pamela3782

When were you banded? Its very possible you over ate or tried to drink to quickly after eating. That can happen. Like they say don't try to drink anything for at least half an hour before or after eating. Its a hard habit to break but you will be much more successful that way. As far as the pinching goes I'm not sure why that would happen but you should ask your surgeon.

Feels so fantastic doesn't it?! Congrats, keep up the good work

Shirley that is awesome and so funny you said this. The same thing happened to me the other day. I called my dad and was like "OMG DAD! I CAN SEE MY COLLAR BONE!" He laughed at me but was just as happy as I was. Too funny what these little NSVs can do for ya

Wow you guys are lucky! I was on liquids for 2 weeks, mushies for 2 weeks, then could start to incorporate more solids in after the 4th week. Guess it paid off though cause I lost 31 lbs that first month. Anyway the answer is yes to all of the above. Give it a few more days and you should be feeling much better. Your stomach is still quite swollen on day 4 so you may be feeling almost "stuck" Try drinking warm tea in very small sips. Good luck and congrats

If it's something you are considering talk to your primary care physician. I take hydroclorothiazide (a water pill) but its to help with my blood pressure. If you don't have blood pressure problems I don't recommend it. I also agree that the over the counter ones are not a good alternative to aid in weight loss.

Ok a few things before I start. The band is a tool. The band doesn't work for you, you work for the band so some self control needs to be taken in order to be successful. Even without full restriction you should only be eating bandster size portions. As far as drinking is concerned you are not supposed to drink right after a meal because it can push your food right through your band. It can also stretch out your pouch. The top portion of your stomach (the pouch above the band) is the only part of your stomach that will send a signal to your brain that you are full. That connection takes about 20 minutes. You have to eat slowly and take responsibility as to how much you eat. Have you tried the 5 day pouch test? It is possible that you have stretched your pouch out already.. Day 1 & 2-The first two days are all liquids. You can have as many low-carb Protein shakes as you like to satisfy hunger or cravings. In addition drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of Water each day. The purpose of all liquids is to break any snacking, grazing or processed carbohydrate habits. In addition the liquids will work to cleanse your system and prepare you for the following three days. Try to reduce your caffeine intake as well, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey or you will feel sick and frustrated potentially losing the desire to continue with the pouch test. It is very important to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day. This will prevent dehydration, will help curb cravings and will flush your body of toxins and fat. Sufficient water intake improves kidney function and cell processes. Day 3: Soft proteins- The next three days you get to eat as much as you want as often as you want! But there's a catch: it has to be solid protein and you only get 15 minutes each time you sit down to eat. No drinking 30 minutes before or after meals and no drinking with your food. A dry pouchwill hold your soft protein longer helping your to feel full and fed longer. Protein Recommendations: canned fish ( tuna or salmon) mixed with lemon and seasoned with salt and pepper, eggs cooked as desired seasoned with salt pepper and/or salsa, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy), baked or grilled, and lightly seasoned. This starts your program with "soft" protein. Measure your portion (1 cup volume or 4-6 ounces weight) and eat only until you feel full, not overfull. Remember, no water for 30 minutes before or after you meal, and no fluids with your meal. We are going back to the beginning and fluids will prevent you from feeling the pouch. If you need to add a moist condiment ( Miracle Whip or mayonnaise) to the canned fish I understand, but keep it to a minimum so the meat is not too moist. One reason we lose the sense of tightness in our pouch is that we eat "slider foods" -foods that are too moist and do not stay in the pouch very long, they slide right through the stoma. Cottage cheese is a good protein and you can include it on Day 3. To firm it up a bit you could add a chopped hard cooked egg to your cottage cheese. And yes, during the liquid phase chicken boullion with added protein is great. Day 4 Firm Protein- Protein Recommendations: ground meat (beef, turkey, lamb) cooked dry and lightly seasoned, shellfish, scallops, lobster steamed and seasoned only with lemon, salmon or halibut steaks, grilled and lightly seasoned. By now you should be experiencing that familiar tightness that will reassure you that your pouch is working. Remember to drink plenty of water between meals. Take some time to meditate and rediscover the wonder of your pouch. Often we don't like that uncomfortable tightness of the pouch, which is why we gradually move toward slider foods that don't make us uncomfortable. It is always my preference to eat moist protein so I don't get uncomfortable, but doing so allows me to consume more than I should. Rediscovering the pouch with this 5-day plan reminds me of how the tool really works. I hope by now you are rediscovering your tool and enjoying the hope and excitement because your pouch still works. Day 5 Solid Protein- Remember to chew chew chew. Measure your portion (4-6 ounces) and eat only until you feel your pouch tighten. Remember, only 15 minutes per meal, so you'll have to work fast to chew your food completely. By now you should be out of any carb cycle you were in and perhaps you have lost a pound or two. You will have new confidence in your pouch and your ability to work the tool for your health and emotional well being. Don't go hungry! Remember, you can eat as often as you want as long as it is solid protein, consumed without liquids and measured in 4-6 ounce portions. Good luck

You need to take it easy. The burning is probably your body adapting to your port. I know for myself I got a burning on my left side right above where my port is. The doctor told me I was trying to do to much to fast. Your stomach muscles are also adapting and recovering from your surgery. Mine actually felt like a burning charlie horse. Just be careful, you don't want to do damage to yourself. I would say if you still have the pain by monday call your doctor and talk to him or her about it. If it gets too bad to the point you can't take the pain, call right away. Take care

It took me a while before I could comfortably sleep on my stomach. I was fine while I was asleep but when I got up I had a terrible pain in my muscle above my port. I guess if you can sleep soundly with no pain you are lucky lol. Congrats btw!

Sorry you have to go through that hun but I know that pain all too well. I over did it in my first few weeks physically and ended up tearing my incision on the inside. I now have scar tissue that makes it difficult to hit my port and actually tilts it. Usually takes about 17 pokes and a fluoroscopy for me to get a fill. Luckily as I loose weight in my stomach my port will be more accessible. Im not sure how your weight is distributed but if you have a lot in your abdominal area it can be difficult to find the port for a while. Rest assured that it will change as you lose. The other possibility is that your nurse isn't that experienced and you may want to ask for a different one next time you go just to be sure. Good luck!

You'll do fantastic, welcome to the wonderful world of bandsters lol.

For a while you are going to feel little to no difference even with a fill for most people. It depends on how large of a fill you get for your first fill and how big your band is. I currently have 5.5ccs in a 10cc band and I am just now starting to really feel restriction when I eat. Be careful, eat very slowly even though its going down easily. It takes the brain 20 minutes to make the connection to the top part of your stomach signaling you are full. If you eat slowly you have less of a chance of stretching your pouch. Good luck

Same thing as being in a car accident, you always hurt more the next day. Your body goes into almost a state of shock (plus you're on a buttload of meds) and then the next day its like an elephant stepped on you lol. I will tell you for myself days 2-3 were the worst and day 8+ I felt great. Take it easy! DO NOT OVER DO IT! You can end up with a tear inside of an incision or a hernia. You should be ok just please take it easy.

Ok now that you have restriction here are a few things.....pizza is most of the time going to be a no no along with any type of doughy bread, dense meat, or rice. Everyone is different but those are a few that I have a problem with. #2, after a day of having food slide through your band at night the stomach does tend to swell and you get dehydrated which in turn means your band is going to be tight when you wake up. My suggestion to you is either do a protein shake, yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast OR before you attempt to eat, half an hour prior, drink at least 12 oz. of water. It should help. Take it slow and remember that although the amount of chewing you did before was ok, this is now a whole new ball game. #3 if you drink with your meals, stop. Liquids can expand certain foods and make it more difficult to go down although it would seem it would push it through. Congrats on the restriction though! Remember the band doesn't work for you, you work for the band.

NSV = Non Scale Victory and Bob I think you answered your own question. "changed my diet, stopped all sodas, sugar, sweets and started the high protein diet" = all great things for the teeth. Congrats on your NSV and good look to you with the band!

Just say well I feel fantastic and love the way I look but thank you for your concern. As far as the food and eating is concerned it all depends on whos saying it to you. It may be someone that was use to seeing you eat all the time. Could be someone just not informed on the process, or they may want to change you back......as long as you know you are doing right don't worry about what they say. Just say I eat the proper foods at the proper times. I don't eat just to eat anymore and again thank you for your concern. You don't have anyone you have to answer to but yourself.