Jewelsm1127

I think it's definitely normal. I couldn't so much as sleep on my stomach for at least two weeks post op. now at four weeks it doesn't bother me at all.

Banded 12/21. My stomach growls all the time and makes other rumbling noises. Even drinking water makes my stomach growl...even though I just ate an hour ago! I don't mind it. However, in the first couple of weeks I kept thinking I was hungry...because we associate a growling stomach with hunger. But I realized there is no way I'm hungry when I've just eaten...I don't even feel hungry. And it does pass. So I chalk it off to digestion and try to roll with it.

First, I hope your husband doesn't get jealous of George! :-) Second, I am. I don't go to docs and do things unnecessarily. Even the people in my family and friends that know me well darn well know I'm serious and committed if I went through all this. However, I still haven't picked out a name for my band. I'd like too, but it hasn't come to me yet. :-)

Felix - The vets will chime in here. My theory is that they give us this post op diet and timeline for a reason...even though we feel ok, it takes a heckuva lot more work for your stomach to process the mushies than it does the liquid and you could potentially do some damage. At the very least I would discuss it with your doc and get clearance to move on before you just do it on your own. You may feel ok now, but after a couple of days of eating mushies your band and pouch may retaliate.

I was fine all up until they were about to wheel me in. I kid you not that I freaked out on my doc and almost got up and walked out. But I did it. For me and my pain tolerance level I thought the surgery was cake! Much better than I expected. It's natural to be nervous but you will be just fine! Congrats on the big day!

Ditto Maddy! If it took longer than five minutes to microwave or longer than 15 minutes to bake I wasn't having it. I actually am spending less now because being single I make a dish and OMG the leftovers!!! Something I never had much of before!

You look absolutely amazing! And I have to agree that you look younger too!

No need to freak out. Take it one day at a time. Food isn't going anywhere. You can still have it at a later date. The first few days are the worst but if you mentally tell yourself everything is going to be ok then it will. You will do great! That 15 days will go by faster them you think and suddenly it will be the day before surgery!

Cynthia - I don't think sugar damaged the band. For me it's not about the calories in sugar. I can cut calories elsewhere but if I eat sugar on any kind of regular basis I will gain weight. A treat once in a while I think is just fine but if you eat enough if it every day I think it could hinder your weight loss. One of the more veteran banders will be posting soon with more concrete explanations and what works for them I'm sure.

I've used them too. Don't care for them at all. I am of the variety that would rather not have it then eat something I don't like. :-)

You look absolutely awesome!

Work it girl!

I think I just would have stared at them with my mouth hanging open. Glad to hear you we're able to keep your composure! :-)

Ted - I was banded 12/21. Same things are happening to me. Used to live chili...not so much anymore. Two weeks ago I couldn't get enough tuna...I made some Sunday and it smelled and tasted kind of unappetizing. Anything too sweet...blah. However I've eaten more pork (chops, tenderloin, etc) in the past two weeks than I have in my entire lifetime. Mutant taste buds.

Foot in mouth syndrome. And Floridays I can't believe someone said that!!!! People just crack me up with the speak before you think.

Frigid in Chicagoland too. -3 with a wind chill of -10. I heard Minnesota is -25...eek.

Ditto Sue - mutant taste buds here post op. I took a sip of what I thought was a flat Sobe drink and the carbonation and artificial sweet didn't taste good at all. I was a major soda drinker - caffeine and full sugar - I didn't mess with that diet stuff. I gave it up the day I started my pre op diet. When you are mentally ready for something these things are but a minor inconvenience and you won't even miss it.

Hopefully - yes it happened to me too. I fluctuated up 1-2 lbs during the mushies phase post op. But once I got on solids and the swelling was going down I lost an additional 7.5lbs in the last 11 days. Don't get upset. You just had surgery and you need to heal. I was banded on 12/21 so it did take a few weeks. Stay off the scale during this time if it does upset you. Have faith that it will kick back in.

Amy - I was banded 12/21. I am also low/no carbing it because I have done Atkins in the past and had great success with it. However, that works for me. Lots of others here do get their protein in first but also have some veggies and a bit of carbs and they are having no issues with weight loss. I lost 7lbs the week after surgery and then it came to a dead halt. I didn't worry about it just kept on going. In the past 11 days since I've been back on solids and keeping the carbs at bay I've lost 7.5 lbs more. I imagine even that will slow down. But again, that's ok. I'm in it for the long haul. My plan is to follow the rules and work this band as best as I can. I don't plan on getting a full until I get to my goal weight. I figure I'm going to need it more to help me maintain when I get all whiny down the road. Take it one day at a time and just remember that you can do it!

Totally right on! Before I would just keep packing the food in because it was there or it tasted good or for whatever reason. Never hungry always too full. Now I know if I eat too much my band is going to be like a hot poker in the eye and I could cause some serious problems and I hate going to doctors! So this is the first time in my life that I stop and think hard about how I feel when I'm eating. I actually don't like feeling too full now. Maybe that's thanks to the pre and post liquids for so long. Either way this is a whole new territory for me too. Required lots of attention when you are eating. Especially when you don't know what "satisfied" feels like. I know I sure don't but I'm getting there!

You look awesome!!!!

JJ - hang tough and don't get nasty with them until you have to. My hospital billed everything through my insurance as ancillary which my insurance doesn't cover and I got a big fat bill for over $10k because they didn't put it through right. I will be calling the hospital tomorrow myself. Good luck with getting it all straightened out!

Ditto Floridays. I can take the weight off but keeping it off us a different story so that is why I went ahead with the band.

MsMaui - thanks for posting. I thought it was well put and educational. So sorry for the long suffering you went through but major kudos for being so darn persistent to get to the bottom of it! I think not enough people do that and they end up living in constant misery without knowing why. Good luck in making the decision that's best for you. Given how you have handled everything you've gone through so far I don't doubt that you will make a wise choice!