Kate S

thanks Jean for the good advice. I was banded nearly 5 years ago at 286lb, lost 80lb, then had to have fluid removed for an unrelated op in November. The gain was slow but steady and scary - 25lb in 6 months. I am now on the refilling trail again and getting back to the regular small high protein meals & exercise. I know I can do it again and get that last 40lb off with the help of shared common sense from other banders.

re the fizzy drink - Diet Coke is a good one. For projectile vomiting read PB, I'm in Aussie & we don't use that term. It's not really vomiting because the food has not reached the stomach, just a rejection of lumpy stuff accompanied by heaps of gross mucus. Some people don't get enough warning to remove themselves from company before it happens while others, like me, firstly get extreme discomfort, walk around, and eventually have to deal with it because the lump just will not go down. I still lose the odd meal when in a hurry - its depressing - but calming down , having a warm drink slowly, dunking a plain biscuit if you can handle it and just resolving to start all over again is the best cure. Unfortunately It's not good to resort to icecream and cheesecake just because they go down easily! My surgeon always says that after a fill I should have 2 days of fluids - Soups etc, nothing lumpy. His 6-monthly checkups always involve removing the band contents, measuring to make sure nothing's leaking, & putting back again. So if you're off to a fill appointment have that yummy morning tea first as it's veggie juice & Soup for a couple of days after.

you'll know if its stuck - strong feeling of lump that won't move, panic sets in etc some people have instant projectile vomiting reaction - scary - but I don't, thank goodness. I've been banded 4 & half years & seldom experience it , usually when hungry, eat too fast & don't chew enough. Some foods are best avoided e.g. fresh bread. Dietician told me at start that best solution is always to have can of cold fizzy drink - any brand - in fridge, take a mouthful & it will move lump in a hurry. This definitely works but recommend being by yourself over the kitchen or bathroom sink as it is quick.