A question for the LapBand veterans

[Junior 0]

I have been banded four days now, so there's no turning back. But I have a question for those of you who've been banded awhile. I'm just trying to set expectations.

For those of you who're a few months or more out, how often do you PB, vomit or otherwise get in distress? What do you do to lessen the effects? Any tips for you might bestow on a newbie?

[judeloren 0]

i have had no trouble at all. I have thrown up twice.. PB i guess they call it... and it was when i tried to eat bread right after a fill and the next morning when i had a tator tot... other than that i have not had a single problem other than a pain like i had a couple of times like i swallowed an ice cube whole. I am not properly restriced yet however. I have had about 5 fills. up to 8 cc in a 10 cc band. just depends on how your band fits and how restriced you are.

[Hollie519 1]

Make sure you are speaking with your doctor about your food intake and the pressure you feel when you eat. I was at a point where my band was like half a CC too full and my stomach eventually swelled shut and i had to have it completely emptied and had to be on liquid diet AGAIN for 2 weeks. It was right around my 18th birthday so it was a bummer.

Otherwise, just try to make sure you chew chew chew. You will get sick more often from eating too much rather than having some food you can't pass. It feels like eating a really dry sandwhich and having it stuck in your throat but it never passes so you have to spit it back up. It's really not that bad as long as you are paying attention to what you are eating and how much. It will take you a little while to get used to how much food you can fit in your pouch. It will take a few days after each fill for you to be sure how much you can have each time. But it really isn't as complicated as it sounds. Sometimes I forget I even have the band.

Hope that helped. :]

[auntlucy 22]

I've only PBed once in the 5 months I've had the band. And, while it was a little gross, it wasn't a bad as I thought it might be. It was a few days after my 2nd fill, and I was eating some salmon. A piece slid right down my throat as I was chewing.

I feel very fortunate that I've had such an easy experience. But, I follow the guidelines I was given to a T, so I think that's probably part of it.

Good luck!

[trinity2008 0]

I had my 2nd fill (4cc) 3 weeks ago and had a hard time eating solids, so I stuck to crunchy things and Protein Shakes. Recently, over the weekend, I spent some time at a neighbors and drank Martini's and Jack daniels until 4 am. Since that night I have not been able to eat anything except liquids and liquidify cream of wheat. For the 1st time since I was banded, I have Slimmed/Pb'd 3 times within the last few days - Its exhausting!!! I have no idea if the alcohol did something (I was not drunk that night) or if my band is just way too tight. But I am very hungry and have no clue how to eat. I did try some captain crunch this morning. 1st bite was fine, 2nd bit ok, then third, well, got that stuck feeling, started slimming and up it came. I read how people who have more cc's than me are able to eat regular stuff, but I just don't why I am unable to eat just basic food. How do you know if the band is just too tight?

[snowbird 2]

Okay, capn crunch is not exactly a great food for anyone to eat . . . ever. Try taking smaller bites and chewing more thoroughly. You should be getting Protein in first. If you have trouble with meat at this point, try some chili or something like that. The secret is very small bites, chewed thoroughly with plenty of time between bites.

If you still can't get anything down, you are probably too tight and should go in for an unfill.

Since we are eating so much less, we really need to make sure the food we eat is nutritious and good for us. You shouldn't have to drink Protein shakes to get your Protein unless your band is too tight.