marieze

I have been banded since 2/08. Losing slowly but I'm o.k. with that. Often times when I'm eating I think I'm stuck so I stop eating. I then sit for awhile and realize that it's trapped gas. Once I am able to get out a little burp I can eat again. This happens frequently! Unfortunately, I'm one of those who can't make themselves burp and this is very uncomfortable. My son says I get a weird look on my face like I'm going to hurl! Any suggestions? Marieze

I was so happy that I had bought a ton of really cheap pillows/pillow cases. I could prop myself into any position comfortably and sleep. For me, this was a lifesaver! Also, there are Isopure flavored Protein waters that were good. But the pillows: a must have! Marie

I laughed when I saw this post tonight because I am the original poster and I posted this before my banding with was 2/13! For the record, what I ended up doing is nothing!! My doctor here in Oregon only had us do liquids 24 hours prior to surgery so even though I had eaten only crap up until that point I just went for the 24 hr. liquid before. After surgery she said my liver was "perfect". I was happy I didn't make a big fuss! Marie

Just curious! I used to post a daily thread on the Atkins board and it was always interesting to see what people had planned, (when they did plan) to eat that day. B- 4 pieces bacon S- 1 low-fat yoghurt L- salad with turkey and blue cheese dressing S- a handful of pecans D- leftover prime rib and brussel sprouts Have a great day! Marie

O.k., here's the deal. I was banded on 2/13. Could eat a horse right after surgery. Had 1st fill....3cc's in a 10cc band. Could still eat a horse. Second fill comes and I get another 3cc's and couldn't swallow Water. The doc takes one cc out. Now at 5CC's. Have been TRYING to eat slow and take small bites. This has been VERY hard for me. A real work in progress. On Saturday I went to Breakfast and was able to eat 2 eggs, 2 pancakes and 4 link sausages. This clearly does not look like restriction to me. However, yesterday, any time I tried to eat ANYTHING I pb'd. I mean anything! For instance: breakfast sausage-Yak....scrambled egg...yak..shrimp..yak...prime rib..yak!!! I was however, able to eat some guacamole with tiny pieces of tortilla chip. So, am I too tight? If so, how did I eat the stuff the day before? I don't know what to do. I'm flustered as to whether it's my habits or too full of fill. What do you think? Marie

Thank you to all of you who responded. I feel like such a dork. This is a real learning curve for me. I've been eating with my bad habits for 53 years and it's tough. This is definitely a lot harder than I thought it would be. I really do want to be successful and pickup something new off the board everyday. Your feedback is very valuable to me. And Wheetsin, I am so sorry about the double post. I could hear your frustration in your post. Again, sorry about that. I really value what you have to say, so hang in there with me, please! I'm just confused about what I'm feeling physically and want to do the right thing. Getting used to all the new signals is difficulut considering I have tuned them out more years than some of the posters have been alive!!!! Marie

That post was the most ridiculous thing I've read here:rolleyes2:

O.k., here's the deal. I was banded on 2/13. Could eat a horse right after surgery. Had 1st fill....3cc's in a 10cc band. Could still eat a horse. Second fill comes and I get another 3cc's and couldn't swallow Water. The doc takes one cc out. Now at 5CC's. Have been TRYING to eat slow and take small bites. This has been VERY hard for me. A real work in progress. On Saturday I went to Breakfast and was able to eat 2 eggs, 2 pancakes and 4 link sausages. This clearly does not look like restriction to me. However, yesterday, any time I tried to eat ANYTHING I pb'd. I mean anything! For instance: breakfast sausage-Yak....scrambled egg...yak..shrimp..yak...prime rib..yak!!! I was however, able to eat some guacamole with tiny pieces of tortilla chip. So, am I too tight? If so, how did I eat the stuff the day before? I don't know what to do. I'm flustered as to whether it's my habits or too full of fill. What do you think? Marie

thank you for your response! You are right about everything. Here's where I'm confused. I remember the nutritionist and surgeon telling me, "we don't want you just eating mushy foods because they go down so easily". You need to focus on solids. I did. Also, they said that the band only works with "solids", so I am really trying to see how much restriction I have after my fill to see if I'm at a good spot. It would be easy for me to just have a shake or mushies but that's contrary to what they said. Now, at 53 I no longer have periods; do we still just have some days that are tighter? I really want to go make some breakfast as I'm starving from not eating anything yesterday but am very reluctant. I could make Soup, but again, how will my band get the chance to work? I'm confused:confused: but to my original question; do you think I'm too tight? Because yes, I did eat pancakes, sausages etc. the day before.

I'm no expert having been banded on 2/13, but it stands for productive burp. It's not barfing as one would imagine; but with me, I keep eating too fast or taking too big of a bite and them WHAM, as I mentioned earlier I'm told I get that "deer in headlights" look then try to find a bag or something fast. Then, I just cough and "BAM" into the bag goes the piece of food my band says "NO" to covered in think slimy saliva and them I'm good to go!!! Marie AKA a Yaak Attack!!

I was banded on 2/13. What I thought was restriction after the surgery was just swelling. After that went down in about one week, I could eat to the same proportions as before banding. I went to the doc at 3 weeks and they said they would give me my first fill. I could still eat a car if I wanted to!! Well, today they had me go for an upper gi then come to their office. They said that everything looked great. That first fill was 3cc's in my 10cc band. My doc is pretty agressive so she gave me another 3cc's for my second fill. I couldn't get the Water down so she took out 1cc leaving me with a total of 5cc. She said to have just liquids/mushies today and tomorrow then I can go back to solid food. Well, for dinner I had broccoli/cheese Soup to go from Applebees and was still starving (only had a yoghurt today since I couldn't eat for the upper gi) so I then had some cottage cheese, then I mashed up an avocado and ate that. To me, that STILL seems more than I should be able to eat after a fill. I keep hearing about how we're supposed to eat about 1/2 cup food per meal and I ate more than that after my fill. I'm thinking maybe 1/2 cc more. Anyway, so my first fill was at 3 weeks, and this, my second, was at 5 weeks. They said I can come back when I want for another fill if I'm not restricted. I originally had lost 13 pounds afer surgery and now that loss is only at 5 pounds so I seem to be gaining! Yikes! If I could have done this w/out the band I would have, but I need restriction. And no, it's not head hunger. I'm certain of that. I really tune in and see where I'm at. Should I get another fill? Marie

I was banded on 2/13. What I thought was restriction after the surgery was just swelling. After that went down in about one week, I could eat to the same proportions as before banding. I went to the doc at 3 weeks and they said they would give me my first fill. I could still eat a car if I wanted to!! Well, today they had me go for an upper gi then come to their office. They said that everything looked great. That first fill was 3cc's in my 10cc band. My doc is pretty agressive so she gave me another 3cc's for my second fill. I couldn't get the Water down so she took out 1cc leaving me with a total of 5cc. She said to have just liquids/mushies today and tomorrow then I can go back to solid food. Well, for dinner I had broccoli/cheese Soup to go from Applebees and was still starving (only had a yoghurt today since I couldn't eat for the upper gi) so I then had some cottage cheese, then I mashed up an avocado and ate that. To me, that STILL seems more than I should be able to eat after a fill. I keep hearing about how we're supposed to eat about 1/2 cup food per meal and I ate more than that after my fill. I'm thinking maybe 1/2 cc more. Anyway, so my first fill was at 3 weeks, and this, my second, was at 5 weeks. Marie

I had my new boss in the car the other day and we went through a drive thru for breakfast and I was starving. I took one bite of my egg sandwich and knew what was going to happen! I sat there like a deer in headlights for a few minutes, then without saying a word grabbed all the napkins I could find and YAAK, there it was: my bite of food covered in slime! I leaned over to my new boss and said, "Wow, you must really be impressed with me now!!! We were hysterical...BTW...I told her I had recently been banded! Marie

I forgot to add this: Pillows: These saved my life!! I was able to get comfortable in bed because I had gone to Target and bought 4 really cheap pillows with cheap pillow cases. I was able to sleep from the first night. I didn't want to sleep in a recliner like a lot of folks do. I highly suggest this. Also, my surgeon used glue for my incisions which didn't hold them closed totally so I was happy to have had "steri'strips" on hand.

I, too, am single and was banded on 2/13. I also wanted to have everything at home and I did. First and foremost, I called the doctors office and told them that I wanted to have any after surgery medicine filled and at home prior to surgery. They called my pharmacy and I picked up the prescription and put them next to my bed. Here is my list: liquid tylenol (adult, rapid blast...I could only find on amazon.com) A case of bottled Water and sliced lemon for flavoring Gas X Strips Lots of soups..I bought Campbells Select Gold in the box and they were great Instant Mashed Potatoes...I bought idahoian 2% milk...to add to Protein drinks and soups for xtra protein A good Protein powder...I bought Isopure which can be purchased at GNC Cottage cheese to puree I also bought a heating pad to put around my shoulder in case of gas There is also a list somewhere on another thread which is pre-post op. You should look there as well. But the above things are what got me through. Best of Luck!!!! Marie

I stopped caffeine one week prior to my 2/13 surgery. I was drinking abut 2 cups coffee per day, but about 2 gallons of iced tea!!! For one week I had a throbbing headache, was lethargic and wanted to barf! Now that I'm out of the woods, can't imagine going back....It's Water, water and more water for me. Another upside is now my 11 yr. old son is drinking a ton of water with me! Marie

I was banded on 2/13. Just had my first fill this morning. Water went down fine but felt burpy and gurgly. Came home and had 2 cups of Soup with no problem. I am anxious to lose weight and want restriction. My doc said my band was the small AP band that holds up to 10 cc's. He put in 3 cc's for my first fill when I told him I could eat a cadillac on a bun! What is your experience? Marie

It's happened twice. Haven't had any fills yet. I eat something that seems to have difficulty going down. I have made the mistake twice of taking a sip of Water. I feel the food either sticking or moving very slowly down my pipe. I then feel the need to cough and when I do, the bit of water with the food comes out. then I'm good to go! Is that a pb? Marie

Well, thank God that you are o.k. and had the good sense to go to the hospital! The fact that the doctor never returned your calls and you had such a serious problem would want me to file some sort of complaint. I'm not punitive by nature, but this is some serious stuff. You might be doing the next person a favor. Seriously, I would think about filing a complaint. Marie

Well, actually, first; how are you feeling? I have had absolutely no issues and feel great! How bout' you? What are you eating? I am able to eat anything but am trying to be good with my eating. But I have no restriction and can't wait to get my first fill. I don't even feel like I ever had surgery. At first I lost 13 pounds then I think I gained back a few of those since my doc told me I could actually eat purees/mushies. What's going on with you? Marie

I can only share my experience. I was banded on Wed/came home from the hospital on Thursday and drove on Sunday. I could have driven sooner, but didn't. I was not taking pain meds, not even Tylenol except for the first day and I only took 2 doses. But everyone is different. Just tell the preschool he might/might not be there and then see how you feel. Frankly, I don't think you'll have a problem. But if you are on pain meds, I would definitely not take the kids, period! Marie

I'm waiting for my first fill and I could eat anything too! How long ago were you banded just out of curiosity? Marie

About 2 weeks post op and I can eat anything in any quantity. Like you, surgery was a piece of cake (so to speak). No pain, no gas, no nothing! But I also don't feel like I'm banded or have had anything done. I am eating my usual portions and trying to make good choices. Not always done though. I, too, need a fill....quick! Marie

O.K., here's the deal. Was banded one week ago. No gas pain, no pain at all, healing great, no meds, a walk in the park compared to my c-section. I went to the doc for a follow-up visit on Monday (2 days ago). I told my doctor that I had been doing my liquids etc. and that I was starving. He went on to explain (which I already knew) about how until I have a fill I am not going to be restricted and will be hungry. He told me I could "upgrade" to puree/mushies. Well, I have taken that to the limit. This morning at 9A after dropping my son off at school I was STARVING and went to Taco Bell and ate refried Beans. The portion was not like when I was a teenager and it was a full 1/2 to 3/4 cup. This was more like 1/4 cup. Well 1/2 hour later I had a carton of 2% milk. 1/2 hour later I was still hungry and went back and had ANOTHER refried beans! Then, you won't believe this (I feel like i'm at the confessional) at 1:30 p.m. I went to McDonalds and ordered the new double filet of fish sandwich without the bun. Well, like with the beans, I took very small bites, chewed about 1,00 times and loved everything second of it. I took about 25 minutes to eat it. After about 45 minutes I had 2 bottles of Water. But don't stop there. At 6:45 tonight I was again STARVING and my son and I were running errands and stopped at Applebees. Let the party begin. I ordered this new "chopped" beef steak that came with two sides. macaroni and cheese and garlic mashed potatoes were my two choices. I ate 1/2 the chopped steak, the mac/cheese which was about 1/2 c. and I was done. O.k. so here's my questions and thoughts. I know this period is referred to as "bandster hell" because we are hungry and not restricted yet. If I am still following the "band rules" i.e. small bites, chewing thoroughly and stopping when I am satisfied, am I going to stretch or "dilate" my pouch? I obviously don't want to undo anything but am o.k. eating like this until I get my fill. What do you guys think? Marie

I've actually lost 13 pounds since last Wednesday. It's just that when I woke up yesterday I woke up STARVING and every 4-6 hours was STARVING again. I'm waiting until 8:30 a.m. her in Oregon to call the office to see if they can look at my incision that's not doing too well and talk about the food thing as well. I'll keep you guys posted. Marie BTW~Someone said, "Be honest" and I had to laugh. I know you don't know me, but to even write down and tell you guys what I ate yesterday was incredibly honest and putting it out there for me!!! :tongue2: