bluekerry

I was banded June 9th by Dr. Robert Snow-True Results-in Hurst. Love Dr. Snow! (I live in Aledo, TX).

Dr. Robert Snow in Hurst (True Results) is great. He teaches the lap-band procedure to other Docs all over the world. He's a neat guy too. Listens to all concerns.

I am an OB RN. It is not unusual for post-partum patients to have problems urinating. 2 tricks I learned is turning on the faucet of the sink while attempting to go and/or taking a sip of lemon juice. If neither method works, CALL your Doc. Never hesitate to call your Doc with any problem. Welcome, and good luck.

I think a food addiction (like mine) is comparable to an alcohol addiction. I am only speaking for myself here not others. A friend of mine who is a recovering alcoholic told me one time that she abused the privilege of drinking alcohol so she lost that privilege if she wanted to survive. I think of it the same way with food. Because I abused the privilege of eating anything I wanted by overindulging, I lost the privilege of eating all the "good stuff". If I want to survive to see my grandchildren I HAVE to give up some of the "good stuff". It's a choice. I would rather give up some of the "good stuff" than give up a foot or leg due to complications of diabetes. It's a hard choice but I choose to live a healthy life and give up the "good stuff". I still on occasion have a bite of the good stuff but only a bite and as a treat. You have a choice too. I am sure you are aware of all the complications of diabetes. If you continue on this path insulin is in your future. But again, it is your choice. I hope I didn't ramble but my point is changing your eating habits and lifestyle is very hard and very complicated. Good luck not matter which road you choose.

I think you should wait longer. But as I alway say CALL your Doc. You should get his/her clearance before doing anything beyond walking.

I haven't had a fill yet.....but weight loss is very slow. About 1.5 pounds a week. I don't have much actual hunger, more head and boredom hunger. I still have restriction so not sure when a fill is needed. I see my Doc once a month so we will see what he says in August.

I agree, but I also think you need to modify your choices of food. You are heavy into the carbs. Try to stick to Protein, and vegies and stay away for all those carbs. My Doc says no potatoes, bread or rice ever. This is a time for healing and you probably don't have any Fluid in your band. My Doc slightly filled my band during surgery but every Doc does it differently. Now is the time to learn to modify your choices and your portions. My Doc says ONLY 3 meals a day. It's hard but I try to stick to that rule. Like everyone says here the band is only a tool, we are responsible for how we choose to use it. PS: I was on liquids for 2 weeks post op and mushies for 1 week. Check your Docs protocol to make sure you aren't progressing too fast.

Only select family members know of my lap band. I don't think it's anyone's business about such private information. When people ask me how I am losing weight I say "with diet and exercise" which is the truth. Most people are uninformed about how the lap band works so why try to explain. They often believe it's cheating or we are taking the easy way out, which couldn't be farther from the truth. This is hard work!!!!

Slow, slow, slow. It takes time. Just sip water and protein drinks. 40 oz of fluid is OK. My Doc sets a minimum of 32 oz per day. I always try to do more. I'm a month from banding and I still have to go very slow on everything including liquid. My Doc recommends a minimum of 60 mg of protein. He says always drink a protein drink every day. All Docs are different. It just takes time to adjust. You may have to take sips every 15 or 20 minutes.

I think that's normal. I experienced the same thing. I now use Benefiber. 2 teaspoons in diet cranberry juice every morning. It dissolves so you don't even know it there. It really helps!

I'm 3 1/2 weeks out too. Was banded on the 9th. At first I had no hunger and was feeling restriction. Now I'm starting to get hungry 2 hours after I eat. I don't have a scheduled fill yet, my Doc said to call when I needed one. I'm still debating if I need one. So far I've dealt with the hunger OK.

It's not unusual for medical billing to have mistakes. They code the procedures a certain way and sometimes the medical assistant puts in the wrong code. Call and ask about the bill and then call the insurance company and explain. I once had a hospital bill with numerous mistakes. They billed the insurance company for medications and procedures I did not have. There was over billing of several thousand dollars. I called the hospital and insurance company. The insurance company thanked me. I always go over any medical bills with a fine tooth comb. (I'm an RN). This is an example of why insurance company premiums are increasing.

This is a PS! You might consider this an opportunity to create healthy meals for the entire family. It takes a little planning and there will be a lot a griping at first but they will adjust too. I rarely fix white potatoes anymore. I substitute sweet potatoes often. I even fix sweet potato fries in the oven. I no longer fry ANYTHING. I fix oven fried chicken and remove the skin for me. There are a lot of veggies to replace pasta. Salads with low cal dressing are often on the menu. Our outdoor grill is used much more often. I hit the farmer's market in search of cheap veggies and we have chickens for our eggs. Eggs are a fabulous source of protein. Skim milk is all we have in the fridge. Yogurt is now considered a snack as there are no chips or cookies in the pantry. So get creative and search the internet for healthy inexpensive food recipes. There is a wealth of info. My husband has remarked that he has lost some weight without trying. Everyone could benefit and your children will receive the gift of learning healthy eating.

I don't have a large family but I do eat totally different from what I cook for everyone else. It's difficult at first. Last night everyone had enchiladas and rice. I had some sliced turkey from the deli and veggies. I did take one small bite of an enchilada but that was all. Sometimes I drink a protein drink before I fix food for the family. It helps curb my appetite while cooking. Tomorrow I'm having a cook-out for all the cousins etc. I will make sure there is some ground beef for me but I will stay away from the potato salad and have only a small amount of the baked beans. It's a journey. Eventually when I reach my goal, I will slowly add more food. But for now I remind myself of the commitment I've made. My Doc says no bread, pasta, and rice (celery too) forever. I think there is somewhat of a grieving process about giving up certain foods. But it goes away and you will adjust. Stay positive and think of the new you around the corner. You will enjoy your kids more when you are physically able to join the fun! And be healthy for those future grandchildren.

I think most of us "fatties" have low self esteem. I know I do. I avoid going places because of my weight. I'm 3 weeks post op and I haven't lost enough that anyone would notice. When someones pays me a compliment for any reason, I tend to discount it because of my weight. I don't know if this gets easier as the weight goes down or not. Try to stay positive and just say "Thank you" even if you don't believe the compliment. It keeps the peace. A skinny person would never understand the feeling of being overweight.

My Doc says no bread, rice, pasta, and celery forever. Sigh. I smell my husband's raisin toast every morning as I drink my protein shake.

My Doc is pretty liberal with his fills. He says if "you're hungry" you need a fill. He just said be sure it's real hunger and not head hunger. I couldn't eat that much food in a day let alone for 1 meal. Will your Doc give you another fill now?

I've heard that band slippage is very painful. But as I always say CALL your Doc. That's what he/she is there for. Never hesitate to call. Believe me, they want to know if you're having problems.

I agree, try the pineapple juice and warm tea or water. Also the pill may be dissolved and you are sore from where it was lodged. Just drink liquids today. Don't hesitate to call your Doc.

They may have given you heparin in the OR, but you can call your Doc and find out. The heparin is given under the skin in your stomach. Some people can never feel their port. I can't. Numbness is normal. You may be numb for along time.

Welcome. I'm only 3 weeks post-op but so glad I have the band. It has changed my whole outlook and I'm really committed to making it work. For me, I second guessed myself a dozen times before having the surgery. I almost cancelled my surgery I was so scared. I am so GLAD I went through with it. It was a piece a cake (for me). It will help give me a healthier life. Just remember it's a tool and all the changes to make it work are a challenge. Good luck to both of you. You're on your way to a healthier and more rewarding life!

I'm only 3 weeks post op but the Doc put a small amount of saline in my band during surgery. For me: When I eat too fast I get a pain in my right shoulder. It's my signal to slow down. I also feel a lump near my diaphragm if I'm eating too fast. Again, I get a pain in my right should when I am full, I stop eating. I've yet to experience hunger between meals but the Doc said that may change as I lose weight and need a fill. I think everyone has a different experience with restriction. I know I can't take big bites.

I've had 2 episodes of stuck. It was very scary both times. I felt like I couldn't breathe. The nurse at my Doc's office said keep pineapple juice on hand for "stuck" episodes. Drink a small amount if you are stuck, it helps break up the food. I went out and bought some and keep a small can in my purse. Luckily I haven't had any more episodes of stuck so don't know if it works. I hope never to have another episode. I chew, chew, chew and stay away from pasta, bread and rice. I eat with a baby spoon. It reminds to keep my bites small.

I'm 3 weeks post-op and adding regular food. It's interesting, things that I used to LOVE don't appeal to me much. I was a diet coke addict, now I don't even think about them or miss them. You may feel the same way once you start to add regular food. Things you used to love may not be important to you. Take heart it does get easier and better every day. I have a commitment to losing the weight unlike anything I've had before. What an incentive the band is.

It's very important that you get some protein in. Please consider a protein shake. My Doc recommends one protein shake a day minimum. Experiment will different one. There many to choose from. It will stave your hunger and give you much needed energy. Take heart, you will enjoy good food again. Just not large quantities. Portion control and exercise is the key to losing weight not deprivation. All that being said, you need to quit having a pity party and approach this as a new beginning and a way to rid yourself of that body that is depressing you. You are lucky, your health will improve and the depression will lift if you approach this as an opportunity, not a punishment. Find another TV channel for awhile, don't torture yourself..