54Shirley

O.K. 2 things that could be going on. !. Your still swollen, so go back to fluids for 3 days, then mushies for a day, then try food. "Gently ! 2. If that doesn't work, you can go back to square 1., and start all over but for a longer time, like a week so the swelling goes down. (SOMETIMES THIS COULD TAKE UP TO 2 WEEKS!) then try again. If this does not work, then you could be a little to tight. That means call your Dr. for a slight unfil. I think if you let it unswell (RELAX) it will be O.K... But I'm not a Dr. So this is hit, and miss. Since this is only your first fill though, I'm thinking you will be O.K... Now if you start throwing up, then you need to be unfilled, stay on fluids for a while, then try it. Very small bites, and chew till it's like applesauce. Hope you feel better, Shirley.

Glad you liked it... I called it a Holiday Salad. Because you could use Strawberry or another Flavor for Christmas. You could even do it for Easter... I do it for Pot Luck sometimes, and most people just love it...

My surgeon put us all on 1200 calories a day at the seminar... You have to follow a strict calorie,High protein plan.. You can have the best Ins. in the World, and have a Surgeon that says no wait time, and no diet plan. That sounds Wonderful to someone on the outside looking in ! Bottom Line,,, It don't work that way ! You must get going on a plan, and stick to it. This is a life changing surgery. Protein Shakes so you don't lose your hair, and keep your energy up, Low calorie intake to lose weight, Exercise and the Band go hand in hand. This helps burn up those calories so you lose weight. If you just do what you want, well you will lose some, but chances are you won't be to happy. My nose is to the Grindstone with this Band, and it has to be that way. Maybe you will be Lucky, and not have to workout at first ! That will all catch up in time. I wish you Luck !

Congrats ! That's a lot of weight.. I'm sure you feel like a new person. Keep up the Great Work, and see you more often now... Shirley.

Welcome to the Loser's side ! Hope your doing O.K... If you have a hard time in Bed at home, try sleeping in a Recliner, with a lot of pillows. Hope you sleep well. Shirley.

Well ! ! ! it was a good thought ! Not to many people know about the Hunger Hormone that needs to be suppressed. So believe me when I say that was good work... It is a good site isn't it .... You are more then welcome, Shirley.

Sure it is ! My start weight was 356. Same as yours. Current weight 224. That's a good Loss, but as you can see,,, I have a way to go. So yes ! I believe it is possible. Shirley.

Yep ! That was thrown rite at you ! You are the Newbie rite ? You keep paying attention to the Dr.'s the people on this site, and your body... You do that, and you'll go far ! We need to up your status from Newbie to Junior Guru... How's that sound ? That will come in time, just so you know... Shirley.

Ditto ! ! ! Very Well put,,, especially for a Newbie.. You are rite on Target.. Shirley.

Diet was for 12 months=1 long year. I lost over 120Lbs.... On a 1200 calorie Diet.

You still don't have enough Fluid in the Band. Maybe next time you will feel the difference. In the meantime go to myfitnesspal.com you will see other people's diary, and see what they are eating, and trying to get by.. This is just another part of your journey, until you do feel Restriction. Puking ? you don't want. If you do to much, and swell up, then they could take fluid out, and you start over again. I had that done in the beginning of the month. For now do a lot of Proteins, they help kill the Hunger Beast. I am Losingintime on the site, write to me, and I will friend you in if you like. Shirley.

I was at the Gym, and they took pics. of me (WHICH WILL SOON BE IN MY GALLERY!) When I asked why ? The Boss said "YOUR ARE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN..." I was not expecting anything like that at all ! But I'll take that with a Kiss ! Shirley.

Sometimes they do what they have to, just to Doccument it on paper for the Dr... Sometimes it's a fact..... I had flunked a Test, and the Dr. said the Hell with her ! I'm the Surgeon, and I say you need Surgery. It was done ! So don't let it get you down, even if it is slight ! Then chances with weight Loss it will go away. Also,,, I think I would listen to Mom on this one... Just a thought.

I went to the Gym in the Physical Therapy Place today, and they took pictures of me, and said I was There "Incredible Shrinking Lady !" I'll take that ! That was a first !

A big time congrats ! You deserve it. I got about 25lbs to go, then I will be there. I figured by Easter.. Giving myself some room here. But again Congrats ! Shirley.

I would have them fill or in your case unfill (this works both ways !) while sitting up or standing up. Have a glass of water while they unfill you. When the water drops threw easily, that's enough of a unfil. tell them to stop. You can always go back eventually and Pay for a fill. I would wait for a while though, and see if you enjoy having breakfast, lunch, and not throwing up.

I have the same thing. It's no big deal, he put it in, and he should be able to access that port is what I told him... It's on a slight tilt. Not Flipped or anything. It's do to the way he sewed it in. I have been stuck 10-12 times with no shot for pain. Talk about Black N Blue ! It took a Nurse to say her port is 4 fingers down from her incision. Dr. never figured this out. Next time you go in for a fill watch were they are from your incision, tell them to measure that as how many fingers from the scar is the port ? they will know what your talking about, and they can tell you. Then you tell them whenever you go in to make your fill easier.

Mylanta, Malax, Pepto Bismol will all help coat the stomach, and should help with some of the gas. My surgeon puts all his patients on Pepcid Complete. You might want to help kill the Hunger too, liquid should help. Also Drink your Protein shakes, that should help kill the Hunger Beast. If you have to, so it stays a little longer on the stomach use a little less Water when you make your shakes. Check your instructions, and call your Dietician if you have too. Also we just posted on another thread about some Soups that are sold in the ORGANIC Area.of te Grocery Store. They are in tall Boxes One is Tomato Red Pepper Soup FANTASTIC ! Mushroom Soup is also very good. Pacific is the company. Good Luck ! Shirley..

Let me know what flavor you chose, and how you like it. This will easily keep a week. Shirley.

I been eating that soup for years. It is delicious, and fills you up. The Flavor is like nothing I have ever had before. There Mushroom Soup is Hearty also, and very good, and I can remember a Butternut Squash Soup by them that is actually good. Glad to hear someone else has discovered it. For anyone looking, it is in a tall box in the Organic Area. If you want something to keep you full ! This will help do the job. Shirley.

Sounds good to me !

Thanks bromo ! I have to admit it was a surprise...

Everyone's band is put in a little different by every different DR.. Mine is in place like the rest of you, but my stomach is pulled up, and over the band . Then stitched in place to help prevent the band from slippage. You talk about swollen ! I was on fluids for 1 month before I could even start mushies. I felt like I was starving, but,,, I new it was my job to hang in there, until I seen my surgeon. I had no clue, as to the fact that the band was put in that way. That was his preference. He told me even though you all get banded, we all do something different. I'm glad it was done this way, but I suffered like someone grabbed me by the throat, held on with that squeeze, 24 hours a day ! Now if I made it through Hell, I'm sure you can. Shirley.

I agree with that completely ! I ended up in the Red Zone, and do to all the throwing up, you end up more swollen. The more swollen you are, the better chance of getting stuck, and throwing up again. It's a Merry-go-round that you want off of. The starvation thing is so true. Now that I am 1/2 unfilled, I manage my calories at around 1000-1200 a day. With the working out, I am getting smaller. So Yes it's true. Manage your calorie, and protein intake on myfitnesspal.com it's free, and it helps. Finally see a Dentist. Definitely do Protein Shakes.

I'm sure you really don't believe that ! You know yourself that the weight comes off slower then any other WLS.. As long as you keep working that band, it will work for you. This is a life long thing, and I'm in this for the Long Haul. I know I won't be a size 0,,,, that's a unrealistic goal, but yet some people think that will happen. Maybe for them it will, but it won't for me. I will take whatever I can get out of this Band, and keep working it for more. When I hit Rock Bottom, and weight stops coming off, then that's it for me. As long as I am Healthy, that's what matters. I will never be Bikini Material, and I new that when I was banded. My surgeon even asked me how small did I expect to get ? I said a 14 would be nice ! That's it ? Yeah, but 12 would be nicer. He said it's all doable with the Band. At least your realistic about your goals. I guess what I am saying is don't get down do to a posting, were all different, and success comes in surprises from what I know, and see. So keep going to the Gym, and busting your butt. It's well worth it.