POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I was just wondering if anyone else has had trouble keeping food down?? I had my surgery last november and have had no problems until now! About 3 weeks ago i began throwing up almost everything I eat. Sometimes I can't even keep liquids down. I went to my doctor last week because I was worried, and thought my band may have slipped or something. He has assured me that it hasn't. I am afraid that I am going to get sick because I am not getting enough nutrients. He didn't seemed too worried about it, and I am frustrated!!! Would getting an unfill help?? I have only had 3 fills total.. my last one was over 2 months ago.. I am just worried about gaining weight back. I have wo…

Hi! I was banded June 19, 2008. I have lost about 25 pounds, but I can't get past that. I was curious if anyone had any suggestions to help me get past this plateau.

I was banded Friday. I feel like I need to hiccup or burp and then a horrible pain or spasm hits through my chest. I am drinking slow and small amounts at a time. It will do this even when I don't eat or drink. Am I doing something wrong? What can I do to help this.

Hi Everyone. Firstly I want to say thankyou for all the support/stories/ideas etc on this site, It has made my journey much more informed and put my mind (which can sometimes overwork itself) to ease. I was banded on 20th August. As of today ive had minimal pain (apart from the gas pain), just a slight bit of nausea (but havent thrown up as yet!) and just been generally tired. I started on the Clear liquids and just today added some Soup and custard to my diet. My problem is this...Im not sure if im physically hungry or whether its all in my head still? My doctor told me to make the most of not being hungry and I dont want to eat if Im not actually hungry - but I cant…

I was banded on 8/22 and am happy to say everything went well! I have had very little pain. I am still tired but know that will pass when I get more nutrition. Right now I am on protein shakes and liquids. I am so thirsty. I really want a long drink of water but have been good sipping. When I have swallowed too much I get minor discomfort. Since I seem to fill up quickly I am finding it hard to get enough water and shakes in. Any suggestions? How long do you go between sips? Thank you.

I got banded on 8/20 and im having a hard time getting the shakes down. They make me feel like im going to throw up and i easily tolerated them before. I have eaten puddin and yogurt and that does not do this. Is it ok for me not to take them and just get protein from yogurt?

Today was my first day at work, and I was sitting in meetings most of the day. I started getting a bad pain on my back by my right shoulder. I know a lot of people mentioned shoulder pain right after surgery, but I didn't have it then. I am wondering if this is gas pain, or if it's from sitting so much more than I was used to in a day? I think I should add that I have been walking around and pretty active since my surgery. I have taken walks and gone shopping and all kinds of things. Today was definitely a pretty sedentary day. I got home at 4:30 and went to sleep! I woke up at 7:30 pm and the pain is still there. Now of course I have to rest, and do this again to…

i had one bite of food today and then had a stuck up feeling in my ribs and then it came out with some slime . is this vomitting or Pbing ...and how long after that how long should I wait before I eat

My doctor recommended Milk of Magnesia for constipation. It's a full week after my surgery and no BM yet. Today I started feeling like I have to "go" but have not and really want to avoid the pain of cramping if I do start to cramp. As of now I just have that sort of feeling, but no go. I am a little scared to take the M of M... did anyone take it for this? I have never had it before and do NOT want diarrhea or cramping! I am only going to take 2 tbs which is the minimum dose... thanks!

Thursday will be my first fill & my surgery was 8/1/08. I'm looking for any words of wisdom in regards to prepartations. I know I need to not do anything but liquids 24 hours prior, but anything else would help ease my nerves. Everyone talks of this huge needle, but does it hurt? I'm a woos and don't want to hurt. Any tricks to having a successful fill?

Okay had good restriction all weekend - hardly ate a thing but enjoyed what I ate just ate slow and chewed well - today I have no restriction - does anyone know why some days you can't eat much at all but then the very next day you can eat too much and it is hard not to do so. Thanks!

I hope that I am not offending anyone when asking this, and it is not my intention to do so, but what about intercourse after your surgery. I know that all of the information I have read up on just says not to have intercourse until two weeks after your surgery. But has anyone found pain with the band while having intercourse? I woke up in a panic this morning!:confused2: LOL! I had a horrible dream about this and would appreciate some serious responses as it is beginning to worry me! :tt2::cursing::party::cursing::eek:

UH HUH you guessed it, it's me ok. lol I have a question and then I have a comment about the question. So here goes. When you gals weigh yourselves do you do it with or without your clothes on? Did you know that if you weight with you clothes on (even night clothes) you can add atleast 2 pounds to what the scales tell you? That's right, you can. I just weighed myself a couple minutes ago both ways. First with a nightgown and night pants on, scales said 256, I took everything I had off and weighed again and it said 254. I like the naked answer much much better. So the question is, which is the proper way to weigh? Clothed or naked?

You guys probably think I sit up nights thinking up goofy question - nope - they come easily to me :biggrin2: I read or heard somewhere that you can get a card after you have been banded and in most restaurants it will allow you order from the kid's menu. Also... 25% off at Souper Salad. Anyone know anything about this?

Has anybody had this feeling of soreness when drinking water. I think it is because last night I had food get stuck and after everything passed through I continued eating after the pain went away. Maybe I should've just stopped. Is this the reason why. Should I be concerned that my band slipped. Should I not eat anything AGAIN for a few days. I hope not because that sucks! I appreciate any help and by the way this lapbandtalk.com is great. I have had such great support.

so i got banded on 28/6 and have had no fill as of yet . when i eat food goes down easy but i feel some mucus like discharge in my throat .. then it clears in say few minutes . is this slimming or some allergy .. if its lets say allergy then why do i have it only when i am eating ?? i dont feel any obstruction or stuck up feeling with the discharge nor do i salivate or vomit..... do i need to do anything to make it stop

I went to GNC today and got some Isopure (the green one and the orange one- peach mango.) I sipped the peach mango and it was not good but it was also room temp. I heard people saying they mix in crystal light. Do you just pour in the crystal light and mix it with the Isopure, or do you Water the Isopure down w/ crystal light and water and have half a serving? I start working again tomorrow and want to have the easiest way to get my Protein as possible. If I can figure a way to DRINK this, I think it will be so much simpler than mixing shakes at work. Thanks!! Also, this is strange and totally off topic... I took a nap today and weighed myself and I lost 5 lbs!…

I have my first post op appointment today. I am just wondering what happens at it. Do they take these steri-strips off of the incision site or do they come off on their own? Do they weigh you? I am so excited I have lost 21 lbs between the pre-op diet until now only 5 days post op! I know once I start eating actual foods, it won't come off as quick but I am psyched about the 21lbs already! I already feel better, maybe its just mental!

So, I tried to be as "normal" as possible this weekend even though I was just banded last monday. Saturday my husband wanted to go out for the day so we drove to Lancaster to do some shopping. I felt really good until I made a big mistake at lunch. I drank my tea through a straw and had broth from creamy soup. My shoulder/gas pain came back with a vengance. It took about 2 hours to feel a little better. We stopped for dinner on the way home and I had broth from vegetable soup and drank from the glass and felt grea. Yesterday we had a wedding to go to. I knew I would not be able to eat anything at the wedding so I drank a protein shake before I went and I did fine.…

I finally got my first fill at 2 months post-op. My surgeon moved from my state and I had to wait for the new one to get his state license. I thought it would never happen! Anyway, he put in 4cc's and told me that we would recheck in 4 weeks (my band is 14cc's). I felt restriction on the first day, but now I don't feel anything. I can tell when I don't chew well enough and food gets stuck, but I can eat as much as before. Has anyone experienced this after a fill? What did you do if anything?

Hi. My doctor said that I could have sugar free fat free Jello pudding during my pre-op diet. I can find sugar free in the stores. Is there such a thing as sugar free AND fat free that you can buy or does that mean you have to make it with skim milk. Also after surgery, I have read both skim milk and lowfat milk - I can do 1% but skim is kinda like white water to me. If I have to do skim I will. I'm sure my doctor will tell me when I go down for my procedure but I was wondering what you all know about this. Also - after surgery - cereal??? Thanks in advance for your replies!! I love this site!!!

I'm 5 1/2 weeks post op and starting having headaches about 5 days ago which is unusual for me. I was thinking I was dehydrated but I'm getting enough fluid in. Has anyone else experienced headaches post op that didn't normally get them? It's probably nothing but just I'd ask.

:biggrin: I was just wondering if having the band could screw around with my menstrual-cycle??? My periods have ALWAYS been regular... every 28 days. I had my first period since being banded on July 19, so naturally my next period should have been last Saturday (Aug 16). Well, I didn't get my period until yesterday :smile:. I thought for sure I was preggo!!! B'cause that's the only time I've ever been late is when I was preggo!! I know I got my period so I should just chill, but I'm never just late without a reason, and I'm just wondering why I was on time last month (I could've understood it a lil bit better then because of all of the liquid/mushie food causing sudden …

I need your help and need to know if anyone else is feeling the same pain as me. It started a few weeks ago...I started to feel like I was having back pain. It would just come on suddenly. I could be making dinner, walking around the mall, sitting and watching tv. It hurts right in the middle of my back and in the middle of my chest. :biggrin: What I have since discovered is I don't think it is my back after all. I think it starts in the middle of my chest...in the area where I imagine my band is. It is HORRIBLE pain and it shoots right thru to my back. You should also know I am not eating when this happens. Most of the time it last 15 to 30 mins. I can get …

Hi there, I'm being banded tomorrow morning and my surgeon said he puts the port on the right hand side. I have read that some people said they wish they knew the port could be placed in different spots. Where is your port? .....do you like it there? What have you heard is the best place for the port to be placed? Thanks for all the input, it's greatly appreciated! Wish me luck tomorrow (surgery 7am)

I was banded on Monday August 18th. I am so excited but I have major pressure on the top of my stomache. It is hard to take a deep breath especially after drinking water or protein shake. I am guessing it's the band but is this normal? I also get the hiccups all the time. I am having a very hard time getting my protein down because of the pressure. I also have the shoulder pain and feel I need to burp alot. Dr Patterson who did my surgery said I had a tear in my diaphram which she fixed could this be the cause of the pressure or am I just feeling the restriction? Thank you for the help.

Ok, I am getting very frustrated. I have had five fills. I'm at 7.5cc's out of 14. Some days I am able to eat small amounts with no problems, but then there's days like today when I can't keep anything down. Do I need to have some taken out of my band? i don't want to get too loose, but I hate these days when I'm miserable to even drink anything. My biggest concern is that I threw up a couple of times today. i don't want to take the chance on my band slipping if this keeps up. Has anyone else come across this problem? Pam

Like ANY of you need to be burdened with this.. but I found out at the doctors today that my port is detached... yes I typed detached:mad:..... So I went to the hospital today.. I am like 60 days post op so it was time for my first fill... I have lost 20 pounds since surgery and I am chomping at the bit to lose more more more.. So I lay down on the table and BANG there it is... I think.....hmm that doesnt look right but I try to talk myself down that maybe it is the way the xray turns it around or something.. trying to keep myself calm BUT knowing it is going to be bad news...sooo..they say it loos like the port is flipped... and then they touch it and low and behold it…

OK I am 1 day shy of being 1 week post-op. I having this horrible pain that starts from one side of my chest and goes to the other end of my chest. It kinda feels like it is a little under my ribs but im not totally sure. I do know that it is a little under my breast. For a few seconds its really bad and then it eases up a little then right back to hurting bad. Today is the first day this has happened. Can someone please advice me on what this is. Is it gas pains or what?

I was just wondering, when I get to Phase 2, what all am I allowed to eat. I know it has to be pureed and I know you can have Chicken, Turkey, Ham, and pork for my meats, but what else can I have?

First I would like to thank everyone who have answered my previous questions...I have received so much helpful information. My surgeon does not do a fill until 1 month post op because he thinks you need to recover and adapt after the surgery, which I understand...my question is how do people lose weight for an entire month with no fill? I have been on the pre-surgery diet for 4 days and am STARVING! My surgery is Thursday, and I am getting really nervous...I have only told one friend, not my family which I feel guilty about. Thanks again for any answers you can provide- Targa

Right now I am on liquid Proteins only. The shake I am drinking is 100 calories per serving, 20 grams of Protein, 5 carbs. I drink it 3x a day. I was told not to take in any other drinks with calories. This is only 300 calories a DAY!!! Starting next week I need the energy to teach first grade (lots of activity!!!) This last week (surgery was on Monday) I was very lethargic and slept a lot. I have not lost any weight. I am really worried that on 300 calories I will not have the energy to last the day at work. I feel ok generally, but think I should be getting at least 800 calories a day. The doctor said I should be getting 800-1000 calories a day on the band, bu…

HI everyone, I have been reading alot on here about things getting "stuck". I understand you have to chew chew chew and take small bites and everything. I start mushies next week and i'm getting really nervous after all I have been reading to go on to normal foods when it's time. What does it feel like to be stuck? And what do you do if something does get stuck? What types of food get stuck most often? Lol sorry for so many questions, I think i'm starting to freak out about it.

I am having a hard time with the search function on this site - so apologies if this is a common question! :biggrin: Lately, I have been noticing when I wake up in the morning, and after some meals, that my throat gets very dry, but I have this "drainage" in the back of my throat. It's not a lot or anything, but I can't tell if it's just allergies - or if that is what "sliming" is? Thanks for your advice!

How long does it take to be able to eat soft food comfortably after a fill? My first fill was 4cc in a 14cc band and I could eat anything afterwards. My second fill was 1.5cc and everything I ate got stuck, except salad, so I ate salad for 3 1/2 weeks. A week later (last Friday) I got my third fill, .5cc and I'm back to getting everything stuck again. Is it normal to be in misery for 3 weeks after each fill? I have no restriction and on the rare occassion that food do go down I can eat quite a bit so I don't think I have too much fill. Is this normal? Any advice? I was banded on 5/27

Hello, I was banded in Mexico so I have a little different situation than most. I have a choice between two doctors and I am trying to decide which is best or more economical. One has an "unlimited visits for a year" package deal. And the other is cheaper per visit. But the more visits the better deal for the unlimited. I saw the poll for the sweet spot and it looks as though the majority is 5+ in the first year. I am just trying to get a feeling for how many to expect. How often do most of you get filled in the first year? How often are cases where you got filled and returned the next day to change it? Thanks for your help!:wink2:

I was banded on Wednesday the 20th so that would make me 3 days post op. The only protein drink I am allowed to have for the first week is isopure. I noticed it makes me extremley bloated and even more gassy then I already am. I am also drinking chicken broth and sugar free jellos. None of these make me as bloated as I get when I drink this. Has anyone had the same experience with this drink? I don't want to drink it anymore because the gas and bloating is TERRIBLE! I am just wondering where I can get the much needed protein from, if I stop this drink. Of course my doctors office is closed today, so I have to wait until Monday before I can talk to them. This isn't conside…

Hey everyone, I tried to find some info on this by doing a search, but didn't find exactly what I was looking for... I was banded 6/4/08 and have not had any problems at all. The past week or so, though, I've noticed some soreness in my port area when I make certain movements, mostly when I'm walking. Last night I was walking pretty vigorously on the treadmill and with almost every stride I could feel a soreness/pulling in the area where my port is placed. I've noticed this soreness/pulling feeling not just when I'm walking vigorously, though. Sometimes I feel it when I'm just casually strolling. Earlier today I was stretching with my arms over my head and I cou…

I have been reading up on this, and I am pretty sure I have it. Every time I eat anything I get pain... a lot of pain. If I wait about 20-30 seconds the pain goes away. Then I have no restriction. Anyone else have this problem?? :biggrin:

Hello everyone, I was banded Aug 13,08 and I'm ready to join the world and eat. It getting hard know because not in pain anymore just some swellen around the port, but it was easier than because just had soup and went to sleep.. Now I'm up and want to eat and not a big meal just some real food:rolleyes2:... Another thing has any one had problems with pills?:tongue:

Hi guys. I feel like I've failed already. I was banded on July 8th. Since then I've had one fill. Between the 5 weeks from the surgery adn my first fill appointment, I gained 3 k's. I was disgusted with myself. How can I have gained that much weight? I'm hugely hungry too. I eat big platefuls. I'm so scared I've stretched the stomach above the band alread. I have to go back on Wednesday for my next fill. (it'll be 2 weeks since my last). I've already got 6 mills in there. How much more can it fit. The surgeon told me that I've got the largest band on me. I'm in Australia, so I don't know if that makes a difference. I don't want to have gone through all of this t…

How long does it take to be able to eat soft food comfortably after a fill? My first fill was 4cc in a 14cc band and I could eat anything afterwards. My second fill was 1.5cc and everything I ate got stuck, except salad, so I ate salad for 3 1/2 weeks. A week later (last Friday) I got my third fill, .5cc and I'm back to getting everything stuck again. Is it normal to be in misery for 3 weeks after each fill? I have no restriction and on the rare occassion that food do go down I can eat quite a bit so I don't think I have too much fill. Is this normal? Any advice?

I got banded on 28/6 and I have lost 25 lbs . I still have not had the fill but I feel a lot of restriction . I cant eat more than four spoons at a time and most of the solids hurt . Is this normal

Hi All- I am 49 yrs old and was banded last Tuesday 8/19. The anesthesia knocked me for a loop and I was nauseas for a day and a half and it wasn't to easy to get fluids down during that time. But.....since I started feeling better Wednesday evening I have had absolutely no trouble whatsoever. I have been able to drink the 4 oz fluids hourly that my nutritionist suggested. I have not had any of the shoulder or chest pain from gas. All I have is some uncomfortablility of the bruises on my stomach. After reading about all the uneasiness of some posters here it almost doesn't sound right that I had no trouble. Not that I'm looking for trouble but it makes me wonder if all i…

I was banded on August 19th am forcing myself to take water (and not doing a good job at it.) I am so afraid to put anything into my mouth. The bloating and gas are intense and have been walking and taking gas-x to relieve some of it. In past 48 hours have only taken in about 16 oz of water - which I know is not enough. Doing a little better toda but was wondering if anyone else had this fear as well. :confused2: Thanks in advace for your input.

I was banded on Aug 12th. I am still in the mushie stage, but yesterday went out to eat with my 8 yr old son. I haven't had much of an appetite since the surgery but yesterday I was STARVING!!!!. I ate some french fries. Figured if I chewed them well all would be ok. Not so.. I felt sick all night. Not sure if it was actually sick from eating the fries or from guilt because I veered off the diet. Oh well. I'm back on the mushies and feel ok now.:tongue: Donna

Can anyone please tell me how many grams of protein in reccommended per day on the liquid diet? I was told I could have up to 4 shakes per day, but did not know how much protein I should aim for. Thanks so much! Targa

Ok, I post on here quite alot and answer posts as well whenever I can. I has kinda posted on this subject before but not the way I am now. I was banded on Aug.18. so I am 4 days post-op. I have done good on my liquid diet, I havent cheated (although I have wanted to so bad). I know that in the end, I will look back at all of this and know it was worth it, but right now, I'm not so sure if it is or isn't. Let me explain. It's not that I am hungry. This only happens when it is supper time. During the day when I am alone and don't have to worry about anyone eating, I am fine. I'm cool. But, when it is time for everyone to eat, I start getting so mad at everyo…

What does your restriction feel like and where do you feel it? Mine is all under my ribs...like a to tight bra. Others say that it is in their chest and feels like a golf ball, so I guess we all feel something different. Now I'm wondering if I have restriction or just need a bigger bra! What do you feel and where??:thumbup:

I posted a small introduction but in case you missed it, I am a 40 y.o. wife, mother and nana to a beautiful family. My family is my life and I have spent more than half of mine taking care of all of them. My weight gain started after my 4th child, after starting work in an office and after quitting smoking. But, I guess that doesn't matter now. What DOES matter is that I took a step to change my lifestyle and was banded on June 24. I've had some minor and major set-backs but after 2 fills I have more restriction now, so I am on my way. food has always been the focus of our family gatherings. I would cook these huge meals, have family over and we would eat, talk, play …