B-52

Just got back from Dr.'s appointment. I was banded 1/31/11, and have had 3 fills 1 month apart. Weighed in today, lost 6.5 lbs since last visit 1 month ago. He has that chart on the wall, the one with the 3 colored zones, yellow, green and red. Under each zone are list of symptoms. I am in the green, satisfied with small meals, not hungry between meals, steady weight loss, comfortable restriction, etc. He asked if I ever experienced any symptoms in the red zone. I said sure, when I do something stupid like take a large swallow, don't chew properly, eat foods I know won't be good. In other words, I've been stuck, had pain, and regurgitated. But I know why, and it is not the norm. He said I am now in the "Fine Tuning Mode", add/subtract 1/2cc here and there as needed. But today no fill. Come back in 2 months instead of 1 month, and we will know for sure.

The first day I did nothing but lay in the lazy-Boy and watch TV, only because I could! By day 3, I was climbing the walls, went out and did some errands. Day 5 I went to work only because I could not stay home any longer. Took it easy though and did not stay all day. Day 7 was my follow my with the Dr. Asked him about exercising, lifting heavy objects, etc, and he cleared me that day. Then as I was leaving, he laughed and said "But don't overdo it" I am a very active, hard working man. I think it varies from person to person.

I've just finished reading this entire post and I have found it enjoyable, for some reason. First, the "rules" stated by the OP are good, sound, advice. Just add daily exercise, and watch your daily calorie intake and the world will be a perfect place. But I'm not perfect. I needed surgical intervention. I've had this mantra on my fridge for 35 years. That's what made me smile. "How do you become a millionaire? First, go out and get a million dollars, then you take that and............" (Steve Martin) What I have learned with my band is this: There are certain foods I will never be able to eat again. No more breads or McD's burgers, etc. I've tried! So long to the belly Buster Subs and Philly cheese Stake sandwiches, may you RIP. I have also found that the quantity of what I can eat is now very limited. I still get Chinese take-out, just that I no longer eat enough to feed 4! I usually throw out most of it. (Hint: I don't save left overs...will come back to them later if available) So, if what I eat, and how much I can eat has been limited, that will now bring me back to what the OP listed. And that is "Make the most of what you CAN eat!" I still go to fine restaurants with my family and friends. There are items on the menu I know will not go down easily, if at all. I focus on the entree that looks good, and has a high Protein value, fish..chicken..steak..etc. Skip the appetizers, that will only fill me up. I will steal a taste of my wifes if need be, but only a taste. When my food arrives, I will eat the protein first. Then the scalloped potatoes, etc., but I don't have room for those so again it's only a taste. Dessert: I'll have coffee and ice cream. Compare this to what I would have eaten 6 months ago...I am Way out ahead!! I would have had 4 courses, cleaned my plate, and ate what my Wife didn't. I went to a all day auto racing event yesterday. They had all the usual carnival type foods there. chicken fingers, fries, hot dogs, burgers, pizza, etc, etc. I wasted a lot of money buying different things, only to throw them away after one swallow. So, in 8 hrs in the hot sun, know what I ate? Ice cream, and 1 or 2 lite beers. Not very nutritional. But that's ALL i ate, plus a few bottled waters and I must have walked 20 miles. Six months ago, I could not begin to tell you what I would have eaten at a event like this!! I'm not saying this is the logic people should follow. I'm saying this is how it is currently working for me. I have dropped 45lbs in the last 6 months, and I have 35lbs to reach my goal.

That is what bandsters call "Restriction" You are still post-op, no fills yet. But when you band is right you will have to learn to eat the correct foods, chew, small swallows, etc. Force it and you will get stuck, pain, and perhaps some damage. Learn to work with it, not against it. The restriction feeling will change somewhat, may not be as severe provided your band is not too tight, but restriction is what it's all about! Oh, also, 16 days post-op......forget the scale. Don't get hung up on it. You are still healing from the surgery, takes at least 4 weeks. Then your dr. will start adjusting the band.

3 days AFTER my surgery, I sent the Dr's office a LARGE Gift Box via UPS of fruit, brownies, etc. Like you, I felt they jumped through hoops for me to get it all done.

I had it bad for i day, then it subsided over the next 2 days Gas-X has no effect on this at all. Gas-x is for indigestion type discomfort. This gas is not in your stomach/digestive system. It has nothing to do with what you eat or don't eat/drink. It is air that they pump under your skin to inflate the abdominal cavity so the surgeon has room to work, without actually opening you up. They do the best they can to get it all out before closing you up. But some are better than others. Think of it as tiny air bubbles that slowly rise and come together in your left shoulder area until it finally dissipates. It hurt me the worse when it was trapped under my ribs. Could not take a deep breath.

I am now truly my Dog's best friend. I can take one bite of something, swallow, and tell that's not gonna be good.

The first full day after surgery I don't think I left the Lazy Boy recliner, mostly because I really did need the down time. Day 2, I was climbing the walls. Day3, I was out and about running errands, etc. It wasn't until day 5 the gas pains started. I was miserable. Could not get comfortable. Only thing that helped was to get out and walk vigorously. My daughter who is a APRN told me it is a standing order to get abdominal post-op patients up walking ASAP.

My Dr. says 24hrs of no solids. As far as getting stuck, you start to learn what foods to stay away from. I agree, bread for me is no more. So long to those great sandwiches.

5 months out and your just starting to get hungry, so your going to have your first fill? WOW, your are a exception IMO. I had a 4cc fill 1 month out, then 2 more 2cc fills each month thereafter. Now have 8cc's and only now can I say my hunger is curved, I fell a consistent restriction, and the band is doing what I expected. I was banded 1/31. Have my next appointment/fill in 2 weeks, although I will suggest a fill is not needed.

I was banded on a Monday Morning. I had my last pre-op meeting with the surgeon on Friday. I had lost the needed weight, and then some. On Saturday, I went for my last meal. Thought hard about what I wanted, decided on a Chinese "All-you-can-eat" Buffet. Because I knew I would never visit that place (one of my favorites) ever again.Just a shake or two on Sunday, then the pre-op routine that night.

My Doc let me go back after 1 week. Told me not to over do it with any weights. Said it was Ok to sit in the sauna and whirlpool also.

I had my first fill exactly 4 weeks after my surgery - 4cc! And yet, nothing. 2nd fill one month after that, 2cc more. Started to have restriction, but only now and then. Had my 3rd fill the first of this month. Another 2 cc's for a total of 8 in 3 months. Only now can I say that the band is doing it's job. Only now can I start to put in practice everything I have been taught about living with the band. I was banded 1/31/11, and it took this long to get here. And I am happy with the results. I'd say my Dr. is aggressive. But it takes time to get to that point. Obviously different from person to person. I go back to see him in 2 weeks. Will I get another fill? Depends on what I tell him, and he will know by seeing if I am loosing or not, and how much for the month. The way I feel right now, I'm fine. MAYBE 1/2 to 1 cc more. We'll see how my weight loss is progressing.

Breakfast: I had a double dose of Muscle Milk Lite, Rx meds, 2 cups coffee, then headed to the gym at 6am. When I returned, I had a can of chicken Soup, about 8:30 am Lunch: we were out, stopped at a diner, had salad bar with a cup of clam chowder. Did not finish the salad. I was not hungry! Dinner: Burrito Bowl from Chipotle. Did not finish it. The chicken was overcooked and did not go down easy. Would have gotten stuck I'm sure. Sounds Boring, but you asked.

IMO, it's a little bit of both. First, when were you banded? I find the majority of posts are from people who have been banded within a month or so, had no fills or maybe one. It took me 3 good fills, 1 month apart, - 4+2+2=8cc's, before I can say my band is truly doing what I expected. My next visit I may say no fills, or maybe 1 to 1/2 cc. As to your question. I can now say I am rarely hungry. First month or so I felt the band was not what I expected. Now it is. When I eat, it does not take much for me to say "Enough". It's almost a feeling of getting stuck. I also stop because I feel if I eat any more, I will get stuck. Is this the pouch filling up? I can pace myself, pause, and then eat some more, but I am not hungry so I don't. Like they say, "Stop when you are full" I do believe some food goes through quickly and some does not, at least not as fast. There are some foods I cannot eat at all. Breads...french fries, are now a definite no-no. (I love French Fries) So are tough meats. Steaks have to be VERY, Very tender. Soups, shakes, etc are never a problem, as is Water, coffee, etc. The other day, I was craving ice cream. Ate a whole qt. of Ben & Jerry's with no problem. Once in a blue moon deal, I just need to stay away from that and not keep it in the house, etc.

Although I took the entire week off from work, by day 3 I was climbing the walls so I went out and ran a bunch of errands, etc. I did get tired faster, but I was also taking codeine. Day 4 was better, and day 5 I went into the office for a bit. (also p/u my paycheck) day 7 I was back in the gym.

Mine was exactly 4 weeks, then every 4 weeks after that. Had 3 fills so far.

Wow, that's rough. My first fill was 4cc's, second was 2 cc's, and 3rd was 2cc's, 8cc's total. Each fill was exactly one month apart.

Just do the best you can. I find that many people expect instant results. I have been banded 4 months now, had 3 fills, and only now can I say that things are really starting to make a difference. The first month, my band was empty. Everything was post-op diet foods, tracking any significant progress was frustrating. Go through the motions, hang in there.

I had this happen also. Only difference was the would was a little open which means it would have left a wider scar. Goal is to keep the edges of the skin tight together to leave a thin scar. I went to the drugstore and got some steri-strips to close it up tight.

Had my 3rd fill yesterday. I now prop myself up on my elbows instead of laying flat, and watch the whole thing while carrying on a conversation about the weather, sports, etc.. He uses a very large bore needle, that has a open/shut valve between it and the syringe. He sticks it in the port, and pulls all the saline out of the band. Turns the little valve closing the needle off, then removes the syringe from the needle. I'm laying there as he examines the saline in the syringe with the needle sticking out of me like a pin cushion. He's basically measureing the volume taken from the band. He then replaces all the saline with fresh, plus a little more. Yesterday was 2 cc's more making a total of 8. He then re-attaches the syringe to the needle, opens the little petcock, and re-fills my band. After he pulls the needle out I hold pressure on the point with the alcohol swap, and walk down the hall to the Water cooler. I then have to drink the water in front of him to show him I'm fine. Then I'm on my way home. I have to say that mu port is right there under the skin. Not only can I feel/see the port, but also the small tube that runs from it for a few inches until it goes deep.

Mine looks as though there is a golf ball right under my skin. I'm a man, and my stomach has always been hard (although big!) When I go for a fill, the Dr. always chuckles saying "No problem here" and "I can do this with my eyes closed" or "I wish they all this easy"

There is only a small handful of people who know I've had the surgery. Family. No one else needs to know. It's none of their business. I'm on a diet. I don't eat as much. Simple. I feel if people know I've done it, then I'm putting myself under their microscope. I don't like being graded and judged.

Until my first fill, which was 4 weeks post-op, it was as though I did not have the surgery at all. Only time I felt any difference was the first week after surgery, and that was probably inflammation of the band site giving some restriction. I just had my 2nd fill 2 days ago, and I am now feeling the band doing it's job. 4cc's first fill, 2cc's 2nd fill. I see my Dr. every 4 weeks. But that first 4 weeks..........Only reason I lost weight was due to the post-op diet regime. And was always hungry.

Funny you should ask. I had my 2nd fill today. I was banded 1/31. Had my 1st fill 4 weeks later, 4cc. Cant say I felt a lot of restriction, but I did from time to time. Got stuck a few times. learned my lesson about chewing and swallowing. Today, 2 months from being banded, I got my 2nd fill of 2cc's. Too early to tell a difference. My Dr. has me back on liquids for 36hrs after a fill. So that makes 6cc's total.