Search the Community

Congratulations March Bandsters! I'm two weeks post-op today! Still on a liquid diet, although this morning I had a Greek yogurt without any issues. I go for my first fill 4/25/14. I'm kinda nervous about that since I got banded in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz and I'm going to a local bariatric surgeon in Maryland for my fill, and they told me my first visit would be $450 then $250 after that since my insurance won't cover it. The University of Maryland school of medicine, Johns Hopkins University, George Washington School of medicine all have a bariatric surgery program; so I have a question, has any one had a fill at a local med school, and is it cheaper?

Warning - this may become a bit graphic. Oh my. That was certainly no fun. I hope it was on the "bad" side, as PBs go, because I certainly can't see going through that as casually as some of you guys seem to go through yours. So I was banded Wednesday, and I'm still on liquids, watery cream Soups, and yogurt. DH was home from work and DYING to do something to help me out, so I told him there was some cream of broccoli Soup in the counter, and he could make it for me... I told him to "make it the way I like it" (a.k.a. bandster style - strained to remove pieces, and watered down to regular soup consistency). I've learned not to assume DH knows what I mean in this new eating lifestyle. He brings me my soup, I start eating 'cause I was starving. I've had (or so I thought) no restriction, and have been using regular spoons to eat - no prob. About 4 bites in a take a spoonful and feel weird chunks in it, but before I can catch or cough them up, they slip on down my throat. Almost immediately I had what I can best describe as tummy cramps, but that's not an accurate description. Within a half a minute I had pain on my sides (like where I would put my hands if placing my hands on my hips), and an INTENSE pain in my back/spine, between my shoulder blades. Thanks to you all here I had a really good idea of what was happening, so I did all the things I've read about for months and months... walked around, put my arms up in the air, tried taking a few jumps, tiny sip of Water, etc. Nothing helped. So the PAIN goes on, for five... ten... fifteen... twenty minutes. I have a high pain tolerance, but we're talking "Great googley moogley, make this spine-wrenching pain END and I will sacrifice my first born to the great god of PB!" kind of pain. I'm pacing the kitchen and nothing is helping, and at this point I'd do anything that would stop the pain. I start - not sliming - but excessive salivating, so I used paper towels to "soak" it up. Which in and of itself makes me gap. I had to burp a few times, but it couldn't get out. Then... PB. My husband was upstairs and came running down, he swore I was puking b/c, well... that's exactly what it sounded like, but it was just saliva & a chunk of CHEDDAR cheese. Remember when I said not to assume DH knows my new eating lifestyle, and that my strained cream soup had some kind of weird chunks in it? This is what I mean. Normally I like my cream of broccoli with melty chunks of sharp cheddar in it. He meant well... He came down on turned on the water at the sink and rubbed my back. When he saw the cheese he started tearing, b/c he knew he had put it in the soup, but meant well. Poor guy. Well, so PBd, then dry heaved three or four times, felt some instant relief in the pain, so I went to sit down but as soon as I sat the pain started back up. Less intense, but still there. I tried sitting down, reclining, sitting down... reclining... D is rubbing my shoulder blades where the "spine" pain is, and was fretting because he knew I was hurting... I tried walking a bit, but again nothing helped... Another 10 minutes in and the salivating starts, then like the pain wasn't enough - I get struck with hiccups (keep in mind my ncisions are still sensitive and hiccups are living agony). I cried out a few times, and my poor DH was out of his mind with worry and a feeling of helplessness... so I'm in pain just waiting to PB again, my spine feels like someone is trying to pull it out, my hips feel like they're going out of socket, and my DH is on my tail asking what he can do, is there anything that will help, do I need him to call 911... I'm trying to deal with the pain and get him to understand there's nothing he can do, and the best thing is just stay out of my way while I pace and wait for it to come up... he's tearing up again, flipping out because he can't help, and because he put the cheese in the soup, I'm pacing... and PB strikes again. Much less this time. Once productive, one dry heave, and yep! There's that second chunk of cheese that slid down my throat. DH is standing right behind me, rubbing my back, telling me he's so sorry, he should have known better than to put the cheese in, how could I everforgive him for causing this much pain, etc. The poor guy. So, my first PB. MUCH sooner than I would have ever expected it. I know one food I'm never eating again... I guess I'm back to broth for a few days, but I do have to ask... is this "average" for a PB, or does it sound like a bad episode?

I have what I consider to be ideal restriction, though I am not as tight as Donali, but maybe close. I take four medicines daily including one which is a large pill that has a smooth coating. I take another large pill that is an aspirin-type texture and that one I cut into three peices and cross my fingers. But so far, I haven't had a problem. Just after surgery when I was on liquid and mush, I crushed my pills. I would put the crushed pill into a tablespoon of nonfat yogurt with a sweet drink standing close by. The yogurt washed down with a small sip of drink made the pill wash down without my being able to taste it. I take chewable Vitamins. Nancy

You can make your own "refried" beans that have less sugar fat and don't lead to the sluggish feeling (at least they didn't for me). from bariatriceating(dot)com: blend a can of pinto (I used black) beans with 1/2 c. mild salsa and blend until smooth. Might need to add 1/4 c-1/2c water or broth to get it super smooth/pourable. I also melt a bit of cheese. With respect to the soups and other foods, I was told to look for stuff with 5g or less of sugar per serving (6g was OK for the oikos yogurt I was eating) You can make your own tomato soup fairly easily. I base mine off the following recipe, but use any old tomatoes I want and use dried basil to taste. https://www.bariatriceating.com/2011/11/tomato-basil-soup/

I had oatmeal. .yogurt. .tuna..quinoa..cream of wheat. .try pinterest for protein recipes

Can the greek yogurt be flavored by yoplait or it has to be straight plain? Sent from my KFTT using the BariatricPal App I like the Danon Light and Fit Greek.

I am 7 monthds out and I have been able to eat white meat chicken and canned chicken just fine from the time I was allowed soft food but I cannot eat dark meat chicken. apparently its too greasy. I find I I do not like tuna and it was one of my favorites before surgery. Also, can't tolerate raw onion at all and I used to love thick slices of onion on almost any kind of sandwich. Love salad and tolerate it very well in much smaller quantities than before. Angus beef hamburgers taste nasty too. When I just don't want anything I have in the house, I eat yogurt. I do drink 2 30g Protein shakes everyday, though. I am going thru the thin hair, sore scalp stage now. I take Biotin with keratin everyday and have since 8 weeks. My hair is not falling out it just appears to be thinner and my head feels like someone has been yanking on my hair.

Almost 4 weeks post op and the Protein shakes make me extremely nauseated although I still try to get them down, or part of them. When I take my nausea meds the nausea lessens and I am able to get other protein down. Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are my this week's friends. Right now having "buyer's remorse" and wish I never had the bypass as I have no energy like I did before the bypass. Is it too soon to expect to feel better, I am down 42lbs but feel horrible. Need suggestions.

Mine was a 2 week "full liquid" diet, 1000 calories per day. I was allowed juices, soups, protein shakes, yogurts, sugar-free jello and puddings, that sort of thing. And then for the last 48 hours before surgery, we had to switch to clear liquid only - we were allowed anything you could see through, so it was mostly juice (apple, cranberry, grape, that sort of stuff, nothing like orange), broth (chicken, beef or vegetable), and only clear protein drinks (I got some from Isopure, at my local GNC). The point was to shrink the liver, to make the surgery go better. My surgeon said I did great, that my liver looked really good and that surgery was a breeze (mine was last Thursday).

I find I can eat more non Protein even when i eat it with protein. So I stick to protein first. Last week I had my Greek yogurt chicken salad and thought I would eat it with crackers. I could eat 4 whole wheat saltines and 1/2 cup chicken salad. Then I decided I shouldn't be eating crackers lol and the next day for lunch I ate only the 1/2 cup chicken salad and got full and stayed full longer. I did the experiment for 4 days. Two with crackers two with out. The results were the same. I guess crackers are a slider food. Basically you have to figure out what works for you and what keeps you full. I have tried rice but it didn't seem to keep me full. I only ate two tablespoons though because I was afraid it will swell in my tummy.

Try unflavored greek yogurt and mix a little at a time until your tuna salad is moist enough.

I am on day 13 of 100% liquid Diet. My surgery is this coming Monday 6/6. This is what I been living on for the past 3 weeks (started earlier as a trial) Drinks: 64oz daily of any of the items below Water, sugar free noncarbonated beverage such as Crystal Light, Sugar free fitness beverage such as 0 calorie Propel Fitness Water or G2, Bullion or Broth, Decaffeinated coffee or tea, "Flat" decaffeinated diet soft drinks such as flattened diet ginger ale, Diet Jell-O or Gelatin 20, Tomato or V-8 Juice (NOT splash or Fusion unless DIET), Sugar- Free Popsicle (less than 20 calories each; limit 2-3 per day) Meal Options: 3-5 a day Shakes (Premier, Optifast, Carnation Instant Breakfast etc.) It also gives you guidelines to make your own between 150-250 Calories/serving, 12g of protein per serving minimum, 10-15 grams of sugar per serving Snack: 2-3 per day Yogurt: Nonfat, light, Nonfat or 1% milk, Tomato or Low Fat Cream Soup, Sugar Free Pudding, Greek Yogurt Fat Free I hope this gives you an idea. As per nurse if is not on the list I am not allow to eat it 😐 but it is almost over 😄

A few possibilities... Hummus, cottage cheese, eggs, soft cheese, tuna, salmon, Greek yogurt, beans, creamy soup... Did you have a Nutritionist with your program? They should be a good resource. Concentrate on protein, watch for sugar/added sugar, and low carbs.

Can the greek yogurt be flavored by yoplait or it has to be straight plain? Sent from my KFTT using the BariatricPal App My nutricianist suggests plain with stevia and cinnamon or flavored extracts [like banana, hazelnut] but I do greek light n fit vanilla from danon and the triple zero Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

The quantity I can eat depends on the density of the food. I can sometimes eat an entire Greek yogurt (5oz). Soup is the same. Chili I can eat about a third of a cup. Refried beans I can only eat an oz or two. Same with ground meats like turkey or beef. And chicken is the hardest for me to eat unless I moisten it well with gravy or sauce. Even then I have to be very careful to eat super-slow. There is a very fine line between 'satisfied' and 'suffering'. :-) Today at work they ordered Chinese for lunch. I ate some food off a friends meal. I had one scallop, one medium shrimp, one bite of chicken, and a few bean sprouts. I also ate the middle out of one crab Rangoon. After that I was done. Not too much, not too little. Got me through to dinnertime.

I haven't had any since surgery, only had maybe 1 in my life. I hate yogurt and don't touch it. We have a ladies only forum that you can post in for your feminine needs

Side effect of post op antibiotics maybe. The only thing that helps me is diflucan and many doctors will prescribe over the phone... Especially if they recently prescribed you antibiotics. First try your surgeon, then your gyno, then your pcp. Remember probiotics and yogurt.

Hi millypili congratulations on being banded. I was banded on the 22nd. I didn't experience the shoulder pain like you are but I did have discomfort with the gas in my chest making it hard to take deep breaths. The best thing that I would recommend would be a heating pad and keep walking the gas will eventually go away. The liquid diet stinks but is needed to heal. I survived this week with my Protein shakes (Bariatric advantage) crystal light, Water, hot decaf tea and jello. I'm on the pureed stage now and that's been the hardest for me. I mainly have creamy Soups along with the Protein Shakes, yogurt and water. Things will start to improve as the days go by. Good luck to you on your journey!

Sleeved May 16, 2011. Maintaining at goal (135 lbs. , 5'6" for 14 months) Breakfast: 1 cup Fage 0 Greek Yogurt with 2 T. Whipped Cream cheese and splenda, topped with 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, thawed and mixed with Splenda to make them syrupy. Snack mid-morning: 1 slice whole wheat bread, 2 oz. low fat ham Lunch: Southwest salad (1/2 cup loosely packed mixed greens, 1/3 cup black Beans, 1/4 cup corn, 2 oz. chicken mixed with 2 T. BBQ sauce, 1/4 small avocado, 1/2 oz. low fat shredded cheddar cheese, 6 cherry tomatoes, 1/8 cup celery, topped with 2 T. lowfat ranch dressing Afternoon snack: 1 oz. pretzels, 1/2 apple Dinner: 1/2 cup brown rice, 3 oz. shrimp, 1/4-1/2 cup mixed veggies After dinner snack: Hot chocolate

I hated yogurt especially greek but i found i really like the oikos zero vanilla or toasted coconut...really mild and creamy no sour taste Sent from my LGMS631 using the BariatricPal App

My mom asked me about greek yogurt and I didn't chosen that because im plans get surgery in January 2017.. I do eat greek yogurt often not daily and i do eat yogurt without greek per my doctor's order I don't like option idea.. I don't eat greek yogurt till after my gastric surgery if my doctor says ok with that..

I wonder this same thing. I'm 9 mths out, 10 lbs from goal and can eat more (more often, not more volume tho) so I wonder if I'm stretching my stomach. My dr told me that since they take out the stretchy "fundus" of the stomach, u hafta work really hard to stretch it out. Then I've read other peoples drs say the opposite, that it's not that hard. I also listen to my body, never measuring or weighing anything. I get full very fast (usually less than 10 small bites) = 1 egg, 1 pc of bacon or 5 bites of chicken, 1/3 of an aritchoke, 2 Tb of rice. But I've been getting hungry withint a couple hrs. usually 1/2 carton or yogurt or 12 almonds helps but I don't think I should be eating every 2 hrs. If I don't eat something at 9pm, I'm awake at 2 am scrounging thru the frig for something to eat. So I usually have 1/2 PB and banana sandwich at bedtime. I'd like to see some answers to this also. I know what most people will say:measure out ur food and only eat that amt. I guess that would ensure stretching. So does ur stomach stretch naturally over time, do u stretch it out by eating too much or is it really hard to stretch it (as my dr told me)???

I'm from spring hill. My dr is dr opie from omc. He and his nurse is awesome. Im one month out and I've lost 28 since surgery but a total of 38 since the 1st of december. I cant wait to be able to eat things. Im sick of yogurt, jello, broth, popsicle. I want real food. ????

Congrats on surgery! I think at 5 days post op I wasn't getting all my Protein either. At this point don't really worry about 3 "meals" a day. Just work on getting high protein liquids down all day. Everyone's post op diet is different, but I know at 5 days I was on full liquids that included puddings & yogurts. Don't force yourself to eat just try to sneak in small amounts when you can. Good luck!

The "exception" that my doc made for me yesterday was VERY much appreciated cause TODAY I feel restriction - for the first time -- nothing MAJOR - but something!!!!!! I just ate a 1/2 of Greek yogurt and I'm good --- I COULD eat the other half but why??? They say the first week after a fill is usually good so we'll see after next week where I'm at. My next fill is scheduled for the 2nd week of april --- Really want to be down another 20 pounds by May --- can't imagine that I won't be able to do it - but I also thought I'd be down so much more by NOW. Reading all that you wrote has helped me - let's all stay in touch. Thanks!