POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Well, today was the first time that I have actually seen my surgeon since the morning after I was band. Everytime up until today, when I have went in for a fill or whatever other reason, I have always seen his Nurse. My appointment today was due to my not being able to get the fullness feeling when eating and that causing me to eat more than I should have been eating. When he got me infront of the Fluroscopy machine I was so scared that I had strectched my pouch. Much to my surprise, it wasn't stretched out any at all. He looked very closely and told me that everything looked just fine and there was enough room for another fill. This was my 4th fill and up un…

I've been using the following site to track my food intake and activities. I find it very helpful to ensure that I get the correct amount of Protein and calories in. I just wanted to share this everybody because it's a great free site www.fitday.com

I had my band filled on Monday (the 4th time) and it has been really tight - I'm back on liquids for a week but even those have been hard to digest. I had the fill done under x ray and he made me drink a glass of Water post fill that went down fine but I'm just having trouble with liquids. I'm reluctant to get any liquid taken out - will the band loosen and how long might it take? any help much appreciated! I've lost over 50 pounds since being banded in July so things are going well. thanks, Lesley

Hi. I was banded on September 19, 2008. I am curious. I had my third fill on Dec. 18th, which has given me REAL restriction. I'm learning how to deal with it all. I was wanting to know what you think, or have experienced, in regards to band tightness. Why is it that my band is REALLY tight some days and looser other days? It is usually tight in the mornings, and I know this is kinda common - but why? I can eat something one day and have no problems. The next day I try the same exact food, and I have all kinds of problems. Of course I know that if I don't follow all of the eating rules, that can cause issues. And I also know that some foods just don't agree with some pe…

I have not lost any weight since 1 week post op, ( 23 lbs during pre op diet and post op) but I have gone down from a size 20 to a size 14W! I am shocked! I have been doing very light cardio 5 days a week, and am pretty much eatting what ever I want ( just seem to have much smaller portions and have gravitated towards better choices). I have my first fill on Friday and can't wait! Tomorrow is my first month bandaversary!

I had my first fill this morning. I was wondering how much Fluid (cc/ml's) you received? Also, did you feel the new restriction right away or in a few days? What was the first thing you thought you could no longer eat? Thanks for your help!

Hello everyone! I was banded on 1/9/09 and got to the doctor tomorrow. Im pretty sure he will put me on a regular diet then. My question is can you guys show me a rough draft of what your daily food intake looks like? I mean like "write" down what all you have to eat in day. I know you dont eat the same thing everyday, but just a sample. Like Breakfast, lunch, dinner and anything in between. Thanks so much! Renee:smile:

I haven't heard from any Feb.5th folks since before surgery.How's everyone doing?:thumbup:

Curious if anyone is feeling like me regarding coffee. Up until my surgery last week, I would have about 3-4 BIG cups of coffee every day. I mean, you do not want to talk to me in the a.m. unless I have had a cup. Now post op; tried to have some decaf and I just don't have the taste for it anymore. It just simply doesn't taste the same and have been drinking decaf tetley's black tea with skim plus and splenda. I never EVER thought my love affair wih coffee would be affected. Is this normal and has anyone else experienced this or another food/beverage aversion post op?? Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are going to miss me!:smile:

I am so scheduled for 1st fill 02/17/09 and I am counting the days. I pray the fill works for a few weeks. My dr usually add 2cc's. I am eating very healthy, counting calories and working out at the gym four days a week however I am also starving with how much food I am told I should be eating. I can not survive with such small portions. I am making it on pure will power. I eat and don't really get full. I eat until I'm not physically hungry but then I am hungry about 2 to 3 hours later. My husband was banded a week after me and is going through some hunger as well. At times I am so fustrated because I feel as if I'm just on a diet. I know I have to be patient and just …

Well..it's been 7 months since my surgery and I have lost NO POUNDS! Nothing, nada. I was banded on june 30th, 2008 in Buffalo, ny. Now, let me say this before I start, I do NOT excercise, or very little anyway. Go ahead and judge me if you want, but I lack energy all the time. I have trouble sleeping (not related to lapband) and am drained all the time. Now that I have said that, I should still be losing. I am filled almost 6 cc's on a 10 cc band. I can barely get stuff down and PB all the time. I am eating 30% of what I used to eat..so why am I not losing SOMETHING? Here is what NOBODY tells you before you have th surgery and I feel a little lied to. Have…

I haven't had my surgery yet, nor do I know the date, but I was just wondering how long everybody had to stay in the hospital for? What the doctors expected you to do while there?

Help. I haven't lost (or thankfully..gained) weight in over 2 weeks. I have some restriction (maybe I need a tiny bit more). I almost never eat breakfast, usually soup or salad for lunch, a protein & veggies for dinner. What am I doing wrong? Please help me with suggestions. It is do sad to be stuck at the same weight when I was loosing so well in the beginning. Thanks for your help!

just got second fill. Ate something two hours ago, still throwing up liquid....not sure if ate too much food or if something is stuck...not sure what to do! please help! ps. food was mushroom soup.

I have a history of migraines so not sure if what's going on is normal or not. I came out of surgery with one (okay - anesthesia does that sometimes). Weather changed and I got a bad one (normal). They are just hanging on. Anyone else have problems with migraines being more frequent, longer after banding? Maybe it's just my body detoxing? I only drank one or two Diet Pepsis per month before but I did drink iced tea and I have only had a few sips of tea so my caffeine intake has gone down. Just wanted to check before I have to go back to another doctor for my head.

I heard no lettuce, but i really want a salad. Anyone tried eating lettuce.

Just checking in to see how everyone else is doing that had their surgery on 1/27/09. I did end up having both the lap band placement and hiatal hernia repair surgeries at the same time. I guess that's why I feel double-sore! I have little or no appetite but I am trying to keep my Fluid intake up. I use Boost High Protein as my supplement along with chewable Vitamins. I am supposed to drink three bottles of Boost each day but that has been difficult. I have managed two per day as long as I take a long time to drink them. I am having a horrible time with this left shoulder pain. I had no idea what the heck that was about but the day after surgery I checked this for…

I haven't been banded yet, my sceduled date is Feb 11 (only 3 days away woo hoo!) but I am wondering who started over 300 pounds and have you hit the 100's yet? How long did it take? I started my pre op liquid diet at 329, I went it for a check up 1 week in and was down to 320. I hope to be at 315 on Wednesday. Just looking for some inspiring stories because at this point even 199 looks so far away.

Just curious what you ate after the surgery. How long on mushies? When/or did you ever eat semi-normal again? I'd love to hear the different stories please! TIA! Andrea

OK question for u guys. I am 6 months post op and have been having some hair loss. Not major patches or anything. But everytime I wash my hair or comb my hair there is a noticable amount of hair being lost. I have thin hair to begin with and dont wish to be bald. I get my requirements of protein a day if not more so I know that is not the problem. I have also had blood work done and it is nothing to do with that. Does anyone have any tricks they know of that can reduce the hair loss that doesnt involve increasing the protein. Oh and I also take 2 Biotin vitamins a day too ( hair nail and skin vitamin) I know that hair loss can occur after surgery and rapid weight loss... …

I see it again & again...what IS PB?:thumbdown:

Hello All - I was banded on January 27th, 2009. I went to a lapband support group put on by the dietician at my surgeon's office. We got on the subject of medications and I mentioned that the low-dose aspirin I take is very small in size and I don't see it being a problem. The dietician said "Weren't you told not to take aspirin? It can erode your band". I was astonished since this was the first I had heard of this. I stopped taking the aspirin immediately and it's on my list of questions to ask the surgeon when I see him on the 12th. Has anyone else been informed of this?

I must confess that I couldn't handle only drinking fluids after the first week. I kind ate a little bit of mashed potatoes, and even some chicken. And now I am wondering if I could have hurt my stomach. I didn't feel sick after I ate, but I am still not sure, did anyone else sneak some solids in before recommended?? Am I alone on this?

I had surgery on the 3rd of November. My period was sched to come yesterday and still nothing. I know surgery can some time throw your body off. Did anyone else have a late period after surgery? TIA

I was banded Sept 30, 2008. I have lost about 25 pounds so far, at one point I was at a 30 pound loss but.... Anywhooo, my last fill brought my Realize band up to 5ccs total in it. I have noticed food will at times get stuck at about the level where my neck joins my chest. It feels like a hard ball is stuck in there. It will eventually subside but it is very uncomfortable. My question is this: If I am experiencing food getting stuck than why am I not experiencing restriction or a feeling of fullness? It is obvious something is different with this latest fill. However, any weight loss to date is of my own doing, not from the band. Anyone have a theory as to why I can get f…

I was banded on 1/28/09 and for the first few days I could feel some restriction when I ate, now I really dont feel any. Yes I get fuller quicker than if I had never had the surgery but I really don't feel a whole lot different. I bet you I could any just about anything I wanted to, not that I have but I really believe I could and I get hungry alot more than I expected. Is this normal and will things get better after I have had my first or second fill?? I also do not feel I am losing the way I thought I would the first couple weeks being that you really arent eating much. Can the banded please help with some feed back?

Hello all! Today was my first official fill after over 4 years with no adjustments or check ups on my band. I was walking around with 5cc's thinking that my band had nothing in it at all. During this time, i'd been pregnant, given birth and nursed my son for over a year. So, today the doctor gives me a fill of 7cc's and it was too much--I threw up the barium. So, he removes 1cc (yes I had to pay $375 for 1cc, sucks for me right?) and leaves me with 6cc. But, I have not been able to drink anything, i'm even throwing up my own saliva! How can 1cc make this much of a difference? At 5cc I was able to nourish a baby for 9 months and nurse him? At 6cc I cant keep down Water? W…

Banded on 1/20/2009. I've lost 15 pounds as of today. I got to be an incision model. The band saleswoman was visiting the doctor and wanted to see my incision since I had the procedure done with only one incision and apparently that is a new thing. My doctor was really interested in my pain levels from the surgery and how much of the medicine I took. I told him the incision hardly hurt at all - more like uncomfortable but I wasn't a good measure of the pain meds because I have Fibromyalgia and I take pain meds every day. Also, in the hospital I was asking all the time because of an anesthesia headache. I love my surgeon. I know I say too often but Dr. Scott is…

Ive been reading a lot of these threads and have read about people losing weight and there stomachs getting smaller and then needing a whole new smaller band! Does this happen often? Does it happen more to people that need to lose a ton of weight?Why use such a big band to begin with?

So I'm 3 weeks post op and I think I'm experiencing bandster hell. About an hour after I eat I'm hungry again. Like hungry hungry. I've been trying to make sure that I'm eating enough protein but it still doesn't keep me satisfied. I go in for my first fill on Friday. I'm just wondering if this is what bandster hell is. And could this be why my weight loss has slowed down the last few days?

What are people doing for stomach cramps and bloating, I have tried gas x and walking around. But some days I look like I am pregnant and just burp all the time. I have avoided being around the public when feeling like this which is hard but I want to feel normal. Also I am 2 weeks post, did anyone else get banded around Jan 28th? I am down 21 lbs overall but have been the same weight for the last 3-4 days. I can eat solids now too many bites but I was wondering if anyone else is at a plateau as well.

I am exactly 3 weeks out from surgery today and have not lost a pound since. I did lose 15 lbs on the 2 week pre-op diet of 2 protein shakes and a salad w/ tuna a day, but I was starving.Can someone who is losing a good amount of weight at this time give me an example of what you eat/exercise you do in a day???? I would really appreciate it!

I had my band surgery in Oct. 3rd of '08 and so far I've lost 45 pounds. I'm getting married on October 3rd of this year and I'm going on Thursday to order my gown. I had hoped to wait longer to order it but no such luck so how do I figure out what size to order? I am currently in an 18/20 and was told a dress can only be taken in so far. So do I order what fits now, order one size down, or even more? Any input would be so appreciated as I'm so afraid to order this dress and have it too big or too small. Thanks in advance.

I take milk of magnesia for consitipation. However, I would like to use something natural. Before being banded I had to use fiber powder mixed in my drinks. Usually psyllium husks and crushed flax seed. However, now I'm afraid this might be too much fiber in the pouch. any info would be appreciated.

I have this nasty taste in my mouth and it is dry all the time. Is this the norm?

We have had the stomach virus going around alot and I have been around several people that have come down sick with it. What are the guidelines for feeling sick to your stomach and trying to protect your band?

I'm 1.5 weeks post op and have weird pains around my port area. I'm fairly certain it's not gas because it feels quite different. I want to assume it just healing. Sort of like when your stitches itch. The pain is a sharp, stinging sensation. I keep having to rub the area and look in the mirror to see if it's ok. All looks good - no extra swelling. Got my stitches out 3 days ago and had pains for last 2 days. Is this normal or should I call my doc?

I needed something quick on the go today so I picked up a carton of Muscle Milk light - it was SSSOOO good! I'm just not sure that it's worth the calories. Anyone use this product for quick on-the-go protein?

I know this is going to sound silly, but I am going through a Mardi Gras type of phase where I feel like I really need to eat anything and everything I might miss after I am banded next month. What do you miss the most? What do you wish you had gotten one last bite of that you can't really have now?

I threw up tonight for the first time since getting banded on Jan. 13th. Took my boys to their favorite restaurant since their sister was at a father-daughter dance. Everything went perfectly fine during dinner. I chewed the food thoroughly and did not get anything stuck, which has been a problem for me. It was not until I was home that I started feeling strange. Soon, I was sliming and feeling nauseous. I threw up in the kitchen sink in front of my disgusted sons. I am confused by my body's reaction and would like some feedback so I can prevent this from happening again. In the past, any reaction to improper eating has been immediate. What I find so strange about tonig…

I was banded on July 24 Fill 1, 2cc on Sept.3 Fill 2, 2cc on Nov 4 Fill 3 is scheduled for tomorrow. I basically feel like I can eat anything I want. Nothing gets stuck, nothing comes back up. . . . If you have found your sweet spot--what do you eat for lunch? How long do you stay full? I'm eating 6in subway sandwiches without a blink. Is that seriously normal?? Thanks for your words!!!

I was just wondering how people are doing with loose skin and stretch marks? Im 24 and am going to be banded on April 30th. Im excited but not too happy about the possability of having a whole bunch of loose skin. Do a lot of you have this problem, is there any way to help prevent it? Lose weight slower maybe? My mom said that maybe because im young that it might work in my favor....I dunno! Also after weight loss do your stretch marks become less noticable, is there any good cream or treatments that anyone knows of to lessen the noticability of these awful things? Thanks to you all!

Well, after being banded 3 1/2 weeks, I put on some pants today and realized they were WAY loose. I hadn't worn them since before the surgery and I was pleasantly surprised, especially since the scale hasn't moved in over a week! (Except this morning when I dropped another pound) I decided I would go through my closet and see what fits and what doesn't. At the highest weight, I was a 28/30 or 3 XL in shirts and pants...solid 30 in jeans or non elastic waisted pants/skirts. I tried on clothes I haven't worn in a year and they FIT!!! I can actually wear jeans (elastic waist) that are size 26 and some khaki and navy blue and black chinos in size 26. I have a bunch of …

According to my nurses, everything went well. However I did tell the anaesthesia that I was very sensative to the drugs. they make me hurl. So after a quick outpatient surgery I was sent home. Only to land myself back in the hospital that night. I couldn't stop throwing up, which worried us because of band slippage. The doctors said it was due to ...the anaesthesia!!! The hospital releases me the next day but now I can't get rid of this constant left shoulder pain. Because of the pain I am second guessing everything that I did. It did not make me very happy, and I can't stand pain. :thumbup: It's just really hard to see a silver lining at this point.:thumbup:

So, I had a bad second fill experience. I'm over it now, but have no restriction at all. Can't get my third fill until the first week of March. Here are some things I'm thinking of doing to get through this and still lose some weight. Any other suggestions are GREATLY appreciated! 1. I am planning healthy dinners for this week so I don't just do carry out and get something unhealthy. 2. I'm going to add an extra day of working out. 3. I am not going to eat after 8pm. 4. No more munching on snacks at work. I'm going to bring hot tea and have that instead.

I was banded on Monday 1/26 and just started on Mushy Foods on Wednesday, but I think I'm eating too much. I'm not hungry, but I'm able to eat more than I expected. I had yogurt for Breakfast, a can of tuna with low fat mayo made in the food processor to make it extra creamy / mushy and since I've been home from work today I've had fat-free refried Beans w/ a little low fat sour cream, 2 pieces of gefilte fish and some sherbert. I'm not hungry now, but I didn't get any signs that I was full or can't eat more. I thought I was supposed to feel full after only eating a little. Is this because my band's not tight yet? I have my first fill at the end of the month. Or is…

Ok, I was curious if anyone else was having this issue. I am very good about drinking all my water during the day, but in the morning I wake up and my mouth is SSSSOOOOOO dry. :thumbdown: I've even tried drinking more water then we are required (78-100) a day and that doesn't seem to help. Anyone have any advice??

Ok....I was banded 1/14 and I have a weird question for you all. For my entire life, I've never been able to burp. I've had little air bubbles that come up resembling a hiccup, but not really an honest to goodness BURRRRRP! I have no idea why and I never really thought about it. Now that I have the band, I'm burping like crazy! For a while after I eat, I can burp over and over again. My husband even heard me across the room. Of course, being a man (no offense to you males out there), he said he'd only be impressed when I could say my ABCs at the same time! LOL Is this normal? What is causing this? I don't think I'm ingesting air. I'm not drinking with straws, …

Hi! I had my op on 19th January 2008! I've lost 58lbs :thumbup: mostly through dieting as I didn't have much restriction at all. I eventually got restriction on my 3rd fill (now at 6 1/2 cc's in a 10 cc band), but I had to go back and take out 1/2 cc as it was completely too tight. I'm not sure about food now as I'm finding it very difficult to get most foods down. Is this normal? I'm okay with rice cakes, l/f crackers and soup but cannot tolerate rice or bread. I suppose this is a good thing cos of carbs. But I want to eat solid foods like meat, vegetables. fruit and fish. I was told that once you get to your restriction it's like starting over again. Is this …

I hope someone can answer my question. I had surgery on Feb 5th so I am only 2 days post op. I had a very bad day yesterday with terrible dry heaving all day. I called my surgeon and he called in some anti nausea medication and I haven't had it today. However today whenever I eat I get really bad pressure right under my breast bone. I keep thinking that is because I am eating too fast but I don't know how to eat more slowly. He also told me I could eat applesauce so really all I am eating is that and Protein supplements and everytime I eat I am getting that. Any idea what I can do to stop it? It is really uncomfortable. I am sure that it is something I am doing bu…