Cocoabean

You have lost an average of 4 lbs per week. You don't list your height/weight. But that is pretty rapid loss. My surgeon said no more than 2 per week for me, based on my starting BMI. A meal holding you 3-4 hours is pretty good. It is a decision for you and your doctor, but I'd be pretty happy with what you are describing. In fact, that is about where I am! Denise

I don't remember the exact number of days required by my surgeon, as it did not apply to me. But he is one who tests the blood to be certain the smoker has quit and will cancel the surgery if the test is positive. Denise

It is totally normal. Your band has little to no restriction. Try to stick to your post-op instruction. I doubt muffins are on the list. If it is a moist muffin, you run the risk of getting stuck on it, which could be VERY painful this soon post-op. If you are ready for foods that are more solid, ask your doc if you can move on. Foods with Protein will hold you longer than things like muffins, and foods that are more solid, like eggs or oatmeal, will hold you longer than a Protein shake. Best wishes in your recovery, Denise

Oh, MrsMikey! I am so sorry about you having to take the predisone. Many members of my family have had to take it. I know what a horrid medication it is. But at the same time, it is a wonderful medication in that it has kept them alive and in my life. All of them gained weight while taking this medication. I understand what you are going through. It must have been terrible to be told you need to take again it to help your condition. I admit that I don't know much about your condition. But all I can do is encourage you to hang in there. The medicine is important for you to take. Most times it is the only option for the condtitions for which it is prescribed. I know it takes a toll physically and emotionally. But know that you have the band in place for when you can step down the dose and to help you lose the weight when you are feeling better. I don't believe that there is anything you can do to battle the predisone caused weight gain while on it. Other than focusing on the fact that it is helping you feel better and the hope that you can one day come off it. It sounds like you have maybe 6 months left on this round. You have made it a year and a half, you are nearly there! Do what you can to minimize the gain (I know, not much!). Welcome to lapbandtalk, we are here for support! Denise

Post-op "starvation" is very common. Know that you all are not alone!! Liquids pretty much just run right through the band. Think of it like a funnel. They just drain right down through. It would be hard to do any damage to your stomach. Once you are back on solids you will feel so much better. I was ready to eat the kitchen sink, my dog, the couch, anything I could get my hands on that wasn't moving faster than I was during that time--the dog got lucky! Also, note that a bit of weight gain prior to the first fill is not uncommon, as there is little to no restriction. It is like having a beautiful new car with an empty gas tank. You have to fill the tank to get performance out of it. Borrowing the metaphor from a poster back when I was first banded. Heal and feel better. Over time as you get fills and find the sweet spot you will find the appetite control and the weight will come off. Denise

banana was one of the first foods I got stuck on. Seems like it -should- go down easy. But not so. And it is a favorite of mine. It was over a year before I tried them again. I can eat them now, but they still go down rough sometimes. It seems strange to be an adult and be learning how to eat, doesn't it? Denise

Wow, that is pretty quick! I could not have done it, but I am a total wimp when it comes to pain. Have you had any laparoscopic abdominal surgeries before? If so, that might be your best gauge. Also, talk it over with your surgeon. For me, I think I'd be tempted to postpone the surgery a few days rather than risk wasting the tickets. Unless you know someone who will enjoy them if you cannot use them. Besh wishes on your recover, Denise

Your body must feel SOOOOO much better. Well done! Could you give us some feedback of the changes you have seen/felt? Best wishes for future losses! Denise

Hey Jens, Your knee accident timing could not have been better for your band surgery, eh? Glad that worked out in your favor, but it stinks to have been hurt. As to scars, you can always say, "scars? What scars? I don't see any scars!" I do hope I did not sound as though I was judging your decision. Certainly not. Everyone's situation and choices are different and their own to manage. I have a big mouth, thus my decision to be open. I would not be able to remember whom and I had or had not told :-) I hope it all works out for you. Do let us know how your fill went. I have been thinking of you today. I read on another post that you have had food stuck already. Perhaps you decided to postpone it. Also, you can do a search on crushing meds and what to mix them with. I have not had to do this, but I seem to recall that applesauce was not the mixing agent of choice. Or perhaps your Orthopedic surgeon can prescribe liquid meds until you are more confident in being able to swallow pills? Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Knees and stomachs! Denise

Hi Moma, My surgeon told me to not be surprised if I gained during the post-op/healing phase. He said that he has patients gain weight often. Think back to all the times you did a crash diet such as the pre-op diet (well, I am making a leap here that you did crash diets in the past.) What happened when you went off them and returned to eating in a more normal fashion? You gained, right? It happens, try not to stress over it. My weight came off at a snail's pace. 0.5 to 1 lb. per week average. Thus my choice of tracker! Look at it in the big picture. I know most people say look at short-term goals. But this time look long-term. In 6 months, you will have a few fills and have some restriction and be losing. It's all good! You are eating less and exercising more. These are good habits to be forming. They will serve you well when you have that restriction to really help you have control over food! :smile2: Best wishes! Denise

I don't know about Medicare, but some insurance companies are now requiring a history of a BMI above a certain level for a period of time to qualify. So gaining weight for the purpose of qualifying for surgery "benefits" might be a longer process than expected. I have read some posts of requirements of 2-3 years' worth of proof. Denise

Gotta agree with you on this one, ElfiePoo!! As to the OP's question. I cannot tolerate soft, doughy breads or dry meats, such as chicken breast. YMMV. Denise

I don't log food. I eat to my hunger level and try to focus on Protein, and steer clear of the junk. If I get to a point where my weight starts to go up, then I might have to start tracking. I'll cross that bridge when it happens. So far, this is working for me. Denise

I remember posting a similar post way back when. Relax and let your body heal. Even after your first fill you might not feel restricted. It took me a couple. My surgeon doesn't look for weight loss until after a couple of fills. I also postponed my first fill because we were, of all things, going on a cruise! Yeah, try being in Bandster Hell while cruising the Panama Canal! OY! My surgeon was ever so pleased that I managed to lose 1 lb during that 10 days! Needless to say, I was fit to be tied, I wanted that fill so badly. Someone here during my first days posted that an empty band shortly after surgery is like having a new sports car with an empty gas tank. It is so pretty and you want to take it out for a spin, but with no gas...it gets you nowhere! That was pretty much what I kept telling myself until my restriction started. "Wait till you have your gas!" It will come, give it time. It is frustrating that the result isn't immediate. But now, 2 years later, I am down around 60 lbs. :rolleyes2: Yeah, baby! It's all good! Denise

This is not entirely set in stone, my BMI was well under 40 and I had to do 14 days on my pre-op diet. I did Medi-Fast. Which is shakes, Soups, and bars. It also included one "lean and green" meal each day. Basically a low calorie, high Protein, low carb diet. Denise

Also, part of the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver and make the surgery easier. You owe it to yourself! Your recovery will be that much quicker if you can stick with it. On another board a poster speaks of her liver splitting in two during surgery. It isn't worth the risk. My doc said he would cancel if he got in and my liver was not in good enough shape to tolerate the procedure. That pretty much kept me on the straight and narrow. Best wishes! Denise

At a pre-op class I attended, they pointed out that for many of us we will be overweight when all is said and done. But that is a far cry better than being obese or super obese. And darn it all, I am just a few lbs away from "normal"---yeah, like I'll ever be normal at anything! he he he he he!! Denise

Welcome back! You've taken a big first step in gaining control. I agree seeing your fill doc/surgeon is a great idea. Also getting back to proper band eating. Avoiding slider foods, drinking water, not drinking with meals. All that stuff you did when you were losing the 120 lbs. You know what to do, you have done it. Your body remembers it! Come here often for support and reminders of why you had the surgery. I was here for a while right after my surgery. I took a break but now I am back. My weight has stablilized just above a normal BMI. I want to get below that. I am here often now as a reminder that I have this powerful tool and all these wonderful people to help me with attaining my goal. We can do it together! Denise

Wow, Jennifer. That is going to be a challenge to keep it a secret from someone you live with. This has nothing to do with your right to medical privacy, and I am not saying you shouldn't keep it secret, just want to point out a couple of things, for what it is worth (which is probably nothing--you get what you pay for). Nevermind the fact that you have five unexplainable scars on your belly. I am two years post-op and my scars are still red, but fading. A stuck episode will be so hard to explain. I could not imagine the stress of trying to hide it from someone in my household. But heck, I can't even hide it if I am having problems while eating out with a group and someone notices I am not eating much. I feel like I have to explain, so I do. That is just me, and it is the way I have chosen to handle the situation. Others may opt to say they are not hungry or they had a big breakfast/lunch. My favorite spot during a stickage is hanging over the kitchen sink. Trying to hide when you are sliming and in pain for what can be hours at a time will be no easy feat. I wish you all the best in your recovery from the surgery. Denise

It might be worth a phone call to your surgeon to ask if you can proceed to soft foods. I was allowed to move faster than I was initially told based on my post-op progress. I tell you, mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs never tasted so good! Denise

In the first year I think I had 3 fills and one slight unfill, it might have been 4 fills and one slight unfill, not quite sure. Then I had one more fill about 3 months ago. I am nearing two years post-op. My doctor likes to sneak up on the sweet spot. We were both surprised when I went over the top and got too full. Now, every time I think of getting a fill, I have a stuck episode and decide I am OK where I am, and that if I want to lose the remaining weight, I am going to have to work at it a little harder. Gee--I am like a lot of people, a few lbs overweight and needing to work at it!! :-) But it really does come down to several factors. Your anatomy and discussion between you and your doctor. Some doctors are more aggressive than others. It also depends on the size of your band. Your personal preference will also enter into the equation. I'd rather have my band a little looser and be less likely to have major stuck episodes. Denise

I wanted to add to add to the "snacking" thoughts. My doctor says no snacking, but his definition of snacking is different than mine. Snacks to him are unplanned food of little to no nutritional value. Such as my penchant for Nacho cheese Dorritos. When I first heard "No snacks"--I thought that meant no foods between meals. As we talked further, I came to realize he meant that I could eat between meals, but only foods that were thought out and helped me to move forward. Like what ElfiePoo lists. For my weekly dinner meals, I eat the same foods my husband eats, just in smaller portions. Sample dinners: Pork chops (hard for me to eat, chewed thorougly), mashed potatoes, veggie, and applesauce. This is tonight's meal. BBQ or Baked Chicken--I eat drumsticks or thighs and remove the skin. Breast meat is just too hard to eat. Veggie side dish. I can still eat beef, I know some cannot. So we will often have steak with mushrooms and side salad. Or a roast. Mostly we have left potatoes out of our menu, I know I listed it in my first meal above. But it is a treat for tonight, since my band has been feeling tight the last few days, I am not sure how the chops will go down. So, I have the mashed potatoes as a back up. As to the sweet tooth. Yeah, right there beside ya! I was in the habit of having a couple of small bite sized candy bars before bed. To make matters worse, I did it with a glass of milk. Yummy. My figuring was that the bite sized are better than the full sized. So, I gradually cut down to no milk, then one bite sized and finally was able to stop it. It took determination. I do still allow a little bit of chocolate into my diet. Part of why I chose the band is because I can still have my favorite foods. As a previous poster said, ice cream in and of itself is not bad. It is what we do with it. For the moment, get it out of your house until you gain the control to have it around and not finish off the container. You owe it to yourself and your family to take care of yourself. You went through this surgery to make a better you. What a commitment that was! Grab it back and be in the driver's seat, you can do it! Denise

If in doubt call your surgeon. You didn't say when your surgery was. I had alot of pain in my upper left abdominal area after my surgery. I still get it from time to time. I have come to identify it as gas. But if this is new and severe, don't mess around, it is worth a call in to your doc. Denise

Yes, after a bad stuck episode, my stomach can be touchy for a couple of days. Got with mushies for a day or two and see how it goes. Best wishes! Denise

Hello and welcome, If you are eating 1000 calories a day and not losing weight, then you need to get your metabolism checked by a doctor. To take your questions one by one: 1. How often do you vomit? Rarely 2. What is sliming? When food gets stuck, the body produces large amounts of thick saliva to help move the food along. If it doesn't go down, this comes up and out the mouth. It is a very slimy consistency. 3. How drastic of a change in diet is it REALLY? It depends on your previous diet. For me, not so drastic a change in -what- I was eating as -amount- I am eating. 4. Do you HAVE to work out to have results? To get best results, yes, exercise is necessary. Calories in vs. calories out=weight loss. 5. How often are fills? I have had 4 fills and one slight unfill in 2 years. My last fill was about 3 months ago. 6. Based on my current eating- isnt the band basically going to do the same thing (restrict the amount I can eat?)? Not sure I exactly follow the question. The band is purely a restrictive procedure. It aids weight loss by helping you to reduce portions. The difference is that with the help of the band I eat less and am satisfied for longer, thus reducing my snack attacks and food obsessions. 7. How do things get stuck, how often and how do you unstick them? Things get stuck by eating too fast, taking too big a bite, or not chewing thorougly. A piece of food larger than the opening to the stomach sits over the top of it and won't move. To get them ustuck, sometimes they work their way down. Sometimes they work their way back up. There is a current thread on getting unstuck that is several pages long. Do a search on it. 8. If you cant eat carbs, and meats, and veggies and fruits because of the whole stuck issue- WTH do you eat? Who said you can eat carbs, meats, veggies, and fruits? That leaves nothing. I eat all of the above. The only foods that give me issue on a regular basis and that I avoid are dry meats like chicken breast and very soft or thick breads like bagels. I often eat salads, Pasta, steak, eggs, potatoes. 9. Do you really have to give up soda, carbs, coffee, caffeine, sweets, ect? My doctor has no issue with me having coffee. I have an occaissional diet soda--sometimes it gives me the burps, sometimes not. I love chocolate. I do allow it as a rare treat, but have to be very careful not to over do it. If you have no control over your sweet tooth, or you are a true grazer, the band might not be the best choice for you. I chose it because I would still be able to eat relatively normally. I did not want to get sick if I eat something with a high sugar or fat content as can happen with the dumping sydrome of gastric bypass. For some, that is a very powerful tool in the WSL arsenal and a big reason for chosing bypass. You might want to explore that. Best wishes to you in your journey. Denise