girlinnyc

Sliming happens when you swallow something too big to go thru the band right away---your body quickly manufactures a thick saliva to try to help the "object" go thru. if the saliva builds up too quickly to get thru the band--well--it's gotta come out somewhere--you get it in your mouth and you feel the need, quickly, to spit it out! it's gross--but it's manageable. really, sounds worse in writing than it is when happening. but--if you're not near a bathroom--then you're in trouble!

yes! losing a lot of weight will even be reflected in your shoe size!! another reason to go shopping!!! (like you need another reason??) yayyy!

try immodium. it's over-the-counter. they have chewable tablets--but you can probably just swallow the little pills, if you can't find the chewable kind. the pills are TINY. take with lots of Water. you should be fine! good luck, girlin nyc

i love bread. if i was on a desert island with only ONE KIND OF FOOD--it would be bread===and now--i absolutely cannot eat it with the chicken salad--i am VERY restricted at the moment. and i don't MISS the bread--amazing!! you won't miss it. you'll be full and happy you can even get the chicken/tuna salad down! good luck!! girlin nyc

yes, my gf started WW and also is losing very well--BUT, i know that when she loses "patience"-she will gain again. i will lose patience--but the BAND will remind me that i really CAN'T eat like i did before. i definitely feel restriction now. i am NOT pushing food down myself at the same rate. it will be a slow loss--but i will lose. i managed to somehow lose 3 lbs (according to dr's scale) since last visit--and i really didn't try.

one day soon, you'll have a big drop. sometimes the scale is not your best friend--keep off the scale--just keep doing what you're doing. i had my 2nd fill this week, 1 month after the first fill. NOW i really feel a difference. much more restriction. i hope to be losing faster now. i wasn't really losing before (then again, i was probably eating too much).

Keith, What a terrible experience. I hope you are getting better and feeling better day by day. And, if you have any doubts about your care (though it seems like you are seeing plenty of good dr's)--but if you're worried--go for more opinions! You may want to make sure that the 10 days of antibiotics are enough--sometimes nasty infections must be treated with antibiotics for much longer. Consult the dr again if you have any questions. Hope you come back and update us on your progress. Glad you are alive and here to tell the story. Best wishes, girlin nyc

Helen, I went and got my 2nd fill today--it's clearly "Fill Day."!! i looked at your blog--you are looking GREAT! i managed to lose 3 lbs since the first fill, 1 month ago--even tho i felt hardly any restriction. This time-i think i can DEFINITELY feel restriction--i hope it's enough to keep me full, or at least--able to eat less. would really like to be losing at least 1, if not more, lb a week, steadily! good luck on continued weight loss! best wishes, girlin nyc

i got banded in jan--and i can SEE and FEEL that regular fills and followup are critical to this process. do NOT go to Mexico from new zealand for surgery until you have resolved the "where am i gonna get fills" question. so far i have had one fill--that was 6 wks after surgery--and it's NOT ENOUGH RESTRICTION. i am getting 2nd fill tomorrow. one of my other acquaintances on this board said she didn't lose weight until the 3rd fill--so i can see this is a process that requires regular, frequent after-surgery care. are you going to fly to mexico 3, 4, 5 times for a fill?? no! you've got to locate someone locally to do this! best wishes, girlin nyc

i didn't see how long since your surgery--but i'm sure it will go away soon. try not to pick kids up so much! before you know it--everything will be healed!! best wishes, girlin nyc

why not come to one of the support group meetings that dr. ren's patients have every month? call the office and ask when the next one is. i get confused about what wednesday evening it usually is. maybe there will be some good suggestions there. and--have you had an esophogram lately? maybe they want to do one to check placement--depending on how long ago it was done. i would definitely go back to the dr's office and ask for help. they seem very compassionate there--go and speak to them about your issues. best wishes girlin nyc

wow--that is AWESOME!! you go, girl!!

how will you get fills? are you sure a local dr. will take you? what will the cost be? what if you have complications? you're a long, long way from Mexico. (i think the local dr. is a better idea--but then again, just my opinion.) how experienced is the local dr? these should all be factored into your decision. maybe you should separate "vacation with daughter" from "surgery" in your mind--to keep things in perspective. would you go to mexico for surgery if you weren't going on vacation?? good luck in your decision.

i don't have any problems swallowing pills--and a couple of mine are really large. maybe it depends on the individual--try it and see if it goes down! the same applies with food....you just have to try.

i had the same experience--thinking that i could still eat the same after the fill----but uh, uh! had 2 incidences of "oh oh, it's STUCK!!" and one PB--then another--the next day. have learned that if it's not SOUP--i really have to SLOW DOWN, CHEW WELL, and wait to see if the food is all going down nicely. if i rush--i start to feel a little stuck. and that slows me down REAL quick. all on 1 fill! but--i still think i can eat too much---not feeling satisfied quickly enough. i think if you take enough time to eat--and pay attention-this will not happen (as much). i find if i let myself get too hungry--and then RUSH to eat--it is probably going to happen again. i have been staying away from really dense foods--but i can eat chicken, omelets, hamburger, turkey burger--all by focusing and pacing myself. good luck!

good luck on your surgery!! welcome to band land! hope all goes very well and easily and you're feeling well in a jiffy--i know you will be!

well, i had my first fill. the fill itself went fine. i think because i had OPEN gall bladder surgery 18 yrs ago (with horrible long incision)...i had no pain when the dr. stuck needle in to fill up the band. so that was the good part. didn't need any lidocaine or anything. the bad part was, after making my appt for 1 month down the road, and going down 10 floors in the elevator, and getting in a taxi--only THEN did i start to get nasty little squeezing pains in my left chest.... i figured "well...this is just because the band is filled and is pressing outward on something that doesn't like to be pressed out on"...so i went back to work...ignored it--or tried to---and by the time i got home, i was just miserable. took MAJOR painkiller--went to bed--and next morning all was well. so, the next day i thought--"there's NO restriction. i can still eat anything. they said i could come back in a week if no restriction, that's what i'll do." that continued through saturday. then whoa--on sunday--i had 2 incidences of "ouch the food is stuck" :omg: and my first PB (nasty).:think the first was from a scone (i know, i know--not supposed to be eating that). and the 2nd was from gobbling down (or starting to gobble down) some beef with broccoli--oy vey. missed the first part of the oscars show while waiting in the bathroom for the chunk in my chest to either GO DOWN or COME OUT. it eventually popped out. then i felt better. but boy, was i done with "dinner." so--i guess there IS restriction-=-and i will wait the month for the next visit. my warning is "even if you think there's no restriction--wait a few days--there may very well be some." the end. ta--daaaah.

well, i had my first fill. the fill itself went fine. i think because i had OPEN gall bladder surgery 18 yrs ago (with horrible long incision)...i had no pain when the dr. stuck needle in to fill up the band. so that was the good part. didn't need any lidocaine or anything. the bad part was, after making my appt for 1 month down the road, and going down 10 floors in the elevator, and getting in a taxi--only THEN did i start to get nasty little squeezing pains in my left chest.... i figured "well...this is just because the band is filled and is pressing outward on something that doesn't like to be pressed out on"...so i went back to work...ignored it--or tried to---and by the time i got home, i was just miserable. took MAJOR painkiller--went to bed--and next morning all was well. so, the next day i thought--"there's NO restriction. i can still eat anything. they said i could come back in a week if no restriction, that's what i'll do." that continued through saturday. then whoa--on sunday--i had 2 incidences of "ouch the food is stuck" :omg: and my first PB (nasty).:think the first was from a scone (i know, i know--not supposed to be eating that). and the 2nd was from gobbling down (or starting to gobble down) some beef with broccoli--oy vey. missed the first part of the oscars show while waiting in the bathroom for the chunk in my chest to either GO DOWN or COME OUT. it eventually popped out. then i felt better. but boy, was i done with "dinner." so--i guess there IS restriction-=-and i will wait the month for the next visit. my warning is "even if you think there's no restriction--wait a few days--there may very well be some." the end. ta--daaaah.

you should start to feel much better in the 4th week--which is this week! or certainly in the 5th week. if you had hernia fixed, or gallbladder out at the same time--probably you'll still feel tired longer. are you getting some Protein? that definitely helps with the tired feeling. Optifast shakes are good--mix them in blender with ice--they really taste "milk shake"y that way. give yourself a break--you just had surgery 3 wks ago! congratulations! and rest as much as you can--you deserve to and need to.

congratulations! for gas pains--people have said that walking around as much as possible reduces them. for me--i took painkiller until i was SURE i didn't need it any longer. i didn't deprive myself--and i slept alot--and healed. by the 4th day--i went outdoors, in freezing cold weather--to get my nails done-that was exhausting--but i managed it. hope you have an easy recovery!

wondering if this is typical--i had a fill last tuesday. i didn't feel anything (except chest pain) at first. by yesterday--i was having trouble eating some things i had eaten before--chinese food---got stuck, pb (first time) etc. so--i definitely now have some restriction (and am staying on liquids today). but i didn't feel any restriction right away. why does that happen? is it normal? will i be feeling even more restriction before my next fill (3 wks away)?

Thanks--i will wait, then, for the 3 wks to go by. i was thinking of going back this week for more restriction--but that was until my little PB last night. ugh--that is UNPLEASANT! plus-missed the beginning of the Oscars!

Tiffany, Did you have the esophogram yet? where they do an xray while you are drinking to check the placement of the band? And, are you taking your pain medication? I'm a big believer in that--i didn't give it up until i REALLY was out of pain--I took plenty of painkiller and it helped me through. Are you drinking Protein shakes? slowly? and keeping very hydrated? Have you called the dr? or gone in to see him/her? sometimes it makes you feel better if you know that things are looking good, in the dr's viewpoint. and, finally, you're not even a week out--it should turn around for you by next week--you'll be feeling so much better--really soon! hang in there. soon, you'll be very happy with your band! good luck, girlin nyc

Thanks for your answer--my port is nearer to my waistband--this is just under my left breast---very like heartburn--it's upsetting because of its location--not particularly a bad pain--but nagging and continuing. when i came home--i just took painkiller--very strong painkiller--and a nap--and i feel better. if it continues---i'll call the dr. i'm on liquids for today and tomorrow--then, he said, i could try regular food.

but take pain med with you--cut it in half or quarters--also be sure to get up from your seat at work OFTEN--if you sit a real long time--as you say--it hurts. you won't be happy at work right away (i wasn't), but eventually you will feel fine!! good luck, girlin ncy