POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I was banded in July and never had a problem till this last week. Almost daily I have felt a little sticking while eating...tried to slow down. Last night we went out to dance and party. Had a few goodies, no problem. Went to Taco Cabana afterward and tried one bite of a soft taco.. then one bite of chips & queso...terrible stuck feeling immediately and I threw up that chip & queso in the restroom and didn't eat again. This morning my hubby made me eggs & bacon. One bite of bacon one bite of cheesy egg and I felt that really bad sticking again and my mouth watered as if readying to relieve the stomach again. I even tried to drink Water and it felt more…

Wow, I spent the last half hour looking through the picture section of this site. There are soo many gorgeous ladies here! (handsome guys too!) You all are amazing, and an inspiration. I really appreciate you all! Have a good weekend, and a great halloween!

Hello All, I was wondering how to set a goal weight. I was banded on the 20th and went for my follow up appointment yesterday and I forgot to ask the doctor. I want to be realistic, but I also do not want to underestimate myself. The calculators that you find on the web basically say that a healthy weight for my height is between 101-136 lbs. Anything under 130 just sounds really low - but maybe that's because I can't imagine being in the 100's - I have been over 200 lbs for as long as I can remember. Once I figure out my ultimate goal, I will be able to set my mini goals. I believe in mini goals - ultimate goals can be overwhelming :thumbdown: Thanks in advan…

Hi Everyone, I was banded April 22, 2009.......I had my 3rd fill Friday (actually my 4th, but had problems and had to be completly unfilled for 6 weeks). Now have 4.8ccs in 10 band. I am having a hard time getting the food to go down in the beginning (when starting to eat), but after awhile I can eat and it takes alot to get filled.......So I guess I am not at my sweet spot yet........but does it sound like I am having any restriction??? I am very confused. Help. Thanks

Anyone get decent restriction after your first fill? I have the realize band and got my my first fill under Flouroscope and he put in 5.2 cc's. He said it was pretty aggressive and the barium went through pretty slowly. For about an hour I could feel liquids going down. They would slow for a split second then go through. After a couple hours liquids went down just fine. Greg

Does anyone else have back pain after eating solid foods? I am on day six of solids, and if I stick to mushies or liquids, I am fine. But when I eat small portions (even just one ounce) of meat, and some other solid foods, I get an aching pain between my shoulder blades that lasts for several hours. Then it goes away. Liquids or mushies don't seem to cause this. What's the deal? I hope some one can shed some light on this. Thanks y'all.

I went shopping last night for the first time since losing 30 pounds. For the first time in 10 years I could buy what I liked, and not just what fit. For the last 10 years I have been buying clothes if they fit (which was hardly ever), not if I like them....because if they fit, I LIKED THEM!!! I am also out of big girl clothes - officially can shop in the regular women's department - which as you may know increases the possibilities immensly. I am so glad I did this for myself...I just can't say enough about how great I feel. :confused1:

OK so it has been three weeks exacty since I was banded, I was only on a two day post op liquid diet... I have lost 25 pds , my concern is this last week I havent lost anything, in fact gained a pd...:sad: I am eating mashed food and some light things, can tolerate anything and am straving and when I eat, I make myself quit because I dont want to strech or damage anything... I feel like I havent even been banded...I am eating very good, exactly what I am surposed to be eating... Its just so hard, I am so hungry and cant get full. Is this normal til I get a fill? I am thinking they forgot to put the band in...lol:unsure:

I'm pre-band, but I am hoping I'll have my surgery before Thanksgiving (I'll know next week). I have told DH, my mom, and my BFF. I don't intend to tell anyone else for the time being, if ever. For anyone else who also didn't tell many people, did you tell people you had some type of surgery? How did you deal with the time off of work? Of meals with friends/family? I know my boss would let me rearrange my days off for the rest of the year without many questions, but should I say I'm having hiatal hernia surgery? MIL will definitely be suspicious at Thanksgiving dinner. Just not sure what I should say/do! Amy

Hey everyone I am just wondering if anyone has PCOS and got lap band and how things are working out. Anyone on meds associated with PCOS? Any symptoms or do they disappear once you have lost weight. It would be great to be able to talk with people who have PCOS and had Lap band surgery.

Today I've felt crappy all day. I feel a bit nauseous which has slowed down my Water intake. I haven't vomited but I definitely don't feel "well" when I drink. I feel a little sore in my abdomen that I didn't notice yesterday but if I'm able to pass gas it helps a little. I don't have a fever. My heart rate can get on the high side but it tended to race sometimes even before surgery. I have a call into my doctor's for some nausea medication. I have an appt with him on Tuesday anyway, I'm hoping this is a bad day and not the beginning of something awful, like a leak. Yesterday I felt super and I might have overdid it a little. Please keep me in your thoughts.

It has been almost 11 months since I got the lap band installed. I am down about 50 lbs now.....from 412 lbs to 365 The band was really not "turned on" until April 09 (which is when I really started feeling restriction) It seems like the process is slower.... I haven't been the best at eating what i'm suppose to. I can't stand to eat meat.... it makes me feel sick all day. The only way I can really eat it is in a Soup or chili, etc. I haven't really excercised like I should other than walking my dog around the neighborhood for 15 minutes a day. I'm wondering if anyone is struggling losing weight like me.... after about the same amount of time frame. I'll po…

Anyone have single incision laproscopic surgery? Just curious, not that I am worried about having a few extra scars to keep my stretch marks company

One year ago today I weighed 240 lbs (I am 5' 3"). My BMI was 42.5. I was wearing a tight, tight size 18/1X. I exercised by walking slow and doing pilates. I was depressed. I was not a good example for my 14 year old daughter or 11 year old son. Dates with my husband was dinner. Today, I weigh 171 lbs. My BMI is 30.3--so close to "just" overweight I can't stand it. I wear a size 10/12 dress, 12/14 pants, large/medium sweaters. I exercise by running, spinning and lifting weights. I am happy, confident, proud. My kids...well, I shop with my daughter and actually try things on in the dressing room with her and I run with my son. Dates now may be a hike, fishing or a wal…

I was banded last Wednesday the 21st and I have a question. I know that my band is wide open and I shouldn't be feeling restriction, but I'm actually not feelling much of anything! I mean, I can wolf down eggbeaters without worrying about how much I chew and nothing is getting "stuck" like some people mention. Aside of the tenderness I feel in the belly, I keep telling my husband that there isn't anything in there LOL Am I supposed to be feeling anything? Shouldn't things be coming back up if I'm not chewing thoroughly? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about it, but I'm not sure how I should be feeling right now (other than hungry LOL).

I need to know more about the kind of band my doctor put in 8 weeks ago, but can't really find it on the internet. Anyone know where to look? He told me when I got my first fill today (3 cc's) that I had a lap band AP 8. What does that mean? Where can I go to find out? Help!:sad:

Today marks one week banded. The comfort I received from food is gone. I know "find something else that comforts you"... Frankly, if I could do that, I would have done that before! Being aware of this and simultaneously being disgusted with myself I made the "Lap decision". Now, its like pure depression. I feel lathargic, malnutritioned, and like a head case. Of course, I feel lighter... havent weighed... really dont wanna be upset if the number isnt consistent with the level of discomfort ive put myself through. I get these waves of indigestion-type pain every so often.. but often. I cant burp like I used to, terrible loooooong gassy farts - I actually cr…

I went shopping over the weekend because I have no clothes that fit anymore. All of my pants are falling off, and my shirts just hang. So, my sisters took me to an outlet mall and made me go into the regular-sized stores. Lo and behold I bought a pair of size 14 trouser jeans. 14? Are you kidding me? The last pair of pants I bought were a size 24. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I'm pumped!!!! I love my band!

I have noticed that I am getting really hungry in the late afternoon and early evening. I think I am going to change drinking my protein shake from first thing in the morning to mid afternoon -- hoping to not get so hungry. Any other suggestions?

Hi everyone, I am so upset. I had my surgery on Thursday 10/22 and it was scheduled for outpatient meaning I could stay in the hospital if it was less than 24 hrs. I had waited almost a month for the drs office and the hospital to agree to outpatient only. The hospital used to not allow lb procedure as an outpatient. My drs office said they finally agreed to do outpatient procedures as of Oct 1. Well my lb procedure took longer and the surgeon had to repair a severe hiatal hernia, and do a liver biopsy. I endured terrible pain, nausea, vomiting, etc while I was in the hospital the whole time but they let me go and I had been on the unit for maybe 22 hrs. When I was rele…

Sorry, but I just need to vent. I'm 5 weeks post op and was scheduled to have my first fill Tuesday. I've been at a weight lost of only 9.5 lbs since surgery. I've been walking everyday for 30 minutes because that's all I'm allowed at this time. I actually did it twice in one day and still no weight loss. I've been at this weight for probably 2 weeks. Tuesday, when I was scheduled for my fill, I got a call that they had emergency surgery and needed to reschedule and it would probably be next week since it had to be scheduled by the doctors PA and had to be done in the hospital. I understand and said no problem. Okay, I called Wednesday and was told that the PA …

Wow.. I am 5.5 weeks post op and was following all the directions and two weeks into post op found out that my band isn't even closed yet. Then the light switch went on and i was like omg... i can still eat what i want until they tighten my band 11.5.09 I have been eating regular food since. Yes i watch my portions. But am eating fast food just stuff that isn't good for me. It so depressing i read other threads and people that are 5 weeks post op are already down 20 pounds. i am only down 11 pounds. Co workers know that i have had procedure done and they watch me like crazy. They don't know that when i get off work i am rolling to a drive thru to get something to eat. …

This is my first visit to the site. It looks great. I had surgery about 3 1/3 mo ago. I have only lost 15 lds. I am so discouraged and frustrated. I am keeping a food diary and am staying between 150 calories right after the fill to 8-900 before a fill. I've only gone over 1,000 cal. twice. Anyone out there help?:thumbup:

I was banded on Oct 1, 2009. My first few weeks of banding were great no problems feeling the fullness. Knowing when to stop eating. I was on a roll with loosing weight. I went for a check up with the diatician and the nurse on the 16th. They both were so very please with my progress. I had lost 15 lbs since surgery. Which was like almost 1 lb a day. Keep up the good work i was told. I asked if i could excercise and they said not yet. We'll see what the Dr says when you come to see him on Nov 2nd. (fill ?) Well ever since then i have not lost a pound.:thumbup: I'm doing everything the same as i was previous. Following all the steps to moving to solids. I am…

I am 3 days post op and today I started my full liquid diet. I have to say that the first day and a half was hard and after that I am feeling really well. I was able to get all my required water down, my clear protein and today I am eating exactly how much my nut told me to. I am not feeling stuffed...nor do i want to even try to overdo it and see what it feels like. I know that that the first month is important in keeping the band from slipping so i am not even going to try. I am trying not to get on the scale until my 2 week check up -but so far i feel really good. I am a little hungry and my stomach does curse me out for not eating - but i don't have that "oh my god! …

Hi Guys- hoping one of you can tell me something, iam 2 weeks out of surgery, moving onto mushie foods..i have ahd this lump type feeling in the center of my chest,, right between my breasts ( sorry guys) i have had this since sugery.. when will it go away.?

I was banded on Sept 30th. Startin On the pre-op liquid diet i was 346 and on surgery i was 316. I was on liquid diet for 10 days. I had my first fill on mon. Oct. 26th and I have gained like 15 pounds. Someone please tell me what I am doing wrong? I have started excercising walking a mile on the treadmill in the a.m and a mile in the evening on the treadmill. I am also doing some weights. What else can maximize my weight loss?

I know I have seen this post before but I can't find it doing a search. Last night I choked on a small piece of chicken skin but a snack size Snickers went down like it was water. I won't even touch milkshakes and stay clear of my favorite Wendy's frozen chocolate desserts. I have a cold and am afraid that the Dr won't give me my fill tomorrow even though I am eating like a pig. I ate almost a full 16 oz bag of Trader Joe's Salsa Tortilla Chips tonight while reading my favorite message boards. It is a struggle every day to not gain back the 30 lbs I lost prior to surgery. I am not happy with this band and this starving feeling makes it worse. I was less…

I can't eat at all, drinking liquids I vomit 2-3 times per day. Had Endo GI something and doc said looks fine. This started about 3 weeks after last fill. I have only lost 51 lbs, I feel terrible. Any advice.

I learned about my brother's friend the other day. He was banded and has lost 85 pounds and gained back 40 pounds. He has stretched out his pouch. What will have to be done for him to start losing again? Just curious!!!:thumbup:

I ate 1 ounce of cream cheese last night .

Hello! I was banded on 9/9/09 and have had my first fill. I'm a frequent lurker and appreciate all the info you all share. I wonder if someone can give me the scoop on rice. I understand a lot of bandsters can't eat it because it expands in the stomach. So does this mean that it won't get stuck, but if I eat it I could be in a lot of pain later on? Or will it come back up? What can I expect? Thanks!

I finally firmly planted into Onederland with a weight of 195 and am sure I will stay put. I am also at my sweet spot...I think so hopefully this is the beginning of something great!

Hey everyone, I'm 21 days post op and this shoulder pain on my left side is unbearable......any suggestions on how long it lasts or what to do to get rid of it....thanks for any help

Hi, I'm 9 weeks post-op. I've lost 36 lbs so far. I was wondering what else can I drink? I've done crystal lite with water, water, and more water. Is there anything else out there that can count as a water or maybe just have a couple of ounces. Feeling like I just need a different taste. :thumbup:

Ugh, I'm pretty sure you can stretch the pouch out and I think I have. And seriously how terrible is that? Banded 16 months ago and have lost 88 lbs to date. But only 30 of that has been this year. I feel like I'm really stuggling especially the last 2 months, stuck at the same weight-not going up or down really. I usually can't eat Breakfast thats my norm. Usually small lunch maybe a cup or less and dinner is variable sometimes a little sometimes ALOT. I can't eat bread or chicken. But I swear my band turns off at 8:00 pm. I suddenly am rummaging through the house looking for Snacks of all kinds after 8. Its funny because that was my problem before the band a…

Hi all!! I was banded on the 19th and just getting around to the hang of things! I had not felt real hunger until today!! I was in Target in the cracker aisle (yummmmmmm) and I knew I was hungry but all of a sudden I felt a sharp pain that felt like hunger pains!! They wrapped around my back and they were terrible!! Im still on the full liquid diet which has been ok, but I was starving!! I understand what I can and can't eat, but How much am I supposed to be eating??? How do I know if Im eating too much or too less??? Please help!!!!

Hey everyone, Does anyone else have issues with eating Breakfast?? I love breakfast but since my last fill (6cc's total), I have not been able to eat breakfast at all. First bite I take feels stuck and I have to quit eating. So I have to drink a Protein shake for breakfast instead. :closedeyes: Let me know if anyone else has these issues!!

I had surgery on Sep 3rd and first fill (2cc) 6 weeks later. My weight loss has so far been extremely successfull- 305Lbs surgery day and 276Lbs 6 weeks later (15 additional Lbs during the two week pre-opp diet). I now have been eating occassional bread. My question is it common to feel like one will vommit after bread or feel like it is stuck. In the first 6 weeks, I had no PBs but have a few times since the fill. It seems like bread and rice does it to me. I guess logic says to give it up but, I am looking for input (I obviously like bread and rice). Thanks

I just started mine a few days ago and would love to read some more!! Thanks!!

I had the FLU since last Tuesday (i wasnt vomitting, which is good) however, when I finally starting feeling better on Saturday, I picked up a Bacterial Infection and had a horrible cough! If I am violently coughing, can this hurt the band??

I have 5 cc's in a 10 cc band and I still feel like I can eat too much. Some things go down very easily - like salad, even with grilled chicken in it - and I can almost eat as much as I want. To be fair, there are other things that don't go down well at all though. I tried to eat a tamale yesterday and couldn't even eat half of it. I'm scared I've stretched my pouch - is that something I can fix on my own? Thanks, Cindy Banded 6-3-09

I have been sleeved 3 and half months ago. I lost about 20 kg (about 36 pounds) in that period. I was wearing size 50 inch before surgery, now I 'm wearing 42-44 inch. However, I feel I am not losing fat from the tummy but rather from the limbs. This is roughly estimated by the skin fold thickness (The minimum skin fold you can pinch at the area below the ribs (subcostal) or in the back of arm Triceps area). It seems the skin fold in the abdomen essentially the same!!! What is your experience?

I am getting sicker by the minute and can't wait to get home from work. I had lots of plans for my weekend, but it doesn't look like they're going to happen. My sinuses have are now draining into my chest and my asthma is kicking in. Aside from the fact that I could barely get my lunch down (a Lean Cuisine with all of 240 calories) is there anything I should know about treating a cold with the band? In my pre-band days I always liked to eat a "Ding Dong" or two -- I don't know why, just made me feel better (and bigger) when I was sick. Now, not so much. Anyone suffered through an ugly cold with the band?

Hi all I was just wondering if any of u were doing weight watchers with your band and if so how is it going. I just got banded on the 14th of oct and im thinking about doing ww and curves as well with my band. What do you all think of this?

Hi all- Got banded on 2/5/08. Starting to feel almost normal again with just a bit of tenderness around the middle yet. Well today was my first real day of some housework and now I'm paying for it. Have some stinging pain around the port if I bend. I called the clinic but haven't heard back from a nurse. Nothing super major mind you but pretty stinkin' annoying when I thought I was healing so well. Has anyone else overdone it like this? Just taking it easy seem to rectify the problem? Did I tear any stitches or just aggravate it? My guess is aggravate 'cause I wasn't doing anything aerobic! Thanks all..... Windy:cursing:

Hi all im glad to say im back on track with my post op diet. I was messing up pretty bad and I feel so bad about it. I start my soft food diet tomorrow and I am trying to figure out everything that I would be able to eat. I know in my booklet from the clinic it says fish chicken and like mash it with my fork. I was wondering if I can have like canned spinach I just wanna know what all soft foods to eat im confused.

Hi all, I was banded on june 30th and started the whole LAP-BAND® process thinking it is different than diet and exercise which I did in the past. I kept with my notion of not needing to do diet and exercise with the band and thought i can eat anything and everything without doing exercise. Here I am 4 months post op and 4 fills later still struggling to lose even one pound. Now it is dawning on me that lapband itself does not make you loose weight but you do have to work on diet and exercise. Did any of you think like me or do you think like me? Those who are successfully losing weight post op, I URGE you all to tell me what are you doing (eating what food, doing w…

Is Bandster Hell any worse than a 10 day pre- op liquid protein diet?? How could it be worse or more challenging that this? If it is worse, tell us why? Thanks...

I had my surgery 3 weeks ago and I am hungry. I am trying to follow the recommendations for my meals but it doesnt fill me. What snacks can I work into my routine? Is it unusual to be hungry? Is it unusual to have cravings? I really want a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich.