ChrissyB

how many now?

It sounds like it's working for you so I wouldn't worry about what someone else says.

I'm concerned about my restriction as well. At 1 cc I felt very little restriction but at 1.5 cc I'm having a lot of problems. Maybe I do need to slow down and eat smaller bites, but some days I can't eat yogurt without that shart pain in the chest area. I don't want to tell my doctor it's too tight but I'm starting to feel frustrated with all this pain surrounding eating. Any ideas??

I had my first fill last week (1.5 in 4 band). I can really tell the difference. It has totally taken the edge off my hunger. I'm eating less than 1,000 calories a day and feel completely satisfied. I hope it lasts!

So we're a month out from surgery - how's it going? Now that the pain has gone and eating regular food is much easier, how is the mental hunger going? Still easy to stick to the diet plan or starting to falter? What works, what doesn't work? Let's give each other advice and share successes!

Question - how few calories before your body goes into 'starvation mode'? It seems like 800 calories would make your body start holding on and your metabolism slow down... anyone know?

When food gets stuck you have a sharp and sudden pain in your chest area. If I hadn't read about it before it happened, I would have freaked out! You'll know when it happens.

When you think about it, 1/2 cup 3x a day isn't very much food. I have been eating yogurt and applesauce and Protein drinks, as I am still on soft foods. I don't know that I'm staying within those parameters but I sure am hungry a lot... I can't wait for my first fill...

The Special K Protein Water is awesome. It's 50 calories and 5 grams of protein and it really tastes great! I've also been drinking a mixture of vanilla protein shake and coffee over ice. It's sort of like a latte.

I was very emotional in the first days after surgery also. I think it was a mixture of the being starving!! and the pain meds. I'm almost two weeks post op now and not any more emotional than usual. Hang in there. It'll get better.

I must say that the pre-op diet was really hard. I was really excited when I started - like my new life is about to begin and all I have to do is stay on this easy liquid diet... right? Wrong. By day 7 I couldn't even stand to be with me, that's how grouchy I was! It's hard to do. Post surgery is easier because you have to do it. Plus, your appetite is a little smaller from the 2+ days you go without consuming (between the day before surgery and the day of surgery). Then, when you start to see the results on the scale, it's really exciting and you want to keep going. Hang in there, it does get better.

I'm almost 2 weeks post op and I get pretty hungry as well. I have been really careful to get all my Protein in - I got some powdered protein to mix in my Soups to help make me feel full longer. I also have been eating 2 Protein shakes a day and at least 1 yogurt (ff and sf). Hang in there and know that you're not alone. This hunger thing is a bummer!

Congrats on your loss!

It sounds like your routine is very strict! I only had to stay on Clear Liquids for 3 days. Then, I could have Protein shakes, Jello, and yogurt. Even with the Protein Shakes, etc, I was feeling very hungry. You must be starving! I feel full much quicker because through all this pre-op and post-op liquids, my stomache shrank somewhat and I feel full quicker. Hang in there...

I'm struggling a little - ok a lot. I could use some advice. How did you transition from before surgery to the post surgery diet? Did your hunger just go away with surgery? If not, how did you convince yourself to work through it? :help:

Some doctors have you do a liquid pre-op diet to both get you to lose some weight before the surgery (and thus shrink the liver) and to get you in touch with the reality that for two weeks after the surgery you have to stay on a strict liquid diet. Apparently some doctors don't require it.

Is this a really dumb question... but, does something bad happen if you drink after you eat? I thought you weren't supposed to drink with food only because it would make the food pass through too quickly and you would be hungry again. I'm just got my band 7 days ago and need some advice.

I got my band last week and physically, I'm doing great. I thought the surgery would be so much worse than it actually was. I was up walking around the same day and back at work already. My struggles are with the food. What else is new, right?! Anyway, I was hoping the hunger would be gone but it isn't. I'm struggling with the liquid diet (3 weeks of liquids at this point). I'm also vividly aware of how much weight I need to lose and the length of the journey is hitting home.

I recommend getting your pain med prescriptions filled before surgery so you'll have your liquid pain killer on hand for your trip. I also think the heat pad is a good idea. Good luck. I'm sure you'll be fine.

I heard someone else say they gained 5 lbs from the IV so I knew it was coming. I gained 5 during hospital stay but had lost the excess water in a day or two. Don't worry... drink plenty of water and you'll flush the excess through your system quickly.

I wish my Dr. sent me home with Dilaudid! I had some in the hospital and it was awesome. Good luck with the pain.

Today is my 6th day post op and I'm getting worried that I'm pretty hungry. I did 2 weeks liquid prior to surgery and now I'm almost a week post surgery with liquids... Anybody with advice on how to avoid falling off the wagon? I had some saltines with my Soup... and some mashed potatoes. I was lucky in that nothing bad happened but I'm scared that it might happen again. I had eaten so few calories in the prior several days that my hunger really got the better of me. Any advice or ideas to help would be greatly appreciated.:help:

I was really worried about complications also, since I too am self-pay. Everything has gone smoothly for me, so far. Just curious - why is it so popular to go to Mexico for the surgery?

I was in over night, which was really good because they gave me serious pain killer throughout the night. Bad thing - it was really hard to sleep in the hospital.

I'm 6 days post op and most of my pain is gone. I am still sore, especially when I bend or stretch in the mid area. Great job on the weight loss! Also, I think you're lucky you aren't hungry. That's awesome.