barbie1978

Looks like we're ALL in the same boat! I was banded on July 7th and my first fill is on August 27th...and for the past 2 weeks i've been HUNGRY!!!!!!! I try to only eat 3-4oz each mean but I can definately eat more than that. Sometime I do, but i'm careful. I do take my time and put my fork down between bites...and definately do not drink and eat at the same time. I am really looking forward to my first fill..so i can feel normal instead of always hungry. Definately different foods keep me full longer and i try to stay away from junk. Since starting 'normal' food, i've gained about 9 pounds back, but i'm losing again (THANKFULLY)... Glad to hear i'm not the only one at this point! I'll keep checking back and posting...and i hope to hear about how everyone else is doing as well!

'pop' as we call it here ....well it's sounded good lately, BUT my doc was very specific about it...not only can the carbonation get stuck (yes, STUCK) where you would have to go get an unfill just for it to pass, but the carbonation can stretch the top stomach pouch which will defeat the purpose of the band...AND he said it basically feels like you are having a heart attack... so none for me...just BE CAREFUL to those of you who want pop....make sure it is F.L.A.T!! Just don't want anyone with a band to hur themselves!! :sad:

my first fill in in slightly less than 2 weeks...August 27th...i am actually excited for it (i'm not a big needle fan) because even as we speak, my stomach is growling! How was the ACTUAL fill experience? Lots of people said no biggie since you get the lidocane shot before...

i have to wait until i'm one year out (next july) but i'm longing for a Dirty Martini.....or a shot of my fav, Tequilla....or a vodka/pineapple juice....i used to love Long Island Iced Tea but can't have carbonation ever again...wonder if it still tasted the same w/o pop in it?

i feel the same way! I was banded 7/7 and I can eat ALMOST anything...lettuce (esp iceburg) and rice are not my friends....even with the very little restriction i have (no fill yet...less than 2 weeks)... I'm just ready to NOT feel hungry....you know? Of course you all know...lol Here's to getting fills (and feeling full)!

i thought i was the only one feeling like this... I'm just over a month out, and I've been hungry since about 2 weeks post op...now i have very little restriction, get VERY hungry too....I try keeping meals to the 3-4 oz like he said (so that i would be ready for the fill) but shit, if I do that, i'm STARVING...so i eat a little more than the 3-4oz... They told us this would happen (my doc office did anyways)...my first fill is less than 2 weeks away and i truly wish it was sooner...i'm looking forward to having some restriction!

my first one after surgery was BAD....i think it has something to do with the WL making us more fertile..so more fertile=more miserable? lol I don't know...but the cramps last time were rough...ouch!

glad to hear the success of everyone who's already had the surgery! My process took a little longer...i do have it posted in another (current) thread...look in 2009 Bandsters...for July...my whole story is in there.. I will say it took me more than a year to lost the 20 pounds required by insurance so once i finally did that, i got approved in less than a week and i'm now 2 weeks away from my first fill! Most importantly, I DON'T REGRET ANYTHING!!!!! It's absolutely worth it...

today: B- Carnation shake (3oz) s- Gerber Graduates lil'sticks (chicken...they're actually pretty decent tasting..and 110cal, 10g protein!) & 1 Babybel cheese L- Protein Bar (30g Protein, ridiculously delicious, and VERY VERY mushy) D-?? not sure yet...

I was a little nervous after the first few times I ate...I try to stick with the 3 oz..sometimes I can tolerate 3.5...no fill yet so not much restriction. He said as long as I keep it under 4oz I should be good...I really try to keep it to 3 tho...if i eat too fast i noticed i get gas pain in my shoulder right away. I can tell that it's either too fast or too much... How is everyone else doing?

SO I started mushies today..and its FANTASTIC! Love it love it love it... Linsey- yep, i'm REALLY going! It's may 14-17, 2010. They did it this past may but I couldn't go...did'nt look too much into it but i also didn't realize that they just walk around and hang out with everyone...OMG i can't even stand it! They're grown...I'm grown...LOL I am SO excited..and i'll be a skinny, healthy, sexy hot momma by then! It's just gonna be a lot of fun...

I hope to feel that way about food...today is my first day of mushies (15 days post-op) so I was excited to try things...but I just had dinner and I DO feel that way right now...i LOVE sushi as well and it used to ALWAYS sound good..but not right now :thumbup: Here's today (first day mushy/pureed): B-nothing but water..early appointment and slept in too late L- 1oz refried beans w/ 1/2tsp each light sour cream, & mashed avocado, and literally a pinch of light shred cheddar...it was heaven!!! Bean burrito w/out the burrito shell S- 2 3/4oz Babybel light cheese w/4 saltine crackers...wasn't sure about them but i bit off the corner of the saltine to see if i could chew it enough (or if not then spit it out)..and it fricken MELTED! I had no idea saltine's did that. But I didn't want to overdo it so 2 per piece of cheese..that's it and it was PLENTY. D- 2oz Tilapia and some overcooked green beans (chewed to puree)...i've never even liked fish but I LOVE it now! I can't see myself having anything else tonight...all i want now is water :eek:

I think just about everyone on here is told something different by their doc. I just had my post op appointment today (15 days out for me) and I was given the OK to start mushies.... When we had the nutrition class, she told us either anything that is already pureed or that can be CHEWED to puree form before swallowing. She also told us that as we first start eating (both mushies and solid food) it will be foods that are higher in fat/calories while we are in the first stages...and that it was ok because it's such a small amount. But that once we get filled, that's when we really need to start being mindful of fat/calories in food. This was by no mean a "free for all, eat all the shit food you want"...obviously. But one of the things that my doc recommends right away on mushies is tuna/chicken salad w/low fat mayo.... I had 1oz refried Beans w/ 1/2tsp each light sour cream, & mashed avocado...it was heaven!!! Bean burrito w/out the burrito shell :thumbup: Snack was 2 3/4oz Babybel light cheese w/4 saltine crackers...wasn't sure about them but i bit off the corner of the saltine to see if i could chew it enough (or if not then spit it out)..and it fricken MELTED! I had no idea saltine's did that. But I didn't want to overdo it so 2 per piece of cheese..that's it and it was PLENTY. dinner was 2oz Tilapia and some green beans (again, chewed to puree)...i've never even liked fish but I LOVE it now! Like I said...it's interesting what each doctor allows at each stage and when that stage begins...

this is a great thread...i'm having mixed emotions about moving to mushies (this wednesday)...i get HUNGRY once a day and definately want to eat...not all day but literally once per day. And my stomach has started growling again so I know it's feeling better :smile: So in one way, i can't wait because oh just to taste food again...but at the same time, i want to be sure that my band is good

Thanks!!! I had different phases of a pre-op diet. My insurance required me to do 18 weeks of a program called Beyond Diets...that did shit for me. I was required to do all liquids 5 DAYS pre-op. I decided to start 9 days pre-op and actually dropped 11 pounds, HOWEVER..for 2 weeks before that, i did 2 Carnation Instant Breakfast (instead of slim fast) shakes and one meal a day...and i lost 12 pounds there...and i'm down 12 from surgery day... No lie, i tried EVERYTHING and someone (depending on what you believe...god, spirits...etc) was with me those 2 weeks before becasue I didn't budge more than 5 pounds from my HEAVIEST until then...i seriously lost all of my required weight 2 weeks before surgery...with the exception of getting down enough to send paperwork in to my ins. company...got down to what was needed for literally about 3 seconds and it all came back in a few days...

I LOVE this thread! I've had a few NSV's... Day 5 post op: cleaned out my closet...GOT RID OF ALL the clothes i was holding onto...but wait, it gets better...i thought i had one or two pairs of smaller pants that i kept..you know, those "oh i'll get into that again" clothes...well i kept more than I thought! I have 2 pair of jean capri's, one pair of white capri's, one pair of white bermuda dress shorts, 3 pairs of jeans, and about 20 tops that just before surgery didn't fit..and they all either fit well or almost fit..and they range in sizes of 16-18!!! I was wearing a 22/24...Plus, my shirts were all shirts that i would wear UNDER a sweater or zip up hoodie because they looked bad alone..now i can wear them alone...AND my jean skirt (that's still "in") that I havn't worn in 5 years..the last time i was this size...is loose! Day 7 post op: went to TJ Maxx...i'm now officially a shoe whore! And i went right to the size 8-8 1/2...nope! I'm inbetween a 7-7 1/2 now...so the shoes will have to wait a little more, but I forgot that your feet shrink LOL Day 8 post op: stopped into one of my jobs...a PT job at..well lets call it a beauty/cosmetic/superficial store (lol)...EVERYONE was going crazy..."omg your cheekbones" "omg you already look so small!"..and when I went in the back and tried on my very unfashionable, yet required, jacket that i used to have to suck in to zip...well it zipped and i could roll it in like 2 inches! :smile: I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy I chose this surgery! Can't wait to hear about other people's NSV's...and to keep posting mine! Barbie (and now I feel like i'll actually start LOOKING like my given nickname)

I was just about ready to slap people who kept saying "it really gets better"...but it REALLY DOES! Just wait for about day 5 and 6....big difference..and once you hit one week, FORGET ABOUT IT! LOL I feel AWESOME...i want to EAT but my doc says no until he sees me this wednesday...so liquids until then...(but i did sneak one babyspoon full of cottage cheese...HEAVEN) GOODLUCK EVERYONE!

Well happy birthday!:cursing: I know how you feel...i was banded on 7/7..and my birthday was on 7/14...no cake for me either! I'm not a big cake person normally, but we make an italian cake every year...with pound cake and riccotta chceese, powdered suger, a few cherries cut up, and a HUGE hersher's bar...most is chopped up and put in the mix..the rest is shaved on top..oh and did i mention that the 'frosting' is cool whip? OHHHHHHHH SO GOOD......it's basically a canoli cake...but when i'm back on food in a few weeks, we're going to celebrate...i can only have a TINY piece, but that's ok!

Anyone????

THese posts are such help...and i don't feel the same way I did when I created this post (even though it was only a few days ago..)..so thank you all!

How long after surgery did everyone start eating pureed/mushy foods? I'm very curious as I've seen SO many different responses (in other random threads)... I'm supposed to wait until next wednesday, 7/22, before starting...it's my two week post-op visit... Just curious...i'm getting hungry and am really starting to consider eating an ounce of cottage cheese:redface:

I was banded on the same day...7/7/09...and as of right now my doc is planning on doing a fill at about 5 weeks post op. I also am just dropping pounds every single day and LOVING IT:thumbup: But your doc should tell you that it depends on the person! We're all different...that's one of the topics we had at our support group night. Two women from the group were banded by the same doctor on the same day. One has had 11 fills..the other just had her 4th...it totally depends on you and how YOUR BAND is working for you. Another woman in our group has never needed a fill...her band just happenes to sit on her "sweet spot" and she's continued to lose...quickly too. It all depends. WHEN YOU STOP LOSING WEIGHT/START GAINING WEIGHT and are VERY hungry, it's time for a fill..and if that doesn't happen to you until you are 6 months post op, so be it! Just tell your surgeon about your concerns at your post op appointment. Wait until you are further along in your healing process...about 4-5 weeks. See how you feel then...goodluck! Barbie

i'm 9 days out too and i know where mine is...it's definately the biggest incision...i'm only questioning if i'm feeling in the right spot because under a few of the smaller incisions it's bumpy...which i know is from the healing and whatnot...but at least it doesn't hurt to press on it! lol

they say 64oz of Water, but you will NOT get that in yet...since you're only 2 days out, just SIP every so often...i didn't worry about how much fluids i was getting in until about 5 days out...you feel better almost overnight by day 5 or 6..i didn't believe it, but it's so true! If you were nauseated, you could have eaten too much and/or too fast. Did you eat the whole 3 oz?

Ok my story! I am 9 days out now and i feel such a HUGE difference! I had a lot of trouble moving and getting comfortable for the first 3 days home...didn't sleep for more than 2-3 hours at a time ()...but by day 5 and 6 I literally felt better overnight! I have been walking anywhere that has a cart (wegmans grocery store, walmart, target) every day just to get out...i had to buy new clothes ALREADY!!! I finally can get at least 32oz of Water in...that I also noticed changed very quickly...over the past 3 days actually. And most of the time i'm NOT hungry...but once a day my tummy growls and i'm HUNGRY..i see food and do this:tt1: LOL I'm supposed to be on Clear Liquids until next wednesday (7/22) when I have my post op with him..then move to pureed food. I CAN"T WAIT!!!! Hummus, here I come! :tongue_smilie:I have gotten on the scale every morning just to see..and i literally LAUGH each time..for the first few days I was down 2-3 each morning...now like clockwork i'm down another pound every single morning. It's almost like it's not happening because i've struggled for SO long to see these numbers...and now they just keep going lower and lower..i LOVE it. As far as my incisions...i'm all glued..dont' know if anyone else on here is. A lot of it is coming off now and it freaked me out at first..but it's normal. I can bend and twist now (thank god...i can shave again! LOL) with no pain...still having occasional gas pain in the shoulder which hurts...but that's it. It's MUCH better today actually... I hope everyone is doing well! I'm excited to hear about everyone's progress...goodluck to those of you who are about to be banded! You might have a "why did i do this" moment in days 1-4...but it's SOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it Barbie