isaviolinist

Since my pre-op (starting at the end of May) I have lost a little over 30 pounds. Starting about 2 weeks ago I began working out pretty much daily. I've been out of town since, and so I don't have a scale but I'm really hoping that when I get home the scale will have me at least to 35 pounds lost, if not more. Keep your fingers crossed!

I have Realize Band, so my port is low profile. I haven't had a fill yet (July 28th is my first), but when I went for my 1 week post op check up, the doctor could feel my port (although I can't feel it myself). Apparently, as the weight starts coming off, it will be less noticeable under the skin. Good luck tomorrow!!

I'm getting married in 3 years (a long time, I know...:thumbup:). I want to be able to walk into Vera Wang and fit in any gown in the store. Also, my brother is getting married in 2 years, and I want to be just as beautiful as the other bridesmaids in the wedding (and again, fit into a really beautiful dress). Can't wait to be a normal size!!

Are you bringing one of those travel cooler/freezer things? If you are you can stock it up with fish and chicken. If you are just bringing something to keep things cold (but not frozen) you could get some fish and chicken, and freeze them until theyre good and frozen, then put it in the cooler right when you are about to leave (it should stay frozen in the cooler for way over a day...you could probably cook it even on the third day). If you like tofu, it doesn't require a freezer (just refrigeration) and is delicious on the grill. And of course, theres always Beans and stuff. Have a fun trip!

Aside from the fact that you probably don't want to get pregnant (which is why, I'm assuming, you're on birth control), if you 'accidentally' get pregnant now (while your band and insides are still healing) you could cause serious complications to your band. I don't know what all physicians recommend, but mine says wait AT LEAST a year before getting pregnant. Despite your pill, you should use extra protection.

Nena - thank you so much for your response. I have panic attacks about my band slipping, port flipping, pouch stretching, etc. on a regular basis. I am going for my first fill on July 28th and I will have much more piece of mind if my doctor can easily access my port. Hopefully nothing has gone wrong with my band, isaviolinist

I was banded about 5 weeks ago. I just started eating real foods again (a few days ago). I am feeling some cramping (minor, not unbearable or anything) in my lower left abdomen. I am so paranoid that my band slipped or my pouch stretched (can the pouch stretch prior to having a fill if I feel no restriction?) or my port came undone or flipped over or something. I have been admittedly eating larger portions than I should be (although its all Protein...but instead of having 1 cup of tofu, I'll have 3 cups, etc.). Does anyone have any advice? Could my band have slipped?? I've been getting so nervous for the past couple of days. If anyone has gone through this and can give me some advice, I'd REALLY appreciate it.

It probably depends on how ready you are to lose weight and make a change. Don't do it if you don't feel you're really ready to get the weight off (the band definitely doesn't do the work for you). Additionally, if you feel like you wouldn't be able to stick to the diet (pre-op, post-op, and lifestyle in general) then it might be risky to do it. If you didn't stick to your pre-op there is the risk you would go in for surgery and not get banded (because of the liver), if you cheat on post-op there is potential for band slippage. There is always the potential for the port to flip (requiring a small revision surgery) and there are also things that are out of your hands that could cause a band complication, for which you'd need a revisional surgery (which of course, you'd need to pay for). You'll also have to pay for any aftercare visits (doctor, fills, etc.). Of course, you should probably just consider your financial situation. If you are able to do it, financially, without causing sever hardship to you (or your family) then do it. Personally, if insurance couldn't pay for my surgery I wouldn't have been able to do it because I just finished graduate school and have a boatload of loans to pay off. But if I were older and more established, maybe I could have handled it on my own. Its definitely based on your own personal financial situation (which no one here can advise you about). Good luck no matter what you decide!

After surgery (for the day of, and probably 2 days after) I was only drinking about 30cc of water an hour (and then at some point it got up-ed to 30 cc every 30 minutes). I think on my 3rd post-op day I drank about a cup of broth too fast, and I felt SO full. It wasn't overly painful but it wasn't comfortable. So I sipped for 2 days more or so, and then all of a sudden, I too could drink as much as I wanted. So I think the swelling had gone down. I have my first fill on July 28th but as of right now, I can gulp water and not chew my bites as well as I should and I'm still fine. Hoping that will change with the fill!

Congrats on getting all of your pre-op testing finished! I remember when I finished it, I just felt such relief that they were over (there were so many tests!) and we could get on with the process!! Good luck, and let us know how everything turns out and when your date is!

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery!! Thats wonderful :smile: This place is a great place for getting advice and support. Everyone is great here, and this website was very helpful to me both pre-op and post-op. So keep coming around!! And good luck this Tuesday! I'll keep my fingers crossed for a smooth and complication-free surgery for you!

I'm about a month post-op and so far no regrets! I go for a fill on July 28th and I'm very excited about that. I haven't even found "banster hell" to be that hellish (Clear liquids after surgery wasn't that fun, but it was just for 3 days and it went by fast). I lost 20 pounds pre-op and around 13 pounds post op (although I am out of town so I haven't weighed myself in over a week - I usually weigh everyday). I have been working out everyday and sticking to my Proteins (and between 600-900 calories a day) so I'm hoping for a happy surprise when I go home next week! I'm excited to have my band and to start my new life!

I am about to go back to solids on Monday, but during my full liquids I just drank a couple protein shakes a day (2-4). Occasionally I had a cream soup of some kind (I made my own once so I didn't have to strain stuff out of it) but those soups are full of carbs and other bad stuff which I'm trying to stay away from (I figure, since I had a 3 week pre-op diet where I ate almost no carbs, why start back on them now?). You can do fun stuff with the protein shakes to keep it interesting. There is a thread in the food and nutrition section which lists a lot of protein shake recipes. Good luck!!

Everyone's pre-op instructions are different (including no instructions at all). I was supposed to do a 2 week preop and it ended up being actually 3 weeks. I felt that was good for me because it really got me ready and into the mindset, especially for the post op diet. If you're doctor likes 7 days, then just do that, and I'm sure you'll be just fine!

Good luck, everyone, with your surgeries and the start to your new, healthy life!

Hi everyone, thanks for all the replies. Scout: thanks for that info! I will definitely check out that site. I haven't had a fill yet (July 28th!). That is true re: having to be a on a liquid diet after each fill. Despite the lack of saline in my band (I was not banded with any fill at time of surgery), I am doing well and sticking to my Proteins with very few carbs and virtually no sweets etc. But I am looking forward to a fill, because I can easily eat a cup and a half of food right now. Portions were always the issue for me. WaistBand: I have to disagree with your comment about toxins. Sure, the body rids itself of toxins, but it doesn't rid itself of all toxins. Many people do a 'cleanse' (which varies person to person) every so often to refresh the body. Additionally, its not a 'modified fast'. With 3 Protein shakes, I will be getting the adequate nutrition per day, and I'd probably end up drinking 4 shakes a day. ctay: I will probably end up talking to my doc about it. The reason we are supposed to stay away from those 'slider' foods that you mentioned after we go to solids is because, 1. they are in fact sliders (so you can eat a lot of ice cream without getting stuck...you can eat around the band), and 2. if you drink with your meal or eat Soup it will push the food through your band and you'll be hungrier faster. So if you are on an all liquid diet (primarily just protein shakes) those two problems are eliminated.

I drink unjury Protein (usually chocolate). I think its delicious. Its not ready-to-drink (like in a can or something) but you can order it in individual packets which make it easier to take with you. I just put it in my magic bullet with Skim Milk and a tablespoon of creamy Peanut Butter and its amazing. To me, it tastes just like a chocolate peanut butter milkshake and it definitely gets rid of that craving for sweets. It almost feels like I'm cheating! Good luck!

My doctor also told me at about a week post-op (maybe 5 days) that I could start walking at a reasonable (but not outrageous) pace on the treadmill. I am almost 4 weeks post op and went on a 4 mile hike through a gorge today (2 miles up, 2 miles down) with no pain. Sometimes I worry that I'm damaging or ripping out my port or something or also that my band has slipped but I guess it really is just paranoia. I have my first fill on July 28th. I'm praying that everything looks just fine.

Hey, theres tons of other proteins out there besides chicken. There is fish (salmon is my favorite) and other types of delicious seafood. I'm sure there are lean types of red meat (I'm not sure what they are because I don't eat red meat or chicken, but I'm sure they are out there). Red meat is probably fine is moderation. And of course there is always tofu. Since I don't eat chicken or red meat, tofu and fish are mainstays of my diet (although I'm still doing mushy/blended foods right now). And of course, theres always protein shakes. I drink Unjury. The chocolate with half a serving of peanut butter and skim milk is so delicious - tastes like a chocolate peanut butter milkshake. Sometimes I feel guilty because its so good.

I was just banded June 18th. Including pre-op, I have lost a little over 33 pounds so far. I am currently on the mushies phase. I am trying to plan out my eating for when I start on real foods. One idea I had (among many others) was to do a 7-day liquid diet every other month. Basically I would just do Protein shakes, sodium-free broths, Water, etc. Essentially the same as a pre-op diet. I was thinking it would be a good way to kick start my body every now and again. When I did the preop diet I lost about 5 pounds in the first 3 days. I also thought this would be a good way to cleanse my body of toxins and other waste materials every now and again. Any thoughts? Has anyone done anything like this before? Thanks for any input!

I didn't have too much gas from surgery. I had pretty severe neck pain the day after surgery from the gas (I think), but after that day it was gone. However, I do also burp after I eat something (not excessive but more than I ever had before). Its not gross right now, but I'm hoping it will get less and less as time goes on.

I wish I was having diarrhea :confused: Since banding, I hold on to a lot of what I eat and don't go to the bathroom quite as much unfortunately. Sorry if thats TMI lol!

The first 3 days or so are def. the hardest. After that, it is not too bad. I had a 3 week pre-op diet. If I can do it, then anyone can. Good luck!

Hi. I was banded on June 18th. I've lost about 12 pounds post-op (plus 20 preop). I'm so happy to never see those 32 pounds again! Anyways, I have a question. I am sure I am overreacting, but I can't feel my port I think. All I can really feel under my big incision is the hard scar tissue. Is it possible that the port has flipped or am I just being so paranoid? I have realize band which has a lower profile port, but I'm so nervous I'm going to go for my fill in a few weeks and the doctor won't be able to find my port. I did the situp/crunch thing that I hear people talking about but I still don't think I can feel it. Anyone else have this experience? If so, did your port actually flip or was it fine? So nervous now! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I didn't have any fill at the time of surgery (I have Realize Band). I was banded about 3.5 weeks ago. Since surgery I have lost 10 pounds (most of it came of in the first 2 weeks post-op...not much has happened in the last week or so). Altogether including preop diet, I have dropped 30 pounds. I haven't had any real issues with hunger, but I do get the desire to eat out of habit. I have been trying to stick to under 1000 calories a day (consisting of primarily protein) and have mostly been landing in that range. The next step for me is to begin exercising. My first fill is July 28th and I am really excited. My doctor said he usually begins with anywhere from 3 cc's up to 6 cc's depending on the person I guess. I can't feel my port and Im paranoid it flipped. Im hoping that is not the case...