LadyScorpio

Well guys, these past couple weeks have been kind of rough. I have had no motivation whatsoever. I've had some health issues going on in my family - Mom has had something similar to pneumonia for the last month, Dad has had lots of tests and may need surgery. Been spending a lot of time at their house, traveling to the doctor and hospital for testing and grabbing food on the go. I've gained a couple pounds, but I am the least of my worries right now. Although, I am a little worried that if the test results show something bad, that I just will let go of me altogether and focus on my father. Any suggestions, please? I am on a very precarious edge right now...

I was just wondering for how long do we have to get adjustments? I don't have the job with the insurance anymore that covered the procedure and any related work. My three month global period ends next month, and I was just curious what timeframe is involved with the adjustments. Melinda, I think you had your procedure 9 months ago and had an adjustment this month - how long does that last? Hope you are doing well, Carolina, Kah, Bama, Melinda, Shy....it's too early for my brain today.

Bama, Kah, Melinda - glad to hear you all are doing well. Kah, I hope you enjoyed your vacation - it sounds like it!! Congrats, Bama - that is great!! Carolina, how are you doing? I have a question for the experienced ones - what is good or acceptable weight loss after an adjustment? I got my first one on the 5th and am down 8 lbs so far. Not sure if that is good, bad, or average. Don't really feel like getting bitched out by the doctor, so I want to have an idea ahead of time. Thanks - you guys have been really great!!! Only 1 more pound to go and I will have lost 50 lbs since I started this process in January, and 18 since surgery on May 7th - again, is that bad?

I was out for a week and everything has been pretty good since. I had my first adjustment on the 5th and have lost 5 lbs since then. Bama, I can certainly agree with your struggle, as that is still mine as well. There are articles on this site I have read that show recent studies indicate drinking should not be a problem while eating, as long as you don't increase the portions of your original meal. Sips here and there are okay, but my doctor is steadfastly against it. I'm glad to hear everyone seems to be doing well - keep up the good work everyone. Melinda, we want to hear from you - please don't beat yourself up and don't let the doctor to that do you either. We are here for you!!!

Melinda, we are all human - that is the bottom line regardless of what any doctor says, having this band, or any type of procedure - period. We will have ups and downs and you have obviously done well to lose so much weight - that is a big success in my eyes and I can only hope to have similar results and beyond that with the long term goal I want to achieve. Keep the success in mind and don't let the doctor or the fact that you have had one set back beat you up - I for one look up to you as a role model because of what you have done and the fact that you acknowledge your low points. I'm sure you will come back!! I have a couple questions for the experienced band people - I got my first adjustment this week. Should I still get hungry after a certain time period? I'm talking 5-6 hours.... Also, even after all this time after surgery, I still have more gas than I ever did before having this done. Is that normal? Last, are we not supposed to eat any fruit? How are we supposed to get the vitamins, fiber and potassium? For example, I like apples and bananas, but my doctor says NO! What is any one else's experience? Hope all the recent surgery folks are doing well....

There is so much more to this than what I thought. How often do you need adjustments? How long do you keep this band? and what is the deal about drinking and eating?

The experience wasn't as scary as I expected. I am back on only liquid again for last night and today then the protein shakes for the next two days. Here I thought I was done with them. It appears that I was not "following the rules" and that is why I was not losing as much weight as I should. I was having nuts as a snack - they're protein, so I thought they were good, but NO SNACKING. Also, he says that when I think I am hungry, I am really just having an emotional moment and need to find something to do, that I am really not hungry. So I need to just eat meat, vegetables and drink water. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night wondering if I really made the right decision in doing this.

I have my first "fill" appointment on Tuesay and am a little nervous. Still don't get how I managed to gain weight when I've eaten less and of what I've eaten has been meat and vegetables, but oh, well. What can I expect on this appointment? I hate needles!! Melinda, what is PB? when I see that, I think peanut butter....

I had my procedure on May 7th. I had my follow up on the 15th and my doctor said I could start eating! I was so glad to be off liquids and protein shakes. I have had chicken, hot dogs, corn, eggs, sausage, bacon, fish and seafood type food. All in much smaller amounts, but I have had no problems so far. I don't think you have to stress out, as long as you have the smaller amounts.

I lost 7 lbs, then gained 5 lbs. I was really nervous, but I have lost that 5 lbs back again. I got both the band and plication, so I will see what happens at the appt next week. I was really apprehensive about getting this done - I read about people's recoveries with them being sick, lots of nausea and other scary experiences. I didn't have any of that, thank goodness. The first couple days were the worst, but that was it for me. Even then, only those two days were the only days I took some pain meds. I had the procedure and went home the same afternoon on a Monday and was out of work for the rest of the week. It seemed that all I wanted to do was sleep Monday and Tuesday, but by Wednesday that had passed. The gas was not fun, but that passed as well. I am just waiting now to be able to go back to Curves to I can start exercising again. I almost had the gastric sleeve and am glad I didn't.

Good luck to everyone having their surgeries next week. I must admit, I was much more anxious, nervous, and hesitant about this than other appear to be. I have my first regular appt on the 5th for a "fill", but I am losing weight and not too hungry - is a fill still needed? This is all very new to me... I must also say thank you to everyone here for your support - it has been so nice to listen, ask questions and be able to see that others have the same questions, concerns and frustrations. I appreciate all of you! Melinda, you especially have been great!!

I have found that I experience "lack of bathroom activity", which I never had a problem with before. I now go every 2 or 3 days and that is disturbing - is that normal? There are so many uncertain things for me right now, I wonder if I made the right decision doing this....

I am really nervous. I am not eating that much, but have gained 5 pounds in the last week. Am I doing something terribly wrong? I'm not eating bad stuff - carbs, pasta, rice or anything. I have sausage or eggs for breakfast. Tuna, turkey, chicken salad for lunch or dinner. If I have a late breakfast, I won't be hungry for lunch so I'll have the salad for dinner. This weight gain has me worried. Any advice?

Did anyone find themselves gaining weight once they could eat again? I have gained 3 lbs since getting off the liquid diet and being able to eat food and don't know if this is normal. I can't eat a lot, so I don't know if I should be concerned. Also, when I eat I get this feeling like I have a balloon in my chest and it scares me. Is something wrong? Should I see my doctor?

I had the procedure on the 7th. I just had my post-op appt today and I am down 7 lbs since last week. I can start having soft food tomorrow - no more protein shakes!!!! The first couple days were the worst for me - I didn't have much pain or nausea, thank goodness, but I took the pain meds when I needed it and slept a lot. My biggest piece of advice is to listen to your body, it will tell you what is wrong or what it needs. Good luck and keep us updated! Dawn

Hello, everyone. I have been reading info on this site, but just joined last night. I am Dawn and will be having the Band with plication tomorrow. I have read a lot of posts this morning, and honestly, I am thinking what in the world have I gotten myself into?? I was originally set on having the sleeve, but always had a problem with staying in a hospital for 3 days, and having part of my body removed when it was not medically necessary. So, after my doctor mentioned this procedure, I changed my mind and agreed to this. But after reading these posts, I am really nervous. I'm okay with pain, as I have a kind of a high tolerance, but I'm not okay with nausea. ugh. My mother has been on me about my weight for a long time, so I'm mostly doing this because of her - I am really wondering if I made the right decision now, though. Although, I guess it's too late now. A completely off the wall question, how do you add the tickers? I tend to ask a bunch of questions, and I have already gotten more info from reading this site from my surgeon, so I will thank anyone and everyone for your answers and support in advance.

Biff, I'm in the same boat. I start the soft foods in a couple days also. I still don't understand why food has to be put in a blender? Also, I've heard people saying that they used baby food. Any ideas about this?

My procedure was outpatient. It was scheduled for 11:15, but was delayed until about 1. I went home about 4:30-4:45.

Are all surgeons who perform this procedure anti-carb? Mine certainly is. He states that his expectation is that I am to be on a carb restricted diet of no more than 30g per day. I keep wondering if everyone has to follow such a strict rule? He also says basically no potatoes, rice, or bread again. I wonder did I make the right decision? I understand life does not revolve around food, but I hate the thought of living with such restrictions, especially as I have these past several weeks.

Six days out from surgery. Yesterday went to the pet store and walked around Costco, didn't feel too bad. I swear everything we saw looked so good, even things I normally would not eat - talapia, shrimp salad, and most interesting was crab-stuffed salmon. I think the last time I ate "real food" was April 30th and other than that, I have had nothing but protein shakes, water and crystal light. My follow up visit with the surgeon is Tuesday and I am looking forward to transitioning to soft foods. I feel bad for my sister, who is also my roommate, because she tries to eat somewhere away from me. She feels bad eating in front of me because I still can't have regular food, but I don't want her not eating because of me. I have felt very selfish with this whole process and at times a big inconvenience to others. But, I guess what is done is done and there isn't much I can do about it. I just want this process to move forward so I can feel that I am normal around others again, and others can feel normal around me.

My procedure was completed Monday and so far recovery has been uneventful. Today is the first day I haven't felt like sleeping the morning away. I haven't had much, if any nausea, honestly. The most discomfort I've had is from where the doctor fixed the hernia, which caused a tightness in my chest, also the gas pockets that come and go, but the doctor warned me of that. I was on liquids until yesterday and just had some of a protein shake this morning. So, hopefully things will continue to progress uneventfully from here. Thanks to everyone for your comments and support!

I had the procedure on Monday. Today is the first day so far like I could sleep the morning away. I have had very little to no nausea and very little pain. the biggest discomfort has been the hernia fix and the tightness in the chest, but the doctor warned me of that. I have been on liquids for the past couple days, as that is all I wanted. I have not been hungry at all and still am not today. I had some of a protein shake this morning, but even then only a little bit. I am really grateful for my mother, who stayed at my house with me until this morning and she was wonderful. She helped with laundry, cleaning and other stuff I wasn't supposed to do. My recovery so far has been uneventful, thank God for that. Thanks to everyone on this site for your advice, questions and support - it has meant a great deal to me.

I can certainly understand the emotional instability!!! I have been on a carb restricted diet since January and was told you won't want any after the first couple weeks. That was true for the most part, but there are times when I still want it and badly. This past month has been the worst though. I am having the procedure plication tomorrow and have been on only liquid this weekend and my emotions have been all over the place. I have cried more often than I can count, wondered why am I doing this... and I want something to eat so badly. I have never been so hungry in my life - two weeks of liquid protein shakes and I am at my wits end! Now, the thought of another two weeks of liquids has me ready to cry again. Does feeling hungry and emotional ever go away??

My paperwork was submitted to the insurance company on a Thursday and approved the following Tuesday.

Does everything have to be put in a blender or food processor? Someone at the doctor's office was talking about getting baby food...