RestlessMonkey

What she said. I especially like that "less savory substances" line.

Beth school is draining the life out of you

I think the odds are it's both medical and psychological. It should not, if you're unfilled, "always hurt to eat". Something is wrong. Maybe your band is too small (I think you were banded before they sized them, and if so it's possible even unfilled it's too tight for you) or maybe you have a slip or erosion, or maybe some OTHER issue (like esophageal spasms). I doubt it's in your head. Eating until you are truly full no matter the pain...that is, as you said, maladaptive. That's "emotional" and I'd think you need to address it. Why didn't you go to the doctor when this started? If it was to lose weight, then did it work? If not, why are you doing it still? I think maybe a little counseling is in order, just my 2 cents.

It's referred pain from your diaphragm, an agitated phrenic nerve. So relaxing the muscle (and the nerves) will help it. If you have someone who can give you a neck massage (a strong one!) and get the muscle to relax, that'll help. Does liquid tylenol help? I've also read of people who, if they lie on their sides and raise their left arm up over their heads it helps. mine fortunately just hurt if I breathed too fast (like when I moved LOL) so try to keep your breathing slow and even and not too deep, see if that helps relieve it. Don't pant though or mess w/your breathing too much (Deep breathing is good to keep your lungs clear!) I mean just mess with it a little to see if it will calm down.

This link should help: Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - FAQ: Lap-band Abbreviations

Here's a tutorial that may help you: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

There's two kinds of gas post op...one is the kind we generate and unfortunately there's a LOT of that, even on broth and liquids, I guess because of our new internal "configuration". For something like that, Gas X or something with simethecone will work wonders! However there is also gas in the abdominal cavity that is pumped in during surgery to spread our organs apart and make surgery easier for the surgeon...and ultimately for us! If the surgeon doesn't remove all or most of that it can HURT when we're closed up and it's still in there. And unfortunately gas x doesn't TOUCH that because it's outside of our digestive system. Until the body absorbs it and moves it out, it can hurt like the devil. Walking helps both types! And Gas X helps the type we make. Asking your surgeon to remove the gas (for those reading this who haven't been banded) will help the other. Hang in there!

I don't know but I hope not! Doesn't seem like you should be penalized because your doc went on vacation. Why not have him write a letter saying he was unavailable at the end of June and you were scheduled ASAP in July. That's what I'd do...include it just to be sure.

The ONLY thing at almost 13 months I've found that gives me trouble is soft chicken skin. (sounds gross huh?) I mean, for example, if the chicken is baked. Or if it is barbequed but the skin isn't super crisp. I can eat fresh fried chicken fine...and DRY chicken. Just not the skin from chicken unless it's cooked very crisp. Since chicken skin is just mostly fat I figure it's no big loss and as I've said, if it's breaded or fried I'm good (go figure) Otherwise, white bread, rice, Pasta, pizza, dry chicken, red meat (as long as it's well done) all are fine. Fresh fruit...fine. My pills...fine. Just soft chicken skin. I can live with that. And a note: the band journey is a personal one. However for newbies reading this; the point is NOT to be so restricted that you can't eat anything but mush. The point is to eat less, eat healthy, and lose weight. How you interpret that is up to you (and your doc) but it doesn't generally mean living on Protein shakes from now on.

My intent wasn't to insult you. However you can't judge yourself by others. Maybe they felt great because they took their pain meds! or whatever. And if you don't want to take pain meds (which you didn't say in your first post when you said you were in pain "all the time"), then odds are there will be pain. That's all. It's your choice to take them or not, as I said. I don't care for morphine and didn't take it, personally, but that's neither here nor there. And you said you're taking "anti-acid" meds all the time so how would one know you don't like pain medication? Pain medication "treats" pain. If you don't want to take any, don't. It's no big deal.

I started my senior year of nursing school just as I was banded. (got my BSN this May. YAY!) Anyway I weighed 375 and was 53 and made it fine. The hard part is the clinicals; you'll need a little time to recover before you start them (and there is usually a lifting restriction) and of course no driving or clinicals while under the influence of prescription pain meds. I know here in Texas we can only miss so much clinical time and then they MUST fail us even if we're superstars, so you need to weigh that. Otherwise you'll probably be fine. I know I was.

Or ask the surgeons in your area if you have your medical records, will they treat you? Because your surgeon would/should provide them!

She'll just have to deal with it, won't she? What a maroon, as Bugs Bunny would say! OH OH and you probably won't do this because I think you're probably too polite but the next time she says "Is that ALL you're going to eat?" say "Oh, I had a small pony just an hour ago" LOL

That's pathetic. Just think, they may be thin, but they all need a life!

Well I did 3 days and was successful; for many of us we aren't even on solid foods until week 6 anyway (depending on your post op diet). I personally would never feel good taking 6 weeks off of work just to practice chewing small bites well, but that's just me! And yes, how quickly one recovers depends, as I said, on many factors, including the doctor's competency.

UH OH! Watch out people! And Bethy, don't drown him in 'em, ok? At least, not until we can get there to help you with the body.

Pain medication is a personal choice but in all honesty to go through major abdominal surgery one would expect there to be either pain, or medication. Liquid tylenol worked for me because I don't like opiate pain relievers.

Well, Beth when she's drinking mojitos? LOL No, I agree. Plain=slut. I looked it up in my Funk and Wagnall's.

I lost 32 on my 5 week preop diet so I would've scared extra pounds off you! LOL We're all different. We each just have to do our own personal best! (it's ok anyway, I gained back part of that until I finally hit my sweet spot 5/7 this year!)

By the way Plain I'm attacking the idea, not you. LOL

Yeah, why use one word when a paragraph will do. LOL

Slut. Slut. (had to post it twice because of post length. Pffft)

Even with a fill, once you're healed, you may be able to eat burgers and pizza. I know I can, or at least say 1/3 of a burger, a slice of pizza (thin crust is easier but I can eat pan, too). I don't do it often BUT it's nice to know I can and in fact, knowing I can makes it not all that important. Not everyone has problem foods, and even if one does have problem foods, it doesn't mean ALL of them will be a problem! As my granny would've said, "Don't borrow trouble". I went into this assuming I would be able to still eat anything and that's what happened; being nervous about it can cause it (tense people have tight bands) NOT saying it's all in a person's head understand; just wait and see where you land. food will not be off limits to you. And some you used to love just won't be worth the trouble, but you'll be the one moving on, it won't bother you any. :biggrin:

Hell can be a state of mind. There are a few who aren't hungry between getting banded and "the sweet spot", but not too many. But a good attitude and looking toward the future is helpful. Most, though, have a period where they either must diet and struggle with hunger or regain weight. It's just the nature of the beast. You're right that it is good to prepare for it, then if you aren't one of the "many", lucky lucky you! :biggrin:

For me it was. Getting the band was very motivating, especially after I messed up and didn't get it on my first try. Once I had the band, although I KNEW I needed to follow my post op diet to heal, it was hard because I was hungry and had been dieting for weeks. (and I mean an austere diet, not just eating low fat cheese or something LOL) Once healed it was AWFUL because I could eat normally! I did eat less, but I didn't lose. And I never "felt" the band. Had I not KNOWN it was there from seeing it on xray, I'd never have believed I had it. That was WAY worse and longer than the little old preop diet. For me, anyway.