cheryllm63

I went to the ER and they didn't do much. gave me Phenegren and hydrocodone, which I don't need. But they did give me Protonix, for my indigestion. I'm trying to make arrangements to go to a Bariatric surgeon/Gastrolenterologosit. I know it's nothing to mess around with.

It could be a slip or it could just be a pouch dilation. I would take some liquid motrin and go on full liquids for a few days and definitely see the doc.

Yes, hopefully the ER you go to will have a bariatric surgeon on call. It sounds like a slip. I have had one, I keep a lose band now. Better a slight weight gain than permanent damage to your body! Best wishes.

I am contemplating going to the ER today because I don't have a doctor in the Dallas area. I was banded on June 25, 2012 and have lost 100 pounds. For the last few weeks, eating has gotten increasingly more difficult and have been having "refulx" and couging at night. Have also been waking up with indigestion most mornings. I had a hernia repaired when I had my band and it's very frustrating to be having indigestion again. It's also even starting to be uncomfortable to drink.
I worried that there is something major going on and I hope that going to the Emergency Room won't be a total waste of time. I need suggestions ASAP

I'm in the magnolia, woodlands area and would love to meet sometime. I got banded on June25 and just had my first fill on Wednesday.

Of couse I haven't lost because I live on slider foods. I want to eat whole foods but often throw them up or get stuck on them... so maybe the bands are better now but there are still plenty of people out there who are having problems. I want to put out there that it's not all roses, becuase when I was reading posts to make my decision that's all I wanted to see. I didn't believe I would end up one of those bitter people who hate their bands. I was sure this was the answer. If insurance is paying, what have you got to lose? Go for it, but for self pay people, you can spend less money on getting the nutrition guidence and mental support that is needed to be successful at weight loss without having to undergo the knife.
I am still paying $200 per month to pay off this surgery that did nothing for me. It has been physically, financially and emotionally taxing and my story deserves to be heard as much as the success stories do.

I have some restriction and I've only had 2 fills.

You know, I got on this site hoping to get answers from people just like me but instead of feeling comfortable, I am afraid of being honest or feeling like I am going to be judged if I make a mistake, ask a stupid question or make a comment about my experience so far with the band. Let's take this post for example, she says she is happy she got stuck and people act like she has lost her mind instead of educating her in a nicer way. She said she was eating tacos and she is made to feel like she committed a sin. She says she is going 70mph and suddenly the post is fake. Let's get real, if we are on here is because we all overate, ate the wrong things more frequently than not and probably didn't do much exercise so to make someone feel bad about their choices or comments is pretty hypocritical to me. It's not what you say more than how you deliver your message.
We are here to motivate and support each other not repremand or judge each other.
P.S: this is not meant for "all" who posted on here, only for some as well as others in other posts I've read.

I'm so glad I read this because I feel the same way. I'm 6 weeks in and can eat like normal even after my first fill. I hope to notice a difference soon. I feel bad about it. If it were that easy to make the right choices or limit what you eat then none of us would be in this forum. You are my silver lining in this gray cloud. Good luck to all of us.

Had my 3rd fill this last Friday. The first few days I had quite a bit of pb'ing and stuck issues. I thought "great, maybe I'm too tight". Liquids go down easily. Today when I ate lunch I had chicken and broccoli. No pb'ing. The trick....I ate slower and stopped in between bites. Ive always been a fast eater so that's been the hardest for me to stop. I guess I was still eating way too fast with the band. My total meal was 3 oz, as I didn't want to overdo it. So far so good. I have realized that I have to learn how to eat all over again with a fill. Just wanted to share my experience in case anyone else is having the same issue.

I am so HAPPY, I was really starting to doubt whether the band was going to be a useful tool, for me personally. FINALLY, after reading about a lot of my fellow bandsters eating smaller portions and having lost weight, I can say I am there too. What a great feeling to have restriction. I have been at the 20lb mark basically since 1 week post-op, (first week of June) but since last Tuesday when I got my 2nd fill, I have lost 3 lbs. Woo Hoo. Just posting this to give everyone that has been banded but haven't reached restriction yet, HOPE that the time WILL COME and it makes it all worth it. I put on a pair of shorts yesterday that I faithfully wore everywhere for the past year and 1/2 because they were the only ones that fit. Size 18, they fell off of me. So the scale says I've lost between 23-24 lbs, but my body has lost inches!!! My husband couldnt believe his eyes. I was jumping up and down with joy. Not because I've lost weight as much as it is about that now I know this CAN and WILL help me to reach my goals!!!

for those that started out not in the green zone and then got to it. was it a gradual process or just that 3rd or 4th fill or whichever and then it hit? The reason I ask is that after a couple of fills, while I definitely fill up faster I can still eat a pretty large amount of food. I can eat a six inch sub and chips with no problem but I probably could not eat a foot long. I dont really have to eat slowly or chew my food that well. i try to, but i dont really have to. I have never felt like been at risk of sliming, pb'ing, or throwing up. the most feeling ill get is maybe my first bite or two of a meal I'll feel pressure like i have to burp, and then i'll burp, and then I can eat fine after that.
im hoping that the next fill gets me there. last time i was there there they actually put in 2 cc's but when i drank Water it felt like it was just sitting there so they took 1 cc out. maybe i need another .5

I am a self pay and I must agree with you all. My surgeon did not stress the importance of the eating guidelines. I had to learn about it here on this site! Hopefully others will do the same.

I am always saddened and concerned when i read threads like this. Do surgeons really not explain to people about restriction and fills, what will happen post - op, when it will happen and why etc.
Post - op is a time to heal, concentrate on what and how u should be eating, you may not feel any restrictions at all for another 4 to 5 fills some feel it earlier some feel it after 6 to 7 fills there is no set pattern here other than patience is the best thing to do right now, after all how long have u been too heavy, these few months it will take for u to get what u need from the band are nothing compared to the years most of us have been heavy.. good luck and any weight loss now is a bonus not the usual

The reason you're not losing anymore is because you're not supposed to be losing much at this point. The 1st 6 weeks are for HEALING, not LOSING . Your body has had a shock (surgery) , now its in recovery mode. This is all completely normal, and you're right on track for a healthy body, with a healthy weight loss. Big restriction wont come in until you start getting fills. I had steady and slow weight loss since getting banded last December, then I hit the Green Zone with my 3rd fill, that lasted about 12 days. The Tech said that was completely normal, sometimes that happens. I had no restriction with the 4th or 5th fill, but with the 6th ? Muuuuuuuch better !!!! Now i eat smaller amounts, track everything on Myfitnesspal.com, exercise 3x a week, and the weight is coming off, again. Down 45 lbs so far ! I was patient, followed the rules 95 % of the time, got regular fills and watched myself go from 225 lbs to 180, size 18-1x to a size 14. So be patient, and hang in there !

I am just 10 days PO so not much experience yet. I do have a hard time drinking enough Water and remembering to do my Protein Drink.< /p>

Sometimes overeating without realizing it that causes pressure in the chest is a negative. Also, the daily fear that something will happen to my band is overwhelming. I am self pay so things could get pretty expensive!