Mickey527

I never was a diet soda fan because the sugars gave me terrible headaches but I do like a coke once in a while. I have been craving them alot lately and since I am doing so well I give in to cravings once in a while. I had about 2 oz of coke before dinner on Christmas when everyone else was having hor-dourves. I poured the soda and stirred it as much as I could to take out some carbonation. I then took sips and just let the flavor fill my mouth before swallowing. It went down great with no burping after and I was able to enjoy my coke. I may even have 4 oz for New Years Eve!

Why no straw? My Dr never told me to avoid straws. I drink my water/crystal light every day in a plastic bottle with an attached straw but I dont' get gas pains. Is it something only new banders have ot avoid?

LOL I can definately relate too. I have what some on these boards have called "First Bite Syndrome". My Dr said he has never heard of it but I have it. I was at Disney World eating the most delicious chicken and pasta dish. I was near the bathroom because I know I that first bite will come up, then I can eat whatever I want. I took the first bite, waited about 10 min and bam! it wanted out. I ran to the Bathroom only to see the yellow sign "Bathroom closed for cleaning" Of course I didn't know where the nearest one was, I had never eaten at this resort before, so I banged on the door, the lady said "closed" and I said I can't wait, I have to throw up NOW! She let me in and I did what I needed, rinsed my mouth, washed my face and hands and went back to the table and finished my delicious dinner.

I have to add another.. leftover shrimp. I went to Red Lobster the other day and ate about 1/2 of my meal. Well I have first bite syndrome so I ate a bite, waited about 20 min for it to come up then ate 1/2 my meal. I reheated the food in the microwave two days later and had the first bite and brought it up then had the 2nd, then the 3rd, then the 4th. then I brought it all up and saliva vomited for the next 4 hours. I broke a blood vessel in my eye from the retching. Ughhh! I had 1 cc removed the day I ate Red Lobster for the first time and thought I was ok with eating, but that first bite syndrome is killing me. I have gained 4 lbs because the only thing I can keep down are sweets (chocolate) and protein shakes so I am drinking them 4 times a day. I see the dr again on Tuesday and am ready to have the band removed, I can't take this first bite stuff anymore.

Please let us know what the Dr says. I am having the same problems and my Dr is mystified. I had 2 cc in my band,1 after 1 month then another in Dec. (Banded in Sept 2009) I lost the weight by watching everything I eat, and I cut out most sweets. Don't seem to crave them anymore which is great. For the past three months when I take the first bite I feel stuck and can't swallow even the saliva and have to bring up that food. It sometimes takes 30 minutes to get it up because I can't make myself vomit. I try drinking a big gulp of liquid and all that comes up is the liquid or saliva. Then I can eat the rest of my dinner without a problem but I am sick of eating cold food. Tuesday I had 1 cc taken out (so now I have 1 cc). I ate good Tuesday and Wednesday but last night I took one bite and brought up saliva for 3 hours. It was the worst night of my life, and I wound up breaking a few blood vessels in my eyes from the vomiting and now my eyes are bloodshot. I called my Dr and was told to do shakes for a few days and then back to soft, but I can't even stomach the shakes, my stomach feels so queasy.

I am a cancer survivor and had a TRAM flap,they took my stomach muscle to rebuild my breast, instant tummy tuck! but the chemo caused the tissue to fail so they had to debride most of it so I went from a 38D to about a 36AA. Only 36 because that is what I am around, the breast is probably AAAA, but they don't make bras that small. I am wearing sport bras now just because I am not comfortable without one. I had the other breast reduced to match but now with the weight loss it has gotten smaller than the rebuilt one. I am going for a mastectomy on the other breast because I can't take this worrying now every year when they find something on my mammogram that winds up being nothing. So next month is the mastectomy, then in July I wl get implants for both breasts. I am looking at a 36 C now since I am wearing size 6 and anything bigger would be ridiculous.

Bread, Orange membranes, green beans, sometimes brocolli. I don't even try oranges any more, that was the worst, I do keep trying bread since I am such a carbo-holic. Last night I went to red Lobster and I was able to eat one of those garlic rolls without any problem, which is good but then again bad. I took 2 home for tonight with my leftovers.

I am down to goal (YEAH!!!) and my port is showing alot. It sticks out and shows when I wear a t-shirt. I have to wear button down shirts to have it be covered. I won't every wear a bikini (too old) but do feel comfortable in tucked in t-shirts so I am going to talk to my Dr about moving the port somewhere else. I can't have it put below my muscle because I don't have any stomach muscle on the right side since I had a Tram flap surgery after my mastectomy and they rebuilt my breast with my stomach muscle. they could move the port to the left side but I would rather have it under the skin than under the muscle where it is harder to access. I have only had one fill so I only have 2 cc in my port now. I have restriceted my food intake to a normal amount and I am very careful with what I eat so this tool helped me get the start I needed to lose what I have lost and gained over many many years. I feel that somewhere down the line I will start to gain again and need to port to get fills when that time comes.

I came on today to ask this same question. I have what I read here is called "first bite syndrome". When I eat something I get the dreaded stuck pain until I bring that bite up. No matter how much I chew it, I have to bring it up before I can eat anymore. I then can eat my entire meal without problem. I haven't eaten a hot meal in months. I have tried the warm tea before eating and that didn't work. I have only vomited 4 times in my entire life before the band and I HATE to vomit. I tried the finger down the throat, bending over, and chugging water but nothing brings the food up quickly, all I get is saliva and the water. It takes sometimes 1/2 hour or more of pain before I can finally gag enough to bring that bite up. My big problem now is that I have to go to FL to help a friend who is having surgery. I know that we will be eating out a few times and don't want to spend 1/2 hour in the bathroom trying to clear the food before I can eat my, by then, cold meal. I am going to the Dr the day before I leave to have some of my fill removed to try and help me while I am away, but I only have 2 cc in my band. I have been really good with watching everything I eat so I haven't needed many fills and I am almost to my goal. I am not afraid of overeating while there but I dont' want to continue with this "first bite syndrome" My question is: How can I bring that bite up quicker???

I had mine out 4 months after my band. Talk to your surgeon and ask for a HIDA scan rather than an ultrasound. My ultrasound said I had sludge in the gallbladder and the Dr said that wasn't enough of a reason to remove it. I had to have 3 episodes where I went to the ER in severe pain. I am cheap and won't pay $150 co-pay just for a shot of Demerol so I toughed it out at home. I finally had a HIDA scan where they inject something that goes right to the gallbladder while they are doing the scan. The HIDA scan showed that my gallbladder was not functioning correctly and it was removed a few days later. I also had severe pain, vomiting and nausea for about 2 weeks before they finally did the HIDA scan. One note: the stuff they inject is some kind of radioactive stuff and I was given a note that I had to carry for 4 days in case I had to go through any type of security. They told me it was the same stuff that terrorists use.

I have had gallbladder problems for many years but never bad enough for surgery. My Lap Band surgeon suggested I get it taken out. He never said he could do it either before or during the band placement so I contacted the surgeon who did my mastectomy. He did a scan and said my gall bladder looked ok but had some sludge, not enough to remove the gallbladder. I had the band placed in Sept. and have lost 55 lbs. Now of course the gallbladder is angry. I have had constant achyness and two times had BAD attacks that refused to ease even with 2 Percocet. So, my lap band surgeon ordered a HIDA scan and the gallbladder is bad. Now he tells me he can remove it. I am so upset that I have to go through this surgery to have it removed. I also am not looking forward to more scars on my already mutilated stomach and chest. Ok, I'm done, just wanted to complain to someone.

Sorry haven't been on line for a while. someone asked if I had asked the surgeon to do the gallbladder at the same time as the lap band. Yes, I did ask the surgeon but he didn't do gallbladders at the time. I went to the surgeon who did my mastectomy and he said without 3 severe episodes that brought me to the ER he wouldn't take it out. I am stoic? stubborn? have good pain tolerance? cheap? I won't go to the ER unless I am bleeding to death. It costs me $150 co-pay and I am on disability. $150 is my food budget for 2 months. I only had 1 severe to the ER episode, the others I tolerated at home. Once I had the band "installed" the gallbladder began to get bad but I put up with the pain at home. It wasn't until I vomited after every meal and walked doubled over to the DR that he did the HIDA scan and took it out. I had my band surgeon do it because he left his "band only" office and opened his own office where he does more types of surgery now and not just bands anymore.

thanks for pulling this up again. I did a search for it looking for protein cereal and Target but couldn't find it. I wrote another post about this cereal after reading this post. Again, thank you to the OP, this stuff is great.

I did a search and can't find the post about this. Someone else posted a few weeks ago about a cereal with high protein at Target. I finally got there yesterday and found the cereal. It is Archer Farms Simply Balanced High Protein Cinnamon Cereal. It has 15 gms of protein in each 3/4 cup bowl without milk. It is delicious plain. I just had a bowl dry while reading posts on this board. (my milk was lumpy today, I lost a bowl when I poured the milk) It is made with: soy protein concentrate, corn meal, evaprotated cane juice crystals, mixed fruit concentrate, soy grits, wheat gluten, whole oat flour, rice flour, natural flavor, canola oil, sugar, salt and soy lecithin. 180 cal, 2 g fat 5% sodium 26 g carbs 3 gms fiber and 15g protein, all wrapped up in a recycled package. lol Some of you with gluten problems might not be able to tolerate it though. I am flying to visit my sister next week and I will definately pack some in a baggie for snacking on the plane. Much better than those pretzels and peanuts they give you. thank you to the original OP whoever you are.

You don't have the choice I need. It has gotten less but it is still there. I am about 7 lbs from my goal but the cellulite is still there and noticable. I doubt that it will totally go away on my legs. Your choices are 1)it is still there, 2)it is going or 3)it is gone.

I used to be able to put away a full 12" sub without a problem. Now I can't eat a 6" because of the bread. I get the salad now, they put all the toppings I like into a bowl then add the meat. I usually have to cut the meat up after but I add the oil and vinegar just like before. I add crushed crackers, croutons or some wheat thins if I am craving a bread flavor. I can get about 1/2 of this down and save the rest for the next day. I am a breadaholic so this is the one thing I really miss.

For the past few weeks I have been getting stuck at almost every meal. I have the first bite, and get the stuck feeling. It is very painful with sliming, runny nose, burping, everything. I have to force myself to bring up the food and then I feel good again. I sit down and eat the rest of my meal without any problems and eat a good amount. Because of this I haven't had a hot meal in weeks, by the time I get the first bite up my food is cold but I eat it all, a full plate. I do make sure to chew the first bite totally, and take a small amount, it doesn't matter, it still gets stuck. I have tried walking around the house, patting my chest to try and move the item, and chewing papaya enzyme, but nothing helps. It is only the first bite so I know I am not to tight. Also, I haven't had a fill in about 2 months and this just started about 2 weeks ago. I have 2 1/2 cc in my band, not alot, I only had 3 fills but have been doing well without being too tight until now. I usually eat frosted mini wheats or some other high fiber cereal for bfst. Lunches consist of scrambled eggs, tuna, refried beans with cheese, etc... and dinner is meat and veggies. I always eat the protein first so it is not like I get a veggie stuck. And no matter how soft the food or how well I chew it I still get stuck. I am going to fl in a few weeks to be with a friend who is having cancer surgery and I don't want to be in the bathroom sliming when she needs me. I spoke to the NP at my Dr's office and she said she will remove some of the fluid in my band but not all of it so I don't overeat while away, she said probably 1 cc. anyone have any ideas what might be happening or what I might be able to do to prevent this. It seems like once I bring up the food the band stretches a bit and allows me to eat without problems.

Bread, I can't touch it. I used to go to restaurants and if the bread was good I would fill up on that and tell them to pack my meal for home. Places like Red Lobster (oh those garlic rolls) Olive Garden and Logan's steak House were my favorites. Now I can't even take a small bite without it getting stuck and so painful. I haven't had a problem with potatoes in any form, but usually have them mashed but I don't eat them often, probably once a month. I never knew why everyone said to avoid rice until just now when I read that it keeps expanding after you eat it. I eat rice about once a week and haven't had a problem with it either. My new favorite is the sweet potato fries from Trader Joe's. They are so good.

I got stuck twice this week, both out of stubborn stupidity. I wa sout shopping and got an egg and ham sandwich on a hard roll. that roll killed me, over an hour in the bathroom trying to get it all out. I didn't want to eat the rest of the day, even the shakes I keep on hand didn't look good to me. The next day I went out to dinner with my son and the garlic knots just looked so good. I chewed so good, and washed it down with water (I know but I wanted one) and another 10 min in the bathroom. I went back to the table and ate my chicken parm and ziti without any more problems though. I love, Love, LOVE bread and that is the worst part of this band. I am going to visit a friend next month and we are going to Logan's Steakhouse, they have the most delicious bread and I am going to really suffer.

That company makes two kinds, 20 gms and 35 gms. I get the chocolate and vanilla from TJ's and the strawberry from Vitamen Shoppe. I have also seen them at GNC and a few other places. I love them, so much better than some of the other protein shakes, but they are expensive. My son works at TJ's so I get 10 % off which is almost nothing, $0.13 off a can. I haven't had to use them for a while since I haven't had a fill in a while, but I always have them in the house in case I get a stuck episode and have to do liquids for a few meals.

I also have constipation problems all my life. Nothing worked for me. since the band I have been worse, and take Benefibre daily, also use citrate of magnesium about once a month to clear me out when I just can't take the full feeling and pain anymore. I had my gallbladder out last week and since then I poop every day. It is such a wonderful feeling to feel cleaned out. The liquid you get after the constipated stuff is normal after being constipated. Normal is not the right word, but it is what happens. Sometimes when the older people I used to take care of were constipated all that could get out was the liquid. Not going to tell you what I had to do to help them... Ugh, the joys of nursing. I would try more fiber, I have been eating fiber Plus mini wheats cereal every morning and that has helped alot. Just remember to let them soak in the milk, they go down easier and don't get stuck. But do see your Dr, he might want to have you try something else, rather than upset your stomach like you have been.

I had the band placed in Sept. and have been really worried about how much hair I have been losing. to the point where I would go 3 days without shampooing because I couldn't deal with the clogged drain and the hair that I pulled from my brush. And if I ran my hands through my hair I would get 10-20 strands each time, all day long. and my pillowcase would be covered when I woke up. I do have to say that it is slowing down. Yesterday when I washed it I only had 3 strands come out and about 20 in the brush. When I run my hands through now I get maybe 2, sometimes none, and no hair on my pillowcase for the past few nights. I have always gotten enough protein and the Dr said it might have been my gallbladder which could have caused some of the loss but since my surgery last week I see a great improvement. I always had thin hair, but alot of it, now I have 1/2 of what I had before and it is thinner. I don't see the new short growth yet but it's early. I do have to say, that no matter how many people on these boards reassured me that it would grow back, I was still not a believer and it really was worrisome.

I also had great success with the drop in BP. My blood pressure was ridiculously high, at one point I was hospitalized with a BP of 210/190. this was during a really tough time at work and I came home with a terrible headache that wouldnt' go away. My friend made me go to the ER where they immediately gave me nitropaste. That brought the BP{ down but the headache got so bad. My B/P before the band was normally 140/90 on meds. the only time it was lower was when I was on chemo and slept all the time. Since losing the weight I had to stop all meds because it is now 110/68. I see my cardiologist this week to make sure it is still down and if I can toss all my meds away.

I know we are not going to get the 10-16" they are predicting but I do expect to see at least 3-5 by tomorrow morning. I have had lots of gallbladder pain over the past few weeks. Had a HIDA scan and the Dr scheduled surgery for March 2. Today I went for a pre surgery visit and he said it had to come out tomorrow due to the pain and attacks I have had for the past 4 days. I haven't been able to keep anything down, even the cottage cheese today came up, and I havent' had a fill for a month so it is not the band. I am constantly nauseous and the pain is worse than labor pains, at least those were every 3 minutes, this pain is constant and not relieved with my Percocet. So tomorrow I have to try and find someone to drive me since my reliable person won't drive in the snow, and off to surgery I go.

I made lasagna yesterday because my son requested it. He is a Marine and home on leave till tomorrow. I will cry tomorrow.... Anyway, I wouldn't consider it a slider. I had problems eating it and wound up pulling all the cheese and meat off the noodles and just eating that. And I ate all the cheese and meat with sauce, hey, it's protein... I just had another piece a little while ago for dinner and had to take the noodles off again.