Jodi_620

I get the hiccups a lot but not continuous, just when I have had enough to eat. It is my indicator that I am full.

I don't think Nyquil has NSAIDS, I thought it had acetaminophen which is not an NSAID

Being this is your first post, I think we need more information. Do you mean tips with the Lap Band? Pre-op? going it alone?....

Yeah, being on the right side it could be gall bladder. Maybe talk to your band surgeon that way he can asses not only whether is it gall bladder but if not also if it could be band related. My lap band surgeon assessed my gallbladder problem and he is the one who removed it for me too.

You should be pleased with yourself...you are doing great! We dropped almost the exact same amount of BMI points in the first six months so your progress seems to be close to what mine was. I thought I would post mine to give you an idea of a possible timeline: 40.2 start31.8 in (6 mos) 24.9-Normal (8 mos) 23.5-Initial goal (almost 1 yr.) 21.6- Current (almost 3 yrs.)

Exercise is a key factor in determining calories. How much and what kind of exercise are you doing?

The Lap Band makers say "use caution when taking NSAIDS as they may cause irritation". They do cause irritation for me so I don't use them.

I agree the swelling should go down and make things a little easier. You don't actually feel the band, your stomach itself has no nerves so it can't feel anything. What you are feeling is probably more in your esophagus. Eating and drinking slowly is now going to the your way of life.But once the swelling goes down it will be a little more comfortable as long as you follow the eating rules.

My post said that it is believed by some that a blind NG could cause a perforation. I don't know any more than what I've heard and wouldn't argue that either way. But my post didn't say that NSAIDS could cause a perforation. The statement "NO NSAIDS" would be a separate alert item(not related to the NG) that some people put on the bracelet. NSAIDS can cause irritation, even the makers of Lap Band have warned of that. I took just some OTC type once and it burned like fire.

It is suggested to get one that at least says "No Blind NG" If in an emergency you need an (naso gastric)NG tube inserted, doing so without a camera and not knowing you have the band could cause perferation of the pouch. Some also add "No NSAIDS" and "No Sugar" I don't have one and it was never suggested by my doc to get one but I suppose it would be a smart idea.

I haven't tried other brands of greek yogurt so I don't have any commparison but I always buy Chobani brand. It is thicker than regular yogurt, which I like, but once the fruit is mixed in well I don't notice a more bitter taste than in any other type of yogurt but maybe it is just my taste. I have had peach, blueberry and honey and think they are all good.

I have never had the numbing and like you I don't see the point in being poked twice. The fill needle does not hurt any worse than a needle used in a blood draw, just that initial poke going in. Now that my stomach fat is gone, my port is at the surface but even when it was deeper the pain without numbing was no worse than it is now. The first fill is scary but it really isn't so bad, if you can handle the pain of a blood draw you can handle this. My doctor recommends I call immediately and get a complete unfill if I get the flu and start throwing up.

Yeah to get an accurate fill you want your pouch to be empty.I am actually told nothing to eat four hours prior and nothing to drink 2 hour prior. Then reintroduce foods slowly starting with liquids to mushies to soft solids...

That sounds like maybe port pain. I wouldn't worry too much, as long as it is not severe pain I would give it a day or so. If it still hurts after a couple days you might want to have the doctor look at it.

Keeping my fingers crossed for ya...let me know what they find with the gastro.

I noticed the same thing. For me it was the pre-op and post-op diet. I am a carb addict and my pre-op diet was all protein and almost no carbs. Clearing the carbs out of my system curbed my appetite. If the foods you once craved were carbs (potatoes, pastas, breads, sweets) you might want to be careful what kinds of carbs you re-introduce back into your diet to avoid jumpstarting those cravings. Choose healthy unprocessed ones.

I was officially "un-diagnosed" within weeks to a month or so after banding. I no longer need metformin and all of my symptoms are gone.

All of those concerns are normal but If you are a meat and potatoes gal then you should be fine. food tolerance does not seem to be a "one size fits all" feature of the band. And as your restriction changes so will your tolerances. And as time goes by, you will learn to read your restriction to determine what you can eat today. I start the day off tight and loosen up as the day goes on. Sometimes I can eat bread with dinner other times I feel tight and don't even try, I would never try bread in the morning and it is "iffy at lunch time. But keep in mind what one person can't tolerate another might. You will find that the foods that aren't easy are no longer as enjoyable most times so you don't even want them. Several veggies are not easy for me, raw chewy stringy veggies are no-no's for me. Celery, Broccoli (stems), brussels sprouts are out. I had my worst stuck episode on watermelon, believe it or not, and though my tolerance changes with my restriction, I just can not bring myself to try it again. I also don't eat much lettuce; not because I can't get it down but because it sits in the pouch so long for me, it tends to get all slimy and bad and I belch up this nasty "old lettuce" taste, yuk!. Much of the other fruits and veggies I can eat but some are a little more uncomfortable than others. I think juice is fine as long as it is a good quality juice. Because fruits and veggies can be rough and I am tight in the morning I have fruit juices or smoothies or yogurt for Breakfast. I choose the healthy stuff without added sugar or preservatives and I don't see what is wrong with that. It is nutritious and it fills me up, 1/2 bottle of Odwalla juice (1 serving) or especially satisfying and tasty is 1/2 bottle (1 serving) Naked juice smoothie, a good breakfast for me. And I feel like with a small serving of veggies or fruit for lunch and a serving of fruit and a serving of veggie for dinner along I am getting enough Vitamins along with all of my Protein which I think is important for good health. I guess your tastes do change. I was never much of a fish eater pre-band but I remember for several months to a year after banding I would have savage cravings for it. I don't know why but I could have eaten it every day. I don't have those cravings as often now but I do enjoy fish more than I did before banding. Of all the meats I crave chicken most now whereas pre-banding my favorite was red meat. I used to be a Pasta addict but I can take it or leave it now.

Reverie nailed the symtoms. I am almost 3 years out and I still worry from time-to-time. As you go forward you will learn that you will feel different from day to day (heck, sometimes it changes from hour to hour). Some days I am tighter and some days I can eat more. I can't eat much in the morning but manage to get more down as the day goes on. Stress and hormones affect my restriction. In the beginning every time I would feel a change in restriction I would worry. Your worry is very normal and all part of the process. You will likely know if you have slipped plus your doctor will probably do fluoro with a fill from time to time to make sure your band is in place. Just try to relax and if you feel a change, try not to panic.

When you said he used the "water method" you mean he had you drink water, right? When you drank water in the office did you feel restriction then lose that sensation shortly after? Or did you not feel restriction at all before he removed the 1CC? When I get a fill, I have to drink a glass of water. I feel the water sort of gurgling down, there is an instant feeling of restriction. If it doesn't go down then I know I am too tight. I agree with the others- though it took three fills for me to even start really appreciating how the band works, I did feel some restriction prior to getting a fill. If you are feeling nothing after three fills then maybe something is not right in the placement of your band. You should discuss this with the doctor.

Is your port in your abdomen or chest?

There will likely be some things you will not be able to eat but I am sure you will be able to find acceptable foods that you can tolerate. There is nothing that I am "not allowed" to eat just things that are hard for me to tolerate a lot of the time and junk food that we all need to avoid. When cooked properly, I can eat chicken, beef, pork, fish, most veggies (my veggies need to be cooked though), most fruits and even bread sometimes. What sort of food do you eat now?

You sure have had a tough time but you are still 60-70 pounds lighter and that is great! Making the band work for you is still not hopeless. You should discuss getting filled more slowly so that you can ease back into using the band. You say you have the emotional part under control and that is key, it is necessary because as you know the band will not help with that nor would bypass work if you don’t have the emotional eating under control I understand how difficult it is to deal with the emotional part. I gave up smoking, soda and food vices all at once and let me tell you, I was a total mess for a while but I can tell you that it does pass. Whether you choose to give the band another try or switch to bypass surgery, I truly wish you all the best.

Sounds like you may be a little too tight. Being tight and only being able to tolerate liquids and mushies the first few days to a week is normal but after that you need to be able to get enough solid food to sustain you . If you cannot do that then you are too tight. A slight unfill might be the answer.