BandedBrunette481

Go back for follow up one week post op tomorrow! I've lost 15.3 pounds already since Monday my surgery!! I'm so excited!

I work as a teacher's aide (not a very physically demanding job at all) and I only took a week off work. I had surgery on a tuesday and went back to work the following tuesday. Those first few days post op are quite painful, both from the gas and the incisions, but I finally started feeling better around day 4 post op. By the time I went back to work, I was just sore and a little uncomfortable from a bit of lingering indigestion. It was nothing major that interfered with my job, but I was able to sit as needed. If you have a job where you are extremely active or have to do heavy lifting, you'll want to take more time off.
I think I was able to go back to work so soon because I was committed to weaning off my pain medication a few days after surgery. Those meds they give you are pretty heavy duty so you definitely have to be off them before you go back to work! I was loopy on them and slept all the time. My doctor said you can get a DUI if you drive while taking them. What I did was I gradually cut my dose back and then switched over to liquid Tylenol so that I would be ok for work. I stopped taking the liquid Tylenol a few days after I returned to work because I just didn't feel like I needed it anymore. I'm almost 2 weeks post op now and I feel back to normal! Best of luck to you!

I had the same problem with Bariatric Advantage and switched to Premier Protein as well.
I recommend trying out a variety of different options before you truly have to be on them 100%.
- K

I had a hernia repair as well when I got my lapband put in and I also noticed some strange spasms! My surgeon's office said it will ease up and it has I'm almost 2 weeks post op now and I rarely have spasms anymore. When you feel more restricted, I've found it helpful to sip hot liquids like tea and broth. It seems to soothe the band, if that makes any sense haha. Best of luck to you!

Called surgeon his first question was did you have hernia repair.. I said yes , he said that the repair was the cause of the spasms. It can even happen when you take a deep breaths is what he said.. It only last for a few seconds.. As far as restriction he said ull have restriction until swelling goes down.. At any rate it felt good to be reassured by the surgeon. Thanks for the push.

I haven't had my surgery yet (march 12th) yay!. But my program says 600-800 calories during stage 3 and eventually you should work your way up to 1200. However, I agree with everyone else you shouldn't worry about calories yet. My Dr. Says #1 get your Water in!! And #2 get your Protein in!! So that's what I will be focussing on.
Good Luck

I don't ever think I am asked about calories.... But i am asked a lot of questions about portion sizes. I will share with you what I do, but it's just computed in my own simple mind. This is how I set a calorie goal (keep in mind that I really want to get to the point that I eat w/out paying soooo much attention to details like counting calories ---- you know, just let the band do its job---- but I'm not there yet). Every time I go to the doctor, I'm given a "Body Compisition Analysis." At my current weight, it says that my BMR is 1688 calories. If I want to lose 1.5 pounds a week, I subtract 750 calories a day from this. (A pound is 3500 calories / 7 days = 500 calories a day to cut, so 1 1/2 pounds would be to cut 750 calories a day.). 1688-750 = 938 calories a day goal. So that's what I set for MyFitnessPal. Now, I exercise, and burn over 650 calories a day, so I really eat 938+ some of those calories burned. Hope this helps.... Again, not told by doc or nutritionist, just how I see it!

I agree with leepers. You are only in the mushy stage for a little while, doubtful that you will be in "starvation" mode that quickly! Eat you Protein and whatever you mix to make your mushy foods, and the amount your nutritionist has advised, you will be fine! Karen

I don't think you should worry about calories until you're on regular food. Some people don't worry about calories ever. I do use MyFitnessPal, as it helps keep me in line. What I worried about most during mushies was trying not to start eating crappy carbs again. Like mashed potatoes, Mac n cheese, etc..

I will give you what my PA gave me to follow. calories per meal- 300-400 cal. protein20 grams per meal.or up to 80 a day.total carbs -15-30 per meal(remember you subtract Fiber from total carb total.. fats 5gr. per meal. I found everything easy to follow except the fat amount. a piece of Protein usually has more than that so as long as my calorie intake was below the 400 I was ok with it. now this is the amounts while your band is being adjusted. as you get close to green some of these just don't happen. or are very hard to achieve. so I found that in the morning my band is tight that a vegetable smoothie with Protein added like greek yogurt or tofu or Protein powder helps me through Breakfast. I hope this helps

I was banded a few weeks before the U.S. Open and named my band while watching the games. I named it Serenity in honor of Serena Williams.

Lola the Happy Lappy!

Mine is Simon, as in "Simon says"

Mine is Lola

I think I might name my band Seraphina! It translates into "fiery one" and my band is definitely got a lot of fire in her personality. Also, I decided it's a girl because she is way too all over the place with her feelings to be a guy

I think I might name my band Seraphina! It translates into "fiery one" and my band is definitely got a lot of fire in her personality. Also, I decided it's a girl because she is way too all over the place with her feelings to be a guy

I think I might name my band Seraphina! It translates into "fiery one" and my band is definitely got a lot of fire in her personality. Also, I decided it's a girl because she is way too all over the place with her feelings to be a guy

There are a lot of differences among the different weight loss surgeries, but generally you can talk about the stomach stapling versions versus the LapBand. Here are some things to consider when deciding about a LapBand: It's adjustable to fit your individual needs, it can be removed/reversed if necessary, it has a lower success rate/lower weight loss rate, it requires more post-op care (there will be fill appointments and such, and I'm not sure how much those cost for self-pay). Why did I choose it? Because the though of having my guts rearranged and taken out freaked me out, for one. But I also like the idea of it restricting my food intake. That's what I need, personally. Obviously all weight loss surgery patients have restricted food intake, but if you have something like a sleeve and you overeat too often, your new stomach is going to stretch right back out and you'll gradually just be able to eat more and more unless you have the willpower to get back under control. At least with a LapBand, if I notice I'm starting to be able to eat too much, I can go get a fill before it becomes an issue. It helps you check yourself before you wreck yourself, haha All the more power to the people who are successful with weight loss surgeries like the sleeve, but I just know it's not for me.

I think I might name my band Seraphina! It translates into "fiery one" and my band is definitely got a lot of fire in her personality. Also, I decided it's a girl because she is way too all over the place with her feelings to be a guy

There's a Chinese food place right down the street from my house and when my family ordered from there one night I got a wonton Soup. I poured it through a strainer, gave that part to my mom, and drank the broth. It was delicious!! The closer to the end of the diet I got, the less hungry I felt. And when I did feel hungry it was usually time for me to have a Protein Shake anyways. I think what helped me the most was staying busy. Do things you love or tasks that take a lot of time to get your mind off it and the time will fly by! Good luck with the rest of the diet

I have to go with Spartacus for mine. It will never surrender, back down or give up in a fight. It will stand up for me no matter what, and takes crap from no one.

My band' s name is Leonida.
Here in Italy we study Ancient Greek history at school.
Leonida was the king of Sparta, a small,but brave town which was being attacked by the huge Persian army.
He faced this enormous army in a narrow place among the mountains and ( just because the place was narrow and he was a great warrior) succeeded in stopping the enemy and giving his town the time to organize their defence.
So, my Leonida's task is facing and stopping the huge amount of food I used to stuff into my stomach.

Welcome! I was banded close to you (on the 18th) and I am also looking forward to adding new foods to my diet, even if they are mushies lol. I've found a lot of inspiration online in places like Bariatric Pal and on blogs. It's really motivating, isn't it? Best of luck to you on your journey

I think I'm gonna go with shrinky dink! A man's perspective I was literally crying while cracking up - he was coming up with all his names! He had others but I listed the best ones!

I was banded on Tuesday of this week and I had a hernia repair as well. I've struggled off and on with GERD my entire life and I actually did notice that it's a little worse post-op! I get that dull ache you described as well as a churning feeling. It goes back and forth. I've been taking liquid Rolaids for it right now. I have an appointment with my surgeon on Monday and I'm going to ask him if he thinks I need a long term treatment like prilosec or nexium.