Cocoabean

My surgeon said that the chemicals in diet soday can trigger hunger. What bandster needs that?

The band will help with portion control. It won't help with what you choose to put in your mouth. If on your binges you tend to graze, this could be problematic. You can eat all day long with the band if you choose to do so. But, you have the choice to get into support groups or do couseling for the emotional eating, and use the band to help with the food plan. Best wishes!

I have a few sips from time to time. But often it gives me the hiccups. I find it just isn't worth the possible discomfort, and possible waste of money. If my husband orders a soda (rarely), I might steal a sip, but otherwise, I leave it alone.

I called it "explosive decompression"--it happened quite a bit during the first couple of weeks. NOT fun. Keep up with your liquids so you don't get dehydrated.

My surgeon and I had an interesting conversation about "snacking"...when he said no snacking, I thought he meant no eating between 3 meals per day. What he really meant was no mindless eating of junk between meals. A healthful mini meal that I planned into my day to appease my hunger is fine. Isn't the English language great?

Yes, you are truly the ONLY person who ever cheated on the post-op!! :redface: I remember the post-op hunger well. If my dog hadn't been able to move faster than me, I'm afraid he'd not be with us any longer! My surgeon once told me that my eating habits were 43 years in the making, they were not going to change over night. But, during the healing phase, it is very important that you allow your body to do just that, heal. Hamburger is very hard to chew enough and to digest. My absolute worst stuck episode was on hamburger. I was sliming, heaving, and vomitting for 5 hours. NOT something you need while healing from the surgery. You'd think it would be easy on the stomach because it is ground, but not so. It is brutal. If you are really not able to stick with your instructions, call your doc and ask if you can move on to the next stage. I was doing so well 3 days post-op that when my surgeon called to check on me and I reported my desire to eat my dog he let me move from Clear Liquids to mushies instead of full liquids. Best wishes in your recovery!

Weight loss with the band is a slow jog, not a sprint. Especially while you are trying to find proper restriction. Some doctors will allow fills as close as two weeks--maybe less, some don't. It sounds as though yours might not. You could call in a couple weeks and tell your doc how you are doing, and ask if you can move the schedule up. The worst that can happen is you get told no. My surgeon liked to go at least a month between fills.

Congrats Sandman! Welcome to the losers' bench!

For me-- chicken breast and soft, doughy breads are off the menu. Dark meat chicken is fine. Hamburger must be eaten with great care. I am fine with spagetti Pasta, but lasagna or ravioli is questionable. It tends to remain in a glob going down no matter how much I chew it. Popcorn is no problem for me. Shrimp is fine, I got stuck on fish for the first time last week. Beef is fine if cut into small pieces and chewed well. Beef ribs can be a problem because the meat tends to come off the bone in big bites. I haven't had a problem with potatoes. As crzytchr said, it has a lot to do with how tight your band is. Also, most of my stuck episodes these days are pilot error. Too big a bite or not chewed enough, and I am in trouble. Paying attention to what you are doing while you are eating will help you to be a successful bandster.

I did medifast for my pre-op as I had it from a previous diet attempt. I have to say I am not a huge fan, but it got me through. Some of the Soups are OK, but very lacking in salt (I love salt!)--no big surprise there. The bars are not bad and at least let you chew. The shakes I had to just slam down. I survived it, and made it to my surgery. I lost 8 lbs in the two weeks of my pre-op. The medifast program allows for one "lean and green" meal each day. So I got to include some real foods each day, that was nice!

Right! It's all about MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! :wink2::redface::w00t::redface::thumbup: (now quietly heading out of the thread--for now)

(Wondering if the OP thought such a simple post would create this may replies.) :thumbup:

10 days post-op. Hadn't had "real food" since probably 2 weeks before, so that is what? 24 days without "real food" and someone brings a trigger food into the house? Trying to heal, starving, and possibly cranky. Yeah, I'd not want my trigger foods in the house, IF it could easily be avoided. If not, then I'd have to find a way to deal with it. I do realize that our family members must eat. I respect them, but they need to respect me as well. During the immediate post-op phase, perhaps some special care is needed to help us get through. Yes, I'd want to vent also. I believe this is the place to do it. Along with speaking to the husband about it. My husband drives a manual transmission. I drive an automatic. If he broke his foot, I would drive his vehicle for a while so he could use mine. I'd not say, oh, too bad for you, I like my car so I will be driving it...you figure out how you are getting around. Last time I checked, we were a team who helped eachother out. My two cents. Feelings are neither good or bad, they just are.

Hi Desertmom, I found this: What side effects do users of Meridia report? The more common side effects may include: Abdominal pain, acid indigestion, anxiety, back pain, constipation, cough increase, depression, dizziness, dry mouth, flu symptoms, headache, increased appetite, insomnia, joint pain, loss of appetite, loss of strength, nasal inflammation, nausea, nervousness, painful menstruation, rash, sinus inflammation, stomach ache and sore throat. So if you are having reflux/gastritis problems because of the band, it looks as though Meridia might not be a good choice until after your revision. I am sorry the band did not work out well for you. It doesn't work for everyone. :thumbup: Best wishes for a full recovery!!

First off, punch him in the nose! :confused: Then lick his fingers! Really though, if solids aren't in your food plan yet, you shouldn't eat them. chicken can be a hard food to eat with a band, and getting stuck so soon after surgery ..... I could not imagine the pain. Yikes!

From what I have read here, most surgeons don't do a fill when inserting the band. But there are some surgeons that do put some in during the procedure. My surgeon did not put any fill in my band during the surgery.

As Humingbird said, appeal it if you get turned down the first time. Many, many of us have appealed and won! Don't give up hope. My own opinion is that the insurance companies find any way they can to turn us down in hopes we'll give up and go away. If you can make a good argument on appeal you can win. In the mean time, keep getting your ducks in a row with other requirements they might have like nutritionist visits, psych evals, blood work and the like. Best wishes! I did!

Yay!!! Thanks for the update, glad the unfill worked!

I have BCBS California HMO or whatever it is called. I appealed the 6 month diet requirement by using weight watchers records. They accepted it for that. I don't see why they would not accept it as proof of weight. Here in California weight watchers scales are certified by the state weights and measures board of equalization. So, even more accurate than a doctor's scale. I'd submit it! Best wishes!

Gack!! That is just a huge scary thought!! :biggrin:

Well done!! Keep up the good work!!

I was the second case of the day. My doctor said if I was doing well he would release me that day, but that I might spend the night. He did say if my surgery had been later in the day I would have spent the night. I checked in a 6:30am. I went home around 5pm. I believe that out-patient is considered anything less than 24 hours. The only problem I had with going home was when I woke up in the middle of the first night and the pain meds had worn off. I could not sit up on my own! Was very glad DH was there to help me up and get me more meds. Otherwise I was very happy to be home.

I have seen it with some people on other boards. Not will all the posters, just some. So many say, "Oh the after care with the band is horrible!! All those doctor visits..it is never ending. DON'T DO IT!" Oh, really??? I've had 4 fills in two years. Yeah, horrible. Way too many doctor's visits.

Hello All, Today is my Two Year Bandiversary! I am down a total of 63 pounds from my all time high. I am 5 pounds away from a normal BMI (149). My weight has been stable for several months. I feel so good where I am that I haven't been strongly motivated to lose the rest of what I need to in order to get to my orginally selected goal of 140. I am maintaining my current weight with ease. I eat to my appetite level and concentrate on making good choices and not eating junk. I am hopeful that this means I will not easily gain the weight back. I am more active than I was two years ago because being more active is easier than it was. How nice is that? I've lost weight, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. I've gained size 10 clothes, self-esteem, and self-confidence. I'm not the largest person in the crowd. I don't feel as though people are looking at my plate and judging what I am eating. I've had no complications. I hope to keep it that way. Best wishes to all as we journey on to healthier selves!!

I'd suggest bringing something for back support. Remember posture! I recall just getting exhausted trying to stay comfortable sitting in my chair. Then I'd start to slump, and that would increase the pain. Get up and move around as often as you can. Even if just walking for 5 minutes. Keep your Water close at hand and sip, sip, sip. As others have said, you will not be taking in many calories, so your energy level will be low--from that and from the trauma of the surgery itself. I will say that it is amazing what you can do when you have to do it.