Gralda

Thanks to all of you who responded about the acid reflux. I've been on a long business trip so haven't checked back for a couple of weeks, but after reading the posts I have decided to go back in and have a tiny bit removed to see if that helps. I started taking Prevacid and that has helped some but not totally. Thanks for your candor. Gralda

Hi folks! Can i ask if anyone is having trouble with acid reflux. My initial problem with reflux completely disappeared when i got the band but it has reappeared. I havent had a fill for about 6 months and I feel I am at a good restriction, not much problem with food getting stuck and I am finally losing again after a 6 month hiatus. 8lbs down since October. I am afraid to go back in for advice because they will just want to take Fluid out and I don't believe that will solve the problem. and here is the real wrinkle - I reeceive my after from True Results in Austin and there is no doctor on staff, the doctors are all in Dallas so I ever see is a nurse. The reflux at night scares me that I am damaging my esophagus -- since my father-in-law passed away a few years from esophageal cancer it makes me neurotic.

Any ideas? thanks

HI May 2008 banders, I plateaued for so long I thought I was done but have finally started losing again. down 58.5 lbs which I am pretty happy with. I still need to keep losing but am living life fully and happily again.

I had my last fill 4 weeks ago. I really felt the restriction and found myself PB'ing for the first time. I have experienced a bit more discomfort when eating, like if I had to big piece of food or ate to fast. Now In the last 2 days the restriction seems gone and I seem like I can eat lot more. I haven't lost anything in the last 2 weeks and about 2 pounds the first 2 weeks. Does this sound like I'm due for another fill? Or should I just really watch my food and portions. I have a support meeting on 10/1 and wonder if I should try for a small fill. I'm at 6cc in a 10 band.

I have experienced the same thing for the past month. Got my fourth fill and really felt restriction for the first time. Have to be very careful or I PB and food gets stuck but I haven't lost a single pound in the last two weeks and only 4 pounds in the 2 weeks before. Not sure what is going on but I don't think I can take any more fill.

I fly every week and although I do notice the band is a little tighter, I've had no problems. I wouldn't eat while on the plane just to be safe, hot tea seems to relax things.

After reading the last few posts, I realize I have to go in for an unfill, I have had a lot of pain with eating since my last fill, lots of sliming and unfortunately sometimes I wish desparately for the PB but instead things just get stuck!!!!! The pain lasts for a long time and then I can't eat again for awhile, at least not anything healthy. I thought I had found my sweet spot, since she only put in a tiny amount. This is very frustrating. I hope I haven't caused a slippage.

Hi everyone - I am down 36 lbs since my band on May 6th and 42 since preop. I had my 4th fill two weeks ago and have restriction for the first time, I stay full for 5-6 hours and can't eat very much at all. It's great! Now I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm halfway to goal!

Hope you're somewhere that it's safe to be out & about by yourself at night!

Let us know if the pineapple juice works for you.

Maybe you can get some from room service??

Papaya tabs I know you can get at RiteAid or Wal-Mart.

I talked to the front desk and there is no store close by that won't get me lost, and they don't have any pineapple juice, I may have to wait it out until morning. The pain has subsided some, walking around helped a little, still a lot of burning and just generally discomfort. Thanks for your concern!

I've had this happen several times since my last fill. Each fill is a new learning experience. Now I KNOW I MUST stop eating at the first sign of feeling full or I WILL PAY the price!!

My suggestions: first I try some chewing some Papaya tablets... 4-6 of them. If that doesn't work... sip on a small can of pineapple juice. The acid and the texture of it seem to help. I sat up half the night last Friday with that problem, and it was the pineapple juice that finally enabled me to go back to bed.. but at first I went too soon and then I had reflux issues because of the acidity!! After sleeping in my recliner for about two hours I was able to go back to bed. But te pineapple juice really helps.

thank you!! I am in a hotel room but am going to go try to find a grocery store!! Gralda

Hi everyone - I am about 4 months post band and finally got a fill with restriction a couple of weeks ago. I think I am in trouble tonight, went out for a business dinner, ate 2 shrimp and about 6 peanuts and then realized the food was stuck, lots of sliming and then vomited up a lot of mucus but the food remained stuck, it's been about an hour and I still have pain. Any suggestions? Did I wreck anything permanently? This is the first time whatever was stuck didn't pass after a few minutes. Any and all advice appreciated, it's a scary feeling. Also had to leave the dinner and excuse myself which was embarassing by itself!! Thanks. Gralda

wow so many of you banded in May have lost a lot!!! congratulations - I only lost 2 lbs for the last month, but after a fill last week, finally started seeing the scale go down again, and lost 3 this week! Down 33 total since my two-week pre-op diet. It's slower than I had hoped but at least it's going the the right direction!!

I have had three fills so far (my fourth is scheduled for Wed 7/23) and I don' t really feel restriction. I have a 10 cc band and have been filled

5/21 - 1.8 cc

6/11 - 1 cc

6/25 - 0.5 cc

So a total of 3.3 cc.

Is anyone else feeling good restriction yet? And if so, at what level is your band filled?

I just had my fourth fill, not sure how much is in there at this point. I had no restriction until this fill although I still don't think I have hit my sweet spot. I only lost two pounds all of last month, but this week after the fill I lost 3 lbs so it is working. I think in a couple of weeks I will try to get one more fill. They only put a very tiny amount in this last time since my third fill was too tight, couldn't swallow Water, then they took too much out!

Hey May 6th Banders!! How is everyone doing? I have lost a total of 27, 6 pre-op and since the band. I have had two fills but the weight loss is going very slowly. I definitely am not at my sweet spot with fills yet. The second one hurt too much so they took some out and I think they took too much out. Let me know how everyone is doing!

Terri - you seem to really have a handle on the fills and what your body is telling you. I had my second fill today, no real restriction with the first fill - they added 1.3 cc's and even the tiniest sip of Water hurt significantly and came back up partially and eventually went down but with lots of noise. After about 20 minutes, I decided they needed to take some out, now I only feel very modest restriction. Should I have waited it out or was the pain a sign it was too tight? thanks!

I was banded May 6th and with 2 week pre-op Atkins diet have lost 25 lbs. But nothing for the last week and I really don't feel any restriction yet, going for second fill on Monday!! I really hope the fill starts the losing again and I need to start a regular exercise program, tomorrow I join the gym!

Hi Everyone! I had my first fill today, 30 days after being banded. I honestly don't feel anything different and I am still starving! I haven't lost anymore weight since starting on regular food again. I am getting nervous that this is going to work. I am back on liquids today and mushies tomorrow but this is way harder than after surgery when I wasn't hungry at all. I want that feeling back. Is it unusual to not feel any restriction after the first fill?

Thanks Denise, they said I can come back in two weeks so that's what I'll do, it's a little frustrating!!

Hi Everyone! I had my first fill today, 30 days after being banded. I honestly don't feel anything different and I am still starving! I haven't lost anymore weight since starting on regular food again. I am getting nervous that this is going to work. I am back on liquids today and mushies tomorrow but this is way harder than after surgery when I wasn't hungry at all. I want that feeling back. Is it unusual to not feel any restriction after the first fill?

Gralda, I am just like you! My post op diet was exactly the same, and I have not lost since starting on solids, even though I am eating significantly less than pre-Band. I went to my 2 week follow-up today, and I am healing well. BUt I can't get a fill untilJuly. I hope that when I can start exercising more, the weight will come off, even slowly...

But I do feel great!

Why are they making you wait until July for a fill? That seems like a long time. I also have to start exercising, I know once I get a routine down I will be okay - it's just that getting started again that is hard!

I too was banded on 5/6 and am getting hungry. I am still on full liquids until 5/27, then pureed foods for 2 weeks. My first fill is scheduled for June 27. I hope I don't gain back what I lost by then. Even on liquids I have stopped loosing. :cursing: Hang in there!!!

it's amazing how different the post op diets are. I was on full liquids week one, mushies week 2 and started regular food week 3. I seem to tolerate everything fine, but wish I was back to that no hungry feeling from week 1! I've lost 20 lbs including the pre-op Atkins diet but didn't lose anything this week since I started back on regular food. I am looking forward to getting my first on Tuesday afternoon!!! Although I am a little scared too. When do you go for your first fill?

Hi everyone, I was banded on May 12th. I still have gas pains and pressure in my chest. It mostly hurts when I need to burp. I also have this pain on my left side under my rib cage that really hurts, has anyone had that?

I was banded on May 6th and I had exactly the same thing!!! It went away at about the 10th day for me. It was a little scary.

Hi fellow early May banders! Just checking in to see how everyone is doing! My hunger returned with a vengeance two days ago and it doesn't feel like I have any restriction, I am not supposed to get my first fill until end of next week but I am really hungry!! Anyone else experiencing the samething?

Hi everyone - I was banded 5/6 and have experienced a pain in my chest that started off feeling like spasms and now feels like my heart flopping around. I have been considering calling my cardiologist. There sure is a lot of activity going on in that region of my body that it's very hard to distinguish what's what.

hello blondie,

I haven't had the procedure yet, but I'm sure one day won't really make that much of a difference. Also, although we are not suppose to be eating

a lot of carbs, pancakes really shouldn't be that hard to digest. And remember this is real life and there will be many moments where you will be confronted with situations like this. Everything will be okay as long as you know when to stop and go back to what you are supposed to be doing. Which it seems to me that you did.

Keep up the good work and forge ahead!

You should tell your son!! I told my 3 boys and although they tried to talk me out of it, they have been so sweet, helpful and concerned. My son in college comes home Monday and he has called twice a day since the procedure to check on me! I know how you feel about not telling people though, I haven't told anyone except my husband and kids.

Okay, I am feeling really good today. I was banded on the 6th, so it has been 4 days. The incisions are so tiny, except the port is about 2 inches long. My energy is still lower than normal, but better than any since the surgery. I am very excited for this process for all of us!

Also, last night, I received a letter in the mail, from my surgeon, welcoming me to the new Realize Band. I was a little surprised because I did not know that was an option. Does anyone know much about this band? If not, I will be calling the surgeon on Monday...

I was also banded on Tuesday! My surgeon told me I also had the new realize band and explained the difference. The old one had a space near the buckle that apparently allowed the stomach to begin to work it's way up through and cause slippage. The new band does not have gap at the buckle. there are other differences too, but that is the one that seemed most significant to me. Good luck to you!!

WoW...you guys are doing great! I thought I was...but the shortness of breath and the nausau has gotten worse. I am having a hard time getting in my Protein. Is anyone else having pain below the rib cage when they breath?

I was banded on Tuesday and I still have pain when i breathe but it is much better today than it has been. I also seem to have a pain in my esophagous but sure if it's from the breathing tube or something else. I have post op on Friday of this week, hoping things will be better by then. Good luck to you!