Here is the truth about the band

[alysedg23 0]

Be prepared to spend A LOT of time over the toilet. Be prepared to constantly feel the "golf ball" in your esophagus after you eat. Be prepared NOT to be able to eat in front of people you havent told about the band. Be prepared to be afraid of eating ANYTHING non mushie in fear of throwing it up. Be prepared to teach yourself to eat VERY VERY slowly. Be prepared to kiss bread goodbye.

The first 6 weeks is easy, once you get your fill...thats when you will play the "get to know your band" game. Its very finicky. It loves liquids, hates bread. Forget about steak, even chicken has problems going through.

You will have that "stuck" feeling a lot, after the stuck feeling, you will salivate profusely and then everything you ate comes up.

The only thing I can eat now is Soup...any kind of Soup, but most everything else I have tried I have thrown up.

I'm 2 weeks post 1st fill..and I know i'm not too tight, since I watched the whole thing on fluoroscopy.....this is just how life is with the band.

Any many other people that I know that have this band say the same thing. Things get stuck often..and are also afraid of trying new foods in public.

I am not complaining, I am happy with my decision to get it placed.. I mean, vanity is priority #1...but these above facts DO NOT get mentioned often in this forum....at least I really havent read about it.

[gadgetlady 4]

I'm sorry you are having problems, but please remember that this is YOUR experience. Not everyone has the same experience. For example, I do fine with steak and chicken. I don't really spend any time over the toilet at all. THE TRUTH is everyone experiences band life differently.

[alysedg23 0]

most everyone that I have talked to that has the band has the same issues as me...at one time or another. I'm sure everyone can recall when they didnt know what their band could or could not tolerate...the "learning" period...and experienced the same thing as what I am going through now.

[gadgetlady 4]

most everyone that I have talked to that has the band has the same issues as me...at one time or another. I'm sure everyone can recall when they didnt know what their band could or could not tolerate...the "learning" period...and experienced the same thing as what I am going through now.

Well, sure, at one time or another until you figure out what you can tolerate and you get the right restriction and you learn how to chew enough and take small enough bites. That's what it's all about. The implication from your post was that this is the way life is going to be for everyone, forever, and that it's awful and no one ever talks about it. If you do a search on this board, you will find lots of stuff about PB's and chewing and small bites and what kind of foods do and don't go down well. I'm sorry I misunderstood; your original post seemed to imply this was a permanent situation.

[Betsyjane 2]

Wait a minute! You represented the band clearly as presenting these problems in a n ongoing way. That's not fair! I've had each of the things happen that you talk about, but as individual instances only. Frankly, if you can only eat Soup, you are too restricted. The fluoroscope can't show you your experience...only you know that.

I am restricted. I am losing weight. I eat chicken, fish, occasional bread, meat...you name it. You certainly don't speak for me or anyone else I know!

[alysedg23 0]

I dont recall using the word "awful". I think this is how its going to be for a while...I dont know how long..but I dont see how its going to change..unless the band loses some of its saline close to the next fill date...I dont know, I guess I just have to wait and see....BUT this is the way it is for MANY MANY new banders....how long its going to be like this, I dont know.

Also, if you can eat steak with no problems, and have always been able to..perhaps you arent tight enough... If your profile is correct, you've lost 36 lbs in 1 1/2 years??? That doesnt seem like a significant weight loss...

And just for clarity......I LOVE THE BAND...30 lbs and 2 sizes down in 8 weeks....

[leedorr 0]

Having the band is a new way of eating. I have learned to eat slow, small amounts . Sometimes chicken is ok sand sometimes not but that doesn't stop me from eating with friends some know and some doesn't. Some people have all the issues you did but some do not. Perhaps you could title you info as "the truth about the band as I know it" Good luck I hope you can get to a point where you can eat almost everything except bread for right now.

[areellady 1]

Actually, I have read a lot of posts containing these very problems. A LOT!! This is just your experience. I knew all of those things could be a possiblity going into getting the band. If you were a part of this forum before banding, I really don't see how you could of missed all of the posts on sliming and pbing. I personally have not had either one happen to me. I have had things get stuck a few times. Is all this worth the health and my life??? Hell yeah!!! I would do it again in a second!! I am sorry that you feel so isolated and alone in your journey. I have just been so happy with my band, and most of the people on this forum are too, from what I read. Sure there is some time to get used to it. Maybe you are too tight if you can't eat anything. I eat everything but bread, but that is a personal choice. I eat tortillas, Pasta, rice, couscous. Actually bread should of been one of the things your doctor told you before banding that you probably shouldn't ever have again. I know a lot of people on here do though. Hope your journey gets better for you and maybe you should talk to your doctor about being too full.

[Betsyjane 2]

I have been banded since November. I chew my food well.

You don't have to wait until some saline leaves your band. You can request a slight unfill so you can eat.

You are new. Please keep reading this site and keep educating yourself.

[alysedg23 0]

"I am sorry that you feel so isolated and alone in your journey."

Where on earth did you get that impression???

[Betsyjane 2]

Although you read the date wrong, please be careful about critiquing others' weight loss. Everyone is different and needs encouragement.

[gadgetlady 4]

Also, if you can eat steak with no problems, and have always been able to..perhaps you arent tight enough... If your profile is correct, you've lost 36 lbs in 1 1/2 years??? That doesnt seem like a significant weight loss...

I have lost about 40 lbs. in 1.5 years, yes, but not because I'm not tight enough. It's because I don't exercise at all and I eat too many sweets. I'm in a time in my life right now where that's just the way it is. I still love my band and I still have restriction (in fact, I'm going for a slight unfill tomorrow). I can eat steak but not if I don't chew it well, but there certainly are other things (bread, many vegetables, etc.) that I can't eat. Don't judge me or my experience based on weight loss alone.

[Betsyjane 2]

Well, speaking for myself, I don't need more of a fill because I can eat meat, steak or anything else. I'm chewing well and know my band well by now so we live in relative harmony. I don't spend time over the toilet. I don't have a lump in my esophagus, and I know "MANY MANY" bandsters who could say the same.

Bye all. I'm headed to another thread. Not interested in getting any additional condescending private messages....

[Chickie 15]

Be prepared to spend A LOT of time over the toilet. Be prepared to constantly feel the "golf ball" in your esophagus after you eat. Be prepared NOT to be able to eat in front of people you havent told about the band. Be prepared to be afraid of eating ANYTHING non mushie in fear of throwing it up. Be prepared to teach yourself to eat VERY VERY slowly. Be prepared to kiss bread goodbye.

The first 6 weeks is easy, once you get your fill...thats when you will play the "get to know your band" game. Its very finicky. It loves liquids, hates bread. Forget about steak, even chicken has problems going through.

You will have that "stuck" feeling a lot, after the stuck feeling, you will salivate profusely and then everything you ate comes up.

The only thing I can eat now is Soup...any kind of Soup, but most everything else I have tried I have thrown up.

I'm 2 weeks post 1st fill..and I know i'm not too tight, since I watched the whole thing on fluoroscopy.....this is just how life is with the band.

Any many other people that I know that have this band say the same thing. Things get stuck often..and are also afraid of trying new foods in public.

I am not complaining, I am happy with my decision to get it placed.. I mean, vanity is priority #1...but these above facts DO NOT get mentioned often in this forum....at least I really havent read about it.

Really? I can't say that this has been true at all for me. And I have been banded over 2 and a half years now. Perhaps you are just having a slightly rough time adjusting to banded life, and thus your perception of the band is a wee bit skewed?

[chimboree26 24]

...

The only thing I can eat now is soup...any kind of Soup, but most everything else I have tried I have thrown up.

I'm 2 weeks post 1st fill..and I know i'm not too tight, since I watched the whole thing on fluoroscopy.....this is just how life is with the band.

...

I am not complaining, I am happy with my decision to get it placed.. I mean, vanity is priority #1...but these above facts DO NOT get mentioned often in this forum....at least I really havent read about it.

If this is true, you should get a slight unfill. You should be able to get more down than just soup/liquids.

I'm glad you're happy w/your band, but I disagree that these facts aren't mentioned. I've been on this site for a few months now. It was a huge help during my research phase. I'm banded now and I feel it's b/c of this website that I was as informed and educated about this whole process.

I'm sorry that you're just finding out some of this stuff. Just continue to poke around the site and you'll learn even more.