Junebug36

Jeez, I had to take 3 hours worth of multiple choice tests that seemed to be accessing my personality before I could even talk to the psyc doc. It was ridiculous...then I don't think he really even looked at them. The meeting afterwards was easy...I think they each look for different things, like if you are a food addict, bulimic, or have some kind of emotional issues that should be resolved before surgery...they do similar things before organ transplants. Life changing surgeries can be a lot of anguish for some people. They just want to make sure you are doing it for the right reasons, and have a healthy outlook about the aftermath, etc.

I agree...I had that problem, and kept thinking it would eventually settle down...after 2 weeks I could hardly get baby food down. So I went for a slight unfill...just .3cc taken out...felt sooo much better! That tightness in the chest area can be scary! Now I just get comfortably satisfied with a small amount of solids. And I started losing on solids. I was stalled when I could hardly get anything down...so weird how our bodies do that.

Sugar gives me headaches now too! Really strange, since I had such a sweet tooth before surgery. Too much coffee and not enough water will give me headaches when I eat as well.

216 final...slow and steady

I'm sure this has been asked on here, but I'm not finding it....I just got my first fill a week ago, and have been on liquids for the first 2 days...then mushies for 2 days. The problems start when I try to eat anything solid. I chew and chew...swallow and get swollen. Now even mushies hurt to swallow. I keep going back to liquids for most of the day. I'm frustrated because prior to the fill I was able to eat about 1 1/2 cups of food...and was full for 4 hours. I could eat dense protien and vegetables. Now all I can seem to handle is protien shakes, and that's due to swelling I get when I attempt normal food. So! Question is, am I too tight, or is it too early to tell such a thing? I was losing weight just fine prior to the fill, but my surgeon didn't want me eating 1 1/2 cups...he wants me down to 1 cup. Right now, I can hardly eat 1/4 cup of solids before feeling my throat swell. If it is soupy, or liquids...I have no issues. Sigh. Maybe if I'm on straight liquids for a week then mushies for a week like I was after surgery, it will calm down? I know some of you have gotten a fill..thought it was too tight, but ended up being perfect after a month or so. Not sure when I should be concerned about it being too much.

Yeah...I had a bit too much. Sooo much better now :-). Just had to listen to my body.

Any tips on how to get through the fatigue when starting out...my workout this morning drained me, big time. So sore and tired!

Completed 30 min of High Intensity Intervals on my elliptical...plus upper body weight lifting! I do worry that lifting will stall weight loss...but I know it's so good for you long term. Anyone have an issue with lifting stalling loss?

Just completed Jillian Michaels Metabolism Fat Burner workout...45 min. Sweaty!

216 :-)

I love my Ninja! Makes excellent shakes!

I had to have a talk with my own daughter at 4 years old...she seemed to want to point out anyone different in stores..and was kinda loud about it, as kids are. It could be about hair, acne, big legs...there was no filter or thoughts of good or bad..just, "wow, mama! look at that!" I had to tell her: "Everyone is different, but people might not like those differences pointed out. It might hurt their feelings..and we don't want to hurt anyone's feeling, right?" It seemed to work, and she now tells me what she saw that was interesting or different when we are on our own...avoiding any awkward moments in public. Point is, she had no idea what she was saying was potentially hurtful at the time. It was just observations of the world around her, and she was proud to notice. Boys at 5 are the same way. They just don't understand, if they haven't been taught to have manners...and even then, will have trouble filtering things. I doubt he got the word "fat" from his parents..have you seen kids shows lately?! Not to mention other kids he plays with probably use that word, and he will do the same to fit in with them. Try not to take it to heart. I know its hard, as I went through the bullying as a kid myself....I was called fat just because I developed early in junior high. When I look back now, I was completely normal...but, not the norm for the kids I went to school with. Just keep it in perspective....only you know how far you have come, and remember how good that feels. You are a beautiful person...remember that. :-)

I really don't think restriction should make eating painful, and cause swelling. I was really worried about the damage it might cause to my esophagus. I felt comfortable restriction before the fill, with 5cc... I was satisfied on small amounts, and it wasn't painful at all. I think I'm back to that point again. Be careful...from what I have researched, a too tight band can cause problems later on. That's why I finally went in...in fact my surgeon wanted me to come in as soon as possible when I told him about my issues with solids. Tricky business, finding the sweet spot with these bands. Keep me posted on how you are! It helps to know others are going through the same things :-)

I don't know why I'm so nervous about this? Sometimes I feel like I don't need one...like I'm in the green. Other days, I feel I can eat more than I should. Ugh. I also worry about them poking the tube and causing a leak in the thing. Silly, I know.

Yeah, I kinda had a feeling too...took me so long to eat solids with the fill...and then I kept getting stuck on everything no matter how much I chewed. I figured at the 2 week mark, if I was still having issues, it was time to fix it. Plus, I was getting hungry due to not enough food at each sitting. I was told 7-10 days liquids then mushies this time around...ugh!! But, I do feel better now. Oddly I got very nauseated right after he took the .3cc out. It lasted most of the day...but I'm feeling a lot better this evening. So weird, how your body reacts different to each little change. Weevie, I'm surprised you have a fill so soon! You sound tight like I was. Try sipping some warm broth..Im doing that myself right now! Freshly made, right out of the crock pot. :-) so goood!

So, after struggling with solids for 2 weeks, I went in and got .3cc taken out...feel sooo much better!

So, I got very swollen after eating soft food yesterday...went in today and got a .3 unfill...half of the fill I received a couple weeks ago is now taken out. I feel sooo much better. I was slightly too tight.

I was wondering the same thing...I had my first fill during my monthly...and It ended up feeling over tight and swollen for longer than I think it should have...I am fine now that the swelling went down, but I did wonder if my hormones caused my issues with it.

You may need a fill...if you cannot go 4 hours between meals without getting hungry. I eat about a cup of food at a sitting since I have had my first fill. Before that I was eating 1 1/2 cups at a time..but still going 4 hours between meals. Sliders differ depending on the person. Mashed potatoes are not sliders for me either... you should be more satiated on Proteins before going for the potatoes. I have found if I do not get enough Protein, my hunger comes back quicker...so even if I have to eat 4-6oz of chicken...I will do that, and end up not wanting the carbs left on my plate. It sounds like you are doing what you are supposed to, though. How many cc's do you have in your band now?

oatmeal..they have sugar free with added Protein at the store...I add another scoop of protein to it. Mashed sweet potato, mashed regular potato, Soups with really soft vegetables and meats you can practically mush with your mouth (blend it), blend up a can of chili, egg salad, custard, ricotta baked with tomato sauce, re-fried Beans with a bit of cumin and avacado...you can try scrambled eggs...I can't handle them as much, even while on solids. They "Stick" in my throat or something, and just don't seem worth it right now. I can eat over easy eggs just fine. Keep in mind, mushies that work for me may not work for you...slowly try different things. Ask your surgeons office for ideas as well.

Its a little rough in the beginning with the gas pains, swelling...then the fills..which is to be expected, but, like the others, I am also eating protien (steak, chicken, shrimp), vegetables (salad, broccoli, green Beans, etc) and carbs in that order, and in small amounts. I no longer obsess over food, and find it freeing! I do have to watch certain things like scrambled eggs and nuts. So far those have been the two problem foods for me...and anything cold will sometimes cause my band to get really tight and make it hard to eat. I am only 1 1/2 months out, though...so I'm still tender, and just had a fill a couple weeks ago which caused swelling for about a week. But, I'm back to eating solids again. Takes a bit of getting used to chew chew chewing, and taking small bites. It really helps me take control of my portion sizes...and I think that is key. I stay right around 1000 calories and feel satisfied all day without the jitters or headaches. I would have gotten jittery and headaches prior to the band if I had put myself on a diet of 1000! No one out side my family knows, nor can they tell I have the band. I just eat slower and not as much. Cravings are not there..and if they do show up, they are not as intense. I have no pain in the port area now...so I can sleep on my stomach or side..yay! I was worried about that..lol. I have more energy, and do not get as winded after losing 27 pounds since the pre-surgery diet. I have yet to find my "go to" exercise regime...but I am focusing on moving more..taking long walks, etc. Eventually I want to run a marathon..but taking it slow so I don't burn out. I need to start weight lifting this week! This website had been awesome! The support I've found on here had kept me positive through the rough Patches. So far, I have no regrets...and I like knowing it is adjustable and reversible....and no dumping syndrome, that I know of. There are always risks to any surgery...so weigh the pros and cons of each. I researched for quite awhile...the horror stories still scare me if I read them...but I decided to go for it, and I am happy so far! :-) Whatever decision you make..make sure it is the best one for you..as we are all different. Good luck on decision making...we are all here if you need us :-)

After going back to liquids and watered down mushies for a couple days, I can actually eat solids now! I think I just got irritated and swollen...I needed extra days to let it settle in apparently. So I'm okay :-). I'm kinda scared to get another fill after all that, but I don't think I need one, now.

I was allowed to add sugar free pudding flavors to my shakes...really helped with the thickness...which kept me satiated and gave me variety. PB2 helps as well (dry powdered peanut butter). I recommend mixing any flavor with vanilla protien. Experiment adding ice and sugar free syrup from the coffee isle too. 0 calories 0 carbs. :-). Find something you like, because you need to stick with it to shrink that liver. Plus, you will be stuck drinking shakes after surgery too...I was soooo sick of them by the time I was going on mushies. But like them occasionally now.

My first experience of it was when I swelled shut 5 days out from surgery, and was trying to drink a Protein shake. I had to keep spitting slime out as I tried to get the shake sips down..bleh. Its normal to swell early on...just listen to your body. Not everyone will swell that bad...I appear to be sensitive to it.

I keep going back and forth on bad swelling...waiting for this fill to settle in. I was able to eat a little bit of solids today after being so swollen yesterday all I could get down was Clear Liquids and broths.