POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Tips for Maximizing Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass, Lap Band OR REALIZE Band Surgery By Karen Kelly, RD, New Jersey Bariatric Center Portion Control ***Understand the importance of satiety and listen to body’s signals*** Learn the difference between Internal Cues vs. Learned Eating Cues Internal Cues Eating to survive Sweet Cravings [*]Learned Eating Cues Social Eating Mood Eating [*]Train yourself to eat only when internal cues signal you its time Three Principles for Maintaining Satiety Eat enough to fill pouch with each meal Keep pouch filled longer by waiting 30 minutes to drink liquids Add a Protein to each meal Adopt Good Habits …

Okay, I was banded on 7/8 and had the normal gas in my shoulder/chest area. Today I feel like the gas is more so in my belly. I have been taking gas-x strips and gas x chewables and walking, but it isn't getting much better. I think I will call my surgeon in the am to see if there is a script that might work better. Please share what worked best for you. Thanks

Hi everyone, I had the lapband put in two years ago. I lost about 30 pounds and in the process of doing so moved across the country and had to find a new doctor to provide fills for my band. Although my original fill was under fluoroscopy (which obviously worked since I lost the 30 pounds), subsequent fills have been "blind" and have seemed to be either too tight or too loose. And to make matters even worse, sometimes when my band is loose, there are times when it gets super tight and I do the PB thing. It seems to be when I'm anxious or nervous I can't eat, but when I'm relaxed I can eat too much. I'm frustrated because I've gained back some of the weight I've…

Hi, I was banded on 6/23. I'm about to start mushies, which I'm very excited for (because for the last few days I've been pretty hungry) but I'm preoccupied with the idea of PBing. I haven't vomited in a really long time anyway, and while I'm prepared to do what I can to avoid it, it sounds like something I'm gonna have to deal with at some point. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that I won't choke to death or something. Any words of comfort, advice would be greatly appreciated. Sheila

I have last a total of 40 lbs since I was banded March 16, 2008, and am very happy with my results. Everyone around me has noticed that I am happier, more outgoing, and I am spending more "quality" time with my kids. I have tried to stay away from the scale, but seem to jump on it almost daily. Most of the time there is some degree of weight lost, but for the last couple of weeks I am standing still. I have cut out carbs, working out, everything, but can't seem to get to the next pound. Has anyone else experienced this, and what did you do to continue to loose the weight? Thanks for your input!!

Hi, I'm new to this sight. I finally got approved after 1 year and several appeals later. (Thanks to Obesity Law.com) my surgery date is July 23 @ Holzer Weight Loss Center Gallipolis Ohio.I'm really excited and nervous at the same time.:smile2: I start my pre opt diet on July 9th wish me luck with that.

OK, I went for my first fill on Monday (which went very well) and haven't had any complications other than a post op infection (which was 2 of the small circular incisions and not the port incision thank goodness) since surgery but today something weird happened. I was eating my usual hard boiled egg minus the yolk when all of a sudden, I started to feel this tightness in my throat as if the food was getting stuck. The episode increased in intensity for about 1 1/2 minutes. I was relieved by belching but felt as if I needed to throw up (which I successfully tried very hard not to do). Think I just swallowed too much at one time? While the episode was occurring, even swal…

I was banded yesterday (7.8.08) and although I am in a bit of pain, I'm doing suprisingly well. What stinks is all these amazing smells coming from my mother's kitchen (we're staying with my family for a few days post-op) and not being able to EAT. I don't want to eat, my stomach is full, and I feel restricted, but the smells are so good! It's such a confusing situation! You really do have to train yourself. In any case, I'm proud to now move over to the Post-Op thread. I'm on clear liquids for 3 days, and full liquids for 5 weeks (although the doctor will allow mushies about week 4 or so). Hard to just have 2 oz at a time! And the gurgling is weird, too!

fat free no sugar added ice cream?

I am 2 1/2 weeks post banding and I have lost 23 lbs so far which I'm really excited about, but for the past week I have not lost anything and I'm following the diet completely. My Barriatric Coordinator wants me to loose about 2 lbs per week. How can you not loose weight when I'm on a full liquid diet and not eating that much? Am I doing something wrong?:confused2:

Although this is what I always wanted but I have NO appetite today whatsoever! And it's driving me crazy I feel like I did just one day after surgery, thing is I don't want my body to like start to store fat and all that jazz. I forced myself to eat 4 crackers with Peanut Butter and that seemed to like to the fill up my tummy tum tum! I feel like I have eaten a buffet or something my stomach is saying DON'T you dare put anything in me!!!!! I drank on bottled Water, and that is all I can feel I can take. Question: Is this how restriction feels? If so I sure don't want to be filled aggressively the frist time I do know that. Or can it be just one of those days?

My dog, Pedro (chihuahua) was killed by a car today. This may not be the best place to post this but it's all I've got. He was 10lbs. White with brown ears. He was extremely smart. I could tell him to "go lay down" and he would climb in his bed until I called him. He knew several tricks. He loved bones. And anytime we would take him outside to play he would always come in with a big smile. I always thought pet owners were crazy when they would cry over an animal, well, call me crazy. Pedro Ricks March 2007 - July 2008

Has anyone used Biotin shampoo? If so, did you see any noticeable changes. I'm losing some hair and I'm already taking biotin and keeping my Protein up so I thought maybe shampoo would help. :confused2: How much biotin do you take? I was taking 300 mg a day but have upped it to 1000 mg. My first bottle said 300 mg was the RDA so is my body just filtering out what is over the RDA? I am also having problems with the fish oil capsule getting stuck once in a while. Has anyone found smaller (round vs oval) EFA pills? Thanks! :tt1::biggrin:

So I went to get my first fill today just to find out my port is flipped. I was pretty disappointed. The Physician's Assistant said I have to go back to the surgeon and get it flipped back to the correct position. My questions are: Has anyone else had this happen? Is it fairly common? Does it hurt when they flip it back? Because they re-open your incision is it a hard recovery? Just really nervous and looking for some information! :tt1:

Hi - I got banded just over a week ago and asked my endocrinologist whether I could stop taking my diabetic meds after surgery. He said to stay on them for about 3 months because, even though my blood sugar levels are the lowest they've ever been, he thought they would help me lose weight by increasing my insulin. I think they are actually having the opposite effect. If you were Type 2 diabetic before surgery, when did your doctor take you off your meds? Was there a time when you knew that you could go off of them? Do you think they helped you lose weight? I am taking 3 different meds for diabetes and I so want to stop taking them so at least I can save some mone…

Hello all, I would like to know from other bandsters who have a telemetric gastric band, if they own their "chip" card/receiver that allows them to have adjustments to the band done. I have asked for mine, but they refuse to give it to me, saying that it is their policy to keep the card and that I have to go and see them. I don't want to go into details as to why, it is a long and quite stressful story, but I wish to use another doctor for my adjustments and feel trapped as I cannot do anything without the card. I have read in another post that "Dr Focquet [a Belgian renowned gastric doctor] also told me that both he and I have the card that is necessary for adjustm…

Hi folks, looking forward to having an exchange with you. Hope to become an asset also more than that i have some questions that i haven't seen addressed ...like the band loosens at times and restricts at times but doesnt seem to indicate when, so that some mornings I'm tight and some evenings I'm tight and viceversa and i haven't seen anyone address this. can anyone relate to this? :confused2: also redefined foods go down better than unrefined ones and sad to say i've developed some bad habits due to this yet i long to eat veggies and just eat healthier.Help! I been banded two yrs so prefer those responding be the same. HELP! :confused2::confused2:

This is kind of silly but..here goes...is not being allowed to use a drinking straw just a post op thing or is it forever and always thing?

I'm 4 weeks post-op, starting week 5 tomorrow (banded June 11th) and I am still feeling restriction. I'm on pureed, I start solids tomorrow, and with half a cup of food I am very full. I'm also not really hungry in between meals (mostly fighting head hunger). Of course, I am happy about this! But, I've heard that with everyone else the swelling goes down and restriction goes away until the fills begin. So my question, am I just lucky or can my stomach still be swollen like after surgery?

To the steri strips..for days now Ive had blisters itching all around my incisions I called my Dr. and he told me to put neosporin on it..but it seems not to be helping..Im gonna call again tommorow , but I'm wondering how many people had this problem.. ekkk it itches

I had read about sliming but didn't experience it until today - I experienced it while I was drinking a blueberry smoothie made with yogurt - does anyone know if it was the smoothie that did it or is there a particular kind of drink or food that causes it - I am 12 days post-op and this is the first experience with it I have had. Thanks!

Hi folks, looking forward to having an exchange with you. Hope to become an asset also more than that i have some questions that i haven't seen addressed ...like the band loosens at times and restricts at times but doesnt seem to indicate when, so that some mornings I'm tight and some evenings I'm tight and viceversa and i haven't seen anyone address this. can anyone relate to this? :confused2: also redefined foods go down better than unrefined ones and sad to say i've developed some bad habits due to this yet i long to eat veggies and just eat healthier.Help! I been banded two yrs so prefer those responding be the same. HELP! :confused2::confused2:

Sometimes I can eat a lot other times I cannot. Just had my 1st fill last thursday, so it s almost been a week. And After a few bites of something, I'm done, I feel satified. But throughout the whole day, a few bites doesn't keep my calories up, it's like nothing. So I feel like sometimes I'm keeping by body in starvation mode, what can I do? I mean COOL, I can only eat a few bites, but sometimes I want more and I can't, OR I"m really paying attention and feelinglike I'm done, HOWEVER, I am a bit hungry a few hours later and this is where I'm confused on how this is supposed to work. Any help?

I have numerous fatty cysts, some in visible places like my arms. Doctors tell me these will be MORE visible after weight loss, but nobody suggests what I can do about them. Does anyone else have these bumps and have any solutions?

I need some suggestions on "tried and true tasting" protein shakes for my first 2 weeks of liquids after surgery July 8th. Could you give some name brands, where you buy them, how you mix them, and if they really taste good?

I am 6 days post op (June 23) and yesterday I started burping...If I don't get the burp out, then the intense shoulder pain begins. I am taking small sips and small bites of jello but I still have the problem. How long will I have this problem? It is embarassing...:thumbs_up: Please help...

Tommorow is my two wk mark for post op.. I had a 2 week restriction on lifting anything heavier then 20 lbs..my kid is 22 lbs.. Im wondering if I should start slinging him around on my hip again or if its to early..Esp. since he fights me...and thast like 50 lbs lol Any tips or suggestions?

Does anyone have a shopping list of items I will need at home when I return from the hospital?

I am soon to go into my mushies, and was wondering if I could have watermelon? It seems like it is watery like and if I mash it before I take a bite. Did anyone else eat watermelon or any other type of fresh fruit during your mushy stage? Thanks for the help.

Hi, I had lap-band surgery two weeks ago and I don't feel any different. I have no trouble eating, do not get full, and do not have to eat my food slowly. I'm worried that it didn't take. i have an appointment with my doctor on thursday but before I talk to her I want to know if anyone else ever had this problem. I'm really worried and confused. Thank you for any help.

Hi, I'm 6 weeks post-op & up till now haven't had much in the way of pain & discomfort (after the first 10 days or so) My incisions took a long time to heal, but now seem to be doing ok. What I wanted to ask was that today, the area round where I think my port is, has become very tender & "bruised" feeling inside, especially when I bend or stand up/sit down. There is no discolouration to the skin or incisions, no hotness to the skin or other sign of infection, but the skin does look a bit puffy (though this area has been a bit like that since surgery & I'm not sure if I'm just fearing the worst!!). I wondered if anyone else had suffered anything simi…

Well as it states, I did see my doctor today. For those of you who read my previous posts, about me cheating, well, he was upset with me, but, he encouraged me, enough to start anew with no regrets, he also took tests to see if any current damages were done. And good to know none were done. Im back on track and back on the mushy diet. And will be for 3 weeks. However, there is a down side to this, I gained 6lbs, but, I feel that a lot of this is water, since Im so close to my monthly. And usually I retain a lot of water. But, IM ok guys, he really wanted me to follow the rules to a t. And I am. No more cheating, and lots and lots of chewing. Tonight, I had, green beans mu…

Hi everyone! There may already be a similar thread to this one out there, but I'm not too good at navigating through this website, although I love it. I'm scheduled for surgery in Tijuana with Dr. Ortiz on 7/24/08. I would like to know what your scars look like (especially port) and how they're healing. Can you ever wear a bikini?? What did you put on them and how soon (ex: Mederma, ScarGuard, Neosporin, etc...??) Dr. Ortiz told me that he sells a scar cream at his center that is very good, but I'd like to hear from you too (if you know which is best). Thanks!

Now that I have lost 50 lbs, I went tubing over the July 4th holiday. I took one nasty spill which hurt badly. Since then, my left (port) side has hurt badly. Two nights ago I just happened to rub my belly since it hurt and found a very hard spot. It was quite tender to touch. Here's my question: Could it be my port? If so, SOMETHING HAS MOVED! My port used to be below my scar and now, if this is my port, it is above my scar. I called my doc today and can't be seen until the 22nd. My friend had the thought that since I have lost the weight, my skin may be sagging (not noticably) and that my port is in the same spot, but my scar has moved and everything is just so…

Is peanut butter and jelly ok? I would spread it very thin on toasted whole wheat bread or on thin tortilla. Sometimes you just have to have a taste of the comfort food! Alice Banded April 8, 2008 271/242/150

Life Savers Sugar Free Popsicles Luigi's Sugar Free Italian Ice Campbells Soup at Hand...Vegetable Beef and Tomato Slim Fast-Optima, Chocolate flavor What are yours?

I have been scheduled for my surgery next month and will soon be getting all the necessary blood work and an EKG - what does this involve? Please share your experience on the testing portion and how long results took. I'm wondering if the results will impact my surgery date or is it safe to book my flight/hotel now? All advice welcome, thanks :biggrin:

I don't feel any restriction I eat and just make my self stop so I don't streach my pouch. I kind of skipped the mushy food stage and I have had solid food I have not felt sick or any thing but should I go back to mushy food? I have only lost one pound in the last week Please people let me know what you went through the first few weeks.

I just want to know who out there has been re-banded, Why were you Re-banded?? And when did you get your first band?? :biggrin: I am doing all of the research I can before I get my band. Thanks Raf

Hey everyone, I was banded on June 10 and am trying not to get to concerned about it but my weight is at a complete stand still. I have in total lost 28 pounds, thats 18 during pre-op and 10 since surgery. I will get my first fill on July 21 and can't wait. I don't feel much restriction but am still trying to eat small meals and I'm not snacking. Is it possible to still be in starvation mode and the body is holding on to what it has? I still have not started exercising which I'm sure will help. Any advice to help me move this along will help.:biggrin2:

Hey guys!! So i have about 3..6 cc on my 4.0 band, and i am doing really good restriction wise:thumbup:. however i have not lost weight in a while:thumbdown:. i eat about 1200 calories per day and exercise 5 days a week. i drink tons of Water and watch everything i put in my mouth. I plateau for about 3 weeks, then lost 5 lb, and now i am back to not loosing again. any suggestions on how to start loosing weight again. thanks

Okay so i was banded 10 days ago, and am still on liquids. Well now im on Full liquids, im worried though because i can drink alot of liquid, i can usually eat a small can of cambells cream of chicken soup, well blended with milk. ummm i don't feel "full" well i mean after ive eaten it lol, i know ive had enough. im not sure if thats okay though. Thru the day i don't eat much usually a yogurt in the morning, can of soup for lunch, can of soup for dinner. But im worried i might eating to much and hurting my band, any thoughts are appreciated. ohh i feel great, no pain, stitiches get removed tomorrow, but still worried LOL..Thanks:thumbup:

Hi Everyone! I had surgery on July 2nd and am doing wonderful. My only concern is the incision where my port was placed. All the other incisions look happy and are healing nicely. This one looks a little angrier than the rest. There is no drainage, I don't have a fever, and the incision is still closed up. But around the incision is red. Did anybody else have a port incision that looked a little angrier than the rest of their incisions? I am going for my post op check up on Wednesday. And, I live two and a half hours from my surgeon. So, just popping into the hospital for a look see is hard. I am going to show it to my surgeon on Wednesday.....just wonder…

Hi there! I'm newly banded (June 30th) and I've been faithfully following my surgeon's post op eating instructions. The only issue is that his instructions state that lap band patients follow a modified diet of pureed foods directly after surgery for 4 weeks. So, smooth applesauce or cream soup consistency foods for the first month. After that, eating regularly is fine (with all the other precautions for eating slowly, no longer than 1/2 hour, etc). I didn't think anything of this, but after reading here, it looks like most surgeons have their bandsters on clear liquids, then full liquids and then mushies (is this the same as purees?). It also seems that most post…

Which band starts out with a little fill in it...realize or lap???

I was banded on June 27th and i feel fine (besides wishing i had more restriction). My one worry is my port incision, it is swollen with a knot behind it. It hurts and if i turn a certain way you can kinda see it protruding! I am a bad hypocondriac (or how ever you spell it) So of course i think i have a flipped port. My doc appt is not for about a week and noone around me knows anything about the band soo can someone please reassure me or tell me if you have had this too. :thumbup:

And I mean ITCHING!!!! I am going nuts over there, I can not stop itching around my incisions! I mean it's really bad no kididng I called the on call nurse and he told me to use a triple anti-biotic cream but that DOES NOT HELP with the itching!!! What could this be???? The pharmacist said I could have had an allergic reaction to the tape since it's itches only where the take was but it's really bad and I know I have said it many times in this small post but anyone have any ideas maybe topical benedryl?????

Hi everyone....I recevied the band this past monday at Buffalo General in Buffalo and it was literally the WORST day of my life. I felt like I was in a nightmare and couldn't get out! I am posting this b/c people need to know that it's not all a big bowl of cherries like many people make it out to be! I was wretching and heaving and sick out of my mind. At one point I told my husband I was ready to jump out the window b/c I could get no relief from this sickness and heaving. No medicine seemed to work and the anestetic made me SOOOOOO sick. I never had an adverse reaction to anestetic before, I just believe they gave me TOO much! I was supposed to be in the recovery ro…

I don't know if anyone has heard of this store, but it's a store that speacializes in bariatric supplies. It has everything you need if you've had WLS. They even have gift baskets with essentail supplies for those loved ones who are going to have it done. It's owned and operated by 2 women who have had WLS. I got some mayo and red sauce in there that has no calories, no fat, no carbs, no nothing and it wasn't that bad. They have snacks, cereal, a wide varitey of protien supplements (try the cookies and cream shake with milk it's fantastic), protien coffee, soups, power bars, scales for food and body, excerise equipment, videos and much, much more. It's in Hopewel Junction…

Well, I am on my 4th day post-op day and I still am moving soo slow and tired all the time. It does get better right? When did everyone else start to have new found energy? I could sleep all day. The left side where my port is hurts all the time which travels all the way up to my chest and neck. Anyone else have this issue? I think that I just wasn't prepared as to how hard this recovery was gonna be. I know each day should get better but I wish it would start soon. :thumbup: