crzytchr

If you were pbing today, you may actually be little tighter if you have some swelling from the pbing. Try going on liquids only tomorrow. If Saturday you reintroduce food (make sure you take small bites and chew well) and it happens again, I would probably go request a slight unfill. You don't want this to continue and get worse. Good Luck

Now I am confused. Bandsters don't dump, we pb...:thumbup: What do you mean you had dumping?

I TOO have have a friend who was "pbing all over the place" and initially lost 2 lbs from it. Then, because she hated being in pain and pbing she started eating slider foods and began to GAIN WEIGHT. So, no, pbing all over the place doesn't mean you are going to keep losing weight. Luckily for me, I haven't had a problem getting stuck all the time. And, luckily for my friend that her she listened when I convinced her she was too tight, so she went to get an unfill. Now, she is back to normal, slowly getting fills and is doing better.

Well, your nurse can't tell you to try to not lose too much. But, her answer suggested she MIGHT would tell you that if she could. You should probably ask her if you will probably be denied if you get below a BMI of 40. She should be able to answer that question. She just can't advise you to do or not do it. Question: do you already have a history of losing weight and then gaining it back? Or, do you just have problems losing it?

Please slow down when you eat. If you continually pb, I think it can cause swelling. I have had it happen to me when I became too tight after my hysterectomy. I try not to let myself get really hungry, so I don't rush my meals. Oh, and there is a BIG difference, as you have certainly noticed. There isn't any stomach acid when you pb, so it isn't as nasty.

PB stands for "productive burp". It is when stuck food comes back up, normally accompanied by its friend "slime" (excess saliva). It isn't as bad as throwing up, but not a lot of fun either. I hope that helps.:thumbup:

If I remember correctly during mushies I ate: refried Beans with fat free sour cream and reduced fat cheddar cheese homemade chili put through a food processor and topped with ff sour cream and cheese chicken salad and tuna salad made using a food processor homemade soups, yes, I put this in a processor also, but they taste better than canned sf pudding, favorite is dark chocolate; this saved me; ate it every night before bed, I still do if I am hungry late at night scrambled eggs

Ok...that is a lot of questions, I will try to answer some.:thumbup: You do have to change your way of eating. If you have a problem with sweets, I think they recommend you do not get the band. Most Desserts are slider foods and go right through the band. Losing weight with the lap band does not happen on its own. It is considered a "TOOL" that you use. When you have proper restriction in your band you should get full on less food and stay full for 4-5 hours. That is how it helps you lose weight. I don't consider it a diet, because I am not hungry on the decreased amount of food. You have to learn to take smaller bites and eat slower so your food doesn't get stuck. It can be done. I too came from a family of "inhalers". We sucked it down fast. I practiced chewing my food more and eating slower in the weeks prior to my operation so I could make sure I could do it. Believe me, if I can do it, you can too. I have lost my weight so far without exercising. Will I continue to lose and get ALL of my weight off without exercising? I seriously doubt it and I plan on hitting they gym in 2 weeks once I am recovered from my hysterectomy. I have lost 67 lbs so far. I probably could have done this without the band, but I would've felt hungry all of the time. Instead, I eat 1200-1500 calories per day and feel satisfied instead of starving. Also, without the band, I most definitely would put it back on. There are different reasons people lose at different rates. Some people have a lot more to lose, so they lose faster. Some mistakenly eat too few calories and their metabolisms slow down. Others, unfortunately, have bands that are too tight and they unconsciously turn to slider foods (go down easy like chips, Cookies, ice cream, etc.). Continue to research and ask questions. That is the only way you will find out if you are ready and a good candidate for lapband surgery.

Congratulations on your weight loss! I saw your pics and you look fabulous. :w00t:If I lived close I would call you plastic surgeon in about a year.:thumbup: If it is already taking you a while to eat, you may be taking bites that are too big. For your next few meals consciously take smaller bites and see if you still feel like you are getting stuck. If so, I would go get a tiny unfill. I mean like .25cc. I read people post who go up and down a small amount in fills/unfills to tweak their band and keep it at the right place. If you stay too tight, you will probably turn to the slider/sugar foods more. You have come too far and look too incredible to stop now.

I think the reasoning behind giving up soft drinks is the carbonation can stretch your pouch. My surgeon said definitely no caffeine, because it can stimulate hunger....I said "it is my only vice", so I drink it anyway. I have been drinking it since I was 2, it doesn't make me hungry.

There are a few on here that are pregnant now. Some get a complete unfill, and some don't. It is probably safest to get an unfill, due to possible morning sickness. All that can cause your band to get too restricted.

You are young and if you are willing to modify your eating habits, then the band is probably a good choice for you. I really wish it had been around and a choice for me even 10 years ago. I LOVE my band. Now to answer some of your questions... I don't realize my band is there unless I am eating or getting a fill I can feel my port, but my husband doesn't really unless I make him by saying, "hey, feel my port, cool huh?" I have only had 2 fills in 6 months and both were painless I have been losing about 10 lbs per month no complications until i had my hysterectomy 5 weeks ago and became too tight, not the band's fault, I should've gotten an unfill even though I was told I wouldn't need it. Any more questions, feel free to ask.

When were you banded? shakes are a liquid and will pass right through the band. They probably won't keep you full very long at all. I think two hours is the most you could hope for. If you aren't too tight in the morning and past the liquid phase, it would be better to try to find some kind of food to eat. So many protein drinks have a lot of calories and don't satisfy long enough to bother with.

You probably don't want to know this but it sounds like you need little unfill instead of a fill. You may be too tight. If you are eating the "right foods" and they are getting stuck when you are chewing correctly and eating slowly then you are too tight. You are probably eating alot because you are eating slider foods. If this is the case and you get a fill, it will only get worse. Try eating some right food tonight...chicken, turkey, fish, ground beef, whatever. Consciously eat slowly, take small bites and chew well. If it gets stuck, then you are too tight. Go to the appointment Saturday, tell them what has been happening and get a little taken out. It will do wonders for you and you will feel better and get back on track. In a couple of weeks if you need it, then go get another fill.

I wouldn't worry about the calories as much as it probably isn't anywhere close to the amount of Protein you are supposed to have. Protein Water has about 5g. I used New whey protein bullets. One of them is only 3 oz and has 42g of protein. Really easy to get down and then if you only can do a little more liquids during the day you are fine. They are kind of expensive but you only need one a day. About 3.50 at GNC. They are thick and tart tasting (hubby says like a sweet tart), but literally 2 sips and one ounce is gone. So, like I said REALLY easy to drink the thing in a day. I did one ounce every couple of hours. ** also if you get them, be sure to buy the 42g ones , they also sell some that are 26g or something like that

I have had two fills and both were done without a numbing agent and both were completely painless. No problems at all. I think normally problems occur when the person doing the fill can't find or get to the port well. Just don't look at the needle. It may make you anxious.

If it wasn't a reaction and just the taste you didnt like, I would try the New Whey protein bullets 42g (GNC). They are kind of expensive but they are only 3 oz and 42g each so it is really easy to get down. They have a real tart taste, that my husband says is like a sweet tart. It was the easiest way to get protein in when I was on liquids post op.

Please don't wait call your doctor now. Sharnut is correct, they should know where the best place to go that is closest to you. Does it also take a long time for warm liquids? If you haven't tried yet, try some warm SKIM milk. It is thinner than slim fast and regular milk. If you don't like warm milk, turn it into hot chocolate by adding some cocoa and splenda. Maybe it will go down a little better and it isn't thick.

Awesome Kimaly!!! You are right you can SO do that easily. :thumbup: That made me check and now I realize I won't reach goal by my bandiversary. I would have to lose almost 3 lbs per week and I am NOT going to put that in my head, because I would get discouraged if I didn't achieve it. So, I need to set a mini goal by my one year mark. Considering I am STALLED at the moment. I think I will aim for 1 1/2 lbs per week. That would mean I need to lose 35 lbs by July 14th. mmmm. I think that is doable. CONGRATULATIONS again on realizing you will be able to make your goal in a year.

If you are really concerned about it call you doctor to make sure. I hear people complain about it all the time and it sounds like gas. I only had two times post op where I had gas pains and it settled in my back between my shoulders. I had my daughter "burp" me like a baby by hitting my back. It helped. I also see people post that a heating pad helps. I hope you get to feeling better.

Congratulations on the weight loss. If you are losing this weight and not hungry all the time, then you don't need the fill yet. And please don't get it if you don't need it, that leads to problems. If you continue to do well but are HUNGRY all of the time, then tell that to your doctor when you return, because you probably need a fill. That means it was all you and now you are essentially just dieting and that isn't what this is about. It is a tool to make it easier for you.

If you are going to the doctor regularly there is a record of your past weights. They are also probably want a record of past weight loss attempts...WW, Jenny Craig, Atkins, weight loss medications. So, you may want to try to write those down with the approximate dates and weight loss amounts from each. Advice for the psych eval, tell the truth. They normally ask the same type questions over and over in a different way. If you aren't truthful, it will mess you up. I had BCBS also, it depends on the group plan you have, but my approval process was very quick and easy. Good luck.

I felt like crap too. If you are an 8 and taking your pain meds as prescribed, I would call. If you aren't taking the pain meds, take them. Don't try to wait it out. Get up and walk like you are supposed to, but when you are in bed, you want to be certain you are comfortable enough to rest.

As far as the actual surgery causing swelling, it shouldn't, but Tropicana is correct, if you vomit post op a lot it could cause swelling. If you don't have to pay each time you get a fill, I would get an unfill and then just get it put back when surgery is over to make sure.

Me too. I asked people who have already hit and moved past a plateau and they say it starts around month 6, which is when it hit me. I stopped losing over 3 weeks ago. But, I also had another surgery and started eating Cereal (Special K), which slides through my band.:bored: Once I stop that and can exercise again, I am hoping the scales move.