MrsBerggren

My doc is a Center for Excellence surgeon and he says it's ok to take any as long as you do not take it in excess. For a headache or a pain is fine.. and I'm sure you aren't popping pills all day long. I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck!

Its possible you dont have much restriction. I have seen a few people on here say that a 10cc band can really hold up to 14cc's. And my doc may have also told me that too but I can't remember for sure because I am no where near that. I will just say this.. I would consider myself at or very close to my sweet spot. I cannot eat anything in the morning. I have a light lunch and afternoon snack, but at dinner time I can eat a decent amount of food. Rarely will I eat till I'm actually feeling fullness, but I eat to satiety where I'm happy and do not feel the need to eat anymore. Most times I do not feel "full" and I know I COULD eat more, but I don't. Maybe try portioning your food and setting it out.. eat it and see how you are feeling afterwards, try to avoid that last bit of food. I don't think you ate all that much.. but that was a good amount of bread you had. I understand some folks are able to eat breads/cakes and some cannot. I, for one, cannot do breads/cakes, I feel tightness as it goes down, so I have not even tried anymore. Do you feel anything when your food is going down? Have you ever felt like something might get stuck? Those were my clues that told me I was getting some restriction. You could ask your doc too and see what he thinks.. things are SO different for every person its really hard to say what is going on.

I HAVE FELT THIS WAY BEFORE TOO!!! I have to drive an hour to/from my fill and while on my way home from my second fill my throat started to hurt and I felt horrible that whole day/night. I wondered myself if it was just a coincidence and thought I have to just be getting sick.. it was weird. But the feeling came instantly after I left the doctor's office. I took a small swig of my leftover pain meds before bed and that took care of it. I did not feel like that with my 1st or 3rd fill.. hard to say if it was coincidence or what happened.

My doc MADE me take off 6 weeks because my job requires me to do some lifting. I work in home health care and do a lot of cleaning/shopping for my clients. No lifting over 10 pounds, no vacuuming, no dog walking. I was pretty damn bored by the end of those 6 weeks.

Just want to say Congrats on losing! It feels awesome.. I am finally losing a little but nothing major yet. I have not been taking my measurements either but recently bought a tape and am starting! I know I have gone down in inches too but haven't been keeping track. The hospital did take my measurements about a month before surgery so I can at least compare back to that. You sound like me.. I haven't wore a pair of jeans in YEARS!! My friends have taken me shopping twice and MADE me buy a pair of jeans and wear them out, but I never wore them again either time. I just never felt comfortable and felt like a fat pig and was miserable. I always wore dorky cotton pants all the time. Now I am wearing jeans and it feels great! It's an awesome feeling to finally be going down in weight. Keep up the good work!!

It's funny you posted this thread. I just this morning am feeling dizzy and I don't know if its because I'm coming down with something or what. Haven't experienced it before so I'm wondering if it's something with my diet or because of the surgery.

Thank you for your input.. this has helped me. I never thought that it would confuse me like it has recently. I think I do have good restriction right now and will wait another week or so for a fill, or at least see how I am feeling by then. I have never felt full so I didnt know if I needed more restriction or not. But I do measure my foods and eat just that amount to feel satiety, same as what my NP says to look for. I have gone down a couple pounds which is GREAT to finally see.. I was wondering what the hell was going on and when things would start moving for me. I'll just keep up with what I'm doing now and hopefully get good results.. thanks!!

I've started this thread before but didn't get the answers I was looking for. I know that everyone's sweet spots are different, but please explain to me what your's feels like, I need details!!! I thought I found my sweet spot but then I wasn't sure.. is it like love and when you fall in it you just KNOW? lol. I can feel my food go down but it doesn't stay in my pouch, is it supposed to? Or is it supposed to pass? I thought I had good restriction but I have never felt "full" from it, do you think that means I need more saline? Help.. I'm a flippin goon here and I'm all sorts of confused.

I am with you all on this topic here.. I am 10 weeks out of surgery, doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Working out daily, eating well and not seeing a change in my weight. I have completely cut soda out of my diet, no problem, drink my Protein shake every morning and sometimes evening as well, eat protein throughout the day and I am only down 7-9 freakin pounds in 10 weeks! WTF does it take for this thing to do its job? I got a fill almost two weeks ago and am going in again this Thursday for my 4th. I don't even know what I'm supposed to feel like.. I can feel my food go down and thought I had good restriction but never feel full. I know I could eat more but stop myself, isn't the band supposed to give me that full feeling sooner? And is my food supposed to sit in the pouch or pass through immediately? I am so confused now that I actually have the band. I thought I understood it all but Im more confused now. When I take smaller bites and chew it really well, doesn't that mean it will pass through the band easier? Thus making me hungrier sooner?? Or is it supposed to sit there for a while? But if you take too big of a bite it gets stuck and is painful. Do any of you actually get that full feeling after eating a small portion? I just want to know what it feels like to someone who thinks they have good restriction that are actually losing weight. Im scared to get it too tight yet I dont want it too loose.. ugh, I wish it wasn't so damn complicated. I never dreamed that I would be so torn about this damn surgery after having it.

Yikes! I think it is ridiculous to put everyone on the exact same diet.. some people need a bit more, some don't. And having to starve yourself certainly is not healthy. It's unreal that the nutritionist said to just stick to it till your doc says otherwise. Obviously you went there for a reason and needed some help.. Does she think you went there just for fun and because you had nothing else to do?? I can't believe she just turned you away like that. Thankfully my doc allowed me to progress through the food stages as I felt comfortable so I never had to stick to something for too long. I NEVER would have been able to stick to 2T-4T of food per meal. You are probably losing muscle mass with so little food and calories. A man needs more than a woman. Yes the ultimate goal of the band is to lose weight but for God's sake it needs to be a healthy weight-loss!

Thanks.. I also got my period today so I think my emotions are all over the place lol. I would LOVE to do a 5k or something of the sorts.. however, I have shin splints at the time from running so I am allowing myself to heal. It has been a couple weeks since I injured myself and I am wondering how long it will take. I am also on a bowling league so every Wednesday I feel like I set myself back a bit with recovering because my shins are awfully sore by the time I get done. I do need to buy some good running shoes because that was part of my problem in the first place, the shoes I wore were bad. I have not run since volleyball in high school which was 10-11 years ago.. I slowly started getting back into running and I thought my shins were sore from being out of shape but after I got home from an evening run my legs were in so much pain I was in tears.. they've been sore ever since. Just when I feel like I am able to go for a run, the pain comes back instantly. I think I need someone to teach me how to run again lol. I feel like I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. But you are right.. the first 6 weeks after surgery are the hardest part. I had no restriction even a week after surgery. I thought for sure the swelling would last longer than that but not for me. I was thankfully able to get in for my first fill after 4 weeks but it took me 3 fills to feel anything. I am now at 6 cc's and feel some restriction but may need to go in again, I'm just trying to figure it out still. It was extremely difficult to follow the orders when it came to diet right after surgery. I was always hungry and my doc said to progess as I felt I could, so I did and never had any problems. Some people dont need fills, others do. Try to hang in there.. your time will come. Patience is key with this surgery and sometimes I lose mine, but I know I am still trying to figure things out for myself. It's just hard getting there.

I HEAR YA!!!!! Ugh... I am 2 months post-op and have been eating well, exercising and not seeing a damn thing on the scale. I've had 3 fills and have some restriction and I don't know if I should go to my appt next week for another fill or not. I am losing a few inches, but not weight. I know I cannot compare my journey to others because everyone is different but it's crazy how some people can lose so much and others not so much. I KNOW I have been doing and eating the right things. I have completely cut soda from my diet, faithyfully drink my Protein shakes, I exericise(elliptical, run, walk) everyday, cut back the amount of food I eat and I'm down oh maybe 5-7 pounds since surgery, and most of that was lost the first week after surgery. I know this is a slow journey but dammit I'm ready for it already!!! I completely understand how you feel about working hard and seeing nothing... those are the exact times I would get discouraged and give up.. I think I am just down on myself today.. it's just so hard to see that some people are down 30, 40, 50+ pounds and all I can say I've lost is merely 5-7.

I have GOT to buy myself a measuring tape.. I'm upset with myself that I haven't yet. I was measured at my doctor's fitness center before my surgery and I have not been measured since. I KNOW I have lost inches, I can see it and feel it. However, I am only down a few pounds on the scale... it's weird how you can feel like you are different yet don't see much on the scale, that part of it is driving me nuts. I am going tomorrow to get a measuring tape because I know I will be happy to see what I've lost in inches.. and I need to stay motivated with my exercise. I'm definitely ready to start seeing a change on the scale. It's really starting to get to me. One day I am thrilled with myself and the next I feel like I should be doing better. I hate the rollercoaster of feelings but I know I have to deal with it.. there are always going to be good days and bad days. Plus, my weight fluctuates SO much in a day. I know this is normal but I never know what I really weigh. My weight in the morning is getting lower and later in the day its 4-5 pounds higher.. ?? Oh well.. as long as I am feeling the difference and feeling better about myself, that is the most important thing.

You will find that these first 6 weeks will be the hardest for you.. they are for just about everybody. Once the swelling goes down you are probably able to eat more. After a few weeks I was able to eat a pretty decent amount of food. Just try to follow your docs orders as best you can, but try not to feel guilty if you slip here and there. If it gets too bad, just talk to your doc and tell him you simply need more food. I hope everything goes well for you!

Ok.. so I'm wondering if I have hit my sweet spot. I have 6 cc's in my 10 cc band. I definitely have to eat slower and take smaller bites. But it's rare that I feel "full." But I've also heard that the full feeling is not like what it used to be before the band. I eat a smaller amount until I feel comfortable, I could eat more if I wanted but I usually stop. I have another fill scheduled next week but am unsure if I should cancel or not. For those of you that know you are good with your restriction, does this sound like you? Do you really feel full after eating? I thought about emailing my PA to ask her but figured I would get the best advice from other bandsters.. help!

I FINALLY just last week got some restriction with my 3rd fill.. and I think that was my problem. Until last week, I had zero restriction and have not had to really chew well or take such small bites so I am still training myself to slow down and be conscious of the bites I am taking. Well, that one time I forgot until I swallowed, then I knew instantly. Getting fills it such a weird experience.. one day you are able to eat pretty much anything and the next, you better watch it. You don't feel any different when you get a fill so you have to keep reminding yourself that you are unable to eat like before. But I learned quick enough!

Starving is a horrible feeling! I'm sorry you are so hungry and are told to limit your food intake so much. My doc wanted me to progress with my food as I felt comfortable, if I was starving and felt like I could eat more, he said to eat more but obviously do not over-do it. I found that about a week after surgery I was able to eat a pretty decent amount of food, way more than a cup or so. I would wake up in the middle of the night just starving and frantic to get something in my tummy. Perhaps they are stressing such little food to allow you to heal properly. I was told not to worry about losing weight the first six weeks(which I only lost a few pounds) and to just take care of myself and heal. I am now two months out and just last week got my 3rd fill and FINALLY have some restriction. Every case is so different and well as each doc.. it's just too bad that you are so hungry and are told not to eat anymore than a few Tablespoons.. ugh. How soon do you progress to the next food stage? And how long are you limited to such little food?

Just a quick comment... For those of you with sagging skinfolds, mention something to your doctor about rashes or any sores you get. At my first fill my PA asked if I was getting any rashes/sores in my skinfolds(belly and breasts), which I haven't really bad but I do get rashes ocassionally. She said she would start documenting it in my charts immediately for insurance purposes down the road should I need a tummy tuck or breast lift. I think the more they document it the more likely chance you will get your insurance company to cover it. My cousin got her insurance to pay for your tummy tuck.. and she looked a whole lot better from it of course. I think most of us would want to do something like that when we are about down to our goal weight but may not know how to go about it.

Does it come up on its own or do you make yourself throw up? I was kinda waiting for it to come up but never did. It would have been better if it did. All I could do was sit and moan in pain my kid was wondering what the hell was going on and was starting to freak out lol, poor kid. And then, just when you think the pain is gone it comes back!! What the hell!! Such a weird horrible feeling.

The incision above my belly button was raised too and I was worried that it would heal that way. But I waited and it has healed completely flat.. thank goodness! It was ugly but now it looks great.

I just had my first stuck experience and OH MY GOD.. PAINFUL!!!! Please remember to take small bites and chew well! I just had my 3rd fill last Thursday which put me at 6 cc's in my 10cc band. My PA always asked if chicken goes down well for me, which it always has. She has also said that most people are happy with their restriction at 6 or 7 cc's so I knew this might be it for me for a while as I have not had ANY restriction since the first days of my surgery. So I was making white chili today for the football game and I must have taken too big of a bite of chicken and didn't chew it well enough and I knew instantly I was in trouble. UGHH..... felt a horrible pain in my chest and I was pounding on my chest and jumping up and down to help it go down and this lasted several minutes which felt like forever!!!! It was hard to breathe and I was pacing back and forth.. anything to take my mind off the pain. I tried to take a drink to help it pass which didn't seem to help. I was wondering if it would come back up which it didn't. Finally it passed on its own but reminded me to chew better!!! Has anyone else gotten anything stuck like that? Ohh it was horrible, I was nearly in tears.

Don't worry! About a week after surgery I was starving too.. and I talked to my doctor and he said if I feel like I can eat more, go for it. I was told not to worry so much about weight loss the first six weeks but to let myself heal. I was hard on myself at first because I thought Oh my gosh, I just ate way more than I thought I should be eating at that time.. but I could tell my body needed it and it was okay. You obviously don't want to make yourself sick by eating too much. I just did what my body let me do. Some doctors want you to follow the diet pretty strictly, mine on the otherhand said to progress through the stages of food on my own. I think you are fine.. you don't want to be starving then you WILL overeat and be sorry afterwards.

Thankfully my doc does not have a problem with me drinking my Protein - thank god. I can't understand how we are supposed to get 60 grams in in a day when we are not able to eat much. I have been faithfully drinking my protein shakes in the morning and one in the evening as a snack before bedtime. I bought the whey protein at Walmart and put one scoop into a glass of 1% milk. One scoop equals 26 grams of protein. Not only that, my band is tighter in the morning so the shake works great. Plus, it helps to get your body started in the morning. If a person is unable to eat 60 grams a day of protein, I do not see the harm in supplementing your diet with a shake.. It's a great back-up in case a person cannot get it all in.

I too have been able to go in every 2 weeks for a fill. I had my surgery on August 4th and went in 4 weeks later for my first fill. I schedule my next fill appointment on my way out the door. Just had my 3rd fill today and am hoping it will give me some restriction now. I am currently at 6 cc's in my 10 cc band and can actually feel my Water go down when I drink.. so that is a good sign. My PA said she has found most people are happy at 6 -7 cc's. Before today, I haven't felt a thing and was getting a little discouraged. Every doctor is different and it's crazy how they do things so differently. I am thankful for the chance to get in every 2 weeks though. I am only down 5-7 pounds since my surgery.. I have been exercising regularly, eating well, and faithfully drinking my Protein shakes but not seeing any difference on the scale which has been disappointing but I DO feel a difference in my body and have had comments that others can see a difference too so that helps. I can feel my clothes fitting better and my body feels less dense. That is the best way to describe it. I knew going into this that it would be a slower journey and the time we wait to find our sweet spots is the worst part. I know we all are ready to start shedding the pounds, it's just the wait for the restriction that is the killer. I think I will be happy now with my 6 cc's but know I will have to deal with my emotions now and not being able to eat like I used to.. that is going to be a very hard thing for me.

I had mine done in fluoroscopy as well.. I should have asked how much she put in but forgot to. I will find out when I have my 2nd fill in a couple weeks.