parisluver

Mine is the the side of my belly button and I can feel it if I press on my stomach but it isn't visible when looking at my stomach. I also had a TT 4 years ago so I don't have a ton of belly flab (mainly upper stomach flab). Not sure what will happen when I lose the weight. If it's really noticeable I will ask for a smaller port to replace it if insurance will cover that...big question if they will. But as it is now I don't think it will be really visible as I lose. I saw a picture of Courtney Love who is reported to have had the band and it looked like you could see her port when she was photographed in a bikini. She was really really thin though.

I love this post because it is so real and true. Everyone will cheat on this band at one point or another. Either you will have a fill and push the limit with something you want to eat a bit too soon, or you will eat something that doesn't agree with you and PB even though you knew better. But it is also true that the band will teach you what you can and cannot eat for YOU. Everyone is different. Everyone's tolerance for what foods they can and cannot eat is different. Also, there are many doctor's who have many different post op diets. Who is right who is wrong? Some people are moved to solid foods within a week. Is that right? Do we criticize them because they had solids but your doctor said you have to stay on liquids for 3 weeks? If the person eating the solids earlier is doing okay with the food choices they are making and the doctor says it's okay then it's OKAY! I think it's using some common sense -- I wouldn't tackle a Subway sandwich 3 weeks post op but for some maybe it works!

I just started using a website myfitnesspal.com to track my calories but it also tracks Protein and carbs and fat. Awesome website and you can put the app on your iphone to keep track of things during the day. I get a lot of protein each day according to this site. I eat turkey sausage, eggs, tuna fish (awesome source of protein and it comes in those smaller containers now you can take to go), chicken, cottage cheese. I found I was getting enough protein from my food intake that I no longer needed the Protein shakes. That is the goal!!!!

I would stay away from the bread - that might be a trigger food for you. It seems like a lot to be able to eat a 4" sub at this point. Many doctors don't allow solid foods until 4-6 weeks post op. I'm 3 weeks and still in the mushies phase, although I have tried a couple things that weren't quite mushies and was fine - I just eat them in small portions and small bites and chew really well. good luck!

I had gas pains immediately after surgery in my shoulder that lasted about 2 weeks. Then it moved to the middle of my back. I'm 3 weeks out and feeling more back to normal now - the bloating is also pretty much gone - that was a huge problem up until a few days ago.

I lost 10 lbs before surgery and I'm now 3 weeks out and lost an additional 9 lbs. Most of that in the first week post op and 2 lbs since then. At 3 weeks I'm averaging 1300-1500 calories a day - no restriction.

I think the strict liquid diets that most doctors have their patients follow is to slowly introduce these foods to the band. I know I can probably eat mushies no problem right now (I am one week banded and have one more week of liquids to go). It is hard because I'd love to eat something different. There isn't much variety on the liquid diet. I can't even have cottage cheese right now as it's not considered a liquid. So one more week. It was hard tonight to not snitch a french fry from my son's dinner. I made him cheeseburgers (he is a teen and football player growing like a weed). It was so hard to smell that with the grilled onions and not eat anything! Not to be able to nibble on the cheese was the worst!!!

Has anyone used any of the surgeons at Cedars Sinai? If so, which one did you select and why? What was your experience?

I'm post op day 4 and just starting to get hungry. This is the first day I can actually eat a little. The thing that satisfies me are Soups - creamy Soup like cream of chicken or split pea with no ham. I have to add extra Water but it is definitely more satisfying than broth!

My doctor is same as above. Full liquids 2 weeks mushies 2 weeks then solids. So nothing solid for four weeks.

Did you have any restriction in the beginning? I am day 2 post op and I can barely get my Water in. I definitely feel restriction. When did your restriction go away?

I've often wondered that as well. But I think it is such a big change for people and most people don't like a lot of change in their lives. Eating differently is a huge change when you are used to using food as a crutch your whole life. To not be able to eat like you used to is difficult to get accustomed to -- and for some a deal breaker. I think it does go to show the emotional element that eating has for a lot of people and they don't want to lose that. I think people have to deal with their issues first on why they overeat and battle that before they have surgery. Otherwise, they will trade one addiction for another -- and food is definitely an addiction.

What did all of you do in the first stage with your blood pressure and other meds? I tried crushing my beta blocker and putting it in yogurt but I could not eat it. It was awful. I ended up just swallowing my other pills (wellbuterin and atacand are much smaller). My instructions are to crush pills but how do you take them? Do you just suck it up and do it? Ugh... Also my doctor gave me those gummy Vitamins to take. Do I take those the first two weeks? My surgeon's office is closed this weekend. I might try emailing the nutritionist but I doubt she is around either. My instructions say to crush meds -- but when you are on a liquid diet it's tough to hide them in foods. Do beta blockers come in a liquid form? Maybe I will call the pharmacy. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

I'm not allowed to eat applesauce until the third week post op. I tried to put it in yogurt but just couldn't get it down. I made the mistake of just trying to swallow them last night. Big mistake. I think one got stuck and I've got some pain and discomfort. I don't know how some of you did it with just swallowing them whole. I'm not going to take anything until I talk to the office tomorrow.

I was banded yesterday. I know to expect pain and swelling. But my swelling seems to be getting worse and there is some redness around the incision (i had single incision surgery around belly button). Should I use neosporin on the incision site? When does the swelling subside?

Hi All Thanks for the advice. My doctor's office said all meds should be crushed - so that is what is confusing me. I cannot crush my lebatolol but will try to get it in liquid form. They had me completely go off my diabetes medication! I tried to take my blood sugar but my monitor doesn't seem to be working. Might have to go buy another one -- hate to do that if I'm not going to need it anymore!!

I have same problem. Just banded though. I am thinking I will have to have a thigh lift but not sure that will take care of the cellulite.

Has anyone tried fat free frozen yogurt and blended it with the protein? I was going to try that and see if that was better. I bought the whey protein egg white protein. I'd have to have three shakes of it a day to get in enough protein with what I am drinking. I'll get more if I had some skim milk with it too. I am also having a hard time getting that many liquids down during the day. Just banded yesterday.

I was banded yesterday. I am on full liquids for two weeks. Here is a sampling of what I can eat right now == Light yogurt Cream of Wheat low fat fat free cream/strained soups (I like split pea with no ham) sugar free pudding sugar free Jello Protein Shakes sugar free cool whip sugar free popsicles skim or soy milk I had a little yogurt when I got home from surgery last night This morning I had 1/4 cup yogurt and a few tablespoons of creme of wheat. for lunch I had 1/4 cup split pea soup. Of course water, and a muscle milk light Protein Drink. So I am able to eat and trying to keep up without getting hungry. I'm belching quite a bit and can certainly tell there is something going on as I can't eat or drink that much at a time. Hope this list helps. I was also told if it can go through a straw you can have it post-op. Good luck!

Congrats Monica! I get banded this Friday so right behind you! I didn't have to do a preop diet. I think the two week liquid diet afterwards is going to be hard enough for me. I also have to go back to work the following Tuesday. Ugh...I may postpone that until Wednesday but we will see.

I only have one day of clear liquids. Not sure why each doctor is so different but they are. The nice thing about strict pre-op diets is that it kick starts the weight loss and is why others lose so much so quickly.

You have to do what is right for you. I have been around long enough to know that personally, I am too sensitive to other people's remarks, so I chose not to tell anyone but my best friend. She is also considering the band. It is hard not to tell certain people and I have wanted to blurt it out at times, but I am so glad that I haven't. When I start losing weight it will be even harder not to share what has worked for me. No one knows what we have gone through and some people just have an easier time with keeping weight off than others. I cannot wait to have this surgery on Friday. I know what has made me fat (big portions) not sweets or liquid calories. So I know I will do well with something that will limit the amount of food I can take in at one time. Good luck and use this forum as a means to get things off your chest and share your successes instead of telling everyone you meet about your band! (That girl is probably jealous -- I agree~)

I'm being banded this Friday and have been trying so hard not to eat too much. I was told that if I gave even a pound prior to surgery they will cancel it!! No pre-op diet necessary but a stern reminder not to pig out and gain weight before. So with that in mind I'm eating what I want but trying not to eat too much of it. Hard to do when you know you won't be able to eat certain things that you love ever again. By the way, I had sushi last night!!!!!! Yum! Will probably have it again before surgery. It is low calorie if you have the sashimi and watch the content of the rolls and fill up on miso soup!!!!

HI to the above poster. When you say you have lost 52 lbs with now restriction does that mean you haven't had a fill and still lost that much weight? Isn't that unusual?

Finally got approved after a year and my surgeon is flaking. I called to make an appointment two weeks ago and they STILL haven't gotten back to me. I called a week later and the gal said she was new and was off most of the previous week. I asked if the doctor was going to be too busy to do my surgery and she said she would ask her and get back to me. That was a week ago. I don't think this is a good sign. So now I have to find a new surgeon. Ugh! I have to see who Cigna has on their list. It was hard enough to find this one as they have so few in So. Cal.