POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I had a major NSV this weekend. I got stuck in the middle seat of an airplane for one leg of my flight to Austin. For years, I've been terrified of getting stuck in the middle because I knew that I'd be cramped and uncomfortable, and that the people on either side of me would just be hating me the whole time. BUT, at eight months post-op and 48 lbs down, I fit in that seat with a bit of room to spare! Woo-hoo! :tongue_smilie: Catherine

I was just wondering, does anyone know what the average weight loss is for the first year after being banded? My surgeon has told me, but it was before I have my band placed and I don't remember what he said it was. I am drawing very close to my 1 year mark and was just wondering where I fall in with the average.

Just a bit of background: I was initially banded 12/07 and then needed a band adjustment surgery in 2/09. I am now 5 months out from that surgery, and I've been going every 4-5 weeks for adjustments. Obviously they are taking it slow because I had a slipped band and we do not want to see a repeat of that. At this point, I believe I'm at 5.5 or 6 (somewhere around there) out of 14cc. I don't think I should be able to eat the amount of food I am able to eat and in the time I'm able to eat it. i haven't had any issues at all with digestion, I mean not one PB or vomit episode (knock on wood, I'm trying to keep it this way!!!!) but I can eat an entire turkey burger, th…

Hi everyone I was banded on tues 6/30, and everything is going fine so far... I still dont want to eat much but I am trying. I keep water beside me at all times. My pain is just about gone except for a little gas pain. For me the only thing that helped with the gas was walking and it hurt really bad right after in the shoulder but later that night (in my sleep ) my hubby said I released alot of the gas.:tongue2: anyway, i hope everyone else is doing good too.

Im a cash patient (ins. didnt cover) and my first 3 fills are free, but Im worried about how much fills after those will be. Any cash patients out there who have paid cash for a fill? How much was each one? I know prices will vary obviously but I want to get an idea. Thanks

My Dr. told me I have to do liquids for three weeks.which included yogurt and cream soups. I have notice that some of you are able to go to mushies sooner.I was just wondering if I was alone cause I may need a little support. I just want some tuna:crying:

Ladies, Wow. Did I get a left turn on my surgery recovery! I was doing fine all up to and through last Saturday. I was even taking a few laps through Sams Club. Then Sunday I started going backwards. I couldn't sit up or even stay awake for very long. And the pain in my upper belly was very bad. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst it was a -- 10! Finally, Monday evening, my husband took me to the emergency room. I was in severe distress. My STOMACH had filled with gas and bloated to almost 3 times its size! YIKES! And the "anti-nausea" medicine I was taking was giving me an adverse reaction, too, making me MORE nauseous instead of FIXING the nausea! …

So to those out there who have gone through this, how did you establish your goals in terms of weight loss, and excercise. I just picked a random number of what I'd like to weigh based on a point in my life in which I was happy with my figure. I'm not certain that it's the best way to go about this, as I was actually really unhealthy at the time. Also, any advice on having a scale and how frequent you should weigh yourself? I find myself obsessing to see if I've lost weight, not celebrating that I've made an accomplishment, but rather not really trusting the scale that there is any way that I could have lost "x." I've had very little input from my doctor at this point. …

Hi Everyone! I am getting banded on 7/24/09 and wanted to see if anyone had any good Soup recipes for the liquid phase and beyond? I have to be on a liquid diet for 1 week, then on to mushies. Also, does anyone have any suggestions for Protein Shakes. I have been told about the Carnation Instant and the Slim Fast... any other suggestions that do not contain whey? Thanks!

I think I caught a cold after my surgery. My doctor said that it could be related to the breathing tube I had during surgery. I think its turned into a chest cold and when I lay down, I am wheezing. Has anyone experienced this? Thanks.

Hey guys! Im going to visit family in Jacksonville, FL (where I am from) at the end of the month. I need to know of a GOOD surgeon there just in case something happens. Can anyone give me a name and number of a good recommendation? Thanks a bunch!

Hey guys, I had my surgery about 2 months ago...since then, I've lost almost 30 pounds, so I'm pretty happy with the results...I went for my first fill in the beginning of JUne and the doctor, at first, didn't want to do anything cuz I was losing nicely but I asked him to put in a little. So he gave me 2 cc's. The last time I went, I had lost 5 pounds in 2 weeks so again he told me not to do anything cuz he felt as long as I was losing nicely, there was no need to do anything. I'm going back again today and I think I lost another 4 pounds in the 2 weeks since my last appointment. He will probably tell me not to touch it again. My question is if I should ask him to pu…

I was banded 6/19/09. I lost about 14 pounds in the first 6 days and then I went back up 4. I am now at the end of the second week and am back down the 4. I do not feel like I have much restriction now. I will not do my first fill for a couple of weeks. I was always a drinker. (not alcoholic) Just always took in a lot of liquids. That was one of my concerns in doing the band was that I wouldn't be able to take a big drink. I decided to do it anyway because, let's be real which was more important my health or a drink of kool-aid. I am now 15 days out and I can drink as I want. I don't feel like I get a lot of restriction from food either. I was wondering if anyo…

Hi all- I had my surgery on June 30th and am doing pretty good so far. Today I noticed that I am able to drink a complete Protein shake and still feel hungry. I am supposed to stay on full liquids for another week, but I am not sure I can make it. I thought about eating apple sauce but it isn't on my diet for another week or so. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should or shouldn't have until my liquid diet moves into soft foods to help overcome the hunger? BTW- I don't think it is head hunger, because my stomach is constantly growling.....

Just had lap band surgery about 5 days ago and I've been following all of the after-surgery recommendations by my surgeon. However, I'm a little concerned because I'm experiencing a gurgling sound when I breathe. Is that normal? Thanks.

Okay, So I got banded on May 20th 2009 and before my first fill ( one month later) lost 16 lbs. I just got my first fill on June 24th with 5cc's I have a realize band that has a 11cc capacity. Since my fill I've lost probably another 3 lbs which isn't much to me at all especially because I was losing so quickly the first couple of weeks. My biggest concern is that I feel barely to NO restriction at all. I personally stay away from breads, sweets (rarely eat them) and eat no junk food. The thing is that I CAN eat them. I've nibbled and they go down with no problems. My stomach gets full a lot sooner than before the surgery but I feel like I may have something wrong with m…

Hi everyone! In order for my dr. to send the referral to the "bariatric" dept for future info, etc. they are making me take a new mandatory 2 hr info class. Has anyone else had to do this yet? What do they cover? How long after did you see the next step? Thanks!:smile2:

If you were there on that date please contact me....I'd love to hear how you are doing? I am doing Fabulous !! Hope to speak to you soon !:smile2:

I was banded 7/01/09 and am doing pretty well except I can't seem to get rid of the gas. But my question is has anyone experience upper abdominal tightness that when you try to stand upright it feels like it is pulling and if you stand too straigt you might rip it. Any help?

Hi, I'm not banded yet but I'm scheduled in August. I read a post yesterday from a bandster who was banded a couple of years ago and recently changed insurance and found out she's not covered for anything. Obviously, now my husband and I are re-thinking having the procedure we both work in jobs where our insurance changes every couple of years and I'm worried I wouldn't be covered if something happened and I needed the band removed (god forbid). Has anyone experienced this?

I was just banded this week (6/29) and have just found this website. In reading through some of the posts, I've read some terms whose meanings are not clear to me. What is "PBing" and "sliming?"

I have not used my card to eat off the child's menu yet, as I am fearful of getting rejected. I'd rather go somewhere that I can just order, or flash my card quietly if need to, rather than a waitress say loudly "WE DON'T ACCEPT LAPBAND REASONS FOR USING THE CHILD'S MENU!". So... I was wondering who has been accepting of the card or having an adult order the kid's menu, and who has not been accepting of it? I want to know who to give my business to (even if I don't use the card!)

I keep forgetting to ask my doc and he never mentioned not going into the pool or ocean . . . how long are we supposed to wait. It's 4th of July weekend, and I forgot to ask! I was banded 5/28. Is it safe to go in?

I just got my band on monday 6/29/09. Is it normal to feel like you regret it. I feel like I may have done something bad to my body. It is now friday and still really gassy and my stomach will not stop gurgling. I also miss the food more than I thought I would. Does this feeling go away? When do you start to feel like yourself again?

I had surgery a week ago, June 26th. The night after surgery I had a bad wave of nausea and called the surgeon and he called in a prescription for the nausea. I took the small pill and was back to my normal self. Yesterday, I started having some mild nausea again--and it's a constant nausea, so I know it's not because I'm drinking/eating too fast. I called my surgeon's office and they said that it could be a 'normal' thing because of all the liquids and to add some soft solid foods into my diet. I did as instructed, but still had the nausea (and not to the point where I actually feel as if I'm going to heave--it's just always in the background). So, I went to bed, hoping …

I actually went in for a fill in January and they filled me so tight that as soon as I got in my car (had no water or anything) I couldn't stop throwing up my own saliva. They were having issues filling me (stuck me over 50 times) so we did it at a different doctor's office under fluro. My surgeon had already left to go back to his office, so I drove their immediately. When I got there, they couldn't unfill me after another 50 sticks. Then, we went back under fluro to find out that my port had flipped and was completely detached. We went in immediately to the hospital for emergency surgery so they could unfill me and do the port revision. They had to give me medicin…

Hi All, I was banded 31 December 2008 and have lost 52 lb, so I went from 256 to I am now 205. In the beggining the weight was dropping like you would not believe, then it stared to slow down, so I went from dropping 8-10 lbs a month to now 3 lbs a month. I have also been working out like crazy too. My doctor says I am still doing well and should not worry about it. Has this happened to anyone? and I doing something wrong will the weight start to drop fast again. Also, I am also 9cc in a 10cc band and do not feel like I am at my "sweet spot". Does anyone have any advice...PLEASE. is there anything more I can do to drop the lbs. I know by me working out all my fat is t…

I was 233 the morning of surgery 3days ago (6/29) and today I am 236.5???? I dont understand...I am not overeating, I cant excercise much yet walked 15min yesterday and 20 min today. I am on shakes, jello, pudding, pureed chicken, ice pops, cottage cheese...i Just dont get it.

Never having been put under anesthesia before, I'm not sure of the side effects. Since my surgery I have found that my sense of smell is so acute that things I found "unpleasant" before down right make me gag now. Is that normal? Also, aside from the 2 nights in the hospital that I asked for a sleeping "pill" I have not been able to sleep more than one or two hours at time and when I do sleep I have the weirdest dreams. I haven't had a restful night since I got home so tonight I am seriously considering a Tylenol PM or a benadryl. I think that is another reason I'm running out of steam quicker than normal. Anyone else have these problems?

Hi all: I'm sure this question has been asked before but I am currently on the mushy stage and I'm just wondering for when I get to whole foods stage how long should it take to eat a meal? Obviously I realize that everyone is different, but if you think of a typical dinner with eating slow and chewing well, how long does it take??

I was banded June of 2008 and just wondering if anyone else out there is a year post op? How is it going and what is the average weight loss.

Hello! I am totally new here, and I am scheduled for Lapband surgery in four days! I am excited and nervous at the same time. I have purchased some Protein powder, both Isopure and unjury, but what do you mix it with? The only thing I can think of is skim milk. I know there must be other tasty options. Anyone care to share? Kakki

I was banded on 6/25/09. I feel great. I am still on liquids until at least 7/6. I am dreading this weekend and 4th of July BBQ's. I plan on bringing the liquids I can have but how do you distract yourself and fight the urge??

Hi I was banded June 2009, and have heard some stories of people saying they were advised not to fly after being banded... Others say that they felt really uncomfortable after flying... I fly to the USA a few times a year (I'm in the UK) and wonder what I can exepect???? :eek:

Please advise as to what it means to reach your sweet spot? How do you know when you have reached it?

Hey guys! I am 2.5 weeks post-op and in the mushy stage. I am completely healed and have full appetite back and feel no restriction (obviously), but my surgeon said my first fill will be 6 weeks post-op so another 4 more weeks. I dont know if I can go that long. I mean I feel so normal like nothning took place. I mean I get full fast and it lasts long, but I can eat basically anything and feel fine. When did you get your first fill??

G'mornin' everyone I've been taking a diuretic for probably a year. I'm going to take it up until the night before my surgery. I'm worried that if I don't take it the following night after my surgery I'll start to swell up like a whale. However, I'm wondering if I will need it. Will the surgery make my inclination to retain Water go away?

HI all, It's been a while since I've posted and I hope everyone is doing well. I am in major stall mode. I was banded in March of 2008 and for the last 6-9 months I have been having to get unfills after a fill. When I do I get hungry too frequently and with the small fills I can't even swallow my spit. I am on my way now to have an unfill. Has anyone had this problem and succesfully overcame it? Are there any suggestions on what I can do to get to that sweet spot? Thanks

So who drinks carbonated beverages and how often? I do drink them and I know that I have been told not to. I may have one a week.

Hey everyone. I am so excited! If I wasn't so tired from putting insulation up all day, I could take off running. I set a goal for myself about 2 months ago saying that by my birthday, I wanted to be down to 175lbs. I have only 5 pounds to go to meet that goal. I am so proud of myself for how well I have been doing with my band. I'm not one to pat myself on the back or toot my horn, but toot toot baby and I'm giving myself a wonderful pat on the back. After this weight goal is met, I am going for 150, then down to 130. When I reach 130 I will be at my last and final goal. Hope everyone is doing well and is patting their own back while tooting their own horn. We…

I was banded almost three years ago and did great the two years, and was well on my way to losing the last 20 pounds I wanted to lose. I had a bad episode of something getting stuck one evening and afterwards began having problems with waking up and choking each night. Doc said the band was too tight and caused the choking. He removed all Fluid from the band and I had to go six weeks without a fill and immediately gained 15 lbs back. I went back and he refilled but only about half of what the original fill was, went back a second time due to still gaining and he gave me a tiny bit more. I finally got frustrated and went to another place for my fill, and at that time w…

hi there im skinnymike and i was just wondering how everyone banded in july is doing and where do i fit in with my weight loss on may 15 i weighed 332 lbs when i went for psychiatric exam shrink wanted me to lose weight because i gained 13 lbs since march on initial exam. well on my july 31 surgery date i weighed 304 lbs and today on this 25 day of october im weighing in at 240 lbs i think im doing good wife thinks im losing to much too fast so im wondering what everyone else is doing please respond ty :eek:

I was banded on April 6, 2009 and have only loss 20 pounds since surgery day. I receive two fills and no restriction at all. I have 3cc in my band and today I was able to eat a whole chicken sandwich from chickfila. I'm so disgusted I don't know what to do. I exercise 4 days a week 60 to 90 minutes what I'm doing wrong. Please give me some advise I feel like a failure. :redface:

I am day 4 from surgery and have an enormous, hard, hot, red swatch across the left side of my stomach. It is ITCHY and has little tiny blisters on it. The skin is quite swollen -- it reminds me of when I had a reaction to a vaccine -- like a shield of hard, red swollen tissue. Now it is spreading from just around the site where the liquid came out (brain not working - can't remember the name) to the other incisions. I have a call to a derm and have put cortisone and vitamin D on it but it still looks like a lobster and bothers me!!!

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I was banded one week ago on June 26, 2009. Surgery day was pretty smooth...outpatient and went home about 3 hours after surgery finished. Pain was horrible! I don't know if I forgot everything or if I just wasn't prepared but the pain was baffling. The gas was unbelievable and everywhere...especially shoulder. I was told at the hospital that I had to breathe more deeply or they wouldn't let me go home. So I got it in my head that this was imperative. I worked on the breathing all night and didn't sleep much...also, the barium gave me the most dramatic case of diarrhea in the history of me. :tongue2: Next day was worse...and again, it all seemed to be a surprise. I g…

i am posting from my phone but i had to share. I went in for a 3 week follow-up appt and got my first fill. im really excited...except 3 days of liquids. Oh well =)

I had my first fill went from 1cc to 3cc's and dont' feel a difference:frown: Does anyone get gas more so now?:thumbup:

I have heard that for many people their taste buds change after surgery, and food doesn't just taste the same. Have you found this to be true?

I'm definitely in the home stretch and my loss has slowed down as expected. In the short term it seems frustrating, but when I get on the WII fit, I can easily chart the last 6 months and it makes a nice line dropping toward goal. Recently I've been losing about .5lb/week. Seem frustrating, but a month later it seems worth it. However, I recently had a traumatic weekend (won't bore you with the details), but I put 4lbs on that weekend. 3 weeks later I'm back to my low and hope to start moving that graph again.