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This is boring tonight so what are you buying your kids or grandkids for Christmas this year? What was the hardest to find? I have 2 granddaughters age 4 and 19 months so we have lots of Dora for 19 month old and Taylor Swift Hannah Montana, and anything Barbie for 4 year old. Cheri

Well tomorrow is my day I really don't know what I am walking into but I know my god has my hand and I will be fine. I have to be there for 10:30 and cut time is 12pm

What does your program recommend? My regimen was: 2 weeks clears (I did 17 days) 2 weeks of full liquids (my surgeon let me just do one week) 2 weeks of mushies 2 weeks of soft solids then slowly progress to regular solid food I followed a few different variations of surgeon's post-op diet. This one is from Dr. Aceves, and it gave me some ideas to break up the monotony of the "regular" stuff on the full liquid and mushy stage. POST-OP DIET: Here are a few ideas concerning the post op diet Day 1 thru 5 ( Clear Liquids Only ) fruit juice ( apple, grape, cranberry ) Propel broth Jello-O Water Tea Protein Water by Kellogg’s Water popsicles Clear Protein drinks only ( example Isopure, unjury ) Day 6-10 ( thin liquids ) All of the above and: Natural Vegetable Juices ( example Carrot, V-8 juice ) Protein drinks mixed with water ( example Matrix ) whey nectar Protein Mix Day 11 thru 20 ( full liquids ) Cream Soups Yogurt Jello-O Boiled pureed fruit ( example apple, pear) applesauce Watermelon, papaya or melon in small pieces Low fat milk 1 or 2% Water, Propel, tea Soy beverages sugar free pudding Protein shakes and protein powders mixed with milk Day 21 thru 30 ( soft food ) Soft food should be the consistency of a thick liquid ( no chunks or solid material ) and it should be chewed very well before swallowing until it is a liquid consistency ) Tofu Low fat cottage cheese Cereal oatmeal Precooked pureed rice Low fat Yogurt Yogurt mixed with fruit very well blended Cream soups eggs Boiled pureed fruit ( example pear, apple ) Watermelon, papaya or melon in small pieces Boiled pureed vegetables Beans Day 31st and beyond ( solid food ) Fish, Chiken meat Turkey Vegetables Fruit A diet consisting of 800 calories and 70 grams of protein should be your goal. There is a book called " Weight loss Surgery for Dummies" Authors: Kurian, Thompson and Davidson You might find it helpful. I contains several recipes and ideas on what to eat after surgery Grilled Marinated Tuna with Lime Herbed Beef Patties Turkey Meatballs Seafood salad chicken Salad A diet consisting of 600-800 calories and about 70 grams of protein should be the goal Protein will not only help you heal and build muscle mass but acts as a natural appetite suppressant. Concerning protein supplements here are a few ideas: Isopure protein drinks - 40 grams of protein per bottle. Isopure you mix with water - 50 grams of protein. You can find them at GNC. "Protein Water" by Kellogg’s - 5 grams of protein per drink. You can find it at WallMart Unjuryclear protein drinks - UNJURY Medical Quality Whey Protein Isolate. Great Tasting Whey Protein Supplements for Everyday Health! High Protein and High Quality. Not so good tasting. New Whey Nectar Protein mixis very good but it is kind of expensive. It is said to be one of the best tasting protein products in the market today. You can get itat GNC or on line www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en&q=whey+nectar+protei n&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title Some patients enjoymaking popsicles and Jell-O Jigglers out ofproteinliquid. Others enjoy Swanson Clearbroth that comes in a can . But most enjoydelicious homemade broth using chayote squash for flavor ( they strain the broth to make it clear) CHICKEN AND FRESH VEGETABLE BROTH 2-3 pieces of chicken for every 2 bowls of broth1 celery stalk 1chayote (hispanic grocery stores)1 carrot 2zucchini2 small tomatoes 2small onionscilantro (optional) salt to taste - BOIL chicken pieces for approx. 20 minutes - ADD celery, chayote, and carrot - SIMMER 30 minutes - ADD zucchini,m tomatoes and onions - SIMMER15 more minutes (cilantro is optional) - STRAIN and serve. You can also buy powder chicken broth that contains 10 grams protein per serving. You can find it on Amazon.com, it is called ProCel When you start on full liquids try Matrix 5.0 protein drinks. Protein shakes and mixes are very good tasking.You will need to wait until they are allowed in you food stage. Advocare high protein drinks called “Meal Replacement shakes “have Vitamins added to them andare a great optiontoo FOLLOWING THE POST OP DIET IS VERY IMPORTANT REMEMBERWE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE STAPLE LINE THE SCAR TISSUE IS STILL FORMING AROUND IT DO NOT OVERFILL YOUR STOMACH AND DO NOT JUMP ANY FOOD STAGES

By my first fill, I was so darned hungry it was strictly bare knuckles to not eat anything in the house (and since I don't live alone, there is stuff here that I certainly have no business eating, LOL). At my first fill (on 2/10), they drew out all the fluid in the band ... .6cc was left in when the doctor tested the band for leaks before he placed it. The nurse practitioner added 4 ccs and I was told to sit and drink a glass of water. And it just got tighter and tighter, until I couldn't swallow any water. So they drew out 1cc. It was like a rock in my chest melted away as she withdrew that little bit of saline. At 3.6, I certainly wasn't at my sweet spot, but I went on a cruise (can you say 24 hour food?) and didn't partake of the desserts, the french fries and cheeseburgers and pizza that was in my face. So I will say that the fill that I had was enough to get me going. When I got home, I weighed .... no loss, no gain. And I was very happy with that because I've read (and experienced) so many times that people gain an average of 10 pounds on a week long cruise. And after that, the weight started dropping consistently. I went for my second fill on 3/31. The NP and I discussed it and I really didn't want to go back to 4.6 and maybe experience being too full again...plus, I had been in a pretty bad car accident the day before and was bruised pretty badly across my chest and lower abdomen from the airbag and seat belt. The guy that caused the wreck got out of his car and he was fine. I have a broken finger and torn ligaments in my hand, too. Anyway, we mutually decided to go with .5cc, which puts me at 4.1. Still not at my sweet spot but closer. I still get hungry between lunch and dinner, mostly because I have to eat lunch 12:30 - 1:30 and don't get home until 7:00 and that is way too long between meals. My NP told me to eat solid protein at lunch (no soup, which of course is sooo easy) and to eat an ounce of cheese or an ounce of meat before I leave work at 5:30. That works for me. I'm losing consistently still, and a little fast than before the second fill. I'm happy! I hoped to lose 50 pounds by June 12 -- my 40th high school reunion is 6/12-13 anda 50 would take me to less than I weighed at the last one 5 years ago. Well, as you see by my ticker, I've already made it. I get my third fill on 4/30 and I'm planning on losing another 20 if I can by June 12. I've never met a weight loss goal like the one I just beat (setting a date and meeting it, much less beating it) and if I don't lose 20, I'll still be happy with whatever I do lose.

Well after waiting fifteen years I was finally banded on Nov. 19th. Now I am wondering if I made a mistake. I live in Houston and my doctor is one of only a few that actually "fills" the band during surgery. Since surgery I have not been able to get very much down including water. The gas in my stomach is killing me and the bloating is terrible. When am I going to feel normal again?

Greetings! I was just banded on Feb 17th! I have poked around this site for the last 3 months and now decided to join and not only share my story but also hopefully get some good ideas for the next steps to come! I started this process 6 months ago and completed it all within 6 months; Althought i hear i am not the norm considering i have an HMO (BSHMO), i feel everything was meant to be and the path was layed out for me. So now next steps..... I have read that some have been having bad gas or nausea and I can say i have not had any! I started the 2nd full liquid food phase on Saturday and it's been great. i'm not hungry at all. I over all feel well although i feel like my one incision is like a bruised rib! Maybe i had a boxing match with someone! lol . Is this normal? So far i have lost 17lbs since i started the liquid Protein diet 10 days before the surgery. My doctors at California Bariatrica & General Surgery (Dr. Doraiswamy) was AMAZING!!!! I had my procedure done at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia. So what can i expect next..... Any words of wisdom!?!?!?

Yesterday was day 1 of my post op surgery and it was a doozy. I am exited for this change as its mostly mental before you see any physical change. In a sense the next few weeks with the post op diet I feel as I am breaking up with food. I can only intake two ounces every hour and I'm in a lot of discomfort it's worse than labor pain and I did that all natural. I also should mention I'm fully sleeved in one arm with tattoos. I thought my pain tolerance was high but after this surgery I surely have questioned that. None the less I look forward to my life style change and I'm fully committed to losing the fat suit. Tomorrow I go in for my first post op appt but no fill until about the fourth week post op.

Hello everyone! I was banded on 4/28/10 by Dr. Kelly of St. Paul Surgeons in St. Paul, MN. I'm here to receive support, advice and to share my weight loss experience.

Hello all. I had my sleeve done on 10-17. I am doing ok just very gassy and thirsty. Is that normal? I have not been hungry yet which is surprising to me. I am unable to drink water the way I used too .

I wouldn’t expect changes when 2019 rolls in since this is a recent update, but make sure you keep tabs on it just to be sure! 👍🏻

So my Girlfriend recently went to the Hospital yesterday due to some slight numbness she was having, They told her there was nothing wrong with her Heart or Brain (As they scanned both). However now she's having a loss of sensation where the numbness was and now there is pain in her stomach (She said it's at least a 6 or 7 on a 1-10 pain scale with 10 being the highest). She also says it isn't gas related as she's having no issues there. She says the numbness has spread/grown severely, it started in her left thigh and has spread everywhere except for her toes, the top of her feet, her head, face, neck, shoulders, arms and hands. We're not entirely sure what this is, but the doctors said it was "Paresthesias" but this sounds FAR more severe than this. She had the sleeve back in december.

I got the approval from my insurance company and my surgery is scheduled for July 27th, 2019. Anyone having surgery close to that date?? Would love to buddy up, I can add you on any social media platform. So excited! Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

It's now come to this: after months of nutrition classes, doctors appointments, and a psychiatric evaluation, I will be having a sleeve gastrectomy tomorrow. As I sit writing this I am both excited and a little nervous. I know what it's like to be put to sleep because I had my tonsils and adenoids taken out when I was seven, but still, this is major surgery and I've not surgery for a long time. I'm having this done at a young age (I'm 19) because I have a bad family history when it comes to heart problems, blood pressure, diabetes, and so on. I'd like to avoid all that. I also don't know what it's like to be thin, so that prospect alone excites me about having the surgery. As of today, I have lost 133 pounds pre-op, but I want to lose about 140 more or so (the BMI calculator says I should be 150-160). The hospital I'm going to is very nice and I have a great surgeon and nutritionist. I do have to stay for two nights, but that's ok, though I kinda wish I could go home the same day. I hope I get a private room. My surgery is scheduled for 7AM and I'm the first of three surgeries my surgeon is doing that day - one sleeve and two bypasses. He told me he's done seven sleeves, so I'll be his eighth. This doesn't scare me though, as he's done countless bands and bypasses, as well as many revisions (he told me he had recently worked on a woman who had her stomach stapled back in the 1980's). He did tell me he had leaks in two but that was because he was using a different type of staple. The hospital has wi-fi and will let me have my cellphone so I won't be disconnected from the world. I've read so much on this site and know what to expect, so I'm ready. I'm hoping my age and the fact I've been exercising for several months keeps the pain and soreness at a minimum. You guys are great, I love this site, I'll try to post more, and look for me in the chatroom that night, as I'll try to be in it (if I'm not too out of it!) Well, I think it's time for this train to load up and await his departure for a whole new station

Hello my name is Jonita Lewis. I am just begining the process. I have a seminar to attend 10/16. BMI is 40.7 and i am on meds for high cholesterol. Any pointers on how to speed up the process?:help:

Hi all, I'm new to all of this - just started thinking about getting the lap band a few weeks ago when the scale tipped way past the number that I swore I'd never see again. I've been a yo-yo dieter for years - I've been every size from a 24 to a 10. Right now - my bmi is RIGHT AROUND 35 but I have mild diabetes and a very extremely UNDER ACTIVE thyroid i'm scared to death of this surgery because of the POST OP way of life but i'm even more scared to gain any more weight - i have tried EVERYTHING - i just don't know what else to do....:thumbup: So any help or words of advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!:thumbup:

Hi all, I read a lot of the posts here but, other than the generalities, did not see a match to the questions/feelings I am having right now I look forward to your replies. This is probably going to be a long post so I had apologize in advance for monopolizing everyone's time. Maybe others have questions similar to mine and answers here can help more than just myself. I had gastric sleeve on 11/13. The pre-op diet was brutal and a real mind game but I knew I would shortly be on my way to a healthier lifestyle so it was, for me, fairly easy to push through. Surgery itself went extremely well. I was home the next day and off all pain meds two days later. I realize that is not completely typical so I am appreciative of the seeming simplicity of my procedure. So, I have been on the full liquids since returning home. The first few days were OK and each day since I have been gradually moving up my protein numbers as well as my water intake volume. "Sipping" is something I've never done! To help with that, I purchased a whole bunch of 1 ounce plastic "shot" glasses. It was less than 20 bucks for 500 on Amazon and I figured those little suckers would help me stay focused on taking small sips. I was right. For the last 10 days I have basically been following this plan in one form or another. As soon as I get up I start with either protein or water. - I pour 1/2 of 1 Premier protein container in to five 1 ounce cups. I proceed to drink a 1 ounce cup every 6-7 minutes using a repeating timer to keep me honest. Then I wait 20 minutes and start the same process with approximately 8-10 1 ounce water "shots."I am then wait 30 minutes and go back to protein then wait 20 minutes then go back to water. --It's not a perfect system especially when I am at work, but I generally stay on a good schedule and by the end of the day I am able to reach my 60 g of protein and I have been getting closer to my 48 ounces of water. FYI, I started out, like most everyone on here I guess, extremely obese. I nearly tipped 400 pounds on the scale at my heaviest and the day of surgery I weighed 384. I never had a problem losing big chunks of weight but keeping it off was a whole different story. I understand the surgery is only a starting point and most of my changes need to be mental, mixed in with some extra exercise too. I am planning nothing but winning, this time for life, but I am worried that I'm doing something wrong or not doing something exactly like I should be because I just don't feel "right " The first 10 days post op were fine. Sure, my mental hunger went off every five minutes as commercials on TV and other triggers would trick my mind into thinking I was hungry when I really was not at all. I did not waver and have not wavered. I am greatly looking forward to Monday when I start my puréed food stage. At least that will be something tangible. Well, the last two days or so I have not changed anything and yet my stomach has been, I don't know how to describe it, maybe bloated? Also, these last two days I have also been having worse reflux then anytime post-op and I'm also fighting to get to my water and protein goals as it has become tiresome and tedious since I'm not actually hungry. So, here is my first actual question. After reading the above, do you think I am doing something wrong? I'm very discouraged right now maybe even a little depressed and I just don't feel right. I feel like I'm doing something wrong or things aren't going to like they're supposed to going you or I am not on the right track. I don't know exactly how to explain it better other than to say I'm pretty sure it's just all in my head I can't escape the feelings of negativity I don't have any pain per se, except for the new newly found acid reflux. I'm not really going number two yet (TMI?) but I'm not sure if that's just normal. I'm not "eating" anything so really what's there to come out of that end! Don't get me wrong, I have been "going "every day or two, but the number twos are really just nothingness and basically just liquid. It's not like I have diarrhea, it's just that when I do go there's nothing really there. I know it's a long long road but right now it just seems like I am not doing something I should be because when I read a lot of the message board, I hear people having a few problems that I have not had. Is it just because I have not even started my vitamins or puréed food stage yet (Monday!)? I'm worried that I might be drinking too much or drinking too fast because it doesn't "feel" like I am losing any weight or that my stomach is any smaller than it used to be. I have not had any throat nor stomach restrictions nor feelings of being grossly overfull. Maybe I am just overreacting need to start the next stage of this process before I can't shake the feeling that I am doing something wrong. I want so badly to do this right and finally win at this decades long struggle. Thank you.

I had my post op appt today with my surgeon. I am down 19 lbs from my last pre op visit. He is very pleased with my progress. I am currently in the waiting room waiting to see my dietician and may be able to move on to the next diet stage. :-)

I was banded 3/15/10, after trying for years to lose weight on my own. At 24, I was diagnosed with PCOS, and it took almost 2 years for me to become pregnant. I had thought about lapband, but not too seriously in the past. The kicker for me was when my dad (at 59) was diagnosed with diabetes, and told me it was because of his high weight. He weighed one pound more than me. I suddenly didn't see myself living long enough to see my (now 2yr old) daughter getting married, and that terrified me. The hardest part about post-op life is learning to slow down (when eating) and really listening to your body. You're body tells you when you're hungry, and when to stop eating. It tells you when your band is too tight or when you need a fill. It tells you when a food is good for you and when it's not going to work anymore (like eating chips). The hardest part by far was slowing down while eating. I had become accustomed to cleaning my plate at every meal, and it was a foreign concept to put the fork down and push the plate away when there was still food there. Good luck in your decision!!

I got the flu. Yup, my kids are learning to share, and share they did! Couldnt keep anything down for 12 hours, and now I cannot hardly even keep Water down! My Fill doctor is 1.5 hours away, and I leave tomorrow on a long trip, so seeing him is not an option this week(end). Are there any methods out there that might help soothe the swelling I'm sure I have around my band? Has anyone else had this problem? I have an 8CC band, with 6cc in it. BTW, I'm new here! I was banded on 4/26/10, and have lost 100 pounds and counting!

My dr said that it was my gallbladder. It was working less than 10% so we thought that removing it would help and it hasn't ???? went to a different doctor today and we will see how his medicine works

Hello all, My journey began last October, while in nursing school(LVN Nursing) I realized that if I am going to do the job I plan for, I needed to lose a lot of weight. At the end of a 10 hour clinical day my back and hips hurt! So I contacted Kaiser, and they signed me up for the Bariatric program. After 12 weeks of attending their night classes during my lunch break from school, I finally completed the program last March. I scheduled my surgery for the first available date, April 14th. I took my NCLEX test while on the liquid pre-op diet required for surgery. I'm glad to say that I was still able to pass my test, even with the tummy distraction:) Anyways, the week before surgery I began to get sick, and woke up the day before with a temperature of 102. So I had to call my surgeon, and he cancelled my surgery. I took some time to think the surgery over and try to lose weight on my own like my family begged me to do. Then I saw the pictures of the girl had her surgery a few days before mine was scheduled to be. She had lost 50 lbs. and looked amazing, healthy, and happy. As I looked at her pictures, I was reminded of why I want this for myself. So I called my surgeon and met with him. Set my surgery for the soonest available date (Sept. 8). Well, my husband's birthday is September 4th, and he wanted a Harley. We went to pick it up August 28th, so we could go on one Harley ride before surgery. Well, I wanted to get on and take a picture with it, and burned my leg. I didn't think anything of it for a few days. August 30th I woke up because of a pain in my leg. The blister from my burn had come off, and it was a painful red mess. I just put a bandaid on it and went back to bed. The next morning, I could tell it was infected. I cleaned and bandaged it, and yesterday(Sept. 1) it was finally starting to look better. Went to my obgyn today, and she noticed my bandage, so she asked to take a look. She said it still looked like a very slight infection. She notified my surgeon, and now he is thinking of cancelling my surgery. I am so disappointed. I will not know until next Wednesday if I'm having surgery or not. I have an appointment scheduled then so he can take another look at it. If this is cancelled, it will be my second surgery cancelled for unrelated acute medical conditions. LAME!! Praying that it heals up well by Wednesday. Thanks for letting me vent. Sarah

Hi princesstia when are you having surgery? I'm Dec 19 and can't wait, I agree it will be amazing to feel full and have no appetite, and to be able to buy anything that isn't a handbag. Good luck with your journey

Congrats on your banding! I am currently 3 weeks post op and doing great! As far as my appitite the first 10 days-it was clear liquids & full liquids, like creamed soups (strained), water, gatorade, milk with &/or without sugar free carnation instant breakfast, jello, pudding, very thin malt-o meal, applesauce, etc... I didn't have a problem with getting my appitite back, I was kinda slow at eating/drinking at first because I was scared to get a blockage. I am now on pureed foods and doing great & ready for a fill in a few weeks! Hope this helps! I would contact your dietician through your doctors office if you have any worries about not consuming enough calories. I was told that at this point not to worry about getting enough....should only be getting no more than 500 calories per day.

Hi all! Hope you all are doing well on your journey. I have pretty good contol right now with some eating desires but concerned I'm not consuming enough during the day. I had my surgery on Monday so only three days out and only drinking very minimal water, two 100 calorie protien shakes and drank a regular snapple today because I felt so shaky. What were you guys eating during the first ten day post op period. When did you start getting your appetite back? My husband is eating yummy Indian right now and I have no desire. Thanks for your help!

You know, I lived in Fontana for 10 years, so I can say this: "First Class" and "Fontana" should not be in the same sentence.