Dulci

I hope that your surgery goes well, that your recovery is quick, and that you are able to have your band fixed or replaced. Good luck!

I have a Realize band. I have had no issues at all. My doc does all fills under fluroscope and I reached the green zone on my first fill and on the two subsequent fills. My port is not visible, even though I am almost at goal. When I get a fill, I just do a small abdominal crunch and the doc can easily find my port.

It seems like you are having a lot of "liquid calories" like juice and soups. I was told to avoid anything liquid with calories because you are getting calories but the band isn't able to help you feel satisfied from the intake.

I'm cold all of the time too. I'm in South Florida, so I can't go much further south and still stay in the US.

Have you discussed this with your doc or a counselor? After I was banded, I started tapering off of an anti-depressant. As I got further and further down in the dosage, I started having problems with fixations on food. For example, when my DH was adjusting to an insulin pump, he kept candy around the house to counteract low blood sugar episodes. Just having in house made me preoccupied with eating that candy. I would decide to have candy, even though I: a) wasn't hungry, didn't even really want it, and c) knew it was in the house for a temporary and possibly emergent, need. I began see a counselor to get some help with these "head hunger" issues. (I didn't need a fill.) She opined that I may have some OCD traits and recommended that I resume taking an antidepressant, but suggested a different one. My pcp agreed and prescribed the medication. It really has helped. It also helps that DH has his blood sugar under control with the right dose of bolus insulin. He also carries glucose tabs if he needs something to counteract low blood sugar.

You are experiencing what many call "bandster hell". The swelling from surgery has gone down; you haven't had any fills and your appetite is back with a vengeance. This is where YOU have to do the work by following the bandster rules: protein first, eat slow, chew well, and stop eating when you are satisfied. You can get through this!!

I eat popcorn frequently. It is a slider food for me. I do make my own from kernels and I top it with a small amount of real butter. I do factor the calories into my day. Popcorn is a healthy dose of natural fiber and it really helps in the bathroom, if you are having issues.

I quit soda before I started the preop diet. I knew the preop diet would be tough enough without having to give up soda at the same time. I have not had anything carbonated since August 2011. I used to drink at least 2 liters of Diet Coke per day! Regarding coffee, I have one to two cups per day with splenda and half and half. If I want flavored coffee or cream, I use the Torani sugar free syrups. I bought an assortment from Amazon so I could try several and find my favorites. I love the Irish Cream, chocolate, and vanilla.

A warm drink, usually herbal tea, really helps me with head hunger. I haven't out why a warm drink seems to help more than just any kind of drink, so ymmv.

It is so easy to slip back into old habits: calorie creep, snacking, bigger bites, eating to finish instead of stopping when I am satisfied. The further I go in this journey, the more I am learning that I will always have stay focused to maintain my loss. It's a constant battle for me.

I have coffee before work and then a protein shake or protein bar (solid but melts in my mouth) approximately 2.5 hours after I am up.

If you have pain, get it checked out by a specialist. I started having left shoulder pain and I was concerned that it was referred pain from the vagus nerve. I spoke with my PC doc and after an MRI and referral to an Orthopedist, I was diagnosed with a tear in the rotator cuff and the beginning stages of frozen shoulder syndrome. After a cortisone shot and some PT, my shoulder is feeling great!

Sugar free popsicles and herbal teas are my evening go to things to avoid snaking.

I don't understand why your doc is so against fluroscope fills. All of my fills have been under fluro and I have never been too tight.

I have great luck with chewing papaya enzymes when I get stuck. You can get them at GNC or other vitamin store. Some people have reported finding them at Walmart or Walgreens too. Papaya is a natural meat tenderizer and helps to break down whatever is stuck so it can pass through the band.

I had my gallbladder removed on my one year bandiversary. I was not planning on celebrating my first anniversary by an ER trip and admission to the same hospital where I was banded.

I can't do anything flour dense - cake, crackers, breads. My band just doesn't like them. I can do any meat, if I take small enough bites and chew it long enough. But steak requires so much chewing that it just gets icky and I don't want it before it's chewed enough.

I have an app on my phone called, "Drink Water". You tell the app how many glasses of water you want to drink per day and the hours that you want to drink, like between 7 AM and 11 PM. The app reminds me throughout the day to drink. When I finish my 8 glasses, it cheers and applauds me.

Ask your surgeon about taking Ibuprofen. My doc said not to take any Nsaids, including aspirin and ibuprofen. I am currently dealing with a small rotator cuff tear, bursitis and tendinitis in my left shoulder and my band doc and my ortho are in agreement that I should not take any kind of anti-inflammatory because of the risk of band erosion.

I was on liquids for a week post op. When I went in for my first follow up, I was cleared to go to mushy (yogurt, pudding like consistency.)

Popcorn is my go-to treat when I want something crunchy and salty. I take regular kernels and put them in a brown paper bag in the microwave. I top it with a tablespoon of real butter - so indulgent and yummy. I read the ingredients on a label of microwave popcorn and I decided that I would rather have the real ingredients and just account for the fat and calories in my planned food for the day.

1. Parking on the top floor of the parking garage on purpose and taking the stairs by choice. Some mornings I used to use my DH's disabled parking pass because my knees hurt too badly to walk. 2. Folding clothes. I keep thinking that my shirts shrank in the dryer because they are so small. I slip them on, and they fit! *I* wear a size small. 3. Seeing my PCP. Last time, she told me to check in with her next year, unless I have something pop-up sooner. No more quarterly visits for med refills. 4. Going to the beach. 5. Looking in the mirror.

Drinking while you are eating is a hard habit to break. It's best to start now while you are in the "honeymoon" period.

Popcorn is my go to snack food when I want to feel like I'm splurging. I allow myself to have 3 cups with 1 Tbs of melted butter. Like Missy said, I do measure the portions and log the calories/fat.

It is frustrating how inconsistent doctors are about bandsters. I recently diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, tendinitis and bone spurs in the shoulder. I was given a cortisone shot and muscle relaxers. Both my PCP and Ortho deferred to my Bariatric docs ban on any NSaids for me. However, I also have some gastro issues: recurring, intermittent abdominal pain and elevated liver enzymes. So the ban on NSaids could be related to those issues. All of my medical treatment is through Cleveland Clinic Florida (PCP, Ortho, Gastro, and Bariatric) -- it's great because all of my records and test results are available to all of my docs (and to me) via their online medical record system.