Mel Mel

Mushies was the worst for me. I was so hungry and the puree just was not appetizing.

I try to focus my meals around protein. For breakfast I'll make a veggie omelate with egg whites for extra protein and less fat and calories. Lunch and dinner I'll have a turkey burger with grilled onion on it and some veggies, or turkey chili with beans which provides fiber and protein, or chicken or fish with veggies. I'm not ready for raw fruits and veggies as per my nutritionist but I would eat grilled chicken salads. Since I have no fill yet I snack on yogurt which also has protein. I do eat carbs like whole wheat toast once in awhile but try to limit that. I do supplement with isopure ready to drink, half a bottle gives me an extra 20g of protein a day.

Nope no fills yet and I was banded 5/14/10. I'm scheduled for the first one on 6/29 and I think that's 6weeks postop which seems to be standard. My doctor was going to push for 5 weeks but I will be out of town the following weekend and I didn't want to risk complications when I'm in a different state. I've been losing weight post op but that comes with some effort. I don't think I need a lot at my first fill for it to help me along.

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing!!:devil_smile:

I'm just over a month post op and I have 2 weeks before my first fill. I get hungry within 3-4 hours, I guess I have some restriction. If I'm hungry too soon I supplement with isopure protein drink and possibly a snack like yogurt, SF jello or SF ice pop. I also have been going to the gym a lot and using the elliptical or treadmill. It's been work but I've still lost weight and that makes me excited and motivated to lose more. I average 75 grams of protein, no more than 1200 calories a day and 40minutes of cardio 5 days a week.

Hope everything works out for you! Meet with the nutritionist and start getting your weight documented. You don't know what your insurance will require. mine required 6months of documented weight history. Others require a supervised diet. Good Luck!:devil_smile:

I was just banded May 14. At one of my postop visits I asked my surgeon if I had anything in the band. He said I had between 3-4cc. He explained that there is air inside and it takes about that much to replace the air. I do feel some restriction as I can tolerate most foods but feel satisfied for awhile and I'm still looking forward to the first fill to reach the sweet spot. I'm sorry you are having such a tough experience. They couldn't remove some fluid since you can't eat? That doesn't seem right to me. You are still supposed to be able to eat, just not as much. Good luck I hope everything works out for you.

I drink the second one, the 20oz bottles of isopure zero carb. I only drank 1.5-2 bottles during the pre-op liquid portion and that gave me the 60-80g of protein I needed. I still use them postop, to supplement protein intake. I get them from GNC because it's cheaper to go buy it than to pay a lot for shipping. You can order a sample pack online that has a variety of flavors and see which you like best.

I track on fitday.com. My main focus is on protein. I get 70-90grams a day. I try to get 60 of that from food. Then I focus on calories and I average 1200 cal a day. Plus exercise 40minutes about 5X a week. Haven't had an adjustment yet but I think I have some restriction and this has been working for me.

I journal on fitday.com and average about 1200cal a day. Plus I workout about 5 days at the gym. I still have 2 weeks until my first fill and I can't wait. Some days are much easier than others with the hunger. I find sugarfree jello and ice pops are a savior! Also at least when I can eat raw fruits and veggies I'll have even healthier snack options. Just keep working at it and doing the best you can do. Only 4lbs down could have been 4lbs up!

I take the centrum chewable and I have to admit I enjoy it a lot better than forcing myself to swallow those large pills preop! I also take 2 chewable viactiv... I bought them on sale at CVS... and they were the store brand. My Dr. gave me a sample of the Bariatric advantage watermelon to try. I didn't like the flavor but if the absorption is better I'd be willing to switch. Anyone know anything about that?

I'm about a month post-op and it has not been easy. Even my husband says it's the easy way out but I've had to work at it and make conscious decisions. I've even had to sit at BBQs and sip protien drinks while everyone enjoyed chicken, corn on the cob and burgers. As i incorporate a regular diet I'm also learning to listen to my body signals and hunger. There are going to be times where you are going to want to throw in the towel, and yes even pre-op you may feel this way. But just keep in mind your ultimate goal to live a healthy and happy life. Good Luck! And keep posting!

Thanks for sharing I'm supposed to have my first fill in a few weeks and I'm nervous. I've been losing weight and haven't had issues with hunger... at least not physical hunger!

Normally my doctor waits for 6 weeks post op but he said he feels comfortable pushing for only 5 weeks, I'm hoping to get one because it's hard eating those small portions! I asked if there was anything in the band and he said they replace the air with fluid during surgery, so if anything there is 3-4ccs in the band.

I for one would rather be a slow loser. Being busty and losing quickly pre-op the girls have started to move south. I hoping with my age, activity, and protein intake they will bounce back so I won't need further surgery.:thumbup:

At first I didn't tell anyone other than my husband. Just before surgery I started telling some family and friends. Now I tell alot more people but I'm not telling anyone at work. It's no one's business and the people can be really judgemental and I don't need to be bothered with that.

Hey everyone! I was banded on the 14th. As a nurse myself it was an experience and I have a new found empathy for my post-op patients! It hurt for several days afterward and laying in bed can still get uncomfortable at times. The first few nights home I slept in our recliner. I took a week and a half of from work and was glad to go back. Overall down 25lbs and people are starting to notice which is nice. I'm almost out of the 200's which is a big deal for someone who is 5'0"!!! Mushies was the worst but that week came and went. So far I've been tolerating all my food and only needed half a bottle of isopure to supplement my protein intake. I try to get 60g of protein from food and then another 20g from the isopure.

... what did you eat your first day? I don't know what to make!:Dancing_biggrin:

I liked the grape, passion fruit, strawberry/orange/banana and alpine fruit punch the best.

Pre-op I had to count my protein as well as my carb intake. Now that my diet is advancing and I can have things that I wasn't allowed before like skim milk with carnation instant breakfast or farina I'm having a lot more carbohydrates. I use the no sugar added carnation mix and sugar free puddings, popcicles etc. But I've noticed my carbohydrate count is up there! I'm still on full liquids so I know my choices are limited. I just want to know what others have done... Did you focus on the carbohydrate intake at this point?

That's great! I hope you keep it up. :thumbup:

Surgery was on friday. I was nervous especially when the nurse walked me into the OR, helped me on the stretcher as she introduced me to some of the staff. They applied the flowtrons or compression stockings positioned my arms and then out of no where the nurse anesthesist put the mask over my face and that's all I pretty much remember. I woke up in PACU, the recovery area and my room wasn't ready. I didn't really notice at the time because I was still so sleepy but my husband was getting annoyed. We only scheduled this surgery 6 weeks ago! So they sent me to get the Xray test done. The man was nice enough but was forcing this gross drink for me. He asked me to take a third sip and I almost vomited on him. At least they got the images they were looking for. The pain got pretty bad as the anesthesia wore off. I also had a hiatal hernia repair so it makes the deep breathing difficult. The Dr. told me everything was perfect and he'd be in to see me in the morning. I don't even know how often I took the pain meds. By the time I woke up I was in pain and it was time to walk and pee. We had this down. The doctor and nutritionist visited me seperate times the next morning and I was out by noon. By the time I got home it had been a long time since I had any pain meds so I made my husband take me to the pharmacy. I've been taking one pill every four hours but the pain is noticably better. It's still hard to cough and deep breathe and the port site hurts when I get up or sit down. I slept on the recliner and I can't wait for my bed. I'm starting to get a little bit hungry but not terrible. Hopefully at my follow up on Tues. I'll be advanced to full liquids. But I don't want to rush this.

Yes at first it hurt and even though i had to go it took a little while to finish. I felt the same way with my mouth being dry. i couldn't walk unless i had an ice chip. but i got through it. the pain is alot better but i'm still taking pain medicine.

I'm only 5'0" but the hospital gown was huge on me. It was dragging on the floor as I'm flashing everyone in the front! LOL.