parisluver

Mine is the the side of my belly button and I can feel it if I press on my stomach but it isn't visible when looking at my stomach. I also had a TT 4 years ago so I don't have a ton of belly flab (mainly upper stomach flab). Not sure what will happen when I lose the weight. If it's really noticeable I will ask for a smaller port to replace it if insurance will cover that...big question if they will. But as it is now I don't think it will be really visible as I lose. I saw a picture of Courtney Love who is reported to have had the band and it looked like you could see her port when she was photographed in a bikini. She was really really thin though.

I love this post because it is so real and true. Everyone will cheat on this band at one point or another. Either you will have a fill and push the limit with something you want to eat a bit too soon, or you will eat something that doesn't agree with you and PB even though you knew better. But it is also true that the band will teach you what you can and cannot eat for YOU. Everyone is different. Everyone's tolerance for what foods they can and cannot eat is different. Also, there are many doctor's who have many different post op diets. Who is right who is wrong? Some people are moved to solid foods within a week. Is that right? Do we criticize them because they had solids but your doctor said you have to stay on liquids for 3 weeks? If the person eating the solids earlier is doing okay with the food choices they are making and the doctor says it's okay then it's OKAY! I think it's using some common sense -- I wouldn't tackle a Subway sandwich 3 weeks post op but for some maybe it works!

I just started using a website myfitnesspal.com to track my calories but it also tracks Protein and carbs and fat. Awesome website and you can put the app on your iphone to keep track of things during the day. I get a lot of protein each day according to this site. I eat turkey sausage, eggs, tuna fish (awesome source of protein and it comes in those smaller containers now you can take to go), chicken, cottage cheese. I found I was getting enough protein from my food intake that I no longer needed the Protein shakes. That is the goal!!!!

I would stay away from the bread - that might be a trigger food for you. It seems like a lot to be able to eat a 4" sub at this point. Many doctors don't allow solid foods until 4-6 weeks post op. I'm 3 weeks and still in the mushies phase, although I have tried a couple things that weren't quite mushies and was fine - I just eat them in small portions and small bites and chew really well. good luck!

I had gas pains immediately after surgery in my shoulder that lasted about 2 weeks. Then it moved to the middle of my back. I'm 3 weeks out and feeling more back to normal now - the bloating is also pretty much gone - that was a huge problem up until a few days ago.

I lost 10 lbs before surgery and I'm now 3 weeks out and lost an additional 9 lbs. Most of that in the first week post op and 2 lbs since then. At 3 weeks I'm averaging 1300-1500 calories a day - no restriction.

I think the strict liquid diets that most doctors have their patients follow is to slowly introduce these foods to the band. I know I can probably eat mushies no problem right now (I am one week banded and have one more week of liquids to go). It is hard because I'd love to eat something different. There isn't much variety on the liquid diet. I can't even have cottage cheese right now as it's not considered a liquid. So one more week. It was hard tonight to not snitch a french fry from my son's dinner. I made him cheeseburgers (he is a teen and football player growing like a weed). It was so hard to smell that with the grilled onions and not eat anything! Not to be able to nibble on the cheese was the worst!!!

I'm post op day 4 and just starting to get hungry. This is the first day I can actually eat a little. The thing that satisfies me are Soups - creamy Soup like cream of chicken or split pea with no ham. I have to add extra Water but it is definitely more satisfying than broth!

My doctor is same as above. Full liquids 2 weeks mushies 2 weeks then solids. So nothing solid for four weeks.

Did you have any restriction in the beginning? I am day 2 post op and I can barely get my Water in. I definitely feel restriction. When did your restriction go away?

I've often wondered that as well. But I think it is such a big change for people and most people don't like a lot of change in their lives. Eating differently is a huge change when you are used to using food as a crutch your whole life. To not be able to eat like you used to is difficult to get accustomed to -- and for some a deal breaker. I think it does go to show the emotional element that eating has for a lot of people and they don't want to lose that. I think people have to deal with their issues first on why they overeat and battle that before they have surgery. Otherwise, they will trade one addiction for another -- and food is definitely an addiction.

I'm not allowed to eat applesauce until the third week post op. I tried to put it in yogurt but just couldn't get it down. I made the mistake of just trying to swallow them last night. Big mistake. I think one got stuck and I've got some pain and discomfort. I don't know how some of you did it with just swallowing them whole. I'm not going to take anything until I talk to the office tomorrow.