singingkim

Don't get too down about the dilation-it happened to me too! I had a complete unfull one week ago to let my esophagus and pouch heal. I had eaten popcorn (MOJOR bandster no-no) and paid for it by getting stuck for 2 days. I feel great now and am not going get the same fill level I had before, it was just too tight. I actually do still feel some restriction even with no fill. You'll be fine!!

I can't stand that powder stuff...I found something much better! It's a chewable tablet called Fiber Choice and it comes in a yummy orange flavor. Eat 2 tablets a day for 8g of pure cellulose fiber. I reccommend starting with one a day as they can cause a lot of gas in the beginning. Really helps keep me regular!!

yes I was pretty snug in there:) I was actually considering a small unfill as the reflux was getting to be more of a nuisance anyway. I ate the popcorn on Saturday and was miserable by Monday afternoon. My fill was removed Tuesday and I am already feeling 100% better. The spasms in my esophagus have stopped and I am going back on solids slowly. Who knows, maybe after 2 years of eating "properly" I have trained my brain enough and won't need a re-fill!!

I agree with above poster! My mom was on Lantus for 3 years and gained 20 or so pounds. Her doc recently switched her over to Levemir (works the same way) and she has been able to lose 12 pounds! She's not even banded. I never knew the brand of insulin could make such a difference.

Yes, I have gotten food stuck and had to have my band completely unfilled. It just happened this week! I have had my band 2 1/2 years with very few sliming/PB episodes and now this. I ate popcorn at the movies on Saturday and by Monday I was in so much pain I was convinced my band had actually slipped. I went in and under flouro my doc discovered that the popcorn had lodged into the band and was "stuck". He unfilled me completely (I had 2.1cc in a 4cc band) and I am on mushies while my esophagus heals from the severe dilation. It was weird though that I never PB'd or had sliming. It was gradual. Popcorn is now on my "never-eat-again-its-not-worth-it" list. Take it easy, follow band rules and you should be just fine!!!:party:

Yeah, stress is a major factor with me. I actually get a "stress dermatitis" on my hands and it is full blown right now so that is probably related. Turns out I had popcorn stuck in my band and had to have full removal of my fill :party: I am letting my esophagus heal as it was severely dilated again and the stoma was very irritated. Actually ran a fever for the last days as my body was trying to repair things! I am feeling MUCH better now and am on mushies. Doc said I can come back in 2 weeks to get a small fill. Pray that I don't go crazy and gain anything while I am "empty".

I just had all my fill removed and am on mushies for a week while my esophagus heals from severe dilation (thanks to movie popcorn!!). I am 2 1/2 years out from my banding and i can't remember what things to eat!! I am having pudding today with whey protein powder mixed in and I am not a big fan of soups. Any ideas are appreciated!! :thumbdown:

It could be esophageal spasms...I experienced that for about the first 3 months after being banded. The best thing to do is eat ridiculously slow. I found that I could eat 3-4 bites of a meal then wait 15 minutes. Then I could finish. Weird huh? I have had many problems with my esophagus so don't push your luck!!:thumbup:

What size are you now??? I might be buying shoes from you!! I lost a 1/2 size after the first 40 pounds left me. I think my feet are as small as they will get now even when I lose more. I am only 30 pounds from goal. I wear an 8 now.

I LOVE puff corn but I can't find it in my local grocery stores anymore. Any ideas on where to buy it?

Thanks for the ideas! I will check out the thread on foods and recipies. Just ate some real mushy chicken salad and that was really good! I like the idea of FF refried beans and a little cheese though...mmm

Popcorn is my worst enemy now. I ate it for 2 years with no trouble. Then Saturday, went to the movies with my kids and consumed too much. It got stuck and yesterday I had to go have all my fill removed and my esophagus is so swollen it is having spasms and hurts like $&%!! I have a fever, it hurts to swallow anything, and I am on liquids for 1 week. All of this just for one bucket of movie popcorn...NEVER again. My band doc told me that popcorn and coconut are the only 2 thigs he tells his band patients they should never eat. Now I know why!

I had a crush on a guy in college and we were dance partners at all the clubs (swing dance and country dancing). He once told me I was the "perfect woman" if only I weren't so fat. Nevermind I am smart, funny, a great dancer...he just couldn't get over my extra pounds! Well, I wish he could see me now!!!

Byetta is only indicated for people with Type 2 diabetes. If you are not diabetic or even pre-diabetic, you should not take the risk. People only lose 10-20 pounds on average on Byetta and it is not permanent. You could suffer from low blood sugars if you are not running high now. Sounds like this doc isn't familiar with Lap-band and needs some more education on the subject! I work for a diabetes pharmaceutical company and I have seen hundreds of people on Byetta. It works well for most but it is not permanent and the first few weeks contain a lot of nausea and GI side effects. Ultimately, it's your choice, not the docs!!

Well, thanks to my greed for yummy movie theater popcorn, I now have a new found respect for the "bandster rules". They told me there were 2 foods that a bandster should never eat: coconut and popcorn. Well, I hate coconut so that was never as issue but I LOVE popcorn. I have had my band for 2 1/2 years and eaten popcorn plenty of times with no problem. Well, my love affiar with popcorn is now over, finished, kaput! I just got home from having all my fill removed due to a large pocket of "stuck" popcorn in my pouch. It was so bad that even after he removed the fill, the popcorn just sat there. My esophagus is so stretched and swollen that it hurts to swallow. So now it's liquids for a week!:thumbup: So, for all of you popcorn lovers out there, take heed! It is NOT worth what I have been through the last 2 days. As God is my witness, I will never eat popcorn again!!!!!!!!

Why not? I am thinking about going to him for fills...is there a specific reason you don't recommend him??

I am really distressed here. It hurts when I swallow. Not like a sore throat, but like a dull pain as if something is stopping me from swallowing. liquids go down fine, it just really hurts. I called my doc earlier today and he said if i still hurt by the morning to come in. I am really scared!! Could my band have slipped or something??? :wink2: BTW - no recent fill, PB episode or sliming. I have had my band for 2 1/2 years with nothing like this

Well, I am trying to get re-motivated. Haven't lost a damn thing in 8 months. 2 years out is harder to handle!

That's the weird thing, no recent fill, PB or slime episodes. I was fine yesterday! I called my doc and they said to give it today and call them tomorrow. If it's not better, they want me to come in. Thanks for your post!

I woke up this morning with pain in between my shoulder blades and now it is a dull pain every time I swallow. It feels like I have a lump in my throat. Not like a sore throat when you 're sick. I can drink liquids but am afraid to try food. It really is bothersome and I am nervous something has happened to my band. Anything sound familiar to you???:biggrin:

Why did you not like Dr. McKernan?? I have a consult planned with him to start doing my fills. Should I be concerned??

Yes, I have had an esophageal dilation about 10 months ago. I didn't have symptoms but went in for a fill because I wasn't losing. Doc put me on liquids for 10 days and I recovered just fine. Now, I am having pain in my throat just above my chest. It feels like a "lump in your throat". Not a sore throat like when you are sick, but a dull pain and it's hard to swallow. I can drink liquids though but haven't eaten. Any advice??