I was banded in December and I've had 3 fills since. A week after surgery they removed all the fluid in my band because I was very nauseated so as of right now I'm still a little behind fill wise according to my Dr. After my last fill, about a month ago, when I eat certain foods (for some reason fries in particular, I KNOW BAD BAD!) I get this awful pain that radiates to my shoulder and I have to stop eating and wait 10-15 minutes before I start to eat again. I'm assuming that this is food getting stuck. I'm about to be off my dad's insurance in a month or so and wondered if I should try to get another fill even with this recent development. I've noticed that I have been eating a slightly larger portion than in the first 3 weeks since my last fill but I'm kinda worried that I shouldn't get it until I get this problem under control!

Ah, I think this is something that your doctor should have explained but you probably wont "get it under control". As you get more restriction in your band there will be foods you cant eat. Its differnet for everyone but certain foods are common - bread, Pasta, rice, fries, cakes, donuts, stodgy stuff like that. You've probably eaten your last burger too.

Honestly, you come not to miss those foods becuase you begin to associate them with pain.

I can eat small amounts of them. If I really want a slice of bread, I can have it, if I really want any of those things, I can have small amounts, but I'm very lucky. They do cause me discomfort to a degree, but not actual blockage or vomiting - many bandsters cant eat them at all.

Unfortunately other foods I struggle with a bit are fresh fruit and raw vegetables. You'll come to know what causes issues for you and either find a way to eat them safely - I can eat salad as long as it doesnt have too much lettuce and I avoid raw carrot for example - or you will find alternatives.

More often then not when i get pain from eating a certain food

1. It was not chewed well enough

2. Was not a small enough bite

3. Was not something i should of been eating anyhow!

The pain deters me from eating lots of things and thank god for that. Don't let it stop you from getting your fill.