mrsto

Since I'm fairly new, is the goal of the band to never enjoy food again? I would hope (for me) that the goal is to enjoy every bite, but have a lot LESS bites.

Today is my two week mark, and yesterday I had bad chest and left shoulder pain. Like you, breathing has been difficult since opening my eyes from surgery. WAY better know then before, but I find I'm still laboring a bit at times. I guess it's a very slow process, which I'm fine with, as long as there is an end in sight. The pillow is a great idea...one I hadn't thought of :-)

LOVE it!

That's WONDERFUL!! I can't wait to be there, too! I know how great you must feel.....enjoy every second!!! You worked hard for it

When I go to the state specific forums, the postings are pretty old.

YAY!! Great to find someone in the state

Elusive is an understatement..LOL! What I'm waiting for, is the gnawing feeling in my stomach to stop. It seems to take quite some time for the food to make it into the stomach, so it is confusing trying to get the hunger pangs to stop. I don't know if plication makes this different than just a straight band, but it's a bit frustrating...so far. I'm still a newborn, and sure I will find my way. But for now, I'm just plain....confused

I also had a hernia repair, and my gallbladder removed. I was also plicated in addition to the lap band. I was having intermittent chest pain, and with all that was done, I believe that part was from the hernia. Based on location, it makes sense. You are only three days out, and that pain will pass. For me, the gas has taken longer to pass, which is annoying as hell. It seems to be the biggest complaint among us. But if what you're feeling is actual pain from the stitches to repair the hernia, the pain meds will help you get through it. Hope you feel better soon..... PS: It sounds like what you are eating/drinking is fine. Just remember to sip and eat SLOWLY. Anything fast can bring on all sorts of pains.

I've been going through the exact same thing! I haven't had a fill yet, but I had lap band with plication, and now on mushy foods. I have NO idea what I'm supposed to feel. Like you, I eat very slowly, and stop before I feel much of anything. I'm afraid of passing the soft stop & ending up sick as a dog. I haven't thrown up since surgery, nor do I want to. Some days I feel like I'm pushing the limit a bit, to test it out & see whatever this feeling is supposed to be. I find that when I think the next bite will make me nauseous, I stop. And it's usually after a very small amount of food. Please keep me posted as you move through this. I don't think I'll be getting a fill for a few weeks, but would love to know how this plays out for you.

I'm on mushy foods, and bananas are on the list. I eat only 1/2, and find them VERY satisfying. As mentioned above, they are more dense in carbs & calories than other fruits, but they're healthy. As long as you account for them, no problem! Weight Watchers now allows all fruit, including bananas, as a free food. I don't quite understand why and how they do that, but I guess it's working. However, my sister does WW on and off (as so many of us have) and was eating three bananas a day! She wasn't losing, and I told her......really....three bananas a day? Common sense should tell you that even though they're a free item, there is nothing "free" about them :-)

My doctor also says....no coffee. The acid can erode the band. Again, I read numerous people are drinking it. I only drank one cup a day of half caff half decaf in the morning, but haven't had any since surgery. I've been drinking tea to get that little kick of caffeine, but really miss my cup a joe!!!

YES - agree 100% with not taking a laxative just for gas pain. That could possibly create a whole OTHER problem.

My doctor says to drink nothing but water. He's against any artificially sweetened drinks, because they're shown to stimulate the sugar craving appetite center of the brain. But on the flip side, ALL of the protein shakes, sugar free popsicles, etc. on the list of things to have, are LOADED with artificial sweeteners. As mentioned in my last post on another thread, this is one of his rules that I will try & follow as much as possible, but it will not be written in stone. I think Crystal Light is fine, and if you can handle ALL of that caffeine during the day.....all the power to ya!

I think that over time, people adjust the "rules" in a way that works for them. My doctor also says to eat only three meals a day. For me, I don't see that happening long term. Being so new to this, I'll follow as close as I can, but if I'm starving in between meals, I'm not going to ignore it. I'll have a little something so I'm not miserable. When I hear people say that they look away from hunger, I don't get it. If it's TRUE hunger, something small will quell the pangs until the next meal. So, going into something completely new, I'm not totally on board with that aspect of my doctors "rules of the band". If I'm not truly hungry, and can wait until the next meal, then I will.

I found the psych evaluation to be pretty weak. They want to get an idea of who you are, and make sure that #1, you're not suicidal, where weight loss surgery will push you off the deep end. And then they want to get an idea of your food issues; how you eat, when, why, etc. At the end of my session, she said that I was an excellent candidate for the gastric bypass. Because I tend to graze throughout the day, bypass seemed to be a better choice. With the band, they want you to have only three meals a day. Though her recommendation was bypass, she said that I would also be okay with the band, and she wouldn't absolutely say that it wasn't an option.....if that's the way I wanted to go. I'm guessing that all psych evaluations run a little differently, but that's how mine went. I would say that most ALL of us run to food out of boredom, emotion, etc., and the shrinks expect to hear it. But they will advise you on lifestyle changes, and what it will take on your part to work with the band. We all didn't get here because we simply love food & eat only when we are hungry. I would find it difficult to believe that any bariatric surgeon, or his staff, would think otherwise. But it's up to us to work on our heads, getting any and all support we need along the way. Good luck!

Tomorrow will be two weeks since my surgery, and I'm still getting pain in my left shoulder from the gas. Much better and less frequent than it was, but the gas can last a good two weeks (so I'm told). Hang in there. Did your doctor prescribe pain meds to have at home? If so, those help, but only temporarily. Best thing I found is walking, and a lot of water. Good luck.....

Thanks for posting. I was told to never drink with meals; nothing 1/2 hour prior, and nothing until 60 minutes after. How does all that water at meals work with your band?

I just read some info on gallbladder removal, and diarrhea is certainly at the top of the list. You're probably right on this. With all that was done, it's difficult to know what's what. I may put a call into my doctor on Monday.

Constipation was my concern, because it's something that I'm used to dealing with. I was afraid all the pressure would be horrible after surgery. But I haven't had that issue......yet. Maybe it's coming down the healing road. Something in between to two would be great, though

No pun intended, right?? LOL

Thanks Missy. That actually crossed my mind earlier, but I dismissed it. Having my gallbladder out was (in my mind) such a minor thing, as my focus was on the bariatric surgery. I never gave much thought to any adjustments having it removed, because it's so commonplace. I know so many who have had their gallbladders out, and never heard any complaints about any of this stuff. I can't help but think part of it is eating so little, and drinking so much Fluid. There isn't much to bond into a good sturdy solid. TMI??

Yeah - the gas was horrible! And just when I thought it was gone, BOOM - my left shoulder was in agony. I'm so much better now. I hope both of you remain gas free :-) THAT would be a blessing.

The nutritionist at my doctor's office told me to take Biosil. Although, she also said that hair loss after WLS is inevitable, but the use of Biosil, biotin and PLENTY of protein, could help. So....I'm doing ALL of it, to minimize the loss. I haven't gone through it yet, but I have very fine hair & can't afford to lose ANY of it :ph34r:

It's amazing what we learn when we open ourselves up. WLS is a common/popular option in this day & age, and when I mention it to various people, I also hear that they've got friends or family who had it done. As a matter of fact, when I mentioned WLS surgery to one of my old co-workers, she said that her mom had it & lost a lot of weight. That conversation was a turning point in my decision to move forward with the band.

Most people who do not have true weight issues, do not understand why we would do something so extreme over "simple" diet and exercise. I'm guessing that your mom is truly concerned for her child; surgery, foreign implanted device, etc. Sometimes it's hard to differentiate concern over judgement. I think you're right.....she will come around when she sees you becoming a much healthier...you