drehn88

You could do the 5 day pouch test to jump start your band again. I don't know the link, but you can google 5 day pouch test.

That totally applies to me! Thank you for explaining it so well.

I'm not a teacher anymore, but still work at a school (more of a desk job now). I went back after a week and was very tired the first few days back. Not sure I could have stood up and taught all day after only a week. If you can, take two weeks. I told everyone I worked closest to and anyone else that asked. I would have never gotten the surgery if co-workers hadn't told me their experience with the band. I don't want to hide my experience in case I can help someone like me.

I know exactly what you are talking about! I had my 2nd fill (5 cc total) and about 1.5 weeks after I started getting this swollen, kind of a "lump in my throat" felling in the middle of my chest. I figured out today I think it's my new sign that I've eaten too much or too big of a bite. I'm still able to eat and drink but it's pretty uncomfortable. Surely it's not a slip. I think you (we) would have to vomit or overeat for an extended period of time before it would cause a slip. I'm trying to take smaller bites and eat less. That's helping. I had some chicken pasta tonight and that feeling happened again. I think I'm suppose to avoid pasta now!

I did not have a problem with heartburn until after my 2nd fill. I've figured out it happens when I have chocolate or coffee. My NP said that can happen and nothing is wrong with my band. I take Zantac if I want to have coffee now.

I had surgery about the same time as you and I've just recently been shedding A LOT more hair. I take Biotin, but I think this was inevitable.

Here are a couple other things I ate during the mushy stage. I'm a picky eater so it was hard to find things. Egg salad...hard boiled eggs, miracle whip, and a squirt of mustard. I mashed up the eggs because I've heard they can get stuck. Ate it with no problems. Nonfat plain Greek yogurt (Cobani, Fage, Dannon)...I hate the taste of yogurt, especially Greek. I put in Mio (liquid flavoring) and it tastes great. Mio has no calories or artificial junk. You could also mix in a tbsp of Peanut Butter (extra protein) and a tsp or two of Stevia sweetner instead of the Mio.

The cheese scared me too the first time I ate it. Just chew, chew, chew and it will go down just fine. I eat this now after a fill when I'm allowed mushies on the second day after.

This was posted awhile ago on this site. It was a life savor (I don't like many mushy foods). Lasagna Bowl 1/4 low fat cottage cheese 1/4 c spaghetti sauce 1/4 c shredded mozzarella cheese 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese Mix cottage and spaghetti sauce and microwave for about 45 seconds. Sprinkle on both cheeses (I just use mozzarella) and microwave for about 30 seconds more. It's really yummy and satisfying. Good luck!

I've only tried one brand, Quest Bar, because it was recommended on this site. It is low in carbs/sugar and pretty high in protein. The taste is pretty good (for a protein bar with low sugar).

Great article! Thanks for sharing. I am positive now that I'm not in the green zone. I can eat way more than 3 or 4 bites and not tiny bites at that. Maybe the next fill will hit the spot!

This recipe (posted on LBT) was a life savor. Mix 1/4 c cottage cheese (nonfat or low fat) and 1/4 c spaghetti sauce in a bowl and microwave for about 45 sec or until slightly hot. Top with 1/4 c shredded mozzarella cheese and Parmesan (if desired) and microwave for another 30-45 sec or until cheese is melted. It tastes like lasagna without the noodles and has a good amount of protein. There is also a facebook page that has really good recipes for all stages. It is a private group so you have to request to join. Just search lb recipes (https://www.facebook.com/groups/493070414070718/). Good luck on your journey!

I'm 3 months post op and for me I wait until my stomach grumbles to signal if I'm hungry. I definitely still have head hunger so I have to really be in tune with my body or I will eat to satisfy a craving.

Just got my second fill on Monday (5 cc total). Enjoying this fill for now. I'm able to eat fine and stay satisfied for att least 4 hours. Anyone feel like they are in the green zone yet?

I just got my second fill today. It had been 6 weeks since my first fill and I actually canceled an appt between the two becuz I felt I didn't want\need one. I definitely felt like i needed it today. My portions and bites were getting too big. Hope that answerex your question. :-)

I think you should demand (but in a nice way) that you get a fill. This is YOUR health and wellness not his. Also, if you look at the yellow\green\red chart you are clearly in the yellow and that means you NEED a fill not just want one. Good luck.

I'm 3 months post op and I started getting HB about 5 weeks ago. It doesn't happen at every meal. In that 5 weeks I've had 4 episodes, 2 involving chocolate so I think that may have caused it. I went for a fill today. Because of my HB issues they did a barium swallow/X-ray. My pouch looked great! The NP said in a small number of cases HB can happen after the band without other complications. It runs in my family so that is my theory. I think you should let your doctor know. Hopefully they will do an x-ray to rule out a stretched pouch.

A couple weeks ago I was so tired of water and tea that I finally decided to have a coke zero. OMG! It burned all the way down my esophagus. I kept drinking for some stupid reason. A day later I had horrible heartburn. I don't know if it was caused by the soda, but I'm not doing that again.

Congrats! You did a good job describing your green zone. I look forward to finding that. Maybe tomorrow's fill will be the one!

Sounds like gas pains so it is probably normal. I had lots of weird feelings (in my chest and back) from the gas for the first week.

Nope. I haven't felt full (that oh my gosh why did I eat so much feeling) since being banded 3 months ago. I love the fact that I haven't because it really is an unpleasant feeling.

That heaviness in your chest may be the gas they pumped in at surgery. That is where I felt most of the gas. Walking and time is really the only thing that will get rid of the gas pains. Good luck.

Very well said. Right now it just seems like a diet and I'm not very good at diets! I have 4.5 cc in a 10 cc band after one fill. I think I'm getting close to green. I'm looking forward to this tool working it's "magic", but I know I need to be consistent with doing my part.

Me too! I'm going for my 2nd fill on Monday and I'm scared I will be too tight afterwards. I guess the worst case scenario is you have to go back for an unfill. That's what is good about the band.

I'm going in for my 2nd fill on Monday. I'm scared I will end up having difficulties like you. Right now I don't really ever get hungry, but I think I may be eating too much at a time. I probably need a fill, but I like being able to eat most things without getting stuck or PBing. Sorry, I don't know what to tell you.