Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Hi folks, My band is working. I'm down nearly 40 lbs in about 7 weeks (although no one has noticed). No gripes there. So, what's my concern? Mealtime - it's always an adventure. I've had 1 fill, but even before that I am often frustrated at mealtime. I NEVER know from one meal to the next whether I'll be able to eat. Last night, for example, I was starving. I chose egg salad and crackers because I knew, from prior experience, it would go down. No luck. One bite and I was in pain. Frustrated, still hungry, but hurting, I abandoned dinner entirely. Of course, I'll lose weight this way! <g> I am trying to eat slowly, chew carefully, and select band-friendly foods. Just wondering if: 1. Is my experience common? 2. Will it pass or is this the way the band works? 3. Since I feel pain, am I doing myself harm? 4. Since my diet is so erratic, am I getting enough nutrition? Willis 3/25/06 357/318/220 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Wednesday, May 10, 2006, 7:43:55 AM, you wrote: > My band is working. I'm down nearly 40 lbs in about 7 weeks (although no one > has noticed). No gripes there. Don't worry about anyone noticing. They will eventually. Besides, YOU notice and that's what counts. When your clothes start really hanging on you they'll notice more. You're losing faster than most, but that'll probably settle down to the one to two pounds a week that is normal. > So, what's my concern? Mealtime - it's always an adventure. I've had 1 fill, > but even before that I am often frustrated at mealtime. I NEVER know from > one meal to the next whether I'll be able to eat. Welcome to life as a bandster. To quote an old friend " the band is a fickle bitch " . The band is ALWAYS in charge. Many of us can't eat much early in the day, but more later. I'm one of those. But at lunch or supper times some days I can eat a fair amount, some days a very little bit. > Last night, for example, I > was starving. I chose egg salad and crackers because I knew, from prior > experience, it would go down. For me, crackers are usually a problem, so I avoid them for the most part. They're also just carbs so not all that needed. But some can eat them, at least some times. And what can and can't eat has some patterns for most of us, but not always. > No luck. One bite and I was in pain. Well, I'll bet that you didn't chew it enough, or else the band is just being in charge. > Frustrated, still hungry, but hurting, Well, the hunger is in your brain, in your mouth wanting the tastes, not in your tummy, which has said clearly NO WAY. > I abandoned dinner entirely. Of > course, I'll lose weight this way! <g> Yes, you're doing the right thing. Many of us try to push it at times like that and end up barfing, which is bad, or in even greater pain. > I am trying to eat slowly, chew carefully, and select band-friendly foods. > Just wondering if: > > 1. Is my experience common? You bet. > 2. Will it pass or is this the way the band works? You'll learn more what patterns of eating, what foods, work for you. But yes, that's how it is. > 3. Since I feel pain, am I doing myself harm? No harm. Barfing is bad. And of course getting things stuck isn't good, but as you're learning to eat VERY small bites and chew a LOT, you'll have fewer problems in that area. > 4. Since my diet is so erratic, am I getting enough nutrition? You know the old expression about " living off the fat of the land " ? Well..... the main things you need are liquids. If you're not getting in two to three quarts a day you're getting dehydrated, and that can cause more problems with getting stuck. Dehydration is the worst thing. You also want to get in at least 60 grams of protein a day. Meat, fish, eggs, etc. Many of us have problems with eggs, as they tend to be rubbery and get stuck. Choose the best meat, and the moistest (for example I used to always prefer chicken breasts, but now mainly do thighs, sometimes a leg if not dried out). So are you getting exercise? If not, get with it. It'll help in all areas. Also, for me, I'm less hungry after exercising. dan -- Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.mylapband.tk Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03 323/209/199 Age 63 The road goes on forever..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 These are big concerns. to answer your questions " No, no, no and NO! Banding is not supposed to be about misery and deprivation. you're losing fast - possibly TOO fasat - which means you may not be getting the essential nutrition you need to do well LONGterm (which is what the band is really about). Remember that the goal of banding is not to lose fast and unsafely, as we all have multiple times before. It is to lose slowly and safely and THEREFore have a decent chance at keepig it off this time. A few very heavy people (over 400#) lose this fast while still getting in good nutrition and having little trouble, but you're saying you're having a lot of trouble - so it's not ok. Pain means problems. With a good fill, we should be able to eat small meals of solid protein and veggies. Tuna and fiber crackers. Cereal and fruit. Your pain with the first bite is not uncommon - it is called esophageal spasms or " first bite syndrome. " It is often from a slightly too-tight fill. (Please give us your band size and the fill amt, as this provides additional clues for suggestions) These are the things to do for first-bite syndrome: First, have fluids only for maybe 2 days, to rest and heal your stressed stoma. Then you're starting with less irritation. Then before starting regular foods again, Drink a cup of hot fluid right before the meal. This relaxes and opens the stoma, and also relaxes the esophagus, which is a muscle. Be sure you're starting with TINY bites (pea-sized), very moist foods, and chew well(15 times per bite, for now). sometimes, a warm heating pad on the chest for 1/2 hr before a meal also helps, but this is not something you can do permanently. Avoid eating the last 2-3 hrs before bedtime, as this encourages reflux, even if we cannot feel it. Thisd can account for the wide variation in eating you expereince. Also, be sure you're VERY well- hydrated, meaning 64-100 oz a day. If you're dehydrated with kless than this, the stoma also swells and becomes unreliable. If you have done all this, and are still no better, imo, you need a small unfill for both band safety, comfort, and good nutrition. Most men need 60-80 grams of solid protein a day, along with the usual 25 mg of fiber, and 1200 mg of calcium. I don't know your weight, but most guys starting at your weight need at least 2000-2200 cal a day to lose well and safely. If you're not getting that in, you're not getting the nutrition you need for longlasting weight loss, as well as general health-regaining. Most of us have had terrible diets for years, and one goal of the band is to reverse that to prevent all the many nutrition-related cancers and diseases lurking for us. Please tell us more, and how you do with these suggestions.Banding is NOT supposed to be about pain, misery, and deprivation. We should be able to enjoy and tolerate small, good meals. Sandy r Kuri, at goal > > Hi folks, > > > > My band is working. I'm down nearly 40 lbs in about 7 weeks (although no one > has noticed). No gripes there. > > > > So, what's my concern? Mealtime - it's always an adventure. I've had 1 fill, > but even before that I am often frustrated at mealtime. I NEVER know from > one meal to the next whether I'll be able to eat. Last night, for example, I > was starving. I chose egg salad and crackers because I knew, from prior > experience, it would go down. No luck. One bite and I was in pain. > Frustrated, still hungry, but hurting, I abandoned dinner entirely. Of > course, I'll lose weight this way! <g> > > > > I am trying to eat slowly, chew carefully, and select band-friendly foods. > Just wondering if: > > > > 1. Is my experience common? > 2. Will it pass or is this the way the band works? > 3. Since I feel pain, am I doing myself harm? > 4. Since my diet is so erratic, am I getting enough nutrition? > > > > > > Willis > > 3/25/06 > > 357/318/220 > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 > > Hi folks, > > > > My band is working. I'm down nearly 40 lbs in about 7 weeks (although no one > has noticed). No gripes there. > > > > So, what's my concern? Mealtime - it's always an adventure. I've had 1 fill, > but even before that I am often frustrated at mealtime. I NEVER know from > one meal to the next whether I'll be able to eat. Last night, for example, I > was starving. I chose egg salad and crackers because I knew, from prior > experience, it would go down. No luck. One bite and I was in pain. > Frustrated, still hungry, but hurting, I abandoned dinner entirely. Of > course, I'll lose weight this way! <g> > > > > I am trying to eat slowly, chew carefully, and select band- friendly foods. > Just wondering if: > > > > 1. Is my experience common? > 2. Will it pass or is this the way the band works? > 3. Since I feel pain, am I doing myself harm? > 4. Since my diet is so erratic, am I getting enough nutrition? > > > > > > Willis > > 3/25/06 > > 357/318/220 > > Hi Willis: I'm learning if your first bite is to big and you don't chew your done right away. I drink alot of water through the day. That helps. When I sit down to eat I stop in the kitchen first and drink something but I don't take my glass to the table. When I sit down to eat I just try to chill out for a few minutes. If I calm down I don't approach my food with such eagerness. I eat slow chew alot and take really some bites. I hope that advice helps. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.