terrisch

Hi Forestcat Sorry you aren't feeling any restriction...I wonder why? I am on the other extreme. I am going to call tomorrow to get unfilled (not total, but some). I can't eat anything until ~noon, and haven't been able to eat any starches except for crackers and tortilla chips. So I have been living off of soup. Everything else gets stuck, and I wretch and slime for hours. It is so miserable! I even got stuck trying to eat french onion soup today. When I get stuck, I can't even keep fluids down. No potatoes, breads, pasta, rice. I think I've lost about 8 pounds since my last fill (late December), but I hate getting food stuck all the time! This weekend was the worst. I hope they can get me in soon. Do you know how much your band is filled? I am so surprised you don't feel anything after 3 fills. When was your last fill?

forestcat and sbee...are you out there??? how are things going????

Hi Angie Welcome! Glad you joined us. Where are you having your surgery? It is coming up soon!!! Forestcat, sorry to hear about your arthritis. I have been trying to walk too, but go to the Y on an irregular basis too. I am having major PMS cravings again....I hate this time of the month. Weird cravings...salsa, pickles, and chocolate, and some Indian food, yummm. Wish the band would get rid of the cravings. Terrish

Hi Forestcat Sounds like you are doing fantastic!! I am hanging in there, slowly losing but that's ok w/me. Had probs w/food getting stuck for almost 48 hrs earlier this week...I just couldn't keep any solids down. Miserable. But now I am back to normal. I also have trouble in the morning, and mostly stick to my coffee w/milk. I try to get in some low fat cheese mid-morning. I have been so busy at work, the exercise thing has been tough. I try to get in stairs as much as possible. And lots of housework on the weekends!! What kind of exercise are you doing, Forestcat? Sbee...are you out there? Hope all is well!

Hey Forestcat- I had the same worry...that maybe I stretched my pouch! I had another fill yesterday. The good news is that I actually lost another 3 pounds (I think I'm up to 24 pounds total), which is remarkable! Imagine what I would have lost if I hadn't eaten the holiday sweets and exercised more! The bad news is that Ben Meir was nervous about giving me a fill b/c of my shoulder pain, so he only put in another 0.5 cc (was going to put in 1.5 cc). Bummer! I notice a little difference, but not a lot. I think I am up to 6 cc in a 10 cc band. He said it usually takes between 6-8 cc to hit that sweet spot (so 1.5 cc would have probably been perfect). Since he didn't add much to the band this time, he wanted me to come back in a month for another fill in 4 wks. But he had NOTHING open for 2 months! UGH. You might be able to get in a fill earlier than the 22nd, but you will probably have trouble getting another appt in february for your 3rd fill. I hope he gets some help soon! He is a really nice guy, though. Pretty laid back for a surgeon. My new yr's resolution is to start getting on track w/exercise again! Have been taking stairs whenever possible at work, but that isn't enough. How are you doing with your exercise? Sbee...how are you doing?? Have either of you experienced food getting stuck and sliming?

Hi!! Happy Holidays:) I definitely haven't hit that sweet spot. ugh. I have been eating too many sweets this past week, and am afraid to weigh myself!! I go for another fill on friday. I hope this does the trick. I had been losing wt at every visit, but am worried I have gained this time. After my last fill I did have episodes of food getting stuck and sliming (YUCK), but haven't had that happen for at least a couple weeks now. I am definitely going to get back on track! I am not sure how much of a fill I have...they never mention it...but I will have to ask this time. SBee and Forestcat, when do you get your fills again?

Hi Forestcat- I just checked the SVCH website...looks like the last meeting was the first thurs in December, so we both missed it!! When is your first fill? How are things going?? I have another fill scheduled for 12/28. Haven't had any more problems w/food getting stuck since last weekend. Thank goodness! But I HAVE to get better about exercising again.

ps...are you going to attend any of the support groups they have at SVCH??

Hi Forestcat Are you getting in enough fluids? I wonder if that is why you are dizzy. When do you get your first fill? I don't think I'm quite at my sweet point yet. I can still eat pretty well at dinner time (but not a lot at breakfast or lunch). ALmost done w/shopping. Went over my budget already, jeez!!! we have tons of candy, cookies, etc around work and home b/c of the holidays. Am I the only one struggling w/this temptation? Yikes!!!! I hope sbee is doing ok....

Hi Forestcat How are you doing? Did the extra protein help? How did your appt go? I'm doing ok. Had a couple more episodes of food getting stuck, and now know what people mean by sliming!!! I have to be REALLY careful about not eating too fast. And turkey is dangerous! Hope all is well...

Hi- Forestcat, happy to hear you made it through Thanksgiving! I am impressed w/your restraint with the Desserts. And with painting over the weekend holiday. I SHOULD be doing that! I had even a worse experience this morning than the salmon incident. THe surgeon warned me about turkey at my last fill (it is drier than other meats). He also told me that my band will be tightest in the morning. Well, I had a small piece of leftover turkey this morning. Chewed it well. Was fine for about 15 min, but then the pain started and would get worse in waves. Oh, it was awful! I did feel like I had trouble breathing and kept pacing, hoping it would pass (thank goodness I was home when this happened). Eventually I threw up some mucus, and felt so much better afterward. First time for that, and hopefully last time! Made lots of veggies for thanksgiving to help balance out the calories in the meal. How did others do w/the traditional thanksgiving fare?

Hi again Just found out from some other posts on this website that left shoulder pain is a complication of the band...I thought I injured myself! It has definitely been worse and more frequent since my fill. It really hurts. Anyone else dealing with this?

I thought I injured my left shoulder somehow and that is why it was hurting! Had no idea it could be due to the band until I read these posts. It really aches sometimes. I've not noticed a relationship to eating. Will now pay closer attention.