bambam31

Laney... IMO... Once you're on solid foods, focus on getting protein from natural food sources. A quick internet search for high protein foods will return lots of options. I would do your best to stay away from liquid calories. The big protein shake kick (which I never did get into) is focused toward people starting out who can't eat solid foods or can't eat enough solid foods to get adequate protein. It seems like every surgeon/nutritionist is different, but that's my 0.02.... Brad

A common variable with band surgeons is their fill schedule/philosophy. ***How long after surgery will your first fill be? ***What is the schedule for subsequent fills? ***What is the surgeon's test to determine whether or not a fill is needed? Some (fortunately, mine) base their decision primarily on patient hunger. Some, however, won't give you a fill if you're losing sufficient weight, regardless of how hungry you are (IE: require, IMO, unnatural amounts of will power, or cause you to fail and gain weight in order to get a fill) I'm sure others will give you some good questions too! Good luck! Brad

When the liquids become maddening and the hunger comes back like a freight train, call your surgeons office. The healing is well on track and that is why you feel that way. They will normally have you try some foods from the next step to see how well your tolerance is. A common test food is scrambled eggs. It is important to follow their rules - as tedious as they sometimes seem - but give them a call and they will probably give you "permission" to advance. Brad

QUESTION: Jachut addressed the Protein controversy earlier and I want to revisit it for a clear answer. For a male going to the gym 5-7 days a week for a blend of strength training and intense cardio, how many grams of protein per pound of body weight would you shoot for? Is it really that important? Brad

What you're experiencing is bandster hell! It is VERY NORMAL and most all of us experienced it. Your band is fine and you havn't down anything wrong. You have the band, but there's nothing in it. So once the surgery swelling is gone, you essentially have little to no restriction, and your appetite is screaming back. Most surgeons during this period focus on healing and not weight loss. Some people even gain weight before their first fill. The fact that the swelling has subsided suggests your healing is going well. Call your doctor and see if they will allow you more food choices. My surgeon does fills after the first 4 weeks and then every subsequent 4 weeks. I was lucky that my first fill was scheduled over labor day so I was able to get in 1 week early. Nonetheless, it may take 2,3,4 or even more fills to achieve satisfactory restriction. This means months down the road. To get through this period with a weight loss requires a lot of will power and exercise (when your doc tells you you're able to). Keep fighting and keep moving. Brad

I've not experienced the "very thirsty" feeling. Like the others' said that is a sign your body is trying to flush out sugars. I do, however, drink lots of Water every day. Up to 40oz while working out and up to another gallon throughout the day. Plus coffee/tea. In addition to fighting fatigue, this helps your body flush out wastes and keep your metabolism up. Keeps me from retaining water from salt too. Brad

OK... WTH... I'll bite... What's wrong with nuts and milk? I enjoy a periodic handful of peanuts and drink milk everyday. As far as alcohol/carbonation/caffeine etc... My doc says everyone's tolerance level is different... test the waters cautiously and see what your tolerance is. Personally, I started drinking beer again about 6 weeks post op. I started liking it way too much and I'm certain it was a factor in my weigh loss coming to a halt. I've temporarily given it up and taken up exercise it's place. Headed in for fill #5 tomorrow with about a 17 pound loss in 4 weeks. Brad

Sorry you had to go through that! It's unfortunately a painful reminder that docs are human too. Good luck with your refill(s). Brad

Sandy... Sorry about your ordeal. Do you have any advice or did the doctor have an opinion why the band slipped? Brad

murphmannn!!!!!!! Keep up the good work! Your hard work is really paying off and you're a true example of what is possible when you combine the band WITH lots of tough exercise! WTG! I try to keep well-lotioned up and that has kept the itching at bay for me. Good luck. Brad

evobuilder.... I'm not certain what you're doing for exercise. I had a period where my weight loss stopped. I'm not talking slowed - I mean stopped. I had fairly decent restriction and wasn't pigging out. I joined a gym and go 5-7 days a week and that was all it took - the weight started melting off. I do a spin class almost every day and burn, according to my heart rate monitor, between 600 - 1000 calories per class, depending on how hard I work. That, accompanied by some strength training has really lit my metabo-fire. I never thought I'd become a gym rat but exercising - and seeing the fruits of your labor - is very motivating. Good luck! Brad

I know in the first few days post-op I didn't drink as much Fluid as I should have been just because it was uncomfortable, but I didn't experience the frothing or vomit either. I would give things a rest for a bit and let his stomach calm down. Then try and sip some room temp Water (some people have had problems with warm and cold fluids) and see if he keeps it down. If not I'd call the surgeon first thing tomorrow. Brad

Wow! That is unfortunate for certain. Please keep us up to speed on your situation. Brad

Most surgeons put the band in place with no Fluid - although some do add a small amount. Most of the time, fluid isn't added until the trauma from surgery has healed. Most of the restricted feeling right after surgery is from the trauma of the procedure itself. He should be able to sip liquids without vomiting. If not I would contact his surgeon because dehydration will quickly become an issue. Good luck and keep us posted on his progress! Brad

Thanks gentylwind. Excellent information to pass along. I take medication daily, both inhaled and in pill form, to treat the symptoms of COPD. The disease, itself, is not cureable. My lung doctor makes certain that I get a flu shot and a pneumonia shot before the cold and flu seasons, because COPD patients are particularly succeptalbe. For the most part, it's difficult to distinguish what symptoms are from the COPD and which are from asthma (which I also have). But for the most part I deal with constantly excreting mucus. It's like your lungs are trying to clean themselves out but they never get the job done. It gets annoying when you have to clear your throat and spit out mucus all the time. Intense cardio exercise has made my breathing much better, not to mention has accelerated my weight loss. Like I said in my first post - nobody likes a lecture, I know I didn't when I was a smoker - but do yourself a favor and do whatever it takes to quit smoking. Once you've quit and gotten away from the smoke for awhile you'll realize what an awful and disgusting habit it really is once you're around somebody who smokes. Good luck and take this opportunity to get your lungs healthier while your weight gets healthier. Brad

Once that overwhelming feeling of having done a million stomach crunches subsides, your healing is well underway. It may sound strange, but the more active you get, the more alert and energenic you'll become. Start slow and do what you can but you have to keep moving. Brad

Being diabetic makes this journey more difficult for certain. I understand the idea of Peanut Butter to stablize your blood sugar. It's a good source of Protein with few carbs, but you have to put it into perspective. A serving is normally 2 tablespoons and also normally has upwards of 190 calories and 16g of fat, depending on the brand. So if you only eat the 2 tablespoons it may stablilize your blood sugar, but in no way is it going to make your hunger satieted. And the more you eat, not only are you adding huge amounts of fat and calories, but your also raising the probability of spiking your blood sugar - and then you're in that yo yo spike/crash roller coaster. Brad

Welcome to bandster hell! Most all of us have been there. You have the band in place, but it isn't providing any restriction yet. It's like having a battery that isn't charged. So you can, for the most part, eat nearly just as you did pre-band. Most surgeons are focusing on healing during this period rather than weight loss. This is a good time, though, to get focused on better eating habits and proper nutrition. Practice eating small amounts of nutritious foods, in small bites, and chew chew chew before swallowing. Like others said, you'll slip up and fall off the wagon and eat foods you're not supposed to - so what - brush yourself off and get back up on that wagon. The band still takes a lot of will power in order to succeed - especially until you get satisfying restriction. And remember, it may take 2, 3, 4 or even more fills before you achieve that restriction. Just stay focused... And the whole "eat your Protein first" thing... That's instructed because when you have adequate restriction, sometimes you won't be able to eat much and it's better to get your protein down just in case that's all you can get down. Good luck on your journey. Brad

I had a some big losses the first two weeks too. It will slow down and I wouldn't worry about it. Just be certain you're ingesting adequate nutrition. Don't short change yourself on nutrition just to try to wring out a few more pounds on the scale. This will invite big problems and bring your weight loss to a screaching halt in short order. Brad

I think your nutritionist gave you very good advice. Everyone's surgery and healing is different and there's no better measure of your progress than how YOU feel. I progressed through the diet guidelines pretty quickly and was eating soft foods like eggs for example after day 7. Your body will quickly tell you if you're doing something wrong. Common sense is the best practice. Brad

I still burp 10 times more than I did before being banded. I just consider it musical weight loss.... My doc said some people just ingest more air while eating and drinking than others. Brad

If you're experiencing surgical trauma pain, you should contact your surgeon and requests some pain meds. For the gas pains many recommend the Gas X strips that melt in your mouth. Walking and keeping active is one of the best ways to alleviate the gas pain. As far as hunger... that will get better with time but you just have to be strong. It's great that you are both banded because you will be able to inspire each other and share your experiences first hand. Good luck and get your DH moving! Brad

This is frequently referred to as bandster hell. Most everybody experiences it, although there are a few lucky souls who've avoided it. It takes a lot of will power to lose weight during the period. Be patient and stay focused. It's a daily battle. And remember, even after you start getting fills, it takes many people 2, 3, 4 or even more before they achieve significant restriction. That's why I scoff at people who say the band is cheating. They have no idea how much work it takes to be successful - especially in the beginning. Keep fighting - keep moving. Brad

I get some abdomen pain on the right side when I push my heart rate really high and am out of breath - but focusing on normal breathing normally makes it go away. Sometimes I get pain in the port area if I twist wrong or sit in one position too long. Let us know what you find out! Brad

If you can eat whatever you want - go for the fil. Brad