RestlessMonkey

For me personally? NOTHING. Seriously. Compared to all the diets I tried and how absolutely MISERABLE I felt after suffering and struggling and striving and measuring and charting and journaling and yada yada to lose 30 measley pounds only to relax and gain it back in 1/2 the time it took me to lose it? This is heaven. So I've had to learn to chew well, so I can't drink with my meals, so it took a while for the fills to finally give me restriction. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I think my band is wonderful. Even having to have TWO surgeries (my own fault) it's the best thing I've ever done for myself. And as for bandster hell? I've gone through similar things before (a liquid diet of some weirdo liquid Protein shots that I did in the early 70's comes to mind) ... bandster hell was nothing compared to that, because it has an end. :scared2:

The gas hasn't roamed to your shoulder. There is CO2 pumped in during surgery (the body absorbs it just fine) and sometimes it pushes against the diaphragm. The diaphragm, being pushed around by the gas, pushes against the phrenic nerve and THIS causes muscular pain/cramping in the shoulder area, usually the left. (the gas stays in the abdominal cavity; it does not roam around the body). Time will take care of the pain... and personally having someone RUB my shoulder (thus relieving the cramp caused by the agitated phrenic nerve) also helped. Short answer; it's referred pain from your diaphragm. I found that as I started to exercise post op (and breathe harder) it hurt worse...but it does settle down! :scared2:

Depends on many factors. I am tricare standard and it was 1 month from seminar to surgery. But you may have a busier surgeon, or tricare may be backlogged, or your psych consult write up may take longer etc. etc. Your surgeon can give you a good "guesstimate" that will be most pertinent to your situation.

I don't know about the flatus but I've burped a lot more post op. Tell your doc if it's really problematic. Gas X should help it if you catch it early enough!

I slept on my left side the night of my surgery (left side=side where my port is) and on my stomach, as per usual, from night 2 on. The big difference in us is that I don't think there's anything wrong with it and don't feel bad about it.

I don't understand. ? Did you advance your post op diet too quickly? Of course, until you have restriction, it will be as if you didn't have the band. Once you've healed, and usually for the first few fills (depending on how aggressive your fills are) you WONT feel anything. During this time, those who lose (I was not one of them) just diet and "white knuckle" it.

Katwmn63 it is not something we all need to do (apparently! or bunches of us would have clots) Different patients have different histories and such measures are indicated for some, not others. I'm shocked though that they have prescribed heparin and not lovenox (which is newer and causes less bruising) but they both do the trick. As long as you are up and walking and doing well, don't fret! As to the OP...yes, it happens. It will protect you and get you through the initial healing! :scared2:

Yes, me me me! :scared2: And no pain. I can eat solds am/pm, no problem. I don't have to take tiny bites, either, although my bites are about 1/2 to 2/3 the size that I used to take. I DO chew things really really well (about 40 chews per bite; yes sometimes I count just to entertain myself while I'm chewing things to mush). It took a good deal of tinkering to get here, but it is WORTH it. And I CAN eat anything including white bread, chicken, red meat, etc. I get full after about 1 cup of some things, a little less or more of others. Stay full for 5-6 hours. It is wonderful.

Do you have any symptoms? Difficulty swallowing food, pills, liquids? or chest pains?

Jacqui is a great success... here's my take (a success in progress! :scared2: ) Yes, it really works, but like any tool, you have to use it, and use it properly. You have to hold a pencil properly to write with it, you have to start and drive a car (and maintain it) and so on. The band is no exception. You have probably eaten when you were full...? You will still have to struggle with that urge. You've overeaten? Still can happen. You have to make good choices. The BIG difference, as I see it, is the fact that if you do overeat, it often HURTS. You have to bring up bites of food. That makes an IMMEDIATE connection between overeating and pain. Does that make sense? Used to, for me at least, I overate. I got too full. But, my thighs didn't automatically expand, I didn't get another chin, etc. In an odd way, there wasn't much to stop me. Now, there's PAIN. And it is GREAT! It's almost like my band spats my hand and says "you've had enough. Stop now!" LOL (I mean, if a real human tried that, oh man. But, I chose the band) Ultimately I have more control now over my appetite than I ever have. It is "easier" to make good choices because the better I choose, the less hungry I am later. I don't count/weight/chart/measure a darn thing. I just follow the band rules and live my life. I LOVE it. It is just about exactly what I dreamed of. I can eat anything I CHOOSE (no WW guidelines, no Jenny prepared food in the freezer) and I eat less of it and lose weight. That I usually choose leaner meats, things without breading, etc is because I want to lose. 3 oz of lean steak keeps me full longer than, say, enchiladas, rice and Beans. I think it is wonderful.

I said that papaya enzyme only digests Protein....and that is true! (enzymes are like keys, and the food is like different locks; enzymes only work on the food they fit with) BUT...I had to whip out my bottle of papaya enzyme tonight I see that in addition to papaya, it has some protease, lipase, and cellulase in it. Don't know how effective they are, but that would explain why papaya breaks down other things too...IF you have papaya enzyme that is formulated with other enzymes. Just wanted to update my post....

You may fail at the band. Seriously, it does happen. But statistically, if you're willing to watch what you eat (make healthy choices) and exercise, odds are WAY more in your favor with the band, than without it. I personally like to play the odds, and after YEARS of diet and exercise I knew it wasn't working for me. For me, the band, while not an "easy way out" (good grief to those who think it is) is a great tool. Once you learn to use it (that's the restriction part...chewing well, getting your liquids in, etc) you'll be amazed at how well it will work. Think of something you learned to do, like driving maybe? There was a learning curve but now that you've mastered it, it is second nature and while you CAN walk when you want to, it's nice to jump in the car and get across town? The band is like that. You'll need to learn to use it, but once you get it down, odds are it will do for you exactly what you dream it will. Some people have crashes (keeping my little analogy going) and have to have the band removed, some don't master it and it just sits in their garage, but many many learn to drive and then: go, cat, go! So research. Seriously. And turn it over in your mind. But don't fear failure so. It's not like dieting. If you're willing to learn the new skill (banded lifestyle) it will serve you well.

CALL YOUR DOC! As soon as s/he opens tomorrow. Ask him if he thinks it will loosen. How much a fill did you get? Maybe you just need some taken out. Yes you are way way too tight. If I were you I'd already be back pounding on his door! Don't wait over the weekend; it MAY loosen up a little but if it doesn't you could wind up dehydrated in the ER. So keep sipping your Water, and call them tomorrow. Hang in there!

We're all different, but until you have a good amount of restriction in the band, odds are you'll struggle, not lose, get hungry in between meals, etc. My surgeon is very conservative with fills and for me, after getting banded 8/29, I didn't really "find" restriction until March. Some personal school stress issues arose and I had a slight unfill, and the tightened back up May 7. Since May 7 I've lost almost 50 pounds. You can see from my ticker before that...not so much! So yes restriction makes a huge difference and yes it can take a while to "find" restriction. Hang in there. Many who lose early on do it just through sheer willpower and dieting. I opted not to do that; you'll have to choose what method is right for you. But keep the faith, when restriction happens you'll see what all the fuss is about!

I hear you, elcee. When I was in school there literally were not 2 days (except Sat and Sun) where I COULD eat 3 meals at the same time each day. That is harder than it sounds, isn't it? Right now I'm good w/lunch and supper. Breakfast is still a no-go... It is taking an effort but I think it will be worth it. However I totally hear you; sometimes what we want to do and what we can do are two very different things!

Hello, Paige59. You could almost be me, but I was older and fatter when I got the band. I weighed 405 and was 53 (I'm 5'5") when I went to the seminar. Please feel free to PM me or email me any time. Now, as to how you start? You just do. One little fat foot in front of the other. I can say this from my own personal experience. I can tell you that I even made it through nursing school at that high weight. God only knows how, but I was very stubborn! If you want a diet (very very austere but it pulls the weight off fast) that you can follow to lose that 1st 40 pounds, let me know. Did the surgeon TELL You you had to lose 40, or do you just think that? Mine had me on a liver shrink diet but there was no weight loss goal. Once you get the band, you DO have to work it but if you've tried dieting before, and had limited success, only to relax or have life intrude and gain it back, the band can be a miracle. So don't cry, don't be ashamed, don't be embarassed. You have a disease, a very poorly understood disease, called obesity. But with your wit, and your determination, you can get the upper hand, and have a healthier happier life. Drop me a PM or email, and let's get started on the new you, ok? I've been there, done it. I'll gladly help you see the way out of the hole you're in.

I think first off you should NEVER eat just because you are bored! So easy to do, but so not a good habit! My doc says to eat at the same 3 times each day (he's got a no Snacks rule, and considering I was a night time grazer, I am trying mightily to follow his advice) you can "train yourself" (like you do a pet! LOL) to be hungry ONLY at those times. It seems to be working pretty well for me so far. I think it depends on each individual; some do better eating only when hungry, some do better with a regimen. The problem with skipping meals is the tendency some have to think "well I skipped breakfast and lunch so it's ok if I eat blah blah blah NOW!" but not all do that.

If you don't have an incentive spirometer, get some balloons! Seriously; while UnforgettableRN is right, the balloons help. Get one and blow it up a few times. Do that each hour, change to a fresh balloon when the one you are using gets too easy to inflate. That is a great trick and works like a charm!

I am not self pay but didn't need this for insurance. I THINK...that some people need it and some don't. If you have cardiac issues (and many many obese people DO have cardiac problems) then they want to make sure they survive the surgery, frankly. I don't know how old you are but if you are young, have good blood work, and don't have any symptoms, odds are you won't have to have it. It will be your surgeon's call, ultimately, since he will be the one in the OR placing the band.

It may turn some things into slush, but others...it's just volume. Chew a piece of chicken breast then put it with a swallow (about 1/2 ounce) of Water. DONT stir it! What you have is chicken breast and water. Keep doing that. The water takes up area in your pouch and HURTS! Not true with every food of course, but there are reasons to not drink while you eat beyond the "slush" theory. In fact, there are people who, when they are stuck, use a sip or two of water to get the old "PB" going. I know some people drink while they eat (referring to people with good restriction) but I don't really know how they do it. I'm glad it hurts me; it really helps to NOT do something if it hurts you to do it!

The larger you are when you start, the more you need to lose for it to show, unfortunately. But you are losing weight. You've lost almost 10% of your total weight. Don't let that type of comment upset you. Just ignore it, or say something like "Doesn't it?"

i didn't worry about it before I got restriction. Once I started getting restricted it became increasingly easy for me because it physically HURTS me if I drink while eating. It's just a habit, really, and it's one that's easy to break. Just don't give yourself a beverage when you sit down to eat.

I'm not sure but I think that for most of us (unless you're a body builder) that much protein at once is more than you need or would use. I'd aim for about 20 grams per meal. You might also ask your surgeon how much the literature and science he has reviewed suggest you can use at once.

I did get fills every 4-6 weeks; now just when I need them.

My doc did such a thorough job of my medical history, plus all the tests I got, I'm shocked yours slipped by, or didn't give you issues before the band. Were you tested for h. pylorii? Maybe that will clear it up and you'll be fine! :wub: