hopee

Thaks for all your stories - Nice to know we're not alone...XAVIER - I have never heard of this choke/fill...I'm going tonight for my 3rd fill and will talk about his idea with her...I like that.

My clinic also offers a support group and my first meeting is tonight as well so I'm so excited to sit and chat with other bandsters live in person.

I'll check back in and give any updates...Keeping positive, I know this will work for ALL of us.

I have the "sliming" thing too...But, I've been told that occurs because of eating too fast OR too big of a bite and/or not chewing enough. The fills are to restrict you on how much you can eat and only give you the full sensation after a max of 1 cup of food...If you can eat more then 1 cup of food at one sitting then you need a fill. If you are "sliming" try slowing down and taking tiny little bites of food and chew them 20-30 times each bite.

It is hard work - But so is anything we must do to lose weight.

Good luck - hope this helps.

As well, there are some foods that just don't go down nice no matter how much you chew - the slime comes (for me this is bread, pizza, and sometimes yogurt).

Ditto - just a small prick and a few seconds later it's done. I get my 3rd fill tomorrow (2.5 cc in band right now)...How are you guys doing with the weight loss? I was banded on Nov 19th and I'm not losing very quickly...Up & down and not sure why since my portions are so much smaller from before getting the band...I thought by now it would be falling off.

We are in the same place right now...So nice to read your blog as I just had my 2nd fill on Wednesday (first fill was 1cc and I had NO restriction - gained 4 pounds over Christmas...2nd fill was going to be .5cc and I asked for more...She allowed me 1.5cc giving me a total of 2.5cc)...I now have the same restriction as you. I could eat 4-5 bites of soup and then the syliva builds up and I know some is about to come up.

I'm finding now that I understand that the chewing & small bites is a MUST...Since I didn't have any restriction till now my bites and portions were pretty normal.

What I'm finding is the smaller the bite and the more I chew the better it stays down. As long as liquid stays down fine and you can keep food down you should be good. I'm not getting unfilled - just going to figure out what works best and stick with it.

I was shocked that only 2.5cc in my band would give me this much restriction.

I was banded on Nov 19th and until this past Wednesday I had been so frusterated. Glad to be restricted.

Andrea

Hey,

I too got hungry after a few days...I had a scrambled egg and couldn't finish the whole egg...I then moved on to mashed potatoes and creamy soups...Once the swelling goes down from surgery you lose a lot of the restriction - I'm now being careful until my 1st fill which is tomorrow - YAY!

Good luck.

my guess - You ate too fast or didn't chew it enough??? If it continues I would get in to see your Doc.

I go for my first fill tomorrow - YAY...I've been without restriction for 4 weeks now (only gained 4 pounds back)...Looking forward to it.

Me too...My first fill is Dec 22...Can't wait - I too have gained (almost 5 pounds now)...I too have no restricion and can eat a normal meal - Although sometimes I get food stuck and it stops me in my tracks like shock...And I stop eating, but this doesn't happen all the time...Maybe I'm eating too fast or too big of a bit. I'm looking forward to that fill too.

Hi,

I was banded on Nov 19th and went through all of the above. Pre op for the first 3 days was the worst...Headache, hungry, all the cravings...It does get easier - Really. Just do your best, I had 4 optifast shakes a day and ONLY sugar free clear fluids - Hardest 14 days...For the most part the surgery went smooth - I had 2 c-sections for my kids so I knew what to expect pain wise but the gas was tough for about 1 week post op...Very uncomfterble. All in all nothing to worry about. This was my first time being put under for an operation so I was pretty nervous about that but you'll be fine. Just go one day at a time...Just focus on the next 14 days and try to be excited.

Hi there...

I totally agree with the other comments...I too suffer depression & got medicated (so glad I did)...As well, Christmas is so hyped for gifts when there are so many other ways to celebrate...Just a few ideas: Take the kids around to see all the christmas lights (walk or car) with hot chocolate. Get all cozy in the bed and read stories or tell silly stories to each other (my kids love that). Play some games or make some crafts (use pasta or toilet paper rolls - use flour & water as glue) make tree decorations...All inexpensive and it's quality time with your kids - Hope this helps.

I'm 2 weeks post op and back to eating regular food...All goes down fine and must slip right through my empty band because I'm not full & have no restriction - I'm able to eat a normal portion. I too gained back 2 pounds and have 4 more weeks till I get a fill...I hear about pouch stretching - I don't get that??? If you overeat do you not just get sick??? And if your band is empty doesn't it just go through to the other side of the stomach??? I don't think you can stretch the small pouch - Unless you have staples done...Not 100% but from the info I've gathered this is how I understood it. You over eat and your going to vomit or be in pain...(when your restricted)...No restriction it just travels through without getting the signal that your full till you've eaten a larger portion.

Hope that all made sense...

Please send me some of your willpower...I too have no restriction - Banded Nov 19 and have to wait till (maybe Dec 22 - if not then Jan 8th)...Yikes! I can eat way more then I should...Although I'm hanging in pretty good it's the evening snacking (old habits) that are my toughest. Tonight I had 2 clemintines & a banana muffin. Before being banded I would have sat with a bag of chips, dip then hit something after for the sweet tooth. I am getting better....But really want the restriction.

I think a lot of us went through the same thing - I too cheated...And felt like a failure (Again)...Today is done and tomorrow is a brand new day...Just think you only have 4 more days...You can do 4 days...Wake up tomorrow and plan a busy day for yourself. I found by keeping busy I didn't ponder the kitchen. Try to get out of the house when your most likely to eat. My fav was to make my shake and take it with me in the car and go for a pedicure or to the book store.

You can do it.

I'm only 1 1/2 weeks post op and need a fill...I'm able to eat whatever but still have some restriction (not a lot)...I have to wait till Jan 8th so I guess it's will power time and have to keep looking forward to the end prize.

Good to know your fill went well - Little scared for that...Interesting how everyone is so different when it comes to restriction and the amounts needed for fills...

I'm so glad I did this and look forward to all the changes & challenges ahead.

Thanks for the suggestions...I will make this work...I'm off the liquids and did mushy foods for a few days and now anything will go down - Still have some restriction - But I feel it going away. I called my clinic and the Dec 22 apt is just a follow up and my first fill is not till Jan 8th.

I'm going to follow Weight Watchers in the meantime...I know I can do this.

Hey SFD,

I had a VERY difficult time on that Optifast diet - 14 days of 4 shakes a day and ONLY sugar free clear fluids...I too cheated (almost everyday...A few crackers with cheese)...It was so hard...By day 8 I slowed down the cheating, I think mentally I was already past the halfway point and something clicked in me to just do it...The last half seemed to go a bit more quick.

Try to hang in there - I see so many different types of pre-op diets where some allow food and others don't - Either way my surgery went through just fine.

You'll do it...And if you need to cry - cry it out...OR like me just allow yourself a little nibble and move on with your day.

I was banded on November 19 and have already lost 10 pounds since that day. It is so worth it and know that you WILL be in that changeroom of your favourite store before you know it and those tears will be because of happiness not sadness...I too can't wait for that day.

Good luck during the rest of your pre-op diet...When you really feel a binge coming on just leave your house - go for a pedicure or to the bookstore (if you like to read or any store that you can pick up a hobby type of thing) just keep busy & try not to think of food...I did make a shake on ice and put it in a "to go" cup and went out for a pedicure and after felt SOOO good about myself and had pretty feet to boot.

You'll do it,

Hopee

I use jam or jelly (with no chunks of fruit)...You can get sugar free or diabetic jams...I go for the good stuff - And use only a teaspoon - It's all I need.

Love reading the above...I was banded on the 19th November and in total I'm down 21 pounds (includes the 2 week Optifast diet)...On day 5 post op I tried a bit of meat BIG mistake...I was up till 2:30am with major tummy ach and way bloated. I learned my lesson - pureed for the next 2 weeks. I still have a lot of gas and super bloated - How long does this last (I'm one week post op). I'm so uncomfterble trying to sleep...Not fun. And I'm full with half a cup of soup OR mashed potatoes etc. I'm wondering if I'll lose that full feeling before I get a fill??? OR will I even need a fill???

All these questions and everyone seems to have their own journey - Not everyone goes through the same problems.

I'm so glad you posted this...I LOVE sushi and figured I would NEVER be able to eat it again...I'm being banded on Friday and once I'm able to start trying food again I will see if I can do it...Funny, now I could eat 10-12 peices EASY...to think I might get 1 down and be full is crazy.

I'm banded on the 19th...Day 5 of the Optifast...And having a really tough time staying on track...I just want food...All the time.

How are you doing? Are you on shakes?

Thanks for that...I was told I could ONLY have my 4 shakes (Optifast) made with water. Any sugar free drinks (Crystal Light, diet soda, tea/coffee - black with sweetner)...That's it.

I've started sugar free jello just so I can bite food - Not just drink...Also been having chicken/beef broth (OXO cubes)...I'm on day 2 and I'm hungry, headache...And thinking of food non stop.

Only 12 more days...

I started the Optifast shakes today (surgery on the 19th too)...I get 4 shakes a day THAT'S IT...Sugar free drinks too...OMG - I'm starving right now and want to eat my leg right off. I just keep thinking it's only 2 weeks...We can do it...HAVE to do it.

OOOMMMGGG...I'm on day 1 of the liquid diet and I'm SOOOO hungry...Does this get easier???

I think the same way...I too have to pay...$16,000.00.

I'm in Ontario, just outside Toronto. I'm also worried it wont work. But, like the above said I'm just going for it...I think if you follow the rules (which you will, since it's a lot of money)...It will work. I think for the ones that are gaining weight - their bands are not tight enough and they are able to over eat - And I'm guessing the over eating is not the healthy choices. Just follow the plan and you should get your results.

It finally feels so good to have others in my same vote...I feel the same way as all of the above...

Tomorrow I start the liquid diet...I have a bit of anxiety just that it's 14 days - I have 4 shakes a day - and NOTHING else. I'm planning to put a tsp. of instant coffee in my morning shake...Because I can't drink black coffee...So, I hope it's good.

Any other ideas for the shakes??? The vanilla shakes I thought I could add some cinnamon...I may go check Starbucks for some sugar free syrup - Maybe banana flavour...14 days seems so long.

Ahhhhh...

Hi Dana,

Thanks for your update...WOW - 10 pounds in a week...That's amazing.

So, you didn't have a 2 week Optifast diet before surgery? Your profile pic looks fantastic...And you need to lose weight?

Has it been a hard adjustment? With all the chewing and eating slow?

I worry about things like being able to swallow a Tylenol when I have a headache or being so thirsty and not able to drink water (really chug it down)...

I guess it just takes time to get used to.

I'm at my all time high of 230 and would like to see 135.