POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Okay i have had soda about 6 times since banded in July. i havent talked to my doctor about drinking soda, i have just seen on here that you shouldnt do it. I have had about 6 week spots where I have drank soda and i feel find after doing so, no problems. do you think i have caused damage or is if only possible to cause damage if you drink it on a daily basic. I just dont understand its liquid which goes right down,is it the carbonation they worry about? What is the damage from drinking soda?

hi-to make a long story short--- banded 1/12/09 repaired port 5/6/09 have been having great restriction (last fill 11/4) now the last 2 days i feel no restriction at all...ate 2 tacos for dinner and could of had 2 more if i was back in the day before the band...what is going on? will it come back or is it leaking??? help me please scared of going back to the 300's plus (down to 245)

What different steps do we need to take having PCOS to help us lose the weight...seeing that we process foods different from others?

So I am totally paranoid about stretches that require big range of motion like yoga or pilates..for some reason I cant get it out of my head that i can move that dingy port or it will go somewhere dig in somewhere and get lost.. or I will break a stich! I cant shake this. I work out< I do the eliptical or bike but regarding stretching and sits ups etc.. argh I just cant do them! anyone have the band for years or have feelings about exercize and there friend the port?? Id love to hear your thoughts..

I go tomorrow after a month and a half after my last fill..and I lost 16 lbs! Thanks everyone for your suggestions!! I still eat my ice cream.... LOL I eat the good kind but just instead of buying a gallon...I buy a pint...and spread that out over a few days.

I'm very excited to start mushies on Friday and was craving sushi...the simple kind with about a tablespoon of Japanese rice and a piece of Tuna on top. Does this count as 'mushie' food? Does anyone have any experience eating this.....I'm wondering if it's well tolerated or if the rice, in particular, is an issue. Thanks!

So I have quite the collection of old bridesmaid dresses from the years, I mean seriously a chubby bridesmaid always makes the bride look good right? So tonight I dragged out 3 of them and tried them on....THEY ARE GIANT ON ME!!! The navy strapless which previously was great for showing off my giant arms is now falling off, The purple barney costume looks like a mumu, and best of all the lime green and orange halter looks ridiculous....oh wait that has not changed. I am thinking about trying on my wedding dress next time I am at home...... Take out those dresses and remember how fabulous you were and how now you would be too hot to even be asked!!!

Because of being fat and having large breasts, almost since I can remember, I've always slept on my tummy. Kind of on my tummy with one leg kicked out and my arm under my pillow so i'm not flat on my face. I cannot sleep on my back at all or I feel like I can't breath and I wake myself up snoring. Sometimes I can sleep on my side but I really sleep so much better on my tummy. Will I not be able to sleep like that again after surgery? I'm worried that I will not be able to sleep. I'm hoping once I lose the weight, I will be able to sleep however I want. Anyone have this same issue?

Hi all. I have a weird question. If your not supposed to feel restricted or full until after your first fill, why do I feel full with any liquid I drink at all? Even 3 little sips of water. It will take me at least 6 full hours to drink 20 ounces of water and that is with a very uncomfortable pressure and bubbly mess going on inside. If your supposed to be able to drink normal amounts of water and not feel restricted, I just don't get it. Liquid runs through even the smallest of space........Please help me to figure out what is going on! I am losing patience quick with this. I have done everything I am supposed to and this isn't going well. On a positive note......my p…

I had my surgery on June 4th. I have not had any restriction until my last fill last week. I already am at 7cc. My doc thought if this didn't work I might have a leak in my band or some erosion. Thank god it did- and I do feel restriction for the first time. My question is how do I know if its the "sweet spot" - how will I know I'm getting the best restriction I can??? My doc cancelled my next appt (for next week) since I finally have restriction. So I am not scheduled for another fill until I call and think I need one. I'm just so happy to have some- and I finally found out what getting stuck means.......ouch!! So should I just go with this for now???? thanks f…

Hello all, I am getting banded on December 7th, and I am just curious to see how much you guys have lost per month or week. I am pretty sure it's impossible to lose 20lbs a month, right? That would be about 5lbs a week and that's probably too much? Not sure where I'm going with these questions...and I know everyone is different. Just trying to get a real feel on how everyone did after their surgery. Thanks! :thumbup:

I'm confused. A lot of things I've read about lap band have bandsters eating 3 meals per day with no snacks, but the sample guidelines my dieticians gave me post-op have breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. Of course, I want to do whatever is best to maximize my weight loss. What do YOU all do about meals/snacks?

My doc has us do liquids for 4 weeks post op before moving to mushies and today I just really needed to have something more filling. We dont get cream Soups only broth so I made tomato Soup and then melted alittle cheese in it. I didnt each much but I am kinda upset I couldnt stick to the whole schedule. I can have tomato juice so I figured soup wouldnt be too far a strech. I didnt have any pain but did have alittle rumbling in my stomach but it does that anytime I put anything but Water in. Any suggestions if you think is this a huge mistep? Did you have anything similar a week after? I dont want to mess up my band but I know I cant stick 100 percent to my docs recc he…

I just the band on November 9 and my dr is already letting me have mushies,he has been real vague just you can eat soft food come back in amount and we will start fills. Not a lot of info at all.:confused:

I am so sick of cold food, I know I have to eat slowly and I do...however I would love a hot meal.

:biggrin:Well guys!...It's done....I got banded this morning at 9...home by 2....little to NO pain!...Mostly just feels like I did a ton of sit ups... A-Mazing experience....Now....let my LIFE BEGIN!!!! P.S.~thank you ALL for your support!...I hope I can be a source of help to you as you have been to me!!!

Does this incision look normal?? I had lapband November 13th. I know it looks bruised but I've never seen anything like this. BTW I had the single incision lap band. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/45089-albums4540-picture26947.jpg

So, I was banded just 2 months ago and had my first "fill" 3 weeks ago. I've been trying to figure out exactly how much I should be chewing my food before swallowing. The dietitian and the surgeon are telling me that I should chew well, but not to paste/pureed consistency. They want the food to stay in my pouch longer so that I feel full longer. However, when I do not chew my food to paste consistency, I sometimes get that "stuck" feeling and a horrible tightness in my chest and sometimes have to throw up -- I believe it's called a PB (productive burp). I have no problem at all eating any type of food if I chew it really well, but I find that I can eat much more th…

Four days post surgery and I keep getting the jitters. Any ideas?

Not sure why, but since surgery (10/5) I have been standing up for myself more and more. I was never a shrinking violet, but have just been more mouthy at work especially. I am not complaining, I like it, but sometimes I hear myself and think -OMG I am such a bitch- BUT I DON"T CARE. That's the change, I really don't care. Maybe it is the whole "Taking control" of my life thing, but I like it!! LOL Anyone else have a personality change? (Or maybe I just need a piece of bread!)

The nurse said she want's me to be full 4-5 hrs after eating 3/4 to a cup of food. Today I ate a cup of soup and was stuffed around noon and then by 3 I was feeling hungry now im staving it's 4. I just got filled on mon.

Well I went last week and got a fill and I think I have finally reached my sweet spot, because I wasn't losing before and I have lost 5 pounds since. The problem is..yes, I get full quicker and stay full longer, BUT I think that sometimes I am getting stuck too much. I will say I was not disciplined before this fill and did not chew my food well and didn't really concentrate on taking small bites. So i'm not sure if thats just coming to bite me in the a#$ now or if I am just too tight. I really dont' want them to take any out because I am scared I will stop losing, but I do know that I need the appropriate amount of calories on a daily basis also. What did your sweet spot…

Hi all how long did your first fill last? I had chicken and noodles today for lunch at noon and im still full. I had to wait 24 hrs before eating after fill was on liquids. I am still full I can't beleive it and this is what I needed. Im so happy now I also worked out today it was only 10 minutes, but hey it's better then nothing im just getting started. Just wanted to share this since I started off on the wrong path before.

I was banded on 10/20/09. recovery has gone well. I've lost 42lbs total. But that was all before I started eating any "real" foods. My weight loss has kinda stalled since, I expected that so ok... I'm due for my first fill this Wed. I'm kinda concerned tho.... I think I may be one of the lucky ones who has restriction before their fills. Here is what I can/do eat. approx 3/4cup of food before I'm full, and it holds me for 3-4 hours. Cannot eat bread, no way no how. chicken is not my bands friend even when chewed to total mush. I've slimed a few times, and even been stuck on chicken, not fun! I'm wondering if I should reschedule my first fill for a f…

I'm almost 2 weeks post-op and I've been beggin my husband...but he won't give in because he thinks he'll hurt me! lol. Is it painful? Different in any way?

Alright, it's been over a month and I can say that I've bonded with my band, but he/she STILL doesn't have a name. Please help! Leave your band name suggestions in the comments section - I'll pick one from there. Many thanks for your help, friends!

i had my surgery oct 4 2007. i had horrible luck with it and was constantly sick. i finally had all the fluid taken out in dec of 2008. i think i'm ready to try this again. just curious if anyone has ever done this? gone a year with no fluid and then started over.....

Ok thanks in advance for reading what probably is going to be a long post :biggrin: I have been working on getting a band for a while. I have had some set backs with insurance but I think I am finally on my way. The first place I started was very supportive of getting banded and told me I would lose about 70 pounds. At the time I was 5'2 and about 230 pounds. I was happy with that. I knew it would be slow but that is what I wanted. I know that a lot of my problem is portion control so I thought the band was good for me. Everything was due to be sent to insurance and I got a call from the surgeon saying he finally wanted to meet me. I went in to see him and he re…

At lunch today I started to eat some really mushy dressing, with gravy on it and I started to hiccup. I had only taken like two bites and then I started to throw up, like projectile, everywhere! I have never had any problems with this and its been two weeks since I had a fill, weird....Anybody else ever throw up just from the hiccups? I could understand if I had eaten something I wasn't supposed to or if I had eaten too much, but I had barely started to eat!!! Oh I am 8 weeks post op too....

So I just gotta vent... Nov 13 was the day I got baned.. so as you know I'm still on my liquids.... Last night my husband and I went to his aunts for dinner. I brought my protein shake but they had pasta and chicken parmesean my fav!!! I was about to cry sitting at the table just smelling it. I wanted to just put in my mouth and spit it out, but I know that wouldn't be cool. My weakness has always been Italian food. This is going to be a tough patch to get through as far as eating liquids.. But I can do it!!:w00t:

I'm now on a soft diet with NO restriction whatsoever. I am starving to death eating 1 cup of food. I have been measuring on sight (at a class again today where they served this amazing lunch), so here I am having my steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. Couldn't have any chicken because it was breaded a million times over. They haD these amazing cheesecakes and everything too- I just wanted to cry. I have never had an issue with food on my pre op 1500 cal a day diet, but now with this one cup crap I am soooo not satisfied and worried I did the wrong thing here. Please tell me it'll get better after my first fill! I'm really strugglinh right now. Any support or advice …

I have to have a minior surgery under general anesthesia, and was told all my fluid must be taking out for any surgery. What would happen, if I or anyone was in a accident, and could not tell the hospital about the band? Just wondering what the affects could be.

dear all, I am 20 days out of surgery now. I lost 26.5 Lbs so far but the scale is not moving since one week now. actually it is 2 pounds up today. I started pureed food but very little. yesterday at dinner I wanted to have yoghurt. I hardly took 3 small spoons only then my stomach aches started. do I have to go back to my liquid diet? I am indesperate need of losing 22 more pounds to start looking acceptable. I am in a hurry I know but when I think that I am not eating bread, pasta, rice, cookies, cakes, ice cream, biscuits, crackers any more, then why I am not losing??? someone mentioned something about week 3 stall, How long does it last usually? thx all.

I had my first fill yesterday, and after all the freaking out I read on here and all the talk of numbing the area, I was a little nervous. But then, it happened, and it was totally painless. Took a total of 30 seconds for the Doc to find the port, stick it with a needle and fill me up. No numbing necessary! And I barely felt a thing. I got 1.2cc added to my 2cc I got on Surgery Day. :-) I'm hoping to finally get some restriction from this. How much of a fill did it take before you really knew that you had restriction? What does restriction feel like, anyways? lol Thanks. Sum Oh, and I posted a new Vlog on YouTube if anyone's interested in following...

Got banded 10/16 and by the third week I was so sick of not “chewing” that I started to eat chicken and pulverize it in my mouth- It seemed fine then- About 2 weeks ago I must have forgotten that I had the band because I was so hungry that I had some chicken and I felt this incredible pain and for a while there it seemed like anything I ate I felt. Almost like you feel something going down your throat only this time it was my stomach- arrggg no pain just weird feeling. Yesterday I had some chicken again didn’t eat it too fast but incredible pain again! I tried some water to push it down but big mistake. I had to go through the pain till everything settled down. So, is it …

I was banded on 10-23-09 and as of today I have lost 40 pounds total. I am exercising, but I am having some loose skin as of now. I have a few Christmas parties coming up and I would like to wear a sweater and I was wondering if anyone has bought any under garments that help hold you in. I would like to know what kind and if they are comfortable. Please let me know if you have any experience with this.:redface:

My weight loss should start improving .. My incisions are finally healed and that means I can get in the pool. I will be waterwalking 2 nights a week. I would love to do more- but on the other nights the pool is just to crowded for Water walking. I have arthritis and have had a knee replaced , so I W.W. because it is so low impact. I am diabetic and it took extra long for incisions to heal.

I just bought the GoWear Fit band today and I can't wait for it to arrive here on Sat. (hopefully) Anyone already have it? Let me know your thoughts on it, or the bodybugg. It is my understanding they are made by the same company and basically the same product. I was banded two days ago so I am excited to get to use this arm band during the whole weightloss journey with my LapBand. :thumbup:

take the multi-vitamins after surgery? I am almost a month post-op and have no idea if I am supposed to be taking my vitamins......I know I could call the surgeon's office, but they take FOREVER to return phone calls of any sort.

My doctor has said I should, emphasis on should take off work an entire week.... I really don't want to. I work an office job, no lifting or anything. I can get pretty comfy at my desk. How soon is too soon to return to work?

Please help - im just not sure what to think any more. I had my surgery on 7/7. Pre op and post op i was on target and losing well....I got to a high weight loss of 39#'s....sooo wanting to hit that 40 lb. mark. When i had my last fill I was at 7 in an 11 cc band. I could only take 1cc that visit, because i struggled to get Water down. I had been stuck in limbo for weeks in a 227/228 lb. weight - after my last fill I finally dropped from where i was stuck..about 227/228 to 223.4. I was thrilled beyond belief! Now, here i am a couple weeks have passed..and guess what? Im back up to like 227.5 again. Im frustrated beyond belief. Sometimes i wonder if my band has a…

Wow, I paid a whole lot of money to lose 33 pounds....I just found out I'm pregnant! Anyone else been through this?

I was banded on August 26th and lost 20 pounds in the first month. I was working out and doing good. About 3 days before my first fill I started to feel hungry and it would take a lot to give me a full feeling. When I got my fill the nurse was reluctant to give me a fill because she thought I was losing the weight fast. After much discussion she gave me 1cc. She also told me that I was exercising too much. So I cut back on the exercising and after the second day of the fill I did not have any feeling of restriction. That was a month ago. I have my second fill scheduled for November 10th. I tired to get the appointment moved up but they could not fit me in any earl…

Hey! I have a quick question! I am 25 days POST surgery and having been doing well. I used to be able to feel my port, as weird as it was it felt squishy and round and I could feel it. Now I woke up this morning, and it seems to have disappeared and I can't feel it anymore. Is that normal or has anyone dealt with that?? Please let me know! Thanks!

Hi all, I am scheduled to have my surgery on Dec. 9th. I don't have to do a pre-op diet, thankfully. However I will need to do a 14 day post-op liquid diet. My doctor told me to buy either OPTI-FAST meal replacement shakes or SLIM-FAST LOW CARB meal on the go drinks. He said it doesn't really matter which one. I am wondering if anyone can recommend one over the other? Is one better tasting, more filling, etc? Did you have to do the liquid diet for 2 wks after surgery? I see some only had to do it for 7 days. I'm wondering what the difference is? Does anyone know? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I am 54 days post op. I am coming up to my second fill in 3 days... I am great at home. I eat reasonably well, and I also eat a gluten and lactose free diet. BUT I work as a nanny every weekday from 3pm - 6pm and those few hours are :w00t::smile::thumbdown:TERRIBLE:thumbdown::scared2: TODAY i ate a king sized Kit Kat BAR, a banana muffin and maybe 20 salty crackers with spread and butter! WHY I DO NOT KNOW????????? I ate wayyyyyyy tooo much before I left home (naughty foods at well) but i thought nothing could be worse than what i eat at work.. so I have over eaten TWICE today. BECAUSE I CANNOT CONTROL MY EATING WHEN I AM AT WORK!! is it because I am lone…

I'm looking forward to starting mushie foods this Friday and have little idea what to eat at that time. Does anyone have any favorite mushie recipe/food item to share? Many thanks...first time poster.:biggrin:

So I had my surgery November 13th, I'm obviously in stage 1 liquid diet. It says that I'm supposed to have 2oz per meal 3 times a day. I'm just curious is it always going to be 2oz per meal each week throughout? :wink2::confused::tongue2:

It's my third day post surgery. When will I start to feel like myself again. It's been a rough couple of days.

I am a patient of Dr. Moon's. I'm not having very good success in dealing with his office staff. I'm wondering if anyone else has been banded by him and how they thought the process went. He's at what use to be St. Luke - and is now St. Elizabeth Hospital. Thanks! Ginger