TheProfessor

I was banded December 19th, 2014. I'm 5 weeks post-surgery, and had my first fill just yesterday. The liquid diet was tough but completely manageable - talk about a test of my mental strength...! Was SO excited for my surgery day as that would bring me one day closer to solid foods. Surgery was as simple as it could be, completely straightforward and no complications. Sore incisions, horribly painful (expected) gas pain. Off pain meds within 2 days, feeling much better within 4 days. Currently down 29 pounds, (delightful!) although I don't see a big difference visibly. Not feeling any 'restriction' (I have learned this is a 4-letter word in the bariatric world...) although I am feeling a decent sense of satiety between meals. Will definitely be asking for a larger fill next time I go. Had a good feeling of restriction 3-weeks post surgery, but then.... it kind of fell away and I found myself wanting to eat bigger portions. Boo. Currently sitting plateaued at 29 pounds down. Feeling terrific, just eager to REALLY get this weight loss show on the road!

Good for you jennhatten for taking control back over your banded well-being...! Like the other banders who have commented, I am perplexed and utterly astonished at the advice that was given you re: food choices. I was banded by a wonderfully reputable surgeon in Toronto who said Protein, veggies, greens, high quality nutrient rich food was key. Very few carbs (no doughy foods, certainly no breads or simple carbs...) exercise, small portions, healthy, healthy, healthy! And as for veggies and fruits, they are a great source of fibre, a wonderful source of Calcium... especially those greens and non-root based vegetables (high GI carrots, potatoes tubers... anything that grows in the ground). This is your opportunity to eat smaller portions of delicious healthy foods... and when eaten right, no sliming or vomiting. Vomiting and productive burps are NOT normal... they are the exception, not the rule. They mean you are taking bites that are too big, not chewing your food to a paste before swallowing or not waiting 45 seconds between bites. Learning curve...we're all on it with you! Get a bariatric specialist to support you and let the NEW stage of your journey begin WELL!

I agree with everything that has been said here so far - no one is the perfect patient. (Well, maybe this elusive unicorn is out there, but fear not, sister - you are in good, imperfect company!) I agree with other folks that have said that this weight gain is not really an embarrassment, so much as a hiccup. You absolutely DESERVE to get back on track. You are worth it, right? RIGHT. :-) The best thing to conquer the disgust you feel with yourself and your depression is to get out of the pattern of having no control over your band, and get some professional help! If your Doc or surgeon is not available, find someone who is. Make some calls, get on the web, do some research... the moment you begin to take this matter into your own hands, the faster a solution will present itself and the better you will be able to sleep at night. We are cheering you on! Keep us posted...!

j-rod - Get the lap band removed...? Absolutely bloody not! I've never felt better in my life. I am 4 weeks post surgery, 27 pounds down, and feeling like I am making amazing progress. The lap band is a tool, not a solution. You have to work WITH it, in order to make it work. The band is the teacher. I have avoided vomiting and 'sliming' by taking small bites (no larger than 2 blueberries). I chew everything to a paste, and only then do I swallow. I eat Protein first, then veggies, then tiny amounts of carbs. I have learned about "First Bite Syndrome" and how to avoid it. I have invested $16,000 in this procedure, so it will ABSOLUTELY work - I have a financial obligation (and an emotional one, too!) to ensure it does! I have had an excellent (no... SUPERB) surgeon whose follow up program for me with a nutritionist and nursing team and webinars has been incredibly helpful and supportive. No one should vomit with the Band. Getting food stuck (on occasion) and having a sliming episode once, twice or even a few times, is, I've learned, to be expected when you forget the rules. I expect that I will forget at some point, lose my focus and eat too much/ too fast and have an episode. I will learn the lesson when the lesson is ready to be learned! In my learning and research I have learned that regurgitation at night is often caused by acid washing up through the esophagus because of a stretching of the pouch above the band. So what happened with "Your Guy"? If he was in the habit of pushing his band to fight back by taking large bites or eating the wrong foods, then he needs to change his habits. "Pouch dilatation" is something that needs medical attention to correct. You even said in your post since then he's been "super careful and it hasn't happened since". Well - we all need to learn new habits after being banded. If he wasn't ready to make the changes and begin a new relationship with food, he wasn't ready to be banded. I hate to judge or say he did anything wrong. Not my place. Hell, I am new to banding myself. I can tell you what I've learned - that is that the band will NOT work and is CHEATABLE and can/will FAIL if you do not follow the rules. The Rules: No bites over the size of 2 blueberries. Everything is chewed to a paste - anything not dissolving down gets spat out. Average about a bite a minute. About 20 bites makes a meal. No more than 20 minutes per meal. No crap food. (Really, does this need to be said?) Move your body, even if its just walking. No drinking calories (pop, juice, booze). Stop eating before you feel 'full'. Understand the difference between "fullness" and "satiety". Serve meals on a side/dessert plate. Eat with small utensils, like an oyster fork, to prevent big bites. Please do not caution anyone against the band. You are not in a position to do that. The band has changed lives and improved the health and well-being of thousands... THOUSANDS... of people. I am one of those people, and even though I have just started my journey, I am well on my way to losing 100 pounds and improving my health. I have reclaimed my life and would recommend this minimally-invasive, effective procedure to anyone, provided they are willing to LEARN ABOUT and IMPLEMENT the changes that are required for it's success.

Gorgeous words, a beautifully written post, Liz! AMAZING. Your pictures are phenomenal - the light you have in your eyes shines through, pre- AND post-band! You are a light in the world! You are an inspiration to us all. WOW! Wishing you a joy-full and happy Bandiversary! :-)

Hi bandedbunny! I just write you a long private message. :-) Hopefully it might trigger some insight... or at least feel like support! Check your messages. Don't give up - for every problem there is a solution.

Dukeuni - I'm new to this, too, just having been banded December 18th myself, but I'll take a stab at answering your question. In my non-expert opinion, it may be both an issue with the quality of the food you're eating, (liquid, mushy, solid...) at the post-surgical recovery stage your at, as well as the quantity f food you're putting on your fork with each bite. If you tried a solid food like Pasta (typically not tolerated well by a lot of banders in the first place) or egg, while you were supposed to be on fluids, the discomfort was probably your lap-band's way of saying "too soon"! Your stomach/ oesophagus needs time to heal, so you may have been a little quick to re-introduce solid food. THAT SAID, and you were green-lighted to start soft food (or solid food) it could have been that you took too big a bite. Remember that there is only a very small pouch above the band, and no bite of ANYTHING solid should be larger than 2 blueberries. (I know, it seems so tiny!) You say fluids are no problem, but experienced pain with solids, sounds like you had a food sticking incident. Getting a big bolus of food "stuck" above the band feels horrible - pressure in your chest, a crushing feeling... and no amount of lifting your arms up, jumping up and down, etc. can clear it. It just takes time. Get something good and stuck, and you risk having it come back up. Small bites, make sure you chew at least 20x until everything is paste, then swallow. Put your fork down, wait 30 seconds or so, repeat! Hope this long-winded answer helps a little.

Samcat681 - CONGRATULATIONS! And the great news... it just gets better and better. Once that gas pain dissipates (isn't it awful?!) You will find yourself feeling better and better and better... and then when you incisions stop pulling and being so tender, you will really feel like a million bucks. Follow your surgeon/nutritionist's diet plan, and be easy on yourself. solid food will be here again before you know it, so your body's job now is to heal and get used to this incredible life-change! I was just banded on Dec 18th so I'm new to the "other side" too - loved your post, so positive! Keep posting!

Yes yes yes to small forks and little spoons. Buying small "jam/dip" spoons and oyster forks (three tines) at Bed, Bath and Beyond have been a big help, plus buying some really beautiful dessert-sized plates to have my meals on. Makes the experience of eating more of a special event. The smaller, more narrow tines on the fork keeps me limited to those small bites. No vomiting or productive burps yet...!

Yep, I hear you, MaryRN! "Chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew ... until it's a paste. ONLY THEN, SWALLOW." - best advice I ever got! Like many banders, I was a CHOW-HOUND and bolted meals really, really fast. As a College professor, I have ten minutes between classes to get food down, so I would throw nutrition down my throat in record time as a matter of necessity and survival. Sometimes I would have 6 hours of teaching consecutively, with ten minute breaks, so this was all I could do. One of my biggest fears about getting banded was the required post-surgical 'adjustment' to eating slooooooooooooowly. I thought I would have a problem with this, given my super-power of stuffing food down in seconds, but the transition into eating this way has actually been easy. The threat of negative consequences (food getting stuck, pouch dilatation, vomiting) scared me into slowing down. I just keep hearing my surgeon's words in my ears: "Chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew ... until it's a paste. ONLY THEN, SWALLOW." I find it helps to take a moment before each meal to set my intention: "Ok now, slowly and mindfully". Only when I have said this, do I pick up my fork. Then for each little bite (no bigger than 2 blueberries) I hear in my head "chew, chew, chew, chew, chew... until it's a paste. Only then do you swallow". This mindfulness has worked for me well so far, 3 weeks post-op. :-) Your lap-band will be happy, you will not PB, and you will not have any problems with stuck food. Yaay! Add to that, your slowed down, calm approach to eating will allow that awesome feeling of satiety will happen more quickly because you are giving your brain time to catch up with your band.

Wow, is that ever FANTASTIC! You must feel like a million bucks! WOO HOO and well done! CONGRATULATIONS! :-)

You will do beautifully! How exciting for you! See you on the side. Tomorrow you'll be able to say, "I'm with the band". Woo hoo! Make sure you have lots of pillows in your bed to prop you up and support you. Keep us posted! You will be great!

My decision to get banded was a long time coming, and so far since surgery (the past two weeks) have been easy. I had a hilarious "full fluids" liquid Christmas dinner (amazing how pulverized turkey and stuffing and a whole lotta chicken stock can get in a "VitaMix" blender)! So I timed my surgery at the most difficult time of the year - Christmas and New Year. I'm on soft foods now, (yoghurt, eggs, very finely minced 'wet' chicken salad) and tomorrow start back on a regular diet. Roast chicken, come to Mama. And yes, avocado rocks my world! Post-Op - no problems at all, once the gas in my chest dissipated. The gas pain post-op was brutal the first two days - I had a hernia repaired at the same time and this compounded the pain significantly. Day 3 I was starting to feel human again, and by Day 4, I was back to my bouncy self! I'm not anywhere near as hungry as I used to be before getting banded. I eat a small amount (no more than a half Can you pick me up?) of food, and follow the rules... tiny fork or spoon, small plate, chew, chew, chew, chew, no drinking Water during my meals, stopping when sated. Before I used to get ravenous - and I would eat huge meals! Now I get this feeling more in line with "Hmm... I could eat..." Feeling a little hunger between meals now, so instead of going for 3 hours between eating, I now start feeling peckish at about 2 hours. Almost time for a fill, I think!

Welcome to the forum! You will find all sorts of people here who are on their journey... and will be there to pep talk you when things (if things!) get rough. Sounds like you've already had quite an adventure with Mamahood and being banded. I'm a new "ban die", having been banded just 2 weeks ago. I've found the forum a great place to vent and find support. Welcome! :-)

Woo hoo, JoJoNYC - you got this! Count the sleeps and take it one day at a time. You are doing AWESOME!

What wonderful wisdom, ChelleChi1969! Thanks for your warm and encouraging words. Happy new year! :-)

I really liked the shakes and have a few more on hand for future. I liked adding a teaspoon of instant coffee to the chocolate one in the mornings (for a wee bit of a boost in flavour and caffeine!) and a bit of cinnamon to the vanilla. Mmmm! Ah, so you are a nurse! You will have far more professional 'insight' than I about how you are treated medically. All I can say is that I was thoroughly impressed by Dr. Cobourn, the nursing team and the anaesthetist. The whole experience has, thus far, exceeded my expectations. I felt I was in such good, capable, experienced hands, and was treated with tremendous respect and caring. I am so excited for you! :-)

Ah, yes, Dr. Cobourn at SWLC! Dr. C was my surgeon - I was banded on December 18th. Get ready for the best, most professional treatment and follow-up. Wow! I was on the Smartshakes and greens just like you, and only began to get fatigued of it on about day 11. I was ready for surgery and could not WAIT to have something 'different' in my mouth other than the shakes (which are actually really yummy, don't you find?) and greens. Your big day will be here in no time!

Way to go, JoJoNYC! Aren't you clever to have timed your Fluid diet for the new year. A new year! A new you! You may experience headache for the first couple of days (I know I sure did) ... No to worry, this will pass. Take it one day at a time, be easy on yourself, get lots of sleep. Before you know it, your surgery date will be here. It will ALL BE WORTH IT! Hang in there - if you need a pep talk, just zap me a line! -The Professor

Wee! Congratulations! You are about to change your LIFE. Wahoo! I've been where you are (just 2 weeks ago!) and I know it can be exciting and a little daunting, too... the diet leading up to surgery is totally manageable - just take it one day at a time, keep counting the sleeps down and surgery day will be here before you know it. I recommend you read my post in the "Pre-Surgery" forum "Tips for Surgery Day & Coming Home" for some suggestions on how to prep your room and your house for when you come home. Welcome to the forum! How exciting for you!

I was on pain meds for two days post-op. I've got a tender tummy now, but there is absolutely no need for the narcotics. I think the reason I had so much pain initially was that I had a para-esophogeal hiatus hernia repaired at the same time. Dr. Cobourn (my surgeon) mentioned that this is very often the case with people having WLS - that the hernia is often there without the patient knowing. Explained my horrible heartburn and acid reflux these past 2 years! The repair of the hernia seems to be higher impact the placement of the lap-and itself. Glad I got it done, very glad I had some happy pills to take away the excruciating pain in my chest and shoulder and lungs. I'm day 4 post-op and feeling terrific today! :-)

I was banded yesterday (December 18th) and I have made it through night 1! Thought I would post some tips and tricks that helped me have a successful and relatively comfortable surgical day. If your surgeon calls in a prescription for you for pre and post-op meds, pick it up the day before, rather than waiting until the day of your surgery. With my surgery just 3 hours away and a 2-hour drive ahead of us to the Clinic, I almost melted down in the pharmacy when there were four other people ahead of me picking up prescriptions TAKING FOREVER! I could have gone the night before. Silly me. A pillow for the car-ride home. Placing a pillow between your tummy and the seatlbelt is a great idea to protect those tender incisions. For surgery day... bring along a tote bag with an extra pair of socks and undies, your I.D. and any medications you are currently taking (plus of course anything else your surgeon has instructed you to bring). You may wish to leave the bra behind (bliss!) as you almost certainly will not be wearing again to go home post-op. Set up your house/bed ahead of time BEFORE you go in for your procedure. This saves you time and makes things easier when you get home. Set up your bedroom with: Tons of pillows in your bed - you will very likely want to sleep in an upright position as the gas will be painful, and sitting up lessens the pain tremendously! A large sippy cup or spouted Water bottle to sip sip sip sip sip water out of through the night. No gulping! Your reading glasses (if used) within easy reach Your phone nearby (if you are addicted to staying connected with the outside world as I am) Your pain meds bottle right on hand, cap unscrewed (you don't want to be twisting with your tummy wounds. Yowch!) Gas-X dissolvable strips. These really, really helped. Kleenex for the tears (if there are any). I had a little cry due to tiredness and pain. Glad they were there. A night light. This is a great help to allowing you to see where you're going when you are woozy from the narcotics and need to pee. An extra warm and fuzzy blanket or comforter. I found I was prone to being cold and the extra warm layer helped. Your caregiver's 100% attention. Your surgery day and first night can be rough, so having someone to love you up and give you what you need is important. :-) Hope this is helpful! The Professor

Not a "Hibacleanse" per se, (i.e.; using that particular product), but yes, I had to have a shower the night before surgery with an anti-bacterial soap, and then another at home the morning of my surgery. No makeup, no moisturizer, just soap up all over, rinse, dry off, and go.

ReDianne - Me too, me too! Well... I had mine on December 18th. Yours was the 19th? We can hold hands and dive into this adventure together! How is the gas? Mine is just now dissipating. Yowch. Lots of Water. Resisting the urge to just stay lying down. Yaay, us! Keep us all posted on your progress. You will find loads of support and caring people on this forum!

Yesss! Chap stick! Woo wee - dry lips. SWLC (my surgical clinic) told me to bring a dressing gown, but I did not even touch it. I went from being in my street clothes to my surgical gown, then post-op recovery back into my street clothes. MAKE SURE YOUR GOING HOME CLOTHES ARE LOOSE AND COMFY! Absolutely no restrictive or high waistbands. Your tender tummy will thank you!