B2010

eewwwwww the first time I ever "slimed" and puked was when I took ONE bite of white rice. Well should have known cause everyone says don't eat it but of course I did anyway I guess just to see.

Sliming feels like this:

You eat either something too much, too fast, or the wrong kind of food. For me I slime when I eat meat that has been re-heated in the microwave because it's just too dry. Or when I've eaten bread or rice. I also find that I end up sliming or getting food stuck or puking when I wait until I'm STARVING to eat because it's much harder to control how fast I eat - so I try to avoid this by eating at the first point of noticing I'm hungry.

It's like your food sits at the top of your stomach (and you can feel this sensation) It feels like something is stuck and that you are overfull - even though it may be just your first or second bite of food. What I mean when I say it feels like you're overfull - is that before the band, when I used to eat eat eat to the point of a dull pain in my stomach then this is similar to how I feel when food is stuck in my stoma.

So then you start getting this warm, slimy spit coming back up into your mouth. It happens to me anywhere from 15-30 minutes after I eat. And then it's the waiting game to see if what you've eaten is going to go down or come back up. So usually about 10 minutes after trying to wait the sliming out - I just go to the restroom and try to relax my esophagus so whatever is stuck can come up without the heaving that goes along with puking. Sometimes it comes up like a slimy deep cough sound, sometimes I've had to puke and heave, and sometimes it just slimes back up without any harsh heaving.

Either way - it's clear that you've slimed - because the consistency is slimy

I think the rule of thumb is when you are on liquid phase you don't have to worry too much about calorie count. Well I say - within reason I couldn't give up my coffee during the liquid phase so I would have creamer in my coffee. I don't think it made much difference but make sure to always drink water.

The water thing is something I'm still trying to get used to. When I can drink, when I can't - how much -etc...etc...

I drank regular cranberry juice a lot during this post-op phase and didn't go with the light version at all. I also chewed gum and not sure what the issue with that would be. I've read some people say not to - but I have and still do.

I would drink a lot of those special k protein waters in lemonade (pink) and I know they helped me survive that first couple of weeks. I definitely needed the extra protein.

If you are feeling tired, or worn out though I can't express enough to you how much drinking water will change that.

I didn't do the metamucil because honestly since I was on the liquid phase my body is MORE than regular

Best of luck and hang in there. It's a difficult time, but you will definitely learn a lot about yourself, your will power. I went through a lot of emotions during this time and it was as much a mental challenge as a physical one. I learned a lot about how I had been using food as an emotional crutch. The band has helped me deal with a lot of issues that I used to push down with food - and now because of the band - I can't do that anymore.

awesome! congratulations that you are living in the moment and celebrating your victories along the way

Things will start moving again after your fill. I just had my 2nd fill and had original surgery on 3/15/10 in TJ. I had my fills done locally in Alaska but the doctor was all for me getting to my sweet spot asap - so after I had my first fill I waited for 2 weeks and didn't feel much restriction. As a matter of fact I was almost able to eat the way I was before surgery and it hadn't been like that as I have had some restriction following surgery. So now after having had my 2nd fill and approx 7cc in my 11cc band, I'm feeling restriction. I don't think it's too much at this point - but I dropped 3 lbs this week and it was the first loss I've had for a while.

You may just need more restriction because if you had restriction you wouldn't be able to eat as much and you would be able to drop some weight. I'm finally down to eating around 1/2 a cup of food and being satisfied. Now I'm more aware than ever what I'm putting in my body during meal time because I want to make sure I'm still getting the nutrients I need.

Also - make sure you are getting enough water. I don't like water myself but I have been working towards drinking much more than I have in the past.

It would definitely be motivation to me. I'm like you - at one point of my life I've been anorexic and obsessed with working out. Things would always start out healthy and then I'd go nuts - I have 3 more days before I can start working out and I'm looking forward to starting slowly and just staying steady. Seeing what you're doing would help to see something visual for working out.

Let me tell you - now being on the other side of being banded and opting initially to only tell one soul (my boyfriend) which he supported my decision from the get go.

After being banded I came back and told 3 more people - my two nieces and my mom. I'm not very good at keeping secrets from my family and I had felt bad about lying and saying I went to San Diego for some "conference" so I came clean to them.

Surprisingly - no negative reaction from anyone and no negative comments since. My biggest concern was telling my mother and because she's been against everything from my tattoos, my breast augmentation and now figured she'd be against my lapband. I told her thought - bottom line - I don't want to struggle with my weight for the rest of my life. And her response - I don't blame you - as she has struggled with her weight and I think that if her heart was in better condition she would opt for the same surgery.

She's now excited for me seeing me lose weight and I'm glad I told her.

On the other hand. outside of my family I probably woudn't tell anyone else cause really - it's none of their business. So you get lapband. If you feel safe, if you feel like it's the tool you need to lose weight then who's opinion really matters?

I've been "skinny" before but I've also been fat so I'd never discourage someone that is trying to better their health and their life. I told my mom it was either this lapband or I was going to have some more major plastic surgery done which would have been more major then the lap band procedure.

awesome! so glad you got thru it and now you're on your way to a better life. This time has also given me a lot of time to reflect and focus on other things in my life. I never realized how much food consumed my every waking moment until I couldn't just eat whatever - whenever. It's a major reality check. I've found I've gotten a lot more done in the time between getting banded and now. Things that I would just let go because all I wanted to do was sit down and eat.

I can't say that the 21 days went fast....because it hasn't and I still have 6 days to go. What I can say is that it's surprisingly doable. And this coming from the person that couldn't stay on the pre-op diet until it was the absolute last minute. I have no will power when it comes to food but having the band, knowing we went through this to help ourselves - certainly helps the process.

I'm finding week 3 to be a little more difficult for me, may be that I quit drinking as much water as I was the first two weeks. But I do feel hungrier now and I really have to buckle down.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Awesome!!!!!

You're going to do great. Luckily the clinic will give you some "chill pills" before surgery so that your anxiety doesn't get away from you. Sometimes you just have to push through the worry and tell yourself that this decision is one that you made to better your life.

surgery will come and go so fast you won't even realize what's happened. The doctor's at OCC I do sincerely believe have a passion for what they do and how they help people and they are blessed doing the work that they do. Why else would all of the patients that they have had - have such high regard for them?

I am a worry wart myself as I experienced a great tragedy early on in my life. So I've lived with this constant fear of death/dying my whole life which has really stopped me from living life. Being a single mom too made me all that more worried that if I went through with this surgery that I would leave my son behind. I always told myself if at any point I didn't feel comfortable at the clinic I would not go through with it. But everything from the driver, the hotel, the facility and the staff made me feel like I was in expert care. and I came out of surgery feeling better than any other surgical procedure experience I have ever had. I don't regret it one bit.

My thoughts and prayers are with you tomorrow and I'm so excited for you that you will be on this journey in your life.

You CAN do this. Trust me if I can anyone can! As much support as you need we're here! You're gonna be amazed at how much your focus in life changes and that is what this journey is all about!

Hi

So impressed to hear you went to TJ by yourself...Do you live near there??? I live in Mississippi and am concerned about fills. Where will you get fills done?

Did you stay in San Diego a few days or did you travel home soon after surgery? I don't want to vomit on Plane. Make good notes about the liquid phase..what you drink, how you cope with hunger, how you feel, etc. Any info would be helpful. Good luck with your journey. Kimbelry

I actually live in Alaska so no not close at all. I had looked into doctors up here to get my fills done but honestly before I sent for surgery I had planned on going to a doctor locally that I had found. There are some topics on here to help find a list of fill doctors that will fill you if you were banded in Mexico. You can ask the moderator Dolittle for the list in your area. However, after going to the OCC and seeing how knowledgeable they are about the lapband and how thorough they are I'm planning on going back to OCC for fills.

My trip was as follows: arrived San Diego on 3/14/10 relaxed in hotel, surgery 3/15/10 OCC, returned to hotel 3/16/10, flight left San Diego 3/17/10. The one day of rest on the 15th and 16th was plenty and I felt fine to fly on the 17th. I'm attaching a note that I just wrote to another friend of mine on here that is going for surgery on 4/15/10. Maybe it can answer some of your questions too.

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As for how I'm feeling. I'm feeling great. After the 3rd day of liquid diet it's gotten 90% easier for me to stay on the liquid phase of post op. Geez those first 3 days were really really hard. It definitely helps to know that if you eat or drink something that you will mess up the band. If I didn't have that hanging over my head, I don't think i'd be able to have made it. I think it may have been gas, but my stomach was saying "feed me" for sure. That has now subsided (Thank GOD!)

Now it's a mental battle. I've been having to prepare my sons food and surprisingly it has been easier than I thought - but that sausage and eggs smelled sooooo good last night! I just keep telling myself that after this 21 days - it won't be so hard so I gotta put in my time now.

I can say that you will definitely want to take things to drink after surgery. Things that are small and easy to pack. Special K protein water (probably saved my life the first 3 days), Full Bar water packets (they help you to feel full and ad some flavor to your water). Crystal Light packets ( I just bought the cheaper walmart version). Bullion cubes (because you will want something warm at some point). I didn't bring enough things to drink for the day after surgery but the hotel gives water and I ordered chicken broth and 2 apple juices the day after surgery. It was free too - didn't have to pay for it at check out so if you do order from the hotel after surgery make sure to tell them to add it to your room.

Oh yea - one other thing. Don't give the hotel your credit card at check-in. They asked me for one but I didn't even bring a credit card with me so since the OCC is paying for it - don't give it to them because then you have no chance of getting charged for anything.

Also - the hotel does have free wi-fi in the rooms

As far as other things to bring...... I would say definitely bring a few tighter fitted tank tops for after surgery. I'm still wearing them daily and it feels better because after surgery you do get the sensation of the port "pulling away" I'm sure that's NOT what it's doing but it feels better to wear a fitted tank top because it feels like it holds everything in nicely. Especially on the plane ride it was much more comfortable.

hmmm....what else. someone had said bring a heating pad - and I did but didn't find the need to use it. The hotel provides nice lotion, shampoo, soap etc but I still brought some of my own.

Bring GAS-EX!!!!!!! I wasn't super gassy. I mean I burped a few times but my stomach was gurgling a lot and I think that this is what made me feel like I was hungry because now that I've been taking it daily I don't feel that way.

Oh yea the beds at Lucerna and at the OCC are really comfortable. I didn't have any trouble falling asleep. Nice and quiet in both places.

Ok i know this email was kind of all over the place just wanted to get all the important info in there. I see your surgery is on the 15th of April. I'm wondering if that would be too soon for me to get a fill but I'm going to email Dr.So and find out. It would be cool to go together!

Also - just cause some people aren't posting on the April surgeries section - don't worry. No one responded and said they had a surgery on the the 15th of March either but there were 8 patients that got the procedure that day. pretty much all of them said they read the board but never posted. So - don't let that make you think you'll be alone cause I'm sure you won't be.

Even the next day there were 3 patients going in - so -

i'm so excited for you.....it'll be a great experience for you and a step in the right direction for a wonderfully healthy life! and you'll look HOT lol which is what i'm looking forward to myself.

-Bianca

What was your BMI ??? Mine is 29.9 and I keep being told "you can do it on your own" If you just discipline yourself..... I have been dealing with this for 20 years. (excess lbs. from 30-60 yo yo'ing) I too have 2 sisters and a mother that are close to 300 lbs./diabetic and HBP. Don't want to wait until that point. Let me know how you do thru surgery. I have an initial visit in 4 days. I would love to follow your progress. The best of luck...

Hi there!

My bmi starting was 32 - I've heard people tell me over and over "you can do it on your own" well yea you know what - they are probably right at some level - but obviously I didn't have the will power to do it alone. I haven't been overweight my entire life and I really didn't want to spend the rest of my life battling this 50lbs that I want gone. Instead I wanted some help to live the life I want! And who knows better for yourself than YOU what YOU want for your life.

I really feel like people around us (especially those that struggle with their own weight) are selfish when someone tries to better themselves. Even when I've lost weight before and on a diet - people have said "oh you're not THAT overweight you don't need to lose weight"

I think deciding on whether to get the band or not has to be a decision that is all your own. I personally do get stressed, and swayed by what others think so I only told one person and he was surprisingly supportive. I really don't plan on telling anyone else - because I don't feel like I should have to explain or justify to anyone what my decisions are.

As for my experience so far - the OCC is top notch. Everything you've read on this forum in spot on about the facility and the doctor. They are truly blessed and I believe have a true passion for the work they do. They know they are helping people and Dr. Ortiz runs a tight ship there. Everyone from the hotel staff, drivers, admin, nurses, and other doctors are the best of the best. You can take that they all take great pride in their work and the commitment that they have to their work. I went to TJ alone and I felt safe the entire time, and I felt well taken care of. I never really felt alone either because of other patients that I interacted with and because the staff was always very attentive.

I'm on day 4 of my post-op liquid diet. I'm not going to lie the first 3 days have been hard. it's 10:30am on the 4day and I'm feeling much better with the hunger pains. I'm not sure if it's been actual hunger pains or gas but it's been hard. It's a mental battle at this point but I know it's the last one I will finally have with relationship to my weight. I finally have some help and I don't regret having had the lap band placed or having went to OCC.

If you have any questions please let me know or you can always check out some of my other posts. I'll try to keep up on my blogs as time goes on so you can keep up with my progress.

best of luck and I hope you find comfort in making the right decision for you and you alone!

-Bianca

The real question is will YOU love him when YOU'RE skinny? When you realize you deserve more and your confidence levels return will he be able to handle it? it's bullh*t that he disrespected you and told people about what is only YOUR business.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. The good thing about living day to day is that you don't have to solve the entirety of your relationship problems in one day. Things will be what they will be. I'm sure you love him, but at some point you have to love yourself too - and hopefully the lapband will aid you in doing this - and will help you to make the hard decisions that you've been putting off.

Is he just afraid of you getting skinny an leaving him? I know my (now ex) broke up with me right before coming down to OCC. what's up with that? What's up with men? are they really that threatened?

all we want is some support from the people who are closest to us. But damn! don't apologize for doing this for yourself. Maybe you'll discover more about yourself and what you want from your life - I'm hoping to do the same.

-Bianca

"I am praying for God to get me through but I have alot of guilt that God isn't going to answer me when it comes to this problem...???"

I can so relate and I know how you feel and I haven't even had surgery yet.

Food has been my best friend, and it's helped me mask the problems in my life outside of my weight for so very long. My relationship problems, my other life issues, my relationship with God....it's like now that I've taken food down from the alter I had it on.....I'm facing all of the issues that I've pushed down in the past (with every bite).

I'm glad you'll have a break. I'm finding it very difficult to function as well and I'm only on day 4 of my pre-op diet which does include protein. So at this rate I don't know how I will be with clear liquids for the first week. So many have done it and I want to do the right thing but I can read the frustration you have and I guess I just wanted you to know you aren't alone out there.

-Bianca

So how have you been feeling now?

Hi Briangie,

I can totally relate to what you're saying - the heavier I've gotten the more and more I try to fade into the background of life and really stop living. I don't want that life anymore either and I know the band will be a great tool to help me find my hope.

I used to go to the gym all the time. I'm not going to say I loved it because i've never been a huge work out fan - but there is a difference between going when you're overweight and going when you're average weight. Most people that are already fit understand the dedication it takes to work out and so they aren't looking at you like "what are you doing here" But i'm still very self conscious about going. I hate how the cardio equipment is in rows - i feel like when I'm on the treadmill or eliptical by bootie is shaking all over the place and the people behind me are grossed out. lol......I laugh about it now - but it's embarassing and it's stopped me from working out the way i should be.

I am scheduled for March 23, 2010 at OCC and am very nervous. I also have only told my husband and my sister. I don't want to hear any negatives about it before hand or have anyone try to talk me out of it. I am excited and nervous, and I hope it works for me. Wish I could find someone with my surgery date too, or maybe the day before.

I'm also excited and nervous at the same time. I just spent last night watching some of the you tube videos by dr. ortiz. He explained a lot of things like why we have to stay on liquids, how to mentally prepare etc.... He seems very committed to overweight people and helping them to gain control of their lives.

I haven't heard of anyone around my surgery date but when I made the appointment Lori said that I took the final slot. Not sure what that means because I haven't heard of anyone else on this forum that has my same surgery date. Hopefully we'll both find someone soon. It would be comforting.

Good for you B2010 I'm scheduled 3/29/10 at OCC I'm excited and nervous at the same time. More nervous about the 3-week post diet.

I've only told my daughters they are all so supportive, I think they are just as excited as I am. I've mentioned it to a few of my close friends but they didn't take me seriously even said I was cheating...so I haven't mentioned it since. They will just have to wait and see as the weight falls off.

sorry for taking so long to respond. I'm new on this site so still getting used to it.

As for telling anyone, it feels just like an added headache that I don't need in my life right now. I've found in the past when I have lost weight that people in general really aren't that supportive and often times try and sabotage you (of course subconsciously they do this and not intentionally.

My fiance has been so supportive and although my bmi is not as high as some on this forum I can see the writing on the wall and the majority of the women in my family are very obese - I want to gain control now and hopefully the band will help me with my goal.

Good luck on your surgery. mine is in 13 days