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I am at day 4 from my surgery. I feel really good. Emotional - but not physical hunger. am struggling with 62 oz of Water I am supposed to be drinking a day - but, more importantly I am really struggling with how to consume 64 grams of Protein on a Fluid diet. I have a lot of (failed) diet food around [can you say pork rinds alla atkins, frozen dinners alla Jenny Craig etc... None of those will of course work for me in this stage. Has anybody tried Isagenix? I still have a couple of tubs of those around. I was a failure in the isogenix diet a few months ago- before I decided to have the lap band but found it tasted pretty good. How are you getting in enough protein given the limited amount of food that we can eat at this point

What helpful and constructive comments. Thanks friends. I guess I need a re-set in attitude and thinking.

I am in a foul mood and really feel down on myself. The ONLY weight loss I have experienced since April after the lap band was in the first week. I wasn’t a high BMI to start with (30 bmi) so I thought it may not come off as quickly but I never thought it would not come off. When I first considered a lap band I telephoned the clinic and the dr. telephoned me back. I never did meet directly with my dr until 15 minutes before the surgery. I only wanted initially a bariatric balloon for 6 months. I thought that this quick tool may snap me back into a healthy weight and do something about my grazing (no…feasting!) from 8 pm to 1 am. The doctor, after hearing my particulars, discouraged the balloon and stated – ‘why not address this problem for life and get a lap band for your hunger for life - instead of a balloon to stop you from eating”. After considerable thought I got the band in April. Because of my lower bmi I didn’t have a pre-diet. My first 10 days of weight loss of about 10 days (during recovery) was inspiring and I was so optimistic. Not so much now. I have recovered well with no physical problems to date. I now have a fill of approximately 6 cm. For the first time during the last fill I now feel aa difference - but not in my appetite. I have some obstruction (which I understand is not what you are aiming for or what is supposed to help) with certain foods or where I take too big a mouthful or don’t chew as well as I should. What has not happened is any change in my appetite or eating habits or ability to eat. DOES THIS EVER REALLY OCCUR? I thought that this would stop my hunger – but there is literally no change in my hunger – just now a change in how quickly foods can go down. So discouraged and feel like this was not the tool I needed. Perhaps my relatively lower bmi has something to do with this but since the operation in April I have not lost any weight. I am back to dieting as I did previously. I don’t feel like I have a tool – just two scars on my stomach and $16,000 less in my bank.

Thanks for the note Yes, I had my surgery in Mississauga The nurse stated that perhaps because my bmi was lower that there wasn't the pressure on my stomach which is why I was not feeling a change. ??? hmmmm. I am up to about 6.2 now. Here is hoping! Comforting to know I am not the only one. Keep in touch

Thank you everybody for your encouragement and helpful comments. Had a fill and am hoping that this assists.

I occasionally get a very sharp upper back pain after eating, I have found it particularly difficult if I am driving or sitting. Here is what I discovered. I am very large busted and wear an underwire bra. Within 5 minutes of taking the bra off - the pain disappeared. I am thinking that the underwire dug into the stomach area and the band area - causing the pain. did this help?

I feel relatively recovered. I am so hungry. Am supposed to be on pureed foods this week. Had a jar of baby food and an egg in the last 12 hours with no problem. The issue is that I am so hungry I feel I could eat anything. I know that I am only supposed to concentrate on healing this month but I am also concerned with calories. I have lost 13 pounds in one week but feel it could go for nothing if I let myself eat the amount of even pureed foods that I want. Is this bandster"s hell? Help!

I am 2 weeks post surgery and am worried that my appendix may be giving me trouble. I have a dull and then sometimes sharp pain in my abdomen right side. When i walk it gets more intense - 6 out of 10. Always the same place. Could it be gas? Anybody else experienced this? It is always in precisely the same place. It is constant but varies in intensity. My post op nurse said maybe i was still recovery from the laparoscopy - but was not terribly confident. She said that given I have had this for 5 days - if it were my appendix it would have gotten much much worse. It only gets worse when I walk or after eating.

Thanks for the feedback and the cautions. I did not see the surgeon; it is the surgical nurse that sees the patients. She took the stitch out. She asked how much I was eating. I told her exactly (probably 1/3 c rice) and about 4-6 oz of meat. She did not seem at all concerned but stressed the importance of eating very slowly. She seemed a bit surprised that bread gave me no problem. She did not offer me any warnings or say I should do anything other than continue to eat very slowly and lesser portions. I have thought about what you have both said and think it makes a lot of sense. I am not concerned with weight loss until the band is filled but I haven't done all this - just to mess it up so I think tomorrow I will make a large soft stew and eat that for the week. Thanks for the tip. The only thing or discomfort I have is on my lower right side- just below my hip bone. I am completely healthy but am concerned that it is my appendix. It is a dull ache always at the same place. When I walk it gets more intense - but still localized. She said if it were my appendix and given it has lasted a few days I would have been in emergency - so she hypothesized it was just gas. I am going to post to see if anyone has experienced this and whether it is correlated with the surgery.

I am 2 weeks post surgery and have lost about 10 pounds. I just had my first post surgical visit and it went well. I was quite honest that I have not been sticking to the limited puree diet - but frankly have had no difficulty with rice, meat, potatoes, corn, and last - night - a full chinese dinner. I have also had no problem eating 1/2 a roast pork sandwich. The secret is chew chew chew and lots of space between bites. The only thing that has given me pause this week is an orange for just a mini-second. I think I am going to love this tool! I was told that there will be no fill for 2 weeks. (My surgeon puts 3-4 mg in upon insertion). The best news was that after my visit I knew I had to go grocery shopping. I had no eaten today and it was lunch time so on my way to the store I stopped at harveys and got a junior burger with tomatoes. I immediately took off the top bun and ate the burger slowly. That was 2 hours ago and I am still feeling absolutely no hunger or no desire to eat! Thought I would post this as a good news story for those afraid or those newly banded. So far - so good. It was well worth the first few days of discomfort and fear.

Thanks for the tips fellow bandits! Since I posted I had 2 large glasses of tomato juice and 2 pulverized hard boiled eggs. (Just noticed that my surgeon states no vegetable juices yet...) I am still fantasiging food but maybe you are right about keeping busy. I am bored and lying watching tv since i took the week off work The canadian spring (which hasn't materialized) has kept me housebound. -8 today. So I will sit and read all of the posts here to keep my mind occupied. How encouraging to have people who have been there help me out! Here's hoping!

so how is it going. What you said made sense to me. The portions are smaller, convenient and there are no left overs. In my prebanded life (only 1 week ago) it would not be unusual to eat several of those dinners over an evening if they were available. I am hoping that the band will stop me from being able to do this. If it works - go for it! So - the question is - is it working for you?

I strongly suspect that the weight that we lose immediately after surgery is phantom weight anyways. What I mean by that is that it is a result of our system being completely absent of any food but Water weight. When my hubby goes on the Atkins diet and then tries to tell me after 4 days that he has lost 10 lbs I just silently roll my eyes. Because I know, from experience, that it is nothing but water and as soon as he starts to eat again, the scale will be back up. So I don't really look at the 11 lbs i have supposedly lost since my surgery as anything but an illusion which will be gone as soon as I open my "pie hole". Strike that: "my Kale and other nutritionally acceptable food hole" I really do agree that as much as we want and need to see the scale go down, this month is to ensure that the band has settled in and proper scar tissue has developed. It is only after that - that the real work starts. Easy to say....but so tough I am now 6 days post surgery. I eat a shake for Breakfast and then for lunch and dinner I eat a cup or so of the boxed tomato soup etc.. I water it down with chicken broth so that the calorie count is lower since the tomato soup is about 100 cal per cup and chicken broth is 10. I do take the isogenix shakes for the Protein. 2 scoops is 240 calories though and only 21 g of protein. Anybody know any other shakes that are less cal with more protein? No doubt about it though - I want to eat more! Whether it is head hunger or stomach hunger - it feels almost overwhelming. I am afraid to go to the kitchen. I had the isogenix around from one of my 500 prev failed diet attempts...

Tomorrow is my surgery. I was not put on a surgical diet given my lower bmi so I have indulged in my Farewell to food Tour over the last 2 weeks. Indulged is an understatement. Tonight at midnight is my cut off. Am going out for my last supper (did someone mention I was going to be executed?) that will definiitely have fois gras on the menu. And then....enough! Just got back from the grocery store where I purchased my post-surgical purchases for food for the next few weeks. I was studying the babyfood labels like it was the holy grail when a kind woman behind me asked me how old my baby is. Coulda been worse - she could have asked me when my baby is due! I have been so distracted that when I picked up my pre-meds at the drugstore I backed into a guy in the parking lot while leaving. Add $1700 to the bill for the new me! I am excited and anxious. I believe I have an excellent surgeon, good hubby support and the attitude to make this work. If only it wasn't for the "e" word. Exercise. But I will do what it takes to make this work. Here's hoping. Think of me tomorrow at noon as I drift off to la la land.

Thanks for the note "justWatchMe" It is really nice to touch base with people in my situation. And you are so right - it has taken me years to get to the point i am in terms of weight - we should be kind to ourselves while we take it off. Before I had the surgery I was in the grocery store buying my post surgical food. I picked up a 20 lb bag of potatoes and walked around the aisle for a minute while I came to grips with the fact that i needed to lose 3 of those bags and marvelled that my knees and ankles weren't giving me more trouble than they were. For anybody reading this or worried about the surgery I can honestly say that i am recovering quickly and apparently quite well. Am actually looking forward to this journey. That is hard to say though as the smell of the cabbage rolls my hubby is heating up wafts through the house as I sit sipping my chicken broth. I am 4 days out and need to start walking. I know. But the truth is that for the last 10 years I have engaged in NO exercise whatsoever. I bought a treadmill but 3 minutes on it baffs me out. Can't believe i admitted publically this sorry statement about myself. I know that if I really want to see a difference I need to exercise but that will be a bigger challenge for me than portion control I suspect. I have always heard - "The joy is in the ride". Guess I will have to learn that the joy is in the walk.

Day 4!! Feeling pretty good - a little drugged out so I think the demerol has got to stop. I am not hungry physically, although it is hard to get myself to SIP flluids and not gulp them down. Gas pains very seldom; but when they come - look out! My incisions look a lot better than I anticipated (at least through the gauze that is protecting them). Maybe its sorta like soft lighting on a movie set. All hubby wants to hears is "I'm fine, great, peachy" He asks the question: so you are feeling really good eh? ("Eh" - because we are canadians after all) Honestly though I do feel pretty good. I was supposed to be back at work on Tuesday but think I am going to put it off a few more days. Best part - got on the scale today. Last time I looked at those evil numbers it was 213. Today its 203. But before I schedule the parade I know that I have literally had no food since last Tuesday night (the last night of my "Farewell to Food Tour" when I indulged in everything I could eat. ) So if I could eat a full meal today (which of course would not be possible) I would likely only be down 3-4 pounds. I'll take it!!! Bottom line on Day 4 - A great decision to get this band. Now lets see what the next week brings!

I am 3 days post op and am getting the same shoulder pain. It is completely normal but I agree that it takes my breathe away. This morning though I can drink Water without instigating the pain.

Day 2 after the surgery. I had a hernia repaired as well I guess which is why the pain in the shoulder is not going away. When I drink the pain increases. For the life of me there is no way I can possibly drink 62 oz of Water yet. I am trying to get down an isogenix shake (have a lot of them from previous failed diets - as well as xenonal, frozen jenny craig meals, pork rinds from Atkins etc... you all know the routine. I am still positive and optomistic but am sure not feeling great Am still so glad I did this though. Turning over a new leaf - or is that lease. hmmmmm . my stomach rumblings scared the heck out of my cat this afternoon who was all curled up with me. The good thing is that i am being gentle with myself and giving myself a chance for r and r. I have a lot of empathy for my friends out their with kids. who have to keep pluggin regardless of how you feel. How is everybody doing?

I am in day 2 and the gas pains are sometimes hard to deal with. I find that they increase when I try to sip anything. And i am taking small little drinks. What has helped me is when the pain starts to stand up and breathe really slowly and deeply. I am so glad I got a heating pad as well. It really helps. As does my hubby's karate chops to my shoulder. He gets his aggression out as well! not...

Yup - so I now know what my last supper will be in jail after I oust hubby for cooking and eating bacon in front of me. Lots of bread (really just a delivery system for butter) to start fois gras (after hiding my PETA card) duck breast with scalloped potatoes chocolate cake and cappecino Oh yes - if my day before surgery was any indication followed just before my midnight cut off time by plain lays potato chips and coke. But all that is behind me now. I will learn to Love no like no tolerate no buy kale. One of these days. You look like you are doing so well. Despite my comments i have a positive attitude and am going to try and do this to the letter. I was frankly surprised today on how small my sips of Water have to be. What is a normal meal for you these day. Your stats look so promising! YOu have done so well in a limited time frame. Here's hoping I can as well. Frankly i am 5 9 and yesterday wieght 213. But I swear that each breast weighs 13 pounds. That is what finally did it for me. When i married my husband in 2005 I wieght 155 - which was always and average and good weight for me. My bra size was 36 d. My bra size is now 40GG. Yikes. What have been your biggest challenges

It went great! The build up to the surgery and any fear was not really warranted. My surgery was at 12. I was told to take some preop pills at 10 and be there for 11. 2 regular tylenol, a celebrix and a pill I looked up which seemed to be for seizure - which i don't suffer from but I suspected was protection for during anaethesia. Wrong. Got to the clinic and waited but began to feel pretty loopy. When the nurse called me in to talk I have having trouble concentrated and didn't feel like myself. It wasn't till Dr. Cobourn attended that he said that the (seizure) pill was a relaxant. I"ll say - wish he gave me some for today. Surgery was quite the automotive line. Every busy clinic but everyone appeared caring and professional. I was released around 3:30. They told my husband when I was leaving to keep an eye on me to ensure i didn't stop breathing during the night. (I suspect it was a joke but she delivered it dead pan) Seriously!? So - have you ever tried to sleep with someone's beady eyes watching you. Regardless, didn't sleep last night until 5:30 when I broke down and chewed one of my own sleeping pills. Woke up to the sound of the clinic phoning to see how things were. I feel pretty good so far. Its day one after the surgery. Dr. Cobourn gave me demerol since I can't take Torodal - which has helped with the gas pains. I am strugging with drinking 64 oz of Water - when it must be at such a slow pace. Horray for unsweetened gelatin! Only wish I could find unsweetened popsicles in Ontario. For those of you soon to be bandits I feel really pretty good. I remember doing sit ups (In 1983! - it was a good year). Well that is how my abdomen feels today. Like I did an enormous amount of sit ups. Its from the gas and stretching of the abdomen and stomach wall. That is the only discomfort I really have today is from the gas making it up to my shoulders. I have a shiastu massage chair that I bought on a whim years ago. Moved the laundry off it at 3 am and it really helped.So I suspect that what i heard about someone giving you karate chops to the upper back and shoulders will provide the same relief! YOu have to be careful not to gulp your water or Jello or you will get a very uncomfortable feeling. Sooo - for all you wannabe bandits - relax and go for it - if my day one is any indication. Will write if things change. Not hungry really but the smell of bacon wafting up from my hubby's lunch has never been so yummy. Can you say passive-aggressive?

Tomorrow is my surgery. I was not put on a surgical diet given my lower bmi so I have indulged in my Farewell to food Tour over the last 2 weeks. Indulged is an understatement. Tonight at midnight is my cut off. Am going out for my last supper (did someone mention I was going to be executed?) that will definiitely have fois gras on the menu. And then....enough! Just got back from the grocery store where I purchased my post-surgical purchases for food for the next few weeks. I was studying the babyfood labels like it was the holy grail when a kind woman behind me asked me how old my baby is. Coulda been worse - she could have asked me when my baby is due! I have been so distracted that when I picked up my pre-meds at the drugstore I backed into a guy in the parking lot while leaving. Add $1700 to the bill for the new me! I am excited and anxious. I believe I have an excellent surgeon, good hubby support and the attitude to make this work. If only it wasn't for the "e" word. Exercise. But I will do what it takes to make this work. Here's hoping. Think of me tomorrow at noon as I drift off to la la land.

I am a bit down reading this thread. I am 31 bmi and go into surgery Wednesday. With the fantastic results everyone is getting I was hoping that I may lose 25 to 30 pounds by mid-summer - but based on the above it doesn't look realistic. Just so I have my sites aligned with what is realistic - does anybody else have any experience with how much weight is reasonably possible with a relatively lower bmi? Here's hoping

My dr. didn't make me start a pre-surgical diet because of my bmi so I took the last week and a half to indulge in my Farewell to food Tour. Weighted myself. Went from 203 when I was first contemplating this in Feb to 212 today. Pretty short sighted on my part. The band can't come soon enough for me. 4 days to go!