gotmyeyeontheprize

I'm two years post op and have lost 140 lbs. My last fill was over six months ago. Recently, I find myself getting stuck at almost every meal. No matter what time of day I eat my first meal, I'm going to the bathroom or grabbing a cup because it's coming back up. This happens within a few bites of the meal. Today, we went out to eat after church. I had taken literally two bites of my meal and had to excuse myself to the restroom. Once I cleared myself out, I was able to eat almost all of the remainder of my meal. Then, we had family over for Christmas this evening. A few bites into the meal, and I was grabbing a Solo cup to spit up my food. Now, about two hours and a glass of wine later, I was able to consume two helpings of brocolli casserole with no problems. I have no idea what is going on. I do know that consuming an alcoholic beverage before my meal seems to allow me to eat, but I can't do that all the time. Any ideas on what the problem may be?

I do find it strange to get stuck on ice-cream yet I can get down chicken. It makes me wonder if it was actually the hot fudge that caused the issue and not the actual ice-cream.

I had a fill on January 6th. My doctor always fills under flouroscopy. At the time, I had lost a little bit of Fluid but he only added a little more to what I had. I drank the barium just fine and did my three days of liquids as he requires. Last Monday, I began with mushy foods such as tuna. That went down well, but I had to take very small bites and chew, chew, chew for about 45 minutes. I've really not been hungry at all, but have been eating a small yogurt for Breakfast, which I have to eat about two hours after I get up because I'm so tight, tuna or canned chicken for lunch, and either canned chicken or Tyson's Anytizers for dinner. The Anytizers have to be cut into very small bites. It takes me around 45 minutes to eat a meal. Also, I can fill the yogurt travel all the way down. Over the weekend, I wanted to splurge on some Baskin Robbins. I love their Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae and ice-cream is my weakness. I ate about five bites and was stuck! At the time, I chalked it up to the Reese's and me not chewing them well. Yesterday, I decided to try ice-cream again and got a hot fudge sundae with soft serve ice-cream. Once again, about five bites, and I was stuck! Since I'm feeling the yogurt on its journey down, the ice-cream got stuck, and I'm having to take so long to eat, am I in the red zone or was I too comfortable being in the yellow zone before I had this fill and am not where I need to be in the green zone?

Congratulations on taking the first step to a new you! With that said, you must do what is right for you. Research all of your options and go into this with an open mind. My surgeon also encouraged me to do the bypass because it allows for quicker weight loss. I went into this knowing that my band was only a tool and that I would have to learn an entirely new way of eating. It was the best option for me and I would do it again in a heartbeat! With that said, you chose what is best for you! Good luck.

Do you mind me asking what caused the slip?

I've been banded since November 2010 and have been fortunate in my journey. From preop until now, I've had an easy go of it with very succesful weight loss. Unfortunately, I just found out today that a friend of mine who was banded a year early than me by the same doctor is having her band removed tomorrow. She experienced an episode yesterday where she got stuck on some meat and continued vomitting through the night. When she went to the hospital this morning, the doctor confirmed that her band had slipped. The doctor told her that he could fix the problem, but she chose to have it removed. She had always told herself that if she ever had a problem with the band, she would have it taken out. Obviously, this news got my mind to wondering if anyone else had experienced this issue or if I would ever experience this problem. It is a very scary thought and I really am not sure what I would do if this happened. So, I would like to hear from you all. How long have you been banded? Have you ever had any trouble?

I am keeping most everything down. Just had trouble a few times and have to take really small sips at a time. Maybe I've been so "untight" for a while that it is making me relearn the band?

Well, I went ahead and had my band fill yesterday. It was done under flouroscopy and my doctor said I had actually lost some fluid since my last fill. When doing the fill, he and I both watched the barium go through the band. Several hours after my fill, I started having trouble with fluids. Not consistently, but twice yesterday and once so far today. Since the fill, I've only had a couple of protein drinks, some clear broth, some sugar free popsicles, and water. When eatine a popsicle today, I started "foaming" and up came the melted popsicle. Am I too tight or just swollen from the fill?

You all are wonderful and have such sound advice. Before the holidays began, I was eating larger portions and still getting hungry. Then, once the holidays started, I began eating all the candy, Cookies, and goodies that were soft enough to go straight through the band. After starting this initial topic, I called my surgeon's office. He still wants to see me on Friday to make sure that I do not need a slight unfill. Fortunately, he always does his adjustments under flouroscopy and will be able to watch how the Fluid is going through the band. I really think I've gotten off track and need to step up my game!

I'm so confused. I've got a fill scheduled for Friday because I've gained so much over the holidays. Yesterday, I attempted to eat a salad with a grilled chicken breast from Subway. Within about six bites, I was heading to the restroom because some of it had to come back up. Today, the same thing happened when trying to eat a lunch of fajita veggies and the cheese out of a cheese enchilada. Of course, once the food comes back up, I'm starving again. Any thoughts?

No, I haven't heard of the 5 day pouch test, but it sounds like something I need! Can you tell me the plan?

After stepping on the scales this morning, I've gone from 214 at the beginning of December to 227! I knew I needed a fill a couple of months ago, but I wanted to enjoy the holidays. Major mistake! I have a fill scheduled for Friday and my doctor always requires me to stay on liquids for three days following then go to mushies and slowly advance myself to solids. Has anyone ever gone back to their all liquid preop diet just to get back on track? I really think this all becomes a mind over matter thing. I'm feeling the need to detox myself from all the bad things I've put in my body. When I first got my lapband a little over a year ago, I would not attempt to eat anything that was not solid Protein or low fat/fat free. Now that I've lost over 100 lbs., I've found myself going back to my old habits and it is showing. I really want to lose another 50 lbs. and need to get back on track. Any suggestions?

I feel your pain! I have fallen off the wagon in a major way. Needed a fill badly before Christmas, but I wanted to be able to enjoy the holidays. Major mistake! I stepped on the scales this morning and have gone from 214 at the beginning of December to 227! This is terrible!!! I have a fill scheduled for Friday and plan to go back to my pre-op diet just to get my mind right again. In my opinion, this becomes a mind over matter thing! Got to get my head back in the game.

I had a Christmas goody intervention this morning. Needless to say, I've packed on the pounds in the past few weeks. Being a teacher, there have been way too many soft, sugary treats come through my classroom the weeks leading up to the holidays. Then, of course, there were plenty of calorie packed goodies to indulge in over the weekend. Last Christmas, I was only a month out from surgery. So, I was "good" and stayed on track. This Christmas, I was in desperate need of a fill and made up for all that I missed last year. Today, after stepping on the scales, I told myself enough is enough! I picked up the phone, called my surgeons office, and scheduled a fill for next Friday. Then, I walked into the kitchen and threw all of the leftover treats in the trash, tied up the trashbag, and threw it in the outside trashcan! The next step is to get back to my fitness program. I've battled strep throat twice in the last three weeks. Between that and the crazy holiday schedule, I've missed out on my regular schedule of Zumba and bootcamp classes. Tis the season to throw away all excuses and goodies that block my path to shedding these last 40 lbs!