tinaf

Kdlee - We've spoke before - i've been away for awhile - How is it going? Finally at restriction I see - how is that going????

My surgery was Feb 5 of this year. While in surgery, they found I had a hernia and had to fix that - so my experience will be different (I had a lot of pain afterwards and was actually out of work for a full week). However, I will say that it's been pretty smooth sailing after that, frustrating at times, because this is work. BUT - worth it. I'm down 50 lbs in 9 months so I can't complain!

I had my band put in in February 08 - so about nine months ago and I've lost 50 lbs - It took me four fills (with the last one being minimal) to get me to restriction that I am comfortable with. Hang in there when it happens - it seems to happen gradually - and then for me - I went for my last "tweak" and that's all it took.

Okay I'll chime in on this one - because I struggle with it myself - I, myself am JUST NOW starting to notice changes - (and I'm down 28/29 pounds - banded Feb 5 2008) - so being discouraged in this, I talked to my doc about it at my last appointment - he reminded me that this journey is a PROCESS and not to expect results over night. He chose not to do a fill at my last appointment because I was averaging a pound a week and not really getting hungry WHEN I EAT PROPERLY.... I think that it's easy to compare ourselves with the Roux - en -y'ers but that's not really fair. The doc explained that this weight loss is much more healthy and better for your body. Patience and persistenence. That's the key.

Sounds like you are TOOOO tight - I, too had my third fill (June 3) but I think I am finally at my sweet spot. Yes, I am way tighter in the am, can only eat yogurt - anything heavier than that doesn't go down. I can't eat soft breads, etc. but most generally, I've found that if I take REALLY tiny bites, later in the day, I can get most things down (some things do go down HARDER than others). I think I would call the doc and see what he says. Make sure you are chewing chewing chewing - eating slowly and cut everything up before you even attempt to eat it. Oh yeah, another thing - at my last appointment my doc told me to "lay off" the salad and salad type stuff- says that while it may go down easily - there is really no nutritional value to it that we need. They reinforced trying to eat soft Protein first at meals. So hamburger has become my best friend--of course with no bun -- and I eat lots of eggs, scrambled, hard boiled, fried, etc. --

I am two months post op - one fill - and can eat WAY more than 1/2 cup - more like a cup and a half.... I go for another fill on the 24th and I'm REALLY going to have to watch what I eat until then.... this part stinks...

I use it. I've not had any problems (two months post op) -- I'd say as long as you can get it down, you're good.

I think I will send Micky my surgery bill..... don't know why I didn't think of this sooner!!!

Wow..... I don't know exactly what to say -except for CONGRATULATIONS on doing something about it while you are young enough to ENJOY the rest of your life. It is hard when you look at is as giving up food (I think this mentality can actually lead to a grieving process)... just don't look at it that way. While it's true that in the first few weeks post surgery - you might feel like you have given up food - but look at this period as a sort of "detoxing of mind and body" to your old ways. Once you start getting restriction you are REQUIRED to monitor what you are putting in your body (i.e. healthy Protein, etc.)- don't go at it with disdain...embrace it as an opportunity to EXPLORE new/healthy foods that you may have not known existed before - (or simply just ate too quickly to simply enjoy what you had). It will take some time and some work, but it's well worth it. Besides nothing tastes as good as being healthy, feeling better and fitting into clothes you never thought you'd see. Just keep that in mind. Best of luck!

I'll preface this by saying that I am not a smoker, never have been.. but... smoking is just NOT good for you body. Period. Not to state the obvious, but it seems to me, that EVERYTHING in your body can be affected by this habit. I work in the legal field evaluating potential medical malpractice cases and am beginning to see more and more that SMOKING affects how a person's case is viewed. "Did you take Vioxx? Did you have a heart attack? Do you smoke? Oh sorry - your settlment just dropped by 60%" We've had cases where back surgeries have not healed as they should have - the cause? Smoking. Same with neck injuries, knee replacements, etc. In general, I think that smoking slows the body's natural process to heal itself (keep in mind I'm a Paralegal not a doctor). Now, I sometimes wonder if doctors look at a patient and tend to attribute ALL of their ailments to smoking as a cop-out easy answer.. I don't know. But what I do know is that with any medical procedure where your body needs time to heal--smoking can hinder that. I'm not sure exactly WHY they say not to smoke with the band but I know enough to know that if something WERE to go wrong with the band, the surgery, etc. I would not want the medical profession to chalk it up to smoking....

For me, (I am approx 7 weeks post op - two weeks post 1st fill so not at optimal restriction), I can eat more than I THINK I should be able to--however when I actually look at it - the most I've eaten at one time was prob two cups of food in total-and most of that was veggies. Now, with that being said - I have to say that I have had NO PB's and NO Sliming (although I did have a piece of toast go down VERY hard yesterday).... I have found that if I eat slowly and chew very well that I do get full much quicker than if I eat more quickly. So it pays to follow the rules. Right now - this is typical for me Breakfast - 1 egg and maybe one piece of wheat toast or sometimes I will only have a cup of Skim milk (this does satisfy me in the mornings) lunch - 1 -2 Cups of Lettuce w/hard boiled egg and dressing (maybe 5 saltine crackers) --OR 1 fat free hotdog w/ 1/2 Cup of Baked Beans (good Protein lunch here) Snack - handfull (approx 1/3 Cup of granola with cran-raisins)--but I only do this if I absoutley feel like I need something. dinner - 2-4 oz of protien depending on what it is... 1/4 to 1/2 Cup Veggies and then maybe one or two tablespoons of mashed potatoes or rice (depending on what carb my hubby decides on) Snack - maybe a 100 calorie pack. and then throughout the day - coffee, crystal light and Water. I have been trying to drink 8-16 oz of water before a meal - like 30 minutes before.. and then drink another 8-16 oz one hour immediately after the hour mark from the previous meal - this seems to be help curb the hunger -- I don't go for my next fill until April 24th - so this is what it's going to be for a while... I'm HOPING that the next fill will get me down to where 1/2 Cup satisfies me... but I'll believe it when I see it - I still can't imagine getting satisfied on just a few bites.

OH MY GOSH -- can I come to YOUR HOUSE the next holiday??? This sounds wonderful.....(insert belly growl here) :thumbup:

It was explained to me by my nutritionist that caffiene inhibits the absorption of Calcium. Now, I admit that right after surgery I did not drink it - I simply didn't want it - but now, almost two months later, I'm drinking about 1 to 2 cups in the morning. So... it's the one rule I am actively breaking.... so sue me

You know, I feel for all of you suffering from "post surgery blues". I TOTALLY thought I'd be able to go back to work two days after surgery.......NOT!!!! In fact, I was still feeling "off" until about the 4th week post - op.... and it was so hard to explain to anyone who asked how I was doing. It wasn't that I physically felt bad (while there was considerable pain in the beginning)...but I just felt "weird"... looking back at it now...I think that maybe part of it was a grieving process maybe?? I'm not sure. I remember standing at the copier at work and thinking...OH MY GOSH - I am not ready to be here... in tears... and I really couldn't put my finger on WHY I felt that way. I think we all should give ourselves a break tho -- it was a major decision to make this lifestyle change and I think it's perfectly normal to kinda be in SHOCK for a little while after you realize the impact of what you did to make yourself healthy. With that being said, I will now say that I am about 7 weeks post op, 17 pounds lighter, eating healthier, and having NO REGRETS. Hang in there and work with your band and remember that there will be better days.

This made me laugh-- you are SO RIGHT..... Kudos.... People only show they care when it's convenient...that's not caring