Debora Anne

GREAT JOB~ You are an inspriation

WELL SAID -

It's very important that you get some Protein in. Please consider a Protein shake. My Doc recommends one Protein Shake a day minimum. Experiment will different one. There many to choose from. It will stave your hunger and give you much needed energy. Take heart, you will enjoy good food again. Just not large quantities. Portion Control and exercise is the key to losing weight not deprivation. All that being said, you need to quit having a pity party and approach this as a new beginning and a way to rid yourself of that body that is depressing you. You are lucky, your health will improve and the depression will lift if you approach this as an opportunity, not a punishment. Find another TV channel for awhile, don't torture yourself..

I had 10 days liquid pre-op and 1 week clear liguid- then 1 week liquid (anythign you could get thru a straw- 1 week mushies and then slowly start solids-

Every doctor is different and remmeber the band has to heal and settle itself for a bit after surgery - and if your like most of us - you will not even really want to eat the first couple fo weeks GOOD LUCK KEEP US POSTED

Welcome Skinny girl - This is such an informative site with such helpful people - Good luck on your journey SO far I LOVE MY BAND

And I am sure you will too

Thanks for the information- can I ask if the doctor said 2 weeks of liquid why you are chosing to do one week??

ABSOLUTELY~ I am 3 weeks post op and LOVE MY BAND- I was always tired - took a nap every day no energy- Now I have tons of energy already - have not taken any meds for Diabeties in 3 weeks! ~ Feel great no more naps and its just getting better - now I will keep having more energy to play with my gransdon and my grandson that is on the way~ Can;t wait to weigh in in the morning and see how much more weight I lost-

Just remmeber the band is a tool- you still ahve to so your part however the band has helped me stay focused and gives me more desire to continue with good habits

Hi I am 50 years old was banded June 8th - recovery was fast and I am doing great LOVE MY BAND ALREADY- Haven't weighed in 9 days will weigh on Saturday but I am confident I have lost a few pounds ....(had to change weigh in date due to travel for work) Of course I am dying to get ont he scale early :Banane45: but alas I will be strong~ I will update ticker Sat.... It took my stomach about 1.5 weeks for the swelling to go down - You ladies walking already is great - my experience was the same the first week- walk walk walk -and GAS X Strips.

Now I did not have severe gas pains UNTIL 4 DAYS POST OP-- THEN OH MY however The pain in the shoulder was very sharp (takes your breathe away) but only lasted for an hour or so - this happened Day 5 as well - then Day 6 for just a few minutes and since NO GAS PAIN-

My advise HOT LIQUIDS- HEATING PAD AND GAS X Worked great during the gas pains - Hope you all have a great recovery and please keep in touch would love to chat with ladies in my "age group" and as positive as you all seem to be :cheatfree:

My total calories each day are 500-550 and yes I do eat about 1/2 cup each meal 3xs a day occasional snack of sugar free Jello or 100 calorie chees bites I also drink at least 64 iunces of liquid a day

This half cup thing is a ridiculous myth. If you were truly eating 1/2 a cup and eating nutritious, low fat food, including vegetables, then you'd be eating about 300 calories a day. If all you can eat is 1/2 cup, you'll need to eat more than 3 times a day or you'll be rather malnourished in a few months time.

Forgive my ignorance ..what is the chest strap

I agree - I am 3 weeks post op and following my docs rule to the letter- I eat ona small plate -small bites chew chew chew and eat "good foods" The max I can eat in the 20-30 minutes is about 1/2 -3/4 cup and I am very satisfied - (I go for my first fill July 19th) I do ignore the Head hunger and do not want to Slime or Vomit so I am very careful with amounts etc. My doc never said I COULD NOT EAT MORE he just reccomends the amount that should satisy me and banders- What I chose to do is up to me ...So far docs rules have worked

Not sure what your fill situation is yet but I suspect you are not at your sweet spot. Thats fine for now as it can take a while to get there. One of my docs said if your band is half full or less, its like not having a band. Anyway I am at my sweet spot and a bAR FOR Breakfast WOULD CAUSE ME INTENSE PAIN. I AM TIGHTER IN THE MORNING AS I THINK MOST OF US ARE (MY WEDDING RING IS SNUG IN THE MORNING AND THEN VERY LOOSE AT NIGHT) sorry for the caps, I m not a good typist! Anyway I like my band pretty tight so I really can only have liquids in the morning and then the rest of the day I have to be careful and thoughtful. I can eat about a half a cup or maybe 3/4 at a meal and I focus on Protein (I think its better to think of what you must eat instead of what you shouldnt!) I love a Boca but can usually only eat about 3/4 of it. Even at midnight I can never eat a 6 inch sub...I think I could eat and inch or two of it. I lose about a pound a week when my band is how it is now.

If I could eat two cups of food as some people said above, I would not lose weight and would want a fill. Good luck, this is a long (forever?) process!!

Protein Shakes - soft cheese-Eggs,Tuna Fish and Beans of any kind refried etc...I still have a tough time gettinG in all my Protein and I am 3 weeks post op starting solids ;0

Hi there- I had my surgery June 8th at True Results in San Antonio Dr Wright- So far everyone seems very nice - informative- answers questions and supportive- go for my first fill July 11th

Not sure if they work for weight depression either but I had family issues which left me terrribly depressed I went to doc and he gave me PAXIL which is an awesome anxiety and anit depressant -

For your other question about lower BMI You need to check with your insurance company - they are all different. Many require only the 40 BMI and under 40 BMI require additional issues such as High Blood pressure, Diabities, heart issues etc

Good luck. I wish you well

Like someone else said everyone's pain level is different. I have a high tolerance for pain. After surgery I was about a 5- I assume since they gave me pain meds ASAP .. Went home took 1/2 the dose of pain meds every 4 hours -slept pretty much all day level was about a 5 all day when meds would wear off. Day 2 level 3/ Day 3 did not take any pain meds level 1 when moved side to side ... it was a easy process for me

I started riding my stationary bike at 5 days - saw my doctor or follow up day 7 and was told I can do whatever I want for excercise - my body would tell me when to stop - I started with Water weights in the pool - I am 2 1/2 weeks out and used actual weights today ( I am traveling out of town on business) and no problems Of course check with your doc first for his recomendations

This Thursday will be 2 weeks since I was banded. I have been walking quite a bit, but how soon did you guys start working out like your arms and upper body? I am still pretty sore at my port site, so I know I can't do situps, etc, but I am mainly needing good excercises for these "bat wings" I am developing on my arms! HOw soon and what excercises do you guys suggest????

See if the GYM has a trainer you can work with and remember you feel good but are still healing so do not over do it - 30 minutes of cardio at an even pace is good to start

You should call your doctor or Nurse practioner - I had a fever for one day only - I called the doctors office and they said to watch it and if it goes away after a day no worries

I was self pay as well - I had a hernia so my doctor billed the insurance company for the Hernia and I just paid for the band and my co-insurance - deductible for the Hernia repair - I am not sure if you can get the band at the same time as gallbladder removal - Your doctor can answer that question ....

AND Hot tea~ CHAI Tea worked great for me - peppermint also worked

Walking and a heating pad --GAS X - the heating pad is a charm!

Walking and a heating pad --GAS X - the heating pad is a charm!

Hi everyone! I'm on my 4th day post op and am in tons of pain today! I'm still on fluids! Called the dr office and they say its gas pain! I'm chewing gas x around the clock! And walking around the house! Any other suggestions? Please!

In response to Ruth -HI thanks for the informations very helpful. I am invited to a wedding 3 days after my surgery date. Do you think I would be able to attend with very minimal activity. Thanks a lots

With minimal activity you should be ok - I was on my stationary bik,e (slow) on Day 4 -(slow dancing will actually be good - you need to keep moiving around or the gas will be a problem)

AGREE with you totally - I spent 2 years researching bariatric surgeries and watching and asking qiestions from everyone I knew or met that had Bariatric surgery - My Dr office has been supportive as well as informative however it is up to me to get additional details and ASK Questions

OP... I don't think you should be apologizing for your viewpoints. If you're original intent was to vent about some people whining about no weight loss...without looking at their own bad habits... I think you did it well.

I am in total agreement with you on your original post. I'm not very big into sugar coating things or giving false hopes or promises.

Everyone has made it a point to say that this is a support group. But I think many take that as an opportunity to act like whining children. I can't judge this... but I will say that it sometimes deters other hopefuls from getting banded.

To me, whining and complaining should only happen AFTER the fact. This means a couple months of good diet tracking, exercise, and over-all behavior modifications. Then if you are still not averaging 1-2 lbs per week... it's time to ask questions.

What also gets me is that some people blame their surgeons about their lack of knowledge or pre-surgery information. This, to me, is unacceptable. Now I'm not on the side of the surgeon. I know for a FACT that there are less competent surgeons out there and those that are just motivated by cash.

But this does not make an excuse for anyone to blame their surgeon about their lack of weight loss. Being on the forum, I'm thinking it's not a stretch to assume that these people have access to the internet. How about doing some research? Researching all the pros and cons... all the possible side effects, ADEs, and/or failures, etc.

Most people want and demand informed consent on their part...but expect the physician and their surgical team to provide all of it. "Is that really too much to ask from your doctor?", you may ask. It's actually not. You would expect your surgeon to be able to tell you EVERYTHING about the process. But apparently there are surgeons who do not (or cannot). But either case... YOU should have researched about that surgical team beforehand... so for me..the fault lies in you (the misinformed patient).

Harsh? I know. But this isn't a blackjack table at the MGM. This is your life..your health. Why gamble? Do your research. Educate yourself. Then make an informed decision.

You will do GREAT~ It is not uncommon to get anxious! :Banane04: Keep us posted

I am having the same issues - have not had TOM for 2 months - my doc said due to excercise and weight loss that is probably the reason -

I would check the stats of your insurance company - see if your Dr. will send in for a pre determination of beneifts - I went thru the 3 month wait with my insurance company to be told BCBS changed to a 6 month wait AND after another 4 weeks of fighhting back and forth with the insurance company p Bariatric Surgery was NOT covered at all only complications that may arise during surgery. I ended up self pay - well worth it~~~ But if my insurance would have said yes they will pay Although I was very anxious to get the band I would have waited .. If you take the money from yoru 401K you will be actually paying yourself back including any interest they charge..better than a bank loan Good luck