TerriDoodle

i've had several of these spasms since being banded...so here's my $.02: It seems to me that as my GI system gets used to a new level of restriction I am more prone to a spasm. These spasms are not to be confused with the feeling of being 'stuck'! They are not the same thing. Spasms are 10x worse than your worst stuck episode! The pain is much more sharp and widespread at the same time (doesn't make much sense, does it!?). Anyway...i think the lesson is that when you get a new fill, don't be shocked if you have one of these spasms after eating something spicy, hot and greasy like chili. Especially if you eat too fast or too much of it. If you've had a stressful day on top of that then you are really toast! LOL Relaxation and deep breathing are the quickest and most effective cure for me....but mine have not been terribly serious or long lasting.

I've had quite a number of them.... probably 8-10 since being banded. It feels like a sharp, heavy pressure that starts in your sternum (that's why so many think it's a heart attack) then spreads to your entire upper chest and even into your throat. It hurts like HELL! The best way to get rid of it is to practice relaxation and deep breathing techniques. I've got some meditation and yoga experience so that helps...PLUS I know what's happening so I don't freak out anymore. But when it first happens to you, you just KNOW that you're dying, so just a wee bit of panic starts to set in which, of course, makes the spasm even harder, more painful and longer lasting!! On a good day I can get it stopped in about 10 mins. On a bad day it could last 20. It seems to be related to my overall stress level and eating greasy/spicy foods.

:blushing::musical_note:When you're not with me, I'm BLUUUUE..........:thumbup::musical_note: :w00t: <--me

That is so TRUE, Haydee!! What a brilliant observation!! XOXOXO!!!

Please make sure to post your experience in the doctors/hospitals section of the board if you have not done so already, ok? I'm VERY sorry to hear about your experience. I hope you will have a good outcome eventually! Let us know how we can help.

I'm going to get an UNfill on Tuesday! I'm tired of fighting with it all the time... i want to eat healthy food! I can't go a whole summer not being able to eat canteloupe and watermelon! I'm getting some other strange symptoms so gonna nip this in the bud.

Me tooooooooo. :blushing: my weekend plans seem sooooooooooo dull now. Hmm...maybe that's because I HAVE NO plans!! PamELa - i must have missed it...... what are you doing in Phoenix? Ugh, laundry!! I've got tons waiting for me at home. I'm at work and for some reason can't get my pics to upload on this 'puter. I swear I'll get them up this weekend. Actually, I didn't take many...but I have one that is great. When we were standing on the porch of the Blue House and laughing our asses off. The title of the picture is "PAM!!!"

Good Morning Vi's!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, it takes a little experience with fills to learn that you should really baby your tummy for the first couple of weeks and then pass judgement on whether or not it's working. That's why i've been so 'on the fence' ... but finally realized I have been babying it all the time! Thanks for ya'll's (yes, that's a word!) input and support!

Just for the records.... After a 7 week plateau, scale finally moved to 183.8 today, 10/16. Started using Body Bugg on 10/13. I don't think the two events are related, it just happend that way.

Thanks ya'll. Yeah, that's what i was thinking too.... about 0.2 should do it. If it weren't for LBT, these symptoms might just slip by me, y'know? So I'm grateful to have this invaluable resource of all those hundreds that have gone before me and left their mark here. I don't want to lose my band.....that would be my worst nightmare. No need in being too tight and risk all kinds of bad stuff!!

The charges vary widely! My doctor charges $100 for fill and $150 for fill with fluro; no charge for unfill.

Hi Kat!!!! How ya feelin' today, sweetie?? Thinking of you!

Well, find us a cruise, girlfriend!!

I was just kidding. My sense of humor is still a little OFF!...I was exhausted still yesterday! Much better today. I don't care WHERE we go, I just want to GO!! Are we there yet?? Dang, Jane! Houston's not THAT bad!! :confused_smile:

I will post articles that I find useful from sources that I trust. ******************************************************** From Body For Life website: http://www.bodyforlife.com/nutrition/articles.asp?cmsId=291 Go easy on calorie restriction Q: I have really been restricting my calories, but I just don’t seem to be getting anywhere with my fat-loss program. What’s wrong? A: When anyone severely restricts their daily caloric intake, their body rapidly goes into a starvation mode—a reaction we have all inherited from our distant ancestors who were forced to survive through long periods of famine. There is absolutely nothing that you or any of us can do to prevent this from happening except to never allow our caloric intakes to drop below 1,200 calories for women or 1,800 calories for men. When calories are restricted below these levels our bodies go into action to keep us alive by protecting us from starvation. In other words, the body instinctively kicks in all of its survival mechanisms to prevent death. The first thing to happen when we enter the starvation mode is our basal metabolic rate begins to slow down. This occurs primarily by a reduction in the release of thyroid hormone from our thyroid gland. With severe caloric restriction our resting metabolic rate can drop by as much as 40 to 50 percent. Next, our bodies begin metabolizing our own muscle tissue, converting it into glucose for its primary energy source in order to preserve fat stores that are essential for survival. That’s right—all that hard-earned muscle starts disappearing. And as if all of this isn’t bad enough, the activity of our fat-storing enzymes increases and our fat-burning enzymes decrease so we become very efficient at storing fat. This is the exact opposite of what we are trying to achieve! The key to avoiding this all-too-common scenario is to stay out of the starvation mode by creating a small caloric deficit of only 500 to a maximum of 1,000 calories a day below your maintenance level—as long as you don’t go below the 1,200 or 1,800 I mentioned above. This will assure a 1- to 2-pound weight loss per week—the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendation for a safe weight loss. Remember, this is just a guideline. If you have a low body weight or you don’t exercise much, a 1,000-calories-per-dy deficit may be too much. And finally, we must be sure to eat about every three hours. Our bodies will interpret any missed meal as starvation. The bottom line is, the more slowly we lose weight the easier it is to hold on to our lean muscle mass and take the fat off! Lose fat the fast way! Q: Which is the best way to lose fat—more exercise or fewer calories? A: Exercise is by far the best way to achieve a caloric deficit because it does not trigger the starvation response, it increases metabolic rate, it increases all of the fat-burning enzymes and hormones, it targets body fat rather than muscle tissue for energy sources and it increases the sensitivity of all cells to insulin so carbohydrates are burned for energy and stored as glycogen rather than being stored as body fat. Most people in America today try to lose weight by cutting their calories way back to starvation levels and exercising very little. It is the combination of muscle-building weight training and aerobic exercise that is clearly the best and only way to rid yourself of excess body fat and retain or even increase your muscle mass and, most important, improve your health.

Tracy!! Love the new siggy!!!

Raise your hand if you want Michelle to plan the next trip!! I saw her raise her hand!!

...Not unless the mall serves likker at every corner and stays open 'til 2 am. I almost stopped on the way home to pick up some coconut rum!!! (Thanks, Tracy!!) I keep telling you guys, I'm an EXPERT at lazy. PJ's, coffee and girlfriends...I could stay sitting right there all day. As long as food was delivered at regular intervals! Why am I suddenly hungry for pancakes? I finally got to see all the pics!! They are awesome!!!! I'll post mine later, but I didn't take very many! :confused2: I noticed two interesting things about Jane's pics: 1. She appears to have experience in the blackmail arena. 2. Her pics are very good at highlighting people's nose hairs. Dang, Jane!! GROW already!! :tt1:

I get kind of a crampy feeling up and down my esophagus area... like there's a little spasm going on. But I don't get anything across my abdomen. Have you called your doctor? Pain is not somethiing you should ignore for too long. I'd call by tomorrow at the latest if it persists.

Ok, i'm starting to feel really left out I can't see photobucket at work. WWwwaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!

Jenn, I LOVE your airport stories!! What branch of the military did you hit this time?? Real life is a lot more stressful than Gruene! Did anyone else notice that?

Just wanted to let you all know that we did hear from Kat's husband at about 6:00p tonight that she is doing very well and was released at about 1:30p this afternoon. GO KAT!!!!

Snuffy - Even though you are in R&R, please abide by the forum rules. Your comment above is "insulting" which is not the same as "debate". Members will treat each other with courtesy and respect, especially when they disagree. We understand that bright, intelligent and educated people may not always agree, but personal attacks in the form of insults, abusive language or other means of obvious harassment will not be tolerated.

Wasa & Cosmos - These posts are not reflective of respectful adult debate. Please take your discussion private.