POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

So I'm allowed to start "regular" foods tomorrow. Do you think it would be a big deal if I started it a day early? I'm going back to work today and I work in a cafe with healthy stuff but not really anything mushy. So i'm wondering if it would be a big deal to have regular food starting today. I started mushies a day or two early and nothing I have eaten has gotten stuck. What do you think?

Hey guys, I was just banded on Wednesday (6/24) and I've finally been feeling alot better today, I actually made it out and caught the new transformers movie with my fiance earlier but along with being a little more active the applesauce and jello are getting a little boring. My doctors weren't very specific and gave me a very small list to go by as far as eating for the first 15 days after surgery. should I strictly be sticking to this list or is it safe for me to eat something like a tomato soup? I'm not really very hungry, just tired of what I've got I guess. Any help would be much appreciated.

So I had a fill yesterday, my 5th one, and I was on liquids yesterday. Today we had a cookout at work and I had 3/4 of a hamburger patty with cheese and a small spoonfull of chili. I know that I wasn't supposed to eat it but I had to look somewhat normal in front of my co-workers that have no idea I had this done. Did I screw up big time or is my band okay? I just want some opinions because I feel guilty now.

Hello Guys...What will I need to have at home and take to the Hospital after surgery? Your advice is very needed and appreciated. Band day July 20th...Woohoo:thumbup:

I am not stomach hungry, but feel the need to eat!! ..... I've had 1 protein shake and 2 smushed eggs.... My stomach feels full, but my head is hungry!! Yesterday I couldn't control it and I ate too much. Didn't get sick or anything, but felt like I was eating without being stomach hungry. How do you deal with that??? HELP! I'm two weeks post op..

Can somebody please explain to me what is meant by the term "sweet spot" and how do you know when you are at that point? Banded 4/17/09 First fill 5/30/09 1.6 cc

So I had my first fill yesterday. I thought it was going to hurt, but it wasn't as bad as I made it to be. The doctor put 5cc in, but when I started to drink Water I was having chest pains and he took 2cc out. It didn't help though that the doctor was in a foul mood and really didnt answer any of my questions. So i am here. I know that I have to be on a liquid diet for 3 days, but whats after that? Can I start my regular diet or do I go soft then regular food again? Help!!

I’m doing good! I don’t have any complications and am in day 5 today. I have lost 6 lbs as of today. I took the week off and actually laid by the pool today.....Today I had 2 oz of yogert and 2 oz pureed chicken in my parents vitablender…..I’m drinking lots of water and cranberry juice. Everything seems to be going down nicely. I have been walking every morning with my mom at 9am. Today we walked 2 miles….I feel great! I make sure not to drink until an hour after I eat. I wait 15 minutes after eating to "gage how I feel" to make sure nothing is going to come back up. I am reading a book about emotional eating and really getting in touch with my zone...I have too…

with my band I believe. On Monday I had food back up. I ended up getting sick...harder than I ever have before. I even had dry heaves. I felt relief after, but now every since, after just a bite or two of food, I have that chest pressure/pain like something is stuck. I have been careful to chew chew chew and eat soft things. Even my water is not going down like it has been. On a side note, I did have my third fill last Thursday. I noticed right away that this fill was different from the ones before because I was feeling restriction right away...even with my liquids. When I got sick on Monday, is it possible that my band slipped and now I have a problem? Or, co…

I got a band adjustment @ the end of may and i've been fine ever since 3 days ago. I cant seem to keep anything down. Its more of slime coming up not the food. I've been chewing how im supposed to but the slime just wont stop. Does anyone know if my band might be too tight. Can it get tight this long after the adjustment doesnt seem right but need some input??? Im lost.:redface:

Hey guys! I'm officially banded last 06/26/09 and it's been 4 days of renewed hope in having great health! Anyway, I've been hearing a lot about band slippages, etc. Are there occurrences/activities we should avoid to prevent things like that to happen? Hiccupping? Coughing? Abdominal crunches? I really want this to be a life-long thing and I want to know if you guys know of any activities I should avoid now? Thanks!:tongue2:

I've been banded for about 2.5 months. I'm learning alot more about the band post-op recently, and mainly learning about slider foods and things that will help me feel full the longest. What are you favorite meals now that you've had the surgery?

feel like the weight just isn't dropping fast enough? I feel like I'm struggling already because I'm just not noticing the weight dropping (thanks to my dodgy home scales that haven't budged for weeks now). It makes me paranoid that my band may have stretched or slipped etc (although in my rational mind, I doubt it). Please tell me I'm not alone!!

I'm five weeks out and eat about 600 per days and between 50-70 grams of protein. I'm exercising (bike riding or speed walking) for an hour each day. Is it still right to keep the calories at 600 or will this bring on a stall for too low net calories?

How far out from surgery could you still be having gas pains. I had surgery on 6/10/09 and for some reason today, I have had what I believe to be gas pains in my left shoulder blade and right at the incision where the port is. It is a dull, throbbing pain instead of a sharp pain. More annoying than anything else. I have emailed my surgeon the same question, but was curious as to what others thought. Night before last I had a little smushed refried, fat free Beans for dinner. I am at the mushy stage now. Thoughts?:redface:

I am 3 weeks post op now, and have been chomping at the bit to take a dip in my swimming pool! I also would like to begin using my eliptical machine, but don't know if I have to wait longer into my recovery. What was your experience with this? I have been doing walking around the neighborhood, but really want to begin doing some "real" exercise to begin losing some serious weight! I don't want to bother the staff at my doctor's office with this question, since I know he told me all about this after my surgery (but I've since forgotten). Please let me know how long you waited before going for a swim and before engaging in strenuous excersize. Thanks! :thumbup:

I'm at 201. I'm so excited!!! Although, I didn't think it'd take me this long to get here, I'll be happy to get there. Anyone else joining me?

Background: My surgery was 04/23 and I had my first fill on 06/02 of 1 cc with no restriction. Went in on 06/09 for another 1 cc with slightly more restriction but not enough. So on 06/19 I went in once more for .7 cc and had restriction. Everything has been going fine, I've been eating abou 3/4 cup of food and loosing an average of 1 pound a day. That part is exciting.... especially after 3 weeks of no weight loss. I don't expect this rate of weight loss to continue, but I'll take it while I can. :thumbup: Problem: Both yesterday and today, my restriction is greater and liquids are having problems getting through. Because I'm having problems I decided to…

Ok, I have something of a silly question, but must really know. I have read time and again in postings about "onederland". What does that mean? After all, they don't exactly give you the secret book of lap band lingo after your surgery, now do they? :thumbup:

Hi, I had my surgery done the day after Easter 09. I feel frustrated and alone in this whole journey! So grateful that I found this site though. I have yet to have my first fill yet my first fill is schedule for June 9, 09. I don't understand the cc's that everyone is talking about. I also don't even know what I have in me how much the band can hold etc. I do know this though. Now that they swelling has completely gone away I am not getting that full feeling anymore and it's not good! I haven't so much lost weight as I have inches and why that is I don't get either. So my question to everyone is this. Can I tell the Dr. how much I want him to fill it or suggest it…

I just compared my bottle of flintstone vitamins (which the label says to only chew 1 tablet for adults) to centrum chewables and there is VERY little difference in the supplement amounts. So I'm curious why they say to take 2 flintstones for adults, and also why (I saw on another thread) that their nutritionist said to trade in their flintstones for a vitamin for grown-ups.

Hi All: So I am finishing day three of mushies and am doing the recomended no drinking 5 mins before and 20 mins after eating. I find it to be very difficult as it's normal to be thirsty while eating. Just wondering if anyone has any special tricks for this or if some people will have a sip or two mid-meal? If I was normally trying to eat slow I would have a sip take a rest etc but now its like I'm trying to eat slow while being thirsty and then I know I have to wait a while...if anyone has any ideas please shoot them my way..thanks!

hi all. i was banded 6 months ago - 2.14.08 - and have since only lost 15 pounds (10 of which i lost in the 3 days after my surgery). i have been stuck at my current weight for the past 3-4 months. i don't feel restricted at all - i can eat a whole turkey & cheese sandwich with no problems. i am making sure i get 50-60 grams of protein daily, and go to the gym 3-4 times per week. i am getting pretty discouraged. :tongue: when i go in for my next fill i am going to ask about possibly having a stretched pouch, but i wanted to know if anyone else out there has gone through this or has any other advice.

Just thought I would share that as of last Sunday I have lost a total of 50 pounds. I started my pre-op diet on February 22 and was banded on March 12. I had my first fill on 4/13 which consisted of 3cc's and my second fill on 5/18 consisting of 1cc for a total of 4cc's. I really felt like I needed another fill two weeks after my first fill but I can honestly say that I do not see the need for another fill at this point. I still feel like I have a lot of restriction. I eat pretty much what I want (except most breads) but much smaller quantities. I average 1,200 calories per day (I am male) and I do my best to get 90 grams of protein per day. I track my calories at livestr…

Ok, can we eat salad? Ha ha. I LOVE salad but I've been avoiding it because I remember seeing it on a list of foods to stay away from. I'm like 5 weeks out now. I never knew if that was just because my stomach was healing or if its just something that doesn't go down easily or is hard to digest. If anyone has an answer please let me know. I've had chopped celery before and I had no problem with that. So hm.....

Hello Ya'll. I am 20 days post op and my incision next to my port site is sore. Also it feels like a wad of something is underneath the skin. Maybe the port cord? I have been working out so maybe its friction. I was wondering if this is just part of the healing process or if this is something I should call my doctor about. Your imput is appreciated.

I'm not sure if I should be concerned or not. Please give me your opinion. I was banded 3/12/09 with a Realize band. I'm very, very happy that I got my band. As of today, my scale indicates I'm down 29 lbs. Not stellar like some folks on here that were banded at the same time, but I'm still happy with the results. My confusion is this... I currently have 7cc's in my 10cc band. I've had 3 adjustments so far. My first adjustment was 4cc's, 2nd adjustment was 2cc's, and my most recent adjustment was 1cc. At my last appointment my doc was teetering on whether or not to adjust me because I had lost 7 lbs in about 5 weeks -- so a little more than 1 lb. a week. At …

Hi everyone and I apologize if someone has already addressed this. I was banded on 6/25 and I'm doing great and healing well. I've been taking in a lot of clear chicken broth some tomato soup broth and progressing to a little bit of scrambled eggs. Yesterday an old bout of gout :cursing: flaired up and I was wondering what caused it. I thought I've been eating very well for quite some time to include pre op. Where did this come from? Sodium in the broth? I wouldn't think it was anymore sodium than what I had been used to. Thanks and good luck to all :thumbup:

Ok this is one of my concerns that i have, if we loose the weight too fast we will have loose skin. I know i dont want to look like a sharpei. It might be stupid but this is what i think, if we don't loose the weight that fast will we give ourselves time to natrualy tighten up our skin? Actually my question is for men, nothing against the ladies! But whats your experience with loosing 100 + and loose skin? What about the guys that work out what problems with saggy skin if any do you have:confused:?

I was banded on June 12th by Dr. K in Aurora Co (He did a great job, all went well). I am about 2.5 weeks post op, can eat anything I want and have no restrction. I am TRYING to be good...eating three times a day and having shakes (protien, not milk . I have only lost about 15pounds since two weeks before surgery I can eat everything the same as before. I am trying to have modest portions but am afraid 1. I am stretching my pouch 2. I am not losing weight 3. I am a failure? My first fill is scheduled for July 13th and they said NO sooner!!!! What can I do? Should I go back to just liquid or mushies? ugh......any input is greatly appreciated! I am so discoura…

I have only lost 44lbs since January 21, 2009. I know that is a lot, but I want it to go faster. I have a sweet tooth and this last month I have gained about 5lbs. I have only had 2 fills and that was 2cc. Please give me some advise?

I have been reading a number of post and I can't remember anyone saying that they had a fill as early as 3 weeks after sugery ... makes me wonder about my doctor. What's the earliest fill you have had? Do you think that 3 weeks is too soon? For some it seems they waited more than a month for their first fill. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks.

i was banded 5 days ago, my incisions are itching so much, it is driving me crazy. Any suggestions?

Hello all, Just a question. I was banded June 12 and am dying for a little meat (ie: hamburger or lunch meat). When were you allowed to leave the mushies and go to these meats?? I do not want to go against doctors orders, especially if it will hurt me, but want to see if anybody else got meats sooner. Thanks Michelle

Okay all, as most of you know, my surgery was on 6/12. That was 2 weeks ago this past Friday. I am still struggling to get in all my Protein and fluids. Did anyone else - or is anyone else- still getting a feeling of everything getting 'stuck' - even fluids (inasmuch as that is all I am on at this time) - right about the spot between your boobs? I don't understand how things get stuck when they are liquid ... however, it happens. Sometimes, when I have that stuck feeling and I brush my teeth, I start to gag. Almost like you might do if you were pregnant -- WHICH I AM NOT. Then I get very nauseaus and break out in a cold sweat and have to lay down with a f…

I am so ready to get to my "sweet spot"! I hear once you're here you really start to feel the restriction and lose the weight. Is this true? I have 9cc's (or is it 8cc's?! I can't remember! eek) in a 14cc band so far. I feel the restriction SOMETIMES if I eat too quickly or take too big of a bite. I'm eager to get to that point where I really feel it... :tongue2: When did you find your Sweet Spot? How long after your surgery?

OK. This is so bizarre, you couldn't make it up. :thumbup: It was like watching one of those "almost funny because it's so disturbing" excuses for a sitcom that seem to be the only thing left on TV lately... Today I went to a little cafe at this park that has a walking tour of several different flower gardens, and I really should have planned the trip better, but I'm kinda new so.... They didn't have a lot of good choices, and I ended up with a half of a turkey on 9 grain. I was looking for something healthy, and kind of trying to weigh that against whether or not I can get it down. Only I kind of know that I am still a little too tight to be doing breads right no…

Hi - I'm Maggie and I had a Realize band done on May 18th. I had my first fill yesterday. During the fill, I got really dizzy, and the dizziness is continuing. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks so much!!!:bored:

From what I've read the reason you should not drink through a straw is because it causes you to take in air which can be painful. Is this the only reason? Is there anyone who can drink from a straw without discomfort? I have not had my first fill yet and I can drink through a straw without a problem...I just want to know if that's going to change when I get a fill.

Okay, well, I got my band done two years ago, and it has been a complete success. My doctor is in Louisiana where my mother and my family live, however, I moved to England about a year ago. I visited in December and had an adjustment and everything has been relatively okay. I've been ill a bit and have had trouble eating solids, but I just returned to liquids. The reason I started this thread was because since then about 90% of the time that I have stood up, no matter the speed, I become incredibly dizzy, the edges of my vision begin to fade until everything is black before returning to normal. This normally lasts about 30 seconds, at most. All the blood pours form …

I just wanted to stop by this morning and say good morning, while I am enjoying my first cup of caffeine free sugar substituted apple & cimminon flavored hot tea. I hope all of you are well.

For the first time since surgery on June 2, I am wearing an underwire bra. It's terribly uncomfortable under the left boob. My port is in the center, so I know it's not hitting the port. I don't really know where the band itself sits. Has anyone else had bra issues? Any solutions?

Ugh I can't keep track of all these things I can no longer eat after surgery! Not the fattening stuff... the things that will NOT go down at all. It seems sometimes I can handle certain things and sometimes it takes a lot to not throw up. Like yesterday, I was at a resturant, I ate a BITE of wheat bread that came with dinner... Oh my gosh, I've never felt so sick in my life! I spent 10 minutes in the bathroom throwing up. It was awful & embarassing... but honestly... I had no idea I couldn't eat that or else I would've never tried! Its weird. I've had a toasted slice of bread before and it went down just fine. I've had wheat wraps and I had an egg white flat br…

I'm desperate... After my first fill, i was summoned back because he said he might not have filled me enough... i went back for my second fill and now im way too tight... I'm almost 2 months post op... I cant consume anything... I miss chewing... i'm craving meat... im dying here... does anyone have any suggestions... I can only tolerate liquids and yogurt... even ice cream doesnt go... Any feedback would be greatly appreciated....:tongue2:

I thought I posted this earlier but have just searched and can't find it anywhere. Either my PC is playing up or I am losing the plot................(probably the latter)! My apologies if I have posted it twice. My question is if you are intolerant of certain types of foods since being banded e.g bread when did the problems start? Was it prior to your first fill, after your first fill or was it only after you had had a number of fills and were beginning to feel restriction?

It seems like everytime I put something in my stomach I get this tight feeling, not like a restricted feeling bc I have nothing in my band but like a bloated feeling.....then I burp and it happens everytime. Is that normal or is it just something that happens to us bandsters??? Anyone come up with a way to decrease it a bit??

Hello Everyone!! I recently found this site and I am so excited to see there are so many others out there that are having the same struggles & success. I was banded on Feb 5 and have only lost 37lbs. I recently have moved from Georgia to Washington State and am living in a hotel until our house is ready. I have not lost any weight :tongue2:(but have not gained:thumbup:) during this move and I am getting frustrated. My Dr. did my last fill on April 30th to 5CC. Any ideas how to get started again?? THANKS :cursing:

Hello Gang!!! I have some Phentermine pills and I have read all the posting that the pre-op diet is really difficult and I was wondering if anyone took them during this time to help them with the pre-op weight loss? Can you please let me know what happen, if anything. I am set to start diet on July 5.:rolleyes2:

Is 9 days post op long enough to wait to have a cocktail?

For some reason, I am having more trouble with this since sleeve surgery than I did with the band. I am more thirsty for some reason. Is it still one hour after meals before you can drink? I don't know what I did with my paperwork from Dr. Aceves office. I am wondering what they other doctors tell their patients too. I know with band surgery, some patients were told they could drink in 30-45 min. I've been watching the clock, and it's harder to wait than it used to be. Is it an hour after you finish eating or when you start eating? I try to stay busy so the hour goes by faster, but it seems like I am checking the clock all the time now.