Alright guys, need some help!

Cheri · 04-01-2006, 11:42 PM

I know that there are probably about a thousand threads about this, but I am too tired and lazy to seek them out!

Here's the deal...I get sick everytime I eat. period. Everything that I put in comes back to visit. I am experiencing a butt-load of PB hell! I can drink okay, eat very soft foods (like taters and pureed foods), but everything else is totally off-limits!

Here's the symptoms...as soon as I swallow I know whether or not it is going to revisit. I get the golf ball I have heard so much about, but it hurts like someone is stretching my ribcage!! I try to walk it off, stretch it past, everything, but it always comes back. This is happening Every time I eat!!!

Here's my question for y'all...is it that my band is too tight (2.0 in a 10 cc band), or is this the sweet spot that you all fondly refer to? I have gone down four pounds since Thursday (not that I'm complaining about that), and I am a little worried that I am not getting in enough nutrition!!

I can't just go for an unfill (work, work), and I truly don't think that I am too tight. I was having this problem for about a week before my fill, so the NP prescribed me nexium and carafate.

Help, I feel like a boa constrictor!!!
Thanks ahead of time!!

~cheri

banded_for_life · 04-02-2006, 12:26 AM

I would say yes you are too tight...and even just a tiny bit of unfill may work to correct the issue.

**Alexandra** · 04-02-2006, 07:46 AM

Cheri, every time you PB your stoma/esophagus might be getting a bit irritated, which means swelling. So each time it happens, it may be a little worse than it was before. If an unfill is out of the question, you have to let your system heal by going on liquids for SEVERAL day. Try a week if you can. Your body is sending you a message, and eating solid food is not helping for now. This is not your "sweet spot" if you can't eat any amount of anything solid.

Don't worry about nutrition--it is possible to get enough with protein shakes and other liquids for a time. Just take care and let yourself heal!

shanna · 04-02-2006, 07:58 AM

I have been where you are - be very careful with being too tight. I've had a difficult time since January of being too tight and suffering like you are now.

I just wanted to live through it - let it loosen with time. But it didn't. For a lot of people going on liquids for a few days does the trick but not for me. I had a series of unfills in January, then again in March. I think I swell more than most people.

Anyway, it has caught up with me. I now have to have surgery on Monday for a slip and I'm in constant pain. Please take care of yourself and if going on liquids doesn't work - please, please, please get to your doctor for an unfill. It's not worth risking slippage OR being in constant pain like you are now.

Good luck - I'll be thinking about you and praying that all goes well!

Cheri · 04-02-2006, 11:46 AM

Well, well, well, I guess I really didn't want to hear what I've heard from you guys!!! :blah: (haha) I tried warming my protein shake this AM, went down smooth as silk! :spit:A little later, I tried to eat my famous (NOT!) egg and cheese burrito :hungry: - and 2 bites in, I'm empty-stomached

!!! See, I read the advice you gave me, Alexandra, but I am so stubborn, I always have to try one more time!! Well, liquid-ville here I come

. If I don't feel like it is better in a few days, I will call Doc about some relief (aka. unfill)! I can't imagine being overfilled with 2 cc in a 10 cc band, but who knows?!?!?!!?:loco:

DOC · 04-02-2006, 12:04 PM

Boy do I know how you feel! Been there done that!

What it came down to was I was PBing and not giving it enough time to heal and eating solids and it happened again. Thanks to the patience of Penni and Delarla talking me through it, I got off the merry go round of PBing.

I went on liquids for a full 3 days. Then I went on mushies for a full 2 weeks. I found that I WAS not chewing enough, I found I WAS eating to fast.

I learned how MY BAND worked in MY BODY. It took some time, but I am now PB free and loving it. One suggestion that someone gave me, not sure who, I take a small bite, chewed the shit out of it, swallowed and I wait a full 2 minutes before I start eating. Sometimes a get tightness and that two minutes gives it enough time to clear and the rest of the meal is uneventful.

good luck,

HarleyNana · 04-02-2006, 12:39 PM

Like Donna, been there done that. Don't try to wait it out, you could cause more harm than good.

paula · 04-02-2006, 01:24 PM

Cheri,
For my second fill, I was on the recommended liquid diet for 24 hours, soft for another 24, etc.
When it was time for food, (like you) I would pb after the second bite. It took about 2 weeks of this back and forth stuff before I completely started over. ONLY liquids for at least 2 days (VERY important to have these 2 days of liquids. IF you can handle 3, 4, 5 days of liquids only, then go for it! Its almost impossible for me to do this more then 2 days post banding.)
Once you start with the soft foods, use extreme caution (pudding, yogurt, soft soups) and the slower the better. Try counting to 20 between swallowing's.
Along with everyone else's words of wisdom, this should help!

**Alexandra** · 04-02-2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheri

I can't imagine being overfilled with 2 cc in a 10 cc band, but who knows?!?!?!!?:loco:

But it's not the FILL that's causing your over-restriction, it's the SWELLING. And if you're not giving the swelling time to resolve, it will never get better and could even lead to a worse situation. So PLEASE listen to your body and let it calm down before you try any more egg burritos!!

omamoon · 04-02-2006, 05:07 PM

Cheri, Maybe you have a 10 cm band, which has a fill capacity of 4 cc. If this is the case, you're halfway filled already!

the best me · 04-03-2006, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omamoon

Cheri, Maybe you have a 10 cm band, which has a fill capacity of 4 cc. If this is the case, you're halfway filled already!

Exactly what I was about to post...and you posted it for me! Check your band papers, Cheri, I think you might be halfway filled! Good call, omamoon!

Oh, and I second what Alex said about the swelling, not the fill, causing the tightness...

giveyouthemoon · 04-03-2006, 02:26 AM

Okay look....step AWAY from the eggs! Whoa girl, those can be the hardest to swallow! What the heck sweetie!?!?! Gotta be nice to your band!!!

Looks like you are going to have to do what I do. Drink something WARM before even attempting that first bite. The warm helps slowly open you up.

Then....first bites....CHEW AND CHEW AND CHEW!!!

My wondeful boyfriend makes mooing noises at me....no, not in a bad way...he's reminding me to chew my cud....to chew into goo...to go SLOW. The first few bites are ALWAYS the hardest!!!

Gotta let that poor thing inside you rest. Quit pushing it! You know the rules!!

And yeah, I agree with the others...I think you have 2cc's in a 4cc band! So hell, that's a LOT more than I have! And I have troubles too!!!

Deep breaths. We'll get through it!!!

gellergirl · 04-04-2006, 09:33 PM

Thanks everyone...i have been searching everywhere for post-fill advice and knew deep down that i was pushing the band too hard. when will i ever be able to chew and eat slowly! how many times do i have to suffer before i learn!!!!

i will hit the liquids and mushies and hopefully everything will settle down and meanwhile will remember to take small bites and take my time (doesn't help that i seem to be starving all the time...)

more soon!

bandayed · 04-04-2006, 09:51 PM

Yup, definately ditto all of this. I went 3 days liquids & 3 days mushies after my last fill and I have been having PBs since trying to reintegrate real food. I am in tightness city too. Just like DOC though, I have this whole first bite of real food nightmare that I have to get through and then I can eat. If I begin to eat and just keep on without waiting, I PB too. I just found this out by accident -- giving up after 1 bite because I felt stuck and then 3 or 4 minutes later saying, wait a minute....let me try this again! After that I have to eat slowly but not such a big pause as the first bite -- it's like a primer or something!!!! Anyhow, that's just me -- hope it helps, and hope you find some relief soon!

Cheri · 04-05-2006, 08:25 AM

Hey, girls! Thanks for the advice (and the kick in the pants - much needed and much appreciated!!) I'm sorry I'm so dad-gum stubborn! (Must be my capricorn instincts!!!)

I think I am doing LOADS better now! I have been doing mostly liquids with some mushies thrown in for good measure.

Yesterday, I had my hot cocoa protein (same as my shake - unjury unflavored, sugar-free chocolate syrup, and 1 cup skim milk - but so warm and soothing) for b'fast.

Cream of chicken soup and a yogurt smoothie (dannon's Carb and Sugar Control strawberry cream is awesome - only 60 calories and 4 g carbs!!) for lunch.

For a snack, One ounce of almonds (2 by 2 - not a whole handful at once for a change) well chewed before the next ones went in.

BUT - at dinner, I had to try spaghetti. :decision:(Out Out, Evil Stubborn Mule!!!) Well, I guess ms. band wasn't ready yet, so I partly pureed some, and could only eat a bit before I was FULL!!! I never thought I would feel that sensation again!!

I was hungry a little later, so I had a nutrition bar (Luna lemon bars are a refreshing treat for me) - it went in just fine, but I had to leave the last few bites!!!

I think it's all good! Let me know what you think. I'm still unable to eat true solids, but it sounds like most successful bandsters don't try to eat lots of big solid foods??? I want to make sure I am not messing things up in there!

Off topic - wow! Look at those new avatars - you girls are looking hot, hot, hot!!!

If this sounds like a commrecial for foods, I guess it is!! I like to share with everyone when I find something tasty and hutritious!!!

Love you girls!!
~cheri