GBear

I really believe all bandsters should add Fiber to their diet. My favorite way is to add a LOT of Benefiber to at least one drink per day. It dissolves in everything, even cold liquids, and it has no taste and adds no texture. You really will have no idea it's there! My second favorite way is with one of the sugar-free flavored Metamucils. They now have a mixed berry flavor and a lemon-lime (haven't tried it yet) flavor in addition to their original orange. It does, however, get thick after awhile, and it has a slight grainy texture. But I actually don't mind it because it helps me feel full in between meals without overstuffing me. Also, sometimes it's nice to "know" for sure that there's is fiber in what you're drinking! Oh, though, beware, I recently bought the Benefiber plus Calcium, but it definitely has a slight taste. It's almost as if it tastes salty. So, I actually don't recommend that one as long as you take a calcium supplement separately (calcium citrate is best!). I certainly don't have BMs as often as I used, and that is usually reflected in my weight, so I kind of keep a mental note. =) But adding fiber to my diet makes a huge difference. Good luck!

Thank you everyone who has commented so far! I hope more people continue to comment. =) I've been nursing my Protein drink for a few hours today so far. I get the suspicion the inner wall near my band is sensitive from the spasming over the weekend or something, so I can feel every sip that goes down. I'm going to stick to liquids (and maybe a liquidy soup) today and hopefully tomorrow and see how it goes. And now I know to be even MORE patient than I already was! Boy, there's patience and then there's slooow patience. =) I need to exercise slow patience. =)

Hi Jenhay, Well, hopefully you won't get this. =) Like you said, there are very few posts about it, so hopefully that means that most bandsters don't get it. Although, I suppose it's possible that some people get it, but don't realize it and instead think they are "just too tight." I know I'm not too tight because when the spasming doesn't happen, I can eat normal bandster amounts of food. Good luck with your next fill! Be optimistic! :biggrin:

Thanks, Jack. Having you describe what you do in more detail helps. I will try this very specific technique, but maybe I'll wait a couple days and stick to liquids for a couple days to let my body heal a little. You say this is a relatively short time frame, and as I read that, I realize you're probably right. Bummer, eh? Also, you're right, I was slamming the liquid Vitamins because they're kind of funny tasting. I was thinking all day yesterday that maybe that was a problem and I was considering diluting them with some warm Water so they're not so cold and so I could hopefully sip it a little. So you're reaffirming my hunch. As long as I can get Protein drinks down tomorrow, I think I'll wait this out and see about letting my body heal and then trying your approach. Hey, at least I can enjoy the extra weight loss in the meantime, eh? :biggrin: Thanks!

Yeah, I know, but that's actually one of the few foods that has NOT given me the first bite syndrome since my third fill this past Thursday. It's really weird. Like I said, any food or liquid can cause the FBS, and I can get it at any time of day, as well.

After my second fill (5 ccs in a 10 cc band), I started getting what my fill doc said is probably "first bite syndrome." I had read about that on the threads here, so I later searched for it and only found a few threads about it. Most people say to drink a warm liquid first (which my doc also suggetested), but I find that's not a guaranteed fix. I also know that Jack the Super Moderator said (here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/does-any-one-have-problem-74494/) that he learned how to deal with and it eventually (after many months) went away. But I searched the forums and didn't find as many notes as I thought (hoped?) I might. So, I was wondering, how many of you experience this? What are the various conditions under which you experience it? How long did it last (until an unfill, for X months, it still happens, etc)? And most importantly... what do you do to help not happen, or at least lessen the effects? Also, do you ever feel like if you have a lot of spasming one day that it can irritate your pouch? For those who don't know what first bite syndrome is, I'll describe my experience with it below. It sounds like everyone is different, and I seem to be one of the "lucky" ones who can get it from liquid. =P Thanks! GBear So, here's my story and what I have felt: The first time it happened was actually a couple days after my second fill. I had successfully eaten liquids and mushies for 2 days and even a little bit of soft solid food. I had great restriction and I was happy! But then on day 3 (the fill being day 1), I thought I had my first "stuck" episode. I ate a bite of something (I forget what, but it might have been a small bite of bagel... before then I could handle breads fine) and it HURT like the dickens. I thought to myself, okay, no bagels/bread for me, now I know. And I slimed... but nothing came up. The pain eventually went away, but it took many minutes. I had similar problems most of the day, but even when eating mushy food. I began to wonder if I was too tight. Over the weekend I kept a close eye on it and resorted to liquids and mushies. But here's what was the killer... One morning, I took my sip of liquid Vitamins and BAM, I felt massive pain at the based of my neck, in between my collar bones and I really started to slime. All I had had that morning was my liquid vitamins! I was really upset. The pain took several minutes to subside. But later on that day, I could eat food fairly normally. On Monday I went to the doc thinking I needed an unfill. I explained how I could either get this massive pain OR eat normally. It was weird, because as long as I didn't get the cramping and the pain, I could eat normal bandster amounts of food. That's when he explained I probably have "first bite syndrome." He said that basically, stomach wall in the upper pouch is not used to having food in it, so it starts to spasm on constrict itself. Once it stops spasming, you're fine and can eat normally. As soon as he described it, I knew instantly that's what I was experiencing. The pain I feel definitely feels "muscular," so to speak. And the degree of pain I feel can go up and down within any given episode. I decided to not get an unfill because I liked the restriction otherwise. Over the next three weeks, as my restriction loosened, the first bite syndrome occurred less often. But it's weird, because it can still happen with almost any kind of food or liquid. And drinking a warm liquid doesn't always work for me. So, I got my third fill this past Thursday and I was fine on Thursday and Friday. Only very mild cramping/spasming. Very mild, especially since I was on liquids and then mushies. Saturday morning, I had a hard time eating some scrambled eggs because of the pain, but it wasn't too bad. Then later that morning, I took my liquid vitamins and BAM! Massive pain that lasted for minutes with sliming (again, no PBing). I had a hard time drinking any kind of liquid all day, and certainly couldn't eat mushies, so I wondered if I kind of irritated the stomach pouch with all of the spasming. Sorry for the long story! Hopefully you only read it if you were bored. :biggrin:

The coordinator at my doc's office said to try either pineapple juice or meat tenderizer. I bought both, but have not had anything stuck yet, so I can't speak from personal experience. If you do decide to get meat tenderizer, I suggest the unflavored kind. It's a powder, so you would add some to Water. Unfortunately, I don't know how much. Also, call your doctor's office first thing on Monday! =) Good luck!

Vanesa, It's so wonderful to hear of such a supportive partner! Not everyone can be as empathetic as you, and Billy is a lucky man to have you in his life. My husband has been wonderfully supportive, too, and sees the money we spent on my surgery as an "investment" in our future together, as well as my own life. But even still, I don't think he probably "gets it" quite as well as you do after reading this thread. Go give him a big, strong hug and tell him you will always love him no matter what. And God bless all of you! This really will be for the best. It's your future together!

Hey Adorkable! What is your final analysis on the Isopure and how it affects your stomach? I had my first bottle of it today and, um, had major diarrhea, but only after I finished the second half of the bottle several hours after the first half. I was just wondering what your experience has been lately. Thanks!

Hi July bandsters! I'll go and introduce myself on the other list that Penny started, but I wanted to be sure someone adds me to the July 16th date for surgery. Thank you!

Sorry for the delay, work got busy. I'm actually staying with my relatives in Denver, so unfortunately, I can't recommend a hotel. My parents are going to visit our relatives then, too, so they will be there with me so my DH doesn't have to take time off work (he has so little vacation time, but I have more). Our relatives live in western Denver and Arvada. I suppose I'll be in the recovery room when you start your surgery. I'll be thinking of you! If you want to try and meet up after you're done recovering, let me know. It might not be a bad idea to talk with someone who's going through the same thing. If you're interested, send me a private message and I'll give you my cell phone number. I fly back home Saturday morning, but I imagine you'll be going back to SLC before then, eh?

Hi Lotzasunshine! I'm getting banded by Dr. K on the 16th, too. I've been kind of absent on LBT lately (maybe trying to put my fingers in my ears and say lalalalalaIcanthearyoulalalala?), but I'm trying to get back in the swing of things again. My surgery is at 9 am on the 16th, when is yours? I hope I get to see you then. Have you started your low carb diet yet? I start mine tomorrow. Anyway, I hope to see you soon! Feel free to email me or anything if you like.

I'd be up for going there with other people (assuming this is open to other patients as well). Can you send me the info or point me to a link for next Wed, pretty please?

Skinny and healthy, what a concept, eh? It's going to be woooonderful! Best of luck to you!

Thanks! I can't wait! How lucky you are to be within driving distance of Dr. K. I have relatives in Denver that I can visit when I'm there, but we're not close enough that I would fly to Denver for every fill. :thumbup:

Hey ladies! I'm another 30-something here. It seems I checked this forum for the first time at the right time. I'm married with 4 nephews and 2 nieces (DH and I are still deciding whether or not to have our own kid, but at least I know if we do, I'll start pregnancy at a lower weight than now!). I'm getting banded on July 16 by Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver, but I live in California. BBK, I hope you are okay now and healing well! That must have been scarier than I can even imagine. 80s_chick, I am loving your Xanadu icon, hahaha! I'm debating whether or not it's worth a trip to NYC to see it on Broadway. :thumbup: Cheers, Golden Bear

I've been lurking around here for a little over a month and have even replied to some threads, but I thought I'd formally "introduce" myself and say hi. Hi! I'm going to get banded by Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado on July 16. I'm excited and nervous at the same time, but more excited than nervous. I know what makes me the most excited is that I feel like I have finally found the tool that will allow me to be successful. I've known for many years now what the "right" decisions are, but making them consistently is tough! But hopefully this will make it a little less tough than before. Anyway, hello, and best of luck to everyone. I look forward to learning more about lap band and the people and stories here as I continue my journey. =)

I read every single word in this thread and I love it. It's so nice to know I am NOT alone. I kept on saying to myself, "oh! oh! That's totally me!" and then sometimes saying, "Oh gosh, I forgot about that!" I will not miss everything that was said before me. But I finally thought of some "original" ones: I will not miss always touching a wall, chair, or cubicle wall while standing and talking with someone because it's too tiring to hold all of my own weight by myself. I will not miss not being able to ride a horse/mule at Yosemite National Park because I weigh too much. I will not miss having cramps in my mid upper back because of the way I hold myself. I will not miss my clothes taking up so much space in a suitcase. I will not miss sweating so much on my head/under my hair. I will not miss having to walk at an angle through the skinny aisle on the upper story of the train I take to work. I will not miss having to wear my work badge and pedometer on my pants pockets instead of my waist because of my jelly roll... and then having to wear them hanging from a shirt when I wear pants that have no pockets. I will not miss always having to leave shirts untucked. I will not miss feeling like I can't cut my hair into a cute short style because it would be out of proportion with my body. I will not miss not being able to shop in the tall sizes in catalogs! I will not miss plantar fasciitis. Wow, that was going to be a list of one at first! It's amazing how much more I thought of once I started writing.

Hi Michelle, I'm glad to hear you had a great experience at ECR. I hope you get the restriction you need soon. As it turns out, Dr. Foster and the gang at ECR are *not* in my network, so I'd be self pay. Also, the coordinator at their office and the coordinator at Dr. McKeen's office in San Jose both said they think the odds of me getting insurance to pay are very slim because I am "only" 37+ BMI with no co-morbidities. To say the least, that ticks me off because I'm 115 pounds overweight. That's the problem with being 6' tall! Anyway, that's all to say I might end up going to Dr. K. in the Denver area. His fees are $5K less than Dr. McKeen and I have relatives there, so I really only need to pay for my airfare and a rental car. Good luck with the rest of your journey!

I live in Mt. View and work in San Bruno and I'm still in the research process. I finally learned that chances are not good that insurance will cover me (I weight 115 pounds overweight, but my BMI is 37+ with no comorbidities), so I go back and forth in my head between choosing Dr. McKeen in San Jose and Dr. K in Denver. I think I'm currently leaning toward Dr. K because it's hard to argue with a $4K price difference... Right now I'm currently hoping for surgery in mid July!

I just joined here because I'm in the very early stages of my research and making appointments, etc. I live in Mountain View and I'm considering Dr. Pamela Foster and the rest of her gang at Thinner Future, but based out of El Camino Hospital instead of up by Mills Peninsula. I was going to consider Dr. McKeen at Good Samaritan hospital at first, but he's not in my network, but Dr. Foster is. So, we'll see how it goes as I make my consultation appointments, etc.

I'm thinking of using Thinner Future because they are in my network and I live near El Camino Hospital, so the location is ideal. I hope to read about more people using the doctors there!