anglov

It sounds like your body is in starvation mode. When I was first banded I was on an excelerated schedule to get back to regular foods too. pudding is not proper nutrition. I have to have minimum 70g of Protein a day. Your body needs a certain amount of certain foods to function. I was eating scrambled eggs and pureed fish, meat, Beans to get Protein. I hate the powders and shakes personally.

I am surprised that you were cleared for that strenuous of exercise so soon. I had to wait weeks before getting in a pool. I was told to go slow regardless.

Most everyone has this problem. Guys and Gals alike. Mine kicked in at about 6 months post op. I literally thought I was going to be bald. I started taking Biotin. 5000IU a day. I should have started it from the beginning. It doesn't help hair loss but helps the hair you have grow so it doens't look so sparse. My hair is back to normal now almost a year post op.

Guys,

Have a question. For guys that have been banded, did you suffer Hair loss after surgery. What did you do to prevent it or stop it. I am getting banded on the 10th of May and am really worried about hair loss. I have thin hair as it is. Any suggestions/insights will be helpful.

This is a great site. Thanks to everyone.

Carol Ann,

It's called Correc-Chin by Serious Skin Care. I try to use it as soon as I get out of the shower every morning. I have tried it at different times but it seems to work best right out of the shower. It says to use it twice a day but I don't. I have the double chin and it helps minimize it. I have had the double chin since I was a little girl, when I wasn't overweigt at all when I was little, so I don't think that will be going anywhere.

It says "firming beauty cream for the chin, neck and jaw line."

My mom who is 70 years old, gave it to me after I had surgery and said "here you need this more than I do", gee thanks mom!! LOL!! I think she got it off QVC or HSN, one of those. Being 40 and down 96 lbs in less than a year, I need all the help I can with sagginess.

Thanks

Angie

Angie~ what's the name of the cream you use on your neck and chin?

I have had reflux for over 20 years. I was taking Protonix before my surgery in May 2010. I was heartburn free for a few months then I started having sliming espisodes that irritated my stomach and back came the heartburn. I now keep the Protonix on hand and use as needed when it flares up. Tums didn't work and I wanted to make sure it was taken care of so I wasn't uncomfortable or miserable more than I needed to be. My surgeon is the one to suggest I go back on it as needed. I didn't get an unfill I just skipped the fill until my heartburn was under control. I got the Protonix filled again because I don't want to try and find something that might work. I know the Protonix works for me and I want a sure thing versus a maybe.

Wow where do I begin? I have the stomach "apron", a large flap there. I have bat wings under my arms. My inner thighs look like someone let the air out of a balloon. I have no doubt I will be having plastic surgery but not for several years. I only use a firming cream for my neck/chin. I can tell a difference from days I use it and days I don't. Other than using duct tape to hold it in and up (LOL) just going to deal with it. Tuck it and tape it, I say!

Have a cookie, if you deprive yourself you may indulge in something worse.

I always take a large insulated bag with my foods in it each day with an ice pack. I don't put anything in the breakroom fridge and I eat at my desk. The only time I go in the breakroom is for ice, hot Water for my cider, or to heat up my lunch in the microwave. People bring treats in all the time and for the most part I turn them down because I just avoid where they are at. My desk is my safe haven. It has my foods and my indulgences there. It's girl scout cookie time here and I bought 10 boxes. I LOVE those Cookies. I knew I would eat them. I just adjust the remainder of the day. If I want to indulge I must be extra good for the rest of my meals but if not then I don't beat myself up over it. This is my life and will be like this for the rest of it.

I also can't eat donuts or cake without getting stuck most of the time so I don't have a problem with those. Cookies though are a different matter.

I have 28-24 sizes to get rid of. I seem to be shopping weekly to get clothes. I need size 20 pants and 22-24 in shirts or 2x.

My doctor and nutritionist said 1200 cal a day. I was eating a lot less and had an appointment yesterday. They told me I should be eating up to a salad plate size portion(s) at each meal. If I eat too low calories then my body will either stop losing or start gaining. People think the lower calories the more weight loss. The truth is you send your body into starvation mode when you don't eat enough calories for normal body function.

I found this website that has some interesting facts. Even with the band, which is just a tool, you need to keep up a healthy caloric intake. Of course, everyone is different. This is the advice of my doctor and nutritionist.

Calorie Intake to Lose Weight

It was my 1 month post op and 1st fill. Didn't hurt a bit. They put 2 1/2 cc's in so now I have 3 cc's.

I am down 14.7 lbs since surgery and 33 lbs total since March.

Mine also felt like the Water was getting stuck. I had to eat mushy foods yesterday like cottage cheese and mashed potatoes. Today thing still feel stuck. I am trying to get to used to my limits with this fill. I overdid it and had some minor sliming and frothing. I didn't throw up but it eventually slid on down. Weird feeling. I need to take it slower. I had an egg at 10am and didn't feel hungry again until 3pm so I am on target right now. I go back in 3 weeks to evaluate how this fill is doing. We shall see.

Congratulations! That is great to lose that much weight right off the bat. And I am glad you are feeling better.

I have lost 29 lbs since March and 10.2 since surgery. I'm okay with losing slowly. I am really thankful my doc had be back on foods pretty quickly. I don't have willpower and the liquid diet was pushing my limits.

I bet the vertigo was very scary for you. I'm glad it has cleared up.

The only issue I have right now is I have no restriction so I can eat just about everything and as much as I want. SO, that means more diligence for me in watching what I eat and how much. My 1st follow up is next week on the 10th. I am so hoping I get a fill that day. But I am losing at least 2 lbs a week so that makes me very happy that I can lose that without any restriction.

I wish I knew some people here that had the surgery. There is one I know who had lap band but she lied to everyone about how she lost the weight so I am not inclined to get together with her. I mean I don't blame her for not wanting people to know she had surgery but she made a big deal and production about her weight loss and pretty much said it was due strictly to eating healthy and tons of exercise. If you don't want people to know keep it on the down low but when you are shouting it from the rooftops then I have no respect for you when you lie big time.

I have a hard time walking with people because I walk slowly. It's just me and my treadmill for now until I can walk faster.

This is just a rough patch. I know what you are going through. I am right there with you but I keep telling myself this is normal.

It's hard not to read how well others are doing post op and not feel discouraged but we shouldn't be. Easier said then done I know.

I don't eat as much as before but right now I can sit and eat a hamburger with bun off the grill and only feel a slight tightness with the bread ocassionally. Actually I just did. That is all I ate but still it was an entire hamburger and I feel guilty. But really, why should I? It's not forbidden. Nothing I have says I can't have an entire hamburger. I didn't have the hamburger AND all the sides. So why am I beating myself up over this? I have no restriction so of course I can eat more. If I don't eat enough then I will start to overeat because I am too hungry. It's a catch 22 anyway you look at it I guess.

I go for my 1st post op visit on June 10th. I have no idea if I am getting a fill that day or not. I sure hope I am. Hang in there!!:thumbup:

I wouldn't worry too much. I was banded May 12th and have lost 9 lbs. I was only on liquids for just 2 days then moved to soft, mushy and now I am on pretty much all foods. I think those that are on liquid diets for longer periods lose more weight at first. I personally have a theory that the body goes into starvation mode. I figured up my calories and I was only having about 500 a day. I am supposed to be up to around 1200 at some point. Not sure how but okay whatever doc says. I have noticed since I have added more food each day but kept them simple foods (not casseroles and such) I have felt better. I have no restriction so I must be extra vigilant about how much I eat. I truly believe it will all come in time.

Ravyn... you are not alone I had a lot of post op restriction with an empty band. I am almost a month post op and I still have some. Before surgery I could EAT!!! Now I get full fast. Granted I can eat more than two weeks ago but it is still not nearly as much as I used to be able to eat. What I think has been helping my hunger is that I am eating a mostly Protein diet. It definitely fills me longer. I have also made a point of not eating Pasta, bread and rice. The one time I ate some pastina (on my docs diet) it made my heart pound from the rapid rise in blood sugar that Pasta causes and that was enough for me to say "never again"-- at least for the time being.

I guess I should eat more Protein but I am running out of ideas. I don't like fish at all. I have been eating eggs, eggs beaters, chicken salad, ham salad, cottage cheese, refried Beans. I don't know what else to add for protein. I can only eat so much of it. After several days it gets old. I can officially add baked chicken/turkey this week but I have already been adding well chopped meats and have had no problems. I have been craving vegetables so I have had broccoli casserole and green Beans. I ate some chili last night at bingo and man it was good. I took my time and chewed the meat really well. I ate probably 1/2 c if that. It was delicious. It's the change of pace that I think I loved.

If you haven't looked at your paperwork/binder lately I highly recommend getting it back out. I learned somethings. I was concerned about no restriction and overeating and stretching my pouch. This is what I learned in my paperwork. My new pouch can hold about 1/2 cup or 3-4 ounces. It won't stretch because of one overeating. It happens over time. Just don't keep doing it. Most who overeat get sick and throw up. I learned that the diet I will have once I am on ALL foods is pretty hefty.

For instance:

Breakfast:

1-2 oz high quality Protein (like an egg, cottage cheese, 1 tbsp peanut butter)

1 serving of skinny bread, toasted

1 piece fresh fruit or 1/2 canned

1 tsp butter, oil or margarine as needed.

Lunch/Dinner:

2-3 oz meat, fish, poultry or conbinationa with low fat cheese

1 cup vegetable/salad or cup vegetable plus 1 small piece of fruit or 1/4 cup potato, rice, Pasta or bread

1-2 tsp butter, sauce, sour cream or oil as needed

Plus add 2 servings milk or yogurt.

I think any of that is a lot in one sitting so my eating the Breakfast casserole the other morning is no reason to beat myself up over. I can't imagine eating this much in day. Does the swelling go down that much?

thank you for all the responses. It is helping me keep perspective. The rest of today was better as my post above says. I am still only having about 400 cal today. That is not much.

Hey Angie, I'm in the same boat!! I had my surgery May 10th and have no restriction whatsoever. I know that I've read that we're in "bandster hell" where we're only limited by ourselves and not the band yet. I go in for my first fill on June 8th and am hoping and praying that I don't gain anything between now and then!!! Although from what I've heard, we still won't get good restriction until the 3-4 fill...ugh!!!

So here we are...newly band and left to our own willpower!! And I don't know about you but, if I had any willpower, I wouldn't have needed the band!!!

Hang in there, let's just all support each other through "hell" and rejoice when we're on the other side.

BTW, your Breakfast sounds YUMMY!!!!

Hey Heather,

I have to say even though I ate that much this morning at 8:30 am I was not the least bit hungry until 1pm. Then I ate green Beans and cottage cheese. I tried to eat some Soup at 6pm and I can't eat it. I feel full or bloated. Still not sure of the difference.

I agree though if we had willpower we wouldn't have had surgery. Crazy!! The breakfast was good and when had I ate the small portion it would have been fine. I am all about filling foods. The whole breakfast had 200 cal 4.5g fat, 18g Protein. That's for all that I made and ummmm ate. Tomorrow is another day. aaaahhhh!!!!!! Here's to us keeping on track!! Let's keep in touch in case we need exta support and motivation okay?

Thanks! I am trying really hard not to compare myself to others when it comes to the weight loss but that is human nature. Every doctor is sooo different that there is no real "norm" out there. Since I am on foods sooner I am not going to lose weight as fast which I know deep down is a good thing but 7.2 in week and now I can eat nearly a cup of what I consider heavy foods is a little concerning. I go June 10th for my post op. I hope they do a fill that day.

I was banded a week ago on May 12th. Today I feel no restriction whatsoever and downed quite a bit at Breakfast this morning. Way more than I should be able to and barely felt full. Is this normal? Anyone else have this problem just one week out?

I am not on full liquids anylonger. I am able to add foods like eggs, potatoes, vegetables etc. Today I made a "casserole". Hashbrowns, egg beaters, pureed turkey sausage and a laughing cow cheese wedge. The batch I made was intended to be 2 servings at least and I ate almost all of it and wasn't stuffed. I am SOOO concerned over that. It made about a cup of food. I don't feel sick or stuffed or anything.

I was banded May 12th. I have NO restriction at all. I feel like I could eat just like I did before surgery. I called the office and they said that is normal. I must be a fast healer because that means the swelling is way down. I don't go back until June 10th for my 1st post op possible fill. I am really going to have to watch my eating but as it is I probably don't get 800 cal a day and that isn't healthy. This is really bothering me.

Angie, I understand exactly how you feel. I am hungry more and more often now, although I don't feel like I've healed at all. I too am on soft foods and they just are NOT sticking with me and I had a hiatal hernia repaired as well.

This not drinking while eating part, is VERY difficult for me!! I drink pretty much all day long, previously, while I ate too!!! So it's hard for me to get in my daily Water intake.

Oh well, I go to get my first fill on June 8th, hopefully I'll feel a little restriction then!

My first post-op is June 11th. I hope it helps. Have you tried refried Beans? It stays with me a awhile only I can't handle it very often. Mashed potatoes stick a little but that is a lot of carbs. Hopefully we will both be feeling restricted soon.

I must be a fast healer as well. I am only one week post op and it seems each day I feel less and less restricted. I feel more hungry more often. I am sticking to eating no more than every 3-4 hours but sometimes at 2 hours I am feeling hunger. I am still struggling with drinking while eating so that may be it. I am on soft foods now. Still I am eating less.

I am heading back to work tomorrow. I have a desk job too. I went to the store today and overdid it. I was sore where my hernia repair was. I think it was the slight bending and straightening I did getting things from my grocery cart to the conveyor belt. I felt it about an hour later. Just me and the heating pad on the couch right now.

I wish I knew too- I can't have soft foods until week 5- Then solids at week 6. I honestly don't know if I will make it that long. I don't have any energy-

Most surgeries have a general post op procedures to follow but this surgery seems to have a WIDE variety of post-op diets. I am on soft foods now and can have full solids in about 2 weeks maybe sooner if I am tolerating them. I have heard reasons for a 21 day liquids diet because it takes that long for the stomach to heal to they don't want them to have a sold BM. What the heck??? It's like every doctor has their own take on it. I am so glad mine is less conservative. I have deep respect for everyone who has a long liquid phase!!

I am 6 days post op and feel great. My swelling has definitely gone down because I am hungry every 3-4 hrs sometimes sooner if I don't eat something with substance. Yogurt doesn't stick for very long. Egg salad does well and refried Beans sticks a long time but kind of sits there kind of heavy. Mashed potatoes and well cooked vegetables are next on the menu.

I can now sleep on my left side where my port and hernia repair are so that is nice. I feel almost back to normal. I tried driving yesterday to the bookstore and was tired. I go back to work in two days so I need to work on that.

It does get better every day. The more you can move around I truly believe the better you will feel.

I was scared before surgery but it really was not as major a deal as I made in it my own head.

Keep ur head up.. Every day is a new day, so just try to do better is how i look at it. I feel ya on getting the Protein i think one or two days i got it all in its hard. But i would try to get a Protein Drink that you like to be primary one, and say this is what I am drinking. I finally found Isopure flavor the green kind, that is my drink which has Protein of 40 which is alot so i make it my goal to finish it during the day.. then After dinner have not soo favorite protein like muscle milk.. I also understand about the Vitamins the one i got, keeps making me nauseous, and i kept telling myself to no throw up not throw up, but today it beat me. So tomm i am going to try again..

Also, Dont be discouraged about you feel like you havent lost weight.. I know that after i had my surgery (which we had the same day) the day after i weighed myself and i gained like12 lbs in Fluid. So im sure that you are loosing weight, it might just be the extra weight u got from all the fluids, so u dont think you are but you really loosing weight.. Keep ur head up.. YOU CAN DO IT! I know it sucks, I feel like am starving and everyone around me is eating normal food but think about how gorgeous your going to be and the health benefits are you going get from this.. I hope this helps..:thumbup:

I have to say I am really amazed how opposite ends of the scale every doctor is when it comes to after surgery diet. You would think there would be some similarity to it but it isn't. I can start mashed potatoes and cooked veggies today. I can't imagine having to do liquids for so long. I feel for you both and everyone else out there who has to. If you are worried about Vitamins, try Vitamin Water Zero. I tell you that is all I drink and I have had minimal problems. I don't know if that had anything to do with it but if I can't stomach the gummie vitamins I know I am getting plenty with my fluids. I gained 5 lbs after surgery on the 12th. It will come back off. I wonder if they could give you a Water pill to help. I have BP medicine that has a small water pill in it and the water came off in a day or two. I know its hard but the more Fluid you can get it hopefully the more it will flush out.

Take heart, this won't be forever. It will all work out in time. It just may take a little longer.