cbearanne

Your story is my story. I was well prepared, very ready. I've lost weight (45lb) and feel so much better but for two months I haven't lost anything. I still love food, I eat fast, and then the pain reminds me to stop and slow down. I have resorted to soft mushy foods because chicken takes such effort and concentration, etc. I stay at 200 lbs no matter if I'm drinking Protein shakes or eating food. I feel like I fight against my band like a petulant child, I eat something and then I remember, yup I have a band. Sometimes I wish I didn't have it. But then I think of weighing 245 with only more to come. The way I was living and sleeping a lot I know I'd be there and unhappy. Soooo, I am stuck in the middle like you, happier but not where I want to be. I have just begun this journey so I'm learning every day. I'm hoping to have more success very soon. Good luck to you too. C

Hi! I'm not remotely attracted to my surgeon, I usually dread seeing him even. Although I can relate to a point, when I was having my kids I had a similar crush on my OB/GYN. He was attractive and called me sweetheart at my most vulnerable when I was giving birth. I used to love taking the babies in for their well baby checks. It usually last around 6 months with each child. He is still my doctor after 20+ years and I still like him very much but have absolutely no crush feelings of any kind. I think you're right, it's hero worship during a time that we need them.

I had a combination Hiatal hernia/lap band surgery. I took two weeks off, I have a very physically demanding 12 nursing job. I was so ready to go back to work! Two weeks was too long, I would have been fine after one week but keep the 5lb weight lifting restriction for a month.

I have this pain too. It seems to happen when I eat too fast or not chew enough. If it is persistent during a meal I take it as a sign that my pouch is full and when I stop eating because of it I'm always glad. I am usually full at this point and the pain reminds me to stop.

Woo hoo! What an accomplishment! I am so looking forward to that day for myself.

I am happy to see these responses, I'm not the only one to find fluffy's responses to be very judgemental and caustic. I even went to her profile to see "what's up?" It's a support board, not an "I know it all board". I enjoy seeing people's successes and if I can I'll post an answer if I've been through something similar that someone is asking about. I agree with jboo, we're here to learn and be built up not get beaten down.

Sooooo happy for you! I thought I was going to get to write that post today, I've been at 200 for 4 days now. I want to drop to that magical onederland too. Keep up the great work!

No, I don't believe you are stuck. Postoperatively I had the same gas and loose stool you describe for 7-10 days. The only thing that helped me was walking and taking some anti-gas medicine. I actually didn't have a solid bm for quite some time. You've had an abdominal surgery which takes some time to get everything working as it used to. As for the foods you ate, I'm worried. Did your doctor give you a post-op diet to follow? At four days out your system and stomach are literally still healing. I encourage you to not put anymore stress on an already stressed system by the way of large amounts of food. I actually was assigned 4 weeks of liquid, and it was very difficult, honestly I put myself on some mushies after 3 weeks. I totally understand the urge to eat, I was soooo hungry too. I wish you the best of luck, take good care of your self and remember you are still a surgical patient. You need to take special care of your body right now. Let yourself heal. Good luck lparker!

One trick I use is that when I'm hungry and ready to eat I down one 20 ounces of water. I know that I cant drink for an hour after so I need to get it in before. I'm looking forward to the food so I "hurry" to get the water down.

Hi everyone, I was banded November 30th. I've had one fill and doing ok with that. I feel full when my left shoulder has a pain. I've lost 43 lbs altogether, 26 of those pre-op. I'm happy that I'm in a 16 again I have a lot more clothes to wear. All in all it has been a good experience.

Honestly, I tried my hardest to adhere the the 4 week post-op liquid diet during all the parties and food events of December but honestly I didn't make it. I put myself on purees within three weeks and I ate real food including meat on the 21st, the 24th and 25th. Now that I've had my first fill and officially have been advanced off of liquid I went straight to a regular diet, albeit I eat much less of it. I do eat pureed cauliflower but only because I like it. I've experienced two stuck episodes, one involving bread and the other peanut butter. Everyday I learn something new and I agree, we aren't going to undo years of bad habits overnight. I've lost 40 lbs including my pre-op, I've dropped into a size 16 jean. This is life long and it's going to take a while to get things right between my head and my body's actual needs. Good luck to you and everyone! And hang in there. Cheryl 243/203/160 Surgery date Nov 30, 2010

Soooo happy for you! I'm waiting to see those numbers too. I'm so close I can taste it. I weighed 202 this morning. I can't wait to feel what Onederland feels like. Keep up the great work!

Yes! I've kept mushie food low carb (cauliflower, beans, etc) now I'm enjoying my first eggs today. I plan on keeping low carb for life. The band makes it easier because then I just can't pig out on bread and sweets. I lost 100 lbs 10 years ago with lo-carb and my husband follows it too.

Woo hoo!!! That is so wonderful!

Yes! I don't understand it either, I figure it's because I'm still having a love affair with food but I can't eat it right now. During my pre-op liquid diet and these four weeks of liquid after, I have been cooking up a storm and freezing. I could be a caterer at this point. I've filled two freezers with food for two Christmas parties. My family has had cooked breakfasts every day and I go out to the store to buy ingredients just to rush home and make dinner. No-one is complaining although I find it an interesting phenomenon.

Doug you look great! So glad you are excited and happy in your life, that's exactly what I'm looking for too. Take care, and Merry Christmas!

We waited about 10 days I guess. I was interested before that but my husband actually didn't like the steri strips, he said I looked like I got shot up in a gang war. I said, "it's not like my stomach was so great to look at before" haha!

I stayed overnight and it was wonderful! Take advantage of the stay with professionals. My pain was expertly managed, also the nausea. I was so groggy after surgery the last thing I would have wanted to do was think about going home. I was more than ready physically and mentally to leave in the morning. I spent my time resting, walking, and catching people up on FaceBook.

My doctor has me on a week of clear liquids before I add protein shakes and my vitamins. It's been a long week of hunger, I'm only taking sugar free popsicles, chicken broth, jello and water. This morning I woke up and decided to have a protein shake. I'm a day early but I can't see starving my body for one more day, I really don't see the advantage. I'm a med-surge RN and the longest my abdominal patients would take a clear liquid diet would be 2-3 days for bowel rest. I will adhere the full 3 more weeks of liquids as the doctor prescribes but I was very worried about the lack of calories and nutrients I was missing from the protein shakes. I was feeling run down and tired and I want to feel good! What are your thoughts on my prescribed diet? There are so many different diets per person and doctor. Some are eating mushie food right off the bat, etc. Makes me wonder why the vast difference between doctors? BTW I was banded November 30th and have had a routine recovery.

I was banded November 30th. I too experienced a lot of hunger after surgery. My doctor had me on a week of clear liquids and no protein shakes until the seventh day. Believe me I was a bit grumpy, it was VERY difficult. So I feel your pain. Adding the protein shakes helped enormously but I won't see mushies until the 1st of January. It seems a lifetime away. I'm not sure why my doctor is conservative but I want to follow his plan and not mess anything up inside. I can't know what cheating will do to my pouch, band, etc. I am too afraid to risk it. I hope you can hang in there, know that others are going through the same thing.

HI, glad you are doing well! I was banded November 30th. I thought I wouldn't have enough pain meds but I really didn't use them after day 2 or three and then really just at night. It was tender to lay on the port side and sometimes I'd wake-up and find myself on it. I have a 1/2 jug of pain meds left. I wasn't allowed Protein shakes for 7 days after surgery only sf popsicles, broth and Jello. The jello make me "full" after 1/2 container, even without restriction. Now that I'm having Protein Shakes I fell full after I have one for sure. I'm supposed to get in three but have only managed two a day so far. I get mouth hungry for other things though such as the savory meals I make for my family. Usually the chicken broth helps with that. I am very looking forward to eating real food again, my doctor has a stringent diet I've noticed from reading these boards. Good luck with everything! Glad everything is great so far, take care of yourself.

I was banded on 11/30, had lost 26 pre-op and have lost 10 more since surgery. I feel great!

I was banded on the 30th, and had an uneventful recovery. I lost 26 pounds before surgery and have lost 9 since surgery. After the first 3 days of no hunger I was ravenous! I was pretty miserable with it until yesterday when I added protein shakes back in. Now I feel comfortable again and I feel that I can continue on my doctors plan. The pain of surgery was tolerable and short lived. I guess the most annoying part in the first 3-4 days was the explosive gas and loose stool I was having despite all the anti-gas chewables I was taking. Now that has resolved so I really have no issues. I might get a little tired around 6-7 pm but I just try to wrap up whatever I'm doing and join my husband for some tv time or reading. Every day that passes with no new issues or complications I feel happier and happier. I know surgery itself carries a huge risk of post-op infections, etc. I'm so glad all has gone well so far. I'm seeing my surgeon today for my post op visit so I'm interested to know what he thinks of my progress. Take care everyone.

Thank you for telling me this, it helps a lot! I feel so much better today, two Protein shakes and the other clear stuff and I'm very satisfied. I feel stronger too. I agree with you, I plan to follow his advice as much as possible also. I'm going to see him tomorrow for my follow up appointment, it should be interesting. My mind is in such a better place now that I don't have a headache and feel so hungry. Thank you for writing.