OK, I was banded in October. I have had 3 fills for a total of 6cc in a 10cc ap band. I can still eat WAY too much.

However, if I don't chew well, or forget and take a drink with my meal it hurts REALLY bad. I am guessing that is stuck. It feels like a knot in my chest. Within a few minutes it goes away. This is worse with breads and meat, so I am guessing I have some restriction.

Today, while cooking Christmas lunch, I ate a small piece of turkey. I chewed it really well. It got stuck. This time it didn't go down quickly. After several trips to the bathroom to "spit" I finally threw it up. I felt much better. After this I sat down to eat dinner. I didn't eat anymore meat, but I ate dressing, brocolli rice casserole, scalloped potatoes and a little sliver of coconut pie with no problems, and once again I could eat way too much.

Here is my question.... Why can I eat so much?? Do I need another fill?? Is my pouch stretched? I am not sure what to think. I know I need to make better food choices and with the holidays behind me I will, but does it sound like I have messed something up, or do I just not have good restriction yet????

Thanks so much.

Amy

It does sound like you need a fill to me.

One thing I will mention, when we eat now the idea is not to eat until we are full. The idea is to eat until we are satisfied and no longer hungry.

Every two or three bites stop and think:

Are you still hungry? If so, eat more.

Are you satisfied? Stop eating.

Are you full? You have eaten too much.

This is much easier said than done, we typically tend to eat until no more fits in there. It takes time but you can do this. You have to think it through constantly while you are eating. In time it will come naturally. But at first it's a chore.

If you get another fill you will have more restriction. If you get stuck again you might stick to liquids for the remainder of the day. Getting stuck causes swelling and that leads to more PBs. If you are not really very tight it is not as much of an issue. If you have good restriction that can potentially become a very big issue.

It sounds like you're close to obtaining good restriction. Another small fill or two and you'll be at your "sweet spot".

This is much easier said than done, we typically tend to eat until no more fits in there. It takes time but you can do this. You have to think it through constantly while you are eating. In time it will come naturally. But at first it's a chore.

at times this still is a chore for me. that's the head hunger. something tastes sooooo good that i dont want to stop eating it. 98% of the time, i do stop when satisfied. that other 2%, i get full and feel miserable for an hour or so.

Just FYI, I'd be careful eating after a PB episode. It can cause swelling and if you get stuck twice in a row (I've done this) it is bad. I usually go to liquids for 24 hours after getting stuck.

Thanks for all the advise. I am glad to hear that I may be getting close to my sweet spot. I read lots of posts last night. I tried to find the ones about head hunger. This is the hardest part for me. If I had stopped when I was full my entire life I wouldn't be here, but I know this is key to the success of the band. So here I go today, with a renewed determination.