o2bthin

This is the first I've heard of "first bite syndrome" but I'm certainly experiencing it. I'm anxious to hear more.

Question for all of you, what foods get stuck easiest?

Also, does having the "first bite syndrome" mean you don't need a fill? Sometimes I'm wide open and can eat tons. I would think with a 10cc band I need more than 4 cc.

If you get food stuck, do you quit or what?

I think after a fill we are testing our bands to see if life's really going to change or not. When they say that sometimes it takes a little while for a fill to settle in, they're not kidding. I'm finding I have more restriction in the morning for sure. It takes about 4 bites for me to feel like stuff is stuck. So, I'm trying to eat slower and chew better. Sometimes I'm wide open. I hate hate hate that! Why can't it be consistent? Oh well, I am fully expecting to see the weight to start dropping now. Another fill and I'll be there I hope.

Brenda I'm going through exactly the same thing you are. I had my second fill last Saturday and thought something was going to start.....I have 4 cc in my 10 cc band now and still no restriction. It sucks.

Ginny, email me and I can give you some info. Notime2qlt@aol.com

Anyone have this problem? Please?

I've got so much air on my tummy from my second fill I feel like a blimp. I've been belching like a logger. It seems the more I burp, the more I need to burp. It's constant, not just when I eat. It's all day long. I had some burping after my first fill, and the day before the second fill was probably the worst. Since then, it's been constant and uncomfortable. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I took some Gas-X and it didn't seem to do anything.

For b-fast I had some scrambled eggs and a few cherries. I've been drinking crystal lite. I had a handful of my son's Corn Nuts. That's about it. I'm still not to restriction level, and can eat everything without problem.

I didn't have this problem after surgery, just since my fills. Sometimes it's hard to get the burp up, and then when I do, there's still more in there creating pressure.

Anyone? Please!

((((((michele)))))

So funny I sent it to my husband and brother! LOL

How's everyone doing with their fills?

I had my second fill yesterday, another 2.0 cc. I'm glad I had a week to get the feel of the first one. I lost 5 pounds last week, ate a lot less, but actually never felt restricted. Well yesterday I did. I'm still able to eat anything.....yes, I tried a scone on the ferry, ignoring the liquid diet advice. But I don't know that I'd want to be any more restricted than I am. If I can eat less, that's fine. I already feel a pressure that I'm not fond of. I constantly feel like I need to burp, and I have been burping...rather belching....a lot! Is this happening to any of you too? It started yesterday, it's a constant thing, and abdominal gas too. So, hopefully it's not completely related to the fills, and it will cycle out of my system. What I'm hoping for is just to eat less and feel no different, and that is my fill center's philosophy. When I used to hear about Water trickling down and not being able to eat chicken and having to chew chew chew, it didn't sound very interesting, and now it sounds even worse knowing the way this much fill feels like. I don't know if this is making any sense and I know that everyone's experiences are different.

Just to share about today....the two ladies that work the clinic I go to Northwest Fill Management providing affordable lap-band fills for weight loss are an absolute kick. The ARNP and her PA. We end up almost getting in trouble talking too long. Today, they gave me credit for my fill and I am going to trade quilting...I have a longarm quilting business, and yes both of them are quilters too. How funny is that? We once again had trouble getting to my port, I kept insisting it was under the scar tissue of my largest incision. I literally bent over backwards to lay on the table.....dh was pinching the port between his fingers telling them "don't lose it don't lose it!!" Finally they got it. They are convinced they must get me to the point of desperation for my body to tense enough to get the port up. LOL

BigBaby I'm glad things went well.

Nvalicia it sounds like you're in the same boat. I'm so sorry you guys are having this trouble...it doesn't seem fair. Thinking good thoughts for you.

The "Anyone in NW WA" thread is basically a Dr. Oh/Srikanth support group. Good luck with your journey!

Wow bummer. I'd rather be less filled and use some self control. My ESHO.

I think I can see your dimple!!!! Cute!

Yep, those be my dimples! They are starting to come back out now that my face is thinning. I've got freckles too now that it's summer.

I take 1/2 sleep aid at night, and read for a while...then I get restless....my mind won't shut off.....and the kids are up scurrying around (teens stay up til wee hours and sleep in all day if you let them) doesn't help so I get on the puter and coax them to bed. If I get into an especially slow Pogo Spades game, I get sleepy fast!

I think I'm just psyched about the fill because it seems to be working...I'm down 4 pounds this week! WOW! I was stuck at 252 since surgery.

I have wondered about those salmon burgers. Now that I'm eating less, I like stuff that tastes really good and has the high Protein. I'm noticing I can't handle stuff that's very salty though---taste buds are changing.

Stef, that baby is just toooo much!

Note the time here...can't sleep!

With restriction you are forced to chew more and eat slower, and then your pouch fills up sending that full signal.

I don't get how you can feel full if the food is going through the stoma. Puzzling. But hey, if it works, it works.

I'm trying to determine how restricted I want to be. I am getting another fill on Saturday, another 2cc. I don't want to PB or be uncomfortable and food getting stuck. And I question that being that tight is necessary to lose weight. I would like the full feeling, but not the tight feeling.

Maybe less is more for me. I'm down 2# since Saturday so the fill is working. I have nothing in the way of a tight feeling, and can gulp Water.

How do you know when you're filled properly?

Maybe my question wasn't so silly huh? LOL Does *anyone have an answer for me? I'm thinking that food doesn't really sit up there in the pouch and digest, it just collects there and moves slowly through the stoma.

This isn't the first issue re. the band that doctors have differing opinions on. Well it's more than an opinion if they're educating their patients.

I must be feeling a bit restricted from my first fill because I'm full faster. But, I don't feel the food is staying in my pouch. Maybe the idea is to keep it in your pouch long enough to send a signal to the brain that you're full.

In that case, I'm not restricted enough. I can eat more than half of my pre-fill amount of food. So, if this is correct thinking, another fill would keep the food in the pouch longer?

I think I'm getting somewhere talking to myself!! Gahhh!

I have a question...it might be silly. This just doesn't make sense to me. If our bands when restricted are tight enough to keep the food up in the pouch to digest and our pouch should hold about 1/2 cup of food, how does food get stuck? Where does it get stuck? The stoma is the opening down into the stomach. Isn't the food supposed to stay up above it for us to feel full?

Someone please 'splain this to me!

If you can get your surgery to pay, it's probably worth the wait. If you want to self pay, you could probably schedule your surgery for next week!

I don't have any regrets about surgery. It was a great experience, minimal if any pain, piece of cake. I am starting fills now, and experiencing the feeling of slight fullness. Go for it!

If you're trying to lose weight, shrink your liver, etc., Soups won't do it. Protein Shakes mixed with Water, fat free yogurt/fresh fruit smoothies are what I did and lost the requisite weight. After surgery, I didn't care what "liquids" meant, I had soups with some feta sprinkled on top. Trader Joes has the best soups.

Hotmomma, just don't tell anyone. As far as anyone knows, I went out of town for a few days. I told my kids, one friend (for emergencies) and that's it.

BigBaby, I hope they can turn your port! I've heard that it's a quick fix. I hope all goes well.

Got my first fill on Saturday. She limited it to 2 cc. I feel nothing much, which may be okay if I start to drop. If not I will prob go back within 10 days for another 2 cc. Finding the port was difficult.

A lot of things have motivated me, but this was my 'last straw."

My mom weighed around 260 pounds, same BMI as me, also with high blood sugar/prediabetes, but not treated. Otherwise, she was healthy, happy and active, like me. Last November she went in for a hysterectomy, came home and layed on the couch for 4 weeks. She developed a blood clot in her leg and died without warning. She would have been 65 today. She was my best friend.

I'm definitely in limbo....that place that's neither heaven nor hell right? I'm not losing, despite my best efforts. My fill will be on 8/1 and I can't wait. I'm going back to Dr. Ortiz, even though it's a hike (3 hrs to Seattle, 3 hr flight to San Diego, bus, trolley, taxi, overnight, trolley, bus, 3 hr flight back to Seattle and 3 hr drive home) because I want an aggressive first fill in my 10cc band. It BETTER work too!

I have been trying to stick to low fat, Protein first, greens second, fruits third and my carbs last. I've had ice cream too, believe me. It's not like we can't have it after our fill either, so like Cheryl is saying, you have to get good foods in and get the good habits too.

I'm discouraged too, not losing anything, and eating less and dieting and depriving myself......and I have done my share of griping. I finally decided that I be losing much until my band is working.

Try not to sabotage your success though. Try drinking more, and keeping yourself busy. That's been hard for me. What do I do the 28+ hours a week I am not shopping for food, talking about food, preparing food or eating food?? LOL

You want a maid, nanny and sex slave. You don't want a wife. Own it and stop making excuses. Bleeeech!