marys

Not drinking is almost the hardes thing for me post band...in fact, that's partly why i'm writing now - the only thing that helps is to do something - so, i usuallly immediately do dishes or empty dishwasher or clean or work, etc. that keeps me very occupied. I count the minutes (15 to go) for my 'fix' of liquid. If really desperate, i will take the tiny-est of sip or sips but i try not to becuz it's worse really. Also, start with one meal, build up to two with the no drinking - and even wait 1/2 hour - i'm a big believer in small steps. Great PB stories - it helps to have a bit of a laugh over these horrible events.

hello, congrats on having made the decision and having a date. Thee price sounds good - i paid 9500 + travel expenses and used Dr. Ortiz in Monterrey. I had found less expensive and good quality in Monterrey, Mx but Tijuana was closer and a bit easier to get to. I have to pay 100 for fills but that is for flouro and the doctor's fees are 'free'. keep us posted on your progress - good luck!

Hello - I'm new to group - had surgery 11.18.05 with dr. ortiz/martienez in Tijuana and had first fill on 1/14/06. Have had lots of issues learning to chew and eat slow and still am fighting some hunger and lots of head issues with eating. It's not as 'easy' as i thought it would be. May be ready for another fill (i think i have 2.3cc's) as my eating is increasing and my weight is starting to go up. Weight loss has been very slow and I've lost 8lbs since my fill. My bmi is/was lower then a lot of people so I accept it but wish it was a bit more. This has been quite the experience/journey and I am learning a lot. Thanks to all who have gone before me as your experience(s) help. I can eat All foods if i chew to liquid and can eat pretty early in the morning - many tell me to get a fill bbut i don't want to pb again/more and i do like eating a variety of foods - just smaller portions. However, if I gain another 2lbs - i'm going in! Bless you all! mary

Have found thru horrible personal experience that hot foods (especially spicy but also temp if liquor i.e. a hot toddy will bring on horrible pb followed by gastritis - yes, i ate 4 pringles barbeque chips, had a horrible pb attack then decided to stick to liquids for rest of night and took a big sip of an irish coffee and almost died that night (slight exaggeration) from gastritis - went on liquids and malox for one week - the only good thing of course was dropping a few lbs. today i did the dry cereal - about 3 flakes in the MORNING and havve paid dearly all day - another 'true' pb as oppossed to some of the other 'false' pb where it was just bad bad golfball eventually going down, not too much slime - yep major barf followed by pain and liquids all day - just starting to feel better. :)bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

Hi - have had several golf ball feelings and a few what i think are pb's since my fill. However, today i broke my rule and ate 3-4 flakes of dry cereal in the MORNING. it stuck immediately and within 15 minutes i barfed it up - not painful or violent but the biggest pb i've done yet. now - i've been sore in my chest and even drinking seems to hurt. i'm getting scared and know to stay on liquids for a day or two but does anyone think i've done some damage

hi - i've been banded since 11.18.05 and had a fill in Jan of this year - anyhow, i have also noticed some slight pain around my port side after eating - i think for me it is when I am on the border of eating too much - i don't understand it and it is very minor for me but noticeable.

My weight has stablilized after a fill on 1.14.06 and my appetite seems to be increasing. However, I've just learned how to eat and haven't had a pb in a while which I like. I can also eat all foods if chewed well. I've lost 7lbs since my fill. Each day is different re: quantity of food - but I can eat a lot = a whole subway - maybe! yesterday before dinner i snacked on 2 granola bars, 1 yogurt and one hot cocoa and then had dinner. I'm only resisting becuz my hubby thinks slow is better and says even 25 lbs a year is good = generally (90%) i follow rules about drinking, protein first, etc. but i can eat all carbs so inlcude them too. Snacking is rare and i try to keep it to low fat yogurt. Someone tell me, should i get a fill - it's either this month or late april...thanks!

Hi Angie, When you are first banded most of us have varying degrees of swelling from the surgery and that is what restriction is in the beginning. You are by no means a failure as your job right now is to just heal and take care of yourself and follow the diet as closely as possible! The doctor will be thrilled with you! You will get a different kind of restriction after your fill so try to relax! good luck

Well, it's pretty clear Im eating WAY too much - been going back and forth if i need a fill or not and i now know YES. I can eat just about what I have in the past - just a tiny bit less - esp if i chew it good enough. Now, I have to wait until April - bummer! Yesterday I ate: b: smashed up white Beans (like a paste) on toast - yummy but a bit dry, had to chew like mad l: 3 mini pepperoni pizzas (could have eaten a few more) d: small piece of steak (about 7 bites) and fried up mushrooms and onions (about 1/2-3/4 cup) during the day i had a low carb yogurt, sugar free hot cocoa and lots of crystal lite.

Thanks so much for this info - i wasn't doing this (doing liquids for 24 hours) and will immediately change my behavior. I usually skip the meal of the pb but was eating later meals during the day. I hope I haven't already done some damage to myself/my band.:faint:

This is primarily for Strawarts (and myself!) I had a lower bmi too - i think 33 and i've lost about 7lbs (it keeps going up and down a lb or two) so i feel your frustration. Two of the four of us who had surgery the same day have lost 30-40lbs and two of us have lost the 7lbs. Of course, everyone is different, etc. (blah blah - smile) and they say don't compare but i really thought i would have 20 off by now. Have you talked to the doctor about getting an unfill like they do if there is a problem or i believe if someone wants or gets pregnant. That way you'll still have the band but you could eat more, etc. I'm so new I don't want to give you wrong information but I'm sorry that your unhappy and maybe that would help open you up more so you could enjoy some food again. I feel your pain but hope it will work for both of us - good luck - mary

Hi - I'm fairly new too - banded 11.18 and I'm not sure if would do it again either -It is much 'harder' then I thought it would be - I still have some hunger (real and head) issues and many issues learning to eat slow and chew well. I expected the band to do this but even though it's not a miracle cure - I think deep down I thought it would be easier. All of the girls who had surgery the same day with me feel the same way although all are committed to making this work. You will still have to fight the head hunger, quit snacking between meals, cut out liquid calories and no drinking with or right after meals and exercise- many of the same things you would do if you were on weight Watchers, etc. For many - they say the hunger goes away and some of the above becomes easier - i'm just not there yet.

Ive told no one but my significant other and other bandsters i met. I have been tempted at several times but feel I can always tell down the road but once I tell I can't take it back. This is very personal so think hard. Congrats on your date. No one has ever noticed anything strange about my eating. I got something stuck at home with a friend here and i just went upstairs and said i had to make a long phone call - most people don't pay that much attention. The liquid phase and surgery healing will be hardest to conceal - eating before your first fill may be very similar to pre-surgery as you may have no restriction and no one may notice - after y our first fill you will need to be very careful learning how to eat slow and chew and NOT PB - you should eat out as little as possible and alone or focused on your food. This is not becoming a hermit - just a learning phase. If you are socializing, watching tv, etc. you tend to eat faster, etc.

hello - thanks for reply - boy, we do have alot in common. I have a call into my doctor (Ortiz/Martinez) to discuss but i think a fill is needed.

Hi, I had surgery 11.18.05 and first fill on 1.14.06 (I think 2.3cc) I had a lot of stuck issues the first few weeks and they have tapered off now (although occassionally this still happens). I usually hang with the stuck feeling and threw it up once as I hate throwing up (even tho the stuck is worse). ANYWAY< i started lower bmi and have only lost 8lbs since fill and am now seeing the scale go up 2lbs. The last few days have definitely been eating more and while it is my period week - i don't want to wait until i gain 5 of the 8 back. Is it fill time? I have always been able to eat just about all foods, bread, rice, pasta as long as i chew to liquid and go slow. I just can't figure this band out yet so any advice/suggestions are welcome. thanks

Hey Mary, Just curious - you were banded in december o5? Do your numbers mean your starting weight and middle number current weight? We were close to starting weight but i haven't lost near as much? Do you mind sharing a little of your journey - how many fills have you gotten, etc. Congrats! mary