cherycl

Congratulations!

Not at NYU.

Chery

I had my first fill today, 1/3/06. I was nervous about the needle, but excited about feeling some restriction. Since the surgery, I have been able to eat anything and everything!

I found out my band is the larger band, the nurse-practitioner used initials, vgb, vbg???? Not sure now. I would like to know the difference between band types.

I found out that I had 2 cc in the band from the initial surgery on 11/21/05. Today they added 4.5 cc, for a total of 6.5 cc.

I don't feel any restriction yet, but I will be on liquids for the next two days. Perhaps I will notice restriction when I move on to mushies?

I was weighed today and have not lost any weight since my first post op visit on 11/28/05. HOWEVER, this is the first holiday period I remember where I didn't gain weight. I ate what I wanted and tried to pay attention to when I felt full. I did notice that on New Years Eve we drank wine and snacked on h'orduerves for a couple of hours before dinner. I found that grazing was too easy to do and dangerous--way too much food can be consumed over a period of hours and defeat the purpose of the band. I will make sure I don't fall into the grazing habit!

Has anyone had similar experiences?

Chery

Banded 11/21/05

Dr. Ren, NYC

272/251/135

1st Fill 1/3/06

Put me with the turtles! My thyroid levels are fine (just checked 2 weeks ago) but I have only lost 2 lbs. in 10 weeks. I went in for a fill (3rd) Tuesday and its the first time I have felt ANY restriction. I exercise and try to make good food choices but I'm miserable.

Hello I am not banded yet I have a consult with a surgeon on Jan 20th, and just found out today that I have hypothyroidism. I have been checked in the past but it was always normal. My Dr. is putting me on synthroid, and I have read that sometime you can't get surgery if you have hypothyroidism. What causes you to get HypoT. when you have never had it before, and was it hard to get approved for surgery while having HypoT?

I haven't had a fill yet (4 wks post-op). The first 2 wks after surgery, i would get uncomfortably full after 1 c of Protein Shake or broth. Now, I feel like I can eat the same amount at meal time that i was able to eat prior to surgery. However, I don't eat the large amounts--I try to eat about 1/2, but it is more like dieting because I am conscious of what I am eating. I guess the fullness I felt after surgery must have been from swelling? Can anyone explain why some people don't feel restriction after their fills and then the restriction kicks in a couple of weeks later? Thanks.

I went in to see the nurse practioner after my esophogram--8th day post-op. My port incision looked questionable (he prescribed antibiotics). At that time I begged him for mushies, the liquids were getting exceedingly difficult with each passing hour. He let me begin them on Saturday instead of Monday. You would have thought I had won the lottery! Mushies were easy to stick with -- I like cottage cheese, etc. Now on regular foods.

So, yes, I did follow instructions.

Question. I like to make Soups in the winter. However, won't they go right through the pouch and leave me hungry?

Should I only have Soups for the couple of days after a fill?

Thanks for the info.

Dr. Ren's team advises no drinking 5 minutes before through 20 minutes after. However, the brochure from Inamed suggested no drinking for 2 hours post (i think i remember it correctly).

I adhere to the 5 minutes before and try to stretch the time to at least 1 hour (believing that I will be hungry faster if I drink sooner).

I wonder why the instructions from the manufacturer and the surgeon are so different.........

I can relate! I was so excited about being banded--I couldn't wait. In fact, on the day of my surgery my procedure was moved up to the first one of the day -- I almost skipped into the OR.

Up to the point of beginning the pre-op liquid diet, I was having one last goodbye's to the foods that might not be in my life any longer.

Two days after the surgery, I was in bed during the day and all of a sudden the thought struck me, "what have I done?". I felt like I was mourning the loss of a friend that had always been there for me. It lasted a couple of hours and I realized there was no turning back and ultimately I was pretty sure I was going to be happier and healthier.

The next day, three days post-op, I stayed home when my husband went to his sister's home for Thanksgiving dinner. I just couldn't face all that food. When he came home, I asked how dinner was. Well, the turkey breast was a mail-order, pre-cooked turkey, injected with lots of salty chemicals. There were no mashed potatoes and gravy, etc., etc. I wouldn't have enjoyed the meal because I am a very picky eater.

Later this week, we are going to my Dad's for Christmas dinner. I am now on regular foods and will be able to enjoy a small amount of all my favorites. That was exactly what I wanted to be able to do. Small portions, no seconds, enjoy the good food and good company!

However, I understand that twinge of "mourning".

I am looking forward to my first fill because at this point I don't feel restriction and am working hard to control my food urges. Right now it feels like I am dieting! Also, I still think about food alot and I am hoping that once I can only eat a few bites, because I feel the restriction, I will focus less on food.

Hang in there!

Chery

Banded 11/21/05