RestlessMonkey

Your band is too tight. At least, that's what we're taught. You should be able to eat SMALL bites well chewed of just about any food. If not; you're too tight. Why do you think you've only lost 5 kg (11 pounds I think) in all this time? Have you been exercising? making healthy choices? avoiding the "slider" type foods that go down easy? I think you need to maybe get some saline removed and review what you need to do to use the band; it's just a tool, doesn't sound to me like it's been working, or that you've been working it....? but you are suffering and can hurt yourself (esophageal problems etc) if you let this go on for long.

I do know there are different cultures, and I know there are many reasons to overeat. Shoot I am the queen of rationalizing even when there isn't a reason. I get that! And as I said it is your life and your decision. I could get an unfill to go on a cruise because of the buffets, or to travel to Vegas because that's the only chance we get for 5 star dining, or whatever. Or because I'm going to Grandmas for thanksgiving and it will crush her if I don't eat like I used to. I DO understand all that better than you realize. I didn't get to be MY top weight by ignoring food and all the emotions etc that go along with it; not to mention cultural pressures etc. I think, still, you can just say no. Eat less. Perhaps they will understand more than you think. If you are determined that it would crush your "european" family if you can't eat huge amounts, then you have your answer! That's all! In a similar situation, I would opt not to have my band loosened. If I were that worried about hurting someone's feelings, i'd pass on the visit. That's how I would do it. What are they going to say when you go back in a year or two and have lost a big chunk of weight, will they think you are sick and dying? rude? you know them best. You know if you can explain it or not. If i couldn't explain, I'd avoid them. That's just what I'd do.

Then why ask? You've made up your mind and apparently feel they will be insulted if, since you are fat, you don't overeat. You know them, I don't. It's your life, your diet. Do what you think is right.

Chill out and give your stomach a chance to calm down. If you can't even drink Water by tomorrow morning (and I was told to just do liquids for a day after a bad PB) then call your doc. And never say never! chips are usually a slider; while they aren't the healthiest choice, you don't have to avoid them forever! Just for a few months, then try again if you want to. Your stomach and esophagus are riled up from all the drama; let things settle a bit.

I think that is totally against what the band is all about. I was told to go into it thinking it is forever...not something you put on to lose and then take off when you're done. Unless there's a true medical need, the band should stay, functioning, in place. I don't know about your surgeon but mine has taken a LOOOONG time to gradually fill me, so if I did what you are suggesting it would set me back 6 months. And honestly, you should be at a spot where you can eat just about anything but eat less. Why on earth would you feel you "have" to eat 3 to 4 times what you can eat now? Think of how much less "fun" the trip would've been when you topped the scales at close to 400? I don't mean to sound like a priss, lord knows. I have my days where I eat way too much, and I refuse to diet and count calories. I'm not perfect so I hope I don't sound that way. But I think you need to just suck it up and keep your band filled to a good spot, where if you chew well and take small bites you can eat anything but way less. Enjoy the scenery, soak up the history, enjoy the people, and put food in it's place; just part of the trip, not the big reason for going.

you need to follow the diet recommended by your surgeon. The first 6 weeks or so post op are for healing, not weight loss. Once you have healed you can count calories etc if you WANT to (you don't have to) and remember the average weight loss with the band is 1-2 pounds a week. I think you are expecting the losses to be like bypass and they aren't. You are doing fine; just relax, follow your docs orders, and heal.

Respectfully not true for everyone. I have yet to dissolve a single pill and I have pretty good restriction (in fact going for a slight unfill next thurs). I take HUGE pills just fine. But some do need to dissolve them, not sure why....guess it's a difference in personalities, swallow strength, docs, and esophageal force and structure.

you need to talk to your surgeon ASAP. eating ahead like that MIGHT have done damage to your stomach where the band is sewn in (assuming you have a lap band; if it's realize, I think it's clamped, either way you ate too soon) It is HARD to eat right; most of us have that problem or we wouldn't be here. HOWEVER you pull it together and tough it out for the few short weeks you have to, in order to heal properly. You may be right, you may not be ready. however it's a little late now; you have the band. Talk to your surgeon monday and see what he says. I'm sure you aren't the first, maybe you didn't hurt yourself at all, and maybe he (and the psych and nutritionist) can get you back on track. I am not an avid dieter and I don't think you'll burn if you eat a burger instead of grilled fish. BUT I know how vital it is post op to heal properly and you aren't giving your "innards" even a fighting chance. Do what you are supposed to from here on out until monday, call your doc. Please. I'll cross my fingers for you but you need to step up.

I really hate to tell you this but you have a problem then. Because post op (in recovery) the odds are high you will be awake but have an oxygen mask on, and will really REALLY need to keep it on to help keep your oxygen sats up and clear your lungs of the anesthetic. You'd better talk to your surgeon about this before it happens and you have a bad incident in recovery. I don't know if they can keep you tranquilized or what; you may need some therapy before you can proceed. I don't mean to belittle you at all either; I am scared of spiders and wouldn't want one crawling on me for any reason, but fortunately tolerating spiders wasn't a condition of this surgery. Wearing a mask may be. Talk to your doc.

Each doc is different; mine is 15 before, during and 15 after, but often I wait longer than the 15 after because the one time I forgot and drank I thought it was going to kill me (this is once I had restriction. In the early stages not so much) Especially in light of all the conflicting advice, your very safest course is to CALL YOUR DOC and ask. Period. That way you will be doing exactly what s/he thinks you should. This board is a great source of advice and support but never ever do something that contradicts your doc's orders, and if in doubt, go to the source...your surgeon.

Seriously, anyone impacted this way should go to primary (or gyn.) and get some bloodwork done. Losing large amts. of weight can definitely mess with your hormones and cause problems. Go get checked out; they need to be regulated properly for reasons beyond sex drive. :smile2:

thanks, just banded! But...honeydiva may be able to eat carrots if she wants to! I can! We all just have to find our own trigger foods and hopefully if we chew well and take small small bites we'll be ok. I can eat cooked carrots, and I can eat raw ones if they are grated (slivers). I wouldn't try to just bite of a chunk of a raw one, though!

Restriction refers to the feeling you have when your band has enough "fill" (saline) in it that it slows your eating, or prevents the ingestion of certain foods. Everyone wants good restriction so that we get full quickly, but don't want to be "overfilled" (too restricted) so that we can't eat many foods. Hope that helps. Oh and that list gave a quick def of PB...when you take too large a bite of some foods (once you have restriction) or you don't chew well, the bite of food (called a bolus) has to go somewhere. Since it is too large and can't go down, it comes back up. It is like vomiting, but without the stomach acid and "violence" of normal vomiting. It is VERY painful before you "burp" up the food and not pleaseant, so people try to avoid it by choosing foods we can eat, taking small bites, and chewing VERY well.

See your primary doc. You don't say how old you are but losing should either not impact it, or help it, not hurt it, regardless. Unless you are exercising and undereating so much that you are fatigued all the time, something else may be going on. Go get a check up.

From my surgeon, (and my experience) to be successful with the band you need to 1. chew each bite at least 40 times 2 eat each meal in 30 minutes...don't take longer to graze through a large meal 3. take very small bites 4. eat protein first, then veggies, then fruit, then pasta, rice, bread, grains, 5. DO NOT SNACK and 6. Dont drink any liquid 15 minutes before, during or 15 minutes after each meal. If you can do all of that, you will be successful with the band. Once you have restriction you physically CAN NOT eat fast or take bites that are too large or not chew well. At the least you will be uncomfortable for a while before you vomit back up the bite that is too large (or poorly chewed). At the worst you will hurt yourself, or turn only to foods that go down easily, (slider foods) and overeat. Either way is not good. If you can't follow those rules, the "band will fail"; but actually it won't, you will. It's a tool and you must use it. If you aren't ready or willing, it won't do you any good. If you think you can do all that, either return to your surgeon and be firm about your desire for the band, or find another surgeon. If you don't think you can do that (not everyone can; there's no shame in that at all) then the band isn't the operation for you.

I didn't even get tested because I told my doc (this was 5 years ago when I complained of fatigue) that if I DID have it I wouldn't use the mask. He said ok. SO I understand where you are coming from. (My mom died from emphysema, on oxygen. My dad was in a wreck, rear ended by a woman who fell asleep at the wheel and he died on the ventilator. So I have a "THING" about breathing equipment). Having said that...DONT keep things secret from your doctor. That's assinine, that's self destructive. It's childish, too. Either tell him straight out your case is MILD and you won't use it, or use it for 3 weeks as he requires. Really, you are a big girl. You don't need to lie and sneak around your doc; you are paying him.

I read on here about BUNCHES of people who cheated on their preop diets with no bad effect, so I cheated on mine. (not badly, I still lost a good chunk of weight!) BUT when I came to in recovery I was told "you didn't get the band, dear, your liver was too large" That is a HORRIBLE feeling and not worth indulging in any food. I followed my doc's orders TO THE LETTER and lost a bunch MORE weight and got the band 2 1/2 weeks later. So my advice to you, regardless of what you read on here, is DO WHAT YOUR DOC TELLS YOU TO. Don't cheat. You may "get away" with it; but if you don't, the results are dreadful, shameful, and expensive.

WHY did he say you weren't a good candidate, if you don't mind? Need that info to help you....

Be sure and check the V8 for sodium; even the low sodium V8 has an excessive amount. People who don't have issues w/salt are supposed to keep it to 2300-2400 mg a day;if you are "salt sensitive" then it's under 2000. V8 (even the little low sodium ones) takes up a big chunk of that.

You'd be surprised at how many people start that 6-month diet and decide to NOT get the band. It saves the ins. company money! No idea on the questions; good luck though!

If you DO gain, don't obsess about it. Once you get your tool (the band) working again, the weight will come back off.

Yep, I don't understand either. I THINK you are wanting someone who's had vertical sleeve gastrectomy for at least 2 years? Is that it?

I slept straight the first night; but I wanted to "straighten out" while I still had the good hospital post op pain meds on board. Because of that it was easy to straighten out. As you heal you can form adhesions that make it more painful to straighten etc and I didn't want that trouble so figured it was easier to just straighten out at the start before they formed. I'm glad I did it that way; I was sleeping on my stomach by night 2 and never had any issues. If it hurts, take your pain meds and straighted up anyway. Use a pillow to brace your incisions if you need to; that can help. You'll be glad you did.

When you have a gain that drastic overnight, it is almost ALWAYS water retention. Don't weigh daily so that those fluctuations won't make you disheartened. Plus you were just banded 3/9. The first 6-8 weeks should be more about healing than weight loss.

Please call them if you are unsure. When I lived in a dryer climate I occasionally got a little blood in the mucus when I blew my nose. It also happens occasionally now if I have had a sinus infection or upper respiratory infection and have been blowing my nose a lot. It is impossible to diagnose a person online, though; and you are safest to just call and ask. It can't hurt; they have heard questions way less worthy.