Mamacita2008

I just had my band out two days ago. I was in the hosp. for just one night. I believe my insurance is going to pay for it. In my case, tests revealed that the band had slipped. I had a lot of reflux because liquids were not passing all the way through the pouch - so in the last bunch of days before the removal, I could not eat regular food. All this with a complete unfill three weeks prior. Here I am, home, two days later, and drinking juices, ice teas, smoothies, milk, and everything is passing through fine. I'm looking forward to reliving a normal life and hopeful that I can face the food choice battles better this time around. I know what you mean about all that you posted. Is it possible you can get a second opinion? I would think for a variety of reasons a removal is an option. How about a complete unfill? Oh, good, good luck and good vibes to you.

Wow, thanks everyone! Yes, I have been sticking to the Carnation Instant Breakfasts (sugar free) in the a.m., and it takes me a while to get through a whole one. Even just a few sips in the a.m. is filling!!! I am so glad to say I have had no pain in the past couple of days!! I even had a very small barbecued chicken wing, 1/3 corn cob, and tiny bit of potato salad for lunch today, took it slow, and everything went well. Whew!!! Hopefully I'll see more weight loss soon. It's been slow. Then again, I've waited before getting these fills....

Thanks, everyone! I have adapted my diet, especially in the a.m. and have been doing Carnation Instant Breakfasts (I love those). I actually had barbecued chicken and corn for lunch today (just a wing), with a very tiny portion of potato salad....and that went well. Whew! Here's to hoping things keep going well....it's all new again....

So, I went in today for a diagnostic upper GI. Everything looked okay, so we talked about just eating "easier" items in the morning, and just making sure to chew really, really well (which, that part, I thought I'd been doing), and eating maybe even less. I guess I have to wrap my mind around the fact that I will be full in just a few bites. Is that the norm? Hopefully if I eat yogurt/maybe oatmeal/protein shakes in the a.m. when the band feels tighter, then all will shake out better for me in the next bunch of weeks/months. Does that make sense to you guys? I'd really appreciate any feedback. Thanks so much - have a wonderful night!! :biggrin:

Hi everybody!!! I was banded in November of 2008, as well. It's about time I check in w/ you!!! I recently had my third fill and am finally feeling restriction. It actually may be too much and I'm having it checked out w/ an upper GI today. Of course part of me does not want to part w/ any saline! But the other part of me knows that I need to be healthy. Up until this recent fill (now 5 cc's in a 10 cc band), I was able to eat most things - and even drink while I eat. Not anymore. Now, I can just eat maybe one sausage (or a 1/2 of one you'd put on a grill), and it feels like it's stuck in my chest for HOURS. It's giving me mid-back pain, too...for HOURS. Does that sound like it's too tight to you all experienced folks? Well, we'll see what happens later today - and I'll check back in. I'd appreciate any feedback you all have...thanks!!!

Does anyone have experience w/ the band feeling tighter in the a.m.? I just had my third fill recently, and that is the one where I am feeling the greatest restriction. I go in today to see if it's actually too much. The reason why I ask is that I'll have protein in the a.m. (like one sausage), and I am wayyyyyyyy full to the point where I'm uncomfortable for hours. It feels "stuck" in my chest and my mid-back hurts until it passes through the band HOURS later. And I mean HOURS. Since this recent fill, it's like I have to reconfigure what to eat/when/how much - because the restriction is so new to me. Up until recently, I was able to eat a lot more, in general. Thanks in advance for your replies!!!

I was banded in 11/08 and up until recently only lost about 20 lbs. Restriction up until very recently was hit or miss. I just had my third fill in 7/09 and am finally experiencing a good deal of restriction. I have 5 cc's in a 10 cc band and I'm definitely seeing more weight loss now. Here are a couple of questions now that I'm finally seeing some progress: 1. Is it normal for restriction to "kick in" or feel more pronounced after a couple of weeks of getting a fill? At first I definitely felt the restriction, but it feels even more pronounced a couple of weeks later. 2. How much is a typical amount of food to eat in one sitting? I'm finding that I can only tolerate say a few spoonsful of tuna salad. (Of course prior to having this great restriction, I could eat a lot more...and crackers....so I feel that these "basics" are sort of new to me 9 mos. later.) Thanks in advance for your insight!!

I was banded mid-November and had cardiology clearance before the procedure. Now that I am on the soft foods phase and have little/no restriction (meaning, I don't often feel "full"), I have noticed that I will start to have chest pain after a meal, most often dinner. It takes a while to subside - usually when I fall asleep. I have even had that pain in the a.m. sometimes, too (after meals). Anyone else have this? I have placed a call to my doctor's office and am playing phone tag w/ them....and at the same time experimenting w/ why this could be happening: 1. Perhaps I overate (and still don't have those "full" signals because I have little restriction - first fill isn't until mid-Jan.) 2. Perhaps I drank too soon. Last night I watched my portion size and made sure I drank 30 to 60 min. or more after this meal. NO PAIN! Glad, but thought I'd bounce this off you good people in the forum. Thanks in advance for "weighing in". :biggrin: PS The lack of "fullness/restriction" feeling is such a pain in the neck (or chest!)

My holistic doc said that calcium citrate is often preferable to calcium carbonate, because the carbonate form can often lead to feeling of "bloatiness". I'm new in this process, but I have tried both forms, and believe I do feel a lot more normal (and less bloated) w/ the citrate vs. the carbonate. It's interesting how different doctors' recommendations can be w/ regard to diet, nutrition, etc.

I think you might mean calcium citrate..yes, for the bones is all I can suppose. I have a post-op appt. tomorrow and I am asking questions re: vitamins, because another one that is recommended is iron (ferrous sulfate). I get why (red blood cells, etc.), but it's really messing w/ my digestive track. I'm hoping that they will let me "nix it" and let me supplement w/ real food (even pureed spinach w/ tofu or something). I've always been a strong believer in getting as nutrients from food vs. vitamins, but I do take a high B complex recommended from my regular, holistic doctor, as well as calcium w/ magnesium. I did find calcium/magnesium/D at GNC this weekend so that I could get all these recommended items all together.

My period was due the day after surgery, and it arrived right after surgery (11/20 - this past Thurs). I was told by the nurses that surgery can actually bring on menses...but I bet all bets are off on that one...sounds like anything can happen....anything that "interrupts" regularity.

Sort of a relief to hear there are similar struggles. No mushies for me yet...10-14 days of full liquids, then 10-14 days of mushies...so I've a ways to go. I am going to call them tomorrow, though, just to check in about how much I'm tolerating. I suppose it's gas pain, too, because I feel like I have gas trapped in my chest. Ironically, I do feel hungry, but if I do sip on the protein shake, then I feel bloated/etc. Uggh...