bandfun4me

My dr makes us do the 2 day liquid and 2 day soft foods then back to the regular stuff. Rice was a no-no altogether. even now after 10 months I notice the different feeling when I attempt rice. The brown rice and rfried rice does do a little better. We were just told to stay away from the "white stuff", the rice and the pasta. It turns to sugar and forms dough in the tummy. It is a good thing the stores offer more of the Whole wheat stuff now. Those items are still on the bottom of the list, they jus don't work well with the band and me. Every one is different, once we remember that we must chew everything till it is a liquid, every thing goes down much better and without any stuck feelings. Sometimes I feel likeI eat too much, but the serving size is right and normally I feel "full" now instad of that tight in your throat feeling. I have 6.5 in a 10 cc band. The fruit is only an issue if it tends to slide down before I can chew it real good. I think meat we just know to chew much longer before attempting to swallow. good luck!!

Congrats and welcome to the band world. Step one complete. Remember you have to alter your old habits. TV is the pits. My suggestions here is to write out a list a little things you want to get done around the house or new things you wnat to do now that you are banded. Walk and think at the same time. Food commercials on TV will drive you mad at this stage. Start planning on what you want to do as your healing time progresses. Get losts of rest and then walk some more at tleast every hour. I apresume since you are at home you have not gone back to work if your were already working. It is a good time to work on new things. This is a new journey. Just remember as you progress your willpower will be tested and tested again. You are in this for the long haul, make sure they people that are supporting you know this and continue to support you as well. I am 9.5 months out, sized down from a 16/18 to a 6/8 62 lbs lost. only about 15-20 to goal. I have made some "poor" choices but I have recovered and you do better the next time. I have a total of 6.5cc in a 10 cc band, coming from6 fills. Follow the DR's rules. I see alot of important stuff on here that would have answered alot of my questions early on, if I had know the site was here. So read and look around if you have questions or concerns, you should not be afraid to contact your DR if needed. Good luck. keep up the good work..

kiki, sound like a wonderful place to be. Eat slowly when you eat and chew. take your time and it will keep your hunger at bay. I was like that for my first 3 fills. it was great. Then the hunger came back, the more active I was the hungrier I would get. I had a steady wt loss though. If you have problems try something warm in the am. I found that on the days I was really tight in the morning, it eased quite a bit with each meal. Keep your protein up and fluids running and that wt will fall right off. Oh, don't forget that the more you exersize the faster your metabolism will be and the more fat you will burn!! Congrat keep it up.

Jachut, great advice and well put. Another good thought I like to use is thinking if I control what I eat on a regular basis, there will never have to be another diet again, never, just use my tool to tell me how much to eat. Another is your saying "shut your gob and move your Ass" great, tels it all. enough talking already lets get on with it. I wonder if those food demons will ever go awayor just be easier to control. I have another 15 lbs to go, it is always the hardest to get those last lbs off. Double the workouts exercise to you drop and nothing goes. Then you are very hungry and the cyscle starts all over again. eat exersize, sleep and do it again. I have incorporated doing some free wts in my office a couple of times a day taking those sort walks and stretches. I think it helps the kinks. Anyhoo, every have a great day!! watch those elbows..:eek:

Good morning First fillers. Always remember that after a fill to do your liquids and soft foods for a couple of days. For some reason the band takes time to adjust. I have had 6 fills, different amounts 1.5,1.0, &.5. total of 6.5 cc in a 10 cc. Every thing goes down fine wth the liquids. For me the change always comes on day 6,7, or 8. The restriction is there, it could be from jsut getting back to regular foods that after the liquids yu have atendency to forget how to eat and chew after only a 4 day hiatus. I have sen somepeople that it took two weeks for the restriction to set in. Everyone is different. Main thing give it time, dont push those tough foods, Restriction is good, I lose my most lbs in the two weeks right after a new fill. As long as I and my tummy is losing fat the inside silicone band will loosen each time. So relax and follow the rules. This is journey learn the right way. They may do the barium and the FLouro scope on your first fill to make sure the restriction is there and to hit the port on the first stick. Sorta neat to watch. Good luck remember to take notes in your journal or food log on how things went and how you feel.:eek:

Congrats Robert!! that is a great start. As long as you are losing without the fill. don't worry. They should do a FLouro on you with the barium when you go in for your fill. The more weight you lose the easier to find the port. I am 9 months post op. I had my surgery in Pinehurst. They all have been great. We also have support meeting once a month as well. Of course it could be that the port has flipped. I have heard a few on this forum say that has happened to them. I am down 62 lbs since 1/18/08. Only about 4lbs a month the last few. I exersize 1.5 hrs a day. As time goes by after a fill the restriction eases. I have had 6 fills and have 6.5 cc in a 10 cc band. We have to retrain ourselves to eat the right way and back away from the table still, keep track of everything you eat, drink and the times, allot yourself only 30 min max for eating a meal. no more. Make yourself accountable for what we eat.. Good luck, remember it is a tool, not majic, it wont happen without work.:eek:

I would think that your second insurance with the Full time employer(that did NOT cover the surgery) would look at it as a "Pre-existing" condition at that point anyway. But as long as you can at least get the surgery covered would be a plus, that is the big expense. Look at it this way. After you have your surgery and a year down the road post op. You will have more energy than you know what to do with, and the parttime job would just be a plus to keep you busy and moving!! Good luck!!

Are you still on Liquids or on to the mushy(puree stage now)? Are you walking, getting in plenty of protein and walking some more. Since you cant do any exersize except walking and your isometrics to ward off those blood clots. You are still in the beginning stages, be patien and walk some more. lots of fluids. your main objective now is to heal and get your strength back slowly. You still have alot of internal swelling that you don't see. To keep the gas at bay walk lots of little short walks during the day and add about 5 minutes each day. Protein to heal, walking for the gas. liquids to keep you hydrated.

I have Blue Cross and BLue Shield and they covered my surgery. I was borderline with aggravating options. Sleep Apnea and Thyroid issues. I just had to go by there rule book. ^ months dr and dietician care and then paperwork was submitted approved in one day. Of course it depends on the type plan. But they do cover it, plus My dr was a "BCBS Center of Excellence" that helped as well plus they new the correct process for BSBS. Goog Luck.:grouphug:

Try drinking little more water in between your meals. You may still be tight due to only losing 20lbs. The more wt you lose the looser your silicone pouches will be inside your band.So as time goes on you will have less restriction, after each fill. lose more wt and the silicone is loose once again and the same over and over until there is no fat in your stomach wall and the band keeps you tight all the time. I have had 6 fills 9 months out. only 1.5cc or .5 each fill, so slowly you keep putting only small amounts in and keeping your protein up. That is why i like getting that protein shake in the am, 6 am, I was tight and after getting on the treadmill first thing water even gurgled. I could feel it loosen as the day went on and at dinner I could probably eat a cup of food. I have lost 62 lbs. Just remember get the protein in, exercise and repeat. Moveing your body is the name of the game. Cardio sheds lbs faster. Normally no free wts until after 6 weeks post op. I now get a "full" feeling I have not have in a long time, I cut my meals at 30minutes max, cut my food tiny, tiny and chew ,chew and chew some more. Good luck keep it going.:biggrin:

Did you take the morphine drop in the hospital for pain after surgery? Could as well be the Caffeine withdrawal, could be FOOD withdrawal as well. Sunlight hurt your eyes? You may have a sinus infection coming on. Rub your temples, see if just closing your eyes and relaxing. Could be relief from stress, surgery being over, the excitement building up to it and now over and done. Hang in there, Too much tv. Good luck and welcome to the banded world!

Congrats, It sounds like you may be a little tight. But, Were you required to do 2 days liguid & 2 days soft foods, after your fill and that kind of thing. The pain in your shoulders could be trapped gas. Try cutting your protein in a quarters of the size of your thumbnail. Chew, chew and chew til almost liquid. On the hair loss, it comes from lack of protien in the system, What my dr stressed was that we might see a little hair loss at 90 days form surgery an anytime our protein drops down. I got banded in Jan 08, down 62 lbs. I keep my protein around 70 min per day. I still have a protein shake in the morning(5 am) due to having such long days. That way I can still have my three meals with small healthy snacks. The band may settle down a bit after a couple weeks. Try warm liquids early when you really feel alot of restriction this may loosen up some of the overnight mucusin your throat.The burping usually comes from eating too fast. But if none of your symptoms ease, you need to call the dr office. I have seen they can do alittle unfill .2 cc and do aworld of difference. I have had 6 fills,now have a total of 6.5 in a 10 cc, they do only .5 fills for me, I have to be close now to my sweet spot. good luck. I luv my band!!

You know I had that same kinda pain last week a couple of times. A couple things I thought it may be. 1- appendicitis or 2- gall bladder problems. So I pull out the medical book. Gall bldder section said that if you lie down and feel the edge of your rib bone and push in slightly under your right rib and if the pain worsens this could be it. So I went on to check out the appedix thing. pain was in correct location, I had no temperature(fever)they say should accompany this. So I gave up. Went to bed that night and the next morning it was on my left side when I woke up. So I knew what it was then.. Trapped gas, it will move around to high points. I slept on my right side so it move to the left side. It went away early the next morning. Only to return in a couple of days. So I slowed down my eating once more to try and help this out. Drank plenty of Water to go along. Odd how we eat will affect how our body feels so quickly. I think I may have eaten a little too mcu and was forcing the gas issue. Good luck hope it eases off for you.:biggrin:

Walk, walk and walk some more! Around the house, outside around the house, up and down the hall. Short stints on the treadmill. I was on the treadmill on day 3. very slow, holding on, 3x a day. nothing streneous. just moving.Gas migrates upward, so it will go to your shoulders. It can be painful. Just remember it is gas, not sure if teh gas-x tablets help. A frien that recently had her lap- band placed took the gas-x, not sure how she is doing gas wise now 5 weeks after. I remember my shoulder blades just aching to no end, especially when I went to bed at night. They hurt to just lay on them. So it felt better when I was up moving around. Eventually they will go away, thankfully. They will diminsh some every day. Hang in there and keep moving. I am 9 monts post op, 62 lbs down. Started at size 16/18, now in a 6/8. It is wonderfula and it is well workth it to follows drs rules. Good luck.:biggrin:

Same thing here. Dr office sent paper work. Tld me to call and check back in 2 weeks. So I went ahead and caled the BCBS office the next week. They had not received it and gave me a fax number to verify the Dr office sent to maybe a different number and wehnI talked with dr ofc person they had a different number . I gave her the number they give me and wah- la she had the approval the next day. Impressive. But I have learned a long time ago to follow up with the Dr ofc and the insurenace just to make sure. Sometimes the internal numbers just don't get to where they are supposed to. So they were able to schedule my surgery preop that week and surgery date in two weeks. We were moving fast then. It was over and done seems like in a flash. That was 9 months ago, 61 lb, scratch that 62 as of this am. size 16/18 to now a 6/8. lovin my band.. Hang:wink_smile: in there.

I love the Crystal light, the orange sunrize is great frozen and by the time I want some it is back to getting slushy. White tea with blue berry and Citru splash (all CL) are great. Find them on sale to 2/5.00 or $2 each I stock up on them. Whenit is hot and I am hot from walking or working out water is best. Coffee goes down well while I am fixing dinner and add another 8 fluid. name of the game that fluid intake really helps keep that hunger at bay a little longer. I try to go 6 hrs between meals sometimes no snacks I try to push it until that tummy is growling. Don't put protien in any of my regular drinks. I thought that K20 had added sugar/calories. I normally keep protein about 60-70day with or without a protein shake in the am.

Maybe you can try some upper body excersizes. I presume you are passed your 6 week post op so you can do regular weights and stuff. Maybe an exercise ball that will work your core first which is exactly that the inner core. Maybe your upper body has a lower % of fat in that part of your body. The higher fatty places loose first like your waist butt legs, the chest will come later I would think. I am 61 lbs down,9 months out. I try to rotate all areas as far as the workout goes. not every day but 4-5 days on the regular exercise and 6 days cardio. I am up to run &walk for 90 minutes 4 days week, plusI walk at lunch for about 40 minutes 5x week. Moving those arms when you walk will help that upper body as well. Keep up the good work. Moving that body is the name of the game. The food can never catch up that way!! :wink2:

Carbs are bad. Why wait, use your vacation as a new beginning to seize the day. Stay away form the whites, more fruit, more veggies, remember proteins come first. Are you using a small b & B plate (or coffee saucer), seafood fork and baby spoon. Try the FITT changing one will do the move off the plateau, FREQUENCY,INTENSITY TIME OR TYPE. Do a few days of protein shakes and start all over maybe with the mushy and see if that will jump start it again. Sometimes your body just need to take the time to readjust, taking alittle longer maybe. Remember to follwo the guidelines they give us after we had the surgery. Sometimes we need to re acquaint ourselves with these pointers all over again. I was banded in Jan 08, down about 62 lbs. had 6 fills with a total of 6.5 cc in a 10 band. Eating feels differnt whenI eat now. I finally feel a fullness instead of that lump in my throat. gotta be getting close. Good luck, keep readin and writing.

Have you been having liquids since your fill.My doc says liquids 2 days and mushy 2 days and regular food on day 5. Day 7 is when my restriction kicks in. I hear some say it takes 2 weeks for there's to kick in. Mine eases off in a few days. As long as you adjust your eating habits. Try warm fluid in the morning, small sips. I went through very tight mornings for a couple of months after several different fills. I just had my 6th fill last week and my restriction kicked in yesterday about lunch. I was banded in Jan 08 down 61 lbs. Love my band. Just be careful if it doesn't strectch out during the day, call the doc up. Good luck!

My doctor said no gum after surgery. Very hard sometimes, I used gum to quit smoking 9 months before surgery. So I just never buy it any more. Buy some trdent sometimes for my teens I stick with the Tic-tacs for breath issues and brush and floss my teeth after each meal. really helps and a much better habit anyway. WE were told the same about gum getting lodged in opening. I have had 6.5 cc in a 10 cc band. Don't want to take the risk, not worth it.

Congrats on your date. My pre-op diet sounded alot like yours. I used proteins shakes(EAS- sam's club) mixed with milk and frozen bananas or some kind of frozen fruit to make it seem more like a milkshake and it was thick, so it satisfied me better I believe. It ususally takes about 2-3 days to get those cravings for carbs out of your system. I really looked forward to the regular dinner in the evening minus any carbs. We were told no carbs due to tryiing to shrink the liver before surgery, to make it easier to work around without getting any kind of nicks to cause more bleeding. I lost 6 lbs that 2 weeks, so it adds up. Hang in there,your day will be here before you know it. Look torward a new beginning, don't fret the little stuf, this is a steeping stone.Good luck and keep reading and posting. I was banded in Jan 08, down 61 lbs. from a size 16/18 to a 6/8 , loving my band. It will be worth it.:regular_smile:

I like the Kashi - go lean and some of the Special k fruit, but I mix in with a little yogurt to get the filling and the fiber and Protein all in one. I can do Wheat bread, when I first starting eating Whole weat i toasted it. Now I can Eat 1/2 slice maybe after I eat my protein. I have just had my 6th fill now have 6.5 cc in a 10cc I have lost 61 lbs. lovin myband, I treat it nicely and works for me. Also like the uncooked low sugar oatmeal mixed in the yogurt, it keeps it from sliding through too fast.:regular_smile:

Slow Down! Cut your food pieces into size of thumb nail divided into 4. Try counting your chews 15-20 EACH. Try not talking and eating at th same time. This seem to happen to me everytime I had a fill. Liquids 2 days , mushy again for 2 days, then on day 6 or 7 I had to remind myself this is chunky food, slow down and chew. This too shal pass. but I am 9 months out and it has happened like clock work after each fill, So I write it in my food journal, on the day I get regular food again to watch day 6/7. We live and learn and re train ourselves the right way , hopefully hang in there. Love my band. down 61 lbs had 6fills now at 6.5 cc ina 10cc band.Good luck keep it going.:laugh:

I wondered the same thing. I had good restriction for about 4 different fills. WhenI had 5cc in and he pulled it out in the same injection to send another 1.cc in.I made the comment that must have caused that "wrinkle to go away, From that fill on I have had very little restriction, BUT I have a FULL feeling when I have eaten my alloted amount of food. It just feels different. My doc tells me this is how it should be. I now have 6.5 cc in a 10 cc band I lost 4 lbs last month after he got me up to 6.0 with with the same feeling, he said I am getting close to that "sweet spot" The full feeling will come and stay for about 6hrs now. wonderful, makes me wonder if mine is strectched. He said it is very hard to pull all saline out due to the suction and it being air tight in the band, the needle is so small to go into the port, very slow coming back into the syringe. I am 9 months out 15 lbs from my goal. luv my band, we are buddies.I use it everyday. I try to take care of it , wnat to keep it healthy and working hard for me too.

12 days down a lifetime to go. Keep it up. Remember to keep your protein up that should be set according to your height, I am 5.2 and I was tolde to keep my protein at 70 daily, he was not worried about calories. the first couple of weeks, proteins gets your body healing (and your hair from falling out) also was told to consume another 80 ounces of fluid, So I was having 3 protein shakes (eas = 23/scoop) plus adding the milk. I stayed about 900 calories aday. I am 9 months post op I run/walk 6 miles aday lost total of 61 lbs 15 to go. It is only easy if you work at it. Work at your menus, work at your exercising, work at eating when you need it , no grazing. We have to re-program our minds to recognise hunger in our tummy and not from the mind. Moving that body will do wondersfor you! good luck and keep reading and postin here. alot of great info.