HelloSkinny

Thanks everyone! It's definitely been slow going since the surgery...slower than I thought it would be. But I do feel like I am on my way and that perhaps one more fill and continutation of my exercise program and drinking lots of Water will keep me going!!!

Thanks for repying, Ruth! Yes...I have just gotten started on a regular exercise program, so I hope that speeds things up!! I also started drinking a ton more Water and I think that is helping some. Best of luck to you. We are on our way!

I posted this on the April 09 board too. Just posting here to seek additional advice!!!!! Just wondering if anyone else is feeling the same. Thanks! I was banded on April 7th. I have had 4 fills and am just now starting to feel restriction. I haven't lost any weight yet, other than about 10 pounds at the beginning, which I have managed to keep off. But.....for the longest time I was able to eat pretty much anything and did get stuck once in a while, but never got full on less than what I thought I should have. Now after the 4th fill, I am starting to notice a difference. I had noticed a difference at the last 2 fills, but the restriction seemed to go away. My doctor's explanation was that the stomach swells after a fill, so you feel more restricition immediately after and if you aren't filled "enough" that feeling may go away. I so hope that I am on my way....b /c I have totally doubted this band up until now. I am still not 100% sold though.....we'll see. Anyone else in the same boat?

I was banded on April 7th. I have had 4 fills and am just now starting to feel restriction. I haven't lost any weight yet, other than about 10 pounds at the beginning, which I have managed to keep off. But.....for the longest time I was able to eat pretty much anything and did get stuck once in a while, but never got full on less than what I thought I should have. Now after the 4th fill, I am starting to notice a difference. I had noticed a difference at the last 2 fills, but the restriction seemed to go away. My doctor's explanation was that the stomach swells after a fill, so you feel more restricition immediately after and if you aren't filled "enough" that feeling may go away. I so hope that I am on my way....b /c I have totally doubted this band up until now. I am still not 100% sold though.....we'll see. Anyone else in the same boat?

sistasassy (love the name!) That is totally what my dr. told me to expect.....to NOT expect anything! You might be fine one day with a particular food and throwing it up the next day. And that certain factors can affect the band....stress etc. So I guess that sticking to the guidelines of small bites and chewing (at least 20 chews, I was told) - we can avert some (but not all) food challenges!

Thanks for your reply, John! You are right - this is a learning experience - so I guess I can just chalk it up to that!!!

Hello ~ First, let me say that I am about 2 and 1/2 months post surgery and have had 2 fills. I am not in the green zone yet, though I can tell a very, very, very subtle difference in getting full on less. I think I am getting there and hope that the next couple of fills do the trick. Right now, the biggest difference I feel is that I find that when I eat too big of a bite or don't chew enough - particularly certain breads (really doughy) or dry chicken, it gets stuck and I throw it up. Anyway, today I was at a lunch meeting and there was a nice lunch served - grilled chicken, spinach salad wild rice and bread. I took a small bite of bread and shortly after was in the bathroom throwing it up. I went back and tried some chicken....taking a small bite and chewing thoroughly. Well, I was once again in the bathroom throwing it up. I should have stopped at that point, but I was actually hungry and felt better after getting the stuck food out- so I tried a little spinach salad and again, chewed well. THAT came up. So I gave up altogether. I haven't had touble with that stuff in the past - well, maybe if not chewed properly - but nothing that would have made me avoid it altogether, forever! So, the meeting was over and I went back to my office and was starting to feel very hungry (after all, I threw up everything I ate) so I went to the cafe and got a BLT on toasted sourdough bread. I ate the whole thing with no problems. What gives?!?!?!? I am totally shaking my head at this. Was I not hungry enough when I attempted the grilled chicken and spinach salad? My doctor did tell me that sometimes ya just never know what is or isn't going to agree with you, so I guess this was one of those occasions. Anyone else ever have a similar experience?

I am really going to focus on my eating plan and getting on a regular exercise program to help this next fill get me going! I was really hoping not to have to "diet" once getting banded...but I do know that this weight loss is not just going to come at the snap of my finger and there will need to be some effort on my part, not leaving it all up to the band. Let's all repeat....."the band is not a magic bullet"!

Thank you all for the support and encouragement! We are all in this together, and will get there! It is nice to have a sounding board, though and know I am not alone. I guess I haven't figured out my feeling full "signal" - I would say it's the same as before. The only troubles I am having with eating is eating too fast, or not chewing enough. I certainly can't "wolf" down food like I could before (thank God, right?!?!) Nothing is really restriciting the amount of food I eat, just the rate at which I eat it :thumbup:. The other night I was eating a peice of chicken breast that my husband burnt the cr@p out of! It was so dry and it got stuck and I eventually threw it up. But I went right back to my corn on the cobb and was able to eat it! I dont' want to constantly be getting stuck, I want to feel FULL and lose interest in food! I am so glad that I didn't tell the world I had this surgery. I would totally be feeling like they were looking at me thinking I was a fool for having done so. I am nervous that my husband is going to start complaining that we spent all this money and I am not getting anywhere, although he has been very supportive thus far and it I probably think that way b/c that is how I feel.

Hello... I was banded April 7th and in the two weeks after my surgery, I lost 15 pounds. I was thrilled and felt I finally was on my way to accomplishing something I haven't been able to do over the past 8 years: lose this excess weight! However, the weight loss stopped once I went back in solid foods. I have gone for 1 fill and they only put 1cc of fluid in the band, which doesn't seem like much at all. It didn't really do much for me and I feel like I can eat anything. I do notice there are certain foods that I have difficulty swallowing if I eat too fast or don't chew enough…..I get “stuck” and have to take deep breaths, stand up and walk around or sometimes it comes back up. However, once it goes down, or comes back up, I can continue eating. My concern is that although I do feel like I have difficulty with some foods, I never really feel full. And, there are things that I could just eat and eat with no restriction though, like chips and salsa and most other things. I am going for a second fill next week and plan on talking this over with my doctor, but I thought I’d post to see if anyone else was dealing with this. I am a little discouraged, but at the same time I keep telling myself that I only had 1 fill and it may take some time to get going with the weight loss. I just want to feel full with a little bit of food!! I am so nervous that I just shelled out $15k and won’t even be able to make THIS work! Thanks for listening! :thumbup:

Linling - I am so there with you. I am just over 2 weeks post op and my doc said that I could start gradually adding "regular" food back into my diet and I am worried about the choices I make, too. After all, that is what my problem was before. I too think that b/c I am eating less, it is ok...perhaps it is, but I do want to make good choices, too. Hang in there, first fills are around the corner. By the way - I bought a book from Amazon.com called Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 140 Delicious Low-Fat High-Protein recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years After Surgery. I am hoping to find some good recipes to help me with food choices.

Thanks for the encouragement and congrats on your loss! I am just over a week post-op and have lost 16 pounds so far. I am ecstatic!! I am a bit tired of Protein shakes but it's not forever. Anyone still have swelling in the port area? I have a slight bump there and am hoping it'll go down,

- being comfortable in my own skin - gaining confidence in myself back - not always feeling self conscious - feeling like I "belong" when hanging out with skinny friends - not grunting when getting up off the floor - being attractive to my husband and actually wanting to have sex without hiding under the covers - shopping for clothes - wearing something I like and not b/c it covers up my fat - looking in the mirror and being proud instead of disgusted - not sweating all the time - crossing my legs - happiness

Hello April Bandsters! I was banded this morning and am home recovering. Things are going really well and I am surprised at how well I feel. Definitely soar and my throat hurts but the gas isn't bad at all. I just took my 2nd dose of loratab though - so I guess it is doing it's job. I slept all day. Well, I am glad to be part of this group and appreciate all the support it provides. It is nice to know that I have parteners in this journey. I look forward to getting to know you all. I need to fix my signature with that pink bunny bandster thing...do I just go to my profile and post it in the area where you create your signature?

Hello....I am an "April Bandster"! I start my preop diet tomorrow and my surgery is scheduled for a week from tomorrow. Anyone have any good suggestions for the protein shake? I need to have 2-3 per day...