giveyouthemoon

Eileen, it's not unusual to be able to eat around 1 cup when you don't have a fill. Just take it slow and be sure to really concentrate on those signs you get of being full. Remember to stop eating BEFORE you are full because you can get over full and that HURTS.

My first fill was 1.2cc but bensmum, Dr C did that because he had such trouble hitting my port. What was your first fill amount? (just read in your other thread it was 1cc) The 1.2cc's was good on me for only about a month and a half My second fill was just .3 so I'm at 1.5 total and ooooweeee is this fill working.

So my first fill took a week before I felt any sense of restriction. I just got my second fill five days ago and damn, I could feel it restricting my very empty tummy as I was driving home. I thought "uh oh, this is going to be one hell of a fill". I may be a skosh too tight, still trying to decide.

Oh yes, it was Dr Feng's patient. Dr C just loves to tell the story!! In support group meetings we've often wondered of her true identity!! lol!

Drink as you can, just take it easy. Your band will tell you if you are pushing it. Yes. No time like the present to get used to this. Honest, in time you won't miss it all. I promise. Depends....how big are the pieces of beef or pork? Some chili has big chunks, some don't. Plus if the Beans are solid form, that will be too hard to manage. Put it all in a blender and you should be good to go. Cottage cheese ROCKS the Protein and almost no carbs. Well chopped egg salad. Tuna with mayo blended down. chicken salad blended down. Protein shakes. Hot and sour Soup from your local chinese place. Egg drop soup too. broth type Soups (like veggie beef) blended down. But honestly, for now, in the mushie stage, I wouldn't worry to much about it. You have to just eat soft for now. Start lo carb in earnest when you go on more solids.

In the morning, after going potty, still in my nightgown. That weight jives to within half a pound of my doctor's scale so it's all good.

I'm having fun wearing all my cool rings that didn't fit five months ago. Yesterday I wore one that hadn't been worn in a long time. I don't have a wedding ring so I have fun wearing all kinds of different rings. I am SO VERY happy about this. My shoe size hasn't changed dramatically, just from a wide 9 to a regular 9. Would love to get back into all my 8 1/2's I have stored in my basement.

Sometimes....when you have a really painful PB (as I did last night)....you PRAY for it to just come up........your view on such things change. Also, a PB isn't a like a full on vomit. It only comes from the upper pouch, so when you PB, you don't get the acidy taste or smell. It's "like throwing up" but not *really* throwing up.

Clearly a VICIOUS pack of dogs. Sad, really!

Okay, it sounds like maybe you gotta just take this day by day...or even hour by hour. You have to set your mind for what it is you hope to accomplish. There is a reason you chose to have this surgery. Go over those reasons with yourself. And then decide "I did this for the right reasons....and I'm going to fight like hell to do this for myself." State of mind is a MAIN FACTOR in healing the body. Next, close your eyes and visualize your stomach and esophagus. And visualize them being open and clear allowing liquids to pass. Visualize them being gentle and healed and no cramping. Visualize green light (a healing energy) passing clearly and easily through your esophagus and stomach. I personally think you are very swollen from surgery and that's the issues. Perhaps your doctor can give you an anti-inflamatory and it will help. In the meanwhile, keep trying to sip at ONLY warm liquids. Slow sips of warm broth. The warm helps make things relax in your stomach. And stay strong. Your LBT family is here for you!

Well.....I suggest double checking with your doctor or nutritionist first, but I'm thinking yeah....meat chopped up all to heck was okay by my doc. Check with yours first!!!

Yup. That's what my doc said. No running but walking on the treadmill is fine. I was on my treadmill about five days post surgery. I needed that energy boost that only working out can bring.

I've never tried it since being banded but my surgeon has a now infamous story about a woman who he had banded who did a flip out binge on three bags of microwave popcorn and completely slipped her band in a most painful way. It's a scary enough story that it put me off popcorn for life!

Um. You are under no obligation to tell ANYONE that you had anything done. Hint: you are a grown up and as such, you don't have to advise your parents of the goings on in your life. My family doesn't know (other than my sister, but she's more like a best friend than my sister). There was a reason you didn't tell them when you had the surgery. Think about what that reason was......and if it still exists! You new eating habits? Tell them "I'm doing a low carb thing" They will be THRILLED. Trust me! My mom was so happy that I was eating more healthfully. I mean....being on a diet is going on everywhere! Why would you have to tell that you had surgery? They will be so happy to see you losing weight and being healthy, they will never wonder why past the fact that you are eating small amounts and healthier foods.

Ok....first....you gotta stop beating up on yourself. Wow, there is a lot of pain in your post. Second...just know that the band doesn't work that well until you have a fill. It is normal to be able to eat after surgery but before a fill. It's not even unusual to gain a couple pounds between surgery and the first fill. Third....you need to get scared a little. Two weeks after surgery is TOO SOON to be eating solid foods. You could do serious damage to your band. As my doctor explained "you have to let the band settle in so that it will work right with a fill". When you eat solids, your stomach does a lot of contortions to digest and your band is too new so complications can happen. You don't want to lose your band! You've gone through all of this for a good reason so take care of your band. Treat it like a treasure. liquids and mushies are MUCH easier on the tummy so PLEASE stick to that!!!! You can find lots of yummy things that are mushy, just get creative!! Fourth.....I honestly suggest that you seek out some professional counseling. I think you've got some deep seated issues with food. Your saying you are compelled to eat even tho you know you aren't supposed to sort of tips me off. We all have food issues here (BIG issues for me personally) so this isn't a bad or wrong thing. But I think some professional therapy would help you recognize issues and find tools to help when the food demons are really trying to get at ya. I hate to break it to you, but wrasslin' with you food demons never really goes away. But if you can find some good coping tools, it makes it easier and more effective to deal with them when the demons go dancing around in your head. Fifth...hang in there....your LBT family is here to support you!!

Just know this.....my therapist warned me before surgery that there is often a period of depression after ANY type of surgery. She says she sees it quite often. So we scheduled a visit about two weeks post op to check in. I was a little depressed, but not too bad. I just want to say....being depressed after this surgery...TOTALLY NORMAL!!! But being normal doesn't mean you don't need to seek help. Take care of you!!!

Ok....go out to Target and buy a small kitchen chopper. They aren't very expensive. Then....put some tuna in there with some real mayo and chop the beejeeezus out of it. MUSHY! I also would cook a chicken breast, put mayo and some green onion in the chopper and get 'er goin'. MUSHY! I put beef in there too....I also used to cook ground beef and while that was cooking put a hunk of Velveeta in there, get that all chopped down...then put in the hot browned beef and a splash of enchilada sauce. It all melted together to be a sort of thick Soup consistency. A dollop of sour cream on top! YUM! Right now don't worry about all the calories, worry about eating soft. There are quite literally TONS of ideas out there. You just have to get into the mushy mindset!

So you can try the Yahoo group for my surgeons. Here's the address: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DS-RNY-LapBand_LapSF-dot-com/ They have once a month support groups all over the area. They have a Stockton and an East Bay support group that might work?

Bensmum, I have to say, I was a little skeptical about Dr. C at first. His initial bedside manner left a lot to be desired. However, through the course of post surgery follow up, he's proven to be an all right guy. Glad he took care of you!!

Oooooh ouchie ouchie. I just had a prolong "stuck" today too, just after my second fill yesterday. For me, sips of pretty warm water, small sips either help it pass or bring it up (like the best me said). The warm helps stuff open so give it a try. Sorry you have a prolong stuck. That ain't worth a damn!!

Just *hugs* Hang in there, we are sending you LOTS of good healing energy!!

Hey! Congrats Big(soon to be small)man!!!!!! Keep us posted on your recovery!!!

My doc says that the band will outlive me. It's made of silicon which is intended to last a lifetime and beyond. Some folks have problems such as slipping or erosion that cause the band to be removed, but in all, it's intended to be a permanent solution.

Bensmum, I'm SO SORRY I missed this thread earlier!!! WOW, so very sorry. I am pretty *shocked* that one of the doctors argued with you about getting numbed! Yuck! (heh...maybe you can PM me which one...lol!!) My first fill was tough only because my port is so deep and I've got some scar tissue above it so I had to get stuck seven times before he had a needle long enough to hit home. Needless to say, that was pretty traumatic! Today I got my second fill and it was easy peasy! Dr. Cirangle did it for me and since I've lost 24 lbs since my last fill, my tummy is smaller and he got there in one try. It was the easiest thing ever!! Just a little pinch. I don't have a big needle issue but heck, if you TELL YOUR DOCTOR that you do....they should accomodate that. Glad you found a LapSF doc that understood!!! Hang tough friend! We'll get through this together!!

bensmum! Glad your fill went well. Sorry you had to have a spat with the dr about getting numb. That's no fun!!! I just saw Dr Cirangle today and got my second fill. This one was so easy I couldn't believe it. SUCH relief after my tough first fill. Yay on your fill!!!