TucsonAnnie

Hello everyone! I have been watching this forum since before my banding, and finally decided to join in. It looks like a helpful tool, and the people here seem supportive. I was banded in November, and am doing well. I have a lot of questions and a lot to share- so onward and forward! Here we go!

Thanks! I have been a very, very good patient. I keep to my four ounce meals. I don't cheat. Okay, I nibbled on a few Cookies over the week of Christmas, but other than that, I eat per the doctor's orders. I don't eat bread, Pasta or sugar now. For meals, I eat Protein first and my veggie "sides" are just a few tablespoons. The doc has me on chewable Centrum and Calcium +D to make up the difference. I am also required to drink 24 oz of Protein shake per day, about 60-70 grams of protein is the goal, but I probably don't meet it. I'm not shedding, so all is probably well. I'm only exercising a little, mostly little walks, a little bit o'weights, nothing major. I like simple pilates. As I lose more, I'll exercise more. Especially if I hit a long plateau. Secret weapons: s/f popsicles, s/f yogurt and canned Soup. Not perfect, but it works for me. I made a bathroom rug out of my pants that don't fit anymore. It's working. I am SO happy and wish everyone such good luck.

After my first fill, I was ravenous. I was so disappointed, as I had starved through two weeks of preop liquids, and went crazy from hunger two weeks postop. My second fill helped a little bit, but I never feel full. I feel empty. I'm hoping I get some satisfaction at my next fill. I feel your frustration. Many of us are told that the band will help with hunger, then when it doesn't turn out that way, we are left to our misery until we can make it to our next fill. You are not alone.

Uggggggh. I haven't been this nauseated since I don't know when. I was banded in November, sticking to the doc's orders and otherwise doing well. I probably drink to much liquid at once. Can I make myself sick that way? All I drink is Water, my Protein shake, no-cal koolaid, and an occasional V8, maybe a cup of coffee in the morning, depending. I'm not prone to nausea. I don't think I have a leak in my band. It's happened a couple of times before,for a little while, but tonight is the worst. Today I had my morning water, cup of coffee and shake. lunch I had my mushy bbq (4oz, bland, chewed well) and the rest of the afternoon I finished 16oz of water and couldn't manage the rest of my allotted shakes for the day. I just finished 12oz of water that I have been sipping on for two hours. I am nauseated, no food stuck. I don't think I am ill. My questions are- does anyone else have nausea this far out? Since I drank my shake too quickly, could I have made myself sick? ( I couldn't have chugged back more than six ounces of my shake. ) Can drinking too much too fast cause stretching? I am just feeling yucky like I could burp up water right now. I'll survive, but would really like to know if anyone out there has experienced this kind of thing.

I went on leave one day before surgery to prep and set up my postop house, then I took two workdays and then two full workweeks off. My work is at a desk, so it wasn't so much the sitting that I was worried about. It was the incision sites that I didn't want to deal with. Even going back at ten days postop, my work clothes rubbed me wrong, and dealing with the postop diet was inconvenient, to say the least. Trying to get back to work to save my leave time was a mistake, I really needed a few more days to get back into the swing of things. In retrospect, I should have worked half-days the 3rd week. I still had some minor pain, and the stress or driving, finding parking, packing lunch properly and wearing loose clothing at my waistline was a drag. Don't push yourself, be realistic. I'm glad I could stay home and avoid the jerks who came to work sick while I was out. I missed a major cough fest. Ouch. Who needs that postop? Be kind to yourself. Work up to it. Don't go back to work unless you have to. Get a pedicure. Visit old friends and relatives. Walk in the park. Relax and enjoy. It's the beginning of a healthier you.

My doctor says 4oz, and only 4oz, and if I feel full before the 4oz is finished - stop eating. I have had two fills, and now rarely get hungry, but never feel full. I'm scared of rupture and/or band slippage so 4oz is where I will stay. I have also been told to keep my 4oz meals 5 hours apart, with no fluids 20 minutes before or 60- 90 minutes after - and that is extremely difficult for me. Between work and normal life, the five-hour rule is causing me to skip meals. I do drink my Protein shakes as directed, but if I do, then I may not get my meals in. It's not fun, but I am getting used to it. Stuffing is over. No way am I going to risk injury, or failure. It's so hard, I know, but Larraine is right- stick to what the Doctor ordered.