barbara465

I think the Christmas challenge is a wonderful idea. Not sure # of lbs is the way to go because some have more/less than others, but making and meeting the goal would be a winner. We could then put all the names into a hat (or something) and chose the ultimate winner. Or all the winners could share some contribution from the others or something. I am a member of the Christmas challenge on another thread and have made my committment. I started this journey at 269, 267 day of surgery, and want to be 200 at Christmas. I am currently at 248. I also thought about the reunion idea and have a thought. Maybe we could plan a 1 year reunion next June. We all could meet somewhere and have a face to face. We are an awesome group and I've gained so much from being a part of it. OK, now back to my water.

You handle yourself so well. I think I would have to have said something. The fact that you didn't say anything says so much about you. This woman is hatefull and has her own issues and insecurities. You, on the other hand, are a strong and gracious lady. That is the biggest NSV to take from this experience in my opinion!!!!!!!

I had my surgery on June 13th. I was hungry from the start and the hunger continued. Had my first fill on Wednesday July 12th. My Doctor requires 3 days of liquids followed by 3 days of mushies. I was hungry after the fill and it continued. On Saturday I started mushies. I had a scrambled egg for Breakfast, chili con queso for late lunch and homemade potato Soup for dinner. I had baked a potato to add to the soup to give it some texture. I put a few pieces of it in the cup of soup I was eating. On the 3rd sip, WHAM, a tiny piece of potato slipped through my teeth. I felt that golf ball. I just stopped in my tracks and started praying that it would pass. I started Pbing, sliming, hiccuping, burping, and then it would start again. Five hours later that part seemed to be over, but my esphagus was buring like hell. I could have supplied a flame thrower all the fire they would need for their tricks. I slept sitting up in bed. On Sunday it took me all day and most of the evening to drink 2 ozs of Water, 1 Boost, and 1 weak cup of coffee. That's it. It stayed down, but it hurt once I swallowed. Today is better. I am drinking my Boost real slow, but it doesn't hurt like before. I'll stay on liquids today as well. Although I have no hunger, and lost 5 lbs during this process, I still want you to revoke my membership in the PB club. I have no interest in attending any more meetings. Just give me my release now and don't call on me again. Thank you for your quick attention to this.

I have been wanting to get a massage and keep putting it off. If you don't drink enough water afterwards you can get sick. I've done it plenty of times. I now schedule them during the day so I force myself to drink. Now with the water challenge it won't be as big of an issue. Enjoy your spa day. I increased my water intake slightly yesterday. It is becomming easier and easier to drink. I'm not as scared anymore and can sorta chug. Not sure how I'll do after another fill, but for now its going down easy. I'm starting to notice some difference in my clothes. Does anyone else still get swelling in the abdomen? I get a hard place between my breasts that goes down to major scar. It seems to be harder after I eat. I can feel it when I'm standing, but not so much when I'm laying down. I'm going to have them check on it again when I go for a fill, only when I'm standing. The last time I was laying down and I don't think they felt it. Hope everyone has great plans for the weekend. I don't want to hear any reports of PBs or M&M raids. :rofl:

Funny please update me. I PM you but here it is again. I am now 248, down 2 lbs. Thanks

So sorry so many of you joined the club! Its not a fun place to be for sure. I'm going Monday to get a slight refill. I hope its not too much and I start the cycle over again. Hang in there everybody. We'll learn and it will get better. I gotta believe!!! :rofl:

OK my smileys are gone and I'm ready for the new week. I really do think the Water has helped. I am a little perplexed. I am losing weight, but I am still hungry. I'm scheduled for a fill on Monday since I really feel no restriction. I don't want to rely totally on my will power. I am questioning whether I should get a fill while I'm losing. Now that they are doing them at the surgicenter I feel better knowing I can get worked in for an unfill if I run into problems. Hope I'm doing the right thing. OK got to get back to drinking water. I was going to ask about the tomato juice. That seems like a lot, 16 oz, to drink in one day. Does your stomach tolerate it OK? I've heard some don't do well with the acid from tomatoes. I like tomato juice and used to drink a small can when I was having colon problems. FOr some reason it settled my stomach down.

Don't be afraid to get a fill. Especially with a Vanguard since it is bigger. Just tell them not to be agressive with the fill and you want to go slow. I said that and I still got in trouble. One thing I've learned from my experience is that the Fluro doesn't tell the whole story. When I went for my unfill the fluro showed the barium going through just fine. This was when a sip of Water felt like a ton of bricks going down my esphogus. As soon as they took out some of the fill I felt better. The band works with a fill and with solid food. Hopefully we won't be as hungry and relying on our will power to see us through. If we all had strong will power we wouldn't have needed the band in the first place. Hang in there. Just go slow. I'm getting a slight refill on Monday. I'm not letting them put in as much as they took out and hopefully we can find my sweet spot.

This is just fantastic. Just think of where you started!!!! Only 10 more lbs. What happens after that? How do you maintain without losing. Oh my gosh, you might have to force yourself to eat something fattening now and then to maintain. :huggie: Congratulations on your accomplishment.

You can go to www.nbc.com and choose news shows and pick Today. You can run the entire film clip of the interview session. They say they had a Gastric Band around the stomach. It was interesting and will look at the People magazine when it comes on Friday.

Amus don't be so quick to get another fill. Wait at least a week before you get another one. Sometimes they kick in when you least expect them to. July5forme, It is quite natural. Take a deep breath. You are working with no restriction now so its all will power. Just because you had surgery doesn't mean all the old demons were taken away. However, just because you had surgery be careful and keep them under control. You can do more damage during this phase because nothing is stopping you once the swelling goes down. We've all been there. Go back and read some of our posts. First fills are tricky. Some of us are on our 2nds and 3rds, and some had to have a little unfill and start again. Everyone is different and reacts differently to what is going on. I'm too scared to stray too far. I know the fear will go away so I'm hoping to find my sweet spot with fills soon so I won't be tempted. Keeping busy doing other things helps. The world doesn't revolve around our surgeries and our food intake. Find some other interests and let this take a back seat. However, plan what you are going to eat so you don't look for last minute choices and fast food. That's my advice for the day. Hope everyone is doing well. I met my water challenge for the day. WhoHoo for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where is your fill? You probably won't feel any restriction until then. Once you get a fill then you will notice a difference.

I love Schwan's as well. I loaded up on their mashed potatoes for my mushie stage. I also get their chicken bites. I was eating their lighter single dish meals, but haven't had one since being banded. Their stuff is sooooooooooooo good, but as you say, EVIL. :huggie:

I try to limit my intake to 3-4 oz of protein - meat. Then no more than 1/2 cup of vegetable, and a couple of bites of carbs. I think we are only be able to eat 1/2 cup to a cup of food at a time. I also watch calories and don't usually exceed 1100 and most days around 950. I think stretched pouches are because people are eating too much at one time and the food is sitting in the pouch. Don't know for sure, but just my opinion.

I went to sleep last night and you all reported such great things!!! Glad to see everyone is doing well. I lost 2 lbs this week. I think it was the water!!!!!!!!! I got all my water in 2 days in a row. My advice after a first fill is its a new world. Foods that you could eat before the fill might not work after the fill. Go very easy and chew, chew, chew. I would even chew soup. I know you think that is an exaggeration, but potato soup is what caused my PB and slime session. Also, fills sneak up on you. You might not feel restriction for days after a fill then whamo it takes. Go very slow, have liquids the day of a fill and for a few days after. Each doctor is different, but it can't hurt to give your stomach a chance to adapt to the new restriction. One of the things I'm starting to learn is that the pouch doesn't change sizes so much as the opening to the rest of the stomach. That is where the real restriction is coming from. I read one say that their doctor says her opening is the size of a nickel. Think about that. That should scare you away from anything bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think this all will take a turn when we get good restriction. Until then we have to use lots and lots of self control. After we get restriction we still have to make good choices. I say all of this for myself as much as to our group. I have to continue to make good choices. I'm a project manager by trade, so I plan everything. My DH and I plan what I'm going to eat for lunch and he gets it ready. Same for dinner. It is certainly great having such a supportive partner. I can't imagine if I had to cook for a family and then eat something different. Today is a new day. We can do this. (do you think in my secret life I wanted to be a cheerleader?) Love you guys. You keep me sane!!!!

I went to HEB and discovered frozen mini hamburgers, seasoned taco meats, chicken bites, etc. They are just right for bandster portions. I haven't tried them yet, but I'm hoping they will be good for lunch. Pop a few in the microwave with a vegetable. I also keep cottage cheese, spaghetti sauce, mozarella cheese, and frozen spinanch to make a lasagna-like dish without the lasagna. I have also found that a all beef hot dog microwaved and cut into little pieces with some beans or veggie is another good meal.

Got the water in again today. YEAH!!!! I am beginning to notice that I've got something in my mouth all the time with the boost and activia it takes most of the morning, then water, water, then lunch, then water, water, then dinner, then crystal light. I'm thinking this is not good. :confused: I called for my fill today. I go on Monday. I chose Monday so there would be weekdays to go it unfilled if I run into problems. Not going through another week like before. Hope this will help. I think I just need a little more to keep me from being so hungry. Fear of food still plays an active role in my life. However, like willpower, I know that won't last long. We are having a steak tonight. I must say I'm scared, but we'll see. DH cooks them really nice and they are very tender. Just have been so scared to try, but its unfair to him. If I get too scared I'll just stop. Hang in there everyone. We will get the right fill levels and life will be good. Put down those M&Ms now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made it! I drank all my water yesterday. WOW I can't believe it. It did help with the hunger as well. Let's see how well I do today. I'm off to a slow start. I think I will call for a fill for next week if everything continues to go well with solid food. I am able to eat more than I should, but I'm doing portion control. I still find that I want something, anything, after about 1 hour after dinner. Last night I had two oreo cookies. It took me almost 20 minutes to eat them and I was quite satisfied. I shouldn't have had them, but I was craving something sweet. Hope everyone else does better today. I'm worried if you can't eat solid food. The band needs to work with restriction and solid food. I wonder if the band was too tight and losing a few pounds will make it better? If you're sure they didn't fill you at surgery that is the only explanation I can think of. Today is a new day.

christa, Congradulations on your upcoming wedding. I would just say at the bridal shower that you are too excited to eat. Go around and talk to everyone or otherwise keep yourself busy. Tell the hostess to put a plate away for you or whatever. Then you can eat later when it is easier for you and your not nervous. I know when I'm nervous I tend to hold everything tense and that's when trouble can occur.

Melissa give it a week or so before thinking about a fill. It sounds like you have restriction, but maybe not everyday or all day. I think I get hungrier as the day goes on. You definitely don't want too much restriction. I agree that sometimes the head hunger is what we are feeling, not real hunger. Another trick I do is get a small plate and put the portion of food on it that I'm supposed to have. I eat that and stop. I don't allow myself to get more food unless I've waited 15 minutes and I'm really still hungry. I usually am not hungry at all, just think I am. I'm on my 2nd bottle of water today and drank my boost down in about 6 swallows. Usually takes me all morning. I'm just going to pour in the liquids today. Let's keep it going. We're all off to a great start of the week.

OK my Junesters today is Monday and the start of a new week!!!! It's so much easier during the work week than the weekends. Too much time on our hands to think about food. This morning I didn't feel that great. I think this tubing gets kinked and when you twist and move causes a sharp pain now and then. I started drinking my water this morning. I was really thristy. I think maybe a little dehydrated. I have to make a real effort to get the water down. I did real well with food this weekend. I had a thin pork chop on Saturday and a chicken thigh on Sunday. I usually only eat white meat, but since they keep saying that the dark meat is more moist, I opted for it. I love sweet potatoe french fries and had a few with my chicken. I also have found cream spinanch, creamed peas, and green beans are great vegetables to eat. I found some great bing cheeries at the store. Has anyone tried those yet? I haven't tried them, but hope we can eat them. I also found some individual peanut butter to go cups from Jif. I brought it to the office with some wheat crackers for emergencies. I also bought some individual animal cracker bags for a snack if I absolutely have to have one. Today I feel tight, but able to get liquids down. Still not sure about a fill so I'm just going to go like this for a while. Hope everyone is doing great. Keep up the good work. We can do this!!

Dody, The someone was me that said to always crush. I gave you the reason my doctor's office gives. I'm sorry I even contributed to this thread. Just do what you want or what your doctor says. That's what is best for everyone - just follow your own doctor's instructions.

oops I guess I should have mentioned time released medications. I also said in that quote above that I wasn't sure what was truth and untruth. It is just what my doctor said to do always.

KariK, Good luck to you. I went for experience as well. If you don't require a lot of hand holding you will do fine. I use the board for general information, my common sense for more assistance, and if I need help I'll call his office. So far the first two have served me well. Now that his fills are being done by a PA at the surgicenter I'll probably never see him again! That's OK by me as long as I have no problems.

Randi, Eggs are one of the things I can eat. Its on my doctor's list of OK foods and I seem to tolerate them OK. I do try to keep them very moist and use hot sauce or cheese sauce to help them down if they are scrambled. I tried fried eggs yesterday and no problem. I also have tried them soft boiled. I read one post where someone was eating hard boiled eggs. I won't try that. It just sounds like a possible stick to me and I don't care for them anyway. I think the world changes with restriction. We probably took a little too much out when they did the unfill. I'm not going overboard, but I am able to eat without a problem. Sorry about going back on liquids. That's no food for sure.