MarcyLoo

Just checking in. How are you all doing? I had my 2nd fill last week and feel like I'm in my sweet spot. Going 4-6 hours between meals, not hungry, and am eating way smaller portions.

I popped a port stitch a few weeks ago bending over in the shower. The pain lasted about 24 hours or so. My surgeon said it's still laying flat and there's 3 other stitches holding it in place, plus new scar tissue, so to not worry. Always call your own doc to check though

Does it still hurt? You may have popped a port stitch. TYhis happened to me a couple weeks back when I bent over int he shower. I happened to have a fill appt the next day and my surgeon took a look (or feel)...agreed it was probably one of 4 stitches that holds the port down. He made sure it was still laying flat and said not to worry about it. Scar tissue takes over the job of these stitches soon enough. So, you may have just pulled a stitch or it may have popped free. You might want to call your surgeon and just run it by them. Does the port still feel ok, like it's still laying flat? (my pain lasted almost 24 hours)

I would also present it to her this way; even if you end up NOT exercising, the band will help you lose a lot of weight which alone will greatly improve your health and lengthen your life. Chances re afte ryou lose the weight you'll naturally participate in more activity.

The premade Muscle Milk Light chocolate tastes like BUTT to me...sorry. (and gives both me and my husband horrible gas) I LOVE Bariatric Advantage banana made with nonfat milk. I haven't tried the other flavors yet, but plan to buy another bag in either chocolate or strawberry soon. It's almost like drinking pudding or ice cream...lol

Congrats on the approval!!! You probably will throw up here and there, but it's usually a small amount and just from the upper stomach. It will help you learn what you can and cannot eat. And mostly it happens (to me) from the wrong food (bread mostly) or not chewing well enough...so is very avoidable. Don't anticipate throwing up to be a constant problem, in other words. The preop diet was the hardest part for me so far. But so worth it!!! I've only been banded for about 6 weeks and have lost 30 pounds from per-op diet till now. I'm noticing HUGE difference in my life from incresed energy to just being able to move better. Congrats again! Do you have a surgery date set?

In all honesty I'm not counting calories...because what I'm eating I know won't add up to more than I should be doing (1200-1400). I focus on protein first, with a goal of 60 gm a day. I personally don't believe protein keeps us fuller any longer than anythign else, that has more to do with how tight your band is and what consistency your food is (for how long it'll linger in the upper stomach). What protein DOES do, when you lower the caloric intake your body is used to, is cause your body to spare muscle mass and focus on utilizing enrgey from fat stores instead. If you're not meeting that protein requirement, the body will burn less fat and go to muscle instead. So, my goal is 4-5 ounces of protein three times a day (ground turkey, chicken, fish) and 1/2 cup veggies. I try to limit my carbs but do eat granola in my greek yogurt at least once a day and occasionally I'll indulge in a small amount of rice (1/4 or less). If I'm running short on protein I'll so Bariatric Addvantage powder in 8 oz nonfat milk (yum) or a Muscle milk Light (yuck). I've also done Jacks Links (?) beef jerkey cubes in a pinch, but I don't like their sodium content.

If you're vomiting often and having acid reflux, it sounds like you may need an unfill? It's normal to feel the urge to go poo when you eat. Putting food in your mouth triggers the entire digestive tract to start "moving." So, if there's poo far enough down to cause you to feel an urge it can be easily triggered by eating. Are you getting enough fiber & Water (64+ ounces) in your diet? Both will help with constipation. If you're not tolerating fibrous veggies, try an over the counter fiber product like benefiber or metamucil.

I work two 12-hour nights shifts a week and stay awake the entire day before my 1st shift (and if they are not back to back then both days). I eat my usual 3 meals that day, then eat around 10-11pm, 3am, and again at 6-7am before I go to bed (if I go to bed when I get home. I basically just eat every 4-6 hours when I'm staying awake. I make the meals lighter, though.

Hey all! Anyone up for sharing recipies yet? I've discovered roasted veggies and OH WOW....yummm. (I never ever thought one of my favorite foods would turn into VEGGIES!!!) I'm even getting ready to plant a vegetable garden. My 2nd fill seems to also be a good place for me right now, keeping me full for 4-6 hours. hope you are all doing great!

Yup it's just your body getting rid of IV fluids. :-)

Have you tried greek yogurt? It's about twice the Protein as regular. You can add granola and let it sit for a few hours or overnight so it's mushy. Mashed potatoes. Jello. Mashed bananas. You might try chicken and stars or chicken & rice soup too (Campbells makes both) Just FYI tuna hurts me...

something else that got me thru it was drinking fruity herbal teas with splenda. They're sweet, and gave my mouth soemhting to occupy itself.

I did THINK about cheating many time. In all honesty. I wanted to go after work the day before surgery and get an order of beef Phad Thai and eat it in the car all by myself...thought about doing it as a final meal so many times...but opted for what I wrote about instead. I was so glad I did the alternative. And, since surgery I have had Phad Thai twice now...in very small amounts. I'm only about 6 weeks out, and other than binge I went on yesterday with chocolate (darn it!!) I'm craving vegetables, yogurt, etc...no longer sweets or fast food like I did before. If I get to sit down with a side of roasted veggies or a bowl of greek yogurt and granola (2 of my staple meals there) I'm thrilled...slowly i see my preferences changing. ok, that was off topic a bit. Just know it does get easier. * hugs * The preop diet was the HARDEST part of this journey for me so far. Honestly and truly. And if you do feel a need to "cheat" try 1/4 cup of sorbet or a sugar free popcicle...

I don't feel like I cheated, although my diet was only 7 days long and included one low-cal meal a day in addition to the protein shakes. Starting day 2 I did add raw veggies with rice vinegar as snacks after ok'ing it with the surgeon, and for my meal the night before surgery instead of a Lean Cuisine type dinner I had white chicken meat, a small amount of rice, and plain broccoli (still within my daily calorie count).

I actually didn't talk to my surgeon about it, it was the fill nurse. She didn't say all women will experience this (tighness at ovulation) but said it's possible that's what happened.

The carbonation can cause your smaller stomach pouch (above the band) to stretch out. Carbonated drinks like Coke that are not diet are also high in high fructose corn syrup, which is just really bad when it comes to weight loss. Diet sodas also cause an increase in appetite if I recall correctly. Non-diet sodas made form sugar vs corn syrup are also bad because of the ntural sugar being a carbohydrate, which is not advised for the lab band diet. It doesn't mean you can never have a carbonated drink again. Just drink them in moderation (if I have one I limit it to maybe 2-3 ounces sipped slowly) and be aware that it's an indulgence you're partaking in knowingly (which is ok) HTH

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! I was on a 3-4 protein shake diet with one low cal meal a day preop diet for 7 days and lost 12 pounds. I mixed my protein powder (Bariatric Advantage bana) with nonfat milk and tolerated the taste so much better. By day 2 I was abotu to die so got permission to eat raw veggies...thise carrots, cucumber clices,a nd celery slices with rice vinegar saved me LOL. (I also would sprinkle half a pack of splenda on them witht he rice vinegar for a sweet treat).

Thanks Kim!

It's just my 2nd fill, so it's hard to say. I just had some scrambled eggs for breakfast and can for sure feel a difference. Ate less, and much much slower. But I was also told being tighter in the morning is common. I know with each fill so far I have noticed I eat smaller portions. Yesterday I ended up doing a lot of snacking, I'm ashamed to say. Life stress got the better of me. But, today is a new day and I'm determined to keep it to 3 meals & no snacks. I plan to handle stress by cleaning house instead of snacking My husband is home today due to some legal issues at work (did I mention stress?) so I've asked him to help keep me in check.

I was so giddy when I got my approved call that I swear I was about as excited as the times I found out I was pregnant!!!! CONGRATS!

I love diet snapple peach tea as a special treat! I also tret myself to up to 2 cups a day of non fat milk but I'm not a big milk person so it's not every day

Lunch went well: soup & some soft pork. And, I stayed full for 6 hours!!! I often notice my longest stretch is in the evening ... I just had greek yogurt with granola for dinner and it went ok too.

Thanks for the positive feedback for those who offered it. Ok, so I was not in any way wondering if I was TOO tight. The days preceeding and directily following ovultion I noticed I was at a GOOD tightness (not overly). I was wondering if any of the "common folk" have experienced a tighter band around ovulation. A perfectly valid question to ask others who are banded on a board. It's a question about what other "common folk" have or have not noticed. About life experience, something the surgeon is not likely to truly know about especially being a non-banded man. I kept my appointment today. I discussed my theory with the fill nurse and she said that yes, some women are sensitive and have more swelling during their menstrual cycle and I could be one who is sensitive enough to also have this during ovulation. Because I was not staying satiated for >3 hours and my portion size is just a little bigger than goal, she agreed that a small fill was indicated...so I got an additional 1/2 cc. I just ate lunch, portion size was right on and I'm hoping to see better satiety.

I have a form of Regence Blue Shield. Thru the clic I was operated at, my first 13 months post op re covered 100% both fills & unfills, and any office visits I feel I need. after that self pay is $150/fill. I'm not sure if my insurance will cover them.