grlwunderkas

Okay, I'm sorry, but am I the only one that thinks it's odd that she got surgery when she was only 228 pounds to begin with? I thought your bmi had to be a certain number to even qualify for the surgery? Or maybe they do surgery on you at any weight if you're self-pay? I have no idea...just find it kind of odd, that's all.

If you are eating foods that slide right through the band, because foods like chicken, tuna, fish, steak, etc are getting stuck, then your doc is right - the band is too tight. If you try to eat chicken and it gets stuck, make sure that you're taking tiny bites, it's in some kind of sauce (gravy, mayo, bbq sauce, etc) and chew, chew, chew. And take your time eating. Maybe that will help things not get stuck and maybe you'll see the scales start to move again. :biggrin: To the original poster - I get frustrated sometimes too...I was banded May 12th and to date have lost about 21 pounds. My weight fluctuates too. One thing that I know are helping me to lose the weight but that I don't do every day: drink lots and lots of Water - I drink at least 100 ounces a day - if I drink any less, the numbers on the scale do not move - at least not in the direction I want them to! If you're "hungry" all the time, perhaps you're not getting enough water - if I am feeling hungry, I drink some water first, and if after 10 minutes I'm still hungry, I either eat something (depending on the time of day) or I drink more water. I am also not losing weight because I'm not exercising like I should. I'm going to change that. I have an hour between the time I get home from work and the time my kids get home from school. From today forward, I'm going to start using that hour to take a walk. I'm posting this all over the place so people might want to help hold me accountable for walking. My doctor had told me before too that it can take a few weeks for the fill to "settle in"...and he schedules my office visits about 6 weeks apart and then decides when I get there if I need a fill or not. If it were me, I'd sit down and talk to my doctor and tell him what is on your mind. If he is a good doctor, he will take what you're saying into consideration...and make a decision with you that you both think is best. It can take 3 + fills until you find that "sweet spot"...don't get discouraged...you're on a journey - a life altering journey - this is no quick fix.

My surgery was May 12th, so I'm almost 4 months out. I've recently started noticing more hair than usual coming out in the shower. I also have really thick, long hair...my aunt is a nurse, and I mentioned it to her. She told me to make sure that I'm taking my vitamins and supplements every day and didn't mention protein at all. So, I don't know if I'm losing more hair now because of not enough protein or not enough vitamins and minerals...I'm going to up my dose of biotin also (already take 1000 mcg). I don't know about the rest of you, but I keep thinking "why is my hair falling out now? I never used to eat 60 grams of protein a day or take my vitamin every day before the surgery."

I get the feeling of food going up and down my throat...I usually stop eating when I get that because it probably means that you're full. I've heard that you can stretch out your pouch, but I don't know how you can tell...

I can still "chug" water...I have no restriction when it comes to that. I get the hiccups when I move after I've eaten...and I don't know if it's from the pouch emptying into my stomach or if I create an air bubble when I move...but anyway, sometimes if I get up and walk around it helps them to go away, or I drink nine sips of water - sometimes less than that. My son eats a spoonful of sugar (teaspoon) when he gets the hiccups and that makes his go away...

I find that as long as I take small bites and chew VERY well, I have no problems with sausage - either a sweet italian sausage, or kielbasa or smoked sausage...I just have to take smaller bites.

Dacer - I would say that as long as you're not puking up water that you're okay with your fill. There could still be a bit of swelling after a fill - I know my doctor always tells me to drink liquids for 24 hours following a fill, just in case. My first fill was about a month after surgery. The doc put in 4 cc's for a total of 5 cc's in my band. Maybe I still had some swelling from my surgery because I couldn't even keep my spit down...I lost 10 pounds in 36 hours. I went back in a day and a half later and they took 2 cc's back out...then I was fine. It took about a month for that fill to "settle in"...and I was back a week ago today and he put .6 cc's in...so now I have 3.6 cc's in my band. I told him my clothes were looser and he said good...I already can feel the restriction more with this fill...and maybe it will get even better after a few more weeks and it settles in...but, don't give up yet...as long as you're able to keep liquids down, I'd say that you should be okay.

I also like the New whey bullets - I mix mine with some type of juice (just gotta watch the sugar). For Protein shakes, Isopure makes a powder - it's okay...I've taken the chocolate powder already and mixed it with frozen yogurt (vanilla or chocolate), a little bit of Peanut Butter, some skim milk, and a banana...that was pretty good. But other than that, I get unflavored Protein Powder and mix it with a scoop of chocolate slim fast powder (I like the taste) and I get the skim milk plus - so when it's all said and done, I get about 35+ grams of protein in a shake that I make with one scoop protein powder, one scoop slim fast (the higher protein version), and about 10 - 12 ounces of skim milk plus. I bought a few shaker bottles from GNC...they have a little metal ball inside and it takes all the clumps out - makes everything nice and smooth...

Did you get sick at all? My surgeon had told me that the only reason he had me on the liquids, then mushy foods before solids was to make sure all the swelling had gone down before trying regular foods again...

I have a DVD that is Crunch Pilates, I love that one! I started noticing a difference almost right away. I've also just bought Yoga Booty Ballet (or something like that) to try...I'll let you know if I like it after I give it a try...

My doctor didn't actually give me a time frame, but I used my judgement and didn't get in the pool for two weeks after my surgery - actually, mine was timed just right because I had my surgery May 12th, and the pool didn't open until May 26th - and that was the first time I got in.

I take Yaz and was told to not take my pills for a month before the surgery (blood clotting issues) and at first I was told to wait a week after the surgery and then start taking them again, but then another surgeon in the same practice told me to wait a month (again because of blood clotting issues - however, I don't smoke, and I'm not over 35 so I would think that I'd be at a lower risk, but, whatever), so I decided to wait until I get my period again...which should be starting soon...

I get mine at GNC. But I know you can buy them online as well...

I actually never even asked my doctor. I mean, I could take a shower right away...and then the little plastic things that were covering my incisions came off after three days...and I would get in the shower when they were off...but he never told me that I couldn't go swimming...anyway, I was banded May 12th, and I took my kids swimming on Memorial Day...so, two weeks post-op? Something like that...

I have a regular size blender, but I also have one that is like a hand-held blender - it came with its own "cup" and it's long and skinny so it can fit down inside of any type of plastic cup or glass and it has 9 speeds. I use it all the time to make my smoothies. Clean up isn't so bad and it stores nicely on the countertop until I need it again. I think I only paid $20 or $25 for mine...

Do you call it "sliming" because it is contained in something that reminds me of mucous?? I've had this happen a few times to me...

Maybe there is one already, but I was thinking about an idea for this site...is there or could there be a forum for spouses of those of us who have been banded can talk to each other for support and whatnot? Just an idea.....

Sue, my surgeon told me that my band can hold between 15 and 20 cc's.

Well, don't try to lose those ten pounds the way I did...doesn't feel too good! I was throwing up my own saliva...it was bad. His nurse had told me that he's agressive with his fills...so, I'm not sure how he miscalculated. But, he only did the first one - now another doctor will be taking care of me...and he's not as agressive. Oh, btw, I don't think I mentioned that my surgery was performed by Dr. DiMarco with the Weight Loss Clinic in Harrisburg PA. He's one of the most saught after doctor in my neck of the woods...

I don't live in NM, but I was born there (in Clovis). Do you ever get asked if you are a US citizen? LOL...I get that all the time when I tell people I was born in New Mexico, and they're like So, are you a US citizen...ummm...last time I checked, NEW Mexico is part of the United States! HA HA

Protein bullets are cool! I bought some - they have 27 grams of protein or you can get ones that have like 50 grams of protein in them. I'm further along (about a month out), so I mixed my bullet with some fruit punch, and I didn't even realize it was in there...I won't be doing that TOO often because of all the sugar that is in fruit punch, but it helped. The bullets come in a container that is probably 2-3 ounces and you can do them like a shot (only obviously slower since you're banded and there is swelling)...

I bought the unflavored Protein powder and in the first few days after being banded and was on full liquids, I mixed some skim milk with slim fast and a scoop of the unflavored Protein Powder. I went to GNC to get all my protein stuff and bought a few of their shaker bottles (I LOVE those things!) and mixed it in that. I also bought milk that had a higher protein amount (something like 11 grams instead of 5). So, in just one 8 ounce serving, I got about half of my protein in for the day...just keep it near you and sip on it throughout the day. If you are "full" all day, perhaps you have more swelling than some? Getting up and moving around also helped me...it made me want to drink more. Hope this helps.

Hi everyone...my name is Kristen. I live in Hummelstown PA (near Hershey) and I was banded on May 12th of this year. It took me less than six months from start to finish, so that made me pretty happy. I had my first fill this past Tuesday afternoon and by yesterday morning, I had lost 10 pounds. So, I called the doctor's office because I couldn't keep anything down - not even my own spit! So, I went in yesterday morning and he drew out all of the fluid that was in my band and there was 5 cc's in it. He said, no wonder you couldn't get anything down there! So, he put 3 cc's back and left 2 out - and oh, SO much better! :thumbup: I have two children (ages 8 & 10) and a husband (we've been married for almost two years). Oh, and a cat. I work full time, I'm a full time student, I own my own business, and I take care of everyone at home. One of the reasons I wanted to get banded was to have more energy. I know I'll get there! :wink5: