Maddy1

I am so glad you asked this question and someone answered. I am 2 1/2 months out from surgery and I feel this way about 3 days after I have a fill. I haven't understood what was happening. I don't throw up and don't feel like I will. Just that pressure in the lower throat that feels like I am stuffed. I am trying really hard to figure out the feelings around my stomach and eating so I know what I am doing.

I have read so many posts about nsvs and how good they make you feel....but today, it was my surprise. My daughter insisted on going shopping with me today because yesterday my jeans were literally sliding down my hips. Today she kept picking clothes for me to try on. I used to be a 22 and I kept telling her to pick out things close to that size. Instead, she insisted I try on 18's and guess what? They fit and I looked great in them! I was so surprised, I just couldn't believe it. I came home and began to empty out the 22's in my closet. Everything from winter in that size is now in a bag for the Salvation Army. It was so exciting and so motivating. Thanks to everyone for listening. I am just floating I am so happy!

Its not really that you can't have sex, its that you probably would be uncomfortable laying on your stomach or having someone laying on top of you because of the pressure. I am almost 3 months out and that is very uncomfortable but it doesn't stop me having sex!

I just requested it from the Walmart pharmacist and she ordered a bottle of the adult tylenol. You're right, if you get children's you would have to take nearly the whole bottle!

OK, here's want happened to me this week. Last Friday I got my third fill. Since surgery have had no restriction and could pretty much eat whatever I wanted but usually only about 1/2 of what I used to do. First 48 hrs after fill, still didn't feel any different. Then Monday evening, something felt different. On Tuesday, I noticed that after a few bites, it felt like my meal was starting to back up in my esophagus. I stopped eating and hours went buy and the feeling of over fullness dissapated but I wasn't hungry for hours. This morning, I decided to try a protein shake and I guess I blended up alot of ice (it was thick like a milkshake) and it took me a good half hour just to drink it. I texted someone from my support group and shared what I was feeling and she said that was restriction and my "soft sign" to stop eating. I guess I was waiting and analyzing my feelings so long that I got there and didn't realize it at first. I was so excited and have been very careful today with what and how much I ate. I am so anxious to see if it moves me past that "plateau" you are all talking about. I got a 1 cc fill which brought me up to 4.5 cc.

Review your meds with your primary care doctor and find out what can be crushed and what comes in a liquid. I have been on a number of meds and some were switched from extended release to short acting and I take more frequently. Also, if you should ever require an antibiotic, just remind your doctor you need liquid or crushable pills. It worked well for me. I crush my meds and take in unsweetened applesauce.

Thanks for your comments. In a similar boat, 60, 8 years with diabetes, HTN, Choles, etc. No one said you're gonna die from it but I am a nurse, so I know. I wanted to beat the diabetes in particular, just didn't quite grasp how much the other things would improve as well. I am only 2 months out and still no restriction at 4.5 in a 10, but exercising more than I have in at least 15 years and all my labs are in great shape. I just want to stay motivated and fight that feeling of "you're gonna fail again" that tends to stick its nose in there every once in a while. Thanks for your comments!

You will be ok, just hang in there. You should expect to have some discomfort. You just had alot of IV fluid pumped into you and your drinking throughout the day, you will urinate alot. Plus, honestly, if you aren't taking in alot of sodium, you have some "water weight" that will come off. The dryness in your mouth is left over from meds they give you to decrease your saliva during the sedation. You aren't going to feel great for a little while, but one day you will wake up and it will be so much better.

I also don't have any restriction at 3.5 in a 10 cc band and am also hungry alot, going to gym 4-5 days a week. I get my third fill on Friday so I am hopeful for improvement.

I talked to my doctor about that and the port flipping as I have heard about both. Their practice has a very low rate of problems with both those issues as well as with stretching of the pouch. The doc said that they sew a portion of the stomach over the band to help secure it, the low profile realize port is attached within the muscle wall and that the pouch should stretch to accomodate the 1-1/4 cups of food to eat about 4 times a day. It is chronic over eating (larger amounts) that may over time contribute to stretching out the pouch. It is a center of excellence. I am out only 2 months so no issues at this point.

I asked my doctor about this just last week. She said the pouch can hold about 2 oz. (1/4 cup) but stretches more than that. If the food is chewed well and eaten slowly, as we are instructed, she said I should be able to eat 1-1/4 cups of food and probably about 4 times a day.

Every person is unique in terms of what they need. I was still having significant pain at 4 days and only just starting to be able to get up out of a chair by myself. However, I am 60 years old and that could have affected things. I had plenty of leave accumulated so I took 3 weeks and it was great for me. Even though I felt better early in that 3rd week, I had the time to adjust to a mushy diet and I was well on my way when I returned to work.

OK, I'm a nurse and have been there myself as with employees. The most likely cause of your discomfort is muscle strain from all the vomiting. It will get better in a few days. You most likely have had the Noro virus (also called Norwalk virus) which can vary in intensity of symptoms. Some people have it way worse than others and it spreads quickly, five day incubation period after exposure. Clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces with 1:10 bleach/water solution. General cleaners don't kill the germ. Hope this helps.

You are so right, but doesn't stop the feelings! I look at meals in restaurants on advertised on TV and I say to myself, "no way I could eat that much food", "that steak sandwich looks great but I feel greasy and know I wouldn't enjoy it the way I once did." I can tell I am changing because my thoughts come back to what is right for me, but the old me still trys to stick in their 2 cents!

Have you re-thought what and how you are consuming your food? You obviously seem to have some restriction so you may have to consider what you need to do differently now.....smaller bites, more chewing, going slower, etc. It was very easy for me, without any restriction, to not pay as much attention to these things. With each fill, you may need to change or reassess your eating.

Doesn't seem like a lot of food but if you are concerned, one place to look at is your activity level. Are you exercising? Weight does come off a little faster if you are.

Low carb is challenging but its good for diabetes and lowering glucose levels as well. Avoid potatoes, rice, pasta, white bread and not too much bread all around, crackers (in small quantities and whole wheat). Check out a list of high glycemic fruits and veges on line and keep those lower on your food consumption list. Use a sweetner, my favorite is splenda. I track my carb intake and keep it around 60 gms a day which is approximately 4 carb exchanges for diabetics. It has dramatically lowered my glucose levels and I feel great and no breath issues at all. Also really helps with weight loss.

It is really true that most take-out food is very high in sodium, fat and carbs. My dietician states that even if you are eating good foods but you increase your salt intake it will show in weight gain. Everyone is right, take it as a learning experience about snacks and take out food and just move on. You aren't the only person who probably learned this the hard way. Congratulations for getting right back up and on track.

I took off 3 weeks, and I really needed all that time, maybe because I am 60. You don't have to give a reason to anyone except to say surgical procedure. My doctor's office only writes "abdominal surgery" with a return date. No one has to know anything. However, I had so many questions about my time off that I used the "hiatal hernia" excuse.....it was the truth (I did have that repaired during surgery), I just didn't mention everything that was done. No one bugs me at all about it now.

I have had the Realize band for 6 weeks and no problem also. My surgeon likes them better, something to do with less complications. However she still uses the Lap Band on very large men (it comes in 14cc?) if they need that size. No problems with mine.

This is such a shame, I get to talk to someone WHENEVER I call which has always been within office hours. The doc, the dietician, the nurse all say call if you have any questions. I am so sorry you have experienced this.

I am so excited at my one month anniversary....I have lost 25 lbs since I started the 2 week pre op diet and subsequent surgery Jan. 9th, my BP is down to 110/70, my resting HR is 57 and my A1C dropped a full point to 6.4. My doctor says if this continues, at my next appointment in 3 months he will start to reduce my medications! And I am even going to a gym and working out 1.5 hours. I just can't believe it. I am so excited!

You can get approved by someone else.....don't take a chance. Those charges are ridiculous. I was self pay and it only cost $10,000 thru a center of excellence. I live in Delaware on the East Coast. I'm a nurse and I can tell you that far more complex surgeries don't cost anywhere near that much. Think cardiac bypass? Your safety is the most important thing, even if you have to wait a few months.

Some days I just couldn't get them all down as well. It works out. I also struggled to get in all the protein and fluid after surgery. Now I am one month out and its fine. Just hang in there and do the best you can.

As soon as you get to regular food and off optifast or just protein drinks, the diarrhea will go away. It is a very common response to the weight loss drinks and surgery. I had it nearly 2 weeks with Optifast and after surgery for about 10 days and then it seemed to stop. Now I am a month out and have the opposite problem!