southernrootslbc

yes, mine would always slip through. i could feel it as it did. i would usually get tired of eating before i got full. it did help some in that i couldn't eat in big gulps like i used to. i had to slow down, but that was about it. i could eat way too much as long as i chewed it pretty well. now i have to eat way smaller bites and chew, chew, chew like the nurses kept saying i would have to. and it stays in my pouch and makes me feel full for a long time. this was my seventh fill. i'm at 6cc in a 10cc band. of course it varies for everyone. how does your doctor judge when you've had a big enough fill?

i've not been having acid reflux. i was just having regurgitation in my sleep. i really think that i was just not used to having a fill tight enough, so i was used to being able to drink and go straight to bed. well, now that i'm tight, that Fluid was coming back up into my mouth during the night... that's what i was calling reflux. it wasn't acidic, though. i didn't have any of it last night. i think the fill is loosening some on its own and i flushed my pouch with hot tea then waited a while before going to bed. before this last fill my band wasn't really holding anything in my upper pouch. it would pass through a little slower than normal, so i had to slow down and chew pretty well, but i could still take pretty big bites, and i wasn't getting the satiation. because of that, i could pretty much eat or drink right before bed and have no problems. obviously i've gotten a wake-up call! it's good, though. this is the first fill i've had that made me feel like it's working how it ought to. it's just weird for me, because fluids are harder for me than solids, so in order for me to get the fill that i feel is right for me, i have to be too tight by my surgeon's test (able to pass Water in 3 seconds). and yes, i hear ya loud and clear on the crappy food thing. i think of the band as a tool to help me with my diet. that being said, i believe in moderation in all things. if i completely deny myself treats, i'll end up bingeing. i just take a common sense approach to it, which is what my surgeon recommends. he asks that half of everything we eat to be Protein. then veggies. and then if we have room for it, the junk. that way we're getting the protein and nutrients we're needing without feeling deprived. unfortunately, sometimes i'm on the run and can't always have the most balanced meals, but i generally try to, and i always make sure i get my protein. the one example meal i gave here was just that... an example. it's not my typical meal. it was just to get the point across that right after a fill, i could eat WAY too much.

thanks everyone for the replies. fran, perhaps dehydration has something to do with it. very good to look into. i'm feeling better about things this evening. i didn't have the reflux as bad last night. a nurse once told me that one of the reasons it's so hard to get anything down in the morning is because saliva pools in the pouch overnight and gets too thick for Water to permeate. he suggested drinking hot tea to clear it. i tried that today and did much better with the fluids... i just have to do it throughout the day, instead of just in the morning. maybe those of us with this issue have thicker saliva (which could have something to do with dehydration??) i dunno... i'm just taking stabs in the dark. i feel like i'm in the perfect spot as far as solids go... can probably eat about 3 ounces in a sitting. i was just worried about the problem with the fluids and the reflux. i'm having a cup of hot tea right before bed to flush out my pouch. i'm thinking that'll solve the reflux problem altogether... fingers crossed. and no fears... i don't make meals out of chips and dip! and i rarely eat chips at all. even before i had my band chips were never my drug of choice. sweets are my weakness. they just came with the sandwich i ordered, and i was horrified that i could eat the whole sandwich and the chips less than a week after the fill! obviously i shouldn't have eaten all of that... but if i had willpower where food's involved i wouldn't have needed the surgery. also, i tend to crave healthier foods when i have more restriction. i want lean meats and greens when my fill is tighter, so if i'm not getting tight enough it really messes me up!

Okay, you've had the issues I'm talking about! The things that everyone else can eat for Breakfast, like yogurt, is really hard for me to get down. Even right after the surgery when they gave me Jell-o, I wouldn't eat it, (still won't) because it was so painful! But solids I can eat without a problem. It makes me worry that I'll never be able to get a fill right, since they base the fill on how quickly liquids go down, not solids. It makes me feel much better to see that you've had so much success, even though you have the same issue. And I'm glad to find someone else who's had the same problem. At least I'm not a total freak! Oh, and I'm not saying I had chips and dip... of course I wouldn't expect to feel full from that. I had an entire french dip (a roast beef sandwich on a hoagie roll) with a serving of chips. I shouldn't have been able to eat even half the sandwich if my fill were tight enough, ya know? There's no way I should have been able to eat that much so soon after a fill. So that means to me that my fills aren't tight enough, and I think it's because they're basing my fills on how quickly Water goes down, which is freakishly slow for me. See my frustration??

While I appreciate your feedback, you've missed the point of my post. My surgeon has said that I can eat anything in moderation. I don't make a habit out of eating french dips and chips. I usually eat lean meat and veggies, but I also don't deprive myself of occasional treats. And quite frankly I don't think I should have to justify my diet to you... that's between my surgeon and myself. My question is if anyone else is having the problem of having a harder time with liquids than with solids. If you have an opinion on that issue, I'd love to hear it. However, if you just cruise posts to judge people on their eating habits, please skip to the next one.

I'm over six months out of surgery. I lost a lot of weight right at first, and then progress stagnated. I think I was just never getting tight enough. The method my provider uses for the fills is to sip from a glass of Water and adjust it to where it takes approximately three seconds for the water to pass through the band. I think my problem is that it takes longer for fluids to pass through than dense foods. A few days after getting my last fill, I was able to eat an entire french dip and serving of chips... but I couldn't drink water quickly. Is anyone else having this problem? I finally got them to give me a really tight fill this last time. I have to drink fluids very slowly, especially in the morning, but it seems like I'm finally getting the restriction I need on food. Of course now I'm worried I'm too tight. I'm having reflux now during the night. I'm going to try not drinking anything an hour before bedtime and seeing if that helps. I'm just really wondering if maybe I don't have a "sweet spot." I know it sounds weird, but if I can process solids better than fluids, how will that ever work for me? Bah!

Yaaaaay!!! Congratulations!!

i ended up getting banded by dr. wellborn on 5/6/11. i haven't regretted it a bit. i also shopped around, but settled on him because of his experience and his staff. it's been amazing having nurses who have been through it. it's like having mentors who just happen to be health care professionals

I got my first fill about 30 hours ago. I did fine until right now. Now I want FOOD!! That's why I logged on... to see if anyone else was able to eat food at this point after the fill. It makes sense to me to eat as my body is telling me... so long as I don't overdo it, and actually listen to my body. So now that I know other people can eat soft food this soon after a fill, I'm going to, too! (Yes, cheating is bad, but so is hunger!)

i'm seven-weeks post-op, and i'm going for my first fill wednesday. i definitely have the ups and downs. somedays i feel really tight and others, i have a full appetite. you must have a pretty conservative surgeon. by my third week i was already on soft food (not having to be pureed... i could have deli meats, ground beef, etc.). i can now eat everything and haven't had any problems. i'm not a veteran at this by any means, and i don't suggest taking my word over your surgeon's, but how i've gone about it has been to listen to my body. when i started being hungry for something more substantial, i ate something more substantial. i knew that otherwise, i'd end up eating the wrong stuff and failing like i had at all my other diets. (i also think that a lot of us have a complex about failing, because we have on so many previous diets. i don't think it's a helpful mind-frame, so i'm working on being happy with progress, instead of expecting perfection). as for the weight, how often are you weighing yourself? it's hard for me not to weigh myself every day, but i think it's good to maybe go a few days without weighing in. if you weigh too often, it'll definitely vary a lot, because a million reasons from Water retention to how full your bowels are. best of luck to you. just know it gets much easier.

have you found a gummy vit that has Iron in it? i prefer the gummies, but i've had no luck finding ones with iron!

i was having those exact same issues. the shortness of breath was bad enough i called my surgeon. he said it was because we don't breathe as deeply during the surgery and recovery, so our lungs get gunk in them. i saw my regular doctor today about the fatigue. she ran my labs, and i was a bit anemic, but she said not badly enough to cause serious problems. i've been taking geritol tonic (an iron supplement), and that seems to be helping for me. however, it also sounds like you may be lacking nutrients altogether if you're still on mostly clear liquids after all this time! i'd put a call into your surgeon, if i were you. good luck!!

i was banded friday and started sleeping on my stomach monday night. it's a little sore, but it helped me at first to hold a pillow up to my abdomen as i was laying down. somehow the gravity of my gut being pulled down seemed to be the most painful part to me. if you still aren't able to get comfortable, you can always try putting a pillow under your knees when you're on your back. that really helps with back pain. i also had my head and neck elevated to where my body made a low "v" shape. that was the only way i could get comfy on my back.

i'm self-pay and was banded last friday. i chose the band over the sleeve, because i like that it's reversible, and i felt like it was the safest option. if i were in your shoes i'd do it. i just paid $16,000 for mine here, because my insurance (blue cross/blue shield) wouldn't cover it (and i had a bmi of 52!!). if i were you i'd do everything possible to ensure a good surgery... research your surgeon A LOT!! stick with the pre-op diet and start exercising now to get your heart and lungs strong. follow the instructions they give you to a tee! there are still complications that can pop up, but they're much less likely if you follow the rules. if i have any complications from the surgery, i'm also left to fend for myself, which is scary. insurance won't cover a dime of it if the problem is a complication from the surgery. so yes, definitely keep that in mind. however, to me, it was worth the risk. another thing to consider is that a lot of doctors in the states won't maintain a band they've not put in themselves. i'd think a lot of doctors would make an exception if you've moved there from another country. however, just to make sure, you may want to call some surgeons in the area you think you'll live and ask if they'll maintain your band when you move back. best of luck, whatever you decide!

it definitely looks more like a bruise now. it's bluer than red, so i've kind of relaxed. thank you guys so much for your feedback!

i had to stay under 800 calories for mine. i didn't always do it, but i exercised like crazy to make up for it. my saving foods were turkey breast with happy cow low-fat garlic and herb cheese. i'd also make a huge spinach salad. i made my own vinaigrette using vinegar and Water instead of oil. then i'd put a little bit of fat-free feta cheese and just a few craisins (watch it, though... they're high in sugar). i'd get to eat a whole plate of food for about 100 calories. very satisfying and tasty. i also sauteed broccoli in a tiny amount of olive oil and a whole bunch of garlic. i'm not a big fan of veggies, but the garlic hid the taste. i could eat a large serving of it for next to no calories... and it's amazing how broccoli went from gross to delicious when i was STARVING!! i'd also drink a Protein shake for breakfast. my doctor suggested i do a protein shake for breakfast and lunch, but i simply couldn't do it. i was too hungry. i varied it a little and was still able to lose 13 pounds pre-op, and my surgery went great! best of luck to you. my experience is that the diet is SO much easier after the band. you just have to get there! best of luck to you!

i'm day two post-op, and my wounds all look gross, of course, but my port wound is really red and itchy around it. it almost looks like a bruise. is this normal or is it getting infected? also, does anyone know how soon after surgery i can quit worrying about getting a blood clot? i'm exercising and all that jazz, but i still worry that i'll get a clot. what's the time frame those pop up? anyone? anyone?

I'm being banded this Friday, and I keep imagining what it's going to feel like not being fat. I've been this way for 25 years. I have no clue how it feels to be a "normal-sized" adult. As I was learning my identity, forming my personality, etc, I was always the fat girl. I was wondering if that feeling ever goes away.

I'm getting banded this Friday, and I'm kinda freaked out about the thought of all that skin just hanging around. I'd really rather not have PS; although, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. What I'm wondering about is how successful exercise is in treating excess skin. I've done lots of research on it. Some people swear that if you exercise enough the skin will eventually shrink; while others say that you'd have to exercise enough to completely replace the fat with muscle in order for you not to have excess skin. I was wanting to hear it straight from people who've gone through it. I know that it depends on a lot of factors (age, genetics, etc.), but have you guys had any luck shrinking your skin through exercise? If so, how much and what kinds of exercise are you doing?

Yes, I can eat anything as long as I stay under 800 calories, but that basically breaks down to two Protein shakes and a Lean Cuisine for dinner. I'm very thankful that they didn't put me strictly on liquids. I wonder why some surgeons are stricter than others. I've been pretty bad on my diet. Eating very healthy, exercising, and steadily losing weight, but certainly not following their guidelines. Hopefully nothing horrible befalls me.

wow. i so can't relate to that. i love fluids. on the bright side, at least it won't be hard for you to give up liquid empty calories!

I'm also trying out different vitamins, because I'm being banded May 6th. I tried the Bariatric Advantage, and it did taste pretty bad, but it had nutrients I thought were probably more specifically for bariatric patients than Flintstones, such as Vitamin E, which is supposed to be good for skin (and hopefully somewhat help with the excess skin problem). I also take a gummy pre-natal vitamin, but I haven't found any gummy vitamins that include iron. As I recall, the Flintstone Vitamins had more iron in them that Bariatric Advantage, so I think I'll probably end up taking one Bariatric Advantage and one Flintstone Vitamin daily.

I couldn't find the link to the negative calorie foods. Could you post it here for me? I'd really appreciate it!!