New... and SCARED to Death

Hi all. Thank you for the responses that my earlier post received some time this week. I have so many questions. Tomorrow night I go to a seminar about the surgery. First step in finding out more. Then after that i can meet with the dr. to ask personalized questions. I am just so torn. one day I say I need this, the next i say No. I hear some people here talk about food getting STUCK.. and I am already frantic. What does that mean? Can you choke to death? (I know, I'm freaking!) Is it true? What is the other thing you talk about... what was that word? When you 'throw' up but you dont? I forgot what you call it. Can this lap band actually slip? Has that happened to any one here? Was there pain? I don't know what to do. I need answers. I wish I could have a gaurentee that I'd be ok through it all. Sorry for the panic. I am really needing support and help to just get through decision making here. thanks Please respond.

First of all relax. I know it is a very scaring thing to go through. I had RNY on the 30th of Oct. so I can not speak about the band at all but I can speak from my own experience. Everyones experience seems to be different. Example. Tonight I went out to eat with my hubby and I ordered chili, because that is what is on my list of things that are ok with me at this time, and he ordered chicken (he is almost 6 months out). Well the chili just did not taste good to be and did not feel right. Seemed odd as this was one of the only things my hubby could tolerate at this point. Well I had a few very small bites of his chicken, which he still battles with sometimes, and it was really fine with me. I am ok with chicken only 2 weeks out and he was not until about 4 months out. He was ok with chili from the beginning and I am not. So it really is different for everyone. I have not had any experiencing with dumping and or throwing anything up. I have tolerated things very well. I think you will feel a lot better after you go to the seminar. I know it really helped me out a lot. When they talk about food getting stuck it is within your new stomache. It is not something that you choke on at all so do not worry about that. Like I said I can not really speak about it too much as I have not experienced it. I know I rambled but this was only my second day back and I took some pain meds so I am close to being loopy WOO HOO!!!!! I wish you the best and I hope maybe I helped a little. Good luck in your journey, Melissa

Hello, I was banded on 9/27/06. The band cannot "slip" per se......but, what can happen is if you don't do what you are supposed to do and eat too much....you can stretch your pouch...over time of too much eating, the pouch pulls the rest of your stomach up thru the band....they call that slipping, which in my book is totally the wrong terminalogy. The band is stitched to your stomach...one stitch.....so it does not actually slip as they say. Did it hurt? Well, I was sore, but walking the hospital floor 4am the next morning. All stoma*****isions ache. I had tylenol with codeine in it and only took it once when I got home. Other than that no, no real pain. You will have gas, they pump your stomach with 3 different types of gas, and its not the kind you can pass in the traditional way.....you must walk to get rid of it. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have lost 24 lbs....and could have lost more if I had been exercising...I am in college full time and I have a ton of papers to write and currently no time to exercise....but after 12/14...I will be exercising like a fiend. As far as throwing up...or PBing as they call it...it hasn't happened to me. Food getting stuck...yeah that did happen...BUT it was cream of wheat...which is bad for you anyway......all you do, is drink a hot liquid and boop....down it goes. You will not choke to death. If you are putting things in your mouth that would make you choke----then you need more time with the psychologist. Let me say it another way....do you take super large bites now that would cause you to choke? (i didn't think so)...so you have nothing to worry about. Don't feel bad, everyone panics....its normal! If you want to hear of awesome success stories go to www.band2gether.net and check out Telly!!!! WOW! Good luck to you and keep us posted!!

thanks for your reply.I tried to check out "telly's" info but couldnt get fully in to it. I guess i have to log on and sign in. Later on will try that. question.. do you still deal with hunger? Hungry but just cant eat is the way i see it? Is that it? How about emotional eating? that no longer exists? Thank you for your feedback. all of you. :)

Hi! Yes, you will be hungry. That doesn't change. You may not be famished that's all. And no, when you get to the right adjustment.....you will be less hungry and when you eat, you will get fuller faster. You still have to diet....no matter which surgery you were to chose. Emotional eating...I don't really have an issue with that. But I can say....emotional eating is in your head not your stomach....so if you are dealing with that, you need to seek guidance...my doc has a psychologist. You would prob be referred to a specialist to see why you eat emotionally. You will learn fast about your stomach....for instance....the rumble you hear....if its not up by your breast-bone area.....its not your stomach.......its your bowels making noise. You will also be aware of the responsibility of your teeth......front teeth for cutting....back teeth for mashers...just like dinasaurs. (lol) So the band makes your stomach smaller....and you get fuller quicker....in time, with the adjustments....you will come to the fill that will be just perfect for you. Some people loose 100 lbs with no fill ever! some need 3 ccs in their 4 cc band. I can say that the 1cc I have in my band is not enough and I am just being really careful so that I don't gain weight ....or so that I lose weight before my next fill on 12/20. Also you will learn things like I have....I love meatballs......I got half of one stuck about 3 weeks ago.......i dont' even try to eat them anymore...and when I saw them today in the cafe at school....ya know, they looked good --but it just isn't worth it to me! So I passed. Yay!. For a treat, I treat myself to fancy coffee. I just bought pumpkin spice creamer. I use spenda and skim milk....and a splash of flavor. This weekend I am gonna sit down and devise a menu plan for me. Then gonna go to the grocery store buy what I need and make the food ahead. That way there would be no repeat of last nights dinner....bagel w/cream cheese....eating on the fly...on my way to school.....okay it could have been way worse...but it still was not a good food choice. Yikes....too much like a novel? Take care! Barb

Fear is an exceptional tool! Just having the band I am reminded to chew my food well and wait........ Can't 'wolf' like I used to! Yeah, and I had mine slip too, the first time. I waited two years before getting it reinserted; but "band" eating kept me from regaining all the weight I had lost. Now I'm moving ahead....... slowly and thoughtfully. I've learned that above all else, the band is a 'tool' not a solution in itself. It took me forty years to create the problem, so it may take a few to acquire the proper skills to remain healthy. All in all...... the best decision I ever made for myself!!! Pam