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Ive done it on a couple of occasions and from my experience ive thrown up or have been in pain for hours. Once you do it once or twice trust me you wont want to have that feeling. There are still times when i eat and dont feel full or eat and then a couple of hrs later be hungry again. My doctor told me to eat a 1/2 a cup of food first and then of ur hungry later eat another 1/2 a cup. I used to b able to eat a whole pot of Pasta, rice, or potatoes. I definitely understand where you coming from. I still crave those foods but ill have it once a month if that. But i was told by several ppl that my eat habits have changed. So you can do it and I believe in you.

Thank you

Well we normally toast are bread with no problems. He ate the bread untoasted with pb and his chest started hurting and took a bit to pass. He thinks he ate bread before not toasted and had no problems. I myself tried a toasted piece with pb and did fine. I guess people are different

Hang tight you can do it!! I am doing it now for 7 days and if i didn't die you wont!! I am here for support if you need me!!

It sucks but we all go through it and survive. I was on 4 weeks of liquids after surgery. I hated it but like everyone else, I just had to get through it.

Hi Christine and welcome! Have you eaten anything to be going through your bowels yet? (probably not, Clear liquids...) Are you hearing gurgling noises? (should be a yes) Do you feel constipated? (might be a yes from the narcotics) I didn't "go" for several days, either. Being on clears for many days meant there was not much to turn into solid for elimination.
Coming off the pain meds should help.
Your post-op instructions may have some info for constipation. If it says you can use over the counter stuff, my favorite is Milk of Magnesia. Go lightly though. Because once I started going again, things exploded and I had diarrhea for a while. So unless you are very uncomfortable, I'd not to the M-o-M.

you will feel restriction just take your time when you eat...im going for my 4th fill friday and ive been doing fine . Like i said take your time when you eat and dont drink with your food.....Good luck ..You will do GREAT....Jim

some Dr.s are diffrent but most of them will put the port on the left side of your belly...

thanks for posting this..wish i knew this when i went through that.
i also wanna tell new bandsters dont compare your weight loss or how much is in your band with others. this is an individual journey as well as one we travel together. (if that makes sense).
everyone "cheats" at some point..dont beat yourself up!
ok that is all...now back to our regularly scheduled program..lol

Oh ok thanks after reading this I feel much better

Thanks guys....I will just power on...if anything I have the support in here

Bandsters:
Was talking to my brother the other day and have been fascinated by his weight reduction from 429lbs to his current weight of 165lbs. Over the years...I've been asking him questions when I sense he is in a mood to answer them (he doesn't like my many questions as he never went to school and values good research like I do)
In a nutshell, I've been amazed as how "respectful" he is of his band. More specifically, I've observed an attitude (that he has) that he views his band as "THE BOSS"....and yields constantly to what his band his telling him. To point...where he SERIOUSLY doesn't play around when his band is giving him a warning sign. Its refreshing to see actually.
Yes...I know its also about aftercare, the surgeon, the foods you eat ect.... However...if you get all the areas correct...but fail to yield and be respectful of this new tool.....everything else is a loss.
He has a good surgeon, good aftercare but noticed he doesn't excercize that much and doesn't eat the right foods and notice he likes his beer alot now. But regardless, amongst all this observation.....I'm amazed on how he listens to his band and lets the band tell him what to do (not the other way around)
This advice may seem simple (and nothing new) but I can honestly say this tip of "Letting the Band Be Your Boss" is simply the #1 Reason For His Success.
Because of his success, my research and many posters here, I've now decided to take the step and get banded in July.
Blessings to all,
MD

The way most people's journey happens in the first couple weeks they lose weight quickly, which is mainly water weight. This time is meant for healing and weight lose is just a plus. Then the following months you will be in Bandster hell with no restriction. Once you have had enough fills you will begin losing 1-2 lbs a week. Don't try to lose weight to quickly or you will have more sagging. Remember this journey is a marathon not a sprint.

I've been eating tuna blended in the food processor with a little light mayo, boiled eggs, chicken salad, scrambled eggs (but I have to add some ketchup to help it go down better), cooked carrots

I don't think people who have good restriction can overeat in one sitting. If they say they can, they don't know what good restriction feels like. The only way I can overeat would be to graze on junkfood throughout the day.

23 since February is still great! As you can see by my ticker, I've lost 37 since August 2010!! So, talk about slow losing (lol; I have issues! ). Don't beat yourself up; if the scale is constantly going down (even slowly), you're doing great; way better than going up!

To answer some of your questions:-
If you can't swallow it means your band is too tight.
You will not feel full the way you used to. Full is no longer felt in the stomach it is felt in the chest. You want to try to stop eating before you are full as it may feel very uncomfortable.
The band puts pressure on various nerves which gives rise to the sensation of feeling that something is in your throat. It is a referred sensation. Often if you can feel it in your throat it means you have probably eaten too much.
With a well adjusted band you should be satisfied ( not full) after eating a small portion of healthy food (protein/veg/good quality carbs). You should not feel hungry again for an extended period. For some this could be 3 hours for others it is longer. Although you may not technically be hungry you might still desire food. That is because a lot of "hunger" is in your head not your stomach.
The band will not make you magically lose weght. It will not make the correct choices for you and it won't make you exercise. Those things you have to do for yourself.
HTH and keep asking questions.

Sarah don't beat yourself up . You r healing right now your band is open all the way try your best 2 stick 2 the Dr.s plan as you start getting your fills you will get full real quick . you will adjust 2 the new life style don't get discouraged you will do great .....Jim :

A life time of habits are hard to break! Just because you get the band doesn't mean you wont want those same foods. Hang in there!

You are in "bandster hell" . You are doing this on will power only. It will get easier once you start getting fills. The swelling from surgery is subsiding, but your band is empty, so you it is not providing much restriction. Keep following your doc's instructions and know that it will get much easier.

Here is what is allowed:
Strained or pureed lean meat, poultry,or fish (water- packed tuna fish, ground chicken, ground beef, ground turkey, and soft flaky fish.
eggs
Low fat cottage cheese
Nonfat or 1% milk
Light yogurt
Plain or nonfat yogurt ( I like greek yogurt chobani)
Cooked hot ceral w/o added sugar (subsitute can be used to sweeten)
Smooth mashed potatoes
Unsweetened applesauce
Unsweetened purred fruit (canned pears, canned cherries, canned peaches,bananas, berries, kiwi, passon fruit and guava will puree more easily)
Low fat or non fat mayo, salad dressings, cream cheese, sour cream, small amounts of butter, margarine,or oil
Salt and Pepper
Herbs and spices as tolerated
Low fat, sugar free non- dairy creamers
Artificial sweetners
Mustard, Vinegar.
Hope that this will help you

Welcome. This site is great. Lots of information on here. Soak it up.

2 years out and you have never experienced this before ?
Scrambled eggs....is this only happening in the morning?
After 2 years, you should know yourself and your band well enough to understand what is going on.
If this just popped up out of nowhere, after 2 years of normality, then yes, you have a problem.
Also, thinking about myself only......how would I gain 20 lbs if I can't keep anything down?
If it was me, I know the answer, and it would not be a slipped band. But that's just me cause I know myself and my habits.
In your case, if you don't know what's happening, contact your Dr ASAP.

I told VERY FEW people and was very careful about who I told. One friend that I particularly thought wouldn't be supportive, I ended up having to tell because I was at dinner with her one night very shortly after a fill and, careful as I was, I got "stuck". Anyway, after trying to lead up to an explanation of what I had done (all the while trying to fight that stuck feeling: eyes watering, hand on my chest, halting speech) that when I finally got it out about the lap-band surgery, she was so relieved that it wasn't cancer or something equally as horrible, that she started crying! She also told me that she had looked into wls a couple of years ago and chickened out, but now she was so happy for me that she's going to look into it again -- even after witnessing a stuck episode!!

I chose not to tell many people for that particular reason. No one else other than you knows the struggles you've had with your weight. I would ignore them if at all possible and let them see how happy you are as you lose weight. Also, remind them the band is meant to stay in forever- I personally have been on many diets and lost some weight, only to regain if back + some. With the band, you won't be doing that.