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I only wore a gown, but have had several surgerys and 3 babies, and didn't find that to be a problem. I always have a problem with diarrhea. If your question is will you have to worry about that in the hospital, the answer was no, even for me. Once I was home and doing full liquids, I had occasional loose stools rather then regular BM's. Nothing major, each day was better and I was told before hand that I could take Imodium if it was a problem. Imodium makes my stomach hurt terribly so they said they could give me something else, but I never asked for anything, it wasn't bad enough. Like I said, diarrhea is a fact of life for me, so if I didn't have an accident, chances are you won't have any trouble at all. One more thing, my daughter is a nurse, and she would not have a problem with any kind of bowel "accident". To her it is just a natural function and does not "gross her out" at all if she helps clean someone up. She is only 23, so I would imagine almost all nurses feel the same way. My own family knows to leave the bathroom door unlocked at all times if I'm having a "bad" day, but even that wasn't necessary after the surgery. I know questions can be embarrasing, but once asked and answered, much of the embarrasment is gone. Push yourself to do this, even if you start with "I'm so embarrased to ask this" or "this is hard for me to ask, but..." You will feel SO much better, and be much more informed. IT helps your relationship with your bariatric center so you feel easier about calling with questions. My face has burned on more then one occasion, but I always left feeling relieved. Don't forget to stock up on yogurt. It's often forgotten as help when you recieve antibiotics with your surgery. Once you are on full liquids, a couple of spoonfuls of yogurt will help also. Good luck!

Evenings are my hard time as well. I spent a lot of time last night in bed trying to think of things I can do. My psychologist says when this happens that you need to change what you are doing. Not going from reading to crocheting like I tend to do, but CHANGE, like get up and go somewhere, or call someone. I'm supposed to have a chart, but never made one. Sometimes on weekends I take on a cleaning project. A spring cleaning type thing for one room, top to bottom. It is moving around it takes up time, and at then end of the day I've accomplished something. I don't usually do it in the evening, though, and I'm with you on having emotional problems in the evening. In my case, I believe I'm lonely. I'm going to work on some ideas for what I can do for activities--I'm a crafty person, and work most often for charities so I try and tell myself that it's OK to sit and work when it's for charity. Time to be as good to myself as others, though, and figure out where I can go, who I can talk to, what I can join, something! I'm OK all day because I have a job with lots of people around, lots of phone calls, very busy talking to others. I might think "Oh, I think I'm hungry" and then I get busy and forget about it. Not at night, though. I even thought maybe I should work second shift. Not an option now, but in the future. Maybe I should volunteer somewhere, take some classes. I have a 13 year old, and once he's driving and working I'll have more freedom to be gone every evening if I want. One thing I am doing is taking on a new foster dog. This takes a lot of time and energy-even in the evening-to housetrain them, work on socialization, and so forth. We already have 4 dogs, and I don't need another dog, but I DO need a project that demands my time. I always end up out in the yard more working with the dog instead of sitting on the couch or at my craft table. It's an unusual idea, but I'll throw it out there in case anyone else is a dog person.

I have lost almost 50 pounds since January, but recently was floundering about food choices as well. I've had one fill, and am still trying to decide if I need another (probably). Ever since my surgery I don't feel the grinding aching hunger I'm used to, just a very mild hunger once in a while. I would have thought this would make it easy to stick to a diet. But somehow I got into some bad habits and apparently thought I wasn't ever suppposed to be hungry. It's been hard but as of July first I started my own little diet program. I wasn't perfect at first, but about the fourth day made it. Since then I've fine tuned my own rules, broken them once, and lost the 5 pounds I've gained. I do 1200 calories a day, with 60-70 grams of protein built into my food choices. I do the treadmill for 30 minutes at least 5 times as week as my PT told me, getting my pulse up to what she told me was my goal (quite a bit harder then I would on my own). I burn 300 calories on the treadmill, and on the days I do it, I allow myself a serving of ice cream, which is about half that. I also decided I can't handle eating in the evenings, so that's another "rule" of mine. I broke it last night when everyone in the house made microwave popcorn and I couldn't stand it and had some. I went to bed thinking about it, rededicated myself, forgave myself and will do my best to get through another good day with no eating at night. I write it all down in a simple journal with two rows-one for calories, one for proteins. I haven't been using protein drinks because they have never agreed with me, and at this time I'm getting enough. I don't starve between meals as I would have done presurgery, but I can get hungry sometimes, and it seems I can eat anything in the evenings. So I'm considering a second fill. I'm not sure, because at this point I can eat just about anything with no problems, and take my pills without having to do more then cut them in half. I'm not "suffering" too much, feeling much like that commercial where a gal mentions "taming your hunger" (not eliminating it). I am able to eat too much if I chose to, though, and I used to feel more full than this. It's always been stressed to me that this is a "tool". I'm not sure I"m using my tool to the fullest potential, but am worried about having problems if I get a fill. I'd be glad to discuss food choices with you Amy, if you want to contact me. I have friends who are dieting but we get too sympathetic with each other. I don't need sympathy, tough love would be more like it! I don't have a family that is supportive so my homelife can be difficult. No one actively tries to sabatoge me, but they refuse to make any changes or keep junk out of the house. It's very hard to have it around and not break down once in a while. I have a mother who has spent most of my life asking me "how's your weight" until I want to scream at that question. My support has to come from elsewhere. Good luck to us all!

I've heard this term. What does it mean?

Thanks everyone. This was a great learning thread for me. I have done some things wrong, and assumed it was "eating around the band" but I like having more info about what I might do wrong in the future, too. Being just 5 weeks out from surgery, I still have yogurt and soft things a lot. It's a week before my doctor's menu says go ahead and try anything. At this point I'm not really every hungry, nor am I full since I'm not supposed to eat more then 1/4 cup at a meal. There are times I start looking around for something to munch on, and maybe that means I'm hungry, but it's nothing like the hunger I had before. Then again, I also seem to be able to eat chips or crackers and not feel overfull, despite eating way more then I should. So sometimes I'm tempted to eat just because I can, other times I forget to eat because I'm not hungry. Question: Is cheese considered something that goes down "around the band"? I like the lowest fat cheese sticks I can find, and also fat free cheese. Is this considered solid? I would expect that cottege cheese isn't if yogurt isn't. What other foods can anyone suggest that are high in Protein, but not meat or fish, and NOT considered "eating around the band"? I'd rather eat my protein then drink it. What about Peanut Butter?

I was on a restricted Atkin's style diet, which included low fat meats, poultry, and fish. What you are doing would have been fine with my Dr.

Most people do a pre surgery diet. I was expecting a liquid diet, but my Dr. put me on an Atkins-like diet instead. Prior to that I met with the Dietician twice to be on a "Pre" pre surgery diet. Which is how I lost so much before, and why I feel I was at my healthiest. I have read of a few here who did not do a presurgery diet. I have no idea if there are any statistics to show who does better or worse. Anyone else know? I know that strict dieting before hand helps because you are so restricted for calories after. I would have been in a misery of low blood sugar if my body wasn't used to less.

I attended the seminar December 18, 2007. Got my first appointment about 1 month later, went through all kinds of appointments and was banded May 7. I could have been a couple of weeks sooner except for a 2 week glitch through a misunderstanding. I saw the Surgeon twice before surgery. He wanted to do his own physical, then a quick check in about 1 week presurgery. He was the one to make the final decision on whether I would have it or not, and that was right up to the day I checked in. If I had splurged and gained 5 pounds over the last weekend, no surgery. I was told I had 1 pound to gain or they'd cancel. He was me before surgery and the next day, 2 weeks later and I have an appointment 4 weeks after that. I expect either he or someone else at the Center I go to will do the fills. "any other info" covers a massive amount, and as Jack says, just surf this website. I did. I read about those long post surgery, those just starting and everything in between. I rarely posted, just read for info and learned so much that my Center was surprised at my knowledge, and I knew more then the nurses at the hospital. I spent about 3 months reading quite a bit, then slowed down toward surgery, now I'm back with a vengence.

I remember my first days after surgery. It seemed like every time I turned around it was time for a "meal" or a protein drink. (3 times a day each). When I'm on my regular schedule now I'm OK, but if I get busy, I can forget to eat or drink. Who knew that could happen? I try very hard to be organized and make things up ahead of time, prepare tomorrows lunch and shakes the night before, etc. Never was much for planning, but I guess that's what got me into this. I'll have to learn to use the alarm on my phone.

I've read enough horror stories about too much restriction that I'd much rather be hungry. I'm half afraid to say that because everyone will say "what did you get the band for, then". I did not know about the possible effect of "pressing on a nerve", but the nurse DID tell me that often people just don't feel as hungry. That must be what she meant. Guess I'm one of the lucky ones--at least so far. Some evenings I feel somewhat hungry, though not the stomach churning starvation I'm used to. I've read that you can feel more "open" in the evening, haven't I? I will sometimes take a Tablespoon of peanut butter and a tiny spoon and make it last 20 minutes or more. Tonight, no hunger, so no peanut butter. Amazing. I know I'm new, so it might not be like this later on, but I'm grateful for every day that it is!

AJ, have you ever watched skinny people eat? They have days they eat more, just not all the time. My husband grilled hamburgers tonight and the smell about knocked me over. I just read some people's bad experiences with hamburgers last night so I wasn't really tempted. I think with me, anyway, it's just going to take time to get over the cravings and habits. My biggest craving has been potato chips. I love the small ones in the bottom. My son will have some and leave just what I want. I've been known to take things and dump them in the garbage--not IN their container, God, I'd pull it back out again later. I have to actually empty the box of crackers or bag of chips INTO the garbage. Drastic times call for drastic measures. My husband will get the hamburgers out of the house tomorrow.

Wow, I was told 1/4 of a cup at a time for now, and work up to 1/2 cup later on. It's working for me, so I'm not complaining, but it surprises me when I read that people can eat a whole cup. Maybe I have more restriction then I realize. Haven't had a fill yet, and not sure I want one at 6 weeks at this point

My stomach is fine, but my gut does do the crampy thing prior to BM or gas. I've had problems with IBS and was worried that's what this was. It's not debilitating, but scares me. I feel like I'm going to explode or have an accident, making work somewhat uncomfortable at times. It isn't very often for me, so I'm managing. I just keep reminding myself "I just had surgery". Things are going to be messed up for a while. I've heard a lot of good things about GasX but haven't used it yet. Maybe I should give it a try, but thought it was for the actual stomach, not further down the line.

I have noticed this feeling of "I"m done". It's curious. So different from "full". I think "I should finish this, it's good, I measured it" or etc. But I just don't feel like putting the spoon in my mouth anymore. I wasn't sure what it was, but heeded it. Wow, is this was "normal" people feel like?

My experience was very similar. I used Tylenol at home, and nothing more in the hospital then some super-ibuprophen they gave IV. Didn't touch the morphine. I agree, my biggest problem was and is not overdoing it because I feel great

I have thought WW would be a good thing to start when things slow down for me. Like everyone else said, I just couldn't stick with it before, but found it very doable. Others have posted that they didn't get the band to count calories or points. It's totally up to us. I was told over and over "the band is just a tool". WW could be another one. I'm not sure I"d have the nerve to tell WW that I have the band, though. When it's been discussed at meetings before, there was no support for it at all.

I would be seriously annoyed to find out actors were paid when there are so many REAL people who can express themselves just as well and use the money. I don't have a problem with getting paid for your story. There are plenty of places to find peoples stories for free, like here, so it's very optional whether you buy the magazine. If it helps shed light on the band, it might help a lot of people, and make more places in the US do the surgery. I find it more disturbing that people have to go to Mexico and spend so much money there.

Interesting, thanks for sharing this. I'd never read about these cramps before. So far I haven't experienced them, but it's so helpful to know if I do that I don't have to panic--which I do easily!

Mine has not gone down because of the protein drinks. Isopure is expensive, and I also use double milk Instant Breakfast. That's cheaper, but Instant Breakfast also makes a premade shake that is SO much better, and handy, so I buy those too. I'm experimenting with other protein supplements, but they are all expensive. I also find myself throwing a lot of food away. I can't eat much at a time, so after 4 or 5 days I have to throw out what I have in containers that I nibble on 2 T at a time. Maybe eventually I'll have it worked out so that I eat enough protein and not have to take so many supplements. For now I buy whatever sounds good no matter what the cost just because I'm NOT buying chips, cookies, etc. Isopure costs a lot, but it tastes good. Can't drink pop, or hot cocoa, so what I splurge. I haven't visited the Health Food store yet. I may be able to cut costs for protein that way. Anyone have ideas?

I was told the size of a pencil eraser. I was also given a pill cutter, and cut everything in half, and sometimes in thirds-I'm very careful. I also took pills the day after surgery in the hospital. I also took tylenol in pills-cut in half. I never had nausea and was not issued anything for the before surgery, so maybe you don't need to worry about that. I, also, take a chewable vitamin.

I decided to do the band because at age 48, with my family history, I'm probably only halfway through my life, and I didn't want to live the second half with all kinds of problems and risks, and limitations. I have a long way to go. It seems most people on this website don't have to lose as much as I do. I don't mind, though. I stuck to the pre pre surgery diet, the pre surgery diet, and now the post surgery diet, and I'm losing well. My first visit was in January, so I can't complain. I like the support at my Center. There are all kinds of people I had to visit, and they all taught me something. I would suggest to anyone to look for that kind of support. psychologist, physical therapist, recreational therapist, dietician and nurse visit--all twice, plus 2 doctor visits. Oh, plus the Pharmasist. I have all kinds of cards for people to call on with questions. I hope you feel comfortable with at least one of your possibililities. Good luck and keep in touch here. You will find an answer to about anything. I read about the good, bad, and ugly before surgery, but never wavered. I liked having all the info, though. Any problems that might crop up, I have some answers to, and I can avoid many problems having read so much on these forums.

Diarrhea is the plague of my life. After surgery it was bad, but I attributed it to the whopping dose of antibiotics they gave me. That's a major problem for some people. Yogurt is a big help. I ate some every day and was better every day. There is also some sort of dried form you can sprinkle in liquid. For some reason yogurt was on my list of "full liquids" so I just nibbled on a little at every "meal"

At my 2 week visit, my dietician said I was eating too much at 700 calories! She said I should be having more like 500 at this stage. Since I'm following their food plan exactly, I am not going to worry about it. I feel great, I'm losing weight, and I don't see you can put one number of calories on everyone. We are all so different in activity, health, age, fitness. My daughter, who is a nurse says she was taught 1000 calories a day is minimum. Weight watchers decides it by weight, and I was at about 1500 there. I really don't want to count every calorie every day, but I check it once a week or so. From every diet plan I've been on, read about or dietician I've seen in 30 years of dieting, everyone agreed that nothing under 1000 calories is effective or healthy. I've heard "biggest looser" also agrees on this point. The bottom line for me is 2 things. I feel good, I am losing weight. When that changes, I'll reevaluate.

I, also had a good experience. Not sure what my pain level really is, but I'm not whimp. Also had kidney stones, lithotripsies, and 3 children with no drugs. All I can say is this was a piece of cake for me. Never touched the morphine at the hospital, nor the vicoden at home. Used tylenol. It helped with what I felt was more "discomfort". Within a week I was back at work and had no problems at all. I, also, walked as much as possible right from the beginning. I had lost 30 pounds prior to surgery, and followed all the instructions. Not sure how much any of that made a difference, but it might have helped some. I'd had laproscopic gall bladder surgery. This was even easier then that. I've read of others having more problems, but it seems plenty of us breeze right through it. Hope you do as well!

Wow, thanks for the heads up about calcium. My dietician wants to put me on supplements in about 4 weeks and I don't think I need any. I use double milk to make my protein shakes, love cheese, cottege cheese, and so forth. Can't imagine needing more. But in case I am pressured to take them and have a problem with consipation (never been a problem before!) I'll have a clue. It can be hard to sort out all the new things going on after banding, and sometimes the answer is so simple. When my husband's quit chewing tobacco, he had some major back up problems. He ate lots of raisons. I've heard any dried fruit is a natural laxative due to sugar and fiber content. Only time really worked for him, but it sounds like time does not solve this problem for you guys. I'll keep reading this thread to keep up with suggestions just in case...