POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Just curious has anyone evr purchased foods from this site or any other sites? Thanks, Pudgy

After delays for the past 4 months I finally got banded yesterday and I m home today starting on my liquid diet. So far all is well just alittle pain at port sight . I hope to start my success stories for a long time,good luck to all:thumbup:

I was banded on May 4. Is it suppose to be difficult/painful to get anything down? Even water? I can't eat anything more than a couple of bites of yogurt or a couple small sips of my shake. Is this normal? When will I be able to get liquides/soft food down with no pain?

I know this has been talked about a thousand times already but my question is this: I am 10 months post-op and I have very severe left shoulder pain. It's not all the time and it's usually in the afternoon, although I've had it in the morning too. It doesn't always happen after a fill and it can be very random but when it's there it's PAINFUL! I have done about as much research as I can and I've come to the conclusion that it's the phrenic nerve (possibly referred pain). My doctor doesn't know what to do with me and thinks it's odd that I still have shoulder pain as he has concluded it's free air. I have a hard time believing that. So, does anyone out there have a…

today is my 7th month bandiversary!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm a 120 pounds down...(haven't updated my ticker)....banded on oct. 6th 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!! congrats to all my fellow losers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm almost done!!!!!!!!!!!! my hard work has really paid off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am posting this in the hope of reassurance that what I am experiencing is perfectly normal. My port site sticks out about an inch or so from my abdomen - just like a hernia. It is still sore around the area, but doesn't appear inflamed. Is this the normal amount of swelling, from the surrounding tissues, I should expect? I've spoken to a couple of other bandsters and they didn't have this, so am getting a tad concerned that I will be left with a large protrusion when it all settles down - and I don't want that! :bananalama: For information, I am 5 days post-op and I received an AP small band. Thanks in advance for any comments or advice. Great site this. :cheers2…

Ok has anyone tried the soy pasta? I have a friend that has been banded for a while and she swears by it. She claims that it is very good and doesnt swell in the tummy because its made of soy.

Hi all, As a little background, I have felt restriction since surgery. At my first fill I found out I had .6cc in my 10cc band-no biggie. My 1st fill was great and I felt restriction and could still eat the foods I was used to (all healthy) but I stalled in my weight loss a bit. My 2nd fill was April 14th and brought me to 4.5cc in a 10cc band. It felt OK but with a lot more restriction (which I wanted). Well, ever since then I've had "stuck" episodes (not pretty at all) and have had issues eating foods I had no problem with before this fill. I have been losing, which is great, but it has been a struggle to eat carefully and sacrifice things I'm used to eating (c…

Hi, I am an intern Psychologist currently studying the long term effects of Lap Banding surgery. The purpose of the study is to assist individuals emotionally, physically and socially - after their surgery. If you have the time, I would really appreciate you partaking in the survey which takes about 30 minutes. All you need to do is click on the attached link and the survey should open up automatically. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8V2cU9TcyFKkWaIOcBFyrg_3d_3d If you have any issues or suggestions, please feel free to email me (kerrie_woods@hotmail.com). Many many thanks, Kerrie Woods:lol:

Are there any home excersize DVD's that are targeted for Post Weight Loss Flab. Want a full body lift workout in my own home.

Hello everyone, I decided to start a new weight loss challenge for May 5th since the current "April Fools" weight loss challenge is less than 2 weeks away (seriously, where did March go? Anyone? :tt2:) Please post here what weight loss you would like to achieve by May 5, 2009 (approx. 6 weeks from the date of this post). On average, Bandsters lose 1-2 lbs per week, but base your goal personally. I love being motivated, so let's start the Summer off with a bang and a heckuva lot less fat!! coloradobanding......13lbs debbie_7155............8lbs stephleon..............13lbs fluffy jen...............13lbs jaynell31...............15lbs louandboosmom......15lbs l…

Today is 1 month after my surgery. I have lost 40 pounds exactly today - but things are not well. I am never hungry. I cannot eat, but very little amounts of food - averaging about 450 cals a day. After eating I feel ok for about 15 or 20 min then I have gas pain and spend the next 3 to 4 hours holding my stomach and burping. I am tired all the time and am unable to walk for more than 10 min without having to sit down because my legs are shaky - this is from a man who would do 30 - 45 minutes on the cross trainer every morning. I can't wait to go to sleep at night, I get in bed around 8pm and sleep till 8am every night. The first thing in the morning is when I feel …

I'm 3 wks post op and still on mushie food. I won't get a fill for another 3 weeks. I feel like I can eat almost as much as I did before I was banded. I'm so scared I'll stretch my pouch. I'm trying hard not to overeat but obviously, I have a problem w/ self control otherwise I wouldn't need the bad. Does anyone think they stretched their pouch during this time that lead to complications or slippage?

Please Give me some answers! To all BANDER WHICH DO YOU HAVE AND WHY?

i went last week for my 5th fill.....and the fill i thought would take me home to goal....but after a week i'm hungry....starving after 2 hours!!!!!!!!!i know some people that don't feel restricted till 2 weeks after a fill....so i made my appt. for may 20th...but i usually feel it as soon as i eat solids after 24 hours .... i am a bandster that DOES NOT believe in snacking at all....i know that will start up bad habits 4 me...i am still losing...due to my will to stay on track...i just called my surgeons office and asked for another appt. so i could get a fill...my 4th fill was perfect...i stayed "full" for 5 hours inbetween meals...my surgeon is reluctant to give me ano…

Why when you get a fill , on that day it seems like no restriction , even though you are on liquids or very soft, next day fill really seems to kick in. Is that just me or do others have that feeling?

Ok so I had my first fill today and she only put in 2cc's. Dosen't this seem low? I have an 11cc band:blushing:

Has anyone else been stuck at a certain weight for 30 days with no moving on the scale? I was banded on Jan. 16, 09 and have lost 30lbs. but that's it! I have not lost anymore weight for over 4 weeks now. I am going in for another fill this Monday, that will make it 2cc. The surgeon is going VERY slow with the fills. I am just getting a little irritated with the slow weight loss. I do go to the YMCA, but haven't gone in over a week (putting in new flower beds, and yard work are ENOUGH for me at the end of the day)! My future daughter-in-law wants to get married in my backyard by the pond so I have been working my BUTT off digging and planting, but my weight won't budge!!!…

I am at the point of having soft foods. I know crackers isn't soft but when they go in the mouth they get soft. The reason I am asking is I can have tuna and chicken salad. They would be much better with crackers. Just one or two. Guess I really need to ask Nut.....But what experience have you had with saltines?

I just got my first fill (1cc) three hours ago and I am so hungry already! Is that normal and do i need to just bite the bullet and hold on till my next fill (next month)?

Hi All I am two weeks post op on solids all ready. I lost the first week but have not lost any this week. I am excercising at least 3days a week. With no results:angry: I feel great except I would like to see the scale move. I am hungry and at times I feel like I can eat more then expected. Any ideas I go to my 2week post op 5/6? Help thanks

I have read that if something gets stuck and can't pass through the band, you will throw it up. Now for my question....what if your meal does pass through the band and due to illness or something you have to vomit. Can the food get up past the band?:thumbdown:

Any surprise foods you did not tolerate? In other words, foods no one warned you would cause a blockage but they did? Do you still eat citrus? If so, do you just cut off the outside of the membrane (the white "skin" stuff, not the rind of course?) Do you drink with your meal (against advice?) If you did, did you lose despite it, or feel hunger due to the food not staying in your pouch? If you did not cheat with drink, do you think very teeny sips just to wet your mouth and help you chew would affect your weight loss? (The reason I ask this is because I am prone to anemia and do not want to stop eating beef; which would likely happen if I could not moisten my mouth for…

I had my surgery last April and within 6 months, I had about 5 or 6 fills. Everytime, it just seemed like I would get more and more hungry weeks after the fill. Finally, on my last fill, the doctor said this should be enough for a while. He was right... 5 months later, I was still feeling the restriction and had lost an additional 32 lbs. But lately, I'm back eating the same amount of food I was before my surgery because I'm ALWAYS hungry again. I've stopped going to the gym... due to lack of time. I KNOW all of these are bad decisions on my part, so I'm trying to get my butt back on track. I was hoping to get back in for another fill but I was wondering, from all of you …

Hey, what gives? I was banded on April 27th and am still the same weight today! Is this common??

Bad timing on the part of Pepsico. Coming out with the Pepsi throwback brand, which thank god is "for a limited time only" Boy is that stuff good. Its made with sugar. I am a reformed Pepsiholic and as I understand it back in my day Pepsi was made with real sugar, which in later years was replaced in this country by "High-fructose corn syrup." Those more in the know, feel free to comment. But boy is that stuff good. Part of my weight loss success has been getting rid of soft drinks. But I will have one of these a month or so as an occasional reward, and will follow it up with extra dieting and exercise to compensate. So far I have done well eating smarter and exe…

I have found in the last few months i am consumed with my weight lose. its like i just cant just enjoy the weight that has been coming off. I take my weight lose 10 lbs at a time. Im 247 lbs right now and i started out at 389 or 86 i cant remember any more that was at my time of pre band diet. I kicked butt to finally get to the 240's and now that i am there, i am going crazy trying to keep from going backward to the 250's. once i get to 245 or lower than I will go crazy trying to make it to the 230's. It has been going like that now for over 9 months. this cant be healthy, I would love to just be happy with where I am right now but im not sure I will be happy until…

Does anyone have issues with cooking for the family after you had your surgery? I can imagine the smell of food alone makes it difficult or are you so full that it doesn't bother you? There are some things my DH likes that I can't stand so I was planning on making those at first. This might sound kinda funny but I also have a 14 month old whose food might be more tempting. He's only starting to get molars now so he is still on somewhat soft foods (as in no hard/crunchy stuff and he doesn't like meats yet) so a lot of his foods are what I imagine I would be eating eventually. The problem there is that until age 2, his foods are made with whole milk, cheese, cottage …

I just got on the scale this morning and am shocked. I started this last year at 272, when I had the surgery on December 30th, 2008 I was 261 and now this morning I am 209. In all honesty I never thought I'd ever see 209 again in my life. For me to think that the One Hundreds are only 10lbs away is shocking to me. Yes, maybe I am being dramatic but its so HUGE to me that I had to share it. I never thought my goal of 160 was really possible but now that I am half way there I have a bit of hope that it is really something that I can achieve. I LOVE MY BAND. Oh, and I broke my plateau by EATING more! Its just what my body needed. Our bariatric office advice…

Hi all, ive been banded since march 20th of this year. I have had previous problems with heartburn (pre banding). i have yet to have a fill and i notice that it has been bad this last week or so. I usually need mt prevacis 1x a day, but lately I need it 2xs a day. any suggestions or thoughts on this subbject? I see my doc on wed, but woud like some feedback from all of u. thanks in advance, amy

I was banded on the 21th of april and i was on liquids for a week. i was staving so the dr told me to eat running grits and i did. he also stated that i can eat food that i dont have to chew so i ate mashed pototoes which is really good. this is my third week and i had fish, and stawberry and wip cream. i go to the doctor on wednesday im so scared that something happend to my band. cause the first week i use to feel like i had heart burn when i ate to much now i feel nothing when i eat.should i be worry

Hi all amy here, im just realizing that if i wear anything(such as jeans) a little tight that my port area gets sore. Is that normal? is it bad for your port aka... can it become lose(ur port)? Im 5 weeks out and would like some feedback. thanks all! amy

so I am about 25 days post op give or take and I have been pretty pain free for awhile now. Well the other day I was sitting in my car and stupidly leaned forward to pick something up off the passenger side floorboard..... I literally felt something rip accross where my biggest incission is. I hurredly lifted my shirt but didnt see anything wrong. The pain was intense, it felt like something burning just below the surface of my skin. I went inside and layed down for a bit and its not so bad today but is still pretty tender. My surgeon's office closes shop early on Fridays and I didnt get a chance to call while at work this morning. Im thinking if its still bothering …

I went in for a D&C and laparoscopy (I think that's the word) yesterday. Luckily, my best friend since birth is the charge nurse in surgery because half way through, one of the nurses came to get her. Apparently, my OB/GYN saw tubing in my stomach and freaked out. My friend came in and looked on the screen and said that was tubing from my lap band. The doctor said she knew nothing about it. Geez, I mentioned it to her twice. The second time was when we were discussing my surgery and I said I had a lap band and made sure they weren't putting any tubes into my stomach. She said no - only airway. Apparently, either she didn't listen (what's new?) or didn't write …

Just wondering how everyone else is doing and how your 1st fill went. I have 4.2cc in my 10cc band. Hope all is well with each one of you.:ohmy:

Howdy! I just got a June 8th date for my surgery and I am so excited. :ohmy: I would like to hear from those who have been banded and then went on vacation. I am going to Florida on August 8 for a week. I would love any advice!

I am so excited; have been approved by insurance company which was only 1 week wait (well that is after they received all the hoop info they req'd) - surprised. I have my all day pre-op orientation May 13th and will get my surgery date then. I am looking for advice from everyone on this: I figure 2 weeks liquid pre-op diet any other tests puts me at the end of May. Our family is flying to Disney World June 24th for 1 week. So.... if they have availability say between June 1 - 12th, would you have the surgery that soon b4 vacation? Or would you schedule after July 4th (we return July 2nd)? I wouldn't think I would have such a hard time deciding, but as we all know it has …

Let me first say that I am happy with my weight loss. I was banded march 20, 2009 and have lost 34lbs so far. However, much of that weight loss was in the first 3 weeks of my surgery. I have not lost anything since. I keep going between the same 3lbs and it is driving me crazy. Can anyone give me some advice? Here is what I ate today egg whites and 2 turkey sausage South beach bar 4oz meat loaf 2oz cream spinach (Boston Market) I exercise 3 times a week for 30min on an elliptical trainer. I will say that I do struggle to get my Water in. I get about 40-45oz i am trying to increase this. In addition, I wanted to know how many carbs should I be eating a day? Thank…

I am scheduled for my lap band on May 4th. I just found out I am suppose to attend a 4 days business conference in Vegas the week after my surgery. My boss is aware of my situation. Is it realistic I can attend with no major issues? I'll have to do some work to find the proper nutrition I am sure. I can probably get out of it if it seems too risky.

I think that my port is in a weird and uncomfortable spot. It is 2 inches left of the center of my stomach horizontally and basically in the mi:confused:ddle vertically. I feel like it is very close to my rib and it makes it very uncomfortable for me to move. Where are your ports located? Is the pain normal, when can I expect it to subside. I don't really have any pain at the other incision sites. Thanks, hoping for a quick pain-free recovery - I am a week in tomorrow - post-op.

I don't know why my throat is so sore... I don't know if it is from being intubated or what. I am 3 days post-op and the pain comes and goes, sometimes its mild but sometimes its really bad. It feels like someone is blowing a balloon in my throat. Did this happen to anyone else? Any suggestions on how to avoid it would be much appreciated!

I had my surgery on April 22nd. At first I seemed to be losing, but now I have put on a few pounds - I'm feeling like its water weight (I know I'm not drinking enough - but its so hard to get it down). I was on an anti-inflamatory for 2 1/2 years prior to the surgery (mobic - 15 mg - pretty strong). My legs are definitely looking puffier than prior to surgery. I also have a pulled hamstring (I think) and have had to take it somewhat easy with walking, but I am trying to walk a little more every day. When I spent more time in bed, my feet were elevated and they didn't get swollen - now they are feeling swollen - but not a tremendous amount. I'm thinking that the sa…

Hey everyone. Happy Saturday. Just wondering if anyone out there has used Southwest Bariatrics in Austin - specifically Dr. Brady? I'm awaiting insurance approval and I'm hoping to get started with everyone in June. Life is good.

I find that I am a little run down. 6-7 hours of sleep and I still can't get anything done. I sit all day planning what I need to do, just can't get it done. Couple of people suggested taking an Iron pill so I got some tonight. I am doing my vitamins daily with 1200 mg additional calcium and Biotin. Anyone else have this problem and what did you do to work throug it?

I was wondering when people are displaying the amount of weight they lost if it includes there pre-op weightloss as well. I am having a hard time with what to expect from the band and in looking at some peoples numbers they seem very larger. I know we are all different, but I am curious.

Question here -- never had any problems w/acid reflux, ulcers, heartburn (are they the same) before my band. Had two fills. Still going strong. After my third fill about a month ago, I seem to be getting what I think is acid reflux about twice a week, maybe 3 times. I'm not vomiting. Things are not getting stuck (though occasionally they go down a little rough). No PBing. So what is this all about? I will admit I am under a huge amount of stress. My husband has been laid off for the 3rd time in 5 years. Could this cause it? I'm going to see my doc next week. I'm worried he'll unfill me a little -- but I still feel like I could use more restriction. Has anyone ha…

hi everyone, banded april 20th...doing great...went to doctors yesterday allowed mushies. which is great cause i was starving. now this morning i had a egg a tablespoon of salsa. . lunch 1/2 cup refried Beans a teaspon of cheese salsa and a tablespoon of fat free sour cream. it was so good, but i was not full by any means. dinner same as above plus some baby chicken food a tablespoon and a teasppoon of hubbys mashed potato's. but i am still hungry........oh damn this is hell!!!! way to much??? help any suggestions....... thanks

I was banded on Wednesday (4/28/09):wink: A DREAM THAT HAS CAME TRUE:thumbup: but I have a question for you that have experience with the lap band. Why am I not feeling full? I am eating like I am suppose to but am still hungry. Now I will say I feel fuller a whole lot sooner, but shouldn't I feel full really fast? I think I am to go in to the doctors office in about two weeks for a fill, does the fill make a difference when filling fuller sooner? I mean I thought with just the surgery I would see a hugh difference. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well it's 5 months since most of us Nov 08 bandsters have had surgery. I decided to check in and see how everyone is doing. I've stalled out ... but it's my own fault not the band. I'm still trying to get my head around night time snacking and adhere to bandster size portions. But I've had some success and I'm not giving up. To jumpstart myself -- I just ordered the Beck Diet Solution Workbook. And I need to make sure if nothing else I write everything down -- on good days and especially on bad. But even when I feel out of control I feel way more in control then I ever have with food. And even when I wander off the path a little -- I feel like getting back on is so…

I must say, today I woke up and felt a WORLD of difference. I felt energetic and just really good. I've noticed that my cravings for food have almost disappeared (until I smell something yummy) and I really have no desire to snack. I kind of get annoyed when I feel hungry because then I have to find something to eat and take the time to eat it. I feel like my life is revolving less and less around food everyday. I'm so glad my relationship with food is changing. It's so refreshing. I even walked on my lunch break today because my body just felt so great. These last 10 days have been a much harder journey than I ever expected. The emotional aspect of having this sur…