POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I was just banded on 9/18/09 and am really excited about my new journey! I've lost 17 lbs since starting my pre-liquid diet until today. My goal is to lose 85 lbs. :biggrin:

hey, ive had surgery 2 and half months ago. I just had my 3rd fill last fri. I started to notice as i eat and about hald hr to an hr after i get these rediculously loud girgling,bubbling type of noises..No joke people can hear it. Whats that about? anyone else have that at this point in their journey? does it go away? Hows everyone doing if anyones at this point in the road 2 and half months in..3 fills i think im at 6.4. In terms of restriction I have it, but not conistent. I can graze throughout the day but there are def certain foods I cant have to much of. Good luck all. and if anyone can share id love the input.

I have been to the GYN about missing my period (Not Pregnant) and breakthrough bleeding with my birth control. They prescribed me Provera to bring on my period. They say its from losing weight. . Has anyone had experience with this?? :tt1:

Has anyone felt less restriction after their 2nd fill then they did after the 1st one? I actually feel like they took out some of the fill... My first one was 4 cc and then just last week I got 2 more cc's. This is really frustrating... I was so excited to get my 2nd fill thinking it was going to really make a difference and then nothing...

I've been reading all the posts here and on OH about VSG and I'm a little dismayed by all the stalls everyone seems to have. I remember hitting them in my WW days and it was maddening when I would calculate my calories in/calories out. It made no sense that I wouldn't be losing weight and yet there would be weeks where nothing would happen. Stalls with the sleeve seem even more nonsensical because I know if I'll be eating 800-900 calories a day it's about a third of what I'm probably eating now where I'm maintaining. How on earth does that not translate to weight loss? For those who have had surgery, have your docs or NUTS ever given you a scientific reason why these…

First, I'll make some bold statements here. I'm looking for advice as well. That being said, if I need to be corrected, please dont hesitate. SO....I'm 3 weeks out of surgery today. I'm down 18 pounds since surgery, 34 as of 8/1. I'm happy with that. I've been reading a lot about Bandster hell. This is the period of time where you're healed, have little restriction, transition to mushy then solid, and stop losing, or even gain a little. All waiting for your first fill.... Well, I'm not down with that. Maybe it's all a headgame, I'm thinking. I've decided that I need to come up with a strategy of transitioning to solid food, while exercising and at least stay…

I haven't been on much, but wanted to ask if anyone has had the kind of problems I have, and found something that helps. I'm 2 years post surgery. About 6 months after surgery I started having a lot of coughing at night, along with other acid reflux symptoms. Had reflux pre-surgery, but never this bad. Went back to surgeon twice, and he removed Fluid from band. Actually he's now removed most of the fluid. But I still have this problem, sometimes worse, sometimes better. I've taken Prilosec, and now talking Nexium. Sometimes that seems to have helped, but recently I've had nightly coughing spells. This is a serious problem because I can't sleep. Using a wedge pil…

I was banded almost 6 weeks ago and for the last two weeks I've felt like there was a cotton ball stuck in my throat. It's not difficult to swallow it's really just annoying. Has anyone else had this or know what it is?

I'm a little over a week post op and still have to do the whole clear liquid diet thing. I did my 10 day pre op clear liquid diet and my doc likes 4 weeks post op. At the moment I still have 3 weeks left of it before I can move on to puree. I'm pretty much hungry all the time...ugh. I was wondering if there were any secrets out there that helped fill ya up when you were on the liquid stretch. Thanks in advance! :biggrin:

I have been wondering this for a while. Slider foods are foods that you are able to eat easily, that are fairly high calorie. e.g icecream,chocolate,custard,crisps, crackers etc Then there are the slider foods which it is OK to eat in moderation as they are of high nutritional value e.g yogurt But what is a band friendly food? The name implies that it must be fairly easy to eat, but if it goes down easily wouldn't it also be a slider? What is the difference? For me things like eggs,tuna,pasta etc all go down easily - so are they sliders or band friendly? Things which have caused me to PB or get stuck are usually meats,chicken and sometimes I suspect certain salad …

Hi There! I am an Air Force wife just approved by Tricare, yay :biggrin: I was wondering how long everyone had to take off work. My sister-in-law had it done and only took off a week, but when I was talking with the nurse she said I should try to take off 6 weeks, yikes!

Hello all! I was officially banded on Friday Sept 18th so I guess I can move to this message board now!! YAY!! Everything went well with the surgery. Surgery was at 8:30 and I was headed home by 3:30. Probably could have left sooner, but I was having trouble drinking the required 8 ounces of water that I had to and was having some wierd heart palpatations. They finally sent me home after an EKG and thought that the heart stuff was a reaction to either anesthesia or the gas that they pumped me full of. Im healing well. Still pretty sore and still am not hungry. Ive been sipping on gatorade and water so that I dont get dehydrated, but havent had much else. I have lost abou…

I take sooo many pills and was wondering how they arent going to get stuck one of these days. I take 16 pills in a day 20 after I break the horse pills up. Some are big that I cant split. At the hospital they acted like it was no big deal and gave me a shotglass worth of water to take them all with. I about gaged. I just know when I get a fill Im going to have trouble. I mean jeez ya cant swallow food that isnt chewed why do they expect me to swallow a bunch of pills unchewed

Hi everyone! I'm new here and not banded yet. I've been reading all of your great posts and am having trouble finding any horror stories concerning any part of your experiences. Tell me, has anyone had a bad experience? Thanks.

I went into surgery down 7lbs (due to my pre-op diet). The next day I weighed myself when I got home and was UP 7lbs! I was surprised at this since I'd only had ice chips, water, and a spoonful of nasty hospital sugar-free jello. As of now, 3 days post op -and still on liquids-, I'm down 8lbs. Anyone else experience anything like this? Also, sometimes when I burp it feels like half of it gets stuck inside me and then I feel this sharp pain in my left shoulder. Is that routine enough not to be unusual? I'm going to have a book of questions to call my Surgeon about tomorrow!

Ya so I'm in soft foods and I had tortilla chips with a bean dip the other day and I am fine because I chew very well. Why is it so important to have soft foods? Is it okay if you chew well. I also have had chicken, but it was pretty mushy. I dunno I have just been struggling with the soft food thing and I needed a break. :biggrin: i hope i didn't mess anything up. I had surgery Aug. 28th...and I am on regular foods next week sometime. I just want some advise I guess.

I am 2 weeks post op and while things seem to be going ok...I have gained 5 pounds back this week! HOW does one gain weight when they are on an all liquid diet of less than 800 calories a day? The only thing NEW is that my General Dr. cut out my heart pill which is a diuretic, and lowered my insulin in half and cut my BP meds down 75%. Not sure why the weight gain, but it is ticking me off to no end! It is not like I am cheating and EATING something... Very discouraged at this point!

As many of you may or may not know, Friday night starts Rosh Hashanah followed by Yom Kippur, the two most holy holidays in the jewish religion. I have dinner w/my family both tomorrow night and Saturday night. I was banded on May 19, 2009 and things are going really well. This is the first jewish holidays that have hit since my surgery. My family is SOOO supportive and proud of me and how I have been doing. So what's my question??? Has anyone dealt w/holiday's since they were banded?? Like most Jews, our holidays are always about food... LOL I know I need to think about the protein first, veggies next, etc... but there are gonna be food there that I am gonna want..…

I get about 900 cals a day (all full liquids). I walk at least EOD for 20-30 mins. A good 20 pounds has stayed off-the other four yo yo. What gives? I'm not comfortable lowering my cals. I have 4 kids and a house to deal with. Eating less made me SO tired. Any thoughts? I would like to see a little more weight coming off before I hit my 1 month 'surgiversary' on August 10.

Following getting banded on Tuesday, I went straight on to liquidised food rather than a liquid diet. Each “meal” consists of 2 liquidised table spoons worth of fish/chicken etc and two liquidised table spoons worth of veg/ potato etc I am a big guy who was eating about 3000 - 4000 calories a day prior to my pre surgery diet. Now I estimate I am eating about 600 -700. Yesterday was Bad! I never suffered from hunger pains because my stomach is still swollen, but I was so tired and lethargic and kept having to take half hour sleeps throughout the day. I am due back at work on Monday and am worried I just will not have the energy to concentrate or work properly. Like …

just wanted to touch base with anyone who used the same surgeon as I did.... TIA

Im 2 months post op and only lost 17 lbs (and thats mosty POST OP weight loss!) I dont understand how I've been eating right n excersizin and only lost 2 pounds in 3 weeks?! ughh im gettin frustrated...yesterday I got my second fill...I wanted to b down 50lbs by dec n dats like 3 months away! wut should I do to improve weight loss?

I went on my first vacation to Barbados where I didn't plan my whole day around food! I went to the breakfast buffet and just had my normal meal rather than a five course breakfast. I had a tiny lunch and a normal sized dinner and no snacking. I even managed to lose 5 lbs while I was gone! It is so nice to have the band actually be working!

I was banded on 7/28/09. I have a 11cc band. I got my first fill 9/9/09 of 4cc and I went on liquids for 2 days like the doc recommended and I am now on solids but I have only felt restriction once. Lately I have been able to eat soooo much! I eat whatever I want and don't feel any restriction. I have gone past feeling full a couples of times and drank water right after to get the bloated feeling to go away (I know bad bad bad). I have been so hungry lately and cannot seem to control myself sometimes. I have been doing some research on pouch dilation. Could I have pouch dilation or do I already need more of a fill? I am so confused and scared that I might have screwed thi…

Hello! I have just completed the Kaiser Options program and am scheduled to meet with the surgeon in a few weeks. I initially wanted to go with the gastric bypass, but am now considering lap band. My problem is that I am starting an intensive full time nursing program next week, and don't know if I will be able to have the surgery and continue school without missing more than a couple days. I don't have the option of putting the surgery off, because with the Kaiser program the surgery has to be completed within 6 months of the finish date. I would like to know if anyone can share their thoughts on the healing and recuperation time that is necessary for the lap band, as w…

Good Morning. I woke up and stepped on the scale and realized 2 things. First, I had lost another 4 pounds (total -50), and sencond it is my two month surgiversary:) WOW! I'm so happy I made this decision to change my life. Thank you all out there for your support and willingness to help the newbies, no matter how often we ask the same questions:) Happy Saturday!

I'm starting my pre-op diet next week and I'm doing all my pre- and post-op shopping now so that I'm not tempted while in the grocery store. In looking for foods I'll be able to eat, I'm noticing that there's a LOT of sodium in all of them, even the low sodium versions. Other than the Protein shakes and Jello, can any of you recommend post-op foods that are lower in sodium? I don't fancy blowing up like a balloon from the Water weight, not to mention that it's really not healthy. A can of Campbell's Soup has half the daily recommended intake, and if that's all I'm going to be eating for a while, I'm going to blow my sodium limit awfully fast!

I was just wondering what would happen if you do not get enough protein? I try to get my 60 grams a day but sometimes it is hard to do so. Just let me know!

Ok I got banded 3 days ago and am having no problems getting enouph protein and fluids in. Im wondering if I am drinking to fast. I can have cream soup and I add milk and powdered milk to it to add extra protein to it. I can down a cup of that in like 15 min. Is that to fast? I can sip on a cup of water in 15 min. Is that too fast? . It doesnt feel funny in my stomach. Am I at risk for stretching the pouch?I feel really good

Hello, I was banded 08/31 and now I am on solids. But I am only getting in about 500-600 calories a day. I am basically eating yogurt, egg, cottage cheese, turkey, chicken breast and fish. And don't forget the Protein shakes! I am eating the recommended portions and have not overeaten. I have been getting at least 60 grams of protein in a day. Not supposed have to have veggies or fruit yet. Can we eat red meat yet? (like ground lean) How are we supposed to lose eating so little calories? I know my body is taking everything I am eating so how do we get up to the 1000-1200 calorie range? I do not get filled til 10/22. Someone was saying once the swelling is com…

Well everyone, i was sleeved on 9-15-09 @ 7:30 am. I will try to get as detailed as possible because prior to being sleeved, I wanted to know all the details. I arrived to the hospital at 6 am with my mom and fiance. They took me to my room to start my IV, which they did without a problem. At around 7am, I was taken to preop holding but my family was unable to go back there. So we said our goodbyes (I wanted to cry but I didnt). LOL While in Preop holding the anesthesiologist came to speak with me regarding my medical history, etc. I told him that I was nervous and he reassured me. My preop nurse spoke with me as well and helped to calm my nerves and finally my surge…

Hi everyone! I have been on here for a while reading everyone's stories. I am planning on being banded during the Christmas break. I have a few obscure questions: 1. After Lap Band is it hard to sleep at night? Can you comfortably sleep on your stomach or your side? 2. Gummi Vitamins yes or no? 3. What is everyone's exercise routine? Is everyone hardcore for daily exercise? 4. My main problem is that I NEVER feel full, even after I eat. Will the band help me FEEL full on just a cup of food sufficiently? 5:A lot of my extra weight is in my hips and thighs. Does this weight come off last after stomach weight? 6: Anyone have the band for over 5 years here? Any lo…

5 days post-op and I haven't passed any gas or been burping. Is that bad or should I feel lucky? Does that meen my surgeon did a really good job? Should I take the gasX and force it out? I'm not in any pain......Anyone?????

I have a big outing with a large group of friends this evening and we are going to a barbeque restaurant. I do not want to just sit there through dinner. I would like to be able to order something while i am there to slowly eat. I am on the soft foods stage and have not had any problems with lean ground beef so far. Does anyone know if I can have some chili or mashed potatoes with gravy? Or does anyone have any other suggestions of what I can eat at this kind of restaurant in the soft foods stage? On the soft foods stage my doctor said I can eat kidney beans and tomatoe sauce and low fat cheese. I am sure the cheese, gravy, and chili will not be low fat but I though…

I am in the puree food stage (2 weeks post surgery). I had an impromptu family function after work and did not have a protein shake or the ability to puree any of the food. I have been feeling really well and so I thought that eating a little macaroni salad with mayo, tuna, and egg would be okay as long as I ate small pieces at a time and chewed it really well. I also did the same with some beans. Several hours later I started to feel some pressure in my chest and since then I have been having periodic sever chest pain that would last for a couple seconds and then go away. My husband thinks it is heartburn (which I have never had before). However, it is now two and …

Banded 2005 not very sucessful due to eating cookies and sugary junk with the excuse that nothing else will go down. Had a total unfil to have a baby. Didn't gain. Got a good fill a year ago and tried a bit harder but it's a constant battle, diet is poor, can't eat fish, fruit, white meat, pasta etc so just fill up on cookies - i know it's terrible but that's what got me here in the first place. Have been losing really slowly but still it's a loss (average 0.5lbs in 2 weeks) over time. Suddenly this week, boom, no restriction at all - nothing for a week. Any idea's? No pain. Can't really afford to see consultant this month - if it is pouch dialation or slippage is it…

I was just banded Thursday (yay!) and am now home. For the most part I feel pretty good. However, I have this odd feeling in my chest between my boobs. I'm assuming this is from the band/swelling? Does that sound right? Also, when I drink (still on liquids) I have a slightly uncomfortable feeling and then have the urge to burp, which rarely comes to fruition (much to my dismay, I think I'd feel much better If I could burp or toot). I'm obsessive and paranoid so I just want to see what ya'll think (plus it's Saturday so I can't exactly call my surgeon as this isn't an emergency). Thanks!

I was banded on 09/11/09. I have the realize band. It was done as a outpatient procedure and I was told that I had no complications. BUT..I am still in pain. Sotmach just hurts all the time. I am assuming I have gas/heartburn cause my chest just burns all the time. Pain meds only give me a headache but I am still taking them just in case they start to work. I am also taking anti-acid meds all the time to try to stop the gas/heartburn. So far no good. I always have the feeling of being full. I am very careful of what liquids I am putting in my mouth. But still so full. I didnt expect this to be easy but did not expect to be in so much pain. Its so bad that I am…

Hello all, I was just wondering how all you july bandsters are doing so we can compare notes. I am doing okay I guess Except for eating to fast and not chewing enough on some occasions and it caused my pouch to get irratated and it caused alot of pain so my dr. put me on a liquid diet for 5 days. It wasn't that bad being on liquid I lost 8 lbs. in 5 days of liquids. I have lost a total of 28 lbs. to date. I do fing it hard to keep on track because sometimes and the majority of the time i feel hungry. I got my first fill at the end of august and I was just as hungry as before the surgery. The only difference was that food kept getting stuck so easily. I would stop eating b…

Has anyone lost support from their "SUPPORT" person? If so, what are you doing to keep motivated? :blushing:

I weighed this morning and I was 394!!! I started at 450 on July 27, had surgery on Aug 10! It has slowed down but still coming off. I get my first fill on Sept. 21! Thats all thanks! Jerry

So my surgeon has advised bypass for me given the amount of weight I have to lose, and though I was really leaning toward the band, I have been researching GBP. Admittedly, the idea of losing a great amount of weight quickly is appealing, but the more I learn about the long-term complications, the more it scares me. I'm hearing about adhesions, bowel obstructions, gallbladder removal/gallstones, not to mention the countless vitamin and mineral deficience. Is anyone here 5 years or more out? Is so, what complicaitons have you experienced?

When I went for my sugery no one knew I was getting this except for my husband and boss. Since the surgery I had decided to tell just a few select people. My oldest son, 2 of my 3 step daughters, another co-worker, and a close friend. So now a total of 7 people know I have had the lap band surgery. I have since lost 54 pounds. Not near my goal but still what I think to be a significant amount of weight. I don't expect people to compliment me every waking hour, but not one person except my husband has even mentioned that they notice any weight loss. No I didn't do this for anyone but myself, but it just seems that now that I have, people are afraid to say anything …

So the first 2 days, all I did was sleep........it's now been 5 days and everything is going great! I never passed any gas, I haven't gotten sick, sounds good right? Well I feel kinda crazy!!! I think about food all the time! I want to take a bite out of a cheeseburger and just spit it out!!! If I had one near me I would! I should be on clear liquids but I'm sneaking in some creamy soups and had some oatmeal too. I know, I shouldn't but it's all going down soo easy! Besides I 'm cranky!!! I'm listening to my body and it seems to say...ok! I haven't heard at what stage I can have cheese but today I had a bite. I'm already back to walking my 4 miles everyday and I need…

I had terrible nausea the first night and into the morning until I could finally get some relief when the dr called in phergan. I hurt...please tell me this wasn't a mistake...I thought I would have bounced back better than I have!!

I have a clot... a DTV. . And I can't get up and around for more than 5 minutes at a time without the pain in my leg sending me back to the bed or the couch. What good is it going to be to be skinny if I can't do my stuff? I've been shooitng myself up with Lovenox, 140mg twice a day, since Wednesday, and yesterday I started on oral coumadin. . . but this is to pevent future clots. As far as I can tell, no one is giving me any hints on how to get the current clot to let my leg loose so I can get on with my life. Sorry to be such a moany-joany, but I'm feeling kind of sorry for myself today and I know that here I might get some info & encouragement.:sad0:

started in my fingers and hand now my arm. im pretty healthy and all vitals are always normal or really good. is this because im not taking in nutrients? is this also normal? i dont want to be an alarmest either

Hi what are you all doing to mask the taste of your crushed pills? They are SOOOO BITTER! UGH. I tried mixing in a Protein shake and that didn't work. Anything? I'm not sure which particular pill is the culprit - allegra or bupropion (2) but 3 pills = nasty. Thanks in advance. Helen PS I am told these don't come in liquid.

Hi, I have not posted anything on here before, but I need some advice. I met with my Weight Loss Surgeon for the first time on April 24, 2009. I have followed every word he said and everything has been going great. I started at 306lbs and by the time my surgery date came (8/28/09) I weighed in at 250. I lost another 13lbs during the liquid and mushy stages after surgery. I saw my doctor again on 9/3/09 and I was at 237. I started soft foods on 9/7/09 and have had no problems with anything. (I have been cautious with my food choices, I do not want to throw up or experience that "stuck" feeling). It's been two weeks and I am back to my old exercise routine and eating around…

I'm only 6 days post-op and already having a hard time sticking to the liquids-only diet. I am supposed to stay on it for 4 weeks then move on to mushies/solids but it's getting increasingly hard. I had almost no post-op pain or discomfort but really struggled thru the 3-day CLEAR liquid phase and barely made it, and even though the first time I was able to eat some soup (Cream of mushrooms) felt AWESOME and was incredibly satisfying (compared to my previous "broth hell"). Problem is I am already SICK of soups & shakes and finding it really hard to have just 3 meals a day, in such small portions since I start feeling hungry just a couple of hours after each meal. I…