mnn2501

I ate my first solids on day 4 (yes I cheated). most people I know are on solids week 3 or 4. Just remember 2 things: small portions and chew, chew, chew!

Are you drinking carbonated soda? if so, stop for a while. I have been banded 5 months now and if I eat too much or too fast, I get the pain again and it lasts for a couple hours. Too much carbonated soda does it too.

PB = Productive Burps (bringing something back up) -- usually happens when you forget to chew really well or you try eating too much.

Most docs make you go on liquids for 1 or 2 weeks ahead of surgery to shrink your liver and calm down your stomach (it churns while digesting) Now 3 weeks before we went to all my favorite restaurants and I gained 7 lbs in 7 days, then lost it all and more the 2 weeks of liquids before my surgery. For your own health during surgery, please stop now.

I had to check and see if I wrote this as everything you said I could have (and have) said. Anyway to the O.P. You're friend was certainly not acting Christian and its definatly not a cop out.

Been there, done that -- for me it his day 3 and 4 and I ended up eating it on day 4, small portion and chew chew chew. Didn't kill me, but you take your own chances ;0) I can eat anything even stuff that gives some people problems, but I chew, chew chew - thats the key.

Call you doctor, now! or you may end up in the ER in a couple of days

Coffee and soda are ok in moderation. I could not drink carbonated beverages the first couple months but do now occasionally. never did like coffee

weight gain right after surgery is normal, relax, your body is healing. a month from now you should be dropping, but right now my advice is don't even get on the scale for 4 weeks.

Your port may have flipped, mine did - no big deal, the doctor was able to flip it back with his hand (from outside) in about 2 or 3 minutes.

While I have heard of this I have never experienced it, if your surgeon doesn't already know this, you need to tell him/her asap. You should be able to eat small amounts of soft food by now: jello, pudding, creamed soups. Did the hospital suggest anything? How are liquids (water, broth, etc) going down?

It was not my comment you were talking about, but the comment was 100% true

To smoke or not to smoke??? is there anyone in this day and age that doesn't know smoking is bad for you, especially when you'll be on oxygen during surgery? I know its hard to quit, I did it myself, but come on, do you really need to ask on a message board to know the answer to this? Sorry, I am honestly not trying to be mean, but I just don't know any other way of saying it than how I did.

This was the first surgery I had had since I had my tonsils out at age 4 so I was kinda worried too. Like everyone else has said - nothing to worry about, you're mouth will be very dry when you wake up and they'll get you ice chips to begin with, then when you get back to your room, you'll be able to drink - water, juice, broth. the sore throat is not too bad and will go away quickly. As amsderb said get up and walk, and walk and walk some more. I also was doing laps as soon as I got back to my room and had a liitle bit of gas pain but nothing like some people say. BTW weigh gain is very normal right after surgery - they've been pumping liquids into you via IV and your body is in a healing process -- I gained 5 lbs the week after surgery - then it all started going away and i have lost 50# so far. You also may get depressed for a couple of days I did after my 3rd week of liquids (2 weeks before surgery and 1 week after) -- don't worry, the liquid diet does end and you can get back to regular people food which cured my depression. (and I admit I cheated on my 5th day after surgery and went to Taco Bell and got a MexiMelt and ate 1/2 of it, boy was that a treat)

Gastric bypass is much more drastic, which ironically is the reason I did not choose it, however, it is a faster and more foolproof method. It also has some inheirant dangers in that its very easy to not get enough Vitamins and minerals causing some potentially severe health issues. I am at such a large weight that its very hard for me to exercise like I should - even after losing 50# I am still above 400#. They also have the gastric sleve which is another choice - safer than the bypass but I believe more restrictive than the lapband. definatly go to a couple of seminars and ask questions, my surgeon did all the weight loss surgeries.

Gummi vitamins are the best!!

1. Initial success yes, I lost 50 # the first 2 months but then lost nothing more until I started exercising 2. I took 10 days off (and work a desk job) I Could have went back after 3 or 4 days with no problems - but hey--I milked it. 3. Regreted it? I got depressed for a couple days right after surgery, but that went away and I loved it, now I'm kinda regretting not doing gastric bypass -- but then I am a really big guy -- 200# more to lose. What I really regret was not doing it when I was in the 300# range - I was 457# when I had it done.

I would probably go more drastic (like gastric bypass) if I had it all to do over again but to give you an idea of why, I have 200# to lose (at that point I will still be considered obese by insurance charts but will be very happy when I make it) . After 4 months I have lost a total of 50#, but find I can still eat enough to gain weight if I don't watch it. I am going for another fill in 2 weeks so perhaps I'll start losing again. My biggest weight loss came when I was on the liquid diet 2 weeks before and 1 week after and the 2 weeks of mushies after that. Keep in mind the Lap band is only a tool -- how big a tool do you want/need

Well, you know what the problem is, now the question is: What are you going to do about it? The Lap band is only a tool, you still need to do your share.

call your doctor, its probably nothing but they need to know and will tell you either to come in or not to worry.

It takes a couple weeks to get back to your normal self. If anything you may have over did it the first day - 5 - 10 minutes walking every hour?? no way. I was up and walking 2 hours after surgery but no where near that amount. I did have to sleep in a recliner for about 2 weeks, laying down was too painful even with a pain pump and pain pills. Did you get pain pills?are you taking them? Are you on a pain pump? I was, it was great, but kinda got in the way.

Looks ok to me for amounts, there are some healthier choices in foods you could make, but its up to you what you like. I don't see anything wrong with the amounts.

In these uncertain financial times, I would not take on more debt that you can handle. It really sucks, I know - our Health care system is broken and no one appears ready or able to fix it. Republicans won't even think about it and Democrats talk about it, but nothing happens.

If you losen up your band, you will start eating more. If you start eating more you will gain weight Kinda defeats the whole thing, doesn't it Sorry "eating like a normal person' is not what you did to get to 231# The only reason to have unfills is if you are throwing up a lot (after making sure you are chewing well and pausing between bites) or if you continue to lose weight after reaching your goal. Congratulations in reaching your goal!

BCBS is the most strict but will usually cover it. My SiL had BcBs and it took her over a year to get approval from them