POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Ok, am I the only person that is horrified at the thought of pureeing meat?? For those who have done it, is it awful? What are some other options?

Everyone likes to attack weight loss differently. There are those who like to combine exercise and nutrition; others change their eating only; and some would rather hit the gym and run rather than give up their favorite foods. Weight loss is possible by watching what you eat exclusively, but the research says that any successful long-term weight loss program includes a strong exercise component. In fact people who diet often regain all the weight they've lost and then some. Not to mention that constantly restricting food can be irritating, leaving us feeling grumpy, tired and hungry all of the time. So why is exercise better? 1. Exercise changes your metabolism Phy…

I have noticed that there are a lot of people talking about quitting smoking before being banded because of requirements. Anyone start smoking again after being banded?

I just had my second fill this morning. The PA only gave me 0.5 cc, which really disappointed me. She said that she didn't want to hurt me by giving me too much. The port access also went deepter than last time. It took her 4 shots to find the port access. After my first fill, I was able to keep everything down and I was eating larger and larger portion at each meal (7 OZ of meat plus 3 OZ of vege). I felt I could eat more than before the fill. So I was really expecting this fill to be somewhere likes 2.5 cc to 3 cc. Even with 0.5 cc, I am still put on a liquid diet for two days. I could tell right now that there is not that much difference in restriction. I am scheduled …

Hi. I was banded on Thrusday , June 5th. My doctor wants me back on all my medications - a total of 16 of them! I am having trouble getting them down except in jello but there are so many of them, I could eat a whole cup of jello just to get them down and I am limited to 3 Tablespoons of jello 3x's per day. Any suggestions/ideas on how to get all the crushed pills down?

It has been 5 weeks since my surgery and I am still feeling pain around my large incision. Especially if I bend over. Is this normal? Today I mowed the lawn and now I am hurting really bad.

I knew going into this surgery things were gonna be different...def for the better. BUT since my last fill my bowel patters have gotten a little off. I know not as much in...not as much out. What should be the normal? Everyone is different so I guess it varies but what should be the normal if you use to go every day?

I have been stuck at the same weight for the past 3-4 weeks. I will lose a pound gain it back. gain a pound lose it again.... i had my second fill on tuesday. I have the 9 cc realize band. I had 3 cc on the first fill and 1 cc on the second fill. i have been really concentrating on the diet, so i dont know why im not losing. i guess i do need to add more exercise--i moved from Florida up north to Indiana. I used to exercise outside a lot, but since the weather is unpredictable here i have cut back on my exercising i just need some encouragement and any advice to get me through this plateau!!!!! any one else in the same boat?

I am 3wks post-op i've been doing great so far...Yesterday I was at work with no lunch, which was bad on my part. I bought a salad from our cafe, I figured i'll chew it well...It had a whole assortment of things on it..Bacon,tomatoes,feta cheese,corn so I thought I'd pick more on the smaller things than the actually lettuce. Well, I ate and im trying to control my eatting habits because I do eat fast...And yesterday I do believe i ate fast...After i was finish I had this sense of omg im sooooo full, but that lasted for hoursssssssssss....I was uncomfortable because of the mere fact it wasn't going away. I was walking around, nothing! Finally after a few hours i starte…

When is the 1st fill usually scheduled?

I beginning to wonder if I made the right decision to get banded... Im starving!!!! I made it throught the 1st wk on liquids. Now I'm on pureed food and only allowed 3Tablespoons at each meal and its supposed to take 30 min to eat. I dont get it. I'm so hungry, and I cant find a protien powder that tastes good. Also supposed to have 20 gr. protein for BLD. what am I doing wrong? I feel no restriction and I feel like I can eat a ton of food. All I think about is food all day!!!!

Just had to post this.. Got banded in September. Since then I now can belch/burp whatever you want to call it with the best of them. I am not proud of this at all. Here is the deal. These loud/long/deep suckers just pop up and out with no warning at the most inappropriate time. If you embarrass easy you may want to be aware. I don't mind it too much at home but my goodness anywhere else is not appropriate. Not ladylike at all. Suppose the upside is I am not PB! Gotta find the silver lining somewhere. So if you are a southern belle or a woman of high society.. be prepared to lose the dignity and grace you have always known to have withyourself.. unless of course I am an …

I was banded last Thurs. and I am feeling okay although not all the way better. My port incision still hurts like hell! Especially when I cough or try to lie down. Now it is leaking. It is really REALLY leaking. It is not red or swollen, but it is leaking clear, thouth tinted red, fluid. Has this happenned to anyone else?

Greetings all -- today is my first day back home (I was banded yesterday morning: Wed. Nov. 19) Surgery day I felt ok -- very out of it b/c of the anesthesia. This morning I kind of felt ok too. But this afternoon the pain has progresed. I have the standard gas pains in my back and sides etc. And of course the stitches are a little sore. But what has me concerened is that my stomach feels like a big knot. Kind of like when you take an antibiotic and it just eats up your stomach. I can't figure out if this is normal (just had a surgeon rooting around in my guts paing). Or if this is a misreading of a gas pain? Sometimes it even feels like the kind of pains ones ge…

Ok, so I just went in for my first fill, he told me I had 1 cc in my band from surgery and he added another 3 cc's today. I took a sip of water at the office and all seemed fine, but I'm now back to work and every sip of water I take is followed by a strange gurgling sound and some pain, in the middle of my chest where the band is. It only lasts for a couple of minutes and then the water must be making it's way through the band I'm assuming, but is this normal?? Is it because it was just done an hour ago and needs time to settle?

Hi All. Wondering if anyone can shed a little light on this for me. It has me up in the middle of the night worrying. :w00t: I am 10 days post opp. I can't tell which lump under my skin is the port. I have two very obvious lumps. I have one that is very tender and obviously lumpy and protrudes more after I have eaten. It's under the largest incision and more in the middle and slightly to my right side, the other one is bruised around the incision, definitely feels like there is something under the skin but it's not as tender. It's slightly more to the left side. I had a hiatus hernia fixed at the same time and I'm wondering if going back to work and lifting a few t…

I wanted to know how everyone gets their water in?? I have always been a big water drinker but now Im lucky to get 40oz in a day. Can you guzzle water if you have not eaten anything? I have no problem drinking fast but I keep remembering them telling me sip, sip, sip. I still feel full before I even eat something but I know that I need to eat. I have still not had a fill yet and Im 5 weeks out, don't know if I need one or not time will tell. Thanks in advance for any answers to all of my questions. Bernadette

2 days now very very little appetite. My stomach is just rolling. No nasuea, vomitting or diarrhea, no cramping. Just constant churning. And before anyone ask.. NO I am NOT PREGNANT. You gotta do something to get that bug! :rolleyes2: So anyone else experience this, is this part of good restriction it is the band or do I perhaps have some bug?

My doctor told me week 2 I can eat mushy food/pureed, so I can begin this tomorrow morning. I am NOT going to be eating any meat pureed- gross. However, I'm curious to what others did for this week? What's acceptable? What were you able to eat? I'm so glad I made it through the Liquid Phase! There were days I thought I wouldn't!

I had surgery on the 3ed of March and ever since i could eat solid food I haven't really had any restriction so today I finally got to go see my surgeon and get a fill everything went well A little stinging but that was it. He put in 2cc and i'm eating dinner now and I can still eat just as much as before. I dont know what i should do, should I call him and be like I can't tell a difference at all with the fill..etc. or wait a little while or what. Anyone gone through this. Im at 197 and i was 208 surgery day. Thats not a lot of loss there. I think i need like a 4cc fill or more.

I must admit that I was apprehensive at first. I researched the surgery and doctors in my local area. Some of the postings on this site did scare me, as far as post-op complications. I am happy to say that I was banded on 4/08/09, and I have had no complications and very little pain. I felt discomfort only in the first 48 hours. I had my surgery done in Beverly Hills, CA by Dr.Salimitari. I was impressed by the doctor's bed side manner, and his great staff. For those who are out there still unsure if they want the surgery because of the post-op recovery. I can personally say that I would do it again in a New York minute. The key is to be positive going into the surgery,…

hi everyone, had surgery april 20th, but am home with oxygen. I also have copd. anyone else have that problem. i am hoping to be taken off when i go post opt appointment april 20th. also having diarreha (how no food for 12 days now)???anyone else? got on scale and gained 10 pounds. had lost 7, but put all but 3 back on!!! now that is upsetting. anyone else. also feeling so tried. i guess this is all normal just need just reinforcement. thanks

I would have never believed that this pose would help get things unstuck until I tried it myself as it seems counter-productive to getting food thru the band. It works for me 99% of the time which I am thrilled about, but I don't understand the mechanics of it and would very much like to hear anyone else's theories about how or why it works. Do you think its that it forces air from the bottom of your stomach up thru the band opening thereby dislodging the food???? It really does work if you haven't tried it.....for me anyway. I have to do it at the first inkling of 'stuck' and sometimes it takes a couple of times but the majority of the time it is successful. My husband …

Hello all! I was banded on April 10th, and so far i have had NO problem eating anything. Is this a good thing or a bad thing. Also, I was wondering, when I have my first fill, will I be able to eat solids?:smile::thumbup:

In fear I might strangle my husband for eating ice cream in front of me EACH night, I came up with this and I wanted to share. I take 1/3 cup of Non Fat Dry Milk (8g of Protein) 2 to 3 ounces of Boost Chocolate High Protein Mix it together and freeze in little plastic Ziploc bowls The dry milk adds more protein and makes it creamy, and the best part is, I feel like I am eating ice cream too!! Yum-O!! Anyone else have any fun "treats" they would like to share?

i go to 7-11 every morning on my way to work to get a super gulp full of ice...a tow trunk driver pulled up next to me b4 i got out of my car and started to flirt...i told him i'm married...which i am...and very happily...i would like to add...but i guess i hurt his ego...when i got out of my car he yelled out his window "ur too skinny 4 me anyway...u aneroxic looking b*$&@#!!!!!"....lol...thats the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me...

Hey Everyone, I thought it would be nice if all of the April 9 people met one another and we could talk about how everything is going. Hope to hear from you SOON!!!:smile:

Good morning everyone! This is my first time ina forum like this ever, but I am desperate. I got banded on July 1, 08. Have lost about 25 lbs (4 years ago I lost 40 with Weight Watchers, so this is not too significant for my expectations). However, I have not been able to have an adjustment because every 2-3 days I have such serious pain I almost have been taken to the hospital several times. It starts in the upper part of my belly, sometimes more towards the left side, and then either stays there or goes down to my lower abdomen. It get to be so severe I have to breathe in small breaths, because if I take a deep one I almost scream! Also, every evening at about 8 I get a…

I have been reading this new book called the Stubborn Fat Fix. It discusses all kinds of foods and how they affect your body. For example, think about the meat you eat- the animals were fed antibiotics that cause them to gain weight and it gets passed to us. So I am trying to make sure the meat I eat is antibiotic and hormone free. I think the ONLY way to know for sure is making it yourself. The lost goes on about so many foods.... I will post more later ...food for thought

It has been 5 months since my surgery and I have this itch that gets so bad some times at night that it wakes me up. I've seen that silicone allergies are rare, anyone have any ideas? Sometimes there are small hives, most of the time there is nothing to see. Anti itch lotion helps but I have to put it on several locations because the itch isn't localized. Surgeon doesn't think it is related to the band.

Hey everyone, I got banded on the 19th and have nothing imparticular to report...EXCEPT...I'm itchy. Around the edges of my lips, on my chest, my arms, my legs. Im not taking any pain medication. Could this be an after shock to anesthesia (did i spell that right? probably not). Anyone else having this experience, or am I all alone in my itchyness?????

Has anyone ever traveled alone for their surgery and relied on an aftercare nursing service to watch over them for the 24 hour post period? DO you really need someone with you?

I don't mean to be a big baby, but oouuuch my big incision hurts. I understand why it does, it makes sense. But what can I do to help elivate some of the pain? Besides pain meds. Thanks.

Hey Everybody. This is really embarrassing, but I just have to ask. I am of middle eastern decent, so the women in my family are prone to very very thin but dark upper lip hair. I have always been "hairy" with a lot of dark hair on my arms, thick eyebrows, and of course, that really fine/dark upper lip hair. I have noticed that as I gained this past 70-100 pounds, the hair has increased.. everywhere! I have serious facial hair growth on my sideburns/jaw line, chin, upper lip, and even on my stomach now. I have read plenty about excessive facial hair in women being caused by obesity or PCOS. I have been tested thoroughly for PCOS and do not have it. If this is just being c…

Hello All, I have had four fills and the last one was way too tight. I lasted two weeks until I had to go back to my doc to take out some fluid. It was pretty bad everything was getting stuck and water was even tough to get down. I asked the dr. what cc's are in my band so i can try and figure out what is good for me. His response was rude...its too complicated for you to figure it out leave it up to me. Well, that was a week ago. I have no restricition and have gained a couple of pds. Is this what your dr.'s told you?

Hello Everyone, I would appreciate some advice: I was banded on 2/24/09 and had my first fill of 4ccs on March 26th. I didn't experience much restriction after the first fill, and have noticed that in the past three weeks, I have been increasing the amount of food I am eating and the types of bad foods (i.e. mini-hersheys and frozen yogurt) that I sneak in. I have not once actually felt "full." It's like my bad habits are creeping back in again! Have any of you had this problem? How did you overcome it? I am trying to get a fill next week to hopefully help with the restriction...any and all advice welcome!! Thanks!

Hi all - I had my surgery on March 31 and have no fill in my band. When I switched to solid food things were going well. I can eat everything with no problems (no PB, no sliming, no vomiting) I do eat a lot less and try to stay on the healthy side. In the last few days however, I am eating a LOT more and craving the foods I used to eat. I have my first fill scheduled for 4/29 and don't quite know what to expect afterwards. I understand the process, as I had an unfill the day after surgery (3 cc to none.) But what will happen after? Will I have to fight the horrible gas bubbles and pain I had at 3 cc post-op? Will it keep my appetite more in control? I haven't lost anythi…

My band is schizophrenic. One day I can't eat anything without being stuck and pbing and vomiting, and the next I am fine. Why is this? Did something happen to the band? Did I do something to it from throwing up? I am worried because yesterday I had an omlette and home fries with no problem and then a lean cuisine flat bread sandwich for dinner. I didn't eat the whole omlette, but still, it went down fine. The flat bread sandwich was a little stuck feeling. But the day before I couldn't eat anything without feeling stuck and I vomited once. Anyone else have experiences like this? Did I puncture the band or something vomiting and now there's no restriction? I'm worried.:sm…

I was banded on march 27th and everything was going really good until this past week and i am eating everything! I go for my first fill in a week! Tell me this goes away and gets better!:smile:

Hello everyone today is my 2nd fill dr only put 1cc, first fill was only 3cc, anyway when doc doing my fill its a bad feeling pain pain!!!! I honestly do not even want to get a fill anymore but i had to get a fill today because i am getting hungry every 2 hours.. Anyone experienceing bad fills with needle?

I’m on day 6 with my LapBand. I can’t wait until I can have an egg or a piece of chicken. Dang, even peas would be a welcomed change from liquids, pudding, plain yogurt, and CREAMED Soups. I see my doc for my post-op on Friday, so maybe I’ll progress to the mushy Proteins & veggies. I have a question. Did any of you ever get air pockets in your throat? It doesn’t matter what I or how slowly eat, I get these annoying air pockets/bubbles in my throat. Then I have to make myself burp to break up the pockets, which seems to take a good 15 - 30 minutes. I look forward to your response. vayiayia

hello, I was banded on monday and the last two days and especially today I am hurting....I have not had a solid bowel movement in 5 days and these liquid shakes although the give me the protein I need just don't seem to be enough...am I wanting to much to soon??? I am taking my vitamens but the hunger today is really bad and even tho the bloating is settleing down I do feel full after just 1/2 shake. my scale shows me down over 14 lbs since monday but I am begining to wonder if I am getting enough thru the shakes....when does the diareah stop???? is there any thing I can take to help me thru these trying days???......on a side note I never realized how much food comm…

Well I am home, surgery went well and the doctor found a small hiatal hernia and repaired it while he was in there. I am not too sore, the repair hurts the most, along with some air trapped under the diaphragm that is hurting my shoulder. I opted to stay the night in the hospital last night just incase I had any problems.:smile: So far the worst part of all this is the crushing of the medications. They taste so bad. If anyone as any suggestions on how to make it a bit more tolerable I would love to hear them. Take care, Wendy

I was banded in March of 08. I've never had any trouble with the band or trouble eating. My last fill was February 23rd. As of this Monday, April 20, I'm having trouble eating or drinking. No trouble at all up until this point. When I drink I can "feel" it going down and it most of the time feels weird going down. Kinda like the water is getting hung up but eventually goes down. I can only eat mushy things and not much of it at all. I'm not hungry. I wasn't like this before Monday. I could eat just about anything I wanted as long as I followed the "bandster" rules. It just concerns me about getting the water down and it feeling uncomfortable. But once it passe…

Hi. I was banded 8/29....Ok I've read alot of threads regarding the incision/wound "leaking" or "draining", I read all the info my doctor gave me on Seroma and that its normal. Yes I already called him, he said to clean the incision several times a day with hydrogen peroxide and neosporin and keep the dressing clean. All that being said, I'm still freaking out! Is this normal? How long will it last? Why did it start really "leaking" on day 4? Maybe I just need some reassurance. I really, really don't want an infection. Thanks jad:help:

Hi all - Things went well for me... I think. I came home and I am seeing some swelling in my abdomen, mostly to the right of my belly button, nowhere close to any incision.. I am assuming this is just gas and bloating and should go down. The thing that concerns me a bit is that I am having some sweating and chills. I woke up this morning, having obviously been sweating in bed, with the chills (teeth chattering). No temp right now.. but I am still a bit worried. I have been taking the Oxycodiene (sp) pretty regularly since I got home yesterday at 12 noon. What are your thoughts on the swelling and particularly the chills/sweating? Thanks all! Steve

Can you take Ambien with the lap band? I forgot to ask my doctor.

I will admit, I was nervous for my first fill after reading bad fill stories. However, I was pleasently surprised to find it to be quick & easy! First my doctor just numbed the area with a small needle then injected 4.8 cc's of saline into my 10 cc band, while he had me drink a glass of Water. The whole process was quick and easy..the worst part is being on liquids for 48 hours! :smile: I will be on mushies tomorrow, which is nice...just in time for my 23rd birthday! :w00t: Just thought I would share a happy fill story!

Hello, I am trying to evaluate the Protein possibilities for post surgery (April 30..yeah!). ProStat64 comes in packets that seem easy to travel with. Would like some feedback regarding the taste. thanks!

:crying: Is anyone else constantly worried that their port had flipped or their band has slipped? I just got banded last week and I can't stop thinking about it, today I felt a pop feeling where my port scar is when I bent over and it's been on my mind since. Any one else paranoid or is this a newbie thing that will fade with time?