Poodlelover56

Why are you so discouraged? Did you prepare yourself for this surgery? I am 24 days out. Just started solids the other day. I am weighing my protein, eating meals on a small plate, chewing well, trying to savor every bite. I am sticking with healthy choices, no junk food. I have not had a fill yet , but I am satisfied with my portions. But you have to put in the emotional work. Like everyone says, the band is a tool. YOU control what goes in to your mouth, not the band. Do the work. This is no quick or easy fix. But going by all the successes I have read here, I choose to have faith that the band will help me to change my life. What's the alternative? Staying fat and uncomfortable with low self esteem and the eventuality of obesity related diseases. No Thanks! Good luck. Keep in touch. I love these message boards.

It sounds like your where you should be. It doesn't sound like your friend is following the band rules very well.

Wow! What a wonderful group of posts to read through! I found myself smiling! I am only banded 3 weeks, but down 22 lbs since my first visit to the surgeon on 8/17. I am now back in clothes I was wearing a year or so ago but had gained 20 lbs last year. So, it feels great to be wearing my size 16 's again, but the next 10 lbs will get me in to a new area and hopefully a new size! I haven't had a fill yet, but I am managing to stay at 1000 cals or less and getting in good protein. So your posts were SO inspirational. Keep em coming!

The nurse practitioner told me that after surgery, your new pouch is the size of a walnut! A Walnut!! That's so tiny. So it's no wonder that the first several days can be so difficult. My surgeon doesn't put any fluid in the band. Did yours? Just take it slow, take pain med if you need it. And don't expect too much too soon. It's a real process. I just started solids ( banded 10/12) and it feels great to eat again. You will get there too. Also, call your surgeon if you are unsure about some of the symptoms you feel. I found that to be helpful and reassuring. Keep us posted!!

Thanks for all the replies. I had my first visit to the dietician and NP today. The NP told me the fatigue is very normal so I felt a little better. And the dietician advanced me to solids!! Yay! She was so helpful in giving me guidelines. I had brought her print outs from the "my fitness pal" app where I've been tracking my food. It was helpful for her to review it and give me suggestions. She also felt that the B12 strips do nothing for energy. My B12 level pre op was normal and what the body doesn't need, it excretes in urine. So, I'm on my way!

I was banded on the 12th. It will be three weeks tomorrow! I still have periods of time where I feel exhausted. I'm still on mushies/soft foods but getting my protein in. I had arthroscopic knee surgery 4 weeks before my lap band. I'm thinking that I was just hit with a double whammy and thats why I am so tired. I started sub lingual B12 several days ago. Any thoughts? I work part time as a nurse with a busy pediatrician in a busy office. Yesterday was my first day out on the floor with patents. Maybe that's what did me in. I just want my vitality back. It's a little frustrating.

I was banded on the 12th and at my first post op visit with the surgeon 9 days later, I was still in a ton of shoulder pain. He said it would go away. Well, it lasted another 5 days and then it gradually went away. So he was right. And interestingly, I was passing tons of gas for several days before the pain resolved. I took about 2 of my percocettes a day until it was gone. So, hang in there It does go away. Gas x did nothing for me, but the heating pad was comforting. Good luck!!

You are still healing. So there is likely some swelling still.

Good luck to your wife tomorrow!

I love the idea. Need to think about it.

Hi Jess ! I was banded on the 12 th too. I am very surprised you already had saline in your band! No wonder you were sick. I won't get a fillbfor three more weeks. Your belly needs time to heal.

I was just telling my husband that I have not had a headache, except for day 2 on pre op liquids, and the day after surgery. I am now 16 days out and have not had a headache. I agree that sugar is the devil and we are smart to steer clear of it. I think that so much of my sluggishness and headaches were definitely related to the sugar/ carb loading that I was doing pre band. So glad to be banded and gaining insights from all the support at this site. Maybe some people can handle sugar, but I know that's not me.

What's wrong with 10 lbs in three weeks? That's fabulous! Be happy with your success!

Ditto to all said. Love the site. On it every day. It's a lifeline to all the bandsters out there.

I've lost 21 since pre op. I was banded 10/12. My first fill is in three weeks. I get hungry but I'm using the " my fitness pal" website to track my protein, cals ,etc. It tracks everything. I love it. Even though I get hungry, I am trying to stick with a program of eating about 1000 cals and keeping my protein over 65 gm per day. Keeping track is keeping me focused while I enter bandsters hell. I continue to lose. I see the nutritionist next wednesday. The " my fitness pal" site even let's you enter your weight and how quickly you want to lose. It then calculates how many cals you should have. I like the visual aids. It helps me stay focused. Check it out.

Everyone seems to have their " trigger foods". All we can do is keep them out of our houses. Usually the triggers are some kind of carb snack, so I find that if I keep the carbs low, the cravings stay away.

You can get protein and calories with cottage cheese, chobani yogurt, carnation sugar free breakfast with skim milk. I am in the mushie stage. I can't purée my food. I just chew, chew, chew and it seems to go down fine.

I am 15 days post op and had severe shoulder pain up until a few days ago. It was awful. It's too bad you can't take a pain killer. That's what I took my percocette for, not the incision pain. I only took 1-2 a day but it took the edge off. But... It WILL go away!

It is hard to understand how you didn't lose a pound. The two weeks of liquids pre op should've taken off a chunk right then. I am only two weeks banded ( yest) but I know this is more about your mental/ emotional state going in to this than anything. What kind of support systems did you have post op? My bariatric center requires a 12 week post op program that includes ( each week) , nutrition counseling, exercise , and a check in with the nurse practitioner. Plus there are post op support groups monthly at the hospital. You have to put the work in. I'm sorry you are in such a state. I hope you get the help you need. It's out there. You have to take advantage of it and help yourself.

I am on the mushie foods stage, which sounds like pureed/ soft foods. I tried to purée my oatmeal the first morning and it was horrible. So now I just chew it up and have had no issues. I'm two weeks today. I've been eating a lot of what Cbreeden28 has been eating. But I'm going to try sime egg salad and peanut butter tomorrow. I'm a little bored with this stage but my daily calories are coming in at 1000 or less with 50 -60 gums protein, so I guess I'm ok.

I'm two weeks banded and I've been able to sleep on my stomach almost from the beginning.

I also had derma bond on my incisions. Banded 10/12. They have healed nicely. No need for ant biotic ointment. I just don't scrub the area when I shower, just let the water clean them. Surgeons know what they are talking about, especially when it comes to wounds that they create!

This is only my personal opinion, based on how I run my life, but: I have been very open about my surgery with co-workers( I'm a nurse in a private practice), my family, and many of my friends. I feel that the more I am open about this gigantic change in my life, the more supportive people will be. And so far, it has been true. My friends and family have applauded my brave decision to have this life changing surgery. I'm not ashamed of it. They all know I'm overweight and have watched my struggles with trying to lose. Now they can share in my victory and support me along the route. Good luck to you on your journey!