DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Wow you're doing amazing!! Protein is so important to combat hair loss. I also find taking 5000mg of Biotin daily helps a lot, too.

You have to ask your doctor. Post op diets are strict and you need to do exactly as your doctor says.

I know I am but the scale doesn't show it yet *pouts*. I currently weigh 213 but I had over 12 pounds of skin removed (10 days ago) and have lost another 4 pounds on top of that. So, once the swelling from this recent surgery goes down I'll be under 200. I'm praying that's sooner than later so I can officially be there!

Sure, there are many vegetarians with the band. You just have to be very careful to eat healthy and get enough protein from other sources.

If it continues, I'd speak to your doctor. It could be Restless Leg Syndrome and they can give you drugs to alleviate it.

I am seriously freezing all the time now. Before losing weight, I would wear short sleeves in the winter because I was always so sweaty. Now, it's 70 degrees outside and I'm wearing a hoody and freezing, In fact even as I type this right now, I'm covered in a thick fuzzy blanket yet still cold. Fat is insulation. The more fat you lose, the less insulation you have. It makes sense we're cold.

I definitely have/had this problem!! I can remember being in elementary school worrying about my thighs being too fat. All through junior high and high school, I was "the big girl" or "the fat girl". I weighed over 300 pounds by the time I was 21 years old and over 400 pounds for the decade before I had Lap Band surgery. Now I don't know if this is you, but it's an honesty moment for me: I have always come across very self confident to the outside world. I'm very talkative and have no hesitation speaking against the herd if I believe strongly in something. When someone did comment about my weight, I put them in check right quick. But the truth is? Under it all, I was mortified of my own appearance and was anything but confident in it. I just refused to admit or show it to anyone else. Letting go of that "fat girl" identity has been hard at times but also incredibly freeing. After losing 200 pounds (and still losing), I'm still very much "me" personality wise. The only difference is now I'm also very happy, too. Currently I am healing from a tummy tuck/skin removal/and hernia repair as a result of all the lost weight. It's crazy because I'm wearing these cute little shirts in woman's size large and for the first time in about 20 years I'm not trying to hide my nasty tummy. The whole process, from the first pound lost until now, has been not only one big learning experience but a huge process of self discovery. You will still very much be "you". You will just be a new improved you

The best advice I can give you is to do your homework. Research the facts on both the band and the sleeve thoroughly. Find a bariatric doctor near you and go to a free seminar and learn about both. It's very important to learn all the facts and not base your decision based on anecdotal evidence online. It's also really important to realize that no matter what you choose, you have to remember all weight loss surgeries are just tools not magic cures for fat. You will have change your eating habits and lifestyle forever regardless of which surgery you choose. On a personal note, getting the Lap Band is by far the best decision I've ever made for myself. I've lost over 200 pounds over the last 16 months. My life is truly amazing. I'm doing and seeing things I never ever thought I'd get to experience. I absolutely love my band and how it's helped me change my life. Best wishes on whatever you choose is best for you

You can for dinner, especially on high carb days

I can only speak for myself, but I thought the Lap Band surgery was a breeze. I was at maybe a pain level 5 the first day but I didn't even need pain meds after I got out of the hospital. This is in comparison to many abdominal surgeries, including hernia repair, a c-section, gallbladder removal, and currently tummy tuck/skin removal. The Lap Band surgery was like stubbing my toe compared to the rest. No biggie whatsoever.

Your port you could feel. Your band you can not feel, it's way too deep in your abdominal cavity. If the pain is severe then you should either call your doctor or go to the ER.

Medicare's requirements are changing all the time. I could be wrong, but last I knew you had to have a BMI of at least 40 or a BMI of 35 with at least 2 comorbidities. Your best bet is to talk to your surgeon's office. They'll know what's needed.

I can tell you this- you didn't gain weight from eating 1200 calories a day. It's simply not possible because at 1200 calories a day because you're still in a calorie deficit. Plus, slight fluctuations in weight are very normal and expected. I eat around 1000-1200 calories a day. I find if I eat less than 1000 calories a day my weight loss slows considerably.

I do definitely tighten up around that time of the month. Without a doubt. When you say "sick" and "gut reaction", do you mean retching? Like the act of vomiting but without the vomit? If so, you need to contact your doctor to figure out the cause. Even if nothing actually comes up, if you're retching you are putting your band at risk.

You're totally correct and that's the way it should be. That "soft stop" is what we need to listen to but unfortunately many don't. Even more unfortunate is the fact way too many realize early on it's quite easy to eat around the band and beyond that "soft stop". Making it even harder, foods like Protein will often trigger that soft stop early but slider foods we can eat almost unlimited without any soft stop whatsoever. For instance, if I wanted to eat a gallon of ice cream or a bag of chips, I could easily because they're slider foods. Not listening to that satisfied soft stop is what leads people to eating too much and getting over-filled expecting the band to physically force them to stop eating. Just looking through these forums you'll find thread after thread of people binging and grazing- despite the fact they're in the Green Zone.

Unfortunately no. It has to be mush and baby food consistency before chewing it.

Anything you can put through a blender and mush to baby food consistency you can have. Tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad, or ham salad put through a blender are great. You can even blend cottage cheese or plain yogurt into cream Soups for extra Protein. Chili put through the blender with some cream cheese is yummy, too. Just think protein and blender.

Protein is going to be your best friend. Protein shakes are a good start. What post op diet phase are you on?

I can't figure it out, either. Sometimes in the evenings I'll check this site on my phone but because I can't see profiles (or even signatures) I often don't respond until I'm on my lap top and can actually see everything again.

On the liquid phase, you can only have liquids, no meats or chunks of any kind.

It will restrict the amount as far as size of bites and how fast you can eat. Definitely. You will definitely get stuck if you try to mow through a pile of food like you used to. But stopping you from eating? No. I'm here to tell you that if you want to eat a pile of food you will. People eat around the band ALL the time. It's very easy to pace yourself and ignore "stop" signals if you really want to. There is another good article called "Tighter isn't always better". What you're expecting the band to do, physically stop you from eating, is exactly how people end up with bands way too tight and slips because of it. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/post-op-support/tighter-isnt-always-better-r118 I'm truly sorry either you got bad information or didn't understand the information given to you. You have been given all the correct and necessary information from various sources on this thread. What you choose to do with that information is completely up to you. Just remember though- just because you don't like the truth doesn't make it any less true nor does it negate the consequences for ignoring it. Best wishes.

That sounds like air still trapped from surgery and the reason you can't burp it out is because it's in your abdominal cavity not your digestive system. The best thing you can do is walk a lot to help your body absorb it faster.

I'm truly sorry you feel this way. I'm also sorry you didn't receive helpful information before you got the band. But you need to realize that would be the case no matter which WLS you choose- band, sleeve, or bypass- they are just tools. It will always be up to you to make smart food choices. It will always be up to you to control yourself so you don't over-eat. You can over-eat with any of the surgeries if you want to. In fact, this is exactly why we're seeing so many band over bypass patients- because they've chronically overate and stretched their pouch. The same happens with the sleeve. And btw, the majority of bandsters do not have throwing up episodes. In fact, vomiting is very dangerous with the band and should be avoided at all costs. Most of us never have them unless we're ill. I understand what you're saying about eating beyond satisfaction. A lot of us have done this chronically before WLS. Myself included. There is a very popular saying around here "the band goes around your stomach not your head". That's because while the band can greatly help deal with the physical aspect of hunger it can't change our unhealthy head habits when it comes to food. You have an amazing tool at your disposal. Why not learn to use it rather than giving up before you even start? Best wishes.

I agree with the others, it sounds like your body is going through withdrawal shock. It will definitely pass as your body gets used to it but it will likely be rough a couple days. One other possibility- do you ever have blood sugar issues? If you're drastically cutting carbs, your blood sugar could be bottoming out and making you feel the way you describe.