POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

banded jan 7..ive lost 30 lbs which im happy about but seem to be stuck there...and i can eat more than i could a month ago or 2 months..not cool at all..whats the deal with this...any thoughts please.

Hi All: I am reading, reading reading. I've been lucky in that 2 people I work with are banded and one is going in next week. So, we'll have a mini support group. However, I don't know any men who are banded. They tell me that men can generally eat more, tolerate more foods etc. I don't know if this sounds right. Anyhow. I lost 20 pounds due to pre-op diet and the post-op liquid stage (where you take in very few calories in the first 4 days or so). Since introducing pureed foods, my energy is through the roof and I'm walking a hour a day with the plan of 5 days per week. This week I gained 2 pounds. I'm eating more and more (still at 1/2 to 3/4 cup), but I am …

For the past few mornings, I wake up completely fine, have a slimfast shake then go about my day with no issues. By mid-morning I feel the need to swallow (just salavia) but end up with what feels like a big glob of flem going down too. It feels like it gets stuck, nothing too painful, but stuck. I drink my water, eat my lunch, usually chicken in some kind of sauce with a vegetable. Everything seems to go down just fine, but within a 1/2 hour my chest hurts like I have food stuck. It lasts pretty much through the evening. I still have the feeling now. I go to bed and wake up just fine. Is this just throat congestion (if there is such a thing) that's making me feel…

I am 4 days post op and I have already started doing light weight lifting arm excercises. I wanted to know how long after surgery did you start doing cardio and going back to Gym? My doctor said as soon as I feel okay I can start however I am curious to know ehat pthers bandsters did?

I'm 5 days post op and I'm feeling a bit shaky. I've been drinking my fluids so I'm not sure why. Could it be the lack of sugar? I was on the pre-op diet for 4 weeks with no sugar/ light carbs and now post op I'm going into the 5th week of the same thing. Are we aloud things like juice? An ice cream milkshake? for the sugar? or no? Or could there be another reason for this weakness feeling? :smile:

I am having my first social outing since banding on 1st May. It is a murder mystery evening and we all need to take our own food. I am on mushies. Nobody there will know I have been banded. Any suggestions for my take along food? Thank you

I just don't understand it. I mean I feel like I'm doing everything right and the scale WILL NOT BUDGE. I've even upped my workouts from 30 minutes a day to 45 minutes a day. I do circuit training one day and then intensity training on the elipitical the next about 5 - 6 days a week. I'm doing myfitnesspal and logging everything I eat. I'm eating about 1200 - 1500 calories a day. I'm struggling with even this amount because I have pretty much no restriction. Sometimes in the morning, I get a little stuck but other than that, I can tell absolutely no difference than the way I felt before the band. I had my first fill about 3 weeks ago. Next one is May 11th. My doc…

how long after your surgery did your tape come off of your incissions? I am 12 days post op and my tape is still on and going strong.... i have been having some burning/pain sensations near my biggest incission and really feel it is being caused by the surgical tape. the surgeon said to leave them on until they fall off on their own. Only one has fallen off and it was the smallest incission up near my breast bone--most likely from being hit with my bra everytime I went to put it on. They look awful! No matter how many alcohol swabs I use I cant get the sticky grey residue off my skin. They look dirty from my clothes rubbing up against them as well. I have my first post…

Hello fellow bandsters: You gotta check out this really cute website with lapband items. (please note, I am not personally affiliated with this web site, I just thought it was fun). Lap-Band-Surgery-Site Online Store

i've been told by friends and support group members i exercise too much...as of now i jog 2 miles and power walk 4 miles...6-7 days a week.....i just introduced bike riding into my routine...and i will now switch of between bike riding and jogging/walking .....i have not stepped foot into a gym since i've had surgery....although i wish i could...and i will come summer...i contribute a lot of my weightloss to exercising....but i will always argue that exercising too much (which i dont think i do....and now i love to exercise....i have so much energy....not to mention it feels soooo good once u get use to it...and feels even better to actually move!!!!!!!!and i have some ve…

So, i got home wedsday evening from the hospital and weighted myself and I was the same as I went in. I just weighted myself and I am 9 pounds lighter. 9 pounds in 3 days. Love it! I think when the bloating goes down more will be lost. I know its really 9 pounds in a week because my last real meal was Sunday a week ago but regardless it IS encouraging!

Just curious... how many incisions do you have? I have 6 and that seems like a lot. Also, I was banded on 3/27 and it seems like my incisions are healing rather bumpy. Does that mean that I am making a lot of scar tissue or is it normal and they will eventually flatten out?

I had my surgery on 3/23 and I am really struggling to get in my Protein. I literally gag on every Protein Drink I try. I did okay on the preop diet with the protein, but now I cannot get it down!! I have tried vanilla and chocolate and even bought powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury unflavored and tried mixing it with juice and still cannot get it down. It literally makes me gag. I have also tried Muscle Milk Cookies and Cream, Odwalla Protein drinks and Slim Fast low carb. I tried doctoring them up with Frozen Fruit and such but still no luck! Any suggestions from others that have a ha…

Well I was banded on April 16, 2009 and I do not know if what I am going through is normal. First of, I still feel pain in the gut, but mostly in the lower left quadrant of my abdomen. Every once in awhile I will feel a sharp pain there, but it seems that there is always at least a dull ache there. Also I feel a tightening feeling every so often after a swallow, but not all the time. I am also feeling somewhat nauseated and have a series of dry heaves every few hours. I am sooo miserable!! and hungry! I want to cry!! I keep wondering if I made the right choice because all this pain! I was NOT given pain meds and told to take tylenol, but that barely offers any relief.…

I was just wondering, how many weight goals do each of you have. I have often heard (since I was a child) "slow and steady wins the race". When I first met with my surgeon, one of the first things he ask me was what weight did I want to be. Without a second to think I blurted out, between 125-130. He smiled and told me with the lapband it is possible to loose that much weight and get to my goal. But instead of going first off to 125-130 pounds, how bout we try to 150 pounds to start with. So, while I still want to get down to atleast 130 pounds, my first goal is to get to 200 pounds even. Why did I pick 200 pounds and why even? Simply because I want to be 200 pounds b…

I have a couple questions... 1. How many ounces of clear water per day are people being told to drink per day? 2. How many total ounces (water+liquid food+mushys) are people consuming per day? 3. Also, how many calories per day are people eating?

Just wanted to add a 3 month follow up. My surgery went great, the doctor and the bariatric program were great, but the hospital's anesthesia team were a bunch of snakes in the grass. When I woke up in recovery, the Anesthesioligist told me they chipped a tooth removing the breathing tube and that a dentist would visit me before discharge to get it taken care of. I forgot about it and called the hospital several days later. The hospital's customer service department was slow to respond and I felt ignored. When I pressed the issue the Anesthesia Dept called back and tried to make me believe nothing happened. They actually made up things that if it went to court I coul…

Hi I had my 5th fill on friday afternoon and since then i havent been able to keep anything down,including fluids. I thought it may loosen up as it has done previously after a few days,but it hasnt and im in so much pain. I have a really bad burning sensation in my chest and throat and my mouth keeps watering like i want to vomit when i havent eaten and when ever i do try to eat or drink,i am vomiting constantly until everything is back up. I have never experienced this before,only the occasional pb when i eat the wrong type of food,but this is absolute hell. And being a sunday,i wont even be able to contact my doctor until at least tomorrow and then it depends when h…

I was banded on 04/14/09. 7 days post-op today. I'm supposed to start blended/mushy food 7 days post op. Is it 7 days including the date of surgery or 7 full days AFTER the date of the surgery????

Does any one have any problems eating white pasta? I was told by one dietician no white pasta but now I am seeing another one and nothing was mentioned that it had to be wheat. How about you guys?? I will be moved to soft foods on wednesday and my paper says ground meat casseroles are allowed. ANy suggestions?

This question is for those that have had at least one fill. Do you still feel hungry after you've eaten to restriction? I know it may sound silly but I am terrified of being hungry.

Hi all. I am 5 days post opp. The pain is getting less and less but I'm not feeling so good. Not sure if it's hunger, or nausea, but I just feel..ick. I don't know whether I am eating enough, or not enough. My doc said I could go from the liquid to the mushy stage if I felt ok.. but I've read that eating the wrong foods or mushy foods too soon will disrupt the placement of the band. I just don't know what's going on in my stomach anymore and over time between the pre -op diet and the surgery I don't have a sense of what I should feel like anymore. I am self pay.. and sure don't want to mess this up!

I am feeling a hardening underneath my largest incision. I can't seem to tell if it is scar tissue building under the surface or of the band has slipped. Since the surgery, I have not felt any difficulty swallowing, but have kept to the liquid diet as prescribed. I had my operation on April 9, 2009 and don't have my follow up for another week yet. How can tell if it slipped? HELP!

i'm not coming down on any1...i personally think that if u have lost 5 pounds or 125 pounds...u should b proud of urself...and b happy that u r losing...but when people arent losing they want to start blaming the surgeon...the surgeon is there to perform surgery and give u fills when needed...what else do u want him to do??????? they dont lose the weight 4 u...they dont watch what u eat...make u exercise or read u bedtime stories...i expected my surgeon to put this band on me safely...give me fills when i didnt feel restriction and make sure i was losing healthy...i didnt expect anything more from a doctor...u have to take responsibility for ur part in this journey...if u…

I "gained" 5 lbs from my weight the morning of the surgery to the day after. It certainly wasn't from eating anything. I was on clear liquid the evening of the surgery. Does the swelling, air/gas, blood cause a "gain"? Did anyone experience this? I'm 5 days post op and I'm just now back to my the weight before the surgery. I'm still on full liquids.

I'm 6 days post op -15 lbs lost. I just tried on my jeans that fit before the 2wk pre-op diet and surgery and they're too tight now. It would've hurt to try and button them. Am I that bloated????? Anyone else have this problem? Anyone able to wear jeans immediatedly?

I feel stupid for asking...but off and on I can feel gas/air bubbles since my surgery on tuesday (14). Is it new air being trapped down and I'm just sensitive to it or am I still working stuff out since the surgery? lol...again, I feel dumb for asking but am curious why I can feel better and then later it happens again and what I need to do differently. Thanks.

I had surgery on 17th of april and I am wondering how long till 1st bowel movement. Sorry if TMI but I have been urinating with no issues but just wanted to know what is normal? Thank you

I've lost 63lbs. since dec. 08 and still my tummy holds onto the fat. I feel great, but my tummy is one place that just doesn't seem to improve. The doctor says laser lipo is abetter option than a tummy tuck, has anyone had either?

I am four days out from having my Lap-band Surgery. Today I have been having something that I think is Reflux. What does it feel like? I have had to burp more today and what ever it is it is located where you would have heart burn but it isn't heartburn. What can I do for this? It feels really tight in the upper part of my chest and I can burp and help it a little? I am still on a liquid diet but tomorrow I can start adding things like yogurt , pudding, protein shakes. Please help me!!

hi everyone, having surgery on monday April 20:thumbup: was wondering how long after surgery did you drive. thanks, sandi

Riddle me this... If I lay on my right (starboard side), I can feel my stomach doing its normal thing. Roll over to my left (port side) - which is also the side my port is on, and I immediately start to burp. If I feel a little gassy I lay on my starboard side for a minute then roll to my port side and - burp. I made the mistake of having some sips of my wife's diet soda at the movies the other night (just a couple tiny ones), and all night long, whenever I rolled to my port side - burp. Anyone else notice this? -BSG

My name is Robyn and I just had the surgery yesterday afternoon. If having a baby was 10/10 on a pain scale, I'm fluctuating between 7 (just sitting still) and 9 (getting up to pee). I thought I'd be fine right after surgery because I was on "hospital-level" pain killer... now that's gone and I'm almost crying from pain.. is this normal? I'm on 3 tsp (15 mls) every 6 hours of Hydrocodone/APAP 7.5MG/500MG/15ML (Generic for Lortab elixir). This takes the edge off but doesn't by any stretch take away the pain... lowers from a 9 to a 7 (out of 10). I'm in a little dismay that the nurses and the take away paperwork doesn't address the pain issue in greater detail. …

Where does all this gas come from anyways?

:tt1:Can anyone who has had the lapband surgery, tell me how painful the surgery/recovery of surgery was? I have never had any sort of surgery before and I'm a little apprehensive. I'm scedule for lapband surgery on May 15th. I'm excited but leary at the same time. Also, can you tell me when and if after surgery, will I be able to eat regular food? I know that in the beginning, after surgery, I have to be on a liquid diet and then on a soft diet (pureed/mashed foods). I hope I won't have to eat like this for the rest of my life. Thanks for your input!:smile2:

appt after the surgery? Is that a check up and then the next one is a fill - or is it a fill? Is it different with each doctor?

Hi, I was banded on monday the 13th, I felt pretty good until today (friday). Today I feel dizzy achy and sick (kinda like the flu). I was wondering is this normal? I have never had surgery before and I have been following all the rules (except eating today, felt too sick) and the surgical wounds don't really hurt much, but I just can't stand up for long and ache all over, I don't know if I should worry or not, did anyone else get worse before they got better?

I'm so confused... My instructions for week 2 (which I am starting today) is to eat "pureed, all foods are blended, baby food consistency, and thin enough to pour off a spoon." Then week 3 and 4 is "Mechanical soft-food that is mashed with a fork, or food you could eat if you did not have teeth." So......all the mushy food suggestions seem to be mechanical soft. What can I eat for pureed besides Soup and cream of wheat? I was eating the non Clear liquids since last Wednesday, so I'm past the pudding, Jello, yogurt, cream blended soup stage...but to what?? Any help would be appreciated!

I was banded April 1st. I went on mushy foods April 15th. I forgot about that April 17th and had a pice of chicken. 3/4 way through I remembered and realized I ate without restriction. Nothing felt like it was getting stuck. I admit I was full after just one piece but it made me think: I am able to eat that because I have no restriction? I'm scheduled for my first fill May 1st.

I was banded two weeks ago. There was no saline put in when I got it. I've been able to eat enough Soup and Protein drinks, etc. up until yesterday. So yesterday I noticed I couldnt drink as much of my smoothie as normal. I finally decided I was still full from my soup a couple hours earlier and left it. Well today Ive had about 4 oz of strawberry banana smoothie. I got another smoothie and was attempting to drink that, but only got down about 3 oz. I havent had any Water in between- nothing, but I cant take in any more. It's strange that after two weeks this would happen. Has anyone else experienced this? By the way - Im officially sick of liquids.

Hi Guys, I was banded on tuesday the 14th with the large band and yesterday was the first day I was able to get 6 cups of clear fluids in let alone 8. And to top it off, the wet bowel movements started....geez.... But, my real question is, I started having sharp pains in my left shoulder yesterday and I still have them. They do not radiate down my arm. IS THIS THE GAS PAIN they were warning about? My doctor is keeping me on Clear liquids until I can get 64 ounces of clear liquids in and down. This is my 4th day post-op (5:30 a.m.). Thanks in advance for your help! vic

2 questions... First, I started itching very badly around my incisions yesterday (I was banded 4/10). When I woke up this morning, I have bright pink "rings" around my inscision site. Should this be a cause for alarm?? 2nd question I had a scrambled egg this morning. First mushy food, and it hurt a little going down. Should I be eating it a different way? I chewed it very, very well, but now I just feel like it's sitting there....Do you think I have band slippage? Thanks for the help!!

How long before you could sleep on your side? My back is hurting from laying flat on my back all the time. I'm walking around, sitting up most of the day but, I'm used to sleeping on my sides mostly.

I got the report from medical records today and I have a 10 CM band (the length of the band) that holds 0-4cc and I do not have the AP Standard #10 (which holds 10 cc) that I was told I have by my doctor's nurse. This is one of many reasons I changed doctors the other day and now will be going to someone more experienced and who hopefully knows what kind of band he puts in his patients. BTW, this band is not used much anymore I am told, and there was an expiration date of June 30, 2009 listed with all the band info. I was banded 8/22/08. I am going to find out what that means, too. Does anyone else have this band? If so, what has been your experience? Thanks.

I am 1 week post op...ever since surgery I've been so dang hungry! I had my first follow up appt today (have lost 12 lbs since surg day). He still wants me on a pourable mushy diet. On the way home, I regressed...I went to KFC and bought 4 small potato and gravy's. In the course of ~30 minutes they were gone, along with about 8 oz water ---- I didn't feel full. Didn't have hungar pangs like I did, but could have ate 1 or 2 more. Is this completely crazy? yes I know it is - what I mean is, the not getting full...? Please don't criticize me, my husband already has and I feel like a complete failure:sad:

There is tons of info about what foods to eat after lap band surgery. I found an article with some good tips - the one about drinking between meals is definitely true - it really fills you up fast!! and its good to know that once in a while, a little bit of ice cream is okay :smile2: Making Healthy Choices after Bariatric Surgery | Arturo Rodriguez, MD - Check it out - What do you think? :sneaky:

Reposted from another thread: One of the things that has been fascinating to me is the "HUNGER". I have "FELT" hunger for about the last 4 or 5 days. But when I go to drink, even Water, I am so over full that I cannot get anything down. It has really made me look at what this "HUNGER" means. I have tried to catagorize some: 1 - The Gee that sounds good hunger: Generally accompanies Carl's Jr., In-and-Out, Taco Bell, <fill in your favorite fast food> commercial. This is an easy one to recognize in context. Just disregard and change the channel. Drink some water. 2 - The Gee I wonder if I can tolerate that food hunger: more of a curiosity than a hunger, but it…

I know this is gross, but I don't have my follow up appointment until MOnday and I'm concerned. I have had nothing but diahrea since the surgery. The nurse said I could take immodium to stop it, but after that wears off its back to the runny stuff. Is this normal for anyone else?

Hi everyone I was just wondering about my calorie intake. I know I'm supposed to keep it under 1500 calories a day but I'm confused on what else I should be counting. Should I be keeping and eye on my fat grams and my carbs or is it just the calories. I've been keeping my calories around 1100-1300 a day but haven't lost any weight in two weeks, so I'm just curious if I should be counting something else. thanks

Can someone please tell me how many grams of protein I am suppose to have per day? I had a book that told me, but I have lost it or misplaced it somehow.