marathonmommy

Thanks, I was very freaked out and thought I did something really bad! Talked to someone at work today with the band, and she says this happens to her somewhat often. I could not imagine that! 2 hours of sheer H-E-double-hockey-sticks!:thumbup:

NEVER had this happen before and did not have a recent fill. Has this ever happened before to anyone, and/or why do you think it happened?

Last night went out to eat. Ordered a burger and a side of broccoli. Could not have had more than 2 bites of each (thought I chewed well enough - thought wrong, I guess) and became very uncomfortable. Went to the bathroom and just wanted to puke. Finally "slimed", but it wasn't over! I was more than 2 hours from home and had to have someone else drive. I puked at least 5 or 6 more times on the way home into a plastic bag. :smile2: Most was liquid (sorry for the graphic description) with very few solid chunks in there. This "pain" and wanting to puke feeling went on for nearly two hours. What the hell did I do to myself? I feel fine today but am afraid to eat. :thumbup:

Haven't had one since the beginning of May - banded at end of May. Do any of you still indulge in this cool, refreshing treat? I know we are not supposed to because of bubbles, but I have a very successful friend who does. Just curious (and probably looking for an excuse to have a cool, crisp, glass with ice).

My nutritionist said that I need to make sure that my Protein is "dense" Protein rather than soft or slider-type Proteins. So, instead of eating scrambled eggs, I eat a boiled egg. A boiled egg takes longer to digest because it's denser. Instead of eating cottage cheese, I eat LF cheddar. I've found that the denser Proteins really do make me feel fuller longer, so I'm not as tempted to eat.

Typical menu for me includes boiled egg (breakfast, around 7:30 a.m.); 6-8 rolled up slices of thin deli turkey sometimes spread with laughing cow cheese, 1/2 an apple (lunch, around noon), handful of almonds or a piece of string cheese (snack, around 4:00 p.m.), 3-4 oz solid protein like grilled chicken, lean steak, or fish/shrimp, small salad w/ LF dressing or 1/2 c veggies (dinner, around 6:00). If I need a late-night snack, I'll usually have a SF pudding or something to satisfy my sweet tooth. I never drink with meals, and I make sure to get at least 64 oz. of Water per day.

The denser foods seem to do the trick for me. Hope this helps!

GatorGal

Wow! Are you saying that one hard boiled egg eaten at 7:30 am keeps you satisfied until lunch???? I am definitely not at my sweet spot then! I see you had your surgery about a month after me and have lost about double . . . how many fills did it take you to find that sweet spot? Ugh!

Starting to struggle a bit . . . was banded the end of May and have only lost about 30-35 pounds. I am now at about 200 pounds and would like to lose about 50 more. I have had about 3 fills am definitely not at the "sweet spot" yet. My weight loss has plateaued for about 2-3 months! Is this normal? I am doing my best to eat healthy, but I can surely eat more than a cup! I can't imagine that amount of food filling me yet.

Also . . .

Could you share what you eat for Breakfast that involves little to no cooking? Also, what do you all typically eat for lunch? dinner?

I am getting tired of a cheese stick and yogurt for breakfast and need inspiration and words of encouragement!

Hmmmmmm..........I am 5 months out and they are VERY noticable - probably because I am so fair skinned. Any suggestions?

What do you use on your scars? Have any of you tried SCARprin?

LOL! I guess this goes to show you are just going to have to try a few and see what you can take! I find the Isopure intolerable...way too syrupy, and I just can't stomach them, and I love Gatorade drinks. I wish I liked them, b/c they are chock full of Protein. I will have to try the magic bullet, though!

I keep forgetting to ask my doc and he never mentioned not going into the pool or ocean . . . how long are we supposed to wait. It's 4th of July weekend, and I forgot to ask! I was banded 5/28. Is it safe to go in?

Wow! You guys get fills quickly . . .

I was banded on 5/28 and won't get my first until 7/15!

Relax - it takes regular and consistent overeating to stretch out the pouch - but if you do regularly and consistently overeat (to the point of discomfort) the esophagus can baloon out to accommodate the bulk. It can be remedied by a complete unfill, but it does make you prone to slippage, so its not wise to think about it as something that can be fixed.

It does seem as if some people are very prone to it, I know a couple of people who swear they're not overeating but whose pouches seem to stretch out time and time again.

Thank you for calming me down. So, since I have not yet had a fill, is it unlikely I stretched it?

OMG! What does "stretching your pouch" mean for lapband patients? I didn't know this was a possibility. I thought stretching your stomach was for bypass people. So, we can stretch our pouches? I thought fills are what gave us restriction! Crap! Now something new to worry about? I feel as if on two occasions I have eaten more than a cup of food and I am about 4 weeks out . . .could I have stretched my pouch and screwed this whole thing up already?

I have the Bariatric VitaBand in cherry flavor. At first they weren't too bad, but now they are gross. I will probably switch to Flinstones.< /p>

Hi Mara. I feel great. Thanks for asking. I called my doctor a day before I was suppose to start soft foods and asked If I could start a day early. I was given the ok. Last night I had pan cooked fish. I just knew I would go to my old ways and overeat, but surprisingly I did not. I took small bites and chewed, chewed, chewed. I am naturally a slow eater. By the time 20 minutes went by I was satisfied and only had 4-5 ozs of fish. This band is the "magic wand" I have been seeking for a long time. I am still not hungry. This will be really easy to do. So far, so good. My only concern is over getting the fills. I'm afraid of needles and I am afraid of food getting stuck. No one has posted that stuck food gives the choking sensation. I don't want to experience that. I pray that I only need 1 or 2 fills.

I haven't started exercising yet. I know once I start the weight will just fall off.

I'm glad you are feeling well. That gas pain is really scary.

Since we were banded the same day and have the same BMI stats, I was curious how much you think you've lost so far . . .

Munger you will get your fill before I get mine. I am also TERRIFIED of needles. My first fill was schedule for 6/16/09, but I am flying a few days later. I was rescheduled for 6/30/09.

What kinds of foods are you eating now? I was put on soft foods today. I had 1/4 cups of refried Beans around 10:45 this morning. I am still full. I must remember to measure everything from now on. I do not want to overeat again.

I was banded the same day as you and need to fly at the end of June as well. As a result, I am going to hold off on my fill as well. Right now, I don't have the need for a fill, but I sure that will change soon. Are you feeling back to normal yet? I know you had a rough go of it. I was banded on Thursday and went back to work on Monday . . . I still wasn't feeling great at all but I made it through. I was very sick over that weekend. Looking back, it was gas. The pain was horrible, but I feel great now. I started on pureed foods a day and a half early. I did the Clear Liquids and Protein liquids for just about two weeks but was dying to chew something. Last night I had two scrambled eggs. That was probably too much to eat, but I'm okay now and will measure my food today. Can't wait to eat normal foods again!

I, too, have a bruise to the lower left - kind of near the pubic bone - but not quite that low. No where near an incision. Need to call the doc?

Designer whey . . . you only have to mix it with 3 oz. of water!

Thank you for asking. I feel MUCH better! On Sunday, I thought I was going to die. Dry heaved 3 times that day and felt a little better. Each day has gotten progressively better, and today I feel "almost" normal. I really want to try some food, but my doc's diet is sooooo strict:

Post Op

Week 1 - Clear liquids

Week 2 - Protein liquids

Week 3 - Puree

Week 4 - Mushies

Week 5 - Start trying foods

I don't think I can make it that long! My friend, banded a week before me, has been eating food for days. I know every doc is different, but I may need to ask for a more "advanced" plan. LOL!

I have the same questions. Will we return to feeling normal? I would to fell bloated and stiff because I have a band around my tummy. Do you ever go back to feeling good prior to the band? I am 4 days post op. I know I should give it time, but when you do not know how long you will feel this way it makes the journey a little depressing. Any advice? Does most banders feel better 2-3 weeks down the road?

We have just about the same stats. Hubby didn't want me to do this - thinks I am crazy. After the last couple of days, I am beginning to think he was right. UGH! So painful . . . . I hope the band does not make me permanently uncomfortable!

Thanks so much for those who posted they are experiencing pain. I do not feel pain from the incisions either, but the pain/uncomfortableness from gas is unbearable. I lay hugging a pillow for hours. I walk in between bouts with the pillow. Today, I dry heaved 3 times. The dry heaves actually made me feel a little better, although I'm afraid this has happened. I'm petrified to vomit, but I'm guessing dry heaves are just about the same. I do not remember reading about this pain . . . maybe I just didn't pay attention. When will this end?

I feel so nauseous. Like I could throw up at any moment. I am taking the anti-nausea meds, but it helps little. I can't get my Protein Drink down. I did call the doc and he recommended one pepcid tablet a day. Need to have hubby bring those home. UGH! Suggestions please . . .

I am a May 28 bandster as well. I am less comfortable than I had anticipated. I didn't think it would be a "big deal", but it feels weird. I wouldn't call it pain per se, but it is very uncomfortable. Feels like I need to let out a huge belch!

My doc called last week and said I'm ready to go b/c I have met all of the requirements. When I seemed surprised and asked it I was approved, I was told my insurance does not do preapprovals. Doc's office said not to worry about it b/c they went down the checklist, made some calls, and I am good to go. I made it clear I cannot pay for something like this, and they said they would never have taken me for a patient if they weren't sure insurance would pay. Anyone else not able to get preapproved - not b/c you don't qualify but b/c your insurance just doesn't do it?

It's hard to say what the right answer is. I started at a BMI of 49 so my choice was clear. You have to know that if you remain restricted, you will never get to enjoy food in the normal way again. I can only eat such tiny amounts. bread and fries (my favorite foods in the past) are off limits completely. I cannot eat them AT ALL because they get stuck. You have to leave behind your love of food, because your ability to fully enjoy it will be over. The question is. . . are you willing to give it your enjoyment of food and eating forever to lose a relatively small amount of weight. That is what you need to consider.

I hear what you are saying.

I guess, to me, 75+ pounds is not a small amount of weight . . .

First, let me say I have a BMI between 36-37.

During the approval process, I had to see various people in the medical field. I had to go see a trainer for an exercise program. She was surprised I was doing this b/c she didn't think I needed surgery. Just yesterday, I got the call from the anesthesiologist's person at the hospital. I had to tell her various information about previous surgeries, health background, height, weight, etc. She was very friendly. But, when I had to tell her my height and weight she said "And why are you doing this?":blink:

I know I am sure of myself and my decision, but this is less than comforting when surgery is scheduled for less than a week away!

Did anyone else have this happen to them?