Harkingluv

PB-ing = productive burping. Some say it is the same as vomitting but from what I have read, you don't have stomach acid come up with the chewed up food. It is just what is in your pouch. I haven't done that yet and hopefully I never will. I don't know if it happens when you ate too much or if something gets stuck or both. Maybe someone can clerify that for me.

I am a new bander also. I was banded May 22. I have gotten a couple of things stuck, one happened to be yesterday. I was eating a corn taco shell (broken up in a salad) and I think I didn't chew it well enough and I felt it get stuck. That was the closest I have come to vomitting/PB-ing. I actually walked to my bathroom. But, I just tried to relax and I took a couple of sips of Water and it went down. I am really scared to throw up with the band because I am scared to death of having a slippage and having to have another surgery. I have had something get stuck about 3-4 times and each time, I waited it out (it usually takes about 5 minutes for me) and then it goes down. I think I read somewhere on the forum or talked about it at a meeting, but if I am out at a restaurant, I have the waitress bring a to-go box with my food, and put between half-3/4's of my meal in the box. That way it is out-of-sight and out-of-mind, and you don't feel like you are depriving yourself as much. It really works for me. I am however, having a harder time when I eat at home. I have a tendency to want to snack. I have tried to do it with healthier choices, like sugar free Jello pudding or 100 cal. snack packs tho. What's funny is that i was never this much of a snacker, so I don't know what happened. Maybe i just didn't realize it as much before. However, with my main meals at home, I look at how much I am giving my 2 year old and I give myself roughly the same. I haven't been weighing my food although I probably should start. Plus I don't know if my band is tight enough yet. According to the diet plan my doc gave me, I should only eat one egg in the mornings, but I am able to eat two. So I don't know if my portions are quite right yet. Sorry if I got a little off topic.

I felt really restricted the day I had my 2nd fill and then it went away. I can still eat almost anything, but I have to do it really slow and I definitely don't eat as much as I could after my first fill. But I am still getting hungry like 4 hours after I eat and I was under the impression that you would stay fuller longer. I don't know if I have hit my sweet spot or not, but I am hoping I lose some weight. The doc says that 4-8 pounds in a month is good, which seems managable. My doc also says that you must be eating about 4-5 oz of solid foods per meal. If you are not eating solids, he says you could increase your chance for a slippage. He is really strict about eating solids. If you can't eat solids, then your band is too tight. IF you are having reflux, PB-ing/vomitting, or not being able to keep liquids down, you are too tight. Just what my doc says.

The best thing about the band is knowing that you have truely done something for yourself and that you know in a year you WILL be thinner & healthier than you are now. The worst thing about the band is that it is not something that happens over night. You have to realize that you still have to work hard at changing your lifestyle (which I am still trying to do). Also, having to give up coca cola has been really hard for me to do, but I have not had a coke since May 6!!!! I think we should set up a soda pop anon group...LOL

I had united and they have a bunch of hoops you have to jump thru. You had to prove that you had been seeing a physician for 6 months for weight loss, but it couldn't be the surgeon that you wanted to get the lap band from. It was ridiculous all the stuff you could and couldn't do. So I got myself a couple of credit cards with nice big limits and charged my surgery...i didn't see any other options

I just had this happen for the first time like 10 minutes ago. I guess my family will know, but when it happened, I just got up and walked away and my hubby just kept talking and then eventually he asked if everything was OK...LOL.:biggrin2:

Yeah...maybe it has something to do with the type of band that you have also. I don't know. I was starving after my first fill when I was on clear liquids. I wanted mushies so bad, but my hubby was being strict with me, which I guess was good.

I have to do clear liquids for the rest of the day after the fill, and then the day after that. Then I can have mushies the third day and then solids the day after that. I don't know why I have to do clears, but it kinda makes me irritable. I think it should just be mushies and see what your body can handle.

I got my first fill last Tuesday (07/01/08), but I can still eat way too much, so I called on Monday and I am getting another fill tomorrow. I am excited to get a tighter band, but not happy about having to go back on liquids again. But maybe I will lose 2 pounds like I did last week!!! That would be nice! My doc numbs my area in case he has to jab it twice. I am glad because I barely felt a thing.

That's a really good idea re: the surgery center having a WLS closet. I am going to have to mention that to my surgeon!!! Thanks for the idea!~!!

Wow...you can definitely see it in your cheeks and your chin. Way too go!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You look terrific. Keep up the good work.

Thanks SickNTired. I have thought about saying I am due in "insert month here" but it takes me back everytime someone says it. The last time it happened, when I told my hubby what the lady had said, he wanted to track her down and give her a piece of his mind, but I told him to let it go. I won't look pregnant much longer!!! Thanks for your support. Good luck with the surgery.

he said it would cause the stomach to spasm and be uncomfortable. I have no problem with them now

My NSV's are: 1. Being able to wear a XL now from a regular store!!!!!! YEAH. 2. Going from a size 22 to an 18. 3. Giving away my bigger clothes because I know I won't have to save them because I will never be this big again. 4. Having my parents and family tell me that I look like I lost weight everytime I see them. 5. Not having a great big double chin (now it is only a little one) 6. Being able to chase my son around without getting winded.

I love this thread. I am 6 weeks post-op and I can't wait to miss some of those things. What I won't miss: 1. Looking at the latest family pictures and swearing by Christmas I will be thinner - because this year I will ACTUALLY be thinner =) 2. Feeling ashamed because I am the fattest one in my family. 3. Crying because strangers ask me when I am expecting and having to choke away tears/embarrassment when I tell them I am not. 4. Having teenage boys make the "beep-beep" sound (truck backing up) when I walk by them in the mall. 5. My son won't have the biggest mommy at daycare 6. the whole "you're not fat" comment 7. Not wanting to have sex with my hubby because i am too self-conscious/self-critical to enjoy it. 8. feeling cramped in booths at resturants. 9. Being the only fat friend 10. granny panties and ugly bras - Victoria secrets here I come!!!!

I am allowed Jello. The only time I wasn't allowed jello was the first 3 weeks post-op because I wasn't allowed to have cold liquids. I have never heard that Jello would make the band slip. hmmmmm.

I really understand what you are saying. I am a new bander and I am still trying to transition and learn not to stress eat or eat because I am bored. I am a student and I am studying for my board exams, plus I am a mom to a toddler. So I have my hands full and I got myself into trouble by stress eating. Today, I also had a piece of choc cake, plus some banana pudding. I know it was a holiday, but I was tempted and my mom-in-law had upset me (not going into that either). So I ate something that I shouldn't have. I just need to get some more will power!!! UGGGHHHH!!! I am so mad at myself!!! I need to quit letting her get to me. Well, at least I didn't have as much as I would have pre-band.

That is terrific!!!! Happy Birthday!!!

I got my first fill on the 1st and I don't feel like I have that much more restriction. I think I am going to call my dr. on Monday and see if I can get a little bit more added. Plus I am still getting hungry at night. I definitely didn't eat as much as I would have, but I feel like I should be feeling a more restriction than I am.

Hi. I just wanted to review my doc. He is wonderful. His office staff is awesome. I had a terrific experience with him. I paid around $15000, which included hospital stay, anesthesia, and the surgeon fee. Plus, all of my office visits and fills are included for a year. I can call their office whenever I have a question and they don't make me feel stupid. Also, once a month he has support group meetings at the hospital, which are extremely helpful, especially if you are feeling down or have questions. I would definitely recommend him to anyone considering the lap band. :biggrin2:

Thanks for the info. I was in a pinch one day and called my hubby and had him look up what a hashbrown from McDonalds was and it is 150 cal and 9g of fat. So I figure that isn't too too bad. Congrats on your weight loss and congrats on the upcoming banding

Hi. I was self-pay too. I talked it over with the office manager at the surgeon's office because I was concerned about the money too. She had also had LBS and was also self-pay. She made a statement that I will pass on to you..."It will be the best investment that you make in yourself". And that was it. Plus think about all the money you will save on groceries and going out to dinner. Also, think about everything you will be gaining...yeah, you will be going into a little bit of debt, but you are gaining a healthy life. That is priceless! I haven't really worried about the money since the surgery. We put it on a credit card!!!! Plus, after I had the surgery, my roof started leaking in my house and we have to pay for that now and add it to our dept, but I do not, nor will I ever regret having the surgery.

Quick question - Would you even know if you were stretching your pouch? I don't even think you would know that you were doing it. I paid for the surgery myself and I am not taking any chances. I am going to try to stick to whatever my dr. told me.

Hi. My dr. told me not to use a straw. Supposedly it introduces air into the pouch and can cause it to stretch. I am newly banded and have forgotten a few times. I like using straws too because I have this germ-a-phobe thing regarding drinking out of glasses at restaurants. But I am going to try not to use them anymore.

OK...I thought I maybe my band wasn't tight enough. I got my first fill yesterday and my Dr. told me that the band would feel tighter today, but I am starving!!! I have had tea and coffee today (that's it), but I have a bad headache and feel like my blood sugar is low. Ughhh. Thanks for the reminder about the Jello...I think I will go have some right now =). So I guess this is how we are supposed to feel until we eat some mushies tomorrow.