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How's everybody doing? It's been quiet around here and I wanted to check in and see if my bandbuddies are doing well...please post and let us know! I think I am FINALLY learning how to eat better...I have been having real problems with pbing...usually only mucous (I know, TMI, but part of the learning curve), and bad....I just figured out the signal to stop eating before the next bite is too much...and, it's funny, I will feel like I am eating like a pig (because it takes so long!), but even at 4 or so oz. of fish, there is a last bite! How is everyone's fill going? I am sorry,Rosey, that you had a hard time. I think my second fill was a snap compared to the first....I think they do get better! Lafs...wish I needed only a couple of spoonfuls! Lucky girl! WELCOME faa! Munchkin...glad you weighed first! If I could strip down in the office for my weigh in, I would just to shave off a few (yeah, I know, what a lovely thought! ALSO, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR MORE STORIES ABOUT WHAT LED YOU TO THE BAND! Drews, how have you been? Shelbi...? all our other bandsters?

So...i had my period right b4 surgery and of course it startes again the day after. Im 4 weeks post op and its starting again and its like a weird black smear. Anyone else get this? As far as birth control Im on the pill but read online its less effective because my stomach cant absorb the hormones. Im nervous but dont want to switch off. I was on the shot for years and gained over 100 lbs. My insurance doesnt cover an IUD. And before anyone says it...i hate condoms. Engaged and dont use them. Has anyone had issues with the pill?

I was banded last week, on June 3rd. I will be on the full liquid diet for 3 weeks before I move on to pureed food! Basically, what I was told is I can have anything that is pourable or can go through a straw (without the straw, of course). My doctor said I could have yogurt and sf pudding at this point too. I asked if I needed to make them more liquidy and he said no, really he just doesn't want me chewing anything. I've been having problems with keeping anything in me though, everything seems to go right through! Sorry, TMI. I'm wondering if it might be the dairy I'm mixing with my protein shakes? I've never had any problems digesting dairy before though? I've tried blending some banana in with my shakes but it hasn't really made a difference. Any suggestions?

Ya. I an drinking liquids but since the gas pains I'm having it feels like I am swallowing big bulls when its just sips. I get a horrible pain my shoulder...but I think it just all leads back to the gas bubble. I'm having problems with hunger too...I'm not hungry but I feel like I should be eating something...drinking something I guess lol. ya I can't shower til Sunday and I will just have my mom take my bandages off. to make matters worse this might be tmi but I am on my period too so instead of tampons. I just resorted to page. my nurses were worried that u bled a lot but I told them no worries...just mother nature lmao. just keep walking around and start doing things urself. its a better healing time add faster too. best of luck to u!

Hi, yes you all were right. I did get enough pills to last me several days. I just wound up taking one. Hopefully, they will make me drowsy and will fall asleep. Maybe this is TMI but I have been peeing so much because of the IV fluids and every time I finally get comfortable in my chair, I have to get up to use the bathroom. I just had a really nasty protein shake (chocolate mint) but of course I am still hungry, lol! The shake was just a sample I purchased. Thank God it wasn't a big container.

I agree with Chez above that we do want the best for you. People's posts can be interpretted many ways in how you interpret ours and we interpret yours. Nonetheless, I think they are all well intended. Getting back to your original question.... unfortunately, or fortunately burping is very common. However, there are a few things you can do to help minimize it. If you use a straw for your beverages, you swallow a lot of air that way which can increase burping as can eating too fast. I recently was having a problem w/ gas (both ends, sorry tmi) and found out that from the weight I've lost already that my cpap (sleep apnea) machine needed to be turned down and that went away once it was. Also, as CG mentioned, sometimes those little burps/hiccups are a sign for many of us that we are full and to stop eating. Lastly, I am having a lot of tiny burps today and it's my band giving me issues today. Yesterday, at lunch, I had some chicken that was too dry and it caused me to have a bit of a stuck issue. Last night and today I am having a bit of the burps while my band/tummy settles down from being irritated yesterday. It's my sign it's still irritated and I need to keep it to liquids today. Best wishes to you... congrats on your success thus far.

Thanks all for the feedback on bowel movements - I had one today and felt great- I'm sure that's TMI but I was happy I didn't need to take anything to help alleviate it.

So, I'm struggling with a couple things... First, I haven't lost a thing not a single pound, in well over a week (nearly 2).. Second, I've always been a super 'regular' person and I have barely popped in like 5 days!!! I've added more fiber, drink water constantly, pumped up the exercise.. WTH?! #Frustrated

Complications, these dreadded problems that affects some of us... They almost made me spend Christmas in the hospital. I started having stomach cramps Tuesday evening after drinking a few sips of Water. And these were nothing to play with. It was like someone was squeezing all life out of my pouch! The worst pain was just under my breast bone with pain shooting out under my lowest ribs. I was salivating so much that I couldn't even swollow a pain pill. It finally ended with me throwing up a spoonful of liquids. Little did I know that this was going to happen again in the middle of the night and be even worse? Needless to say I was really careful on Wednesday and did a liquids only day, even though I had problems drinking. I was weak, but didn't get any cramps. Thursday was a whole new day, with new cramps in the afternoon. I was scared enough that I called the hospital and they told me get myself to the er at once. So I got into a cab and was hooked up, poked, scaned and tested at the er. My pouch and intestines were intact. No leaks or blockages. I was dehydrated and got an iv and several of its friends. Also very constipated, sorry for the tmi. Apparently you can be constipated and have small bowels movements at the same time. The blood test also showed malnourishment. They wanted me to stay over night so they could hydrated me. Finally in my room I was allowed to drink some water to get the barium taste out of my mouth and the cramps returned with new found force. Pain meds in the iv helped in 15 min, so happy to be at the hospital at that time. The next day the surgeon came to tell me that they had found panniculitis in my intestines that might be the culprit to my cramps. I had to Google it too... In short there are some lymph nodes in my small bowel lining that are mildly infected. It's so mild I don't even need meds for it, other than for the cramps. So suppository meds for home, yay... They wanted me to stay until xmas eve, but due to a family emergency I had to go home the night before and of course had another cramping episode... Luckily the new meds were effective. I'm still weak and not eating much, but I try my best. It seems like water is going down easier after the constipation was taken care of at the hospital. Xmas eve I slept until the afternoon and then went to my dads for a few hours. I even had a few spoonfuls of holiday foods and did fine. So today I have had my morning pills with water and soon some food. I just don't know what to choose. Real food or a Protein shake? I was following my food plan carefully and haven't tried that many foods yet and now I'm even more scared of new foods creating problems. Maybe a scrambled egg so I can get some much needed calories..? Take care everyone! Nilla

I got banded today, got Home tonight and all was going pretty well. Still is, not horrible but can't sleep! Laying on my back is ok sometimes but with the the surgery it feels so uncomfortable because its pulling on my stomach. Then I have to keep pee'ing ( sorry tmi ) and its a you know what to get up from laying down. So, now I am watching tv. Thankfully my in laws will be over at 8-9am to watch my son. I hope tomorrow I will feel much better!

Hey guys I’ve been MIA since surgery had a lot going on with having pain the whole month after surgery to going back to work to not doing so well with protein intake and water intake that led me to the hospital 2 weeks ago for dehydration , gastritis and UTI (I know TMI) but guys I am happy regardless of the circumstances that i made this decisions. Learning day by day how to use my tool. Even though I have gone through some stuff I’m happy I made this decision.

This is TMI, but you asked...I was lying down in bed the other night in a tank top (which I will only wear in the house) anyway, I happened to look down at my boobs which were of course slowing sliding up under my chin and they were wrinkled. Like really wrinkled, it was gross. I decided then that if they don't tighten up by the time I reach my goal, I'll have to get a boob job. I measure them as well (I'm weird I know) in inches all the way around the boob. I've lost 2 inches on the left and 1 1/2 on the right. Yet everywere else, it's only 1/4 of an inch.

When I got banded I went home with no gas pains. Now weeks later I'm feeling all kinds of pains and the gas x is slow to help. I'm passing gas (sorry tmi) and burping so I'm hesitant to call my Dr. Is this normal?

To post in the vets forum it's a combination of a year out and a certain number of posts on the board (100 I think). As for skin... I have no knowledge except what I have read here and elsewhere and what my docs have said. I am at (below) goal and intend to wait a year out to see where that leaves me. I am surprised actually... I am 45 and have been heavy my whole life and obese at least 16 years and my skin is still shrinking. It still needs help, but is still making progress. For a TMI example---my boobs are now the lump in a hanging sock variety...BUT in the last two months my nipples have gone from pointing downwards to pointing back forwards! Honestly never thought I would see that!

A timely thread for me...I'm in so much pain! Yowch. glad I searched before I posted Before it was mildly annoying, now I'm in hell. I try to poop and its just...stuck....TMI :D

Well first, be sure that it really is constipation. At this point out you are barely eating anything and you should only be eating Protein.. so your body may actually be using everything you put it. I know I didn't (and still don't, sorry TMI) go very often at all. At one point though it had been a couple weeks, and I took a tsp of milk of magnesia. It was kinda gross going down but it worked. The milk of magnesia was what was suggested in the small packet I received from my doctor. In the meantime, just focus on getting in your liquids and protein and don't worry about it so much.

First off, I am already talking to my doctor, just wondering of anyone else has had this happen to them and what the outcome was. The day before I was 3 weeks out (Tuesday), and the day before I was able to move from liquids to mushy food, I got sick. It started with constipation, which I called my doctor's office and took appropriate medication for. After I took the meds, everytime I tried to have a BM (sorry about the TMI) I would throw up. The next day I would throw up even if I wasn't trying to have a BM. I couldn't keep anything down, not even Water. I called my doctor and he advised me to go to ER to get rehydrated and they could take X-rays. Since I live 3 hours from his hospital, he couldn't personally oversee my ER visit. I was admitted to the hospital, where a really spectacular nurse had to get up close and personal to help me with my bowel problems. The whole time in the hospital, I was able to keep liquids down. I was discharged Friday night and went to see my doctor the next morning (he very conveniently came to town that weekend). I had not thrown up again at this point, so I told him everything was fine now. We went shopping after the doctor visit, then went to eat. I only had water and was only about 2 ounces in when my chest tightened, my shoulders started hurting and I felt like everything was sitting in my throat. When I got home, I threw up all the water along with some foam. Since then, I haven't been able to keep anything down. I only get about an ounce in and everything starts all over again. I take slow sips, my water is at room temperature. I tried a Protein shake this morning and not even that would stay down. I really don't want to go back to the hospital. All my X-rays showed no blockage so I really don't know what could causing this.

I'm having it as well. My other banded friends seem to think that it's gas, but when I think gas I think bubbles and bloating, discomfort - not actual pain. TMI, but I haven't had a BM since Thursday night (surgery was on Friday morning) and I'm thinking that maybe that could be it. I've taken a stool softener laxative, but nothing. I'm not too concerned since my diet is all liquid. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using LapBandTalk

i was banded on 4/23 also. I only experience the tightness when i gulp instead of sip. I havent experienced any hunger yet. I have been nibbling on jello all day and i have 2 ounces of broth periodically. I stopped taking the pain meds days ago, it appears im allergic to them. i got hives all on my abdomen. Im only taking liquid tylenol now. I was only nauseated on day one. maybe this is TMI but i havent had a bowel movement since ive been home. that worries me

I know TMI but protein immediately gives me diarrhea.

I had my sleeve done on Wednesday (8 January) and came home on Thursday, after my leak test and after sipping liquids and proving to the nurses I could urinate on my own. (Sorry for the TMI.) I'm still pretty sore. Taking my pain meds every four hours as prescribed. I've been walking as much as I can stand to; my mom walks with me around the cul-de-sac my parents live on, although I don't walk very fast yet. I haven't been hungry, but I've eaten a little Jell-O and some applesauce to carry certain medications that I can't swallow whole. I feel pretty good, all things considered. I hope everybody else has as easy a time as I'm having so far.

I had VSG 4 months ago...prior to surgery I never had regular periods. I lost 42 lbs prior to surgery, and have now lost another 46 lbs, so 88 lbs so far all together. Since surgery I have had regular monthly periods (this is awesome since it has been 10 years or more since it was last regular!), but starting 3 months ago, a week or so before my period, I seem to get horribly sore nipples. Excruciating sore. Heating pad, and hot baths seem to help with the pain. But I was wondering if anyone has experienced this...

I have been so sick these past 2 days i just want to crawl in a whole and die. I 10 days post op and i don't know what i should or shouldn't do that is helpful. I know tmi but i have had an upset stomach. I am constantly feeling like i am going to throw up... maybe it's a bug..maybe i ate something i shouldn't of... idk. Help!

11 days post op and I have just been on phase 3 foods for a few days. I am eating wry soft food, taking my time and not drinking before or after meals. Only problem is I ha e diarrhea like bowl movements frequently now, ad appears to have some blood in it, seems I go several times after I eat and then I'm ok. Anyone else have this problem? Help I'm scared something is wrong.

I am almost 9 months out and I still have this happen to me if I eat to fast. .... if I dont pay attention to how fast I eat I can get sick super fast. I also have the ability to vomit without sticking my finger down my throat....this sounds bad, but I find it very helpful when I feel like I have overfilled by accident. I just squeeze my stomach muscles together and out comes the food that is causing the trouble. there isnt any stomach acid mixed in thankfully so it tastes the same as when it is going down, and doesnt burn my throat. sorry if this is tmi for anybody, but I tend to tell it like it is. truth is my tummy is still a baby and I am just still learning what I can and cant do. I also continue to suffer from the desire to eat just to eat, and not because I am hungry. this surgery isnt a magic trick, I totally understand what they mean by it is a tool to help...not a cure. I'm not sure that I got that before surgery and I am still kinda figuring that out now. Still have the overeaters mind but I am in no means saying anything bad about the sleeve.....it definatly has been doing its job well. good luck on feeling better soon. definatly talk to the doc