Cocoabean

It depends on your type of work and a lot on you. Some go back to work in a few days. I have a desk job. For me, I had my surgery on a Friday. I took the following week off, and did half days the week after that. I was wishing I had taken the second week off as well. But had I really, really needed to, I probably could have managed to be there the second week. But it would have been no fun at all. Denise

My old driver's license was from 1992 when I was near goal at Weight Watchers! I LOVED that picture. I had cheekbones! I had to get a new one taken just this year. I cried all the way to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles!

Is the heart test an EKG? My primary care doc did that, maybe yours can too. If it is something more...Not sure what your insurance is, but I would think that if there are no "in network" cardiologists then they should pay for "out of network" ones to care for you. That is how it works with my band surgeon. I have an HMO, but he is not part of the HMO. Since the HMO does not have bariatric surgeons on staff, they contract with him to provide servies. It seems to me that if you needed cardiac care, your insurance would need to provide it somehow. Ask before you pay out of pocket. I hope this helps. Denise

I'd say small sips. I was told to just sip, sip, sip through out the day. About and ounce every 15 minutes. Or what you can tolerate comfortably. Mainly just don't open your mouth and pour it down. You don't want to deluge your new tummy and cause it distress during the heaing phase. Happy Healing!! Denise

I have had bagel aversion therapy thanks to my band! Try slamming one down...go through the stuck, stuCK, STUCK line thanks to ElfiePoo. You won't want a bagel again for a LOOONG time! Denise

At my work, I have to wear an ID card. Security keeps telling me I have to get a new one because they cannot tell that it is me in the old picture! Tracy, I found people didn't start noticing until about the 30 lb. mark for me. I started at a lower BMI. But I felt everyone should be saying something at 10 lbs down! Then I reached a certain point and whammo, everyone noticed at the same time. Even the UPS driver. It was very wierd! Sort of like it took one part of me to change before they noticed. But, I don't work around HS kids. But I am thinking at some point all of them are going to see it at the same time and be like, WHAT?? Denise

Gotta go with ElfiePoo on this one. Taking a few big drinks of Water will bring it back up. Sipping does nothing but hurt like heck. This is my preferred method of getting a stuck episode over with. Once it is out of there, the pain is gone and the sliming stops. It's a good thing. Denise

The getting overly hungry thing is SUCH a good point. I tend to eat much too fast and not chew enough if I let myself get too hungry. Also, my hunger feels the same as pre-surgery. So, I feel like I should be able to eat the same, and the old ways try to come out with little success. Often with negative experiences. Denise

Wouldn't that be great?!? I am a crocheter (is that a word?) also!! What fun. It is a great tool to keep the hands occupied. I just recently learned how to knit, but am not very good at it. I am also working on a baby afghan. Our next door neighbor is expecting #3. You know, my sister has many problems, medical and family. I always tell her that she was put on the planet to make me feel better about my situation! :frown: She even has a condition called gastroparesis (sp?) that causes her stomach to not empty. She thought I was absolutely insane to have a surgery to cause such a condition! But then, it is a tad different, and I don't regret it for a second. Except when something is stuck and behold, my stomach is not emptying! Denise

ElfiePoo, I know you are not looking for words of wisdom or advice of action to take to get back on banded track. Just words of support. Here you go, SUPPORT!! And HUGS!! Don't beat yourself up. You've had some tough stuff to deal with. My drug of choice is food. I hear you. You have seen the problem and identified it. You are facing it head on. Will it happen again? Probably. Hilda doesn't help with head hunger, nor with stress. We will have those things to deal with forever. That is a fact of life. We are here for eachother on this board. I hope things settle down for you, and the carbs clear out of your system quickly. I love sweets, also. Yeah, I could make a meal of chocolate. Sometimes I can have it in my house with no problems, sometimes I can't. Best wishes, Denise

Yes, it can happen prior to hitting the sweet spot with fills. If you did a liquid pre-op diet, that was sort of a crash diet, and now you are eating solids again. Often when people go off a crash diet they gain weight. My surgeon told me not to be surprised if I gained. Don't beat yourself up. Any losses you have during this time will be a good thing, yes, but will be due to willpower alone, not with any help from the band. That assistance will come with fills. Denise

I do have a friend who is banded who cannot eat eggs. I've never had a problem. Mashed potatoes were a favorite mushy of mine, too. With squishy peas. Yum. Denise

I did scrambled eggs, they were DIVINE!

Bypass and sleeve patients don't lose 100% either. Bypass is about 65-80% and sleeve 60-70% at least from a quick google search. And bypass patients can certainly gain the weight back, I've seen it happen. Denise

Perhaps you could use some brown rice? I don't have troubles with regular rice. Sticky rice, sometimes gives me problems. Bread, not so good for me. I miss bread (sigh) But spicy foods don't give me any problems. Bring it on!!! Denise

I can't wait to start reading your experiences, and have you passing along words of wisdom!! My first slime happened at the county fair. Yeah, that was fun! NOT! (I am not admitting what I ate!) Denise

You are welcome! I borrowed the whisper from a poster here back around the time I was banded. "Paying it forward" as it were. It helps me alot. Listen for the whipser, don't wait until the band is screaming at you! But my doc told me that I should not go for "full" but for satisfied. That is a tough distinction for someone who loves to eat like I do. Before I begin each meal I say chew, chew, chew, and listen for the whisper! It helps to slow me down and be more aware of what I am doing, since eating fast and mindlessly are two of my problems. Take care! Denise

Hi pmommy, Don't be scared! But these are events of banded life about which you need to be aware. You will learn to minimize them in ways that work for you. I'd like some other veteran bandsters to put their experiences on this thread, most seem to be mine, but here we go... :frown: You will need to work on the big bites and not chewing habit. I had the same habit. If you are not banded, start practicing now. Once you are banded, you will learn quickly! I did. First off, the second you feel any discomfort with a bite of food STOP!!! If I do that and wait a few minutes I can often finish my meal. If it doesn't clear right away, it will be a minor episode instead of a major one. If I ignore it because I am enjoying my food and want to eat, then I am setting myself up for trouble by piling food on top of the jammed up spot. Taking a sip of water will not make it go through. I wish it would. :w00t: When something solid is blocking the hole to your stomach it will take more than that to make it move. But, I have found that swallowing a few gulps of water will bring the offending item UP. It isn't really vomitting or burping. More like reverse gravity. Gulp it down, a wave of slight nausea and bam, up it comes. Yes, in a case such as this, you don't want to swallow this stuff back down. Nor could you, because ususally it is surrounded in the slime your body has created trying to help move things along. As far as a minor PB where you burp a little mouthful of stuff, that can be swallowed. That is the fastest way I have found to end a stuck episode. The relief is immediate. I can also sometimes just work my stomach muscles to bring it back up. Early on, I'd be miserable and sliming for an hour or two waiting for it to clear itself. For me, I'd rather bring it up and be done. If I do that, I can be done with a stuck episode within minutes. Others have different ways of dealing with it. Walking helps ALOT if it is a minor episode it seems to help shift things around and get them moving. I have worn a path in my hall carpet. Strange as it sounds, most of my troubles with PB and slime happen at home. At work, I eat at my desk, alone. So I am able to take my time and I don't talk. When with a group, I choose foods I know are easier for me to eat, and if I feel ANYTHING odd, I stop eating to evaluate. If I can't finish, I take the food with me if at all possible. At home, I am relaxed and talking with my DH. I guess it is sort of like how most accidents happen close to home. All of this comes from two years' experience with my band. But you know what, it has been TOTALLY worth it. I am off my blood pressure meds. In fact it is low normal now. My blood sugar is normal. My cholesterol is greatly improved, and I look awesome in my size 10 jeans! AND I have not yoyo-ed in weight in two years. Yeah, I'll take some slime and PBs for that anyday!! Best wishes your journey!! Denise

It is astounding isn't it? I had read about it before it happened, but it did not prepare me for the reality. And when it did happen, I did not identify it for what it was until well into the event! The knot in the chest is quite painful, that is for sure! After a bad one for me, that area can stay tender for a while. Chewing well will definitely help minimize these events, as will paying attention when you eat. I have problems when I am in a group and having a conversation. I get distracted and want to say something. Well, my mother always said it is rude to talk with your mouth full, so I swallow quickly to say my thought...and DOH!!! But I do warn you, a PB will occur from time to time. At least the burp that brings stuff up kind. Whether you eat in the proper manner or not. I'll just be going along chew, chew, chewing and feel a burp and daaaannngg... here's a mouthful of gunk. Those are really very minor though and no one would notice. They are very similar to the kind that happen to non-banded folk. The BIG PB events, those may happen and are no fun, but chew chew chew, and this will help to minimize them. Also if in a group or public place, you have enough warning to get to a restroom. Denise

Maybe just tell your guests that you were banded? Saves questioning looks. Or put mostly mushies on your plate with some other stuff and move it around to look as though you are eating. I went to a party about 9 days post-op. I had some appetizers. I had been moved to soft solids by then, I think. That was nearly 2 years ago now. But I was able to eat some cheese and soft stuff. No one noticed. You don't mention if you are hosting a sit down type of thing. If not, I bet no one will even notice what you are eating. Just carry a plate around with something on it. You'll be surprised! Denise

I agree with that. I also admit to not knowing much about "The Biggest Loser." I've only seen a couple of episodes. I don't think the show promotes lifestyle changes. In fact, I saw a program the other night about a former winner who gained all his weight back. Sad, I really felt for him. We've all been there. To do it on national TV, not fun. I applaud him for doing the follow-up show. But, I could also see the producers of the show overlooking something like a participant having had WLS just to watch the drama unfold when the "secret" is exposed. I would not want to be on the receiving end of that backlash. But, it would make for "must see TV!" But that is me, and I would have similar reasons for not wanting to Celebrate my losses during the celebrations portion of Weight Watchers meetings or at Curves--unless I specified I was banded. It isn't that I haven't worked for what I have lost, I have. I deserve what I have "gained." Interesting thread!! Denise

For me, it is a whisper of satiety. If I get full, there is discomfort. Slime is only with getting stuck. A juicy burp can happen any time during or right after a meal for me. That doesn't mean I am stuck. And for me, burping means things are moving and NOT stuck, a good sign! Denise

Oh, that is another joy of banded life. It stands for Productive Burp. For many, it is the most often outcome of a stuck episode. "What goes down, must come up." For my way of thinking, it is just that, when I burp and it produces something more than just air. It can be liquid or solid--that is a productive burp. If I get stuck and need to bring it up more forcibly, I don't consider that a PB, I consider that a forcible bringing up of stuck stuff. I suppose PB would be an easier label :tt1: To get unstuck, many walk to help move the food. Walking definitely helps the pain. Some drink pineapple juice to break down the stuck food (this did not help me). Others use papaya enzymes, I have not tried this one. I often drink some gulps of Water, sometimes mixed with some baking soda. Do be near a sink or toilet if you try this, as it often brings the offender immedately back up. For me, it is not vomitting, nor is it burping, it just comes up. It is hard to describe. Ah, gotta love banded life, yes I do!!! No blood pressure meds, normal blood sugar! All is right with the world!! Denise

What do the contest rules state? I'd think there would be something in it about bariatric surgery or the use of medications to assist in the program. If it asks about it and you have to lie, I'd say no. If I were part of it without surgery and thought everyone was the same and heard there were people who had surgery and were part of it. I'd be ticked, but would take a look at the rules of the game. As you stated, your motivation is the support, not the winning of the title... Just my 2 cents worth. Denise

My DH, who really hates blood and spit, once observed the slime running into the sink with all the bubbles running down and said, "oooh, look, it looks like a string of pearls!" You have to laugh about it. Or you'd go nuts. Ok, you aren't laughing at the time... I'd imagine we could all write a very funny book of our experiences! Band Groupie's PB Blog had me in tears last week it is sooo funny! Denise