the shift lieutenant

pudding or tapioca works for me, but maybe for an hr or two at best. Popsicles help in a jam. Take a can of clam chowder and stick it in the blender till its about foam. That will work for sure! If you're hungry, eat. Just make sure you stay on the program foods. I'm of the opinion if you just continue to starve yourself the healing process will take longer and you will continue to be miserable. Mental health is a huge part of your recovery as much as rest and proper diet. My 2 cents...

I had my hernia repaired at the same time as the band. This was a blessing in disguise I belive. From the best I can tell, the band isn't causing me any pain. However the hernia repair isnt so pleasant. It's not completely miserable, but I know it was done. Turning and twisting is a problem. I have a large and taller truck that reminds me I had had hurnia surger. Taking deap breaths causes some discomfort. Burping is tough! Keep in mind I'm only a week out, but I'm pretty sure the lingering pain issues are the hernia and not the band. On a positive note, I've had zero indigestion since surgery. This use to be an almost daily issue.

I'm no doctor, but I'm willing to bet this has something to do with a bodily process called, peristalsis. If memory serves me correctly, when you eat too much your body decides to get rid of whatever waste is in your bowels to make room for the food you just injested to begin the process of digestion. "Getting stuck" could potentially trigger the same changes in your body as does over eating. Either way your body realizes there is too much food on board and it's gotta make room so you can be comfortable. Anybody know or have a friend who has to go to the bathroom shortly after they eat? Regardless of size of portion. Personally, I suffered from this problem. "Guts like a goose." Something went in so something had to come out. I could be wrong here. Anyone have a better answer?

I must not have gotten the same memo you got about fluid consumption. I drink as much as I want all day long. I'll finished off a 20 oz protein&vitamin powder drink in 20 minutes. Everything goes right down the hatch and past the band. I can handle being hungry, but dehydration is a whole different animal. Its so interesting the lack of continuity between one doctor's methods for treatment to another. I still have pain everyday where the band is, but it's never been while or after I drank something. This is such a personal process and I'm grateful to read the stories from others and learn from them.

I feel your pain! I'm also a week out and cant wait to eat something that has a chance of sustaining me more than 40 min. My stomach gets in knots if I dont constantly put something in it. All I hear is constant gurgling followed by uncomfortable gas moving around.

I feel your pain! I'm also a week out and cant wait to eat something that has a chance of sustaining me more than 40 min. My stomach gets in knots if I dont constantly put something in it. All I hear is constant gurgling followed by uncomfortable gas moving around.

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. Still struggling, but I'm optimistic and excited at the same time. This is just another adventure in life we can all learn from and become better as a result! Stay strong!

I was banded the 13th. Dont know how you can do it without regular doses of pain meds. I'm taking them at regular intervals without fail. Had my gallbladder out in June and I remember what happens if you wait till it hurts to take something. Anybody having a hard time taking a deep breath? I had some serious recovery room problems post op and I'm having a hell of a time taking a deep breath. Im working the little plactic breathing meter, but I'm in a pretty fair amount of pain after.

Greetings, Ive been a long time lurker, but have never chosen to post. I'm quite the intellectual type and an introvert also. For a little back round info, I'm a 36 yr old male the size and build of your average retired NFL defensive end. Until recently I was able to compete at the NFL combine strength levels, but injuries have forver changed how I'll be able to work out. Over time, my weight just kept growing due to my huge calorie intake to feed my growing muscles. On average 5-6000 calories per day. In the end, I was just not able to burn the fat down again after yrs of trying to grow. I opted to the band for help. I started this process a yr ago and finally admitted defeat on my own 2 months ago. I started my 2 week liquid diet on July 28th at 309 and surgery is slated for Aug 13. Since then, I am down 21 lbs(288) and have a bmi of only 37% now. I'm concerned I'll dip below the magic number of 35%. Has anyone else lost too much weight pre-op? Has anyone been disqualified? Thanks in advance for any experiences you could provide.

Got in today and they weighed me in. I was worried! Today I was 282.2. That was a loss of 27 lbs in 14 days. Not sure that's real healthy, but I was following the dr's orders. Long story short, I'm resting quietly in my hospital bed with a new outlook on life! Thanks for your help gang!

When I show up for surgery tomorrow I'm not going out of my way to find a scale. They made me weigh in last week to verify I was on the liquid program. I obviously cant hide the weight loss if they insist I weigh in. I'll give you guys a for sure answer tomorrow after I get banded. Game on!

Your responses are quite reassuring. If it was just this easy to keep going on the liquid diet right down to my ideal weight. However, I know once off the wagon, the pounds come back slowly but surely. This liquid diet was far easier than I imagined. Except for being cold all the time now. Good Lord my metabolism has slowed way down. 800 calories a day isnt enough to keep a big man warm as 4,000 calories did. Many thanks....