POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

My surgeon put me on a 2 week liquid diet 2 Fridays ago thinking I was too tight and had a dilated pouch. I had really bad acid reflux along with it. Today she told me to go ahead and start eating food since I felt a lot better and she would get me my gastrografin swallow prescription so I can go have that done. Well, I ate some crab cake and that acid reflux lump is back right in the back of my throat! I'm totally unfilled and was on liquids for almost 2 weeks. What the heck? I'm starting to think this may be more serious than a dilated pouch. Has this happened to anyone else?:thumbup:

Hey everyone. I am about to go on Muchies and i need to make a Dessert. does anyone have any good recipes for me to make so that i could have the dessert.

Hi, I'm home too now. Had my op on Monday - 2 ops in one actually. I was opened up right down my front, had all my abdominal muscles stitched and re-stitched and had my revision to sleeve. All went well with no problems apart from severe side effects from anaesthesia and morphine and being very sore. I am up and about now but wanting to rest a lot as very uncomfortable most of the time. Every position is ok for a while and then I have to move. Am now on blended food and managing that very well despite only needing very small portions. I get some discomfort after eating but that is only to be expected after having more than half my stomach removed and the remaining stapl…

Ok.. I was told that during surgery My dr. noticed my hiatal hernia..and he went ahead and fixed it. Did anyone go through this? I am in so much pain. I don't know everyone mentions they were not in pain.. I am i in pain because of the hernia surgery as well? MY whole chest hurts.... I am getting tired of sleeping on my back! I am sleeping reclining.. but ugh my back.. I got banded yesterday 7-20-09... would love to hear from you if you had a hiatal hernia.. :smile:

Will be more detailed in the surgery stories later (not tonight). Went in at 6:15am this morning and got home at 2pm. I'm definitely really sore and it doesn't feel like the pain meds are doing much, but it's manageable! I'm doing pretty good otherwise. Didn't have any nausea after the surgery from the anesthesia, which I'm thrilled about! I also don't have any horrible gas pains or anything. Do those begin immediately or are they supposed to start the next day or something? My surgeon also filled me to 2cc. I had no idea he was planning on it. No hiatal hernia (which I was kind of expecting to happen). Everything went very smoothly!! I also thought I wou…

I was banded Wednesday morning and haven't really been hungry since then. I've been eating like my Nut told me to, but not nearly as much. Should I be eating when I'm not hungry, just to follow the nuts eating schedule? Since I'm not hungry I've been mixing my Protein in with pudding or skim milk as part of my meal instead of a snack...is this ok? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Stacy

Hi All: Can anyone tell me some tricks they have learned to measure food without using a scale? I've heard that 1 oz. of fish or poultry is usually about the size of the palm of your hand? When you go out to eat how do you measure because I haven't figured it out yet...Thanks!

Surgeons and nutritionists inform us at to what foods we should eat with the band, and as always, they varey widely. I am just wondering what kind of weight loss you experience with yours and which you follow? My surgeon told me it is completely up to me-we all have different palates-and it needs to be something i can stick to with small portions. He does "encourage" cutting out as many carbs as possible. I have had great "short term" success with carbs but fear screwing that up over the long term due to my love of Pasta & potato. But, I feal that low cal just won't do the trick for me...never has. Tell me which has been a success for you with your band? -What ha…

I'm so freakin' hungry! I was banded on the 6th and didn't crave or even want any food until last Friday. All this week I've been so hungry, the protein shakes just weren't cutting it so I added in some soft foods even though I'm supposed to be on just liquids. I'm supposed to go to 1-2oz of mushies starting Monday every 3-4hrs for two weeks and it's just not enough. I don't know what to do. If it wasn't for the port area still being a little sore when I cough or sneeze I would think I'm not even banded. I do get full when I eat about a half a cup but it only lasts about a half hour before I feel hungry again. I'm frusturated and don't know what to do!!!

Hi! I am itching too death. I can't get all that sticky tape residue off my tummy and it is driving me mad. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

:sad:Hi all, I got banded July 15 and am on liquids...but I am seriously missing being able to eat. If I have to have any more broth..I think I will die! or one more Protein shake and it will put me over the edge. PLease help...what can I have?? It's so hard when DH and kids are eating regular stuff and I can't. I almost question my decision to have the lapband just because of I can't eat anything right now....guess I am just in my post-op blues :smile: Did any of you start mushies after the first week? I just need some encouragement...and something beside Protein shakes and soup!! Feel like I am not getting enough nutrition at all. Thanks for listening

I just tried this yesterday and it was delicious. The bottle doesn't say whether or not it contains caffeine, my sister told me most teas do. I called the 800 number on the bottle and found out it DID contain caffeine (16mg per serving/2 servings per bottle). I am so disappointed. Has anyone tried this tea? Is it safe to say we should stay away?

What happened to everybody's tickers? I can't see mine or anyone else's. Can everyone else see them?

So... Im starving... I cooked my hunni my world famous chicken strips last night and I was so hungry that I ate probably a half of ounce with no complications whats so ever. Did I fuck myself? I am already 15lbs down (SW 287) and I just need food...would it be okay if I ate something every now and again? Or do I really have to wait until 24 days from now?

I was reading that it is possible to do a band over bypass. Does this really work? I have a friend who is too chicken to get on here but really needs help. What is your exerience with this? Does it work? Do you wish you would have opted for the band over an RNY instead in the first place?

hi, banded april 20th.......1fill june...had to be unfilled 2 weeks later due to spinach getting stuck and would not go down.....had to wait a month...got filled friday july 24...at doctors office they make you drink Water after they put in so many cc's.....after refilled to what i was and another 2 cc's i could not shallow the water.....she took out i think abut 1/2 and i was fine, could shallow water great........but here is the problem have no restriction at all, but yet in doctors office could not tolerate what she put in.................. question....is that normal will restriction happen????? so darned confused over this band....... thanks,

It seems like directly after I eat I have soreness in my port area. I was banded 7/8/08, so I am really new at this and just started eating solids. Maybe it is in my head, I was just curious if that is normal????

Hi all, Just wanted to share my excitement on another small milestone of mine. I have been battling 3 pounds up and down for 2 months :thumbup: and the scale FINALLY moved..in a BIG way! I have lost 6lbs this week and I am just beyond thrilled! I also dropped an entire size! Best of all I can totally tell in my face, and EVERY SINGLE PERSON I work with has commented on my weight loss today! This work is hard, and you do plateau and gain, but in the end, it WORKS!! Thanks for listening! Onward! :crying:

I was banded back in 2001. I did well for a while but stopped getting fills after I lost my health insurance. I have to go through Flouro for a fill which is VERY expensive. Anyway, I have gained back almost all that I lost, but am recommitted to the band and have health insurance again. My original doctor has now left the practice. The doctor I have now just isn't filling me as aggressively as I need him to. He is putting in 1cc to 2cc's at a time and saying it is aggressive, but within a couple days I have no restriction. Should I keep going to him? Should I ask for another doctor in the same practice (they are now a bariatric center rather than the small practice …

I am sooooo excited - Now 1 week post op and down 14lbs so far! I want to keep the momentum going and begin working out. So far walking and even dancing around the apartment have been fine. Any tips or warnings on adding more intense cardio? What about weights how soon is too soon? And are Ab exercises out of the question at this point? I just want to get started!

I like EAS vanilla whey Protein mixed with skim milk and 1/2 banana. I also like Slim Fast Cappuccino What's your favorite?

Four days after the surgery and I find myself every now and then bursting into a sweat. I don't have a fever and there's nothing going on at the incision. Normal? Weird?

I was banded on Wednesday and am absolutely miserable. This has been hell and I wish I had not had the surgery. I was not at all prepared for the pain and the uncertainty of what's going on inside my body. It's like I have an aliens body -The incisions hurt terribly, but when i take the pain med, I feel bad in a different way. It is hard to describe other than I feel like I am not in control of my own body. I am practically holding my breath all day long. I cannot sleep -I wake up short of breath or in pain. I can't really drink much water without feeling too full, but not full in a good way. It feels kind of like i have no stomach at all, but just an esophagus that has a…

Please post your thoughts. :001_smile:

Hello All, I am so nervous about getting my first fill. Was it painful? How long did it take? My appointment is around noon, should I not eat or drink anything before I go to my appoinment? Should I not put anything in my tummy that morning?

I have had the band for one year, six months; and have lost 33 lbs. I lost the first 20 pds in the first three months after surgery; and then stayed at 188 lbs for the next year even though they kept tighteneing. The last time I went in (january?), my surgeon refused to tighten it anymore as his nurse felt I was getting enough restriction. I am at 6ccs now. Is it normal for people to lose this slow, and hit plateaus?

Hi all- I am wondering if anyone out there has a surgeon who is sympathetic and responsive to you when you feel you need a fill earlier than initially scheduled??? It seems from reading this forum, that most docs stick to their guns about fills, regardless of the patient's desire to get in there more aggressively and feel restriction. I, just moments ago, emailed my surgeon with frustration. So far my surgeon has been WONDERFUL!!! He did not require any liquid diet preop, only the first week post op...and that was full liquids, not clear. I am only 2 weeks post op, and he has already graduated me to regular food.... in short, he seems aggressive enough. He is also amaz…

I was banded back in May. I just had my first fill this past Wednesday, July 22nd. My port is located a bit toward my right side, but I'm feeling what seems like a pulled muscle pain about 2 inches away from where the port is, further to my side. It started coming on Friday night and I've had it over the weekend and still today. I say it feels like the pain of a pulled muscle because it hurts only really when I move a certain way or if I breathe in really deeply. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm just not sure if it is band related or potentially something else. Thanks for any ideas!

Hi All...just a quick question... I had my second fill last week (first fill was 2 ccs, this second one was 1 cc...) and am at a total of 3 cc's in a 10 cc band. After my first fill- I felt a little restriction, but could definitely use more. After my second fill...I am totally tight....but at only 3 cc's?? While we were doing my fill, my dr mentioned that everyone is different, but he doesnt think I am even close to where I have an optimum amount of restriction...then whoa! 48 hrs later...major restriction! I know that everyone is completely different, but when did you start to feel you were at you "sweet spot"? Thanks!! Surgery Date : May 18, 2009 Lbs lost …

What can I do for the horrible pain I'm having in my chest, neck, and side? Standing and walking is the only thing I found that kind of works. Laying down is the worst and I have to get some sleep. Any ideas would be appreciated!!

Hi, to all. I haven't been on here in awhile. I haven't had any problems with acid reflux in the past. I was wondering if anyone else might have. It mostly happens when I'm asleep early morning. I feel as tho right at the base of my throat I need to swallow and I can birp acid kind of hot stuff. My fill in not to tight. I can eat mostly anything, but have to chew really good. I'm happy with that part. If anybody has some advise on this I would like their oppinion. Thanks!

Anybody here have any copies of letters of recommendation that WORKED from your PCP? I talked to my doctor today and he said he'd be glad to write me one and even said if you want to email me what you want it to say, go ahead and I'll put it in there. Anybody have one? Or know of a site/place that I can get one? If you do, PLEASE let me know. Respond to this post, or email it to me at fourjtowers@netzero.net

I know this seems like a funny questions, since the band and the reproductive organs are not related, but I always seem to be "tighter" during this time of the month. Am I the only one that feels this way?:thumbup:

I was banded one month ago today. (No Fluid in band yet) Two week follow up after surgery my doc said there was still lots of swelling around the port so she wanted to wait a bit longer to do the first fill. So I will go in two more weeks. I have a little restriction...meaning, I can't go too fast or eat large amounts. But everything goes down! I am eating fairly sensibly but it is the summertime, home with my daughter and we sorta snack all day here and there. So I am not losing any weight and I am afraid I am doing something wrong and I feel like a loser! I am also terribly anxious about "breaking" this thing. I would love to hear of anyone who also had…

Oh my gosh I am down 22lbs...I just can't believe it. I even cheated with a couple bits of Ice Cream. I do not recommend this because for some reason the Ice Cream made my tummy act weird.

Fosamax is a medicine used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. There is a warning about its use with recent stomach surgery. It entails taking the tablet on empty stomach with full cup of water, stay upright for one hour, not to eat, drink or lay down for one hour. The leaflet neither the producer site explain for how long after surgery would the medicine be avoided. I am sleeved before one month, regular on steroids (for arthritis) with drugs to prevent bone loss. Any experience in that issue?

Ok.... I posted this somewhere else but I thought I would share it here that way everyone can reap the benefits....this is awesome...it really does work.... ok....here is the trick to this....seriously this sounds crazy but this worked SOOOOOOOOO well for me ... I had HORRIBLE debilitating gas in my neck and shoulders......try this you will be AMAZED get down on the floor on your hands and knees.....cross your arms and lay your foorhead on your arms....keep your head and chest low and stick your rump up in the air...and just rock and move your hips, neck and whatever else around in that position for awhile....this lets the gas work its way down/ up into your hips a…

HI Has anyone experienced any problems with their vision or feel like their eyes were strained since surgery? I always feel like I have to blink to refocus. Not sure if I am experiencing a possible deficiency or something else. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

I just recently started working out a lot before surgery bc I want to be in the best shape I can be for surgery (which wont be very good shape but at least Im trying right!) So, how long did everyone wait before they starting working out again.... I like to run, swim and water aerobics if that helps! I know it is diff from doc to doc but I still like to get an average range!:thumbup:

I have been banded for a year now! All is perfect until now! My band is not tight at all, and i can eat small portions of food and not get stuck! Recently in the past 3 weeks or so, when i am sleeping i wake up as if i was being chocked! I keep burping and swallow only salavia and a huge discomfort is felt not in my port but my throat! Yesterday, i also woke up alarmed and forced myself to puke, and only saliva foam came out! Remember this feeling i only have @ night when i am sleeping and wake up alarmed! I cannot go to the doctor as i cannot afford him this month (he charges 150 USD) and i am self pay all the way, also if he wants me to have tests i cannot pa…

Hi guys, I have two questions: I am going for my second fill on Tuesday. My first one really hurt and it took him a while to find the port. It felt like he had a sword through my abd poking around for a few mins until he found it. I read on somebody else's post that they asked for a shot of local anesthetic. I want to, but don't want to look like a baby. Maybe the Dr. doesn't use it on anybody. I was sore for a couple days after the last and I am just nervous because my fill is at 11:30am and I have to work that day at 3pm. Should I just try again without it and maybe it won't be as painful this time? I am also almost 6 weeks since banding. This past week, I've notic…

I'm feeling very full without a fill. Is that a sign of something being wrong? I'm 3 weeks out. It's kind of hard to get the fluids and protiens. I had a soft smashed potatoe, which is allowed and have been full all day. Is that normal?:thumbup:

Since my last adjustment I hate making dinner for my family. I work with kids right now and by the time I get home from work I am exhausted. I don't always feel like eating. I guess I have this attitude that why slave over dinner just so I can eat 5 bites? Latley my husband has just been making MacNCheese or some other quick meal for himself and our 2 year old son. My husband is one of those people that can eat anything and not gain any weight but I worry that we are setting my son up for failure in the food department. He eats very well balanced meals at the CDC but I worry that we are failing. Any suggestions on getting rid of my bad attitude :biggrin: would be much app…

what happens if you get a stomach virus/bug/flu, etc. in terms of vomiting??? would violent vomiting cause the band to slip? I can only imagine how difficult it would be for your stomach contents to come back up though the narrow stoma??? i have a bit of a belly ache today and feeling mildly nauseated. i haven't had to vomit, but it got me thinking.... what if?

I want some ideas for simple, but good mushies. Is shredded cheese one?

How many use Frozen Dinners like SmartOnes... on a regular basis? I'm thinking the portions are just about right. Trying to get lunch ideas for work.

I was banded almost two weeks ago Tuesday. I had a lot of problems with chest pain caused by gas and diarrhea and I think I drove the Dr.'s office nuts with calls. Now those problems seem to be getting better, but I have now noticed there is an increase in redness and tenderness in my port incision. It does not hurt alot, maybe a 2 on a scale of 1-10, but it is still a bit of an increase. It is also red under the incision. The area does not look inflamed or irritated and I don't have a fever so I am wondering if I should call the office or just wait for my appointment on Tuesday. Has anyone else had an increase in redness that just went away?

Can some folks explain to me when they absolutely knew they were at their sweet spot? I really don't think I'm there for several reasons. I have some restriction but I can still eat way more than I should be able to. What is the real difference between some restriction and the sweet spot? Will you instinctively know when you are there? Are you truly satisified with a small amount of food or is it still willpower? I know it sounds silly but do people push past their sweet spot with additional fills, thinking they are not there only to find out they are way too tight? Or it is that in the process of the doc tightening you that you realize just that little bit puts you…

:tongue2: HAS anyone had this symptom? It just feels like I can't expand my lungs fully. I also can't talk but in short bursts or slowly. (Maybe soon I'll be like the kid on Malcolm in the Middle.) Is this common in the first few days? I was banded yesterday afternoon. Any recommendation is appreciated.

I have Celiac Disease which means I can't eat gluten (wheat, barley, rye and oats). Just wondering if anyone else has any food allergies and meal suggestions for me? I am getting sick of the same old, same old.:cool2: