Hey_Miss

I'm looking for some advise. I was over filled at my last appointment and had to go back for an unfill yesterday. I was told I could eat soft foods and did yesterday and today. As a result, I gained about 1.5 pounds and I'm hungry very frequently. I talked to the nurse practioner and she indicated I should have been on liquids. So that's what I'm doing for the next few days. I feel a little better about that now, but I'm still a little down. Any advice or words of wisdom?

Thanks. I'm trying to stay as positive as possible. I did liquids today. I'm still hungry every couple of hours and I'm a little afraid of what my weight will look like tomorrow. I do have an appointment for Feb 2nd at least.

I think you may be too tight. I'd definitely get that checked.

Hi all! My highest pre-surgery weight was 220 and 212 the day of banding (I did not take the pre-op diet very seriously). In the 3 months since the surgery I've lost 36 pounds. I know it's not as much as some, but I'm happy with it. At this point I'm still on track to be at my goal with in a year. I really hope so. I actually don't really even see the weight loss yet, but I am down from a 18/20 to a 14/16. Congratulations to all of you!

The same thing just happened to me with my third fill. I went in today and had an unfill. Go quickly. I waited 2 weeks and they had to take out 3 cc before anything would pass through the band. Now I'm worried about how I will do with so little in the band.

Like several others who posted, I had some regrets in the first few weeks. Mostly because I was so sore and because by week two I was hungry on the liquid diet. Once I started on soft solids the regrets started to fade. I will say that in the first two weeks on liquids, if I was hungry I had some broth. It helped a lot.

Hi this is Aimee My weight this morning is 176.5. I know that seems like a lot in just a couple of days, but it's because I wasn't eating much. I had an unfill today because of it. Thanks so much.

I'm glad my rambling made some sense. And just so you know, up until now that's kind of what I had to do toward the end between appointments. I have trouble getting in more than once a month and I seem to need a fill before that.

Oh thank you guys. This is what I have been experiencing since my last fill. Almost no matter what I eat, how slowly I eat, no matter what. I'm going to the store right now. I hope Kroger's carries Papaya enzyme; if not pineapple juice will work. I'm calling tomorrow to see if I can get in to have a little taken out of my band.

I used the chewable Gas X and drank as many hot beverages (broth and tea) as I could. The warm liquids seemed to help and so did laying on my side. I got those tips years ago when I gave birth to help with gas. They worked this time too. I know it's awful, but I promise it does get better.

Actually Mattie; according to my doctor what you're experiencing is very normal according to my doctor's office. I was in fact told that after the first week my weight loss might be very little until after my second or third fill. He also told me that it would be very normal to go up and down a little at that point. Your in the healing period and it takes some time. Also, it wasn't until my third fill that I started truly experiencing what some of you are referring to as restriction. Now I truly can't eat much with out becoming sick, but before it was just that I got satisfied earlier and didn't eat as much. Luckily because of the stage I was at; just that was enough for me to lose consistently. That is not the case for everyone. I should also mention that in the first month I lost 8 pounds in the week after surgery, then 5 pounds, then 1 and then NOTHING in the week before my first fill. My doctor said that was very normal.

I know that when I go on a yest and gluten aversion diet, I feel soooooooooo much better. I don't have an allergy, but because of many years of eating yeast heavy foods and numerous courses of anti-biotics; I tend to develop a yeast overgrowth in my system. You'd be amazed at how quickly you feel better.

I'm using gummi vitamins. They are all I can stomach.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been using SparkPeople and I like it, but I've now downloaded both livestrong and lose it to try for a week and see.

That's outstanding! Congratulations! I look at my weight loss in a similar way. I've finally gotten to the lowest I've been in about 12 years and I'm 3 pounds away from the lowest I've been in 17 years.

The same thing has happened to me. I'm working on it now.

I wanted to respond to what a few posters have said in this topic. I agree that FOR ME the band is a tool. I ate unhealthy foods before my surgery. Lots of eating out, fried foods, and fast food. I chose the band because it would help with behavior modification, because I wasn't able to do it on my own. I still miss pizza and Mexican food, but not as much as I thought I would. I wasn't able to stay with any weight loss program by myself, so I've resorted to banding to help me. I have many friends who chose GB and all but two have gained all their weight back because they did not change their eating habits. They lost the weight initially, but because of the types of food and the way they eat; they are back where they started. So it seems to me that it's the same with any WLS. Also, my family member who had GB in July was still on soft foods 4 months later. I know I didn't want that. Sorry for the rambling, but I just hope others realize that it's possible to out eat your band and that without behavior changes I doubt any weight loss program works. Sidenote: My surgeon NEVER told me I'd be able to eat the same way I did before. He was very clear that I would have to alter my eating habits and eat in a healthier manner. It makes me sad that some doctors seem to imply differently.

If it's ok, I'd like to join in as a latecomer. I'm really looking for some help in moving to the next step of my journey to a healthier me. Name, real or screen~Aimee Age~41 Weight on January 3rd~183 Goal Weight for January 31st~173 Current Weight January 16th 177.5 Exercise Goal for January~cardio(walking) 3x a week (I've hardly exercised and I'm really lacking motivation) Dietary Goal for January~drink 64 oz of water a day Personal Goal for January~keep my food journal daily Date Banded~10/11/10 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~35 lbs

I'm three months post op and I still can't tolerate cold things very well. I have pain when I drink cold water. I just don't do it. I did have to take my pain meds for a week after surgery (longer than I expected; I was off meds 3 days after my c-section). Try warm liquids like broth and see how that goes. It's all I did for a week and it worked for me.

It's true that it doesn't work for every one and I'm sorry you've had a bad experience.

You are not a failure. The first few weeks are hard while you are on liquids. I literally threatened to put a cheeseburger in my blender. I'm still having trouble drinking enough water, but it does get better. I promise that.

I've had a little more hair loss than normal, but it's not that bad. I do appreciate the tip about GNC. I'll be going there tomorrow. As for sagging skin. I've lost 34 pounds so far; so it hasn't been that much of an issue. I have been doing some strenght and other exercises as well as cardio to help with that.

I was banded on 10/11/10 and I have been very happy with my progress. I have lost 34 pounds so far and until my last fill I was feeling great. It seems that I have what feels like heartburn or reflux no matter what or how slowly I eat. When I drink cold liquids I have actual pain in my chest. I'm also having trouble even drinking my water each day because I seem to stay full for so long. The water feels like it is sitting at the base of my throat. It's a very weird feeling. Any suggestions about what I can do?

I'm so glad to have discovered this thread. I had my first fill on 11/9 too and I had very little restriction, so I'm going back on 12/1. It's nice to know that this part is normal. I can say that the amount of restriction does have to do with what I eat. I have to really focus on eating protein; when I eat other startchier foods I eat more. I'm planning to follow my presurgery diet until I go for my fill on Wednesday. Whats another week of protein shakes?

Dr. Hollis was my surgeon (on October 11th, 2010) and he also did two of my friends' banding. I have to say I highly recommend him. Dr. Hollis is great about actually listening to you and answering your questions. Even my mother liked him and she's very hard to please. I have had a wonderful experience. Don't worry about the fears. I got nervous just before my surgery, but 46 days out I can still say I am pleased to have made the decision. I've lost 22 pounds and I'm feeling great.