MissNilsa

I think there is a tiny bit of restriction for me but not what i think i should be feeling. I eat with caution though - because of nervousness and also how it feels going down now. I definitely feel a difference in how the food feels as i swallow. what about you guys?

thanks a lot! good advice from someone who knows

did it hurt when he pulled it! oh no. i rather a snip than a pull

oh god it is still there.... maybe when i go for my first fill -- my surgeon will snip it.

I still have cereal. I can't to proteins all the time. I will be able to supplement with exercise soon. going back to gym this weekend finally. but all proteins - kills my system personally and i'm personally done with shakes. I am going to buy the liquid protein bullets. they are good with lemonade.

oh my god. I wish i had the nerve to pull it out! let me know what your doctor says!!! thanks for responding.

:rolleyes:I was wondering if anyone experienced the same as I am with respect to my stitches. My large (port) incision is healing nicely (from what i'm told) but the end stitch is annoying me to death. It feels like a stray hair that you just need to pluck . it is only that one end stitch -- I know i sound maniacal but oh man - do i want to pull it. my question is has anyone else had this annoyance and does it eventually go somewhere or melt or something? didn't want to call the surgeon to ask that little question. My first fill is 9/18! Can't wait. /nilsa

The liquid stage is over for me for a few weeks already. I'll figure it out. Actually a girlfriend of mine's co worker told her that her father had the lap band and he is always visiting the bathroom (not diaria). So i guess everyone is different.

In the mornings, sometimes I will have a protein shake or some hot wheat (farina); lunch usually soup of some kind (during the week at work); mixed vegetables at night - things like that.

No i'm not on liquids, and the BM are solid. just often, like 4/6 times a day now - which is a lot for me personally. go figure. its ok though

That sounds like a good recipe. When were you banded?

yeah we are in the same boat alright. However, we are all doing well, it looks like. This has made us stronger for the most part and we are still healing. I am having Veggies (softones) sauteed in olive oil and garlic (salt and pepper also) and they are so good, right out of the bag and seasoned nicely. I have to make it on will power until the first fill also. We can all do it. I woke up this morning 1 lb lighter which really surprised me because i'm not exactly on a diet right now.:rain:

Well you seem to be doing really well. I was banded 8/13 and I don't have any restriction either. However, I am loosing very very slowly rather than gaining which is good no matter what. I've lost 14 lbs total through this journey, which in my view isn't much really. don't worry, and enjoy yourself now - that's what my attending nurse told me the day of my post op appointment - he said that and I know he's right because honestly when you get your fill, it will be A WHOLE NEW CUP OF TEA, OR QUARTER CUP, i should say. keep up the good work!

Hello My Friends: On a not so pleasant subject. I am 2 plus weeks post op -- all of a sudden I am finding myself going to the bathroom a lot (see subject line); and I wonder if you guys have experienced same? I mean, better out than in but still, since I am eating so much less than pre surgery, I am curious about this activity and whether it is common amongst bandsters. thanks! /nilsa:wacko:

since I don't have a fill right now, there is absolutely no restriction. I mean i feel as if my stomach shrunk to a certain degree but I am really acting on my own right now. I am having hot farina (oatmeal type) cereal. it fills me and has a good taste. /n.

i'm so glad the gas thing is under control. I do hear my stomach growling but it isn't as bad as some have described it. At least not yet. Maybe after my first fill! Best of luck to everyone. Keep in touch people!

Hi: That's great. I feel the same worry about the fill. I am a chicken about pain - but i guess having the surgery is really the part that I should have been worried about. 18 lbs! awesome. I am down about 13 lbs but that weight loss started since the week before surgery when I was on liquids. The weight is coming off very slowly but then again, I have no restriction and I am kind of on my own (like a regular diet). I have not done so bad but the pounds are not coming off that quickly either. I will be patient because as the doctor told you -- the fills are all the difference. /nilsa

Hi Everyone: I am wondering about something. I had surgery on 8/13 and one of the post-op rules is (as you all know) to wait 5 minutes after drinking before eating and also to wait 20 minutes after eating before drinking. With that said -- does that mean that we should elminiate things like crunch cereals with milk? It sounds like an ignorant question and probably is but having cold Cereal is really like drinking and eating at the same time. Any thoughts?:ranger: /nilsa

They are a serious tag team! Dr. Fielding accepts some insurances that Dr. Ren doesn't and visa versa. They are really great surgeons.

Hi Joan: I was banded on 8/13 by Dr. Fielding at NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss. My Surgeon was Dr. Fielding. His wife also does the surgeries (Dr. Ren-Fielding). They are very well regarded. If co-morbidities if your BMI is as low as it is, which means things like.... sleep apnea, diabetes, among other things they consider to be co-morbidities, it will help to get approved. I don't know about your insurance but they probably require 6 months of monitoring by your doctor in terms of diet, exercise recommendations, taking your weight and food intake. Even if you have been treated for years and years for obesity, they don't care - they want the 6 consecutive months in order to consider you and pay for the surgery. They are very strict about this. At least Aetna was. I was denied 1 business day before my first scheduled surgery. I had to write my own appeal letter with all of the details I just mentioned. I wrote the letter and had my doctor sign it; and then I got approved. It was partially my doctor's fault why I got denied because of the fact that he wasn't writing enough every month on the medical report sheets; and they couldn't understand his handwriting anyway. So I did it in form of a letter with a table format for the entire history in his medical chart (since 1995) and that of course included the six consective months that they require. It has to be back to back for 6 visits (MINIMUM). Let me know if I can help with anything else. /nilsa

the fills are everything

everyone falls off. there isnt one person that doesnt understand. take care of your back first-- that is more important

Good Luck. U should really get the ball rolling as soon as possible. YOU NEED six months documented before you get approved, unless you are self paying.

Don't be scared. I was too. Terrified in fact. I was banded 8/13. I don't feel restriction because of the AP band (new); which is a larger band; so it was explained to me not to worry because my first fill will change that for sure. I agree with the comments above. Lap band is not a cop out. Just wait until the weight starts to come off. All that negativity that is coming your way will turn on the people and they will be new owners of the feeling of envy! Carry on!!!!

Hi Contraband: You probably have the AP Band? My people told me that this new AP band is larger than the old band and therefore you can eat more, so you should be more responsible and continue to watch your food intake until your first fill. So your friends are giving you the right information. Hang in there. 20 lbs is great. I can't wait to hit that. Take care, Nilsa