Enchanted

If you're doing well, losing weight, and not hungry or snacking between meals - you probably don't need a fill. You can always go back and get a fill if you change your mind in a week.

It stops. It really does. And it also grows back. I think my hair loss started at around 4 months post-op and continued for 3 months or so. I mentioned it to the nurse at the surgeon's office. She sounded unconcerned and said it happens to everyone. Make sure you're getting in enough Protein and drinking enough Water. Some people say it's due to the decrease in protein, others say it's from the anesthetic.

It's amazing how different we all are! Popcorn? I can eat that without a problem. Pickles? Sometimes. I'm sure it's a matter of chewing well enough. I'm pretty sure it's the skin that's doing me in, though. xoxo

It's difficult (even with the band) to change the habits of a lifetime. I had some major MAJOR cheats and some weight gain in May while traveling for business. Once home, I started going to support groups again, made an appointment with the surgeon's office to talk with them (and have been going every couple of weeks to keep up with accountability), and cut back the cheats. You can do this..just need to get your head back in the game. Back to basics. xoxo

Congratulations on your success!! xoox

I only told the few people closest to me. I'm a private person, didn't want to answer lots of questions, be the topic of gossip, and . . . really, what if I'd done this and it didn't work? I didn't want everyone to know. But...since it has worked, I've let others know. Some people think it's a cheat - they just don't know. No one has been critical. My thought was....once told, I cannot untell anyone.

People fear change. This surgery will change you in some ways that could be uncomfortable for your husband, he's sensing that already. I'd talk with him about why it's so important to you . . . and also why he is so important to you. Offer him some reassurance and then ask him again for his support. You are brave to do this - and if he cannot offer his support, you can find it in other places. xoxo

You absolutely don't want to go with a practice that you're not loving. As others here have mentioned, you will need loads of aftercare. If the doctor and/or staff are not impressing you, look around for other options. This is too important. xoxo

Post-op, I was not hungry for a couple of weeks. I had difficult getting in the shakes (hated them so much), but tried to sip lots of Water every day to stay hydrated. Most people are given anti-nausea meds at the time of surgery. I was also given a long-lasting dose before I left the hospital. Finally, I was given an Rx for suppositories just in case. xoxo

I had hair loss and weakened fingernails about four months after surgery. It lasted about four months and has been fine since. Some people say this is due to a decrease in the consumption of Protein. However, I have also heard that this happens as a result of the anesthesia and that we get it more than others because we are not usually able to hydrate ourselves as well as others immediately after surgery (which helps remove the anesthesia from the body). In either case...the very good news is that this reverses itself. Talk with your doc about it, see what they have to say, though. xoxo

I've never had any pain from a fill. It feels strange as they remove all of saline in the band (to measure) and then put it + more back in, but it's not pain. Since the point of a fill is to tighten up the band, you probably will not be able to eat as much. Nearly everyone is on a restricted diet at least the first few days after a fill. Hope this helps. xoxo

My surgeon suggests drinking before meals, but not during or after - for just the reason you mention - lubrication for the coming food. Teeny tiny bites and chewing well are the keys to not getting stuck. Also, if I get stuck more than two meals in a row, my next meal or two are shakes - give my stomach/pouch a bit of a rest. xoxo

I had my surgery at the end of April and started losing hair about 45 days ago. I asked about it at my last appointment. The nurse said that it happens to "everyone," and that it lasts a month or two and then goes away. She suggested Biotin. I'm glad my hair started out thick. No one can tell, but I sure can -- and so can my shower drain!

Unless there is a medical reason to remove it, it will probably just be left in. Will your doc try to refill you at some point? Perhaps with a smaller fill than you've had? Sorry you've had such trouble :thumbup:

If your doc isn't being specific, it would be best to ask the office rather than ask here. Advice on foods to eat post-op varies so much that it's better to be clear on what your doc wants.

I started out doing Flintstones Chewables....told some friends, "The only thing I had to eat today was Fred." I now use Centrum chewables. I have not taken any of the liquids, but I know that liquid meds and I do not get along very well. It sounds like you're really asking about the surgery, though....the future for you is different. Some of the ways will not seem good -- for example, you need to find ways to fill yourself up other than with food; that can be a challenge. However, I'm now four months post-op and I can tell you without a doubt that this was the right choice for me at the right time. I have gone from an all-time high of 297 pounds to 187 pounds today. (I was not at my high when I had surgery.) You're just a few days post-op. It's normal to have "buyer's remorse" at this point. Hang in there, work the plan and it will work for you.

Woooooo! I got my insurance approval today and am scheduled for surgery on April 30. Anthem BC/BS was FAST with my approval. The surgeon's office said it would probably take three weeks for approval. It actually took ten days. My surgeon is Dr. Peter Kwon (Tri-State Bariatrics) in Middletown, NY. I've been so impressed with everything and everyone there. They recommend going to two shakes and one meal per day in the couple of weeks before surgery. Today is my first day of that. I'm so excited. It took years for me to make this decision, but I have not looked back since deciding. Yaay! Christine

I'm really sorry you're hurting so much. I think my pain never got above a 2 on the 1-10 scale. I took meds just twice at night to help sleep. I do think you should talk with your doctor about the pain again. If you are really up at an 8 in pain after a week, maybe something else is going on. Infection is one thing that comes to mind -- do you have a fever at all? Everyone recovers at a different pace. I've been watching on these boards a bit and it really does seem that the people over 35 take a little longer to heal and experience a bit more pain than those under. I know -- another age-related thing, but my very unscientific observances do seem to be holding together. Some words of encouragement for you -- The surgery is over and you have probably experienced the worst of your pain. From here, things will only get better. You will become more strong and able to do a little more each day. Hang in there, talk with your doctor again, and remember that good things are on the way.

This is a terrific post and an great explanation. I'm a month post-op and had all of the same things that are described in this thread -- not sure if I was hungry or not -- sure seemed like I *should* be hungry. It gets easier. Around two weeks post-op, swelling from the surgery must have lessened and I could suddenly tell the difference between hungry and those other things I'd been experiencing. I'm still working on realizing that if I've not eaten recently, I am not necessarily hungry.

If you incisions are red and swollen, you should have them looked at by your doc. While everyone heals differently, I had my surgery on 4/30 and my incisions are completely healed and have been for a week or so. I suggest that you not use anything with fragrance in it if the skin is not healed over.

You are not alone in this. It was about 10 days before I started feeling like I wanted to go out again. And it was really about 3 weeks before I felt like I was full energy.

The list I remember was a little out of control. Here are my suggestions: * heating pad (my #1 friend beginning a couple of days post-op) * liquid pain meds (ask your doc) * Gas X Strips * a way to prop yourself up in bed * a supply of Protein shakes (or whatever you're supposed to eat the first couple of weeks after surgery) I also found it useful to have 1-2 ounce cups for the first few days because I was restricted to just 1 ounce every hour. Good luck with your surgery!

ECH...reflux and night coughing are two warning signs that my doctor asks about at every visit. I suggest you get to the doctor.

I'm just about a month out of surgery and am still having various aches and pangs. While we start feeling better within a week or so, healing continues to happen for 6-8 weeks. It sounds like what you're experiencing is normal, but (as you mention) you should talk with your doctor about it to make really sure.

I'm 3.5 weeks post-op and on mushy foods. The sheets I have from my doctor and the nutritionist there both say I should be eating 500-800 calories each day. However, I've done the math and added up their recommended food choices and it's just barely 500 per day if you manage to get down every bite of every meal. So, to my point, I'm getting in around 400 per day. And I've not lost a single pound in over a week. I go back on June 2 and plan to ask lots of questions about this way of eating. It doesn't seem to be doing me much good and I'm concerned that the calories are just too low. On the upside....I was filled to 4cc (8cc band) at surgery and I have had only a few bouts of true hunger.