POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

do you eat popcorn? How many handfuls at once?

Okay so I'm six days post-op and feeling great. No issues related to the surgery. I did two days clear liquids and am on limited full liquids--ff/sf pudding, strained soup, nonfat milk and all the stuff from the clear phase until my doctor's appointment on Tuesday when I'll be 9 days post op. Well, I randomly met a guy two days before my surgery and he keeps calling and asking me to do dinner with him. I've been putting him off, but finally agreed to see him on Wednesday evening. I suggested a movie and he said, sure and we'll get something to eat first. What excuse can I use about why I can't eat anything? I don't want to tell him about the surgery until I know hi…

Does anyone know of any "reasonable" fill/aftercare doctors in the Indianapolis,IN area? Thanks!

I was banded on 8/13/07 and then re-banded on 8/17/07 due to slippage and herniation. I didn't have any complications after that except starting my fills later than most people do. Since about the end of this September (2008) I've been experiencing some vomiting after eating. This was attributed (by my dietitian and surgeon) to not chewing well enough and eating too fast. I took the advice to chew better and slow down. The vomiting was almost instant and the relief was as well. I'm sure that some of you know that feeling of relief when the food isn't stuck anymore. This past week, I had a BAD experience with lunch and was vomiting for almost an hour after only …

Just a question I was told by my surgeon not to take advil or tylenol pill form only liquid.Does anyone out there take these in pill form?The liquid is sooo gross!!Any advice??Thanks!!:thumbup:

I have a problem, I was banded on 11/26/08 and I still have almost the same eating habits. I Don't eat or drink much all during the day, then BAM at night I want to eat more. But since I've been banded I can't eat alot because I get full fast. When I eat earlier It is so uncomfortable for me that it turns me off, like the gas and the chest indigestion feeling. I have probably most too much in too little time. Think I am headed for the malnutrion stage. I definately don't get enough Protein in. Whats a lady to do if eating hurts and I have not even had a first fill yet. :thumbup: LOST 21 lbs in 10 days!!!!

I was banded on 11/24. The liquid diet wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be at first and the weight was FALLING OFF. By 12/2, I was down 16 pounds and was feeling wonderful. Well, now it's 12/6 and I haven't lost anything in 4 days. I know that I shouldn't weigh myself everyday, but I find that it's that much harder not to knowing that I stopped losing. I do have to admit that I've become fairly lax on the liquid diet. I mean, when I first came home from the hospital, I was drinking 2 protien shakes a day and filling the remaining need of protien by drinking protien Water, but I started having issues with the shakes around the 6th day and cut back to 1 a…

Hi Everybody. This is my first post, although I've been reading this board for months and feel that I've gotten to know a lot of you already. I was banded on 10/29/2008. I followed the pre and post diet instructions to the letter and am down 23 pounds. I've been making healthy food choices and walking for 30 minutes every day. Then, last night.....I snapped. I don't know what happened. I had a normal day, no unusual stress, but at about 9:00pm, I became ravenous! I tried eating some some cottage cheese, but that didn't help. Then I moved on to pita chips and hummus. Finally I broke open a box of Christmas Cookies and ate more than I care to admit. I went to s…

I am 4 months out and have been loosing weight slowly but surely. I have this squooshy noise/feeling when I press on my port area. Like there's Fluid in there. It does not hurt, although, it has been a little sore, especially after workouts. Has anyone else had this issue.:thumbup: <a href="Weight Loss - Diet Ticker"> <img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/whS9Vvm/weight.png"></a> URL=http://www.dreamdollz.com/][/url]

I was banded 12-3-08 by Dr. Kwon of Tri State Bariatrics. The surgery went well, I went home the same night, and I'm feeling good with only some soreness at the port site. My eating instructions are clear, ONLY Water or diet iced tea or no calorie crystal light, at a rate of 1 oz per 20 min, until the post-op appointment. The post-op appointment is on 12-8-08, which means I am taking in ZERO calories for five days. I'm not complaining and I have every intention of following the guidelines but everyone I speak to questions the wisdom and "healthiness" of those guidelines. My sister and my friend who are banded had completely different recommendations and are doing w…

My name is Brian and I am 48 hours post-op. I'm not sure what is going on but I get like growling in my stomach like I am hungry...It's actually pretty painful. I can feel it build like when you are sitting and you know your stomach is going to growl really loud. Well my stomach growls and then hurts like crazy for a few seconds afterwards. I'm not hungry at all but it did wake me up in the middle of the night. Any ideas or is it one of those things that will get better with time. Other then that I feel fine. Thanks for any help you can offer. Brian

Any input would be great. I'm getting different opinions within my surgeon's office on when to stop crushing my meds. The nurse said ,oh give it a couple of weeks,the Dietician is saying wait 6 to 7 more weeks. I don't get it. How can it be that I can eat things like scrambled eggs but not take a tiny pill whole ? Can you guys let me know what you were advised ? Thanks :whatchutalkingabout !

I am 10 days post-op and on the full liquids stage of my post-op diet. I have had periods where I feel like I've overdone it on the liquids. I haven't had any pbing or sliming, but just a really uncomfortable pain and pressure in my chest and upper back area, which stays for a long time, sometimes more than an hour. Is this what it feels like when you overeat or overdrink? I don't seem to get any warning, it just happens all of a sudden after I have my meal, and then I have to stop. -vangirl

After that last post, I have to ask -- do any of you guys still have shoulder pain ever? Mine is gone 99.9% of the time, but every few days, it hurts for a while in the same way it did after surgery. Was wondering if that's happening to anyone else! Also, how long did your Dr make you wait for a fill? I have to wait 6 weeks post-op for my first one (it's scheduled for Tuesday - yay). I was banded in Mexico (Dr. Rumbaut w/an Inamed band) and my Dr. here in NYC uses a different brand of band, so her patients can get their fills earlier. Just curious to know what other peoples' experiences are like! Catherine 230/216.4/215 Blog: http://chroniclesfrombandland.blog…

Good evening. I am getting the band on 12/17/08. I have been on liquids only (three Slim Fast and soup each day) so it is not quite a shock after surgery. I met with the nutritionist and who said that the Slim Fast had too much sugar. The four items above give me the Protein required. I am wondering if the sugar is such a big deal when I am taking in only 1,000 calories per day. Any advice for alternatives. I thought sugar was a big deal with the bypass. Thank you.

Hey All, I was banded on 10/22 ben doing great untill 11 days ago, have not lost a pound since then. I am not over eating and I have been walking up 1hr everyday. I am on Kaiser so started their stage 4 about the time I stopped losing. How are you all doing?

I had surgery on Sept. 9th so thats almost 3 months ago. I've had 4 fills, 3cc the 1st, 3cc the 2nd, 1cc the third, and 1cc the 4th. I am feeling restriction, but can't get the "full" feeling so I am still hungry when I have to physically make myself stop eating or it'll come back up. I have also been having pain in my chest after eating certain things, mostly dinner time. Maybe its from over eating.. I don't know. But I still feel hungry after my pouch is filled with food and maybe a 1/2 hour to an hour later I'm even more hungry. Any experienced this or have any suggestions..???

I need helpful suggestions and support. My surgery was last year and I am stuck at a weight loss of about 50 lbs. I need to lose another 80-90 lbs. I am very discouraged and having trouble getting motivated to try harder. I lost more weight BEFORE the surgery than I have after???? Why in the world did I go through all this if this is all there is? I have a bad knee which limits me somewhat on exercise other than walking and some strength training. I was laid off from my job in June and am struggling to find work. There is a lot on my plate, no pun intended. I need help!!!!! I need hope!!!!!!:thumbup:

I'm 2 weeks out -- started mushies yesterday. My food list says I can eat some crackers. I had one round melba toast -- big mistake!:cursing: It's like a golf ball in my chest. Do I just wait it out? Should I drink something or will that just back up more. So what exactly is going on -- is it not going through my band? Or is it too complex for my stomach to process? One piece of melba toast -- I was wondering while putting it in my mouth -- I was thinking -- "Boy this is pretty dry":ohmy:

I was banded 2 weeks ago with no real recovery problems. No i'm getting intermitent stomach cramps whether i'm hungry or not. Has anyone else experienced this and is it part of recovery and will pass?

Okay so i was banded on 11/11/08 and have been doing well, i lost 20 pounds so far and am loosing a few inches but no more pounds. I go for my first fill next friday and i'm worried because for the past week i have been able to eat a normal adult food portion and i don't really know what to do. I know this means i need a fill, but after the fill i will be able to only eat the small portions again right? I want so badly to be successful with this new tool that i have been fortunet enough to receive but very scared that i'm able to eat normal amounts of food and getting hungry sooner than i should. Thanks!

Woke up feeling so nauseous tonight and have been feeling this way for the past 2 days post surgery. Just wondering how long does this last?

I had my surgery on 11/10 and was on post op diet for about 1 week and a half. Since then I have lost about 11 lbs. Now I am eating and haven't had my first fill yet. I am trying to stick to the 1/2 cup rule and making healthy choices but I haven't lost any weight since the initial liquid diet. I am now worried that even when I get my first fill, what if I don't lose the weight then? How can it be so different then when I am eating the diet (1/2 cup of food each meal) now? Was all this for nothing? I get my first fill next week.

Hi all I had My surgery october 8 and my first fill was done this past monday ,since then I can not eat more that one ounce because i feel sick , my band is 10cc and the first fill was 1.5 cc so its not much but I feel very bad called the doctor and he said to wait one week and see if its inflamation and if it is the same next monday to go and unfill the band, please help I m feelling desespareted I can not eat anything and I have alot of gas. I have lost 26 pounds since surgery not complaining or anything just dont want to be stuck with only one ounce of food, any advice? I ve tried only soft food and it dosent work. could it be something wrong with the band? im wor…

I'm 6 weeks post-op and noticed that my fingernails seem more brittle than before -- they keep breaking (and aren't long to begin with). Maybe it's weather related or fallout from Thanksgiving cooking & cleaning, but I was wondering if anyone else experienced this. Thanks! Catherine 230/216.4/155 Blog: Chronicles from Band Land

If I wanted to take a 700 mile drive, how long after surgery so you think I will be able to do this?

I was banded yesterday and so far today I have had 1 glass of Crystal Light, two sugar free popsicles, 3 glasses of water and a cup of watered down tomato soup. If feel great but hungry. I hope I havent over done it?

I was banded in April 2008. So far I've lost about 35-37lbs. Slow is what I was wanting, 'cause I don't want to have further surgery for loose skin. I have totally lost all motivation. I am tight enough that if I eat to fast or to much I feel it. But I'm drinking a little with some of my meals and I know that's against what we're suppose to do. I try to make good food choices. I also joined Curves, but life happened and I don't have a car right now so I don't go as often as I'd like. Guess I just needed to vent/confess...:cursing:

Can anyone help me with information??? My 36 year old daughter had lap band surgery just over a year ago. She has lost over 80 pounds, but mostly from not being able to keep anything down. She seemed happy with it, but to me she is having problem after problem. She has had the band slip twice, it has to be refilled often. The doctor says there is no leak, so I don't understand why it has to be refilled so often. Two weeks ago she began running a temperature and was treated with antibiotics for a UTI and upper respiratory infection. She has continued to run a temperature and is now unable to keep down even liquids or her medications. Yesterday she spent 5 hours…

I'm only 2 weeks post-op and still on mushies. I start soft food in 2 days. I have been SO hungry lately that I found myself eating non-stop between 5pm - 6pm. I had a 3oz SF pudding, SF Fudgesicle, 1/4 c - cream of chix Soup and a 1/4 c of mashed potatoes. Then, I had a tsp of Peanut Butter and a bite of cheese! I stopped because I felt it kind of stuck in the piping going down. That was 2 1/2 hours ago. I'm not nauseaus, I can drink Water, I'm not sliming - but I still feel it. I keep burping small burps. Will it go away on it's own? I know I should have never let myself get carried away! Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi there, I'll write more of my experience in Mexico later, but right now I wanted to say that I had my surgery 4 days ago, and I could literally hula-hoop, if I could keep the damn thing on my hips. I flew from Vancouver to Puetro Vallarta on Friday, by myself I might add, and had surgery that evening with Dr.Joya. I can't believe what a smooth pain free operation it was. I never expierenced any gas pains, though I brought two boxes of Gas X with me that I never opened. I also never had to use the heating pad I faithfully packed. That evening I slept peacefully in the hospital on my side with a pillow tucked under my tummy. The next night at the resort I was ba…

Hello Everybody, I just wanted to share a short video I made about my success. As of today I am just 8 pounds away from my target weight. After having to loose so much weight I consider 8 pounds nothing.... I am very happy and proud... check it out, [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTrRxhIkgAg]YouTube - Lap Band Success Story...I did it![/ame] Thanks Vicky

I almost put this in the pre-op lap-band section. This morning I got my surgery done and it went very smooth. Checked in to hospital at 5:30AM and left at 11:30AM. Now that I am home I am pretty scared. Every little pain here and there makes me worry that I am doing something wrong. I am drinking 1oz of water every 20 mins as instruted. I had some soft sugar-free jello and it took me like 30 mins to eat a very small portion. Just want to make sure i am not doing anything wrong. Well thats my journey so far in bandland. Talk soon.

I heard ( cant remember where ) that you can not dye your hair for 1 year after surgery due to lack of protein in diet. I have the lap band back in may 2008 and my hair seems fine. So if I want to get some hi-lights.... I should be okay right? Thanks for the help! ~~Jessica :cursing:

I have not been in to this site for a very long time. My band did NOT cure my obesity ( I am still a size 20 -3 sizes smaller than at my highest weight pre-band) but it cured my life long depression. I had my first band in 2003, revision in 2004 after I moved it by overeating. The second one I did not fill until 2 years after my surgery (was trying to have a baby, then was pregnant). My band expands to suit my needs. I can eat as much as any NORMAL person with no problem. This has not allowed me to lose a lot of weight, but the feeling of being normal, for the first time in my life, has actually changed my life. I am happy for the first time in decades. 30 years I st…

I had my surgery on Sept 10th and am so bummed out right now:crying:. The past two weeks my weight loss has slowed drastically! The first two weeks I lost 7lbs per week. Then, in the 3rd week I only lost 1 pound!! (During that 3rd week I had lots of ups and downs on the scale.) And I have been pretty much the same for this 4th week! I am just wondering, why is it that I am eating WAY less calories then I did before my surgery, and WAY healthier and exercising WAAAY more, and i'm not dropping weight like crazy?! Shouldnt me doing that (regardless of surgery) be enough to make me lose more then what I am? I havent had any fills yet (first one scheduled for Oct 16th:thumbup:…

Question for those of you post-op. I had surgery on Monday, and I am doing fabulously. My question is that I went into surgery 5lbs. lighter than when I got out, and I am assuming that that is because I am swollen, filled with gas, and was filled with fluid from the IV. How long did it take for most of you to lose the weight that you gained in the hospital? Thanks, Jessica

I was just wondering what everyone's week 2 diet was? Did you stick to the script or change it up a bit? What was the portion size?

I know we are not suppose to eat rice, meat, stringy veggies, but I love california rolls. I was wondering if anyone out there has tried to eat a california roll, maybe even 1-2 pieces with no problems. If I have to spend all day eating my 8 pieces of the roll every couple of hours that is fine with me. :cursing:

banded on 12/1. Didn't get much sleep night one. Last night (night 2) I kept waking up nauseous and with gas/shoulder pain. I was given lortab, is that what made me so nauseous? It was horrible. Also, in general, I am having a hard time finding ways to sit/lay down. Any ideas to be more comfy?

I was banded on Monday 11/24/08, so today is my 6th day banded. I'm doing very well, so far... I have hardly no pain, I'm not really hungry (although I am VERY tired of shakes and water), and I'm already down 12.5 pounds. The biggest issue that I am having is that my stomach is ALWAYS growling. It's not in pain... it's not making me hungry per say... but it's a CONSTANT reminder that I have nothing really in there. Is this normal? Is this a temporary thing that will subside after my body gets used to having nothing substantial in my stomach? Thanks everyone... Shanna

It has been a year and a half since I had my lap band, but in many ways I am still a newbie. Never mind the why of it, but I didn't get my fills as early as I should have, and am now approaching # 4. I have finally begun to have the experiences that I am reading about. OK, so here is the question/or questions: I hear people say that they sometimes only eat 1/2 cup of food and are satisfied. I'm trying to find that satisfied sensation, but it dosn't happen as often as I thought it should. Could this be because I am eating the wrong types of foods? My main motivation for stopping eating early is the discomfort of PB type of stuff. So now, I'm confused. If I eat …

Hello everyone, I had surgery last Friday, also had a Hiatal Hernia repaired, and I really thought that I would be feeling better by now. Is it normal to still be sore? I'm still not taking much in either, maybe 1/2 cup soup, 1/4 of optifast once or twice a day , and some water. I feel like I should be eating more, but I can't. The gas has almost completely gone, so I am very excited about that. I think if I had more variety diet wise I might eat more. Any suggestion's? Thanks everyone for your input on this Forum, it's been a life saver.

I am on day 5 post-op and still on the full liquids phase. I am ready to move onto mushies on Friday but since last night, I am so hungry. I feel like I can eat regular food and all I want right now is regular food but I don't dare. I am sick of the protein drinks & jello. I made tomato soup today which did help. Did anyone else start earlier?

Hi All, I'm not sure what this but ever since yesterday,i've had a pain between my breasts and around the port. Not a horrbile pain but noticeable. I haven't done anything different. Any ideas ,what this could be ? It's similar to more like a dull ache. :cursing:

Hello everyone! I was banded at Mercy Hospital in Chicago 6/30/08. I have been walking at least one mile or more per day for exercise and doing my best not to over eat and to eat healthier. I have only lost 25.5 lbs so far and to say the least, I am struggling and disappointed. I am for the most part starving myself trying to lose more weight, nothing is coming off. I have never had a fill so my band has no restriction and I can eat whatever I want. This is not what I want, which is why I got the Lap Band. I went to my first post -op appointment and when it was over they said call us in 5 weeks to get an appointment for my first fill and that was it. I have been calling …

Ok, my last thread was about the pains I was going through with my fill making my band too tight. Cause I was PBing, and Sliming, and throwing everything I ate back up. Anyway, I went in on Saturday, and got an emergency unfill, and now, since then I have no restriction, and I have gained 5lbs. I feel like a failure, and Im doing exercise, and watching what I eat during the day. I dont get it. Anyway, I see him again, Monday, and I have got to tell him that I need at least 1cc put back in, he took 1 and a half out, I think all I needed was a half taken out. Man Now, I put myself back on liquids because of this weight gain. I dont want to gain anymore. I will be on liquids…

I'm almost 2 weeks post op, banded on the 20th and last night, I allowed myself to get too hungry. By the time I sat down to eat dinner (at Logan's) I ate 2 rolls, a few chips, 3 fries and not quite half of a cheeseburger and I thought I was going to explode! Granted before being banded, that would have been an appetizer! but I'm guessing and looking for some validation, that because I ate too much for one, it irritated my diaphragm which in turn made the horrible sharp shoulder pain come back and two, i'm still feeling this slight "heaviness" in my chest and back (i'm guessing where the band is now) but I'm not sure what is causing this feeling because the food should…

I was banded in June '07. I've been doing fine since then, except that last week I got what I thought was a stomach bug (not so sure about that now.) I'm having pain in my stomach and anytime I eat I get nauseous. My mom is convinced I either over-ate at Thanksgiving and hurt my band or I'm pregnant. Ignoring the pregnant thing for a minute, has anyone else had this type of problem this far out from banding. I'm fine as long as I don't eat. Just tired. If I eat anything or drink anything other than Water, I feel horrible. (I'm ruling out the pregnant thing because that would only explain the nausea, not the pain in my stomach.)

Hi there, I have a question..... I have come down with a nasty cold and I am wondering what OTC meds are ok for me to take? Also - tomorrow is my first fill, will they still give me a fill if I am sick? I hope so.....I need it so badly and have been looking forward to it!!! Thanks! Jeni