Padanelle

It is very typical to have difficulty eating in the morning, as the band is usually at its tightest then. Drinking something warm helps. Also drinking water may also work. It takes awhile to get used to the band. Listen to your body, and adjust your eating schedule accordingly. Just be sure to take in the necessary nutrition.

When I started mushies, mashed potatoes were on the top of my list. I make a whole packet of instant mashed potatoes and add unjury chicken broth protein powder, which gives it a nice flavor and extra protein. I then put it in half-cup Glad containers, which helps control the portion size.

My surgeon's assistant took a front and side shot of me on my first visit.

You took the words right out of my mouth, Mamadot - exactly what I am experiencing. I had no problems after my first fill, which caused me to be a bit lax on small bites, and mega chews (except for steak and calamari). So even though the nutritionist warned me that could change at any time, I was careless in following rules, experienced a few 'tight' incidents after my second fill. Realizing I could bear the discomfort, I continued not focusing when I eat, and this week I experienced my first PB experience after eating salad too quickly and with no dressing. That experience should have been enough to slow me down, but nooooooooo. After waiting about half hour, I woofed down some pasta. An very painful double PB was the result. Hope I can learn from my mistakes, but sometimes I can be slow on the uptake.

There was a seminar scheduled the same week I called that I was able to get into. Have you checked out the list of seminars on www.lapband.com? If you enter your zipcode, a list of nearby seminars will come up.

My biggest worry was not having enough time to eat all of the foods I thought I wouldn't be able to eat after banding. lol. As it turned out, as long as I cut everthing in small pieces, eat slowly, and chew thoroughly, I can eat almost anything. Good luck on Friday!

I crossed my legs today!

I am a little over 2 months post-op, and have been trying different Vitamins to see which I like best. I currently rotate them. For multi-vitamins, I use: GNC Solotron Chewable - 2 tablet. Fruit flavored. Tastes pretty good. Has a high % of vitamins & minerals, often over 100%, which my nutritionist says is not necessary. Trader Darwin (Trader Joe) High Potency Chewable - Fruit flavored - 1 tablet. I like the taste. Less % on some vitamins/minerals, but usually 100%. Trader Darwin (Trader Joe) Gummy Multivitamin. Love the taste but missing Biotin, zinc, Iron and other minerals. For Calcium, I alternate between: Caltrate 600 D plus - Fruit flavored chewable. I like the taste. Contains calcium citrate, which most surgeons/ nutritionists recommend. Viactive calcium chews - chocolate or caramel. Yum! Has calcium carbonate, but my nutritionist says I can take either. GNC Calcium chews - chocolate or caramel. calcium carbonate. Super yum! All of the above also contain Vit D, which is important to take. However Caltrate has 400 IU, Viactive has 500 IU, and GNC has 100 IU, so if you have a Vit D deficiency, which many people do, you should choose accordingly. Hope this helps. Joan

Bear Bandit, Glad to hear the firming cream has worked for you. I started using the Jergens at the beginning. To soon to tell, but I figure if it doesn't work, at least I'll have soft skin. lol

I was also told not to put any cream or ointment on it. I had to keep it covered for 2 days (it was ok to change th ebandage). I was also allowed to shower right away.

Try Isopure Zero Carb Protein drinks. Its 40 g protein in 20 oz bottle. They come in lots of fruit flavors, including black or green tea. Hang in there.

1 incision

Hi Captain, I've been banded a little over 2 months, and I am really happy I have made the decision to have the surgery. If you haven't already done so, you should begin by attending a seminar on WLS, where you will be able to get a lot of info. This site is fabulous for learing. You can search out info on practically anything related to WLS, and then some. Do keep in mind, that the info here is from a fellow bandster or other weightloss proceedure, and as good as the info may seem, you always should defer to your doctors instructions. One question that keeps coming up on this site is about Protein shakes. Since the shakes are usually an integral part of the pre-op/post-op diet for most people, you will want to find one or two that you like. Since you have quite awhile before your surgery, you'll have plenty of time to experiment and find something you like. You can do a google search to find places that offer samples. Good luck on your journey. Joan

I was scheduled to be at the hospital at 6.30 am, surgery around 9.30 am, would have been releases around 6 Pm, but incision was bleeding, so stayed until the next morning. No fill during surgery. Esopgogram was the same day as my post-op check-up - one week later.

Hi Sue Ann, I was banded on Jun 8, and so I'm still in a learning experience, but everything has been going well so far. I can eat practically anything, as long as its in small pieces and I chew it well, and I have not had any major eating incidents - just some tightness and minor pain when I have eaten something to dry. The most difficult part so far, as being on the Protein shakes for over 3 weeks. Fortunately, I discovered Isopure Zero Carb Protein drinks, and

Scrambled eggs and oatmeal are on my mushie stage list, which started 10 days post op. You may want to check with your nutritionist/surgeon, since everyone seems to have different instructions.

In my first post/op visit the NP told me not to put anything on it while it was still in the early healing stage. He said that afterwards I could use Vitamin E.

[/url] I had my first post-op glass of wine when I started on solids - 18 days after surgery. I have a glass or 2 several times a week.

I learned a lot at the NYU info seminar, and if I had any doubts beforehand, they were gone. Dr Fielding gave the seminar I attended, and it was very encouring to know he was banded 9 years ago.

Nan, Before starting the pre-op diet, I stuffed myself with all of the foods I thought I wouldn't be able to eat after the band. Turns out, so far, I am able to eat almost everything, as long as I cut it in small pieces & chew well. This of course, could change after a fill, but I am enjoying it now.

I was banded at NYU by Dr Fielding. I imagine your instructions are the same as mine: 2 weeks of high Protein with up to 2 cu veggies per day. 10 days post op liquids, then 10 days mushies. For the first few days, I highly recommend

Actually, the Standard is 10cc, the Large is 14cc.

The Lap-Band AP Standard is 10cc

Good question. I've been wondering the same thing. My surgeon gave me a choice between Lap-Band or Realize, but not on size. I think it has to do with your size and also the positioning of other organs/parts when they do the surgery.

Susie Q, Since you say he is a good surgeon, you may want to discuss your feelings with him on your next visit. I have seen other posts on this site that have said their surgeon doesn't tell them how many cc's they are injecting for the fill. Frankly, I think if you want to know, you should be told. Also, many people have trouble eating Breakfast, due to more restriction in the morning. My surgeon/nutritionist, and quite a few others from what I have read on this site, advise that it is okay to skip breakfast. In saying that if you don't want to have breakfast or 64 oz of Water a day, then don't, he is saying don't obsess over the rules, listen to your body. I doubt he is advocating just having 8 oz of water a day. Some days you'll want all 64 oz, and some days you just won't. Use common sense in your eating/drinking habits. There is no stedfast rule that works for everyone, and we each have to find what works best for us. Good luck!