Search the Community

I'm 5 weeks out. A big pleasure in my adult life has been spending time in the kitchen creating meals that are unique, visually pleasing. Like chicken piccata with wine garlic sauce, etc. I would take pleasure creating it then enjoying a long dinner with my husband and a glass of wine. These days, I am back to creating these meals (but substituting healthier ingredients). The thing that bothers me is to have this lovely meal with all the aromas, sit down and only be able to eat literally two bites. I am happy to read that it gets better with time. Eventually I hope to be able to eat at least 4 oz or a cup.

So last night ate some ricotta bake got sleeved 6 weeks ago this sixth of July down 50lbs. Following diet on point.. even with a somewhat conservative plan compared to many. Anyways last I woke up feeling like I was choking I messed up ate a little later than I would have like I went to bathroom didn't throw up but spit up brownish sour coffee grind type stuff. Should I be worried stools have not been abnormal and feeling great otherwise. Thanks

Ask your surgeon if he installs any fluid in the band during surgery. I came out with 3cc's already in mine and bandster hell was practically nonexistent for me. I only had trouble the last week before my first fill.

Thanks. It's surreal sometimes to realize that I have lost over 200 pounds. Two hundred pounds! And yet I still feel like the same old Big Sue a lot of the time. TBH, I've been struggling a lot in many aspects of my life, so I'm not in a great place to be offering encouraging words to other WLS patients right now. I do still look at new posts, though, and I have to admire you for sticking around after all these years to educate newbies on things like the three week stall.

Can I have a glass of wine after four weeks postop?

Marfar7 my doc is conservative also, I had 4 weeks of liquid...will be 4 weeks of puréed and then 4 weeks of soft....cannot have veggies intil the soft and then no starches and no carbs until 12 weeks...

I was sleeved on the 5 th. 2 wks liquids and 2 wks of puréed. I was great 1st 2 wks. A week ago started feeling yucky. Wed had 2 bags of IV. Food won't ness. Make u feel better. And go back to liquids anyway. But the protein drinks suck after awhile. Nasty build up in ur mouth. Even after though cleaning.

Does anyone else hate taking their meds now I'm only 3 weeks post op but every time I take meds it often feels like I'm eating and feel sick afterwards. Its almost like I feel full just from taking my meds,and this sucks? Comments anyone? I have to take about 7 different things daily,and sometimes I don't take em all because of this ?

I also was an 11 and had to get below 8 before surgery, I did by staying below 1200 cal, and 100 carbs per day. My sister and I also wanted to be sleeved the same day but insurance issues got in our way but we were sleeved one week a part.

Thanks Lil, Thats interesting reading. I like the bit about weight loss stopping after 2 weeks, thats exactly what happened to me even though I was still not eating close to what I did before. I know its normal but still hard to accept. It will start moving again!! Elsie

See this article for a full explanation... Everyone experiences hair loss on a daily basis. Normal hair loss is barely noticeable, amounting to less than 100 hairs per day. However, the stress of a major surgery can cause hair loss to accelerate up to three times as much in both men and women. It's the body's way of reacting to the trauma of the operation. The Facts During a normal hair growth cycle, hair grows, then enters into a resting or "telogen" period and eventually sheds. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, "telogen effluvium" is a term used to describe hair that has been rushed into the resting state after the body suffers a shock due to major surgery. As resources are redirected to help heal the affected surgical area, the body temporarily shuts down hair production because it is not necessary for survival. Identification Telogen effluvium related to surgery can be distinguished from other forms of hair loss in several ways. Individuals typically begin to notice the increasing hair loss two to three months after the surgery. hair loss after surgery is uniform, noticeable on the scalp but never excessive enough to cause a patchy appearance or complete baldness. In addition, the shed hairs all exhibit a specific pattern at the root, which resembles a white bulb. Time Frame Hair usually resides in the telogen phase for a period of two to four months before growth resumes. Individuals don't begin to notice the increase in hair loss when showering or brushing the hair until about three months post-surgery. Although the resting hair is being pushed out of the scalp by new hair that is already growing, it can take anywhere from about six months to a year for the hair to return to its normal fullness. Gastric Bypass Surgery Individuals who have undergone gastric bypass or other operations of the digestive tract designed to reduce obesity are more prone to hair loss post-surgery. This is due to the reduced intake of food in the weeks and months immediately following these procedures. The body needs an adequate amount of Proteins and Vitamins to maintain hair production. Protein-enhanced shakes are often recommended for these patients as a substitute until solid food can be better tolerated. Proper Diet Hair loss related to surgery typically reverses itself without any medicinal intervention or the need for over-the-counter hair loss tonics or treatments. However, maintaining a diet rich in Protein and Iron is believed to help promote and speed up healthy hair growth. Suggested foods include salmon, Beans, eggs, spinach, broccoli, nuts and whole-grain cereals. Avoid foods that can inhibit hair growth, such as those that contain high levels of caffeine and fat. Read more: Losing hair After Surgery | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1QtFeANl3

Hey chin up!! I've been banded since April 23rd. I've lost nearly 50 pounds, but the doctor says the more you have to lose the faster it come off in the beginning, But I will say, I did go 1 week only losing 1 pounds and I too was very bummed. Have you tried using a journal for what you eat. You may find you're eating a lot of calories, or fats or carbs and not realizing it. everything I eat gets noted in Fitness Pal primarily so I can keep track of my Protein. But you may be surprised. Supposedly the average weight loss is 1 - 2 pounds per week. So 12 pounds in 10 days is SUPER!!! I didn't really feel much restriction until my 3rd fill (last week) now I can hardly eat 1/2c of anything. So be patient, restriction is coming like no tomorrow lol

the first few weeks are about healing. you may not get in enough calories and you may not lose anything at all. I actually gained about 5 pounds in the transition from liquids to mushies to solids. after about the 5th week, it started falling off. i didn't like that the scale was stuck there, but i knew to expect it, so even though it was frustrating as all get out, i just kept doing what i was supposed to do. those first few weeks i struggled to get enough calories too, but once my stomach had some time to heal and the swelling went down i was able to get more. i shoot for 1200, but i don't always hit it and that number is just a number that i myself decided to go for, so for you it may be different. after you hit solids, just start documenting what you eat and then see if the calories are enough to make the scale go in the right direction, but don't worry if it's not moving right now, it will eventually.

I was banded on 6/15. I went in for my post op check and my doctor said to expect to gain weight as I transition over to soft/regular food. She told me to not even look at the scale until 6 weeks after surgery.

You are normal. This is how it works. I'm not sure what you were expecting but the first 30 days you will lose a lot of excess fluids. Then you may not lose for a while. It depends on how much you eat and what you eat. You won't feel restriction till you get that one fill that does the trick. It could be 0-6 fills. It was 6 for me. Keep reading this forum. The math behind losing weight means you may only lose 1-2 lbs a week. You may plateau for weeks on end. But if you follow the rules you will lose weight. Right now you need to focus on healing and getting in touch with your body and band. You are not expected to lose a lot of weight at this point. Most of us didn't. tmf

I also had a stall that basically last for several weeks. Try increasing your calories and see if this will get your weight to move. Your body maybe thinking that you are starving it.

Hi Tif, Sleeve sister here (1/28). I went through the same thing. Around week 3 or so I.stalled for 3 long weeks. It was mind torture!! I went to my surgeon last Monday & he was basically like keep doing what you're doing. No advice. I upped my calories from about 600 a day to 800 a day. I'm still not.exercising so you will probably have different numbers, but the very next day the scale started moving.....finally!!!! In the last 10 days I've lost 13 lbs. I am soooo happy & feel like the honeymoon is just getting started since I basically hated my sleeve until 6 wks post-op. Now that o don't throw up daily anymore AND I'm losing I feel like the love is beginning Don't get.discouraged! It WILL happen!!! We can stick together sister & keep each other positive & focused! I admire your daily exercise....I'm not there yet.....but soon! 44# post-op & planning on kicking into high gear @ 250 (20 more lbs) because of major back pain. Yay you!!! Keep up the amazing work!!

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!

Few weeks...I am a month out now and still feel like I need to rest a lot. Maybe it is just me!!!

Okay so I am usually very upbeat. But today I am feeling blue. It's pouring rain here, there hasn't been any sunshine for days, I haven't walked this whole week, outside of going to my classes. I want to be in a size 14 sooo bad!! I can get them on up over my butt and but there is like two inches between the button and the hole. I keep having to put it in perspective, it has only been 8 weeks. I mean really! My double chin won't go away, and it is all that I see when I look in the mirror. My stomach fat is starting to really hang now, and my inner thighs, and instead of feeling prettier, I am feeling uglier. Everything looks bad in the mirror right now. People have said that the double chin won't go away, that the skin will just hang there. I am 40 and realize that my skin has lost is elasticity but I was really, really hoping that the double chin would disappear. AND I HATE TO EXERCISE. I am walking, weather permitting, and doing crunches a couple times a week, but I know I need to be hard at it EVERY day. So the bad habits are still there, although I haven't blown it with food. That has been the one constant for me, thank god. I am losing, no stall, I have been down 1.5 - 2 lbs every week and that is all i ever wanted was to have consistent weight loss. Today I weighed in at 236, that is down from 272, that is 36 lbs in 8 weeks, I should be so amazed by that. But today, I am not. I am feeling like a big fat cow, still. The voice in my head that tells me I am fat and ugly and not worth a shit, it is back and I am sad. I have the tools, I know what to do. I just feel frozen in this muck right now. Anyhow, I am so glad I have a place to ramble. Maybe someone has made it all the way through my pity party here, or maybe not. Thank you who ever you are for taking the time to read my feelings. Somethings I can say here that I can't say out loud to anyone else. My husband get's so nervous if I even hint that I am not GREAT all the time, he remembers all the depression and how bad it had a hold of me. So I don't want to burden him with these feelings. It is the middle of the semester as well, and it is the end of my junior year in college, I am tired on so many levels. I quit smoking when I had the surgery and I have not started since and right now I would really like some chocolate and a cigarette. Haha, well enough for now. Bye.

How bad was having the drain, I will have mine for two weeks! Not looking forward to it!Good luck!!

I never gained weight either post op, there have been fluctuations by a few pounds day to day but it was mainly Fluid. Once I was on solids I stuck to the rules with my food choices and no more than one cup if food per meal. Some days it was extremely hard as I'd be hungry all day but I would sip my fluids and keep myself active and busy. Sure there were some days where I ate between meals but I would snack on cucumber slices or carrot sticks. It's really hard when you're constantly hungry till you start getting the fills but I know I had my lapband put in because I was so so over being so overweight and and I was going to give it 110% then some to stick to my new rules and healthy eating, it's amazing how much willpower you can muster up when you really really want the weight off and you have this tool to help and a Bariatric team behind you you don't want to disappoint either with all the work they put in to seeing you succeed. I started this journey at 366 pounds and this morning my scales read 301.6 pounds, I've come such a long way these past four or five months and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the band. This journey is a new healthy journey and we need to make changes every day, mentally too, and if we can do that from the first day of being banded each week gets easier, speaking from personal experience.

I knew ahead of time about the life changing requirements for successful weight loss with the band...and felt then, and still feel today that it was a very small "sacrifice" to regain my health. A wise bandster I met by chance while I was still deliberating about having my band placed helped me put it all into perspective. She asked me what was more important to me...eating everything I wanted to in what ever quantity I wanted or a few minutes of disciplined eating three times a day? My answer to that question was decided in an instant...and I've never looked back...or had any regrets for my decision!

I got my 4th fill a week ago. Before that, I had no restriction at all. I complained...a lot...at the dr's office. I wouldn't let it go, saying how disappointed I was, and how I hated this band. They finally gave in and gave me a decent fill. I can tell such a huge difference. I'm not over-filled by any means. I think I'm kind of just right. I get full quicker, and don't get hungry between meals.'ve lost more in the past week than the 10 weeks before. 3 pounds. Not a huge amount, but I wan't losing at all before. Anyway, just hang in there. And if you don't think you are getting what you need, speak up.