POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

ive decided to change my goal weight a little. my goal weight was 150 pounds but im starting to think that may be to unrealistic. i changed it to 165. i know thats only 15 pounds difference but because ive been struggling with my weight loss lately im not sure if can lose over 100 pounds. i can already notice a difference with my 35 pounds lost so losing a total of 100 would be beyond my dreams. i hope i can do it. andrea

How can I continue to lose weight before my first fill. I had surgery on may 5th and have lose 10 pounds so far, mainly because of the liquid diet. I had my one week post op visit Tuesday and the PA told me that I may not lose anymore weight in the following weeks. That concerns me, that may discourage me. I will be on my Tread Mill and may start working some cardio. I don't want to over do it. I would like to hear from people who have continued to lose weight before their first fill to encourage me please help!!! I am still sticking to my post op diets to the T, don't want to gain any weight.

Losing the weight is our primary goal, but I also want to hear about what other health benefits people are experiencing as a result of losing the weight or other changes you've made to food choices and your activity levels. Has your diabetes gone away? Have your allergies or asthma lessened or disappeared? How is your arthritis? Still got swollen legs and ankles? Is your skin clearer or rosier? Has your cholesterol gone down? Have you had to reduce or elimate medications? Etc... If you have seen changes, has it been just losing the weight that has made the difference, or has it been other changes you've made since being banded that have contributed? :cursing: Le…

I am looking for KristeyK and NY2LAGirl. They were banded on May 13th/14th. Just wanting to check on them

Hi! My name is Libby and I had lapband surgery on the 22nd of May 2008....I am experiencing lots of gas and pain in my stomach .....but as you have gone through ......I am losing weight dramatically......About three months ago I was at a point where I was having trouble leaving my lounge chair and this was very scarey for me.....I am a mother of five wonderful children and a supportive husband as well as that I am also a high school teacher.....it was funny at the end of last year I decided that I needed a year off and gave notice and thought that it was for me to go back to study and then maybe to Abu Dhabi for a new job but it really was my body telling me to get fixed…

My mother had the lap band surgery a year and a half ago. She has stopped losing weight and is eating horribly. Not only is the food terrible but she is eating huge amounts. I am not exaggerating when I say she ate half a pizza yesterday in one sitting. The day before she consumed 6 ice cream sandwich bars in 6 hours along with other food. I was under the impression that you could not eat huge amounts of food when you got the surgery. I guess the point of this is that want to know if anyone else has experienced this. Has her stomach stretched out again? I love her and I am worried. Her eating is out of control and I know it will hurt her if I say anything. Any …

I went to see my dietician today 2 weeks post op. I've followed the food plan to the ounce and was so proud of myself. She added up a days "food" (drink) and said I was up to almost 700 calories, and really should only be at about 500 at this point. Since I only had what the plan says, I was shocked. Also shocked at her statement. I know enough about calories to know that the bare minimum is supposed to be 1000. I'm not sedentary, I've been walking and active since the day I came home, was back to work at 1 week, back on the treadmill after 3 days. It seems to me that there should not be a set amount of calories "for this stage" as some people are not as active as …

i had my third fill on april 15 and still havent lost any weight. i have been going for a 2 mile walk outside 5 days a week now for one month. the walk is challenging with 3 medium hills and one huge one so its not that i am doing a easy walk. i also havent had any fast food for 5 weeks now. i did have chinese (1/2 a kids size plate) last friday but thats it. the only thing that i can think of is that i may have something sweet once or twice a week. i usually have a lower fat candy bar or an ice cream. i have noticed that somedays i may eat 5 times a day and other days i only eat 3 times a day. i wonder if this is causing my weight to flexuate. this happened to me before …

SHRINKING SHAMROCKS LIST YOUR TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS HERE. TO INSPIRE EACH OTHER I'LL START SINCE MY PRE OPT DIET TO NOW I;VE LOST 17 POUNDS TOTAL SURGREY DATE WAS 3.05.08 I WAS JSUT WONDERING HOW EVERYONE ELSE WAS DOING TO COMPARE...:smile: CONGRATIONS TO EVERYONE BANDED IN MARCH 2008

Hi guys, I have heard differing opinions about drinking soda after surgery. One book I read said no- never. One book says yes- but 3 months after surgery. My surgeon's instructions says yes I can have it. Do any of you still drink soda? Any problems/ complications? Thanks.

I am now 4 weeks post op and have been having some trouble. I feel hungry alot more and have a constant need to fill that "void" that food used to fill. I have also only lost 13 lbs so far (no pre-op diet) and that doesn't help me to feel motivated. I spoke with a family friend who is 2 years post op and he said that the 3rd and 4th week were one of the hardest times for him. Is anyone else feeling the same thing?

Okay everyone---so I am still on the full liquids until next wednesday and it does SUCK, but has gotten much easier through each passing day. And the scale showing my loss of 20 lbs. sure has helped with the motivation!!!! Today I Celebrate my 32nd birthday and as I came home from dropping the little ones at school I took a moment to just stand outside, take in the fresh air and feel GREAT!!! And I do!! While 20 lbs. is just the beginning it sure is a great start and if I am feeling this good today, I cannot wait until I rach my goal of 110 lbs. lost!! My posts in the beginning had me contimplating if the band was right for me, but in a matter of 2 weeks I know it is…

I've two fills now and have my third next Wednesday. While I've been losing weight very slowly (3 lbs since my last fill a week ago Wednesday) I was hoping to lose more. I notice I still have really no restriction yet and have had the following fills. Surgery - 4cc First Fill - 1.5cc Second Fill - 1.0cc I have a total of 6.5cc in my XL band (14cc max). I am eating smaller portions but I notice I'm really not feeling full but I'm not hungry either. I still don't feel like I'm there yet though. I'm happy for my 24 lbs postop weight loss but I still don't feel any restriction like I did the first week after surgery when I had swelling. How long has it taken peop…

Now a few people at work know that I was banded, and actually don't think some believe me becasue i came back to work so quick, but it is like everyone is like how is everything going, what can you eat and things like that. I mean that's not a bad thing at all I actually like it because it keeps me on my toes... but on the other hand because of people that have failed with the lap band @ my job and or the gastric people are looking at me like i wonder if your going to be diffrent. I know my mind set is diffrent now. I dont even feel the same way i felt before about food at all, and I know i will be a success, but I don't want people basing their decision to get the lap…

I shouldn't have read the boards today before getting ready... Almost every post was sad or negative about banding.... But I will have to find out for myself.. My Doctor makes us spend the night so I will post when I get home tomorrow... Good luck to the others who are going today... I know there were a few.. :wink_smile:

I am struggling with the post op fluid stage! I am not surviving on soups and juices! Does anyone have any ideas, suggestions, reciepes that they used for the fluid stage? Would be greatly appreciated :blushing:

My surgery was yesterday, May 21st. It was a long day, but I think it went well. We were supposed to get there at 7 a.m. for a 10 a.m. surgery slot. DH was worried about being late, so we got there at 6:30 a.m. We checked in, and were taken to a small walled-in room where the nurse went over my vitals with me. I changed into the ultra-fashionable gown, opening to the back, as well as the socks with the tread design. Once I laid down on the gurney, they put the massaging things on my legs, and connected the air. A scopolamine patch was placed behind my ear for possible nausea. It's supposed to last three days. The IV of saline was started, and we waited. Juli…

I was banded on May 7th, and so far, everything has been going well. I went in for my 2 week appointment and have lost 10 lbs., so the surgeon was happy with my progress. I have noticed something pop up that I'm not sure whether or not I should be concerned about. I'm the cook of the family, so I've been cooking for my "boys" ever since the surgery was over. Initially, I'd call them down to be my taste testers, but that's become quite a nuisance and sometimes even undoable (since they like going outside to play, etc.). Therefore, I started putting a bit of food in my mouth to taste it, and then I'd spit it out since I knew that I wasn't allowed to actually 'have' th…

Hey there, I am new here to the boards. I just got banded on the 15th. I have not been keeping up with my liquid intake and i am very nausea and gasey. I was wondering how long people were out of work? My doctor told me two weeks, I thought that was too long, but now I m thinking I should wait another week. I am always tired, still uncomfortable sitting up and in a pain still. How long is the average to be out of work?

I was banded on 5/9, returned to work yesterday part time. It is just amazing how people react or don't react. Most of the people in the office talked about how good I looked and checked on how I was feeling, etc. However, the 2 girls who are supposed to my friends...have not said the first thing to me about it!! Now one of them has been strolling through the office with cookies asking everyone but me if I want one. Of course I wouldn't take one anyway...but she is making the biggest scene!! WTF??

Hi All! Can anyone please tell me the names of the best TASTING Protein shakes for after surgery and where you got them. Also the sames with liquid Vitamins....Thanks! All info will be a help!! :thumbup:

you get the band, time passes, you are lighter and ppl ask how you did it. what do you say? i think it'd be cute to say "i eat a lot less and i exercise a lot more." haha. because, as we have learned...there is a lot that people don't understand about it. and they are quick to make judgement. but..maybe if the person is heavy, it'd be nice to tell them because they'd really like to know. whatcha think?

Hi! I recently had surgery in April (in Mexico) and I'm trying to find a fill doctor in the Utica/Syracure area that will accept me even if they didn't band me. Any suggestions? Thank You, noodleliz

Hey everyone.... during my pre-surgery research I learned that we either can't or shouldn't ever have bread (unless it's toasted) or Pasta again after the surgery. But then I read about people who have gotten past that restriction. So I'm just wondering, for those of you who have moved on to regular food.... can we ever have a hamburger again? A hotdog? Spaghetti? Lasagna? Obviously these aren't foods we'd eat regularly (if we're eating healthy) but.... ever? What do ya say?

Good morning All, Just wanted to give a quick update on my progress. I had surgery March 27th and I am happy to report that I am down to 295lbs; a loss of 43lbs. The first time I have been this weight in FOREVER!!!!!! I love my band!! It is not a quick fix and I have to work at it, but for me a lot of it is mental. When I started my journey with Dr. Malley I was 338lbs and a size 28/30. I am now 22/24 with growing bagginess. I will post pics soon. Good luck to everyone, and keep up the good work. If you are struggling just pick yourself up and start again. the only shame is in falling and staying down!

I have my 2 week post op appt on Tuesday. I am still on a full liquids and I am going crazy....I need something with texture, something besides soup. I know most of it is in my head but I have been so upset today because I can only have liquids. I am questioning why I did this to myself and then I say this is not forever!! Please give me some tips on how you handled this stage. I am not hungry at the moment but it will be soon time for dinner and if I have to soup I think I will just go to bed...I can't do it....would mashed potatoes or cream of wheat be so bad??? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

I am 3 days out from getting banded, feeling pretty bad today with gas pain and incision pain. Hope that all will pass soon. My question: I take 2 small pills for blood pressure, and 1 for depression. Can I take all these meds at once like I used to, can they fit through the band? Should I take them one at a time? Also, is tomato Soup considered a full liquid?

For those of you in need of a good Protein shake, here is what I have to offer :tt1:: smoothie King has a nutrional supplement called Gladiator Meal Replacement (this comes in chocolate/vanilla/strawberry) Here are the Supplement Facts per TWO Scoops and water---Note that you can mix this with Water and the number will not change, but if you mix with skim milk and add fruit, then of course the number are going to go up: CAlories---180 Fat----0 Cholesterol-----0 Total Carbs----1g Fiber-----0 Sugars----<1g Protein-----45g Sodium------150mg Potassium-----355mg Also----EAS has a Protein Shake called Myoplex Original (purple container) I personally drink o…

I am getting my surgery in June. I am disappointed because I feel that I have put so many of my hopes on this magic date to change my life, but all of the posts for those who have been banded already reveal that you are really on your own for WEEKS after the surgery - swimming in a sea of food cravings and the same compulsion and that got us in this boat in the first place. So - the surgery is not the magic date - that date is weeks later and if you don't hit that "sweet spot" for your first few fills - it could be months and months before it starts to work. I am feeling very discouraged - I can't stand the thought of being this fat for another minute longer, and yet, die…

My surgery was on 05/13. My doc's intructions state that I am to consume atleast 40 grams of protein. I found that I stay full from the protein drinks, so I have been consuming 60-70 grams. My total caloric intake is about 600. I have not lost anything since the surgery. Could this be a result of too much protein?

:confused:I need some help responding to my good friend, whom is the only person besides my DH & kids that I've told about my band. She's also overweight(and quit smoking 2 years ago). I'm sure she isn't doing it on purpous, but whenever the whole weight loss thing comes up, her conversation always includes things like "you inspire me, but I'm going to do it the hard (ie: right) way" or "I'm going to lose weight without something foreign inside me" or "the easy way out" bit. So far, I've just let it pass, hoping it won't keep happening, and its not like its happening all the time. Maybe I'm being over-sensitive?? I don't think she even realizes the negativity an…

I need some answers! I got banded last Monday, April 28th and I am starving and have been since wednesday! I called the nurse and she litterally told me to "suck it up" and I phoned my doctor and he told me I will be hungry for 3 more weeks until my fill I just need to "deal with it". I am completely depressed b/c I have bad headaches from being so hungry and my stomach is twisted from having nothing but liquids. I can't focus, I feel like I paid 17K dollars to be tourtured. I have called 14 people from the support list they gave me and not one of them were hungry after their surgery. I am a day away from eating what ever I can find!!! Help somebody!

hey guys, i was banded yesterday. I'm having a lot of gas pain, but its not the normal shoulder pain. its like i have all the gas in my abdomen and it feels like i have REALLY REALLY bad indigestion. Its hard to burp or get gas out the other end. is this normal? i've been walking a lot and taking gas-x but i feel like the gas is just not coming out. any input would greatly put my mind at ease! thanks so much! marine

I have been on mushies for 5 days. Sometimes when I'm eating, I start to feel a pain in my chest that extends on to (and seemingly through) my back. It's like something piercing straight through me. What the heck is going on. I don't know if I'm eating too fast or getting too full or what. But why does it hurt the worst in my back? Has anyone heard of or experienced this? :wink2:

Hi everyone. I just had my lapband done 1 wk ago. 5/13/08. I know others whohave had it done and none of them seem to have much pain after the first few days. I'm going on day 8 and still taking vicodin. I have little energy. I have lost 17 lbs already..is that to much for the first wk? I have little deisre for food and really can look at the food but it just doesnt' faze me. Most of the pain is in the middle of my stomach. Please advise, as Ihave told the nurse yesterday but she didn't seem to concern

so i dropped 26+ within the first 8 days or so. and since then (about another 8 days) i've stayed at the same place - roughly... any thoughts on why? i'm eating anywhere between 600-900 cals/day. my base caloric burn is 3200. i should be burning 2400 cals/day. i should be down (just on math alone) 5 additional pounds.

:thumbup:I had surgery on 5/13/08 at 7:30am. Stayed the night in hospital my choice. Only pain med was morphine (sp) at 10:30am. I fell sore but no real apain. I was walking as of 11am and did this 5 more times that day.Im home know just woke up and had chicken broth. Have not been hungry. I know every one does differently.Waiting for gas pains hoping all the walking will keep it away. :thumbup:

The driver will be here to pick me up between 7am - 7:15am. They said that they want me there @ 8:15am and the sugery will start prompt @ 9am. ahhhhhhhhhhhh I am so excited.. The nervous feeling left last night before I went to bed. A friend of mine @ work gave me her dvd The Secret. That dvd is fantastic, I know everything will be fine, and I had a few people @ work that were like so are u going to get it and i told them noooo im just going to go and sit in the waiting room then come back home.. what do u think. I am slowly getting over being tempted by junk food...I siped chicken broth, and soup , and my shakes all day. I am now eating my last meal as a fat person.…

I had my surgery on 5/9 and now have pain on my left side, right around where the gallbladder used to be. I had that removed 17 years ago. It's intermittant pain, but it also seems to radiate to my back. Is this just my liver detoxing or gas, or what?

I am clueless as to how much to eat. I full full before I even start because of this gas crap!! Is that normal. I had surgery on Thursday. I had some potatos with gravy for dinner with my family, and now I am burping a lot, except it doesnt come all the way up, and it hurts really bad. Please someone tell me if this is normal. there is no way I could thin out the potatos anymore. I mashed them in my mouth until they were like milk. You guys are the only the only people I know to ask that have an answer, and I appreciate it so much. You guys are soo much help!! I soo dont want to mess this up. When did you guys start trying mushies, such as a soft egg, or soggy cereal?? …

I had surgery on 4/29 and now I'm on the soft foods phase. In the morning, I eat Breakfast (a serving of rice krispies which is 1 1/4 c) around six and around 9 o'clock, I'm absolutely starving to the point where my stomach is growling and I feel like i'm going to be sick. If I have a snack then, than I'm usually hungry again around 11, and I can't go to lunch until 12:30. In the afternoons I seem to do much better. I don't know if I'm eating enough, or even if I should be eating more or less? Can someone tell me if I am doing alright? I'm sooo worried about going in and finding out that I gained weight when I go in on the 29th for my first fill. Here's my menu fo…

I had my surgery yesturday and was extremelly nausious the whole time after and even threw up 4 or 5 times. I was told that its probably the anesthsia(sp) wearing off and it should subside. I came home today and threw up some more and am still feeling sooo nausious. ANyone have the same problem?:wink2:

Which foods as a banister will I have to give up forever? And which foods should I avoid?

Saw my surgeon today (the hottie) and he gave me the all clear!! Said I am probably the most compliant patient he has so far (Yay for OCD) and at the rate I am going I will most likely be his most successful patient. (now mind you he just started doing lap bands, he prefers RnY and the Sleeve) I don't know if that is saying much as I was # 14 I think he said. He didn't check my incisions cause my only complaint now is the itching (which we all know means healing) and I told him the one incision that looked like it might have been infected is closed and healing beautifully. So he is taking me at my word, but told me if anything changes to call straight away to get one o…

All right, I give. I consider myself pretty smart but I can't figure out what you guys mean when you say, "PB". :thumbup: Also, I go for my first fill next Wednesday. How many of you felt restriction after your first fill? Thanks...

Has anyone had a fundoplication done because of GERD? I had this back in 1999 and it slide down. The doctor who I have been seeing about lapband said he can fix this when he does my lapband. Just wondering if anyone else has had this done.

I was wondering if anyone else struggles on the weekends? I am almost 5 wks post surgery and would do it again in a minute but I seem to struggle on the weekends. This was true when I had tried every diet under the sun previous to the lap band. How do you change your "mind" and the way of thinking about food? How do you start thinking with your tummy and not your emotions/head? I feel as though I need to eat more on the weekends and I need to learn how to change the way I think.. I know it is just an old habit.. any suggestions would be much appreciated... Thanks...:wink_smile:

I had surgery on the 16th with Dr. Van Wagner in St. Louis, after coming out of surgery I found out that my liver was still to large for him to get the band on. So after all of this I still didnt get my band. I followed the pre op diet as dirrected no cheats! I talked to a nurse but she didnt say to me yes he will re do it and I dont get to see him until tomorrow and I'm going a little nutz! I've worked for eight months to get this surgery just to come out of it with 5 holes and no band! Totally sad! :wink2:

Hi! I am 4 days post-op, which you may have figured out from the thread title. I just wanted to tell some of you who are considering WLS what it feels like at 4 days out. The surgery went great, which was a relief. I had never had surgery of any kind before, so I was nervous. I had a morphine PCA which I didn't use nearly as much as I thought I would. My surgery was Thursday May 15 and I stopped taking the Lortab Elixer and Phenergan on Saturday. (I hated the way they made me so tired and loopy!) I cheated during the pre-op diet. It is something I am not proud of and I will tell you that, thus far, it is my only regret. I read everything I could find on pre-op diet ch…

Ok I am 4 days post op and just now got around to getting on puter to tell my story...I arrived at the hospital at 9:00 was taken to surgery pre op at 9:15..started iv around 10:15 and found out I wasnt scheduled for surgery till 12:30...dr came in and he had an emergency so i was bumped back...didnt start mine till 2:20...hubby said it took 1 1/2 hrs...dr said I had lots and lots of scar tissue but everything went just fine....went to recovery and sent to room at 7:00 pm...didnt sleep good at all the first night as I had remendous gas pain.....next morning 7:30 took downstairs to do a upper gi series to make sure fluid was going down and all was ok...back to room at 8:15…