POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Ok it has been very frustrating to figure this our so has anyone receievd this info yet? I may be jumping the gun but need to know before I lose my mind. On a 1200 calorie diets what is the breakdowns of protein, carbs and fat?? I get too many answers from too many sites. I will be starting real food on Thursday and even though I haven't gotten my first fill I want to start eating right. I have followed Richard Simmons/ diabetic exchanges but it doen't give all of the breakdowns and seeing % doens't help me when it says % I am very math challeneged. Could someone please help me?

Hello, I just got my band on July 1st! I feel ok now, but it is very uncomfortable to bend over or pick anything up that's too heavy (which is a lot right now lol!). Other than that I feel like I am doing good... I am on the clear liquid diet, which is also ok--I don't feel starved or anything. I also have to say that I went to Juarez, MX for my band, and I think it was great! the hospital was really nice.. and the nurses and doctors where great! better than I've ever had here! The nurse even got my IV in with just one try! That never happens when I get my IV done here at home! I don't even have a bruise from the IV! .... sorry I just think it's awesome. Well, hopefully I…

I am really enjoying cooking for my family. I am cooking the way I want to eat when I get to that point. For lunch, I made my son and husband a nice green salad with grilled chicken on top. For dinner I made chicken and salmon. I had fresh pineapple and watermelon, and raw fresh carrots and celery sticks and some white rice. There were biscuits too, but I didn't put all of them on the table. I feel like I own a restaurant and I'm serving them reasonable sized portions. It's nice to have the next 3-4 weeks to re-learn how to choose, cook and how to serve healthy choices. Now, when I'm salivating over the meal, I'll re-read this post to remind myself of the goal... :thumbup…

It seems kinda crazy to me that with so many people having this procedure done there isn't more help out there for us. I have been told by my doctor's office that if I ever have an emergency to drive to the hospital where my procedure was done (which is half accross town) , so I called the hospital a mile from my house to inquire if something were to ever happen- would someone in the e.r. be able to unfill my band and they said no!!! I am nervous now if I ever travel- am I supposed to get unfilled with the fear that there is no help if I need it. Murphy's law is- if i am gonna need help- I will be in trouble!

I had my surgery on 7/1. I feel pretty good. A bit tired and sore but otherwise okay. Trying to walk and drink as much as I can. The most difficulty I had was post - surgery gas, but the more I walked, it seemed to ease up. Still have occasional gas pains, but not as bad. Plan to return to work on 7/7 and feel like I should be okay.

I'm asking this here because I'm afraid where I originally posted it might not get seen and I'm really kinda scared. I appreciate any help! On July 2nd, I had a complete unfill -- I was having extreme heartburn and couldn't eat a lot of anything, but I was not vomiting often (I did ONCE, but it wasn't an extreme episode). My doctor does all the fills/unfills under flouroscopy, so when they originally were going to take a small amount out and looked at the picture, he said I was on the verge of a slip (I think the kind where part of the pouch wants to go over the band), so he was going to completely unfill to let it heal. liquids & mushies for 2 weeks. What does …

I was just banded on July 3rd, and I have felt like I had to cough something up out of my lungs since I woke up in recovery. It hurt like hell to cough, but I just coughed up a grey glob that looked just like an oyster! Has anyone else been coughing up shellfish post-op?

I was wondering how people on private pay, especially those who travel to Mexico from anywhere other than a border state, manage to get their fills. Do you have a doctor back home who will do them for you? Do you need to go back to Mexico if you had your banding done there? BadgerMom

Hi. I am 5 weeks post op and have been on solid foods for a week or so. I seem to be able to eat anything and lots of it! I lost 15 pounds on the liquid and mushies stage but have gained 4 back in the last week and a half. I'm hoping that this is normal? and when I have my first adjustment it will change things. Anyone else have this sort of thing happen? I would really appreciate any feedback Thanks Dan:frown:

Entering the 2nd week. Struggling a little with hunger. Ideas for 2nd week liquids would be so welcome. As I understand it (correct me if I'm wrong), I can have skim milk. Can I have these things: V-8 juice, Yogurt smoothies (store bought), the smoothies from the recipes on this site, campbells Soup at hand, other Soups put through a blender (?), milkshakes (made with skim milk and sugar free ice cream). Any ideas would be so appreciated. NSV - Put on a pair of pants yesterday that fit me before surgery...but yesterday, they were just too big! I had to keep hiking them up! :thumbup: Happy July 4th Everyone

I went to the gym last night, I did 1 hour on the tredmill which for me is about 2.5 miles. It was the most I've done since surgery. I thought all my wounds had healed. I haven't been wearing a bandage over my port for a few days now and everything was fine. I came home and felt pulling at the port site. I inspected it and noticed some yellow discharge and a slight opening in two places ( I pressed on it,the skin moved apart and I saw pink). I'm thinking I might have overdone it at the gym last night and caused my wound to open up again. I washed it very well and put a bandage over it. I've got an appointment with my doctor for Wednesday, do you think I'll be ok till then…

:confused:I was banded June 5 and I haven't had a fill yet, but am feeling restriction???? or what I think is restriction....since I haven't had a fill yet, I don't know exactly what restriction feels like so this is my best guess. Tightness when eating certain foods, and in the beginning it's hard to eat...much easier for me in the evening. Also my nose runs when I am getting full. I know this sounds weird, but it does. I was wondering about anyone else out there and how they were feeling and coping and what their docs had said to them about it and how to know if you need to get a fill and if this is normal.

I had my band tightened about 1 month and a 1/2. I was so proud that i didn't throw up before but now I think it's too tight. I have thrown up about 5 times now since and this week I cant get anything to go down without having serious pain and constant burps. Is my band slipping? I am so scared. I hope everything is okay. I am scared because now I chew things extra slow and make sure it's mushed before I swallow and still it hurts. Does anyone have the same Problem?

So i was banded may 21st 2008 and went in for another check up today and i was thinking my 1st fill. NOPE!! The dietitian thinks im ready but the doc says im still losing weight and im eating between 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food and he is happy with it. Anyone else have this happen? And im guessing since im still losing and able to controll myself most times i should not worry right? :thumbup: ~~jessica 49lbs lost since march when i started. 23lbs before band rest after the banding on may 21st.

Anyone really concious of the saggy skin?I have got such saggy skin - think i look good now with clothes on but take those clothes of,ugg. Do yo wait till total goal and then wait 6 or twelves after that to get something done??

Hello again! :cool2: I was just recently banded on June 30th! I have lost about 7lbs since monday :eek: and I am so excited....but still veryyyyy uncomfortable. My surgeon was Dr. Christopher Edwards in Asheville, NC...and he used a new approach for my lap-band that only required two incisions and he used a large AP band. I was so nervous going into surgery and they said it would only be about an hour, but it really took over 2 hrs. I think it was the first time they've done the two incisions, so I guess they were taking their time. I wasn't very happy waking up. I didn't have my glasses so I couldn't see well, and was getting irritable with all of the blankets and not…

Hey Jorge, Just wanted to make sure you mande your fill appointment and got rid of all those negative feelings. We need to know you are hanging in there! Don't just disappear, i bet you have a lot of questions at this point. Let us help.:thumbup:

I was banded last Friday. Went fine, went home the next day, puked all night, re-admitted for 3 days - with no food or water except by IV. (You don't know hunger hell until that happens) Then sent home for a 2 week liquid diet, then 2 week cream diet. Now - here I am - I feel like I was hit by a train, I am dizzy and weak and faint - I have no nutrition in me whatsoever and cannot fathom living like this another 9 days. Water, broth and jello are not doing anything and I have diarrhea to the point that I am wearing a diaper to work today! Everyone who has worked with my surgeon says he is way more strict than other doctors in the nation, but that he gets results - real tr…

Hi all I'm 6 days post op and doing really well. I do have a slight infection in one of my incisions but I am taking care of that. My question is about where my iv was. Today I have noticed that my wrist is sore where the iv was and above that I am developing some pretty good swelling. It's not red or hot to the touch and I am not running a fever. It is getting pretty sore and seems to be a little bruised. There is only a small dot where the iv was. Anybody else experience something like this or have any idea what might be going on. I am going to call the post op nurse tomorrow but thought I would check here in the mean time. Thanks for all your help.

I was banded on June 4th and have not had any sweets since then. I was in the office today and there were cupcakes out and for some reason I could not stop myself from eating one. THE GUILT IS INCREDIBLE !!!!! Anyway I am not writing this to be absolved just pissed at myself !!!! Have A Great 4th Of July Everyone!!! :thumbup:

I know that I am only 5 days out but I am just wonderding will there ever be a time when I just have the band and I not know that it is there? Most of my misery is from the Gas. I pray this will go away. I do have a full feeling I drink about an ounce of liquids every 15 to 20 minutes. But I just want to know if I will ever just have my band and not have side effects from having my band? Will I ever feel as if I have no band at all? Except if I eat too much?

I was banded June 23. I start my soft foods in 7 days. My question is...in the time between my surgery and 1st fill, will I have any restrictions with my new band? Will my hunger be any different than before the surgery? What should I expect till my 1st fill? Will I need to chew things differently as if I had a fill?

I am 2 months post op (down 28 lbs) and just had my second fill last Friday. I have noticed pain on my right side several inches above my port. It feels almost like a pulled muscle. I will not notice it for hours but then move just the right way and I feel a sharp pull. I am worried the the port has moved or my band has slipped. Just a little paranoid right now. Please help.:thumbup:

Ok this is weird, I have an indention right at my port incision. Certain ways I move cause pain. I was banded 2 weeks ago today, and this is the first time I noticed this. It must have happened this morning, or sometime in the night, cause it wasnt there yesterday. So, does anyone know if this is normal, the indention is about the size of a large grape, maybe bigger. When I stand you can see it. When I sit you really cant. Most the fat just buldges out. Do I have a possible flipped port? Please need help. I did call my doc.

Flavored Water, regular water, tea (hot), tea (cold), water with KO Protein mix, vegetble broth, chicken broth, Diet Sun Drop, Jello, popsicles. I don't know how I'm going to get through the next two days. I am looking forward to the 2nd week where I can add some milk, some Protein powder to the milk. My doctors orders are clear liuids for one week. Help, how can I get through the next two days?! Also, isn't it funny...I never realized how many food commercials there are on TV until I was banded. Thank God for the DVR and I can fast forward through them.

Ok, here I am eating mushies, etc, but still I havent had my first fill, yet, I dont feel much restriction anymore, and I tend to over eat, and get gerd feeling. How do you know when enough is enough. How do you know that youre not chewing your food good? Could this be a result of my gerd feeling? Anyway, Im just wondering if my band is still in the same place. I have to go in for a examination on Monday. We will see. I dont think that Im chewing my food like Im supposed to, but sometimes its hard. I guess I have to get used to this new thing. Anyone have any other experiences such as this? Did they have a problem by not stopping from eating? I need to know. I dont want t…

I haven't Yet, cross my fingers. But just woundering how long after your sugery did you puke. Not a moist burp, real vomit. Was it painfull compared to pre-op pukeing??? Thank for all your help.

I HAVE BEEN VOMITING FREQUENTLY SINCE MY LAST FILL WHICH WAS A LITTLE TOO TIGHT. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, OH WELL, A LITTLE 'BULIMIA' WILL SPEED UP MY VERY SLOW WEIGHT LOSS. I VOMITED OFF AND ON FOR A MONTH UNTIL IT GOT TO THE POINT YESTERDAY THAT EVEN WARM TEA DIDN'T GO DOWN. SO TODAY ON MY BIRTHDAY OF ALL DAYS I HAD A COMPLETE UNFILL, BECAUSE THE NURSE NOTICED MY POUCH WAS TWICE THE SIZE FROM ALL THIS VOMITING AND RESTRICTION. SHE PUT ME ON LIQUIDS FOR 2 WEEKS IN HOPE THAT MY POUCH WILL SHRINK ITSELF BACK. HAVE ANY OF YOU OUT THERE ENCOUNTERED ANYTHING LIKE THIS? I REALLY NEED HELP!!!:thumbup::frown::thumbup:

Had my first fill a week ago. 1.5cc in a 14cc band, there was 1.5 already in there the dopey nurse told me! So 3 cc's in a 14cc band and I feel absolutely nothing!!! Could eat a horse right now on a bet!!. When does the band start to help?

Yesterday I posted that I had developed pain under my lower shoulder and in my back. I am two weeks post op with NO previous 'gas' pains from the surgery. I had severe chills and felt rotten and aching. I went to the hospital to have my stitches removed as scheduled. By the time I got there my temp was 39C/102F.. My surgeon was on holiday but I was seen by his superior who did an ultra sound and cat scan. He found liquid in in the diaphragm/stomach region. They admitted me straight away and put me on intravenous antibiotics and paracetamol. I honestly felt like I was dying last night. The pain in my back was horrendous. I could hardly move. I didn't sleep even with a s…

After getting the band and you eat smaller amounts (first eating the protien, fruits and veggies).....other than a multi vitamin do you take any fibre supplements? I've seen various forms, from chews/tablets and powders. Who takes anything, what do you take and does it help keep you "regular"?

Hi all for the last few days I have been feeling like a muscle strain under my shoulder blade/ just below bra line area, on my left side. I thought it was just a pulled muscle but each day it has gotten worse. Today it feels like the pain you get in your neck when you sleep in an awkward position. I am hoping nothing has happened with my band!!!. I just have visions of it poking me in the back!.. paranoia probably. I haven't had any problems with gas since surgery so I am almost sure it isn't gas and it is in the same spot each day. Have an appointment with my surgeon today to remove stitches and to ask him about moving my port so will bring it up.. just wonder…

I'm still waiting for the surgery to be scheduled. Every day I take lasik for retention. If I forget it until late in the day my legs swell up from the feet to the knees making my skin tight as a drum. From folks post surgery, does blood pressure and Water get better after like the advertising touts? David:unsure:

My first fill is tomorrow, and after months of reading posts on this site, I know not to expect much restriction. But that leads me to the question, how many fills did it take for you to get to Lap Band Heaven?

Well almost a year ago I was going to a weight doctor, they put me on Phentramene, and the HCG pregnancy hormone shot, but prior to that they tested my metabolism, which, they said it was normal. So, you would think that with all the diets Ive tried, why havent I had success? I didnt eat a lot. Dunno. But, have any of you ever had your metabolism tested? If so what were the results, mine was of course as I said before NORMAL...

I was banded June 6 and have been doing really well. I'm pleased with my healing, my weight loss, and my progression through each stage (I'm just starting the 2nd week of mushies). In the last couple of days, I found myself getting really bent out of shape for no reason at all. I've lashed out, cried, and completely lost my s**t for no real reason. Today it almost felt like I was having a panic attack. I was slicing a mango and the juice was getting all over the floor and I started bawling and couldn't continue slicing it! Of course I have become more aware of my old eating habits and realizations that I used food for A LOT of reasons. None of these outbursts ha…

I've read different takes on the straw issue and wanted to check with those of you that have already been living with the band. I absolutely love drinking from a straw but have heard it's a NO NO. Is there anything wrong with using lots of ice too? I love very cold water, yum!

hey Banders, I just had my first post Op Dr. appt:smile2:. I had my surgey on June 24th, Everything seems to be going well, I lost 6 pounds, I'm so very happy:thumbup: I'm still on liquid diet until Sunday I can't wait to chew food

I've told very very few people I had the surgery done, actually those that I told knew about it before I had it. But, there are so many I have not told; my parents, my boss, my brothers, my husbands family, etc. Am I being ridiculous? I just don't want to deal with all the unwanted opinions. But I realize that eventually, with the weight loss, people probably will figure it out...how have you handled it?

I had my surgery on April 14th. I've lost 32 pounds to date, which is great. However, I haven't lost a single pound for about 6 weeks now. I had my first fill and felt nothing. My insurance won't cover any fills until 3 months out. I'm scheduled for my 2nd fill on July 16th. This is where it gets frustrating. I can't seem to tolerate anything other than cooked veggies, very cooked chicken breast, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese and soup. It gets stuck and hurts quite a bit if it's anything else. I do realize that there is some restriction in there, but since my calorie intake is practically nothing, why isn't the weight coming off? I do exercise (walking) 3-4 times a week,…

I think I read this before, but I want to be sure. From what I gather, my plan to get surgery on a Thursday and go back to work the following Monday should be fine. Right? Because I was just on lapband.com FAQ's and it says the average is a week before someone can/should return to work. I have a desk job and it would probably fine to wear sweats or something equally comfy to work (and bring a pillow etc). Does surgery on Thursday then back to work on Monday sound like a good idea or bad idea?

Ok this will be long but I have to explain. I have Diabetes Insipidus. It a rare form of diabetes, it's called the Water diabetes. It falls in the catorgory of diabetes because of the symptoms of thirst and frequent trips to the bathroom. I have had it since age 11 and I am now 38 years old. I got it from head trauma. I fell down 4 flights of stairs and landed on concrete, went to the hospital got only 14 stitches and thought that was it. Nope 2 years later I started drinking HUGE amounts of water started out 2-3 gallons a night and I never caculated the day time but it could be about the same. With the getting up to go to the restroom every hour at night it affected m…

I was banded on June 19th. The 1st week after surgery I didn't have any nausea; however, I'm now having lots of nausea in my 2nd week. I haven't vomited or anything, but I just get really nauseated either in the afternoons or wake up that way. Anybody else?

Is it just me or does the port feel like it did when you were pregnant and the little foot poked out on your side. Sometimes I feel myself rubbing it like I did their little feet! :thumbup: Forgive me, my last baby leaves for college next month and that empty nest already seems way to empty:wink2: Anybody else dealing with that on top of everything else?

I just left Barnes and Noble sure that I would find some great books regarding "Life After Bariatric Surgery"...no. Nothing. I'm looking for some resources on ideas for eating, especially in the 2-6 weeks period. During the time I need to eat "mushies" I am traveling and I really need to know what to pack for food. I won't be hitting any restaurants at all. Plus, I want a good variety because the temptation at the resort where I am going (business trip) will be tough to handle! Is there a web-site with this information? Maybe something that could even be printed out?

My issue is that I am very short on energy. I have been off work since 4/24 because of jaw surgery and I had my lap band on 6/18. With that said I have been on liquids for 8 weeks. I am starting mushing but after about 2 or 3 hours of anything. I am zonked for the remainder of the day. I ride my eliptical for about 20 min a night and I feel good while on it but when I get off, taking a shower and putting on PJ's are a major chore. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this. I know that I have had a lot of changes to my body in the past 2 months but I have to return to work on 7/14 and if my energy level is like this, I do not know, how on earth I will mak…

Ok, for the past few weeks since surgery, I have been feeling really well, so last night, I worked out on my AB Lounge. I did 60 on it, and right after, maybe no longer than 30 mins after I started getting nauseated, all night long, and woke up with it. I didnt go to work cause I was so nauseated. Also I have a pulling pain near my band. Could I have done something? My doc said it was ok, to work out on the AB Lounge, do you think its possible it was too soon? I need to know, cause I dont feel too well.

I would like to know if you really follow the 30/30 rule. Do you really have to not drink anything 30 mins before and 30 mins after meals?

Hi, my name is Jessica and I am from SLC, UT. I am 3 weeks post-op and a little frustrated. This is a lot harder than I thought. I can't wait until I can get back to regular food. Pudding, yogurt, mashed potatoes and soup just aren't cutting it anymore. I didn't realize how much I like food. I am getting used to seeing everyone else eating all the unhealthly food but I am just sick of eating the same thing everday. Does anyone have any other suggestions of what else I could eat at this point? Thanks! :thumbup:

1.) Eating a little bit and being so full! 2.) Losing weight and feeling better than I have (about myself and literally physically) than I have in years. 3.) It saved my life. ________________________________ I believe that this website is here for people who have a bump in the road, and they tend to post just that. As this can be very discouraging for new people thinking about the band (and quite scary), I want to post all the wonderful things about this wonderful invention. Yes, I can't eat bread, but I don't want to (I lose twice as much weight when I don't). No, I was not feeling full restriction on my first fill (it takes a few to find that p…