smmiley27

I get this too. For me it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the size of the bite. It's just that first bite does...not...want...to...go...down! I know it's not the size of the bite because I've specifically tested it by making my first bite soup or mashed potatoes or a "slider" food. To me it seems like there is a lot of gas/air in my stomach/body that tries to come up as I try to get food down. The gas/air always wins and pushes up the teeny tiny bit of food I tried to eat and a bunch of slime. Once that comes up/out, I can eat. That whole process can take between 10 minutes to 45 minutes, on average. I don't understand how this can be good for me but I feel better knowing it happens to other people.

I experience this exactly like you do. Again, people tell me it's first bite syndrome. I'm really paying attention to it now and tracking when it happens and why it might be happening. But YES, 100%; it happens to me too. And I also do "band relaxation" for 1-2 days every 6 weeks or so. I do it more for me as I'm afraid I may eat too much since the band doesn't limit the amount of food I can eat (which I originally thought it would).

Josh, I too, can eat whatever I want and as much as I want. As I read through all the reply posts, I realize I had the wrong interpretation of what the band was supposed to do. I thought it would stop me from eating; I thought I would get some signal (i.e. pain) that I was full. But as some of the responses say, it's supposed to make you less hungry and satisfy you longer. Well then, in that regard, I think it is working. But that then gets me into another issue which is that I might not be hungry until the next day and have started only eating one meal a day. Again, I know that's not right either. I've had 5 or 6 fills and have the average amount of fluid in the band when people are in the green zone. Now I know I haven't really addressed your question/concerns as originally posted but does that really matter at this point? :-) Good luck to you... with or without fluid.

This happens very often to me too. Exactly the same way. First bite and pow! I have to throw up (just slime). For me, I tend to think there is a build up of this slime and it "blocks" the food from passing through the band. The first bite tries to push the slime through but it never works. So instead, it all comes up. But then it's like the band is "clear" and I can eat. Now I know this isn't all medically correct but still, I'm trying to explain my experiences to you. I'm learning this is common but if it occurs to often, there is a problem. I will say though, it usually only happens if it's my first meal of the day; if I've waited too long to eat or if I'm getting my period. But those are my experiences. Good luck to you.

Not quite sure why you're so afraid of throwing up but just so you know, if you're thinking about it and are concerned about it, the stress will be felt in your body and it just might (or might not) play a part if you do throw up. Just wanted to make sure you knew the two can be related.

First of all, it sounds like you are too hard on yourself. You've been through a lot. We all have our ups and downs, stuck and unstuck stories. I don't understand how eating a piece of steak is a HUGE mistake (your words, not mine). Did you think you could never eat steak again or am I missing something? Did you just have the band put in again? Anyway, stay positive and use this forum for support (and education). I believe in anyone who believes in themselves and reaches out for help. Good luck to you.

Hi all, I was hoping some of you could define what you mean when you say you "can't eat." I think this is different for everyone and I experience the inability to eat more than I'd like. For me, I usually "can't eat" when I've waited too long to eat. Then, when I take that first bite, it sits in the back of my throat and doesn't move. And sometimes there is pain as well. Then my body forces a PB and up comes all this slime (9.5 times out of 10 this happens). And then my stomach gurgle gurgle gurgles and babbles like a brook. It's like air/gas is pushing up and wanting to get out. Until all that gas comes up and all the slime is out of me, there's no way I even attempt to eat again. Does anyone else have this similar type of issue? I'm going to my doctor tomorrow so I'm definitely going to talk to him about this. I think I'm only in the yellow zone too so does that mean this is going to get worse as I get tighter, into the green zone? I can't imagine. I'm just short of one year post op if that matters. I appreciate any feedback and other's experiences.

Yes, absolutely. Some days I can eat and some days I can't eat anything. Like right now. I am hungry and tried to eat but the food just sits in my throat and comes up (I can tell this right on the first bite). Then, other days, I can eat like I don't even have the band. But even on those days, I try to keep it sensible and closer to the ideal portion size. This is the most frustrating and annoying thing. However- and this is what I'm going to talk to my doctor about tomorrow- is that if take that first bite and can't eat- I PB (unintentionally) and then it's like: whoa! Now that all that slime is up, there is room to eat. I don't understand it and I don't think it can be good. In an attempt to understand it, I think (and this is probably wrong) that all the saliva I've been swallowing (i.e. the slime) has built up and when I take that first bite, it upsets the saliva and makes it come up. Then, that barrier of slime is gone and my stomach is ready to accept food. I hope that's not too much or graphic for you but that is truly my experience. I hope you fair much better than me. This is most difficult and I'm just about a year post op.

I find I gurgle all the time when my stomach is empty and I try to eat. Like right now. I tried eating and my stomach was making all these noises. I usually give up because trying to eat will only result in a PB or vomit. So rather than experience either of those, I just stop eating. But yeah, I get the gurgling too. So does a friend of mine. You are not alone with this symptom/side effect.

Is it possible for a band to slip due to over eating but for the patient to not have any symptoms? Everything I read seems to say there would be symptoms. Also, is there an "average" time frame for a band to slip, post surgery (i.e. would it not be unheard of for a band to have slipped within the first 3, 6 or 12 months of surgery)? I'm not really concerned about anything past a year at this point. Please comment if you can offer any responses, on point to my concerns/questions. Thanks.

Hi group, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced the following: If I eat a fairly large meal (but not to the point of pain and/or vomiting), I stay full for about two days. In those two days, I eat next to nothing (because I am just not hungry...something I never knew before). However, I will make it a point to at least drink a Protein shake or eat a bit of protein in those subsequent two days because I know it is not good to go a few days without eating. So my question is, does this happen to anyone else? Do you remain full- or at least very minimially hungry- for a few days after a big meal? It just seems to weird to me but I'm still learning to adjust and understand this band. I'm only 6 1/2 months post op and not yet at the "sweet spot." Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I do usually eat small meals. When I eat a large meal, it can be up to three cups of food or more. Keep in mind, I still have no restriction and I have no idea what my "green zone" is, what it feels like, what it's going to be or when I'm going to get there. I do know though, that three cups of food (on a day when I'm eating a lot), is still a whole lot less than what I would eat before the surgery. Also, since I don't have any negative effects after eating this amount of food (no reflux, back/stomach pain, vomiting, feeling of something "stuck"), how do I truly know it's too much (aside from the quantity)? Keep in mind, since I don't yet know what restriction feels like, I don't yet know how much is too much. But back to the original question, is it uncommon to then not be hungry for a few days? Thanks for your input. I appreciate it while me and my body partake in this science experiment! :-) I know I will get there!!!

I could have written exactly what you wrote. I had the same experience...until recently. I told my surgeon that I felt absolutely no restriction; that I could eat anything I wanted to and as much as I wanted to. I told him the only reason I was losing weight was because it was "mind over matter" (i.e. I told him I was "dieting" and it had absolutely nothing to do with the band and if it didn't start working, I was going to gain the weight back since I was doing it all myself anyway). Then I went for my 5th fill. (I'm 6 1/2 months out, with 4.75 in a 10cc band). Let me tell you, once you get a fill that makes a difference, everything will start making sense. Before this 5th fill, I could eat anything and everything like I said before. Then "boom." Now I have to really pay attention to all the golden rules, including eating slow, tiny forkfulls, chewing completely and so forth. In fact, I just now started taking the Vitamins because before now, there really was no substantial change in my diet as it related to not being able to get enough of the right vitamins. But, again, back to you, seriously, one day you're going to get a fill and it's all going to come around, full circle. You'll see why there are all the golden rules, you'll have restriction, and you'll "get" how the band works. I swear, until that point, I felt no different and thought the whole thing was a farce. Just keep my post in mind. I promise, it will come together one day. The light will go on and you and the band will begin to work together!I I think this just takes/took a little more patience than anyone ever informed us. Good luck to you.

Your band will definitely feel tighter during your period. That's my experience and 99% of the women I speak to regarding this. Also, stress tends to make the band tighter to. (Again, personal experience and a good amount of the women I speak to who've had the surgery).

I went to the doctor the other day for a fill. He put in .5cc. Prior to this appointment, I could eat anything. I was explaining that to the doctor and he said well, if you want I can put in more. I said sure, why not. I mean, I had 4.25 in a 10cc band and had zero restriction. (This was my fourth fill). So he got another needle and put in the other .5cc. Now I was at 5.25cc. I swallowed some Water before I left so I thought I was ok. Fast forward a few hours later and I could barely swallow saliva. I decided to give it time to settle and see how I felt the next day. Well, that was no better. I ate nothing and had my first sliming incident (which was weird because there was no food in me). I went back the following day (two days after the two fills) and he took out .5cc. So now I'm at 4.75 and have been able to drink and eat fluids. (I haven't tried anything else yet). Given that situation, my port has been stuck with a needle three times in two days. It is now very, very sore. I know after one needle stick you can be sore and/or irritated, much less three needle sticks. So the question is, has anyone else had several needle sticks in their port in a very short period of time? Aside from the soreness, did you have any other lasting effects or was any damage done?

Hi everyone, I would like some opinions on my situation. I had my band inserted on May 21st. I have to have (ambulatory) shoulder surgery in late September. (I can't put it off any longer so please don't suggest I wait another couple of months since that's not an option). I had one fill thus far (on July 12th) and have 3cc's in a 10cc band. Now I know I'd have to wait at least 4-6 weeks to have another fill which would put me towards the end of August. From what I have previously learned and heard, I would need to have the band completely empty for any procedures needed for the rest of my life so the late August fill probably shouldn't happen since they'll just have to take it out a few weeks later, right? But if I only have 3cc's in, would that make a big difference? Does that really need to be emptied? Has anyone else had to have an unrelated to lap band surgery in such a short time since the WLS? (Also folks, please know that OF COURSE I will discuss with my surgeon(s) whether or not the 3cc's need to come out before the urelated surgery occurs. I'm just looking for a little reassurance that a different surgery can be performed so close to the original WLS. And hopefully no related complications occur). Thanks in advance. -P

Mine is on the left.

I had my surgery May 21st. My port site hurt (ridiculously) for at least 4 weeks. My doctor told me it was uncommon and I went through a whole bottle of pain medicine in 5 days (at the doctor's direction). I marvel at the people who are "up and about" one or two days after surgery. I took a week off of work, and when I tried to go back, left work early 3 days because of the pain. I was pretty much out of work for two weeks and unable to do a lot of things until about 4 weeks. Then again, that's just my experience.

Hi all, I just found this thread. It doesn't seem that active but I guess things go in spurts. Anyway, thought I'd log on, say hi and see what this thread was talking about. I'm from NY (Long Island) and would love to find "more people like me" (i.e. banded and gay) in the area!

Just found this thread. I was also banded on the 21st!

I got my first fill yesterday. I was also a little nervous but it was quick and not any more painful than when they take blood. Good luck.

Hi all, My question is really quite simple but no one can seem to answer so I'm turning to all of you. I'm 4 weeeks post op. The question is: Is there any restriction when you don't yet have any fill? Here's my thoughts (and I don't know if it will make sense but I'm going to try and explain): Let's say the esophogus or whatever tube it is that runs down into your stomach is 3 inches in diameter. And then you get banded. At the time of banding, does the band squeeze that tube to 2 1/2 inches or does it remain at 3 inches as it is just sitting around the tube but not yet squeezing? If it is just technically sitting around the tube, you could still eat the same amount, right? But if it's squeezing, I could understand that there'd be some restriction. Granted, my measurements might be off. I have no idea what the diameter of the tube is but I hope you all get what I'm trying to say. At four weeks post op, I am wondering if I really do have restriction or if I have to wait to the first fill. I'm not about to test this theory because I would hate to get sick (and it's not worth it). But I really can't find the answer. Please advise. Thanks to all in advance. -P

Hi group, I was talking to the nutrionist about 3 weeks post op and she mentioned not yet being able to eat fruits aside from pureed and over ripe fruits. But what I really want to know is when did most of you start eating strawberries, kiwi, apples and pears. The nutritionist was opposed to strawberries and kiwi and other fruit with seeds because of the seeds regardless of whether or not I pureed them and threw them in a shake or something. As far as apples and pears, I'm guessing I'm going to have to peel them for the rest of my life? Does anyone eat them with the skins still? And, I also heard that oranges and other membrane fruits are not good...for life. Does that mean that no one on this forum eats these fruits? I guess I really need a "fruit" lesson. I'm going to discuss again with the nutritionist next week and see what may have changed and what I can now eat since it will then be 5 1/2 weeks post op. But I just wanted some feedback from all of you first. Thanks in advance.

Daddyof4, Thanks for your response. Yes, I know the band is actually around the stomach but I didn't think I could accurately explain the question without trying to use a tube and diameter type approach. But anyway, I was also banded on 5/21. I'm not going to get a fill for at least another two weeks. It's a struggle for me too, especially in these early weeks. Good luck to you and hopefully the first fill will help!

Thanks for your feedback. I went to the doctor and he also thought it might be acid reflux. He gave me a Rx but I haven't yet taken it because these symptoms have gone away. What we think may have been happening was that I wasn't eating (drinking) enough and the stomach acids were leaking up out of my stomach at night when I was lying down because there wasn't enough food to soak them up...or something like that. Who knew not eating would have been the cause of that pain. Good news is now I'm getting food in me and the problem is gone. Thanks.