PaBirdie

I hated the bariatric products. I found that Body Fortress from Wal mart is pretty good. Tastes like im drinking a glass of chocolate milk. Not thick or gritty at all. I also use GNC unflavored protein powder for my flavored drinks (like crystal light) or in sugar free pudding and stuff like that.

Definitely too tight. Dont wait and get to the doc for an unfill.

I never liked the unjury products. I buy the unflavored protein powder from GNC. It does cloud my drink, but I do not taste any difference and it is not gritty.

I would do some research if you have concerns. You will have a lot of pain for one. You will not be able to keep anything down. If you are sick enough to go to the hospital, it could be a slipped band.

For me, the recovery went pretty well. The site where the port is will remain very tender longer than all the other spots. Expect a few weeks of soreness there. I had more shoulder pain than anything else. It has been said that the gas will often settle there. I took my pain meds and used a heating pad for relief. Eat slowly and follow your plan and you shouldnt have any problems. Things dont come back up for no reason, so if you have problems, call your doctor.

Bread turns into a gummy mess in your tummy and clogs the opening . On the rare occasion I have a few bites of bread, I take a small bite in between other foods so it mixes in. Meat is hit and miss. Some people will tell you to coat your meats in sauces or gravies to keep them wet and make them easier to go down. If you take tiny bites and chew well, you shouldnt need to add those extra calories for sauces.

When I had terrible problems with burping, it was because my band was too tight. Didnt matter if I had one bite or a meal, the burping was relentless and LOUD. Since I had an unfill, I stopped burping all the time.

mostly small incisions and one about 2 inches where the port is located. You cant feel it around your stomach but I can feel the port when I press where it is located. I have gotten sick and had no problem vomiting. Definitely dont want to be doing that every day because it can cause a slip. This is a life time commitment and you should plan to have it forever unless you have complications. The biggest issue is learning how to work with your band. It takes a while to get used to the portions and making healthy choices if you have not been doing that. Some days you will feel like you can eat more and other days you may not eat much of anything and feel satisfied or on the other end, have a bad day and feel like nothing wants to go down. If you arent doing this for YOU and your head isnt in it, you are going to make yourself miserable. There is a mourning period for the life you are leaving behind , yet excitement for the new life you are about to begin. Do a lot of research and attend a seminar or 2. Talk to people who have a band and come to the boards and ask all the questions you need. When you are truly ready, you will know it.

Thats the whole point. If you cant eat solid proteins, you need to see your doc. I got the 1cc unfill and It made a huge difference. I actually ate meat with no pain and felt full quicker on the solid protein than if I ate twice as much soft food. Getting an unfill doesnt mean you will over eat and gain weight, it means you can eat solid food and stay full longer.

Mushies will most definitely NOT help you reach your goal. If you are still getting sick, you might want to consider another unfill. My doc stresses eating more solid protein and getting off soft foods. I struggle for months with a tight band thinking I would work it out. I got tired of the pain and the throwing up and today I got a 1cc unfill. Will see my nut on wed and hopefully get back on track and eat right now. Don't torture yourself, it takes time to find your green zone.

Been having problems of my own for a couple of months now. Went about 2 weeks after my last fill before it felt like there was a vice on my stomach. After a few bites of food, i feel like someone kicked me in my stomach. I vomit daily at this point BUT Im not bringing up food. When I vomit, im bringing up gobs of saliva. I mean big , jelly balls of spit. I do enjoy warm broth often, and it makes a difference as to whether I can get some solid food down. After I eat, i burp a lot and I mean A LOT! I take small bites and chew it to death, but i still salivate a lot and i feel myself gagging on food after a few bites. Seeing the doc tomorrow and hoping its just a matter of learning to work with the current level of restriction. More than likely they will want to take some fliuid out, so I guess we will see what he has to say.

I had a .2 fill about 6 weeks ago. A couple of weeks went by before I started having problems. Ive been struggling with eating anything solid for weeks and throwing up to relieve the pain has become a normal part of my day. I thought I could work through it but it hasnt gotten any better. I almost called the doc last week and decided to give it more time. After reading this, I realize how important it is to get in there and probably have an unfill for a while. I have read that we can swell up during our period or other outside influences. I was banded nov 2011 and have been frustrated with other health issues, so my weight isnt changing much do to my lack of exercise. Im grateful NOT to be gaining, but I did this to help me lose, so I figured my lack of eating wasnt going to hurt me much. Looks like Im just kiddng myself. Im calling my doc in the morning. Thanks for giving me the kick I needed.

Although I dont watch when I get a fill, by listening to my doc talking, it appears he draws it all into the syringe and then puts it all back plus what he is adding. Maybe it is so he can make sure none has leaked out?

I got my band on Nov 14. I was able to spend the night in the hospital and I think it helped a lot. I dont think anybody should be sent home unprepared. The first 2 nights home were the worst. The chest and shoulder pain were annoying and definately uncomfortable. The gas is finally starting to move and pass. I did use the gas X but i cant say with any certainty how much is helped. The nausea hasnt been too bad but occasionally i get a queasy feeling. Doc made sure I had liquid pain meds as well as liquid anti nausea medicine. Its sad that all doctors dont take good care of their patients post op. Getting in the liquids and Protein has been a challenge. That "full" feeling from the swelling is a deterrent to putting anything in my mouth. I know that staying hydrated is the most important right now so I put unflavored Protein powder in my crystal light. I have no desire for food but have made an effort to put unflavored protein powder in some sugar free pudding and today I plan to put it in yogurt. I have been sipping home made chicken broth as well. I guess if we just use the term, slow and steady, we will gain confidence in our ability to do what we need to. I managed to get in one, 8 oz shake yesterday and plan to try to get at least 2 in today. Dont get discouraged, as we heal, im sure it will become easier.

I am having my band surgery tomorrow and It is obvious that there is a lot of misinformation about the band. No matter what surgery you choose, there are possible complications. As one person said, if I have a problem, its because of something I did. Often times, with the bypass for instance, it is nothing you did, its just a complication, ie: a stricture. I chose the band because I do not want issues with malabsorbtion. I have a family history of cancers and heart disease and decided that if I should get sick later in life (I am 47) , I want to be able to absorb nutrition and fight! I also like the idea that it is reversible should something go worng. I know that with a band, I have to depend on me and my own dedication to make my tool work for me. I think since many people know the weight loss with a bypass or VSG is quicker, it is automatic that you will lose weight and you rely on that. When you get a band, you go in knowing that it is only a tool to aid you in your weight loss journey and if you dont work, it wont work. I think in some ways it is a natural process that keeps us honest with ourselves. Of course those are just my opinions, I belong to an online support group on a site called Daily Strength. The group is called Gastric Bypass surgery, but all the bariatric surgeries are represented there. I can tell you that I have seen person after person post about serious side effects they endure from the gastric bypass and it just reinforces my decision to go with the band. I also know people in real life who have had it and the complications are real. So far, the people I know with the band have enjoyed success with no complications thus far. Ultimately, you need to chose the surgery that you think best fits you and the one who can live with the rest of your life. Dont think about how quickly you will lose, think about how healthy you will be later...

My surgery is tomorrow and it has been about a 7 month process. It isnt as easy as requesting the surgery and then getting it. This is indeed a life long commitment and if you arent emotionally prepared for it, you arent going to be successful . This is why most insurances require a dedicated period of dieting, a behavioral exam and nutrition classes. I felt I was prepared to have my surgery the day I decided to go for it, but I will tell you that this educational process has been more preparation than I realized! I feel stong and determined to be successful because I have a new relationship with food that doesnt leave me feeling deprived. Embrace the process for what it is and dont see it as a torture device designed by your insurance company. Learn from it and go into your surgery with a kick ass attitude to WIN!

If you have been following the plan and continue the plan, that cheat isnt going to destoy all the hard work you have put into it so far. Take a deep breath and get back on the wagon.

My surgery is tomorrow and I can tell you that I still get woozy feeling. The headaches only lasted the first few days and I never did throw up, although I did feel queasy a lot. I was allowed fruits and veggies with my shakes, so that helped A LOT! Avoiding foods with fat, sugar, carbs and calories is essential to shrink the liver. The idea is to force the liver to burn the stored fat that is holding and therefor shrink. All the pre op diets are different and some are pretty extreme. If you can avoid adding fat and extra calories, plus avoid the carbs, you should be able to add some essential nutrition to your pre op diet so you can function bettre and still shrink your liver. Research liquid pre op diets on the net and check out how much they vary. In the end, they still accomplish the same thing.

I asked my coordinator how the liquid diet shrinks the liver. She said that the liver stores fat and when we dont take in any, we force the body to use our stored fat. Of course as it gets used up, the liver shrinks. I am 5 days from surgery and was required to use protein shakes and all the fruits and veggies i want.

I am getting banded Nov 14th as well!