BandedBrunette481

Yay!!! Best of luck to you!! It's all so worth it

Mine does seem a little tighter. More indigestion around that TOM as well. I'm not sure why it happens though lol

It's not on your list, but I drank and still drink Premier Protein shakes. They are comparable to all the supplements on your list though with 30 grams of protein per shake, 3g fat, 1g of sugar, and 160 calories. They are sold at many stores like Walmart, Meijer, costco, and Sam's Club. They only come in the basic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry and are pre-mixed but they are my favorite so far. Even at 7 weeks post-op I still like them, which is saying something haha. Best of luck to you

When I was trying to get insurance approval, I was about 10 pounds away from qualifying. My surgeon's office didn't specifically tell me I needed to gain weight, but they were kind of happy when I said I gained 5 pounds over the holidays and then told me they were "really looking for a BMI of 40" at my next appointment. I just ate a lot before my appointment and wore my heaviest clothes for the weigh in lol. You should have seen the nurse's face when she asked me if I wanted to take off my light jacket and I said no hahaha! I made the cut off and my insurance company approved my surgery in 9 days after the case was submitted. Once they agreed to pay, I didn't HAVE to keep my BMI over 40 anymore, but I didn't feel like dieting when I didn't have too, so I stayed at the same weight until my pre-op diet. I don't regret gaining the extra pounds so I could qualify for surgery even a little bit! Obviously you should do what's best for you, but I just wanted to share my experience. Best of luck to you

I had my first fill today too! Mine wasn't primed during surgery, but they put in 3ml today. It didn't hurt, but the doctor had a hard time getting the needle in my port. Congrats on your weight loss! Every little bit counts so I'm glad you see the positive side. I blog about all my LapBand related stuff, including my first fill, so if you're interested, you can check it out. The link is in my signature below. Best of luck to you in your journey!

Welcome!! You'll find lots of information on these forums. You can also check out my blog, the link is below, if you are interested. I detailed all of the steps from insurance approval to where I am now, 7 weeks post op. My blog also has links to other blogs if you want to read more like mine. I found it comforting to read stories about people's journeys when I was starting out Best of luck to you!!

It's normal to feel pain in your shoulder after surgery. It's because they pump your abdomen with air for surgery so they have room to see. They take most of it back out, but some gets left over and it pushes on a nerve near your diaphragm that causes you to feel pain in your shoulder. It's a weird phenomenon! Walking is the only thing that will really help that kind of pain, and pain meds of course. But seriously, start walking around as much as you can! It gets everything inside moving and you'll feel better. As far as food goes, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about what foods you can eat when. But it kind of sounds like they didn't give you very much information on that? Generally, people who get LapBand surgery start with a week or more of just liquids (like broth, tea, Protein shakes, cream Soups, jello) and then move on to pureed foods (blended up foods that have the consistency of baby food like refried Beans, pudding, applesauce, etc.). After that it's usually mushy/soft foods (nothing crunchy or with hard chunks) and then on to whatever you can tolerate with the band. It's important to go slow with food at first because your stomach is irritated and swollen. If you push it, it can lead to complications like the band slipping. You can search for lots of info about food and diet on this forum, if you need more ideas. Best of luck to you

Congrats on your success!! I too am slower with my weight loss than it seems other people are, but your story gives me hope that I'll get there! Thank you for sharing

Gotta love those non scale victories

I agree, talk to your doctor ASAP! They told me to call if the pain was getting worse and I think what you are experiencing qualifies as worse! It doesn't sound like a slip but it could be some kind of infection or allergic reaction. Definitely call!!

I read your blog ALL THE TIME! It really helped me in those initial days. I think I am a couple weeks behind you in the process, so it was great seeing what to look forward to. Thanks! Thank you for reading!! It means a lot to me to hear that it helped you That's always great to hear! I started following your blog too

I'm going on 7 weeks post op and I'm getting my first fill this week! The nutritionist told me that in general, most doctors go with 1cc for a first fill. That's just an average though. Some people get more or less, depending on their circumstances or their doctor. She said that 1cc is about all they do to start with because they don't want to fill it too fast and irritate your stomach again so soon after surgery. I was also told that fills are only given every 4-6 weeks, but that also depends on the doctor and such. It's supposed to be a gradual process so your stomach has time to adjust. That's why it takes so long for people to get in the "green zone" with their restriction. As far as sugar cravings go, I just eat things in moderation and don't let them become a habit. So I eat chocolate every now and then or have a mini muffin. I know that method isn't for everyone though. Another thing you can do is find healthier alternatives, like greek frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, or sugar free Chocolate pudding. Best of luck to you!

In the paperwork the hospital gave me when I was discharged, it said I could resume a normal workout routine 4 - 6 weeks post op, but not to work my abs for 6-8 weeks (because of where my port is placed). I started walking on the treadmill 2 days after surgery, but I didn't do any exercise besides walking for the first 4 weeks. Then I started with the elliptical machine, arm weights, and jogging. I tried jump roping at 4 weeks but it was uncomfortable for my port area. Follow your doctor's guidelines but also listen to your body! You don't want to overdo it so soon after surgery. Best of luck to you

Congrats on your success!! I really like your blog and I think it's a great tool to help document and keep track of your journey (I call mine my Journey in LapBand Land haha!). I'm going on 7 weeks post-op and I have a blog as well! Feel free to check it out, the link is below.

My doctor only required a week of liquids after surgery. I moved up gradually in my food stages until I got to real food at week 4 post op. But like everyone else said, it depends on your doctor's specific requirements.

I assume you are on the blended/pureed foods right now?? At least, I hope so because 6 weeks of full liquids sounds like torture....The first non-liquid I had was pudding with protein powder mixed in. The first non-mushed up thing I ate after surgery was a salad believe it or not. I had been craving one for weeks lol

My bruises from the blood thinner injections were so incredibly big and purple, my stomach looked TERRIBLE for a solid 3 weeks post op. I'm 6 weeks out now and I still have some discoloration of my skin where the biggest bruise had formed. I googled it like crazy when it was happening and I found that the bruising is actually quite common. Apparently you aren't supposed to pinch the skin or rub the injection area after as it causes the bruising to be worse (both things I did, oops!) I didn't ever have any knots under my skin except where my surgery incisions are though. Those went away as well. I suspect the knots form because the tissue is inflamed/irritated from the injection. I used to get them after I had shots as a kid a lot. My doctors saw my bruising and didn't even bat an eyelash lol. But I feel like your bruises should have started to fade by now since you're already 4 weeks out from taking the shots? It sounds like it's worth bringing up to your doctor if they are still severely bruised/knotted.

It's normal! It took me until about day 5 to stop seriously hurting. The best thing you can do is walk around, even though you won't feel like moving much. It really does help. I noticed that the longer I sat in one place, the more stiff and sore I got. I even used to get up in the middle of the night and do laps around my kitchen and living room just so I could ease some of the pain and go back to bed! The heating pad is great, I slept with mine for about 10 days post op. My nurse also suggested sipping on hot liquids to ease some of the discomfort in my stomach. I alternated a lot between popsicles and decaf tea. It was a personal choice for me, but I think cutting back on my pain meds and switching over to liquid Tylenol around 5 days post op really made me feel better. The pain meds left me in such a fog that I didn't start to feel even remotely normal until I was weaned off of them. I know pain tolerance is difference for everyone though. Every day you will notice that you feel a little bit better, so don't worry, it DOES get better Best of luck to you!

Almost every Bandster seems to find Breakfast to be the hardest meal of the day to get down. I've never seen a post by anyone with a rational answer as to why this is? Speaking for myself, it seems like my esophagus doesn't wake up till after 10 am. The esophagus moves food through the esophageal sphincter and ultimately through the stoma by peristalsis. It just seems like the muscles that perform this involuntary contraction are asleep for breakfast? jmo tmf The nutritionist at the LapBand support group I attend said that the band is legitimately tighter in the morning, we aren't just imagining it LOL. She said it was due to the way our stomachs sit with the band while we are sleeping at night. The added pressure of laying down causes a slight irritation and things swell a little. Not enough that it is a huge issue, but enough that it makes the band tighter when we first wake up. I suspect that the "slight irritation" is just worse for some people than it is for others since the band fit is so unique to each person. Just thought I'd share

I'm about 6 weeks post op so all my weight loss right now is all on me because my band is still unfilled. I attribute all of my success to my willpower, to be honest. I stay away from sweets and I eat very little carbs from bread/grain products. I exercise 5 days a week, even if it's just 30 minutes of walking. I stop at my 1 cup limit even if I feel like I can eat more. I eat mostly Protein and drink plenty of Water. I also stick to about 1200 calories a day. It's incredibly hard and it takes a lot of work to be able to do things like this, but I was prepared for that going into surgery. I also know it takes a while to get the right amount of restriction from the band. Perhaps you need to try another fill? You might be 2 years out but it is never too late to get back on track! I wish you the best of luck

I didn't lose any weight for weeks after surgery and I was soooo upset because I was basically eating nothing and everyone always talked about how fast the weight comes off at first. For me, the weight didn't start to come off until I started eating more calories! My body was just saving them all instead. I know it sounds silly, but maybe that's what is happening to you? Are you getting in at least 1,000 calories a day? When I eat about 1,200 calories a day, I lose weight the best. You can also try upping your workouts just a tad. Like if you usually exercise for 30 minutes, try for 45. Or if you exercise a certain number of days per week, try adding one more day of light exercise or weights, just for a boost. My doctor told me lifting weights is an important part of a workout regimen because your muscles work to take the place of fat even after you've finished the workout. Try not to get discouraged!! This is a long journey and it will take time, but it will be worth it in the end. Keep your eyes on the prize

My surgeon's office listed these reasons in the paperwork they gave me for my pre-op diet: - It reduces liver size and intra-abdominal fat - Improves visual field for surgery - Reduces co-morbidities - Increases patient understanding of post-op requirements - Reduces operating time - Reduces post-operative risks Basically, it shrinks your lives, makes for less complications during surgery, and gets you ready for the new way of eating after surgery lol I don't know why some people don't have to do it though. Maybe some surgeons just don't see the need if the patient has already been on a steady diet before surgery (a lot of people have to be for insurance). Anyways, best of luck to you

I followed the portion guidelines given to me when I was in my liquid stage. I don't know that I ever really felt full after eating my small meals, but I stopped anyways. I drank a lot of water, tea, and gatorade in between meals to help with the "empty stomach" feeling. I'm not sure it matters too much, too be honest. I think they just want you to go slow and take it easy with how much you take in because you are still healing and dealing with swelling. Plus they want you to get used to eating only a little bit at once. My doctor's guidelines only had me on liquids for 7 days post-op and then I was able to move on to pureed foods, which kept me much fuller and feeling satisfied. Hang in there

I had the same problem when I first started my pre-op diet! My surgeon's office wanted me to use the Bariatric Advantage Protein powder to make shakes with and I could not tolerate the stuff. I felt nauseous and bloated every time I drank one. It didn't matter what I mixed it with or what I blended into it, I still felt sick. You mentioned that you've tried different protein brands/flavors. Have you tried Premier Protein? They are sold at most grocery stores and you can get them in bulk at stores like costco or Sam's Club. Those sat well in my stomach and I used those for my pre-op diet instead. It sounds weird, but I have found that the pre-mixed protein shakes are easier on my system than the powdered forms. Don't give up searching for the product that works best for you! You can always go online and buy sample sizes before committing to a whole pack/canister. Best of luck to you!

Congrats on your surgery! I wrote a post on my blog about the mushie/pureed foods and included some recipes and ideas to try. You can check it out here if you want: http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/blended-foods-aka-mushies/ I ate a lot of refried Beans, vanilla greek yogurt, pudding with Protein powder added, oat bran, and Protein shakes lol