marihaf

Hi, I am new to the forums (today). I was banded at Christmas. I have lots of questions, but the actual local support group is in Portland (Good Sam) and the meeting time is inconvenient. I was hoping for some folks close to me here. I live north of Vancouver. This is new and very challenging but I am on my way. thx, Mari

thanks to all who posted. Things really haven't gotten a lot better. I got pretty scared on Friday as I couldn't even get water down. I got better that night and then the same problem cropped up again yesterday. I am going to give a call and see about an unfill.

I was banded Dec 21, 07. I have 3cc of fill in a 10cc band. I would say that not 3 days go by without me having to throw up most of my meals. I am really frustrated. I KNOW that I am not getting enough nutrition. the things I can eat are weird. I can handle filet mignon, but can't handle ground meat or much else in that department. I can handle cruncy failry easily. I can even eat popcorn. I still can't eat bread at all. I can handle some veggies. This morning, I tried to eat some chicken and after 3 bites, I had to stop because I could tell that I was stuck. Also it takes me so long to eat that I get frustrated and just stop eating my meal. I do not feel badly at all, but know that this isn't right. My followup care hasn't been ideal from the physician standpoint and sort of get platitudes from them. When I told him about the problems last month, he just stated that he was surprised that I was having issues but really didn't really offer any suggestions. Any help would be appreciated. I love having the band, but am really frustrated about what I can and cannot eat. I find that I am not eating anything but filet mignon (expensive..and steak doesn't go down as easily), sometimes scrambled eggs. Protein shakes have been my salvation. thanks for any help you can give me. Mari...Washington

I haven't been very active on the forums due to my very busy job schedule, but now I have left my job to stay at home so my free time will be more. I would love to become much more active on the boards and I seriously need some input on these issues that I am having I am almost 7 months post op. (surgery was Dec 21) I still have a ton of trouble eating food...almost all foods. I only have 3cc fill n a 10cc band. Because of lack of being abll to eat, the surgeon has been hesitant to do fills. Things have been so tough that I actually had a swallow test to see if there was blockage or slippage and there is not. I cannot eat bread, ground meat or a lot of other food. It is so frustrating. I have lost a lot of weight because I simply get frustrated and don't eat or quit eating as I know that I cannot keep it down. i spend a lot of time "praying to the porcelein". I can get down non carbonated liquid, fliet mignon(seriously) and really crunchy stuff. That is about it. I can get canned tuna down, but I cannot do ground meat, bread, Pasta, anything with breading (not fried, but baked). chicken seems impossible. Roast is very difficult, but doable. Potatoes are also very difficult regardless of cooking method. I can manage a cookie or ice cream, but that is obviously not the type of food I want to be eating. I feel that I have kept myself healthy by making sure I have a Protein shake every morning. Often I have two of those a day. I rarely have a meal that I don't throw up most of it. It doesn't really seem to matter what type of food I try except for the filet, and even that is difficult at times. It doesn't seem to matter time of day or anything. i guess I just want to know if this is at all close to normal. I was talking to someone the other day who said that her sister had banding and she couldn't eat a lot of food and had to have a hot drink with every meal. I have been told not to drink during a meal at all. i don't feel that I am eating too fast or taking too big of bites (my husband calls them mouse bites...they are very small) My surgeon was not really much help. I discussed this with him at my last visit and he didn't give me any real answer except that he was surprised that I could eat steak and not eat chicken. I don't know whether visiting the dietician at the clinic would be helpful. I would be willing to pay the fee if I thought it would make any difference. I know how to eat, it is the process of eating that is difficult and I doubt the dietician can help with that. I am pretty frustrated at this point. It is a good diet plan as I rarely keep a meal down, but it is setting a dangerous pattern that I don't like. I have more of an appetite than I expected, but since I don't have much fill I figure that is the reason. I have gotten used to very little food and am not truly hungry, but this is not a permanent solution. I have actually considered having the band removed. I don't really want to do that, but I am very frustrated. If anyone has any insight or helpful hints, I am sure willing to listen. Thanks for listening to my frustrations

Hi, my name is Mari and I live outside of Vancouver WA (basically across the Columbia river from Portland, OR. I was banded on Dec 21, 07 and have lost 42 pounds. I have recently had my second fill. I find my eating life a bit challenging but hope to get knowledge and support from those who have travelled this road before me. I am glad I found you. Our local support group meets at a time that is simply inconvenient for me and I don't get to go and I feel that I need some folks around me who understand the whole thing. I am married and work for a doctor. My husband and my boss are truly very supportive of me and it has helped tremendously, but they just don't know the in's and out's of things like this. Thanks for having me!