Wheeler5051

So It's almost been 1 year for me being banded, and I am only down about 45 lbs. I guess that's ok since I didn't gain 45 lbs, but I had hoped to be at a better number by my 1 year date. That being said..... does anyone who has been banded for awhile go through an "eating routine" every time that you get ready to eat? It's crazy and SUCH A CHORE TO EAT sometimes! Everytime I go to eat, I start with a few bites, chew it up real good and slow, and then I have to wait for about 10-15 minutes(sometimes longer) to eat any more. I have to wait then until I get the hiccups and then I am ready to eat. sometimes, I am so hungry and start to eat without waiting/pausing (like mentioned above), and I usually end up bringing it right back up. But even if that happens, then I am ready to eat after I throw up those few bites! It's so wierd. It takes me FOREVER to eat a meal, because of having to wait! But then what's really crazy is that I can then eat a ton of food! I even cook dinner really early just to give myself at least an hour or hour 1/2 to eat, and after I wait, I am able to eat almost an entire plate full of food like it's no problem, and go back for seconds afterwards if I wanted to. Just wondering if eating is such a chore and a routine for everyone else? I also wanted to mention, how hard is it to find something to eat during the day for some of you? I eat salad and Soup, pretty much every day because I can't really handle bread at all, so sandwhiches are out. sad face. Although sanwhiches are probably not what I should be eating anyway, I sure do miss them sometimes! so does this sound like what anyone else deals with at all? Just wondering!

I have been banded for about 8 months now and just got my fourth fill two days ago. I knew that it was going to be a "tight" fill and expected the restriction, but I am having a really hard time at night. I wake up violently choking and gurgling on what I presume to be my stomach contents. It happened like 6 times last night, and I choked so hard that I threw up. Continous burping too.I tried sleeping sitting straight up and propping my head up too, that didn't work at all, it still came up. BUT, What My Real Question is, am I just swollen right now and need to let it settle down? or will it continue to be this bad? For all you fellow bandsters that have been banded for awhile, and who like to keep thier band "tight", is this something that comes with the territory, or should I get fluid removed? The reason I am asking is because I did get a fill before and it was way too tight, and absolutley had to get some fluid removed, but even then, the doctor questioned me about waiting for the swelling to go down. I knew the last time that I had to have fluid out because I was so uncomfortable just drinking water, but this time, I am doing pretty good during the day but it just this night time thing that is really bad. I don't want to get another unfill if I am just jumping the gun and not letting my body adjust. I have been on liquids for two days, and just had some mushies tonight. I tried not eating near bed time, but that didn't seem to make any difference. Any advice would be great!!!

I was just wondering does anyone else get nightly heart burn? My doctor said that this isnt normal,and we are going to keep an eye on it, but I don't feel like I have any other problems besides this. The heart burn is the only problem that I have, but it is bad enough that I have to take tums or pepto almost every night, and sometimes it doesn't even help. Just wondering, does anyone else have constant heartburn like this? Could it be a slip even though I dont have any other symptoms? That is what my doctor was concerned about. Thanks for any comments!

I thought about the fact of maybe being too tight, but I can eat normally during the day, and I get hungry (like I did before my fill) so I didn't think that I would be too tight considering how I feel during the day. Awhile back, I was too tight and was choking and regurgitating at night, but then got a slight unfill and that all went away. the only problem is the heart burn still. My doctor said a possible slip, but I understand what you are saying about being too tight still.

I had the same thing happen to me, and yes, you are a little bit too tight. Have them give you a small unfill and it should get much better. I didn't want to get an unfill because it was great during the day but I dreaded night time, but I couldn't sleep, so I had to go. He only took a small amount out, so it worked out ok. also, It could become serious if it gets into your lungs, aspiration can cause pneumonia and that happened to someone I know. Best of luck!

Thank you so much for your post to my question. I guess I will have to wait until monday now to call and see about getting a bit taken out. I don't think it's going to be any better tonight though, I am burping like every 2 minutes and I haven't eaten or had a drink since about 3 hours ago. I just hope that it's not as bad as last night. Sorry for all that you had to go through! I hope things get better for you too!

I am had the same exact problem before, and 1cc does make such a difference doesn't it! I just had .5cc fill yesterday and I am not feeling the discomfort during the day, but the nightime is terrible. I am wondering if it's just swelling or if I need some out, just like you were saying! I know what you mean, I don't want to have it taken out and then need more in once the swelling goes down if that is all that it is. It's hard to tell! The doctor didn't have a hard time getting the needle in this time with me, but that has happened to me before also and it was freaky! Keep me updated!

I wanted to tell you that although I dont agree with you getting a complete unfill, I do understand where you are coming from as far as "missing eating normally" or how you once did. Maybe I speak for myself, but I sometimes wish that I could eat a burger with a BUN or have a doughnut once in a blue moon without pbing. Although this isn't the way we should be thinking, I am human, and I do miss eating that kind of stuff once in awhile. I think though, if you got a very small unfill (like .5 of a cc) then you may be able to eat meat and may not have the reflux problems as much as you do. I am speaking from expierence about this. I was filled too tight and had terrible reflux, and wasn't able to eat meat or even salad, but when I got a slight unfill last time, it really helped and I was able to eat meat without any problems (as long as I chewed it up really well) and the reflux got much better. Just go get a slight unfill and you will probably be feeling much happier. What a difference half a cc out will make! That's my two cents anyway Good Luck!

Just wondering for anyone who has had their band for awhile, if anyone else has food tolerance problems throughout the day Morning: My band is very finicky, usually I can only eat a yogurt or drink a protien shake or have a sugar free instant Breakfast with nonfat milk, but anything solid and it usually doesn't go down real well. Lunch: Still a bit tight, and most of the time, solids don't go down real well, so I try to stick to Soup, But I am getting sick of this, and when I try to eat even like a block of cheese, it may or may not go down. This is frustrating because I am hungry but never know what to eat for lunch now. dinner Time: It takes me awhile to eat, but I can usually end up eating a whole plate of food, and I am still hungry sometimes even after a full plate of food. It's so weird to me that my band is so tight all day and then at night, I can eat a whole entire plate of food! I want to get another small fill because I am a SLOW looser (only lost 26 lbs so far in 4 1/2 months) but I am afraid that I wont be able to eat anything all day if I do. Just wondering if anyone elses band is this finicky? And what do you eat? BTW..I work out at least 5 days a week and it is so frustrating that I am not loosing weight faster. I have even cut out almost all bread, I dont drink soda, I never eat fast food. I just eat a lot at night because I am hungry from not eating much all day. Is this kind of what it "should be like" and I am just not giving it enough time yet?

I got my third fill last week of 1cc, making a total of 6cc., which was way too tight. I went in to see the doctor for a slight unfill and he asked me to try to wait it out to see if when the swelling went down, if it might be better for me. It wasn't, so I went in for a 1/2 cc unfill. I did feel better, considering I wasn't able to eat anything at all at that point. But now it's been 4 days since that unfill and I am still having some trouble with eating and feeling comfortable. It takes me about an hour to eat a small meal, and sometimes I feel a little nausous when it is time to eat, and sometimes get a knot feeling in my chest after I drink or eat even just a little. This doesn't happen all the time, but most. I think maybe I need another very small unfill, but he didn't seem to want to do the last one. Wanting me to wait it out. I hadn't been loosing any weight at all before my last fill, so I think he wanted me to be a little tight. I mean, I can live with it the way it is now, but should it be this way? I want to be able to eat and feel full but right now, I am afraid to eat and when I do, it is extremely slow! Will the tightness wear off? Should I wait it out for awhile? Is this the normal tight (good) feeling? Or should I get a little more taken out?

I was on my way to get my fill today and realized that I had some time to kill and hadn't eaten lunch, so I decided to stop and get something to eat, and long story short, by the time I had gotten my food, and sat down to eat my food, it was only about 1/2 hour before my appt time. I felt ok before getting my fill, just really full. The doctor had a hard time finding my port and was pushing all around my stomach, which wasn't much fun. Especially on a full belly, but he eventually got it in. He asked if I wanted 1/2 cc or 1cc, which I answered 1cc. This is my third fill and I knew that I might either be at the right level with this one or maybe a little tight. So after my fill, I drank my water, which went down ok, but I felt like I had heart burn a little. I was a little uncomfortable on the ride home, but wasn't sure if it was because of eating right before the fill or maybe I am too tight. It is evening time now, and I still feel really full, a little uncomfortable still. Just wondering from anyone who knows what it feels like, does this sound like I may need some fluid out? I guess I am going to have some soup for dinner tonight, even though I don't feel very hungry. I appreciate any input or advice! Thanks!

Getting to the green zone is a little tricky! It can be a pain getting it just right I guess. I went today and got a small unfill. I had to do it, I couldn't handle the ordeal that I had to go through every time I tried to eat something. Everyone that works in the doctors office kind of gave me a funny smile, because I have been there 4 times in one week. I asked if this was normal, they said no, but I figured that it was best to be comfortable and to be able to eat a meal asnd not feel like I was going to get sick each time. So I am hoping that even though I had to get this little unfill, I hope that I still loose weight but with being able to eat. Thanks all for your comments and advice! That's why I love this site!

I did do liquids/mushies/solids. I can get down the food, it just takes forever.or if something doesn't go down well, I end up throwing it away and then trying something else. Usually something that will slide easier. I did read Alex's post, and I think i am in the red zone according to what it said. I just didn't know if this is what it feels like in the beginning, and then it gets better. My doctor had asked me even before my last unfill "can you live like this", which at that time, was no, but I can live with the way it is right now, but with extreme caution. I just didn't want to go back if I should wait and see if things start to go down easier. does that happen after awhile, or does it require getting fluid out?

I was filled a little too tight and was apirating in my sleep (waking up choking and gaging from the fluid from band). I got a slight unfill and it helped with me tremendously with the aspiration, but now I have a terrible terrible cough. I have heard of of Aspiration Pnuemonia, but I didn't want to overreact and go to my doctor if there was nothing that can be done about the cough. I don't have any other symtoms except this terrible cough. Has anyone else had this problem, and did your cough go away, or should I be worried about it. I have been coughing for 2 days now, and seems to be getting worse, but then maybe stuff is trying to work its way out? I just wanted to know if anyone else has had this problem. Thanks All!

I was really hoping that I would NEVER have a "stuck" episode. I actually feared the thought of ever vomiting. It terrified me about having an episode. I HATE to throw up! But so far I have been tolerating food very well, well up until tonight anyway. It happened, I got stuck and it was BAD! Although this is not a question for the forum, I just wanted to mention to anyone who is just starting to get your fills, You need to be extremely aware of what you eat! Once you get back on to solid food after surgery, and you are hungry, you start to eat normal again, and once I started getting my fills, I just thought that if I chewed up my food really good (whatever it may be), that it wouldn't be an issue. I was able to eat anything pretty much without feeling stuck (bread, chicken, popcorn) After my first fill, everything was going down fine, not a problem at all, even after my second fill, I could tell if it didn't feel right, but no biggie, just knew not to eat that again. But I got my third fill at the beginning of the week, and it was too much, so he had to give me a slight, unfill of 1/2 cc. I was feeling great again and thought, I will have some angel hair noodles tonight. I haven't had any problems eating them before, so didn't think it would be a problem. Boy was I wrong! Not to be gross, but I slimed, dry heaved, vomited and felt miserable for about 2 hours. What a huge difference 1/2 cc will make in your band! I know that everyone is different, but just wanted to warn everyone who hasn't gotten to a "tigher" restriction, just be really concious after you start getting those fills because what you ate last week may not go down today! Getting struck really sucks, and I will say that even though I have enjoyed those noodles since being banded, I don't think I will EVER be eating them again! At least I know that there is definitely restriction now! Good luck to all of you just starting this journey and to all of us who are "trying to figure out our fills" I wish no one had to ever go through that!

I totally had the same problem, even gaining some back after the first month, but once I started getting my fills, the weight has begun to move again. so hang in there, it will happen. Just like another person had said, in the beginning, it's about healing, so don't get discouraged. It's totally normal!

Great Post, Thanks for sharing! Congrats on the great work and weight loss. Stories like these help when I am struggling! Congrats again!

Oh my, I dont have an answer for you, but I hope not! Best of luck to you, and hopefully it will pass!

I think your band name is funny! and boy what a differnece 5cc to 5.5cc will make! I was able to pretty much eat anything, and would know when to stop, but now, I have to be EXTREMELY careful. I am almost afraid to eat. But it's definitely working, and what it's supposed to do, so I just need to get used to it!

I am sorry that I don't have any great advice, I just wanted to say sorry that you are going through this, My best wishes on getting this fixed and you feeling better! Best of Luck!

Thanks SisterSue, I will take that advice!

I got my third fill yesterday and I am not sure if I am too tight or if its just swelling. I am burping constantly and still feel uncomortable right where the band is. I feel better today than yesterday, but didn't know if I should be feeling this way at all. On the plus side, I am not hungry at all (finally) and I drank a muscle milk light and it went down fine, just burped a lot (but I have been burping since I got the fill). Although I had to drink it really slow. I don't want to get an unfill, if it's just swelling, but then again, It's a holiday weekend, and I don't want there to be a problem and not be able to get in to see the doctor. I havent felt this kind of restriction before, which I kind of like, but I hate the uncomfortableness and tightness that I am feeling right now. It has gotten better from yesterday, at least there was some improvement. I don't want to mess it up if this is my sweet spot but just not giving it time to settle. you know?