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I did not read a lot of the posts so sorry if this is a repeat. I buy the protein shots/bullets that have 42g of protein in 2.3 oz. They do not taste the best but I can manage to get one down. Peach is by far the best flavor I've tried thus far. You can dilute the shots b/c they side on a thick consistency or put them in jell-o. Lots of different things. You can find them @ Vitamin World, GNC, etc. Also, my mom had Gastric Bypass a few yrs. ago. and took the Nioxin nail and hair supplements and didn't seem to have a problem with hair loss. Good luck! :thumbup: I'm only 7 wks. post-op but sure hope this doesn't happen.

Ambra~ I did not lose any weight this week so I hope that makes you feel better. I wonder why you don't have restriction? I can eat almost anything too. :thumbup: However, if I eat something I probably shouldn't be I can tell w/my band. Ya know? Do you get a tight feeling in your chest at all? Hiccups? Those are my two main signs. I hope you experience restriction soon. I know you are frustrated but you will soon find your "sweet spot". Hang in there!!!

Yup, figure I gotta start somewhere. I want to get back up to my 3 miles pre-op. I get bored walking on the treadmill even w/the ipod or tv. Now if I could walk outside that would be a different story. Its been so crappy and rainy here ever since we got home. I'm not sure if I would rather have your problem w/no restriction or mine with. lol:lol: Like right now its 2:30 and I am tight so I haven't been able to eat anything yet today. I guess I have a lot of room in my band to work with. :rolleyes2: Ugh...nights! I would actually like nights b/c I'm such a nightowl and up until the early hrs. of a.m. anyway. However, flip flopping that sleep schedule would be a difficult task. TTYL!!

Julie.Ann~ Congrats on being in bandland! :w00t: I'm glad you are feeling well. I know a lot of ppl do not follow the post-op diet. I did follow it to a "T" but be careful. The main reason they don't want you eating "real" foods to soon is b/c they don't want the stomach churning/moving. They want the band to heal and stay in place. I think Dr.K is rather leniant on his post-op diet compared to other Drs. Dr.K also said I could start running again when I felt ok. My PCP said probably not a good idea until at least 4 wks. So, I started running @ wk 5 and did well. Fills are easy! Unless, you get too tight. Then it can be miserable. Dr.K is really sensitive to ppl being over-filled tho so this usually won't happen. I only have 0.65cc's in and have a lot of restriction. I've been debating on getting some removed but I am no longer in Colorado and would have to pay $200.:rolleyes2: Part of the restriction feeling is also knowing your new "full" feeling. I get mine in the chest and know its time to stop. If I don't, I will get the hiccups and know I've pushed the limits. I struggle w/this on a daily basis tho as my mind/lrg. stomach tells me I can eat so much more.:eek: Ambra~ I cannot believe he put 3.5cc's in for your 1st fill. What the heck girl? You still don't have restriction?:cool2: That is crazy! Like I said above, if I still had access to Dr.K I would be getting some of my Fluid removed. Everyone is so different. I ran a mile on Thurs. :tt2: I knew you would be proud and I thought of you every step of the way.:wink:

Hey, this is just a thought but you may want to stay closer to Dr.K's office in Aurora. When you are sent home from the surgery ctr. you should feel pretty good thx to lots of meds making the drive easier. I'm assuming Dr.K will want to see you in his office the following day when you are a little more sore/uncomfortable. Plus, you will be closer for pre-op appt. etc. This is just a thought tho. If the Marriott is closer to Aurora I would probably recommend that.

Hi Mardi! I was also banded on 9/29. You must remember, (even though I know its hard) that the first month is for healing. Once you receive your 1st fill and have restriction you will start losing again. We didn't put the weight on overnight or in a month so it will take time to come off. My sweet husband keeps reminding me that the slower you lose weight, the healthier it is for your body and it will stay off longer. I'm sure you are doing fine. :wink: Everyone loses @ a different rate and this is not a race. Stay positive! :tongue:

Hi everyone! I too, would like to join in this thread. I agree with y'all on the other post. Thx to Miss Ambraberger I found this thread.:thumbup: Yay! Julieann: I think you will be fine. Paula told me to follow the Atkins diet and when I told Dr.K at my pre-op he said no. He just doesn't want you eating anything white. I was dizzy on the pre-op diet so he said fruit was fine. He also said it mainly pertains to the 24 hrs. prior to surgery. Are you getting excited/anxious? Congrats on the major weight loss on the pre-op diet. I only lost 2 lbs. Lol... Best of luck for surgery day!

Hi! I was banded on 9/29 and experienced all of the same symptoms. My Dr. could not give me an answer as to why I had the "lump in throat" feeling. Four days post-op, the Dr. accessed my port and removed 1.3cc's from the band to everyone's surprise. I still did not get any relief from this so the Dr. ordered and upper GI @ 2 1/2 wks. The Radiologist said I still had Fluid in the band. Dr. said there was no way but accessed the port again and was able to removed another 0.5cc's. Finally three days later the "lump in the throat" feeling went away. The manufactuers put saline in the band to test them and usually the saline is removed from the band at surgery. My Dr. thought all of the fluid was removed but he thinks it must've gotten backed up in the port/tubing. He has since had 3 pts. since me that this has happened to. So...you might want to call Dr. and see if he can give you an unfill. Everyone kept telling me it was my "full" feeling but I knew it wasn't as I was hardly drinking/eating anything. The full feeling is definitely hard to get used to. I am now on solids and its weird. My "large" stomach says I'm hungry and will growl but my pouch says I'm full. Hard to get used to but you will learn. Last question, I was not able to drink all the fluids that are recommended post-op b/c I would get full and feel bloated. Just do the best you can. I hope this helps. I'm not sure if you are experincing the same thing but thought I would let you know b/c I was desperate to get rid of the lump in my throat. You don't want to be too tight post-op. :thumbup: Good luck!

Hi everyone! I haven't posted in awhile.:smile: Still trying to adjust to the lifestyle of a bandster. I didn't realize what an emotional rollercoaster it would be. I honestly cried at the Biggest Loser tonight.:laugh: Ugh... Jmegirl: Only 2 more wks. Are you getting excited? I'm not that far out from the liquid stage. I have to say it was not as bad as I expected. I was a bad girl and did not get all 60g of protein that Dr.K recommends post-op. I did the EAS drinks and the muscle milk. I was not able to drink that much post-op. I had almost 2 cc's of fluid in my band until last week. I just found the protein bullets/shots and love them. The first one I tried only had 26g of protein and it wasn't "yummy" (fruit punch) by any means but I could get it down. I just bought a case of the blue raspberry yesterday and they have 42g of protein. The higher the protein the thicker the consistency. Whew! Had trouble getting it down today but decided to drink 1/2 of it this a.m. and 1/2 in the p.m. I have to admit, I was not hungry all day. I had to make myself eat something. When does that ever happen? :smile: I've read some good ideas on how to dilute them so will have to give that a try. The shots are convenient and for me, the easiest way to make sure I'm getting enough protein. I figure if I can get one shot of 42g and get the rest of my protein from food, I will be doing good.:pray2: Definitely try one and let us know what you think. Brandy: Where do you get the peach flavor? Those sound yummy! Sorry I missed RR! I'm so sad.:sad: I haven't logged in for awhile and was thinking it was always the beginning of the month. Boo! We are moving next week so that was my only chance. Super bummed!

I am 3 wks. post-op and still have chest pains. Its uncomfortable and annoying!!! My Dr. removed some fluid out of my band to see if that was the culprit but I still didn't get relief. :pray2: I also had an upper GI done but everything looked good. I wish I had advice for you. I thought it may 'ease' your mind to know I also have chest pains. I guess I will wait in hopes they go away soon.:grouphug:

Are you getting in all of your protein? Today was the first day that I got close to the 60g my Dr. recommends and I was not hungry all day and had to make myself eat something solid. I HATE all the protein drinks :grouphug: but have to admit it helped control my hunger today.

Hello! Nerves are to be expected. :laugh: I would be worried if you weren't concerned. I was extremely nervous for the anesthesia and surgery too and this was my 3rd surgery.:smile: I was having so much anxiety, I almost backed out the morning of surgery but I was self-pay and knew I wouldn't get my money back. Anyway, surgery went well. My surgery was scheduled @ 9 a.m. and I was on my way home by 1 p.m. I couldn't of asked for a better experience. You will probably be uncomfortable, but remember its only temporary. The gas pains were the worst for me and the gasX strips etc. did not help.:grouphug: You will do fine! The week pre-op was the worst part for me. Try to focus on the positive. Good luck!!:pray2:

I can see and feel my port. I don't really notice it unless I twist/turn a certain way. Where are you at in Ind.? I went to College in Ft.Wayne.:biggrin:

Wow! What a bummer!:laugh: I would be so upset but am also w/you on the part that maybe this isn't meant to be for you right now. How could you not help think that? As far as having the surgery in a hospital I do understand where you are coming from b/c I was the same way when I found out my Dr. does all his procedures in a surgery center. However, I just wanted to point out a few things to think about. Most surgery centers are connected to a hospital but usually newer and nicer. Second, a lot of Drs. prefer surgery centers over hospitals b/c there aren't as many germs,sick ppl,etc. I had my surgery done at a surgery center 2 wks ago and had a great experience. My experience at the surgery center was more pleasant than any hospital stay I've ever had. Just thought I would pass this on in hopes it may make the decision easier for you.:huh2: Good luck!

I have the EXACT same thing going on. :thumbup: I have had this feeling before w/my thyroid but not quite this severe. My Dr. doesn't seem that concerned since I'm drinking/eating ok. Dr. removed 1.6cc's from my band 4 days post-op. I keep hoping it will go away and it hasn't. I think I'm going to call the office again tomorrow b/c I am miserable right now as I type this. I do know the more I stress about it, the worse it gets. Please let me know if your Dr. or you figure something out.:biggrin:

Good for you! I don't think I could sit in that position all day right now. Glad you started w/just a 1/2 day.:thumbup:

My nutritionist had yogurt on the list for soft foods. :thumbup:

Do you feel the band/port inside you? When you eat while banded, does the "full" feeling you get feel the same as the full feeling you got when you ate a large amount of food before you were banded? If you are on pill medication, can you still take it during the liquid diet post-surgery phase? Are there any long-term or permanent restrictions on vigorous physical activity? Seriously, how bad is the post-operative pain? Does anyone have any experience with the Oband center in Westwood, CA? Hi Jeremy!:cool2: I can actually feel the band/port to my surprise. However, I am exactly 2 wks. post-op today. The band feels like a lot of pressure being pushed into my chest/throat. I'm hoping this just takes some time to get used to. It doesn't hurt but is somewhat uncomfortable. The port I can feel but it doesn't really bother me unless I turn/twist a certain way. For the most part, I don't even realize I have it. From my experience and please remember I have not had "solid" foods yet, the fullness feeling is different. I get a feeling in my chest or I hiccup and that is my signal that I've had enough and it is time to stop. My Dr. wanted all of my pills crushed and I was able to take them fine on the post-op liquids. My doc says there won't be any restrictions post-op however, I am a worry wart and it will always be in the back of my mind before I do anything. I must say, I did have a great experience w/surgery. My surgery was @ 9 and I was on my way home @ 1. I came out of anesthesia very quickly and was sitting in a chair about 45 minutes later. I would be lying if I didn't tell you about the gas pains though.:eek: They were awful! So...you have to walk walk walk and have plenty of gasX strips. Yes, you will be uncomfortable for the 1st few days but its only temporary.:tt2: Lastly, I cannot help w/the center you are looking into but I'm sure you will be able to find someone on here that has used them.:thumbup: I think that's it. Good luck to you!!!:biggrin::smile2::wink2:

When do you plan on returning to work, or have you already?:crying:

I'm sure it does. My DH pays $400/mo. to have me on the insurance so you would think I would have decent coverage. Oh well!:eek: Glad they paid for yours.

Hmm...this is very interesting. I have CIGNA and they didn't pay a dime on my surgery. :thumbup: