alicia

So here I am a week out from my 2nd fill and now I am curious if I have meet my true sweet spot. (Not that it matters, but I have a 4cc band and have 2.7 ccs now.) Here is my experience and would like to know from those who have reached their sweet spot if this is what you experience: - When I take a half of a normal bite of food, the food gets stuck and sometimes a PB occurs. It hurts and it churns for about 30 minutes. Nothing I do seems to hurry this process. - I cannot take a whole Tylenol pill without major discomfort and churning for an hour. - I chew my meats to the count of 20 or more, depending on whether my previous bite gave me a twinge of pain. - I do not feel hungry. (Arrgh, but I still eat!! Not as much, however!) With these "symptoms" I think I may have true restriction... any thoughts from those who have acheived the sweet spot? Thanks in advance!

Can we go back to the topic Alex posted for just a minute.... Alex, thank you for bringing the subject up. I am not a newbie. I have been fighting acid indigestion for about 6 months now. After having some adjustments (Fluid taken OUT) I still start and end my day with a Zantac. How does this relate to the topic of food portions? Because apparently I am still eating too much! Apparently I am only suppose to eat when hungry (you'd think I'd figure that out by now!). Today I had a cup of salad with low fat meat and cheese and 1.5 hours later my throat is burning ( atypical lunch phenomenon). My doctor's advise was to eat only when hungery and to cut my portions in half. The reason I bring this up is because I need to be taught portion control and reading what you eat and what she eats and what they eat has shown me that I am overeating.... Sure we are all going to have differnet portion sizes, but I see that I am trying to find out what I can get away with. My goal now is to look at food as a fuel. All that to say, thank you, Alex, for bringin up the topic! I needed it and wasn't even a newbie... And Donali, I wish you the very best!

So glad you're back!! You'll have to give us some trip details when you have time. The update is very useful. Congrats on one-year and 80 pounds less!!

I am very aware of this. I guess you missed that I was PB'ing even after my "perfect" fill. This is what I call the adjustment phase. Finding out what you can and cannot eat. I am now finding out that I cannot eat certain foods just as you have discovered. It's all a learning experience. My fear and reason for posting was I couldn't keep Soup or Water down for a few days there when I was really restricted. Fortunatley, the strong restriction has gone away and I am not PB'ing as much because I am avoiding foods like nuts and bread. salad and chicken are going down for me. Yea!

My insurance wouldn't approve me until I HAD the psych eval. My surgeon did not require one, the insurance company did . As long as your psych eval says you are a good candidate, then the insurance should cover it, regardless of post-op care. Wishing you the best of luck!

Thanks, Bebbly! I'm glad to know you figured out your issue. I didn't know the stomach would swell, interesting indeed! Did your Doctor suggest an un-fill or to wait it out? I believe there are 2 things that may have caused this or a combination of both: 1. After my second fill I started Pb'ing about every other day but never had before. Around Christmas time, I recall eating chex mix and the spice burning my stomach when I PB'ed. I did this a few times before I realized how stupid it was to continue eating when it didn't feel good (even though it tasted so good!). 2. On New Year's Eve night, I had a wine cooler at dinner and a glass of champagne, drinking both in about 4 hours. Problem is, I am not a drinker to begin with so I had 1 more than I normally would have (I'm 37 and I succumbed to per pressure!! ). I think it will be one of these two or both. As mentioned, I have gotten better as the days pass, but I am still limited. Today I had a Pasta lean cuisine without problems. Bebbly, good luck with that last few. You can do it!!

Bebbly, I am experiencing something similar. I have not lost the weight you have but after a month of what I thought was the perfect fill (2.5ccs) and all of the sudden I am PB'ing on everything. Because I didn't lose a lot to begin with, I have decided to live with the discomfort for a while until I lose a little more. I went on a liquid diet for 3 days, then mushy food, I was PB'ing the Soup and Water but then got a little better. Now I am PB'ing mostly on bread, nuts, chicken, and salad (I wasn't before). I have to drink Protein drinks to ensure I get enough. I will call the doctor in about 2 weeks, because there is no way I can eat like this for the rest of my life.

You are doing nothing wrong. Yes, it is normal after the first fill, even the second, even the third. For me, I may have true restriction after my second (2.7ccs in a 4cc band). Congrats on your 25 pound weight loss. If you continue to plateau and you know it's not the amount or the kind of food you are eating, then another fill may be in order. You're doing great!

Carmen, ditto on what the others said. Your husband is reaching out to others to get their thoughts on it. Some weren't so positive so I guess that's where you have to step in (maybe with reinforcement from a friend/family memeber your husband respects) and discuss the pros and cons. Maybe ask your doctor to talk to him. He is scared and once you come out of surgery okay he will know you made the right decision.

I wish I hadn't told anyone except close family and friends. I did wait until AFTER surgery to tell a few select co-workers, but now that word has "gotten out" I just assume people know and if they act surprised, I fill them in. I wish I hadn't told anyone because my weight loss has been insiginificant and I am afraid I am being judged about what I eat and what I "haven't lost" considering that I went through risky surgery and paid some good dollars. I think I am being overly paranoid about this, because there are some sincere people at work who really do care.

Donali, I am so happy for you! How exciting! You shold be proud... I, too, want to learn more about the metabolic issues. I think it is playing a big part in my lack of "serious" weight loss.

Dan, I wasn't offered a 6-week post op fill. Mine came 10 weeks post op....second fill 5 weeks after 1st. It depends on the individual and their docs. Wish my first fill had been about 3 weeks sooner, though, but because of docs schedule I had to wait. He only does them once a month.

That is totally awesome... I want to know your secrets... besides the band... haha... You are on your way!

Don't you just hate it when Connie tells you that she's lost 22 pounds in 2 weeks on Medifast? Don't you just hate it when Mary says she lost 25 in 6 weeks on weight watchers? Don't you just hate it when you tell people you've lost only 22 pounds in 3 months AFTER surgery and they say "Really? I thought yuou would have lost more by now with surgery!" Well, I thought that too!!! What a surprise to learn that I am a slow loser.... bah humbug... The only thing I have going for me right now is that I will not gain back the weight I lost unless I try reaaaallly hard. Can you tell we had people over last night?? Just needed to vent... thank you!

Thanks, guys, for all of your support. I know that the gal on Medifast will have problems later on... I did. It just gets frustrating to be such a slow loser... Doula Lee, you support my theory on my less-than-desirable low metabolism... Thanks again!!

You'll do fine with all of it. It is a learning experience. Two weeks after my second fill, I am still eating too big of a bite!! My PB's are not gross. The food churns in my stomach for about 2 minutes then it creeps up in my throat. I either chew it some more or spit out. Depends on where I am. RE: your pill question. I do not take a lot of viatmains but do chew the Flintstones Vitamins. I got a pill cutter and cut up anything larger than the end of a pencil eraser (I.E. Tylenol). Good luck! P.S. Don't worry about the port flipping, it's rare.

Wendy, when you get your card you'll start showing it off like you do your baby's photo in your wallet. It really helps people understand how the band works. It's an educational tool and medical alert all in one!!

Elizabeth, thanks for the information. I definitely relate to this "discomfort with moderate pain" issue if I didn't eat slow enough. It's all a learning experieince. I learned that lunch meat gives me problems but beef or chicken doesn't... how odd...

Thanks, Mary, for your reply!! This is such an interesting journey isn't it? It's like I am in driving school and trying to avoid the potholes... You're information was useful, thanks again!

Good deal, Wendy, being proactive on the lab work. I never thought about it, but had 6 month lab work as scheduled with my GP. You are doing great! Keep it up!

That's awesome, Alexandra!! That's what I hope to do more frequently... turn down food. My moment happened last night. I munched on a sandwich all afternoon because it was soooo good (and I paid $$$ for it - an issue that I'll have to work on) but I told hubby to have dinner without me becuase I wasn't hungry! It was so cool! I've never skipped a meal!

Cool!

Sorry to get off track, but I didn't know this! I never even thought about where the doctor stood while he did my surgery... So are you tilted in like a sitting postion or are you on your back?I distinctly remember myarms being stretched out onto "arm" tables, for a lack of a better word. I assumed he would stand beside the trunk of my body.

You're right, it is a great idea. I obtained my card via Inamed and keep it behind my driver's license. If you're band is made by Inamed (you can ask your dr.), you can get a card by calling: 805.683.6761 or maybe filling out the form on their webiste. Click here. It doesn't cost anything and I got it in about 4 days via snail mail. I do not care to wear a bracelet. The card gives me the assurance I need.

My husband was very apprehensive through the whole process and gained a lot of information and felt the decision was a solid one. He was most anxious and nervous the day of surgery. The worst moment for him was when they let him see me in the recovery room as I came out from anesthesia. Be sure to warn significant others about the sight of you being helpless and in pain; my husband felt a flood of emotion when he saw me in this way. But as he watched me walk that night and the next day, his apprehension reduced and he is now excited to see where this leads us.