throwing up--can it be avoided totally?

[gregken77]

Ok I figured this would be the best place to post this question. I keep reading where people post and they say they only forgot to chew chew real good once because the experience that follows was so horrible. Anyway have put notes up all over my house already that say chew your food good! ha ha I am going to be banded on oct 1st and am trying to prepare myself mentally for what I am going to have to do. You know following the band rules and all. Ok my question----Is there anyone out there who has never thrown up after being banded? Lord I dont want to ever puke my guts out if I can avoid it. Im making mental notes in my head to chew even now. I have already started chewing my food like I am banded even though I have several weeks until the surgery. So please someone tell me can throwing up be avoided all together if you follow the rules by teh book?

Greg K

[Craig A]

Greg,

I am three months in and have not had any challenges with throwing up. I have had my third fill and now am feeling some dramatic reduction in what I can eat. If I do not chew well or try to over do it it causes a rather uncomfortable feeling. I feel like I need to burp and sometimes a minute other times 5 it will subside and I walk away from what I am eating. I have tried to take another bite before and like Pavlov's dog I have figured out when to say when.

[PhotoNut]

Oh Greg, I remember feeling exactly as you do! I was so determined never to get stuck or experience a PB. I would see posts in which people would claim that getting stuck was inevitable and it would make me so angry. I saw no reason to accept such discomfort and possible embarrassment as part of being banded. I made it through nine months without any issues. During that nine months I was careful to eat slowly, chew well, avoid liquids with meals, and above all I paid attention to my body and stopped eating at the first signs of "bandster fullness". I also refused to put a bite any bread in my mouth. However, as it happens for many of us at about 9mos to a year out, I slowly started getting lax about following the bandster rules. I ate at my computer. I started sipping a drink with my meal. I started serving bigger portions on my plate, and started cutting bigger bites. It was then that experiencing a PB became inevitable, if you see my point. And because of my bad eating habits, I ended up experiencing quite a few PBs, some extremely painful.

Can it be avoided? Absolutely. Is there a guarantee that it will never happen if you follow all of the rules. I don't think so. Something unforeseen can happen.. a distraction while eating can lead to swallowing a bite before its fully chewed and bam.. you're stuck. So, while it is likely that you will at some point experience being stuck, it should never be thought of as a normal occurrence in a bandsters life. Too much retching can cause your lower stomach to be forced up through the band, aka slipped band, and that can sometimes require surgery to fix.

Keep in mind that none of us puke our guts out anymore. The banded pouch does not have a lot of stomach acids and fluids like the lower portion does. When we get stuck, we produce a lot of saliva (aka sliming) which has to be spit out but other than that its usually small amounts of chewed food that come up. The retching can still occur, but some people find that its no more than a burp or hiccup that brings the offending bite back up.

I guess my point is, if you take care to follow the eating guidelines (aka bandster rules) you're going to be less likely to experience a PB and even less likely to experience a truly bad PB if one happens to occur.

[PattiDi07]

Good explanation, P'Nut.... what about if you get a stomach virus though? Do you still "puke your guts out", like we non-bandsters do now? I get the flu every single year (the kids bring it home from school!), and it's something I'm worried about. ?

[PhotoNut]

Great question, Patti! Yes, we are all susceptible to the stomach flu, which can have the same negative affect on our bands. It's a good idea to have your band surgeon or your PCP to prescribe some anti-nausea medicine to have on-hand for such times.

[Jachut]

Technically it can be avoided, but in reality, it will happen to everyone, sooner or later. I made it a year and DH has made 14 months, but sooner or later, most people need more restriction to keep the weight coming off and that's when the inevitable may start to happen.

Also, you'll find, the hard way probably, that there's some foods that your body just cant tolerate. For me, it was calamari, ugh.

But no way, no how should it be a daily or weekly event. It would happen to me maybe once a month and its usually user error. But the thing is, your body is different every day and what works one day, might be impossible the next, you cant always anticipate that you'll be super tight or something.

vomiting with stomach flu or gastro is entirely different and that CAN cause you problems, people have had slipped bands due to bouts of violent vomiting. You should always keep anti nausea medication on hand and if you feel yourself getting sick, if you can possibly get unfilled, do so. I've managed to avoid it for four years, well I think 7 years now since the infamous Hutchinson family chuck fest when all that was left after the weekend was a stinking pile of laundry and five wrung out excuses for human beings. Yep, the kids bring it home sometimes but I've really found that insanely pedantic hygiene works. I also am constantly sanitising my hands when I'm teaching and wouldnt dream of eating or drinking without doing so first. I've also trained myself not to touch my face.

[Patrick]

For myself, I have never slimed (or puked, or whatever) that I could not look back and KNOW that I had not followed the rules. I do know of one bandster, who is not too active right now, who mentioned that he had never pb'd, etc.. A rare occurence to be sure, but, it shows that it can be done.

[MoOrLess]

I had to go read my journal...I couldn't remember how long before the infamous PB hit -- I was 7 months banded....I've had my share since then unfortunately. The weather (TOO HOT and HUMID) and my allergies definitely aggravate my banded stomach. I am learning (2 yrs out) that I have to be extra diligent when eating. Sometimes I handle a certain food just fine - other times, not so much.

It's interesting to read everyone's experiences - I actually tend to "vomit" and not slime --although I have learned to STOP as soon as I even think I've upset the band and that helps tremendously. I remind myself - the food will be there later - so far so good except for about once a month in the warm months.

[LL83706]

Hi Greg,

I am only about 2 1/2 mos. out from my surgery date, but I have never thrown up. That said, I have had food stuck twice for about 1/2 hour each time and I so wished I could have thrown up! PB-ing as it is called out here is probably going to happen to you. As Patrick said, I can look back at the incidents and know that I wasn't following the rules. In my case, I just had a fill and it is very close to perfect for me, so that was when I finally learned what "chew chew chew" meant. It was just on Friday, so the memory is very clear! Yes it hurts and it is uncomfortable, but luckily it passed and I learned a lot from that. Do I think it will happen again - yes, but I am always trying to be mindful when I am eating.

Before my surgery I was so SCARED of that - getting food stuck and ruining my band! Now that it has happened I don't think it was pleasant, but it was a very good physical reminder that I have a band. I'm realizing now that this strong physical cue is one thing that is going to make me successful. Just hope I don't need too many reminders....

[kristina]

Hi Greg- i was banded October 2, 2008..and its so weird to see someone getting banded a year later on my date. that said- hehehehe- i have never thrown up. i can count on 1 hand how often i have thrown up before the band...so i don't know if i just have an aversion to vomiting or what. when i was in college people took bets on who was going to get me drunk enough to throw up and i never did.
i have gotten stuck once really bad with the band. and i have done my fair share of sliming as Susan exclaimed above. but i have never actually threw anything up or pb'ed on anything.
u will experience a pb or sliming at some point. how else will you know what ur band can and cant tolerate?
its uncomfortable to be sure...but its also why u get the band. before i got banded i couldn't imagine having the dumping syndrome that GB'ers do. now i would welcome it!
its not nearly as scary as it sounds. promise.
two general rules i live by:
1. chew too goo. which i do now automatically without even having to think about it.
2. food lube. every protein i eat has some kind of sauce on it. something wet so it goes down easier.
we will be here for u when u need us. no worries..this band will be the best choice u ever made.
God Bless, and welcome to the B2G family.

[Patrick]

Point. Just be sure that 'food lube' is not an actual liquid, or you will really know what pb'ing is.

[catmom50]

kristina I enjoyed your pictures and your info above. I am not banded yet, but trying to get as much info I can.

[kristina]

pming u cat! :)

[newmenewyou]

Greg, I am so glad you asked the question! It has been on my mind as well. I do not look forward to pbing or throwing up but I am sure at some point it will happen. It just keeps us following the rules of the band. I am not banded yet but patiently waiting for a date.

[ImJessica]

Greg...I've been banded since July 2nd...I'm still having probs with chewing my food good. Everytime I eat just about I have to make a trip to the bathroom... but don't worry about "puking ur guts out" b/c its not like that at all. You just kinda cough/regurgitate (i know this word is kinda nasty) it up and it just comes up and then you are fine...now I might be an exception to the rule. It is very uncomfortable though when you don't chew good enough...so def your doing the right thing now and thats practicing before you get banded..i've always been the type that just chewed it once or twice and then swallow...The good thing is its not like when you used to puke at all...no stomach acid so its much nicer...I know anyway enough about the nastiness...believe me your going to be fine if you already practicing chewing...

[gregken77]

kristina I enjoyed your pictures and your info above. I am not banded yet, but trying to get as much info I can.

Thanks Kristina and thanks to everyone who responded to my silly question. ha ha I am just not at all pumped about the possibility of puking. Hey I am going to try to be teh exception to the rule. You know the one who has been banded for 35 years and never once threw up ! ha ha And Kristina if you look closely at my pictures in my public profile you will see a beautiful little girl named Sierra Lauren Kennedy. You are actually looking at a star in the making there. She is the future Miss Texas and future Miss America all rolled into one. ha ha Yeah she is going to be a beautiful women. Ive just decided that she is not going to date anyone until she gets married! ha ha ha

[reblynd]

Greg...that was one of my big fears, and I can tell you I am almost 3 years banded and I have NEVER thrown up...crazy I know, but I have never even PB'd. I have no secret, I wish I did!!

[GirlyGirl]

Hi Greg, just jumping in here...

Some of us never learn...(me)... I still take bites too big, too fast, too dry, too much, too distracted... but I have learned how to gently let it come back up and try to do better.

My Doctor says that no matter what, I should not be throwing up more than a couple times a week and eventually, hardly ever. Risk of causing the band to slip... so....be careful but once banded, you'll embrace the ability to get that thing out....it's pure relief!

So that's my story... hope it helps.

[Joy]

I was banded last Sept. 15 by Dr. Ben Tribble, in Columbia SC. I have only thrown up once and that was from NOT chewing and talking while eating (to a bunch of women) ................TOTALLY MY FAULT. I have been so fortunate to have really had NO problems and have lost from 200 to 145 w/ 20 left. Do WHAT they say and u will b OK! :)

[gregken77]

You know I was going back and reading this old post! Man I was going to be one of the ones who never had a PB and I have to confess that I already had my first. And it was my own fault. Im on soft foods and this weekend my son was eating some Mcdonalds fries in front of me as we all watched TV. I was drinking my shake and my oatmeal ----all the while looking at those fries. Anyway long story short ---I grabbed about 3 or 4 when he was over playing with his trucks and threw them in my mouth like I use to and chewed them like I use to and swallowed. It was then that I realized man that was sort of a big bite of food and I really didnt chew it that well. Then I felt it. It wasnt real bad pain just felt it stick. Then the burping started , the nose starts running, and i get hot. I went outside and just stood there for a second. Then a real quick blaw---lots of green slimy stuff falls out and I am ok. It did scare me though. I though oh no my band is about to slip. I think everything is fine though. Anyway so much for cheating. It was a good lesson for me to learn. Stay focused dummy(talking to self).

[LapBandBunny]

I haven't ever brought up a solid anything.. I've had post-dinner reflux type thingies.. which were no fun. And, rice and bread have been causing that stick in the back, banging on the chest, elephant dance thing that people talk about so I've decided to exclude rice and bread from my diet for now, especially in the light of my huge fill yesterday!

I did, however, over-indulge on mudslides at a campout, and the next morning I had like 5 dry heaves. It was very scary. Nothing came up and it felt way different than it does when you don't have a band. It was a foreing feeling and I did not like it. This coming from a former bulimic.

This caused me all kinds of problems for about a week afterward. My insides were swollen... I had to be on liquids for a couple of days, then mushies for a couple of days. It was not a pleasant experience. Now, I keep anti-nausea meds on me at all times. There were two types, he prescribed the strongest one which is pricey but my insurance covers it. I have it with me AT ALL TIMES!

[qmom]

I have been thinking about this very thing. My daughter was sick and vomited and I spent a week worrying about catching it . Every time I was a bit nauseated I panicked. I did not get a prescription after surgery cause of a lost FAX , now I am thinking I should call my Dr. and get one. You fellow bandsters are great teachers ! Are you allowed to tell me what anti-nausea meds are out there ?

[kristina]

i must say. french fries can make a grown man cry. i dont think i have ever sat in front of fries where i didnt try just one.

a crispy fry
a soft fry
a curly fry
a burnt fry
a no salt fry
a seasoned fry
a fry end
a fry middle
a fry nibble.

every single one of them-SUCK.

[wifey0916]

I also carry the anti-nausea meds my pc gave me 2 bottles one for home one to carry just in case with refills for a yr. Tryin to avoid shopping when its busy with it being flu season and houston already having 11 or 12 deaths from swine flu.
Been there done that learned my lesson on fries hehe.
Greg wait til one of your kids wants donuts and your the only parent with them and have to walk in and order and pay....I can say i walked out ready to throw up from the smell. Dont know how I used to eat them

[Stitchy]

This really was a good question and I'm glad it got bumped.

If you follow ALL of the rules ALL of the time, you probably won't ever pb/slime. And, some of us (I aspire) never have but I'll bet most of us have. It nearly always is a result of our inattention. Talking with friends at lunch and forget to chew. Have a mind fart and grab those french fries that are on plate.

Now, I don't have a problem with FF per se, but those are one of the foods I always snarfed up. Old habits take time to go away. White sticky rice and white sticky bread is my enemy. Even if rice is disguised under something yummy plopped on top of it. Trouble.

[gregken77]

I also carry the anti-nausea meds my pc gave me 2 bottles one for home one to carry just in case with refills for a yr. Tryin to avoid shopping when its busy with it being flu season and houston already having 11 or 12 deaths from swine flu.
Been there done that learned my lesson on fries hehe.
Greg wait til one of your kids wants donuts and your the only parent with them and have to walk in and order and pay....I can say i walked out ready to throw up from the smell. Dont know how I used to eat them


Well Im not really a big donut fan so that would be easy for me. I use to could say that sweets really didnt tempt me but then we had two babies. Man those baby treats are goood! I like the golf fish and the gummy worms and the choco milk! ha ha I new in advance that I was going to have a problem with stealing the baby treats so I bought a metal safty box with a changable combination. Yeah I wont lie---there was this one night I was up trying to figure out the combination. I went on and on about how I had this incredible will power when I set my mind to it with the wife. She caught me trying to break into the kids treats and just started laughing! Said Oh the big man with the unbreakable willpower is trying to steal the baby treats. ha ha She still teases me about it. Glad there locked up. Ive jumped from C-130's into total darkness, faced death in the face several times and just laughed! Said bring it on. But the kids treats broke me. My willpower with that stuff is comparable to a bob cat in a paper bag! ha ha I have to laugh at myself soemtimes!

[BrendaC]

The anti-nausea med prescribed for me to keep on hand is Zofran 4 mg, it also comes in generic which is what I get, and it dissolves on the tongue for quick relief and no worry of throwing it or partially throwing it up.


I have been thinking about this very thing. My daughter was sick and vomited and I spent a week worrying about catching it . Every time I was a bit nauseated I panicked. I did not get a prescription after surgery cause of a lost FAX , now I am thinking I should call my Dr. and get one. You fellow bandsters are great teachers ! Are you allowed to tell me what anti-nausea meds are out there ?

[Leslie2Lose]

For me it was trial and error once I got to "normal" foods. There are certain foods that tend to get "stuck" or not want to go down. For me its eggs, luncheon meat, rice and bread (you'll notice only one of these is on "bandster" approved foods - there's a reason for that). Period. I know if I eat one of these three things - not fun, not fun at all...However, I'm human and reached a certain point over time where I wanted to try them. To this day I have problems with those food items. I think those who have not "throw up"/"PB", however you want to phrase it, are very lucky. Listen to your body and listen to your doctor...

[brwneyedbeauty]

For me I could eat something one time and not another and out it would come. But maybe I didnt chew it well enough or take small bites. Its been a little over 2 years and I still think about what I can and cannot eat. I still try to sneak something in that I know has bothered me in the past and most of the time its still bothers but my brain says oh c'mon try it again. I know better!!! Everyday is a new day~;-) Thank God!

[Azuredreams]

I have always been the type of person who, if I feel sick to my tummy I go right in... get it out and get it over with rather then sit and endure feeling bad.
Since being banded I havent been horrible nausiated (sp?) but I have over filled and had to releave myself , for me its not like normal vomitting... because if it got past my band... then its past and its not coming back up. but if I over ate... or ate the wrong thing then its kinda like just an ounce of throw up that gets thrown up.
Its gross but its not like I go into the bathroon and hurl and hurl... just not pleasant... but I think everyone has gone threw it once or twice.



One good thing I have from being banded is that I have not had acid reflux once since I was banded back in May... and I had it atleast once a week before being banded.

I think you will do fine. The first three day after surgery where the worst part that I had. I feel normal now and its been six months.