Cocoabean

Do double check on it. Also check about liquid, it might be less irritating than a pill form (not at all sure on that one). Most surgeons say no NSAIDs. Some say it is OK for bandsters because the stomach is not cut with banding vs. bypass where there is a higher risk of irritation. My surgeon is middle of the road, I can take them periodically, but not daily.

Do you still have your gall bladder? Was the pain toward the right side? If you are still in pain, give your surgeon a call to check in. We make mistakes. Our old eating habits were xx years in the making. They won't be reformed over night...well, ok, maybe on your case, they will be (sorry, could not resist teasing!) At three weeks post, your band should be able handle some chips. The fact that you didn't experience pain until the next day....well, the food should have emptied from the pouch. If something is going to get stuck it usually happens pretty rapidly. I don't think you'd have slept through a stuck episode, but maybe you had some reflux that irritated things overnight. Stay on your current post-op plan or on mushies/liquids till it calms down and you feel better. I hope that is soon.

Were you on liquid pre-op diet? Did you lose a pretty good amount during that time? If so, then this week has been a continuation of that diet plan. 2 pounds is a good loss. Do keep in mind that band surgery is not mal-absorptive. 1-2 pounds per week is all you can expect. As Reverie said, you just went through major surgery. Your body is healing and adjusting. I remember a similar post I made during my first couple of weeks. I was afraid it was not going to work for me. Give it time. Here I am 3 years later. For me, this was the easiest weight loss plan, ever. I've had to do my share, but the band has helped and I am maintaining my loss with ease. I am a slow loser, I averaged 3/4 pound per week (yes 0.75 pounds). It was frustrating, but over the long term, I got the weight off and my blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol down. You CAN do it. Don't give up.

Renee, welcome to the thread! You are not even a month out. Don't panic!! I didn't start losing until my second fill. Until you get to good restriction, you are relying on the old-fashioned form of dieting that got us to needing a band in the first place. I was back on a regular diet by three weeks, but if you are not supposed to be, get back on track! Immediate post-op is for healing. It's tough, cause you're hungry. Also, what Shad said! Did anyone else's content disappear?????? Crazy site.

It's a tool means that it won't make most food choices for me. It won't stop me from grazing. It won't make me exercise. It will help me with portion control. It will help me with grazing from the standpoint that my physical appetite is under control, so I am less likely to graze on snack foods. The band doesn't do the work, but it sure helps!

Welcome everyone! Didn't mean to hijack your thread or forum. But I feel a kinship with other Feb bandsters even if from a different year. Sort of like Homecoming! Today is my 3rd Bandiversary! Woot Woot!

Elfie, you will NOT be ignored! I was just trying to be helpful in my suggestion of periods and preggers. Speaking of which I hadn't had a TOM since Nov 20. Until last night. Thought maybe I was done...maybe not. Thank you very much. Do take a break from the weight loss focus. Diabetes control is nothing to take lightly either. Keep doing what you are doing and stay away from the scale! Oh, Happy Bandiversary to me!!! 3 years ago today!! Wow, so many changes. We are going out to lunch to Celebrate. That somehow seems wrong to do a food celebration of my band! tee hee! DH and sister talked for a bit yesterday. Sister cannot accept that Mom is in final stages of life because her brain is still sharp. Ok, denial is not just a river in Egypt. But who are we to say what is right or wrong. The doctor did say that without the hospice type of program Mom will be in and out of the hospital with one crisis or another. Mom has stated she does not want that, but I don't believe she understands what she is choosing by turning down the hospice program--Doc told her that it will be done in the home with priority on symptoms and comfort. However, Mom has decided to do what the sisters want, and we have to graciously accept that. The sisters will just have to understand that we will not be a party to it. DH told sister #1 that we will be out of town for two weeks. She did not ask why-probably assuming it is for my work, as that is usually what takes us away. He left it at that. So, now she will see another round of specialists. Hematologists and nephrologists (sp?). More poking and prodding. More trips out of the house to doctors. Good times!

Yay! Glad to hear things are well. Maybe it just became more of a reality for them when you had a date. I turn the tides on my hubby all the time playing Devil's Advocate. It drives him crazy. I am just trying to make certain he is sure of things.

Hi Smokey, thanks! I keep shakes around but they aren't a common part of my diet. My surgeon prefers I not drink my calories. (Let's keep the beer between you and me, ok?) I drink them if I am just too busy to eat something, if my band is irritated after a bad stuck episode, or I am otherwise bored with my diet. My biggest problem with my diet pre-op was portion control, so my diet hasn't change a whole lot other than how much I eat. My favorite breakfasts are oatmeal, graham crackers & Peanut Butter, and Cereal. Lunches are sandwiches, salads or an half an entree from the cafeteria at work (I put half away for the next day). dinner is some kind of meat, veggie, and a little starch. The only thing off the menu permanently is chicken breast. It just gets stuck too often to try any more. My surgeon is not against snacking, as long as it is not brainless eating. My Snacks are usually fruit, cheese, or yogurt. Sometimes a treat like a some cashews or almonds. Extra special is some chex mix...yum! Gotta have the treats in life! On weekends DH and I often make Breakfast, mine are now cut in half, but I still have eggs and taters. Half a slice of bacon, no toast. We also go out quite a bit. We either share, or I order off the appetizer menu. To me it was important to not dramatically change my life, if that makes sense? The surgery was a huge change, and I have cleaned up my diet for the better with adding more fruits and veggies. I've cut down on fast foods, but I did not eat them a whole lot to begin with and I can still have them from time-to-time. Nothing is off limits. My choices are better. But I still eat meals with my hubby. He was not interested in a huge change to his diet, so we've made small changes over time, and it's worked for me. My blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar show that what I am doing is working! Along with the size 10 clothes in my closet! Hope you are healing up and losing fast!

There will always be naysayers. There will always be those who don't understand. There will always be those who truly worry for you. My sister has severe stomach problems. She could not understand my willingness to risk ANY possible complications to my digestive tract. She still thinks I was nuts. But she loves me and supports my decision to take care of my health as I see fit. You need to say thank you for your opinion, but I have made my decision. food addicts cannot go cold turkey and avoid food as smokers and alcoholics can. Not that the road to sobriety is easy. It is different. Quitting smoking is no easy thing, either. I am assuming you are not entering into this lightly. You have tried all options that are easier than major surgery to help you get your health under control. If they had worked, you would not even be considering this last step. Diets fail. We have proved it over and over again. WLS succeeds. You have to do your share. But you should have done gobs of research by now, and know what you are getting into. Tell them you appreciate their concern, but you are well aware of the risks and the benefits outweigh them. You are ready to proceed in this next chapter of your life!

Hi Everyone, I am a Feb bandster, too...just Feb 2008, not 2011. Glad to see all the good attitudes! I named by band Bandit back in the day cause at the time he was stealing meals from me! Now he is behaving like a good band. You'll find they have their own personality, and sometimes talk back! Wishing you all speedy recoveries and healthy futures.

Smokey, sip it slowly at first. Every once in a while I get a nasty case of the hiccups from beer. A shot of tequila with no training wheels (lime and salt) will cure it though. Do keep in mind the calories you are consuming, and the impact on your overall calorie count. I am where I want to be weight wise now. I drink beer on the weekends. Yummy!

Hi Elfie, I truly believe she is feeling very poorly. Her kidneys are failing and she is not making red blood cells. Week before last when she was admitted her hemoglobin was 8.5. Normal should be minimum of 12. Even with 2 units of whole blood they could only get her to 11. She is retaining over 20 lbs of Fluid. After her appt on Friday, DH took her to the medical supply store to look at lift-chair recliners (Doc is on board with her getting one of those). She wasn't interested in getting out of the car, especially after she heard the price ($600-700). This is not a destitute woman. She can afford that without breaking the bank. She is not rich, by a long shot, but deserves to be comfortable. But her daughter can drag her to the casino! Oh oh oh...get this! Same sister doesn't want to take her to the doctor because her car is too small and Mom prefers to ride in our car...oh? But you can drive her to the freakin' casino 30 minutes away???????? Taking her to the doctor stresses my DH to no end. He worries that she will fall and break a hip. Worries that she will get a germ to land her with pneumonia again. Worries that it is too taxing on her limited energy. Add to that, anything medical freaks him out, and the day is just shot for him. He doesn't need to be involved in that when the sisters hold more influence over her decisions. I don't believe she is incompetent. And, really, when it comes to the end of HER life, who are we to say the sisters are wrong. My problem is that Mom doesn't make any decisions. She does the deer in the headlights and lets everyone else make them. So, seeing as the two sisters want to do everything to keep her alive, at whatever expense, it is 2 to 1. The 4th sibling has removed himself from the drama by moving to Las Vegas (smart man!). We have decided to remove ourselves from the equation as well. There are the two sisters, 1 son-in-law, 4 adult grand children, 3 grand children-in-law all in the local area. So, us being gone for two weeks is not abandoning someone in their time of need. Ok, rant over..thanks for listening.....er, reading Elfie..is your period coming?? Are you preggers?? It is probably just a temporary readjustment in fluid levels. Sort of like changing your oil in your car. Drain 12 quarts, you weigh less. Filler back up and you weigh more.

Dave, my opinion. You answered your own question. You are losing weight. I drink with meals, also. My surgeon is not against it if it doesn't bother me. I don't find that I get hungry sooner.

Hi Everyone!! Ok, DH's family is whacked! His sister dragged his mother to the casino today. After DH told the sister that doc said its a bad idea for her to go anywhere right now, she takes her to a germ infested smoke stack. Whatever! We booked a two week cruise to Hawaii. DH is done. No more fighting with them. No more trying to make them see through their denial. Drag her around the world, put her on a ventilator to keep her alive. Live off her social security. Enjoy. We'll have friends house and dog sit and we are outta here! We got a great deal, and couldn't pass it up. Mini-suite, here we come!! We leave in a couple of weeks.

Do a search for the 5-day pouch test. Many have said it helps them to see if their pouch has truly stretched. 35 pounds since September is great. Sometimes our bodies take a break after a good loss. Sounds as though you are under a lot of stress right now. Take a breath and relax. Get back on track. Is there a way for you to COBRA your health insurance?

Thanks for the update. Hope all the tests go smoothly and you are quickly on the road to recovery!

Do as you believe correct per your instructions. If you've been instructed to weigh out 2 ounces of meat, please continue to do so. I was trying to point out that 4 ounces of mass is not the same as 4 ounces of Fluid measure. You did not indicate what you were weighing or eating in the first post, so how I could know, I have no idea. I found what you stated about weighing out 2 to 3 ounces of food on a scale and increasing that 4 oz equal to a half cup confusing. Congratulations on your loss so far.

Putting Fluid ounces on a scale for mass would depend on the density of the food. Quoting you, "when i weight my food out its usually between 2.5 to 3.5 oz so i know it wouldn't hurt to go to 4oz" This indicates to me that you are putting it on a food scale and measuring its mass. When nutritionists talk about 1/4 to 1/2 cup they are speaking of volume or 2 to 4 FLUID ounces. A half a cup of lettuce is not the same as 4 ounces of mass of lettuce. Volume is measured in measuring cups, not on scales by weight. Surgeons are concerned with the VOLUME our pouches hold, not the mass. Whether it weighs 1 pound or 1 ounce of mass, if the volume is too great, it can hurt the pouch, especially in the early stages.

42D to a 36C. Why does the nurse think you need a reduction? Are you having back pain/problems? If not, say thank you for your input. If there is no medical reason for it, and you don't want it. Don't do it!

There's a wide range of doctors' opinions on this one. Some say you can drink up to the first bite. I cannot break my milk with dinner habit. I told my surgeon, and he was more concerned about the liquid with calories than the fact that I wanted to drink with my meal. I have experimented with drinking and not drinking when I eat. For me, it doesn't seem to make a difference. I often wonder what studies the banding rules are based on. I just don't see how sipping a few ounces of liquid could wash solids out of our stomachs any faster than the grinding action of our pouches. Gastric Bypass pouches do not grind, they depend on chewing fully and gravity to empty. I don't know...just some thoughts, and my own...written here for discussion, not to encourage anyone to not follow their doctor's orders. The fact that there is no consensus on the 'rules' makes me wonder ......

We metabolize alcohol the same as we ever did. Unlike our bypass pals, who process it differently. If our tolerance is lower, it is from drinking less often and thus, feeling it more.

8 liquid oz is one cup, yes. 8 oz weighed on a food scale is half a pound, not a cup. You said that you weigh your food and you could up it to 4 oz in response to someone asking if you could increase to 1/2 cup. That is not the same amount of food. Weight and volume are different. That is what I was trying to say. It did not come out very well, sorry.