feliciadawn

Sounds like your Doc is selling you on what he wants you to have (or maybe what he gets paid more to give you?) like most US doctors...they beat around the bush and give you a BS story until you eventually do what they want you to do, which puts the most money in their pocket. I was banded in Mexico 3 weeks ago and had an amazing experience. I have the 11cc Realize band, which is the oldest band there is and has been revamped and improved. The band they are using the most here in the US these days is a 14 cc band, and most of the time when they put it on you, there is already a fill in it because it is too big for most people to get ANY restriction at all. So, then, you will need many more fills to get to your "sweet spot" since the band is so large, which puts even MORE money in the doctors pockets. Maybe i'm wrong about all of this, but I just get the worst feeling when I go to the doctor here, especially after the experience I had down there. It's all about money in this country, they don't care about you. You're just a number. SO...good luck, fight when you feel it's right, and take care of YOURSELF because they certainly are NOT out to take care of you.

I'm glad I found this post! I am still on my liquid diet for a few more days, and it seems like the after surgery air is gone, but ever since I started "full liquids" (adding creamy Soups and Protein shakes) I have the longest, loudest belches after I eat or drink. I can't control them, and if I don't get them out, it hurts or I get hicccups. Embarrassing but yeah, small price to pay I guess.

I've got 8 more days of liquids on my post-op diet. I am dreaming of fettucine alfredo, fried chicken, pot pie, and anything else you can think of... My doctor's post op diet is just 21 days of liquids, then straight to solids. No mushies! I think I am going to do a few days of mushies anyway, just to get used to eating again. So, my question is, what was the first thing you ate and how much were you able to eat? Are you able to eat more after a while, or will I never be able to eat more than half a cup of food? I'm already missing food..starting the food grieving period, I guess. I'm already planning on eating Soups or mushies when I go out to avoid any stuck episodes in restaurants...but what can you eat and not eat? Can you eat Pasta? I am so excited to be able to eat in time for Thanksgiving! Including the pre-op diet, I will have been on 5 weeks of liquids.

Have you ever tried Thai sweet chili sauce? I have been using it on egg beaters eggs for a while, started WAY before surgery and will continue as soon as I can eat real food again! It's SO good and hardly any calories with the fake eggs. Those babies kept me full half a day, even before surgery. You can also cook those in the microwave.

I was not judging anyone for getting fills or not getting fills.. For me, I would prefer not to have a needle stuck in me and then to have food be even harder to get down. I was simply saying that I would have loved for the band, unfilled, to be enough for me to lose the weight. I realize that the port is there for a reason and that's what the band is for...to be able to adjust it.. still, you gotta admit that losing a bunch without getting a fill would be nice.

So, since surgery day, if I bend over a little too far to the left (the side all of my incisions are on) I can feel a strange sensation against my ribs, as if something is rubbing against them. At first I thought it was the port, so called my doc and he said it could either be the port or the tubing. He says it's normal and that it would should stop after I build up scar tissue in there. But, 11 days out from surgery I am still feeling it. I lean to the right when I bend down and I feel like I can't relax when I sit in a straight - up position, I have to lean to the right. I find that if I cover it with my hand and push down on it a little when driving or bending down, it doesn't move as much. It doesn't hurt, it's just a VERY weird and annoying feeling. I am hoping it will stop, but if it doesn't, I may have to have it surgically moved down or something. It's driving me crazy.

Well, I definitely wouldn't call it "hell" at all! LOL! I am feeling great and even better now that I can have Protein. Just gotta find some low calorie protein shakes and watch the cream Soups, I guess. Can't wait to eat solid food. I was hoping I would be one of those who lost a hundred pounds without ever having a fill. I can still hope but...probably not, eh?

Ok, so after 7 days of clear liquids, I am now on a full liquid diet for two more weeks. Had some protein shakes and a cream soup today for the first time and they may have been the best thing I ever tasted, and I think the protein did me good since I really haven't had much to speak of for a week! BUT, I am now able to drink twice as much soup as I could before, and I drank my entire protein shakes then looked around for more. I am hungry and now that i'm on the protein, i'm worried the weight loss might stop..also, I'm worried that when I get to solid foods, I will be able to eat everything and won't lose weight. It feels like I could eat an entire dump truck right now. Can you guys tell me what it's like to feel full when you first start on solids?

Hot apple cider is great too. I like the powdered kind with some added cinnamon and cloves. It's especially good this time of year!

Used mine at Sweet Tomatoes last night and got to eat for the children's price (4.95). The girl who took our money was very nice and curious about the band and how it's working. It was so nice! All I had was soup since i'm on the liquids stage, so I'm greatful for the discount! I think i'll be saving a TON of money on food!

coffee is one of the things I am allowed on my clear liquid diet. Non dairy creamer, you can use powdered, or the coffee mate flavored yumminess in the milk section of the grocery store. My favorite is the amarretto. Just check the ingredients and make sure there is no milk or cream. I know they are full of sugar (er..corn syrup) and hydrogenated oils, but one or two tablespoons a day won't hurt you, and it feels like you actually get something yummy. I also bought some gingerbread flavored and starbucks coffee beans! YUM! Also, I keep reading about how coffee is really good for you, prevents cancer, etc.. One or two cups won't dehydrate you. It seems to actually help with my swelling a little, and gives me energy. Go for it! You'll feel like you got some dessert! LOL!

Hang in there! I still have most of those feelings I described when I posted this, but not nearly as bad. Went out to dinner (for some delicious Soup broth! MMMM!) last night, then walked around Target for about an hour and a half, and felt like I could go somewhere and do some more shopping! A few days ago, that little bit of activity would have tired me out. Today I get to try some drinkable yogurt. Last night I cheated a tiny bit (since today I can have milk anyway) and had a few bites of a cream based soup (watered down with broth) but the milk stayed down really well. I am a tiny bit lactose intolerant, so i'm going to start with soy yogurt today. One really weird thing, although I'm not really in pain anymore, just sore like I did a bunch of sit-ups, and still a little gassy... I think I can feel either my port or the tubing move. If I bend over to far to the left to pick something up or whatever, I can feel it. It feels like it's sort of bumping against my ribs. My doc said it's normal and I might feel it until the scar tissue builds up, but it's very unpleasant, and just WEIRD.

Thank you so much guys! This helps a lot. I was having an emotional basket case moment / panic attack last night...wondering what the H I had done to myself.

Been banded 6 days. Everything's been great except I don't seem to know my body anymore. I've been burping and there seems to be liquid I COULD burp up but i'm keeping it down. I feel like i'm more swollen than I was, and I think it's making my band feel tighter and making it so I can't get as much down. Could only eat about 1/2 cup of broth, sipping coconut Water and water now and it's staying down. Nothing has come up but I feel WEIRD. I have a growly stomach and I want food, but the thought of eating solid food right now makes me sick. Sick of Clear Liquids but scared to try anything creamy in a couple days when it's allowed. I think my swollen tummy is also making it harder to breathe. Sitting upright hurts, but laying back doesn't feel good either. Standing feels best. Went to two different stores and walked my dog today, afterwards I felt so tired and my stomach felt as if it had been stretched too far. Gas pains in my chest/under breast area that I didn't have before. Had the hiccups the other day, and they did NOT feel good either. Someone help! I'm probably being overdramatic but I'm sick of this already.

My surgery is this Friday (2 days..EEK!) and i've been on two protein shakes and one meal a day, and that meal has been soup this week and lean cuisines last week. Needless to say, I am HUNGRY. I did cheat on the weekend, and after a week of eating nothing but liquid (mostly) what I ate made me pretty sick. Good luck on your surgery! Soon we'll be banded wonders!

You should ask your primary doc for some anxiety meds, just to get you through until after surgery. Maybe even try something calming over the counter (of course, make sure it is okay to take it before surgery.) I considered doing this myself, but now my surgery is 2 days away so it's too late! I will drink a lot of chamomile tea and think calming thoughts. Ugh.

Hi! Mine and my sister's surgery is scheduled for Friday too! I am also very nervous, never had surgery before for ANYTHING, not even a tooth, so I have no idea how i'll react to the anesthesia. Praying and hoping for an easy, smooth, quick surgery with no unexpected issues. Good luck to you, too!

You are probably out and in recovery by now! It's about 7:40am Tues. Let us know how you are doing! Mine is Friday.

Good luck! Mine is Friday. Nervous nervous! I won't REALLY be excited until i'm done with the surgery and back to myself again

My sister and I are both having our surgeries with Dr Ortiz in Tijuana on Friday (OMG that's in 5 days!) we are so so so nervous. Driving from Vegas to San Diego and parking, then being picked up by the Obesity Control Center's shuttle to go to the Marriott down there, then surgery next morning. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what to bring to make our experience more comfortable. I'm almost more worried about the 6 hour drive home than I am about the surgery. We will be down there for 4 nights, so hoping to feel a little better by the time we have to drive back. Here's what i've got packed so far comfy clothes slip on shoes nausea and gas meds tylenol bras w/out underwire heating pad this is so weird! I've never had surgery and now i'm going to Mexico for the first surgery of my life. Seems crazy. I wish it was this time next week already, we'd be done and recovering in our hotel please help!

Not looking forward to this. Anybody using neosporin to help the incisions heal faster? My surgery is at the end of this month. EEK! I will keep the benadryl in mind.

I would also like to know if anyone else feels this bad. I am pre-surgery and would like to know what to expect.

I am almost glad that I will get to be on both sides after I lose this weight. It makes me mad at the people in my life. I know it's natural to be more drawn to people who "look healthy" no matter what their sex,; women are drawn to make friends with other women who look good, men are more attracted to women who look "healthy" (and who are smaller than them, thereby giving them more of a "manly" feeling since they are all insecure and most wouldn't accept a woman who is larger than they are) it's really, really gross and horrible. I am single, I have had a few relationships, and my weight has been a factor, whether in my own mind or their's, in every single one of my relationships. I have forgone dating now until I lose the weight because I cannot fathom, on top of all the other things to worry about and deal with when you are dating, fitting into a restaurant booth or a movie theater seat, not to mention the physical part of it when things get more serious. It's hard not to be angry at the world for the fact that everything is made for a certain size, and if you are over that size, it's just too bad for you - you get to feel like you are less worthy, less beautiful, and less of a person because you are not the average size of the rest of the population. I am hoping with all my heart that the band will help me to lose the weight, feel better about myself, and enable me to start living again. But, I wish it didn't have to be that way. I wish we were all accepted as we are. No matter how much I deny it, although one of the biggest reasons I am getting the band is for my own health, an even bigger reason is that I want to look good, feel good, and be accepted and liked by others.

I haven't been banded yet, scheduled for the end of October in Mexico with Dr Ortiz. I do know,however, that the band is an object. It is supposed to be built to last a long time, but like any other false implant such as hips, knees, etc; it is going to need to be replaced or revamped someday. I know this going in, and for me, it is still less risk than getting a part of my stomach cut out or re-routed. I'm sorry but anytime a bodily organ has to be removed or cut, it is much higher risk than just putting something in. I may feel differently a year or two after my surgery, but for now, this is best for me. My cousin has had her band in for 7 years or so. She had to have her port replaced a month or two ago, a very minor surgery - I have also read that people have had to have the tube replaced due to leaks or that the tube is now too long because they lost so much weight that it now needs to be re-lengthened. Stil, I am choosing the band because it is adjustable, completely reversable, and according to statistics, the lowest risk of all weight loss surgeries.

Glad i'm not alone on this. Maybe the band will actually HELP it! One of the doctors i've seen said it sounded like a form of reflux, and that the band would make it go way. Let's hope!