Sojourner

There seems to be a wide variation in surgeon instructions. With my doctor, and the dietitian on his staff, patients are to avoid all "white carbs" and to the greatest extent possible all processed foods. I choose to keep things as simple as I can; cut up fresh fruit, steamed veggies and salad greens for carbs, and roasted chicken and broiled fish with lemon juice. Bland, yet not boring, because I use seasonings to make things different when I get bored. I was also advised that I needed to wait until 6 months post op to try any rice or pasta, and then only brown rice or whole grain pasta. Good luck!

My post op instructions were to have only Clear liquids the first 2 days, and then progress to Protein shakes for the next 2 weeks. I recall that I had 4 shakes a day, and drank water in between. I was advised not to have any cream Soups, as they can be heavy and have too many calories for the amount of protein they contain. It is essential and most important for you to meet your protein goals every day. During those 2 weeks, I had intense cravings for salt on 2 different occasions. Clear chicken broth helped immensely. Right now is a time for healing post op, and adjusting to understanding the different signals from your body. At this stage, (no fill yet), when I get hungry, it is my cue to drink the water or other clear "free fluids" (sugar free, caffeine free). I make it a priority to meet the daily goal of a minimum of 60oz of fluids every day. I was told by my surgeon that while on the liquids I was to have skim milk to mix with the Protein powder. It was not easy to remain compliant, but I did. I was able to avoid getting hungry at that stage, as I was still adjusting to having my band. Good luck with all this, take a day at a time...

If you are dedicated, believe in yourself. You did not come this far in your weight loss journey to fail. People often post who are having difficulties with maintaining a positive attitude, and there is nothing wrong in asking for support from others on the same walk. "Self talk" is a powerful tool; make a rule that you will only weigh yourself 1 or 2 times a week. Understand that we do reach weight loss plateaus, and they can be frustrating if you let them. Persevere with compliance with your diet...the scale will move in the right direction. I've been there, too...so I do have empathy and some genuine understanding of your feelings. Keep your focus...and best of luck. You can do this...

Only being 7 weeks out from surgery, I have repeatedly been cautioned about having Pasta or rice until I reach the 6 month post op date. At that time, I was told by the dietitian that I could try to have a small (2 oz) portion of brown rice or whole wheat pasta. It's going to be a life time change for me to switch to brown rice, which I like, and whole wheat pasta, which I do not like. No matter what the food, the less processed it is, the healthier of a choice it will be. I was instructed to stay away from "everything white". So far, it has not been too much of a challenge. Good luck with your weight loss journey!

It's important for the success of your weight loss journey to not "beat your self up" or express shame when you have a lapse in sound decisions in your diet. What you need to do is refocus your thinking; keep a food journal, make planning your meals simple, and stay with the basics. A few simple rules to help: focus on getting your protein first. Stay away from processed food as much as possible. When I get hungry, that is my cue to begin to drink the fluids I need every day. Don't obsess with the scale every day. Exercise at least 5 days a week for 30 minutes. Re-center your thinking to keep prominent for you the reasons you began this journey... I hope that this helps...remember, we are human, not perfect. I "misbehaved" on Easter with a small piece of cake, but the next day I was back into my routine. Good luck!

I have not had my first fill either...but I did get one of my pills stuck. It was actually one of the smaller pills I take. It felt like a burning sensation in my esophagus for around 30 minutes. I have learned that I need to wait at least 2 minutes between pills to avoid stuck pills.

I asked my son, who is a dentist about this topic. He said that a normally healthy individual would not need to take an antibiotic prior to a dental appointment. Only exception might be if there was an oral infection present. I had a dentist appointment a month after getting banded, and had no negative events occur. Still, I would seek a clarification from your doctor so that you know for the future.

I just wanted to share my experience at my appointment last week, with the hope that others will be able to avoid the same situation...I attended my first appointment since my post op, and mentioned to the nurse and doctor that I had been ill with (please excuse the indelicate word-- diarrhea) for the past 3 days, and that I now was experiencing nausea for the past 2 days. The doctor referred back to my kidney function tests taken earlier in the month, which were not normal. His immediate diagnosis was that I was severely dehydrated, with my electrolytes not in proper balance. I was not even feeling thirsty... So, instead of my first fill, I was sent immediately to the ER at the hospital connected with the physician's office building. I had to spend 2 hours with an IV drip of saline to re-hydrate me. At least when I left the hospital, I was no longer nauseous. I don't have an appointment until 6 weeks from now...and I'm feeling very discouraged. Life lesson learned: Make it a goal to drink all of your recommended fluids every day, especially if you have other conditions which might dehydrate you. Good to read that everyone is doing well!

I was sent home from the hospital with a prescription for anti nausea suppositories. Holly may be correct; opiate pain medications are notorious for causing nausea and vomiting. If you have not already contacted your doctor, do so ASAP and avoid getting dehydrated. Hope you feel better fast...good luck!

I also have to say that I agree with what the other members have written. It does sound like you never received a proper education about diet and how the band helps with weight loss. Everything you eat should be measured. My doctor and staff recommend 3 oz. of quality Protein (lean meats and poultry), and 2 oz. of a Fiber carb (strawberries, sweet potato, broccoli) for every meal. Eat the protein first, and stop eating when you feel full. Use FRESH everything; the less processed the food is, the healthier it is for your nutrition. When I find myself getting hungry between meals, that is my cue to start drinking some of the 60-80 oz of "free fluids" ( anything no calorie and sugar free from Crystal Lite, to tea, to Water. I prefer water). Evening hunger does happen, so that is the time I have my Protein shake or drink 8 oz of skim milk. Be certain that the Protein powder or ready made product contains 100% whey isolate protein. I have purchased mine at GNC. Injury products are available online, and also through my doctor's office. They are a brand of bariatric products from Soup to shakes which have good feedback from users, however I have never tried any of them. Also, if you are not consuming enough protein daily, it will slow your weight loss. ​I hope this information helps...and I believe that you would benefit from meeting with a dietitian. Good luck!!

My experience with slowed weight loss is similar...frustrating and sometimes difficult to stay motivated. As my doctor told me, the band provides the slowest rate of weight loss, and 1-2 pounds a week is considered good progress. We are all individuals, so it does not help psychologically to compare yourself to others. Another consideration is that as you loose fat and build muscle, you are really making progress, it is just more difficult to see. The numbers on the scale seem stuck, but you are becoming more fit...always a good thing! Keep up the good work...you will reach your goals if you stay focused on the goal! Good luck!!

I have experienced the same event...I am compliant with the diet, exercise, and have lost only 1 pound since starting on soft foods. Muscle weighs more than fat, so while you are building muscle through exercise, you are loosing the fat, which the scale does not reflect. Keep focused...you will see the results. Remember also, that the band has the slowest weight loss rate. Keep up the great work!!

******************* I need to write a correction to this post...The perfect kids meal is on the menu at Chick-fil-A !! Really long day yesterday...our youngest grandson celebrated his first birthday. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused... ******************

So, while I am ecstatic about being able to have "soft foods", the weight loss has slowed way down... , despite exercising 5-6 days a week. My husband is much happier now also since we have been able to resume our date nights and go places again! Today I was thrilled to have discovered the PERFECT meal for a bandster...a Kid's meal at Wendy's!! It consisted of grilled chicken nuggets (came with 4, though I only ate 3 of them, and a side order of fresh fruit(more than my allowed 2 oz, so my husband finished it)! Awesome!! Life is starting to look and feel more normal now:) Signs of progress...now wearing my smaller size clothing again. Life is good!! Keep up the excellent work, and please continue to share all of the great and inspiring success stories with the rest of us...

Thanks for sharing your journey thus far...an inspiring story of success. We must have been in very similar situations, as my weight loss so far and the distance I have to yet go are just about the same as you...only I am much older. And the physical challenges limit me to cardio usually 5-6 days a week. I believe that everyone has their moment when they realize that they must do something to help themselves improve their health and wellbeing. Wishing you...and me continued success!

I have felt sick if I have not been mindful about eating slow enough...which means that bites need to be small (I was advised by my dietician to keep bites no larger than a dime), chew a minimum of 20 times, and every meal should take 20 minutes from start to finish. Hope you feel better fast!

Felkatz, Actually what you have done by writing your history and determination to make the necessary changes to become successful is the best therapy...you are holding yourself accountible. If we are going to make major changes in our relationship with food, we have to want it for us. You seem to have finally made a decision about what direction you want to take in your life! Great writing, and all best luck and focus as you move forward towards success!

I was banded on 2/24, and this was the first day I was allowed to have soft yet solid food. I did fairly well with following the list of allowed foods, though I am feeling a little nauseous for the first time since the surgery. Breakfast was a small egg omlet with a very small amount of cheddar cheese, 2 oz of banana. Lunch: 3 oz of shaved turkey and another 2 oz of banana. Dinner: 3 oz of grilled sea scallops and 2 oz of steamed broccoli. Now it's time for some milk...I was unable to drink nearly as many oz of free fluids today...having to force myself to eat when not really hungry. Today was also the first day that I really left the house for an all day excursion since my surgery. Today was a belated birthday celebration, so 2 meals were at restaurants. I believe I did well, all things considered. Though it does seem to me that I must be gaining weight eating so much...

MrsRicco80...Please see my post where I inadvertently did not quote your post! Take care!

Another consideration is to be certain that you are meeting your protein goals on a daily basis. If you don't have enough protein, you will get hungry much faster, and will slow your weight loss. Today was my first day of the 2 week soft food diet!! I was so happy to have a scrambled egg and 2 oz of banana slices...talk about really appreciating the simple things in life!

From what I have read, make certain that you are getting all of the daily protein you should. The dietician who works with my surgeon told us in class that if you have less protein than you are supposed to have (the amount varies by age and weight), it will slow your weight loss. Just a thought to consider...I believe we are all our own worst critics. Towards the cause of emotional health: Rant on!!

So nice to read a post from you...it's been awhile! You did not mention any recent appointments with your surgeon. From what I have read, hunger between meals means that the band is in need of adjustment. I am just starting to get hungry, and that's the time I get a glass of the milk or cup of yogurt I am supposed to have 2 times a day. I don't see my surgeon until 3/29, and he has already told me that he will not be adjusting my band at that appointment. My band is still empty. Great work so far...happy for both of us!

Most states have a professional regulatory board to monitor the unethical practices of licensed medical professionals. I would most certainly report these suspect charges for services to your insurance company. Legally, you can dispute these charges, which will create a "red flag" for the insurance company to investigate further. Even if this situation would end up going to collections, it is your legal right to have included a statement from you as to why the disputed bill was not paid. I'm really sorry you have to deal with a situation like this...I was seriously injured last year in a car accident, and all funds from insurance to cover my medical bills were in an escrow account with payments handled through my attorney's office. Though I contacted them, they demanded that I pay them from my own funds, which is not legal to do in the state where I live. The best defense is a good offense...good luck!

Every doctor is a bit different; my meals can only be 5 oz; 3 of protein and 2 oz of a fiber carb. You did not mention if you have had any fills to your band yet. Generally, if you are getting hungry, it is a sign that your band needs to be adjusted. How much would be your doctor's decision. I have not had any fills yet, and am finding that I am getting hungry between my meals. I distract myself with sipping water or chewing SF gum (be careful not to swallow it!). I've found that the ultimate difference with loosing the weight and keeping it off is to exercise as much as you are realistically able to and not obsess about it. I was encouraged by the dietician to purchase a pedometer and track the number of steps I take daily...and steadily increase the number. There are many ways to approach using the band, but I believe compliance with the recommended diet and exercise is the best way for me! Good luck!!