Norma Jamerson

I have been experiencing some odd pains. Almost like an empty stomach, extreamly hungry pain. I am not hungry during those times, however, I feel like I have to eat something to soothe the pain. I get it the worst in the middle of the night. SO I drink Water, but that doesn't help. I thought maybe gas, but I take milk of magnesea and that helps the gas problems and constipation. My stomach growls like I haven't ate for days. Any ideas what it could be? And I am also going in tomarrow to see the Dr. I think my port has moved. My doctor showed me where it should be at my 2 week post opp appointment. It isn't there, it's like way above where he said, and it still pinches a lot. My band was put in on 2/16/05. Although I have come to terms with the band, I feel at this point that if the Doc has to go in to fix something, I am just going to say, "remove it." These pains have been with me since day one, and I thought would go away, and the gas is terrible. I can't even go from one isle in the grocery store to the next without sneaking out a fart. It's embarrasing. And if I try to keep it in, it's worse. I don't know what to do.

Hello everyone, I had my 3rd fill on April 28th and lost another 5 pounds within a week. That's great, but for some reason I am stuck at 215 now. After my second fill, the same thing happened. I was 226 and then got down to 220 and just stayed there till this last fill. Is it suppossed to be this way? Do I have to keep getting fills or is this normal and can I still lose weight with this last fill?

That must be it. I do feel full when I eat, and I notice I can't eat as much as I would like or can, but it is the calories and the exercise that I have yet to really work on. I have an egg in the morning (most mornings), then for lunch I may have some potatoes with lot's of no no yummy stuff on it, and for dinner I have some chicken and some rice. Basically I eat what my family can afford. However, we have been eating salads a lot lately for dinner. but I stay up late at night and then get hungry when I should be sleeping. So I end up eating again. Exercise.... I would love to do a lot of that but at the current moment, Aunt flow has come and gone real heavy lately and I have been to the emergency room for it and the docs office alot too. I am supposed to take it easy. So, any suggestions?

Hello everyone, I had my first fill on the 22nd I think, and that day there was no restriction until the next morning at Breakfast. So then I thought I had some restriction and it would just take time to kick in. I guess I have it when I eat anything with bread, but other than that I am eating more than I should be. I am gaining weight. So I made an appointment for April 7th to go in for another fill. I only had 1cc the first time and with probably get a 1/2cc or something. My doctor is very strick on doing just a tiny bit at a time so that the risk of erosion increasing in minimal. I got out of bed at 11:50pm to have left over pizza. (thin crust of course)

I actually tried a Jr. Cheesburger Deluxe at Wendy's last week. I got half way and was feeling like I was full but could still fit some more. Then I felt that awful stuck feeling and I was driving and had to pull over. I wasn't sure if I was going to throw up or what. I didn't, but needless to say, half of the top bun was thrown away. I just can't do hamburger bread. Sometime toast is okay, but I have to eat it extremely slow and one is enough. But give me some saltine crackers with melted cheese on them and Tuna-mayo-hotsauce on top, and I can eat about 30 of those things.

My full feeling is when I can FEEL the food SLOWLY making it's way down. Then I know, "Okay, there's no more room." Then I stop and about 10 minutes later, I am no longer hungry. But then I get hungry about 3 hours later if not sooner. ANd I have already had my first fill of 1cc. I go in again on the 7th to get an additional fill.

Lane Bryant is okay, they have our sizes, but they charge soooooo much. The more material they have to use, the more expensive it seems. Unless of course they have there sale racks out. They usually have like 50%- to 70% off racks in there store at the back. But I don't think I have ever seen bra's and stuff on the sale racks.

Wow, I didn't even know that Walgreen's carried Bra's. JC Penny's is haveing a huge sale this weekend by the way. So that's where I am headed. I too hate Victoria's Secret and only remember going there when I was about 16 years old. ANd even then they didn't have my size when I weighed 135. My butt was too big. Even though I looked HOT. I had too many curves to fit into those toothpick thin panties.

Esmeralda, I got my band on 2/16/05 and weighed 236 day of surgery. I have gotten down to about 218 but then go upt o 222. It tends to change over a couple of days. I know that it takes a few times of fills before it's just right, and everyone is different. I guess I am just scared because I don't want to have so many fills. I read on about how many of you guys out there get fills and unfills left and right and it worries me that some of you may cause a higher risk of erosion for yourselfs. I already get pains that some have told me that maybe it is an ulcer. I don't want anymore difficulties. I can't afford to get the band taken out. I would have to come up with that money on my own. My insurance only pays for the proceedure to be down, not reversed. Unless of corse it is a serious medical problem.. I don't think they would consider ulcers as a serious issue. Even though I feel like I am eating more often than not just to illiminate that awful feeling in my stomach. So, back to you Esmeralda, why is it that the restriction is gone? Is that normal. does the band stretch out or something, or our stomach pouch stretch out?

I am on solids and here is what I eat: lots of eggs, potatoes, the delight pizza's(craker thin crust), hard shell tacos, chili, soft fruits like bannana, cottage cheese, salsa, saltines crakers with tuna and mayo, pork chops(make sure you marinate them so their really tender), beans, vegetables(steamed or cooked), and I have tried toast but since my first fill on monday, I haven't been able to eat toast as well. I get full immediately after bread. hope that helps.

How much are you paying for the surgury? My was about $9000.00 here in Seattle, WA. If I would have gone through one of those Weight loss centers, it would have been 17,000.00 because of all their classes and advertising. And the doctor's up here are great. I am Mexican and still wouldn't go to Mexico because you can't take them to court if anything goes wrong.

I am a diet coke girl and I miss it as well, but not too much. I have heard of some people letting the soda sit for a while so it is not so carbonated. You want to stay away from the carbonated stuff---it would be like shaking the soda can in your tummy. How are you with coffee? maybe you can have that instead. It's not carbonated and you still get your caffein fix. Alot of people do well with that. I was scared to try it, but finally did, and thank God! I needed the caffein! I am a stay at home mem and work from home, so it's a big helper. Hope that helps and I am so happy to hear your news about the band. 2 weeks and your in bandland. Get ready for a rough start, but hang in there it gets better, I promise.

Well, As most of you know from another thread, "has anyone taken band out", I have been a big baby and have taken advice from the "Tough loving people you all are." I am sticking to the band as long as their is no SERIOUS complication. I actually felt restriciton ystarting yesterday morning. I was out to Breakfast with family and not even half way through my food I had to run to the restroom. I thought I was going to throw up. Instead, I just spit some slime out and took some deep breaths and was fine. I ate no more. Then for dinner a was able to eat more, but still far less than what I would have normally ate before the band. Before when this was like 2-3 weeks new, I would get soooooooooooooo frustrated, angry, and sad, that I wasn't able to eat more than my band allowed. But for the 1st time yesterday, I actually felt SATISFIED. Not stuffed, and I could look at the food in front of me and not be tempted to eat more. WOW, never thought that day would come. I actual boxed up my food yesterday and had the rest for breakfast this morning. What a $$$ saver. I think the band and I going to become good friends. The gas was still painful, and I did a lot of walking at costco. But I noticed when I lay on my right side, it is torture. But if I lay on my left side, the pain goes almost completely away. Isn't that something?! There is something that I remember from colon cleanses in the past that the doctor had said to lay on the left side to help the intestines push food through easier. So maybe that is true for the gas as well. Hope that may help someone else out there with gas pains.

Hey DeLarla, Glad for you too! The stuck feeling was very uncomfortable. I didn't throw up though. I was very close. Does PB mean to throw up? I am still trying to get used to all the lingo. And what does lol mean?

wow, I actually gained 10 pounds before surgury, and so did another person who referred me to my doctor. We are encouraged to lose weight --it helps a great deal, but they didn't cancel anything because of the gain. I was 236 day of surgery. Is there a certain weight that you must not go over prior to surgery?

Thanks all! I cancelled my appointment for an aditional fill. Yesterday morning I went out to eat with my brother who is in town, and had some eggs, hashbrowns, toast, and bacon, and coffee. Well, before I even got halfway done, I felt the actual real STUCK feeling and felt something makeing it's way back up. My eyes opened all wide and I just sat there for a second and then ran to the restrooms. I almost threw up. That would have been my first time to do that . So far I have not trown up--thank God! But anyway, I guess it took a day for my fill to really quick in. Although at night I had 3 hard shell tacos and was fine. I think the toast in the morning is what got me. So, I am still going to give it another week or so to really observe my band. Oh, and the reason I wake up at night is because my 16 month old wakes up about 2 times every night to have his diaper changed the 1st time at about 1:30am and then a bottle at about 4:30am. So during those times I get those hunger pains.--I am going to ask about the ulcer thing though. Just to be on the safe side.

Has anyone had their band taken out due to whatever problem? If so, did things go back to normal? Did the gas go away, did the pains go away, etc. And were you able to be more strick with yourself and change your life? I feel now that the band is a good thing for many people and I would recommend it to those who have many medical problems and have honestly tried everything with ALL their will power. But I have come to the conclusion that allthough I have come to terms with the band, I just feel it really isn't for me. I can't live each day farting up a storm, having empty painful growls in my stomach, having a hard time drinking Water, etc. It's not like that for everyone I know, but it is for me and I just wanted to know if anyone had their band taken out and what were the consequences of that. thank you.

Hello everyone. You guys are great! Yes, I went to the doctor yesterday. I got my first fill... so far nothing of restriction, so I called the doc and I am scheduled for monday for some more. He only puts in 1cc at a time to limit the increase risk of erosion. To many fills and unfills create to actual possibility for more risk. I like my doc..he's really nice. Anyway, I bought some organic-lactose free- skim milk yesterday. Let's see if that works. The ulcer thing actual sounds about right. I remember a friend who would have to drink some milk for the pain to go away. I am glad that was mentioned..I will definately bring that up on Monday. You know, the fill wasn't all that bad. I just laid over a pillow, got a numbing injection first(that stung a tinny bit-not bad and I am a big baby) then he dug around with the fill needle to find the way the port lies and then filled it. The only bad part about the whole procedure of 10 minutes or less, was my 16month old crying bloody murder because I wasn't right next to him, I was 4 feet away. Next time I need to find a sitter. He was asleep and all would have been fine, but the doc came in with a loud voice, "Hello Norma, How are things going?" then the baby, "Waahhhh!!!!" So you can imagine. But I didn't have to do any of the floroscopy or whatever stuff. I am honestly glad that I have had so much response on this thread....It is probably the first time that I have felt understood. I have had some private messages too that have confirmed others feeling are same as mine, and that helps me feel better knowing that I am not the only one who has douts now and then. I do look forward to being 135 pounds again! The doc says---you have not thrown up, you aren't really have problems with specific foods--so you are doing far better than most. So I told myself, "Self, quit being a sissy, you can do this...take advantage of this opportunity to be healthy, beautiful, energized, confident, etc. If down the road you honestly feel the same, then get a job and pay for it to be taken out. But for now---keep with it!" So okay---I'll stick with it!

Well, I saw the Doc and he says the port is exactly where it is supposed to be and that the gas pains should get better. The empty stomach pain is hunger pains and I need to feed my body when I feel those. I get them in the middle of the night, so maybe a small protein shake will help me. He gave me my first fill of 1cc. He said I can try some mushies and then some solids and see how I do. SO far I feel no restriction. Is that normal? will I feel something later? He did tell me to call back in a couple of days if there is no change, and then he would add another 1cc and see how I do. So okay, I have read a lot of the advice and the one thing that really got me thinking was the fact that I am an impulsive person. MAybe it's anxiety or something. I don't know, but what I do know is that I will take all your advice and give it some more thought. As long as I don't have a medical problem with the band, then I may be okay. I am hoping that the gas will go away and I may try to avoid dairy for a while and see if that makes things a whole lot better. Thank you all for your support.

Thanks you guys! I have my appointment today to see what all the problems are if any. I agree, I did make an impulsive desision to have the band, and maybe doing the same to take it out. I will try hard to give it a try. However, If I find out that their is somthing wrong and they have to go in anyway---then I will take it out. I don't take any of this for granted. I learned a great deal about myself and feel very confident now that I can do this on my own. But if everything is fine, then I will work with the band and just keep talking to you all. I am glad you're all here for support. Thanks!

Marie, You do have a good point..I won't know what I truely have unless I give it a chance, but today I go see the doctor about my port. If he has to go in and fix it or remove it, I want all of it out. But if it's fine and I get a fill, then I will give it another chance. I just don't like the discomforts one bit. I did't really have any health problems before the band, just my back do to the weight. I actually have this craving to go to the gym and eat healthy. But all that seems to go down with out discomfort is greasy stuff. If I eat steamed veggies, I get gas--if I eat fish, I feel naucious. So why can I only feel okay when I have chili from wendy's or a baked potato with all the butter and stuff on it. Ice cream, fries, etc.--all the bad stuff works, but when I eat the good healthy stuff it just feel stuck and I get gassy and pain in my tummy. I amy know more after I see the Dr. today.. We'll see.

Hi, I had my band put in on 2/16 and have not had a fill yet. I may get one tomorrow or I may have a problem with the port. Anyway, I had lost about 11 pounds in the first 2 weeks. I was 236 day of surgery and got down to 219. I started gaining weight. It lingers between 220 and 224. I don't really have any restriction at this point because the swelling had gone down, but I think I gained because I was eating high calorie food. Ice cream for example.

Delarla, I worried a lot at first about something possibly going wrong, even death. I don't know why I felt so paranoid, but my doctor assured me that I have more risk of dying from being overweight than having the band in me. I felt a little better. But, from this experience and all the changes in my body, I am determined to lose weight with or without the band. I know most people say it's easier said than done, but the average person hasn't experience what we have. I am kinda hopeing the port is misplaced so that the doctor has a reason to go in and take it out. I know that sounds so bad, but even though I am 5'2" and 220, I now feel the will power to do it on my own. I will keep you posted on my appointment tomorrow.

It has been a stuggle, but it has been much easier lately. The mental part anyway. I did have a counceling session scheduled last week and was so stupid, I thought the 14th was a tuesday and found out monday evening that I missed my appointment. Anyway, my menu.....I am on solids. breakfast: sometimes a cheese omlet or a piece of toast with peanut butter on it. For lunch: potatoe or some pasta, and for dinner: some chili from wendy's or some soup. I don't feel the pain while I am eating or even soon after. It's more like when 4 or 5 hours have pasted and I could eat something but I am not really hungry. And at night, it is torture.

This thread would have really helped me out in those 1st 2 1/2 weeks. I remember on my 2 week post op check up, I told the doctor, "Take it out! I swear I will go to the gym every day and I will eat healthy! Please take it out!" I felt so bad for me because he knew how much depression I was going through for my food. I could barely understand myself when I was talking because I was crying so bad. I cried every day and I too gave my husband some nasty glares as he was eating. And I even got into a heated argument with him because now all of a sudden he starts eating all healthy and going to the gym. I was so angry because He didn't do that while I was on Jenny Craig, weight watchers, La weight loss, Herbalife, Atkins,etc. So why now?! I could have used that support then and maybe not had to do this. However, I FEEL BETTER NOW. I express to you my anger and my depression, because I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH! And it wasn't just the food, I started worrying about something going wrong with the band and started getting paranoid. But now, I am eating anything and everything, as long as I am still hungry. And I have preoccupied myself with my photo albums, playing more with my kids, writing in my journal, reading and writing to this support group, and it has helped tremendously! You WILL feel better. I promise! And ask anyone here who has read my advise, it means a lot comming from me because I had nothing good to say about the band at first.