silly_weasel

Mawgrot, don't be hard on yourself. What's done is done and tomorrow is a new day! I'm just glad that you didn't hurt yourself Good luck with everything and hope things get easier for you in every aspect of your life!

So I'm a bit confused on how food goes through the pouch. I've read that our pouch is 15% of our whole stomach and that's where the food sits when we it. It fills up quickly being so small and that's why we stop eating. Then it takes an hour or so for all that food to squeeze through to the bigger stomach. But I also read somewhere, that the food we eat actually squeezes through during the meal, taking about a minute, and that's why we have to wait a minute between the bites. Can anyone help to clear this up for me please?? Thank you

Linda, it sounds like there is a problem with your band if you can't even tolerate fluids. The burning feeling in your throat is not reassuring either . You should see your surgeon ASAP! And keep us posted on your condition. Take care

Yep, I'm constipated too...prune juice helps, as well as Miralax and tons of WATER, and fiber-rich diet. Be sure you nip this in the bud...chronic constipation can lead to other more serious GI problems in the future to include colon cancer. Good luck!

Lori, I found this website that talks about gallbladder problems and weight loss surgery. Supposedly it has to do with our liver releasing too much cholesterol during rapid weight loss. Plus, women have a greater risk Hope it helps! http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones/#2

I also get a hiccup, a deep sigh, or a tight feeling in the back of my throat.

I have not been able to find any decent protein bars either:( They are all either high calorie, high carb, taste nasty, or all of the above But can anyone recommend a good protein powder? Something low calorie and high protein, possibly flavorless that I can just add to soup, oatmeal, yogurt, or a smoothie? Thank you!

I know this new habit of eating without drinking is pretty hard. I just really started to follow this rule because I noticed that I could eat more as the fluid helped the food to flush down. Now I dont even get a drink when I eat...just so I am not tempted. If I am eating out, I dont order a drink at all, unless I know I will be there for a while... like a social function or something. At home, I time myself and get myself a drink after 30 minutes have passed. Good luck!

Sometimes I get left shoulder pain when I am drinki ng. I contribute it to taking big gulps. So I slow down and try to take smaller sips.

Has anyone noticed slow weight loss or no weight loss at all due to these medications? I know they can cause significant weight gain which is compounded over the years. Just wondering how they affect us bandsters.

So, I'm starting over with my band. This time really reading all the facts and trying to follow the rules. I know we are supposed to eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food at a time three times a day. However, after my recent fill, I can only eat 2-3 bites before I feel my newly-found soft stops. So I stop eating and then I am hungry again in two hours... not the head hungry - but actually stomach growling kind. So I wonder what this means, and is there something I am doing wrong? Is it ok to eat more than 3 times a day as long as I am not eating more than 1.5-3 cups the entire day??

Why is it that we are not supposed to drink 30 mins prior to eating, during, or 30 mins after eating?

Good info guys, thanks! Zingy, I did notice that I could eat more when I drank during my meals. So, I am definately sticking to no drinking during the meal. It does put a damper on having a glass of wine with dinner. But I guess we shouldn't be drinking alcohol anyway. I am trying to be really good this time and get all the rules down. Any veterans know of any good basic breakdown of lapband do's and don'ts literature that I can brush up on? Thanks!

Hazel, I had my fill 5 days ago. I did 2 days of liquids, 2 days of mooshy foods, and started on solids today. When I first noticed that I couldn't eat more than a couple of bites, I was eating a seafood salad, then the same thing happened with my porkchop at dinner. I didnt think I was full at first, but I did get the "soft signs" of a deep sigh followed by a hiccup. I decided not to test my limit any further and stopped eating at once. I was hungry again in two hours. I didnt exercise today, but typically I get even more hungry when I workout.

OMG! The spit up thing happened to me in the car too...thank God I wasnt driving. I ended up "sliming" my mini-schnauzer that was riding in my lap, and my husband was pretty disturbed by thd entire thing. But I felt much better once it all came out. I just never what it was called, and I was happy to read that others have experienced it enough to name it.

Does anyone have trouble with carbonated drinks? I used to love coke zero but now get left shoulder pain after drinking it

Does anyone know what is the Fluid amount for an average fill! And what is an average amount of fills it takes to get to the green zone? I started out with 3cc during surgery, then had 1cc added during first fill, and another 0.8cc added during my second visit. The PA from True Results told me she was being pretty aggressive by putting that much fluid into my band each time. But I feel no difference with my restriction and I'm always hungry. I've read some posts here that claim that True Results maybe prolonging the fill process on the way to the green zone to get more money out of us?! If that's true - I'm terrified that I will never get into the green zone or lose any weight! My husband just got a job in Germany and we will be moving at the end of October/beginning of November. Which brings me to another question - does anyone know how and where to get fills overseas?? Thank you for the input!

Hello, I'm newly banded - 18 July 2012, and I am moving to Bavaria, Germany. It's actually a small town called Illesheim, but I hear it's close to Nuremberg. Does anyone know of any clinics that do fills and any support groups? Thank you!

Does anyone know how much fluid is put into your band originally at the time of surgery? Is it filled at all? Or just put in place and fluid fills don't start till after you're completely healed? I got banded 18 July and after the first week or so, can't feel any restriction and can eat whatever, whenever, as fast as I want...with no concequences. It would only make sense if my band was empty, right??!

Got my first fill today - 1cc...apparently I already had 3 cc in there from the surgery but felt no restriction at all . I have another appt in three weeks to check on my progress. Does anyone know how much Fluid it takes to get into the green zone??

Got my first fill today - 1cc. I was pretty surprised when my PA told me that I had 3cc in my band already since surgery...I felt no restriction at all and started to gain some weight back. I wanted her to add as much as possible right away, but she said that they add little by little and try to get into the green zone with as little fluid as possible because having too much fluid can cause more harm than good. I am on soft foods tomorrow and then slowly back to solids. She wanted to see me back in 2 weeks, but they didn't have an appt. till 11Sept. Depending on my progress, or lack of it, I would get another fill I guess. Hopefully this works! Does anyone know what is an average amount of fluids that it takes to get into the green zone??

My props to you all that can stick to the diet despite feeling no restriction! However, my will power sucks...or I would have lost weight on my own and didn't have to get the lap band to begin with

I do feel more gasier than I did before the surgery. But nothing like the first few day!

So I am 12 days post-op. I lost a few pounds right after the surgery while on liquid diet. Then I was stuck when transitioned to slider foods like yogurt, soup, and oatmeal. Now I am on soft foods and started to GAIN weight . I feel like I can eat as much as I did before the band and I really have to practice my will power, which is not that great or I wouldn't have gotten banded! The tightness I felt around my stomach is gone, so I feel more comfortable than post-op, but I'm scared and disappointed . Any thoughts/experiences??

Same here! I feel as I haven't even gotten a lap band - can eat whatever and alot with no problems . Can't wait for my fill on 22 August!