davethesailor

Hi everyone, It's taken me a week to post this, I'm not really sure where to begin. Ok, I'm called Dave and I'm 32 years old. I weigh 16 and a half stone. I've gone from 16 stone to 12 stone and back three times in the past 8 years and I've had enough. I've done a little research and decided that the Lap Band could be the answer to getting my life back on track. I've read loads of stuff on on different sites, but was hoping to speak to some people who had actually had a band fitted. Are there any other blokes on this site who have had a band fitted? I have loads of questions to ask, but will start of with just one. Can someone pleas explain to me how my eating habits will change after the op. Whats all this about mush and smoothies and Clear liquids? So sorry to bother you with questions I'm sure have been asked before. Dave

Hi Everyone, I have been banded for 5 months now and already have had 4 fills. It is only nopw that I think I am experiencing restriction. For the first time since being banded I am struggling to get some food down. I wouldn't even attempt a sandwich now as I know it will cause me a lot of pain as it goes down and I wil probably PB. But here is my question, I eat the bread and then I instantly get pain as it is trying to pass through my band. I thought the idea of the band is that the food sits in the pouch making you feel full. Why do I feel it passing straight through my band? I'm still not getting a feeling of fullness, just discomfort when I attempt to eat certain foods.

Hi Chickie, I have about 7.5cc in a 9cc band. Although my Doc has told me he has fill them before to around 12cc. The way I feel now is that I do struggle to eat some foods, but what I am getting is pain as it passes through rather than that lovely full feeling I was expecting. I lost 28 pounds initiall but have not lost any further weight for about 6 weeks.

Thanks for all your replies. I've still got a few questions though. Is it right that I feel the food passing through the band as I am eating it? I thought the idea was that it would sit in my pouch (making me feek full on only a small amount of food) for a while before gradually passing through into my stomach? Surely, if I stick to mushy sloppy food it will just pass straight through and I won't be getting that full feeling? Dave

Hi There, I have a band that was fitted in March and it has a 9cc capacity. I was just wondering if anyone else here has similar and if so, how many CC's did it take till you felt good restriction? Also, I have been reading about bandsters finding that magic 'sweet spot'. I wanted to ask, once you hit that spot, did you ever need any further fills or was that it? Thanks, Dave

Ok, I was banded on March 28th (6 weeks & 2 days ago). I have been feeling great since the operation, I am healing well and have lost 18 pounds. I have already had one fill of 3.4 cl. Anyway, over the last 5 days I have noticed an odd sensation in my chest area (gullet) I have felt this sensation twice before. It is the same sensation that I have had in the past if I have vomited and wrenched. It feels tender for a few days and then calms down. I also felt this for about a week after my op. Anyway, the sensation is here again. It's not severe but I am aware of it. It is stressing me out as I am thinking the worst that something has happened to my band. I also have a different muscular pain in the side of my left thigh. I have had it ever since my operation. The only thing that I can attribute it too is when I came round from my op, I remember having two injections in that area. One to ease the sickiness and the other to ease the pain. Could they have caused this pain?

Nothing in particular, other than I was just beginning to eat more normally and trying thye odd glass of wine and spicy food.

Hi There, I had my first fill this Tuesday, I was banded on March 28th in Belgium (I live in London - UK). It was only 4 weeks since I was banded, but I was in Belgium on a business trip and the doctor agreed to give me a fill even though it was only 4 weeks since the op. It all went will and I was given 3.5 cl in a 12 cl band. I was astonished when the doc said I should now go on liquids for 2 weeks and then mushies for another 2 weeks. I was really disappointed as I was just getting used to eating fairly normally again. Is this normal? What have the rest of you been advised? Many Thanks, Dave

Ok, here is the deal. I managed 4 days on liquids and then one day on mushies and then I went back to fairly normal foods. However, I have been sensible and have had fairly soft foods. I feel a little guilty about this, but in all honesty I also feel great!! I'm healthy and losing weight gradually. I'm not advocating breaking the rules, I know it''s wrong. I'm just being honest.

HI Everyone, I was banded a month ago on March 28th. Everything is going well. I don't seem to have any complications at all. However, I am a worrier and spend a lot of time stressing about whether everything is all right inside. I'm convinced that my band is going to slip sometime soon. Is it possible to have some kind of x-ray just to check that everything is fine? Many Thanks, Dave

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to be hinest here, I really don't think I am going to manage two weeks on liquids. I have done four days now and will probably start to go onto mushies tomorrow. Dave

Hi Guys! I live i the UK, but got banded in Belgium on March 28th. A week and a half later I am feeling great! I was 228 pounds before surgery and am now 218 having lost 10 pounds already! A few days ago I had actually lost 13 pounds but have gained a few pounds since I started the mushy stage of my diet. I was not concerned about the weight gain though as I was hardly eating any calories for the first week after surgery. Anyway, I am healing well. I have taken off all my stick bandages and the wounds are healing nicely. I am still getiing a rather numbing pain in my shoulder from time to time. Why is this? Dave

Hello! Well I finally got banded yesterday. I have just been released from hospital today. Too be honest, I am hurting pretty bad. I know it will pass over the next few days, but for the moment, it's pretty intense. The Dr has given me 1000g of Paracetamol to take every 5 hours. I was just wondering if there are any other pain killers I can safely take alongside the Paracetamol to give it a boost? Dave

I just kinda added the cheese slice myself. I thought it was a way of getting some Protein. I did mash it about between my teeth first. I will try and get some of that Protein powder. Dave I weighed myself today and have lost 7 pounds since this time last week!

Ok. here is my first post on this thread. I got banded last Wednesday March 28th. Today I have eaten, 1 low fat yoghurt 1 Glass Fresh Orange juice 1 Slimfast shake 1 low fat yoghurt 1 cheese triangle later I will have a bowl of tomato Soup. I've not been at all hungry, however. I do worry I'm not getting enough Protein. Dave

HI All, I feel even better today. I can hardly believe that this time yesterday I was trying to increase my pain relief and now I am taking less than permitted. I had 10 hours sleep last night and feel that my body is healing itself quickly! How is TheCascadian doing today? I hope you are feeling better. Dave

Hello, I just got banded on the 28th and am still on the liquid stage. Fortunately, I have not been put on a clear liquid diet, so I have a lot of options. What I am looking for is the ultimate protien/nutrient packed soup that I can make myself. I would prefer not to use protein powder, but will do that if it is the best way? I am not fussy and will eat pretty much any flavour? Any suggestions? Dave

Hi Bunny, The procedure went well, I did end up going on my own. It was fine though. Anyway, about this soup, you mentioned about boiling up a load of veg and then just drinking the water. Would it not be better though if I chucked the veg into a blender and drank that as well. I have been drinking the already made up slim fast shakes which is easy, although I can only manage about half of one before I am full to bursting. I will try the chewy witamins, they sound like a good idea. How long did you wait Bunny before you went onto stage two of the diet and had pureed food? Dave PS I have been reading your blog, very interesting indeed! Dave

Update! Well, I'm glad to say that the pain is gradually subsiding. I mean, compared to last night when I could hardly move and even lying flat on my back was uncomfortable, I am already moving about and the pain is getting better by the hour. I have just stuck with the Paracetamol, taking 1000g every 5 hours. The first 3 hours are ok, however, I do 'clock watch' the last two hours waiting till my next dose. It's funny, I did expect to be in paion after the op, but I could never have imagined just how uncomfortable I was. I'm planning to try and get out tomorrow and try some gentle walking. Dave x PS Chin up Cascadian, it will get better soon!

I'm not sure what liquid tylenol is. Is that a brand name. I've done an internet search and I'm thinking it is a US name for Paracetamol. Dave

Hello! Well I finally got banded yesterday. I have just been released from hospital today. Too be honest, I am hurting pretty bad. I know it will pass over the next few days, but for the moment, it's pretty intense. The Dr has given me 1000g of Paracetamol to take every 5 hours. I was just wondering if there are any other pain killers I can safely take alongside the Paracetamol to give it a boost? Dave

I'm due to get banded this Wednesday. So far, I have only told a handful of close friends but no family. I don't live close to my parents. They are in Scotland and I live in England. I am however still close to them, my mother in particular. I chose not to tell my parents, mainly because I was concerned that they would worry too much. My parents support me in everything I do and I know that they would not argue with me about it. My mum though, would privately worry and I wanted to spare her that. Anyway, now it nearly time for the op and I;m not sure wether to tell them just before or just after the op. What is your experience regarding telling parents and family and how did they react? Dave xx

Update! Ok, I told my Mum last night. At first she was very concerned and asked me not to do it. This her initial reaction though and after we had a long chat, she was 100% on my side. She told me she was proud that I was making a positive move. Anyway, I travelled from London to Belgium this morning and spent the afternoon in the hospital, filling forms, having nutritional advice, blood tests and meeting the lovely Dr Dillemans. It all went ever so well. The Doc really put my mind at ease. I'm about to go out for my 'Last Supper', then an early night as I am due at the hospital first thing in the morning. Dave x

Hi Everyone, I've decided to tell my parents the night before the operation. That will be this Tuesday. I'm sure my mum will be fine about it. Dave

Hi Bunnykin, So how do you feel now after your first fill? Was it an issue having it done after only 4 weeks? I get banded in just over one week. Can hardly wait!!! Dave