jen120

I wasn't very nervous because I was very ready. But I have to say, the surgery and recovery have been so much easier than I thought they would be. Just take one step at a time. You will do great and you will be very happy for doing it. Good Luck!

Lizzy gave the perfect advice! Good luck with your recovery!

Do not be afraid. The kinds of foods you are describing are not things that usually get stuck. Just take it slowly and try to "chew" the best you can. It's tough to chew because these things are already mashed up quite a bit. Take small bites like a quarter of a teaspoon and you'll have no problem. When I moved to that stage I ate cottage cheese, yogurt, pureed Soups, tuna with mayo, refried Beans, cheese and sliced lunch meats. I had no problems at all. I know you'll do great! Enjoy your new foods!

You are not alone...my weight loss stalled at 3 weeks after surgery and I lost nothing for 3-4 weeks. I was so frustrated. I felt that since I was barely eating anything compared to before that I should be dropping 5 pounds a week. I was eating about 800 calories a day. I ended up increasing my calories to 1000-1200 a day and now I am losing.

I had the same question and was told that while the pouch is smaller it is still part of your stomach. It will no do "damage". She did caution that while spicy or other heavily flavored foods might have been ok pre-surgery, that I should try them slowly to make sure I dont get heartburn or have issues. You just cant predict if your stomach will handle everything the same as before. She definitely said you cant damage anything.

I totally have this issue...I have always been a big drinker with meals. Currently I drink while I eat. I always have a bottle of Water with me where ever I go. It is definitely something I need to work on myself. Currently I do not have a fill and have little to no restriction, but I am eating the portions I need to eat and I am not hungry in between meals. So this must be working to some extent. I guess you need to listen to your body and find out what works best for you.

Dont cancel your surgery. You need to look at this liquid diet as part of the process. I had to do 2 weeks pre-surgery. It was hard...very hard. I cried a lot, I was grouchy, I was achy, but I got through it. I told myself it was necessary to help shrink my liver to make the surgery safe and successful. You need to get back on track right away and stay the course. You can do this! We all can because we are so much stronger than we think we are. Hang in there...it will get better.

It is my understanding that the band and all its part are silicone (it doesnt matter what brand). There is some research that shows some people can be allergic to it...but it is extremely rare. I honestly would not worry about it. But talk to the surgeon once you are approved.

I did not have a BM for about 4 days after surgery and then it was just very little. Not unusual at all to be a bit constipated, especially if taking vicodin as constipation is a known side effect. Congrats on your surgery and I wish you a speedy recovery.

Thanks so much for the chart...I'm 50% yellow and 50% green. Here are some ideas of articles I'd like to see... how much weight a person can really expect to lose once they have had surgery. Tips for planning meals and organizing your life to be successful. A article about nutrition needs after surgery and what foods are the most nutritious and fit well in the eating plan. Maybe an article on strategies for people who have 100 pounds or more to lose. An article about excess skin and hair loss after surgery. Thanks for this web site...it has helped me so much in my journey!

I know how you feel. I have almost 2 people to lose. I'm just focusing on 10 pounds at a time. We can do this!

I only lost 5 pounds on my 6 month doctor supervised diet. So dont worry too much.

I have 1 on some days 2 (if I drink a lot) of the pencil packs of "Crystal Light" or equivalent a day. I mix 1 packet into 24-32 oz of water so it is very dilute. The rest of the time its plain water for me. Some people are dead set against artificial sweeteners...I say to each his own. I am getting in over 64oz of fluid a day which is what is important. You gotta do what works for you. By the way, there are so many contradictions no matter where you look in the health and diet industry. It is really frustrating and very hard to navigate what is the best advice. So I feel your pain!

:woot::welldone::waytogo: Super Awesome!

Congrats...I hope everything continues to go well. I was one of the lucky ones, my pain was much less than I anticipated. Never even took pain meds.

Welcome and congrats on the surgery and weight loss. This board has been very helpful for me. I hope to see you posting more often!

I have not had this problem. Hang in there and keep your doctor in the loop. I hope things get better!

Hi Erin, I'm sorry this is going so rough for you. You are 20 and I know its tough to figure this out all on your own. I'm pretty sure I couldn't do this by myself at 20. You need to follow-up with your doctors office as soon as you can and explain the problem to them. Perhaps they can hook you into a local support group. I know what it is like to feel depressed and its tough to pull yourself out of that hole, but you got to do it! With regard to food, you dont have to spend a lot of money on food... For Protein I eat a lot of eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, sliced meat, chicken. You can buy these things inexpensively. Get some lettuce and other fruits and veggies that are in season and you are good to go. Track all your food using an online tracker like myfitnesspal or something similar. Aim for 60 grams of protein a day. Also, try to get some exercise in. Take a walk, ride a bike, something so you get moving. It will help with your weight loss and your depression. Once you start to make moves in the right direction, you'll start to feel better. PS...you need to take personal responsibility but I also think you should sit down with your mom and have a serious talk with her. Explain exactly how you are feeling, write it down if you need to. Tell her you need her help and support (that doesnt mean she does everything for you). Good Luck...

Well congrats on the surgery and sorry that your doc isnt the best. 1. My doc says no Protein shakes/drinks AT all. Do you agree? ( because i don't at all, nor does anyone i talked with ) I was on protein shakes made with Water then milk, Jello, broths, water for 2 weeks after surgery with a goal of getting 60 grams of protein. I must admit toward the end of the 2 weeks I started with some yogurt, smooth Soups, cottage cheese. 2. Two weeks of broth & juice ( no milk,..ect ) 3.Do you have the stitches removed or do they dissolve? I had the super glue to close me up. No issues. Could take a shower 1 day after surgery. 4. Should i be taking any Vitamins or something? I'm getting at most 500 cals a day. I was told not to start vitamins until 2 weeks after surgery. LIke the above poster, must be chewable or liquid. 5. What did you eat the first week, second week & then finally at a month? See above for first 2 weeks, week 3 added soft Proteins like eggs, cheese, sliced lunch meat, tuna, Beans. Week 4 could add regular protein like nuts, chicken breast or steak (small bites and chew very, very carefully these are notorious for ) 2 months after surgery we can add carbs. Not because our stomachs cant take it, just because they want us to focus on protein. 6. Can you take Gas EX? Yes...My doctor also said I could start taking my other meds 1 day after surgery but to take 1 at a time with plenty of water. Any big pills had to be split or crushed (ask pharmacist or doctor before crushing cause some pills cant be) Good luck on this exciting journey!

Hi All... I'm feeling really good even thought the weight loss thing has been frustrating as hell. No loss for 3 weeks. I talked to the nutritionist and she said I am probably not eating enough. I was only eating about 800-1000 cal a day...so I am upping it to 1200-1300 to see what happens. I also started exercising this week. I am riding a recumbent stationary bike for about 25 minutes and for the first 10 minutes I use hand weights and do a full series of arm exercises. It really gets my blood pumping and I feel great afterwards. I must say that I do "feel" a bit thinner. My clothes are a bit looser and the pain in my knee is a bit improved. I definitely have a bit more energy and feel pretty good. I am now trying to decide if I need a fill or not. I dont have much restriction, but I am also not hungry in between meals. I am going to give it another 2 weeks and see what happens. I hope everyone is doing well! PS...What I plan to do for myself when I lose the weigh: I've always wanted a tattoo so when I lose weight I really want to get one.

I was on my period and wore a tampon...no issues. In fact I dont think I even told anyone.

Brad, I have no advice. I just want to say that I hope things improve for you. My heart goes out to you. This will pass and it will get better. Just keep sipping away to keep yourself hydrated the best you can. Maybe some chicken broth might help? I know it was one of the only things that made me feel better the first week after surgery. Please keep us updated as to how you are doing. (((Hugs)))

I had bruising around most of my incisions. I particularly had a lot where the biggest incision was (port site). It was tender and took about 2.5 weeks to go away completely. After my surgery I couldnt feel my port, but then again I didnt go pushing on my tummy searching for it because I was tender. Now that I am fully healed, I can feel it if I push down, but not if I am just laying or sitting. I have a lot of padding so maybe that is why I cant feel mine as much. Congrats on your surgery and I wish you a speedy recovery!

See this article for a full explanation... Everyone experiences hair loss on a daily basis. Normal hair loss is barely noticeable, amounting to less than 100 hairs per day. However, the stress of a major surgery can cause hair loss to accelerate up to three times as much in both men and women. It's the body's way of reacting to the trauma of the operation. The Facts During a normal hair growth cycle, hair grows, then enters into a resting or "telogen" period and eventually sheds. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, "telogen effluvium" is a term used to describe hair that has been rushed into the resting state after the body suffers a shock due to major surgery. As resources are redirected to help heal the affected surgical area, the body temporarily shuts down hair production because it is not necessary for survival. Identification Telogen effluvium related to surgery can be distinguished from other forms of hair loss in several ways. Individuals typically begin to notice the increasing hair loss two to three months after the surgery. Hair loss after surgery is uniform, noticeable on the scalp but never excessive enough to cause a patchy appearance or complete baldness. In addition, the shed hairs all exhibit a specific pattern at the root, which resembles a white bulb. Time Frame Hair usually resides in the telogen phase for a period of two to four months before growth resumes. Individuals don't begin to notice the increase in hair loss when showering or brushing the hair until about three months post-surgery. Although the resting hair is being pushed out of the scalp by new hair that is already growing, it can take anywhere from about six months to a year for the hair to return to its normal fullness. Gastric Bypass Surgery Individuals who have undergone gastric bypass or other operations of the digestive tract designed to reduce obesity are more prone to hair loss post-surgery. This is due to the reduced intake of food in the weeks and months immediately following these procedures. The body needs an adequate amount of Proteins and Vitamins to maintain hair production. Protein-enhanced shakes are often recommended for these patients as a substitute until solid food can be better tolerated. Proper Diet Hair loss related to surgery typically reverses itself without any medicinal intervention or the need for over-the-counter hair loss tonics or treatments. However, maintaining a diet rich in Protein and Iron is believed to help promote and speed up healthy hair growth. Suggested foods include salmon, Beans, eggs, spinach, broccoli, nuts and whole-grain cereals. Avoid foods that can inhibit hair growth, such as those that contain high levels of caffeine and fat. Read more: Losing Hair After Surgery | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1QtFeANl3

I would add cell phone to the list. Maybe something to read.