What exactly is eating around the band could someone offer advice.

I agree with mothernature, eating around the band doesn't necessarily mean soft food syndrome. It can be eating more often / snacking, eating higher calorie foods or lots of starches instead of your Protein & veggies, and drinking liquids with your meal which flushes the food through. Giving in to head hunger, for the most part.

I hate hearing the words "lazy", "not trying", etc. -- nobody is perfect and the goal is to follow most of the rules most of the time. Being too harsh with yourself when you get off track usually makes you give up rather than forgive yourself and keep plugging away.

This is a learning process, not an instant transformation into perfect eating.

I sure hope no one thinks I was being judgmental! Hell, I do this on a regular basis.

Well Alex, if they think you are, then they need to get to know you better!

xoxoxo

Lol, VQ!!

Alex, I think you are one of the most non-judegemental on the whole board...really!!! Eating around the band and eating soft-foods are sometimes good and sometimes bad...only we ourselves know which is the case for us at any given time.

So, perhaps a definitions update is in order? How 'bout this:

Soft-Foods Syndrome: poor food choice habits aimed at being able to eat food for reasons other than nutrition

Eating Around the Band: see above.

Soft-Foods Technique: willfully and knowingly eating foods that are easy on the band for whatever reason the bandster finds it necessary to do so for any length of time.

How's that? So if you are being good...it's a technique. If you are not being so good, as all of us do on occasion or more often! then you know it and shouldn't do it. If it's because you are too tight, you should get an unfill.

How's that? Help me out here...if you have a definition suggestion, please post and we can make it "official"

Brad, to answer your questions, Nutcracker is only diagnosed through motility studies.

Sue, thanks for posting the link; I didn't think anyone would be interested!

Nutcracker can cause pain, difficulty swallowing and in my case made all my fills close up. I was very proactive; when I felt my previously o.k. fills closing up, I had them unfilled and after the 3rd time had endoscopy, upper GI series & momonotry (swallow study). I strongly believe that if something seems wrong, it usually is.

Nutcracker is said to present with reflux, but I don't have that. Interestingly, I did have it before banding. Which leads me to my next statement: Motility issues have been found to be associated with some banded people. That said, did we have them before? Sometimes yes.

My doctor says he has 2 other patients with the came thing. They remain banded and controlled with medication. I hope I will fall into that category.

Geeze, Kathy, I knew there was a reason we let you stay here!

(working my technique all this next week stupid finals week)

very interesting...I am trying to be very careful because I don't have a regular follow up physician... I see my own Dr. about once every 3 to 6 months... I have also only had two fills, which is un ussual...but I too find my self choosing foods that will go a little easier on the tummy... my favorite is Starbucks chi tea... fills me up in the morning instead of a "real" breakfast...I know its bad but we all do it.