B-52

Yes it is, kind of. But it is way too early for you to be experiencing that. You have not even had one fill. So that tells me your band site must be very inflamed from the surgery. I would go very carefully with what you eat for now.

Between surgery and my first fill, I month, I lost weight mainly due to the post op diet regime. Between my first fill and 2nd fill, again 4weeks later, I gained weight due mainly to eating normal foods again. On that visit I felt guilty, and was fearing his possible displeasure. It was the opposite. He pointed to the wall chart showing the yellow, green, and red zones, and said our goal and his job was to getme in that green zone. He simply said I was still in the yellow zone. He also explained to me that that is why the band is adjustable. I have had 4 fills total. Iam in the green zone. He said the only future fils I can expect would be "fine tuning" with 1/2 cc, plus or minus.

You've had 3 fills. How much does your Dr. put in each fill?? From what I have read here some Dr,'s are aggressive, while others are very conservative.

Bingo! You are absolutely correct! This is how it is for me. The band, after 4 fills, is at a point of restriction that I CANNOT overeat or it will a) hurt, come right back up, or, c) get stuck and eventually come back up. My wife made eggplant parm for dinner today. I had a good portion on my plate, ate maybe 6 small-med fork fulls, and I Am FINISHED. Cannot eat anymore! So where does the discipline come in?? a) First, if I am limited to how much I can eat, I have to be sure it is something good for me. That includes learning (by experience) what food types get me in trouble. If I'm finished with dinner, what's to stop me from eating 3 hours later, before going to bed? Well, that's where a properly tight band does the 2nd thing it is supposed to do. It tells your brain, whether you have eaten or not, that you are not hungry. It is a different feeling than being full. I am still learning to get in touch with this feeling. I can go on and on about counting calories, measuring portions, etc, but I will save that for another time. (I don't do it. It happens naturally now) So as you can see, the band IS a tool. It is a tool to change your eating habits and loose weight! I love my Dr.....Between the first and 2nd fill I gained weight. (after starting solid foods again) I felt guilty, ashamed, and did not want to face him. After he weighed me, I started apologizing. He said to me "don't apologize, that's why they designed the band to be adjustable". He pointed to the green zone on the wall chart and said "you're not there yet, but we will get there eventually." I'm there now, but it took me 4-5 months.

You should have seen my Dr.'s face when I told him I got slimed. He is the surgeon who does these procedures, and of course he is well aware of the physiology of the phenomena, but he was quite amused to hear the expression "Slimed" We had a good laugh, he said he needed to write that one down and share with his colleagues.

Not to mention the pain one may experience when the pouch gets too full. I believe it is worse than up-chucking everything! There is no way I could take another bite. It would be crazy! A glutton for punishment. You need to recognize the signs early when eating and stop when the signs are there. Cannot force it and go beyond or you will regret it. It's all about learning to live with the band. A new way of eating - living. And I never have any regrets doing it!

The health club I go to has a weight loss program. All of the advertising posters, and the t-shirts the workers wear have the slogan: "Look Better Naked"

I don't think people here ever give medical advice, but it is a place for people to share their personal experiences. Read enough posts and you begin to see common issues. Somebody asks a question, no matter what the issue, if I have experienced it I will tell of MY experiences. Not based upon what others have said, or what you-tube I have seen, etc. It is also a good support group. The first week post-op for me I just wanted to hear from other people who have gone, and going through the same thing. Also, I am not one of those who freak out and call my Dr. for every little pain, twinge, or whatever.

Sorry, but with all due respect I disagree. From my own personal experience, with a tight band, I am limited as to how much I can eat at any one sitting. Granted, there are ways to "Cheat" or work around the band, in which case you can over eat. You can also have too many meals during a 24hr period. But a tight band also gives me a full/satisfied feeling so the discipline not to do so is easier. As the OP stated, he/she is continuously eating "slider" foods all day long.

I'm 59 years old. I did nothing for 1 week following surgery. (almost nothing, I was out running errands after 3 days) Then I had my 1 week post op appointment and the Dr. turned me loose. Just did not want me to over do it on the weights!

One week for everything. But he did not clear me till the 1 week post op appointment and was checked out.

I can only speak for myself, but I have been where it seemed I was getting stuck a few times a day. I did not panic and have a un-fill. My thinking was that this band is supposed to give restriction so I slowed down my eating and learned a new way of eating with the band. It has helped for me. I am very tight, but I really like it that way.

No. I do not have asthma. My pulmonary eval/testing was excellent! It is asthma like symptoms people get when working out / running in aerobic conditions. Especially happens when cold, but can happen to anyone at anytime when doing aerobic workouts such as running, etc.

Since losing all this weight, (and being a cardiac patient) I have been hitting the gym and pushing cardio workouts quite hard. (with the blessing of all my Dr.'s) I wear a BPM strap and have the Cardio Coach workouts on my I-Pod. However, whenever I get to a upper level 3, lower level 4, I hit a wall. I get a burning sensation in my lungs, sometimes so bad I feel like I'm going to die if I continue. It has forced me to slow down, and sometimes even stop. I have always thought it was a side effect of being out of shape all these years, not to mention my age. Then I did some google searching and found something people referred to "Exercise Induced Asthma" I was at my PCP this morning and mentioned to him what I was experiencing and what I found on the internet. He told me it was very common, has nothing to do with you having any pulmonary issues, or any medical issues at all, and that he experiences it from time to time when running marathons. Said it is really no big deal. I told him it was holding me back and limiting me from progressing further. He gave me an Rx for a inhaler, told me to inhale 2 puffs 15-20 minutes before running. Which I did this afternoon. It was night and day!!! How long has this held me back?? I had the best workout ever today. Put me to a whole new level! And I know it will only get better from here.

I feel as though I am the same age as your Dad. I'm sure he is proud of you and the determination to set a goal and work to achieve it.

When I had my first interview for the procedure, I was asked why I wanted to do it, and I responded "I don't want to die!" Seriously, loosing weight has taking care of all my medical issues (comorbidities) * Completely reversed my diabetes. Normal #'s with NO Meds. *Cholesterol and triglycerides completely within normal ranges. * Improved circulation - I have Coronary Arterial Disease, have passed all recent tests with flying colors! * Testosterone levels normal. * Healed issues with Eczema. * Lowered Blood pressure to normal range, stopped all meds there also.

YUK! I can't stand anything pureed. Reminds me when my Mother was in a Nursing Home. She was served a big mound of something that looked like mashed potatoes but it was pinkish - red in color. She took one spoonful and said "Hmmmm.....Pizza tonight" I almost lost my lunch right there! The mushie stage was the hardest for me. I find it all disgusting. I stayed with creamed Soups, mashed potatoes, chili, and the like for the one week. Things I could at least recognize.

Funny this post appeared. I was thinking about this all day and came up with some interesting conclusions. There are 2 very different things going on when you have the proper amount of restriction - "Green Zone" First, I came to the realization that I am feeling full / satisfied 24 hrs a day. I really don't feel like eating all that much. food does not interest me like it used to do. The band is doing it's job and telling my brain I'm Full. (I think) It's very hard to explain because it is not the type of full feeling one would expect, but the mental aspect is there just the same if you calm down and listen to it. And yet, I still eat. Why? Is it because I have been programmed my whole life that I MUST eat 3 squares a day, and it's dinner time and I must eat? Or is it something deeper, in spite of my brain telling me I'm satisfied, my body is screaming somewhere deep down inside for needed nutrition? Contrary to what my brain / senses feel? After having only my Protein shake for Breakfast, I have on a few occasions, while out doing some day long activities, not eaten anything else for the whole day and was not bothered by it at all! Believe me that would never, and could not happen 9 months ago. Today I had lunch in the cafeteria at the hospital I was working at and had a taco salad bowl. I sat there and picked at it like a child not being excused from the table until he finishes his peas. I was just not interested, even though the only other thing I ate was my shake at 5:30am . I wasn't hungry and yet I went to the cafeteria just the same. Then there is the mental hunger. You see a large piece of chocolate cake and you just have to have it even though you really don't. But that's when the tight band restriction saves me. Two bites at most and the warning signals go up and I'm finished. I'm learning more and more living with the band every day and I have to pay more attention to what is truly happening.

You bet. It's the scariest and most painful thing ever !! I break out in cold sweats just thinking about it, and I can't drive home afterwards. Just kidding. It's really nothing at all. My Dr. does not need to use any deadening around the port. I work in healthcare. So while I'm laying on my back, I prop myself up on my elbows and carry on a normal conversation with him on just about anything while I am watching and learning. I especially liked it one time when he had to take an important phone call and left me there with the needle sticking out of me like a pin cushion. He uses a gas tight syringe with a valve so he can close the valve and remove the syringe leaving the air tight needle behind.

I agree. It's all about volume, provided you have a certain amount of restriction. The concept is that of filling (or over filling) your pouch. EVERYTHING you take in at the same meal all adds up to the sum total volume put in your pouch.

You should focus on weight loss, eating habits NOW. Just don't get totally freaked out if the weight doesn't come off as much as you may hope. That will get easier as time goes on. It can be hard and frustrating in the beginning, but trust me. It does get better, and easier. Have faith.

In my job, ALL of our income is dependent on what the Insurance companies will pay. My office will get a pre-cert on what the insurance company will pay, and what the patients responsibility will be. Is is then up to the office as to how the patient will pay their share. It can be all up front, you can pay 1/2 now and the rest later, you can pay nothing up front but sign a letter guaranteeing financial responsibility, etc, etc. Bottom line is that YOU are responsible for any $$ not paid by the Insurance Co., and it is freely the discretion how each individual office wants to handle this. If they have been burned enough times, and have to deal with collections all the time, it may be easier to adopt a policy of everything up front.

No, everyone is not a "Health Nut". BUT when you start to loose all those pounds, and really start feeling good about yourself for the first time in a long time, you find you can start doing all those things that other people talk about. You will start exercising regularly because YOU CAN and it actually FEELS GOOD. You start to eat the right foods because for the first time YOU CAN and feel the difference and be satisfied without over eating. These things will happen to you normally as your self image begins to change for the positive. And with every compliment you get from others, the more motivated you will be to do more!

Few thoughts: If all you had is water, what did you throw up?? Throwing up just liquids is not a good sign. That's why they have you drink water before you leave the office. 2nd, the Dr. would not have given you a fill if you did not need one based on your progress. So IMO stepping backward is always a tough decision. I've had 4 fills. I like my band tight. Many people would say I am too tight because I am limited with what, and most importantly, how much I can eat. But water is not a problem unless I drink too much too fast. Have to give everything a little time to pass through the band. I have not had a fill on my last 3 visits because I am doing fine in the Green Zone. But the Dr. told me that I am at the point where I would not get anything more than .5 cc one way or the other to "Fine Tune" Maybe it was freak occurrence. If it was me, I would wait a day or 2, and stay on liquids that time and see, IF you are not afraid of living with a tight band. Many people are.

Exactly the same here. When sitting at the table, when the hiccups start I know I have entered the danger zone.