airwayman

What you're experiencing is 'band spasm.' Think of the band as a pit bull. If you want a pit bull to bite you what do you do? You taunt it, poke it, etc. You'll get bit everytime. Conversely, if you want to make friends with the dog, you gently pet it. The band is the same way. It's that FIRST bite, the one you stuff in your mouth, chew a couple of times, swallow a little bit and then think "oh, I better chew, chew, chew." Too late, you alread slapped your band in the face. That first swallow did it. Now you chew, chew and swallow but it's too late, you're just packing food on top of a problem. All you can do is PB or wait it out. How do I know this? I've done it a lot and when I see the size of the piece of food that comes up I'm amazed I swallowed a bite that big! I thought I chewed it up...I did, most of it, just not every bite. I also realized I was eating too fast; put your fork down between bites, that helped me. Start slow, pat your band, then once it's receptive, you should be able to eat a reasonable amount. Remember, it's band spasm that's doing it and like the pit bull, the band will win everytime if you provoke it. Airwayman

What's amazing is some people need 4.0cc (or slightly more) in a 4cc band to be tight. I was at 1.6 ccs total, couldn't eat waterdowned *s%t if my life depended on it. At 1.6, I lost 14.9 lbs. in 5 weeks, but was miserable. Went back yesterday for a .5cc unfill, went directly to a mexican restaurant (now don't fuss at me) and ate some nachos with NO feeling of restriction what so ever. I WILL have to be careful at 1.55 ccs. At 1.6 I didn't have to do any of the work, the band did it all. I was miserable, no solids, got stuck on V-8 juice yesterday morning. Then the .5 unfill at noon and the flood gates are open. For those of you who are having trouble either way, remember a tiny bit makes a world of difference. Airwayman

The band IS THE BOSS...like martinis, you never win if you over do it. When you "get stuck" yes, it feels like you swallowed a golf ball and you know it in seconds. Yes, it hurts to some degree but pain is not the big underlying problem. Your body is saying "oh *$%^, a part of my body is obstructed (kinked, like a garden hose). Then you begin to burp what seems like saliva, then your mouth begins to salivate. None of this tastes bad, it's not bile from your stomach, you're not sick, just obstructed. Then you get this feeling that you better head for the bathroom....again not a sick stomach, just the feeling that something is coming up and you're not in control. In this scenario, you will probably vomit pieces of food you just swallowed. You may vomit (PB is the polite word which means Productive Burping) several times. DON'T think for one minute you got it all...you probably didn't. DON'T go back and eat more thinking you've cleared the obstruction. Just try to relax and let what's left pass on through. People get stuck on all kinds of stuff, but to me, meat is the number one item to watch out for. And in my case, it's almost always the first few bites! I can't get it through my thick fat head that I must absolutely chew the first couple of small bites. I'm hungry, not thinking, chew some but forget to pulverize it and, whamo, I'm stuck. No, the band doesn't burst, leak or leave for Florida, it just does its job of restricting. This is my two cents, I can't speak for the thousands of others that have had different experiences. Airwayman

Just remember, the band is the boss. Don't believe me? Try eating something like I did and puking slime and shrimp all over the floor. My Dr. said it's like kinking a garden hose and then unhooking it from the house.

Not everyone is alike (duh) but sounds like you just over did it. Chalk up every experience and try to remember what you ate/ were doing when you had problems. Mine is hiccups. I was banded 4/30/07 and got carried away the other day at a restaurant...swallowed a piece of shrimp without chewing fully. I puked in the bathroom four times. Great way to make friends. SLOW DOWN, EAT SLOW, THINK WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I'm guilty, sounds like you are too. Good luck my friend. Airwayman

BCBS of NC approved lap band WLS in late January of '07. They just paid my hospital bill but denied the doctor's bill. I'll wait on the sidelines and see what happens. I'm sure it was just a technicality.

Yeah, but you said "so" for a different reason than I said "so."

I personally like both of thos attributes. I don't remember the last canuk I didn't like and I'm partial to blondes having been married to one for 35 years. When Sharon Stone crossed her legs and the man world went ga-ga over blonde hair. I went "what's the bid deal.

I agree with Carlene, get your BUTT to the Dr. ASAP. Don't pass GO, don't collect $200, call and make an appt. today. Putting this off could be a big problem down the road. Remember, the doctor is on YOUR SIDE, he's not the enemy. Steer your own ship and get out of these choppy waters. We're all behind you. Airwayman

smoothie King makes a lot of fattening junk smoothies BUT they bought their Gladiator powder and made sample smoothies at our last support meeting. The stuff is pretty darn good...comes in three flavors chocolate, strawberry and vanillia. You buy a big tub of it...costs about $39. Makes many shakes but you'll need it. Blender it with some ice cubes, soy milk, banana, berries, yogurt, whatever and drink for a meal. The powder has 180 calories and a whopping 45 grams of whey protein isolate (the absolute best and most expensive protein). unjury makes a chicken broth with 21 grams of good protein. I buy it online. You mix it w/ warm Water (no hotter than 130 degrees...does something to the consistency but I never noticed). I put it in as the liquid in a can of Soup that I blend when I'm on liquids. It has 100 cal. Between the UNjury and the Gladiator you will have all the protein you need for a full day. This is just a beginning, there are many other drinks/food that contain lots of protein. Hair is hair. Fat is FAT!! Hair will grow back. Get after it.

Go to Mexico, you won't get many chances like this. Scew the heat, it's bad but you can handle it. There's more people in Mexico than there are in Canada...should tell you something. Many Mexicans speak limited English....they ain't stupid...they know you got them pesos. The tummy tuck and boob job can wait. Oh, and mail me five dollars for the advice, I don't make house calls.

I beat ya. My doc's ins. lady faxed my request to BCBS NC on Thursday midday. I got a SNAIL mail approval in Saturday's mail.

I can kinda see how a woman wouldn't want her man to get all juiced up when he's all by himself and then come home to momma. I don't totally agree but I can see your point. I, however, am in awe of you and my loving wife for being more than understanding and giving to take care of us horny men. She does the exact same thing....she does "things" for me just to get the enjoyment of making me feel good and happy. I try not to over do it but it SURE is nice to know all I have to do is ask. Keeps me in love, and perfectly satisfied at home. Of course, I alway ask if I can do something for her. On occasion she says yes.

Haven't been inside the city since they banned corporate aircraft from Benito Juarez Int'l airport (corporate planes must use an airport far outside the city nowadays). The last time I was in the city my throat and nose burned the whole time...you have no idea how clean the air is up north but, if you go, you're "fixin' to find out" as my old TX born secretary would say.

Amen, bro, couldn't have said it better my ownself.

Har de har har....refuses lap dances? Bull hockey. You better watch that guy. While I don't like the strip clubs, a lap dance, with an enthusiastic lap dancer, is a sexual experience....make no boners....er bones about it. No, I wouldn't pay for one, but if offered, I'd accept. I never flew a Bombardier airplane but I did fly Gulfstream IIs, and IIBs for years. My youngest son flies a Bombardier LearJet 45 and a Gulfstream V and 550. Corporate aviation runs in the family, only he ain't fat like his old man.

Oddly enough, as much as I worship boobs, I hate strip clubs. Just something about a naked woman writhing around a chrome pole trying her best to act sexy to elicit money from the horny males turns me off. Now, a low cut dress, a little perfume, a woman leans over jusssst a little too far....my eyeballs are glued to her cleavage. Even if I knew daggers would pearce my eyeballs the second I looked, I can't resist. Don't want me to look at YOUR boobs??? Don't wear tight low cut stuff with your nipples sticking out like peanut M&Ms. You wear it, I'm gonna look, it's in my DNA.

In my case, stuff like this makes advances by prostitutes seem normal. Just one of many: I was standing on a street corner in N.O. one night with a buddy waiting for the light to chance. It was colder'n hell and we had been taking in a certain liquid that keeps the body warm and the nose red. We both had on trench coats and a "to go" plastic cups in the hand that wasn't in a coat pocket (it was a business trip). All of a sudden I felt someone unusual. I looked around and saw this beautiful young blonde with her hand stuck way down in my coat pocket playing "pocket pool" with my boys. She looked at me and smiled. I whispered "honey, I'm not interested but my friend probably is." I moved to the side so I could see the action. Her hand slithered into his coat pocket and all of a sudden a tired, moderately drunk, 50 year old man came alive. You women have the power!

Phyllis, I'm no expert, but, while researching my own situation, I found that each BCBS has it's own written policy for WLS. North Carolina's was titled BCBS of NC Corporate Policy for Surgery for Morbid Obesity. It's several pages long, available online, if you know where to look, and is their reference guide for approving/denying coverage. Additionally, each company who buys a policy has the option of purchasing weight loss surgery. The companies don't specify which type of WLS surgery or any of the specifics like BMI, dieting history, etc. If they purchase the option, they rely on BCBS to administer the policy. For some folks their first fight would be to get the company to purchase the WLS option; some have succeeded. Then the second possible hurdle is whether the BCBS in question covers AGB (adjustable gastric banding). In my case, BCBS NC moved gastric banding from "investigational" to approved Jan 29th, 2007.

When they get used to the soap, try blood meal. They never get used to it says my blonde-wife-the-gardner.

This thread goes so fast I can't keep up. I now know what Mangina is and Basket of Fruit. Reminds me of the time a friend went to NYC. He was walking down the street when he passed an alley. He heard a voice and there was this beautiful black lady in a long coat in the alley. A few guys stopped as she slowly opened her coat to reveal a perfect naked body with huge boobs and a hairy bush. She was slithering around, feeling herself, licking her lips, when she suddenly stopped, spread her legs and a huge dick and balls swung down from their hiding place. Everyone ran.

Okay, I know what camel toe is (and love it) but what is "mangina?" Dare I ask??

I lived "up north" near there for years. Went back recently and what the hell happened to Barry Road? Sheezam, they done built a huge freeway right through your back door.

I was banded Monday. I'm now a pro and know it all.