SunnyRachel

Awwww, poor little cookie! Congratulations on your surgery! I hope your recovery continues to be a smooth one.

Oh, yeah! That's a good point. Did your surgeon give you instructions for when you vomit? My handbook instructed that after vomiting one should go on liquids for the rest of the day. Have you found out what your doctor would like you to do when something like this happens??

It's really hard to estimate in a restaurant in the beginning. Now that I've had one fill, I can tell when to stop, but before my first fill was when I didn't realize it because I didn't think I was full, but actually was there. I'm glad you posted this though so that we could be reminded that what works for some doesn't work for others, and how we all have different restriction right after surgery. Hopefully it will help other newly banded people remember to be careful when trying out what they can eat. Thanks!

Hey, could you also have a Mountain Dew Baja Blast from Taco Bell for me, or some really thick garlic bread with cheese on it? ha ha ha ha Enjoy your "last meals"!! :thumbdown:

Isn't it great how the band helps you see your former self in all that truthful light? I mean, I didn't think I used to eat much, but then realized how big my portions actually were. I also didn't think I ate stuff that was that bad, but then realized eating uncooked cookie dough was probably not very good! ha ha ha ha It sounds like you are doing good already at four weeks post op. I hope you continue learning more about yourself.

I did that too! You think about all the stuff you think you won't be able to eat...and so you want to get it. I really used to love a big tub of popcorn at the movies. Sure, I guess I could have some popcorn now, but I don't choose to. I do miss it when I think about it. I do miss soda too, but when I took a sip, it hurt, and the pain is not worth it. Some times just a bite of something is enough to satisfy your missing it. I tell you though, everyone calls it bandster hell, the post-op period, but the time really passes quickly. I had the whole month marked out on my calendar, and before I knew it, I was back to eating normally and never felt deprived the whole time because I wasn't really that hungry the whole month. Enjoy yourself now, but don't worry, your "Lent" won't feel like very long. I wish you a smooth surgery and recovery!!! Take care!

My surgeon's instructions were to avoid bread, red meat (like steak), and tough skins (potato and apple) for the first three months. Combined with the chicken breast and lettuce, it sounds like you had quite a few things going on there that could get stuck. If you think of the pouch and stoma as a funnel, things are going down slowly, but I am guessing as you move about and the food works it's way down, it can shift and behave differently even after you've stopped eating. My first experience with almost vomiting was after I had eaten at a restaurant. I came home with my leftovers, and thought almost an hour had passed since I had eaten. I made the mistake of opening the box and eating one little shrimp. Well, shrimp are tough, and apparently my food was still working its way down... that one bite of shrimp made me so miserably sick. Luckily I didn't vomit, but I came so very close. Needless to say, I have not done that again. So you think you are fine, but your stomach might react later in a way to surprise you. That's just my theory. I hope you will get some answers from your surgeon and hopefully not experience this again. Take care!

I hope it subsides for you and you can continue healing. Let us know how it goes with just water. You're in my thoughts.

Hi, Hal! I am glad you got to work out some thoughts here! I think we've all sat and pondered those same things. It's hard to burn your boat at first, but I think you will be happy to discover that you won't even have a desire to get back into that Water. I wish you all the best for a smooth surgery and recovery. In a blink you'll be through the hard part and onto a great new adventure. Take care!

Hi! Well, you have some answers already, but a few of your questions can be answered differently by different people just due to experience. Is it painful if you eat too much? I have had three or four actual moments when I either ate too fast or had just that one bite that pushed me over. It is very uncomfortable. Okay... it was painful! Of those four times, only twice did I feel as though I might vomit, but didn't. (That was right after my first fill and I hadn't adjusted to it yet.) It takes just a little patience to go slowly and really tune into the signals your stomach is sending because they are very subtle. For me, I'll get a little burp or bubble feeling and make a slight sigh, and then I know I should stop because I'm approaching being full. The actual full feeling can be delayed, so the little signs that it's approaching will help you stop eating in time. The best thing is to take your time to eat slowly and chew carefully. I hear lots about heart burn. No heart burn after, but I was on Prilosec before it. No need for it now. Is your diet restricted completely to avoid certain foods once your back into the normal eating phase? Everyone tolerates certain foods differently. Some can eat lettuce with no problem, for me it is difficult. Definitely no carbonated beverages. Bread, though my surgeon said to avoid bread for the first three months, I really can't tolerate fluffy bread. I even tried this (either Pepperidge Farm or Sara Lee) Super Thin bread...it was a whole grain bread that was sliced so very thin....I thought for sure that would give me what I needed for a sandwich without causing trouble, but no, it was still too thick once I chewed it. You will also be told to avoid slider foods, or foods that liquify easily with high calories, like ice cream. They slip right past the band and so you might overeat if you don't measure out a reasonable serving. I also have trouble with asparagus now too... it just gets too stringy for me. Oh, and foods with tough skins like potato and apple, you have to be careful with the skin. Is there anyone out there who found the liquid portion after your LB surgery completely torturous? I had an easy time with because I just wasn't hungry and felt full with just a few sips of Water. The days passed quicker than I thought they would, even though it was around Thanksgiving. Has anyone had a leak and if so, how do they treat it? How long is recovery time? I was planning to take 3 days off and go back in the middle of the week... is that too soon? It depends on your job, but at least a week is good. I haven't told anyone but my husband and 1 friend that I'm having surgery because my family and many of my friends won't understand why I am doing this. For the last several months I've had to lie or come up with good stories as to why I'm always driving into NY during the week (I live in PA and have been doing all my appts and tests, etc in NY because if insurance issues). Is anyone else in the same situation where they have kept it a secret? I'm not even sure if I will tell anyone afterwards. Only my mom, husband, and three really close friends that don't have big mouths know. If you want to talk about it, PM me. I totally understand! It's good you are taking lots of time to research and get your questions answered. Some of them, like about getting as virus or stomach flu, you should discuss with your surgeon how s/he normally treats patients with those situations. Does he have them call in? Visit? Is there a way to check for slippage? Things like that. Good communication with your surgeon is soooooooo important! I wish you all the best!!! Take care!:cursing:

Congratulations on your surgery!! I wish you a smooth recovery and a great new start in life! If you check the sidebar to the left on the home page, there are some forum rooms that group members by location. Maybe you'll find one near you! Take care!

That is so wonderful and inspirational!!!! CONGRATULATIONS! I don't know if I'll ever get to a six, because even when I was a stick, I was a 12, but I can't wait to have that feeling you just described. I've had little tastes of it lately though. I wish you lots of continued success!!! Thanks for the motivation today!

Junk food, no matter how tight you are, is going to find it's way down. You can do this! Everyone has given you great advice, and you know can overcome this little patch of uncertainty. Just look at how you have already lost close to 40 pounds!! This is just a small bump in the road, you are not a failure. I hope you are feeling better soon and back to being focused, motivated, and confident about your progress. Take care!

I think it's just a need for confirmation. I'm sending you lots of wishes for strength... this phase will pass quickly, and you will quickly get to feel your band. Congratulations on your surgery!

I'm newly banded, so don't have anything to offer other than I wanted to let you know I'm sorry that you are having this trouble, and I am wishing you all the best for a good solution that makes you healthy and happy at the same time. I will keep you in my thoughts.

What a very uplifting reminder! Thanks!! I'm so happy we're happy. I know I'm happy. It's not always easy, but it's so much easier than feeling sorry for myself and worrying about my health. Congratulations everyone! You are all so lucky!

Hi, Lisa! You got your band on my birthday! Congratulations!! It sounds like you are doing great already! The first phases post-op make it hard to be creative with what you eat. Just be gentle on yourself so you can heal, and you should do fine. Welcome to the forum! I wish you a smooth recovery and lots of success!

Hi, Shelley! Be sure to let us know when the big day is! Congratulations!!! Trust me, you will quickly find that you look at food in such a different way once you have your band. :tongue2:

This made me cringe, actually, when I read it, and my stomach knotted up while I'm sitting here drinking Water. I've only gotten stuck or sick twice, not on fast food, but on shrimp, and it was to the point where I felt I was going to vomit, but didn't. It's funny how just the memory of that feeling can kick in instantly now! If I see a commercial or TV show (like Man vs. Food) where someone is cramming food into their mouth or eating something bready, it's like my mind imagines what that food would feel like stuck in my pouch, and I get disgusted by it! I think that is part of why I am doing okay without the fast food. Funny how you can get "cured" that way, huh? ha ha ha

Hi! I thought I'd chime in because I was a drive-through diva! I used to brag how my family of four could go grocery shopping and spend less than $100, but then I realized we had fast food way too many times during the week and went out to sit-down restaurants! Yikes! Since I've been banded, there's a Missing Person poster up at Taco Bell with my picture on it. I'll be honest, it doesn't turn me on anymore like it used to. Even when I think I want it, after a moment I realize it doesn't sound that good at all. Now, that's not to say I haven't had things from the local stops. I have two kids that like their chicken nuggets, but we've eliminated the french fries. One night I was on my way back from somewhere and even pulled into McDonald's -- then drove right out a few seconds later, deciding to just eat something at home instead. When I do eat out, I try to get chicken items that are grilled. I don't tolerate lettuce very well, so I don't really get the salads. I mostly just try to get the Protein in. I try to avoid the local stops that mostly have bread items like sandwiches and pizza. Being Mexican, it's hard, but I've been okay without my tortillas too. KFC is my favorite these days. I can get a little chicken and some vegetables. It's easily tolerated, and I feel like I didn't waste my pouch space for a meal on something without many nutrients. Long John Silver was running a fresh fish meal campaign a while ago, which was nice, but for me, they over-seasoned the fish. Taco bell has the zesty chicken border bowls. I eat the chicken out of it, with just a little bit of the rice to get a few carbs in. I haven't craved burgers, (Not really a burger person) but I know that Burger King offers breadless platters of their regular sandwiches. McDonald's, I like to get the chicken selects and a fruit and yogurt parfait. I will still order a sweat tea now and then, but it goes home to the fridge until I can drink again. lol

Jamiatu.... Hi! I think infections are really scary, but the percentage of people who have any surgery and get an infection that leads to death is so tiny compared to people who have surgery and do not develop an infection. There is always risk, but like others have said... your risk of living a shorter life due to obesity is actually greater. Your family needs you to be healthy, and if your surgeon has faith that you are a good candidate and this surgery will help you, then just try your best to put your fear out of your mind (so difficult, I know!), surround yourself with your family's love, and do your best to follow all of the medical staff's instructions for your pre and post-op care. Get lots of rest, keep a close eye on your incisions, and pick up the phone immediately to call your doctor if anything at all is a concern to you. If something does come up, the sooner you talk to your surgeon, the better your chances are of clearing it up. I am sending you lots of hugs and all my best wishes for a great surgery and smooth recovery!

Thanks for keeping this spreadsheet for us, Sistasassy! How are those pups? Having fun? Please update my info. My current weight is now 253.5 as of 1/25/09. Thanks so much again!

You have received so many good replies already, but I just wanted to send some hugs your way. I'm sorry you had such a terrible experience. I wish you all the best for an uneventful second fill.

You are doing so great!!! Congratulations! What I've noticed about myself is that if I call it exercise, I don't like to do it. It's hard to even get started. I trick myself by turning up some energizing music and I just start dancing around. Before I know it, I'm ready to move more. Sometimes we just need a push start to get over the mental hurdles. Take care!

I am so sorry you are having a difficult time. I hope you get some relief fast. To me though, in your post, it sounds like the surgeon's office is short on listening ability. That's so unfortunate. I hope the communication opens up a little better and you can get this resolved. I am wishing you all the best.