just banded / lots of questions

March 4, 2004

banded I was just banded on 2/27/04. Dr Tichansky, Princeton NJ. Pre-op weight was 312, I am 6 days post op and my weight is 287. I cant belive I lost 20-25 pounds in 6 days. I am obviously still on liquids for another week. It is tough wathcing my wife and kids eat and I have chicken broth or Jello. I am just nervous I am going to gain back weight when I am off liquids and I can not have a fill for 6 weeks. Tonight I was able to finish a entire campbells "Soup at Hand", strained of course. Is it possible my band slipped or am I just getting used to liquids. My Dr. assured me after the surgery, It went perfect. He also stitches the stomach to the band Yada Yada Yada. Maybe I am just being paranoid. Anyway, cool site and thanks for any imput.

PS Does the weight sign go start / present / goal. If it does I am 312 / 287 / 225. Thanks again

sassaay · March 5, 2004

Hi Marc,

Congratulations on getting your band! I think that you are perfectly normal and as you go through the liquids stage you will probably find yourself feeling more hunger pains and being able to consume more fluids. One "Soup at Hand" is not that much... don't consume enough to make yourself sick... stomach ache, vomitting, etc... But at the same time, make sure you are getting enough fluids to keep your strength up and your body hydrated.

Your weight loss thus far is fantastic... but please please don't be disappointed if you gain any of that back before your first fill. As you will see written hear time and time again... the first 6 weeks are for healing and any weightloss during this time is a bonus. You lost a lot of weight over the last 6 days and some of that was probably Water and this may come back before your first fill. Just remember that you now have a tool to help you be successful in your weight loss battle and once you begin the fill process and find your "sweet spot" the weight will start to come off for good.

Take Care and get plenty of rest.

DeniseG · March 8, 2004

sounds pretty typical, the swelling in your band area has probably gone down some. From what I have heard, it is very hard for your band to slip, just follow your doctors instructions, and don't move onto solids until he/she instructs you too. I agree with sassay, it is possible you may gain a few pounds back after you go to solids, I didn't, but, I lost less than 10 pounds before my first fill. Don't get discouraged though, it will all come off in time.

Alexandra · March 8, 2004

As your swelling subsides you lose whatever post-op restriction you had. Now you're entering the hardest part of the banding journey--the pre-fill stage. You may be able to eat the same amount as you could before banding! Liquids go right through and it's not at all surprising that you can eat more than 10 ozs at one sitting.

Try to keep your eyes on the end goal, it helps to get through this difficult time. Don't worry if (when?) you gain some of the weight back--banding is not about instant gratification and sudden drastic drops in weight. And 25 lbs in two weeks is indeed sudden!! :P

What you're going through is perfectly normal, and your band is fine.

FDATrialGuineaPig · March 23, 2004

Marc,

No, your band did not slip, what you are experiencing is completely normal.

And once you start on solids, you may gain some back, you may stall or you may keep losing. There is no absolute, it's all individual.

Personally, having no Fluid in my band is akin to not having a band--I could eat anything, any size portion. Once you get a good fill you will be in for a huge shock.

Just sit back and enjoy the ride and be patient. Focus on healing right now, that's what the pre-fill stage is for. The weight loss comes later when you get filled. You're doing great!!