2muchfun

Recognize that reasonably-sized changes--even baby steps or micromovements, that you are willing to practice consistently will help you gradually rewire what feels good to you....Michelle May Ask for your limitations and they're yours...Richard Bach Sometimes to get where you want to go, you have to do what you are afraid to do. You must be brave and push forward. Miracles occur when you give as much attention and energy to your dreams as you do to your fears....Unknown Yes, they're hokey comments but seem to fit how you feel? I could say the same thing with every 5 lb plateau I've hit. But I try real hard not to. tmf

It took me at least 7 days post-op to begin to feel somewhat normal. For me, it was the medications, anesthesia, anti-biotics they poured into my body. I know I was in shock for a week. Maybe it's necessary but I really never want to go back there again. tmf

Many bandsters fret over the size of their band and how much Fluid is in it. It's not important at all. For some people 1 CC may be enough and for others it may take all 14 CCs to get them to the green zone. Every one is different. Less is not better and more is ditto. Every doctor is different too. I would go in with no expectations at all because it's just not important. Some doctors fill by how much pressure it takes to push the saline through the port and they can feel this in the syringe. Others may have a set amount they like to use on the first visit. Every stomach is different. Some have thicker or thinner stomach lining? Some have a slightly different shape near the upper sphincter. Some doctors put the band on closer to the top of the stomach and others lower. Some bandsters have a lot of fat surrounding the stomach so less saline/fill works better. tmf

Some doctors are slowly coming around to some new statistics regarding fluids before and during meals. Here are a couple of links to some good information regarding liquids with meals: http://www.globalgastricbandsolutions.com.au/lap-band-diet-drinking-and-eating-with-your-food/ This is a series of 4 videos and I highly recommend all 4. Go to about 6:30 minutes into this video before the lecture on eating with fluids begins: I have always drank before a meal with the band and don't understand the panic from doctors over drinking before we eat. I stll monitor my beverage intake while eating and keep it very low. tmf

What foods are causing the pain?

The tummy rumbles have been with me since surgery. Still get them, just got one a minute ago. Your port is sutured to the fascia of your stomach and any movement from your stomach could stress those sutures so early after surgery. tmf

I can see that happening. Tell him next time that he needs to keep some pressure on the port with his other hand so that when he pulls the syringe away, it doesn't stick in the port which pulls the port away from where it's sutured into your muscle fascia. It's never happened to me but it's understandable how it could happen. Some other patients will probably clue him in and maybe by the time you go next time, he'll have perfected his technique? tmf

Seems low. Depends on how you are feeling. The goal at this stage is to shrink your liver. If 1000 calories will do it why starve yourself? Check with your doctor or nutritionist? You should have some kind of pamphlet or manual by now? tmf

It's a mystery to me. Mine took effect almost immediately. tmf

You know, it's easy to see why they would do this. That time between fills was so valuable to me to learn how to eat properly and I don't think I really got it till my 6th fill. I only went 3 weeks twice but the other times it was closer to 40 days. And I would imagine if a doctor has 500+ patients and he allowed them to come in every two weeks or so he'd never have time for surgery. Of course, many docs now have their nurses administer fills. tmf

3 weeks for me. Most docs prefer you wait at least 2-4 weeks between because with some bandsters it can take up to 2 weeks before the fill becomes effective. 10 days is the extreme I would think. tmf

Actually, you probably mean stop when you are satisfied. Satiety is the goal and no better time than now to start looking for it. Changing our terminology is one of the harder things we bandsters face. Don't look for the old full feeling. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry. No need to go for full. You really don't have much restriction at this stage so if you try to fill yourself up, you will probably eat too much. Your band has very little saline in it now so the portal between the upper and lower part of the stomach is wide open. Not nearly as much as before surgery but open enough to overeat easily. As long as you are making healthy choices I see no reason why you can't continue to eat every two hours or so. But Chandra is right in that you should try to stretch it out. If you can't, you aren't hurting anything by eating a half cup of yogurt or cream Soup. tmf

Just an FYI. I was banded on 11-28-11. The first 30 days or so your band is wide open before they start giving you fills. I made it through the holidays and still ate what we always had for Xmas and New Years. Only, I ate much less and didn't gain any weight. It was the first time in decades that has happened. So, you probably won't miss any of the great foods at your nephews wedding but you'll be more in control of how much you eat. That's a win-win. tmf

Congrats but why a tattoo? I just don't get why people want to permanently scar their body. But, that's my hangup, not yours. tmf

Just be sure you don't eat 1200 calories in one sitting. You don't want to stretch your pouch and your body can't metabolize that much food without storing the excess energy. And every time I see one of these posts where people are not hungry, I go green with envy. I'm always hungry. Mostly head hunger but I can eat all day long if I want.(I don't) tmf

Are you really puking, like you drank 6 margaritas on an empty stomach or are you spitting(PBing) up Water? If you are puking, go to the ER now. Or, do you have a primary doc? Call them asap. tmf

I gues it depends on how long it lingers in your mouth? But it must be colder than coffee, or cooked food. tmf

The ice cream may be aiding to relieve excessive swelling due to a very tight band. Cold reduces inflammation. You may be self medicating the obstruction with the cold foods. I agree, small unfill and then start to follow the rules again. tmf

Continuing to only get 550 calories a day may cause your body to go into starvation mode and you may not lose at all. You should try to keep that intake closer to 900 a day if you can? Of course, there are some who may lose weight this way but I don't see how you could exercise efficiently with so little energy input? tmf

Throwing up is something you must try to avoid. You probably have a lot of swelling from the fill and the barfing. The convulsion in your stomach to remove the objects can be very violent and this will obviously irritate the area around the band. If you can manage to get 32-48 ozs of Fluid down your swelling may go down. But, monitor this closely and go to the ER if you can't get any fluids down. tmf

Try to follow your nutrtionists advice. If you don't eat enough, your body goes into starvation mode. If you eat too much at one sitting, your body will store the excess as fat. It's best to spread out your intake over an entire day not once a day. tmf

Even if your doctor's office is closed, they should have an after hours contact number or answering service? Did your doctor give you his card or do you have the number of the nutritionist? You must have afterhours numbers for someone? If you can't get 32 ozs of Fluid down(per day) I'd go to the ER if all else fails. You could be swollen and it may go away or maybe not? Did you eat anything solid? tmf

Shark, You should fill in your profile so we can advise you better? Don't know if your pre op, post op, 4 months out? Salads go down easy for me. Big carrot chunks tend to be a problem so I make sure if there's carrots in my salad, they're shredded. In fact, I've always like salads but now I crave them. I guess that's a good thing? tmf

"Is that vain" Not necessarily, but not important. Course, I'm a guy and could care less about my legs or nails. Class the evening of the procedure? You can't be serious? There is no way you should be going to any class or anywhere but your couch or own bed the evening of your surgery. In fact, I doubt you'll be able to go? Is this a class for the WLS or something else? You're going to be so pumped with meds, anti-biotics and anesthesia, there is no way you will be able to stay awake let alone sit upright. tmf

Why wait till the wedding? Then there's the holidays and the New Year? Procrastinating won't get you where you need to be. It's good you realize you need WLS but it sounds like you're not ready to give up the good food? By your own account you've found numerous reasons to procrastinate. There will always be good food everywhere you turn. Don't wait! Having the band doesn't mean you can't eat anymore. It just means you can't eat as much. And isn't that what we all want? jmo tmf