POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

What kind of vitamins do you all take. I need something that is going to give me the vitamins I need and also give me energy. Seems like lately, I don't have any energy at all. I can get a good nights sleep and after I have been awake about 2 hours the next morning, I am so tired I have to go lay down?

Hello, So last June I started getting really bad acid reflux while I was sleeping-thought it was an ulcer. I had my band unfilled all of the way but it still didn't help. I had an endoscope done and everything was normal. I am still having acid reflux and I want to cure it not just treat the symptoms with the Nexium my doctor gave me (which can even make it worse)... I have been taking enzymes and they seem to help but last night I was up every 20 min. because of the reflux was so bad and I ended up having to take a Nexium. :thumbup: I have never had this problem before and it started all of a sudden back in June. I have no idea what started it! I really want to get a fi…

I was banded in Jan of 07...i have lost about 30 pounds...I have been in for 6 fills...I haven't been to my doctor in over a year because the doctor/patient relationship had gotten so bad...Horrible bedside manner...no empathy for my situation...All fills were self-pay so I was paying $300 a fill after having been a self pay for the surgery. My question is...Has anyone gone to a different doctor(from their surgery doctor) for fills and post-surgery care? I have never had sufficent restriction and the last time I went to my doctor for a fill they weren't sure of my fill level because my file had been "lost" when their office moved to a new facility. I have psyched mysel…

Had 1st post op f/u today, my swelling is still too much so i am on liquids for another week. I need some ideas of what to eat/drink. I have run out of ideas and need your help please! TYIA

hey guys new to this,had lap band last night..all seems good. up and walking...but dying of thirst! havent had a drink since april 1 at 10 pm....a little sore, at port site. incisions a little high and below my sternum so deep breaths were hard last night. if anyone has questions i can try to answer.... je

Hi, I will try not to make this too long, but for those of you who know me, I'm not good at making a long story short. I got my band in September 2008. No restriction after surgery, none after my first fill, and none after my second fill. I got my third fill on December 18th, and boy was that one different. I thought I was a bit too tight, but because I had my surgery 750 miles from my home, it was the holidays, and I had a vacation to Las Vegas planned, I did not go get an unfill. I could keep liquids down and some foods too, but I had many PBing incidences. At first thought it was because I was not taking tiny bites, chewing enough, and taking time between bites. …

I just posted this in response to the Mederma message, but the stuff I'm using is really good and I figured that you guys would be interested to have the name. Here is my post: . . .I found a new product that's working really well. It's called Epi-Derm. One of my friends told me about it (she had hip surgery and it really faded her scar). Anyway, I was using Mederma (which didn't do a whole lot), then Vitamin E (did a little. . maybe was more due to time), and I just bought 2 Patches of this Epi-Derm stuff about 2 weeks ago. My scar has already faded a bunch! I posted a few pre-/post Mederma scar photos on my blog and will post photos over the weekend to show what…

So I have been hearing a lot about how great the Nectar Protein mixes are, but I can't see buying a whole 2 lb jar for something I dont know i'll like. So I contacted the company and they have a great deal on a sample package, so I thought I would share it with you all. Here is the email I rec'd: We are currently offering a Variety 'Sampler' containing 11 full serving packets of the following flavors: Apple Ecstasy, Caribbean Cooler, Crystal Sky, Fuzzy Navel, Lemon Tea, Roadside Lemonade, Strawberry Kiwi, Twisted Cherry, Chocolate Truffle, Vanilla Bean Torte and Latte Cappuccino. The price is $21.89. We are however offering a coupon discount of $16.90 leaving a …

and just 38lbs down and 5 fills, any suggestions:glare:

Anyone use mederma for the scars? I know it is probagly the least thing to have to worry about but I'm thinking that as long as I'm improving my health and appearance then I might give it a try.

Today I'm 3 weeks post off which means I am now eating soft foods. Every time that I eat beans, I get a pain in my back right underneath my shoulder blade. I've also noticed this pain if I have eaten too fast. What is it? Gas? Thanks!

permalink Hi there Banded last Sept and have lost 5stones. I feel great most of the time and have only had one fill. I have had, on 2 occassions now episodes of ' projectile' vomitting. The first time I was told I had caught the norovirus and it lasted 3days, so I guess that was what it was. A few days ago I ate some chunky coleslaw along with dinner, prob too quick and didn't chew it enough. I think it stuck and then spent the nxt 2 days in agony, pb'ing and slime until it finally ended with a huge projectile normal vomit( about half a basin full) sorry for the graphics! This seemd to clear everything and I felt fine afterwards. Has this happened to anyone else?? I…

I had my first fill yesterday. I had liquids all day and until 3 this afternoon. Everytime I try to eat or drink anything today it comes back up. Even when I drink I feel like it sits right there until I burp/puke it out. I keep spitting up tons of mucus. I have a cold and I don't know if the extra mucus is causing every thing to get stuck. I had no restriction obviously before the fill and didn't loose any weight other then the 10lbs I lost on the liquid diet. So I think I need the restriction. Has anyone else had this problem? Does it take a few days for inflamation to go down?

I'm 1 month today and feeling pretty great.. I've lost about 14 since surgery as of a few days ago and am back to exercising, Water aerobics, 40 to 60 minutes 5 days a week. I'm eating reg food for the most part and haven't had any real cravings for anything since the first week.. My calories are around 950 to 1200 with 60 grams of Protein. I was only eating about 900 calories and wasn't losing anything and felt physical pain throughout my whole body most of the day and knew I needed to do something different. I haven't binged or eaten anything bad, but am still concerned to some point that I am eating more then a cup of food per meal, at least at dinner time,, I che…

I was banded 3/23 and have lost just under 20 lbs with the preop diet. I'm having a problem with my clothes being too tight in the belly and it must be from swelling. These clothes fit before surgery!! The legs of my pants are way big but everything is tight across the hips, belly and butt. How long did it take for your swelling to go down?

Tommorow is my surgery date and im soooo scared especially cause different family members are just as worried and saying when u wake up u can always change ur mind.....my boyfriend is so upset something may happen

Can you get an infection from the lapband

I need some advice. I had my band placed on 2-24-09 and I am not scheduled for a fill until 4-13. I am hungry every hour on the hour now. I follow the high protein meal plan and also utilize the protein shakes. I am wondering should I request an early appointment for my fill, it is getting hard not to eat every hour on the hour. Please help with any suggestions :thumbdown: !!!!!!!!!

So on the 3ed of April I will be a month out. And i can eat everything and anything i want to. I can eat a lot more then I thought I should be able to. About 1/2 of what i could before maybe a little more. My weight loss has stopped. The last few days I have given up for some reason on myself and ate everything in sight. I feel like crap today, i think i have a virus i feel so achy all over. My next appt. isn't till the 23ed and I don't wanna wait that long to get a fill I'm going backwards instead of forwards, and of course It's my fault. I take responsibilty for what I have chosen to put in my mouth. I was going to the gym everyday and then just stopped. I hate working …

I feel like I need to talk to other banded people about my situation. Nobody seems to get it, even my mother who had gastric bypass. For starters, I lost my grandmother in December exactly a month before my surgery. She was my rock. I've had depression, anxiety, and social anxiety for years. I have one good and true friend that's very supportive. When I got the band for the first 3 weeks I thought it was the worst mistake of my life. I had so many problems. Now, I can eat whatever I want and I have one fill. I realize that's normal, but I can't seem to make the right choices. All I do is sit at home and eat crap. My mom yells about how I'm going to get fatter and shouldn'…

Hi, Any advice would be appreciated!! So i was banded on 24th Feb, Had my first fill a week ago, Im having two health shakes a day (approx 250cals) and a tin of Soup a day, plus Water. Between starting my pre-op diet and today ive lost about 20lbs, but the last few days i haven't lost a thing!! Im swimming twice a week and walking 3 nights. Im feeling good, but im disheartend that ive come to a wee bit of a stand still. any ideas? Thank you!

Today, my hair dresser gave me a scare. She told me her boss just had emergency surgery due to 3 hernias she developed within the 2 years of having the band. Has anyone had the band longer than 4 years? and have you had any complications? I have an appt with my doctor on Monday, so I will ask him if this can happened.

What is going on?!?! I keep getting this really sharp pain in the very center of my chest and what almost feels like a burping sensation, but I don't need to burp. If this is heartburn...I guess I've never really known what heartburn really was. Anyone? :smile2:

It figures, two weeks until banding and I get sick. Started last friday, went to the Dr. Monday, he asked about my surgery and had a chest x-ray done to rule out phenonia, that came back ok, must be bronchitis or some resportory infection. On antibiodics since monday and feeling a bit better, temp is down. Of cource concerned about surgery. Have my pre-op Monday and surgery the following friday. Any suggestions. When ever I get sick goes to my chest and lungs and often the cough lingers on. I used to get this every year but it has been 4 years since my last bout with this thing. Anyway would like to hear any thoughts, also thanks for the comments on the GAS X. it is o…

I was banded December 30th and I have lost 40 lbs- gained back 4, lost 3... I have very little restriction after 2 fills and my doc puts the band in empty. I am hungry all the time, just like I was never banded. My first fill was 4cc's and my next one was only 1 cc! My doc just does 1 cc at a time and says it can take 6 months to get any restriction! I wish someone had told me that before the surgery- I probably would have chosen gastric bypass! Anyone who has been through this and has encouraging words, please help! I'm so frustrated!!!!:wink:

Hey all I was wondering what people lost in the first two months. I am a little frustrated, and I wanted to see if my slow progress was normal.:thumbdown:

Hi - I just wanted to stop in and re-introduce myself. I posted an here a couple times when I was going through the approval process. That part was pretty fast! I was banded on March 27. I have been through the "regretting this" "oh my gosh, what have I done" bit, but now I'm just trying to stay focused on the reason I got the band. I have already been struggling with the 3 week liquid diet, have not cheated yet, but been very tempted :confused:. It's hard when I still have my husband and daughters eating regular meals and I'm sitting there with my soup :wink:. But then I take a look around my table and realize that I did this so I could be there for them much longer th…

Hello. I'm new to the forum and looking for a few things. They may already be here somewhere and I'm just missing them. I'm looking for products that you all use to make having the band easier (like a blender, scale or even food items) and also advice now that you have the band that you would tell someone who is scared and not banded yet. Thank you in advance. :smile2:

I'm going on 3 weeks since the surgery and still experiencing some soarness/burning sensation around the port area. When I touch around the area I feel a burning sensation. Is anyone still experiencing this?

this may be a very random question but does anyone get sore ears when they get stuck??? im getting ear ache when i feel stuck its maybe nothing to do with the band but was just wondering

Hi guys, It is 8 days til my surgery and I am getting very nervous. How bad is the pain the first few hours after and next day after surgery:crying:

I have a hard time drinking plain water, but have been addicted to club soda/seltzer water for 20+ years, and drink about 1-litre a day. I spoke with my surgeon because I know carbonated beverages is a no-no. However, he said I can still drink my soda water, but have to wait at least one hour after eating. Does anyone else drink carbonated beverages? If so, how is it working for you? (My surgery date is April 22.) Thanks!

I've been reading alot (and have posted on the very same topic recently as well) about "us" being very upset at "only" having lost 20 pounds in 2 months, or 40 pounds in 6 months. I just had the realization that I need to check my attitude. Did we get the band for a quick weight loss? No--if we did we would have gone the other route. We all know that the weightloss on the band is slower than the bypass. From what I've read, the weightloss with the bypass within the first year usually compares to the loss with the band over TWO+ years. If I'm down 16 pounds since November 13 (which, by the way, I am--very disappointing...but "I" could have done better). That's an …

Hi all... I haven't even been on the site in over a month. I am just so discouraged!! I was banded 12/18, I've had 3 fills (4.5cc in a 10 cc band). I am still able to eat just about whatever I want, well meats (of all things) give me issues-painful issues at that! I am still at the same loss of 25# that I have been at since one week post op! I went through all the counseling prior to surgery and I realized my lifestyle had to change-to a point, and that the band was not a "cure all"...so no lectures please, but if I wanted to live off of a 1/2 cup of whatever per meal in order to lose weight with this band I would have said NO THANKS! That is the exactly the type of "di…

Hi Guys, I was banded on March 25. I have not had a bowel movement since March 24th. I'm not feeling any pain or pressure from it, but I anticipate it is only a matter of time. Last night I managed to get in 4oz of high Fiber yogurt over the course of an hour...still nothing. I've eaten applesauce and baby food fruit and even decaf coffee which is one of my usual triggers. Nothing. Anyone have any ideas? Also, I'm finding it almost impossible to get in enough Protein or fluids...I'm averaging 30oz of Fluid per day and maybe 20oz of protein. I feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day if we have to wait 2 hours after eating before drinking again…

Yesterday I had an incident of food being stuck and today my stomach hurts. All I feel like eating is soup. Did the band slip or something?

I just had lap band surgery on the 20th of March. I am just strating to feel a little bit better and on Friday my husband is going to have surgery for his lap band. I am so nervous:confused: for him! I don't know why. Things have gone smoothly for me. we have a 2 year old daughter and I don't want her to be scared that both mommy and daddy have boo-boo's on their belly...just wanted to vent a little. I know he will be fine. We are doing this so that we can live a healthier and better life for our little princess...

Hello all, I was recently banded on 3/25/09, doing ok so far. My delima is where is my pouch? And how to I know I'm full. I don't want to eat too much because I dont wanna be sick.

will only 3cc for the first time give me restriction?because now I can eat a cow..lol

Here is mine: Day 1&2 – liquids only (including Protein Shakes) Day 3 – soft food in ½ cup meals (till when I don’t know. I have to ask the dietician again) I read somewhere that you should wait before adding protein to your diet. Someone said liquid for 2 weeks (no protein shakes), then try mushy food. What is your post op guideline if you don’t mind sharing with me? Thank you,

I was banded 3.27.09 and i am planning on going back to work this Wednesday but i may be having second thoughts. When did you go back to work or when do you plan on going back to work?

Ultimate Exercise - Body Fat: Hard Facts About Soft Tissue

Hello all. I was banded on March 17th. Everything went fine but for the past couple of days my stomach has been making strange noises and today these gas pains are killing me. I've been walking around and taking gas-x but nothing is working.

Hey all, Got the band on 3/9, came home feeling great. No pain, sleeping well. Now----I am cold, I had a headache last week that almost took me out. It started during the night and continued to build until I was ready to kill for relief(might have been allergy). Today I woke up as tired as I was when I feel asleep on the sofa last night. My blood pressure is lower that usual, I am normally high and on meds. Guess these might need to be adjusted but my PCP won't do that until further testing in a couple of weeks. I have lost about 32 lbs. since the first of the year, about 10 in the last 3 weeks. Getting in the Protein , Water and Vitamins, not hungry but frequent…

I have until June 30th to get ready...but I love Gingerale. Can I have gingerale after the band?

Hi, I was wondering if anyone with the band is a vegetarian or vegan? It is something that I have been considering for a long time now and have made the move towards becoming but have not been able to fully incorporate yet. If you are would you mind sharing some sample menus with me? I know I can find a lot on line but getting info from fellow bandsters is more encouraging to me. Thanks

Hello all, I was banded at the end of Dec. and since then have lost 44lbs. (still 70 more to go) Yes, I am very happy that I have lost that much BUT for the past 2 1/2 weeks I have not lost an ounce and have actually gained 1 lb. What is up with that? I had a fill about 3 weeks ago, my first and it ended up being too tight. Go figure that 1cc would be too tight so I had .25 removed. I'm not getting as stuck anymore and the reflux has subsided but the scale still refuses to move. I also started exercising (hadnt dont anything prior to a month ago) and have been faithfuly attending the gym and swimming 4x per week and still NOTHING! ARGH! I have heard the "…

Ok, so I am proud of how I have been eating, I have been slacking on my excercise, but I am almost at a 40 pound loss. I went and bought new underwear, and a new bra. I had quit wearing underwire, but, with the loss the wire support feels better. But now, only 40 pounds down, my port is more noticable, and the underwire from my bra hits the top of it when I am sitting. I never could really feel the port before, but now I feel it all the time. The only people I know to ask this personally are males, and well, even those with man boobs wouldn't have a clue. So, has anyone had this problem? Anyone heard of this causing problems with the port? Making it move, or shi…

I had a tiny 1/2cc.last monday, I'm guessing I'm too tight, but warm and hot liquids and soft foods go down, But cold and cool fluids and soft foods do not..Does anybody know why this is, and what can I do, if anything? And will it be ok to wait and see if it loosens up or should I get an unfill? I usually loosen up after 2 weeks..

Hi everyone. I am new to this site. My name is Svetlana, I am 32 years old. I was banded on 08/26/09 and since then I am only down 30 lbs. I have a Realize band that holds 10cc. I currently have 5.5 cc and I barely feel any restriction. I have noticed that I can't eat all that I did before.....the problem is I NEVER FEEL FULL. I have been "watching" this site for a looong time and I have read sooo many posts where people talk about eating 3/4 cup of veggies and feeling like they ate too much etc. and I have NEVER felt anything like that. If you have ANY ideas as to what may be the reason for this PLEASE offer up any ideas or advice. Any and all info is appreciated.