Nena

Hi. I haven't posted anything in a while. I've had my band for 11 months, I've lost 64 lbs. Great, right? But when I take prescription meds or even tylenol, I get the most excruciating pain in my esophagus. I told the lap band doc and he said he'd never heard of such a thing. I told my regular doc and she put me on nexium but it only helps a little. Anyone have this type of problem?

When I take prescription meds or even tylenol. I have excruciating pain in my esophagus. It's like when the drug dissolves or something. I asked the lap band doc and he sd he had never heard of it. I asked my regular doc and she prescribed nexium which doesn't help much. Anyone have similar experiences?

I had heard of that disease with the esophagus. I've wondered if I have it or if it's just PMS and lack of hydration. It's so hard to get water down. I haven't had a fill in 4 months and have lost 20 lbs but the band doesn't seem to get looser. Weird?!

I have weird pains in my tummy too. In the beginning, I worried all the time that my band had slipped or stretched. I've had my band 11 months now. Trust me, if u eat too much, you'll puke and you have to do that frequently to stretch the band. They say that if the band slips then you usually have problems eating. You're fine. You're just nervous about something new in your body. I was the same way but now I'm used to it. This forum has helped me learn a lot so it qualms my fears.

I just made 11 months with my band and I've lost 64 lbs. My doc sd the goal for the first year is 50 lbs. I haven't done any weight lifting, just walking and the occasional moving of furniture. I haven't had any real problems. I have a co-worker who had bypass and she's really happy with it. She's maintained her weight loss really well. She runs.

I know how you feel. I am the same way. The great thing for me is that my doctor did NOT give me a diet with my lapband. He said 3 meals a day, chew well and stop eating before you're full. I've done great at the first 2 things he said, but even that has been hard. I want a snack and I ask myself, "Are you hungry or do you just want to eat that?" It's been really hard but I'm afraid that I'll PB/throwup so I'm motivated to do better because of that. I'm struggling with the "stop eating before you're full". If I could do that then I wouldn't have needed the band. I've been eating sweets, fried foods, etc. I tell myself that I'm doing great because I eat less bad foods now than pre-band so that's progress. Like they say in OA, it's about progress, not perfection. So I'm progressing, slowly but I'm progressing. Try not to be so hard on yourself and see the positive things that you have done and know that you can continue to improve. We're here for each other because we've had similar experiences and understand. Take care of yourself. I'll say a prayer for you (and for me too)

The post about bunco made me laugh cause I did the same thing last night and ate the same candies! I've had the same experience, in that I feel really guilty like I'm making poor food choices and eating too much but the truth is that my food choices aren't perfect but they're better than before and I really am eating less than before the band. That's what's so great about this forum, it helps us put things in perspective again. I don't know about anyone else but I'm so used to criticizing myself (I've done it for Years) about what I eat, when I eat and how much that it just comes natural. I got online cause my mom is making herself some dinner (yes, this late at night) and offered me some and it smells great BUT I already ate dinner AND I'm not hungry. So far, so good. Today in this one situation I made a good decision hopefully it helps offset so many of the bad ones. LOL!

I was banded on Aug 25 and haven't had a fill yet. I stopped losing weight too. I can eat ANYTHING, I can even take pills now. I'm not really worried about it. I figure as long as I don't gain weight then I'm good. When I get my fill then I'll lose more weight. This is not suppose to be an overnight process, we're suppose to lose the weight slowly because it's healthier. I refuse to stress over this. I can't live the rest of my life obsessed about my weight. I try to eat healthy portions and make better choices and that's it for me! Good Luck to you.

Oh my gosh, I think it's so crazy how everyone's doctor is different. I've never seen a nutritionist and my doctor said to have 3 meals a day and no snacks. That's IT! I eat EVERYTHING! I haven't had my first fill yet cause when I went the doctor said that I was losing weight and didn't need one. I definitely need it now, I'm only losing like one pound a week. Oh well. I kind of wish that the doctor would give me a little more direction like your doctors.

I'm having the same issue. I thought I might've overeaten so I took a laxative and it only helped a little. I think it's the stitches coming out. I had some stitches literally come out last week. Part of my incision had not healed and when I wiped it, oh my gosh, string came out! I called the doctor and they said it was ok. I told them that I had pain before it came out and they said it was ok too. So, I'm not worried.

Hi I'm from Beaumont TX. My doctor is Dr Michael Storey in Pasadena. This website has been a lifesaver for me. It's helped me understand what's normal and what is not. This website is available 24/7 even when your doctor is not. Good luck to you.

I was banded on Aug 25. I went for my appt today expecting to get a fill. Dr said NO. He said that I have lost 9 lbs in this last month; therefore, I don't need a fill. He does not want any of his patients to lose more than 2 lbs per week and since I'm doing that then I don't need a fill. I was flabbergasted! I eat EVERYTHING! Pizza, soda, rice, bread, shrimp. I don't feel any restriction and have never thrown up. I admit that I'm full with smaller portions but I cannot believe that I lost 9 lbs. It's a flipping miracle! I go back in a month for him to evaluate me and CONSIDER giving me a fill. Has this happened to anyone else?

Girl, you're only human! Focus on the positive, with the band I'm sure you didn't eat as much as you would have pre-band. I know for me, part of my problem is that my expectations from myself are too high. I have to give myself permission to make mistakes and then reflect so I can learn from them. This is a new way of life, it's going to take us a while to find a good eating plan/routine that's going to work for us. Congratulations on your honesty and the ability to recognize that eating sweets should not be an every day habit!

Emotional! Ok, this is funny and sad all at the same time. After I got my band and it was time for my one month appointment, I had SEVERAL co-workers ask me to ask my doctor for medication to "even me out"! I was like, "What do you mean by even me out?" They were all scared to tell me the truth, they just said stuff like, you're not quite yourself lately, you seem sad, you're a little hostile, etc. Needless to say, I didn't have to ask for meds. It is an emotional roller coaster as I reinvent myself but it's also an adventure. I'm able to sleep now, eat normal foods and I'm losing weight. I feel great now and no one has asked me to get "meds" again:laugh:

I have always struggled with sweets my entire life. An overweight child, thin teenager, then overweight again after my child, then I joined overeaters anonymous. I lost over 100 lbs by the grace of God. I maintained it for 3 years then I got away from 12 step and gained every single pound back. Now with the band, it's still an every day struggle but it's not as hard. I know most of us are sugar addicts because when my doctor told me about my pre-op and post op liquid diet- he made sure to say to me as he does all his patients, "This does not include any type of ice cream!" I thought that was funny because that's exactly where my mind went. The previous comment about the sugar free hot fudge...for me, it doesn't matter if it's sugar free, fat free or regular, I will overeat until sick. my father was diabetic but I am not. Not sure how that's possible with my terrible eating habits but with this band, I hope to improve my eating habits to become healthy and not just thinner. Thanks for the confession, I think we all need to purge our demons so we can leave them behind.

My doctor said that it's normal to have less bowel movements cause I'm losing weight; therefore, I have less waste leaving the body. I drink lots of water in the evening and a strong cup of coffee in the morning and it seems to help with the constipation.

I ate salad on Saturday night and had excruciating painful reflux. My chest hurt and I felt burning in my esophagus. Last night I took a pill about 4 hours after I had dinner. It must've gotten stuck because my chest hurt and it was difficult to swallow liquids. I tried to throw it up but I couldn't. Today I have that feeling like when you've eaten too much but I haven't eaten anything yet. I could barely sleep last night miserable. Not sure if this is normal or not

I'm at week 5 post op. I had terrible stomach aches too. I think, for me, it was my digestive system going back to work again. It would hurt so much then about an hour later I would need to go to the bathroom but everything was normal. Maybe it was the built up gas still left inside after the surgery? Not sure but it went away.

last night I had my first experience of being "stuck" but I wasn't sure if I was really stuck because I couldn't throw up! It was so painful. My chest hurt and when I tried to drink warm tea to loosen the band, it hurt even more because I could feel the tea trying to squeeze through. I'm glad to know a person can be stuck and still not be able to throw up. thanks for the post. I feel reassured. Now I don't have to call the doctor or go to the emergency room when this happens. I know it's normal and I'll have to just get throught it.

I had a bubble on my large incision, it popped and it was incredibly gross- full of puss. I put a band aid with antibiotic on it then 2 days later it was time for my one month check up. I showed it to the doctor and he said it was no big deal. I could put neosporin if I wanted but that I'm healing fine. The bubble went down and now I have a scab. I guess it varies?

Reading your post made me want to just cry. I wanted my band out too!! I kept thinking, this thing is permanently in me!!! I'm so crazy for having done this. I travel 1 1/2 hours each way to the doctor- I'm thinking to myself- that was a stupid decision too!! I spent all my time on this website. I kept reading all of the positive results that others have experienced. So I would tell myself, this too shall pass. I won't regret it like the others on the website. Well, it's been 4 weeks since my surgery. I've lost a total of 23 lbs (including the pre-op liquid diet). I can eat ANYTHING as long as I chew it well. I'm full with smaller portions. Everyone keeps complimenting me about looking better and I'm so glad that I did this!!! I really feel normal. I should be eating healthier but I'm not and I'm still losing weight! I feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel for me and my weight issues. I don't regret anymore. You'll get there. Focus on the positive and it'll happen.

Well, I don't know if this applies to your situation or not but here's my two cents. If I'm socializing or really hungry then I forget to chew well, that's when I can feel it getting "stuck". If I chew and chew and chew then I can eat anything- pizza, steak, etc. I get bored with all the chewing, it ALMOST makes me want to quit eating. If I chew correctly then my food is stone cold by the time I finish it. Hope this helps.

I appreciate all of the positive feedback. I really need it. I feel like this is my last chance to lose weight and am afraid of failure. I am hungry but not all the time. I'm full with less food. Today I ate half of a breakfast sandwich. For lunch, 2 ck strips and maybe 6 french fries. I give away the rest of the food to co-workers or whoever else I can get to eat it. My son made wheat cookies. I ate one and now I'm full so I don't think I'll eat any dinner. I am grateful for losing weight. I should not worry about whether or not I get a fill- you guys are so right. Thanks for helping me.

I have tricare and I paid nothing. I don't have co-payments or deductibles. It's been really great!:smile2:

wow, I know i'm gaining back weight that I had lost pre op. I evacuated for hurricane ike. I can't go home yet & i'm stress eating. the damage to my home wasn't too bad, what has me freaked out is thfact that the hardest hit area of houston is where my dr's office was at. I know i'm selfish when I say this but I'm eating too much & worried that I won't be able to get my first fill for a few months cause of all the damage. I also have limited internet access which is driving me nuts. pls pray 4 me to quit eating my comfort foods. I need this surgery 2 work. I feel like its my last hope at losing weight & being healthy. thanks