starsinmyeyes

You are still very new to the band. I would give it some time before you try beans. I am 1 year out and eat beans very often with no problem....I have 6.5 cc in my band and feel very tight. Some foods I have probs with are soft lettuce, breads that are not toasted, some meats .....the key is to chew chew chew. Your mouth is now part of you digestive system, so chew at least 20x with each bite of any problem food. Good luck to you on your journey!

All I feel is the intial stick when he numbs me. Then nothing during the fill. He is doing just fine thanks. My doctor is actually one of the best Bariatric surgeons in California...people travel from very far just to see him. One time I saw his partner, another doctor who did not numb me before the fill and it was really more uncomfortable and more anxiety producing than anything. I prefer to be numbed and not just be stuck like a pig. I really enjoy the fact that my doctor cares about my comfort and it should really be like that for everyone, a positive experience all around. Additionally, it really depends on where your port is placed...not everyone has it in the same spot. Mine is directly below my sternum, right in the middle...a very sensitive area. Anyways, good luck to you and it's great that you don't feel anything when you get your fills.

LOL! Yes, my first fill I thought that I would faint when I saw that needle. But now I have had 5 fills since my surgery and I just take a deep breath and don't look at it. My doctor is so friendly and helps me feel relaxed when he fills me. When he gives me the numbing medicine and I feel the needle go in he says "I'm numbing it....ouch, ouch, ouch" and then I am numb. I don't look at the needle still in me when he has me sit up and sip Water either. Crazy experience....but I know that I will lose a good 3-5 ls of weight right after my fill, so I am very motivated on fill days. Good luck to you!

I usually lose about 3-4 lbs after a fill. So not as large of a loss as yours, but still losing. I only do liquids the day of then switch to soft foods for maybe 2 days after, then back to regular food. So, it sounds like your liquid diet has something to do with it. My doctor said the same about losing fat around my organs and the band losening over time, even after hitting my sweet spot. Great weight loss for you though....continued good luck!

I was banded July 29th, 2010. I have lost 55lbs so far and counting. I have had a few stalls along the way, around the holidays mostly. But I just keep moving on. I haven't been exercising for the past month or so, but I am kicking myself in the rear and joining the gym this weekend. I am also really looking forward to the daylight savings time change, because my favorite exercise is walking outside in the evening, and it is pitch black by the time I get home from work. I have trouble eating some things, like bread, which is no surprise...so I eat flat bread or pita sometimes. I have trouble with meat too, unless its fish, ground turkey or moist chicken. I find myself having Soup for lunch because I fear getting stuck and throwing up at work. But it also helps keep my calories down. I love veggies and salads, without lettuce, lol, that gets stuck too. I have trouble eating first thing in the morning, so I drink a Protein shake for Breakfast. My caloric intake fluctuates between 800 and 1200 a day, but I always get my protein and my Water. I get dumping syndrome with sugary foods, so after that happend 2x I never have touched sugar again. That has been a good thing for me, as I had been a cake and ice cream feind. I was hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) before my band, and now I no longer have the symptoms unless I forget to eat a meal. I have so enjoyed shopping for new clothes...I went from a size 26 pants down to a size 20 pants. When I run into people who haven't seen me for a while they cannot believe how much smaller I look. I haven't been at my current weight, 242 lbs, for at least 10 years and pre-baby, so I feel absolutely awesome. I find myself walking with more confidence, not feeling winded when I walk, able to sit in office chairs with no problem, and a lot of people tell me I look taller...that's funny to me because I am only 5'4". Well, I really hope that my weight loss continues at a steady pace....actually I know I will lose more once I am an exercising machine, lol. I really hope that by my 1 year mark I have lost another 50 lbs...I would love to be 100lbs down. Oh, I also have my 20th highschool class reunion coming up in October of this year, so I am really looking forward to being close to my highschool weight and looking and feeling awesome. I wish all Bandsters good luck and success in their journey to a new healthy lifestyle and I know we can all do it! Stay motivated and connected to this website...it's awesome to have a place to express yourself, get support and get much needed information!

My port is the same place as yours and it's working great for me. I have a friend that has her port just below her rib cage on the left side. I guess it depends on each patient and the surgeons judgement.

All of the scenarios in which banded people throw up that you listed are true...but if you follow your diet and do what you are supposed to do, you shouldn't have a problem. I was too tight and threw up, so I had a liitle fluid removed from my band. Sometimes I take a big bite and don't chew well enough, then I have problem...it can happen very easily and it a very real possibility with the band. well, good luck to you.

I went in for a fill 2 days ago. I was at 6cc's in a 9cc band. I had been doing great and seemed to find my sweet spot, but I did start to get hungry and eat more a week prior to the fill. So, my doctor filled me up to 6.6cc's As usual he had me drink a bottle of water and eat yogurt before I left the office to make sure I wasn't too tight. I was fine. I went home and had some soup for dinner with no problem. Well, the next day I went to work and had a protein shake for breakfast then soup for lunch. Next thing I know, I could not keep my lunch down. Later that night I had soup for dinner and could not keep that down. I was starving, so I tried broth, tea, jello, etc...could not keep any of it down. So here I am another day and not able to keep anything down. I called the doctor and he wants to see if I can keep down fluids today and then go in for unfill tomorrow. My fear is that he will unfill me too much and I will start gaining weight. I have worked so hard and my weight loss has been slow and steady...I would hate to fall back any in my progress. I am hoping that maybe since I was just filled, it just needs time to adjust and maybe between now and tomorrow I can actually keep things down. Has anyone had this type of problem ? What happend? Anu suggestions?

I have had Muscle Milk Lite. I've tried both the chocolate and the vanilla...I prefer the chocolate. They do taste good, actually better than the others that you mentioned, more rich and creamy. Another good shake that I have been drinking, upon suggestion of a fellow bandster, is Premier Nutrition Protein shakes. They sell them at costco, a case is about $24, also come in chocolate and vanilla, they have an amazing 30g of protein!, 1 gram of sugar, and only 160 cals each. I personally love these even more than the Muscle Milk Lite. Well, good luck and hope you find the right Protein Shake for you.

I have had 4 fills now and was banded back in July. I have 6cc's in a 9cc band. I feel very restricted...in fact so much that I can't tolerate eating solids first thing the a.m....so only drink a protein shake. But now I have found that when I eat anything but soup, chili, yougurt, cream of wheat, eggs, cheese, some soft chicken or ground turkey etc..I get a stuck feeling and then slime. It is really horrible. I am confused as what to do because I am actually feeling restriction, but can't hardly eat much variety of foods. I'm happy I don't get hungry and I'm losing weight, since I can't eat. I know that's what the band is supposed to do, yet I also know I'm probably too tight and need a cc taken out. Such a dilemna for me....losing weight, but I sure don't like excusing myself from the table constantly and not being able to eat foods I ate before this last fill. Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi there, No actually when I posted that I had my fill about 2 weeks before. I did do the liquid and soft food diet right after, but as soon as, I started to eat the solids is when I began to PB. I still am PB'ing with solids, so now I am trying to focus on the easy to go down foods, ie soft foods, that won't cause problems. But hey I'm losing weight. So, it's not all bad What an interesting journey this has been so far...but I am getting used to the change in the lifestyle.

I read your posts about the holidays and depression and it really sounds like you are in great pain. I am a therapist and I work with women in prison, many of whom suffer from clinical depression as well. The biggest help for my clients has been following their faith and staying strong in their spirituality, in addition to therapy and sometimes anti-depressants. Also, involvement in something that brings great returns, like helping others in some way (perhaps volunteering) . Well, I hope that you get through the holidays and I hope that you find the peace and joy in your life that you are seeking.

I disagree, my doctor and nutritionist said that you should be able to eat chicken and ground meats, if you chew them very well. And that it's also a good idea that you get your protein from real food and only supplement with protein shakes. I think the biggest problem that people have is that they take too large of bites, they attempt eating dry meat (meats need to be moist and maybe with sauce) and don't chew their food well enough. I started with chicken and then tried ground turkey and burger. I am 4 months post-op and I was anemic....not getting enough iron so I take vitamins. I have had a few fills, and I enjoy meat! Goodluck to everyone!

I just had my first vomit/regurgitation with scrambled eggs of all things. I am about 4 months out from my surgery, I have been eating eggs with no problems so i don't really understand why this happend. I could feel it coming up, I kept trying to gulp it back down, and I took a few sips of water too. But, nothing....next thing I knew it was coming up. I have since eaten eggs and had no problem...so I am not traumatized by the incident...actually don't know what to think.

Wow, I am 10 weeks post-op and I have been scared to even try popcorn. But, it sounds like people are doing ok with it soooo...maybe a movie and popcorn are in my future :smile:

Well, I just had my 2nd fill. I had 3cc's in already and my doc added 1.5cc's more. After I had my 1st fill I really struggled with horrible hunger and at times ate way to much. Thus I lost and gained 5 lbs over a months time. It was horrible. So, instead of waiting 6 weeks, I went in at 4 weeks. After eating dinner tonight I was full pretty fast....I think I could be in the green zone. I hope! I hope! I hope! I want to start losing again. Positive thoughts everyone :smile2:

Hi Bella, It's been a month since I have been on here. I have gotten very busy with life and I have gone through a few things. I have been playing with my port...running my fingers over it, trying to get used to it being there. I have had my BF feel it....he likes stuff like that and thinks it's awesome. Weird I know. Anyways, my port is dead center below my sternum/curve of rib cage. I just had my 1st fill and it is a little sore around the port site....other than that I'm great!. Good luck to everyone and Bella I'm glad you are still on here and doing great! Take care!

You are an inspiration to me! Thank you for your post. I was banded 2.5 weeks ago and I'm doing well, but to read your story helps me feel even more hopeful that I will be able to reach my goal as well. Congrats!

Hi everyone, I was banded on July 29....so just 2 1/2 weeks out. I am on solid food and tolerating everything I've tried. But I am sticking to my "yes" food list from the nutritionist. And according to it, I am not supposed to have bread, pasta, or rice for a couple months. Actually I am frightened about getting something stuck when I do try those foods. Well, I walk about 2 miles a day and I've lost 20 lbs so far. I don't get my 1st fill for another 4 weeks and I am getting worried about gaining weight, because I am hungry all the time now and I don't feel any restriction at all. But, I'm limiting my portions to 1-2 ounces and trying to fill up on low-carb protein drinks. I wish I could get a fill sooner, but apparently most doctors like to wait till 6 weeks, because it takes about that amount of time to completely heal and be ready for a fill. I've been back to work for a week now and I've been soooooo tired at the end of the day. When is this fatigue going to go away? I am taking my vitamins and getting all my protein , so I don't think it's due to lack of nutrition. Maybe it's because I am still healing? or after affects from the anesthesia? Not sure....Well, this is a great forum, I really enjoy it. Hope everyone is doing well!

This is off-topic regarding our surgeries...but can anyone tell me how to use the weight loss ticker? I went to the site, created one, and got the code, but I do not know where to paste the code so it will show up in my posts and show my progress. Can anyone offer some help? Thank you! :party: