DRobjohns

THANK YOU, KELLI! I'm so glad that I found this website because I never would have known ANY of this stuff if it wasn't for the information I have gathered here. I have my appointment for next Thursday and I definitely plan to ask my questions again until I get some answers. I'm sure there are people who don't care to know everything about the band as long as it's working...kind of like your car or your computer, right?! But I need to have all the information. It's just the way I am. I just finished my lunch...and I'm working at the same time...I know we're told not to be distracted while eating, but life happens and lunch was at my desk today. Halfway through my meal, I realized that I wasn't paying attention to the size of my bites and I wasn't chewing thoroughly...in my mind this is a HUGE red flag indicating that I need to do what is necessary to make time for myself and sit down away from my desk and eat my lunch! AND that I need a fill to help me...not do the work for me, but help me. When I came home on Wednesday from the doctor, I felt like I was being punk'd with this band. I have never felt the restriction that others report experiencing. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one going through this. And I'm really glad to know that there is hope...even if it takes a few fills...there is light at the end of the tunnel!!

Thank you both!! I seriously needed a reality check...he made me feel like such a failure...there is another doctor in the practice who does the fills, so I am thinking that I will ask my questions when I meet with him for my first fill (hopefully) next Thursday. My doctor also suggested that I speak with the nutritionist, but she wasn't much help the last time I spoke to her...I KNOW what I have to do...I KNOW what foods are healthy...it's just a matter of DOING it!

That's great news!! Congrats on the surgery and best of luck to you! I also had a hiatal hernia fixed and I think that was what made me as sore as I was since no one else seems to have been sore from just the lap band surgery.

Ok eveyone...I have a complaint about my hubby...he is very thin and can eat anything he wants...so it's been a challenge for me to continue to have to cook such a large volume of food every night just so that HE has enough to eat. And what do you guys do when you just don't have the time to cook dinner? You know...you work until 5:00, you come home, you drive the kids to their games by 6:00 and by the time the game is over it's 8:00, everyone is starving, and you didn't have anything cooking in the crock pot. We usually end up ordering pizza...and remember that skinny hubby? Pizza is never enough...it's TWO pizzas with tons of toppings, wings, etc. This is my life during the week and it's making it very hard for me to make the right choices. HELP!!

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!

I use the Unjury powders, too, but mostly the unflavored. I'm having a hard time finding a Protein Drink that I can actually say that I like. I use unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze, unflavored Unjury, a splash of vanilla extract, a dash of nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon. That is the only combo that I've been able to drink consistently. I wish I could find a ready-to-drink shake that didn't make me gag. I hate aspartame or any kind of artificial sweetener, so I think I'm SOL when it comes to RTD shakes! Glad to hear that you are doing good on Day 4! I also struggled with the liquid phase post-op. You don't realize how much you miss chewing until you can't! My_Turn -- so glad to hear that your dr appt went well!! Don't ya just love this website?! Whenever I need a reality check or some motivation there are always "friends" here at LapBandTalk!! We are all FABULOUS!!

I totally agree with everyone else. He's just nervous. My husband was the same way. He went to every pre-op surgeon appt with me, all of the nutrition classes, etc. And since my surgery he's been very supportive. But he was more nervous than I was about the surgery. Good luck!!

Don't give up! And don't beat yourself up either. Pick yourself up, brush yourself off, acknowledge the mistake, and move on. I'm supposed to be on pureed food right now (banded 4/26/11) but I just can't do it. I'm doing more "soft foods". And I'm hungry, too!!!!!!!!! But I've read so many stories about "bandster hell" that I've realized that this too shall pass and restriction will happen for me. I have more energy, I'm exercising more than I have in a long, long time. Let's just concentrate on the positives, right?! Good luck to you!

The first week will be tough...if your kids are older (mine are 15 and 8) they can help you. Mine were actually really supportive (shocker!!) and my 15-yr old son did all the heavy lifting, reaching, etc. for me...often without my asking If your kids are young, you might want to have someone there with you during the day just to keep them occupied or to take them to the park so you can rest. I know my kids get big-time cabin fever during the summer! I worked from home for the first week after my surgery and I'm grateful that I had that option. I could not have imagined trying to put on "work clothes". Sweats were all I could wear. I don't know if I believe these people who say they went back to work a day or two after surgery. Seems a little quick to me. Even when I went back, I had to use my rolling laptop case, take the elevator, and I couldn't sit at my desk for too long before I had to get up and move around. My surgeon encouraged me to get up and walk as soon as possible. I stayed overnight in the hospital, but I was up and walking to the bathroom 5 hours after the surgery. As for the road trip, you should be fine. Just remember to eat right...pack food to take with you and as another person suggested, bring a pillow or something to put between the seatbelt and your tummy. Good luck!!

Of course you're nervous...you're having surgery! But as long as you have educated yourself and understand the work that needs to be done on your part, you will be fine. I was banded on 4/26/11 so today is my 1-month anniversary! I was sore for a while. I stayed overnight in the hospital because that's how my surgeon works...everyone stays overnight. But I was up and walking about 5 hours after my surgery. They really wanted me to get up and walk. I will be honest...I felt like I was hit by a bus! I've had laproscopic surgery before (for gallbladder) and I've given birth naturally twice...and this surgery kicked my butt. My surgeon said that it's common to have a lot of soreness and fatigue after abdominal surgery. The first week was definitely the hardest. I was sore, especially around the port area. By the third day I wanted more than just broth or Water. But I stuck it out and got through 8 days of clear liquid. I'm not a big fan of the Protein shakes so that was hard for me (finally decided to just use unflavored powder). I thought that I would "bounce back" quickly...but it took me a good 3.5 weeks to really start to feel good and not have the pulling on my incisions. I also had a hernia fixed during my surgery so that could explain my prolonged soreness. I would say that I have only started to feel like my old self within the last 5 days. I don't have the soreness anymore. I am able to walk and bend over and pretty much do anything that I could do before the surgery. I can sleep on my side now which is great because I wasn't getting much sleep laying on my back. This past weekend I did some "Spring cleaning" around the house and couldn't believe the amount of energy I had! Good luck to you! I'm sure you will be fine!

I was banded on 4/26/11 and no lie I was sore for 3 weeks! I also had a hernia fixed, so maybe that explains my prolonged soreness, but I certainly did not "bounce back" quickly like some others have reported. I had a LOT of soreness around the port area. So if it's soreness, be patient and you will feel better soon. This is what...week 5 for me...and I'm only now feeling like my "old self"...meaning I do not constantly feel like I was either hit by a bus or itchy from the incisions healing! I am now wearing pants with buttons and not just elastic waist pants (so stylish...NOT!). Last night I went for a walk around the lake with my family and made it all the way around twice before my port incision started to pull a little bit. I can finally sleep comfortably on my side...HUGE for me since sleeping on my back was very uncomfortable. Protein is very important at this point to help your body heal its wounds. I was making my Protein shakes with skim milk and unflavored unjury on Day 2 as there was nothing clear that I could mix it with that didn't make me want to throw up. I highly recommend unflavored Protein powder if you are having trouble finding a Protein shake that you can tolerate. Hang in there and talk to you doctor for your own peace of mind. Don't compare yourself to anyone else...I have a high threshold for pain and gave birth twice...and this surgery kicked my butt! Good luck to you!!

Since I was only banded on 4/26/11 I didn't really lose anything in April other than the 4 lbs. I lost prior to my surgery. But since then, I've lost 13 lbs. so I'm 17 lbs. down since my surgery! And I haven't even started to exercise yet because I JUST started feeling good this week. Going to join Planet Fitness this week! YAY APRIL BANDSTERS!!!

I use the unflavored unjury powder and it's the only Protein powder that I've found that I can live with. I have no tolerance for aspartame or artificial sweeteners so I have yet to find a RTD shake that I can stomach. I'm going to give that Gold Standard 100% whey in Double chocolate a try since I can return it if I don't like it. Someone else told me that GNC will let you sample things in the store, too. Keep us posted on any other brands that you find that are good. It's easy to get in a rut with these protein shakes!

Thanks for posting this. I have a husband who is 6'5" and barely 200 lbs...he eats anything he wants, any amount that he wants, any hour of the day and still has to fight to keep weight on himself! However, our kids take after me and they are both overweight. I was recently banded (4/26/11) and I'm currently in "bandster hell"...not feeling full because no fills yet...I'm trying to be good and do everything I'm told, but you are so right when you say that there MUST be support at home. I also find it challenging to have to prepare food for the family...even if it's healthy food...because the amount of food that I have to make in order to fill up my thin hubby is crazy! So it's difficult to limit portions for the kids when dad is eating for 4!! I also agree with you on the "food addiction" statement. It's all about changing long-time bad habits and the only way to do it is "cold turkey"!! I've gotten all of the junk out of the house...now it's time to remind hubby that I need him to support me and not bring home bagels and danishes on the weekends...if WE'RE going to do this then WE have to be on the same page. If HE wants pizza and wings on Friday night, then HE will have to go out and get them on his own! I can see that it's time for me to put my foot down and lay down the "new rules"! Good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.

WOW I was banded same day as you and I was wondering the same exact thing! I scared myself this past weekend when I was able to eat a slice of pizza (I know bad choice but life gets in the way sometimes!) and STILL felt hungry...I went and ate another slice and then literally got up and walked out of the restaurant until my family was finished because I was so scared of sitting there and eating another slice. I got very emotional over this -- my husband was very worried about my reaction -- I kept saying, "Why don't I feel full?! Did I stretch out my pouch?!" I was a wreck!! So now I will forgive myself and move on and work on my willpower! I am sooooo glad that I have found this website!! There is always someone who gives me good advice and sets my mind at ease. We can do this!!! Good luck to you!!

OMG I am so glad that I read this post and the answers that followed!! I was banded on 4/26/11 and at my doctor's appt last Wednesday, he kind of lectured me about how I should be pureeing everything and not eating solids yet. Just the thought of pureeing chicken or fish totally grosses me out. I have not had any problem eating anything now that I'm out of the liquid stage (which was TORTURE to me). I am also afraid that I'm gaining instead of losing...although I was down another 4 lbs last Wed (total of 13 lbs. down since the surgery)...so that's reassuring. He told me that there's a reason they have the guidelines on what to eat at what stage...he said that eating solids too soon can cause band slippage. While that did scare me, I still feel that if I make better choices, eat small bites, chew thoroughly, and cut out the late-night muchies (my witching hour is around 9:00 PM)...I'm going to be ok. It's not like I'm sitting down and eating steak!! Don't get depressed...just keep thinking long-term...that's what I'm trying to do!

Wow I'm so glad to hear these comments from everyone! I had my surgery on 4/26/11. I lost 9 lbs. the first week and 4 lbs. since then. I was also expecting bigger numbers and was a little disappointed...but my dr is happy and reminded me that 2 lbs and week for 1 year will be 100 pounds I'm so glad I found this forum! You all give me hope!!

Hang in there!! I was banded on 4/26/11 and the first week was torture as of about Day 3 when the initial soreness started to subside...I couldn't sip one more spoonful of broth and I would've traded my first born for a freakin' scrambled egg!! LOL!! Keep drinking Protein shakes and keep your eyes on the prize! Good luck!!

Hi Bekki, I was banded on 4/26/11. I haven't found a Protein powder or shake that I like...but I'm using unjury unflavored powder (www.unjury.com) and making shakes with Almond Breeze Unsweetened vanilla. I add a little bit of vanilla extract and cinnamon for flavor. I have tried TONS of ready-to-drink Protein Shakes and they are all disgusting if you ask me. I have no tolerance for artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucrolose so this has been a big challenge for me. I think I'm going to try and find a less pricey powder since I'm planning to stick with unflavored...but I've heard that some aren't really unflavored. Unjury is pretty undetectable when mixed with milk. And I'm a big fan of the Almond Breeze products, so that helps. As for my multi-Vitamin, I use Centrum Chewables. I also have chewable Calcium but it's horrible!! So I'm thinking of just going with a regular pill for that. I haven't had any trouble swallowing pills, but I've heard from others that they have had trouble...so proceed with caution! Good luck to you! I'm sure I'll see you around the boards! Donna

Hi, I'm new, too. I just had my Lap-Band surgery on April 26, 2011. I also had to do a lot of "hoop jumping" for both my insurance and for the surgeon. I dodged the sleep test bullet, but after I went to the cardiologist for the standard EKG, I was told that I had to go back for an echocardiogram because my resting heart rate was considered high. I also had to pay out of pocket for the psychological. Then about 4 months into my "journey", I was told that the surgeon I was working with was no longer "in network"! So I found a new surgeon. And let me tell you it was no easy task to get my medical records from the first surgeon sent to my new surgeon. I ended up having to have certain test results sent to my primary care physician and then he had to send them to the new surgeon. Thankfully the new guy accepted all of the tests that I had done up to that point and I didn't have to start from scratch (which is what the first surgeon AND my insurance company told me "might" be the case). I had to go to a lot more nutrition classes than my insurance required just because my surgeon required them. Oh and then at the end of March I found out my insurance was changing as of May 1...so I ended up having to reschedule my surgery from end of May to end of April...which left me less than a month to get all the remaining "specialist" appointments scheduled. Lucky that I have an understanding boss who allowed me a lot of hours here and there to go to my appointments. So bottom line...there are requirements specific to your surgeon and not your insurance. Good luck and don't give up!! It will all be worth it when we're healthy and looking good, right?!

Usually if you have other "problems" like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, etc. your insurance will cover you even if you don't meet the BMI minimum. Don't give up!! I jumped through hoops for 6 months in order to get my insurance to cover my surgery (banded on 4/26/11). It will be worth it!!