Cocoabean

My hubby tried to be my food monitor for years. He's better now that I am at goal. I think I'd ask them where they did their lapband diet research, and how many calories I should be eating. Or if asked if I should be eating something, say well yes, I am eating it, and I am losing. Or that no foods are on or off my diet. My band journey is about moderation. I can eat all foods. Foods are not good or bad, they just are. I'd ask, "when did you speak with my surgeon about my food plan?" Then again, I might say my band is my food monitor, thank you for your concern.

I did the full medifast for my preop diet. It allowed for one "Lean and Green" meal. I didn't realize that the first time I ate a chicken salad on day 2. Then I read the Medifast documentation. You made a choice based on the situation at hand. That is what life is, a series of decisions. You could have chosen cherry cheesecake. You didn't. But, for the remainder of the pre-op, consider keeping water and shake mix with you. Can you not excuse yourself from the main group of people to go somewhere private-ish and mix a shake? Slam it down, then go back to the group. I know I am not in your situation, but you have to find ways to make it work. Best wishes for your upcoming surgery!

Don't swallow the gum!!! My surgeon said no gum, as it is likely to get stuck if swallowed. However, other surgeons don't have a no gum policy. A heating pad was my best friend the week after surgery. I swear I wore a path in my carpet doing laps. Walking really does help to get rid of the surgical gas, and it helps to get the gut moving again. I wish you all a speedy recovery! Welcome to the losers' bench.

You look amazing! Keep up the great work! That is quite the reward, and you deserve it.

Band over bypass is a great option for some.

My advice... for what it is worth (absolutely nothing), but this is what I would do in your position. You say you can get liquids down, so you can stay hydrated. After a bad stuck episode like that, I often go on liquids for a day or so to let any swelling go down. If it doesn't improve by Monday, call your surgeon. If you get to where you cannot get liquids down, call your surgeon immediately or go to the ER. You might just be sore and swollen from the hot dog being stuck. Doing just liquids for 24-48 hours gives it time to calm down. As a side note..when I eat them, I use a knife and fork small, tiny bites.

My surgeon put a refill on the liquid lortab prior to surgery, and I am a wimp and used it ALL. If you are still in pain, ask. Worst they can do is say no. Hernia repair adds to the pain of recuperation. I am glad you called in to speak wit them about what you are experiencing. Immeidately after surgery you have the pain from the trauma, plus the pain of getting rid of the gas they pump into your abdomen to puff you up so they can see. That takes a while to disperse, and can cause pain in the left shoulder. Walking is one of the best ways to move it out. I was on the heating pad love brigade for the shoulder pain...it was my best friend. Feel better soon!

That's amazing! Great work!

For me, personally, that would be too tight. I need to be able to drink water normally and eat about 2-3 oz. of solid protein and a half to one cup of veggies at a meal. 2-3 bites just won't do it. I have been there. That leads to grazing for me, which causes me to consume more junk food type foods and more calories. When I can eat a fuller meal I feel satisfied longer and don't think of food in between.

I've had my band 5.5 years now. My all time high recorded weight was 217, I think I got a bit above that at one point.

It sounds as though your band may be too tight. Or that you are not chewing your food enough, or eating slow enough. Check in with your surgeon about it.

How long ago was your surgery? If it is red or warm to the touch call your surgeon. If your surgery was a while ago and this is new, get in to see your surgeon or PCP, an inflamed port can be a sign of errosion. For me, mine can get sore from time to time. But it doesn't stick out, it isn't red, it's always been this way.

I didn't feel anything until my 3rd fill in my 10cc AP Standard band, for what it's worth. My surgeon did tell me they can actually overinflate the band if needed to get the proper restriction needed. As long as you are not occluded, it really doesn't matter how much is in the band.

The band does control my head hunger, at least most of it. By controling my physical hunger, I find myself thinking of food lest often. If I do eat out of boredom or stress, I eat less food. I started with a BMI of 36. I'd have done at a lower BMI if I could have. The FDA did lower the BMI to 30. The insurance companies still say 35 with co-morbidities. And if a surgeon will do it off-label at a lower BMI and you are willing and able to pay, and feel it will help--that is your decision. Be certain that your expectations are not too high, though. If you are determined to eat around a band, you can do it. Junk food goes down oh, so easily. Milk shakes? yep. chocolate...oh yeah..all day if I wanted to. Eating healthful foods can be difficult, and it is easy to go with the comfort foods. I was a grazer, I'd snack all day long, my surgeon warned me that the band doesn't always work for grazers. Turns out I am one of his most successful band patients. I listen to my band, I follow what it says. You have to get your head around that.

That's a new one to me...

I think you are experiencing what we refer to as Slime. When food gets stuck on top of the band and cannot proceed to the lower stomach the body produces massive amounts of mucous to help it go down. If it cannot clear the blockage it has to way to go but up. You'll usually feel some (or a lot) of pain in below your sternum when this occurs. Once the food goes down or up, you usually feel better.

My surgeon's answer is to not get stuck, lol...uh yeah.. and then, realizing we are human..next is to give it time to pass. He says retching is not good for the stomach/band combo. But he knows that bringing it back up cannot always be avoided. The less trauma the better in his opinion. My experience: if I wait, lots of pain ensues. My first stuck episode went on for 5 hours. It was after dinner. I should have called my surgeon. I was young in band land and didn't know better. I heaved and retched, and heaved some more. After a few more episodes I learned that I can work my stomach muscles and bring it up sometimes. Or if I swallow a few ounces of Water it will bring it back up without the retching. And sometimes I am in a place where I decide to bring it back up forcibly (yes, finger down the throat--surgeons might not agree, but it stops the slime). I've walked in parking lots, I've heaved in bushes, I've sat in a jury box and slimed into paper towels because I sawlloed a pill right before eating lunch and hurrying back to court. Again, fairly new in band land...I'd not do that now. I've learned a few things since then. And then there is what I call the true productive burp... a true burp and you produce STUFF. Just doing your thing and WHAM.... A MOUTHFUL OF SOMETHING YOU ATE A WHILE AGO. Surpise!!!! Just like a baby urps up milk. No sign I am stuck, no pain, just URP..hello!! But, I love my band. I love being at goal weight. I love normal blood sugar and cholesterol. I LOVE my closet full of size 8 and 10s.

In my experience, I have only had to explain if I got food stuck while eating out with a group. Order food, take 2 bites, go to the bathroom, don't eat another bite. People ask if I am OK. I am pretty open. But, it is your decision to tell, and it is a personal one. If asked about small portions.. I have made changes to my eating habits. My doctor suggested I make some changes. I am watching my portions. "Yes, I am eating much less, and I feel GREAT!! My doc is very happy with the results of the changes I've made! Thanks for asking." None of these are lies. Your medical status is none of their business. Someone asked about my weight-loss once and how I did it. I am watching my diet. "But what are you doing?" She said. Eating proper portions and walking more. "Really?" Yes, really. "Oh wow...." I walked away. (didn't like her much). Some people are just nosy to be nosy. Others are concerned. But I will say, tell one co-worker, and you've told them all, unless it is a very good friend.

1-2 lbs per week is the expectation with a band..and that is once you get to the green zone and are all healed.

I got used to it, too... I don't even think about it.

My boss has a DVT, it is not easy. I am sorry you had this complication when you got a band to get healthier. I had an elective procedure last year and got sepsis (a horrific blood infection for those that don't know. It has a high rate of death). It took me 6 months to recover. I really don't have any advice, just to say I sort of know what you are going through questioning and wondering...

Expected weight loss with a band is 1-2 lbs per week over the long term. I remember posting something similar after my surgery. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Follow your doctor's orders and the weight loss will come. Heal from the surgery. During the active weight-loss phase for me, I averaged 0.75 lbs per week. Frustrating yes, but I got there! As to the toilet, liquid in...liquid out. I didn't go for about 6 days. Then had a massive explosion of diarrhea. Call your doc if you are in pain from it.

For me, I get a distant look in my eyes (hubby ID'd this) with a slight pain in my chest, then I get the feeling of a rock in my sternum, then the slime starts. If I stop eating with the slight pain, I can be OK. If I keep eating until the slime starts...there is no going back. Slime means what went down must come up. If I swallow a couple ounces of water, that will often trigger it to immediately come back up without wretching. If you are in a public toilet, put a toilet seat cover in the water, this helps with backsplash when the stuck item hits the bowl. Yes, I've had the splash hit me in the eye. Also watch out for self-flush toilets. My hubby once asked why I'd washed my entire face, including my bangs and removing my make-up.

If I am eating in a group while traveling (esp for work), I break the rules a bit and go for sliders. I bring Protein bars & shakes to eat in privacy, but when eating in public I try to go for things I am reasonably assured of will not get stuck and create a lot of questions.

Very well put!