dmu

Thanks for the post. How do you feel when you're full? I don't know if I know the feeling. I know how I feel when it seems like something is about to get stuck. Is this the full feeling? I certainly don't feel fullness the same way I did pre-band and don't expect to. But now, I don't know if I know how fullness is supposed to feel. I just try to stop eating before I start hurting.

About a month ago I ate something mid-morning and got the stuck feeling but didn’t vomit. When I tried to eat lunch that day, I couldn’t keep anything down. I kept vomiting what appeared to be thick saliva. This went on for the remainder of the day and got to the point where I couldn’t keep liquids down. It was like the liquid would hit the thick crap in my esophagus and bounce right back up. It wasn't long before I gave up on eating/drinking for that day, took some gas-x strips, went to bed and hoped to wake up to a better day…which I did. This past weekend I swallowed a bit of food and immediately wanted it back. Apparantly I didn’t chew it well enough b/c I got the stuck feeling. Then my saliva maker went into overdrive so I headed outside. I barely got outside before I threw up what appeared to be the thickest saliva ever made by man. It was thick and slimy! Since it was 100 degrees outside, I drank some Water. The water didn’t pass and I felt like I was choking. So I stuck my finger down my throat. When I did so, it was like breaking a vacuum seal because I burped and then the water came spewing out. Given the weather conditions, I couldn’t go an entire day without eating or drinking like I did the first time this happened so I tried to think of what I could do. Since water wasn’t going down I thought soda might be an option. I felt that the soda might be able to act as a human friendly drain-o to clear this crap that was keeping me from eating/drinking. I didn’t have any scientific evidence to back this up but it was all I could come up with. So I got a diet coke (my first since being banded). The first sip came back up. However, every sip after that went down easier and easier. After the 30+ minutes it took me to drink the can, I was feeling better. A few hours after that, I was able to hold food down again. So now you have the background (sorry so long). Here are my questions. What in the hell was I vomiting? Why does this happen? How do I keep it from happening? What’s the solution if it happens to happen again….Was the soda a good choice? Has it happened to you. I’d appreciate any experiences/advice that my banded family can provide. This is/was a pretty scary situation for me. Thanks!!

Hello, I'm considering having lap band surgery by Dr. Spiegel. I'd like to know if you've used him and if so, would you recommend him and how would you describe your experience with him.

The best of luck to you. I was banded on May 14th and overall, I think things have been great. There was the soreness and gas that has gotten better each day. I did not have any nausea or diarrhea. I think things will be just fine for you.

I know this is totally off subject, but can someone tell me how to add a ticker. I saw that each person that has posted on this thread has a ticker, so I figured this would be fertile ground for my question. I've gone to the website and created the ticker, but I'm unable to figure out how to add it to my profile. When I cut 'n paste the URL into my LBT signature, I get a message that says Invalid File. Has anyone experienced this?

I was also banded on the 14th. Thankfully a lot of the gas is starting to leave but now the gas is being replaced by feelings of hunger. Thankfully, I'm able to start soups pretty soon and I can't wait. I wish us all well.

May God shower you and your family with His mercy, grace, and peace during this trying time and everafter.

I had surgery on the 14th. I got to the hospital at 5:30am. I was in the operating room by 7:15am. Then I don't remember anything else until I woke up around 8:30am, post surgery. After surgery, I definitely felt like something had happened. When I was brought to my room and told that I would need to walk to the bed, I thought that the nurse had gone nutzo. There was no way I felt like I could walk, but I managed. I had a horrible case of cotton mouth and was told that I couldn't have anything to drink until I'd been to radiology. Finally, the nurse brought me some ice chips and I went to radiology for testing. I was then told that I needed to get up and walk. I'm thinking to myself, "These people are really crazy!" I had been on liquids the day before surgery and had to stop drinking at midnight. Now it was 1p, I've had surgery but nothing to eat or drink. I thought I was going to faint while I was standing up for my radiology test so I knew that walking was out of the question. After finally getting lunch around 2p, I felt up to walking and surprisingly, it didn't feel too bad. I had some gas pain in my chest but a couple of extra strength Gas-X strips helped with that. I found that sleeping on my side worked the best. That way, the gas could have it's choice of either exit with minimal resistance! I also laid a pillow underneath the side that I was laying on and that kept a lot of stress off of my incisions. All in all, things went well. Don't know how much I've lost yet, hopefully it's a ton. Good luck to all of you.

I'm scheduled to be banded 2 weeks from today and it's a roller coaster. One minute I'm excited and the next, I'm wondering if I'm crazy. I'd like to get some feedback from those of you who are on the other side of the procedure. Do you have any regrets? Would you make the same decision again? Thanks for your help!

Hi. Tomorrow is my big day too! I'm excited. But I'm super nervous as well. I start to get the "bubble guts" just thinking about it. I plan to wear a loose fitting t-shirt and loose fitting cotton pants to the hospital. Since my surgery is first thing in the morning, I plan to wear the same thing home when I leave the next day. I also plan to pack the necessities like comb, brush, and toothbrush..along with a pair of house shoes and some books since I'll be staying overnight.

I'm scheduled to be banded in 2 weeks. But I've received my post-op diet and it says: 1 week liquids, then 1 week soups, then 1 week mushies, then soft meats. At week 5 there are no more restrictions.

I'm scheduled for May 14th in Houston with Dr. Spiegel. My pre-op appt is tomorrow. I wish us all good luck, good health, and good looks!

My BMI is approx. 41 and my doctor (Dr. Spiegel-Houston, TX) stated that I would not need a pre-op diet.

I have UHC and the process was surprisingly easy and fast. I was told that since my BMI was over 40, I did not have to show proof of any co-morbidities. My doctor's office submitted the cliam and in about 3 weeks I was told that the procedure was approved and fully covered! I'm scheduled May 14th.

Thanks for the info. That doesn't sound too bad. How was your recovery? How long was it before you were back at work. Congratulations on being 21 lb down. Has all of this weight loss occured after being banded?

I've heard about people being on liquids for weeks as well. What is Dr. Spiegel's post-op diet? I'm scheduled to be banded on May 14th and I'm nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time.

Hello, I called my insurance company yesterday and found out that I've been approved. I'm excited and scared at the same time, but I plan to go forward. I'd like to know what your post procedure diet was like as well as the recovery time you needed. I've got some busy times coming up at work and I'll also be moving in the next month. I'd like to get the procedure as soon as possible, but it doesn't sound like it would be a good idea to do so before we move. Or would it? I'd love to hear about your experience.

Congratulations to you!! Today, I found out that I am approved as well! Unfortunately, the letter hasn't made its' way to my doctor's office so I don't have an appointment yet. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. But I am going forward!

Hi. I'm seriously thinking about pursuing the lap band. I'd like to get some feedback on how you'd describe your recovery. How long did it take? How much time did you take off work? Was your recovery painful? In hindsight, would you make the same decision all over again. Thanks so much for any feedback you can provide.

Thank you all for all of your help. I have my first consultation scheduled for tomorrow morning.

My favorite brand is Jay Robb. The vanilla actually taste somewhat like a milk shake more than a nasty gritty protein shake. I get it from HEB stores in TX but Jay Robb also has a website where you can order the protein.