Corrigan

Don't forget your PJs and slippers.

You did well. that was an excellent post. Just keep smiling.

Before you give up on the band, try the 5 day band test, (look it up on Google) it just might get you back on track. If you know you're chewing enough and doing everything else correctly, maybe you need a slight unfill. It's worth thinking about.

Keep your shakes, Ted. They come in handy for a little extra Protein. I'm like you, trying not to gain weight before an appointment. When you're trying to figure carbs and protein in packaged products, use the label. They have the amounts of most everything in the package. If you really want to be accurate, buy a scale. Don't stress out over this period though, If you just hold your weight steady, you've done well. It's going to be a challenging period with no restriction. Hunger will be hard to overcome, you'll need a bit of will power. Get as low fat cottage cheese and milk as you can. We need a little fat and a few carbohydrates in our diet, but in this healing period try to keep them as low as you can. Just think of the hundred pounds you'll have lost at this time next year.

If you mash a Burger King bacon cheeseburger into a cup, you'd have about 3500 calories, I'm sure nobody meant for us to do that, but it is possible to get enough calories in a cupful.

Like Jachut said, after we're on solid foods, we need a balanced diet. Low carbs are fine, but no carbs are not. As a recovering diabetic, I'm quite consious of blood sugar and the Pre and post op diets seem to cause frequent low blood sugar levels. I have an appointment Tuesday and I'm going to find out. I did find out! My dr. said there is a very great possibility that people on liquid diets, who become shaky, sweaty and dizzy are very possibly suffering from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and should find a source of glucose, table sugar, or even a piece of bread. Any thing with sugar will help releve the symptoms.

I almost hate to talk about it any more, but I had absolutely no pain, I went home the next day and we went for a 2 mile walk. Not everyone is that lucky, but you may be. Let me know. I like to hear from folks who went to a CoE.

This is pretty easy surgery, all you really have to do is show up. You'll be wheeled into the OR and wake up in recovery. Almost that easy. Don't forget your slippers and PJs. You don't want your butt hanging out of your gown as you walk down the hall. This time next month, You'll wonder what you were worried about. Best of luck.

Sure, it's normal and I'll probably get worse, but as your body gets used to being hungry it should ease up some. I use hot chicken broth (it comes in a big jar from Costco) with protein isolate powder, for extra protein. That helps me a lot. I don't think I'll get any fills for a while, but once in a while I do get hungry and the broth helps. Sometime a cup of tea helps, but you're just going to have to find out what works for you. As for the gas, walking a lot helps most people. You're going to find a lot of new stuff about your digestive system, it's had a substantial change. It'll all be worth it next year.

My port is usually flush with the surface of my stomach, but once in a while it looks like I'm smuggling golf balls. No idea why, but I'll find out Tuesday.

I guess burping is caused by swallowing air, don't do that.

Hi Emily, You're losing about 2 lbs a week. That's about what the surgeons recommend. Some people loose more , but that's not always good for your health. Keep on doing what you're doing and in a year,you'll have lost 100 lbs. That doesn't sound too bad.

You'll just need a couple more fills. The surgeons can't go too fast or you wouldn't be able to eat for a few days. Part of the responsibility for your weight loss depends on you. You can't eat the way you did before surgery even when you have all the fills you need. Your eating habits have to change or there's not much point in WLS of any type. I'm sure you were given guidelines for your diet after surgery. You have to follow them. You'll have periods of hunger and you'll just have to work through them. The band helps, but in the long run it's up to you. I wish you all the best.

The make is Braun, and of course it came from costco. And while you're there, their Protein powder is great (Vanilla), it goes with anything. Thanks for the kudos.

Your band doesn't have any restriction yet, so you can eat almost anything you ate before. There's no problem with your band, it just hasn't had a fill yet. As you go for fills the opening in the bottom of your band will get smaller and smaller until it's just right to allow you to eat, but not overeat. You will have to be strong until you get your fills so you don't overeat, It's going to be hard, but just do the best you can and try to follow your doctor/nutritionist's instructions.

The handiest thing we have is an immersion blender. Prefect for smoothies, mushies (who made up those words?), and super easy to clean.

You might try going back to liquids for a day or two. Maybe you've irritated your stoma, and need to let it heal for a bit.

I really think you should follow your doctor/nutritionist's instructions. My surgeon was an instructor for WLS and he really impressed on me, the importance of allowing your stomach to heal. He said going too fast was the single, most likely factor for WLS failure. Everyone undergoing this surgery, has gone through what you're going through. Hang in there and this too shall pass.

I guess you're doing great! You're going to have to carry bricks in your pocket to keep from being blown away.

You've had two fills. Some people need three or four or more to reach their ideal "sweet spot". And the there are those who don't have much hunger with none (I'm one). I'm scheduled for a fill Tuesday, but I'll probably pass. I don't think you'll ever be able to eat whatever you want and maintain the weight loss you want. It's always going to take some restraint, but the fills should make it much easier. I hope you get to the point where you can lose and then maintain.

I was diabetic with sleep apnea and overloaded knees that were going to need replacement if I didn't take some weight off them. My doctor finally put it in words I could understand. He said "You're going to die if you don't do something soon." I wasn't suicidal so I decided to lose some weight. I'd lost up to 80 lbs a number of times, but seemed to put it right back on. WLS didn't seem very manly, but then neither did dying, so here I am 50 lbs lighter and wishing I'd done it many years ago. Everyone needs to make their own decision about this in light of their own situation, in mine, I really wanted to see my grandchildren grow up, they're just too much fun for me not to be here for them. I went to the hospital my PCP recommended, which was a Center of Excellence in Beverly Hills, a horrible drive, but worth every shattered nerve. My surgeon and the hospital were so good I never the least pain except for my incisions. To this day, as I sit here with the shirt that didn't fit two months ago,I haven't had the slightest reason to regret it. When guys ask "Why in the world did you do that?" I say "Pick up a hundred pound sack and carry it around all day and You'll see".

Kate, I'm coming into this a little late. You have an excellent surgeon, with a good reputation. Something I'd like you to talk over with him, is the band WITH plication. This is a rather new procedure, but it works like the sleeve with none of it's disadvantages. It should be good for rapid weight loss and is reversible, should that become necessary. I've had it and haven't seen a downside yet. The beauty of this procedure is that if your weight loss ever slacks off, the band can be filled for extra restriction. I'm not selling anything, just enthusiastic about it. If you're interested and I can be of further help, please PM me. PS: I didn't read all the preceding posts and just saw this has been mentioned several times before. Add my comments to the rest.

Most surgeons won't operate if you've been taking any type of blood thinner before surgery. About the only thing they allow is Tylenol. I think they'd rather you took a narcotic than a blood thinner (I'm not suggesting anything), blood thinners can cause bleeding.

If you're being treated for hypothyroidism, you're good, some surgeons have a problem with untreated thyroid disease. Low iron isn't usually a problem. You should have a blood test before surgery and they'll correct anything then.

You just gave him thirty thousand dollars, You have every right to disturb him if you think you need to. I'd go back to liquids for a day or so, until you can get in touch with some one. If it goes away in a day of so, you're probably OK, but don't let it go. The pain in your back is probably referred pain from somewhere else. Hopefully your doctor can tell you where.