slimmap

Hi Keith. I appreciate all that you have to say. Believe it or not, the best thing that you had to say, that really re-opened my eyes, was the statement about how sumo wrestlers eat !! I laughed at first but realized that if I don't keep that in mind, there isn't any surgery in the world that will help me get and stay where I want to be health-wise. Also, I have to deal with this stress the same way an alcoholic would...day by day, or in my case minute by minute. I am just in a difficult situation now that is common to a lot of people. My parents health has deteriorated and I am the only family who lives in the area. Everyone expects me to do everything for my parents and it is driving me crazy. I have to do what is right for me but sometimes that hurts their feelings. Don't get me wrong. I am not some out of control person. I just gave in last night with that darned rice. It hurt my stomach so much that I got very scared. All is well now on that front today. I just hadn't ever experienced that sort of painful situation before. I like the feeling of good health and intend to keep pursuing it. Thanks again.

You are right about the modified Atkins. That is what I try to follow. Fresh strawberries go in my Unjury protein shake, a small lettuce salad with my turkey, stuff like that. But last night I ate a lot of bad ol' white rice. I had my lap band one year ago and found that white rice doesn't usually bother me...bread does, go figure. Anyway, I shouldn't have even made it for my family and expected myself not to eat it. I thought I had more willpower than that, but obviously I still do not. It tasted so good with all that butter in it. It was a very poor decision. But I just felt like my stomach was going to explode about an hour after I ate. I got a little scared. I didn't even think about it expanding in my stomach...but it seems like it did. I guess it was stress eating. I have been doing dumb stuff like that since the 4th of July. Does anybody have any suggestions how they fight stress eating and just plain old mindless eating? Thanks everybody!

Jachut, you are so right. Looking for a hard stop with PBing isn't a healthy way to permanent weight loss. I tried it for a short while and I felt sick all the time. I am now trying to rely on myself. It isn't easy. It's like the alcoholics say...One Day At A Time.

I don't know what kind of band that I have. I only know that it holds 10 cc's and I now have 2.5 cc's in it. It isn't easy because there is not a lot of restriction. But there is enough so I just have to really try to stick to the bandster rules. Have a happy fourth!

I just went through what you are going through right now. I also have a 10 cc band with 3cc's of restriction. It sounded like not much of a fill, I thought. But I had problems too. So I called the doctor. He had to take .75 cc out of my band. Within days I felt a lot better and was able to eat most foods. My doctor has me do liquids only for 5 days after my fills. Then I can have soft foods for 3 days (mashed potatoes, pudding, scrambled eggs, etc.). After following those rules, then we are allowed to go onto solid foods. So since you only had your fill a few days ago you might be pushing it trying to eat already. If you are still having problems call your doc cos the 4th of July weekend is coming up and lots of docs will be on vacation. Good luck. Let me know what happens.

I agree. You sound like you are really due for a fill.

It is a new feeling. I didn't quite know that I had restriction at first either, that is, when I had restriction. But you are getting full on less food and staying full longer. THAT is what it's all about. You go girl !! Pam

Can anybody help me with this question? When we are told to eat, say, 3ounces, which type of measurement do we use? I was measuring some strawberries today, and noticed a huge discrepency. 3 ounces of strawberries measured on the scale is a LOT less than 3 ounces of strawberries measured in a measuring cup. I know this isn't an urgent question, but I really need to know because it may make a huge difference in my weight loss. Thanks to anybody who can help.

Hello everybody. I finally got a hold of my doctor's office ( they didn't answer me til today). This is what they told me : I was to use the ounce measuring cups when I was in the mushies stage. But now that I am on solid food I am to use the scale to measure my food. I appreciate everyone giving me their input. I love you guys! Everybody have a healthy and happy 4th of July. Pam

I agree. It sounds like you are where I wish I was...at the sweet spot. Congratulations on how well you've done with your weight loss!

Also, I don't want to stretch my pouch. That is my big concern. I've done it before and sure don't want to do that again.

I am going to call the nutritionist on Monday. I was just hoping I could find some answers here before that. My doc only wants me to have 3 ounces at a meal. So I want to make those 3 ounces count. But I read how posters say they eat a quarter cup, which I guess is measured in some sort of cup, then I read how somebody else measures on the scale, and I get so confused. When I hear from my doc on Monday, I will post here and let you know. I have to get up early tomorrow, so I am going to bed now, so good night to all. I will check back to see if anyone else has any answers. Pam

Okay. Thank you. I appreciate you helping me out. Pam

I had to go off line for a while. There were terrible storms rolling through. The electricity blinked on and off a few times. I am relieved we didn't lose our power. Okay, it does make sense about the scale. I remember at orientation just before surgery, the dietician showing us this little measuring cup. The kind you find on top of the lid of children's medicine. So I took some strawberries and filled it up to the ounce line. Then I tried it on the scale. Big difference...probably because the strawberries are so full of water they just weigh heavier. But I guess I will start using my scale more. Thanks. Pam

I had a fill 3 weeks ago. After 10 days I started getting badacid reflux. Today I got a slight unfill ( I went from 3.25 cc's to 2.5 cc's). I was wondering if anybody knew how long it takes before the acid and tight throat symptoms go away. Thanks.

Thanks again. I will talk to the doctor if there isn't an improvement. Congratulations on getting your BSN. For some unknown reason, most of the girls who lived on my floor in the dorms (way back a long time ago) were all nursing majors. They were always trying to get me to let them practice drawing blood! Never again! Anyway, thanks again and good luck on your new career. Pam

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your input. I have been switching back and forth between Prevacid and Prilosec. They pretty much do the trick, I was just worried. By the way, I see that you are a nurse. When I was working as an intern (social work) at a psychiatric hospital, I observed that the nurses were the ones who really helped get the patients well. They did all the work. Sure the psychiatrists gave direction and so forth, but they only saw the patients a for few minutes. It was the nurses who helped them get well. It made quite an impression on me and I wanted to say that nurses are awesome. Pam

Eeewww.That's what I was afraid of. What do you think could be wrong?

Hi Merryn. The last time I talked to the nutritionist, she told me to measure the amount of food after it was cooked. So three ounces of chicken is 3 ounces cooked chicken, etc. That's what I was told. Good luck on your lap band adventure. Pam

I used to worry about the same things...stretching my pouch, overeating, etc. If you still feel the same and there doesn't feel like much restriction is happening, you probably don't have that good of restriction yet. It looks like you just had your surgery in February? It took me a while to get good restriction, too. For me, restricition varies. But usually it just feels like I am full (only on a whole lot less food than before!) With certain foods it can almost feel like the esophagus is too small for the food to go down, if that makes any sense.Just keep following the "Lap Band Rules" and you won't stretch your pouch. Plus, call your doctor's office and see what they have to say. Good luck! Pam

I don't know if this is the same thing, but my friend had to be rebanded when she was close to goal weight. She looked very lumpy. She is fine, it just looks weird. Let me know what happens and good luck. Pam

Hi Sarah. I am going through the same thng you are with the tightness in the throat. And that burning you are feeling in your throat may be stomach acid. I have been taking lots of Prilosec, a stomach acid reducer, and that has helped me A LOT. But I am thinking that I am going to need an unfill, which I dread. Try a stomach acid reducer for a few days and see if tha helps. Otherise I'd call the doctor. Good luck. Pam

You'll be okay. I had to have an unfill where they took all the fluid out of my band, which really stunk. But just keep following those "lap band rules" and you will be fine. If there are any problems, call your doc. Good luck. Pam

Thank you Slim. I am giving it one more day and if things don't get better, I am going to go for that unfill. I am going to make the appointment today. I can always cancel if things get better. Thanks again. Pam

I have a question that I hope somebody can help me with. I am experiencing acid reflux. It is almost 14 days since my last fill and the reflux just started up. I am wondering if a lot of stress could cause me to have this reflux because I wasn't experiencing any problems whatsoever until my mom fell and broke her hip. She is in a hospital an hour away and I have to drive over this very scary bridge over the Mississippi River to get to her. Plus my sisters are bossing me around and telling me what to do. All of this has me verrry stressed out and I wondered if this could bring on acid reflux. Besides using Prevacid and not eating or drinking too late, what suggestions does anybody have to help reduce the symptoms. I know not to eat foods lthat are fatty or greasy, but does anyone else have any other :crying:suggestions? I really don't want to have another unfill. I only have 3 cc's in my band as it is. Thanks for any help.