POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

We eat dinner at 5:30 daily. I have 2 girls, 11 and 12 that ruin my dinner. does stress affect the band, that would cause pg. I know when they do this, I just want to get the meal overwith, and I eat too fast. Is this stress related? I said the my hb tonight, that i will eat alone at dinner for now on. hopefully this works, if they don't behave. They are loving kids, but they like to push each others buttons. I also go the full sign last night at the keg. I had the salmon with vegies, and got the tightness in my chest, and pushed my plate away. 2 minutes later the pain was gone, and I was happy. (by the way the kids were really good at that dinner). I really…

OK I"m gagging myself, and my tongue is all white and nasty. What can I do to help the breath? I don't wanna do gum, what helps? And when does this go away? I'm like a fanatic about fresh breath and this is driving me nuts, even my 4 yr old. was like MOM seriously!

Hi..... I'm in NYC and was banded March 6th at NYU Medical Center. The experience was a wonderful one and almost painless. I lost 27 lbs. from pre-op till my first fill which was April 14th which was a wonderful feeling (had to readjust my car seat to drive). Then lost another 3 lbs when I went to my primary Dr. My problem is and I'm sure this happens to a lot of us .........I guess I thought the weight would just fall off of me and it's not............it's a struggle!!! It's a struggle not to eat when I don't think I'm full and I don't know what I want and I feel like picking and I have to do all I can to control my cravings. I do believe the hunger is in my head and n…

Is this normal? I haven't even budged half a pound in this last week and have been banded 2 weeks today. I'm eating around 500 calories a day by having soft stuff and Soups etc. Is my body thinking i'm starving? Do I need to eat more? Will my weight loss kick in soon? I was delighted with my 10lb in my 1st week but to lose nothing since then is quite disheartening. Any professionals out there that can suggest something? Or even non professionals for that matter!! Thanks, Gill x :rolleyes2:

I was just curious what others were banded on 3/20/08 and how you are doing? Have you been filled yet? Any trouble? I am in "bandster hell" REALLY ready for my first fill!! Also praying it works the first time! I am not really losing now but maintaining which I guess is good. Anyway Just want to see about others.

my third fill was last tuesday and my doctor said my band was tight. for the first week i barely ate. i didnt lose any weight though. in the past 3 days i can eat more but i am trying to keep the intake low. i havent been as hungry lately so im assuming its working better than before. this is the point right. i can still eat a whole weight watchers meal though. should i be able to eat this much? because ive done so well for the past 9 days i had 2 breadsticks and a salad tonight. i couldnt believe that my stomach could handle 2 breadsticks. i was worried at first because the first week of being adjusted this time my stomach ached on and off for days straight but now its b…

My doc says I can never take ibprofen again. Nor can I take my one a day chewable baby aspirin for my heart. He said I have to choose. Choosing between being thin or having a heart attack?? That just doesn't sound right. And I have arthritis. It's osteo and it's in most of my joints. I've had a few surgeries to help it, but that does not alleviate all the pain. Some nights I go to bed and my feet and knees hurt so bad I can't sleep. So I have been taking liquigels for quite a while, for my pain. Has anyone else had to take an anti-inflammatory since surgery? I'm having doubts about having my surgery because of this. I can't stop my aspirin without risking a h…

I am 10 days post op. Some meals I feel restriction, others I do not? Yesterday I was seriously depressed b/c I was eating so much, snacking. Today I ate 1/4th of a smart ones over 2 hrs ago and am still stuffed. I'm wondering if some of it is in my head?? and yes I'm eating solids, since day 5 with no problems.

I got my band yesterday. I am having very little pain. The only pain that I am having is at the port site. It hurts alot. I am guessing it takes a few days to get better. How long did it take you for your stomach to not be hurting?

Hi everyone, I no this may not be an important question to some but I was just wondering, since we can't eat bread, Can you eat Crackers?? I am on the stage of mushies, and I love chicken salad with crakers. It just goes together. So far I gotten used to eatting with tuna salad with a fork. Take care!! Kristy

I had my surgery on Monday and was able to start on my liquids on Tuesday just before going home. The gas has gotten really bad and my stomach sounds alien like:crying:. Is this normal? I thought once I ate some creamy soups and jello it would get better but it hasn't. Do I need to be concerned?

Hey all! I'm a newbie here but I wanted to share with you something. I had my lap band placed on March 12, 2008. I never had any gas pain from the surgery. However, about a week after surgery I started to have terrible shoulder pain. Sometimes it was almost unbearable. On one of my visits to the doctor, the nut was reviewing my food journal. I mentioned to her about the shoulder pain and she was concerned. She kept reviewing my diary and asked me about my Protein drink which is the EAS 17 grams of protein. She went to the refrigerator and got one and asked me if it was the same kind I drink. I verified it was. Well, come to find out one of the ingredients in it is sor…

I am self pay and I just received a bill for $3500.00 for hernia repair during my lapband surgery. First I'm a little upset that the "whole" band fee for the surgeon was $5500 and now I have a bill for an additional $3,500 for "a couple of stitches" as the surgeon put it!:rolleyes2: My question is this...my insurance would have covered a hernia repair if I had the proper referrals. Has anyone ever gone back after the fact and gotten a hernia repair covered? I just don't know what I will do if I have to pay another $3,500. I already got a loan to pay for the lapband. :cry_smile: I'm feeling extremely quilty right now about this whole thing :confused:

Hi All; I was banded on Friday 4/18 and have been doing fairly well.... Today is my first day on mushy Proteins and I have been getting food down with no problems. My question is...today I had a really bad weak spell with sweating, nausea and a headache. I felt like I was going to faint so I had to lay down for a few minutes. I ate something with a bit of sugar (just a bite) and felt fine for hours and now the feeling is coming back. I dont want to keep looking for things with sugar because I am not hungry. I go the doctor for a follow up on Thursday but I was wondering if anyone has had the same issues? Its kind of like sugar/carb withdrawl... is this normal? Thank yo…

I was wondering if anyone knows how long after being banded are you able to start to ride amuzement park rides? I live near an amuzement park and my kids are reminding me that the park opens May 3rd and that they want to go. I am being banded April 15th. Thanks. Chilly

i had my surgery on monday, april 21st. things went good, i suppose. i spent one night in the hospital because i live 4 hours away from the surgeon. i never saw my surgeon or anyone from his office except for right before the operation. is that normal?? i saw (2) hospital residents the morning i got discharged but i don't think either of them knew what kind of surgery i had because when i mentioned "port pain" he touched one of the incisions that was NOT the port. i'm a little disappointed in my surgeon. here it is... day #3 and not even a phone call.

I made it!! I'm home and doing well other than quite a bit of pain at the port site. Thanks everyone. I'll post the official story tomorrow when I'm hopefully feeling a litle better!!

i had my lap band done 2-18-2008 the drs had to undo a failed nessin fundo ,remove scar tissue,and re repair a hiatal hernia and removed some of my liver.then they did the lap band .which all of it was successful and besides pain i feel better .any of you women out there did your husbands support you and show they cared my husband was caring for about a week .then i find out from one of our screen names that he uses while he is working in boston he posted an add on match.com. i am happy to be lossing weight and have lost about 10lbs my weight was killing me and i had problems with my heart because of it.and this really hurts .i want to see my kids grow up .did any one el…

I went in for my 2 week post op-today and found out I have the Allergan 10cm - 4cc band. I mentioned I would prefer the AP as it is newer, but the surgeon seemed to lean towards the older bands. I told the nurse before surgery I wanted the AP as well. Kinda bummed about this. Anyone else have this band? How is it working for you? How much was your first fill?

I have been lapbanded,since sep 2008, havent told anyone, what will i do and say when going out to Sizzlers? eat the sensible things I know. How do other people cope when only smorgus board and you cant order what you normally do a small salad or soup etc??:biggrin:

Hi All- I can't believe I am banded. I had surgery on Monday, 4/21 & I also had a hernia repaired. I feel great just sore. It was actually more painful giving birth to my son. Well , when will I feel different. I don't know why but I keep getting on the scale daily to see if I lost weight. I know it has only been 2 days but I don't remember the last time I had something to eat, that wasn't liquid....... When do you start to see results on the scale?

I was banded on April 15th and have been doing good until this afternoon. I have a small pain in my chest area. I am not sure if I should call the doctors or not. The only thing that I did different was to take a sip of oj from my daughter. But I didn't have that much. Any advice would help. Chilly

Hello everyone. I lost 16lbs preop and 11lbs so far post op for a total of 27lbs. My frustation is that I don't see it at all. I look the same, I feel the same and my clothes all fit the same. I was hoping to at least have my jeans be a little loose. How much does it take before I will be able to see a change? Thanks

Hello All, Has anyone ever read a book called Shrink Yourself by Dr Roger Gould? It’s about trying to tackle the issue of emotional eating or head hunger. I have been reading through it and thought as I am finding it helpful others might too. KiKi XX

I am new to this lap-band thing...I have my first appointment with my surgeon next month..I have been on this site for almost 2weeks and have heard everything about this program, what to eat, what to do and not to do:lol:...What about alcohol, wine and beer???? Is that a no-no??????

OK, I'm officially a bandster! I'm going to make this short, b/c I'm sleepy:wink2:, as I know you all will understand. Surgery went off w/out a hitch, pain was bad when i woke up, but they finially gave me something stronger than vicodin, I was better. I'm up and around, I'm pushing myself to walk around every two hours b/c I've had laproscopic done before and know how important it it to get the gas out. OK, here are my questions: 1. I'm on Clear liquids, everything liquid goes down ok, Jello however, doesn't. I'm keeping it my mouth until liquid consistency, and when i swallow, I get a real heavy and I must say really uncomfortable feeling right in the middle of my che…

I know I am not supposed to be doing this but, I didn't get fat not eating...right? I usually stick to the plan by drinking a Protein shake at Breakfast and another for lunch. I drink all my Water during the day, too. By the time dinner time rolls around I am so hungry I could eat a horse! Tonight I went to an italian restaurant for a birthday dinner. I ate calamari, bread, salad, and 3/4 of a chicken cutlet with Pasta (chicken parmigiana)! I have never felt sick, never gotten sick, no pain, nothing. Is the band even in there??? Will it ever work?? Has this happened to anyone else?? I know that some will ream me for cheating, but I would appreciate some construc…

Hi All, I was banded on 4/17/08, I had a rough 4 days after the surgery but I am slowly starting to feel better. My daily meals are two slim fasts or a slim fast and cup of Soup, all I can eat so far. I started out at around 245 lbs and just weighed myself today and I am at 232.2! I will be so glad when all the pain from the surgery is gone and I can live a normal life again, I pray success for everyone new and old doing this program.:blushing:

Hello to all, me and my fiancé just got banded on 4/18. We both have lost around 20 pounds apiece. We are still on clear liquids for a few more days and then we can add creamed soups for another week. We got ours done by Dr Spiegel in Houston. Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Which brands & flavours do you use in the puree / mushies phase?

Hi All. I had my banding on April 15th, and I am a 36 year old wife and mom of two children, 7 and 9. I am really, really unhappy. The past few weeks have been really hard- I was in the hospital due to a diabetic coma for five days three weeks ago, then last week my husband's brother died (cancer), then on Tuesday I was banded. I have been trying to work, take care of my house and family as well. It has been too much. My pain was very bad, and has been getting better every day. I am having a problem with wanting to eat everything in my path, everything on TV, etc. I even am craving foods that I do not like. I am very unhappy that I have to drink everything…

Last week I had my 6-week check up and thought I would get my first fill, but the doc said I should be on solids first before they do the fill. Since I was on mushy, semi-liquids still I was excited to try solids. I don't know what the problem is, everything solid I eat keeps getting stuck or comes back up. I am becoming afraid to eat because I don't want to experience that excruciating pain again. I tried chicken and boiled carrots and I chewed and chewed and chewed. I'm trying, honestly, to get this stuff down but it just doesn't want to go. Oh well, I have until mid-May to get back to solid food. It's just kind of ironic, I'm trying to eat....:blushing:

I was banded on the 14th and the port pain does not hurt all the time but when it does it does. Will this go away and is this normal? Ouch!

Wondering if this happened to anyone else... Today I decided to venture out for the first time since my surgery on the 16th. I took a shower and started getting ready, suddenly I got so hot and dizzy I thought I was going to pass out. I had to rush to the couch to sit down. After sitting for about 5 minutes I was ok and finished getting ready. This happened all day, everytime I stood for any length of time I would get really hot and dizzy until I could sit down. I go to the dr for my follow up tomorrow so I'm going to talk to him about this but I was just wondering if anyone else experienced this?

any idea why suddenly 7 months after banding - everytime i eat these loud noises occur ?

I have stayed religous to the diet and I have lost 25 pounds since surgery. I am suppose to be on creamy fluids, but today I tried chicken noodle soup and it tasted great and went down no prob. Am I cheating, is this going to affect anything? Should I go back to just creamy soups?

I have to go to a wedding shower four days after my surgery. I also will have to drive there (about 45 min. away). Will I be able to do this? When were you back to normal and driving?

Can anyone tell me about the Scars after surgery???Are they large???:tongue_smilie: how many do you have and do they fade away????

I had my surgery April 10th and it was strange the instructions my doctor gave me. He said that I can have cream of wheat 2-3 days after I leave the hospital. What kind of diet is everyone on. My nutritionist said stage one liquid diet for 1 week and then pureed foods as advanced by my doc. But wouldn't cream of wheat be pureed food??? I'm so confused. I am drinking liquids eating sugar free jello, am so bloated in pain and seriously confused. Should I not listen to my doc and just stay on liquid for a week or should I start the pureed? :biggrin: Please anyone...help!!!!

Hi everyone! I just got banded on April 14 2008 and I am doing good so for..Heheh..I am getting to where I can start eatting scrabbled eggs, yogurt, cheese, etc...Well these few days was hard cause all I wanted was food..But I got threw it. Well anyway my question is, when You are passed your 2 to 4 weeks of soft food, what can you eat after everything is passed?? Like what is everyone eatting who has had it done awhile. Is it like meat loaf, ribs, chicken, veggies, etc....My Dr just told me to use common since and to Chew chew chew and take small bits..So He really didn't tell me nothing was forbidden. I can't wait to start eatting normal foods again...Hope someone can …

Just curious, I had the flu last week (temp of 103, chills, vomiting the whole thing) this week I am trying to get back to normal. I don't seem to be able to keep solids such as lunch meat, chicken or pork from sliming back up. This occurs after chewing completely and after only 2-3 bites, could the band have slipped from my flu????? I have been banded since the middle of December and feel great other wise. any advice/stories or opinions will be greatly appreciated.

I was banded 3/31/08 and the doctor/dietician gave me 3 packets (each contradicting eachother slightly) about what to eat the first 6 weeks (and beyond). They all say liquids the first 6 weeks...no mushies, no soft foods. IF I am hungry (I haven't been...mostly nauseated), then a cream Soup or a low sugar Protein shake. Everything else is sugar free...popsicles, Water, flavored water, decaf tea, etc. I have had the following "food" items 4-5-08 Saturday 2/3 of a no sugar added Carnation Instant Breakfast with 1% milk 4-6-08 Sunday about a cup of Campbell's Tomato Soup 4-8-08 Tuesday about 5 oz. of a regular store brand yogurt smoothie (probably too much sugar) A…

Hi All, I just had surgery this past thursday and went to the doctors today for my check up. I figured i'd give ya an idea of what it was like thus far because i loved reading those threads:rolleyes2: The Surgery: It wasn't as bad as i was expecting. I was sore (stomach), but was able to walk with assistance the first few hours after surgery. I was in recovery for 3 hours then i went home (out patient facility). I felt crappy that day, but not HORRIBLE...i didn't take any pain meds (only tylenol). The second day it got worse. I wasn't hungry, but very sore and the gas was the issue. I walked and walked lol to try to get it out...that stayed for 2 days. On SUn…

My doc said after 4 weeks I should be able to resume eating "normal" foods again? While I know pre band normal is a far cry from post band I am wondering exactly what normal is considered to be?? Will I be able to sit down and have an actual dinner? Overtime will I be able to indulge in a slice of pepperoni pizza? Or will my dinners consist of bites of mushy type foods? At this point scrambled are eggs are looking as good as a ribeye to me lol. Two more days and I can have them! I know my future holds eating healthy foods at small portions but can us bandsters ever indulge and have fettucine alfredo again?

The hospital just called and my surgery is set for 9:20am tomorrow morning:) I am so excited and ready start this journey. I have two small children and worry that something will go wrong and I won't wake up from surgery!!!!! Anyone else had their banding done @ John Hopkins Bayview in Maryland??

Hello all!! Has anyone had any problems with increased calcium? My doc says my is increased to 11.4,Norm is <10 jaunderwood

I have a quick question that is driving me crazy! Can you feel the lap band on the inside? What I mean is do u constantly feel it wrapped around your stomach, or only when you are eating? For instance like when laying down or switching positions would u feel the band move too, or does it just feel normal? I just don't want to constantly feel this "foreign object" moving around all the time. Thanks for your time and I look forward to you replies!

I have been banded since 09/07 with out any problems. However, about 2 1/2 weeks ago I got a cold that made me cough horribly. I coughed hard for 2 weeks. I am better now but I am sore around my port? Has this happened to anyone else?

Hi, I was banded on the 14th, still dealing with gas a little. I am now getting hungry, not like I can really eat anything other than full liquids without pain, but I desire to eat more. I just want some veggies, some collard greens, green beans, nothing big. I will be on mushy foods next week and then real foods after that. I am tired of soft cold stuff, I want some hot food. Waaah!

I was banded on April 8. On the 14th I had my post op appointment and nutritional counseling for the next phase of liquid diet. On the 14th I had lost 11 lbs since my 2 day pre-op diet started on 4/6. Today, still only 11 lbs down. I'm bummed. I have been trying to get 1000 calories of full liquids a day. Not easy when you are told to have 4 - 6 oz. and hour of strained Soups, juices, carnation instant Breakfast, yogurt smoothies and sips of Water throughout the day. I still have another week of this before I start soft/pureed food. Am I wrong to be disappointed?