AngieO

I had surgery on Friday and was back at work on Tuesday. I'm a 3rd grade teacher and I did ok. If your work is flexible, plan on going back on Tuesday and just see how you feel. Don't push it if it's not necessary. I had originally planned on going back on Monday, but changed my mind Monday morning. I knew I needed one more day of rest. Everyone is different so listen to your body.

I haven't heard much discussion about this, but it's a real problem for me. Does anyone ever feel like the food is stuck in their throat? It feels like I have air keeping the food from even getting down to my band. I rarely have trouble with the golfball feeling around my band because some foods never get that far. I don't produce and spit up a lot of saliva like I do with a PB, but I do have to go "throw up" the food. I ate a handful of goldfish crackers earlier today and they got stuck and had to come up. There have been mornings when the same thing happens with one drink of milk. Can anyone help me with this?

Glad your tooth is better!! That's a miserable feeling. The link worked this time. That's very interesting. I'll try that next time. I went for a fill yesterday and they increased me from 1.7 to 2.2. I knew I wasn't feeling much restriction. I think my "stuck" feeling is literally too much air. I'll see how it goes.

Hi Vickie First of all....what are you doing e-mailing at 12:20 in the morning???? Get some sleep! I clicked on your link but it just took me to an earlier posting in this thread. Would you mind trying that again? Thank You!

Thanks Vickie, I haven't tried holding my breath.

I wonder if it is restriction? I explained it to the fill doctor and she said that she didn't think it was but she's not banded so can't really understand what I'm describing. I'm planning to go in on Monday for my 3rd fill because when I do eat, I don't fill up very fast and I get hungry between meals. Maybe it's just my choice of foods and maybe I'm trying to eat too fast. I know I'm supposed to eat slow, but sometimes "slow" doesn't fit my schedule and I forget. If it is restriction, I'm going to be miserable after the fill. I think I better give this some more thought.

I feel like I'm in the same boat. I was filled (2nd fill) on 3/29 with 1.7cc. According to the screen when I drank that lovely drink, I have great restriction. I even felt pretty restricted for about a week. There are a few things that I can't eat (mostly bread stuff). However, I'm always hungry. I try to eat protein first. I know I'm not exercising enough. I expected to lose weight by not eating at first and then to need to exercise to keep losing weight. I was banded on 2/4 and I haven't lost even 10 pounds. That can't be right. I scheduled a fill for 5/1 at 12:00. I hope that helps.:faint:

Graceysnema, I think you and I had our first fill from Dr. Spivak on the same day. I remember a lady from Livingston who had lost 7 pounds. I think it was March 9th. I went before you and told you it was painless. Does that ring a bell with you? To the question about Dr. Spivak's fills..... Since Dr. Spivak fills with the fluoroscope (sp?), he fills you as much as possible. My first fill was 3/9 and I got 1.7cc. He put in 2cc and I was completely blocked (it showed on the screen). Then he removed .3cc so the liquid would trickle through. Since it looked good, he left me at 1.7cc. I felt a little restriction the first few days, but after that I was starving again. At 3 weeks I went back for my 2nd fill. His assistant first removed my previous saline and I only had .7cc left in my band. She said that happens sometimes between the first and second fills. It's like it just absorbs into the band. She did the same thing Dr. Spivak had done and put in 2cc. I was blocked again, so she removed .3cc. It looked good so she left me at 1.7cc. I really can tell a difference now. I'm not starving all the time. However, now I'm really having to learn how to eat. Eat slow and chew!! I can't eat in the mornings, which had never been a problem before. This is a daily learning experience. I had only lost 1 pound from my surgery until my 2nd fill. Now I've lost about 5 more pounds in 5 days. I hope I've helped you a little. Good Luck

I have my 2nd fill today at 12:00. Any suggestions on what I should eat or drink today before my fill? My first fill was pretty early in the morning and I didn't eat or drink anything. I don't think I can do that until 12:00 today.

I've finally found the perfect spot for me. I was banded 2/4 and have only lost 4 pounds. I had my first fill on 3/9 (1.7) and I thought I was going to start dropping weight. Of course I haven't and I'm still hungry between meals. I need to be part of the slow losers club.

You should be offended by that. Listen to your little voice that is questioning this relationship. If your best friend was in your shoes, what would you tell her to do?

I don't know how you stayed on liquids for 6 weeks without feeling any restriction. You must have been starving. I had a hard time on mushy foods. I'm hoping that my doctor will understand how frustrated I am and add atleast 2 ccs like I see you had on your first fill. I know I need to make healthier food choices. I hope that gets easier with a little restriction.

This is the first thread I've read that I can really relate to. I was banded on 2/4/06 and I haven't lost any weight. I go for my first fill on 3/9/06 and I'm hoping to finally feel some restriction. I feel like I've already failed with the band because it seems like most people start losing immediately. I'm embarrassed to go see the doctor. I can just imagine what he'll think!!

I used Dr. Spivak on Feb. 3rd and I've never felt restricted. I haven't lost any weight yet and I'm starting to get a little worried. I didn't think I'd have to "diet" once I had the band. I thought I'd fill full right away and not want to eat. I can eat normally right now. My first fill is scheduled for March 9th. I'm wondering if he'll fill me a little more if I tell him that I've felt nothing so far or if there's a "standard" amount for a first fill?

Ok...I just searched "toilet tongs"! That's pretty creative! I had to know what they were.

Do I dare ask about "toilet tongs"? I've never heard of them. I'm hoping to add walking this week.

You do get around!!lol I appreciate your other note. It makes me feel better. I keep getting on the scale and it never seems to move. I've thought about going back on liquids, but I'll have to eat real food sometime. I'm 9 days out and I've been back to work since the 5th day. By the end of the work day (I'm a 3rd grade teacher) and taking my kids to basketball, baseball, softball etc.., I'm too sore to exercise. About how much longer do most people feel the soreness after the surgery?

I was just reading on another strand (amount per meal) and someone was saying that according to her doctor, she is physically able to eat regularly before her first fill.

It does feel like the mushies are all high calorie. I did read that I'm able to eat things now (during the healing phase) that I won't be eating much of once I'm on solids. I'm looking forward to a fill so I'll feel like I'm getting my money's worth out of the band. I know I'm impatient!!

I'm not gaining YET, but after eating low carbs for a couple of weeks and then being on liquids, it's hard to imagine that I won't gain a little. I've read other posts where someone mentioned gaining a couple of pounds between her surgery and her first fill. I don't really know how the band is supposed to help you lose weight before your first fill when you're just as hungry as you were before. I hate to use the word "diet", but it feels like I really need to be dieting right now if I want to lose any weight.

I'm 9 days post-op and I'm wondering the exact same thing. I'm already on mushy food and I'm not losing anything anymore. I've been told that I shouldn't worry about losing weight, just healing, until my first fill, but I'm a little discouraged at how hungry I am and how much I can still eat. I'm anxious to hear what others have to say.

I was banded Friday 2/3 by Dr. Spivak in Houston. I don't know why, but I didn't expect to be so sore. I've never had abdominal surgery before so I guess I just didn't know what to expect. How long does this usually last? I'm back at work today, but it's still not easy getting up and down. I'm a teacher so I have to move some, but I'm trying to sit as much as possible. Also, when should I expect to start losing weight? Thanks, AngieO

Randy, you make me feel more normal. I'm already feeling hungry and I guess I'm a little surprised by that. I'm staying with the liquids and mushy food, but I feel like I could eat a lot more.

I'm sure your hernia repair is adding to your soreness. It sounds like your work can't live without you. They'll really appreciate you when you return! Keep resting......it seems to get a little better every day.

Heather & Sue Thank you for your response. I was starting to feel abnormal by still being so sore. I felt like a wimp just taking yesterday off of work. I'm sure I won't start walking for exercise until I get over the soreness. It's hard enough right now just doing day-to-day activities. I hope I lose weight before my first fill so I'll know this is all worth it. Thank you for helping me feel normal!!