Friday, July 24, 2009

Band-induced vomiting. And a magazine giveaway!

First of all, does anyone want a 10-month subscription to Brides magazine? Apparently, I was given a free subscription when I purchased something online recently. I called to find out how this happened and the woman told me that it was probably a free gift with a purchase from an Amazon wedding registry. Which, a) I haven't purchased anything from an Amazon wedding registry, and b) why would you possibly give a bridal magazine to someone who purchases something off a registry? They themselves aren't getting married!

Anyway, for whatever reason, I have this subscription, and seeing as how my wedding was last year, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to use it. So, any engaged or wedding-obsessed readers out there want it? It's a yearlong subscription and I've received two issues so far. If you want it, just let me know in the comments. If there's more than one person who wants it, I'll pick a random winner and then just switch the address on the subscription from mine to yours so future issues get sent directly to your house.

Now, moving on to the actual thing I wanted to write about: last night I had my first band-related puking incident. In fact, it was the first time that I can recall vomiting since 2005. I'm not a puker. But this was a different kind of vomiting.

We were eating dinner. It was spaghetti with whole-wheat noodles. I try to minimize the amount of carbs that I eat, since I know they don't go over so well with the band and I'm supposed to be focusing on protein anyway. But I thought it was OK since, after all, I've only had two fills, and it was whole wheat, and there was a lot of meat in the sauce, and I've tolerated other carbs, like sushi rice, since I had my second fill.

But no. I've had a couple of times in the past where I've eaten too much too fast and had mildly painful chest tightness, but this was different. I'd only had maybe three bites when suddenly I felt incredible pain and tightness in my chest (i.e., esophagus). It was horrible. I mean, the pain was REALLY intense. I could still breathe, but I still had kind of a choking sensation.

I stopped eating immediately, and tried to burp, or wait it out, or something to make it better. But then I got the sensation that I might throw up, so I got up and went to the edge of the patio (we were eating outside), just in time to puke up everything I'd eaten. At first I thought that was the end of it, but then the chest pain came back, and I ended up vomiting three more times. Then I burped, and then I started to feel better. Although I still didn't feel totally right for an hour or so afterward.

I'm still not quite sure what happened. I don't know if something got stuck or I just ate too fast or didn't chew enough or what. But I do know that that was an experience that I never wish to repeat, ever. I guess I'll have to start being better about chewing my food.

27 comments:

  1. Aye! That sounds horrible. Feel better!

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  2. That does sound awful, but I have to say, when I read the title, I forgot entirely about your surgery and was thinking "band-induced" meant a musical band, like you were at a concert or listening to a horrible CD or something.

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  3. Yikes, that sounds awful. Lesson learned, I guess, but what a crappy way to learn it.

    Hope your eating routine settles soon! So frustrating, I'm sure.

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  4. Oh, that's no fun! Glad you started to feel better not too too long later. And um, is it bad luck for myself if I ask for that mag subscription???? Because L keeps telling me it's sooner than I think. :)

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  5. I'm sorry to hear that! I hope it doesn't happen again.

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  6. i have had that happen a few times and there seems to be no rhyme or reason, my thing is though its not a real throw-up, just lots of spit and junk...totally feel for ya and glad to see you feel better!

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  7. I've been reading your blog for a while and I always enjoy it. I would love to be entered in the drawking for the Brides subscription. I've been engaged for 7 months, and we are actually e-mailing over the contract to set the date today. We have been stalling because we are in the middle of buying a house, which come to think of it was inspired by your posts of you and Torsten deciding to take advantage of the tax credit. Thanks so much!

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  8. Aww, that sounds awful. I hate throwing up. Hope it doesn't happen again!

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  9. Oh no, that's awful! I'm sorry to hear about that. How scary, but I'm glad the throwing up relieved the pain and pressure.

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  10. YES PLEASE!!!! I can't even begin to afford a subscription or buy it on newsstands; that would be beyond wonderful!!

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  11. Ooh, I'd be interested in the subscription!

    And that sounds AWFUL. Hopefully that doesn't happen again. :(

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  12. Ewww. Bummer about that. Hope you're feeling better now. Although I'm with Janssen--I totally forgot about the surgery involving a band, and I thought you meant a music band made you vomit. That would definitely be a reaction I've never had, even to the worst music!

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  13. Hope you feel better!

    I would like the subscription if it's available please!

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  14. That almost sounds like a stricture. My husband has one of those, (a narrowing of the esophagus) and those exact same things happen to him every now and then. However, he doesn't have a lap band, so I don't know if that happens with a lap band too :)

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  15. Actually both of the two people I know that have had this same issue so don't get too concerned about it, just know you can't eat that.

    However, a word of advice or warning; one of those two got into the practice of eating whatever she wants and then just going to the restroom and getting rid of it. In other words, she is now a bulimic and three years after the surgery she is still doing this even after learning that she has scar tissue on her esophagus...

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  16. Oh, that sounds so scary!
    I guess it is just part of learning what you can and can't eat? But not fun, for certain.

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  17. Oh yikes. I hate throwing up. Hopefully it was just a fluke and a one time thing.

    I'd love to be considered for the magazine subscription!

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  18. I have had the band for almost 7 years and that still happens to me. Sometimes for no obvious reason. I just make sure that I can access a bowl or a bathroom quickly. I have even remembered to bring ziplocs for when we dine out just in case. I hope that it doesn't happen too often.

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  19. oh gosh! i hope you figure out why that happened-- i get that too many carbs would overload it, but so fast? weird.

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  20. Aww! Lame, hope you feel better soon!

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  21. Oh boo. Fingers crossed this is the first and LAST time that happens to you!

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  22. Oh my... I hope that doesn't happen again.

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  23. Oh, you poor thing! That sounds horrible! Hope it won't be a recurring thing.

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  24. Ewww I'm sorry that you had to throw up. Hopefully it never happens again!

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  25. Yikes! Did you do some research to see if that was a typical reaction? It sounds really painful :( I hope it doesn't happen again!

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