Hi everyone

I haven't been on in awhile and I probably should have. You guys offer great support and being hooked in and helping other bandsters is such good therapy. Anyway, all in all I am doing OK but am having some problems..I was banded 11/11 in NYC..Went great..did really well 2 weeks pre-op and 4 weeks post op..lost a bunch of weight..That put me at the holidays and my 50th birthday 1/1..vacation..some parties, etc...I had my first fill 1.2 cc on 12/13 and then had all the holiday stuff and "only" lost 6lbs 12/13- 1/11..Still OK..The weight loss isn't the issue yet or maybe it ius just my inpatience..I keep testing this tool and have been taking too many foolish risks ie overeating, eating around the band , etc..I had a bad exp this week ..had my 2nd fill 1/10..1cc to bring me to 2.2 cc...I was so tight that I couldn't drink anything and was refluxing any liquid..I called the next day..rushed backi in and they unfilled .4cc to bring me down to 1.8cc..This really worked..I was able to drink and then rushed on to mush last night and overmushed with no adverse reactions....Today for lunch one day after my unfill and 2 days after my fill (confusing) I ordered in for lunch at work soft tofu with sauce and just coudn't resist throwing in the white rice.....Oh , i forgot egg drop soup to start...Now all this is better than the pig out chinese I would have had pre-band days but..not good for me right now...I just spent the better part of the last hour in and oput of the bathroom trying to hurl with some success and I am starting to feel a little better..Luckily, I physically was only able to eat a very small portion of the lunch before my discomfort began...

I think I am learning from every bad experience and I don't think I've damaged my band yet but why are we so stupid...Most of you don't seem to test yourselves this much or maybe you do...It's just really no fun being in discomfort and PBing,getting stuck, etc...Doing it right is so nice and so fullfilling and I am confident that I will do it not right fewer times..

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AND THANKS..

STEVE

NY LAPSTER

10/30 302.5

11/11 BANDED 282.5

2 fills total 1.8cc

1/12 252.5 -50

my goal is a healthy 199 whenever.......

Steve, we have ALL been through exactly what you describe. This is indeed the hard part. Exploring the limits placed on us by our bands is an unavoidable part of the learning curve, even if it causes pain from time to time. Just be VERY SURE to baby your esophagus and banded tummy after one of these episodes--go on liquids for an entire day, for example--because you are irritating things by retching even if nothing comes up. You must let your insides settle down each time this happens, because not doing so can lead to worse experiences such as esophagitis and a complete unfill.

TAKE IT SLOWLY!! But if it makes you feel better, you are NOT alone.

Even though I don't vomit (or pb) I test my band by overeating or eating unfriendly foods. Alex is right, though. If you ignore the irritation it could get worse and you could end up on liquids and even medication for a long time. I've done this myself. It's much safer to obey the band. Take care of band and it will take care of you.

P.S. It sounds like you are doing very well, otherwise. Congratulations!

First, you've lost 30 pounds in two months?!? Amazing!

Next, I'm going a paraphrase a friend who had bypass surgery, because it applies to us as well.

The number and variety of foods I can eat post-op is infinitely larger than the number and variety of foods I can still scarf down. Learning which is which would be easier and faster if I could just stop trying to scarf anything down.

Steve, look how close you are to your goal! Please slow down with the overeating and pbing! You want to take care of your band so it will continue working w/you.