Joyblick

Hi, banded 11/30/2016. I don't know if this is the same thing, but a few months ago I had a similar problem after eating shrimp. I didn't chew well enough and was probably eating too fast (one of my main issues!). A restless night followed by the next day a feeling of an uncomfortable "lump" in my throat even when drinking sips of Water. I got in to see my surgeon that day, he sent me for an upper gi. No blockage was seen by that time. He had me do Liquid Protein and soft foods for 2 days just to calm things down. I have been fine since then. He truly believes that it was a bit of shrimp temporarily stuck. I don't know what you ate before this happened. He told me shrimp is a problem for a lot of patients, but I can eat it if I chew thoroughly like we are supposed to. I hope this helped, best wishes for your journey!

Katy - I am sorry people have been negative. Some of the people I told were that way, quite a few people have made negative comments, and they don't know. You know what is best for you though, so ignore them all :-).
For the record, I do go to restaurants. Chain places are great for me because they are now including calories on light menus. I still avoid most processed carbs (bread, rice, pasta) and I have no problems eating out.

Most people who are successful with bariatric surgery keep it to themselves. It's the patients who fail that makes all the noise. So, your co-workers are getting their information from failures. Have any of your co-workers had the surgery, probably not?
Good luck I'm sure you'll make the right decision.

I am no expert, as I have only had the lap band a month and some change. I will say I totally understand where you're coming from. I am a very scary person, and I have pondered this for 4 years, but kept telling my self it was so drastic....do I really need to do this? I had to finally be honest with myself, that I was not successful on my own. No one truly understands "your" battle, it may not be theirs. So, it took me this long because my fear of the unknown held me back. I hit a new high, said I will have to make healthy changes one day soon, by force, or by my own choice. I decided to put fear aside. Don't focus on the negative, but take your life by the horns...it's your life and your future. How do you want it to be? I naturally was wondering the first couple days after if I had made the right choice. I know I did! My band only has a half of a cc in it, and I can tell the difference. I feel totally normal. My stomach was sore for the first 5-6 days, but really on day 5-6 I was at the store finishing my Christmas shopping! So far, I am very glad I did it and gave my self a CHANCE at being successful, and I am only beginning my journey! You can do this!
Best Wishes!

Hi Katy - I didn't tell many people about the surgery before I had it because I knew people had a negative view of WLS. I still keep it to myself because people (even those I consider friends) often think they know better than me and my doctors :-). I have not regretted the surgery at all. I used the lapband as a reboot for my eating practices.
I did not have pain after at all. The day of the surgery was actually the most difficult - nerves, pain, fear. I think having second thoughts is natural. You need to do what is best for you and not other people.

I agree with @@briefs199 every surgery is going to be work. They all work differently and you have to put a different amount of work into them but they all require you to show up and be accountable for you.
Since you already have the band, and if you not having trouble with it why not speak to your Dr. and see what they advise? I know many are switching, taking out the bands and getting sleeved or going for the by pass. I have to tell you that when my surgeon "retired" and we (hubby and I) were kind of left to find our way with the new group that took over or another one...and life happened along the way....I was not losing, I was eating I found my old habits easy to retreat to...I saw I was not losing and I won't lie, I thought about changing up my surgery. The new Dr. even advised that I would be a candidate for a revision, but I had to think seriously long and hard about it.
My realization was this: I don't have a problem with my band. My port is working fine, I get filled and unfilled, I eat and don't get stuck or sick when I follow the rules of eating (which is true for all surgeries) so why would I change to another surgery? If I can't make what I have work for me why go through it again and find myself still asking these questions?
I know that what I need to do is make behavioral changes, both physically and emotionally. For me I am an emotional eater. Happy, sad, feed it sweets!!! That is what needs to change. I need to remember that all my body needs is a balanced Breakfast lunch and dinner. It doesn't need anything more, and I don't need to use food to sooth my savage beast when she's ready to roar or soothe my boo boo's with chocolate and ice cream.
So I am not revising my surgery, I am still down having gained only 4 pounds since my last weigh in when I had an unfill due to virus and I am determined to make the changes I need to make because I know no matter what....if I don't change them I am going to be right here struggling with it.

Well said!! This was a very inspiring post. Never, ever give up on yourself. Best of luck to you and keep posting here!

I had Lapband surgery 1/20/2009 at 265 pds and it's been a journey of ups & downs on the scale & emotionally also.
I lost close to 50 pds thru the years but put it all back on. I kinda was thinking I failed this journey & that my Lapband wasn't the answer after all
Well 2015 was the worst year in my life, my sister died then my mother in law died too, so I found my self eating to console myself. So my weight went up even more.
Well I stopped that in August 2015, I started weight watchers online. I just didn't want to be in a meeting couldn't handle that commitment at that time.
I hadn't been to my Lapband Doctor since March 2014 & I was afraid to go.
Well I received an appmt card from him in November 2015 stating he had made me an appmt for Jan 2016 so I had to go.
So I went today very scared that he would be upset & know that I failed the Lapband but that didn't happen what I realized by talking to him that life happens & I didn't fail as I was 218pds today which is still 47 pds less than when I had the surgery 2009 & when I was in his office in 2014 I was 233 pds so I was losing.
So you see it's never to late to get back on track ????????

If you have been honest and really tried, there is no shame or embarrassment. I'm sure the doctors/staff have seen far worse. People trying to eat regular and not give lap band a chance. I lose a good deal of weight first two years with no fill but now I have gained some back even with fills. It is hard work and at times we get discouraged, but we have to remember the reason we first decided to get one. To be healthier and happier people. Each of our journeys are different. Don't base your story to someone else's. talk to your doctor and perhaps he can give you suggestions, or talk to a nutritionist, or what he feels might help you with support and if a different kind of surgery is required be open to it. It doesn't mean you have to do it. Just get the information.
Good luck!