Rongen62

I have crystal light and the Walmart brand drink mixes every where. I keep several flavors so I never get tired of just one. I do drink plain Water too but, I am not a big fan. I even keep the crystal light packs in my purse so that no matter where I am, I mix up a bottle!

I am 4-1/2 months out. I have not reached the green zone yet. I am however, eating a lot smaller portions than I did before my surgery. I struggle every day with the dreaded "head Hunger". I am learning to sit and listen to my body. When I reach for something to eat, I have to be really still and feel my body. Am I really hungry or is it that old head hunger rearing it's ugly head. Every day is a struggle and a lesson.

I do! If I eat just one bite too much, my left shoulder hurts. I read some where that it is where the band is on a nerve and when you overeat it causes it to put pressure on that nerve. It is enough to make me not want to eat too much!

In my opinion, he's just trying to scare you. If something gets really stuck, they empty out the band completely and it passes through. I know this because I had the very unpleasant experience myself. I would bet that no one on here has ever had to have something surgically removed- ask around.

I eat bread, usually wheat flat breads, it works better toasted, and occasionally rice or Pasta. I can't eat the volume of those foods that I used to, but if I eat my Protein first, I don't have more than a few bites before I'm satisfied.

I would have thought the same thing if I did not know of two people personally, who had to have something retrieved that was stuck. on one,they did an unfill and that did not help so, her doctor had to go in and retrieve it. It was a dinner roll she had eaten. The way it was explained to me was that bread and Pasta swells and can swell enough to cover the hole enough that it will not pass through, even with an unfill. I just honestly don't want to risk it.

I drink a lot of Crystal Light. I try to drink plain Water as well. I don't drink any caffeine since having my surgery. All I drank before was coke and sweet tea. I buy the Walmart brand of crystal light as well and it is just as good and a lot cheaper. Like Carolina Girl.....I have it at home, at work and in my purse. I am never without it! I guess it is my new obsession! LOL

I agree with Veronica. It is not from lack of Protein. Your body will go into shock after surgery and weight loss. Any time your body goes through a sudden change, this will happen. I have pernicious anemia and have had it most of my life. I have to take B- 12 shots every month. If my blood count goes down, my hair will start to fall out about three months later. It will continue to fall out for 2-3 months. It always grows back and usually comes back really curly!

I only told one co-worker. I have only told my immediate family and a couple of close friends. People can be so judgemental about things they know nothing about. I felt that I did not need the negativity and chose to limit those I told. One day, after I have achieved my goal, I may tell but, then again, I may not.

My doctor sad no bread, rice or Pasta. He said that it could swell and cause it to get so stuck that it would have to be surgically removed. I sure don't want to have more surgery so, I have avoided those things.

My doctor told me no bread, rice or Pasta so, I have stayed away from it. He said that those things can get stuck and sometimes would be stuck bad enough that he would have to go back in surgically and retrieve whatever was stuck. I really don't want to have to have more surgery.

^{I had my surgery on a Monday and went back the following Tuesday. I waited until after my follow up appointment to go back. Probably could have gone back before but, it didn't hurt to have those extra days of rest.}

My doctor requires that you drink one bottle of Water before you leave the office. That way, if you are too tight, they can go ahead and do an unfill right then. After that it is liquids for the rest of the day and back to normal eating as tolerated. I usually drink a Protein Shake the next morning and then eat scrambled eggs for lunch. If I don't have problems with that, I try to eat a normal supper.

I am struggling with this too. I have had 3 fills and I am at 4cc in a 10 cc band. This last fill is getting close but, not there yet. The head hunger is about to get the best of me. I try to sit a minute and really FEEL my stomach. I try to figure out whether I an really hungry or if it is just in my head. I hope this gets easier when I finally get to my green zone.

First, Congrats on the weight loss! That is awesome!

I too have people who do this to me as well. I will post that I have lost weight and post progress pictures and there is always someone who wants to tell you about THEIR program or give advice. I am like HELLO? I am losing weight why do i need your advice? I have not told many people about having lap band surgery so, I just respond to those people by telling them that I have already tried every fad diet program known to man and they did not work for me. I also tell them that I am following the advice of my doctor and nutritionist. It is aggravating and it is almost like they don't think you have lost enough. It is crazy!

So glad you posted this. I am the same way. Eat healthy all day and have a good dinner the, BAM 8:00pm and the head hunger starts. I live in a house full of skinny people who can eat any and everything so there is always some kind of junk in the house. I feel so guilty after I eat this stuff! The only good thing is that since my lap band surgery, I can no longer eat as much as I used to be able to eat. Now if i can just concur this evil head hunger completely!

If I eat just one bite too much, my left shoulder hurts. I don't like to hurt so I am trying to pay close attention to my "fullness"

Any time I have surgery, I have horrible breath for a while. Also, when you are in ketosis, your breathe will smell funky! I keep sugar free gum and mints with me all the time! LOL

I have a friend who had the sleeve just a couple of weeks after I had my lap band surgery. She is happy with her decision and so am I. She has lost a lot more weight quicker than I have but, my surgeon told me that over a two year period the weight loss was, on average the same for both. People who get the sleeve lose a lot of weigh very quickly up front and those with lap band lose steadily over a period of time.

I think it comes down to your preference. I was not keen on having my anatomy permanently changed. I like the fact that lap band can be reversed if need be. I am steadily losing weight and I happy with the results. Talk to your surgeon and find out the pros and cons of both. Good Luck!

Sorry you got stuck but, the story sure was funny!

I don't have one......yet! That is the reward I am giving to myself when I reach my goal weight. I have already designed it. It will represent my being set free from my weight loss struggle!

Mine is tender if I lean against something.....like the washer! I have noticed more tenderness above the port incision. It is more in the muscle above the port. It even feels kind of hard sometimes. Another question for the doctor when I go back next week!

I have eaten steak but, by the time you chew it to death, it taste like I have been chewing on card board. I have had the same problem with pork chops too! meat just does not hold the appeal for me that it used to. I can handle chicken, hamburger and any kind of fish or seafood. My taste in food has definitely changed!

Great question. I get it! I live in Alabama and lately the climate has been messing with my band. Sometimes I can't eat anything at all until after 11 or 12 a.m.. Then all of a sudden I can eat way too much! What is the deal! I feel like I could go insane! I think I still need a fill. I am at 9 cc in my 14 cc band. I still have to work on and figure out this new life... I just am very thankful for this wonderful site. I wouldn't know what to do with out all you wonderful people/family. love you all.

I am glad it is not just me! I live in Alabama too and it is the same way. On cold days I feel tighter and hot days not so much. Does the weather affect the band? I love the way I feel in the mornings. I get up a 5am and can't eat anything until about 9am. I try to drink in the hours before I do eat. I can't wait until I have restriction all day.

Wow! Way to go! You are looking good!

Being as you're more than 2 months past surgery it's highly unlikely to be surgery related. My stomach is the same way but I have very large hernias that have to be fixed very soon, too. In fact I already had one get strangulated this past August.

I would have your doctor check it out, just to be safe.

I am sorry, I meant to reply to your earlier post. I don't have a hernia. Thankfully, I have a very good doctor and he checks everything out post and pre op. This is more of a bloated soft swelling. It is not painful at all. I have an appointment next week and will ask about it then. I don't feel that it is serious enough to warrant a phone call. I mainly posted the question because I was curious about whether anyone else had a lot of bloating after lapband. Thank you for your thoughts!

I use pure Emu oil. I have used it for years and it works. My daughter had a bad scrape on her face and the surgeon was waiting for it to heal so that he could do some lazer surgery on it. I used the Emu oil on it until we went back. It healed so well that he did not have to do anything and now recommends it to all of his patients.