bandedbunny

I am so excited to read of everyone's success, but feel like pouring my story out for some advice. I was banded in June 14 and since have lost about 15lbs. I've struggled since the op and really regret ever having it done. Let me explain... My band is very very finicky. My first full I could only take .5ml as liquids couldn't pass and I actually started bleeding. I have now had about 6 tiny fills, and had about 3 Unfills due to my band being so bloody awkward. It swells sometimes for no reason at all. I had ice Water once...it closed up and I couldn't swallow my own spit I know the band is meant to help you feel full, but I've never had that. I never feel satisfied. Either I can keep eating easily, or I'm choking to death as something's gotten stuck. I'm beginning to think that people lose weight by there simply being a blockade to their stomach. I just have never had a satisfied feeling. I try to eat textured foods...though nothing before about 3pm...everything gets stuck before then. I'm so close to just giving up and doing some other diet and just ignore that the band is even there. I feel so demotivated and clueless as to why it doesn't work for me. Anyone have any ideas?

My surgeon is a total jerk. 4 weeks ago I had to have Fluid removed because some lettuce and chicken got stuck and all he did was tell me off. He took out a full ml...bear in mind I've only got 4ml....and told me not to eat anything but chicken salads. I wouldn't really consider another surgery...this cost me plenty and was only 7 mths ago

Good to know! Thanks so much!

Hiya guys! I am really annoyed at the moment. I'm on my 4th week postop and really struggling with soft foods. A few days ago I tried some really we'll cooked stewed beef. It was very tender and stringy. I had one bite and got that awful stuck feeling, so I stopped, and called my doc office for advice. The nurse said no more beef and to go on liquids again for 2 days as I was probably swollen. So, for 2 days I did exactly as told. Today, I'm back on soft food and tried a small amount of egg salad (2 tiny bites)... And again stuck terribly....it took about 2 hours to pass and 4 papaya enzyme tablets. I'm feeling really clueless about what I'm doing wrong. It seems that I will never be able to have normal foods again as everything sticks and I haven't even had my first fill yet! Am I still swollen in the stoma? Is something irritating it? I crush to powder all my tablets and do my best to chew chew chew. Please say it gets better

I certainly wasn't waiting a minute between bites. My surgeon said 20 seconds. Hmmm maybe that's the problem?! thanks for the advice! I just wonder how I will ever be able to eat normal foods again... After that one episode, it is even taking a while for water to go down! Does the stoma swell up badly if something ever gets stuck?

Hiya all! Thanks so much for everyone responding to my last post on gas pain! It really helped and thank goodness...I'm 12 days post-op and that pain is gone. Now I have a new concern....I'm hungry all the time...not losing weight, eating only Soup and Water, and no longer feel like I've even had surgery at all. There's no restriction, I'm starved, but even though my max calories are 900 a day, there's just no scale movement. It's miserable and I wonder if people really lose a lot of weight in these first weeks before the first fill? I already feel a bit of a failure as I had wanted to feel a bit more satiated. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks guys xx

Thanks so much... I think I'll have to take it slower then!

Yes, you're all right. I guess I just wanted to see faster losses than what I've had. I shall be patient and keep going strong! Tonight I had my first "soft foods" and also my first terrible stuck moment. It was like a terrible pain in my chest like someone using sandpaper on the inside. I didn't drink Water, just waited for it to pass....is that normal to feel like that? Is that the "full" feeling I will feel with restriction, or is that a bad feeling because I ate too fast? Anyone know?? Xx

Momma2vincent hope you get well soon! I was banded a week ago today. At first I had soreness and those awful gas shoulder pains, but now it's gone and I'm feeling much more normal now! Wishing you luck on your liquids! X

Hi all! I was just banded yesterday and I am in so much pain! The gas pain in my left shoulder and all across my abdomen are really worse than I imagined they would be. The hospital sent me home with children's paracetamol Really excited about the band but having a hard time staying focused and positive with all the pain with every movement. Fingers crossed it will go soon. I haven't had much appetite, though, is it normal at this stage? Thanks everyone x

Thanks everyone for your responses! I'm feeling a bit better today, but still sore and still with intermittent shoulder pain. Last night I had the strangest thing happen though. Before I went up to bed I had a tiny codeine tablet (about the size of a third of a tic tac) and 4 spoons of the children's paracetamol. By the time I was halfway upstairs my mouth was literally pouring out saliva and I suddenly felt nauseous. I have never felt like that before. It eventually calmed down after about 5 minutes. So strange! Lol terry...fart and be proud! That made me giggle!!