jennyr1222

Graywolf, I have also been experiencing a plateau after losing 29 pounds in 4 weeks!! I was also eating 600 calories a day and following my nutritionists guidelines 1/2 cup to a cup of food. I emailed her to ask how many calories I should be eating and she said 1200-1600. That doesn't align with 1/2 cup to a cup of food at each meal at all!! I started eating about 1000 calories a day and drinking more Water. Yesterday I ate 950 and drank 100 ounces of water. Finally lost 2 pounds. I would recommend upping your calories and water intake and seeing what happens. Also email your nutritionist, he/she will give you guidance! Good Luck!

Miss K - for about week after surgery I felt like there was a big lump stuck at the back of my throat. I was told it's mucus from the anesthesia. If you keep using the incentive spirometer they should have given you regularly it should eventually go away (or at least mine did). Keep us in the loop!

Karen - do you have any liquid in your band? I started mushies (last Saturday) eating 600 calories too and was perfectly satisfied but my nutritionist said I needed to up the calories to 1200'ish. I struggle to get there because I'm not hungry enough, but I can definitely eat more than 1/2 cup of food. If you have an empty band and still feeling that restriction, you may be one of the lucky ones! I did find that as soon as I started mushies my weight loss stalled, so I'm trying to get to that 1200 since people say you need the calories to lose the weight. Good Luck!!

I'll go. I had my surgery on August 7th, so that makes me 14 days post op. I feel GREAT! I had really horrible gas pain the first week, but feel great now. Just a little bit of shoulder tip pain every once in a while. I'm on mushies and loving it. I have a new found addiction to FAGE Greek Yogurt with fruit. I'm finding it hard to eat 1200 calories a day, but in that I often fall below that. It feels like a lot of food. My first fill is Sept 4th and I can't wait so that I see the process. I lost 29 pounds from July 20th through the beginning of this week and have been stalled for 5 days, but I'm hoping upping the calories will get the scale moving. Unbelievably THRILLED that I made this decision!

Scrambled eggs aren't a problem for me at all. LOVE 'EM!

Everyone is right about the walking. I also took gas x strips and found that helps. I was told to take my pain meds as prescribed even if I felt I didn't need them. There was a couple of times I took them too late and boy did I feel it. I had a lot of trouble with gas, but am happy to report that by day 7 it was completely gone. You'll be great!! Let us know if you have any questions. Here's to your speedy recovery!

I registered on the Lap Band site this week. How long from when you registered did you get your card?

I had surgery on Friday August 7th. Five incisions. I had a follow up with a nurse at my surgeon's office on the 14th and he took 3 of the 5 steri strips off and told me to leave the other 2 for a few more days. I gently pulled them off on Monday with no problems.

All office visits with my surgeon for the first 90 days are free. No co-pay, nothing. I'm not sure about fills, I need to call my insurance company tomorrow and find out!

Good Luck Miss K! Just remember, it gets easier! I'm 10 days post op and feel great!!

WK1........wk2........wk3.......wk4 formerfatchick....262.........260.........252 abbypoo............275.........266.........263 jennyr1222........265.........263.........260......255 missK...............241..........231........228 morphiend.........238..........229........222 Tripletmomma.....327

Thanks Jojo. I actually did the esophogram just before my post op one week after surgery. I was worried about the stuff too, but it was nothing. The taste wasn't bad and you don't have to drink a ton of it. You'll be fine!

I can feel mine but only because the Nurse showed me where it was the other day. I have heard that as people lose weight it can become visible.

You will all be great!! I was scared going into surgery as well but honestly the surgery part turned out to be simple! I had some pretty bad shoulder pain due to gas after the surgery, but I'm 9 days out and I feel GREAT! Just follow the rules, ask all of your questions, WALK and take it easy! I'll be thinking about you guys! Jen

Definitely ask Dr. Fielding. He's my surgeon as well and I know that he's actually a proponent of alcohol (not sure when we get to start though). When is your post op appointment? I had my post-op a week after surgery and was able to move onto mushies two days early, but only because they said I could after seeing me. I know it's hard to get down the Protein shakes especially when you're not hungry. I used a spoon and it helped to get them down easier. My surgery was on 8/7 and I felt horrible until Thursday. Today I feel GREAT! It will get better! Good luck!! Jen

I agree with Miss K that most of my rewards will be shopping related. However today I'm doing a mani/pedi to reward myself for great progress so far!! 1 pound to my first goal of 10% weight loss!

Miss K...a loss is a loss and not a gain!! Good for you for losing with your period.

It still takes you an hour to eat 1/2 cup of soup?? WOW! I wish! I wondered at the beginning to. Once my stomach actually started to growl though, I was able to differentiate it from gas. When you eat does the feeling go away?

Jacqui - for the first couple of days I stuck to tomato soup. I also got some organic soups that come in the cartons, pre-made. Butternut squash and potato leek. They were both completely smooth, no lumps and thin enough to go through a "cocktail straw" per our nutritionists instructions. I found them at food Emporium, Whole Foods has them as well. Good Luck!

I keep an 8oz glass of ice water by my side all day and try to drink at least one every other hour. Sometimes one every hour. It is really important to continue to drink water just as unforgettable says. You could try warmer liquids as well. They might go down easier. Good luck Abby!

Angie - I have to take a crushed pill for my asthma every night. Mine doesn't taste horrible, but I put a little Vitamin Water on the spoon with it, or propel whatever juice you like. It seems to go down a bit easier. Hope it clears up quickly!! Jen

I'm still having a ton of left shoulder and arm pain. It gets so intense that my mom had to help me up from a laying position today because when I tried to sit up on my own I had shooting pains in my arm. I have my post op tomorrow so I'm hoping he can tell me if there is anything that I can do for this.

Hi - I'm in NYC as well and had my surgery at NYU medical center. The biggest thing I was surprised to find out at the info session was that the majority of insurance companies require a six month supervised diet with your doctor. I actually saw people get up and leave after they heard this, which I assume was because people were looking for a quicker fix (again assumption on my part). Regardless, be prepared that if you're going through insurance it will likely take a while - I have CIGNA and it was 7 months total to my surgery date. However, you shouldn't get discouraged! That time flew by for me and I appreciate now that I had it. The surgery comes before you know it. I'm only six days post op and am much heavier than you - started 282, I'm 5'7. Do your research, get as much information as possible. Great start by joining this forum! There is a wealth of information here for you. Good Luck, Jen

Yeah, my throat hurt up until yesterday - I'm six days post op today. I feel like I have a ball in my throat still. Waiting to get this thrush cleared up, hoping it's related to that. I've been working that incentive spirometer, so the mucus should have cleared up by this point.

I have thrush (yeast infection of the mouth)...still waiting for my PCP to call in a prescription mouthwash for me. So frustrating. I think it's from the meds they put in your IV. I always take acidophillus when I'm on antibiotics and am able to avoid a yeast infection but didn't have the opportunity this time! GRRRR