wildrose1966

Sip sip away, liquids will not hurt you at all. (I was a freak on the liquid stage as my instructions said 4-6 oz and I was drinking a whole optifast - 12 oz....) Called my clinic, as swelling goes down, hunger increases, liquids will not hurt you or your band at all. If your drink is thick like yogart, I would treat it like food not liquid.

I was banded on a Monday and took stool softener (overdid it a bit) and ended up with the runs on Friday.........almost 6 weeks out and I still have to take softener every few days.

I was told that as long as I didn't have 'scabs' I would be okay in a pool or tub..........but take it easy if you are swimming to exercise.

I just had my first fill today, I had 1cc in the band and she added 1cc. I asked a few questions and apparantly my clinic does not add more than 1cc at a time.......just the way they do things. I don't pay for fills, so that is not the issue, but it seems like it might be a much longer road to restriction than I thought.......thoughts?

Thanks everyone, even though I know all this (just like I knew about slow to no weight loss after surgery) somehow it still seems to surprise me. I would rather crawl up to the green zone than blow right past it and have to find it again.

My surgeon recommends 70g of protein. If I plan and make sure I get in a good protein bfast, I am usually between 60-70

I just had my first fill and she took out 1cc and put in another, my clinic does not go agressive and that is okay with me, as long as I stick to the rules.

Good luck to you.............today is my first fill..........all of a sudden I wish my port was the size of a dinner plate.

If you put a pillow beside you and almost roll onto it so your stomach is resting on it, that might help. Pain is that for the first few days you totally wake up to reposition yourself. I am a side sleeper, and slept thru the night the day of surgery.

I am a carbaholic. The band does not stop everyone from eating bread, Pasta, potatoes or rice......just so you are aware, nor does it stop you from eating toast and crackers (in fact those go down quite nicely). I track everything on myfitnesspal.com and keep close eye on Protein, calories and carbs. More often than not, I am eating less than my daily allocation of carbs. I am more concerned with getting my protein in daily that I focus on that more. Carbs are a bonus and are the first to be cut (bad carbs - I still try to get my fruit in and sometimes you can't fight those carbs), if my daily meal plans have gone over in calories. Why don't you join myfitnesspal, manipulate your daily calories to 1000 -1200 and eat like a banded person for 2 weeks. 70 grams of protein, 3 meals/day equal to 8oz per meal or 1 cup. 2-3 snacks/day equal to 3-4 oz. No drinking anything 30 min before and after meals and no carbonated beverages - at all. (you will shocked to see how quickly the calories and carbs add up when you realize that 2 slices of bread equal more calories and carbs and less protein than about 4oz of chicken, and it is the chicken that will sustain you longer. I think my 2 weeks pre op liquid only kicked me off the carb cravings pretty quickly and post surgery, you are still on liquids and really have no desire to eat. I understand it is a real concern.......I love carbs........but I love me more . good luck

Before you leave the country for surgery please make sure you have a dr in Seattle lined up for your aftercare or fills. I see alot on here these days that people go to Mexico and then have trouble receiving care upon their return. Good luck on your pre op and surgery.

4 optifast shakes a day plus one serving of fruit and 1 serving of veggies. Sf jello and popsicles as a treat, not daily.

You might be able to, but a little help won't hurt

If they are small enough, you should be okay, i broke all my painkillers and antibiotics in half and swallowed fine. I originally used miralax (?) powder, mixed it in my yogurt. My clinic was very concerned with making sure I kept things moving. I am 5 weeks and still need them at least once a week, I found some very small pills..........probably just drugstore brand.

My dr never told me to lose weight, he did put me on a 2 week liquid diet to shrink my liver, but never said a thing about losing weight. Everyone gets different instructions.

As your swelling goes down, yes, you will probably be hungry. Stay within your dr's eating guidelines and you will be fine.

...don't forget stool softeners.........hehe, congrats.

i lost 9 lbs pre op, 10lbs the first week after surgery and nothing for the last 4 weeks. Many people don't lose much post surgery as they are healing and your body metabolism has slowed down and is holding onto everything it can. Restriction can come at 4 weeks or 4 months, it is a marathon not a sprint.

Good for you with the exercise. I was banded Sept 17th, and will be cleared this Friday - had to wait 6 weeks. I burp all the time, so I am sure once I start cardio, it will be no different. I was talking to my patient care coordinator this week and she is about a year out from surgery and she says she still burps like mad. Guess it is something we may have to live with.

About 2 - 2.5 inches above my belly button

My clinic - 6 months

If your dr's office can supply you with optifast........I did them pre and they are the only ones I can stomach post.

Get up, wipe off youself and have a really good rest of the day. Track your yogurt and make some good choices for the rest of the day. Nothing you can do about it now, it is done, and you realized it and although didn't stop it, acknowledged it. Tomorrow is another day.

Finally going for my first fill on Friday. I have also booked personal training for Saturday. My clinic price (self pay) includes 6 personal training sessions. After walking for almost 2 months, without my regular, cardio, power barbell, spin.........the PT could hurt - a bit Looking to getting the first fill done, being okayed for exercise and taking my gym membership off of hold........it will be a good week.

I have made some sandwiches using the thin rounds, toasted............not enought nerves yet to even try frest bread.