Emmy27

It's good for those post fill days too.

My doc explained that you normally feel tighter the first few days due to swelling - so all clear for 24 hrs, then full... soft... back to solids on day four or five. I had the opposite issue - felt no restriction after the fill until I had solids and then it was WOW. Hot tea has helped me and I can only drink room temperature Water, etc. Also... if you get dehydrated (at all) it causes the stoma to swell a little too... Cold beverages/food also cause increased restriction. Not that I am an expert, lol... read most of these things here and there. HTH... let us know how it goes. Honestly, what you describe is what I was expecting and was disappointed when I didn't feel that way... trying to find that thin line between restricition and not is so difficult. When they were adding my fill and asking me how I felt it was difficult to determine if it was good or not... KWIM??? They did it under fluro so the chance of an overfill is less but still.... I didn't want to PB water. Anyway, long winded here... Good luck and please let us know how it goes. Hugs,

You know... I was tempted to jump on this when I realized this is my size NOW... I need to focus on the next size down.... woo-hoo! And I should follow your lead and start going through and get rid of some stuff... That is so generous of you to offer.... thank you anyway. You must be a great person...

I am not fat because I am miserable. I am fat because I WAS miserable and developed habits at that point that will take me a lot longer to break than it did to learn them. I had a dysfunctional family to the point where my mother and I had to leave and change our identities and move from place to place. I was thin then but my obsession with food began as we had none... I remember going to a neighbors house and they had rice a roni - it was like a jackpot. But, these days it seems "dysfunctional" families is the norm, unfortunately. So why am *I* fat and not the girl nextdoor who had a similary horid childhood??? I honestly think part of it is genetics, though certainly less than 50% of the issue. The other 50% are the ridiculous habits I formed... I snack - especially at night. My kids go to bed and I head for the fridge/cabinets and then to the couch where I remain there until I go to bed (or, subsitute couch for computer). I guess this can be attributed to "hording" - I had to hord food as a child in order to have some the next day. I used to hide packs of pudding powder and eat it in the bathroom. I never feel full unless I gorge myself - think Thankgiving dinner. If I don't feel like I am going to bust then I don't feel satisfied. Not sure why this is... I eat so fast I don't "hear" my body saying it had enough... or that I had something that will make me sick, until it's too late. Again, goes back to the having to hurry it up so no one would see what I was able to sneak or just because we were always going somewhere. Preband, as an adultm eating is like autopilot (as I mentioned in another post). Almost like I don't even realize I am doing it. The band is helping - feel full sooner than gorging myself... still snacking but less often and it's a decision I make vs. an automatic behavior. There is obviously more to all this but if I keep writing I may as well write a book, lol. I am on the road to recovery.... changing the way I look at food is my biggest challenge - it's for nurishment and nothing else. Changing how fast I eat is the other. My portions are much better, my food choices are where they should be.... Anyway... thanks for posting this - great to read others stories and think about my own.

There is a difference between an addiction and a habit. An addiction is mind/body dependency and a habit is purely a mind issue. They have one big thing in common - they both SUCK! The heating up of the left overs was, i think, a habit. I found myself having a snack the other night and almost half way into it I realized what I was doing and had to consciously think about HOW I got the snack together in the first place - it was like I was on autopilot. Now, when I eat I have to stop and concentrate... seriously, I stare into no where land and have to think hard "okay, is this full?" "Is my stomach filled?" "Is that real hunger or do I just want to eat more?". It takes me a while to eat JUST because I have to concentrate so darn hard on reading my body signals. The addiction part comes in where I can't stop thinking about my next "fix"... when will I eat, what will I eat, should I eat it with this.... I was at a weight loss support group through Curves the other day (not surgery focused) and a few women and I were walking out together. One woman stoped and asked "am I the only one thinking about what they are going to go have for lunch?" All of us were.... I'd like to say excercise will replace my eating... it won't - it's not feasable. But when I want to eat I make a concious decision not to (most of the time) and just get into something different than what I was doing when the thought occured to me (if I am at the computer I get up to do laundry, etc.) HTH

I was banded two months ago... off to a great start - lost 22 pounds. I had my first fill 6 weeks post op. It did nothing. Well, actually, it did give me enough restriction that things get stuck if I am not careful but I don't experience the "full" feeling until I eat quite a bit (certainly more than half of what I ate prior to surgery but not quite as bad). I haven't lost anything in a month. I haven't gained either which is the only noticable difference (before,when I dieted, I would have gained all this back by now plus some). I am working out 3 times a week and enjoy it - hard to fit in more when I am a stay at home mom and Curves doesn't have extended hours, etc. I go for my next adjustment in one week - I can't wait, yet part of me is worried that it won't do the trick either. I don't "just" want that stuck feeling, I want to feel full so I don't eat. Currently I am eating three meals and two Snacks - making much better choices than prior to surgery (night and day difference) with some chocolate lapses. I guess I just need to put this out there - don't feel like I can talk to my husband about it only because he can't relate - he would try so hard but we'd both feel like it was a burden. He is very supportive and would not discourage me... but still. Please tell me this is normal???? It will change after the second fill??? I have a gift certificate for new clothes that I got for Christmas that I am saving for some nice stuff once I lose a chunk of weight, not "just" 20 pounds or so. I was planning on going out to get new ones when I lose 50 - that seems so incredibly far away. Thanks for listening...

My heart goes out to you... I have two pupperonis and the thought of going through what you are has brought tears to my eyes. Many hugs,

I have it (BC/BS of TN) and my specific plan had an exclusion for treatment of obesity. Needless to say, I was a self-pay. Good luck though... your SPECIFIC plan may very well be different.

I look at those darn graphs and think "I can't wait until I am JUST obese"... whodathunkit? Severely obese.... blech.

I can't offer any advice, etc. but wanted to tell you congratulations!!!!! It's so wonderful to hear of one of God's miracles and a person's determination!

Chili in the blender is great.... Yes to the creamed spinach (yum) Just chew, chew, chew. Mac and cheese is iffy for some - worked well for me (Pasta can be hard for some) Mashed potatos (don't do too much of that though - wasted calories) - with gravy if you need it I also did spaghetti - not al dente at all - mushy - but do not eat it heated up as it gets pastey and sticks. The refried Beans from Taco Bell are great. HTH

Something about "knowing" it is there and "feeling" it makes me feel more secure... sometimes I just check to be sure, lol.

Hi Buttercup! I live outside Chattanooga. I gained some back after I started solids but am doing a little better now. I had my first fill last Tuesday and honestly.... it was nothing. I was so worried and it was for nothing! You know how you get your finger pricked to check hemoglobin? Well to me, it hurt less than that! Good luck! I am calling my doc tomorrow as I don't feel anymore restriction now than I did before my fill but I have been told they are fairly conservative. So... maybe they'll schedule me for another one sooner rather than later. Again, good luck!

Hi Denise!!! I just saw your before/after pics and immediately came down to this section to see if you were here too! You look great! Nice job! You are inspiring. Yes, Dr. Ponce. He's a nice guy. I really feel more "connected" to Brooke and Amanda since they are the front line so to speak. How are you doing?

Tomorrow is six weeks post op. I HAD lost 20 pounds but then regained two/three when I started solid foods for a total loss of 17 (I am not changing my ticker unless it is GOOD news). The doc said this was very normal (regaining in weeks four and five when you are on solid food) which I knew was going to happen (not a matter of "if") so am fine with it. I joined Curves last week - very excited about it as it is a good match for me (short length and I don't feel like I am dying when I am there). Today I had my first adjustment. I was a bit nervous about it but it turned out to be quite a positive experience. First waiting and waiting to have it done... I happen to sit next to a woman, chatted with her and as it turned out - she was there for an adjustment too. The nurse comes out and calls SIX of us.... as we go back to the secondary waiting room we all realize we are there for the same thing. It was like a sisterhood, amazing. We immediately started sharing our stories - amazing. Then they call me back - my doctor told me I look wonderful (what is he suppose to say - Gee Emmy, you got fatter!?!? LOL) asked me about different foods and how I am tolerating them... They give me an injection over my port site to numb me - and a minute later the second needle was in. They then raised the table so I was in a standing position and while I drank barium (yum) watched it on the flouroscopy machine and injected the saline into my band. Honestly it was nothing (except the yucky barium which I only had to take three gulps of). So here I am - clear fluids for today, full fluids the next two days and then soft to normal foods on day three/four. I feel fine, none of the possible nausea or discomfort they warn you about. They do not tell their patients how much saline they inject because they don't want us to compare ourselves to other people - I appreciate that because that is exactly what I would do and then worry that it was too much or too little, lol.

I had my first fill today - congrats to us!!!! LOL My doc told me that I will probably be more restricted the first two weeks and then less so after that. I was warned to be especially careful now... making extra sure to follow the banster rules. I have also heard (not from my doc but from these boards) that it takes two weeks for the fill to "kick in". The most important thing, I think, is to listen to YOUR body and what it tells you - watch for the full sign and listen, don't try to get a little more in (I say this in theory since I at the same spot as you). Good luck and congrats!

Brenda! I am so glad to hear you are okay - home and recovering with your new friend. Your poor dh.... were they able to come out and update him?!?! I'll keep you in my prayers that your recovery is smooth and fast. I'm sure you know but just to be sure, don't take antihistamines if you're taking prescription pain meds. Hugs,

It sounds right on to me - exactly what my doc wants me to do and what I am working on (just joined curves this week!)

I understand where you are coming from though mine is possibly a "worse" spot... I see fat people and feel sorry for them. I want to hug them. Because I am one, always have been one and until the band, thought I always would be. I know the shame I feel, the self disgust, the "I am a thin person stuck in a fat body"... and I assume they feel it too and it makes me sad for them and then even more sad for me as I realize I am feeling sorry for myself too. Though now I have hope.... One thing I have to consciously decide NOT to do is run up to every fat person and tell them about this band... I want to share with them because I think they of all people will understand and maybe find some hope for themselves. But then I realize - if someone had done that to me preband it would have reinforced the shame and self loathing.... I would have been mortified. So... niether of us have very "helpful" feelings for the fat people out there but they are helpful to us as we acknowledge them and work through them. I applaud you for being able to recognize it and want to look at it on a deeper level.

- I can eat anything and as much of it as I want.... getting my first fill next Tuesday (thank God)... my question is, is it normal to have no restriction but still PB if I don't chew properly? I am chewing well, just clearly not well enough. Just wondering if I do have restriction but maybe am ignoring my "you are full" signs.... This whole head hunger vs. real hunger is so hard, unless I get to the point where I am physically starving. I am so worried about this fill too? Has anyone had it done with no numbing meds? It seems like I'll be taking one needle so I don't feel the second needle, wonder if I should bother with the numbing stuff... what do you think? Okay - so I had TWO questions, lol.

I have heard, and verified it with my doc, that taking zinc everyday can help. So, I suck on a zinc losenger everyday (for sore throats, must say ZINC). HTH - I haven't gotten there yet and I dread it.

WOW, that must have been terrifying. Glad you are okay and the doc took you seriously.

What makes someone PB vs. slime/golf ball feeling? How does PBing compare to burping and nothing comes up but it moves around... is that a PB? Thanks...

This could go here or in food.... but really, I think I need support most of all. I started the soft foods today, start solids a week from today. All I can say is it was a rought start. I was so excited to have a soft boiled egg but MAN it was bad news. I clearly messed up and ate it too fast or didn't chew well enough. If I was worried about my band having slipped before (which I am so paranoid about) this was a clear sign that is THERE and it was NOT happy. Got over it within a few minutes (and throwing up part of the egg and the Water that I drank in hopes to help it down). I was so scared that I decided to be DONE and later had chili in the blender again. If it is this bad already what is it going to be like when I start solids???? I am back to the "Oh my God, what have I done?" stage that I thought I had gone through for the one and only time my second day post op. Please tell me I am not the only one who has done this, who feels like this and who is SO paranoid that I made my band slip when I threw up. TIA!

I cannot find anything about what I should be taking in calorie wise... help! I've just been trying to make good choices but it'd be good to have a number. Thanks!