POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I know that drinking from a straw is a big 'no no', but I have caught myself a couple of times doing it before I realized. I felt nothing different than drinking just from a glass. Does anyone drink from a straw on a regular basis and does it bother you?

Ok this may be TMI for all of you but I just done know what to do and want to know what to expect... I am on a clear liquid diet only...I will be on this for 4 more days. I was banded on Tuesday AUg 26 and today I had my first poop. Than after that I had about 5 more...however...what is going in as liquid is well...pouring out the same way...I cant lay down for more than a half hour and than I have to go again ...I am exhausted and dont know what to do...I called the doctor and he told me that I would have to wait the night out befoer he decided if I needed to go to the er or not...and in the interrum, just wait it out....I am shaking and crying now and am just so weak…

does anyone smoke pot? what do you think would happen if I did? i haven't since months before my surgery, but will be seeing some people this weekend for labor day and kind of want to. i don't want to harm anything. I'm 2 1/2 weeks post - op. thanks!:biggrin:

Hi all, Has anybody tried eating gummy snacks, like the welches fruit snacks? They have SF ones and I was wondering if anybody has had them and how they go down. I am still in mushy stages, and was just curious. Thanks!

OK so, I was cooking breakfast for the kids this morning. We have ballgames starting at 4 today so i wanted to make sure they had a good breakfast and will have a good lunch. I fixed sand dollar pancakes, toast, and eggs for them. Since I get to start my "mushies" tomorrow, I thought I'd check to see how much 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of eggs would be. Wow, it's alot of eggs. I was thinking it would be about 2 teaspoons full but its alot more than that. So, when I go to weigh the food, do I do it before or after I puree it? Wouldn't pureeing it make it to where you could get more than before you puree it?

Once banded, what happens if you get sick and need to throw up from your lower stomach? How can it get up through your upper stomach past the band and out of your mouth? Curious???

I've not read the effects of alcohol on post operative care. Is it allowed? I'm not talking about getting smashed. Is a beer or two allowed? A glass or two of wine? I know it is probably not a good idea, but is it prohibited.

What would it hurt if you ate regular sugar? I really can't stand the taste of Splenda or any of that SF stuff. Is the reason for sugar free simply because it will prevent weight loss? I would love any feedback.

I was just curious if anyone heard of the Miracle Noodle and if anyone has tried it. I found it on the website www.miraclenoodle.com. It says for a 3oz. serving size of Angel Hair noodles that there are 0 calories, 0 fat, 0 protein, <1gm of carbs, 0 sugar and 0 protein.

Does anyone know where (if anywhere) saltine crackers figure in post op? Are they "mushies" or solid food? I've looked in m "Lap Band Manual" I got from my surgeon, and through the 2 books I bought on the lap band, and can't find crackers. Not that I'll be having them for a while anyway, just planning ahead..... Thanks if anyone knows! :biggrin:

I don't mean to sound like a whiner but I've lost 15 pounds since my surgery on May 9 and I'm stuck at that weight. I realized I was still eating too much after my first fill on July 5 but I've really tried to watch the amount of food I'm eating and feel like I'm really doing better. I also walk 2 to 3 times a week but I'm still not losing weight. I'm just discouraraged right now and feel somewhat of a loser (not in the right sense!!). I'm drinking more water than I ever have before also. Is there something I'm missing?

Beginning my fourth week post OP. I woke up this AM to begin my day, went to eat breakfast and got this horrible pain between my shoulders. It lasted for about 5 minutes then eased up. Was able to eat breakfast just fine then went to work and every once in a while the pain hits and then it goes away. However, I just want to cry it hurts so badly, and then it leaves as fast as it came. Has any one experience this? Should I be concerned? Thanks for you input.

Nothing was ever discussed during the classes about eating lettuce. I love salad and I can understand not eating raw vegetables like radishes, green peppers, etc. But what about shredded lettuce? Will I ever be able to eat that again? :tt2:

If you stretch your pouch, does it ever go back to it's normal size? Or do you just live with a larger pouch?

I LOVE pickles... no.... I'm a grandma... I'm not pregnant. Can you eat them after surgery when you get to solids??

Well, I have been banded for 11 days now and still feel great. I have not cheated on the liquid diet, except for the accidental noodle or two that got into my mouth when eating soup. Here is where I am paranoid. I lost weight initially but am gaining. I know it is because I am not getting enough calories. Yesterday I got less than 300! I just can't force myself, I'm not hungry. So I'm thinking of starting my mushies a day or two early just so I can get my calories! I know I can really only do that with the advice of my doc but I need to get those calories in and I just can't with liquids. Any ideas?

I had surgery on Aug. 12. I've lost 10 lbs and for some reason I feel like I should be losing more. I'm starting to feel discouraged. I have 75lbs to lose and I know that is in the first few months that you see the most rapid weight loss. Am I freaking out over nothing? I've seen other people's postings that say theyve lost 26 lbs by now! Another thing, anyone tell me an easy way to add a weight loss ticker to my profile?

I am sorry to bother you but I have another question .... how much can some of you eat after lap band without getting it tightened .... should I get my band tightened If I plateau but really cant eat much ???? and any one has GERD ... wont a lot of acid destroy my band

I have had three fills and the third went too far and I had to have it removed at the ER. The problem is, I can eat quite a bit. Much more than I used to. I've been banded for 6 mos. Have I stretched out my pouch? If so, can I do anything to shrink it back?? I was thinking going back to straight liquids and see if it would shrink. Can anyone shed some light? I'm really scared. I haven't lost weight in 3 months!! In fact, Ive gained 5 lbs. I'm so depressed. I just hate myself right now.:biggrin:

GREAT!!! I am 10 weeks post op and feel great. I have lost a total of 25 lbs since being banded, I have not had a fill yet as I am not hungry and I still only eat a little. I exercise daily and weight train as I do not want flabby underarms. I am so very happy with my decision to get the lapband. I know to some my weight loss may not be that much but remember that I did not gain the weight in a month and I will not loose it in a month. As long as the pounds keep coming off I am happy. I have plateau several times and I am ok with that as well. I go on a cruise at the end of Sept and I am hoping to loose another 6 to 8 pounds by then but I hope that you don't …

I had my surgery 2 weeks ago today. I was told I could have soft food such as cottage cheese and soft foods od that consistency. Everytime I eat it hurts, it goes down fine, but I feel a pain in my side which I assume is my band and in the center of my chest. I was wondering if anyone esle is experiencing this as well. It was very painful for me to burp at first, but that has gotten better and better, but this pain is very similar. I'm not sure if I am just pushing it and I need more healing time or if I should be calling my doctor. Any advice is very much appreciated Angie

I am supposed to be on liquids for three weeks. This was day 10. The last few days I have been very sick with diarrhea and today started to feel very sick, weak and dehydrated. I called the dr's office and the dietician said a lot of people react to the artificial sweeteners in the drinks and having such a concentrated amount can cause the diarrhea. She suggested that I drink only soy milk, Water and chicken broth. Something about the sound of that was just horrible. Two weeks seemed unbearable. She said even if I had soy milk 10x a day it would be fine (that's about 1500 calories.) She said make sure the diarrhea cleared up and call tomorrow. I went to the store…

Ok... I HAD MY SURGERY TODAY!! and i'm doing great, i'm a little sore but for the most part i'm doing pretty good. The dr said that he was very impress by my weight loss 13lbs, and said my liver was very small and easy to work with!! so YEAH!!!! I'm excited and hope everyone else that had surgery today went well!!

I'm two weeks post op and have been feeling pretty good the last few days. Most of the pregnant look from the swelling is gone, I've only lost 2 pounds but from what I read here that's not unusual. I've been good on my diet, haven't eaten anything I shouldn't. Yesterday I was up a pound and thought it odd, then later in the day I noticed a bulge in the side of my belly, just below my ribs and just above my port incision. It was small but firm and now it's probably the size of a grapefruit but more oblong than round, firm but not hard, and not painful. It sticks out enough that it's visible. I'm not constipated, I'm more gassy than usual but I've been that way since surge…

:cursing:Ok fellow bandsters, I need to vent a little. I had my surgery on the 29th of July and have been doing very well with the weight loss (15 lbs) so far, but now I've gained 5 lbs the last 3 days, I was so close to 299, but now I'm back up to 305! It's been 3 days and the scale hasn't moved. My first fill is Fri in the AM. I hate this, I don't want to eat that much, but it's hard to ignore a rumbling tummy that won't shut up! I know I've lost 3 inches off my hips & thighs, and 1 inch off my neck so I know I'm doing well so far, but this is just so discouraging!!! Has anyone else had to happened to you? Can anyone relate? Thanks for letting me vent a bit.:huh2:

I've learned from reading on this site that each doctor has there own guidelines for pre and post op eating. I keep reading through my handbook from my doctor and I feel like a piece of the post-op stages is missing. They totally skip the mushies stage that most other plans included. According to the book, after surgery I am on Clear liquids for 2 days, back to the pre-op liquid diet for 21 days, then straight to regular food in 4 meals a day, 2oz protien, 1oz veggies, 1oz dairy. There is no mention of a mushies stage. Does that seem odd to anyone else? I really think the 21 days on liquids is going to kill me. It's been hard getting through the 2 week pre-op, I d…

3 weeks post op and woke up this morning with intense sharp pain in stomach. It feels like it is around or near my band. I haven't taken any pain medication throughout this whole process, even after the sugery...and this pain is much stronger. The pain is strong and I am curious if I should go to the emergency room. I originally thought it was the way I was laying as I can only lay on my back and tried to lay on my side, but that was not it. I thought it was gas and tried moving around but that made no difference either. Has anyone else experienced this? Am I freaking out for no reason...please help?

I was not expecting to get my first fill at my first post op appt:blink:. I told him i could eat just about anything w/o restriction so he asked if i wanted a fill and i said "heck yeah":thumbup:. 4 cc's in my 9 cc realize band. It did hurt when i got my fill but he said it was b/c my stomach was still tender from the surgery and that it shouldn't hurt as much next time. No problems with my liquids as of now. Very happy and excited to go get this show on the road. :biggrin:

I am getting worried. I took milk of magnesia on Sunday night and have had diarrhea since. It's not a lot (since I am hardly drinking anything) but I am getting worried. My lips are chapped now (dehydration) and I don't know what to do.

Today I am 3 days post op and I am not very hungery at all. I did eat some cream of wheat today with some butter and splenda, but that has been it. I just keep drinking Water. I am still on my pain meds though. My tummy is pretty tender at this point. I think I am very worried about band my band slipping or stretching out my pouch. Can someone calm my worries. I think I am scared to eat. :tt2:

Got surgery in january with Dr. Ortiz and Martinez (they both were there that day). Weight at surgery was 203. Lost about 15 pounds before that on the pre-op diet. From my second fill in the middle of february through mid may I lost around 30 pounds. It's now mid august and I haven't lost a pound since Stuck at 173-176. I have a 4 ml band, and it's at 3.8ml so another fill is out of the question. I work full time, and go to school full time while helping my husband raise a family of 5 so any more structured exercising is kind of out of the question for at least another 2 years or so. I'm eating around the 1200 recommended calories per day. I'm only 5'3" and would hone…

All... I was banded on August 8... I am going to a party and I am wondering if its okay to drink on adult beverage??

Hello All! I have to be honest and confess because I feel terrible. I was banded on 8/20 and most of my pain is gone. That was merely 4 days ago!! In fact, I am starting a new job tomorrow and feel totally ready! I am so excited that I had this surgery and am committed to losing this weight that has burdened me for 20 years! I am obviously still on the liquid diet and will be for more weeks to come. I got weak tonight, was hungry for the first time since surgery and ate solid food. I ate 4 triscuit crackers with a slice of American cheese, and a Michaelina's frozen dinner which was ravioli alfredo. I did not get sick at all nor feel overly full. But I feel reall…

Hi Everyone, I was banded on July 30th and recently spoke with my primary care doctor, who by the way was the one that recommended the surgery. I am down 15 pounds since surgery but even with that my doctor keeps mentioning that he hasn't seen a lot of success with the lap band. One of the nurses said something similar to me the week before my surgery. I find that highly discouraging not only because he is a physician that is saying this but because of the fact that he recommended it and is now basically making me think that it would be a miracle if it actually worked. Has anyone else had this experience?:smile2:

I was banded last Friday the 15th. My incisions are still healing. I noticed however that the skin below the port incision is kinda numb. I can feel pressure when I press on it, but the skin is numb, I can't feel my fingernails scratching it. Anyone else? Do you think this will subside as my wounds heal?

I was last filled 3 months ago. about 2 weeks ago I started getting "irritated", i.e. more frequent sliming and burping up of almost anything I ate. I kept trying to eat small amounts and some went down, some came up. Eventually I got to the point where everything I tried to eat slimed up after about 3 bites. Then liquids started sliming up and I got worried. Dr. said 3 days of clear liquids, prilosec 2xday. It;s day 4 now and I tried a sip of protein shake this morning which was followed by half an hour of burping and sliming. Also feels like I have a knot in my chest, about half way down my esophogus. When I push on it gently, I burp. It feels like something's …

i had my surgery on August 18th. i started my student teaching today and i feel like i could cry. my chest is hurting soooooo bad and my incisions hurt. i had my staples taken out yesterday. i have had a alot of chest pain throughout this past week. i went back to the surgeon with it and he said everything was fine and my band hadnt moved. my chest hurts more than my stomach ever did. there were times at school that i thought i was going to cry because i was in so much pain. when does it go away?!?!?!?! ive heard so many people say that this wasnt bad and that they were up and at work in a couple of days. i just dont see how. has anybody has alot of chest pain with this? …

Hello all. Well, I've been banded since April 22, and lost 55 lbs!:thumbup: I have a 14cc band and have had 2 fills. The first fill he gave me 7cc and I couldn't swallow so he removed 1cc, second fill 3cc, but again couldn't swallow, so 1cc out. I feel I can eat more than a cup of food at a time. I have no pain, no throwing up. Am I eating to much??? How do you know when you've over done it?? I feel I'm not limited enough. Maybe I haven't reached my "sweet spot". Can some of us eat more than others?? :confused2:

I keep going back and forth with the same 2 pounds went for fill on tues the 19th was 238 then lost 2 pounds went to 236 then gain 1 pound went to 237 do i have to starve my self i want to get past 235 ive been fighting with the same 2 pounds for about 3 weeks dr wont do fills unless you lose 6 pounds between fills go back for a fill oct 21

I am 8 days post op and still have HORRENDOUS shoulder pain!!! Other than that, I have been fine. I do get really hungry because I am still on liquids and dont really like the things I am allowed to eat so I just dont eat/drink much. Does anyone have any suggestions about the pain in my shoulder?? When will it go away?? When will I stop being sooooo hungry?:confused2: Thanks!!!

I had surgery Monday and I am still unable to feel my port. I am starting to get worried about it because if the doc can't feel it then I have to go in and get an upper GI, and I don't want that at all. Has this ever happen to anyone else???

Just thought I'd give a word of advice to all of you banders that are still on your 2 week post-op diet. OK, so my adorable husband fixed his famous beef stew over the weekend. We kept out some of the broth from it and I have been eating (sipping) on it for the past couple days. About 45 minutes ago, my stomach started growling so bad I was about to go crazy. So, I get up and warm me up some of the broth from the stew. I thought it would be ok if I put some crackers in it to make it a little thicker so it would stay with me longer. WARNING: DON NOT DO THIS. MY STOMACH IS HURTING RIGHT NOW AND I KNOW IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE I WENT AGAINST WHAT I WAS TOLD AND PUT CRA…

I had surgery aug 11th and everything is going good except i have my old appitite back with almost no restriction. So at this point is it even possible to strectch out my pouch if i have no restriction. i feel like at this point i don' t even have a pouch because i have no restriction. So i guess my question is does just the band create a pouch on its own or is it loose around my stomach? Sorry if this is confusing any information is appreciated

Checking in on June bandsters, want to see your progress!!!! Me Almost 40lbs lost!!!

So I am going to six flags on Monday...I will be 3 weeks post-op. Should I be fine? I went back to work 3 days after surgery!

So, I was banded on the 18th, 9 days ago. Monday I returned to work. I teach at a college and had to stand and lecture 3 hours in the AM and 3 hours in the PM with 6 hours office work in between. You can bet I was scared to go back. Well, Monday was not bad. I got a little sore after the 2nd class. Yesterday was great. I feel like being up and moving and being busy has helped. The shoulder pain I had is all but gone and my belly barely has an ache. I know that not everyone handles pain the same way and everyone is not as lucky as I feel I have been with this but for all who are struggling, take heed, it WILL get better. I really think that getting moving, even t…

Hello, I am scheduled for surgery 10/3 and have 2 medication questions. I currently take pristiq for depression and excedrine migraine and I know that I'll need to find others. Any suggestions? I know for sure Pristiq isn't ok because it's extended release and not available in any other form. As far as migraine meds, I can't take imitrex so I depend on excedrine but since that'll be a no-no, I'm at a loss. I can't do nasal sprays. Thanks in advance!

I am on day eight of the post-surgery liquid diet (I have to do it for 15 more days!) I need to be on liquids until my post op diet and it's already starting to feel too long. Today was the first day I started craving food. I was walking down the street and restaurants were smelling good... my neighbors in my apartment building are cooking cinnamon rolls and they smell good! I was visiting someone's house for a bit and they were cooking dinner and it smelled good! last week it didn't bother me if people ate around me. Now just the smell of food is making me drool! I drank another Protein shake and am going to BED early to watch a movie and get my mind off--though the …

Just curious to see how you fellow bandsters handle snack time....when snack time comes do you stop drinking 30mins before and 60mins after? Thanks Chris

I was banded yesterday, stayed overnight in the hospital and got home this morning. I'm doing GREAT! I didn't have any gas pain, or any nausea, it was great. I was doing good getting the IV in and all, but when they started to roll me to the "surgery suite" they stopped by the waiting room so my mom could see me and I started tearing up. The anesthesiologist was WONDERFUL and told me he'd give me something to make me feel better. That's all I remember, I don't remember being rolled in to the OR or anything. I just remember waking up, and asking if it was done and did everything go ok. haha I walked the halls about 6 times yesterday, and a few today. I barely have any…