bambam

I had the mother of all episodes yesterday. I ate a lttle lunch (inside of a taco about 1/4 c) it wasn't working so I stopped. A few hours later I was still hungry so thought I would try something different. WRONG! Dumb, I know. Anyway, after a few bites I realized things had not resolved from before and I was only making it worse. I ended up being sick for 4 hours. I got rid of a lot of mucus, nose running like crazy, chest hurt, thought I was gonna die - honestly. Called my doc's office several times when it didn't resolve after a few hours. They said just try to sip a little something warm. Did that, even that wasn't going down. Finally called and asked to be seen, but they said I really just had to wait it out and let the swelling go down. 15 minutes and one more "urp" later, I felt fine, except for a headache. Now I'm on 2 days of liquids, then 2 days of soft foods, before progressing to solids. I'm in no hurry - talk about aversion therapy! We hope to go to the state fair this week, so much for anything on a stick!! I thought the two mild PBs I had previously were rough (about an hour), but I hope I NEVER have one this severe again. Boy am I going to take it slow and easy when I get back to solids. I wish I could say it was only me eating too fast or not chewing well enough, but I really feel my band is fickle from day to day.

I don't think what you are experiencing is unusual - I really think it varies from person to person. When I read about PB episodes before surgery they sounded so simple to resolve - just spit up the food that was stuck and voila - better! I've never been a good urper and my first PB episode lasted for 1-1/4 hours and I got sick several times - I brought up mucus a couple of times and finally a little food, but it wasn't a simple coughing up of a bite of food. For me it was actual vomiting. I've had other episodes where I felt the pain in my chest. When I do get that I try to stop eating right away to let it resolve, but did have one other time that resulted in just mucus being brought up, no food, then I was able to walk it off.

For me it started after I felt good restriction (with my third fill, 5.5 cc in a 10 cc band). Some days I do fine and the next day the same food can give me trouble. I'm trying to just really take it slow with each meal as I don't know what to expect from one day to the next. I've learned (finally) to stop at the first sign of discomfort. Some times it passes and I can continue on with the same food with no problems, other meals I'm done! I personally can not tolerate breads or stringy meats. You find what you can and can't eat as you go along - some you discover are only temporary foods to avoid, but in my case some are permanent no nos for me. Hope this helps!

Most likely you ate too fast, didn't chew well enough, took too big of a bite, or your band just didn't tolerate a certain food. My band is really fickle - when I go out to eat anymore I start out really slow. Often I get pain with the first few bites (first bite syndrome??). I've discovered if I get that pain and just sit and don't eat anymore for about 5 minutes, it will pass and I can go back to eating slowly and carefully. If I push the issue and continue to try to eat it is just worse. There just doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason sometimes as to what my band will tolerate and what it won't. My advice would be to really go slow and if you get any feeling of being uncomfortable --stop. Better to take your dinner home than end up making it worse!!

I'm hoping someone can give me some advice, ideas, anything! I had my third fill 5 weeks ago and am at 5.5 cc in a 10 cc band. I've always felt I was tighter at dinnertime than earlier in the day. I do drink something warm first thing in the morning (about 5 a.m.) and by 6:30 I'm usually having Breakfast with no problems: a small Protein bar and yogurt, most of a package of oatmeal, etc. My warm drink does make a difference as I noticed if I take my meds or Tylenol first thing in the morning before that hot drink I am tight and can feel it. lunch usually goes fine - about 1 cup of food at the most. But at dinner time for the last week or so, regardless of what I am eating (meatloaf, turkey frank, it just doesn't matter) I have some pain right away. Last night I only took a couple of bites, then sat for 5 minutes or so. I seem to burp a lot at this point. Usually I push on past it, thinking it will go away (I'm still learning), but last night I just sat for a bit and once that subsided I was able to go back to eating a normal bandster meal. I read on another thread that not getting enough Water can make your band tight, and I have slacked off on that, so am trying to get my water intake back up. I also read about air being in the stomach and those first few bites pressing on that air. Last night I realized I do tend to belch quite a bit after those first few bites, then it seems to "clear" things and am able to go on. Is anyone else tighter at night? Could this be first bite syndrome, and if so why is it only happening in the evening meal? I appreciate any thoughts anyone has. If I was basing it on my evening meals only I would say I was a smidgen too tight, but that isn't the case as my other meals are fine. Help???

I think you are probably sore with coughing, etc., simply because your stomach muscles are sore. Any activity you do will cause you to use muscles, some you didn't know you even had! Your tiredness is probaby due to many things, undergoing surgery, anesthesia, lower calorie intake than normal, etc. My doc had me taking chewable Vitamins right away, but check with your doctor's office to see what he/she wants you to do. Any concerns that seem out of line to you always ask your doc about -that's what we pay them the big bucks for!!! Best of luck and happy healing.

Suzanne - Thanks for taking the time to post. I guess it is what it is, right? It's nice to know I'm not the only odd one out here. I guess I'll just increase my Water and take my dinner really slow. I keep saying this is such a learning process. I can't complain about my weight loss. Just need to be more patient with my band and realize it may be fickle at times. Thanks again and great job on the weight loss!

I usually feel crampy, gassy, and bloated after my fills. It just seems to be the norm for me.

Hi Beth Welcome! I think if I were you I would call the surgeon's office and talk with his staff. Let them know the symptoms you are having and let them decide whether you need to be seen or not. It could be the drainage is causing your symptoms - but I would let his or her office decide if anything needs to be done. Better safe than sorry! Hope to see you on here more.

I use thedailyplate.com. It has a great data base of foods, exercise, etc.

My liquid diet was 2 weeks. I really didn't find it hard - I was so excited about my surgery that it kept me motivated and got me through. Plus, the weight that came off with the liquid diet was another motivation. Good luck!!

Grandma - You won't get that old type of full ate-too-much-on Thanksgiving Day feeling you had before. What you are looking for now is satisfied, content, couldn't care if I took another bite or not feeling. Until you have some restriction you won't get some of the other stop indicators (at least I didn't.) For me if I get a pain in my mid chest that radiates to my left shoulder it means I didn't stop soon enough, but I'll be okay I just need to put the fork down now!!! A golfball feeling in the middle of my chest means I didn't chew well enough, take small enough bites, or both. And if I get stuck.. the golfball that won't go away....uffdah. Let's just say I pace and try to walk it off. You really have to relearn your body's signals with this surgery. I know you are following your doctor's orders, but like the others 1/2 cup of food wouldn't do it for me, even with the good restriction I have right now. Maybe talk with your doctor's office, let them know how many calories you are getting in, how much Protein, how long your meals are lasting, let them know you need a snack once in a while. Maybe they will want you to eat just a little more? It seems to be working for you, but I always worry about people eating too few calories. I did that early on and the scale came to a screeching halt, but all of our bodies are different.

Erin - It's good to see you feeling better!! Hope your doctor appointment goes well and you continue to feel better each day.

If it were me,I would really focus on not "cheating", but eating as healthy as possible for a couple of weeks to see what kind of results you get and to see what your portion size is. If you are getting stuck at times you may not want a fill - that may cause you not to be able to eat healthy solids, only slider foods. I'd give it a couple of weeks to reassess with better food choices and really making sure you chew well and take small bites (I still struggle with this.) I get stuck occasionally too, and personally I just don't want to be any tighter at this point.

Is it possible you decreased your calories and are taking in too few? Your body maybe holding on to what it can if that is the case. Like Restless said, you are also close to goal and from what I hear (haven't been near goal weight in decades) that is when it really slows down.

Yes, when you switch to pureed foods you will need to follow the no drinking with meals rules your doc gave you. Even though the foods are mushy, they will stay in your pouch for a period of time unlike the liquids. When I got to the mushy stage I pureed whatever I made for my husband for dinner: meatloaf, chili, salmon, tuna salad, etc. If you need to you can add some beef broth, chicken broth, etc, to thin it out a bit. I didn't mind the mushy consistency of the foods at all - in fact it was heaven! Good luck!

People vary a lot, but what you are experiencing is very normal. Your body has been through surgery and it takes a while to get back to 100% physically, and even mentally! Give yourself time~!!

Erin - I hope your nausea is improving. Some people seem to struggle with it more than others. If your new medication doesn't take care of it, let your doctor know. It's his/her job to help you, not only get the band, but through the whole process. Don't be afraid to keep calling if you are having problems. Some nausea is normal for some people, but if you feel yours is above and beyond what you should be experiencing, keep letting him/her know. He/She can't help and try new things if not aware. Don't feel you are bugging them, this is what they are getting paid for. Hope you feel better soon!!

If you're not hungry and losing weight I wouldn't go in for a fill. I certainly wouldn't want to be too tight. The need for a fill can seem to come on quickly. I was to go for one next week but just canceled it today as I'm doing fine where I am at. Their office suggests waiting until a few days before your fill to decide if you want to cancel, as that last week can (and has) make/made a big difference~ . So for the original poster - i wouldn't get a fill. To the person who asked about the need for a fill coming on quickly - yes it can!

When I was in my pureed food stage I pretty much ate what my husband did - meatloaf, chili, tuna salad, meatballs, salmon, etc. But whatever I ate I put in the JCPenney version of the Magic Bullet to make it mushy. I thought I had died and gone to heaven!! The look of the food didn't bother me at all, it all tasted the same as before surgery. To be honest my foods couldn't have passed through a straw - in retrospect I should have thinned them out more. My dietician recommending using beef broth, chicken broth, etc to do this. You probably don't have to have a blender of some sort in this stage, but I would hate to accidentally swallow something before I got it mushy or small enough, especially when you are newly banded and just learning the small bites, chew well habit. That's just my opinion.

Congratulations!!!!! I dream of one-derland! (sigh) Enjoy your success!

There are several reasons for your increased appetite - further out from surgery and just plain feeling better, as well as swelling decreasing. My doc allowed me to have Protein Snacks between meals in this phase. If you continue to be hungry talk with their office to get some suggestions.

I measured right after surgery to try to get an idea of portion size and how much I should be eating, but now with restriction measuring and weighing is really a moot point. I take when I feel is an appropriate amount of meat or protein (what I guestimate to be 3-4 ounces) and just supplement it with a little bit of veggie, fruit, or dairy. Sometimes I can eat the portion I took, but with things such as pork, I usually am not able to eat as much. I eat what I can eat but I don't worry about portion size like I used to, there's just no need. My band tells me when to stop.

I have the JCPenney version of the Magic Bullet. I used it a lot and still use it for whipping up sauces, etc. I think my hubby got it for me when it was on sale for $20 - a great deal!

Cathy is right. I know it is frustrating, but remember just because you CAN eat that much, you still shouldn't. Try to stick to the amounts your doctor told you to eat and try to make some healthier food choices. Without good restriction it is hard, I know, but do the best you can to use your willpower to get you through this phase. Call and ask for another fill when you can. I have had fills take several weeks to really "kick in." That could happen to you yet. Have patience and hang in there. The band will work, but do everything you can to help it out while you're waiting for that restriction.