barbara465

Well I'm real curious as to whether you really saw the doctor. My first week checkup was 5 minutes with a nurse I had never seen. She looked at my scars and said good job. That was it. All of my fills, unfills, have been at the surgicenter. That is a good system. I haven't seen Dr. Spiegel since 5 minutes before surgery.

Are you having a panic attack or just nervous and scared? After a fill I wonder if I'm going to do OK, etc. and then sometimes feel apprehensive. I have to talk to myself to calm down and just see how it goes. However, if you find you continue to feel uneasy you might have to get a slight unfill. Being overfilled on me gives me that heavy feeling in my chest and I can't eat or drink much. Sometimes I get that feeling when I eat at a restaurant. I just have to relax and I start to feel better. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

I could take a shower right away. I had no restrictions on showers. I couldn't take baths or go in a swimming pool for 2 weeks. That was my only "water" restriction.

Carol - if you are aready having difficulty eating, getting a fill will make it worse. If you can't eat in the morning try something hot, tea, coffee, broth and then try a protein drink. You don't want to spend your life having one PB after another. That will cause more problems. Hope everyone else is doing well. I feel so much better and seem to be back on track.

Leila you look great. I can really see the difference. I just got to say I love the June group. I know I can always come here and get help, support, a smile. It's nice to share this with others like all of you. No group like us that's for sure. Fell down on my Water on Sat, Sun, Mon. I've made up for it yesterday and today, but won't make my goal for the week. That's OK. I got as much as I could during the episode so I wouldn't get dehydrated. I had hard Protein tonight, pork chop. I ate all my meat first, then my vegetable. I still could eat my carb, but I must say I feel full. I hope this feeling stays with me longer. If it does, I'll increase the meat tomorrow and see if that helps with the hunger. Hang in there everyone. We're doing great for the most part. We knew we would have some speed bumps, but we're all moving forward.

Oh I'm so sorry. When it rains it pours ... OK let's see what we can do. First, don't eat much in your condition. You are stressed to the max so mushies or liquids. You've got to take care of yourself. Now, the responsibility for your grandaughter is her mother. I know we all want to help our children, but sometimes we can't. What are the options? Can you hire someone to help out to take some of the burden off of you? Can your daughter explore her options? What about the babies father? Can he offer some financial assistance to hire someone? Next, for whatever reason, your parents are not going to be there. You will just have to deal with it. Your husband was probably having a bad day and took it out on you. Forgive him and look for solutions. Here's a big hug for you. I hope it gets better, but you must not let them put this strain on you.

What will happen if Boogie wins HOH. It could happen. Who would he choose? He has to go up against Janelle in round 2. Janelle s/b able to beat him, but strange things happen. I hope she wins it all and sends him to sequester. Certainly she could win against ericka?

Oh we can't see the pictures. Not sure how you correct it, but can't wait to see them. I think I'll take some this weekend so I can chart my progress. carol134 - you shouldn't need a fill if you are really tight in the morning. I've heard a lot of people are tight in the morning. Some theories are full pouch when going to bed makes for more restriction in the morning. I don't know what is true, but would suggest you try a Protein drink in the morning. Also, maybe a warm liquid. If you can eat at lunch try for more protein in food. You may just have to use self control at night to get a balanced meal in, but not going overboard. Try drinking some Water before bed to wash out the pouch.

To be young again. Aaahh, I do remember. He is from Spain and different cultures look upon obesity differently. It just may not be an issue to him and it shouldn't be to you either. Enjoy his friendship and relax. You are in control. You can only be controlled if you allow it. Keep your studies up and work your band. It doesn't have to be serious relationship to be meaningful. p.s. there is no man or woman who is perfect. remember that.

Some of that is the after effects of surgery. Did you doctor send you home with breathing exercises? Mine did and I remember that I really couldn't take deep breaths. I also couldn't sit up straight. I think everything is just tight and bruised. Find a comfortable position and don't worry about it. What you are describing sounds normal to me.

I had my surgery on Tuesday and was back to work on Monday. I worked from home the week of surgery, even Tuesday. Everyone is different, but for me getting into clothes was the big issue. You are swollen after surgery so you want to wear loose pants and tops. That was a challenge for me working downtown. I just got some over blouses and shells to wear.

Way to go Janelle! I am so proud of her. I was really worried she wouldn't evict Will. Sorry she didn't win the HOH comp. I wanted her to have it easy for the 2nd one. Boogie is so mad. What does he have to be made at? Such a player and got caught. Finally. Hope the women make it to the final 2. Janelle should win if Howie doesn't piss everyone off in the sequester house. If he does, they won't vote for her just because she is season 6. He needs to chill. Oh chill is on its way to him.

I think that being overfilled can lead to more problems than an underfill. After reading all of the complications on this forum, most are caused by overfills. I like everyone else held off until I couldn't anymore. I thought I would get "over" it and I could resume. Wrong. For me, once I PB I am doomed. I now know that I react to fills 6-9 days after the fill. I was in pain and I don't think that is good for the band. The band is supposed to work with solid foods. It is with solid foods that we are able to lose weight and not feel hungry. If we have to resort to liquids and mushies then the band is too tight. I know some are tight in the mornings, but if you are consistently too tight then a slight unfill is in order. That's my position. I don't want all these problems later that are caused by an overfill. I am going to try more proteins and see if that helps. I eat more of a balanced meal and not protein packed. I'll reverse that and see if that holds my hunger. Big Girl Pantez is certainly an honorary member. She is one of us! I feel so much better today, but a little tired. I think not eating for 4 days takes a toll on your body. I'm still on mushies, but will increase a little to get some protein in a more solid form. Have a good day everyone.

Poodles do you think you have too much restriction? What does the doctor say about not being able to tolerate hard protein? I know it is hard to get an unfill, but many a small one .1 to .3 would be enough to allow you to enjoy more variety.

Those that have divertuculis (sp) and other colon issues should avoid seeds like these. They can get in the colon and fester into infections. My doctor doesn't allow us to eat anything like oatmeal and powdered protein because he thinks they clog the band. I treat seeds the same way and avoid them.

I wanted to go slow so that I wouldn't PB. Six days after the first fill I had a PB and had to have a slight unfill. Then a small fill and things were fine, but I was hungry. Another fill and 9 days later, PB. I just had another slight unfill. I have been very careful and only eat what I'm supposed to, but still had PBing. Once I get into that syndrome I can't stop until an unfill. I am going to see how this works for me and don't be so quick to get a fill. All of mine have been under fluro.

Your wife needs to follow her doctor's orders. If he/she wants her on mushies, then mushies she should be eating. Each doctor is different, but most don't want you eating solids for 3-4 weeks. Most want you to take the time to heal and don't want the stomach churning a lot to digest food. She can get full feeling by eating mushies. You need to be creative. Check out the food thread and look for mushies. Good luck to her.

Reginia - try eating an activia everyday (like yogurt). Make sure you get the one for regularity. I was having awful problems like you and I started having Activia. It really seems to help. One of the things I noticed is that if it is "bad" for you, the band will allow you to eat it. I have been really "afraid" to eat things off the program. I'm not good or better than anyone, just scared. I have read so much about the problems that I'm scared to try things. I was so surprised that we can eat tortilla chips. My doctor says its OK, just not a lot of them. I eat them with my chili con queso as part of my meal sometimes. I haven't tried candy, cake, pies, pasta, rice, or popcorn. I do like my animal crackers and sometimes pretezels. Both of those foods you can chew until they are nothing. I sometimes have ice cream, but try to resist. I am going to try eating more protein and see if that helps to keep me full. I am very hungry now with the unfill, but will stay on mushies for a few days. I don't want any more problems. I think we can eat hot wings and nachos during football as long as we count it as lunch or dinner. The real problem I see is forgetting what you are doing and not chewing well or eating too much. Never lose concentration. :welldoneclap: Hang in there everyone. We're going to make it.

I just got an unfill after a terrible weekend of being stuck. I have been a good bandster so don't know what the problem is. I am always hungry, but don't eat more because I know better. They told me to eat more hard Protein - chicken, fish, beef, etc. because that will stay in the pouch longer. The soft foods and vegetables go right through and you are hungry soon after eating. I'm going to try that and see if it works. I've also heart that tofu is good. Haven't gone to that yet. You might need to do something like more protein or more calories just to shake your metabolism up and get out of your routine. You are doing great and I'm sure you will start losing again.

How do you spell RELIEF? Get an unfill. Went to the surgicenter and got .5 taken out. Instant relief. My temperature and blood pressure were low so that kind of distress takes its toll. Their scale is 4 lbs more than mine, even though they said I lost 9 lbs since the 23rd. My total by them is 30 lbs so that's still good. My average is 2.5 so fall within the range. One thing I told them was my hunger. I am always hungry. They suggested I eat more meat - fish, chicken, pork, steak, etc. and less vegetables. Hard protein lays on the band and makes you feel full longer. Guess I'll try that in a week or so. They told me to come back in a 1 1/2 and start the fills again. Umm , I think I'll just see how it goes. I'm in no hurry for a repeat of that experience. I am drinking my boost and how nice it is to get it down. Now back to the program. How's everyone else doing? I hope you didn't celebrate Labor Day with too much food. :welldoneclap:

I'm going to call the surgicenter in the morning and see if I can go in first thing. I can't keep anything down and a sip of water is painful. My fill was on the 23rd so I thought I was OK. I hope I haven't slipped, but just need a unfill. I tried to take pepto bismal and threw it up. So much for that. This is just stupid. I haven't eaten anything that I wasn't allowed. I chew everything to pulp and then this. I can't get this settled down and since Friday at 11:30 am have had so little to eat and drink. I don't want to get dehydrated. I hope tomorrow is better. Its got to be! :welldoneclap:

So what do you suggest I do now. I feel like I have a huge golf ball anytime I drink or eat in my chest. I haven't had much of anything now for 3 days. I got a few bites of very runny scrambled egg in before I couldn't stand the pain anymore. It doesn't matter if its water, coffee, boost, or solids. I am trying to get some water in by sipping, but not getting in much. I end up with burbs and hiccuping. What's up with this? Should I go for an unfill tomorrow? I just don't know what to do.

Well what a weekend. I'm still not able to eat and getting just some liquids. I PB on the silliest things like boost. I ate some tortillia chips out of frustration and lo behold it stayed down. Now what's up with that. I put some cheese sauce on them to get some protein. Water, room temperature, still hurts if I drink too much. I haven't tried anything today so we'll see how that goes. I have never really felt restriction. I just try to stop when I think I've had enough. Getting the right fill amount is a challenge. The VG bands do have those sections in them and when they take out it looks like you lost saline. My doctor explained all that to me. I just have a 10cm band so its max is 4cc. The VG takes 10cc so it might take many fills to get the right restriction. Also, it can sneak up to you. It may happen weeks after the fill. I am stil preplexed as to why I am having so much trouble. I thought I ate a too big piece of waterchestnut. Now I'm wondering. I can get stuff through so I'm not blocked. I have agitated my esphogus, but have been on liquids. How long should it take to get straighted out? Going shopping today. I've got to get a few things to wear to work. Hang in there Junebies. We're going to make this. I'm looking forward to the tofu dishes Poodles. I've never tried it.

Glad you are doing well. Each day will get better and before you know it you will be able to move around quite well. Try a heating pad for the gas. I found that to be good. I had a hard time with all the liquids too, but its so much better when you get on thicker liquids and mushies. Check out the food section to get some ideas.

Some people, like me, can't take it orally. My body doesn't absorb it. It does give you energy. Take it at night, if possible, because sometimes it causes a side effect. I don't get a shot and then eat, if you get my drift. I like to take mine before bedtime and the next day or two the energy kicks in. My hubby gives me the shots and a months supply costs $4.50. Cheap enough.