vlp1968

I hate to see food go to waste. I have a particularly hard time eating at a restaurant and then not going right home to be able to put the left overs away. After all I paid for the meal and don't want it to go to waste. I have eaten enough to vomit several times. I am working on eating just what I need and leaving the rest (or hopefully somebody else at the table wants it).

I agree with the people who have said to say you are not weighing yourself anymore. That is what I was going to suggest. For me, I am the opposite. I love it when people compliment me and am proud to say how much I've lost (63.5 as of this am lol). Guess everyone is different.

I don't hiccup but usually burp. Sometimes I need to walk around and burp during a meal. Once I burp the pain in my chest goes away. I have learned if I eat beyond a slight pain in my chest I end up vomiting.

Wow- if your not even able to keep down liquids I would see a doctor right away. Do you have other symptoms such as a fever that makes the surgeon think it's a stomach bug. I hope your band didn't slip. My doc says if you suddenly can't keep anything down thats a sign of a slip, escpecially if you haven't had a recent fill.

You will learn when to stop. I start to feel a slight pain in my chest and I know to stop. Burping usually takes the pain away. I then don't neccesarily feel full, just not hungry. You will find that you do not get the same feeling of fullness that you did preband. I have to admit I miss that feeling. The vomiting is not like usual vomiting. It's simply the food (or some of it) coming right back up. Nothing to really worry about. Again, you will learn when to stop.

After your first fill you will probably be put back on liquids. My doc. says 1 day clear liquids 1 day full liquids then one day mushies. I wouldn't expect to feel better after a fill. For me it's rough keeping things down the first day or 2. As far as your discomfort, it sounds like you are eating too much at once. It may be way less then you used to eat but if it's causing discomfort it's probably too much. I find walking around causes me to burp and then I feel better. Best wishes!

Lots of good advice has been posted. Hope it is taken with the manner it was indended, to help you out. Keep us posted on your progress!

I was banded Nov. 16th 2009. Up until 2 weeks ago I have been writing down everything I eat, tracking the calories and protien grams. I went on vacation and didn't track. I did really well eating wise, even with going out to eat. I lost 4.5 pounds during that 2 weeks. I haven't gone back to journaling. Part of me feels like I can't do that for the rest of my life, after all this is a lifestyle change. I also feel like I know what I should be eating, I have kept it really simple with a somewhat limited repertoir of food. Just wondering if other people continue to journal or not. Let me know what you do and how it is working for you. Thanks!

My doc. had me wait a month before the first fill. You are going a little sooner then that. I guess every doc. is different. Best wishes!

Hang in there! I agree with all the above posts, the band will work once you get some fills. For me it was the third fill that did the trick. However, I followed the rules to the letter even though I didn't have restriction. I suggest you concentrate on eating the right foods (high protien low fat, low carb) even if your portions are large. You will find with restriction you simply can't eat large portions anymore.

How often you get filled varies by person and doctor. My doc. told me it's a must to wait a month after surgery for a first fill. After that I should call when I am getting very hungry. Each fill seems to be lasting longer and longer.

I can only speak for myself. I was banded 11-17 and love my band. I have lost 58 pounds and don't think I could have done that without the band. I was heavier than I've ever been. There are a couple things I wish I had known. I didn't realize how much hunger would be involved, exspecially at the begining. It took me 3 fills to get restricion. Also, the feeling of fullness is quite different. Instead of a good feeling, it's actually a bit uncomfortable. I get a slight pain in my chest, then usually burp and it goes away. I am left feeling more not hungry then full. Hope this helps and good luck in your decision.

It is such a good feeling to have clothes fit- or in your case be to big. I too have done a closet clean out and found jeans that now fit, and 2 other pairs of pants that are too big. I wish I had found them a few weeks earlier, but oh well. Like you, the big clothes are going bye bye, never to be needed again.

I agree, push for another fill. If your doc. refuses, maybe he's not the right doctor for you. Mine really listens and does fills as needed, mostly because I tell him how hungry I've been. However, I can see the vomiting being an issue. I would tell him the last time you vomited. Maybe it will be far enough in the past that he will agree to a fill.

I agree with above post. Low blood suger or low blood pressure can sure make you lightheaded. If you have diebeties you may be able to reduce or even eliminate your meds. I was able to cut mine in half about 2 months after being banded. I had a fainting episode one night (checked my blood sugar in the am and the reader just said lo) so my doc. told me to stop taking the med. I would talk to your pcp for sure.

My doc. says liquid for 24 hours then mushies for 24 hours. I have had problems keeping anything down after 2 (of 4) fills. I think it is due to swelling. Take everything very slowly. Good luck!

That's great! You can do it!

Good for you not being obsessed with the scale, for most people that's a tough one. In my case, it was the 3rd fill that did it. I wish I had called and asked for an earlier appt. to get that fill. My doc. is great about listening to how my hunger is and doing fills based on that. Good luck!

Doesn't sound like your doctor is listening. Even though I am loosing steadily my doc has done a fill at each appt. I don't bother to go unless I want a fill. I would seriously consider finding a new doctor. I feel he should be taking into account how hungry you are. Best of luck! Keep us posted.

I wonder is you should go back on your antidepressant. I have mental health issues and know how terrible a depression is. I would revisit the issue with your doctor. I believe giving up the way you used to eat can cause depression. Although I agree that once you loose significant weight and are working out the depression may lift. From your 2 posts, doesn't sound like that's happened yet. I wish you all the best!

It's Monday- hope you got the insurance. Also- since you haven't gained it seems like your not doing so bad. I workout 5-6 times a week on cardio and 3 times a week on weights with a trainer. That's great you started working out. Keep it up!

I think it's up to you. Since your having trouble you may want a slight unfill. However if you are happy to be so tight I would leave it alone. Not much of an answer I know lol.

My advice is to stay off the scale. I weigh myself once a week. That way small flucuations don't drive me crazy. Also 400 calories is probably not enough. I would shoot for at least 650 ish. That's what I do and have lost weight steadily. I was disapointed in my weight loss over the first few weeks, then bam 8 pounds in one week. I think there is saline in the iv they give you at the hospital. Takes a while to loose that water weight. As others have said, try to be patient. You are in the healing mode. Best wishes!

You may be one of those people that get restriction just from the band itsself. It may pass so enjoy it while it lasts. I wouldn't worry as long as your keeping fluids down. Best of luck!

I get the same thing, especially after a fill. I have found walking around helps me burp. Also, the slower you drink the better. And when you get to solid food, take small bites and chew, chew chew.