Cocoabean

The getting overly hungry thing is SUCH a good point. I tend to eat much too fast and not chew enough if I let myself get too hungry. Also, my hunger feels the same as pre-surgery. So, I feel like I should be able to eat the same, and the old ways try to come out with little success. Often with negative experiences. Denise

Wouldn't that be great?!? I am a crocheter (is that a word?) also!! What fun. It is a great tool to keep the hands occupied. I just recently learned how to knit, but am not very good at it. I am also working on a baby afghan. Our next door neighbor is expecting #3. You know, my sister has many problems, medical and family. I always tell her that she was put on the planet to make me feel better about my situation! :frown: She even has a condition called gastroparesis (sp?) that causes her stomach to not empty. She thought I was absolutely insane to have a surgery to cause such a condition! But then, it is a tad different, and I don't regret it for a second. Except when something is stuck and behold, my stomach is not emptying! Denise

ElfiePoo, I know you are not looking for words of wisdom or advice of action to take to get back on banded track. Just words of support. Here you go, SUPPORT!! And HUGS!! Don't beat yourself up. You've had some tough stuff to deal with. My drug of choice is food. I hear you. You have seen the problem and identified it. You are facing it head on. Will it happen again? Probably. Hilda doesn't help with head hunger, nor with stress. We will have those things to deal with forever. That is a fact of life. We are here for eachother on this board. I hope things settle down for you, and the carbs clear out of your system quickly. I love sweets, also. Yeah, I could make a meal of chocolate. Sometimes I can have it in my house with no problems, sometimes I can't. Best wishes, Denise

Yes, it can happen prior to hitting the sweet spot with fills. If you did a liquid pre-op diet, that was sort of a crash diet, and now you are eating solids again. Often when people go off a crash diet they gain weight. My surgeon told me not to be surprised if I gained. Don't beat yourself up. Any losses you have during this time will be a good thing, yes, but will be due to willpower alone, not with any help from the band. That assistance will come with fills. Denise

I do have a friend who is banded who cannot eat eggs. I've never had a problem. Mashed potatoes were a favorite mushy of mine, too. With squishy peas. Yum. Denise

I did scrambled eggs, they were DIVINE!

Bypass and sleeve patients don't lose 100% either. Bypass is about 65-80% and sleeve 60-70% at least from a quick google search. And bypass patients can certainly gain the weight back, I've seen it happen. Denise

Perhaps you could use some brown rice? I don't have troubles with regular rice. Sticky rice, sometimes gives me problems. Bread, not so good for me. I miss bread (sigh) But spicy foods don't give me any problems. Bring it on!!! Denise

I can't wait to start reading your experiences, and have you passing along words of wisdom!! My first slime happened at the county fair. Yeah, that was fun! NOT! (I am not admitting what I ate!) Denise

You are welcome! I borrowed the whisper from a poster here back around the time I was banded. "Paying it forward" as it were. It helps me alot. Listen for the whipser, don't wait until the band is screaming at you! But my doc told me that I should not go for "full" but for satisfied. That is a tough distinction for someone who loves to eat like I do. Before I begin each meal I say chew, chew, chew, and listen for the whisper! It helps to slow me down and be more aware of what I am doing, since eating fast and mindlessly are two of my problems. Take care! Denise

Hi pmommy, Don't be scared! But these are events of banded life about which you need to be aware. You will learn to minimize them in ways that work for you. I'd like some other veteran bandsters to put their experiences on this thread, most seem to be mine, but here we go... :frown: You will need to work on the big bites and not chewing habit. I had the same habit. If you are not banded, start practicing now. Once you are banded, you will learn quickly! I did. First off, the second you feel any discomfort with a bite of food STOP!!! If I do that and wait a few minutes I can often finish my meal. If it doesn't clear right away, it will be a minor episode instead of a major one. If I ignore it because I am enjoying my food and want to eat, then I am setting myself up for trouble by piling food on top of the jammed up spot. Taking a sip of water will not make it go through. I wish it would. :w00t: When something solid is blocking the hole to your stomach it will take more than that to make it move. But, I have found that swallowing a few gulps of water will bring the offending item UP. It isn't really vomitting or burping. More like reverse gravity. Gulp it down, a wave of slight nausea and bam, up it comes. Yes, in a case such as this, you don't want to swallow this stuff back down. Nor could you, because ususally it is surrounded in the slime your body has created trying to help move things along. As far as a minor PB where you burp a little mouthful of stuff, that can be swallowed. That is the fastest way I have found to end a stuck episode. The relief is immediate. I can also sometimes just work my stomach muscles to bring it back up. Early on, I'd be miserable and sliming for an hour or two waiting for it to clear itself. For me, I'd rather bring it up and be done. If I do that, I can be done with a stuck episode within minutes. Others have different ways of dealing with it. Walking helps ALOT if it is a minor episode it seems to help shift things around and get them moving. I have worn a path in my hall carpet. Strange as it sounds, most of my troubles with PB and slime happen at home. At work, I eat at my desk, alone. So I am able to take my time and I don't talk. When with a group, I choose foods I know are easier for me to eat, and if I feel ANYTHING odd, I stop eating to evaluate. If I can't finish, I take the food with me if at all possible. At home, I am relaxed and talking with my DH. I guess it is sort of like how most accidents happen close to home. All of this comes from two years' experience with my band. But you know what, it has been TOTALLY worth it. I am off my blood pressure meds. In fact it is low normal now. My blood sugar is normal. My cholesterol is greatly improved, and I look awesome in my size 10 jeans! AND I have not yoyo-ed in weight in two years. Yeah, I'll take some slime and PBs for that anyday!! Best wishes your journey!! Denise

It is astounding isn't it? I had read about it before it happened, but it did not prepare me for the reality. And when it did happen, I did not identify it for what it was until well into the event! The knot in the chest is quite painful, that is for sure! After a bad one for me, that area can stay tender for a while. Chewing well will definitely help minimize these events, as will paying attention when you eat. I have problems when I am in a group and having a conversation. I get distracted and want to say something. Well, my mother always said it is rude to talk with your mouth full, so I swallow quickly to say my thought...and DOH!!! But I do warn you, a PB will occur from time to time. At least the burp that brings stuff up kind. Whether you eat in the proper manner or not. I'll just be going along chew, chew, chewing and feel a burp and daaaannngg... here's a mouthful of gunk. Those are really very minor though and no one would notice. They are very similar to the kind that happen to non-banded folk. The BIG PB events, those may happen and are no fun, but chew chew chew, and this will help to minimize them. Also if in a group or public place, you have enough warning to get to a restroom. Denise

Maybe just tell your guests that you were banded? Saves questioning looks. Or put mostly mushies on your plate with some other stuff and move it around to look as though you are eating. I went to a party about 9 days post-op. I had some appetizers. I had been moved to soft solids by then, I think. That was nearly 2 years ago now. But I was able to eat some cheese and soft stuff. No one noticed. You don't mention if you are hosting a sit down type of thing. If not, I bet no one will even notice what you are eating. Just carry a plate around with something on it. You'll be surprised! Denise

I agree with that. I also admit to not knowing much about "The Biggest Loser." I've only seen a couple of episodes. I don't think the show promotes lifestyle changes. In fact, I saw a program the other night about a former winner who gained all his weight back. Sad, I really felt for him. We've all been there. To do it on national TV, not fun. I applaud him for doing the follow-up show. But, I could also see the producers of the show overlooking something like a participant having had WLS just to watch the drama unfold when the "secret" is exposed. I would not want to be on the receiving end of that backlash. But, it would make for "must see TV!" But that is me, and I would have similar reasons for not wanting to Celebrate my losses during the celebrations portion of Weight Watchers meetings or at Curves--unless I specified I was banded. It isn't that I haven't worked for what I have lost, I have. I deserve what I have "gained." Interesting thread!! Denise

For me, it is a whisper of satiety. If I get full, there is discomfort. Slime is only with getting stuck. A juicy burp can happen any time during or right after a meal for me. That doesn't mean I am stuck. And for me, burping means things are moving and NOT stuck, a good sign! Denise

Oh, that is another joy of banded life. It stands for Productive Burp. For many, it is the most often outcome of a stuck episode. "What goes down, must come up." For my way of thinking, it is just that, when I burp and it produces something more than just air. It can be liquid or solid--that is a productive burp. If I get stuck and need to bring it up more forcibly, I don't consider that a PB, I consider that a forcible bringing up of stuck stuff. I suppose PB would be an easier label :tt1: To get unstuck, many walk to help move the food. Walking definitely helps the pain. Some drink pineapple juice to break down the stuck food (this did not help me). Others use papaya enzymes, I have not tried this one. I often drink some gulps of Water, sometimes mixed with some baking soda. Do be near a sink or toilet if you try this, as it often brings the offender immedately back up. For me, it is not vomitting, nor is it burping, it just comes up. It is hard to describe. Ah, gotta love banded life, yes I do!!! No blood pressure meds, normal blood sugar! All is right with the world!! Denise

What do the contest rules state? I'd think there would be something in it about bariatric surgery or the use of medications to assist in the program. If it asks about it and you have to lie, I'd say no. If I were part of it without surgery and thought everyone was the same and heard there were people who had surgery and were part of it. I'd be ticked, but would take a look at the rules of the game. As you stated, your motivation is the support, not the winning of the title... Just my 2 cents worth. Denise

My DH, who really hates blood and spit, once observed the slime running into the sink with all the bubbles running down and said, "oooh, look, it looks like a string of pearls!" You have to laugh about it. Or you'd go nuts. Ok, you aren't laughing at the time... I'd imagine we could all write a very funny book of our experiences! Band Groupie's PB Blog had me in tears last week it is sooo funny! Denise

Has it been submitted to your insurance? Or are you self pay? Have you started the pre-op diet? Do you have to do one? From the time my insurance approval came in till my surgery date was a month. Pre-op diet was 2 weeks. Denise

Yes, that, but WAY thicker. I swear it could be used in nuclear science or on the space station. I am sure there are some wonderful applications for it somewhere! Your body manufactures it when food is stuck in the hopes to help facilitate the removal of the offending object. Since that object is blocking the route to your stomach, the mucous has no place to go but up. You cannot swallow it, so out the mouth it comes. Great, big boodles of the stuff. This continues on until you manage to get unstuck. It is quite the experience to behold. As a note, use a cloth towel. Paper towels are not abosorbent enough, and they are too rough on the skin. They work in a pinch, but cloth is much, much better! I tend to just hang out over the kitchen sink and let it pour down the drain. Quite lovely, let me tell you! Along with the faces I make while stuck....yeah, it's beauty in its purest form!! Denise

I really, really, really balked at giving up my glass of milk with my dinner. My surgeon said he had no problem with me having some, but that I might not have room for it. He also said he prefers that I don't drink my calories as they go right through. Solid foods will hold me longer. But poopy head that I am, I do still have a little bit with my dinner meal. Breakfast and lunch with no liquid, no problem. But old habits die hard. Dinner is my last eating session of the day, I don't eat after that, so even if it does cause my pouch to empty sooner, so be it. I look at it like this...this is my program to make work for me. I have to live with my band. Whether we are getting along nicely or arguing is up to me. I love, love, love my milk with dinner. I am not ready to part with it. I am also on a slight plateau right now..ok, big plateau, but I am ok with it and maintaining with ease. If I get serious about losing the rest, I may have to revisit the issue. Or revisit my surgeon for a fill. Or revisit my endocrinologist to get my thyroid checked as I have thyroid issues :tt1: Denise

That's too funny! I felt the same way. Yet, when I had my first episode, I was like, WTH?? What is this? This is the strangest thing ever!! OMG! I have never seen anything like this. Where IS all this goo coming from! I need more paper towels! Yikes! Oh man, make this stop! Oh crap! This is SLIME!!! Ok, then, never want to see THAT again. Yeah, well, I have seen it again, and again, and again.. And as the DH says, I can be taught, but I'll never learn! :tt1: Denise

1. Do you FEEL the LAP-BAND around your stomach? Does it feel tight or uncomfortable? Not at all, unless food is stuck, then I am oh so aware of it. But I don't feel the band itself. 2. I think giving up soda will be really hard. WHY must it be done? I still sip it from time to time, I like the taste. But it sometimes gives me hiccups. It has no nutritional value. I have also read that diet soda can trigger hunger, who wants that? 3. What is the purpose of the liquid diet pre-surgery? And post? Pre-op: To shrink the liver, and make the surgery easier on your body. Post-op: To aid in healing, your stomach does not need to work as hard. 4. Did your insurance company cover the procedure? How long did the pre-auth take? Did you have to do psych evals, etc? My insurance did cover it. With all the hoops needed, it took about 5-6 months. Yes, psych eval was required, a no biggie. 15 minute talk to show I knew what the procedure was and possible complications. He also wanted to be sure I understood it was not a quick fix or miracle cure. 5. The port - does it physically bother you? Can you see it initially, after losing, etc? My husband is kinda freaked out about it.... High waisted pants bother it. The scar is visible. If I got really thin, I expect the port would be visible, but not now. I understand that there is a low profile port that some people have installed. 6. Does getting a fill hurt? Or does it feel like getting a flu shot / giving blood? Not at all like giving blood. I get a numbing shot with a very small needle. After that, I feel a slight "pop" when the huber needle enters the port. It is nothing to be afraid of at all. 7. Do you have restrictions with taking pills? I.e. is Tylenol still effective, does it digest regularly, etc. Big pills sometimes go down a little sticky. Small pills no worries. Yes, they digest as usual. Food also digests as it used to. As a side note, my surgeon advised me to not use anti-inflamatory drugs on a regular basis. 8. What about drinking alcohol? Is it OK occassionally? I have no troubles with it. Even have beer sometimes, same issue as with soda, hiccups. But as the previous poster said, empty calories. Defeats the purpose of having the band, so I limit the amount. Thanks!! You are welcome! There is lots of info here, read and learn! Denise

YAY, Ellie!!! So, you CAN do the consult, just can't submit until the 3 months stuff is done? Way cool!! We wander far afield on this thread, but I hope we answered your questions!! Keep us posted!! Denise

JoJo...I am not exactly sure about the smoking, I believe it has to do with post-op healing. Jens--First off, how you feeling, doing OK after your fill? My hubby has had to work hard on the food police thing. Bless him. He also has never understood my battle, like your ex. If he is hungry, it was OK if I ate. If he is not, I should not be. Just like that! Pat answer, that is the way it should be, DANG IT! WHAT is your problem, woman! Sheesh. Funny story, as I was losing, when I got close to going below his weight, it really bothered him for some reason (I think it was to teach me about control). So he started cutting down on his food intake. The turkey started losing weight he didn't need to lose. Lost 7 lbs in two weeks! Dang. Made me so mad, I could spit! Anyway, I showed him and kept with it and got below him! Oh and for sad Karma..the fellow in my past that used to tell me to push away from the table and put down the fork. A smoker. Died of lung cancer in his mid-50s. Truly a shame. Denise