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Oh, the lovely 3 week stall. The majority of us go through it. I had been warned by this board and by my doctor that I would have that stall and it would last 1-2 weeks. So I was expecting it, but it still threw me for a loop. Up until my stall I had lost 14 pounds and right after my stall (which lasted 12 days), the pounds just began to drop again. Now I've lost a total of 21 pounds since surgery on August 18th. So chin up. This too shall pass very soon. AniO

No caffeine!!! Geaux, seriously no Caffeine, I about died when I heard that roflmao! One thing with Myfitnesspal.com since you know how it works. If I followed their suggestion for Protein, Carbs, sodium and calories I would end up gaining weight! Almost all doctors recommend the same thing with gastric sleeve and that's 80 grams of protein, 45-75 of carbohydrates and try to stay at 800-1200 calories a day (if you exercise and it tells you to add more calories and it says your aren't eating enough) ignore it. I quit doing Desserts like yogurt etc. and I started incorporating Peanut Butter on a teaspoon. I always ate my meat first, chew like 20 times and then go for your vegetables second, then and only then eat your carbs. Also, you have to learn not to drink with your dinner. I was a "choker" especially when I went out to eat. Something about eating in public, I always end up choking on my food and I am used to drinking Water with my meal. I learned that about an hour before dinner if I drank something hot like hot peppermint decaff tea I would be less hungry. I learned once I took away my drink with dinner, I chewed slower and chewed more thoroughly. I learned to wait at least 1/2 hour after I eat to then drink my water. These are all suggestions that were given to me in my packet and I spent 6 months practicing them. Not all doctors are that thorough, but it's worked for me when other things haven't. The reason for no caffeine is that it promotes stomach ulcers and more importantly, it causes dehydration. After surgery it's a struggle to get all your Fluid intake in and your liquid Protein in. Dehydration is a real problem. It's easier to quit caffeine before surgery than right after surgery because most people have withdrawals and headaches. I waited until I got approved to quit, so I had time to get used to it before I started on pre-op shake. Surgery is a week from tomorrow. A bit tired of drinking protein shakes and I decided not to have a big Memorial Bash because truthfully it would be hard having a huge party while on protein shakes, but my parents are going to swing by tomorrow to do some wii bowling. Good luck to you and can't wait to hear how your plan is going to go. All bariatric centers are different, mine seems to be one of the strictest compared to most. After surgery 2 weeks of Clear liquids, then 4-6 of full liquids then pureed, then soft, then regular. With pre-op diet, that's 10 weeks of no real solids.

Ok so I had my fill at the surgeons office on Wednesday... He put 1cc in my band bringing the total back up to 5cc... Last time I had 5cc I swelled my band shut a week after due to vomiting...Anyway I take pills at night. Requip for restless leg, Ambien for sleep, and zoloft for depression/anxiety. On the night of my fill I took those pills at once just like I had done the weeks before. Never had a problem...that night I got severe burning right above my band into my esophagus. So last night I took each pill 15-20 minutes apart... same thing happened. So tonight I split the pill and took each half 30 minutes apart with plenty to drink. I still have the burning feeling but not as bad.. I did not take any of my other pills yet tonight... The zoloft is a un-coated 100mg pill.. Really isnt any bigger then the capsule of Nexium I take in the A.M..... I assume that it is the zoloft since I have narrowed it down. Anyone else have this problem. THis is not a side effect of the med according to the websites... I am not sure if my band it to tight since I am fine taking the other meds or maybe I just can not take the zoloft.... thoughts?

I am two weeks out and as a side sleeper who phyically cannot sleep on her back, last night was the first night I have spent the whole night in bed. The recliner has been my best friend at night to sleep since surgery. I was happy when I woke up this morning and it was time to get up and not 2 or 3 am. lol

What are you guys eating and how much? Work outs? Overall how is everyone 7 weeks out and how much weight loss?

I've been invited to my friends bday party , who I have not told I've had my op she says there's gonna be loads of food worse nightmare and alcohol lol I don't no what I'm gonna do and I want to to I'm nearly 8 weeks post op I'm not interested in food or alcohol in just need to get out I've been so isolated what am I gonna do food and alcohol worse nightmare to me ???????? Sent from my SM-N910F using the BariatricPal App

I am basically in the same spot! I'm 23 days out and went from 213 to 198 and I've sat there for a week! I realize now that I need to drink more water! I'll try that to get back on track!

I'm 18 days post op today. I've gone from 214 at the time of surgery down to 201.1. And there I sit... all week. I know that is remarkable weight loss for just 3 weeks, but I was expecting to be in the "honeymoon" period a bit longer. I feel like I'm in a bad relationship - he's good to me for a few weeks and ignores me for one. It just seems cruel to teeter me at the precipice of Onederland. I want in that land really damn bad. I need some reality checks and pep talks. I've been battling dehydration for the past three days and really focusing on getting in my 8 glasses of water a day (64 oz). I also find that I eat an average of 800 calories a day - 60-70 grams of protein, 18 grams of fat, and about 35-50 carbs a day. Ideas?

Thanks ladies!! Your entries made me feel so much better. I decided to step on the scale and guess what...? I did it! I'm now at 199.1!!!! Woot! So I guess I just needed to chill out after all. And drink my fluids. I think a lot of this recent stall was fluids and now that I'm back up to 8 cups a day, I think that it's starting to move. You are all so sweet and your words were so kind. Thanks for helping me calm down and see the amazing things I've already accomplished. It's too easy to just get focused on that end number that sometimes I need some reminders to look at what's already happened. Thanks for being such lovely reminders!

Just a short note. Who knows when I'll get back to this. I've gained weight since my DH's death. I won't blame anyone else but myself. I had a long talk with my therapist and we finally hit upon the catchphrase that seems to define how I'll lose all this weight-- I CHOOSE. I'm a control freak whose life spiraled out of control the day my poor Randy died. Since then, I've made decisions where I felt there was no other option. For over a year, I had to decide based on bad vs good, not which one suited me. Finally, my therapist (Dr Marty Groble, for those in the Jacksonville area) pointed out that what went into my mouth was one of the few things I had a direct choice in making. Well, my Band-Buds, it was an epiphany. There was my point of control, and I've been reveling in it for a couple of weeks. I've lost five pounds because I can look at the chocolate vs the peach and say "I choose the peach because I choose health." I have chosen to start walking again when possible. I've chosen to begin quilting again rather than sit on my butt playing mindless computer games. I've made so many choices, I'm smiling again. Even the house I had to move into when Randy's death forced me into foreclosure is no longer a point of resentment and negativity. I've chosen to make it work rather than move to something less congenial if prettier. Sure, this is a 2-bedroom house 30 miles from my job. It's in a gorgeous neighborhood with a park, as familiar and comfortable as my favorite pair of blue jeans, and it's cheap. I can have my pets here. An apartment close to my work would cost $200 more a month and we'd have to get rid of our pets. "We??" you ask? Yep, we. That gent who gave me the pearl ring? I chose not to marry him, but we're a happy pair of roommates. I chose him, too. Lena

I'm in that place, but I'm almost 6months out and I struggling with 3 pounds for the last 2 weeks. 3 pounds and I will have lost 100 pounds in 6months. I wished I had lost 30 or40 pounds a month, but only 20 per month. I have another 100 at least to go. BWMB-Don't you get down on your self your doing great! Gayle-I needed to hear that I have trouble getting in my water and my protein because of GERD. I figuring it out and it gets easier.Thank you.

This is a really touchy subject for most people, but I'm going to stick my neck out.... We researched weight loss surgeries for ten years. During that time, I learned a LOT about the Roux-en-Y (also called R-Y) Gastric Bypass (also called simply, Gastric Bypass), Mini-Gastric Bypass, Lap Band, the Fobi Pouch, Vertical Gastrectomy, Duodenal Switch etc., etc... I also learned a LOT about weight-loss drugs, methods, exercise, the science and treatment of obesity, ad nauseum. Here's my conclusion: chronic overweight, in many cases, acts more like a disease than anything else. Think of it as a Syndrome: a collection of symptoms, conditions, actions and reactions that culminate into a similar pattern of result we call Obesity. If you are at the point where you are considering surgery to treat your overweight, please, please, PLEASE do your research. Ask all the questions. Verify the answers. After exhaustive research, I have to say that the two most effective procedures BY FAR are the Vertical Gastrectomy, and the Duodenal Switch. The mortality, morbidity, and overall success (of losing excess weight and KEEPING IT OFF) rates blow away every other surgery being offered today. This biggest 'pros' are that your valves and structures stay in place - so afterward you can have a cheesburger, a beer, a soda, pizza, nuts, chips, whatever. You just can't have that much of it. For the rest of your life you only absorb 10% of the fat you consume (so go ahead and eat that rib-eye steak). The 'cons' are that is is a more technically demanding, and more expensive surgery - your surgeon must be skilled - versus the R-en-Y, Lap Band, etc. For instance, a typical R-en-Y patient is in-and-out in about an hour. A Duodenal Switch (or DS) patient takes on average 3.5-4 hours. From an economic standpoint, it's no wonder relatively few have heard of the DS. A less-skilled surgeon can do two or three R-en-Y's in the same time it takes a more-skilled surgeon to do one! I could go on and on about this, but here's my point: weight loss surgery is a very serious life-changing decision. Do all the research so that at the end of the day, you choose the right procedure for you. To read more, go here: Weight Loss Surgery in San Francisco. They have a pretty exstensive site the explains a lot about the weight loss surgeries offered today. They are a doctor's office; they do specialize in DS. So far, the DS patient I know has lost 280lbs in two years, been cured of diabetes and high blood pressure, and both he and his wife are very, very very happy. Good luck!

Janis, I'm sure you have seen where this has happened before with others. The first 6 weeks after banding is meant for healing only. Some people actually DO gain some of their weight back. This is because it's hard to make good hard Protein choices when you aren't eating solids yet. You don't want to eat solids yet, because this is the time for the band to 'anchor' itself in place. Too much grinding and churning to digest food can be attributed to 'slippage' later down the road. It is very common for people to gain some weight during this interim. This might be a time where you begin entering your food into www.fitday.com, just to see how the calories add up. It may be that you want to trade a high Protein shake for a cup of Soup or mashed potatoes if you really are concerned about gaining anything at this point. Once your liquids/mushy stage is over you can begin eating hard Proteins and you will probably get a fill. This is when your weight loss phase officially begins. Good luck in the interim! I'm with you and everyone else has been there too! Leatha

I really only take a chewable multivitamin, Centrum Silver, twice a day. I used to take a B12 supplement, but one multivitamin has at least 400% of your daily recommended B12, so my surgeon told me to stop taking the B12. I also take one 50,000 IU of vitamin D a week since my levels are atrocious.

Very timely question... This article was in the news this week. "A new world-first study by Monash University researchers in Melbourne, Australia, found laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) to have a profound impact on one of society's biggest health issues - Type 2 diabetes." CNW Telbec | ALLERGAN | Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding 5x More Likely to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes than Diet and Exercise Andrew

I have been taking Metformin once per day since april, was banded in Aug. My sugar levels have been perfect. My GP's office called me to come and "discuss some test results" a few weeks ago........turns out doc wanted to congratulate me on my excellent numbers. He promised that I will be off the metformin by April !! WoooHoooo

I am 3 1/2 weeks out of surgery and still have pretty good soreness at band sight. Not sure if it's from hernia repair and band being done at same time. But it almost feels like heartburn too. Just had primer taken out and now able to eat mushies and get all my liquids in. I was dehydrated because I was too tight and couldn't get anything in and then had swelling in my esophagus that took almost a week to go away. So now I'm back on prilosec. I get nauseous real easy too. I am so glad to be going to the support group tonight. But is this sound normal at this stage? Just looking for others thoughts.

It's very possible that you too have developed a food allergy. It's common after surgery. Wait a week or two and try it again. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That sounds about right for 6 weeks out although some days now I can eat 3 small pieces but I am about 4 month out now.

how many pieces of small shish taouk you can eat in one meal i can eat one and half im 6 weeks post operative and that make me feel full *shish taouk( grilled pieces of chicken with no bone or skin or fat)

I encourage you to look through this site. You are going to find so many answers and even answers to questions that you didn't know to ask!! 1. I was self pay, so I don't think I can help you here. Since I was paying, I didn't have to wait. My cost was $10k for the surgery and a full year of after care. 2. My pain was worse than I had anticipated for the first week. However, I had esphogeal spasms because of my swelling which I'm finding out is rare. Plus, after a week, it faded and I was great! 3. The Lap Band doesn't work like Gastric Bypass, so the weightloss is lower at first. However, through good aftercare and getting fills, you get to a good restriction that allows you to control your hunger. I lost about 12 pounds on the 2 week preop diet and I lost about 10 pounds in the month following surgery. I also encourage you to research your surgeon. Even better, if they offer support groups, see if you can attend one prior to being Banded. I think aftercare is SO IMPORTANT. If your surgeon focuses a lot on that, I think it is a good sign. Good luck to you!!

Ryan said a couple weeks ago that he's going to be focusing on getting Patty well, and that he might not have much time to drop by for awhile - remember, he's "Dormant 'til Spring"... Can't wait for Spring, Ryan!! Hope all's well with you and yours!! xxoo

Thanks for all your caring and kindness. My wife is going downhill, and we don't know why. She requires full time care, and since we can't pay much out of pocket that means I must shoulder the load. Also I must pick up as much overtime as our strained state budget will allow. So...........little time to post. I do try to look in daily to see how everyone is doing. I have put my needs on temporary hold. I've lost more and am near the three hundred mark, but not sure where. I have stopped the doctor's appointments. They are just not as important as my two greatest time priorities right now. Sleep, and Patty. So, I'll not be posting much for a bit, and they certainly won't be eloquent, as I have little time, and a foggy head. I am praying that the warm breath of spring will draw in new hope. And will wish you well untill then.