shortgal

Based on the nurse's comment I think your response was perfect and totally justified.

I eat salad all the time, I eat some fruit (apples and plums and bananas, have not tried an orange) I eat almonds, I haven't had bacon or pepperoni ( don't miss it, high in salt), I've eaten popcorn a few times (good fiber) and I've eaten a grilled cheese sandwich once. I tend to stay away from pasta because of calories. Where will your Vitamins come from if you can't eat some of these healthy foods?

I'm struggling with this issue as well. I leave for France April 25th. I definitely do not have enough restriction, but do I risk being too tight while out of the country? My better judgement says don't get a fill but my appetite says get one. I hate to "waste" the whole month with no weight loss because that's what I think will happen if I don't get a fill. I'm still leaning towards no fill and have an appt for the Monday after I get back. Once another week passes there will be no choice but to wait until I get back. Let me know what you decide.

I just didn't tell people until after my surgery becasue most people don't know what the band is anyway... they think they know.... but they don't. Just ask them a question about the band and they won't be able to answer it anyway, so how would they know it's not right for you.

Lucky you! Why can't I get rashes, so I would qualify for ins to pay for PS? Go ahead and now tell me your ins covered your band, too. LOL Then tell me you recently won the lottery! I'm sure you don;t feel lucky..... but.

I would find out in advance what days your surgeon does surgery and try to take just one week off, unless your employer requires a note from your Dr saying that you are released to go back to work. I think one week would be enough if you have a desk job.

It's all normal. Your incisions might be small but you still had surgery inside. They pumped you with anesthesia and gas. In a few days, you'l be feeling better.

Try the OTC prilosec, but if that doesn't help, I still think a very SMALL unfill might. Please read the thread unfill or??? For some reason, people have gotten tighter months after their last fill. And then it seems to escalate into more trouble eating and pain. Many people don't think they are too tight or need an unfill, but once they get one realize it was just what they needed. I know it's hard to consider an unfill, we all wait so long for good restriction, but if other things you try don't work, then consider it. It is bad for the band (and you) for it to be too tight. So just be careful and please don't wait too long to see the Dr, if the problem does not resolve. You might want to take a few sips of a warm liquid before the first few bites that you eat, to loosen the band up a bit. If it is just heartburn, foods like the salsa would aggravate it. Acidy foods like tomatoes, wine, OJ and overeating in general, aggravate heartburn. I know, I had it for years.

You say you had this pain before, was it right after a fill? Does food get stuck or do you pb at all? I would guess the best guesses of why you are having this problem are: 1: your band suddenly got tighter 2: it's heartburn 3: you've irritated your esophogus. I would try liquids for two days, if that doesn't work, I would try an OTC heartburn med for three days and if neither of those work, I would see the Dr. you might be a LITTLE too tight.

I would suggest that you carefully count your carbs as well as calories. Check out some diabetic eating web sites for the recommended amount of carbs that you should eat at each meal ( for weight loss, not weight maintenance). I believe if you keep the carbs to no more than 25 gms per meal that could help. Have protein and two veggies at each meal and then a small portion of a carb.

I would guess that you are thinking once you get good restriction, things will be different and that is partially true. However, if you continue to find ways to eat around the band (and "test" it) you will not be successful. No matter how tight your band is, ice cream (and some other high calorie foods) will go down. I would ask why you are testing your band with pancakes. If you are still hungry because you don't have good restriction, can you make a healthier food choice such as an egg or a high protein cereal or a piece of fruit? Establishing better food choices now will help you later.

I had a hernia repair when band was placed. I knew I had it and had reflux from it for years. Fixed now and no reflux! I think I had a little more post op swelling because of the additional work but no big deal.

What a mess you went through! At least now you're there with the specialists to confer and decide a treatment plan for you. Very tough that you have to deal with referrals, ins co. etc at a time like this. We'll be waiting to hear after your appt on Friday. Hang in there and enjoy the visit with your mother.

I just flew and didn't have any problems but I do get tight right after my fills for two to three days. I would be a little worried about going out of town the day after a fill and not being near my DR.

reflux can be a symptom of a too tight band and for some reason mnay people have said that even though they havent' had a recent fill they suddenly became too tight. Call your Dr.

Between the dates of the 14th and the 18th,try some foods at home that you think will be at the meeting. Then you'll know what foods are safe to eat at the meeting.

Hmmmmm..... looks like I'm the only one that likes the dress on the left. I like the waist better. I would like to see one that is not a halter style for comparison... but I like the ribbon on the waist of the ruffle one. Either dress, you look great!

I'm confused as to how you are supposed to be on CLEAR liquids but drinking milk. Milk is considered a FULL liquid not a CLEAR liquid.

Almost every time I read about reflux/ regurgitation the person eventually discovers the band is too tight and they need a SLIGHT unfill.

Sharona: If you are using mayo in the chicken and tuna salad you are using up calories for that. That's why I don't have tuna salad often. Yogurt and skim milk have protein and how about turkey meatloaf for a meal? I then eat leftover for lunch the next day for protein. Kashi go lean cereal and Special K high protein cereal has some protein. Many people use some kind of beans for protein, if you like those.

I have a feeling that discussing suicide so casually and as a metaphor was what she found offensive. If you've known someone or someone's family that had someone commit suicide, it would be a sensitive topic. Just my guess and a possible explanation on where the comment came from.

I'm away for the weekend and just checking in briefly, it's so great to see you all in person! Everyone is looking so great! I'm afraid to go home and get on the scale, had wine AND dessert yesterday, but also lots fun (laughs) with my two girlffriends!

beckmein: I don't have enough restriction to have to worry about chewing well.... that is my problem. But since I know I have to be getting close to good restriction soon, I worry about the next fill before I go away. I have been thinking all day today of scheduling one but keep changing my mind. I know we'll do a lot of walking. Last year we went to Tuscany and ate and drank A LOT but no weight gain bcause of all the walking. It's the hunger between meals that's bothering me. The few days I had good restriction I never felt like I was on a "diet", I just ate a small meal and felt full for hours. I have a "history" of not feeling well on flights as it is. Not sure why, it is not fear, but I have had episodes of fainting (at least three times while flying) and since the band is near the vagus nerve, I worry more about being too tight. I am taking a short flight this weekend to visit a friend in N.C., so we'll see how that one goes first. Thanks for the words of your experience with flying. I am making good choices in food and portion but hate that I'm hungry in between. I'm sure you remember those days! Either way I'm sure I'll have a great trip.

Janet: I'm actually ok with my Dr's fill schedule. I can go often for fills and I don't want to be too tight, so I like that we are "sneaking" up on restriction. I don't pay for fills. I do feel like I'm still dieting when I don't have restriction, but I've had a few days of nice restriction and then I feel like I'm just eating healthy. The difference is the level of hunger between meals. Without proper restriction, I wake up hungry, feel hungry between meals and go to bed hungry, just like when I used to diet. So the feeling is the same. I am going through a period where I would normally get another fill, but I'm putting it off because of an upcoming vacation. Not because I want to overeat on the vacation, but I do not want to worry about being too tight while out of the country. A few people have also mentioned feeling tighter after long flights so I don't want to worry about that either. That's another comment I hear that makes me crazy, people that want to be unfilled, so they can eat on vacation. I don't get that, either. I don't want to over eat anymore for any reason. Sure, I plan to have a few glasses of wine on vacation or a treat, but get an unfill? Why? I've been eating this way since before being banded, so it is becoming my new normal, and that's good, but the hunger between meals is wearing me out. That's why I paid $18000! Some days are better than others, but most are still harder than I thought they'd be by four months post op. You're right, age might be against our metabolism but in other ways, age works to our advantage! Older and wiser! I forgot about our conversation previously about DH's love of pork fat! Funny! I might be slow but I'll get to the finish line!

Bunny, sounds like you have the perfect fill now. too often we believe that tight is good. It does need to be tight, but not so tight that solid protein won't go down. You have that and have figured that out! I'm sure my perfect restricton will come soon, too!