mercedes

I was banded 8/5/05 and haven't been able to fly to TJ for my first fill yet. I still don't even have a flight out! It's just been one thing after another here that prevents me from leaving my family... I lost 10lbs the first 3 weeks. Now I'm slowly gaining it back because I have no restriction. I am on my own, like I never had the procedure done. They are just going to be so disappointed in me when I do go in for my first fill! Right now, I'm only 6lbs down from where I started. Is it possible to stretch out your poutch befor a fill? I hope that hasn't happened. I would think not because It feels like the food just goes on down. I can tell it's there if I eat bread w/ protien and that's the only time I feel it. I have to really slow down and chew well for it to keep on passing through. Now if I had a fill, I'd have to stop because it would be passing through so slowly that I'd get tired of waiting and have to move on to doing other things, right?

Hi, That's about it. I didn't have to do anything except those things. I was low BMI and so I knew that they would not do it for me here in the states. I was afraid that even they (Mex) may turn me down, so I tried to gain a few lbs, stupid I know, but I was bent on having this done before I spiralled even further down that obesity road! They would have done it w/o the extra 4 lbs I was able to put on! For such a simple procedure, it's ridiculous not to. Boob jobs are just as risky, so why do people get to have that done in the US and not the band??? I do believe that (almost) anyone will get it if they want it. There's nothing wrong with that either. After researching, I was happy to know that Mexico has some of the finest MD's doing the procedure. I just picked the best one I could find. Honestly, I trust Dr. Ortiz and Martinez so much that I really am set on going back for at least my first fill. It's going to be extremely inconvenient for a slew of reasons right now, BUT I know it will be done right. It's more expesive for me to do it that way because of the flight out and the hotel, but I really trust them the most. I will get the rest of the fills done here, but the first one, I want them to do.

anefie53, I feel the same thing. I havent BPd yet (one close call). I havent had my first fill yet either. But if I eat too fast or too much or don't chew enough, it is my port that hurts. Why is that??? This weekend we did a lot of yard work and I must have lifted something too heavy and my port was sore for 2 days. Wierd.

Hi Daniela, So sorry and I do know how you feel. My mother died in 2001 of colon cancer. She was my bestest girlfriend. My comfort came in knowing that she was an absolute precious angel here on earth. She was innocent, humble, kind, and every other good thing and I knew that she'd be in good standing with her Savior. My father died in 97 and so I'm an orphan. Every time I have a dream with her in it, I count that as my time to see her and hear her again. Write down all you remember about her so that your children and grandchildren will be able to know her. It will be a priceless gift that you can give to them and a tribute from you to her. Things will get easier.

The pill ball is one thing that may have something to do with him wanting to remove the band. Did he suggest that maybe this pill ball had hurt the stomach? When you got the band, were you told to crush all pills? I was told crush all pills. Open all capsules and mix them w/ a little pudding or something mushie and take them that way. I was told absolutely no timed release pills because they probably won't go through the restricted band. What kind of pills were piling up? That can't be good for the lining of your stomach. The upper part of your stomach (above the band) can't disolve a pill, it can't in any of us, that's why we have to mash them. So that part isn't just you, it's all of us. You may want to ask him about the condition of your stomach because of those pills being stuck in there for so long. I don't see hoe removing the band would help it heal if the pill ball did some damage to it. ??????????

Hi Glassartist, One thing that might bring some hope. There is a new drug that is going to be released soon and even Weight Watchers is getting prepared for it because they are afraid it will put them under like Phen Phen did. they are going to offer it along with their food program. I don't know much about it, but it's supposed to really work. One other thing is that I think (not sure) that some of the Mexican docs will finance the operation. Maybe you could take out a loan and pay it back over 5 or 10 years. One last possibility, have a fund drive for yourself. There are many ways to do it. Here, we had a trail ride for a charity and everyone who came paid $25.00. It was held at a public park recreation area. I don't know what they have in Canada, but here, you don't have to pay to use the park....everyone who showed up was served a cheap lunch after the ride and they didn't mind giving the 25.00 for the good cause. There may be other clubs that would be willing to help you out??? Or you could have some raffles or do other things to get donated money like sports teams and band clubs do. Maybe a carnival or something like schools do to raise money. There has go to be a way...

Hey Woman, 20 lbs is awsome! I really need a fill. I have no appointment yet because I have to do a 2 week course in Baltimore the 12-24th (or 25th). My family is going to be w/out their mother for almost 2 weeks. I have four boys plus my DH and none of them function real well w/out me. BUT I have to get this fill done in Mexico sometime after that. That will be a 3 day ordeal. It's gonna be hard squeezing this in, but I'd hate to show up and weigh the same as when I was banded! It could happen! They'd be mad or disappointed in me....but that is the story of my life...not living up to expectations...especially with weight : ( I am so glad you are feeling well. Talk to you soon.

Oh, one more thing. Drinking may once again be fine to do w/ meals at goal weight, but I know that drinking pop is strictly prohibited forever. Haven't missed that a bit.

Hi Faux, I know that while I'm trying to lose it would do me wrong, but once I am at my goal weight I could every now and then, right? I guess I really was concerned that somehow it is actually physically bad for my stomach and the band to ever do it again. I think I understand that it isn't going to do anything bad except wash the food through too quickly. If that is the only reason that I shouldn't, then it should be fine to do it now and then when I reach goal weight. If I gain a little then I stop doing it until I'm back in place. This is what I have gathered so far. If I'm wrong correct me somebody : )

I was just there a few weeks ago. You get used to it. I couldn't sleep because of the hunger and so I took Benedryl for the first week. It really helped. I was only getting in 300-350 cals that week and I was HUNGRY....but at the same time felt full. It was the weirdest thing. I would take just a few sips of clear liquid and be full again.

I have been following the rules of Protein first etc. and I am doing fairly well w/ remembering to chew chew chew.... I don't drink w/ meals even though I want to. I have never BP'd or barfed. The rules I'm finding very hard to keep are the portion sizes and calories. Instead of 1/2 c. per meal, I'm eating 1 c. breakfast, usually 85 cal. yogurt (as I do feel very tight then) Then another 1/2 c to 1 c for a mid morning snack. By lunch time I have been eating about 1 1/2 c. of food and same for dinner usually. Not mushie food, real food, like fish, steak, veggies etc. So I'm eating 4 times a day and usually the middle of the day I'm thinking I'm filling my stomach too full....But I don't feel full unless I eat that much. It's lessn than what I could eat or used to eat, but the guilt still gets me bad. I'm obsessive and don't exhibit self control, what can I say??? If I had self control, I'd not have a weight problem. Right?

Will any of those broken rules hurt the band? I obeyed every rule for the first 3 weeks....

I felt I would never need a fill 1 1/2 weeks ago, then boom, I wake up and am hungry and not too restricted! I remember thinking that it would be a miracle to feel this way for a few months....but it wasn't meant to be for me...... I need a fill. So, ride the wave as long as you can! You are lucky : )

I want to know if eating more than the 1/2 cup at a time is going to hurt my band? Because I can't stop at 1/2 cup!!!

Any of you break a few of these rules (eating too fast or a little too much) later in the healing process and still do fine with fills and everything?

I was wondering the same thing (if I was hurting anything by eating too fast). I think I eat way to fast sometimes. I feel as though there is no restriction so I forget. But I try to use this unrestricted time to chew chew chew when I do remember. Can it actually hurt the band if you eat too fast or don't chew enough? Would if you feel no pain from those few mistakes? Is it still hurting you? I alos eat more than 1/2 cup of food...it's more like 1 1/2 to 2. Is that going to hurt me this far out from surgery? I'm hoping the fill will do it's magic and make me feel the way I did the first 3 weeks out of surgery! It was so weird because I was doing so perfectly for 3 weeks, I was uncomfortable enough to not test any of the boundries. Then about 2 days before my 3 week marker (during mushie phase), I woke up and had an appetite and felt absolutly no more gas or tightness or anything. I was totally back to normal..... No more heating pad, no more Tylenol, no more GasX, nothing because I felt great. If only I could have ridden the "feel like crap, don't care to eat" train a few weeks more :/

Mine lasted about 2 1/2 weeks and then "boom" one morning totally gone. Haven't had a bit of real problem since. Try laying on your chest & knees with butt in the air (you can stretch your arms out in fron of you). This position moves the gas so that you can pass it. A heating pad really helped me at night along with some benedryl. It was the only way I could get a good night's rest. I used those things for about 1 1/2 weeks. Hope you feel better. Soon...you will: )

I start regular food tomorrow. I know I eat proteins first, then veggies, then carbs. Should I feel restriction with no fill? I really felt restriction the first couple of weeks post op....probably from the swelling. I loved that feeling!!! I couldn't have over ate even had I wanted to. I feel very little restriction right now but I've been on mushies so maybe that's why?? I feel like I'm totally dieting on my own now. I know I'll find out in the next few days but I wanna know now :huytsao

Well first day!!! I had a 120 cal protein drink for BF at 7:00am, by 10:30 I was really hungry. I got back home at 11:00 and then I ate an egg w/ melted cheese and it was inside this corn meal shell so I ate the egg and cheese first. The whole thing was about 3/4 c. size and I'm guessing it was close to 350 cals even though it was small sized. (It was a B.A. recipe and it was sooo good.) I didn't feel like I'd BP even w/ more solid food, nor am I gassy anymore. I'm still a BP virgin and the goal is to stay that way through the whole process. I have lost 10 lbs since being banded on the 5th but I can tell that I'm really gonna have to be careful w/ my diet until my first fill. I just feel way too good.... and that's kinda bad : ) One more question if anybody knows, I noticed today that melted cheese stays together it seems no matter how much you chew, have any of you had problems BPing with it?

The one thing that I miss soooo much is drinking with meals. I am so thirsty I can hardly ignore it. Then I have to wait 1 1/2 - 2hrs for a drink!!!! I can never remember to drink an hour before my meal because my meal times are not planned. I guess I need to plan EVERYTHING. I am so "NOT" organized and it's gonna be so hard to keep track of time. Maybe once the kids are back in school it'll be easier. Once I lose the weight, can I drink w/ meals again?

I'm 3 weeks post op and I'm going horseback riding tomorrow. I didn't ask anybody (MD) if I could... I'm not really sure what I can and can't do at this point in recovery. I just think I'm well enough to do it. Can anybody think of a good reason why not? We have a dog that has been gone for a week and he licked up some chlorine (sp?) crystals (as a guy who was working on our pool spilled some) and I want to go ride the places where I think he might be. He might have just gone into the woods and died????

You guys aren't going to believe this BUT my husband and I are opening a Maggie Moo's Ice Cream store. Is that CRAZY for me??!!! It opens the first of Oct. I'm thinking it'll be okay because I'm just going to make the ice cream and be the cake decorator. I love the artsy side of it. I won't be scooping ice cream all day long, so I'll be okay.

I will agree with penni on the chewing and small bites. As far as not being hungry and forcing yourself, I'd say that is a bad idea. If you are not hungry, act like a skinny person and don't eat. You'll get hungry soon enough and you aren't going to starve. I'd just get all your fluids in and drink your Protein the next morning. I WISH it were like that for me now! Once it was and I was at my ideal weight for those years. I rarely ate much for dinner and I skipped it all the time and I didn't die and I was in perfect health. If I had force fed myself I would have began to enjoy the feeling of being over fed. I would have gained weight. Eventually I did force myself after I got married because I thought I should eat w/ my husband....bad idea....did gain weight. Of course, ask your MD about it for healths sake.

Hey guys, OH NO, I do not regret getting it....I just long to have a drink with my meals. I never liked pop all that much so giving that one type of drink up doesn't bother me. I will take your advice vinesqueen and drink sooner. I do need to make a schedule of time to eat and time to drink. I just don't have it down yet. Just finishing up my week of mushies and getting ready to move to regular foods....

Hey guys! I went out with my 8yr old and I'm telling you what, the walk out to the barn was harder than the ride. We have a steep hill and I usually drive it but my car tire was flat! We rode to where I figured he (the doggie) might be, and he was! All safe and sound and alive visiting his previous owners! As soon as he saw us he jumped up an followed us home as I knew he would. The ride didn't bother me a bit (I am used to it) and my trusty steeds are mellow and kind. It was only about a mile and a half so it was easy on me. If I'd walked it, it would have been harder on me than riding because of all the hills. Now that my dog is fine, I'll be good and wait my other 2 weeks before I ride or do anything questionable again.