LSF

I would get the hernia repaired but also switch to protein drinks, soup & jello for awhile to see if that helps.

My surgeon does take thejm, actually, all my doctors take them. I'm worried about the "aftercare" since I already had the surgery.

Costco carries a protein callled "Premium" - it tastes like chocolate milk to me - 30 grams of protein each, low carb & low fat. I love them for breakfast!!! 160 calories each. You should also try the different soups, tomato, chicken etcc. I was lucky - my doc didn't require any diet prior to surgery - just told us NOT to gain weight.

Try the Crystal Light - I add the packets to my bottled water every day at work - I buy a variety of flavors to mix it up. Our local supermarket makes their own brand which is just as good and they are always on sale - buy 1 box, get 2 free!! As far as your insurance, that's the problem with the PPO plans, you should look to see if your employer offers another plan that has more coverage for next year. Good luck on your journey!

With the band - raw vegetables will be hard to eat anyway. I prefer them when they are cooked in a dish (like pasta).

I learned after my last fill that I cannot eat breakfast anymore - I have to wait until I'm up for at least 2 1/2 hours. Now, I'll drink 1/2 a protein drink before I leave for work and water when I get there and a South Beach cereal bar after I'm there for awhile. These incidents happened to me on my days off - I think I let too much time pass without getting fluids in me.

Has anyone ever gotten sick/slime without eating anything? It's happened to me twice since my last fill but I'm not too tight because the first time was 2 weeks after the fill and the second time was this morning. Other than that, I'm fine. The only common demoniator was that I hadn't eaten anything at all that day when it happened. I don't throw up - just dry heave. Do you think it's because I went too long without eating? I wonder if it's because I didn't get enough fluids in me either.

When I was on mushies, I used to take a scoop of mashed potato, a scoop of chili with beans on top and cover with shredded cheese and stick in the microwave. I looks like a mushy mess when all melted but it's SO good!!! And so filling!!!

I buy whatever Turkey Bacon is on sale and they have all been good. I usually can't eat in the mornings until after I have been up for at least 3 hours - so on the days I have to work - I'll drink a 1/2 of a protein drink before I leave and then usually a South Beach cereal bar at work and string cheese (reduced fat). I'll save the bacon & eggs for dinner since I can get more food in at night.

The best description I can give is that it feels like if you try to swallow another bite - it might not go down so that you better stop or else deal with the consequences. A couple of times I pushed it and was miserable afterwards.

I have been very open about the band and have no regrets - however - I am tight right now and it makes going out more difficult so I have found myself staying in more which sucks. Restaurants scare me right now because I worry that I'll get that un-comfortable stuck feeling from eating and I can only take a few bites of food.

You definitely need more of a fill. I was in the same baot as you but we can go in once a month and he would give me 1cc each time. In May, I was up to 10cc's and finally got good restriction. I went back July 29th and only let him give me .5 since I was still somewhat having good restriction. I find that now - I can hardly eat during the day but can usually eat a decent size dinner. September is just around the corner - good luck!

I find that some meats are easier to get down if I cut them up and put into a salad like steak & chicken.

I have no problem in restuarants - Grilled chicken salads work well for me but whenever I go out - I need to plan on taking at least 1/2 my meal home. sometimes I'll order a pasta dish because that makes a good leftover the next day. Sometimes I'll just order an appetizer for dinner if it's not something fried. The last restaurant I went to - they had a lobster ravioli appetizer as well as a dinner portion size and I order the appetizer size and couldn't finish it!!!

Try not eating in the mornings until at least 2 hours after you wake up. I had another fill the other day and was fine for the first 3 days and then yesterday - got sick every time I ate. I switched to liquids for 20 hours and am now slowly working my way back up. I'm going to try mushies for dinner.

Mine has always stuck out but I don't have lot of belly fat - that is why and I appreciate it sticking out because the doctor has no trouble finding it to give me a fill compared to his other patients. And Josephine is correct - no one else can really see it.

It's my understanding that when you reach your goal - you just leave the band the way it is - or you can remove some of the saline and go back for fills if you start gaining weight back again.

It takles me a few weeks to get adjusted after a fill. I learned the hard way that I cannot eat anything for at least 2 hours after I wake up. I also noticed that I can usually eat more at night so that is what I'll do. I had my last fill 4 days ago and had no problems until yesterday - every time I tried to eat - after only 2 bites - I was dry heaving over my sink. I finally settled for soup & jello for dinner to give me some time to heal. How much saline do you have right now? Are you drinking liquids only for the first 24 hours? Maybe you should wait a little longer between fills? It seems like you have a good weight loss and restriction going and you could wait longer before your next fill. good luck!

One of the things that I've learned since my last fill is that I cannot eat breakfast within 2 hours after I wake up. (or pay the consequences) On the weekends, I'll make scrambled eggs, during the workweek - I have to bring a South Beach Protein bar to work to eat for Breakfast. I have to have the snacks because lunch for me could be just 4 bites of food - I think that is why I need something within 2 hours.

I stock up on cheese sticks and will have 1 as a snack or almonds. At work for lunch - I can never finish my meal and I bring a Weight Watchers chocolate for my chocolate fix that I sometimes need in the afternoons. When there is a big fruit sale in the market, I'll buy it and make a large fruit salad and divide it up in containers to bring to work as one of my snacks. Then there are days that I need some chips or a cookie but it's all in moderation. I can't pig out on that stuff like I did before the band. I also started walking at our local high school track after work.

I have a 14cc band - I just went in today and only asked for a 1/2 cc since I still have restriction and didn't want to be too tight. Plus - I still want to have room to grow. He was satisfied because I lost 15 pounds since my last appointment. I am still able to eat everything and more so at night so my weight loss is not as fast as some others but I'm ok with it.

I am always hungry every 2 hours and eat a small snack every 2 hours. As of today - I now am up to 10.5 cc's in a 14 cc band. I lost 15 pounds since my last fill 11 weeks ago and my doctor is satisfied with my weight loss even though it's slow. But, I am also able to eat anything (just small amounts).

It is frustrating to read the posts from people that say how they only ate a cup of food and were full for hours - even forgetting to eat their next meal and here we are - not getting that full - satisfied feeling.

I was getting a fill every 4 weeks. My last fill was 5/13 when he brought me up to 10cc's - I felt the restriction so much more that I scheduled my next appointment for 12 weeks later.

I'm looking into getting the lapband and was wondering if anyone has it done in Massachusetts. Where and with who?