Thats All Folks

Go see your nutritionist. They should've already established eating guidelines for you. They can tell you how many calories, Protein, carbs, etc. to eat a day.

It really doesn't matter if you eat three meals a day or six, all that matters is how many calories you're eating a day. Weight loss comes down to basic math- when you burn more than you consume you lose. Do you you track calories? If not, I would. It's the only way to be certain you're not eating too much or too little. Best wishes

That depends totally on you and your doctor. There is no set amount, in fact some people don't needed fills at all

But the band isn't supposed to physically stop you from eating. It will always be your job to control how much and what you eat. That's one of the biggest reasons it's so important to stick to band sized portions. Have a look at this link, I think it'll help: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html I have a friend who had similar issues when she was first banded. She had the primer fill and air removed and she was so much more comfortable and happy.

If you have a lot of swelling it's possible to be uncomfortable but it shouldn't hurt. What size is your band? What does your surgeon say about the pain?

I've lost over 200 pounds in almost 16 months, so yes, it works when we do the work.

Don't assume everything wrong with your stomach is because of your band. Appendicitis, gallbladder, or any number of unrelated issues could be going on. You definitely need to get into your doctor ASAP to figure out the cause.

Why does your doctor have you taking Prilosec? Do you have reflux? Reflux is not normal with the band and nor is having to take a product like Prilosec indefinitely.

They pay for mine, I just have to pay the 20% copay.

They have a good amount of protein, which is great. Do they taste decent?

Then wait 2 days and go to thicker liquids. Don't cheat or skip ahead on the steps, it's not worth the risks. Btw, I was on clear liquids for 2 weeks after surgery then full liquids for 2 weeks after that. It sucks but it can be done.

This is just my personal opinion, but I wouldn't use them. You can get Protein shakes with twice as much protein. I won't buy shakes unless they have at least 20g of protein. Best wishes.

If they did a CT scan then yes, but they don't do that for pre op. So, they won't know until they get into your stomach. There have been a couple people on these forums who've gone into surgery and come out with all the scars but no band because their liver was too big to safely continue the surgery. Unfortunately it's a risk we all take going into surgery but sticking to your pre op diet greatly reduces the risks.

That depends, when does your doctor say it's ok to have puree'd soups? If you're not supposed to have them yet, then no, it's not ok to have them. It's imperative you follow your post op diet exactly to give your body time to heal. Otherwise you're putting your health and band at a big risk. I know it's hard but this is a temporary phase. Hang in there.

Welcome! Ask lots of questions! Including: how many calories should you be eating per day? how much Protein should you be eating per day? are you limited on how many carbs you can eat daily? are there any restricted foods? what size meals should you be eating? Remember, there are no stupid questions and the more questions you ask the better prepared you'll be. Best wishes!

It's all about the size of your liver. If they go in and it's still too big to safely do the surgery, they'll sew you right back up without placing the band.

You have to remember, your stomach has been sutured and manipulated a lot. It takes 4-6 weeks for it to fully heal. It will take very little to aggravate your stomach during this healing time- and you're only week past surgery. More likely than not, it's just irritated. Btw, reflux is not at all normal with the band. If you are having reflux contact your surgeon. Best wishes.

You're likely still swollen from surgery. A huge bite of food was a definite bad idea. Are you even supposed to be eating food?

When a doctor retires, their patients are usually given to another doctor to handle their care (if they agree). Isn't anyone taking his patients? Were you originally banded in Mexico? I don't know this for sure but it seems if your port is infected it's a medical emergency. Surely there is a doctor to remove it?

Do you track your calories? That is the easiest way to make sure you're not eating too much (or too little) without realizing it. Weight loss is basic math: When you consume less calories than you burn, you lose. Tracking calories makes it easier to do that.

It can take a couple days, but if you're still having problems with liquids you should call your surgeon. You might need a tiny unfill.

I always have a Protein Shake for Breakfast but I'm fine within an hour or two of waking to eat if I wanted to. You can't eat real food until dinner? How do you get in enough healthy food daily? It sounds like you might actually be a tiny bit too tight.

They make OTC anti-nausea medication that you could try. It's really bad and you fear you're going to vomit, I'd call your doctor and ask him to call in a script for you. I keep Zofran (prescription anti-nausea med) on me at all times because I'm so afraid of vomiting with the band.

Age can help, but the amount of weight you have to lose plays a big part of it as well. So does genetics and skin elasticity. Unfortunately there's no way to know if you'll have excess skin or not until you lose the weight. I have lost over 200 pounds and have a lot of excess skin- but I can hide it easily under my clothes. I couldn't hide 200 pounds of fat. I'll take the extra skin over the extra fat any day.

Thanks for sharing! You look AMAZING!! Seeing your pics is the inspiration I need right now. I'm having a tummy tuck and (big) hernia repair on Wednesday and I gotta tell you, I'm scared to freak'n death lol. I know the recovery from this surgery is going to make past surgeries look like a cake walk. The part I'm dreading most is those drains. I've had them before and they are so uncomfortable! Do you still have yours in?