Why is the band so unpredictable?

[REDGIRL 0]

Hi all, I don't understand how one day I can eat something and it goes down sooooo good and the very next day it's horrible!! I got a fill last monday and I feel like my band has to warm up first before I can really start eating? Is anyone else like that? And if so, what do you do? In the morning I drink tea or coffee but I'm trying to find someting else because after a hour I am starving when i drank it. So can anyone put a little light on this situation for me.

thanks

[Wheetsin 714]

Internal changes with Fluid levels, imperceived differences in eating behavior, etc. If you're starving after tea & coffee, maybe eat something? If you can't eat in the morning, maybe try a Protein Drink, and if it does ok add in some bulk like Fiber Cereal. Proteins keep you full faster than any other category of food, so focus on them whenever possible if hunger is an issue for you. Tea and coffee have the consistency of Water. Neither will keep you full for long.

[korpa11 0]

Hi Deb,

I was banded the day after you. I'm also very tired of the liquids. Dr. Trotter did say I could have creme yogurts, puddings, cream of wheat and cream Soups with no solids in them. That's helped a little but I really do wish for regular food. I don't see him until Jan. 29th so I've got a little extra to go.

Kathy

[coolcrystal 1]

Have you tried a fruit smoothie with some Protein Powder in it? That might fill you up for a while in the morning and you can sip on it for a pretty long time too.

[jenncore 0]

Hi Shelly,

I was banded on 12/26/07 and so far am adjusting okay to my band. I will get my first fill in a few weeks. Right now I'm still on a restricted diet which consists of mushy foods. Look around this site and you will learn so much about the post-op diet. I think it's a great idea for your husband to go the seminar with you. My husband is also very supportive but he had questions I couldn't answer so he came with me to the first seminar/support group meeting. He was glad he went!

Okay, every insurance co. is differant. Again, do some reading and research here. I have Neighbor Health Plan and was approved about 3 weeks after my paper-work was submitted. I was incredibly thorough with my paper-work and included copies of cancelled checks and documentation of every diet attempt. If you have receipts or other documentation, I would suggest you submit copies as well.

Good luck with everything. The process can seem overwhelming but be patient and it will all work out. I have had my lapband for about 3 1/2 weeks now and I couldn't be happier!

Jenn

PS. As far as craving foods I once ate, not so much anymore. I think the pre-op liquid diet was more difficult than the post-op diet but as you will read here, everyone is differant.

[Cerrin 3]

lol I thought it was me...lol

[DLW 0]

I was banded 11/5. Christmas Eve my husband and I were rushing around to get things ready to go to my Dads for a family get together. We had all the munchies and platters to take there with us. I was also trying to wrap a few more presents for the next mornings visit to my daughters. I had prepared some chicken wings while my husband took a shower. By the time he got out of the shower the wings were cold. I ate 2 of them. Then on the 3rd one I felt that, "you better not swallow" feeling. I spit it out into the garbage. I told my husband, "I shouldn't have eaten them, they are not settling in my stomach". Then the pain hit and I kept burping but whatever was in my stomach would only come up to a certain spot in my throat where it would make me swallow. I kept doing this and then having a bunch of "slim" coming up. No food. I just kept having that swallowing feeling. I didn't want to swallow because I knew the spit was going down with it and then I would have that glob of flem coming up. I kept doing this for would you believe 3 HOURS!! I had my husband call and cancel us coming to the party. Then I thought I'd better call my doctor. I did and there was a doctor on call who doesn't "do" the lapband surgeries. He only does the gastric by-pass surgeries. He made it clear by telling me this. Like I could give a crap at the time?? I WAS DYING HERE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! He said maybe you should go to the emergency room, then they'd call me and I'd come to the hospital. I thought, "no way in hell do I want this man touching me"!! I waited it out and it finally went through in about 3.25 hours. I was exhausted from the gagging reflex, trying to throw up but not being able to. Mind you, I wasn't inducing the trying to throw up, it just came naturally. I told my husband that I needed to take a nap and fell asleep for an hour on the couch.

This was the worst experience for me. I am really afraid now of things getting stuck again. I am going for another fill today because I have been eating pretty much as before my surgery with 1 fill of 4cc in a 10cc band. I'm afraid that even a smaller amount of food will get stuck like that chicken wing!! Augh!

I do know about the chew, chew, chew thing and it has certainly been part of my eating since the Chicken Wing incident; however, sometimes we are not consious of our eating and realize we've made a mistake right after we swallow. Stinks.

Anyway, I just wanted everyone to know that I'm a little depressed now about getting the band. I'm afraid of my fills and am really afraid of what it will do when I swallow my food from this afternoon on. Any incouraging words would be soooo appreciated. I got the band for a reason and want to get excited about it, I just can't right at the moment. Thanks for listening everyone. :-)

And by the way... the "full" feeling everyone talks about? I don't have a full feeling. What I feel is, "one more swallow and it will hurt". It's not full, it's a lump at the top of your stomach feeling to me. No way have I had a full (satisfied) feeling in my stomach. It is just really uncomfortable. Anyone else like that? Thanks for listening, sorry so long. Dianne

[losingjusme 12]

ok, really weird - every link i click i get this thread...

[coolcrystal 1]

This is so weird, I don't know if its the forum or my computer, but for some reason I can only see this thread. This happened a bit ago on another thread, so I completely shut down and logged back in and clicked on this thread and it let me in so I thought the issue was solved, but its doing it again only with this one now... UGG... This has never happened before.. does anybody know what it could be?

[A lot less 1]

same here about the thread, I getting the same thing. I thought it was my computer and that they had blocked me at work. LOL

[stacy73 2]

I was banded 11/5. Christmas Eve my husband and I were rushing around to get things ready to go to my Dads for a family get together. We had all the munchies and platters to take there with us. I was also trying to wrap a few more presents for the next mornings visit to my daughters. I had prepared some chicken wings while my husband took a shower. By the time he got out of the shower the wings were cold. I ate 2 of them. Then on the 3rd one I felt that, "you better not swallow" feeling. I spit it out into the garbage. I told my husband, "I shouldn't have eaten them, they are not settling in my stomach". Then the pain hit and I kept burping but whatever was in my stomach would only come up to a certain spot in my throat where it would make me swallow. I kept doing this and then having a bunch of "slim" coming up. No food. I just kept having that swallowing feeling. I didn't want to swallow because I knew the spit was going down with it and then I would have that glob of flem coming up. I kept doing this for would you believe 3 HOURS!! I had my husband call and cancel us coming to the party. Then I thought I'd better call my doctor. I did and there was a doctor on call who doesn't "do" the lapband surgeries. He only does the gastric by-pass surgeries. He made it clear by telling me this. Like I could give a crap at the time?? I WAS DYING HERE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! He said maybe you should go to the emergency room, then they'd call me and I'd come to the hospital. I thought, "no way in hell do I want this man touching me"!! I waited it out and it finally went through in about 3.25 hours. I was exhausted from the gagging reflex, trying to throw up but not being able to. Mind you, I wasn't inducing the trying to throw up, it just came naturally. I told my husband that I needed to take a nap and fell asleep for an hour on the couch.

This was the worst experience for me. I am really afraid now of things getting stuck again. I am going for another fill today because I have been eating pretty much as before my surgery with 1 fill of 4cc in a 10cc band. I'm afraid that even a smaller amount of food will get stuck like that chicken wing!! Augh!

I do know about the chew, chew, chew thing and it has certainly been part of my eating since the Chicken Wing incident; however, sometimes we are not consious of our eating and realize we've made a mistake right after we swallow. Stinks.

Anyway, I just wanted everyone to know that I'm a little depressed now about getting the band. I'm afraid of my fills and am really afraid of what it will do when I swallow my food from this afternoon on. Any incouraging words would be soooo appreciated. I got the band for a reason and want to get excited about it, I just can't right at the moment. Thanks for listening everyone. :-)

And by the way... the "full" feeling everyone talks about? I don't have a full feeling. What I feel is, "one more swallow and it will hurt". It's not full, it's a lump at the top of your stomach feeling to me. No way have I had a full (satisfied) feeling in my stomach. It is just really uncomfortable. Anyone else like that? Thanks for listening, sorry so long. Dianne

I feel the same way-full is not the same feeling it was before banding-I get that uncomfortable feeling too or know when it is about to come-I also try to measure things out-this way I know when to stop- I never feel "full" but it is a safe stopping point after 1/2 c of food. especially when you are feeling restriction. I have just finally realized-I do not need to be full- i just need enough to feel satisfied. Not full, not hungry

[RedTulips3 0]

That explains it. Each post had a different topic than the first post and had nothing to with the previous ones and they were addressed to people who hadn't even posted here!

[marketingdude 79]

All I know is that my brother says his band is VERY UNPREDICTABLE and "does what it wants". He went from 429lbs to 155lbs. He just had that skin surgery today and is recovering from the anestetia as we speak.

[kellyjoiii 19]

Hi all' date=' I don't understand how one day I can eat something and it goes down sooooo good and the very next day it's horrible!! I got a fill last monday and I feel like my band has to warm up first before I can really start eating? Is anyone else like that? And if so, what do you do? In the morning I drink tea or coffee but I'm trying to find someting else because after a hour I am starving when i drank it. So can anyone put a little light on this situation for me.

thanks[/quote']

A lot of banders find that their band is tight in the morning....and cannot do a lot without first "priming" it with coffee or tea. I was always one of these people. AND FORGET eggs, for me at least unless they are poached. I chalk it up to my band being "finicky" and therefore take it one day at a time. I am in desperate need of a fill though.

[Miss_A 11]

I know all too well about the unpredictability. And, quite frankly, I'm tired of it.