Thats All Folks

It's shocking, isn't it? I look up some meals I used to eat and I about faint. I used to eat Taco Bell a lot. It wasn't uncommon for me to eat a taco salad, two meximelts, and an empanada. That comes out to be over 1600 calories! That's more than I now eat in an entire day!

I try to get in the most nutrients and Protein when I do eat because my appetite is so poor most days. For instance, when I snack I eat things like string cheese or a piece of deli lunch meat. For meals, I always eat protein first and then veggies. If I know I'm not eating enough then I'll have a Protein shake to help make up for it. It's not easy but you learn as you go. Be patient, you'll get there

You have a very large, very major nerve that is effected by the band. It's called the Vagus nerve. Part of what the band does is stimulate that nerve into sending a signal to your brain to make you feel satisfied on very little food. It also dims the hunger signals. For some people, it's a bit over-stimulated and they feel the left shoulder pain you're speaking of. Thankfully, the majority do find it passes a couple months after their band surgery. For others, that shoulder pain you speak of becomes their signal they've eaten too much and need to stop eating immediately. My best advice is to measure your portions and be sure to stick to a cup or less of food. When you drink, drink small slow sips. Good luck!

I was speaking the truth, nothing more and nothing less. I don't coddle anyone- ever. I simply state the facts regardless if the facts are liked or not.

Mine was even stricter than yours It was 8 weeks before I was back on normal foods. I had 2 weeks of Clear Liquids, 2 weeks of full liquids, 2 weeks of mushy food, and 2 weeks of soft food.

So incredible!! Congratulations!!

Yes, food definitely can still get stuck with a stretched pouch. The pouch is above the band and while it can stretch, the band doesn't. So, food can still get stuck trying to pass from the stretched pouch through the band.

That is a very small weight fluctuation. Your weight can go up or down 3 pounds in just one day. Sodium, hormones, not drinking enough Water, etc can all effect your weight. I wouldn't worry about it at all. You're tracking your calories and exercising. It'll come back off and likely take another pound or two with it.

That's awesome!! Isn't it the best feeling? I remember it vividly!! Congratulations!

Are you having any problems with food, or is it just pills? Also, be careful cutting or crushing pills. You should always ask your pharmacist first because some pills are time release and cutting/crushing them can lead to an accidental over dose. I'm not sure why your pills would suddenly make you nauseous. Stuck, I get. But nauseous is a little more difficult to figure out. It makes me wonder if possibly it's not passing through your band immediately, sitting in your stoma, and irritating it. If I were in your shoes, I'd give your band doctor a call and get his advice. Best wishes.

Headaches are common on the liquid diet both pre and post op. The reason is, you're likely not getting enough nutrients. Can you take Vitamins? If so, definitely do. If you can add another Protein shake (or two) in it will help as well. Also, can you have caffeine? For me, Tylenol alone is useless but if I have some caffeine with it (like strong coffee) it helps my headaches. This is why they put caffeine in Excedrin, too. Hang in there!

Mine have shrank a lot. I've gone from a 46G to a 36DD. Granted a DD is still a large cup but it's a heck of a lot better than a G!

For me, it was almost 5 months the first time. This most current time, I've been in it 7 months and am still going strong in it.

You trusted your doctor to cut you open and do your surgery, so trust in his advice for your post op diet too. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of his plan or if you like it, all that matters is that you follow it. Stick to the plan exactly (macaroni and cheese isn't on it and nor are mashed potatoes yet). It's not worth risking damage to your stomach or your band.

Either you're taking too big of bites, eating too fast, or your band is too tight. If this continues through the weekend, call your doctor. If you find you can't swallow liquids, go to the ER.

I love Beans and eat them regularly- all different kinds. Granted I don't track or restrict carbs anyway, but they are a great source of Protein and keep me satisfied for a very long time.

Yes. Dramatically so. When I was over 200 pounds heavier, I was pretty much treated like a Leper. I'd get openly mocked in grocery stores, looked at with disdain in restaurants, and pretty much shunned by store clerks. I can't tell you how many times I was ignored when trying to get sales help. Now, I can go into the same stores and restaurants and be treated like royalty. Sales people trip over themselves to help me (even when I don't need it). Men who would've likely let a door close in my face before now hit on me. ...and this all seriously pisses me off. I'm the same person, with the same personality, and the same worth as I was when I was 200 pounds heavier. The only difference is now my packaging is a bit different. Fat discrimination is alive and well, trust me.

Protein. This is one of the reasons doctors stress the importance of eating protein first when having meals. Carbs simply don't have the satiety power that protein does.

With all due respect, this isn't true at all. It doesn't matter how much you chew your food, if you're on mushy or liquid phase then that should be the consistency before you put it in your mouth. If doctors just wanted food chewed til mush then that is what they'd say- but they don't. They are very specific about it being liquids, mushy, soft, etc. Your stomach is seriously manipulated, sutured, and outright injured during surgery. The whole purpose of the post op diet is to allow the stomach time to heal. By not following your doctor's post op diet exactly, you risk ripping those stitches and/or causing a slip. Everyone needs to follow their own surgeon's post op diet exactly- no exceptions or variations.

Those body wraps work on either dehydration, heat, or a combination of both. Any results are temporary and will be reversed if you stop using the product regularly. You can try to avoid loose skin as you lose weight- stay hydrated, exercise, and don't smoke- but the bottom line is once you already have lose skin there is no way to shrink it. You either have it removed via plastic surgery or you live with it.

Call your doctor, tell him exactly what you did, and let him decide if your band needs to be checked. In the meantime, go back to your post op diet. The last thing you need is to rip out a stitch in your stomach or cause a slip.

I use the Jergens Firming lotion twice a day. It won't help with loose skin (nothing will) but it does help lessen the wrinkly appearance. It makes it look a little smoother. But like I said, it won't actually tighten loose skin.

It's possible you're eating too fast, too big of bites, or too much. Burping is very common with the band. For some people, it's their soft stop telling them they're done eating.

I hate to say it, but it's expected. We're all guilty of it- we feel we can tell our significant other things that we're not supposed to share with anyone. We feel like telling our partner doesn't count as telling someone because they're our partner. It's almost like there's an unspoken rule- if you tell someone something, chances are good their significant other knows too. Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I'd let it go. In fact, I'd be happy his boyfriend cared enough to wish you well. Just reiterate to them both not to repeat the information to others.

I had a HUGE increase in energy. I went from needing a cane to get around my house to walking 2 miles a day (no more cane). My entire life has changed dramatically.