Cocoabean

Nuts and popcorn not problem. I've never been much of a gum chewer.

I was banded in February and did not start losing until the end of June after my second or third fill. It takes time to get proper restriction and have the band working for you.

I cannot drink sodas at all. It means immediate hiccups. But I can drink beer and Mike's Hard Lemonade with no trouble. Just remember the calories.

Does he know you have lost weight? Your ticker shows you are doing very well. All you need say is this is my way of eating. If it even come up. Be confident in your choices. You know what you need to do to be successful.

People lose at different rates, DO NOT COMPARE. My surgeon did not put me on a strict diet after I was on solids. He told me to eat to my appetite. So therefore I did not lose much until my fills kicked in. I was banded in Feb. my fills took true effect in June. THAT is when my losses really started. Like B52, once I reached restriction, it's been simple. Portion control is easy when your apptetite is under control, and the band will not allow you to overeat if you are choosing the proper foods. If I were to eat milkshakes all day, of course I could overeat, but I don't. The appetite control I have helps me to make good choices. I have one once in a while as a treat, but that's ok. Life is about living.

There are many here at LBT who have been banded in Mexico. Many of the surgeons there have prearranged after care facilities in the US and Canada. I'd be certain to have aftercare set up, though. There are doctors who will not treat patients who were banded elsewhere. I'd want all my ducks in a row before proceeding. Being banded and not having aftercare would be a waste. Like a sports car without gas.

My surgeon said NO Protein shakes, he wants me eating my calories, not drinking them. I bought tons of the stuff only to throw it out. I now keep one around for after a bad stuck episode called Isagenix (available online). I like the vanilla and the chocolate. But it really comes down to personal taste.

My surgeon said he'd prefer I sneak up on my green zone with more smaller fills than having a big one then unfilling, then another big one, then unfilling. That said, I was overfilled once. Not fun. I got an unfill of half the fill I had put in. Instant relief. A month later I was able to go in and get that replaced plus more. Go figure! Bands are our fickle friends sometimes. You just need to be open to NOT getting a fill, or just a teensy to off.

Some people have a delayed reaction of up to two weeks after a fill before they feel the effects. If you can cancel the appointment on short notice, then make it, but be willing to cancel if you start feeling the fill.

I had surgery on a Friday. By Monday I started coming down with a cold. At some point around my time in the hospital I contacted some germs. There was no way I could have been at my desk. I was off one whole week and back half-time the next. Every one is different, it is true--but also, things happen.

My surgeon said NO protein shakes. After my pre-op diet, I did clears, then full liquid, then solids. He does not want me having liquid calories, period. So check with your surgeon, you might be stressing over shakes for nothing. I bought tons of the stuff getting ready for surgery based on what I had read here only to be told I'd not be using them. I ended up throwing them out. Now I have a shake once in a while if I am bored with my diet. I use one called Isagenix, you can order online. But it really comes down to individual taste.

Ha Ha Ha Ha....I just read your posts today! Thanks so much for the laugh!

I am nearly 4 years banded. Sitting waiting for a piece of ham to go down or maybe come up. Some of us never learn (self!).

I had a growth on my thyroid for years. It finally started overproducing hormone and I had to have it treated. It was all before I was banded. As long as you are being followed by a doctor and your levels are normal, I don't think there'd be a problem.

Thanks for keeping us posted! Rotten weather today. Supposed to get much better tomorrow! Glad you are doing well.

Welcome to banded life. I cut shrimp into tiny pieces. It can be a difficult thing to eat.

You have cut way back on your carbs, you no longer have that quick access to the energy of them. As your body switches to burning fat stores you might feel better. When I do very low carb, frankly, I feel like cr*p. I felt worst the first 3 days of the pre-op, then it got a bit better, but I did not work out while doing it.

White meat chicken is a no-go for me. Period, don't even try it. Pasta is hit or miss. Bites of meat need to be cut to pieces about the size of a pencil eraser, and then chewed well. It is not the same to chew a bigger bite well. I don't understand the mechanism of the band, but I do know if I eat too quickly, or eat try to eat too big of a portion, it doesn't go well. And it isn't pretty. As Elcee said, after each fill there is a learning curve. After I have a stuck episode I take it very easy for a couple of days, then go back to solids slowly.

Many surgeons do an Upper GI the day after surgery. Mine did not. The barium is not delicious, but it is not so bad. It is a like thick Mylanta. I think for a post-surgery one it is just a few swallows. My UGIs were done at 2.5 years post-op and about 3 months ago. Best wishes for tomorrow and a speedy recovery.

Did you get light headed? I sometimes have a drop in blood pressure if I've been standing for a long period of time. Could have been a blood sugar drop, as well. Finally, maybe you were just hungry. Real, true hunger.

Your brain does eventually catch up though. Now when I look at my before pictures I look so terribly uncomfortable. When I see my pants from before they look huge, not normal. Now my size 10 pants are normal, not tiny as they appeared when I first got them.

For starters, don't get on the scale daily. Once per week is sufficient. The daily fluctuations will drive you insane! I can eat more some days, less on others. It is the way of my band. Many bandsters journal their food. There are tons of online journals available. It might help you to better see what you are eating. I don't normally track my food. But I did for a few days when I was on a plateau. I thought I was eating about 1200 calories a day. Imagine my surprise to find I was actually consuming 1700! Tracking can help you find hidden calories you didn't realize were there. Are you at proper restriction? If not, don't focus so much on weight-loss. Focus on good habits that will take you through banded life. Solid Protein first, quality veggies, then starches. Quit eating when you are SATISFIED, not full. Small bites that are chewed well. Proper hydration. Exercise. The weight-loss will follow.

Thanks for the follow-up info. I am very sorry the band did not work for you. I wish you great success with your bypass!!

I've had two upper GIs. They were exactly as Horsegirl described. There were no meds involved other than the gas creating stuff and the barium. It was cool to watch on the screen. Mine were both after banding, so I got to see my band in action. The last one took about 45 minutes or so, but they did a little bit more to include my esophagus, looking for dilation. No sweat!

No catheter, no heparin, no compression stockings. I don't do unjury. I get a flu shot each year. Hadn't even thought of it as a good idea for a bandster until just now. I've been banded nearly 4 years. I haven't vomited yet other than stuck food. I don't have children in my house, so I don't have little germ buckets nearby. When/if you get the flu, you could ask your doctor for anti-nausea meds. Your profile says you are 2000 miles from me, sorry I can't babysit. Tomorrow should be better on the pre-op!