mharlan

I had my first fill last Thursday - 4cc in a 10cc band. I had some bleeding and Fluid loss but it wasn't bad. I was back the next day getting some removed because even Water was giving me problems. They pulled all the fill out and it measured 3.5 cc. They removed first 1cc then an additional .5 cc. I have 2cc fill now and am able to eat slowly. I am getting hiccups and getting food stuck so I'm still learning what to eat, how to eat more slowly and take tiny bites and CHEW CHEW CHEW. If I forget, I am reminded painfully!

My doctor said to no drinking for 30 minutes before and 45 minutes after. This has caused me the most problems. I am prone to hiccups and have always had to drink when I eat to avoid them. Now if I don't drink, I get really strong hiccups and food wants to come back up or it gets stuck and hurts! If I sip just a little during my meal, it's much easier. I am losing over 2 pounds a week and do not get hungry between meals; seldom do I have my Snacks that are in my meal plan. As long as I am doing this well, I will continue to sip in order to keep my food down and avoid the pain of stuck food and hiccups.

I'm happy to hear you all talking about hiccuping. I have the hiccups several times a day, especially during meals. I thought it was because I was either eating too fast or taking too big bites. I also burp more and it scares me because I never know if it will be a regular burp or pb. I asked my DR about the hiccups today and he said it wasn't a usual complaint.

I got my first fill today. Dr. said 24 hours liquid, 24 hours soft, then start adding back regular foods. Right now it's all I can do to drink tiny sips without getting the hiccups and having to burp which always scares me. LOL

Walmart's store brand like Crystal Light is really good. They have grape, cherry, and cherry limeade.

What are the cookbooks? I've haven't found any yet for weight loss surgery. I might find them on Amazon or online somewhere if you give me the author and name of the cookbook. Thanks so much!

I love my soda! My dietitian said I could still drink it IF I would let it go flat. I have NO problem with that. I shake it up good then gradually open the top until the bubbles are gone. I leave it sitting out without the lid overnight. The next day I can enjoy my soda over ice and I don't even miss the carbonation.

I have a good salad recipe that uses cottage cheese for extra Protein that is great as salad or dessert. 1 carton low fat cottage cheese 1 box sugar free Jello pudding Mix the dry pudding into the cottage cheese then add: 1 can pineapple (crushed or tidbits) drained 1 can mandarin oranges, drained 1-2 cups mini marshmellows (optional) Mix the fruits and marshmellows into the pudding/cheese mixture then add: 1 8 oz tub sugar free Cool Whip. Fold Cool Whip in gently and refrigerate. This is a very forgiving recipe. You can vary the pudding or fruit jello flavors for your own delicious favorites. My family loves pistachio pudding but my son's favorite is orange jello & sugar free cheesecake pudding mix. It tastes like an orange cream ice cream. The cottage cheese gives extra protein and it's lower in sugar and fat. Thanks to everyone for the great recipes!

I was banded 12/15/08 and was feeling much like the rest - no restriction and feeling hungry after the first week when the swelling went down. I hope I feel some restriction after my first fill Jan. 22. I definitely don't want to regain what I've lost on pre-op and since! I'm crossing my fingers that this will work for me. Good luck all!

I was banded on December 15 and given written orders for liquid diet, then full liquid, then soft with a range of days for each stage depending on how I was doing. My nutritionist told me if I moved into soft foods to use a pressure cooker or crockpot to make meats softer, to take really small bites, and to chew 25-30 times each bite to make it like puree before swallowing. After reading all these posts, now I'm afraid I'm eating the wrong foods, too. It seems each weight loss center has different guidelines so who is to know what is or isn't the correct guidelines to follow. It's confusing!:thumbup:

The doctors at my Weight Loss Clinic at Vanderbilt were the ones who prescribed Byetta. I have had a queasy feeling a few times but it's never made me sick. I have been taking it for about two weeks so far so hopefully I will be able to tolerate it. :omg_smile:

We were in Sam's and they made chicken salad with reduced fat and ff ranch dressing (just enough to moisten the chicken) then added some fresh cracked black pepper. It was delicious! I haven't been banded yet but I'm trying to come up with some recipes and I think this one and the spinach dip one will be useful. For a low calorie, low fat dish my whole family loves is canned chicken with its broth, ff cream of chicken Soup, and drained mixed veggies. It makes a great chicken pot pie dinner. I put biscuits on theirs and eat mine without the biscuits. It's soft and very comforting. Will something like this work with the band for regular food?

The shots are a miracle the first couple months. You won't believe how much better you feel just leaving the DRs office after your shots. I usually limp in and feel like dancing out...well almost!