contraband

I was banded in August 2007. I have lost a little over 40lbs. I have only had 2 fills (total of 7.0 cc's in a 10cc band). I just started getting the pain you are all talking about 2 weeks ago. Possible causes from reading all the posts: 1) I started swimming 4x/week and maybe pulled a muscle, but I started swimming in January, 2) I'm eating too much, which I definitely am, 3) hernia, or 4) gall bladder. Also the pain was really bad today...it feels better when I push-in on the area that hurts. Also today when it was hurting a lot I walked for about a half an hour and it went away. I don't know what it is. Tomorrow I am going to eat smaller portions of softer foods (applesauce, oatmeal,...etc...) and call my Doc. Please keep me posted as will I. Thanks for listening, Ellen

for the past 3 days I have been getting periodic stomach cramping. It feels like I should pass gas or have diarrhea but I just have the cramps. I also feel bloated after even liquids. I got banded 8/3/07. down 35 pounds. I'm hoping it's just a stomach virus but worried it's band related. Anyone else haved this? Ellen:help:

Hi lisa, I just read your message. I got my first fill (5cc's ina 10cc band) about 1.5 weeks ago and am not feeling very restricted still. I just read what Jack wrote too and it makes me feel better. I am experiencing changes but they're not as drastic as I want them to be and I would love to stop eating when I feel "satisfied" but as of yet I have a hard time w/ that, always have. I don't weigh myself so I don't know what's going on w/ that, but I still need to add exercise and have not been willing yet. So that's my story. How did your fill go? Ellen

Hi Hana, I would love to start a group or a meeting for phila. area bandsters. I know I could use the support. I got my first fill (5cc in a 10cc band) 2 weeks ago. A couple days after my fill I felt like I could still eat a lot more than I think I should be able to. I lost 1 more pound, a total of 22#, before my first fill. I haven't weighed myself since my first fill and it's been a little less than 2 weeks. I suppose I should be happy the scale is going down instead of up but I would like it to move a bit faster. I also have not been exercising, so I shouldn't complain. I need to remember this is not magic, it's just a tool. But if I could decrease my intake by myself I wouldn't need a band. I will talk to my doctor. Enough about me, how are you doing and would you be interested in a support group of some kind?

I'm in. I live in Phila. but was thinking of starting a group too. I would love to meet anywhere. Ellen In Philly

Hi Nilsa, How do you do the ticker? I can get to the website but I can't figure out how to get it onto my page. Come to think of it, I can't put anything permanently onto my page. Thanks, Ellen

Hi Everyone, My name is Ellen and I live in Philadelphia. I had my band placed on 8/3/07. I weighed 274 the day before my surgery and as of today I am at 253. Two of my wounds are infected and my Dr. started me on Cipro (an antibiotic) today. Besides my painful wounds, I feel great. I haven't really started exercising yet because my knees hurt too much. I am pretty much eating smaller portions of all the foods I usually eat minus the ice cream andor cake that I usually would eat at nightime. I'm a little worried because i'm not really feeling full quick enough and I feel like I have no restriction. I really lost the 20 pounds in the first 2 1/2 weeks and have only lost 1 pound since. Everyone is telling me that this is normal before my first fill. Anyone having this kind of experience. Glad everyone is doing well. Ellen

thank you everyone for your responses. I feel better now. But did anyone else have this same experiences? Ellen

Hi everyone, I was banded on August 3rd, 2007 and as of the last time I checked I was down 22 lbs. I have a lot to go. However I am feeling well and eatings regular foods. I do chew like crazy though. My fear is, that since I stopped full liquids I find I am not getting full very quickly. I don't feel like I am overeating but I think I shouldn't be able to eat as much as I am eating. My Doctor warned me that during the pureed/mushy/regular food stage I may feel hungrier and may even gain a few pounds before my first fill. Has anyone else heard this. I'm eating fruit w/ skins, meats, a very small amount of bread (all thoroughly chewed) with no problems. I am eating much smaller amounts though and no sweets except a fudgsicle at night. How much should I be able to eat at a sitting before my first fill. When I showed my friend what I ate for Breakfast she said I shouldn't be able to eat that much and I better go for a fill. She had a gastric bypass. So, I'm confused and a little frightened. maybe my Doctor didn't put the band in...just kidding...but still worried. Here's what I ate yesterday: Breakfast 2 eggs (1 yolk) 1 slice cheddar cheese 1 potato latke lunch 1 leg and thigh Tandoori chicken dinner (my husbands birthday party) 1 buffalo burger (patty only) w/ ketchup and pickle a couple bites of a a hot dog (no roll) I licked some icing w/ my finger 2 pieces of grilled tofu snack 1 fudgesicle Doesn't that seem like a lot of food to be able to eat for someone w/ a lapband? Thanks for your responses I need help..I think my head is my biggest problem but I'm not sure. Ellen

Thanks everyone. You've all helped alot. It's one week post-band. Today I ate: - 2 chewable vits - 1/2 Odwalla super Protein shake - 1 cup thinned cream of wheat made w/ skim milk, butter, and 1/2 maple syrup - 2 calcium chews - 2 Tbs hummus - 1/2 cup pureed/thinned red fish chowder from whole foods - 1 organic fudgesicle - iron, folate - Water throughout How am I doing? I'm worried I'm not getting enough protein? What do you think? Thank you in advance for your feedback. Ellen

Hi Jacgui, This morning is the first morning that I have felt like I am part of the land of the living. I pooped again and went out for breakfast w/ my husband and son Sam (5 years old). I had oatmeal watered down w/ skim milk and a little butter. I had about 1/2 cup. I also drank 1/3 cup skim milk. It was delicious, it went down fine (I ate so slow) and I didn't feel like I was eating any crap nor did I feel deprived. This is all thanks to you and Chickie. Ellen

Jacqui, Thanks for the response. Tonight I thawed some organic peaches that I had cooked and froze. I blended about 1/2 cup of them w/ a 1/2 cup of organic yogurt in my "Magic Bullet" processor. It was delicious. I ate almost the whole thing. I'm concerned that maybe that was too much but it was delicious. I read that I should only be eating 2-4 tbs. of food per meal. How can that be right. Is that right? I read it in WLS for dummies. Thanks, Ellen

Hey Jacqui, I pooped today....woohoo...Well I know this makes my day. So, just to be clear, when you were on full liquids you ate the stuff you mentioned in your last post? So, I can have regular lowfat or nonfat yogurt (not that light and fit crap) blended w/ fruit. And I can have dinner w/ my family by just blending up what I give them? I think I need to re-adjust my thinking. Before I got the band I ate a lot and was almost completly inactive but I ate very natural, whole foods most of the time. I love to cook and eat vegan food, vegetables, fresh meats, all kinds of stuff. I was sad to think I had to eat all of this fake crap once I got the band. I hate that stuff but was willing to do anything I was told because my way wasn't working so well. I may now be able to eat foods that feel clean and make me feel good but now I just need to eat very small portions and incorporate exercise. If this is true then it's my dream come true because I've always wanted to eat well and moderate. It makes me want to cry that this may be possible. So, I'm not quite sure what I'm asking here but thanks for opening my eyes to these possibilities.

I don't know about you, but when I'm having a party for my son I'm usually running around so much that there wouldn't be enough time to sit and have a meal. I suggest you have liquids during the party and eat when you can sit, chew and have a peaceful meal. If it's a sit down, then chili or veggie chili would work. Have toppings on the side for like shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, guac, chips. Have fun, Ellen

Thank you for the info. Where are you from? Ellen