1shauna1

Everyone is different, it all depends on your stomach and band position as much as it depends on the size of the band itself. Some are restricted with very little in their bands (or rarely even an empty band) and some need quite a lot in their bands to feel restriction.
Hang in there, it'll come

As one who threw-up or spit up a lot when I was first banded. You have to put some t. paper in before you do it and it keeps the Water from splashing on you. Not a whole lot just a lttle bit. Works for me.
Cheri

I feel bad that this post has become so negative! I think it's okay to have some alcohol if you like to, after your doctor's okay, and as long as you keep track of the calories. Yes, this IS a lifestyle change but some of us want to have alcohol in our lives for whatever reasons. I just want everyone to succeed at their goals and have a fabulous life, whether they drink or don't. We're all here for the same reasons - support!

There is a big misconception that you're not supposed to be able to eat breads, or throw up when you eat too much, or that not being able to eat hardly anything is normal. It's not normal, and it's not how it's supposed to be with the band. The problem is, many people assume just because liquids stay down they're not too tight. You can be too tight and still able to swallow liquids.
The band is meant to be a tool not deprive you and starve you. Yes some do have issues and aren't too tight, but the majority ARE too tight and just don't realize it because they incorrectly think it's the norm.
I have lost 62 pounds in 3 months since being banded. I can eat anything I want, I've never thrown up, and I'm very satisfied with a cup of food or less. I have had 3 fills and am definitely in the Green Zone. If I got another fill and suddenly couldn't eat bread anymore, or starting throwing up, or found I could only eat a 1/4 cup of food I'd consider myself over-filled and have some removed.

Ya, I just stand up and bend over a bit in a public toilet. Or if it's a private bathroom I use the sink (which I usually do at home). Sorry you got a toilet facial!!

Please realize that restriction is NOT preventing you to eat and swallow. It is meant to make you satisfied on smaller amounts of food for longer periods of time. The last thing you want to do is throw up after five bites of food. That is too tight and vomiting frequently can cause a slip. I have 7.6 in my 10cc band so I am at full restriction. Vomiting is not part of my daily routine!!!! I follow the "rules" and my doctors diet plan. I rarely feel "humgry", however slider foods call my name often and I have to fight that urge every single day. I love sweets. UGH!Good luck because you are doing great. Everything will fall into place soon. Promise!!!

I find myself throwing up all the time so when it's in a public bathroom I take a whole bunch oh toilet seat covers and throw up on them. I couldn't take anymore splashing!

I can give you some FREE advice
Are you not able to get any guidance from your doc? If not there are lots of people here willing to help. I am guessing by now you are on solids? You should eat 1/2 to one cup per meal (trying to keep your calories around 1000 to 1200 a day). Eat 3-4 oz Protein first, then some veggies, then you can have a bit of carbs. It is a little trial and error as to what may be more difficult to eat. But make sure you CHEW everything really well. Rest between bites, and don't drink with meals.
Don't worry if you haven't lost much since your surgery. That time after is a healing time, and many people maintain or even gain a bit. You will get there! You probably don't have any restriction yet either, so you're going to have to rely on willpower for now (sucks, I know!) until you get your first fill. Do you have an appointment for that yet? If not, give your doc a call and set that up as sometimes it can take a while to get in depending on your doctor and how busy they are.
Most of all, don't despair! There are TONS of FREE resources here. Message me if I can help you more. Good luck!

You're fine. If it were stuck, you'd know it, believe me. You'd feel a severe tightness and likely pain, possibly even vomit.
I take small pills all the time without issue.

HIC!!

Agreed, restriction isn't throwing up. To me, I'm restricted in that after only half to a cup of food, I feel full. It is that feeling of fullness, but much sooner than before being banded.

Superluli - you want to make sure you get your Protein though....it's very important for us!

I'm surprised your doctor never told you how to eat afterwards! Seems like some sloppy aftercare. Anyways, here's what I was told:
1) no more than one cup at a time, stop eating after 20 minutes even if not finished
2) eat solid Protein first, then vegetables, then if you want a couple of bites of a carb like rice or something. But always Protein first
3) take you time. Put your fork down between bites.
4) don't drink any liquids with meals or for .5 to .75 hours afterwards. If you drink it just pushes the food through, which stops you from feeling full.
5) CHEW everything REALLY WELL!! This is super important. Too big of a bite and it will come back up.
I have been told no foods will be off limits to me but I do find certain things are too difficult to eat so I avoid them. Doughy breads, dry meats (although I do well with jerky), fruits and veggies with skins still on. This is a learning curve; everyone has different things they have trouble with and you will have to find yours.
I would say you need to have a fill, but maybe just a small one. Don't know how much your band holds, but try something small like 2 or 3 ccs. Do a day of liquids then a day of mushies to adjust to your Fluid. I hope you're able to find a way to make it work, otherwise it seems like such a waste! Good luck!

I had a healthcheck for work yesterday and it turns out I'm the healthiest person in my company of 80 people. My blood sugar levels, my blood pressure, my cholesterol, everything, is perfect. I can't imagine what those would have been 5 years ago before my lapband surgery.
And when the nurse practitioner asked me what I ate and I described my regular day's worth of food to her, she almost fell over. She asked me how I possibly could eat that little and how I even had enough energy with so little food. She then started saying that I surely must not be getting enough nutrition from what I ate.
Well, apparently not, because I aced the healthcheck, and my current lifestyle makes me healthier than 79 other people in my office. The proof is in the pudding.
And it absolutely highlights the fact that I actually have to eat FAR FAR less than a 'regular' person to be this thin. And I exercise more than most people to be this fit.
So for anyone who tells me all I needed was to eat less and move more, I say, you know what? Until I got my lapband that didn't work. Because I've lost the weight now with the help of my band, so it obviously wasn't because I was a glutton or bone ass lazy. I just needed help with portions. And you can't argue with my success now, can you?
So until you've been in my shoes, you can keep your uninformed, unecessary and, to be honest, rather freakin' ignorant comments to yourself.

The first time being stuck is an awful feeling, but hopefully it won't happen again for you! Unlike me, who gets stuck weekly and even daily at times....the only thing I can say is now I've learned how to get it back up quickly.

Hopefully this will work for her then....good example of how the bypass can fail as well I guess.

I love my wine, captain, champagne (debubbled with other liquids and ice cause straight is TOO bubbly), ect.... SO i make sure to eat enough Protein and a little carb an hour before i know i'm going to drink and i sip my drinks and i've had many over a few hour span and sip Water in betwwen too!! I've had no issues with a good night of drinking after my surgery

Very! Like someone else above, I can't eat in the mornings. Just drink coffee until about 11am. And it depends on the day; some days I get stuck on everything (even if it's foods I usually eat with no issues), other days it seems like literally there's no band there. I've had four fills and 2 defills....I'm not sure now if I need another fill or not. Evenings I'm very loose, mornings I'm very tight. This is more difficult than I thought it would be!

Thanks for the encouragement! One day at a time!
Keep smiling!
P.s. you look great! Good job!

Why don't you meet with doctors that do both surgeries (or one that does both)? They can give you all the information you need. There are pros and cons to each surgery; you have to decide which is right for you. Personally I liked that with the band, I did not have to cut out any part of my anatomy and if I need to have it removed then I am "back to normal". However, I will admit that I really only looked into the band. And it hasn't been the easiest, but I know my weight would be even higher now if I hadn't had it. Good luck with your decision, it's a tough one!

I wouldnt have cold drinks like milk of a morning if you feel your band is tight, a warm drink stands more chance of relaxing the band a little , my band tightens up if i drink cold milk of a morning too so i dont

Well it seems somehow after 8 years I had a pretty inflated band! He took out 2ccs of Fluid and put me on liquids for a week. Which is impossible because I"m turning 50 next week and have way too many things planned to be on liquids. LOL So I went back yesterday and he watched me swallow and said I looked much more open. My pouch has apparently stretched over these past years but he seemed unworried about that, especially since I really don't want to live a big restricted life anyway. Will see how the next month goes and if there's recurrent pain we'll do an endoscopy next.
Thank you all for your support. It was really pleasant being reminded of the camaraderie of banded people when I was sitting in the waiting room with other folks waiting to be seen. I hope to participate around here some more as I readjust to life with the band.

You can advise the airline in advance that you have special dietary needs and ask them to get it for you. You can also purchase it after security in one of the food courts and carry it on. Bring an empty baggie and ask for some ice if it might be a while before you consume it to keep it chilled. Or the flight attendant might hold it for you in their galley area to keep it cold until you need it. No guarantee on that one though.

A pound is a pound is a pound. Muscle and fat and feathers and lead .... All weigh a pound.

Don't worry about weight loss right now. You are healing from surgery and before that you were probably on a liquid diet. The 15th is only a few days away. Don't stress, just keep doing what you're doing. You'll be okay!