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I'm 6 weeks and I am eating regular food now.

Maybe you're eating too much? I was sleeved the week before you, but I'm not on food yet... protein shakes and clear liquids for another 9 days.

Today marks the first day of Autumn here. We put up the Fall decorations this weekend. I usually wait until the end of Sept., but the next two weekends are booked for DH/and or I so we're early this year (I need his help with the outside stuff). Plus I never got the Easter or Memorial/4th of July stuff up this year because of the LB, so I'm ready to dive into another holiday (I'm a holiday freak). I thought I'd take a few pics of my fall decorations to share for those crafters out there. I love to craft so I try to add one new thing each year (and usually get rid of old tired things). Dag, I forgot the outside...I'll take one this week to share. - Pic 1: My stairs with basket pumpkins (store bought). DS2 stepped on the big pumpkin coming down the stairs in the dark last night; crushed it in, but DH popped it back out...creases in the back LOL. - Pic 2: The lighted garland/bows (my neighbors tell me it looks nice at night through the glass front door). Closer to Halloween we add a giant spider web that goes across the whole 2 story foyer and up to the 2nd floor...the kids love throwing hundreds of plastic spiders up into the web (they catch and dangle down) and we have some flys and rats we wrap like a cacoon. - Pic 3: My foyer table. DS2 and I made the pumpkin flower arrangement a few years back when he was sick at home for a week. I'm not a silk flower lover, but it works for me with fall's bright colors. He grew all the gourds in his veggie garden and we dried them. Oh, and you can see my glass front door I've mentioned before in the mirror reflection. - Pic 4: My fireplace. I've been a Homeroom Mom for all three of our kids and as an ex-art teacher I always organize the craft. I've done the pumpkins on the right with each of their classrooms over the years. For other HR moms or those with kids (I made these up, but they're easy I swear): just a block of wood with a dowel hot glued on the top pre spray painted orange/green stem and ready for the kids to "pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch" (set them out on the floor) to decorate....raffia bows (we premade with green pipe cleaners -Kids twist around the stem with some silk green leves and older kids can make tendrils with the ends of the pipe cleaners by wrapping over a pencil, some glue-ons (spiders, etc.- they would bring to us to hot glue where they wanted) and for the face either sharpie or black sticker paper they cut depending on the grade of the class (did the black stickers with the kindergarteners- just give them large/small squares and they can cut shapes). We made DH make the big one on the right a few years back (under many protests...he hates to do art), but it didn't look right with one from each of us in the family and not him (the kids love his- candy corn wooden glue-on eyes). - Pic 5: Acorn trees in the Dining Room. I would suggest doing these to no one! When we moved here about 10 years ago DH collected a bucket of acorns from the backyard (our backyard is up against a large wooded hillside going down with huge oak trees). He brings them in and proudly proclaims...Here, we got these for you to do a craft with! .....Ummm thanks? No clue what to do...I got some styrofoam cone shapes, covered them with fabric and hot glued the acorns on and then sprayed them with a sealant. Well, I kept finding what looked like tiny wood shavings around them...finally figured out there were tiny acorn worms burrowing holes out of them DISGUSTING...bagged them for a year and re-sealed them really well...and every year when I get these out I still have to re-glue acorns on that fall off (have a few missing in the photo- need to get out the glue gun today)....but thanks Honey for the acorns!

Nice! Glad to meet someone who shares my surgery date I still have those fainting moment especially if I stand too long. I tend to feel faint every time I shower or walk upstairs. My stomach still hurts too some days are better than others though. I just order some Protein Soup that someone suggested on a different post hopefully that helps. I'm not drinking ever 15 min, but that is something I'm going to try. I believe I'm drinking 16oz of Water throughout the day plus broth. My main concern was.....Although I'm only a week out I didn't want to be resting when I should have been working out vice versa. Im losing weight at a nice rate. I just don't want to fail at this. I I'm going to attempt a stool softer to see how that works for me. Become a better you for YOU :-)

OMG! I just posted a blog entry about this. Today is day 8 post op, but my nut told me I could start "soft foods" this week -- yogurt, cottage cheese, creamed Soups. I was so eager to try, but find that it is very uncomfortable and unpleasant going down. After 2-3 bites, I've had to stop because it just wasn't worth it. I am going back to Protein shakes now. And hoping that will be okay because last week they gave me so much gas I had to stop drinking those. I read somewhere that if you experience an intolerance with something to give it a week or so and try again. Looks like that might be working with the protein shakes and thank God since it seems I can't consume the soft foods. It's all very frustrating, but I'm trying to stay focused on the end goal and not let these discomforts discourage me from my goals. But aaargh!!!

I was banded 3/5 and had my first fill a few weeks prior. I was also quite nervous, but it was quite easy. My MD did not use a local anesthesia. I did not look at the needle, so I don't know how big it was, but it did not hurt at all. It took him a little bit to get access to the port, but it was done before I even realized it. It was an odd feeling for a minute or two. I drank some water and that was it. I was on clear liquids for 3 meals after the fill - one meal of mushies then onto a regular diet. I wish that I had some restriction post first fill, but it is ok - I am one step closer. Second fill is tomorrow - I cannot wait. Good Luck!

I've had three fills and go for my fourth in four days. My doctor has me on the table, I have to do a crunch while he circles the port with a pen for a guide, inserts the needle (no numbing -- I'm getting a needle either way) and inserts the saline. My port is a little tilted, so my third fill was a little more involved than the first two, but I'll remember to tell him this Thursday for my fill that my port is tilted. I'm so ready to keep the fills moving because I feel nothing resembling restriction. Though, I did have a hard time eating rice yesterday. Very exciting! Heh. Every time I go for a fill, I make my next appointment on the spot, four weeks to the minute!

That was my biggest fear! Thankfully it was either repaired or I didn't have one. I don't remember talking to the doctor after my surgery. They say I did, but the drugs I was given were just that good :thumbup:. My mom didn't think to ask if I had one or not, so it is on the 2 week follow-up appointment list.

it doesn't sound normal to me. I didn't have port pain at three months' post-op and I haven't read of others experiencing gas pain at such a late stage. I would be very happy to be proven wrong, but if you are experiencing pain then you need to contact your Dr sooner rather than later.

This is probably the best/worst thing for some of us, but it works for me ! Once a week I bake cookies or brownies for my co workers. Started it a few months ago, and they say it really makes them happy ! I cant have the stuff in my house because I ll eat it, so I get the baking bug out of my system, eat a couple and pass the treats onto others. We're all happy !

One of the things I wanted to do was build an underground storm shelter. Tornados hit us 6 years ago and did quite a bit of damage. Anyways being overweight and 65 years old, this wasn't going to happen. Well after surgery, I lost 110 pounds and started my project. During the last couple weeks, I had to move 40,000 pounds of gravel by hand. I took the task in stride and accomplished it. Its good to have my stamina back.

I was sleeved on 2-18 the day after my birthday. One week before surgery I weighed 306. Today one week after 289. I can't believe I've lost 17 pounds in two weeks. I absolutely feel great no problems at all. Oh yeah I haven't taken the first bp pill since surgery.

I take two tablespoons of ground flaxseed at night with 8-10 oz Water (at first I started with 4oz water). It was approved by my doctor at my 8 weeks post op. That made a big difference no problems going to the bathroom at all. I used to take it in the morning but know I changed it to the night which works better for me.

I wonder why the diets vary so much from Dr to Dr? I'm one week out from surgery and on clear liquids only. I've lost 8 lbs since surgery but I feel like I could eat the hind end of a horse. I have a week to go one this insane diet but I'm actually afraid that when I can eat real food I'll quit loseing.

Of course you can...you're only a week out from surgery and you're eating cottage cheese. However, don't get too fixated on the band physically restricting how much you can eat. It doesn't work that way for a lot of people. Pay attention to your hunger level. When you're eating normally again (meaning not mushy slider foods), you should be able to eat a reasonable meal (e.g. 3 oz Protein, 1/2-1 c. vegies) and go about 4 hours without hunger. If you can't, it means you still need a fill. So pay attention to the hunger...not how much you can eat. .

I don't know how many of you remember Rosanne RosannaDanna but that was one of her favorite sayings and all I could think to say last night. I thought I was gonna die. I had my lap band "installed" on Sept. 18. I had a history of gall bladder attacks but my Dr wouldn't remove it unless I had 3 that were bad enough to go to the ER. I only had 2. I had a HIDA scan before the band and it showed sludge but no stones so they didn't touch the gall bladder. I have had achyness on the right side but no really bad pain, but I tolerate pain well, had all 3 kids with no anesthesia. My surgeon has scheduled another HIDA scan for this coming Monday. Last night I had one of my best meatloafs ever, it was so tasty I had 2nds. A little greasy but I put cheddar cheese in it and oh it was so good. At about 10 pm the pain started, and by 12 I had taken 2 percocets and got no relief. I knew if I went to the ER they couldn't do anything since i had taken the Percocets so I stuck it out at home. I finally fell asleep at around 4 am but woke at 8 with less but still some pain. So, I probably will get the gall baldder out within the next week. I never want to feel that pain again. Has anyone else had it out after the band, and will I still have pain after? I read that some people still get pain after surgery if they eat fatty foods.

This is perfectly normal. I wish the docs were more honest about the first 2 weeks but the fact is it easier to say what you "should" do vs what is possible when they preform the surgery but have not actually gone throught it themselves. ( kinda like a guy doctor telling you what you should feel like post hysterectomy or child birth) . Concentrate on liquids, clear and your protien shakes,,, all will be well and check in here often!

Wow Junie...pointers huh? Well....did you see what I have on my signature? It says compliant bandsters are successful bandsters. That says it all. Follow your doctor's protocol, don't test your band, and know that the journey is not linear. You will have good days and bad. It's just the way it works. Oh, and one more important thing. The weight did not go on overnight, so don't expect to lose it that way either. During this whole journey since being banded, I've never lost more than 3 lbs. in one week. And most weeks, I lost less...way less...than 2 lbs. I've been at this for nearly a year and a half and even that's quick compared to many others. Good luck, and let us know how you are doing once you 'get to the other side' as we call it.

Everyone is different. I was sore for the first 2 days (body aches and major fatigue). I honestly felt as if I had been beaten; or close to what the flu feels like, lol. For about 3 weeks, it was very hard to swallow liquid. I couldn't gulp at all, and sometimes even the sips were too much. This happened so often that it was as if I had forgotten what normal felt like. Luckily, I didn't experience any nausea. I'm actually very surprised because I'm so prone to getting nauseous when I have a migraine. So I thought it was odd that even major surgery couldn't make me feel sick to my stomach, lol. XD Have you taken your B12 vitamins yet? I'm not sure how I recovered so instantly... I remember coming home and sleeping in my mom's bed for hours (my room was occupied by a hyper Labrador retriever, and I wasn't in the mood to be jumped on, lol). I woke up a few hours later, and that's when the horrible body aches began. I was so sore and I was nearly convinced that I had a fever (but I didn't). So I sat down for a few minutes, drank some Powerade Zero, took a B12 vitamin (these are my favorite http://c.shld.net/rpx/i/s/i/spin/image/spin_prod_ec_779673801??hei=64&wid=64&qlt=50), and went back to sleep for another several hours. When I woke back up, the body aches were completely gone. I don't know if the B12 helped, but I was wondering how I could feel so awful, and then feel so much better just from taking a long nap. I also felt sore in my chest area. I had a hiatal hernia fixed, so I think mine was a mix of swelling and costochondritis. It could be any of these things: Costochondritis, trapped gas, swelling from the surgery, or a bruise on the muscle. Are you resting enough? You could also be overexerting yourself.

Thank you all for your responses. My husband has been forcing me to take more fluids. broth, very soft Jello, weak decaf tea, Water etc. and it seems to have helped the nausea a lot. how ever i have been throwing up. not much comes out, just a lil bit of liquid and then the dreaded bile. im so afraid that at this early stage i could be doing damage. of course it is the weekend now, and i have to wait to see my surgeon until next week. anyon else experience the throwing up in the early days of your band?

My doctor didn't hide the long needle! I was frieked out for a second but thanks to the local didn't feel a thing. Don't know if you'll feel restriction or how long it will last. Seems everybody is different. My experience was the second fill caused some restriction. My surgeon said I can come back for more if I get hungry. Otherwise, it will be 6 weeks before another fill.

at 5 weeks out he will be able to enjoy a very small amount of a few of his favorites. I think he will feel just fine! I had a birthday dinner 4 weeks out and I didn't feel left out at all.

Thats how I was until I got a slight unfill .25cc now I eat breakfast, I dont hurt when I eat and I still get full quickly...of course this is coming from someone who hasnt lost a single freaking lb in about 3 weeks or more now...

I had my first fill on Monday the 8th 5cc in, she said my band holds 10cc .. I feel nothing Kind of SAD She told me to come back in 2 weeks if im still hungry