BLG0977

I am very grateful for this site. I just read this whole blog and relate to every bit of it. I was banded in Oct. 2007. Got all this the same responses from my surgeon and bariatric team...eat dime size bites, chew chew chew, shoulder pain unrelated, you're eating to fast, etc. Maybe this team should read this site. These symptoms are way to common in post-banders to say the symptoms are unrelated. To this day, I've never been able to eat much solid food. I've always had to live on a couple of bites of food...always with discomfort. I've never been able to eat sitting down. So going to dinner parties, vacations and restaurants are out of the question. I just went for my first unfill a few weeks ago. I notice mild difference. Still can't tolerate solids very well and still have to stand up. Only difference is I can eat about 2-3 extra bites than before. So I will have to probably get another unfill. Yes, the financial aspect annoys me because I am a self-pay. Paid for this surgery and fills and now have to pay again to undo what I've already paid for. BUT, I don't dwell to much because after all said and done, I am paying to try to be comfortable. This band is a love hate relationship. I've been able to lose weight but I am worried that I am not eating nutritious food. I eat whatever can get through. I can only tolerate very small amounts of meats and forget any potatoes, pasta (except small amounts of rice) and bread. My carbs most come from yogurt and crackers. Ironically, I can eat some junk food without difficulty...but hate eating the stuff. Yet when I am hungry...I am eating what I can. I hate fish and my doctor always says "Can you eat fish?" Well, I didn't get this band to live off fish....but I will say I ate swordfish last night and liked it. I sat down but could only get about 3oz of it down without anything else. Went to a movie and was able to get popcorn down. so I was thrilled just to have those two things and nothing else that night. This isn't how I want to live yet I don't want to put weight on again. If anyone out there is having the same fear of unfilling because of putting on weight, I relate...BUT it won't stop me from doing what's necessary. I say that because I don't want to eat junk...I want to be able to eat small meals and be satisified...not rade the cabinet. I also have heartburn. I know I can't remain like this because I will have further gastric issues if not treated. Again, this site and especially this blog has encouraged me to perservere and get whatever unfills necessary.

I was banded in Oct. 2007. I've always suffered from the left shoulder pain as well as left cramp like feeling under my left breast. I am like others that have posted...I feel this when I am hungery and always 24 hours after a fill. I have learned to expect it. I told my surgeon...he said there isn't any explaination for it, but he has heard about it. I assume the nerves surrounding the band. The cramp under my breast is after eating...assuming gas and digestion. I am not to worried since I know it's from the band.

OMG...I totally relate to all of you. Some of the above posts sound like some of you are beating yourselves up for wanting to eat. I love the quote "we had surgery on our stomachs, not our brains." If we didn't love to eat...we wouldn't have our individual needs for the surgery. Food has been my #1 addiction. Truly, the root of all evils. I've been sober for 12.5 years and followed a very compulsive lifestyle for many years prior to sobriety. I never faced my love of food. When I got this surgery, I thought I was going to be able to enjoy my same lifestyle on much smaller scale. NOT!!!! I still want my loves and not have to deal with throwing up or esophagus pain. Once something comes up, nothing goes down for the rest of the day. The band is doing it's job. At times I feel like the choices I have to make are not fair. I get angry too because I grieve the loss of opportunity to enjoy what I love most. I wish my way worked but it doesn't. That's what I often tell myself when I really want to continue eating or when I watch my family eat seconds, eat fast or scoop things I know won't go down. I take a deep breath and sometimes even tell myself to get over myself too. I truly know how each of you feel. A couple of things that work for me to prevent throwing up...DON'T GET HUNGRY. I eat every couple of hours. Also, drink something hot half hour prior to eating...not cold. this relaxes the muscles and helps digest the food better. I have not thrown up in 2 days...GOD BLESS AMERICA. I was getting to the point of dreading eating because there has been so much difficulty. My one true gratifier has been stripped of me...not anymore. I am still on the learning curve and making progress.

On Dec. 17th, I had my 3rd fill and this was the first fill that actually made a difference. Hang in there. It can take up to five fills before some people notice a difference, per my doctor. Also, once you get a fill, it can take a few days before you notice a difference too.

It's been my experience that a fill can take a couple of days and known for a week. Don't be to quick to run to the doctor every few days. I actually noticed one of my fills two weeks later. BE PATIENT!!!! We didn't put the weight on in one night, we won't lose it in one night either. How far post op are you??