Rachel412

The band doesn't make me feel full- it makes me feel satisfied. Satisfied is a much quieter voice than full, let me tell you! Do I still feel hunger? Yes, certainly. But after a small protein-rich meal, I feel satisfied, and for a longer period of time than I would have pre-band. I don't want you to think that this surgery is going to fix all your problems. You will still get hungry, you may or may not get "full" when you eat, and you still need to control what you put in your mouth.

Not to be rude, but this whole site is full of people giving first-hand accounts of information, warnings, etc. The best thing to do is read, read, read the posts! You'll learn a TON.

Sure, you can use whatever you want. It'll probably come down more to flavor than price for you, once you start trying a few different kinds! Just don't bother taking in 30+ grams per serving since your body can't handle that much protein at once.

Yes, lots of people sell Market America supplements. Explains why you both buy them through different sites- different MA members.

You were very recently banded! Think of your body as a small child, crossing it's arms and stamping down a foot, refusing to do what you tell it to. That's exactly how I think of it- your body is confused, and healing, and it's telling you "I have no idea what's going on but I refuse to move until this all gets sorted out". You're doing exactly what you should- keep at it and the scale WILL start moving soon.

you may have irritated your espohagus or your stoma. I'd try drinking pineapple juice or chewing a few papaya enzymes to try to break up anything that might be left in your stoma. Then I'd go back to liquids for a couple of days to help calm the irritation. If it's not getting better, call your doctor!

Everyone has different tastes... my husband and I love this one, Optimum Nutrition 100% whey Gold Standard in Double Rich chocolate. 24g Protein per scoop, low in carbs, no funky aftertaste. http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315410838&sr=8-1 I also have the vanilla Ice Cream flavor. I like it, my husband doesn't. I don't think I'd order it again.

I appreciate and enjoy it more now!

I can still chug just fine too Don't freak out!

Well you're not going to want to hear this either, but it's true- even with the band, you're still going to need to control your eating. I can eat whatever I want. Nothing gets stuck, and I have almost 8cc's in my band. I can eat 3-4 pieces of regular sized pizza. I know because I have. I can still binge on carbs. I know because I have. The band helps me by making me feel satisfied sooner, and by keeping me satisfied for a longer period of time after I eat a small Protein packed meal, but it doesn't stop me from eating a larger meal, or "bad" foods, if I choose to put them in my mouth. It's a fight that most of us banded people have to fight, and you'll probably need to fight it too. YES, it's hard, and it can be discouraging. But when I eat the right way, seriously, my weight falls off. So it IS worth it. So this may or may not help you... I was able to stick to the liquid part of my post-op diet (I think because I was allowed to have Protein Shakes, and not everyone is) but the day I was cleared to go to mushy foods, my first meal was part of a Chipotle burrito bowl I figured it wasn't crunchy, and if I chewed it up real good it'd be considered mushy!

If the pressure is in your chest, it's probably still pressure/irritation from the band being placed. Even though you're healing, you're still swollen. Try to relax (easier said than done!) but yes, please call your doctor to confirm that you didn't get a fill during surgery, and that there's not something else going on. Does it hurt to take a deep breath?

My port is almost always sore, and worse when I pull it.

No, I don't think that's what it should be like... I think you need a bit of an unfill. really only being able to eat at night is setting you up for binges.

I've only been banded since April but... April 9 pounds May 8 pounds June 9 pounds July 9 pounds August 4 pounds (whoops!)

can you tell us what, and how much, you eat in a typical day?

I have an 11cc realize band too. you can see my fills in my sig- I didn't feel any difference until fill #3 (6.75 cc's). Fill #4 was awesome (7.25 cc's), but when I stopped feeling satisfied after meals I didn't get back in to the doctor soon enough... fill #5, I haven't felt any sort of difference. FWIW I've never been stuck or slimed or anything, and never had problems swallowing anything.

Just FYI: when your hunger comes back, it'll feel just like you're used to it feeling. So if you're hearing stomach rumbles and you're wondering if you're hungry, you're not You'll know hunger when you feel it!

You know... good question. In general "full" has changed for me. I used to eat until I was stuffed, like that really full thanksgiving feeling. I don't eat that much anymore, though I could. Now I try to eat and then ask myself as I'm eating if I'm still hungry or not, and if not, I make myself stop. Or try really hard to make myself stop. I usually give a big sigh, and when that happens I realize it probably means I should stop eating.

Do it now. You will have to deal with holidays for the rest of your life!

It would be in your best interest to stick to protein drinks and avoid Slim Fast, Ensure, etc.

I don't miss fast food either! I don't miss eating anything I could get my hands on just to get that "full" feeling. I don't miss my back fat rolls touching.

I totally disagree with the nurse. In a perfect world, you'd know when it was time to stop eating, but most of us didn't have restriction post-op until we'd been filled, a few times. My instructions were 4 oz. of protein, 1/2 cup of veggies, and then if you're still hungry, up to 1/2 cup of grains. That meal 3 times a day.

Words of wisdom? Well, this is the time to prove to yourself how strong you really are. You just need to power through it. Think of how proud of yourself you'll be when you're cleared to go to real foods, but you look back and say "that was so hard, but you know what, I did it."

Honestly... I love movie popcorn too, and I'm really scared of getting a piece of kernel skin lodged in my stoma, so I don't eat at the movies anymore. No matter what substitute food I'd bring, I'd still be mindlessly shoveling it in. Maybe get yourself a fancy drink you can really sip and savor, like Starbucks?

Deep fat fried, and pan fried with a quick spritz of Pam, are totally different. One you should avoid, and one is really just fine