KarenH

Just had surgery yesterday, so I am on the "liquid phase." Not many choices and I need to add protein powder to what I eat. How do you add protein powder to jello? I sprinkled some vanilla flavored gnc whey on it. :huh2:It was on odd texture, jello with dry powder. The taste wasn't too bad. Just looking for some suggestions on this beginning phase. I am not too hungry yet. Still recovering (quite well, actually) from surgery. In fact, I feel so well, it's difficult to realize I am VERY limited in my food choices! I feel like I could eat whatever I wanted! I am being good and following the doctor's orders. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks. Karen

I am concerned that I may have stretched my pouch (my own fault) by drinking pop daily. I had stopped for 7 months postop and then picked it up again. I simply need the caffeine and do not drink coffee or tea. I notice that I can consume larger quantities of food. I still have great restriction (I wonder if not too good as I constantly burp after eating for at least 30 minutes) I read one of the threads that talks about band slippage. I never considered that aspect - just pouch stretching. So, my NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION is to stop this permanently. I just wondered if the pouch will shrink again after a period of time. I certainly hope so! Happy New Year to all. Thanks for any knowledge you care to share on this. Karen Lost 50 lbs - put back on 5 this past month. 11 months out from surgery.

Hello bandsters! 2 weeks from today (the 25th) I am scheduled for surgery. I had a pre-op physical, ab u.s., lab work, upper g.i., chest xray, surgerical consult and on Monday I have a stress echo (thanks to my personal doc who I just happen to work for - she's VERY cautious/conservative) Each day I say, "This is the right thing for me. I have researched it, talked about, and worked towards it." I also have a mini meltdown each time I think about how I have failed in the past so many times, does this surgery confirm all my failures? I sit here crying as I write this. My struggle (as so many of the people I have read on this site) has been long and hard. Up and down. My father passed away in March from every complication there is from diabetes. I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes. I know I am headed down the same path as he. I don't want to be model thin. I am, quite frankly, too old for that, but young enough to still want to enjoy biking, hiking, camping and living life without worrying about my weight all the time! I so appreciate this web site. I have read so many "testimonials" and appreciate everyone's perspective - negative and positive. This site has educated me on so many things that are not covered in seminars, nutritionist visits, or doctor's visits. I am going into this with my eyes wide open, but I am still anxious. Sorry if I sound redundant, whiny, or needy. I am sure I will be on a roller coaster ride until the 25th and possibly thereafter. I am also so excited to feel like I will finally have some control on my over eating! Thanks to everyone for sharing. It makes me feel like I have many friends who have my same experiences and emotions! Thanks to you all. Karen

I had my surgery on Thursday and returned on Monday. No problem. I do have a desk job. I monitored my intake and was happy that I had been able to accomplish this without having to tell everyone! Good Luck to you. I am sure you will be okay. Just remember to listen to your doctor when he/she tells you what and when to eat. K

I am just looking for some advice on what to do to help relieve the swelling after my second fill. I had 1 cc for a total of 3 cc's in a 10 cc band on Thursday. I have pain and obvious swelling as I am having difficulties with Water and Protein shakes passing through. I have tried to eat a little bit of cottage cheese and thought I was going to make a trip to the ER. Other than time, is there anything I can do to help reduce the pain/swelling? Your thoughts and suggestions would be welcome. Thanks, Karen

I am an idiot! I was banded in January, 2008 and I had my second fill on 9/11/08. 1st fill 2 cc(no problems), 2nd fill 1 cc - 10 cc band. First day I thought I was doing great, had liquids and I tested the waters by eating a couple of crackers before going to bed - all was well. Yesterday morning I had my Protein shake - also no problem. Yesterday afternoon, I took an advil and it was all down hill from there. Swollen, massive pain in my chest, everything I drank came back up. I spoke with the doctor (and of course I did not tell him about the advil) and he said it normally takes 24-48 hours for the band to adjust into its new adjustment. I had acid reflux several times for the first time last night. I am much better this morning. Drinking small amounts of tea. I think the acid reflux scared me more than anything. I hope to start mushies in a couple of days. Just goes to show that I should have listened to my doc and not pushed myself! Karen Lost 40lbs. Goal 100lbs.

Oh, and p.s.. I didn't take anything stronger than ibuprofen. I do recall feeling "pulled" by the port site when I walked for over an hour. Karen

I have to agree with Hollie519. I had surgery and was up and moving immediately. I did have some difficulty sleeping on my stomach for the first couple of weeks, but all else was pretty much back to normal right away. Just another instance of how differently we all react to surgeries/medications/different foods. Karen

:lol:This is complete silliness, but I got quite a little chuckle from this. Must have hit me at just the right time....... I was speaking to a friend about why I cannot drink diet coke and how it stretches the "pouch.". She started giggling and said it sounded like I was turning into a kangaroo. Okay, I couldn't help myself. Just had to share. This is probably as old as the hills! With all the stress out there I thought a giggle was due! Karen:tt2:

People are too funny! Yes, we gotta laugh along the way! K

Afternoon/evening seems to be a "hungry" time for me. My doc suggested that I have a small snack - apple, veggie - to hold me over until it's time for dinner. I was eating too much, and too quickly. Stuck! I am 4 months out from surgery and have lost 34 pounds. In the beginning, I too felt I had enough restriction without any fill. This worked fine for me. I lost 18 lbs before my first fill at 2 months. The doc put in 2 cc's in my band. I have been back twice since my first fill and each time we have decided that I am still restricted enough to lose the weight at the pace we have discussed (1-2 lbs per week.) I did have a month of eating too much "easy foods" and only lost 2.5 lbs that month. That was totally my fault. That "sweet spot" has been hard for me to find. Good luck to you! By all accounts on this site, we will be able to find it! Karen Banded 1/25/08 Dr. Peter Rantis Weight loss 34 pounds Goal 90 - 100

I have two questions. First: How do you get in your Fiber each day when the bulk of our diets is supposed to be Protein? I have the beginnings of diverticulosis and the doc told me to eat more fiber. I had to laugh at the "eat more" as I think I am eating more than I should already with the band, and I have questions on how to get more fiber in my diet. Anyone taking and supplements and are they working for you? Secondly, I remember the dietitian telling us to make sure to sip Water between meals to make sure you get all your fluids in. Okay, I don't have to sip. I can still gulp down a healthly 8 oz of water in seconds. Is this normal? Too much? A sign of pouch stretching? I would think any Fluid would just flow through the restriction. :biggrin: Banded 1/25/08 Weight lost - 32 pounds, Goal 100

thanks for your suggestions. Is there really any difference between benefiber and metamucil. I realize it will be personal preference, but if anyone has tried both could you let me know which one you prefer and why? Also - Laurinda - I wouldn't mind those recipes for cookies! thanks! Karen

thanks for the reply fatandoverit. I went to the doc last week. I had only lost 2.5 lbs. over the course of one month. I have to admit, I was eating Cookies and candy quite a bit because it doesn't get stuck. He wanted to give me a fill, because while I have lost 30 pounds since 1/25/08, I am not where he would like me to be. I REALLY like and trust this doctor. I don't feel like he is pushing me. I explained that I am pb'ing several times a week, and always when eating with the family at dinner. We decided to wait a couple of weeks to allow me to work out my eating issues (practice eating slowly again). I think I am having issues with losing more weight. I am currently at the weight that I get to by just dieting and then I always end up gaining it back. I need to sort this out, too. I scheduled my next fill in 10 days. I will take the bull by the horns, and learn to eat more slowly, smaller portions and NO MORE SWEETS! Thanks again and good luck to you, too! Karen

fatandoverit - I would like an answer or an explanation to your question, as well. I have spent the last couple of months pb'ing regularly and not from overeating, but from eating too quickly. This evening I made ribs for the family. I thought I was chewing carefully, but think I ate to quickly anyway. Well, I have spent the last 2 hours pb'ing and I still feel stuck. I only have 2 cc's in a 10 cc band. I am due back to the doc in 10 days. I am thinking of removing 1 cc. I have also found that I am essentially following a diet like weight watchers and exercising every day. I am beginning to wonder if I need any fill because right after surgery I knew I could not gorge myself, ate fairly decently and never pb'd. Now that I have had a fill, I am continuously pbing (several times a week) and I sometimes slip into old habits thinking I can eat something sweet because at least it doesn't get stuck. Did anyone go through this, and if so, what did you do? Karen

I must not be restricted enough because I can still eat 2 cups or more per meal. I do notice that I feel "fuller" if I eat my protein first. I have been having great difficulty with pork and hamburger. I have been eating quite a bit of tuna fish lately. I have also been stuck about 3 times a week and find that I have been eating sweets again because there is no cause for concern over being stuck and I can eat more of them as well. I have had one fill (2 cc) in a 10 cc band. I am due to go back to the doc in about 10 days. At the last visit we decided not to fill again because I was getting stuck so often. I am starting to worry about pouch stretching. Since 1/25/08 I have lost 30 pounds. So, something must be working. At least I know that I am not able to gorge myself as I have in the past. Even without the sweets, I seem to be able to eat quite a bit. Hm........... Karen

Am I stretching my pouch or not tight enough? It's interesting. I can "feel" the food go through and have been "stuck" about once a week (even eating smaller amounts), but if I eat slowly I can consume more than the quantities people mention on this site. My weight loss has stopped at 26 pounds. I am afraid that if I get another fill I will be too tight. I was banded about 2 1/2 months ago. Advice? Suggestions?

I am going to see my surgeon today. I was banded on 1/26 and this appt. is for my second fill. I wonder if I should have one. Last time he inserted 2 cc's in a 10 cc band. What a difference this made! I had definite restriction on quantities and types of foods. I would say I must have pb'd 3 times a week during the first two weeks post-fill. It was my adjustment to my adjustment period. During the last week, I have only had one issue and that was because the meat was too dry, I was tired and ate too quickly. Anyway, is it typical to get a second fill so soon? I am still able to eat a decent amount of food, slowly, chewed well. I would say I can still eat about 5-6 oz of Protein and at least that amount of starch/vegetable. I have read several postings that indicate they can only eat 5 - 6 bites at a sitting and then have to stop. Is that the restriction I should be looking for? I hate to think that an additional fill may make me pb again! I suppose I will just get used to being more restricted? Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Thanks. Karen

Holy Cow. I have been pretty good when it comes to emotional eating since being banded, but I am having an unfortunate sibling experience that immediately sent me to the kitchen! Oh, I thank God for the band. I started to eat a cookie and could immediately tell that my band didn't like it. Yes, chocolate goes down easier, but FORTUNATELY I only had a cookie in the house. Also, having retrained myself a bit with binge eating and quantities was very helpful. I guess I will go for a walk now. The band really helps! Karen

marieze - I am so glad you posted this thread. I am relatively new to this site - just a couple of months - and tend to read the current posts instead of searching the archived threads for information. I have had only one fill (banded 1/25) 2cc's a couple of weeks ago and I can easily pb on a deviled egg (thank you Easter!) I am learning what works and doesn't work. I didn't pb until I had a fill. I worry a bit about slippage as I seem to do this several times a week. On Easter it happened a couple of times. I know I was eating too quickly. I am going to pull out the instructions given to me by the nutritionist prior to surgery. I am sure I must be doing something wrong. It was reassuring to read the posts to your thread. I picked up some insights. It's difficult to know what to expect since we are so new. The more I read, the better informed I am! Thanks. Karen

I am wondering what "sweet spot" means to different people. I am trying to determine what I should be looking for. Is it that you can't eat much anymore and feel full right away? Is it having to eat 6 small meals a day because you can't consume more than a few ounces at a time? Are you "restricted" enough to eat a little and not feel STARVING between meals? Before my first fill, I could eat any type of food and about 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups at a meal. However, I was STARVING between meals and my stomach growled loud enough to be embarrassing. Last week I had my first fill and now I have to be careful of the types of food I eat (pb'd a couple of times) and am back to blending some things before eating. I am never hungry. I have been banded approximately 7 weeks - so I am a newbie. When I return to the doctor in 3 weeks I may ask to have some of the saline removed (he put in 2 cc's) if my current situation persists. Yes, I am experiencing rapid weight loss, (down 25 lbs yesterday) but I think this may be too much restriction. Advice? K

mtnpainter - Of course, I have several questions as I am concerned for you. We have all spent countless hours, I am sure, reading all the postings on this site. I have read time and time again that to be overfilled is a bigger problem than to be underfilled. Actually to keep your metabolism functioning properly requires an intake of calories and a burning off of the calories in the form of exercise. What does your doctor have to say about your weight loss? Is he/she concerned about how rapidly you are filling your band, and that you only have 2 cc left before it is completely filled? Have you seen a nutritionist? I know we are all strapped for time. I so get that - I work full-time, have 3 kids, the dog, etc...., but this is the ONE thing I have done for myself. If the band, as a tool, is not working for you, or as you would like it, I would definitely seek advice. Are you exercising? Walking has equal value to jogging in the long run. You run or jog the same distance, one just takes longer than the other. It's also easier on the joints. How about bike riding? As the weather warms up, it should be great to be outside! You sound so discouraged. You need something, some change, to give you a boost. I am only concerned for you (not preaching) and I hope you find the solution that is right for you. Don't give up! K

I have been banded 7 weeks - my first fill this past Tuesday (3/11). Until the fill (2 cc) I would have said, "yes, I have pbd twice due to eating too fast and the wrong type of foods - not too bad - caught myself in time." Yesterday, I ate 1/4 of a bagel and it was stuck for about 3 hours. (what fun at work - running to the lady's room. pardon me, but where the heck does all that saliva come from? Is this sliming?) I had read that breads were not a good idea for some people. Prior to the fill, I was having a bagel everyday for breakfast, slowly, well-chewed with a bit of peanut butter. I guess those days are over for a little while until I adjust to the fill. Put my chicken dinner through the blender last night. No problems. K

I had my first fill on Tuesday, March 11th. My doc asked all the regular questions and based on my answers filled my band with 2 cc. Normally he starts with 1 cc. I tried to negotiate down to 1.5 cc because of some of the concerns expressed on this web site about filling too fast. My doc said liquids the first day (the day of the fill), soft food for 2 days and then a regular diet. I have to admit, I seem to have a stomach of steel and have (unfortunately) never had a problem eating ANYTHING. I am lucky in that I am having absolutely no problems so far. How many cc's did your doc give you? When were you banded? How long have you been on regular foods? Have you called your doctor yet just to express your concerns? Also, in all my readings on this site I have never read anything about someone having difficulties specifically because of food temp. Maybe you still have some swelling? I would just give my doc a call for his advice. Karen

I am so sorry to hear of your condition/issue/problem. I have not been banded very long and I never had any experience with heart burn/reflux. I believe I have read in several locations that taking nexium/prevacid was perfectly fine, but I have not asked my own doctor personally and will not see him until next week. If soft foods/liquids help, I would absolutely try that for some time and continue to seek advice from your band doctors. In looking at your history, am I correct that you have been unfilled 3 times? Were they always because of reflux? Good luck to you. I apologize for not having better suggestions. I will pray for you (and I am NOT a bible thumper!) and hope you find the answers soon. Karen