oldgiesser

I am still here reading now and then just have not posted much. I have been on a plateau for about 6 months. I need to get motivated and get a fill and start to exercise.

Terry

I have lost about 60 pounds but have stayed the same weight for about 4 mounths.My food choice and portion size has been my enemy I need to have another fill and start to use this great tool like it should be used. I also need to start some exercise again.

Good Luck!! Terry

I use Now whey Protein Isolate 100% Pure Natural Unfavored

It will dissolve easily in any thing and has no taste I mix mine in my carnation instant Breakfast or chicken broth the carnation instant breakfast are different flavors so it works well. there is 25 grams of Protein per scoop. The isolate protein is the purist and best form but is more expensive. I ordered 5 lbs on line from http://www.nutritiongeeks.com/whey-p...olate-now.html It is 81 scoops and cost about $41.00 with the shipping it is also avalable in 1lb for less. My dietitian told me to take 1 scoop per day but to spread it out though the day. She said it is something you should take for life.The price isn't bad considering it last about 2 1/2 months.

Terry

Hey there! I was wondering if any of you that were/are on 2 wks of shakes started getting VERY hungry the 2nd week? I am to have my surgery next Wed. and so far yesterday and today have been the hardest!! I feel like I haven't eaten in at least a week!! UGH

I can relate to the shake diet it is hard at times but just stay tough. I had to do the shake diet four weeks instead of two weeks because of a large liver. I had a lot of chicken broth in between the shakes it made me think of it as soup!! LOL

Stephanie

I am banded now and things are going great. I was in Duluth today for my third fill with Tiffany it was only .5cc today my first two were 2.5 each so I now have 5.5 in my VG band and I think I am getting close to my sweet spot. I have had some set backs also but with the right food choice and exercise I am losing good. The Bariatric team at SMDC are all very nice and very talented. Racing season is almost here and I go to Superior almost every Friday then to help one of my son's friends with his car.

I hope you are doing good as well.

Terry

Terry, wow, is that because you have good restriction now? I'm assuming so, what have you been eating then?

I thick the loss was restriction and the big thing I think is that after fill I was on liquid diet for two days then pureed for two days then soft for two days. So the restriction along with that diet did it. Now that I am on regular diet I have some restriction but now that the swelling has gone I am staying the same not losing or gaining so I am getting my third fill Thursday and will see how that works. I was eating creamed Soups that were pureed in my magic bullet and strained and CIB proteen shakes during liquid stage and cream soups pureed (homemade potato and bacon)during pureed stage. Soft foods are oatmeal, scambled eggs, mashed potatoes, ground beef.

Terry

Hi there! I live in Thunder Bay, ONt. I was banded in Toronto. I am looking for info- is there any clinic or hospital in Duluth, that does "fills"? I would rather drive 3.5hrs than have to fly (1.5hr or drive 18hrs ) to Toronto. The $300 flights are killing me!!LOL Can anyone help??

Robyn

I had Dr. Medlin at SMDC do my surgery and the bariatric support team is great. His PA Tiffany Wolner does my fills and they are painless and easy she does a great job. I think you would like all of his support team.

Terry

It has been a while since I have posted. I think I must have been depressed with gaining instead of losing. I started out good lost 26lbs on 4wk liquid pre op diet then lost another 16lbs the first 2 1/2 weeks after surgery. That was greet a total of 42 lbs in 6 to 7 weeks. Then over the next three weeks before first fill I gained back 10 lbs:faint: I got 1st fill they put in 2.5 cc in my VG band and after 2wks gained another 1 or 2lbs back this was very depressing so I got 2nd fill of 2.5 cc total of 5cc a week ago.I can not believe this last week I have lost 16 lbs so I have hope again and I am scheduled for my 3rd fill in a week from know hopefully the losing will continue.

Terry

I'm walking my butt off, and drinking so much Water that I can hardly make it back from my walk without having to walk funny, 'cause I have to pee!!! I've been walking (very briskly) for 15 minutes on my morning break, at least 15 minutes on my lunch hour, and another 15 minutes on my afternoon break. Every weekday, anyway. I'm really bad about posting on this thread, but I'm still hanging in there for the challenge!

I was wondering if you swing your arms as you walk? My Physical Therapist just told me the other day that when you swing your arms as you walk you will burn three times the calories compared to walking alone .They have me use a machine that is named nustep it is a cross training machine and you use arms and legs together. I was amazed to know that about using your arms and legs together to burn three times as much.

Terry

Count me in too I like the 20 days a month we need to start some where. It is harder for us older ones to get started :faint:

Terry

Has anyone with bmi over 50 had to have their band done open rather than lap.

I had a BMI of 57.2 and had a lot of fears pre surgery about my size and age at 58 I didn't think I would bounce back like the young ones. I then was told by the surgeon at my exam that my liver was larger than normal but it does not have anything to do with size of body.So I had to do liquid diet for 4wks instead of 2 to shrink liver. The surgery went great and I recovered at the same rate as everyone else.I was also told of possibility of open but my surgeon has never had too open anybody up.

Good Luck Terry

I need to know if anyone has the lap band VG placed. It's the largest of the 3 sizes and I don't feel any restrictions at all. I do get full quicker, but can eat anything. bread included. I've had nothing stick at all,and can even gulp fluids. Why? I'm having to use alot of self control until my first fill April 10th. I was banded in 2/28. My fills are 2cc at a time since my band holds 10cc total. I kinda blocked this part of the seminar out thinking that it did not pretain to me and now here I am, does anyone know anything else?

I also have the VG Band and was banded Feb. 13th I lost weight for about 2 1/2 to 3 wks post op and have not lost since. I was restricted then but as the time has pasted and I have been healing there is no restriction. I can also eat anything and my portions are getting very large and I am always hungry so I have to rely on self control and that is Scary. Past track record shows that don't work. I get my first fill March 26th and can't wait. I don't know anything else but this is hard to deal with since I lost 26 lbs during my 4wk pre-op diet and 16 lbs post op till I stopped losing. My biggest fear is gaining again.

Good luck with your fill and I will let you know how it goes after fill.

Terry

Nope, I agree, no regrets...maybe we just thought this would be so easy, right from the begining.

I know that I thought at least that the surgery part would be a breeze, because I had my gall bladder removed in Novemeber, and the surgery and recovery went so well, no pain, easy to move around, blah, blah. Even same type of surgery, (laproscopic). Never had the gas type pain, (Kerr's Sign), either.

So, will work on this, and it will get better for us!!!

I was banded on Feb. 13th I didn't get gas till about 10 days later in my shoulder luckily it only lasted about 3 days. I am still a little tender and week but no complaints except I have three weeks till 1st fill and I am so hungry. I was losing great but leveled off the last 4 or 5 days maybe I am eating to much or the wrong things hopefully this will change after fill

Good Luck to you fellow Banders

Terry

I am 14 days Post Op and I am starving! I can't wait to get my first fill!

Oldgiesser - What kind of food are you eating? I am getting bored with Soup and just wanted some mushies ideas!

Leslie I am eating oatmeal scrambled eggs mashed potatoes crumbled hamburger fish sticks cottage cheese pineapple and apple sauce. Some of the things are soft foods but chewed very good work fine for me. By eating more little servings seams to help a little with the hunger.

Good Luck !!

Terry

I am 4 weeks post op today. I go to the Doctor for a check-up on Friday. I am very hungry. I can't wait to get my first fill. I'm sure that will be at 6 weeks. I am finding it hard not to eat right now. I can eat almost anything (except bread) To my fellow Feb

Bandsters, are you experiencing anything like this?

Hello I am 16 days post-op and very hungry i am eating small portions about 5 times a day instead of 3 times as ordered by surgeon. Thankfully

I am still losing well. I can eat almost anything and I too will get fill in week 6. I hope I am not damaging any thing eating as much as I am.

Good Luck !!

Terry

Jules

I feel pretty good most of the time I am still a little tender but it is only 12 days post op. I have not started any exercise yet but hope to soon after getting the clearance from my Primary Physician. After being on a 4wk pre op diet because of a larger than normal liver I cant stand the thought of another shake. My surgeon said it was ok to eat strained cream Soups so after 4 days of only Water I started to eat the Soup and after a week or so I started some mushies a week early.Now my daily diet is something like this for Breakfast oatmeal or scrambled eggs (2) and fried left over mashed potatoes for lunch Soup (a can of Campbell's Select ) for dinner mashed potatoes and either lean ground round (crumbled and fried medium and chewed very good) or chicken strips (cut up with plenty of gravy and chewed very well ) for a snack in between if hungry oatmeal or fat free sherbet or cottage cheese with crushed pineapple or apple sauce. I am eating about 5 times a day but way less than I use to. I thing the little meals more often stops your body from going into starvation mode. When that happens your body wont let it eat the fat because it things you need it.

I see my surgeon and dietitian in a week I hope they approve of my diet :hungry: I will let you know what they say. I hope this helps some as you can see I have been very Lucky eating more than I probably should but the weight is coming off faster than I ever dreamed so it must be working.

Good luck with your choice.

Terry

I agree with everyone. This liquid stage sucks. I am dreaming of some chunky chicken salad and cucumbers. Tomorrow I start mushies. I cant wait to eat regular food. I am loosing weight though. I am taking eating slow just like the Doctor said. I have at least 5 days of mushies before I can move to soft foods. I didnt have to a pre-op diet, I now feel for the people that did. I cant wait to eat something with substance.

KHolmes I had to do Liquid pre op diet for 4 wks. The good news is it shrunk my liver and I lost 25 lbs. But it was nasty. I could not think about another CIB shake after surgery so the strain cream Soups were great

Good luck!!

Terry

Have been busy and no time to reply. Went to the seminar and there were plenty of empty seats. I'm glad I went. They had an overhead showing pictures of what is done with each different procedure. Then there was a guest speaker, someone who had it done 2 years ago, he had the bypass. He talked about himself and took questions.

What everybody says this is not the answer it's a tool, you really have to get your mind set, that it's for life, regardless which way you go.

They did mention that undoing the band is not as easy as one may think, but yes it's reversable.

I'm leaning towards permanent. I have heard the band is slower weight loss and not as succesful. To tell you the truth, I really don't know. I'm hoping the dr. will help me out. I have Dr. Burhop.

Jules I was banded Feb.13th and am losing just great I did research on my GP advise for a bout 9 months the risk factors of the bypass made me decide they out weighed any benefit.After my Cardiologist recommended to check in to Lap bad the research started all over but after my research decided it was the surgery for Me. I wound not let the fact you lose slower be any reason not to have lap band the bypass is more of a window of opportunity and you quit losing after about 12 months with the band they can adjust it for life to control weight loss. What ever you decide Good Luck!!

Terry

i'm using unjury Protein powders. i mix the vanilla with my coffee and the chicken broth flavored with my broth. i'm supposed to be on Clear Liquids up to 8 days after surgery, but at least 4 days. i'm just trying to hang on until day 4!!!

Silry I had the same problem I am now 10 days post op but my surgeon said I could have strained cream Soups from the beginning I put mine in a magic bullet but blender would work then strained the Campbell's select are "GREAT"

they stayed with me longer one I remembered to not drink fluids for 30 min. and that satisfied my hunger and growling belly. I also started eating oatmeal, mashed potatoes after 7 or 8 days it is mushies butt I don't have any problem with them and losing weight good and trying to satisfy my hunger. I do feel some restriction then but nothing on the liquids so I am doing what works for me. I hope this will HELP you good luck.

Terry

Hi Everybody I have not posted on here for a while just been on February Bandsters I was banded on Feb.13th and doing pretty good but a little tender yet around incisions. I had a hard time getting Water and liquid meds down for three days then started on strained cream Soup and CIB but could not handle the CIB after I was on it for 4wks pre op I started on mushies about a week early and am doing good on them. I am eating oatmeal, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, campbell's chunky soup. I have been losing well I Started out at 376 and after 4 wks of liquid CIB diet pre op I weighed 350 before surgery and 359 after.It must of been all the IV fluids and retaining fluids I am now 338. Good Luck to all recently banded

Terry

sounds like you are doing good. What is the etiquitte for forums? You know.. I can't decide whether I should be posting on several threads or not. I've been posting on my journal, feb/march bandsters the same things (cut and paste) then thought I would here to... Is that ok?? ARe there rules?

Tracy aka Synicalchick

I don't think there is any thing wrong with posting on multiple treads. I post on February Bandsters, Wisconsin, Minnesota, pre-op post-op and this one but the one I spend the most time on is February Bandsters so I guess I will see you there. Good luck with your recovery

Terry

What in the world??? I haven't had a thing to eat since Sunday and I'm 10 pounds heavier than I was when I weighed in at the hospital. Has this happened to anybody else? Is it just all the IV fluids and gas they gave me in the hospital? My day after surgery was really rough. There was no way I could go home. Everytime I sat up or tried to stand, I almost passed out and/or threw up. Apparantly, my sleep apnea is worse than I knew and my oxygen levels kept dropping -- even when I was awake. So, I had to stay in the hospital an extra day. I came home yesterday after being banded on Monday afternoon. I, too, have had the gas pains. It was so bad last night that you could actually see my stomach move as the gas rolled around. This clear liquid stage is getting old. At least I get to start on milk and Protein Shakes tomorrow. I'm feeling better everyday, but I hope I can figure out soon what I'm feeling - whether it is gas, hunger, restriction, whatever.

I to gained after surgery it was 9 lbs it took4 days to get back to my surgery weight.I had a hard time getting Water and liquid pain med down for the first 3 or 4 days and did not eat. I started eating cream Soup

and Protein shakes after that and for the last coupe of days I added some mushies, in the last 5 days I have lost 10lbs so it must just be bloating and water weight after surgery. Good Luck !!

Terry

Been telling myself all day, that next week at this time, I will be on some GOOD DRUGS!!!!

Trying not to get too nervous yet, but its getting harder....glad to hear all are doing well....

It is normal to be excited about the day getting close but to start worrying and being scared. I was the same way and worried about my age being double that of most on the forum and worried how fast I would rebound after surgery. The first three days were tough but it got better every day after that. You too will be fine in no time after surgery Good Luck !!

Terry

Hello Everyone !!

I am 1 wk post-op and starting to feel a lot better the first couple of days were pretty tough getting any thing down and the suppositories for nausea and the self given shots to prevent blood clots sucked :angry but the swelling went down and I feel better each day. I am starting to eat mushies now and it is going well.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers

Terry

So I threw up last night. I’m 2 days out from surgery & I’ve only consumed the prescribed Protein Shakes, Water, and ice chips. It was bedtime & I needed to take my asthma pill (small & square). I sipped it down with small slurps from a bathroom dixie cup of water. And within 5 minutes I was throwing up.

Everything was clear at my post-op x-ray and I didn’t have any problems holding liquids down the day of the surgery or the following day prior to bedtime. I was worried that the 2 larger, oval Vicodin pills would back up the works, but they didn’t. Interestingly, the pill itself didn’t seem to come back up. I doubt that it dissolved that quickly, so it must’ve been in the lower stomach already -- and stayed there. I knew I was gonna puke, I could tell well in advance, but I couldn’t stop it. Up came the water, swirled with chocolate Protein Shake congealed globules from 2 hours before. Ugh. I went right to bed afterward.

This morning I’ve sipped down 1-scoop of shake in 6 oz of milk, and am working on a 2nd serving of the same now. I have very little energy, and no appetite at all, but no nausea so far (knock on wood). I’ve always been a gulper, so I am using toddler sippy cup for my shakes today. And I’m nervous about vomiting again! I hope I haven’t dislodged my band, or screwed anything up inside.

I had trouble the first two days getting water and liquid pain meds down and slimed several times I think the stomach is still swollen on day three I started taking my regular pills but crushed them in a pill crusher and mixed them in a spoon of strained cream Soup. The strained cream soup stays down good in little sips that is what I mainly eat is different strained cream Soups. Take it slow and hopefully in the next couple of days your swelling will go down so you can try some soup.

Good Luck!!

Terry