jms462001

OMG, I have not read this entire thread, but Lyrica is poison in my book. I took it for 10 months and gained 40 pounds and then needed knee replacement on top of my needed spinal surgery. Not to mention the side effects that came after awhile. Not to mention the horrible withdrawal symptoms I had when I went off it.......just like a full blown drug addict. I get so angry every time I hear the word Lyrica.

Is naproxen safer for the band than ibuprofen? I have 800 mg ibuprofen prescribed for my spinal disease and really need it many days, but do not take it often for fear of it hurting the band. Do you know if it's ok to take?

When I was like this after my second fill, I had to go back and have .5 cc removed. I had been ok the day of the fill and the water went down ok when I was chugging it when he was doing the fill. The following morning, I could not keep liquids down. You may need just a slight bit removed to be at your right place.

That's how my fills are done only I do have the numbing. I had a bit of trouble with my last one, but it is great now.

Now, I don't know if you are helping or not LOL!! Those cinnamon bars from the bariatriceating.com are already too yummy for me!! And, I think I bought 3 boxes of them! I need to wait till I get at least 20 more pounds off then I'm off to buy your yummy find. They do sound good! I have this splenda problem. I even put it on peanut butter!! It's weird because I quit eating sugar years ago!! I don't really have many foods to use it on, but do put 3 in my skinny lattes as well as the P.B. and in protein shakes if I make my own and don't use ready made. Recently I read that artificial sweeteners can harm the band. I do hope this is not true. Does anyone know anything about this or if it is true? (I read it on the board, not in any article).

Sounds like the plan is working well for you!! I need to follow your plan again as well. I started eating some bariatric snacks this week that are high in protein and taste like chips, cinnamon cookie bars, yeah all the good stuff!!! And, they taste good. It's my nut's fault as he was handing out samples sent to him!! I actually bought them to take on a trip. Perhaps they will be good snacks once the weight is off. For now, they are too high in carbs! Keep up your great work

I'm sorry you are not happy with the band. I have issues at times too. I don't know who talked to you or what research you or some of the others did. It seems that some people were led to believe that they could eat anything they wanted,would naturally eat less, and the weight would fall off. This was not my expectation. I expected that I would be giving up lots of foods forever. I expected that I would be eating very small amounts of protein and vegetables at each meal and supplement with protein shakes. I expected to lose the weight quite quickly or hoped to lose most in the first year. I expected this to be similar to the many diets I had been on with the difference being that I would not be hungry once the fills were sufficient. The difference that I expected is that this time, unlike every other time I have lost lots of weight, I would KEEP IT OFF. This time I will not gain it all back plus more. This is what my expectations of the band were and are. So far it is meeting those expectations. I still cheat and eat things I should not like on any diet, but we are all human and just get back on track. But, we just have to change our way of eating, band or not, or we will not ever lose the weight. And, we need to exercise,something I am very inconsistent with unfortunately. We just have to take little steps in those areas we find challenging whether it be food choices or moving our bodies! I hope we all can have much success as time goes on. Remember, many people do not adjust to life with the band and start losing until they are 6 months out so hang in there!!!

You have such a touchy band!!! Mine's been a bit touchy after my second fill. I used to be able to eat nuts no problem, but no more. Cashews are really no fun to bring back up. Can you eat nuts? Did you eat the crackers too fast because you were so hungry?

I recovered from my second fill, which was tough, and a sinus infection and I'm doing ok now. I was very happy today to try on the dress I bought a couple months back for my son's March 21st wedding and it fits perfectly!! Yeah!!! It's the same designer and 2 sizes smaller than the dress I was married in last June so that was an accomplishment for me. I really did not think I would be wearing the dress! I can't eat much and have no real appetite until later afternoon. I can eat well after that. I have a protein shake and skinny latte early in the day. I can now eat tuna and hamburger. I am a bit upset that I can no longer eat nuts as I could after the first fill and enjoyed them as a quick easy snack. Can the rest of you still eat nuts??

I'm flying to West Africa in April and my Dr. said flying would not effect the band at all. He did give me a needle and syringe in case I should need an emergency unfill while I am there.

I am prescribed 800 mg ibuprofen 2 x's a day and my surgeon said it's ok. After all I've read about other Dr's views, I only take them when I absolutely cannot stand it anymore, usually when it's really damp. I just take my pain pills on a regular basis.

You should stay on liquids for at least two days and gradually add soft foods like oatmeal and soups as you can tolerate them. After my fill and partial unfill, it was a full week before I could tolerate food and even then it was tuna salad. You need to take it gradually, but you will be eating again!!

Sorry for the confusion!! She had me feeling great empathy for her as I had such a time just a bit over a week ago. No, they do not put you under for a fill!! I had my second fill and Water went down fine. I drank water and Protein shakes the remainder of the day, took my meds and all was ok. I was up until about 3:30 a.m. I slept until 8, woke up and took a few sips of water. It all came back up. I then tried a hot drink as I had read that Hot drinks loosen a tight band in the morning. After a few sips of that. I started throwing up every 10 mins for an hour or more. That is when I called the Dr. and was told that I must return for an emergency unfill. They had put in 1.5 cc and removed .5 of it.

Sounds like your Dr is taking it slow as some prefer to do. You may just have to be more patient with reaching that spot, but who knows? Some people do not even need a fill for 6 months after surgery. The band alone gives them enough restriction. My band was filled at surgery (unsure how much) and my first fill was 3.5 cc. Good luck to you and you will hit that spot soon!!

Believe me when I say there is no gratification in waking up the next day and not being able to keep down even liquids and throwing up every 5 minutes after drinking 2 ounces!!! Ask for a bit more in a few weeks if you are still not restricted. I'm self pay so I am glad my Dr. is a bit more aggressive, but I still do not wish to go through an overfill again. I am also amazed at all of my fellow November bandsters who feel absolutely no restriction after their fills. I never could have eaten a meal following my first fill and it was a full week after the second. I keep forgetting to ask how much he put in at surgery. Anyway, maybe yours wil kick in later as some report! I hope it does. If not, call your Dr and complain!!!!!! Good luck!

vomiting should be avoided at all costs. It can cause damage to your band.

Oh my, I had my second fill and woke after a few hrs. and started throwing up liquids when I tried a sip of water. I know I had fluid sitting there. My Dr insisted on doing an unfill. I would find another Dr. fast.

I also had vicodin tolerance. My Dr. said to take what he gave me in addition to what I normally took, but I only did that a few times. I swallowed pills better then than I do now!!

I'm finding it slightly more difficult after my second fill. I just wait a bit after taking one. I can't take large amts of Water at a time like I could before.

I had a prescription patch to wear behind my ear for 10 days (new one daily). I told the Dr. I never usually had a problem, but he insisted I use it as it is not good to vomit.

I ate at I-Hop tonight. I had Tilapia fish and broccoli off the kid's menu. It had hollandaise sauce on the side. It was good and I couldn't even quite finish it. And, only $4.00!!

Follow what the Dr says. My Dr had me include protein shakes every 4 hrs from day 1. I had a drink schedule which had a beverage for every half hr with 2 breaks a day!! Lots of fluids are important and he may not be able to drink much at a time, but needs to sip throughout the day.

I thought I would have to go back for a second unfill after last Tues. fill. It was only my second fill, but overly effective!! I had problems on the weekend, but finally Tues. night I was able to eat well and now it's ok. I am back on solids for my dinner meal and I'm glad I waited it out because it seems just right now. Of course, if I still had been unable to keep liquids down which was the case when I went in for the unfill last Wed, I would have run back fast for an unfill!!! On another subject, I have had horrible gas since this second fill!!! Anyone else found this to be the case after a fill and does it get better?? I sure hope so!!

It's normal!!! It get's even more so as the day gets closer, but it's also very exciting to know that you are making such a significant change in your life!! Your health is going to improve so much in such a short time. You will look and feel better, your self esteem will be better, your energy higher..........focus on all the positive things to come!! Also, the surgery is a piece of "cake"!! Congratulations!!

You probably do need another fill, but you are right on target with your weight loss according to my Dr.!