Mandyw

A Productive Burp. When you eat too much the food has no where to go but up and out. It's sorta like puking, but no gag reflex is involved. You burp and there it is.

I haven't checked in for months now. I hit 7 months on 5/4. I've lost around 50 pounds, and kinda stalled out. I've been the same weight now for about 3 months now. I can't really complain though, because I really don't exercise. I have not had a fill yet, and not really sure if I need one. I can definitely eat more now than when first banded, but still not a lot. Maybe about a cup to a cup and a half. I still get stuck and pb if I eat too fast or too much. I don't know, what do you think. Do I need a fill?

Hey everyone. I haven't been on here for awhile, so I thought I would check in and see how everyone is doing, and let you know how I'm doing. I was banded Oct. 3rd. I'm doing great. I love my band. Now I do anyway. It took awhile to get used to it. I had restriction from day one, and have never had a fill. My band and I argued a lot in the begining. I would try to eat something, and my band would say, "No, I don't think we should eat that." I try not to fight with it too much anymore, because I usually lose. But now, my band has become my best friend. I don't even want to eat the stuff I used to. Before I would look at the food on my plate and say, "There is no way that is going to fill me up." Then I would get some more. Now I put my cup of food on my plate and say, "There is no way I'm going to be able to eat all of that." Then I put some back. Everything has been such a learning experience. I have learned to cook differently. I look at menus in a restaurant differently. I really do feel for those of you who do not have restriction yet. But when you finally get to that point, it is so worth it. Just hang in there till then. It will definately get easier.

Omlagirl, Welcome to bandland!!! Newblew, Don't beat yourself up so much. Even though you may not be getting through the WHOLE day eating what you should, you're getting through part of the day. If you're like me, that's better than it was. Any good food choice is something to be proud of. The more you pride yourself in those little choices, the easier it will be to make the big choices. Lately I have become obsesed with cooking. I watch the food network, look at cookbooks, you name it. I find recipes that I like, and start substituting to cut the calories and make them more healthy. It's actually alot of fun, and there are some really tasty low cal meals out there. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to take your favorite things to eat (yes, even the bad ones) and make them something healthy by making a few substitutions.

I just went to the doc yesterday for my first fill. He said I didn't need one yet. From what I was describing to him, he said that I have restriction now. It sounds pretty much like what you are describing. If I over eat or eat too fast, I feel like I have to burp, only it won't come. And it definately hurts. If my food is not chewed well enough, I can feel the food moving down and boy does it hurt. I have learned to eat very slowly. By the time I have finished with my cup of food, the rest of my family has been done eating for about 15 minutes and my food is ice cold. By eating that slow, it has helped me to learn to recognize what it feels like to be full. Actually not full, just not hungry anymore. I think that's probably the key. To recognize when you are not hungry anymore. If I eat till I'm full, I hurt.

I agree. I don't know who Grace or Isaela is either. You would have thought that if the person was having that many problems that they would have contacted Dr. G or Dr. V directly, or even Laura. I was given their contact information (phone number, e-mail address) and I am sure everyone else is given the same info. They have called me several times just to check up on me, and every time I've had a question pre and post op, I have received an answer within a very short time.

I've been using whole wheat pasta and it doesn't bother me at all. I think because it doesn't seem as starchy and sticky as regular pasta.

I've noticed that most of the things I can't tolerate are really just because I took too big of a bite and didn't chew well enough. There are a few things that no matter how much I chew, it hurts going down. Anything heavy or dense, like bread. If it's toasted or an "airy" bread, I'm fine. Dry meats bother me. I have really started paying more attention to what and how I am cooking. Not over cooking my meats and adding things to add moisture to the meal have helped.

Judy, I just wanted to say thanks for praying for me. I feel much better now. I did cancel my appointment for my fill tomorrow. But.....about three hours after I did, my DH called me all excited. The owner of the company that he works for decided that everyone needed their Christmas bonus early, as in today! I called and have my fill rescheduled for tomorrow!!! And we now have the money to catch up on our bills and get some heat. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I love the support that we can all get here.

ABCKids, Boy do I know how you feel. I think I've spent most of the morning crying. I have to cancel my fill for tomorrow, because the money I had set aside for it got used to pay the mortgage. I have no heat because the furnace broke down, and no money to fix it. I got a job last night to get some extra cash, but by the time I pay for gas and sitters I'm probably working for nothing. The house is trashed. My DH walks in the door at night, eats dinner, and goes and locks himself in the study. So, I haven't really spent any time with him in about 2 months. I hate being broke. It really sucks. As bad as it sounds, I'm really glad that I'm not the only one depressed right now.

I admit it, I had one of those fun packs of malted milk balls. It tasted really good, but boy did it hurt later. It was enough for me to say enough. I won't be trying that again any time soon.

I was recently banded, and the doc I had intended to use for follow up care is now no longer taking patients. Any one know of someone who will take a patient that they didn't band?

Nope, Dr. Curry was who I was going to use, but he is no longer taking patients that are not "his". He's getting too busy with his own clients. I e-mailed the doc who put my band in, and he found someone for me. I have an appointment for Nov. 8th.

I feel the same. I haven't tried too many things, but I have tried eating different meats. Like tonight, I had pulled pork. It was very tender, and I chewed the crap out of it. I've had tuna, steak, chicken, but all of it has been shredded or cut VERY small, and I chewed lots. So far nothing has bothered me at all. No pain or discomfort. I have found that protien helps with the hunger. If I eat a scrambled egg in the morning, I'm fine until past lunch. A yogurt, and I'm ready for lunch around 10am. As far as not losing a lot of weight, I've only lost 15 lbs, and I was also banded on the 3rd. I quit losing when I moved to mushies. After 3 weeks of liquids (including pre-op), I think my body is saying, "Yeah food. I think I'm going to keep it, because she may decide not to feed me again." I think that once our bodies get used to the fact that it is actually going to start getting some nutrition again, the weight should start to fall off again.

For anyone who likes peas, this is my step dads recipe. It's really good. Take one bag of split peas put in pot and just cover with water. I simmered mine for about 1 1/2 hours. You may have to add more water as they cook down. When they were done, I let them sit for a little while to thicken. Add some milk to thin and about 1-2 tsps. of sugar. Very yummy. I also made Mashed potatoes, but added a turnip, some carrots, and any other root veggies that you might have. Lots of flavor.

I posted earlier about hoping Dr. V. could find me a fill doc locally. Just wanted to let everyone know that he did. He e-mailed me back by the next day with a name. I have an appoinment set for Nov. 8. They have been so good to me and have helped out with so many things. I really can't imagine getting that kind of treatment here in the States.

Don't tempt it!! Every time I even think about eating something that I know I shouldn't, I just think about the physical damage that I can do to myself. We have stitches in our stomach. If our stomach has to work to digest something, you can rip those stitches out. We can cause our band to slip. I don't know about you, but the pain and discomfort that I went through for the surgery is still too fresh in my mind to want to have to repeat it anytime soon. But, it does get better. I have found the mushies to not be that bad. Even though they look pretty gross, most things do actually puree very well, and taste good to boot. Casseroles taste really good. I even had spaghetti one night. Most meats are good as well, especially if you have some sort of sauce that you puree with them (like BBQ). I love to cook, so I just look at it as an experiment and have fun with it.

I hope Dr. V. can help me find a fill doc. I had one set up here locally, but he has now decided that his practice is too busy to take clients that are not "his". I e-mailed Dr. V. yesterday asking for help, but I haven't heard back from him yet. I can afford maybe one more trip down to Mexico for a fill, but I don't know about after that. I'd like to get my first fill around the first or second week of Nov. I'm starting to feel hungry again, and have to pay attention that I don't eat too much at one time. It's not too bad yet, but each day it gets a little worse. I guess I'm entering into "Bandster Hell":faint:

I pulled mine off about day 7. All incisions except 2 were completely healed over. I'm glad I did pull them off, because one of the incisions started draining. But the other scabed over by the end of the day, and the draining one healed over within 3 days. I just kept gauze over them to keep dirt out.

Hey Jill, I was wondering how you were doing. Can you feel a knot or anything around one of your upper incisions? The reason I ask, is I felt like that last week. Tues. was really bad for me. The only way I can desribe it, is that I felt like I was about 9 mo. pregnant and had just eaten a big meal. A lot of pressure and hard to breath. I got to pushing around on my incisions, and I could feel a knot about the size of a plum on the incision up under my ribs. I decided to take off my steri strips, and I'm glad I did. I must have had an abcess or something, because it started draining. It drained for about 2 days, and boy do I feel better. It wasn't infection, because it was a clear Fluid, and the incision itself looked great, wasn't red, no heat or fever. It's also possible that Dr. G did put some fluid in the band. I've been wondering that myself, because I can still only eat about a 1/2 cup at a time before I feel really full. Keep me posted on how you're doing. Mandy

Hang in there. I was banded on the 3rd, and today is the first day that I have actually felt human. I went to bed last night in so much pain, gas and muscle from around the port. This morning I was up and out of bed headed for the bathroom, and I had to stop. Wait, did I just get out of bed without having to roll and gingerly pull myself up? Yes I did!! As bad as was yesterday, It's almost completely gone today.

Crystal Light was OK by my doc as well. I bought a 1 1/2 gallon sun tea pitcher and keep it in teh fridge.. I think the crystal light is a little strong, so two packs in there makes it perfect. Not only that, but you can mix and match the flavors. I get bored with the same flavors. A strawberry and lemonaide go well. So does the apple and cranberry. If you have a Wal-Mart close, their brand is cheaper, dissolves easier, and I think tastes better.

The shoulder pain is caused by the gas that they pump into you abdomen. Gas travels up. The same is true for laying on your left side. The large intestine goes to the left side before it reaches its final destination So, it just helps to get the gas closer to it's exit point :fish2:

I was banded on the 3rd. and I still have trouble getting in all of my fluids. I just keep juice or water with me all the time and sip all day. Popsicles do help. I know I'm not getting in enough nutrition, because It will take me all day just to get down 8 oz of broth. I'm just not hungry, and I fill up very fast. I can only manage about 2 oz. at a time. I was supposed to move to mushies today, but I really don't think I can handle them yet.

You are not alone in the pain department. It was definately more that I expected and was prepared for. But at 5 days out, it is much better. Not gone, but much better.