The B

Really this was what I experienced as well, my husband would help me up so I wouldn't have to use my stomach muscles so much and I avoided laying down much so it wouldn't hurt so bad. I propped pillows and sat up in bed to sleep and I've heard of a few people sleeping in a recliner. I started to feel a difference by about day 4 and "slowly" it improved for about 2 weeks after that. Everyone is different and I hope you heal faster than I did, it's been 4 1/2 weeks and so far it has been so worth it, Good Luck you'll do great

I havent looked into those yet since I don't have a problem with portion control, I usually have between 1 teaspoon-1 Tablespoon, I never have it on bread, just on spoon for a snack and it keeps me full for 3-4 hours. Thanks for the advise though!

You do really look great! Its good to be happy, so happy dance away Congrats!!!!

First of all congratulations on deciding to get the band For most people this will only work if you make a lifestyle change, I got the band but my husband din't and he has lost over 20 lbs. and my kids have even lost a little because we've changed our lifestyle habits. the last thing I want is for this to be another diet where i lose quickly and then put all the weight back on. we started eating right weeks before my surgery and never have regretted it. Everyone has to do whats best for them, you'll do great Good Luck!

I have room for the calories, I am having a hard time getting the cals. my Dr. wants me too. and I know it has a lot of protein and fat I like the protein part but the fat made me wonder if it was a no no food or an occasional treat food or or the fat sucks but the protein is awesome so it balances out food. I just want to eat healthy and I know that 3500 cals. is a pound. I'm not thinking of weight I'm thinking of health. Thank you by the way! I've read alot of your advice to others and I have learned to value your advice :wub:

I am going in for my first fill appointment/checkup I live hours away so my Dr has let me do phone checkups s far but I am traveling out for my 4 week checkup. I am 3 weeks and 1 day right now... What questions do they ask to determine if you need a fill or not? I will do what ever they suggest is best but I'm curious what they will decide and thought some of you that have been through it might have some insight that I don't. :wub: Just so you know I never am hungry and rarely have any appetite at all, I only occasionally have issues with head hunger but nothing that wins over my will power, my biggest problem is that with no hunger I don't care if I don't eat but when I explained my calories to the Dr he told me to up them so I have and I make myself eat, the problem now is that I should only eat until satisfied, but I can't tell when that is since when I started I was already satisfied... (FYI I never eat more than 3/4 of a cup and mostly less just to be safe)and I'm perfectly happy I don't judge my success by the fluid in my band, and I do think there is a little in there he had put some in during the operation, oh yeah I also have plication. So what do you guys think, do you think they'll want to put some in or ( I hope not) take some out?

My Dr. said my body would go into starvation mode and I would stop losing weight, at first she said to eat 1200 calories and I couldn't get in more than about 600. then she said to up it to 1200-1500 what...no way, I do try to get as close to a thousand as possible but usually only get around 800, but would be perfectly fine not getting quite so much. I'm glad you've been so succesful I hope I am as well!! Thankyou so much for your advise

I just had surgery 3 weeks ago and originally was not going to tell my kids ages 16, 13, 11, and 8 but my DH and I didn't think we would be able to hide it for sure either, plus we've taught our kids honesty and though there are certain things that kids don't need to be in the middle of we felt that at some point they would probably figure it out and we wanted them to not feel like we hadn't been honest. No one else knows not even my mom, and so far none of them have slipped up, I almost have. I really don't think I could have hidden this from them, we play and hug a lot and even with them knowing the first week I had to remind them several times to be careful that I couldn't be base, their shield or get big bear hugs around my tummy. plus I was really out of it the first and second day. everyone has to do what works best for their situation I'm sure you'll do great! Good Luck

3 weeks banded so very little experience here, but I get hiccups after i eat any thing no matter how much or how little, when I had this question I searched it in the forums and found that a lot of people have this. Good luck!

Congratulations!!! I was just banded 3 weeks ago and I'm still not hungry, and I too had a hard time swallowing protein shakes until about 10 days post op. your really swollen inside and it takes a few days for the swelling to go down. I can drink protein shakes just fine now but I think we are just lucky as far as not being hungry... I think there are alot of people that are hungry right away, and I'm told that once the swelling is gone your hunger really comes back! Good Luck

let us know how it goes! best of wishes and good luck

I'm 15 days post op. I also had plication, but I'm still not hungry at all. up until the past 2 days I was lucky if I could drink 1/4 of a cup of a protein shake at a time I was averaging 300 cals a day my dr. said no way 1200-1500 and mostly protein is what I should be getting. theres no way although I'm trying. I'm taking my vitamins and drinking plenty of water but even that makes me full. so i'm there with ya my dr said I should get my appetite back by about 2-2/12 weeks I'm waiting. the lbs aren't falling off me though, I'm not worried since I am healing but dr says I'm going into starvation mode and I won't lose much weight til I get cals up. every doc is different. Good luck

Congratulations on getting the band! my left shoulder hurt for about a week, I did wind mills with my arms a couple times a day for 30 seconds or so and it didn't help right away but I would notice on days I did it the next day wasn't as bad. it's something to try it won't hurt you even if it doesn't work. as far as the tube my lips were never numb but I did cough a little and throat bothered me for about 2 days. the first 3 days are the hardest and the 4th and 5th day is only a little better then you will really start to feel a little better every day. sorry everything comes in little steps right now. You'll do great Good Luck!

I guess you can look at the up side sleeping on your stomach/face causes wrinkles (not that this is a problem for you, you're really very lovely) but for every night you can't sleep on your stomach, maybe another day between you and those pesky lines!!LOL Good luck I really do hope this works itself out for you and you can feel better soon!

My husband has recently stopped drinking pops and the other day he said at moments he still had cravings and I told him, with almost everything that there is a study showing its bad for you theres another study showing it can be good for you (alcohol, coffee, etc..) but there are no studies that I know of that says pop is good for you even in moderation. I don't want to put anything bad in my body anymore :wub: . thats why my husband and I dont anymore, but everyone has to do whats best for them. Good luck!

Congratulations on getting banded my surgery was on the 5th, I feel great but once in awhile my incisions sting a little and my port will feel tender, bruised or kinda sting, I believe this is totally normal even now for me 11 days out, but if your worried you can call your DR. thats what there for and, their used to answering questions, I called mine a few days ago :wub: . Good luck!

I'm sure this was covered by my Dr. at some point but for the life of me I don't remember... :wub: And to some/all of you, you may think this is common sense, okay so I'll just say it...sometimes (not often) I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. I know that when we eat we should wait 1 min. before taking another bite then chew, chew, chew. swallow wait 1 min. and repeat. so do you wait 1 minute between swallows of protein shakes? I'm just starting purees today and theres not much chewing involved do I still wait 1 min. between swallows? and last but not least, I am not hungry, but the nice lady that the Dr. has checking on me says I have to up my calories and protein , so I eat/drink, but when to stop I can't get more than 1/4 of cup in, even of a shake (my stomach feels crampy) but when you have no hunger its hard tell when your satisfied, or when to try again. when did your appetite return? Any advice will be happily heard. I'll ask my Dr. tomorrow if I still feel like I need answers to these just wondering what you all went through! Thanks!!!!

How exciting for you!! water or ice chips, I can't tell you how thirsty I was. I also had gatorade and light cran-raspberry juice. the second day I really enjoyed the broth for me it was more soothing. Good luck, you're gonna do great!

Dr's are so different, mine was clear about waiting 1 minute had us watch a video and everything. I agree though we will all learn what our bodies will do. there are a lot of people on here that have been told they can drink with meals as long as they wait the 1 min. between swallows LOL It really is funny how we're all given different guide lines! Thanks for the advice!

Thats good to know, I haven't learned how fast I can go yet! I had kinda figured I didn't have to wait with a shake, but really didn't know about the purees, thanks for clarifying! I know it won't happen over night but I can't wait until this band and I understand each other better Thanks again

You're gonna do great, I'm recently banded and my best advice would be not to set to high of expectations for right after the surgery,so many people seem to think they will go home weighing 25 pounds less, your body will need 4-6 weeks to heal, and not everyone loses weight during the healing process. but when you have healed and are eating right and working out, you will feel great, and you will do these things bc your dr. said so and he knows how to help you! please don't think you'll fail, know you will be succesful. you're right you got this! Good Luck

I'm afraid of that happening too, everything I take is chewy, chewable, or liquid. I'm sorry your going through this . I would try the hot tea mentioned above, Good luck I hope it gets better soon !

my dr. says it's the pill ibuprofen thats the problem he doesnt have a problem with liquid ibuprofen. pills (if getting caught up on the band) can cause problems like mentioned above but the liquid has no problem getting through. better safe than sorry I guess. good luck with the coffee issue I can have mine, it's funny how different dr's are!

First of all Congratulations on your new band!!! I'm 10 days post op my stomach gurgles all day, I dont have an upset stomach unless I drink to much of a shake or something heavy I've realized I can only handle 1/4 cup of anything not clear. and all my incisions take turns stinging, itching and being tender. But our bodies have just had surgery....it's gonna be tender, and sore it has to heal. we've changed what we're eating our bodies will rebel a little most people have diarrhea or constipation. and I too have noticed the shortness of breath first thing in the morning. I am under the impression that all these things are normal. If your worried you should ask your dr. but remember too, we can't start eating (real) food for 4-6 weeks depending on your dr. it's not to mean but so that we can heal, it really can/does take that long. be patient it does get better everyday. Good luck

I wish I could help you with this one I haven't told my family either, and I worry about the day we all get together and they see me not eating much, My family will comment for sure. I've figured that i would sip on soup so it always looks like i'm eating something. maybe put some food on a plate and move it around so it looks like you ate some. and just tell them your watching your portions. Your clever I'm sure you'll come up with something brilliant Good luck! let us know how it turns out, they'll probably be so impressed with you, they won't even notice your plate!