Melissannde

Listen to your body. If it tells you "Hey, I need a day off or at least something lower key" have compassion on it and do what it tells you. Sometimes I need something like Yoga.. and other times I need Step Aerobics and sometimes i just need a complete day of rest. Just don't let the day (or sometimes even 2 days) turn into a week.

I know the band and I would not have worked nearly so well together if I had not been ready in all 3 areas.. physically, mentally and emotionally. When I start having the thoughts "oh, I wish I had done this xx years ago", I have to stop and remind myself that I wasn't to the point to take my obesity problem seriously at that time. I was in denial that it was a health issue for any WLS to be effective. When I got my head straight.. it was time... I was ready and it was Game ON. Congrats to all who have made the mental and emotional leap.. and hang in there to those who are still struggling. Keep on keeping on.

Ask your surgeon or one of the nurses. We cannot advise on this matter.

Powerade Zero would probably be considered a clear liquid (call and ask your doc), has no calories and has potassium in it. If you can handle the calories.. try Gatorade or even Pedialyte. Just make sure you check with your doctor FIRST since you are so early post-op. Hope you feel better soon.

Amanda, To my knowledge, an esophageal dilation cannot be diagnosed solely on ability to eat certain foods. I think it is much more likely that with weight loss the band has become looser around the stomach, thus enabling you to tolerate denser foods. However, now that your surgeon has brought this up, it will likely bug you till you determine whether or not you really do have something going on. I'm not sure if dilation is diagnosed via an UGI or an Endoscopy. An UGI isn't too bad, just drink or eat some barium and they take some xrays. An endoscopy is a bit more trouble, they usually give you some sedation, but don't put you all the way asleep and then a tube with a camera is put down the throat to look at the esophagus and sometimes even the stomach. If your surgeon isn't willing to send you for an UGI and another bariatric surgeon is difficult to get to.. how's your relationship with your PCP? I think I could talk to my PCP and explain to him that I had some concerns and see if he would agree to order an UGI. An endoscopy I'd have to think about a bit. While a dilation is of some concern, an endoscopy doesn't sound like fun either. Good luck on figuring out what to do. BTW.. a Wise person once told me "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras". Meaning consider the most likely explanation before you consider the more unusual. I guess the saying would be in reverse in Africa. ::grin::

Cocoabean, I am hoping to fly to Vegas this fall and am wondering about taking some Protein Powder with me... Do you know if that will throw TSA into a tizzy? I was thinking of buying the little sample packages of Syntrax nectar. I've been to the TSA site and can't seem to gather much info from there. Thanks for any guidance.

Jacqui, I've seen rolled oats and steelcut oats from the same maker (Bob's Red Mill). It seems while similar, they aren't exactly the same. I want to try Groats someday, which are even less processed than steelcut oats. I agree that the artificial sweetners aren't the best for anyone.. but it's a process. I figure get the person on the healthier foods first, then wean off the artificial sweetners.

Thank you. Majority (all but 2lbs) was after banding. I'll be happy to tell my story, but there's not much to it. I just got the band and followed the doctor's guidelines as best I could (ate lean and green) and moved my body. I don't think it was particularly hard..but I waited till I was really ready for the band, physically, mentally and emotionally. If I wasn't ready in all 3 areas, it would've been harder. I'll go into more detail later if you like. Right now I have a date with some weights and a bar.. and then a yoga mat. Hope you are feeling less full by now.

Thanks. She got it in one stick. The combo of weight loss & weight lifting has made my veins much more accessible. Used to be inside elbow.. no go, then back of arm.. maybe.. and last resort, back of the hand with a butterfly. The back of the hand really hurts too!! lunch was extra good because I was HUNGRY by then. I get to have oatmeal tomorrow.. yeah!! Funny how simple things can make us so happy.

eggs are a problem for many bandsters. I never try to eat scrambled eggs at a fast food place, I'm afraid they'll be too dry. Everyone has different pain levels, so it's difficult to say if your feeling of something sitting there would be someone else's pain. If the feeling is really bothering you, you could try a few strategies: 1) drink something .. small sips of room temp or warm Water, or warm tea or hot coffee.. very slowly. If you're truly stuck, the water and the eggs should come back up. If it's being overly full.. back up. Or sometimes just a little bit of warm Fluid will help whatever it is go on down. 2) chew some papaya enzyme. This sometimes helps things dissolve and move on down. 3) room temp pineapple juice. sips only. works same as papaya. 4) Just give it a little "tincture of time". Sometimes that's all it takes. Hope you feel better soon.

How much did you get on your last fill? If it was .5cc's or larger, I think a tiny unfill (.1 or .2) would be a good idea. My doctor says sometimes fills can take up to 2 weeks to "kick in". I know I've had one suddenly get tighter at 10 days.

You're welcome. I'd go set mine up now.. but I have to be foodless for blood draws in the AM. boo hiss.

Whew. Glad to hear it was a simple fix.

I don't have time to post much, but will briefly speak on the Christian aspect of this thread: I've always been told it's our duty and job as Christians to love one another and not be judgmental. In this case, loving one another would be to guide and support each other with kindness.. not harsh words. There are some who are old time hard core strict, my great-grandmother was one, but I don't see them attracting many to Christ. Being a Christian is similar to being a bandster in some ways, as we learn better, we do better. I'm not saying that leaving a marriage is a good thing .. but that beating the OP into the ground so that she can't even stand to read this thread now is very unfortunate. This is not support, this is abuse. Stepping off my soapbox and heading for the farmers market and RPM class. Laterz.

banded 2 years, 4 months. Down 200lbs. Only 17lbs away from a normal BMI (which is NOT my goal, but thought I'd mention it for those who live & breathe by the BMI ..LOL). Currently in the "considering plastic surgery, thinking about going for a consult" stage. Some, but not all, of those 17lbs would come off with plastics. Yes, I'd do it again. No regrets whatsoever. Even waiting as long as I did to get banded I think was the right thing. I had to wait till I was physically, emotionally and mentally ready.

I have good results.. look at my ticker.. 200lbs gone. A chief surgeon in bariatrics doing autopsies? That's unusual. I'm glad you're happy with him, but like I said.. I'm an adult, I'm intelligent, and I take responsibility for my own actions. The guidelines are called that because that's what they are.. not hard & fast rules set in cement. Is this the doctor that has his bariatric patients taking 2 Flintstone Vitamins with Choline? If so, enough said.

Everyone has to decide what is an acceptable risk for them. I find gum to help me when I feel the urge to chew but it's not mealtime or have finished my allotted portion and want more. Personally, I wouldn't go to a doctor who would chew me out for gum swallowing. I chew gum and have yet to have an issue. Of course, today could be the day that I accidentally swallow it and have problems.. LOL. However, I'm an adult and made the choice and will deal with the consequences. I don't need a doctor to play the parental role.

With all the heat and humidity, your band may have gotten tighter and you may need a slight unfill. I doubt if it's a slip unless there's more history of trouble than what you give, but I guess it could be. I'm betting on the heat/humidity factor. I got suddenly tighter one day this past week for no apparent reason. Fine now. When my band is tight, sipping hot tea or coffee will sometimes loosen it a bit. You might give that a try. Glad you are giving your doctor a call, do push to be seen today, especially if you still can't keep any liquids down. Dehydration is no joke. Let us know how you are.

It's oatmeal that is less processed and therefore it takes longer to digest and keeps us full longer. You can find it at many grocery stores, just have to look for it. The brand I prefer is Bob's Red Mill (it won best oatmeal in Scotland!!, the home of oatmeal..lol) , but Quaker also makes a steelcut, and I found yet another brand at Walmart. www.bobsredmill.com

I had stomach pain that would wake me up at night when I was first banded. I finally figured out it was hunger. What I did was take a container of yogurt to bed with me. When I woke up hurting, I'd eat a spoonful or two of the yogurt. It was enough to curb the hunger pains and let me go back to sleep. I told my nurses what I was doing and they were ok with it. It's not the way you want to eat as a bandster forever, but during the healing phase there's a bit more leeway with timing of food. I'm not saying you should do this, but you might ask your bariatric team if this could be something you could try. Hope you feel better soon.

I've never counted carbs, but I don't eat white carbs (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes) and keep whole grains to minimum. I do not worry about veggie carbs at all. I do eat reduced fat, but I don't count fat grams either. Some will disagree with this saying that fat makes you satisfied sooner. Maybe so.. but I can still eat fairly large amounts and want to do lower fat (not NO fat). At first, I only worried about eating 3oz of protein and 1/2 cup veggies per meal. As time went on, I began to count calories.. I was pretty large, so I just used an online calculator to figure out how much I could eat to lose a certain amt a week.. and used that. I'm now at about 1200/day, but I know I had a bigger allotment before I got to where I am now. You might be less confused by talking to the dietician or nutritionist that works with your doctor (they should have one on staff or available).

I followed the 30/none/30 rule for probably about the first whole year after banding. Then I read a post on another support group from a long term bander who postulated that Water loading before eating served two purposes: 1) helps with feeling full sooner and 2) lubricates the system so food has a lesser chance of being stuck. I thought that made logical sense, so gave it a try, thinking that if I started being hungrier sooner, I could always go back to the 30/30 rule. It helps me. I drink about 20oz immediately before my meal. I try not to drink during my meal, but if I get very dry, I take a sip as needed. After I finish, I try not to drink for about an hour. Sometimes I only go 30 minutes. The longer you live with the band, the more you learn how it works for you.. the individual. Try to follow your doctors guidelines as best you can, but if something is really difficult for you, talk to them about modifications or ways to help you meet the guidelines. Best of luck to everyone!!

No, there's no way that spicy or sour foods can hurt the band itself as it is on the outside of the stomach. You might possibly give yourself heartburn or whatever if you eat too much of the food. Just take it slow and easy and see how it goes. I asked my NP about eating spicy foods and drinking.. what if I get a bite of something really hot? She said I could take a SIP if I needed to.. or to take enough Water to rinse my mouth and then spit it out if I was somewhere I could do that. Enjoy! The band is about controlling portions, not deprivation.

My surgeon generally has his band patients back on regular foods by two weeks. I buy the 90/10 or 93/7 lean grnd beef or grnd turkey. Very little gristle if any in that.