Lisa H

Sandi, I lve your story, and would really like to pick your brain about your success. I was banded almost 3 years ago and had a lot of complications with the right amount of Fluid in my band. May I pick your brain???? Lisa H

Stef, Your doctor keeps you on your back while you're drinking the barium? Mine injects the amount he thinks I need, leaves the needle in, stands the table up with me on it, has me drink the barium to see how it goes through the band, and if I need more he injects more saline then does the swallow test again. I have an 11cc VG, and my first fill was 7 cc, my 2nd fill was 3cc. I feel like I have great restriction because he could really see how much to put in. I don't know if it would be possible for your doctor to let you stand for you swallow test, but I think it would help! Lisa H

bcrazy7, I posted all the details you asked about yesterday (page 178). I think the only thing I didn't write about was my appetite. Before this fill, I could eat almost as much as I could preband-as long as I chewed well. Let me know if you have any more questions. Lisa

Has anyone ever had a "sweet spot" that lasted more than a couple of weeks. I would LOVE it if my restriction stayed just as it is for the rest of my life. Each time I have eaten today I have had about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of food at a time. I have felt a "new" full feeling that lasted several hours! I am chewing well, but I haven't had the golf ball feeling at all. If this will just last, I think I really can reach my goal-100 pounds by my 1 year bandiversary.

I've been reading a lot lately, but I haven't posted in quite a while. I finally have news worth posting! I got my second fill today. My first fill was 7 ccs in an 11cc band. Today, he first added 2 more ccs and did the barium swallow test. It went through kind of quickly, so he put one more cc in and did the test again. This time it went through pretty slowly. I now have 10 ccs total. I was already excited that I may be at my sweet spot, but things were even better when I started drinking liquids. Previously, I've been able to drink as much as I want as quickly as I wanted with no problem. Now I can swallow 4-5 gulps of water and feel that I need to stop. No pain, no discomfort, just a feeling of enough or it may come back up! I was banded on June 1st and was beginning to think I may be one of those people that the band would not help! The only signs I had before today that I even had a band was if I didn't chew meat well I would have the golf ball feeling. I've never felt the "I've had enough" feeling before today. I'M SO EXCITED!!!!

Ft. Lauderdale is very close to Dr.Szomstein at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, FL. I don't know if he would do your fills, but is would be worth trying!

Diet What??? A few weeks ago I posted my concerns about Diet Coke. I was an addict! Three days before for surgery I forced myself to give it up "cold turkey". Since surgery (6 days ago) I have thought about Diet Coke only a couple of times, and it definitelly was NOT a craving. I have replaced D.C. with Sugar Free Tropicana Orange Ade. No sugar, no caffiene, no carbonation, no bad stuff at all. I like Tropicana much better than the Minute Maid brand. So, if you're a Diet Coke like I was, dont worry-there is hope for you!!! About the incision question-I have 5 (2 are about 1/2 inch, 2 are about an inch, and my port site is about 2-3 inches long). And I can definitely feel my port-I guess that is what it is. It is a large hard area about an inch under my port site. And guess what??? I SLEPT ON MY SIDE LAST NIGHT!!!! I think the heating pad helped-don't forget to use it when you're feeling uncomfortable because of gas and soreness!

Yes, Hunter'smom, I do brush my teeth quite frequently because of the shakes-You're normal!!! Lisa H.

Wow! We've had a lot of posts since I last read yesterday. With my poor memory, let's see if I can remember to write about everything I was thinking as I was reading. FIRST, KT, I'm so glad to hear from you. I was really worried when you had no posts for so long-GLAD YOU'RE BACK! Second, I guess I missed this part when I was given instructions leaving the hospital. Many of my steri-strips are starting to peel up. I have no stitches or staples under them. Is it okay if they come off? I guess I thought they would stay on until my 2week post op! Third, I have always had problems with constipation, and being in bandland is not any different. BUT, I do highly reccommend Benefiber. You can mix it in anything and not taste it. I even mixed it in Water once and there was no aftertaste or anything. It is now part of my daily diet! What else??? Oh yes, I still can't sleep on my side yet, but I think I'm getting close. Also, today was my first day out! I'm 5 days postop and was a little nervous that I'd be too sore or overdo it. I think I feel better this afternoon than this morning because I was more active than I had been. One more thing (and this is a BIGGY) KT and the others that were feeling down about not being able to eat. This is my trick and it was working for me for a few weeks pre-op, so I feel sure it is going to work like a charm when I get my restriction. I put however much I'm allowing myself to have on my plate. Then I take a small bite and start chewing and shewing and chewing. The whole time I'm chewing I think about how wonderful the food tastes. I ate one piece of pizza duing the time it took my friends to eat 3-4. I think I enjoyed my one piece more than they enjoyed theirs. No, I didn't have the full feeling that I'm used to, but when the "fills" begin that should no longer be a problem. (I know we can't chew Protein shakes very well, and probably don't want it in your mouth that long anyway, but 2 weeks really isn't that long! Don't think about how hard it is now, but how wonderful it will be when the right amount of saline has been injected!!!! I thought of something else. My doctor's office (Cleveland Clinic of Florida) talked about a new band, but it was very different than the AP. They said the next new band is supposed to be a remote controlled band that fills with no needles. But only your doctor could do it. Has anyone heard of it??? Okay, I've taken up more than my share of space! Lisa H

As far as, "Does it feel funny after you're banded?" The only thing that feels funny to me is when the gas bubbles move around in my abdomen. It feels a little like being pregnant and the baby moving!!! Lisa H

Have we heard from KT 999? She was banded with me on the first, but I don't think I've read any of her posts since our surgeries. I'm concerned about her. Please let me know if I've missed her postings! I hope that is the case! I too, am not hungry! My only complaints are that my port sight is still very sore, and I can't sleep on my side yet. Other than that, I'm doing great! Lisa H

Yes, I've been watching the Brookhaven stories. It is really is helping me put things into perspective. I feel so fortunate!

I'm in bandland! Things went well for me, but I guess I'm not as tough as I thought I was. My shoulder pain from the gas has been terrible. I am so glad that I had read about it being in the shoulder, or I would have been so scared. I had to stay in the recovery room for 5 hours because they didn't have a room ready for me. I wonder if waiting so long to get to walk was part of my problem. I've been banded almost 48 hours and am just now starting to get rid of gas. The other really bad part was waiting 24 hours for my swallow test. My mouth was soooo dry. I had to keep asking for those lemon flavored glycerin swabs-they helped a lot!!! I slept in the recliner last night-couldn't get comfy in the bed. I think I may spending a lot of time here during the next few days! My appetite is perfect right now. I am completely satisfied with liquids. This probably won't last very long!! Well, that's all I can think of right now! Let my know if you have any questions-now that I'm "On the other side!" Lisa H

Thank you to all of the "Well Wishers"-I appreciate the thoughts and prayers. I have to stay in the hospital over night, so I won't be able to report in until Saturday evening! I hope to be able to tell you then how wonderfully it went! Lisa H

Musicalmomma, I've done it. Several times this week I've put a bite in my mouth, chewed it a million times, savored the flavor, then spit it out, and rinsed my mouth out. You'd be amazed how much it satisfied me! You know part of the problem is just knowing that you can't have something makes you want it even more. Last night my family was eating pizza, and I was about to die for a piece. I did my little chew and spit thing and felt 100% better. It is soooo nice to be able to communicate with someone who understands what I'm going through-I am right there with you guys about looking forward to being put under to not feel the hunger! Although everyone in my family is overweight, they just can't understand how hard this is! You know what I'm dreading? I can't have anything to drink after my surgery until the following day when they do the swallow test. I have heard that you wake up incredibly thirsty~I guess we'll trade in our hunger for thirst!!!!! I haven't cheated in 12 days and I'm determined I can make it 2 more days! I lost 12 pounds at the beginning, now I've put 2 back on-How do you gain weight on less than 700 calories of liquids a day? I guess it is the salt in the chicken broth causing water retention, but boy does that make it difficult to be good--Okay enough rambling, I'm going to go get one of those delicious protein shakes!~~Lisa H

We are getting so close! I am 11 days into my liguid diet and am proud to say I haven't cheated at all!!! I came very close on Saturday when my family was in the car with me and they were eating fast food. The aroma was almost more than I could handle. I'll be glad to get back to work tomorrow, it seems easier than when I'm at home. My concern now is how I'll do after my surgery. My doctor wants me to be on 2 more weeks of this liquid diet. I understand a week maybe, but I'm afraid after I start feeling better I'm going to want to start adding some mushies in. I would LOVE to have 1/2 of a cup of cottage cheese right now. What kind of diet do you guys have to do after surgery? I think I have read about some people starting mushies within a couple of days after surgery-Am I crazy?

LisaMack, Some doctors don't require a pre-op diet for two weeks. I think they all (or most all) require a 24 hour clear liquid diet. Will you be meeting with doctor again before the surgery? I would think if he was going to require an extended diet he would have already told you about it. My doctor says that the 2 week liquid diet that is low carb, low fat, high protein helps to shrink your liver. Otherwise it sits right on top of your stomach and make it more difficult to operate. I am glad I've had to do this diet, because I have a greater appreciation for food now. I used to eat mindlessly, and just take it for granted. Right now, I would love to have any kind of healthy food. I think it is also preparing me to really think about what I eat instead of just shoveling it in!! If you aren't supposed to meet with your doctor soon, it wouldn't hurt to call them to see if you should do a diet. Good luck!

Hello Junies, I have good news! The liquid diet is not as bad as I had thought. Don't get me wrong, the first three days were VERY tough, but I'm on day 6 and it sems to get easier every day. I've decided that cheating (at all) is not an option for me. Therefore, I don't even think about food, really. I've lost 12 pounds so far, so that makes it even better. -I just thought this info may make you feel better if you will have to do the two-week pre-op liquid diet. Also, I have found one pudding/shake powder that is actually good. (Most others are gross or barely tolerable to me.) Anyway, I order it from mydietshopz.com. It is called zpro 25, and it is made by r-kane. The other great thing about it is you can mix it with 2 oz. water when your pouch is tiny, then with 4 oz. when you have a little more room. Right now I mix it with 6-8 oz of cold water and it tastes kind of like thick chocolate milk. I haven't tried the vanilla yet! I also have a question for those of you with treadmills. Is it really worth the money to buy an expensive one, or do the cheaper ones work well enough? My husband tells me I'm wasting my money, and it will just be a dust collector! Is he right?

KT, I'm so proud of you for giving up diet coke! I have exercised 30 minutes a day and stuck to my liquid diet perfectly for four days and am doing very well. Giving up diet coke will be my next HUGE challenge! You inspire me! Lisa H

I have made it through two days of a liquid diet-It has been SO HARD. Please, someone tell me this WILL get easier! Anyone have any suggestions for cooking for your family without going crazy and wanting to eat some of it?

Did you find a chewable vitamin that doesn't cause problems after you quit Flintstones?

KT, Can't you have caffeine-free coffee on your pre-op? I don't have to use any particular brand of protein shakes, but they have to be low sugar and high protein. I have sampled several lately and haven't found anything that I consider to be very tasty. I am allowed to have unlimited amounts of sugar free, fat free, caffeine free, drinks also. Today has been very difficult, but I did start my execise program!!! I'm afraid this is going to be the longest two weeks of my life!

Hi Alexandra, I always like to read your posts-they're very insightful for me. I see that your band slipped after almost four years. How did you know there was a problem, and do you know what caused it? I start my pre-op diet tomorrow, and will be banded on June 1st. I have a hiatal hernia, and have heard that it can cause a band to slip. Needless to say, I'm pretty worried about that. Also, did you get to a point that your band had the right amount of saline, or do you still have to go back for fills periodically for life? Thanks for any info you can give me! Lisa

Hi Alexandra, I always like to read your posts-they're very insightful for me. I see that your band slipped after almost four years. How did you know there was a problem, and do you know what caused it? I start my pre-op diet tomorrow, and will be banded on June 1st. I have a hiatal hernia, and have heard that it can cause a band to slip. Needless to say, I'm pretty worried about that. Also, did you get to a point that your band had the right amount of saline, or do you still have to go back for fills periodically for life? Thanks for any info you can give me! Lisa