pamela3782

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.

Linda I think it's pretty safe to say that day 2 and 3 are the worst for everyone (at least that I have talked to) I remember by day 5 or 6 I was feeling sooooo much better and by day 8 I was almost back to normal. Move as much as you can and as long as your trying to drink you'll be fine. Day 4 swelling starts to go down and it starts getting easier to swallow. Chin up hun. I'm 4 months out, down 60lbs, and extremely happy with my decision now.

Have you tried the 5 day pouch test? It is possible that you have stretched your pouch out and are eating more than you should be. That could be part of why you are not losing. If you have 10ccs in a 12cc band you should be feeling a pretty great deal of restriction. 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 pouch will 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.

First off, congratulations on taking the first step. This is not an easy decision to make and only you can decide if it is right for you. The upside is you know that you have a problem and you are ready to look into changing that. I am 29 and I had mine done in April. So far it is the best decision I've ever made. Here's the thing. You have to be 150% ready to dedicate yourself to this process. It's not a quick fix it is a tool. The band doesn't work for you, you work for the band. The feeling of being frustrated is overwhelming, i know that first hand but this is not an easy road. There are a lot of ups and downs with this and if I've said it once I've said it 1000 times most of what is going to happen to you during this change is going to be mental. It is a lot to take on at a young age but if you are informed, prepared, and willing then your taking a step in the right direction. Best of luck to you hun

Isopure seems to be an acquired taste. When I had my surgery I had the protein shake Unjury. I tried all of the flavors and the Chocolate Splendor was the best. It has 20 grams of protein per serving. I however wanted to get as much protein as possible so I actually double my scoop per serving on meal replacements. you can get it on unjury.com. Good luck on Monday

I had a glass of wine 3 weeks after surgery but didn't try anything harder until I was almost 2 months out. Thing to remember alcohol can pack a lot of calories on. If it is is moderation it's ok to occasionally treat yourself but try not to go overboard. Start slowly and see where your tolerances are limited as well. Alcohol will affect you differently once you are banded although not as much as if you had the bypass or sleeve.

Just out of curiosity, is this topic just to see who sides with what or can something actually be done about the "adult room" option? Also if there is something that can be done, does that mean that absolutely nothing sexual or adult related can be spoken about in the main chat day or night time? If not then your just drawing attention to an already ridiculous bunch of drama. The whole thing feels like high school. It's very obvious that there are some very strong opinions on both sides and I'm not saying that either side is right or wrong however the cat scratching and name calling doesn't solve ANYTHING. I get it, it's not a perfect world and you're not always going to get what you want HOWEVER I know that each and every person that is involved in chat is mature enough to handle the situations privately. Being nasty and slanderous in chat in front of a new comer in my eyes is just as bad. I'm not trying to start anything I just wondered exactly what this is supposed to do. Just some more food for thought, when the chat room is empty at night and they see everyone else in the adult room is there going to be someone willing to take shifts just to help out these new comers? Don't get me wrong we are always more than willing to help whoever needs it I just don't want the easily offended to miss out on the help they need. Like you had said it is international.

How far post op are you? I actually have the same thing and I am 5 weeks post op. The doctor said it was inflamed possibly from over working myself to soon or it could be cellulitis. Cellulitis is a spreading infection of the skin that usually begins as a small area of tenderness, swelling, and redness on the skin. As this red area begins to spread, the person may develop a fever, sometimes with chills and sweats, and swollen lymph nodes ("swollen glands") near the area of infected skin. This is actually common after a trauma or surgery. I didn't have the fever or chills however it did get very itchy. I also got charlie horses above my port quite frequently for a while so you may be experiencing the same thing. It's been a week since my visit and he put me on medication (Keflex) and the size actually has gone down over the course of this time. Hope this helps

Ok so it turns out that I have swelling that is intensified by a mild skin irritation. I was put on an antibiotic and have to return to the doctor on the 31st. So no fill so far but fingers crossed it will happen soon. On a lighter note I'm down another 4.5 lbs bringing my official total so far to 35.5 lbs lost in 1 month. Yay!!!! Thanks again to all that have commented

Ash not to be nosey but is it that time of the month. I know for me I use to gain about 8 lbs with the water retention from it. Watch your sugar intake really closely and avoid any carbs that you can. Protein first everything else second. You should also be getting ready for your first fill to that should help too.

Thanks all I was just concerned because I have my first fill tomorrow. I'll be sure to ask while I'm there. You guys are the best!

Ok I was on the same post op diet however pudding and yogurt were allowed during my full liquids along with watery oatmeal and applesauce. I'm not sure why the protein shakes haven't been allowed but that was were the majority of my cal intake has come from (I'm 4 weeks post op). Just started eating solids on friday. The protein is crazy important so you may wanna run that by your Dr. again just to be sure. Make sure you are also drinking at least 64 oz of water. That will help make you feel full. Good luck

Thanks guys I appreciate it . How long after was it gone? Did it make getting your first fill more difficult?

So I had my surgery on 4/15 and I have had a bump near my port incision but I really don't think that it's my port. It is about the size of a large egg and there is no pain associated with it so I don't think it's a hernia. When I'm standing up I can feel it but it doesn't stick out however when I am laying down on my back it sticks out like crazy and looks really gross. It was a lot bigger to start (about baseball sized) with but in the past 2 weeks or so the size hasn't decreased at all. Has this happened to anyone and if so did it go away and did you do anything to help it along? Any suggestions or advice will help thanks

I had my surgery on 4/15 and have been going through the same thing with the lack of interest with food however Rachel is right, my stomach is growling all of the time. I've learned the difference between being really hungry and just dealing with the growling. I've also come to realize that a lot of the "hunger" i thought I was feeling was in my head. The transition from liquids to mushies and now to more solid foods has somewhat left me feeling guilty when I eat. I tend to put off eating even more because of that. Hopefully once i get my first fill that will change as well. Just remember that when you ate the food that tasted so good, by the time you can actually eat more solid foods, your stomach has shrunk so you will get fuller faster.

Being stuck is a pretty painful situation to be in. It is when your food gets stuck above your band and is having trouble flowing through. It feels like you have food lodged in your esophagus and make you feel like you may vomit and it can make it difficult to breathe. In some cases you do vomit. If and when this happens drink warm beverages. It also helps to take papaya enzyme. This could happen because you.... A. Don't chew your food thoroughly- you are supposed to chew each bite 20-30 times B. Eating to fast- a meal should last at least 20 minutes. It helps when you count your chewing and putting your fork down between bites C. your food is to dry or dense- some people have a problem with cold meat and dense meats like steak or beef. If you take the time to chew many of these issues can be avoided. D. Your band is too tight and some of the saline needs to be taken out. Hope this helps and good luck

I would definitely find a new doctor.... Mine was Dr. Richard Pucci. He is one of three doctors in his practice (Advanced Laparoscopic Specialists LLC) and they are all brothers. Extremely nice people. They are in Suffern NY 845-368-1500, Goshen NY 845-775-7505, Ridgewood NJ 201-447-2808, and Oradell NJ 201-262-4800. Not sure where you are located but if you are near any of those locations they are highly recommended. Hope this helps and good luck! ~Pam

Hi Tracey, I'm glad you came to this site to get your information. You can read all you want but there's nothing like someones personal experiences. I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can..... Question 1: Once you are banded the ask you to drink AT LEAST 64 oz. of Water per day. At first the drinking will have to be fairly slow however once the stomach swelling goes down from surgery liquids will go down more easily. Question 2: They say to make your meals last for at least 20 minutes. You will need to take smaller bites and you will need to chew your food thoroughly. Like Ash said chew each bite 25-45 times. If something is not breaking down in your mouth after that amount of time it's not the best idea to ingest a lot of it if any. Getting "stuck" is not fun. It is very uncomfortable and you want to avoid that feeling as much as possible. The reasoning behind the 20 minutes is because it takes the brain 20 minutes to realize that you are full and only the top part of the stomach can detect that. That is why the band is placed so high. Question 3: Every stage of your banding process will be different. 4 oz. is standard at the beginning but the pouch will stretch and you will eventually be able to eat a bit more. The top portion of your stomach is a harder part to stretch so your going to feel it when it does. Bread may be a problem so you may want to eat the burger without or instead of bread put it between 2 large pieces of lettuce. You are going to be asked to eat your Proteins first when you eat. Question 4: I personally can't feel the band when I move but if I push in on my stomach I can feel the port. I can also feel it when I am laying down but I do still have swelling. Question 5: Most people don't have an issue when getting sick but everybody is different. I know that slippage can be a result of that but its highly unlikely. Question 6: Some people have problems with Pasta, others don't. Like I had mentioned earlier starches are harder to process and you should always put your Protein first. Granted there are going to be meals that you will have minimal protein but you have to make that change to not do that as often. This is just as much a mental change as a physical change. If you don't go in to this with the right mind frame I suggest you wait. You will have to make sacrifices because the band is not a quick fix. It is a tool and you REALLY have to work hard at what you do. Counting calories, burning calories through exercise, getting in your protein (usually 50 grams a day for a woman) drinking water, planning meals, and taking control of your emotions and finding out what triggered you to get to where you are now and figuring out how to fix it so you don't go back. It is a huge lifestyle change but it can also change your life for the better. The band doesn't work for you, you work for it. Good luck with your decision ~Pam