EricaG

I am being banded in 2 weeks and I have seen some posts about people cutting up pills or crushing them. I know that during the liquid phase you have to use liquid meds but after that what is the problem with pills? I take allergy meds and just wanted to know how that will work. Will they get stuck, is there a certain size, is it a forever thing..........

i havent had a problem with pills. I take the gel caps (ibuprophen) when i have headaches and they work fine. i also try to use the liquids if i can find in whatever i need to take, but never been stuck on a pill

sounds awful girl, sorry.. i dont have anythign like this, but i was getting the pill-stuck-in-throat feeling for a while. it went away, but def have this checked out w occ.

yeah i called but they were busy and said they'd call me back. I was paying closer attention to the feeling and it seriously feels like i can actually feel the band. I think i may suddenly be tight, i was never tight before, but this is just awkward.

I have been dealing with this for about a week or two. I have this sharp pain that comes and goes. It's in my chest area and sometimes in between my ribs (in the center of my stomach).

After I eat I have to spit a little but nothing like a crazy PB.

I have been able to eat a little bit more than usual but not like I used to.

I'm watching my food intake but I still have this feeling. It's not there EVERY time I eat, only sometimes.

I'm going to schedule an appointment at the OCC and I'm planning on getting it checked. I just wanted to ask and see if any one has ever felt this before. I know it's not what i'm eating at the time that is making me feel that sensation. I felt the pain this morning while i was having my coffee. before that at about 7am.. I had half egg and spinach wrap and felt fine. it comes and goes. it's kind of like that feeling when you have a terrible PB episode. but mine just happens randomly.

just thought i would ask.

So true, and we've all seen it. Great Post.

I was just considered "chubby" all my life, ofcourse I was on diets all my life. Then at about 20 I lost alot of weight and dropped the extra weight but i did it in a very unhealthy way. then i started to eat normally again and gained it back twice fold.. now im here. working on this again, but doing it the healthy way.

no no no!! you DO NOT have to tell ANYONE about the medical procedure. She is out of her mind and seems like she's a big contributer to the whole gossip in the office if she can't have control and keep this to herself. I know for a fact she can not force you to tell ANYONE why you are taking the time off. I once called out of work sick and explained to my boss what was wrong... in confidence. he then turned around and told everyone in a meeting. everyone was so offended that he would talk about my personal issues, well, he is no longer working with us.

So no, this is a personal issue and no one will even know you had anything done when you get back. So talk to her or your HR department.

yes, you need it!! where do you live? are you far from San Diego?

any idea where I can buy them?

walmart,target, rite aid, walgreens...

this IS very informative. Thank you... I learned to love my restriction and control my food even if i can eat more.

do you know if you may need a fill? how is your restriction? how is your water intake? what kind of things are you eating? there is a bunch of things that can factor in on the plateau. do a food journal livestrong.com or myfitnesspal.com are good. and take a good look at what you're eating. step up your workout.. good luck friend. hope you get through the plateau

really? i had no clue they had WLS.

selfish?? LOL silly you. I also thought, I should really be investing in a new car instead of doing this. But I thought long and hard at the investment... invest in transportation or my health. My health took priority. Your family should be happy to know that they will have a healthy YOU. Congratz on getting banded. You're probably groggy right now from the happy juice... <3

that is so SWEET! I'm so happy for you. I want to get in shape and healthy for when I decide to have a baby. I want a lil one so bad, I just really want him/her to have a healthy mommy. Congratz! looking forward to reading your updates.

So I have been one of the extremely fortunate bandsters. I was banded on 8/3/10. I weighed 219 at surgery. My BMI was around 35. I have been losing steadily since surgery and now ~6 weeks post op am down to 194. So far I have found nothing that I do not tolerate but have restriction and eat very small meals. I follow the "rules" adamantly, lightly exercise (walk, Wii Fit and hike) every day. Have started lifted light weights during my exercise and will be starting Zumba this week. The hardest thing for me is no liquids with my meals and for 1 hour after. Anyway, that is my take on this. Hope it helps.

that is great! so happy for you. keep up the great work. I'm thinking about trying zumba since I plateu on my regular workout. I hate the group classes so im thinking about getting a dvd and doing it in my living room.

It all depends on you. It's never easy to lose weight so if you do things right and eat healthy and work out, you should start losing weight in no time.

My no-no foods come and go.

Oddly enough,I can eat steak.

Sticky rice, if it's too sticky it will come right back up.

French Fries.. Even if i chew forever and only have one, it will get stuck.

Dry chicken breast..

Scrambled eggs.. almost ALWAYS a no-no

Hard Boiled eggs..I'm scared to even try them again. Got stuck once and it was painful.

It really is a personal journey to find what your band likes and doesn't. If you're in doubt, just try a little bite,chew very well and wait..don't keep eating because if you get stuck and you just swallowed another bite. it's not gonna be pretty.

as for the swimming. I waited about a month or month and a half before i started doing laps at my local pool. But as for showers, I showered the very next day. i was just careful to use a clean sponge every time.

I'm scheduled for lapband in October and have been hearing about this term "Bandster Hell". It sounds as is there is little to no restriction, still hunger, no weight loss etc. Can anyone touch on this? Do you generally lose weight between the operation and the first fill? If so, is it moderate weight loss? I can handle about anything as long as I know what to expect. Thanks!

well from what i've been through... i only lost like 10 lbs from the date i got banded to my first fill. The reason why i hear people call it banster hell is because it's a period of time where you really have to start getting yourself into focus with your body. you have this band in you but no fill ... and well most of us don't feel any restriction. but the lucky ones do, from my observation, it's usually the people with higher bmi's.

well you know you are suppose to start your journey and knowing how to pick your food and eat healthy and drinking 45mins after you eat and all that jazz. pretty much you have to do this on your own... you gotta stop yourself from eating too much and picking the right foods, because when you do get your 1st fill and feel the restriction, it's gonna feel like you have no self control and constantly getting stuck and stuff... you really gotta practice your new lifestyle change.

the interest rate is sky high.. look elsewhere if possible.

i think banster hell is the period between getting banded and your first fill. you're pretty much on your own then... if you got throught that, you have nothing to worry about. you're doing great. and dama's suggestion sounds really good. i try not to go hungry, if im hungry i eat,but i try to pick up something healthy. but there was a time where i was eating healthy snacks between meals because i was getting really hungry really fast but even then, the snacks weren't doing the trick... and yes it felt like HELL!! lol i understand why you would call this bandster hell too..LOL but i just got a fill about 20 days ago and the hunger went away again.

yes, that's right, Dr. Miranda suggests a goal weight. She asked he how much I would like to lose, I told her I want to get back to my healthy 125-130 and she said.. "That's your goal weight" ...

I don't have any training, but I think that 130 was my happiest weight. lol. my clothes fit right, and looked nice. i felt good about myself and would like to get back to that.

It's so nice to read things like this... congratz to all you ladies and I can't wait to be walking down the same road one day. I've never been pregnant, but I guess you can say my boyfriend and I are trying. I have not seen a doctor about why I haven't gotten pregnant after so many attempts, but I know my weight can be a huge factor in my fertility. It just motivates me to hear these things from other bansters... i'm really looking forward to getting healthy for my baby in the future. <3

it's normal, and that's also my indication to, it's time to stop eating, or i ate too much.

it's normal. you're still tender. you will burp alot and it will feel funny. but if you are in pain, call the OCC

I went to the OCC on July31st and it was fine. There is nothing to worry. When I go to the OCC I travel to Rosarito and Popotla beaches... We make the best of the trip, but I wouldnt recommend it if you're not familiar with the area.

ALL IN ALL... it's fine to go.

I know how you feel. My parents are the same way... I prepare all my own meals for work the next day because my very sweet and helpful mother doesn't understand what "NO OIL OR BUTTER" means... but she's the first to complain about me being fat.

You are doing really good and 60something pounds in 3 months is amazing. just keep motivating yourself and don't rely on others to reassure you that you are doing great. I guess I learned to ignore others negativity and pat myself on the shoulder and tell myself im doing great. My sore legs from the gym and all the other little things that I couldn't do before that I secretly am proud of are what keep me going.