BringingSexyBackToTX

WOW WOW WOW!!! I haven't been on this Forum in weeks (maybe close to 2 months) and I am so glad to check back in. It seems that everyone that was banded around the time I was banded (07/17) is doing incredibly well. I have really not been doing the plan (or exercising) and I haven't lost any weight. I own all of it - and I own the silly though that maybe just by having the surgery it (weight loss) would just "happen". Silly, I know... but I thought after having done something so "extreme" and paying $10,000 cash that it "should" just happen, right? Of course, not, but I think that is what I was thinking.

I have had three fills for a current total of 5.7 cc's in a 10 cc band (the surgeon started me with 4 cc's). I'm still not in the "Green Zone" yet but I know that I haven't been counting my calories at all and I don't eat until maybe around 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. I can list all the things I'm NOT doing and I know all the things that I MUST do in order to be successful - but I haven't. I went back to the TR nutritionist (who I originally saw and liked a lot - pre-op) and she gave me a great pep talk. I have about 40 pounds to lose and I just need a recharge/rewire to embrace this new tool that I've gone through great trouble to get.

SO.... I just want to congratulate all of you July Bandsters who are doing SO well! You all are the encouragement that I needed to read tonight. I am so happy for all of you and I hope that I can Celebrate the same great milestones with you all soon.

I'm back on track today!

I've seen a few people mention on this forum about "Protein shots". What is a "protein shot"? Who makes them? Where do you buy them?

I'm not getting in enough Protein during the day - so the idea of these (if it is what I think it is) sounds like a great idea. Thanks.

Here's a great article by a leader in Lap Band surgery:

The Lap-band is NOT about Restriction

When talking about the band' date=' some patients talk about restriction. Let's first be clear about one thing: the purpose of the band is not restriction; the purpose of the band is to lose weight by suppressing the appetite.

When band professionals talk about restriction we are talking about something totally different than "restricting what a person eats." In fact, many band surgeons avoid talking about restriction so as to not confuse patients. The band works by dimming the appetite, and this provides a conscious control and decision made by the patient, it does not work by "making" a person do something, or keep them from eating too much.

The Lap-band works by suppressing your appetite

As a result, you are less interested in food between meals, making it easier to resist temptation. The analogy is when you are near a vending machine when you are hungry-- what do you do? Probably find yourself with some junk food that is not a part of your plan. But, when you pass a vending machine when you are full, it may not even catch your eye. Having the appetite dimmed makes you less tempted by the many food choices modern living throws at you - -this is what the band does, by suppressing appetite you become less interested in food.

What you should not feel, with the band, is the sensation of being "stuffed."

When you eat Thanksgiving dinner, you can feel stuffed. Contrast that with the sensation two hours after you eat your big meal, at that point your appetite is suppressed. It is the subtle dimming of the appetite that the band should provide. Being stuffed after a large meal is a complicated sensation of the abdominal wall stretching and a lot of gas in the bowel, in addition to feeling a diminution of appetite. You will not, and should not, feel the abdominal wall stretch with the band. You should not feel the "near nausea" and you should not feel bloated.

Key point:

You should NEVER eat until you feel full. It is best to stop eating before you "feel full." If you do eat until you feel full you will most likely be overstuffed. This leads to the universal key to success -- patients who eat a small volume of food (which, if you measure, is consistent) will be successful with the band. If you want to succeed, you need to know how much you are eating, and then stop eating -- it is in your control, but the band will help you -- not by stopping you, but by allowing you to feel satisfied after the small volume.

Early on, most Lap-band patients do have a sense of "restriction"

...particularly after the first fill. When we place the band on a patient the stomach above the band typically will hold one to two ounces (by volume, not by weight). The stomach has a lot of muscle fibers, and the wall of the stomach is fairly thick. When food is consumed, it arrives in the pouch, and meets some resistance, first against the newly adjusted band, and then against the stomach which does not stretch easily. People love this feeling! It is a sense of control over food -- a leash. But it is not permanent. It makes it difficult to eat more, because the top part of the stomach and the band will resist it. If you over eat you will feel uncomfortable.

This is the honeymoon phase, you feel full with less, no appetite, and if you try to eat more it doesn't work. They eat a small amount of food, they feel satisfied, and they are losing weight.

For patients who rely on this sensation, they will find it will take ever increasing volumes of food to obtain this sensation. The initial response is to have their band adjusted so that they can "feel full again." Against a tighter band, the upper stomach stretches a bit (and if they eat fast it stretches more)and they again have the sensation of "feeling full." This becomes a cycle, a tighter band, the stomach stretches more-- and then instead of going back to its original size, the stomach stretches more and more to where it takes more to fill it.

The person who continues to eat until they have this sensation, will find that it takes more and more food to obtain this feeling. Two things happen -- first the stomach stretches to where it accommodates more food, and to stretch it means you have to eat more. The second is that to "feel full" it takes the brain time to register this sensation -- this is not the sensation registered by the hypothalamus, but registered in the conscious cortex. So your stomach can be full, but your brain won't register it for a while, and if you keep eating you can overeat. As a result, the pouch dilates. Similar to a balloon, when you first start to blow up the balloon it takes a bit of force. As you continue to fill the balloon, the wall of the balloon stretches (thins out), it is easier to blow it up -- the same is true with the upper pouch. Early on, before the pouch is stretched, it takes a little bit of food to cause it to stretch, but with chronic over-eating the pouch will accommodate more and more food. The stomach wall is thinner, it is easier to stretch, and to get that sensation it takes more food than at first. Often patients will complain that they "don't feel restriction," and wish to have the band made tighter.

There are two potential results to this: one is the patient will passively stretch the stomach and esophagus and not be eating a small amount of food. These patients simply do not lose the weight that the surgeon expects. The other is that the band will be forced down the stomach, the band will slip, which generally requires operative intervention to reposition it.

For those patients who are rigorous about the volume of food they eat, and do not let the stomach to tell them when to stop eating - they do very well. This is one of the keys of successful patients, only eat a certain portion of food - period. If the band is properly adjusted, the appetite will be dimmed for several hours. Once your brain realizes that a small amount of food keeps you satisfied, then your eyes will adjust to the amount you eat.

Some describe a "soft stop." Where before a sense of fullness occurs, there is a signal from your body -- this can be a runny nose, a sigh, or a subtle ache in the left shoulder. Patients who find this "soft stop," do very well with the band.

The other advantage of eating small portions is it becomes a lifestyle change

--you will have the ability to gauge the amount of food you can comfortably eat, knowing it will keep you satisfied for several hours.

You can always -- always, always, always, -- eat more food, because, contrary to what we believed for a long time-- food passes by the band within a minute and then into your stomach. But the key to successful patients is not how much they can eat, but how little they can eat to suppress hunger.

The band goes around your stomach, not around your brain, or your lips

This simple concept, of eating a specific volume of food -- eating it slowly, and then walking away, is the key to successful eating habits of patients. This means that the band works with effort from you -- not by it doing everything for you. You have to make the decision to eat a small volume of food, and let the band work with you.

The sensation that we would want the band to produce is the "soft stop." The soft stop is when you eat a small portion of food and walk away. Sometimes this is difficult, like most things, practice makes perfect. To set yourself up for success -- we recommend you use smaller plates, along with smaller utensils. If you go out to eat, ask for the to-go bag immediately, and remove the excess food from your plate. You can physically always eat more food, but the advantage about practicing small portions and walking away, is ultimately your eyes will get use to what the stomach is telling it, and it will be much easier to eat smaller portions as time goes on.

It isn't uncommon for patients to want an adjustment because they say they can eat more

The first question we ask is, "Why are you eating more?" The typical answer is, "Because I can." The typical response, "Just because you can does not mean you should." Since the band's job is not to restrict the amount of food you eat, do not leave that to chance -- that is your job. Part of personal accountability is to account for, to measure, to know how much you are eating at a time. The band is empowering; if you eat an appropriate amount and make appropriate food choices, you will be satisfied for several hours. This results in either weight loss, or weight maintenance (if you are at your goal). The purpose of the band is to assist you to lose weight -- and this occurs only with active participation by you: you chose what to eat, you choose how much to eat, and you practice walking away after eating that amount. The band is a tool to allow you to eat less and have your appetite dimmed resulting in weight loss, or maintenance. It is a tool to help you adopt a healthy lifestyle -- you still have the choices to make, but the band allows you to be satisfied with those choices.

"If I could eat less and walk away, what would I need this band for?" -- a common question we are asked. Without the band, if you eat a small amount of food and walk away your appetite would rise within a couple of hours -- you would find yourself hungry and wanting more food, possibly leading to unwanted snacking. You would also find, if you willed yourself to withstand the hunger, that your weight loss gradually decreases. The band fools your brain into thinking you ate more.

Think of it another way -- the hypothalamus does not have eyes -- it doesn't know how much you ate, it doesn't know if there is a lot of food around and you are not eating it, or if there is a band on your stomach. The hypothalamus reacts very simply to the stimulation provided by the upper part of your stomach. Stretch that thermostat, it thinks you are eating a lot -- do that consistently over time, and it behaves as if you are eating a lot all the time and will allow your body to release fat stores and not cause your body to go into a metabolic slow-down. Conversely -- if you go on a diet, without the band --and that part of the stomach is not stretched, your hypothalamus thinks you are in a famine -- it doesn't know that there is a lot of food around you.

The purpose of banding is weight loss. Patients who are successful do not "feel tight," or "feel restricted." Instead, successful patients report that they rarely have an issue with the band, they do not "feel restriction." Successful patients come for adjustments when they notice that their appetite is returning between meals -- patients who are not successful rely upon the band to tell them when to stop eating.

The band, in successful patients, is empowering. While, on occasions, the band is "fickle" the proper way for the band to work is for it to allow you to eat less and not be moved by an appetite.

There is another group of Lap-band patients who do not like any sensation of restriction

--a group we call volume eaters. They want to eat a lot, when they want to eat, and they do not like the sensation of a "hard stop." Nor does this group want to eat a small volume and walk away and allow their appetite to be suppressed. One patient even asked for pills for nausea, because she could not eat "a quart of chili." Yes, this person thought a quart was a normal serving size -- not a cup, a quart! Sometimes these patients come in for an adjustment, then come back thinking that the band is too tight, because when they overeat they become acutely uncomfortable, or feel as if they are "obstructed." Often these patients will come in for a fill, then an unfill, then another fill.

It does take a bit of work to change a person's perspective about the volume of food they eat. For some there is a feeling of deprivation, a period of mourning, but ultimately the band can become a tool to overcome this sensation, and allow the patient to eat. Remember, if you want to be a 125 pound person, you have to eat like one. The band allows your body to re-set the thermostat to the amount of food that it takes to keep you satisfied between meals.

To be more specific - food does not stay in the pouch above the band for a long period of time. Typically it travels through this area fairly quickly, usually less than a couple of minutes. The effect of the band is NOT to have food stay above the stomach in that small pouch - the effect of the band is on your appetite after a small amount of food stimulates that. Does this mean you can eat more -- yes, you can. That is always in your control.

So the first lesson -- Eat a specific, and small, portion of food, and walk away

If you can measure it -- you can manage it.

original text: http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html

Super helpful! Thank you, Mis73!!!

What part of Texas are you in? I'm in Houston and was banded 2 days after you!

Very cool! Oh but I was only Banded on July 17th - so I'm only 7 weeks out. I'm in Houston and was Banded by Dr. Hollis (TR). I live inside the loop. Where are you?

I take three pills every night without any issue.

GuyMontag: At first when I read your response, I admit that I thought you were being a bit flippant BUT I went ahead and tried to take my pills as I would pre-Op (the capsule were the ones that I was most worried about) and lo and behold - you were right! What a HUGE relief it is - I really hated having to ground them all and then take them in loose powder form. I am breaking the larger ones in half (or even quarters, just if I'm being super cautious) but I don't know if I even really have to go that far. Thanks for the insight!

Banded = July 17th (during Op, surgeon put 4ccs in my Band)

First Fill = August 19th (added an additional 1 cc for a total of 5 ccs in my Band)

I'm confused. What is the goal? Is it that we are to eat three meals per day (a meal being 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food AND no snacking), be "satisfied" (not full) with each of these meals, and that we are to not be hungry again for about four hours? I have seen a few people post about "restriction" but I'm not sure what that is and if it is a goal? I thought that restriction was just a sign that we ate too much and we've overloaded our new smaller stoma.

Thanks for any insight!

Two things work great for me: (1) Blend in one heaping tablespoons of ground Flaxseed in your Breakfast Protein Shake. [i buy a big bag at costco, cheap.] AND (2) I take one probiotic capsule at bedtime. [i also buy these at Costco - the Philip's brand.] I do BOTH of these every day and it keeps my BMs healthy and predictable (as in, no diarrhea, no surprises, or anything.) Works like a charm!

Any pointers for taking my medications (both pills and capsules) - I purchased a "pill crusher" from the drugstore and I've been crushing them and putting them in sugar-free applesauce - but honestly, it tastes ick and I can't seem to get the pills completely pulverized to dust. Thanks!

Hello

Well first and foremost' date=' congrats on a tremendous job. Sounds like you are doing great

I'm going to answer your q's in backwards order.

Can you get out of the green zone... yes..and here is how/why:

1. Usually when you get a fill you will have some inflammation for a few days. Unfortunately as the swelling subsides your restriction is looser which can be enough to put you into yellow again.

2. In time, saline evaporation does occur. However, this is on such a small scale. To give you an example. I went 3 years without a fill and never losing restriction. So I am inclined to say it would take a considerable amount of time to notice evaporated Fluid

3. Sometimes we leave the docs office comfy and than in 1-3 days it turns out we are tight and in the red. This is no longer due to swelling and we need unfills.

So what is green? In reality, everyone of us will define this different. When you speak about technical definitions, its when your food is restricted to about 1 cup per serving, when you feel satiated between meals by at least 3-4 hrs, when you do not suffer from adverse symptoms like gerd, vomitting or inability to eat most foods. It is also when the band is restricted enough that food stays in your upper pouch for at least a few minutes before sliding into your lower stomach. These few minutes allow feeback to occur to the brain giving you a sensation you are done eating to prevent overeating.

Now there's lots of room for interpretation here. Some like to eat more and have better control of eating small volumes without the bands help. So what is yellow for me is green for someone else. In reality, its about you as a person and how much you can control vs how much you rely on the band to help you. Somewhere in there you define the perfect band restriction.

With this being said, it's important to express that unfills are as important and necessary as fills. We are so focused on getting tight and reaching green, we forget that its about finding our own personal target zone. Too many people say they get filled and are too tight yet are afraid to get an unfill because they want to lose weight. The logic is just not there.

So practice introspection. How are you doing on the band at its current fill? Individualize it so that you feel the band is working AND you are in control adn that you at a place you can live with long term.[/quote']

Thank you for this great explanation! This really helps a lot!

Hello

Well first and foremost' date=' congrats on a tremendous job. Sounds like you are doing great

I'm going to answer your q's in backwards order.

Can you get out of the green zone... yes..and here is how/why:

1. Usually when you get a fill you will have some inflammation for a few days. Unfortunately as the swelling subsides your restriction is looser which can be enough to put you into yellow again.

2. In time, saline evaporation does occur. However, this is on such a small scale. To give you an example. I went 3 years without a fill and never losing restriction. So I am inclined to say it would take a considerable amount of time to notice evaporated Fluid

3. Sometimes we leave the docs office comfy and than in 1-3 days it turns out we are tight and in the red. This is no longer due to swelling and we need unfills.

So what is green? In reality, everyone of us will define this different. When you speak about technical definitions, its when your food is restricted to about 1 cup per serving, when you feel satiated between meals by at least 3-4 hrs, when you do not suffer from adverse symptoms like gerd, vomitting or inability to eat most foods. It is also when the band is restricted enough that food stays in your upper pouch for at least a few minutes before sliding into your lower stomach. These few minutes allow feeback to occur to the brain giving you a sensation you are done eating to prevent overeating.

Now there's lots of room for interpretation here. Some like to eat more and have better control of eating small volumes without the bands help. So what is yellow for me is green for someone else. In reality, its about you as a person and how much you can control vs how much you rely on the band to help you. Somewhere in there you define the perfect band restriction.

With this being said, it's important to express that unfills are as important and necessary as fills. We are so focused on getting tight and reaching green, we forget that its about finding our own personal target zone. Too many people say they get filled and are too tight yet are afraid to get an unfill because they want to lose weight. The logic is just not there.

So practice introspection. How are you doing on the band at its current fill? Individualize it so that you feel the band is working AND you are in control adn that you at a place you can live with long term.[/quote']

Thank you for this explanation! It is very helpful for me, a newbie (one month post-op and just had my first fill today).

I went in for my first fill post-Op (07/17) today and much to my (and the PA's) surprise, the surgeon put 4 cc's in my Band during surgery. Apparently, that's a lot! The PA was surprised that he went that aggressive with my fill during surgery since I have about 40-45 pounds to lose in order to reach my goal weight. This info was not only surprising, but also disappointing in that I should've lost so much more weight if it really is almost half way filled with saline! I have been hungry the last couple of weeks but was still satisfied with less food - but not the 1/2 cup they propose we should be full on, satisfied with every 4 hours. Also admittedly, I haven't been counting my calories (because I thought that the first 6 weeks were for healing and not weight loss since the Band wasn't full - or so I thought) but apparently that was a bad train of thought.

Where I go (True Results) for my fills, they do the fluoroscope to determine how my Band is doing - which I'm grateful for them doing this extra step - and she said my Band was doing well and that the swelling was down enough that the Band was now in a good place but did let too much through for weight loss. Well, after learning this disappointing news, she put in 1 cc (she was going to put in 1/2 cc to 1 cc in, but I told her I didn't want to wait a month to see if I can start to loose weight now) and that is now followed by 2-3 days of a liquid diet and then I see how (or if) the new restriction is where it needs to be. I go back in a month for another check-up and maybe an adjustment.

What is the "normal" fill amount for weight loss to be in the "green zone"?

I went in for my first fill post-Op (07/17) today and much to my (and the PA's) surprise, the surgeon put 4 cc's in my Band during surgery. Apparently, that's a lot! The PA was surprised that he went that aggressive with my fill during surgery since I have about 40-45 pounds to lose in order to reach my goal weight. This info was not only surprising, but also disappointing in that I should've lost so much more weight if it really is almost half way filled with saline! I have been hungry the last couple of weeks but was still satisfied with less food - but not the 1/2 cup they propose we should be full on, satisfied with every 4 hours. I also haven't been counting my calories (because I thought that the first 6 weeks were for healing and not weight loss since the Band wasn't full - or so I thought) but apparently that was a dumb train of thought. Where I go (True Results) for my fills, they do the fluoroscope to determine how my Band is doing - which I'm grateful for them doing this extra step - and she said my Band was doing well and that the swelling was down enough that the Band was now in a good place but did let too much through for weight loss.

Well, after learning this disappointing news, she put in 1 cc (she was going to put in 1/2 cc to 1 cc in, but I told her I didn't want to wait a month to see if I can start to loose weight now) and that is now followed by 2-3 days of a liquid diet and then I see how (or if) the new restriction is where it needs to be. I go back in a month for another adjustment.

I'm glad I read these posts. I was Banded (3+ weeks ago - on July 17th) and feel great, but I am starting to get hungry and I am not feeling satisfied as fast as I was since the surgery. I haven't weighed myself in weeks because I had read here how many people were frustrated post-op/pre-1st fill that I decided to not get frustrated this early on as I was already in a weird post-op place.

I have now had 2 "stuck" moments that were not fun but I was really relieved to know that I didn't panic like I thought I would - for some reason, I thought that if you had a stuck episode that you couldn't breath and that freaked me out. You can breathe but it is still really damn awful to have to deal with and figure out how to help it pass quickly. Both times it was because I ate too much/too fast - like a normal pre-op bite. It was miserable and not something I want to repeat but at least it was panic attack inducing which is what I thought would happen.

Now my nerves are what to expect post-my first fill. I go on Tuesday morning for my first post-op appointment and then go to the other location for my first post-op fill. I hope that it isn't as miserable as some people had reported - but then again some people seem to report that once they get their first fill that weight really starts to come off (which is what were are all here for!) and that it isn't that miserable. Here's hoping!

Thanks for everyone sharing their stories - this forum has brought me so much peace of mind and knowledge.

I was told no more carbonated beverages post-op. (Actually, they had us stop drinking them pre-op to start the pain of getting over them.) I used to ONLY drink carbonated Water (no cokes, but no still water either) and I miss that. My friend (who is banded 3 years) drinks Red Bulls now after 2 years being off of carbonated drinks and she doesn't have any problem with them. Anyway - so far, no carbonated drinks and whatever... I guess it is just part of the "new normal".

My nutritionist (who was banded years ago) said that I should get a baby spoon/fork, take a small baby bite, put my fork down, chew chew chew, swollow, then repeat. She said a half a cup should take 20-30 minutes. Bite, chew (30 seconds), rest (30 seconds) = 1 minute. 20 bites = 20 minutes. 30 bites = 30 minutes. I haven't had my first fill yet - but from what it sounds like, I'm NOT looking forward to this learning curve.

Today is day 7 post op. I have a horrible topic to bring up. I just had my first bowel movement since before my surgery. So.. first time in 7 days or so. I didn't think anything of it since I haven't been eating any solids. Well... let me tell you something. ... that hurt. This will sound horrible so I'm just gonna spit it out. It felt like giving birth to a rock monster. Is this normal? Is this what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life... because if so... I'm gonna start buying stock in stool softener or somethin.

Sorry again to bring up such a gross topic.

Yes - many of us have either Constipation or diarrhea post-op. It took 4 days post-op for me to have a BM. Go to the other posts about this - but I am 2 weeks post-op and started adding a heaping tablespoon of ground Flax Seed (you can buy it at Whole Foods and/or Costco) to my daily Protein shakes. They add no flavor to the shakes but they do make you regular and it is soft. It gets better.... hang in there.

Sooooooo' date=' I was banded on 5-13-13. I went back 3 days later because I thought my port looked a bit red and angry. Angrier than I thought it should. They did not seem to be to concerned. I've been on two rounds of antibiotics and had 4 fills. I came back again today and spoke with my doctor about possibly removing it. He's saying that as long as there is no active drainage to just watch and wait. This is what he said on July 11th too. I came in today completely expecting him to schedule surgery except he said to just wait. He also gave me another fill. He said it could stay the same. Red, angry, itchy, painful and swollen and I would wake up one day with drainage and see my port sticking out or I could just gimp along like this for god knows how long. Grrrrr! I'm frustrated![/quote']

This does not look good ESPECIALLY since you are so long out. Go get a second opinion and DEFINITELY do not worry about second guessing him. This is YOUR body - not his. And what is it with the "egg burps" - all of this does not add up right. Please go get a second opinion and please do not wait until late next week. Like go tomorrow!

Yep' date=' food is going down fine. I've only had one stuck episode. And nothing like what most described. I felt a full, pressure sensation in between my breasts. It lingered for a few days. What finally got it was something I'd read on here. I downed a tablespoon of melted butter and had my husband "burp" me and then I jumped off the steps a few times and it did the trick.[/quote']

Where did you learn that trick? That's the first I've read of it?

Yeah... I'm 2 weeks tomorrow and I still have swelling and port site pain if I try to walk too briskly :-)

We must've had it on the same date (17th). I still have a swollen lump on my port site which look ugly but it has reduced a lot since surgery. As of the last two days' date=' the pain has reduced a lot and I only notice it once in a while when I move a certain way and/or lay down weird on it. I exercised today for the first time since surgery [i walked 3 miles today (slower than normal - maybe a 15 minute mile)'] and didn't notice it at all. I'm really ready for the weird lump to go away and I do not like being able to feel the port under there. Makes me think of the movie "Alien".

As of tomorrow, it will have been 2 weeks since I was Banded. I'm on "mushies" now and wasn't having regular BMs. From what sounds like is common, it took me 4 days post-op to have my first BM. Some people complain about diarrhea and others complain about Constipation. Granted, post-op we are on liquids and/or "mushies" which don't give you much to 'output' anyway. And everyone knows that being "regular" is healthy and helps with the weight loss.

Anyway... yesterday, I added a heaping tablespoon of ground Flax Seed (I purchased a bag from Costco) into my Protein shake ('Gladiator' Protein in Almond Milk) and this morning I had a "normal, healthy" BM - like before I had the Band! WOOHOO!!! I am going to keep putting this in my shakes.

Just thought I'd share in case it helps anyone else out whose having this problem.

I miss the "regular" days. I realize we aren't eating as much (and/or just liquid) but I miss the good, healthy regularity... SO today I added a heaping tablespoon of ground Flax seed to my Protein Shake (that I blend with only Almond Milk in a Magic Bullet) and I'm hoping that doing this in every Protein shake will quickly get me back to a healthy regular. Fingers crossed!

I was banded on the 11 and I too can eat anything I do not think I have anything in my band. I go for first full aug 21... I am young and think I heed quick and I also didn't have any hernia repairs. Congrats!!

I was Banded on the 17th and I can't eat "anything" but I also don't "feel" like I've been banded most of the time - only reminded when I accidentally (and out of habit) forget to chew up everything a LOT. The one thing I have noticed is that I do feel "full" faster and if I allow myself to notice/recognize that - I just don't eat anymore more because I'm satisfied. Even when I'm at a table with friends (all un-Banded - and only one knew I had the surgery) and we are talking, drinking wine and such... even a friend commented "Aren't you hungry? You've barely touched anything?" Which once I realized it - I didn't even notice... but now I'm more aware. I'm SUPER thrilled about that part.

I go for my first fill on the 13th.

So I was banded in the 24th of july and everything has been going fine... Or as expected... But today I am feeling super crabby and down.. I am on puréed foods but I just really miss being able to eat! I went back to work today for 6 hours and have a desk job.. That really wore me out.. So I thought maybe I was sad because I was hungry and tired but I think there maybe more to it... I am not sure how to explain it but I just feel so emotional... Anyone else feel this way?

I was Banded on the 17th and I found myself a little down too. I really handled the surgery well and had very little trouble post-surgery (knock on wood!) but when I tried to go back to my office last week I was surprised at how tired I got - even though I was doing fine to great while I was at home. I also started to get down and I think it was just a "What have I done?" and "This is going to change my life!" moments.

But I get happy when I see the scale going down and see a change in my body. On Saturday, I put on a pair of cute pants and I (and my boyfriend) could already see a difference - I looked great in them! And I just started this process... that's exciting!

Also, I went to see my friend who is a therapist and just talking it out has helped. Hang in there... it gets better.

Banded the 18th.... felt so much better each day. Today' date=' for some reason, my port site started to swell :-( it's very uncomfortable. Weird that it's coming on later... anyone else have this?[/quote']

Mine has stayed a consistent swollen/lump but it has reduced a little bit every day but not enough to make me like it. I don't want to be an alarmist, but I'd call your doctor about sudden swelling that is uncomfortable. You just don't want it to be an infection. In theory - it should be going the opposite (smaller/less swollen/less uncomfortable) direction.

14 days post op... Gas has been bad 3 days now anyone else still feeling it? Is my body still settling to the changes? Still have an incision that's a tad sore too

I'm having bad gas pains today too (Banded last Wednesday) which haven't been a problem for me really until today. Very strange! And my abdomen is tight/sore when I inhale deeply. None of this is really bad or too miserable - but just curious as to why it is just now a problem this far out.