bluetigereyes

The things you ate were high in carbs, fat, and sodium. I would not doubt if it was a combination of both the diet and salt. Today is a new day....dont look back and get stuck on what went wrong, look forward and make the changes that can affect your future. You cant change the past, but you have full control over your future

I had my surgery on Dec 22nd, That was a Thursday. I took Friday off (and we got Monday off for the Christmas holiday) and I was back to work on Tuesday. If you have the surgery on a Thursday, you can take Thurs and Friday off and be back to work without problems. I work for the hospital where I had mine done, I chose not to tell anyone at work as well. There was 1 person that found out (due to looking in my medical record) and confronted me. I went to my boss and told him that she violated HIPPA and that was the end of that. Its totally your choice to tell people or not. I, personally, felt it was better not to tell everyone, i would rather let the results speak for themselves. They see me in the lunchroom eating healthy, so as far as they know I'm just doing all the right things.

I have been banded since 12/22, and I burp like theres no tomorrow! I also get the loudest growling in my stomach...its pretty funny. I gained 5lbs from the time of my surgery to my first fill....my doctor says that is totally normal. although since I got my first fill this past monday, i have lost 2lbs and feeling great. My prot flipped, so I had to get my port repositioned before my fill, but I feel so good now. I am having some pain at the new port site (my poor stomach has SO many scars on it now, but I know that these are good scars in the long run), but I'm only a few days out from having that incision. Go ahead, let those burps out....remember, theres more room outside than there is inside!

I can so totally relate! I burp SO MUCH since surgery. I am 2 months post op, just had my first fill 4 days ago, and I have noticed that I have burped way more than every before. Also, my stomach growls so loud, I wonder if other people in my office hear it! Its not growling because I'm hungry, its just noisy!

I was banded on 12/22, I was not hungry for 2-3 days after surgery, then I was satisfied with just some chicken broth (warm was so soothing!) for about another 2 days. Then after that, my hunger started returning but I was satisfied with having a protein shake. My real hunger didnt fully return until about week 2, then it was HOLY COW, I needed food! haha. Dont be upset if you gain a couple of pounds before your first fill, this is totally normal. I gained 5 lbs before my first fill, but since I had my fill on Monday, I have already lost 2 lbs. Just make sure to get up and walk alot, that helps both the pain and the gas

Dont focus on the scale too much right now. You may lose while on the liquid diet, but as soon as you go on mushies/soft foods, you will plateau. In fact, I gained 5lbs before my first fill. I was worried about it and talked to my dr, he said its normal and not to stress over it. I just had my first fill on Monday and so far have lost 2lbs since my fill. Dont let yourself get discouraged, its normal. Remember, you are still swollen inside, you are retaining alot of water and typically the liquid diet is high in sodium. then when you get on mushies, you will have alot of carbs (because lets face it, mushy foods are not very high in protein/low in carbs). You may lose a little, you may gain a little before your fill. Right now there is nothing in your band, so by week 4, your appetite will be back with a screaming vengance...thats when it gets hard (as I sit heere with my stomach growling ever so loudly haha)

I had my surgery on Dec 22nd, and still not in that elusive 'green zone'. I have had my own version of 'bandster hell' due to my port flipping. I just got that fixed this past Monday and was able to get my first fill. I do feel a little restriction, but I'm hungry every couple of hours and my stomach starts growling so loud I think my whole office can hear it! I know it does take a while to find that sweet spot, dont get discouraged, just keep going in for your fills and tell the doctor exactly how much you can eat and how often you are hungry. That will help him/her to determine how much to add to your band each fill.

I go back in on March 5th for my second fill. The doctor said 2-3 weeks, and when I scheduled my appointment they set it out for 3 weeks. I stepped on the scale today, and i'm down 2lbs since Monday. I'm so relieved! I had gained 5lbs over the past 3 weeks, so its good to have 2 of those off....its so great to see and feel results!

Well, its too soon for your body to be on full regular foods. You should go back to soft/mushy foods for a little longer while you heal. I was the same way, when I started eating regular food, I could eat anything and everything I wanted. When I went in at 6 weeks for my first fill, the doctor said that was a good thing because it shows you are healing well. I could not get my fill at 6 weeks because my port flipped, so I just had my first fill this past Monday. I can tell you, I do feel some restriction (I am full with 1 scrambled egg or 1/2 cup chili) but I'm not at that 'sweet spot' where it holds me over for 4-5 hours. I am hungry every 2 hours. I have a 14 cc band, and when I got my first fill, the doctor put in 6.5cc, I go back in 3 weeks for my next fill and to check the incision site where he had to go in and flip my port back over. I'm feeling good, and hoping that with this fill I will start to see the scale drop again.

I am almost 2 months post op, the gas pains are the worst the first 2-3 weeks. Get up and walk as much as you can. Heathing pads and a nice HOT shower help too. I still get the intestinal gas, especially after my protein shakes (which I'm sure has to do with the milk and me being lactose intolerant). I just had my first fill on Monday, and can feel a little restriction. I'm not where I need to be yet, but I can feel a difference which is a positive feeling. Good Luck and just remember to keep moving

it almost sounds like you have a hernia at your port site, I would contact your surgeon and have him/her look at it.

Well, I had my port revised yesterday since it flipped, and have to say, that was a truly interesting experience! The doctor did the procedure in his office, just numbed the area really well and opened me up, took out my port, examined it, and did my first fill. He added 6.5cc to my band (I have a 14cc band), then put the new port in, sewed it into place and stitched me up. It was the strangest feeling, having his hand inside my stomach feeling around, tugging, and feeling things move....its beyond words to try to describe. Today I'm feeling good, just have some pain around the incision, but I'm back to work (I went after work yesterday so didnt miss any work at all). I could tell this morning, after eating some scrambled eggs, that I do have a little restriction. I couldnt finish 2 scrambled eggs, but was hungry after about 3 hours...my stomach is growling so loud people walking by my cubicle at work can practically hear it LOL I'm not complaining though....I'm a happy girl today!

I had to have my gallbladder out 2 years ago, at my post op visit, I talked to my doc (hes the same one that did my band-after Gall bladder surgery) about the band, He told me that its better to have your gallbladder out before lap band because about 70% of patients eventually have to have it out after the band. The problem is, when you have a surgery like that, they have to totally empty your band and you have to start over from scratch having it filled after you have healed from the gallbladder

OK, I got my port fixed and my first fill. I asked the doctor how much my band holds, and he said it is a 14 cc band, he added 6 1/2 cc today. I have to admit, having my port turned back over was an interesting experience to say the least. It was NOT painful, my doctor was gentle and made sure if I felt any pain he would add more novacaine. It was strange to feel him moving and tugging in my stomach and to raise my head and see him examining my port. He did my fill before suturing it back in. I am now having my protein shake for dinner. I can feel a little restriction but its a good feeling!!! I'm a happy girl now

I am dying to find out if there have been any new developments on this. I have thought about you and what happened alot. I hope things are going well!

TOPS stands for "Take Off Pounds Sensibly" It is an amazing weight loss support group. I was the area captain for TOPS for several years in Idaho. There are TOPS chapters all over the world, go to www.tops.org and there is a place to find a meeting near you. I wish you the best of luck, I am just starting on my 'band journey' as I just had my band placed on Dec 22nd. I am going in this afternoon for a revision of my port since it flipped. Not a deal breaker complication for me, just a speed bump in my journey.

Well, the first 2 weeks after surgery, you probably won't have an appetite and will be on liquid diet, then you proceed to mashies and soft foods for a few more weeks. But by week 4 your appetite is back with a vengeance. I was told to keep a food journal for 3 days before every fill so the dr can see how much you can eat and that helps determine how much of a fill to give you. Hope that helps. Also, after surgery you will have a lot of gas, make sure to get up and walk....ALOT!!! That helps more than you can imagine

I went in for my first fill on Feb 1st (it didnt happen due to my port flipping over, but thats a different story). My Dr is going to put 4-5 cc for the first fill, then I will be able to go back every 2 weeks for fills until I'm at a good restriction. I go in today to get my port flipped back over and my first fill...so, I am really hoping I feel some restriction at 4cc

KR, I am doing well. I did have a minor complication, my port has flipped. I am going in today to have my port flipped back over and get my fill. I was supposed to get my first fill on Feb 1st, but due to my port flipping, that had to be postponed. I am looking forward to getting my first fill and being able to start to feel some restriction. I am told all the time that I dont look as heavy as I am, I am 5'3" and weigh 250 right now. I am 40 years old....I know what you mean about wanting to live again! I have 3 kids (ages 9-12) and want to be able to have the energy to get out with them this summer and go on bike rides, hikes, and all the active things they love to do. I know that by this summer I should be down a little more and hoping my energy really kicks into high gear too.

What a great idea...I was wondering how many other single people are on this forum. I'm 40 from the Boise, Idaho area. I am divorced with 3 kids (ages 12, 11, 9) Deanna

Congrats on taking the first step towards a healthier YOU! I am a foodie too, I always have been the one to reward myself with food....but I am looking at new ways to reward myself since I had my band placed. I just had mine on Dec 22nd, so I am still a 'newbie' with the band, but can tell you, even though I've had my share of setbacks, I am still just as glad today that I have it. Have you ever had surgery before? Don't let yourself get too worked up over 'going under'. Talk to the anesthesiologist prior to the surgery, they will offer you something to help relax (much stronger than valium!) you while you wait in the pre-op area. I was not nervous at all, so I turned it down, but they came in and offered it to me 3 times prior to my surgery. As they were wheeling me into the OR, they gave me something and I was out...I dont remember anything until waking up in the recovery room. The band is the tool to help you get to the new you. You will have to make changes and some sacrifices as well, but know that it is for the best. You can do this!!!

First of all....CONGRATS!!! My insurance did the same thing (and I have a BCBS plan as well). It all depends on the coverage that your employer elects for the policy. I had my surgery Dec 22nd and did not have an issues with the insurance processing my claims. Everything got paid within a month of my surgery. Dont pinch yourself too hard, this is real, you are one step closer to reaching your goal!

I am going in today to have my port fixed and my first fill, I'm excited and nervous. I know that he is going to start my first fill with 3-4 cc and go from there. I'm hoping that is enough to feel some restriction. I'm nervous about getting cut open, yet again. I just hope that it doesnt hurt too bad since I am having it done at 4pm today and still have to be back at work tomorrow. (and tomorrow I have a day packed full of meetings so I will be sitting most of the day ugh) I wish I knew how or why my port flipped, but there is really no explanation. My Doctor did tell me this was a new port he was using and he is not happy with it as he has had 2 flip totally over and 3 flip sideways...I dont know if he is going to totally replace the port or just flip it back over and stitch it down. I dont care, either way other than I want it to be done and I want to be on the road once again to losing. One thing I have learned about myself though, I need to be more patient and take the speed bumps slow and steady....because going as fast as I can over them is not always an option

I have seen a few people post on the forum that they are in Idaho. I would love to be able to get a group of us together, I know that support is a HUGE benefit and the more support we can get, especially locally, the better. I adore Jamee, she is an amazing person and is in the perfect position as the coordinator for Dr. Anderson. She knows her stuff and is a true testament of success. I'm here if you have any questions. Deanna