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Yes, I had my surgery on April 30th. So I'm three days out. Right now I'm having heartburn when slipping water. Is that normal? I don't have an appetite for anything but I know I need to keep slipping fluids.

Congratulations and best wishes for a speedy recovery. What a great time to begin this new chapter in your life.....solstice! Be sure to walk all you can and you'll be walking your way to health and happiness. I am six weeks out and so happy with my band. You will be here in no time!

Hi everyone - Introductions always feel weird, but I suppose I can't jump into spazzing out at you. My name is jen. I'm 34 and.. well, I'm fat. I've been overweight since I was a kid. I've lost 50 pounds more times than I can count, and gained it all back every time. At my heaviest, I was 260 (I'm 5'2.5"). Right now I'm struggling to get under 240. Mid-last year, my blood pressure started to creep up, and my dad was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. That's what I see in my future, and I don't like it. I started looking into the lap band last year, and now I'm on my 5-1/2 month of my 6 month doctor-supervised dieting that my insurance company (BCBSIL) requires for approval. I have my final pre-insurance weigh-in in about two weeks, and go for my psych evaluation on the 22nd of April. And I've pretty much been reading everything I can get my hands on about people's experiences with the band. I've lost weight quite slowly (well, slowly compared to how I'd lose weight if I'd get serious about following the current 'fad' -- be it low carb, low fat, whatever) while seeing the nutritionist, but I did make a lot of positive changes that I've never done before -- things like get used to eating three meals a day instead of one or two giant ones (adding Breakfast was really, really hard for me), eating more slowly, not drinking with meals -- all the things I'm going to have to do once I'm banded, anyway. I've also been exercising three times a week for the past four months with a coworker who is also planning to be banded around the same time (we didn't find out till we were both about halfway through our six months insurance approval dieting time period, which is kind of hysterical. We're even both going to the same surgical center, though different surgeons). And now that I'm getting close to the time when I submit for insurance approval, I admit I'm freaking out a little about how much everything is going to change. Even though I KNOW I need to do something, now that it's really this close.. I'm both nervous and excited and overwhelmed. And it doesn't help that a friend of my sister-in-law has apparently had a terrible experience with her band (though I also hear that she got so upset at her surgeon that she had the surgery and then didn't follow up for a year and a half, so I'm not sure how much to take her "advice" about it) -- and who, now, is apparently only eating 600 calories a day, is losing her hair by the fistful, and who gets so hungry that she shakes. Of course, now my sister in law is very concerned about me going through this, as well... but to me, that experience doesn't sound like the norm of what I've read, both here and in many other places. She really wants me to call her and have a one-on-one conversation, but I'm kind of shying away from it, because I don't want to let one overly negative situation have too much weight. Anyway, I've been lurking here since I started the dieting process, but figured I'd come out and say hi.

Hello! I have a question? I am on puréed proteins for a week. I had my surgery on March 3rd. When I eat I am never getting that really full feeling like I thought I would get. I just get a tightness feeling right in the middle of my cheat when I am done with food. Does that mean you are full? Thanks everyone!

ONLY 34 pounds in 3 months... um, yes it's great. Have you ever heard of anyone losing that much weight that hadn't had surgery? It's a very good amount to have lost already. What is "normal" for you might not be normal for someone else, so do not get stuck on the idea that you need to compare yourself and your progress to others. Make sure you're following your Nut/surgeon's instructions, get your Water and Protein requirements and try to do exercise several times a week. Your body will go at the pace it is happy with, and comparing yourself to others is just a waste of time.

Everyone is different, but I had an easy recovery. I took a 5 hr flight and then spent a week at a wine and dine work event. Then followed by the weekend visiting a friend, and laying by the pool. Then flying back home. Concession stand food, probably not so much. I'd just pack a protein shake or something.

Congrats on one week! Hang in there... If you are getting enough protein, then the hunger might just be mental. Good to keep the shakes going. Keep active! I find responding to other people posts during the "mental battle" periods helps me refocus my thoughts.

Practice chewing your food a lot, removing distractions while eating so you listen to your body when you are full. Trying to slow down taking 20 to 30 minutes to eat. I might also suggest measuring out a real portion, now post surgery those portions are much smaller but the behavior of actually sticking to a real portion will hep you.down the road. The other thing I would do is start tracking your food intake (good or bad) into a tool like my fitness pal. This becomes really important post surgery but I really wish I had started it beforehand so that I could understand my nutrition better. I think I would have seen my Protein and carbs so upside down that it would have shocked the hell out of me. I believe much of my success so far is because I track literally everything, good or bad. I do it throughout the day so that I always know exactly where I am with my protein, carbs and calories. It really helps me to make much better snacking decisions for sure. If my protein is low, my snack is some jersey or a Protein Bar. If my protein is on track I might have some crackers and cheese or even something a little naughty if I am out with hubby for dinner. That tracking tool allows me to hold myself accountable. It also helps me understand when a stall has gone on for a while, what might be causing it. I also use an Apple Watch to track my activity and exercise. Before I had the Apple Watch I used a Fitbit. Good luck to you!

Hey Denise, yes I finally have restriction. I have also come across several things that I can't eat anymore, no matter how much I chew it comes right back up. It has been about 6 weeks since my first fill. I really should get one soon but I am going to wait until after the holidays. I haven't gained any weight but I am stalled with my loosing. I haven't been exercising and that has alot to do with it. Take Care! Cindy

I began attending Bariatric Support Group Meeting. They are generally held once per month and are free. I began walking 30 minutes each day. Walking really helped to make the recovery process go smoothly and quickly. I gave up all caffeine and carbonated beverages. I had a 6 Diet Coke a day habit and making this one change caused me to drop 20 pounds. I had to suffer through a week of withdrawal syndrome because of the caffeine. But it was far better to go through this early then combine it with the recovery process after surgery.

Hello! Just curious what people who are in this longggggg waiting period are doing to prepare. I have successfully started eating smaller, more frequent meals, am going to the gym about 4 days/week, not drinking calories, reducing sugar intake, and not eating out at restaurants. I am also starting to take Vitamins daily. However, I really need to work on getting in my 8 glasses of Water per day and weight training (I am only doing cardio right now). My surgeon's office doesn't put people on a specific diet but just focus on making small changes every couple weeks. I haven't lost any weight but I feel like eventually these changes are bound to pay off and it is a nice change to not be on a "diet" for once in my life because it gives me a chance to work on some less than healthy behaviors I have developed over the years. What is everyone else doing?

I am 2 1/2 weeks post op and work hard to get my 60 grams of Protein every day. I was curious, how many calories are you all consuming each day? Is anyone on MFP?

I did the same thing, shake for breakfast 4oz of Protein with salad for lunch and the same for dinner. Then 3 weeks before surgery I was required to do my pre-op diet, I would have a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch and 4 oz of protein and salad for dinner. I lost 50 pounds pre op. BUT I did not take any diet pills, check with your surgeon, they may affect your surgery. Good Luck and be safe!

I'm truly sorry for your gas pain.....but reading the unedited version had me hurting from laughing. 6 days out, here, and laughing is not fun......but damn that was funny. Laughing may work the gas loose, too. I don't know. Last week when I had my VSG they had me walking within 3 hours as a safeguard towards warding up this stuff. I really feel for you and hope that you can get some relief swiftly.

@@dhawkins01 I'm experiencing that right now. OMG it's miserable. I'm 4 weeks post op and the air/gas is really bumming me out. What did your MD say? Seeing my surgeon on Friday. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had severe nausea starting at week 7 I think? It lasted for 6 straight weeks- I basically went back to Clear liquids phase- it was horrible. I was very down and my surgeon just said it will eventually pass but that it was very abnormal. It was miserable. But it did oass Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I think your best bet is to ask your surgeon. I'm one who has recovered VERY quickly but the other poster is right; that's just anecdotal. Your surgeon will know best what his patients can/can't do. Your surgeon may prefer that you remain in town and close in case of post op complications. Mine requires that we remain in the city for a week post op....

Don't be too afraid, although it's not pleasant, it's not the end of the world either. As long as you eat slow, and be careful with stringy foods, you should have no problems. I ran into problems when I would eat quickly at a lunch break or something like that. Everyone is different though. My partner got banded 3 weeks before me, and he has never been stuck, while i've been truly stuck about 3 times since July.

I am in the process of making my final plans to have my gastric sleeve done in Mexico on 01/10/11, by Dr. Kelly or Almanza depending on the final cost. If I develop a leak while I am in Mexico after the initial sleeve surgery will I be out additional expenses or is that covered because it happended immediately after surgery. After I get home if I were to develop a leak in the first few weeks and/or months after surgery what would the cost of the leak repair be if I return to the doctor in Mexico.

Hi, I am going in on the 15th and am not sure how I am feeling. One minute I am freaking out thinking this is crazy, what am I doing to myself, the next minute I am excited about the end result. My two week preop has been really easy so I know I will cope with the post op diet, but I think I am struggling with the irreversible side. I am filled with so many thoughts, nerves, being excited, doubts, I am a all over the place a bit!! Good luck to everyone else who is getting sleeved, in the next day or so, I look forward to hearing about your experiences!!

Mine was 2 weeks. It's hard the first few days, but then it gets WAY easier, I promise! I thought it as "Bariatric Boot Camp" . Some surgeons (nutritionist, really) can give you super specific instructions, some basically a list and how many calories, protein, carbs, etc (that was mine). It's super important to shrink your liver and also you'll get used to post op "eating". But everyone is completely different but I've seen 2 weeks kind of as the average.

I think with in a couple weeks of surgery I was able to drink quite a bit at a time. I was concerned and asked my doctor if this was ok and he said as long as it is going down it is fine. He said for the most part liquid passed through the band very quickly. I have almost 5ccs in an 11 or 14 cc (not sure which one I have) band and now have to slow down my drinking, especially early in the morning. I can feel the water going down for about half the day, then the band loosens up some. Good luck to you!

Melissa, Welcome to LBT(LAP BAND TALK)..I was denied by my insurance company and I was a self pay....contact Capitol One....they have a cosmetic surgery loan that is low interest...and lapband is considered cosmetic surgery....or least for the loan it is considered cosmetic surgery..you can be pre-approved within one hour....then you are good to go...my payments are not that bad...it is so worth it....once I decided to self pay , two weeks and four days , I had the surgery...

Everything is going well for me. I am starting to feel a little more hungry than I have in the past three months. It is very manageable though and probably attributed to time of the month. Otherwise I feel great.

I had a stricture about 3 weeks after my surgery, intense pain, vomiting and extreme weakness. I couldn't walk on my own after puking for nearly 16 hours straight. My doc had me come into the ER, and then proceeded to do another 12 hours of tests, exams. ( it didn't help that the ER was under construction and super crowded). I ended up having an endoscopy and a dilation. The nausea stopped within 2-3 hours after, and I did not puke again. I was able to progress back through the food stages quickly to get back to the full liquids/ runny purées I was on before. I've done great since.