Mason33

The first couple of days after a fill, I feel great. Portions are appropriate, not constantly hungry, no snacking, then 3 or 4 days later it's like I don't have a fill at all. Is this what happens until you find your green zone?

I have actually had four fills since my surgery on July 27th. First fill was 1 month post-op. Last fill was 9 days ago. I have like 8 or 9cc's in so far. I have only lost 7 lbs. the last 2 months. I feel like it should have been more. Thanks neenee717. I am starting to feel "stuck" when I eat to fast or don't chew well enough or eat bread. But everything else goes down way too easy. At least it's good to know that this is "normal".

Just remember that the people that are trying to talk you out of it are not medical professionals and it's all a money game to them. They actually get bonuses for saving the company money. Don't listen to them, do what is best for you. Good luck:)

I am so excited. I just put on a pair of shorts that I hadn't been able to wear in two years! I am only 8 days post op and as many of you know the time before the band on the liquid diet and the time after the band (just trying to figure things out) can be very hard emotionally and physically. I still think like a fat girl and want the fat girl foods, so it has been a bit of a struggle for me. Even my family is having to make some changes. The kids are so used to bringing the leftover food on their plates to me and each time I have to tell them that I can't have that or that I am actually too full to eat it. But it was such a good feeling this morning to put on smaller clothes that it has made everything worth it and has given me new hope that I CAN DO THIS and I will. And each time that I start to feel sorry for myself I will remember how proud I was and how good I felt when I fit into a smaller size. Inspiration is the key to success:)

Loved all of the responses:) We all deserve to feel good about our weight loss. Just wish my friends and family were as excited about it as me.

Hi Tabby. I went for my post op appt. too yesterday and their scale said that I had only lost 15lbs. where as my scale is saying 19lbs. I weighed myself on it just prior to going to surgery last week. I know it's only 4lbs. difference, but hey, every pound counts, LOL. I too was having more pain at my port site yesterday than I have had yet. I was close to taking some lortab it was so bad. But the nurse said that I probably overdid it the night before and I had slept on my right side too. I am looking forward to this mushy/soft food stage. Already had scrambled eggs for breakfast and had no problem. I also bought some little tubs of instant mashed potatoes made by Idahoan its around 160 calories for the whole container but what I thought would be nice about it is that I can take it with me, add some water and nuke it and still stay on this diet. I also found at Wal-Mart these soups made by Marketside. They are located in the refrigerator part of the deli shelves (I was at the one in Bridgewater Falls) anyways, they have this chicken tortilla soup that is already pureed into a broth mixture that is wonderful. It's 170 calories but it was so nice to have it already made. I was at a friends house for dinner and I brought that with me and popped it in the microwave. It was very conveinent. I also put a dollop of fat free sour cream in it because it was a little spicy and that cooled it down. They also had a loaded baked potato and a chicken and dumplings one but I haven't tried those yet. They were a few more calories, like around 210 I think. I'm all about conveinence and I am always on the go with two kids so if you find some things quick and easy, let me know:) I already had one steri strip fall off. I can't wait for all of them to be gone so I can scrub my belly, LOL.

My husband wasn't supportive, but my mother was. After the surgery, my husband has been very supportive and my mom made a chocolate cake last night and steak for me tonight. She kept saying one bite isn't going to hurt, but I know better. Besides, I am only 5 days post op and still on liquids and she knows that. I guess I have to learn to deal with this now because there will always be people out there sabotaging us mostly because they are jealous. If my friends do that then the way I see it is that they really weren't my friends to begin with. Since it's family, I'm kinda stuck, LOL. But I will not let her get to me:)

Mornings are still the hardest for me. I think it's because I have been laying flat all night and all that gas gets trapped then starts moving as soon as I get up. I am down to taking narcotic pain med at night and have liquid tylenol and motrin during the day and gas-x strips for the gas pain that also travels to my left shoulder. I am eating better now too. I had some vegetable soup from Frisch's that was blended up. It was such a nice change from the sodium ridden broth that I have had. I am still eating the sugar free popsicles since they are an easier way to get more fluid in. Finally got thru the pain of having a bowel movement. I have been taking stool softeners every day. I couldn't imagine how bad it would have been without them, LOL. Still having soreness, pain and burning at the incision for the port site. All of the other incisions feel pretty good. I also had a hernia repair so I think that some of the continued pain is from that also. I walked around the grocery store today but I think I over did it because I started breaking out in a sweat and felt real weak so I'm taking it easy the rest of the day. There are moments when I think, "OMG what did I do?" then there are moments when I am so happy and excited thinking, "OMG, I can't believe I finally did this". I'm so glad that I found this forum and I have found such inspiration reading everyone else's stories. Best Wishes to all:)

Starting to feel a lot better today. I was even able to get up and take a shower. The gas pains are worst in the morning, probably from laying down all night and then the shoulder pain hurts in the evening. My appetite is better today and so far I have only taken liquid tylenol for the pain. I have found that walking helps but it also wears me out. Still having a problem with the protein shakes. They are tasting so sweet to me that I can't stand them. I haven't had any problem with swallowing and keeping fluids down as long as I take small sips. I am so dreading having a bowel movement too, LOL. I know that's going to be rough, LOL. How are the other Day 4 Post-Ops doing? Would love to hear from you:)

Today is my 3rd day post op. I am having more pain today than I have had up to this point. Plus the gas and burping has started today too. I have been up walking around as much as I can tolerate and that has helped to relieve some of the pressure. I am still having a hard time getting all of my fluids in and the protein shakes are too thick for me right now. I have gained back 4lbs. but I'm sure that's from the swelling and all of the IV fluids from day of surgery. I've been taking a little bit of pain meds every 4 hours to keep the pain from escalating. A few times I have taken too big of sips of water and I can feel pressure in my upper chest but it eventually goes away. Hope that all of the other 3day post ops are doing well.

I am right there with you about the taste of things. My Protein shakes are now way too sweet, same with the Jello and pudding. None of these bothered me before the surgery though. I just gave my sister the Cookies n creme Protein powder because I never want to see that one again, LOL. I don't go back to doctor til Friday. Let me know what yours says. Thanks:)

RegFern and Bradison. I too had Dr. Watkins and was banded last Wed. on the 27th. The third day after surgery was a little worse just because that's when the gas pains started for me, but everyone is different. I didn't even have to use pain meds until before bed on that first night. Just take it easy at the open house and stay well hydrated. Good luck with everything. You will love the staff at the surgery center and everyone has been great at Dr.Watkins office also. Dr. Watkins even called me at home that evening to see how I was doing. I was very impressed.

Day 4 was the hardest for me too. I started using some OTC appetite suppressants and those helped. I also cheated a little on day 4 and had some ramen noodles. The liquid diet is hard to do but it's so worth it to be able to have the surgery done. I was also allowed to have sugar free pudding and carnation instant breakfast. One recipe that I liked was diet A & W root beer, 4 ice cubes, and 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder. Obviously the pop was before I got banded since we can't have any carbonation afterwards. Good luck with the liquids and just try to keep your eye on the big picture and how everyday is one day closer to having your surgery. Best Wishes:)

It's better if you do this while you are young and able to heal quicker and before you gain more weight making it even more difficult to get the lap band. Most of the problems from the lap band come from people being non-compliant with the doctors orders. The doc will probably put you on a liquid diet 1-2 weeks before surgery to help shrink the liver so he can get to the stomach easier. Then you will be on another liquid diet 1-2 weeks after surgery to let the stomach heal. The 2nd & 3rd weeks you eat soft/mushy food and then introduce solids starting the 4th week. As far as what you can or cannot have anymore, pop/carbonation is definitely out, some people have problems with breads and pastas. And the whole point in getting the lap band is to lose weight but if you keep choosing the wrong foods you won't be successful. In my doctors office they say that you "Eat to Live" not "Live to Eat". I am 3 days post op. The pain feels like it does after you do a 100 stomach crunches. You can also get gas pains and burp a lot due to the air that they put into your belly during surgery. But those will both subside eventually. The liquid diet pre op consisted of protein drinks, sugar free jello, sugar free pudding, carnation instant breakfast, creamed/lowfat soups and sugar free popsicles. The first day of surgery I was starving but I haven't had much of an appetite since then. You do have to learn to take small sips of fluid and when you start eating again you have to take very small bites and chew and chew and chew. I hope that this can answer some of your questions. Just do a lot of reasearch because ultimately the decision to do or not to do this is yours only. Good luck:)

Thank you all for the helpful hints:)

Here it is my 2nd day post op and I cannot eat anything sweet. Popsicles, jello, protein drink, nothing. It all tastes terrible to me. The only thing that I can have is broth and plain water. I'm taking my multivitamins but I'm afraid that I'm not going to get enough nutrition if I can't get past these sweet tastes. Has anyone else had this problem after surgery? Does sweet tasting things still bother you? Stephanie

I was just banded yesterday on the 27th. I haven't had any protein drinks yet but I am going to try for one this evening. The shoulder pain was really uncomfortable last night buy subsided after I took my pain meds. I have one incision today, I think near the port, that is kind of burning and pulling. The pain med takes the edge off. I am up 4lbs. from pre surgery weight and I know its from the swelling and the IV fluids that I had yesterday. I am on fluids until next Wed. then I can go to soft/mushy foods for two weeks after that, then on to solids. I will be out of town when I am to receive my first fill in September so I'm really not expecting a lot of weight loss until after that. I just need to remember to take one day at a time and to try to not be so hard on myself. Good luck to everyone:) Stephanie

I was just banded yesterday on the 27th. I haven't had any protein drinks yet but I am going to try for one this evening. The shoulder pain was really uncomfortable last night buy subsided after I took my pain meds. I have one incision today, I think near the port, that is kind of burning and pulling. The pain med takes the edge off. I am up 4lbs. from pre surgery weight and I know its from the swelling and the IV fluids that I had yesterday. I am on fluids until next Wed. then I can go to soft/mushy foods for two weeks after that, then on to solids. I will be out of town when I am to receive my first fill in September so I'm really not expecting a lot of weight loss until after that. I just need to remember to take one day at a time and to try to not be so hard on myself. Good luck to everyone:) Stephanie

Thank you Klariade. And congratulations on your amazing weight loss:) @ TabbyAnn, as long as my schedule permits it I would like to go to the meetings also. Glad to hear that you are doing so well too. I have been doing the ice chips and popsicles too for the dry mouth. I was really hungry yesterday, LOL, but not so much today. Don't think that I can handle the Protein shakes today either, they just seem so thick and heavy. Stephanie