keeping the faith

I go to the doc tomorrow...my problem is that at times I can eat a great deal and other times I can't eat anything that doesn't cause pain and comes up. Once I start throwing up or sliming as they call it, it doesn't stop and I start heaving:w00t:. I learned what foods to avoid...and some of the foods that cause other issues, don't bother me and vice versa. And I have pain in my left hand side after getting sick...probably a pulled muscle. I know my doc will make the choice but I am confused...to get more of a fill or not. I'm not losing much weight...since May 26, I've lost 25 pounds. For weeks after my fill, I felt nothing. Now, every other day, I am having these issues. I had no idea this procedure would be so hard. Unfortunately, due to some other issues, I am not able to work out, which I know would help me lose weight. I am just wondering why at one moment i can eat and no problems:blushing: and at other times, i get into severe pain. I went to dinner with friends and ordered moist fish and after a few bites, it got stuck...I made it to the bathroom:drool:, but I was embarrassed.Other times the neighbor will bring over a hamburger and it can all go down. ANY advice you give me will be so gratefully accepted. Much love!

This issue is one of control. Both you and your husband were trying to say the same thing..."you aren't the boss of me!" Remember that you aren't the only one going through changes...and he is probably feeling vulnerable with your new look. Being outspoken doesn't make you a bitch anymore than him thinking that paying 70 dollars on jeans is crazy makes him an a$$hole...just two different opinions. the trick is to see if there is something else behind the opinion. Be kind, be patient and be loving and you may see that he doesn't need to control you...which doesn't mean that you can't speak your mind. But treat him as you would like to be treated and ask him to do likewise. Also, ask your nurse for some advice...maybe counseling will help. I wish you much love and happiness and especially a nice new butt for those jeans that I am sure that you will be getting someday!!!! I'm looking forward to that myself!:cool:

I would wait. I just had my first fill a week ago and I didn't feel any restriction...and many on this site told me that sometimes it takes time for the fill to set in...which I thought was counter intuitive...but they were right, as usual. Try to eat healthy and start off on a good foot. Don't take the chance of having to remain on mushies or having people ask questions if you need to go for medical help and find out about the procedure when you want privacy. As many people have told me, the band is a tool, and so is eating healthy and exercise. And remember your husband's support is so important, so give him a big hug and a kiss and ask him to gently nudge you if you start or continue a bad habit. Just think, you are giving your body just a little more time to heal, which my doctor says is never a bad thing. Also, not all docs put in just a little. My doc put in 4ccs in a 10cc band on my first fill. Hope you have a great vaca! Let us know what you decided and how it is going!:cool:

interesting, I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to ask my doc when I see him next

What good advice...i have always run from the camera and haven't taken measurements....and, unfortunately, I weigh myself each day AT LEAST! I have a scale that tells me my fat percentage, water weight, bone weight and muscle. Not sure how accurate it is, but it is motivating. My doc said if I keep up the protein, I wouldn't lose muscle, and according to the scale, that is what happened! Thanks again for your response.:thumbup:

I just had my first fill...4ccs in a 10cc band. I feel no restriction, but had a few great people tell me to hang in there and that at times it takes days or even weeks for a fill to kick in. This sounds counter intuitive, but there must be a reason. I am hoping for my restriction to kick in!:thumbup: Looking forward to hearing from you all!!:thumbup:

thank you guys for the post. Do you mean that the restriction may kick in days later? Wonder why it would do that, but that would be wonderful!!!!

Doc doesn't seem concerned :mad2:and I can't get another fill for over a month:crying:. Other than the first few days after surgery, it is like I haven't had anything done! I can eat normally, just as if I hadn't had anything done. The doc had a long time finding my port and I had fluid on top of the port, which he says happens and he said he removed it. He didn't put me under a scope, just by feel, so I wondering if the fluid got in the port.I'm trying to be good, but I am so disappointed! Every time I go to his office, I have to wait for hours and while I am sure he is a great doctor, I am just feeling so frustrated:cursing:.Please give me your great advice!

I was banded late may of this year and would really appreciate a mentor to help my success:wub:. I would like to communicate with those that are banded at the same time and mentor that has been through and battled all the tough times and would be willing to share information so that I can be successful. I live in Atlanta and will have my first fill in a week or so...and I am trying my best not to gain weight during this time. Many thanks to those that want to stay in touch!!

the last time i was at my doctor's office, he was really backed up and all of us had an impromptu support gp meeting. One lady had a similar issue, but she was stuck for more than a day! She used a little bit of meat tenderizer in warm water and it passed very quickly. I am not a doc...but thought the idea was ingenious...kinda like the pineapple juice! hope you are feeling better!!

i got into the swimming pool two weeks after surgery to stretch, etc. I did this two days in a row, by the third, I had a rip-roaring infection:cursing:. Have been on antibiotics for two weeks and will be on them for two more weeks. The doc said i got to him just in time. If I hadn't, I would have had to have the whole thing removed! Yikes! So, please talk to your surgeon first! There was a chance that I had a reaction to the steri-strips...but it was probably the swimming pool. Now, I keep wanting to get in the pool - we go down in the evening to swim with friends...and I can only put my tootsies in there! Be cautious, cause I love you fellow banders!:smile2:

Thank you all so much for your response and generous support. I have truly appreciated all of the input and consideration. i'm trying so hard to be good, but I have been dealing with some pain issues and you don't always reach for broccoli when you are in pain. And I am having a hard time feeling when I am getting full. It doesn't hit until later and then I have tremendous pain, especially on my left side...not necessarily where my port is...all of this is so different than I thought it was going to be and I am looking forward to my first fill! Thank you my fellow bandsters for your replies...you are in my prayers!:smile2:

this is driving me crazy:w00t:. I feel like I can eat as much as I did before the surgery and I am hungry! I had a reaction to the steri-strips and an infection at the incision site due to the reaction...so the doc told me to concentrate on getting better. After two weeks on hardcore antibiotics, I am starting to get better, but I'm hungry and my stomach growls at me. Not to mention that after losing weight, now I am gaining some of it back. Can't bring myself to adjust my ticker...any advice my knowledgeable banders!!!!!!!:smile2::crying:

I agree with xrl...that is what my doctor said...heal first. Also, I have noticed that I drop more weight when i eat then when I don't! Much success!!:devil_smile:

Saw the doc today. He thought that I may have had a reaction to the seri-strips, ( I have been having reactions to the glue on the bandages) but that it may have been the pool. five days on antibiotics and just a tad better, but he seems to think that the infection is superficial and not deep. He wants me to take another round of antibiotics for 12 days and then come see him and I should be ready for my first fill. Had to wait for hours to see him and then when I finally went into the office, I forgot everything i wanted to ask...next time I'll write them down. The swelling is down too, but the site is bright red. My hunger is back and I was worried that I might put on the weight that I had lost...about 20 pounds in three weeks...and he told me not to worry about it, just focus on healing for right now. Thanks for thinking about me! Between the pain and the worrying, I can't sleep...it is now 4 am and I haven't been to sleep yet. Take care and keep me posted on you! God bless!

thank you so much for your quick reply. Perhaps I will call the doc on call and see if something stronger would help me. I'm just terrified at this point. He told me to put saranwrap over the antibacterial cream and it is uncomfortable as heck. Please keep a good thought for me.

I was lapbanded about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Saw doc a week ago and everything seemed to be going well. A little red and feeling like an egg was under the single incision. Somehow, the incision became infected. I shower twice a day, never use the same towel twice and put on neosporin. All of a sudden, i got more redness at the site and showed it to a nurse at the support gp meeting...so thankful I went. She said to go see the doc the next day. My doc is out of town, so the doc filling in for him saw me and said it was infected and that I caught it just in time and put me on topical antibiotic and a oral antibiotic cephlexin 500 3x a day. That was friday. And then see my doc the beginning of the next week and I can't see him until Tuesday. Two days on the meds and I see little difference. Of course, this all happens right as my insurance ends. The meds were about $100. The doc filling in for my doc said that infection can cause me to have to have my band removed! I have been terrified! i'm an uber clean person, but I did go swimming in the complex's pool two weeks after my surgery. The paperwork said not to get into standing water (pool or tub) until after you see your surgeon...which I did. But the nurse said I should have waited three weeks. I'm scared, I don't want to lose my band, tired of being uncomfortable and having all the swelling and redness. I'm not running any fever, but have been sweating a lot since having the surgery. I know most of you aren't nurses or docs, but shouldn't I have seen an improvement after a couple of days of antibiotics?

i had my surgery one week ago and had a lot of pain and nausea. i'm trying the protein drinks but they taste awful to me and i chipped away at a few small pretzels and got a pain that was awful. And, in between the nausea i'm hungry! My first doc visit is tomorrow - what can i expect? I've lost 13 pounds but don't feel it. Am i on track or doing something wrong? I know the pretzels were wrong...but i hated feeling nauseated. and i paid the price. any advice? :biggrin: