Keluliana

I do sympathize with the woman in the video, but I'd urge people not to let it frighten them away from surgery. I, too had weeks in which I felt I could only eat ice cream, cookies, and juice because I needed calories and everything else was just too difficult. I've had screaming, frustrated, crying fits thinking, "I JUST WANT TO F*@&ING EAT!!!" when I would throw up every meal for the third day in a row. Once I actually went to the hospital for an IV because I was too tight to drink anything and hadn't had more than a few ounces of water in 3 days. So I totally understand what this woman has gone through, but I think she had the misfortune of having a poor medical staff at her facility. Obviously, the doctor was cruel for taunting her about eating through the band, and they did not fully prepare her for the changes she would have to make. Every time I threw up, I knew it was because I had not followed the rules properly, and I cursed myself for doing it. I never cursed the band. I still throw up now and then even 14 months out, but I know what behaviors cause it and how to prevent it again. It is really something you have to work with your body to learn from and adjust to, and I feel sorry for the woman in this video who did not have adequate help and education from her medical staff to do so.

I did a few sets of crunches months ago when I started exercising, but my port and possibly the band were in such pain afterward that I have not done any abdominal exercises since. Does anyone know of good ab-strengthening exercises that won't aggravate the band? Has anyone else had this experience? I've had the band for 13 months now, so it should be healed enough to try something. Thankis!

I have noted a lot of geographic variation among forum members, but I've yet to see anyone from MN. Has anyone had their surgery done at U of M? I'm set to be banded April 10.

I've found that it is really helpful to be doing something else while I eat because it slows me down. As long as you aren't sitting in front of the tube with a bottomless bag of chips, there isn't the danger of mindless eating that nutritionists warn against. For us lap-banders, it's just eating with distraction, which helps the pacing immensely.

Do you have a 'last straw' story when you realized you had to have surgery? I realize it's kind of self-indulgent to dwell on on those TV drama moments, but hey, sometimes misery just loves company. What was your last straw?

I also have a 10cc band. I guess I am extremely lucky - my first fill was a full 5 cc's and the second was 3 cc's. They were both done under x-ray (fluoro?) so they could actually see the restriction. The nurse told me that it was good I came in so soon (3 weeks) after the first fill because "you really have to be aggressive" with the band and get fills when you stop losing 1-2 lbs per week. Thank you to whoever started this thread - I was starting to feel a bit worried that other people were going in for .5 cc fills and actually feeling restriction, when I had just had 5 cc's and could still eat a 6 inch sub!

I lost 20 pounds in the first four weeks and then NOTHING after that. I didn't get my first fill until 9 weeks after the surgery, and even after that I didn't lose anything, despite eating way less than I used to. I even thought "Why bother with the surgery if I eat less and it doesn't even matter? May as well just enjoy myself..." but that is just impatience talking. Now that I am 3 months out, I just got another fill and WOW. I can tell the difference. I may even have some taken out because it is hard to eat at all. Believe me (and everyone else) - you will get the band to a point of restriction where you can actually tell it is there and it WILL make a difference.

I bought a long stick scrubber with a loofah on the end. It worked pretty well for the hard to reach areas. Otherwise, you may just have to be a little dirty for a few days until you can bend.

I got the non-time release kind to take multiple times per day after the surgery so I could crush them. They tasted so vile that I just said screw it and swallowed the whole time-release capsules. It hasn't been a problem and I have really intense restriction right now.

Wow, I got 5 cc's on my first fill, and I only barely feel it. I don't know how big my band was to start out with, but the nurse definitely filled a whole syringe. Even with the 5 in, I really only feel restriction in the morning and I'm back to normal capacity at night. Anyone heard of it taking that long? I feel like I must have a gargantuan stomach if most people get a 'sweet spot' at around 2 cc's!

I don't know anyone personally that has done it, but I heard Sharon Osbourne did it. There's probably some good press coverage of that.

I got the hiccups every time I stood up or sat down for the first month after being banded, but now (2 months later) it's only when I overeat. It was unbelievably annoying at first, the only thing that made me actually doubt my decision, but they finally do pass.

Just look around, read people's questions and answers, and if you have some of your own, pipe up.

It's not natural for us to chew our food into a grimy paste - it takes practice, so don't worry about it. I've been banded nearly 3 months now and I'm still struggling with it. I still take mouthfuls of food and huge drinks of water, but I'm learning. It takes practice even after the band.

I had 5 cc's in my first fill and am only just barely starting to feel restriction. If you had a 1/4 cc, I can't imagine it was even worth the effort! It will definitely get better the more fills you have.

My doc says nothing 30 mins prior or 45 mins after, but I still find that difficult. Hasn't seemed to hurt much to stray from it a bit though.

Losin'it (Cara): I was banded on April 17, 3 weeks ago this Tuedsday. The first week wasn't pleasant, but it was nothing to the tension of waiting for insurance coverage. One of the few times in my life I was nearly happy to tears was when I got that approval letter!

1. During the first and second week, I was eating about 800 cals a day without incident or ravenous hunger. Now I'm in the third week, I was horrified to discover that I have comsumed about 1700 calories today - while trying to be careful! I feel hungry all the time even though I'm eating mostly Protein (cottage cheese, regular cheese, and nonfat refried Beans make up half the food in a day, some deli meat, too). I'm always hungry an hour and half or so after I finish the meal, and I've noticed that I am able to eat much more very rapidly. At first I couldn't stomach 1/4 cup of jell-o, and now I can pack away an entire cup of beans without any discomfort and another cup an hour later. Is this normal, and do you have any advice on how to handle it? 2. Chest pressure: I don't feel full in my stomach, but sometimes there is a sort of pressure, or tightness in my chest. No burning ever, just as if someone was pressing a finger into my sternum. Is this a sign of overeating? Gas? Please advise. 3. Morning tightness: In the early morning, I can barely swallow Water to take my pills, but in the evening, it's as if I never had the surgery at all. Does anyone know what causes this and if it can be avoided, or how best to work around it? It seems counterproductive to weight loss if I become a bottomless pit toward the evening. Thanks all for reading and your responses.

You've been very helpful - thank you! :fish:

Your advantage is that you already know what you're doing wrong, so it's just a matter of motivation. Don't worry, you'll get back on the band wagon soon enough.

Congratulations - what a relief! Glad to hear the worst is over, now onto surgery! :fish:

I was banded 4/17 and the first week was the worst. The tightness in the stomach is due to swelling and the gas they they inflate you with. It will go away.

Hi everyone, I haven't posted in a while due to post-op recovery, but I've been itching to get back to my compy and see what's new here. Has anyone experienced a dramatic rise in the occurence of hiccups? I seem to get them whenever I go from a sitting or lying position to standing. If you have had this, does it go away, or is it because of your new stomach/diaphragm allignment and is likely to be permanent? I hadn't read about this particular side effect before so I was unprepared. Other updates, I got engaged 2 days ago (eee!) and have lost a total of 17.5 lbs lbs since the beginning of the pre-op bowel cleansing liquid diet. Granted, that pre-diet weight included a 'last meal' so it was probably a bit inflated, but genuine progress none the less. No pants seem to be fitting any better yet, but I'm hoping that's due to swelling and not because I had just been wearing them far too tightly before. The first week was pretty terrible, as I couldn't take my anti-depressants (they are time-release so can't be crushed) or eat chocolate and the pain meds they gave me made me either too dizzy or sleepy to function. I'm on a different form of anti-depressants now and have switched my pain meds to Vicodin, which have helped immensely. Plus I'm sure just natural healing has cut down on the pain some, so I'm hoping I'll feel up to work by the time I go back on Monday. Any thoughts on the hiccup problem?

I'm sure the non weight loss is just due to swelling, but there are a few conditions (like hypothyroidism) that can prevent you from losing weight despite angelic behavior. If you are worried one of these might be it, I'd get it checked out by your doctor. Otherwise, just cross your fingers, grin and bear it until your first fill. I hear it makes a world of difference!

Hello fellow yung'ns! I'm 24 and am going to be banded on Tuesday. Nice to see everyone out and about.