LindaV

Last night some friends invited us to PF Changs for dinner and, for the first time, I over ate to the point that I started sliming and thought I was going to PB. I was feeling miserable and subtly spitting into my napkin at the table when my friend took out her Papaya Enzymes and popped a couple into her mouth. Now I know I have read on LBT about some people taking Papaya Enzymes when they get food stuck so, I asked for a couple and chewed them up and swallowed. It was a little hard to swallow anything at that point, but they stayed down so I downed a couple more. Within minutes I was feeling completely better! I wa amazed and I am going out to buy my own supply later today. I don't plan on making a habit of overeating, but, everyone messes up now and then and it's good to know there is a product that helps!

Hello All, I thought I would give a quick update on my progress. I was banded May 1st and have lost 38 pounds so far. I have been doing deep water aerobics 4-5 times a week since two weeks after my surgery (with my doctor's ok). I had some restriction before getting a fill and after a 1 cc fill on June 16th, I don't really feel any different. I can still eat 2-3 cups of food at a time (which is still WAY LESS than I would have eaten preband). After my fill, my doctor scheduled me for a follow-up appointment four weeks later. Last Friday I had dinner with a group of bandsters and the consensus was that I need another fill. I called the office this morning and I will go for my second fill tomorrow. I wasn't sure how the doctor's office would respond. Fills are not quick appointments and, you know, time is money when it comes to seeing patients. Anyway, they were great. I told them I did not mind waiting the four weeks but they told made me the appointment for tomorrow! I really love my surgeon and his staff! So, tomorrow I get my second fill and, hopefully, a little more restriction!

I don't know what brand my friend uses but I do know she gets them at a healthfood store. She says they help to break down Proteins for easier digestion. Whatever they do, they sure helped me after dinner. It seems that if they do work by helping to break down proteins that I would only use them if I had something stuck or had over stuffed (something I do not plan on making a habit of). I want to experience that "full" sensation as long as possible and it seems like taking papaya enzymes might speed up the process of the food going through. I don't know but, that seems logical. I always thought the meat tenderizer thing sounded so disgusting, but, if it had been my only option at the restaurant the other night, I would have tried it!

NaturalBeauty - Thanks for the words of encouragement from someone who has been at this a while! Sometimes this whole thing seems so surreal! I really have a lap band inside me and it really does help with my overeating! I certainly look forward to being one year out and I hope that I will be able to encourage the 2007 May Bandsters with a success story like yours. Thanks again!

Hi Dovie, I too have used nose spray for most of my life. About 10 years ago I discovered that most nose sprays contain Oxymetazaline HCl (sp?) but there are some out there that contain phenlyphrine HCl which works just as well and does not cause the withdrawal symptoms like swelling. Anyway, I always keep some of that around and I took mine to the hospital with me just in case I needed it. The funny thing is, since I have lost some weight, I rarely need to use it!

Hi, There is a woman at our local support group who was a huge gum chewer and, low and behold, she accidentally swallowed a peice after being banded. She suffered for two days before going to the doctor because she was so embarassed. Her doctor unfilled her and the gum went right through. She strongly advised gum chewing now!

My guess 1s 15.5 lbs. That's looks about the same as my apron so this will be interesting!

This may not be a complication but, I am curious to see if this has happened to anyone else. I am 7 weeks post-op and yesterday morning I pulled a suture from my port incision. A little history on this incision: I did not have any sutures on the outside of my incision--they are all internal. The incision never healed well. I got a localized infection 3 weeks ago and the incision will close, then crack and drain a little so, this incision has never completely healed. I saw my doctor on Friday and he was not concerned. Last night, I scratched one of my other scars (that has been close for weeks) and, lo and behold, another suture had made it's way to the surface which I removed. So has anyone else had their internal sutures make their way to the surface. I know the body does that with foreign objects so I'm not overly concerned. I am wondering this might by why I am still having problems with my port incision completely healing.

I sounds like you did great. It's hard to say what is too much before your first fill. If it hurts, if you PB or if you feel stuffed it's too much. As long as you make good food choices, eat slowly, and stop when you are satisfied you can't do too much wrong. If you start to find yourself eating more before becoming satisfied, that's ok for now since you don't have a fill yet.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Hi Jen, You can do this. I am one of those who is tight in the morning and can eat more at night. But even "wide open" with a band at night I still have restriction which stops me from doing exactly what you did tonight - and what I have done a thousand times before getting my band. Don't beat yourself up! That's why you're getting the band - to help you with portion size. You can do this!!

Hey 3Loves, My port is in the right, but, if I move the wrong way, it ocassionally still hurts. I still avoid the floor when possible since i hate hauling my ass up so I can't tell you if that hurts or not. :phanvan I have one friend who got her band a year ago who says she still gets pain in her port area if she moves the wrong way or strains those particular muscles.

Kathy, Welcome to LBT! Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted. I'msure you will do great!

I just talked to a friend of mine who was banded a year ago and she had the same thing happen. Who knew?

Thanks Beachgirl, I'm sure I will be too, I have just never heard of this happening before.

Hey Susan, Welcome back! I got my first fill last Friday - 1 cc. I can still eat about 1.5 - 2 cups of food at a time but I stay full much longer. The only other difference I notice is that I hiccup a lot. Anderson dsesn't put his patients on liquids after fills. It seems like forever since I've talked t you. I was in California the week before you went down South. Are you and Dawg going to "soup nite?" Lori and I will be there. Here's my update for the week: C - 277 (-5 this week, -38 total)

I use regular yellow cake mix with mine. I wasn't aware there was a low fat/carb option. Another great way to make this is to use a lg.can of crushed pineapple. Use most of the pineapple in the cake with the juice reserving 1/4 cup for the topping. For the topping, mix 1 small tub of FF/SF Cool whip, the rest of the pineapples and 1 sm packet of FF/SF vanilla instant pudding. Frost the cake with it before it sets. It's deliscious!! I havn't tried the peaches yet but I can't wait to.

Hi Jenna, Welcome to LBT! I don't have any info on doctors in Mexico since I had my band done in Idaho. I do know that there are centers/doctors in Salt Lake City and somewhere in Oregon that will do the procedure for a lot less than mine was. It seems like I remember about $12,000 to $13,000 which is half what it cast here. It sounds like you are doing pretty thorough research. My responding to this thread will bump it up to the top and maybe you will get more responses from other's who used those doctors. I know there are a lot of them. Good luck!

Thanks, Kathi!

I like meat and cheese or bean and cheese burritos from Taco Bell or Del Taco. They fill me up nicely!

Oreilly76 - Good question. I use weight watcher points to track my intake of food. I also track grams of Protein per day and length and time of exercise. I track all of this info in a little spiral notebook that I can carry with me. Kathi - I went on the WW site and was having trouble getting information. Can you track your points/caloreis for free or does it cost? If so, how much?

Happy Birthday, Drewslou!!!!!!!!!!!!

jcbydesign - I did the same thing when I started the mushy stage. I would be up 2 or 3 pounds then down 3 or 4 pounds. I ate when I was hungry and stopped when I was full and tried to make healty food choices but, I did not try to follow the "rules" for bandsters with proper restriction. I got my first fill a week ago and things are much easier. While I don't notice a big difference in the amount I am able to eat (I had some restriction pre-fill), I stay full much longer. Hang in there and remember, the first several weeks are about healing, not losing! marz88 - I have a 10 cm band and I know it can hold more than the 4 cc's a smaller band can hold, but I don't know the actual capacity. I got a 1 cc fill and my doc told me that is a significant fill for this size band.

Hi Muffy, Welcome to LBT. I'm afraid I won't be much help with how to navigate the site, but I get by. I usually check the "today's posts" under the "quick links" drop down on top, or you can get to the different forums using the "Forum Jump" on the bottom right of the page. You might also want to check there to see if there is a local forum for your state. Good luck. I still have a lot to learn.

I counted Weight Watcher points to keep me on track. I got my first fill on Friday and I have definately found that I stay full much longer and it is pretty easy not to over-do it. Good luck!