NoName-AZ

Welcome back! A positive attitude will carry you through this journey. I wish you the best of luck!

CRZYTCHR Thank you for taking the time to reply to this. I am 4mos post op, and had my 3rd flll recently. I was fine the 1st day following my fill but a couple days later I felt it getting tighter, and tighter. Not to the point where I couldnt eat, but I had to be SUPER careful! I got stuck 3 times that week. I couldn't undestand why as time went on it was worse, But this explains it.. I must have had some swelling Needless to say I Lost 5lbs BOOM that week which took me right into "onederland" which is awesome, but it came with much discomfort. I am okay now, good restriction and losing steadily. Thanks for the info.

JULIANS MOM... You should be very proud of your self.. 1 fill.. almost to your goal.. That is incredible! Congrats to you! Everything you are feeling is normal. This band is a great tool if you use it properly. Try not to get down on yourself. Time will heal your wounds! Make sure to get your fills, eat properly, Proteins, and greens, and get outside and go walking! Every day.. Stay focused, and positive. It will happen.

I really love ground turkey. I eat it in patties, with a slice of mozzerella cheese, and some broccoli.. ( get the frozen steamers) you can pop those in the microwave, makes for a quick easy meal. I also use it to make taco meat, stroganoff meatballs, meatloaf.. There are so many different things you can do with it. And it is lean, very good for you. Remember.. small bites..Eat 4 oz of meat each meal. Chew really good.

For the thread starter.. What has helped me stay full between meals is eating my protien. It stays in the pouch longer, and gives the sense of feeling full longer. So try eating more protien and green veggies. Always eat lean Proteins every meal..at least 4 oz.. This should really help you. Stay away from mushie, slider foods. I really love ground turkey. I eat it in patties, with a slice of mozzerella cheese, and some broccoli.. ( get the frozen steamers) you can pop those in the microwave, makes for a quick easy meal. I also use it to make taco meat, stroganoff meatballs.. There are so many different things you can do with it. And it is lean, very good for you. With regards to the artificial sweetners..(i.e.) crystal lite. My surgeon told me that something in the artificial sweetner's tricks the brain into making you feel hungry. Many people post op that stop drinking these types of drinks tend to have better results once they stop. It really has helped me. I try to stick to Water.

I see you where banded on Nov. 23rd. How much weight have you lost so far? I also had the stomach flu last week, I could not keep anything down either. I thought for sure after two days of puking and sitting on the toilet, I would have lost a few more pounds, but I didn't. It is probably Water weight that you have put on. Try not to get discouraged, I didn't really start losing until after 2nd fill.

No. 1....Make sure you have Gas-X strips on hand. Many people get "trapped gas" After the surgery.. For me this was more painful than recovering from the surgery. Make sure you read the instructions on the box. You have to take like 3 or 4 of them in order for them to work. No 2.....Go and buy some papaya enzymes. You can find them in the Vitamin section at Walmart. These have saved me when I become stuck. If you are stuck.. chew like 5 or 6 of these little bad boys, it helps break the food down. Takes a few minutes, but they really help. No 3...When you are able to eat regular food again.. CHEW,CHEW,CHEW,CHEW,CHEW,CHEW,CHEW! The shit out of your food. No 4... Walmart also has 1 cup bowls..try not to eat more than 1cup at each meal. Measure your meals in these and transfer to plate after measuring. (it has helped me) No 5....If you eat good Protein.(i.e.) Turkey burger patties...fish...chicken..beans.. all of these really fill that little pouch up. Other than that just make sure you eat Protein and green veggies every day and Excersise.. ( i am about 4mos post op) and I walk everyday. 2-3miles. Thats all i can think of for now... Good luck on your journey.

On the mushie phase I ate.. Breakfast..2 scrambled eggs or Oatmeal/blueberry lunch.....cream Soups 1. cup dinner....4 oz. turkey burger patty with cheese, and steamed soft veggies. Turkey burgers are a great source of Protein get a scale and weigh your meat.. make 4oz patties. I think you can have any meat in the mushie stage as long as it is "mushie" soft. If you are getting hungry between meals, before your first fill, just eat 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, or maybe some string cheese. Try to stay away from stuff with sugar. IF you eat cereal make sure its healthy cereal. Just remember.. once you get to the reg food stage most of those softer foods are GONZO. You are supposed to eat solid Proteins, and more green veggies. Protein is soo important. I do not drink my protein.. I eat it.

Good to know Happy... It has just begun for me. Do you reccomend taking Biotin? I have read in previous posts that it helps? PS: Thank you for always being so nice and positive.

Try eating more Protein.. It stays with you longer and fills your pouch up and stays there. Protein and green veggies. Stick with those types of foods. Hope this helps.

you will start losing after fills. That is when restriction and weight loss begins. Dont worry too much.

Okay.. it sounds like you have Excellent restriction, which is what you want. Sounds like you are able to eat mushies right now. As long as you are able to eat good protien & soft veggies, you are getting the nutrition you need. Stick to softer meats/foods for now. Your band and stomach are adjusting to the restriction. Here are some suggestions. Try rotisserie chicken, it is pretty soft or make ground turkey.. (prepare it like you do for tacos) add the lawrys low sodium seasoning, and extra Water, and let it simmer for a while. Try that, with some refried Beans on top of the meat and a little cheese in a bowl. Thats a lot of Protein, and it is soft. Listen to the band. Dont over do it. Hope this helps. Good luck to you,

Same here, after my second fill, it seemed like I had more problems. Are you not able to eat anything solid at all? Because if thats the case, then you need to go back and get "un-filled" a little. I have been losing more since my second fill. I am just really careful and eat soft Proteins and veggies only.

I was banded on 9/23, and so far the only nausea I have experienced was directly after surgery, and that was because of the Anesthesia they gave me. It was pretty intense. The surgeon gave me meds to take home to help calm it down. As far as life after surgery..When i eat something that my band does not agree with, in other words I become "stuck" I immediatly eat Papaya enyzymes which helps break down whatever is stuck, then I just wait. It usally takes about 5 minutes. Then, I never eat that again. I have NOT had to make myself vomit... Yet... (yikes) There are others who immediatley "yak" when something becomes stuck. Probably because it hurts and is extremley uncomfortable. But I am like you..vomiting is my last option. I absolutley hate it. So I ride it out. But trust me, if it gets stuck for too long, I will probably force myself to bring it up. You learn really fast what your body can and cant have. I have read some threads, where people are able to eat Subway.. I am like What??? I can't even look at bread anymore. Honestly since i have been banded I have only been stuck a few times.. so dont worry to much. It is a learning process. I love my band.

Are you having your band adjusted?

Sounds like trapped air.. try, Gas-X-strips. Take like 4 of them otherwise they wont work.. They dissolve on your tongue.. And Walk gets the intestines moving.. and hopefully the gas passing.

Very well written! Great positive thread! :smile:

AHHHHHHH! This makes much more sense now. It sounds like it became an obsession for you and possibly to an unhealthy level? I wish you all the luck with your continued weight loss. Utilize the band you have inside of you to help with that.

You said that you had the band emptied because your family didnt want to see you healthy and strong? This statement is really confusing to me? And as far as experiencing pain at any level is not right. You should listen to your body, and seek help from you surgeon.

I say this to everyone... Get Gas-X-Strips and have them handy. If you get trapped gas, take like 3 or 4 of them, and walk A LOT! That part of my recovery was painful.

I had to stop mine as well. It is very important you do what your doctor tells you. My surgeon said it is because it can cause you to "bleed out" during surgery... his words exactly. I was emotional, pissy, all of those things, but its the sacrifice we have to make. :biggrin:

Every surgeon has different guide lines. Mine said cream soups/oatmeal (runy) things like that where okay. I wouldn't have been able to do Clear liquids for that long.. NO WAY! I am sure you will be okay. Try not to eat anything that will cause gas, since your stomach already has alot of trapped air in it after surgery. I wonder why no dairy? Mine never told me that? Can anyone answer that?

Do you have sinus problems? Maybe there is some mucus plugging up the inlet? Just a thought? You should call your doctor. Liquids should go down easy.

"Listen, ladies - I am you. You will be me. I"m not special at all. Don't let the new eating habit take over your life. Make something else more important. If you think about eating all day and night, you'll never lose it. Find something else to focus on." Thank you from the bottom of my heart for these kind words. I will print this and tape them to my wall, and read them every day! I needed to hear this today.

Eating well after weight loss surgery! By Pat Levine