LindaD

Surgery date - May 29th. I was 240. This morning, I was 230. (I updated my ticker - gotta go update my numbers in my signature.) I lost a lot before surgery, too. Happy as a clam. :tongue:

Thank goodness the scale finally moved! It finally moved! I kept saying I knew I was doing the right things and I would be patient but I was thinking about considering being on the verge of being impatient. Anyway, down 5 pounds this week!! 230 as of this morning (I know it's not Friday, but this is my Friday weigh in.) :tongue:

That one is the least of it. It's mostly the noisy stomach and the air coming UP. LOL I feel like a drunk, hungry sailor.

I'm 3 weeks post op and moving onto some regular foods. I'm eating healthy, exercising every day, and my calories are reasonable (I haven't had a fill yet). But geez.... my body wants to make so much noise!! My rumbling stomach - even when I'm not at all hungry, I feel like it's making SO much noise that surely other people can hear it! hahah I'm glad I have my own office at work. Anyone else? And as for other bodily noises, well, they're coming out both ends! I didn't have issues with indigestion or gas or anything before. And I don't FEEL like I have those things going on inside of me even now. I mean, I have no desire to run for Tums or anything. Yet, I burp. A lot - way more than I ever have in my life. They're different, shallow, sneaky. I don't even want to talk about the other. LOL Anyone else? Is this just adjustment or is this how it will be going forward? I'm sure it's not the same for everyone, just trying to figure out if anyone else whent through this and came out the other side with a quieter body. :wink:

Leeann, I would have been annoyed at that nurse. Avocado is one of my go-to foods - yes, it has fat, but it's the 'good' fat. It also has lots of other good things in it, and it can be very filling. The thing about diet and nutrition is that the medical professionals don't all agree. It's easy to get conflicting information from those in the medical profession - even dieticians and nutritionists. I guess what I'm saying, I'd shop around for someone whose ideology on nutrition matches what you believe, what resonates and works with you. I don't me look for someone to tell you that you can have whatever you want or anything. LOL But there is no capital-T "Truth" in this area so you have to find the approach you can get behind and then ignore everyone else. In my world, avocados are a wonderful part of my diet. In fact, I'm getting ready to leave for work and I have one in my bag to have for lunch.

I was banded on May 29th. I didn't have any nausea after surgery. I haven't vomited at all, not even close to it. Twice since I moved onto soft foods, I have had this thing happen where I just felt nausea hit all of the sudden. I didn't feel like I was going to vomit, I just felt blech-blah for a few minutes, 5 or 10, and then it passed. The one time it happened was shortly AFTER I had eaten something. Not immediately after, but maybe 15 minutes after. The other time, I hadn't eaten anything for a few hours. I don't know if it's just coincidence.... could it be because of the band - has anyone else had this?

I can see waiting a long time for steak, but ground beef - if you chew well - should be ok, I would think. My post-op is no red meat or pork for 8 weeks. Starting Friday, I can have chicken or fish (I jumped the gun and had some chicken last night).

A very long time ago, I started working on this - trying to always leave something, even just a bite, as a matter of principle. Also, if I was eating out for convenience and even if I ordered a combo meal, I would get Water. It felt strange at first - "I'm paying for a soda, I should get the value of getting a soda." But I kept telling myself it's not about money, it's about health. I'm pretty new to all this so I'm not sure how things will play out. We have gone out to eat a few times and here's what I've done -- I've ordered off the appetizer menu. And then I shared with others at the table. But - in order to get the satisfaction of some variety, I have also tasted a bit from my husband's plate or my child's plate. It's been satisfying me doing it that way. I don't think I'd do the children's menu because I typically don't care for what they have on that menu. LOL I think I'll try to order an appetizer or a side or whatever and then maybe share a little of what my husband gets. I have heard others say that when they order, they immediately move a portion they can eat onto a new plate and ask for the rest to be wrapped to go. That saves them from eating it just because it's there on the plate. This sounds like a good idea for me, too, when and if I do order a full meal.

I have a similar story. I did lose a bunch quickly BEFORE the surgery, but only a few pounds since then. I am exercising every day - at least 30 minutes but often 60 minutes a day. I am tracking my food and I know my calories are way less than what my output is. But I'm sure that my body is just pausing to recover from the surgery. I'm doing good things, the right things, and I will eventually be rewarded for it. I won't give up just because the scale hasn't moved in 2 weeks. I keep telling myself "this is a marathon, not a sprint". Hang in there!! You're not alone. Keep doing the right things - don't lose faith.

I was banded May 29th. I haven't had my first fill yet either. In fact, I'm still supposed to be on soft foods until Friday. But I was struggling with hunger and I felt like I was eating too much. I started tracking everything I ate on fitday.com and it was 1200+ calories. I think because it was liquids and soft foods, it was going right through. Yesterday, I took a different approach. I had scrambled eggs (firmly cooked) for Breakfast, a banana with Peanut Butter for lunch, and then I had grilled chicken (1 drumstick) and mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner. Some of it was soft but I think I got more "firm" foods and it helped completely with the hunger - my intake was 950 calories yesterday, and I was satisfied. I think we'll all need to work on what/how to eat so that we maximize the pouch and its effects. Plus, of course, getting the right amount of Fluid in the band will help too.

Was this out, or at home? I'm so scared of something like this happening when I'm at a business dinner. Even if I manage to get away from the table quickly, it would create a problem to be in the restroom for 15 minutes waiting for it to resolve. Ugh! So were you cutting up tiny bites of the hamburger and chewing really well? Were you eating the bread/bun? My post-op instructions say no bread at all for 8 weeks. It's one of those things that I'm going to try to leave behind MOST of the time even beyond that. I guess bread and rice are some of the foods most commonly that cause issues. Glad everything turned out alright in the end...

Lisa, I lost a bunch of it starting in February getting ready for my surgery. I used an Rx to help with appetite - Phentermine. But I went off of that before surgery and that last week on clear-liquids, I lost 20 more. I haven't lost anything since. Well, I guess 4 or 5 but that was like the first few days after - the scale hasn't moved since. My post-op diet was: week 1 Clear Liquids, week 2 full liquids (he allows oyster crackers, saltines, and graham crackers on your full-liquids phase), week 3 (where I am now) is soft foods. He allows Cheerios and Corn Flakes on this phase as long as you chew them to the consistency of toothpaste. I just started soft foods on Friday. I've had guacamole a few times, I had a cheese enchilada (it was VERY soft so I'm assuming it was OK - I took very small bites and chewed well), I've had scrambled eggs several times. I had re-fried Beans with cheese. Starting Friday (week 4) I'm on regular foods only I'm still not to eat any bread, fibery vegetables, salad, red meat, or pork and no alcohol or carbonated beverages. I have lost little weight since surgery. When I was on the post-op liquids, my calories were very low, and now they are higher but still very much lower than they used to be maybe 1000-1200 a day. I've been very hungry but I still think that keeping it down that low is no over-indulging. But the scale isn't moving right now. It will, though.... I'm going to be patient and keep working at doing the right things.

I'm wearing a size 18 top today. I had to scoot my seat up in the car. My wide-with shoes feel too big. My wedding ring is not only back on my finger, but it's spinning around. I booked a business trip for next week and I feel NO anxiety about getting on the plane. My knee isn't failing me when I push it on the treadmill. My GLASSES feel too big. LOL (Just for full disclosure, my weight loss thus far has all been pre-op. Go figure! LOL)

My first fill is scheduled for July 8th. I have been pretty hungry, but I know I'm eating a lot less than before. I'm tracking my food on Fitday.com and so I know, for example, that my intake today was about 1100 calories. And I'm still working out - aerobic (I haven't yet started with core-body exercise yet since surgery 3 weeks ago). It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one dealing with being hungry. I haven't lost anything since surgery either. I was probably taking in 500-700 calories on the liquid phase and now it's up higher. My theory is that my body QUICKLY dropped a bunch of weight on pre-op and then it was accosted with surgery and now it's sort of saying "Hold on!" and trying to get its bearings before the scale will start moving again.

I can definitely see the difference!! Keep up the great work!! I lost most of my weight pre-op, and frankly have only lost a couple pounds since the surgery but I'm not worried. I'm still feeling great and I know things will happen eventually. Here I am in February: And here I am on Friday heading to my class reunion (well, I did put shoes on first haha):

No, I wasn't. Oh, I know that risk is always there. I did everything to mitigate it as best I could - chose my surgeon carefully, lost weight prior to surgery, got in as good physical shape I could, etc. And then I trusted. I didn't even tell most people in my life until AFTER the procedure was done. My mom, my friends, they were all worried enough for me. LOL They all knew I was having it done, though. So rather than have them all worked up with anxiety, I just scheduled and did it and called/told them afterwards.

I think you are in the same place as I am - I was banded on 5/29. We have the band in, but it's not yet filled so it's not yet offering the satiety that we're hoping for. Especially if you're doing a lot of liquid or soft foods - they can go right through the band. I don't claim to know much yet, but I'm hopeful that once I start eating more solid food, it will stay in my upper pouch and help me feel more full. And then, of course, getting to the right fill level will help too. Hang in there - keep doing your best to eat right and make sure you're getting in your exercise. I was fighting hunger all day today, I just could not get past it. I came home from work and had 3 scrambled eggs and some cheerios (and that's a lot, I know - it's way more than 2 ounces of food!!) and I'm finally not feeling so desperately hungry. I expect it will get easier, yes. Still hard work, no doubt, but easier when the effect of the band is realized.

This is me too. I'm on soft foods now, able to start regular foods (except no bread) on Friday. I am getting hungry a lot. And when I eat, I do fill up pretty easily but then I'll be hungry again a short time later. I had lost about 50 pounds BEFORE surgery, but none has come off since. I actually went UP but I'm pretty sure that was just my normal cycle increase just before my period. I'm exercising, etc. I can't wait until I can eat some real Protein. I'm doing Protein shakes but those don't make me feel full at all. The soft foods I'm eating now are really lacking in that area, I think. I'm hoping that once I can eat more protein based REAL foods, that will help with the hunger. It is weird to be taking in so few calories and not losing, though. My first fill is scheduled for July 8th. I'm not going to be impatient because I consider this a marathon and not a sprint. Even though I'm on restricted eating, I'm pretty sure I could eat anything and as long as I chew it up well enough, it will go right through.

Yeah, this process of getting used to how much is a learning experience. I had bisque today too at a restaurant. I ordered a bowl. I guess I figured it was liquid and would go right through, which I suppose it the deal with liquids. But since it's pretty thick, I think it filled the pouch and only SLOWLY moved through. I was very full for quite a while. I ate it at 1PM and now it's nearly 9PM and I STILL feel full. I'm just going to have to start with a very small amount and realize that the fullness still has a bit of a delay. I can always have more later, but if I overeat, then that's not good. I think 2-4 ounce sounds about right. I move onto soft foods on Friday. My first fill is schedule for July 8th.

I lost 20 pounds in the week before surgery on liquids. And if you're really doing Atkins, you can eat enough to satisfy your hunger, there are no prescribed portion sizes on Atkins, only a prescribed number of carbs (if you're doing induction levels, that's 20 carbs, which means if you're hungry, you can ALWAYS eat something as long as you're under that... eggs, meat, greens... his view is that you eat when you're hungry).

Dr. Wagner did mine exactly 1 week ago. I really could not have been more pleased with him and his staff. They were so kind and supportive throughout the whole way through - diligent in their follow up and never dropped the ball at all. Yes, there was a program fee and I was happy to pay it for the additional attention I got all through the process. I look forward to being under Dr. Wagner's care for the rest of my journey with my band. I highly recommend Dr. Wagner and his wonderful office staff.

I wonder if that's it.... I never thought of that. I had a cup today and even though I was buzzing right after, it didn't last. It's nearly bedtime and I'm TIRED so I'm sure I'll fall right to sleep. Good thinking.... Thanks. :biggrin: That seemed way too extreme (although still sort of does - even if it was a double-batch or something - ALL day???) Maybe some one-time thing....

I've never been sensitive to caffeine. I'm not addicted. I might have one cup of coffee in the mornings maybe 3 days per week. That's it. I don't do tea, cola, etc. I'm nearly a week past my band placement. Yesterday I came back to work and had a cup of coffee at 8AM. I noticed the shaky-caffeine effect right away. (Before, I wouldn't have gotten that unless I drank 3 or 4 cups of coffee, which was very rare). All day and all evening, I was buzzing with energy. Which is SOOOOO not me. :redface: At 11:00PM, I went to bed and I could NOT fall asleep. It was past 1AM before I finally fell asleep. Then I woke up before my alarm at 5:30AM. I came to work and had a cup of coffee again, and the buzz is strong. I'm taking no other meds - I've been off the pain meds (which made me groggy) for a few days now. Where is this ENERGY and perhaps newly found sensitivity to caffeine coming from? What's it all about? Anyone else experience this? Could it be because my body isn't getting food right now (except oyster crackers)??

When I am considering buying something from Amazon, I read the reviews. I read a sampling of the reviews from the HIGH raters to the LOW raters. You need to get a view of what problems people had and then weigh the risk and decide upon your purchase. This surgery was no different for me. Of COURSE I have loved reading all the wonderful success stories, and there are many. But I needed to know the stories of those who regretted it too - those who were un-banded, those who had major problems. I then could look into those problems and try to assess the risk - is it EXTREMELY rare (some are) or uncommon but not rare. What do I think of the possibility of that happening? My port coming out and leaving a gaping hole, my band slipping, being violently ill, PBing at a business dinner, etc. You gotta look at all the warts too in order to judge whether this procedure is right for you. I'm too early to give any meaningful input other than I am so far just giddy with where I am in my journey.

I had my band placed Friday, the 29th. My weekend was uncomfortable, I was sooo tired (pain meds, I guess) and sore (to be expected). I did do my treadmill. I worked from home Mon and Tue and felt fine all day - had stopped taking the pain meds so the grogginess was gone. I'm only slightly sore on the right side where my port is. I went to the office today and it was great. My job is office, very sedentary. My doctor told me I could add in oyster crackers and creamy Soups and that's helped with the hunger. I'm down 5 pounds since surgery. I have my follow up visit on Friday afternoon. All is good. Very good. I feel GREAT, so happy to be here in my journey.