and am so frustrated. My health has suffered from the band and I have lost all benefit and reward from having it done. Has anyone else had this experience, or dealt with the band and a serious illness as well? How do you cope?

I have had this same phenomena. My band was in a nice place but the doc opted to fill it a little more. I had some restriction for the first day or so, then none whatsoever since. That was months ago and I have had two adjustments, one to reduce and one to fill. I went in an said I could eat anything and he insisted it was too tight because I was eating yogurt. So he took out 0.5 cc and when I came back three months later and 15 pounds heavier he filled back the 0.5cc. And nothing, no change whatsoever. I think there is a leak in the system. I didn't just decide to start eating like a mad woman but I have no restriction. Have you been able to see your doc since, and what did he say?

Try avoiding foods that are soft and liquid, like the soup, yogurt, and Protein drinks. They have a lot of calories but slide through the band and so you don't get full from these foods. My doc says nothing with a spoon.