housecatgirl

Thanks gals,:nervous Yep, it's my TOM but I must've been really tight 'cuz I was pb'ing water!:faint: Anyway, liquids are going down ok now as long as I don't drink too fast. Is it normal to have to slow down on drinking?:rolleyes At least it doesn't hurt anymore when I drink though. I only had .2 taken out...since I was loose:hungry: at 2.9 and then tight as heck:eek: at 3.4... they figured I should be good somewhere in the middle. I am a self pay so I hope to get this right soon.

Pinky, you look great! Ok, well I posted this update on it's own post but I think some of you look here more often so here's the repeat... So, last night I woke up in the middle of the night...coughing and sputering up water I had right before bed. I was only able to get about 20oz of liquid down yesterday due to it going down so slowly and giving me the chest pain from hell!! Called my doc and he said come in today! I was so worried I slipped my band but when he checked under floro he said it all looked fine and the pouch didn't look dilated.:phanvan He then had me swallow the barium and all was well. However, based on my symptoms he unfilled me .2 anyway...so now I have 3.2 in my 4 cc band. I was able to drink a whole bottle of water right afterward. Now, only 3.5 hours later I am able to drink but again need to go slow and hear it gurgling down and feel the chest pressure again. I am seriously starting to wonder about this band or maybe I am just weird or something.:tired It's expensive to keep going back and I feel like I will never have the right restriction. I even got to thinking that once it is right I will lose weight... then I will need a fill and round and round we go with this trial and error!!:faint: :help: Fellow Bandsters...I am in need of some encouragement! <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Update...So I went for my appointment and he couldn't get it in me. Apparently, I have a small cervix and it wouldn't fit.:cry I was also told I have a small stomach by the fill doc...I guess I am a small woman traped in a large woman's body!! I still have cramps though from the failed attempts.:think So, he gave me something called Yaz. I guess it's new and a lower hormone dose than Yasmine.:rolleyes I don't think I'll be going back to the doc though. When I told him I gain water weight on the pill...he said, "that's nonsense...I hate when women try to blame everything for their weight but themselves.":omg: This said while I am still cramping from the jerk poking around and not being able to insert the IUD!!:angry

Wow, Ok then I am keeping my appointment tomorrow morning then. I will let you all know how it goes. I also talked to my lapband doc today and found I probably need a small unfill due to not being able to even drink much water lately since my last fill:eek: so tomorrow should be an interesting day.

Ok, for those that answered, thank you so much...I feel alot better now. I was reading so many horror stories on the web but the people that actually like it probably don't post since all is well with them. One more question...Do you have the copper or the Mirena one?

Thanks for the info JDru and Morsaille, Morsaille, Do you notice any side effects? Did you have side effects on other things like pills or patches?

I have also heard that happens when you are in ketosis.

Thanks for your response. Are there less hormones in it than the patch?

Yes, I thought maybe I didn't even have a band until my last fill.:paranoid OMG, be careful what you wish for because I am so tight now. I barely drink and can't really eat. I am hoping it will get better after my TOM but I have an appointment on Tues. to get things checked out and possible unfill.

Reeses addict here too!! I usually buy them for Halloween candy and by the time Halloween gets here I need to buy another bag cause they are gone.

Count me in for the challenge. I just joined curves so I think the exercise won't be hard for me BUT I am not so good with the water especially if I am still this tight. I have recently lost 5lbs though. Probably a combo of exercise and this fill from hell.:faint: Socalgal... Thanks for the TOM/PMS advise. I have an appointment for next Tues. I am going to go even if I feel better just to get things checked out. My girlfriend needs to get a fill anyway so I can just hop in the car with her.

Wow, Chris, did you lose 76 lbs and you just got banded in July?

My best advice is if you have any restriction at all don't get another fill!! I think I made a mistake getting my last fill because now I am miserably tight and will probably need an unfill.:cry I hope I haven't damaged my band. That being said, if you have no restriction and can eat anything and as much as you ate pre-band go for a slight fill but be careful. I was at 2.9 and had very, very mild restriction....got .5 and I feel horrible!:faint: One thing that helped alot is I started exercising right before my last fill and I think I would have started losing.

Hi Poodles, I have always loved Tofu. I don't think I could get it down right now though. I keep trying to burp and most of the time nothing comes out. Once in a while I burp up the water and end up coughing/choking on whatever comes up? Sorry if I am grossing anyone out but just wondering if that's happened to anyone else? Is everyone tighter during the TOM?

Hi socalgal3! How long did the major restriction last for you? I have even been burping water. It stays down but gurgles as I burp. gross!! Interestingly the only thing I am able to eat is mash potato and gravy...yogurt=PB, protein shake=PB, etc. My TOM started today. I am willing to give it a few more days...

Yes!:faint: Lots of pain in my chest after this third fill. After the second one I would get this pain sometimes but only if I really over did it and ate the wrong things or didn't chew enough/took too big of bite, etc.:rolleyes I am still contemplating an unfill. It's my TOM next week so I am thinking about riding it out for now and seeing how I feel after the TOM.

I was banded by Dr. Ortiz and I suggest you get his very informative book. I had a great experience and I highly recommend him. You can pm me if you have any specific questions.

Get some aloe vera juice and some papaya enzymes from your local health food store...tonight if you can. NO MORE solids for 24-72 hours. However long you can stand. Warm liquids and double doses of aloe for a few days.

Get an unfill fast. Call Dr. Ortiz for a referral or see if you can find someone at the fill center usa. I don't remember the website for that but I am sure you'll find it if you google it.

Sounds like a tight band to me. I get the same feeling. Are you burping too and feel like you have air stuck in your throat? Maybe you have early restriction... I am not a very experienced bandster but recently after my 3rd. fill I found restriction and it's not exactly what I thought it would be.

Thanks Kathy! You are so funny but so true!! I was able to get a few creamy and soupy things down today. I'm not sliming or pb'ing my plan is to ride it out and see what happens unless I can't even get liquids down. I am burping pretty bad... maybe I am sucking in air with my food or something... I will stay on the aloe. The one I got actually doesn't taste that bad either.:Banane10:

Well said ralheit! I think that is exactly how most of us feel. I have learned alot from my band...most importantly patience.

Thanks so much Kathy! Yes! It was you...you aloe junkie.:clap2: How long should I stay this tight before I know it's time for an unfill?:rolleyes My TOM is next week so I am thinking maybe I should wait until the following week and see if the combo of possible weight drop and TOM being over will open me up a little.:phanvan I will try to stick with liquids. Should it be clear liquids or are shakes/yogurt, creamy soup type stuff ok?

It is hard to do it on your own...but having the band isn't the cure all. I don't want to sound too harsh but it is just a tool. You will need to make proper choices and work out for it to work. Good luck...I am sure you are doing the right thing if you have tried to do it on your own already...just be prepared to be patient and work with the tool.

Hi Leila, I always love your responses! You are like a health food encyclopedia!!:Banane10: So, I have been using the recommended dosage of aloe since Friday afternoon. Do you think I should use it for a few more days? I am almost always constipated and have not had a BM since Thurs. Maybe because I am not eating much... Sorry if that's too much info.:tired My TOM starts next week and I read that may be why I am so tight.:paranoid I also know I don't drink enough water and I recently read that effects band tightness so I am trying really hard to get enough.:phanvan