Jess55

I got mine the other day and it used to be the week before I was starving. I could eat and eat. Well post band that does not seem to be the case. I did not seem to have the hunger/cravings the week before, which I am happy about

Seems all doctors are different, I went in yesterday expecting my first fill, I am a little over 5 weeks post op, and I was completely shocked when my doc said he wanted me to heal some more. Like I said I was shocked, I had only lost 2 pounds since my post op appointment, so I was sure he'd give me a fill and my weight loss would be bump started. (though thoses two pounds just started last week, I plateaued when I wasn't eating enough calories during the mushy, soft, etc stages). So I am really hoping that with my caloric intake being at a good level now and me going to be hitting the gym hard, the weight will start moving even without the fill. I am satisfied at a meal eating the 3-4 oz protein and 1/2 cup veggies. Does my mind want to eat more, yes, but if I listen to my stomach it is.

Maybe I should try that, but only at home, I would be to embarrassed at work. I know I take to big of bites and don't chew enough. As of right now I have no fill so I have had mo problems getting stuck, but it is something I need to work on

I went today expecting to get my first fill, but apparently my dr. wants me to heal more..... Now next time I goon is not til march 4th

I had some left in my freezer from before surgery, I asked my nut about them the other day, she said I could, but no pasta dishes or stuff like that. I decided today that as much as I used to et them because they were easy, I think I am better off eating "real food" so I threw them out today.

I could never be a vegetarian nor vegan. I love meat to much. Yes, when I stop and think I do feel bad and being inthe veterinary field makes it harder, but I treat small animals not large. I could never give it up. I do not like seafood though, the smell makes me want to puke, so I've never really tried it. The only meat I do not eat is veal, because I feel bad for the babies.

I had a filling a while ago and like a week or so later I started having major pain and it got worse an worse, I was in agony. Finally I found out the root had died and was infected and they had to drill a hole in it and let the infection and gas drain out for a couple days. I was on antibiotics for a week. This pain was a pain that no meds touched. Even when they injected me with novacaine it did not dull this pain. And it was shooting across my jaw. It was horrible. So a few days after he opened it I went back and he temporarily closed it, it was not fully done til like a month later to make sure the infection was gone. I never want to go through that again

A good thing to note is the calorie tracker on machines are not accurate. I have a polar heart rate monitor with a chest strap that measures my heart rate (obviously) but tells me exactly how many calories I burn based off of my heart rate and weight and height. I love it (and love the fact that I had to tighten the strap...lol). I usually burn for 30 min on the elliptical about 400 calories. I need to add back on the weight machines. Depending on how many calories I burn I am going to try to eat more calories if needed. If I eat to little I don't lose

I wonder if I am mistaken, she definitely said it was standard, I will ask again tomorrow when I go for my fill

I asked at my post op appointment what size my band was and I was told 14cc which she said is the standard sized band. This is what I was told. I did also have a hiatal hernia repair too.

Hmm...I have been having regularity issues for years and take miralax, wonder if I should try the papaya tablets....

The only time I drink water is at the gym. I always drink wylers light (equivalent to crystal light just different brand). It definitely is the same as water, just has a bit of flavor. Though I dilute it more than the pack recommends. I put one singe serve packet on 32 oz of water, compared the the 16 oz the box says

I have a physical job and took a week off and I could have gone back at 5 days

One week is plenty for an office job. I have a phsyical job (vet tech), and I took a week off and I probably could have gone back at like 5 days. (minus lifting animals) Was getting really bored at home. Honestly the pain for me, I was surprised at how minimal it was, I was expecting worse and for longer. Yes, the day I had the surgery, I just wanted to crawl in a ball and make it go away, but the pain meds helped a lot. The second day, was not bad and the third day the only real pain I had, was cramps from my period...LOL. Though everyones pain and pain tolerance is different, I have seen plenty of posts where people are in a lot of pain for many days. I am over 4 weeks post op now and I do still feel my incisions when I lean on something and for some reason I was very uncomfortable yesterday (not enough to go home or anything). Theis was my first surgery and I would do it again if needed, it was not bad IMO

I have had long problem with constipation and subsequent gas (farting). I've attributed this to the constipation. Finally when I went for my GI consult and my PCP (which I hadn't been for years) They both reccomended miralax. So in the very beginning it worked very well, then started not to work as well, now working a little better, also was eating a fiber one bar a day and that helped some. Before surgery I had been taking ephedra to help boost my heart rate during exercise. I only took one pill when I went to the gym and that was it, otherwise it made me feel really weird and shaky and I could not function. I know ephedra is not really good to take, but as long as you stay hydrated, well whatever. Taking this also helped my constipation. But this last week I have been SOOO flatulant, it is really really bad. Anyone have any idea on how to help with this. Tried gas -x took one a day, maybe I need more.

I think you can vomit regularly if you get a virus. A girl I work with slipped her band when she had a stomach virus due to vomiting. She had to have it replaced

I agree with you stateofzen. I have not had a fill yet, but I do not want to be one of those people who can't even eat breakfast the band is so tight.

Well one comment, you said you didn't drink anything, but you did drink. Soup is liquid, if you are allowed to eat solid food, I would not reccomend soup. That may be partly why you are hungry

LOL, I am the same way, I am not good with compliments. Monday one of the Dr.s at my job asked me if I was losing weight, I couldnt even say yes, I was like maybe and went about what I was doing. I need to learn to react better to those things

I usually drink 96 oz or more a day. Prior to surgery my average was at least 128 oz a day or more. I find if I have head hunger I can drink and a lot of times it will go away. Though I was told on one of my blood tests a number of months ago my sodium was low and I was like probably from all the water( well wyers flavored) I drink

Not sure how much my doctor fills, hope it is more than 1cc. I know he charges $100 too though. Will find out on the 25th. I was told for the first year I go in once a month and every other month I'll see the PA

Definitely crystal light counts as water. It just adds flavor, I would not get adequate water intake without it (well quotes light but same difference). The only time I drink plain water is at the gym

Post op, I too was able to drink more liquids than told I would. But yeah it probably is just going through, since there is basically nothing in your band it just goes right through

I am just over 4 weeks post op, I lost weight y first week, then stalled. In no way do I believe the band failed me. I believe it was the low calorie intake the first few weeks provided. I had been going to the gym and burning like 400 calories while only eating 600 calories per day. Last week I only went to the gym once, and I finally lost, it was only 0.6 lbs, but I was happy the scale moved. This week I am eating more calories, around 1200, so I am back at the gym and working on it, added in the weight machines. I am hoping I lose a little more before my first fill next Tuesday. I know the band works, I can eat my 3-4 oz Protein, 1/2 cup veggies, and poss 1/4 cup starch and feel that I am not hungry, does it last 4 hours, not if I am at work, it does kind of if I am at home. I went for my initial consult in June and starting reading these boards at that time, so I definitely was informed about what the band entails

Congrats Amber. I was banded the same day as you and not doing as well. I am eating well and sometimes stay full but the scale doesn't want to move much for me.