Too tight - Any suggestions on meats?????

I had my surgery in May 04 and have had 2 fills. Problem I'm having now is, I'm too tight so I'm having problems with almost every meat I try to eat. I have trouble with other things too, but I'd really like to have some meat. My next appointment is the 1st week of Jan and I'm trying to hold out til then because it's a 2hour drive to the doctor. Does anybody have any suggestions on some meats I may be able to eat? I can eat soft meatloaf and the chicken in chicken&dumplins but almost no other meat - even chili is a problem at times. Also, I can eat Ritz crackers, but saltines are a problem. What realy gets me is that I can eat almost anything that I shouldn't eat (you know-the GOOD stuff) but things that I need (meats and such) I have problems with. Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever!!!!! Have any of you had this problem?? If not, I hope you don't, it's really frustrating....

I am having the same problem. I should get it unfilled a little, but I am losing weight. All I can eat is soups and the good stuff. Sweet melt down to nothing after you chew so I dont have any problem with that except staying away. But I get my protien from beans. I make all kinds of different beans. I get about two to three tables spoons of beans with about 3/4 cup of the juice and smash them and that how I get my protien. Sometime I cook ham with the beans in the crock pot and the meat falls apart (tender) and I can handle that sometimes. And amazingly I can eat nuts, too. But if its the meat you want and not the protien, I wasn't any help. Sorry Hope you find a solution. Take care, Michelle

Hey, Michelle.. Sorry I haven't replied before now. Life has been terribly hectic the last couple of weeks and free time is just not something I've had much of. I did get loosened up a little. Down from 2.2 to 2.0. It has helped tremendously!!!!!!! I can eat solid meat again, although I still have some trouble with beef. But I prefer chicken anyway, so.... My doctor told me not to do what you say you're doing. He said he has a lot that won't come back to be loosened because they are losing (and miserable). He said better to lose a little slower and be able to eat because everyone who has problems tends to drop back to the sweets and crunchy (carby) stuff, which is not only not healthy, but is totally against the reason you had the surgery in the 1st place. I hope you will see about getting loosened soon - I hate for you to get sick from not eating the right things. I appreciate your suggestions. Oh yeah, something I found that helped me is: Armour Meats makes a canned Chicken Spread now that is actually good. I was amazed. Most canned meat spreads are pretty awful but this one is enjoyable. I add some mayo to it and make it into a pretty good chicken salad. Remember: It is healthier to lose slower, because your body can adjust to the changes easier at a slower pace. Go ahead and get loosened. You may not lose as much as fast, but you will eat healthier (and you may actually lose faster), and then you'll feel better and have more energy. It's seems to be working for me. Good luck Michelle, Mark

Mark, It really sounds like you need a small unfill. Really just .1-.2 cc's could make a world of difference. I'm at a pretty tight point right now at 3.6... but when I was 3.75 I was so tight I couldn't even keep water down! I see that you have a dr.appt this week, so you've probably figured out how to eat in the past couple weeks. Also, remember that when you're this tight, you can get protein from protein drinks, beans, and you could puree meat with some liquid to make it mushy. I did this with bbq chicken in the crockpot then took the mixer to it. It helped make it easier to get down right after my fill when I was REALLY tight. Hope you find your sweet spot. The difference is AMAZING when you do! It's taken me 6 months to get the perfect fill. I also understand the far away dr... mine is 3 hours away. Eryn P.S. I see that we were banded the same week! How are you doing? I lost 25 before surgery and have lost 45 since. So 70 altogether since March. I've been a "slow" loser because of frustrations with fills disappearing... praise God I finally have good restriction!!!

Hi Eryn, I'm so sorry I haven't replied to you sooner. Free time is not something I've had much of lately. I did get loosened a bit - from 2.2 down to 2.0, and it has made a big difference!! I'm stilll having some trouble with beef, but I can eat chicken and that's my preference. I've also been able to eat other stuff that I was having trouble with. So yeah, that fine line makes an amazing difference, doesn't it. My doc said he doesn't usually get someone too tight as soon as I did (on my 2nd fill), but it can happen. He did fuss at me for not coming in sooner to get it straightened out, tho. To let you in on something I had found... Armour Meats now has a canned Chicken Spread that is GOOD!. I mix some mayo with it and have a pretty good chicken salad. Since surgery I've lost 65 pounds. I think I could have lost more if I could have eaten healthier the 3 months while I was too tight. I was eating way too many carbs to lose, but my dr. says I'm right on track for where I should be. There's 4 more months to go to 1yr from surgery. I'd really like to lose 100 lbs by then, but I don't know if I'll make it or not. Guess we'll find out!! Good luck to you, Eryn. And THANKS for your suggestions- I'm gonna try some of them even though I'm back on solids, especially that bbq chicken-Man! that sounds good!! Mark