Hello Ruth,

Your only a week out from your surgery, so you should be on liquids, protein shake and 64 oz water a day for the first two weeks. Are you getting these down? I was allowed to take a shower day 3 but not allowed to get in bath or pool for a month, until incisions heal. You should be able to start soft foods at the beginning of week 3, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, peanut butter, skim milk, low fat cheddar, part skim mozzarella, swiss cheese, couscous and soy milk. The following week, week 4- I was allowed to add beans, fish, nuts, oysters, scallops, shrimp, clams and quinoa. No fried foods. Week 5 I was able to add Chicken breast and roast turkey. Week 6 (Thats where I am now.) opens up to all other meat choices.Protein is your priority, 30-40 g per day. You will feel much better when you can get your protein and water down each day.

I really hope this helps. Best wishes!

If you retained all that water, I would go visit your PCP and discuss this with them. That would put your mind at ease.

I KNOW IT'S HARD AT FIRST, BUT IT WILL GET EASIER. TRY SUGAR FREE ICE POPS. THEY HELP. I'M 2MONTHS OUT OF SURG, I DON'T EAT ALL THE THINGS LISTED ABOVE BUT i DO ENJOY CRAB LEGS, FISH, TUNA, COTTAGE CHEESE AND LOW FAT YOGURT. i HAD GAIN WATER WEIGHT WHEN i GOT OUT OF SURGERY ALSO. BUT WHTIVE AND WALKING THE WEIGHT START COMING OFF. i WAS AT A STAND STILL FOR A WEEK AND NOW ITS COMING OFF AGAIN. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE YOUR VITAMINS AND GET IN THE PROTEIN SHAKES TRY ATKINS SHAKES

At 5 days out I was still in the hospital, for the first five weeks I drank out of a one ounce cup taking sips only. sip sip sip (pour more water/decaff tea) sip sip pour, etc.

If you weren't given med cups try using a shot glass. You get in less air and will feel less icky than drinking out of a water bottle.

Are you taking any bariatric vitamin or sublingual vitamin b? There is definitely a difference if I forget my Vitamin B.

My diet was different than above, I was on clear liquids first week then full liquids 5 weeks then pureed, soft and regular. I still don't get a lot of food in me, so I am definitely losing slower than others. It sounds to me that you were retaining a whole lot of water at first from the surgery.

Gardening, entails a lot of bending, etc. so I would try just watering, and walking at first.

I took a nap for the first two weeks daily sitting in my recliner and didn't feel bad about it.

Take it slow, concentrate on your liquids and protein and don't overdo it at first.

Hello Ruth, I also had a lapband and had to have emergency surgery back in 2008 to remove it and like you I gained back 30 of the 57 lbs I had lots, (which was not down to my goal weight at the time of removal). I had the sleeve on the 19th in Mexico and am home now in Moses Lake, WA. I have been home since 6pm Sunday and have found that a hot shower running on my back feels really good. I have steered away from exercise that requires bending and twisting and have been walking as much as I can. I met alot of people in Mexico that have been sleeved and love it and I dont regret it, I had so many problems with the band. Would love to talk more. Where do you live?

I was allowed to take a bath at 6 weeks - I still had scabs up until then.

I am not sure where you are in the northwest but if you are close to Seattle there is a great support group at Swedish hospital that I attend on the second saturday of the month - they also meet on the 4th tuesday in the evenings. I find them to be really helpful. I was looking for a link to the page with the dates - you can call them and they will add you to an email newsletter if you wish.

http://www.swedish.org/Services/Weight-Loss-Services#axzz21YFUmv9Z

hang in there - I felt like hell for about a month and a half, then things started to get better.

Hi Ruth, as for the liquids, 1 ounce of water every 15 minutes. Stay on your clear liquids the first week sugar free jello, sugar free ice pops all help with wanting to eat. Take your liquids/foods very slowly if you eat or drink to fast or too much you will have the bubbly thing going on. I know it's hard to remember how small our new stomachs are and there are times I want to eat/drink like I used to and that is not a good thing. Please remember you multi-vitimins and the B12, I forgot the B12 and couldn't hardly walk across the room first few weeks after my surgery.

Hang in there and wish you the best!!!