jennilamb007

I know I am too full when I get this pain between my shoulders and in my chest. It is like I am "clogged up". I seem to have been getting stuck more lately, but I have had a ton of sinus drainage (sorry for that image). I asked my doc if the constant drainage doesn't fill up my pouch somewhat and he said it made sense to him. I get the sliming effect much worse if I am not feeling well to begin with. Otherwise, I do good. I feel like I am in the green zone most of the time and then there are days where it feels like I ate the house down. I know I didn't, but it feels that way. Started exercising and oddly enough, it is like I can eat more after I do. I don't know what to think sometimes. I am down 50 pounds, so that is great and I can't complain. Jen

I needed to see this to remind myself of what I already knew. It is frustrating when you want the scale to move and it doesn't. I will just keep doing what I am doing and it will drop before I know it. I have lost 50 pounds so far that I will never see again, so I can stop my snivelling and get on with it. ; ) Take care, Jen

I was banded Dec 22, 2011 and I feel like I have stalled. I have 5.25cc in a 10cc band. I have great restriction. I barely eat anything. I take a few bites and it is like I have had a Thanksgiving dinner. I eat slow and chew everything. I have had more sliming lately than I care to admit. I can drink some juice and have an episode. So....I just slow it down even more. It is odd. Some days I can eat or drink something with no issue and then next it is slime time. To clarify, I am not unhappy with my decision and in fact I think it was a great decision, but I wish it would come off faster. I have lost about 30 pounds post surgery (43 if you count pre-op diet). Maybe it is just me being anxious. I have so much to lose and I want to get on with it. I admit that I do not excercise like I should. I can make excuses but that is all they would be...excuses. So, I guess what I need to do is jump on the treadmill when I can't walk outdoors and get this progressing. I suppose I thought that with how little I eat that it should be coming off irregardless. I haven't been on in awhile and this forum helps a lot. Take care everyone, Jen

I stopped leaving my office for lunch because I found that because I have to eat soooo slowly, I can take my lunch at my desk, take a bite and continue to work. So, now I get to get off early and enjoy more daylight. ; )

I don't know what your doc says, but mine said if I have an episode where anything comes up for any reason I am to go to a clear to full liquid diet for 24 hours to let the irritation pass before resuming soft foods. I dont know if that will help you or not, but I would try that. Jen

My first stuck experience came a few weeks ago. It was awful. It was like a rock stuck right on my sternum. I knew I didn't want to throw up or anything so I just breathed through my nose and paced up and down the hall. Suddenly, I felt a drop and the pain disappeared. I had chewed up my food thoroughly, but I think it accumulates and then bam. Anyway, just keeping calm and walking cleared it up.

I have a question...why does it take a week or two for a fill to "kick in". I don't understand why it isn't instantaneous. I really want to know. I got a fill today and I am at 5.25 ccs in a 10cc band. I am starting to feel restriction finally. I was banded on Dec.22, 2011. Also, why do they make you drink only clear liquid after a fill for 24 hours? Thanks, Jen

It made me crave sweets and/or made me feel hungrier. If I go through a drive up I now get unsweetened ice tea and tell them to keep the straw.

I also want to add that when I eat too little the scale doesn't move, but when I get those 26 points in, the scale moves with great consistency downward. You have to eat.

I have read a lot of posts saying they don't eat certain foods. I have never been told that by my doctor. I can have bread and pasta, but just a lot less of it. I have found that I really don't crave it as much as I used to and it may be that I am afraid of getting stuck more than anything. I eat my protein first, then veg and if I am still hungry I will eat a carb. I do the WW points plus program and I love it with my band. (I was banded 12-22-11). I am consistently losing weight, albeit slowly (which is good actually), and I have never had one day of feeling deprived. I do the points and although I am able to have 41 based on my weight, I shoot for the minimum of 26. My WW leader said to modify it to suit me and if points are not working (it is hard sometimes since most fruit and veg are zero points), then do the WW program where you eat the power foods until you feel satisfied. If you want more info on power foods I can get that for you. It tends to be more protein, but you also get fruits and veg in there. I don't believe in denying yourself a particular food group because it leads to feeling deprived and then overindulging later. I am so thrilled that I have my band to help me enjoy the things I like but without falling completely over the edge. Take care, Jen

I was told to avoid carbonated beverages because it fills the stomach with gas and can stretch the new pouch. I used to have a 12 oz bottle or two a day and I quit cold. I am glad I did because I feel loads better not having the false high of the soda. My head hurt like all get out the first 3 days but after I got over it I felt great.

I have never been happier than I am right now with my band. I look at it as my internal reminder that I am satisfied and I don't need to eat any further. Before the band, I would swallow my food without really tasting it or chewing it up and ate a lot more than I do now. Now that I am banded, I take it very slow, enjoy every bite and chew it all up before swallowing. I find food to be much more enjoyable now and although I don't eat near as much as I did, the time it takes to eat my food makes me feel like I have eaten a lot. I was more scared before the band because I didn't know how heavy I would get. Now that I have Portia (the nickname of my band) I feel I have control and I know I will lose this weight and never have it on me again.

BlueTattoo thank you for your post. I have to remember that all docs are different. I have to remember that my doctor has had a great success rate and that when a lot of people didn't have to be strict pre-surgery, I was doing 3 weeks of clear liquids. I always do as he asks me to do, but I was thinking that maybe with what I was reading that I misunderstood him. A phone call to the office to make sure I was doing the proper thing made me feel a lot better. For the most part, I chew things up like mad until they are nearly dust before swallowing. I did try some steak and couldn't get it to break down the way I like and ended up just spitting it out. I stick with fish and chicken mostly. Chicken gets dry as all get out when you chew it up properly. I am so scared of getting stuck that I probably overdo it on the chewing, but it makes a small bread plate seem like a serving platter by the time I finish. Again, thank you for reminding me that all docs are different and that I probably should worry. Take care, Jen

I was told after my banding that I could eat soft foods 3-4 days after the surgery (My surgery was 12-22-11). I did, but I wasn't able to eat a lot, maybe a few tablespoons of food. I had a fill earlier this month and I have to say I am not feeling restriction and I get scared that I am eating too much. I do WW and I stay within the points and I am losing 1.5-2 pounds a week. Still, it is the amount that bothers me. I can eat more that a cup of food at a sitting. I know we are supposed to eat a half cup. I get scared that I am overeating and hurting my band. I don't feel uncomfortable or pain or anything but the anxiety of screwing this up is making me feel sick. I get my nutrients, I take vitamins, I eat good protein and veggies. I did have a lousy weekend of eating crap (I had a burger). I am usually positive and ready to make it work but I have to say I read everyone doing liquids for a month or so after surgery and I didn't do that and I worry about messing this all up. Today I am having my protein bar for breakfast, a WW meal for lunch (I usually cook, but this week I am working days so I don't leave the office) and probably fish and veggies for dinner. Maybe I am being a paranoid worry wart for nothing and am borrowing trouble, but I really want this to work and I want to be healthy. Any words of wisdom? I appreciate all comments. Thanks, Jen

I was given a 10 pound lift restriction for 2 weeks and then a 20 pound lift restriction for 4 weeks to ensure that all sutures healed properly and I would prevent complications. I thought this was a bit much, but I guess not.