LillyLilly

No problem with sushi per se, but there some rolls that have cucumber in them, and oh boy do these get stuck! In fact, I have one stuck right now. I am usually pretty good at asking for avocado instead of cucumbers, but tonight I didn't notice it, and there was some in one of the rolls. One bite of that, and it made me stop dead in my tracks. Excused myself to the bathroom, nothing but pain. Luckily, I had eaten a bunch of sashimi, so it didn't look like I was sick to my friend. I just returned from the bathroom and said that I was full, and got the rest to go. Now I'm home an hour later, and there's just no coaxing that darned piece of cucumber! Trying for some hot chamomille tea to see if it will work. So... experiment and find out what works for you. But, I would strongly recommend you stay clear of cucumbers, and ask for another substitution.

Hello there, After three years, my weight loss has slowed to a crawl, and I can feel my body had completely stopped losing anything. I got a diagnosis for hypothyrodism, and as soon as they figured out the correct dosage (it took about six months), I started losing weight again at the rate of 1lb a week or two weeks. The most important thing is to be patient while they figure out the dosage. It is a very frustrating process. Good luck!

That sounds about right. Though, I was thinking about this today. Is it one cup of unchewed food, or one cup after you have chewed your food? It makes a difference because then, the food is mushed. Normally, I think the stomach holds 4 oz. But after it'll be 1/2-1

I am about a month out, and my doctor switched me to solids after the second week. It's been no problem at all. The best tip I got from the nutritionist is the order of food that you eat affects how you feel. So, first Proteins, then veggies, then starches. Unless you're still on a liquid diet, soup will not make you feel full. Proteins will take longer to process, thus stay in your stomach longer, and make you feel full faster. Slow down your eating, eat a small snack between meals so you don't starve in between meals. Paying attention to physical cues has also helped me "tune in". For example, when I am full, I burp. I stop immediately. I move the food away from me, because I know if I kept it near, I would eat it. When I hiccup, I know that the food has been processed and has moved on to the real stomach. One last tip, change the plate you're eating on. I use a tea plate, and when I put the food on there, it looks like it's full. It's a trick, but seems to work. At least that's what I do. Your mileage might vary. Good luck! Just be patient with yourself. There are lots of trials and errors, but you will eventually get the hang of it.

When wounds/scars heal, they sometimes itch. I am itching now from the incision sites, PLUS I am allergic to some of the glue being used in the bandaging. And, I'm overseas, and they dont' have the liquid bandaging here.

Lucky you! I'm so damn itchy right now! I broke out in a rash from the tape, and it welted and everything. Had to take that off, and then used another tape on two of the four incisions. Right now, I can't sleep because I'm so damn itchy, I want to cry! I'm overseas, so of course my medicine cabinet is not stocked with the right medication. Grrr!!

I am getting incredibly cabin fever-ed here. I'm peopled out, I'm relatived out, I'm tired of everything, and I want to go home. I'm tired of being itchy and sore all the time. I hate having to "take it easy". I hate that I'm so restless. I hate that eating has become such a royal pain in the neck. I hate feeling like I'm scrutinized and being paraded around like an accomplishment. I hate that I'm so tired in the evenings, and just can't freakin' sleep. I hate that I'm an insomniac. It's so frustrating. I hate the stupid barking dog outside. I hate that i have to eat over 30 minutes. I don't mind the chewing bit, but I do mind the sitting there like an idiot having to time myself so I don't eat too fast. I hate that I can't gauge how much I can eat. I am constantly leaving myself hungry, and thus get frenzied out. I hate that I'm so paranoid about PB'ing, that I'm actually eating less than I'm supposed to, for fear of throwing up. I hate that I ate so late, and thus, feeling very overfull, and just uncomfortable. I hate feeling regret about getting this operation in the first place. This is a royal pain in the neck. I'm impatient. It's always been my vice. Tomorrow... I have to move. I can't sit on my ass all day anymore. This stinks. And most of all, I REALLY hate the stupid itching!!! AHHH!!! Make it stop!!

I am getting incredibly cabin fever-ed here. I'm peopled out, I'm relatived out, I'm tired of everything, and I want to go home. I'm tired of being itchy and sore all the time. I hate having to "take it easy". I hate that I'm so restless. I hate that eating has become such a royal pain in the neck. I hate feeling like I'm scrutinized and being paraded around like an accomplishment. I hate that I'm so tired in the evenings, and just can't freakin' sleep. I hate that I'm an insomniac. It's so frustrating. I hate the stupid barking dog outside. I hate that i have to eat over 30 minutes. I don't mind the chewing bit, but I do mind the sitting there like an idiot having to time myself so I don't eat too fast. I hate that I can't gauge how much I can eat. I am constantly leaving myself hungry, and thus get frenzied out. I hate that I'm so paranoid about PB'ing, that I'm actually eating less than I'm supposed to, for fear of throwing up. I hate that I ate so late, and thus, feeling very overfull, and just uncomfortable. I hate feeling regret about getting this operation in the first place. This is a royal pain in the neck. I'm impatient. It's always been my vice. Tomorrow... I have to move. I can't sit on my ass all day anymore. This stinks. And most of all, I REALLY hate the stupid itching!!! AHHH!!! Make it stop!!

Congrats on your weight loss and your banding! That's fantastic! I just read today that docs in TX have perfected a one incision technique. You had two instead of five! That's awesome. That's less healing to do!

I've decided to start this (yet another) blog to document what I'm going through after banding. So... here goes.. I was banded on June 30th overseas. The surgery cost $6,100, and was at the top center in the country, with a doctor who is the feature cosmetic and bariatric surgeon at a makeover show. Two of my cousins are his current patients, and they attest to his work. After meeting with him, the nutritionist, and the endocronologist last week, we decided to just go ahead with it. I was admitted on 6/30, and discharged the second day. By the second day, I was already up and about, granted with some pain medication, but still. The worst part of the experience was waking up from anesthesia, and choking on (???), and not being able to tell the docs about it. I actually have nightmares like that. So, that was truly agonizing. The surgeon came to check up on me the next day, and said that in order to save time, he had already put in 3 ccs in mine, and will fill it one more time prior to my departure in three weeks. I came home the next day, didn't feel like eating much, except for some clear liquids, soup, and custard and jello. The next day, I moved to solider liquids including yogurt, etc. By the fourth day (today), I'm still keeping some of the liquids, but already started with the mushy food. I am not having any trouble with the eating. Since portion control has always been a problem for me, and I'm seriously dreading PB'ing, I'm eating very slowly and chewing like crazy. I am eating very small portions, when I get hungry or crave something, I try to eat something healthy that would satisfy the same need (diet chocolate crackers for chocolate), and been drinking lots of water. So far, I have lost 10 pounds almost effortlessly. It really helps that my mom is near me, and she's watching what I eat too. I seriously don't think I could have done it without her. I'm worried that I'm not getting enough nutrition, but I'm feeling full most of the time, my hunger pangs are at a minimum, and I feel no discomfort, or low energy. I'm taking my vitamins, and I'm having plenty of protein. The port pain is the only one that hurts right now. Next week, I go back for my first follow-up with the entire team. We'll see how that goes. But, right now, I'm enjoying the weight loss, and I keep expecting the other shoe to drop. I hope it never does.

I've decided to start this (yet another) blog to document what I'm going through after banding. So... here goes.. I was banded on June 30th overseas. The surgery cost $6,100, and was at the top center in the country, with a doctor who is the feature cosmetic and bariatric surgeon at a makeover show. Two of my cousins are his current patients, and they attest to his work. After meeting with him, the nutritionist, and the endocronologist last week, we decided to just go ahead with it. I was admitted on 6/30, and discharged the second day. By the second day, I was already up and about, granted with some pain medication, but still. The worst part of the experience was waking up from anesthesia, and choking on (???), and not being able to tell the docs about it. I actually have nightmares like that. So, that was truly agonizing. The surgeon came to check up on me the next day, and said that in order to save time, he had already put in 3 ccs in mine, and will fill it one more time prior to my departure in three weeks. I came home the next day, didn't feel like eating much, except for some clear liquids, soup, and custard and jello. The next day, I moved to solider liquids including yogurt, etc. By the fourth day (today), I'm still keeping some of the liquids, but already started with the mushy food. I am not having any trouble with the eating. Since portion control has always been a problem for me, and I'm seriously dreading PB'ing, I'm eating very slowly and chewing like crazy. I am eating very small portions, when I get hungry or crave something, I try to eat something healthy that would satisfy the same need (diet chocolate crackers for chocolate), and been drinking lots of water. So far, I have lost 10 pounds almost effortlessly. It really helps that my mom is near me, and she's watching what I eat too. I seriously don't think I could have done it without her. I'm worried that I'm not getting enough nutrition, but I'm feeling full most of the time, my hunger pangs are at a minimum, and I feel no discomfort, or low energy. I'm taking my vitamins, and I'm having plenty of protein. The port pain is the only one that hurts right now. Next week, I go back for my first follow-up with the entire team. We'll see how that goes. But, right now, I'm enjoying the weight loss, and I keep expecting the other shoe to drop. I hope it never does.

Elaine, My doc filled mine during the operation. I'm already at 3cc. He did that because I'm leaving the country in three weeks, and he wanted to get one more fill in before my departure. Things will come off. Maybe try some walking or mild exercise, and see if that helps. Your body might have gone into starvation mode, and is holding on to everything you're consuming.

My doc and nutritionist gave me very rough guidelines, but started with clear liquids/mushy food/solids that can be tolerated. They emphasized that whatever I eat, I need to watch portion size, chew, no drinking, and listen to your body. If something gives you gas, makies you nauseous, then you're probably not ready for it. I can't imagine having to do a 4 week liquid diet. That seems insane to me. I know I'm going to be flamed for this, but if a person can have that much discipline, s/he probably would not have needed the band to begin with. Two days post-op, I felt like crap, and had to seriously listen to my body, figure out what it needed, and give it. This included getting a Protein shake, taking some Multivitamins, and drinking lots of Water. Sure enough, I got my energy back. I have gradually moved to solid food, but still am crazy about chewing and portion size. Behavior modification is a definite necessity. I don't think severe restriction so that a person is going nuts after the first week, and feeling like a failure for even daring to want anything else is all that necessary. A person needs encouragement at the initial stage, not a constant beating and guilt.

Wow! Time sure flies... The surgery was textbook, thank goodness. Only problem is that waking up from anesthesia was a bit traumatic. I was choking, and couldn't tell them bc I couldn't move, and they insisted on me breathing. This was very frustrating, and I started panicking and crying. That was the worst part of the surgery. Recovering has been ok. The port wound is very painful and tender, but everything is ok otherwise. The doc already filled mine with 3 cc, since I'm leaving the country in a couple of weeks. I might get it tightened one more time prior to departure. I'm past the liquid stage. Started with mashed potatoes today. So far so good. It feels very strange when the food goes down, and I hiccup or burp. Tomorrow afternoon, I meet with the dietician. All in all, this has not been as bad as I thought it was going to be. Glad to hear everyone else is doing well. We did it!