crazycatlady

I was self-pay & free fills for life!

Getting stuck means the food was either not chewed well enough, was too dry or gummy to fit through the opening or eating too fast will do it too. You won't have this issue for some time though. When you do have enough restriction for this to happen you feel a tightness in your throat or upper chest & you get a slim-like liquid that comes in your mouth that is a response to the stuck food trying to dislodge itself. Most times I try to force it out (force a gag) & NEVER eat or drink on top of it because that only adds to the problem. Some people actually vomit but I haven't yet because I don't have a strong gag reflex but you should never try to vomit unless it is the only way to get it up. It usually subsides after a while but if you're in a lot of pain you can call your doctor to see what he advises but I've never had it that bad. You will learn & reading on here will help answer a lot of your questions in the beginning. Good Luck!!

Something similar happened to me recently. I was FINALLY there with this last fill but since Thanksgiving was just 2 days after the fill I started to swell tighter & had trouble swallowing Water. I wasn't throwing up at all but the doctor on call took out everything. So I was left with no restriction at all & am having to start all over again. I am so frustrated I could scream. I had my surgery approx. 6 mos ago too & have only lost 20 lbs. This fill would have been perfect if I hadn't stressed over the holiday but it's better to be safe than really sorry with a slip. I would get a slight unfill asap b/4 something more serious happens. Good Luck & hopefully you won't have to start all over like me!

The ONLY protein powder I use is Nectar & it is fabulous! I get it at The Vitamin Shoppe or you can order from Bodybuilding.com & it comes in many fruity flavors. I have bought many others just to give them away & they aren't cheap so if you don't like Nectar you probably won't like anything. I've tried Strawberry-Kiwi & Artic Sky(fruit blend) & next I want to try the Lemonade. Oh & it has only 90 cal, 0 fat, 0 carbs, 0 sugar & 23 grams protein!

lu...there have been times I have gone to the gym & sat in my car fighting with myself b/c I didn't feel like doing anything physical. After a few minutes of reasoning I usually go in & end up having the best workout ever. What I say to myself to make me go in is "if I go home all I'll end up doing is eating & laying". Sometimes that works sometimes I head for fast food!

Funny how people are different in their preferences... I HATE cardio even though I do it regularly (no running) but I LIVE to lift!!! I think cardio is much harder & boring unlike the stress busting of weights. To each his own...

I too was filled today (5.0cc) after being completely unfilled over the w/e by some idiot on-call doc. Now I have to work my way back up to good restriction. To answer your question about the burping, I'm having ALOT of trapped gas issues, more so than normal. It's really bothering me but I'm going to the gym to see if I can work it out. Poor gym rats!

Sounds like you need another fill. After you lose weight your band loosens as well.

OK luluc, now just get the powered BCAA from Vitamin Shoppe & add to the nectar & you'll be Superwoman on that treadmill!

If you are considering Texas Gastric Banding, Dr. Richard Wilkenfield, I strongly urge you to find someone else. He is horrible & treated me so badly when I needed help with a too tight fill. He isn't my doctor, thank God, but the doctor on call for the weekend. If you need anymore info. you are welcome to send me a private message.:cursing:

Yeah! I see you got the nectar. How do you like it?

Were you self-pay? If so, I would demand a fill if not, I would then drive them crazy with my calls!

I'm soooo glad you asked this because the same thing happened to me except I was just filled on Wed. & it was too tight so I had to get a complete unfill on Sat. (No vomiting though) I'm wondering the same & I'm VERY upset about this b/c I hadn't had that much success & was so hoping this was my time!

lu, Your daily is still 1 1/2 meals for me!! I get a fill today too & I'm telling him (in a very loud tone) to fill me full. I don't care if I can't eat ANY turkey. I'm sick of this s@#*.

OK ,I was going to keep this to myself but...Nectar is truly the best Protein I have ever had. It comes in many fruit flavors, mixes easy with a spoon, 23 grams protein, 0 fat, 0 carbs, 0 sugar & only 90 calories! What more could you ask for? I could open a protein supplement store with the unused containers I have. My stomach can't handle most whey protein powders or premixed like Slim Fast but nectar I actually look forward to. Right now I use it b/4 & after my workouts but should probably use it more like as a snack since I use up the protein to fuel my workouts. If you don't love this I doubt you will like anything else. It cost approx. $30 a carton & you can check it out on Bodybuilding.com or I got mine at The Vitamin Shoppe & Nutrition Depot. Please let me know how you like it.

OMG the gas is horrible! I've been told it's just going to be like this since it's common in band patients. It's been 6 mos for me & I still have problems. Good thing I live alone.

I was banded in May & I've had one episode that was so severe that I went to the ER. Before I was seen I took some Gas-Ex thin strips & the pain subsided so I left. I know it can be very scary but the Gas-Ex really worked & NOT the chewables but the thin strips that melt on your tongue. I also have alot of gas problems since being banded & I have found that staying away from carbs help as well as soon as I feel a side pain I take the Gas-Ex b/4 it turns into that horrible, paralyzing pain. I'm on my way to the drug store to get some Activated Charcoal supplements to take regularly to see if that helps keep it away. Good luck & you're not alone.

I have vowed not to buy anything that is not absolutely necessary in the way of clothes until I get closer to goal. I have another 30 lbs & hopefully enough "extra" sizes in my closet to get me close.

If you're not having problems & are losing weight does it really matter? I would rather have restriction faster than the rate I have had since I'm 6.7cc in a 10cc & I can't remember how many it has taken to get to this point & I'm going for another in a few days. It has taken me too long to lose such a small amt. that I'm ready to be filled full!

I feel the exact same way! I have a lot of restriction & can only eat a very small amt. at a time but I stay hungry. Very confusing...

If you think cottage cheese is high in protein check out greek yogurt, 15 grams!

I have one for sale...used maybe 4 times! Does that answer your question? I bypass my treadmill which cost $2,000 & go to the gym. Doesn't make any sense.

Call me stupid but what is an exercise challenge or how does it work?

Well, you could be like me & only have lost 17 lbs in 5 mos! Consider yourself lucky to have lost that much in that amount of time.

First off you have to have a game plan. I have been working out most of my adult life but I observe newbies at the gym & it seems they don't have a clue what they are going to do, jumping from one machine to another. They don't know what they are working towards except the overall goal of weightloss & that is too broad. If you have a plan in place b/4 you get to the gym you are more likely to see results & the results are what keep you coming back. Personally I like weight training on a split schedule so I know exactly what I'm working & when like: day 1-back & biceps, day 2-chest & triceps, etc. And I always try to get in 30 min. cardio. It has never been something I look forward to & I have to make myself go most days but the rewards are great & the results from resistance training are very fast especially if you haven't done it b/4. Just remember, the more muscle you have the more fat that muscle burns, even if you aren't doing anything. You have to start somewhere so get a book or look online (bodybuilding.com is a good source) and make a plan & stick to that until you feel comfortable & see results then change it up a bit to keep on your toes. If nothing else just do cardio for a min. of 30 mins. a day. I work out 4-5 days a week & think it's the only reason I have dropped weight since the band certainly hasn't been that much help for me. I hope this changes because this journey hasn't been what i expected. Good luck to you! PS: To answer your specific question of how long it takes to become a habit, for me if I haven't been to the gym in a while it takes about 2-3 weeks to really get back into it but like I said above, I never really look forward to it I "JUST DO IT"! And back when I use to be a thin person & saw a big woman at the gym trying to better herself I thought she had courage & to myself I'd wish her success. Now I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of me at the gym or anywhere else. (Except if an old boyfriend saw me I'd die on the spot) The things I notice are the successes of others & strive for the same. Please don't let vanity keep you from becoming physically fit.