fitzgerald

I am at my fourth fill now and I think it's a bit too tight. I PB a lot. And I can't seem to eat anything without it feeling like it's going to come back up. It burns right when I'm eating, and I'm down to 1,100 calories a day. Drinking is no problem. coffee, diet cokes, etc., all fine. I am eating mostly soft stuff now. BUT, I am losing weight, so I'm tempted to leave it as is and hope the band loosens up a bit over the next few weeks. Do you think the band will eventually loosen up? The reason I went in for the fourth fill was because I was starting to be able to eat everything in great quantities and was getting quite hungry. That sure isn't the case now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I was banded in November and am down 40 pounds to 215. I fit into all these clothes that used to be too tight. It's a GREAT feeling. And people around me are noticing the weight loss. I love this forum.

Yes, this has happened to me. I posted another thread seeking advice. The exact same thing. I got a fill and I think it's too tight. I feel pain and have thrown up once (I haven't thrown up since my senior year in high school, and I'm 35, so that gives you an idea of how bad it was). I guess I am going to wait to see if the swelling goes down. I would recommend the same. Keep us posted. You and I sound exactly alike.

I live in Santa Ana and work in Lake Forest and am definitely looking for some support !!!!

That's interesting. My doc (who is pretty casual about a lot of things) told me that diet cokes were fine.

I had surgery Nov. 3 and have lost 28 pounds. My port hasn't been a problem but within the last week, it has been sore. Tender. And I can feel it, whereas I couldn't feel it before. Does this mean it flipped? If I need surgery to correct, will insurance pay for it? I'm a little worried about this development.

Hey guys ! I was banded Nov. 3 and lost 17 pounds and then gained six pounds back (damn holidays). Just got my fill today. Wow. Am I tight. I tried to eat a slice of bread right now and it would not go down. I could, however, get liquids and a bit of mushed up pasta down, so I'm able to eat. I was feeling so discouraged but now I think this is going to work. I really do.

Help !!! How are you guys doing with the holidays? I am stressed out and eating more than usual. I am down 20 pounds over six weeks, so I'm doing ok. But I am just eating so much. I already had a fill, and it does work. But I keep eating my way through and then just feel pain afterwards, particularly in the back. I am working on this issue with my therapist, but was hoping to get some support here, too.

Did anyone experience this .... when doctor injected the saline, I felt like burning liquid was going up my chest to my throat. I mean I really felt it. I thought I wouldn't feel a thing. He injected 5 ccs into my band. he says I have a 12 to 14 cc band (is there such a thing?????). I thought it was either 4 cc band or 10 cc band. Didn't know of any other. Annnnd, lastly, when I drank Water after the injection, it seemed stuck and I burped. So he withdrew 1 cc and then I was all right. Anyway, I just felt like the whole experience was bizarre. I thought I wouldn't feel anything during the fill, based on what I've read here. Any thoughts?

Well, I fell off the wagon tonight. I had a nice juicy burger and vanilla milkshake and it was delicious ! And I'm paying for it. I feel pain between my shoulder blades (a result of eating too much, in my case). But I honestly feel that falling off the wagon from time to time isn't such a bad thing. I am relearning how to eat and I am bound to mess up every now and then. It's to be expected. Hang in there ! You have lost 10 pounds in such a very short time. You're doing great.

I want to lose a total of 80 pounds, but I'll take what I can get. I don't know how to do the ticker thing, so that's why I don't have one ! It's interesting .... I went to the doctor recently (not my surgeon but another doc) and she said I should get down to 140, according to the official chart. I said no way ! I would look like a skeleton. I am shooting for 160 and I think that will be hard. What's up with those charts anyway? You're going to do great, too ! Hell, you're doing awesome with your weight loss !!

Karen, I think I am doing better now that I have my fill. I have a 10cc band and he filled it to 5 cc. It was too tight so he took out 1cc and I am doing ok now. I definitely get full faster than I did before, so it's helping. I don't have PB or feeling stuck or anything like that, but I know everybody is different. I will admit .... as I type this right now, my stomach is growling. But I won't eat anything. I am trying really hard to be strong. I spent a lot of time and effort on this whole process, so I need to remind myself to be committed. But it can be so hard sometimes ! Take care, chica! We'll get through this together.

OMG. L8BloomR, I can totally relate. I had my surgery Nov. 3, and I'm only down 17 pounds. Now granted, I can eat anything, and I have cheated a bit but overall I've been pretty good. I did have my first fill last week, and I feel tighter, so I think that is going to help. I just wanted to let you know that I understand and hear you ! And I told everybody about this surgery, so I feel like I'm under a microscope. Sigh.

Oh I had no idea about the CM and CC. Thanks for the info. ! I will ask my doc to clarify. I am feeling a bit better today, but definitely full when I eat. I guess that's the restriction working. I could only finish half my lunch today.

Best of luck ! Hang in there.

Ok, ok. I just posted in another forum that I miss Mexican food. Well, the craving today was McDonalds. I can't help it. I especially love the fries. I had my surgery Nov. 3, and things have been going well. The liquids thing is pretty hard. I am losing, though, and that feels good. I told my husband how badly I wanted some fries and he urged me to come straight here and post it. He knows that I read this site faithfully and that everybody here is just so supportive. Anyway, just looking for a few words of encouragement. Cheers !

Hey lap dancer ! Welcome. Best of luck with your surgery. I had mine on Nov. 3, and it's a pretty big change.

Hey all ..... it's been two weeks since my surgery, and I've developed a pain in my upper left back area (kind of like shoulder blade area). It felt like the pain I had shortly before my gallbladder was removed. Could this mean the band flipped? Or what do you think ? I am also going to check with my doctor but everybody here is always so helpful. Thanks !

Thanks for the advice, guys ! I just saw my doc today and he took some x-rays and everything looked fine. He thinks it might be the fact that I'm taking my meds without crushing them. And I take a lot of meds, big pills. So I am going to start crushing them and see what happens.

Ok, I was banded Nov. 3, and I'm only down about 10 pounds. Granted, I've cheated a bit, but I really have been good overall. I feel so bad. I am going to hit the gym some more, but I just feel like my doc is going to be disappointed when I go in for my first fill. Plus, everybody around me knows I got this surgery, so lots of people are asking me for a weight loss count every other day. I wish I had kept my mouth shut. Arrggggghhhh..

I DID IT !!! I just passed McDonald's on the way home for lunch and didn't STOP. But I was tempted ! I came home and had a nice mushy lunch. I'm so proud of myself !!!

I am really, really sorry if it sounds like I'm being a baby, but since getting on solids recently, I haven't lost a pound. It is so discouraging. I told everybody around me (and I mean EVERYBODY) that I was getting this surgery because I was so excited. Now I am starting to feel like a failure. I know I shouldn't compare but my co-worker got gastric bypass and lost 150 pounds in a year, and everybody is completely wowed by her. I'm already getting asked, "How much have you lost?" .... It is making me feel discouraged. I wish I had kept my mouth shut now. Oh well. Thank God for this thread. It really makes me feel not so alone.

On whether to eat before the surgery ..... I confess - I pigged out. I was supposed to be on liquids the whole week before surgery. To hell with that, I thought. But I think my overeating that week contributed to the gas pain I felt after the surgery, so if I had to do it over again, I would stick to liquids. You're on the right road ! Good luck.

I had surgery on Nov. 3, and I was doing ok. Tonight, I tried to sneak a bite of my mother's chile relleno, and everybody intervened and it PISSED ME OFF (even though I told everybody in advance to do just this if it came down to it). Yet, I knew it was a good thing because I guess a fried cheese-filled somewhat spicy pepper isn't the best on a stomach that underwent surgery four days ago. Anyway, I hate to admit it but I'm craving Mexican food. Rice and beans. Chile rellenos. Tacos. Chips and salsa. All with a big, icy diet coke. Please help me, guys. What can I do to stop this craving? My first fill isn't until Nov. 30. I'm sorry if I come across as a whiner. I'm just truly craving Mexican food. Thanks !

Hi all ! I have been monitoring the site for months and finally decided to join tonight. Got my surgery on Nov. 3 in Southern California, and feel great. Except for the gas. I have terrible pain in my left shoulder. It really hurts. Here are my questions: Could this possibly be because of food or the band pushing a certain way? Or is it simply the gas they used to inflate the cavity during the surgery? And when, on average, does it go away? Thanks for any advice.