The Icy One

You are chowing mushies five days out? I was allowed to go mush at seven days. Yum! If your doc says that the mushies are okay for you, I don't think that it sounds like an unreasonable amount of food. I do about half a cup to three quarters cup per meal. To each their own. As long as you are eating properly and not taking in too many calories, you're probably okay.

I would call my doc. Any time that you have unusual symptoms after surgery, you should be on the phone with your surgeon's office. It may be nothing or it may be a harbinger of a major problem. Don't play guessing games with your health... get on the horn with your doc.

You can do this!

Bandista put it so beautifully. The band released me from food jail. I am a week out from my surgery and I love that I just don't think about food. I feed myself when I feel I need food, I am no longer obsessed, watching the clock and pounding huge amounts of chow when I think it is meal time. It's freaking amazing! Wigs, don't think fail... I have also failed many, many times. For the first time, I feel as if my band is going to be the tool to help me succeed. Don't fear failure. Look forward and be optomistic. After all, if we could all succeed alone, we wouldn't need bands, would we?

It's not a hole. Your port should be somewhere below the port incision that your surgeon made. Usually to the left of the midline, just above your belly button. If you palate the area (gently! You're still healing there and bound to be a bit sore) you should be able to find it. I haven't gone digging for mine, yet. Mr. Porty hasn't given me too much grief and I don't want to give him any excuses. I'll wait for my follow up and let my surgeon show me where, exactly my port resides.

Word. WLS is a tool not a set it and forget it fast fix. If you are banded and have no medical complications, maybe you just need a refresher course. Go back to basics, see your surgeon for proper adjustment and sharpen up your eating and exercise. See if that gets you back on track. IMO jumping from WLS to WLS looking for the magic bullet surgery is not going to do you any favors. Whatever surgery you choose you have to work it. And work it right or it will not be successful.

Bwahahaha!!!!!

Someone pass me my walker. I probably am older than you, Undertaker1220. I am forty-nine. However, my advanced age doesn't seem to be having a negative impact on my recovery. I feel as if I am bouncing back beautifully, just as I did after my two previous surgeries. The last one was in March... So two major surgeries in one year and this old, decrepit broad is still going strong. And for the record, my post op diet is the same one given to all of the patients at my surgeon's practice. Yep, even the whipper snappers. #getoffmylawn I am all about giving support and encouragement but I don't sugar coat and tell someone that potentially harmful behavior is okay. I also don't make snide, backhanded comments and baseless assumptions based on someone's age. There are plenty of people much younger than myself who have a much tougher time of surgery and recovery than I have. Just saying.

I was banded on November 21st. I started the process in June at 371. Hovered in the 370's (reaching a high of 378) until I started my pre op diet, lost nine and was 369 on the morning of my surgery. I don't know what I weigh right now. I am concentrating on healing, not the scale. I will say, I feel smaller... We'll see when I get weighed at my post op follow up.

Thanksgiving was my first day of mushies so my Thanksgiving dinner was half a cup of mashed potatoes with about a teaspoon and a half of gravy and a little fat free shredded cheese melted in. Soooo yummy. Seriously, it was heavenly. I adore that I am happy and satisfied for hours on less than a cup of food. Without my band, I would have eaten so much, been miserable and five pounds heavier by the time I got done with the leftovers. No more of that nonsense.

Congrats on coming this far. The waiting for approval phase is a bear! I had to wait five weeks for my approval and every minute was a nail biter. I hope that you get your approval soon and can start your new year with a new band!

What harsh and rude remarks? No one was either with you, that I can ascertain. Truthful, no nonsense, caring and a touch of tough love. However, you indulged in a bit of "shouting" back. I am going to echo earlier posters... Follow the food progression chart/directions that your doctor gave you and follow it faithfully. Every surgeon progresses their patients at different rates. Some keep new bandsters on liquids for two weeks. Or longer! Some progress you faster. The purpose of the odious post op diet is to aid in healing and let your band settle and get ready to rock it's job. Not to make up your own rules, second guess your surgeon and "test" your system. My plan from my surgeon is: 48 hours Clear Liquids. Days 3 to 7 full liquids. Day 7 on for three weeks, mushies. I was banded on the 21st, had my first mushies this morning. Cream of Wheat for brekkie. I ate a fraction of what I normally would have and was so happy and satisfied with it. I love my band, already. I am tempted as anyone to "sneak" a taste... Just one bite... But I am not and won't. I have come too far, made too huge a change to revert to my old b*llsh*t thinking about food and what I am doing about it. I also refuse to jeopardize my healing and long term well being for food I shouldn't eat just because I think I can or to prove a point either to myself or others. Just seems a nonsense reason to cause yourself possible harm Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

I was planning to kind of keep my surgery on the DL for a bit... I have lovely, well meaning in laws who love to tell horror stories about WLS and I also knew that if they knew, my a*s would be under close scrutiny. Well, they all know... My husband has a big mouth. :/ Still haven't told anyone on my side. It's easier to keep it quiet from them as there is more geographical distance. I do not need, "So, how much weight HAVE you lost?" In stereo.

I went with the band for a variety of reasons: I am a volume eater, the band is great for people like me. I was not willing to remove and/or do a major re routing of my insides. I wanted a surgery that was relatively easy on my bod and an easier recovery. I love the thought that I can adjust my band so that my WLS is totally customized to my specific needs. Can't do that with a VSG or RNY. Finally, this is meant to be permanent, and that was my attitude going in. However, should I ever need to reverse my surgery for any very good reason it can be done. I would not have that option with other surgeries. These are just a few of my own reasons for my personal choice. Everyone is different and has different needs and goals and need to weigh all of the pros and cons of ALL WLS types and make the best choice for themselves.

I had to do two days clear liquids, days three to seven, full liquids and I can start mushies tomorrow. Every doc is different, they progress their patients their own way. Just do what your doc says.

Dr. Nirmul did my band on the 21st. He and the staff at the surgical center were wonderful. My surgery went great and I am recovering really well. True Results Scottsdale and the staff are all terrific. So far, my experience, start to now has been great.

I get to start mushies tomorrow. Yes. Over this liquid... liquid... liquid. Ready for real, if smushie food. Planning Cream of Wheat for brekkie.

So glad everything went well. I hope that you have a swift, smooth recovery.

Congrats on getting bsnded! I was b asnded on the 21st. One week, tomorrow! I felt very tight while drinking the first few days, especially. And I am tight in the morning. No pain but definitely tight. Small sips of room temp or warmer liquids helps... No cold beverages! They cause contracting and pain. Have you tried a nice, warm cup of tea? If there is pain when drinking and it is persisting after taking small sips of room temp or warmer liquids, call your surgeon's office. You shouldn't have pain if you are drinking correctly. Good luck.

Yikes! I'm glad that you are okay, now. I have read and heard that everyone gets stuck. It happens. I'm dreading it and trying to learn as much about it as I can so when it does happen I hopefully can handle it.

Woo-Hoo! Congratulations!

I hope that your first consult went well, that it was informative and everyone treated you beautifully and you felt really good about everything. That was really important to me. If my practice hadn't been wonderful, I would have moved on.

I have never heard those preposterous stories about Lap Band causing fibro and arthritis and so on. I am willing to bet that those who had a band and developed those conditions were going to, anyway, band or no. I am aware that there is a lot of "band hate" flying around there. I have read some of it and dismissed it as rantings of those who are either spreading and embroidering heresay or bandsters who, for whatever reason have had a bad go of it with their bands. I prefer to get my facts from reliable sources, not Facebook hate pages. It is good that you are researching and want to make a fully informed decidion. WLS is a huge thing, whichever one a person chooses. My advice? Don't let the band haters scare you. Be aware that the band, like any WLS carries it's share of risk and possible complications. You have to weigh those against your expectations and willingness to follow the rules and live the band life. Remember that a lot of people hating on their bands have not followed the rules, used it the way they should. And some have legit complications. I didn't let the haters scare me... I was banded on the 21st. I am willing to roll the dice with the band. IMO it is less risky and complication riddled than the other surgeries and was the right choice for me. Whether you go forward or not, do it on the strength of your own conviction and because it is the right choice for you. A choice made after careful consideration of what is best for your body, lifestyle and health. Not because of random band haters on the Internet.

Mis is right. I have hypothyroid and take a daily dose of Levothyroxine and will, for the rest of my life. Once your thyroid is shot, that's it... meds are your future and they are crucial to your health and your life. Work with your doc to get your med balanced and take it faithfully. Your future self will thank your now self. That said, thyroid med is not a magic weight loss bullet. I gained... almost 100 pounds while taking it. LOL So, get your balance and in the mean time keep howling about your band. And howling loud. I think that your doc thinks that you are going to start taking thyroid med, thinking that it will help you lose (sure didn't help me!) and you will shut up about the WLS. If your doc can't support you maybe it is time for a new doc. If you insurance allows it, do what I did... Find your band surgery practice of choice (I went through True Results, they have been great) and do your thing independent of your PCP. If this is something you have determined is the right thing for you, don't let anyone or their opinions stand in your way! Be a tank! Roll over them! Plow through them. This is your life, your health, your future. It is your opportunity to take.