Kalia Jade

I was banded on January 17, 2008 and did exceptionaly well for about 1.5 years. Then I had a major mental breakdown (bipolar disorder) which required higher doses of some medication that has the awful side effect of weight gain and insatiable cravings. I tried to control it, but the weight began piling back on. After I became stable, my RX doctor tried to cut down the dosage to help with these side-effects...I went manic AGAIN. It looks like I will be on this medication for the rest of my life. Here we are another year or so later and I have gained ALL of my weight back, plus some. A few months ago I decided to get a complete un-fil because the medicine was causing INTENSE cravings that caused me to get stuck all of the time. Needless to say, as soon as I got an unfil the weight came on even faster. I have never weighed this much in my life! Actually before I was diagnosed as bipolar, I had a normal body weight. After starting medications I gained over 100lbs in a year (This was when I was about 16 years old, I'm 27 now.) I really need someone to help motivate me to get filled again, and to try and fight these horrible cravings! I was only 20 pounds away from my goal weight and I feel that with more motivation I can get back there. If anybody out there is listening, I would really appreciate some help working through this. Thank you all for listening

I would definitely discuss this with your doctor. It sounds like you need a fill. It takes most people a while to find their "sweet spot." Once you find it, you will not be able to eat large portions and there are some foods that will get stuck no matter how much you chew them. Stay in touch with your doctor and DON'T feel like a failure...the band will work, you're just not at your sweet spot yet.

The band sits at the top of your stomach (right in the middle of your chest.) You will know exactly where it is the second something gets stuck. It's not extremely painful but it is VERY uncomfortable, it's an intense pressure that makes it hard to catch your breath. The "slime" is a very thick saliva that your body produces to try and force the food through, which in effect causes more and more pressure to build up. If you try to drink something to make it go down, you will end up with even MORE pressure. As soon as I realize that I am stuck, I try to wait it out for a few seconds to see if it will pass on its own. If it doesn't, I head to the bathroom and force it up. The "slime" always comes up first which looks like a ball of snot in the toilet. After I get all the slime up and force up the stuck food. You will know when it is clear because the pressure goes away. I have never been stuck for longer than a few minutes. The "throw up" tastes exactly like the food you ate, it has not had time to mix with stomach acid so it doesn't have that sour taste.

I'm sorry that you are going through that. My boyfriend didn't want me to have the surgery either because he was scared of it and I was a self-pay so losing a good chunk of money didn't help the situation. The scars will fade, I have to look hard to see mine now. My boyfriend is very excited for me now. After losing the weight he saw how my self-confidence went up and just how much better I felt. I think talking to a therapist is a good idea...I would even try couples counseling. He is probably just frightened, that you won't be the same person or that you will want to dump him for someone else after you lose the weight...NOT because he is angry or disgusted with you. I guarantee you that the scars will fade, you won't even notice them after everything is healed. Good luck to you and your fiance!

You should be fine, I would inform your doctor that you are ill but only so he knows prior to surgery that you had an infection. As far as the diet, don't try to force anything down. Your body is sick and if Gatorade, chicken noodle soup and crackers is all that will stay down...eat them. The stomach bug should go away within a few days and you can return to the pre-op diet. Don't beat yourself up because you didn't stick to it...if we could stick to diets perfectly, then we wouldn't need to have a lap band!

I smoked a cigarette as I was walking towards the door for surgery & I lit up the second I got in the car to go home. I have never heard of cigarettes causing ulcers or effecting the band in any way. However, when the weight came off and I started to feel better I decided that it was time for me to quit smoking. I got on Chantix and quit within 3 months. I have now been smoke free for 1.5 years and it is a very liberating feeling. My Doctor asked me if I would be able to quit smoking before surgery and I told him that I thought it was best for me to deal with one issue at a time (weight loss being the first issue.) Good luck to you!!!

Congratulations on almost being banded! I am going to share my personal experiences with the questions you have posed: How big of a piece of food can get stuck in the belt. I know we aren't supposed to eat rice but could something the size of a grain of rice get stuck? different foods might get stuck for one person and not another. Generally a grain of rice will not get stuck, however if you eat too much at one time it will more than likely become a "gummy" consistency and get stuck. Other foods that are likey to get stuck no matter how much you chew them are, fruits like oranges and pineapple that have a stringy texture, fiberous vegetables like broccoli or celery, and soft breads. <LI>If something gets stuck do I have to go to the Dr. right away or wait and see what happens? If something gets stuck, you will know it right away! It becomes kind of hard to breathe and you will "slime" which is the action your body takes to try and help move the food down. What this slime ends up doing is sitting on top of the stuck food and causing an intense pressure, not painful...but not pleasant! Do NOT try to drink anything to help it down, it will add even more pressure. If something stays stuck for a long period of time, definitely call your doctor! <LI>What can I do to help myself if something is stuck? What should I NOT do?Personally, I go to the bathroom and bend over the toilet and try to force the stuck food up. Usually I just try to make a hard burp type motion and it will come up on its own. The first time you get stuck, you will know exactly what I mean by that. When someone with the band "throws up" the food has not mixed with the stomach acid yet so it pretty much tastes the same coming up as it did going down. After you burp it up...you will feel MUCH better! <LI>When I sip Water how long do I have to wait in between sips? How much liquid qualifies as a sip? If I take too big of a sip what will happen? You don't have to wait very long, maybe a few seconds. A sip is just a regular drinking sip, nothing too small. If you take too big of a sip you will know it immediately. It will cause a pressure in the middle of your chest (where the band actually sits.) Usually it will go down by itself, but if you are GULPING a drink...it will more than likely come up on it's own. It won't take you very long to figure out what a sip is to you. Remember: after every fill you have, the size of your bite of food or sip of drink can change drastically... so be very careful after fills. Something that you could eat just fine before your fill, you might not be able to eat afterwards. It won't take you very long to find out what your new "normal" will be. <LI>I have been practicing chewing and my jaw is so sore. Will that stop eventually? This is COMPLETELY normal! You are working your jaw harder than it is used to, just like any other muscle...it will become stronger and won't be sore when you are eating. You can practice this until you are blue in the face, but you won't be able to judge each bite and sip until you actually have the band. I would say...enjoy being able to eat "normally" because as soon as you get your band, it will change! <LI>What causes an erosion at the band area? Is there anything that I can do to avoid that? Speak with your doctor on this issue, the things that I know that can cause band erosion are: Non steroidal anti-inflamatory medications such as Advil, asprin and aleeve (there are more on the list, your doctor should provide you with this.) The only OTC pain killer you can take is Tylenol because it is much easier on the stomach. Sodas will not cause band slippage. <LI>If I bump my port on something will it hurt?A few weeks after the surgery you will be very aware of the port, but after it heals and you get used to it-it shouldn't hurt. The only thing that is slightly uncomfortable for me, is when my dog walks on me and puts her paw right on the port. It doesn't hurt...it just feels weird. You will be able to do day to day activities without any problems. <LI>What are some ideas for bevarages to get my water intake but still have flavor? Crystal light, flavored water and those flavor packets that you can add to your water bottle are all great alternatives to plain water. I cannot stand the taste of water by itself, luckily there are TONS of flavors out there to choose from. <LI>What are some good tasting Protein drinks or recipies for them? Thanks so much you guys! I only use Protein shakes when I'm in the thick liquid stage after surgery or fills. I like Carnation instant Breakfast packets mixed with milk and keep a whey Protein powder on hand that you can add to virtually anything to get more protein. I add a scoop to the instant breakfast drink (I mix it with the powder before adding milk to prevent the protein powder from getting chunky when I mix it.) You won't want to use Protein Drinks when you are in the solid food stage because it will only add tons of extra calories...you will want to eat your nutrients rather than drink them. I hope this helps some. Like I said, this is my personal experience...if you have any medical questions definitely speak with your doctor. Good luck!!!!

I have been banded for 1 1/2 years. (wow, it doesn't feel like it has been that long.) Now that I'm at my sweet spot, it doesn't take much to feel the restriction. I pretty much feel it while the needle is still in. After the swelling goes down it loosens up, but I usually have to stay on liquids for close to a week after a fill before going to mushies. Honestly I don't feel deprived of "real food" because I'm really not hungry. Sometimes I have to do a mental checklist, "have I eaten today???"

I was banded about 8 months ago and haven't had any illnesses until now. I usually get sinus infections every year, but this is the first one I have had since the surgery. My sinus infection has lasted well over 2 weeks even though I have taken antibiotics since day 3 of being sick. Before I was banded I was only sick for about 3-5 days. I was wondering if the band is somehow hindering my body's healing process, or if anyone else has experienced the same thing. Any ideas????

I love pickles too! I am able to eat them without any problems. I usually don't eat the outter skin for fear of getting it stuck. I learned pretty quickly what I could swallow and what I couldn't. Things that don't break down easily are more likely to get stuck. By break down I mean get mushy after chewing....like pineapple, apple skin, etc. If I really want some pineapple I will usually chew it until all of the flavor is gone and then spit out whatever I can't swallow (sounds weird, I know.) At least that way I don't feel deprived of certain foods.

I'm with Kalipso, my surgeon is about 3 hours away. I have 18 months of free fills so I will keep making the drive. But after the 18 months is up, I will probably find someone closer to home for fills. I would choose the surgeon that you feel most comfortable with.

Back when I was on mushies, my doc said that ground beef was a great source of protein while in this stage. I ate ground beef quite alot while on mushies and never had a problem. I would think you would be able to have a breadless hamburger with cheese (extra calories but also a good source of protein while on mushies) maybe mustard, ketchup and some lettuce (this is also considered a mushy food.) I hope you enjoy your labor day, and just remember to chew everything very well!

Wow...I just realized this thread is almost a year old! Well maybe someone will be able to find my post useful. *Oooops*

They should take some before pictures of you, if they haven't already. Trust me you will want to have those on hand. I lost almost 40 pounds and still didn't see it myself even though everyone else could. But once I actually looked at my before picture at the drs office, I couldn't believe I was actually THAT big! It was an eye opening experience. Good luck tomorrow, you will do fine. I think having this surgery was the best 17 grand I could have ever spent. I wish you the best on your lapband journey! BTW you will probably be anxious no matter how much you try and relax. It is completely normal! I would suggest trying to fill your time, go out to a movie, take a bath, read some magazines. Anything to keep your mind off of it because the excitement can drive you crazy! lol

Sliming usually comes along with a PB, but you can slime without ever Pbing. It usualy happens when you don't chew something well enough and it momentarily gets stuck. It is basically when your mouth starts watering so much that you can't swallow it all. For me it usually goes away within 5 minutes. The first time you do it, you will know exactly what it is. lol.

I didn't PB until 6 months after surgery. Luckily it's not quite as bad as throwing up IMHO. It's the stuck feeling that sucks!!! Once you actually PB whatever is stuck you feel much better. It really is like a burp that produces a very small amount of food that is slimy. But there is no stomach acid mixed in so you don't get the horrible after taste. I think I have PBd maybe 5 times since surgery...it's not something you want to do often (band slippage) but it's not the worst feeling in the world. If you follow the rules closely, you should be ok. Good luck!

Unfortunately I haven't noticed any signs until after I've eaten too much. Then I just feel like crap. I get really bad shoulder pains (always the left shoulder.) It hurts to breathe deeply when that happens. Luckily I've only over eaten a few times....I need to look harder for signs BEFORE it starts hurting. I just haven't figured it out yet.

Have more energy to enjoy life Become a competitive swimmer again Enjoy shopping because everything that I try on fits Buy sexy lingere and have it look how it's supposed to And many more.....

I was actually thinking of doing some bike riding as soon as the weather gets warmer. Maybe ride around the neighborhood on the days that I don't swim. Sounds like a good idea to me! Your arms had to of been sore after a 500 with paddles....I wish I still had my old paddles b/c I haven't used any in a long time. I think I might invest in some new equipment, I always just use the kickboards & pull bouys that the athletic club has. It would be nice to use my own. Do you order your equipment online? If so, which website do you use? The only one I really know of is swim2000.com

Wow 2 miles...that's a pretty long walk! I never have enjoyed walking or jogging, the minute I start getting hot and sweaty I'm done. I guess that's why I became a swimmer! I wish I could find something else that I really enjoy doing besides swimming. The gym I go to is full of Barbie and Ken dolls (Full makeup, overly tan, and extremely tight clothes), so I really don't want to try yoga or pilates I would be kinda embarrased. Funny how I don't have a problem getting in a swimsuit around them though. I guess it feels good to know that even though I'm overweight I can still swim faster than most of them. Weird, huh??? Maybe I'll try something new when I lose this next 30 pounds.

My first fill was a nightmare!!! My vagus nerve was overstimulated by the adding saline / drinking Water cycle and I almost passed out twice, then I threw up about 8 times. My doctor said he never had a patient get sick during a fill...I was the first. I had my 2nd fill today and it went okay...I felt like I was going to pass out once, but after I laid down for about 5 minutes I was fine. 1st fill - 1cc 2nd fill - 3 cc

Thank you for the website, I might have to make some changes to my current workout. I saw some drills on there that I had forgotten about like the breastroke one pull; two kicks. I'm also going to steal a set from your workout (the 8 x 25's sprint.) Have fun with your Sunday workout...I don't think I could swim a straight 2000, I would end up getting bored and quitting lol.

M,W, & F- swim 1,800 - 2,000 yds (just over 1 mile) T & TH - walk 30 min. maybe do some Water aerobics....I love the pool :smile:

I take about 6 pills a day and some are pretty large. I was worried about this pre-band, I wasn't sure how it would work....but it has been fine so far. I used to take all 6 pills at one time with one gulp of water, now I take each one individually and make sure it goes down before starting the next. I remember hearing that we're not supposed to take time-released medicines (I don't remember the reason.)

I LOVE swimming!!! I was a competitive swimmer for about 10 years, swimming about 6 hours a day / 6 days a week. It was my passion...then I quit after high school and gained about 140 pounds. I started swimming about 2 years ago off and on and taught swim lessons over two summers. But after being banded, I must say that I am enjoying it much more than I have in a looooonnnggg time! I feel dedicated and I'm sad when my workout is over. Currently I'm doing 1 mile in about 40 minutes with lots of IM's!!! Post your current or favorite workout...here's mine. (in yds.) 200 swim / 200 kick / 200 pull - warmup 8 x 75's - 25 kick, 50 swim - IM order and repeat 4 x 100's IM with fins 200 cool down Total: 1800 yds