citygirl4616

I was initially able to go off my Protonix, about 3 weeks after surgery. All was well until my first fill. 3cc, a pretty aggressive fill. My heartburn came back the next day. I don't know if that means I am too tight, but I am going to wait a few weeks and see what happens. I think if the hearthburn remains, I may request a small unfill.

No reason to go on a special diet before your fill. My instructions for resuming foods after my first fill were - 24 hours of liquids only, then the next day soft foods, then slowly introduce solids. It took about 3-4 days before solids would really go down well (they still sort of sit there..my fill was only 6 days ago). I wasn't sore after the procedure at all. There was no recovery, it's just a little stick with a needle. Nothing at all to worry about. No need to plan for any downtime.

What you are experiencing is very common and completely normal. There is a pretty good chance that you will not lose any more weight (and may gain a little) until your first adjustment. Many doctors put the band in empty, so you are probably getting little to no restriction right now. Also, the first 6 post-op weeks are really for healing, not necessarily for optimal weight loss. Consider any weight loss a bonus. In the 2 weeks after my surgery, I lost 16 pounds. Then in the next 2 weeks (soft food stage), I lost nothing. Then when I added regular food, I gained 2 pounds! Finally, at the 6 week mark, I got my first adjustment, and within 4 days, I was down 3 pounds. Whew! This seems to be a pretty common pattern, so don't sweat it! Just eat as healthy as possible for now...lots of Protein for healing, and wait patiently for your first fill.

When I get sick of eggs and my protein shakes, I like to have a small bowl of non-fat Greek yogurt, sweetened with a bit of Splenda, mixed in with a few slices of banana, and a small handful of high protein flaxseed cereal added in for texture. Yum! Sweet, creamy, crunchy, high protein, low fat and perfect for those "tight" mornings when nothing much seems to want to go down!

Fish has been a staple of mine since my earliest soft food stage. The key is to get a nice, flaky fish, cook it perfectly, take tiny bites, and chew well. If the fish is underdone, it will be chewy, if it is overdone, it will be tough. I like tilipia, orange roughy, cod and grouper. I like to dip the filets in a little seasoned egg wash, then dip in a bit of seasoned Parmesan cheese, then saute in a little bit of EVOO in a small pan. Make sure you are cooking it for the correct amount of time and chew, chew, chew!

I went to a friends 40th birthday last night. My 40th is on 6/29/08. I hope to be down a good deal of weight by then. I spent my 30's raising kids (they are 12 and 14, so I am still raising them!) and trying to lose weight. That is what I will remember about my 30's. Trying unsuccessfully to lose weight! I think I tried every plan out there, only to temporarily lose some weight, and gain it back a few months later, plus a few more pounds. If I hear one more person tell me what a "pretty face" I have...I will scream:eek:!!!!!! I can hear people saying in their heads.."..such a pretty face, if only she would lose weight...". Okay, maybe that sounds petty and superficial, but I guess that is my pet peeve. Sure, I am getting banded to look better, and younger, but my primary reason is my health. My cholesterol is at 203 (on Lipitor), and the ratios are not good. My doctor also said I have a "fatty liver". I am lucky that those are my only major health issues right now, but a few more years at this weight (or at this rate, probably higher), I am sure there would be many more. I am also lucky to have an incredibly supportive husband who thinks I am beautiful and sexy at any weight. :bounce: I am hoping this is the week I get my surgery date! I am so excited and hoping for a late December or January date.

Hi everyone! I had my first fill on Tuesday (2/19). It was a fairly aggressive fill (3cc), but I have been doing pretty well on my liquids and soft foods. The only odd sensation I have noticed is a consistent, slight pressure in my chest (I am guessing right where the band is). I would describe it as a tightness as well. A few hours ago, I tried to eat a crunchy soy chip. I chewed it up very well, but when I swallowed it, I felt a slightly sharper pain in that area. I immediately went back to soft foods, and there was no more sharp pain. My doctor told me that after my fill, I should do 24 hours of liquids, followed by no specific period of soft foods, and then slowly re-intoduce solid foods. I am wondering if that pressure, or tight feeling in the chest is normal in the first few days after a fill. Since it is my first fill, I have no idea what a normal fill feels like, or if I need a slight unfill. I have had no problem with keeping down liquids, PB, vomiting or sliming. Any insight would be helpful!

I just had my 1st fill 3 days ago. It is a very different feeling for me in terms of the restriction. Keep in mind, I think I am still a bit swollen in the band area, and still a little irritated from the fill. The first day of the fill, I stuck to liquids. No problem with liquids. The next day when I started soft solids, I started feeling some pressure, and tightness in my chest, near the area where the band is. I never felt that in the weeks post-op. I slowly discovered, that in addition to getting full on much less food (I was getting little restriction before my adjustment), I REALLY have to eat slow, take tiny bites (even of soft foods), and chew each bite about 25 times. Otherwise, I get a sharp pain near my band, in my chest (I guess that is the food getting stuck?). I am going to stick to soft foods for another few days. I got a pretty large fill for my first one (3cc), so I may need some extra healing time. The fill procedure itself is pretty easy.

Wow...just about 6 weeks post-op and down 19 pounds. I had my first fill 2 days ago. 3 cc, which I was very happy about. I was hoping for a pretty large fill because I was feeling no restriction in the past 3 weeks. I am definitely feeling restriction now! Very similar to the first few post-op days. I have a little pressure/tightness in my chest (near where the band is). I am thinking the area is still swollen and irritated from the adjustment. I can tolerate soft and mushy foods, but nothing too solid or crunchy yet. I tried to eat a scrambled egg this morning, and I guess I didn't chew it into small enough bites, because the chest pain was really bad! I took a 15 minute break, then slowly ate about half the remaining egg, chewing each teeny, tiny bite about 30 times. It went down much better. I was full on 1/2 of an egg. Finally my weight loss has resumed, and I have reached Onederland! I will never see the Twos again! My 40th is still a little over 4 months away. I am going to aim for a goal of 2 pound of weight loss per week until then. That is 32 pounds lost by June 29th. I am at 199 now, that would bring me to 167 by my birthday. For the first time in my life, I feel like I can actually do it!

Wow...just about 6 weeks post-op and down 19 pounds. I had my first fill 2 days ago. 3 cc, which I was very happy about. I was hoping for a pretty large fill because I was feeling no restriction in the past 3 weeks. I am definitely feeling restriction now! Very similar to the first few post-op days. I have a little pressure/tightness in my chest (near where the band is). I am thinking the area is still swollen and irritated from the adjustment. I can tolerate soft and mushy foods, but nothing too solid or crunchy yet. I tried to eat a scrambled egg this morning, and I guess I didn't chew it into small enough bites, because the chest pain was really bad! I took a 15 minute break, then slowly ate about half the remaining egg, chewing each teeny, tiny bite about 30 times. It went down much better. I was full on 1/2 of an egg. Finally my weight loss has resumed, and I have reached Onederland! I will never see the Twos again! My 40th is still a little over 4 months away. I am going to aim for a goal of 2 pound of weight loss per week until then. That is 32 pounds lost by June 29th. I am at 199 now, that would bring me to 167 by my birthday. For the first time in my life, I feel like I can actually do it!

Thanks..that makes sense. Having the band filled is such an odd feeling! Sometimes I can even feel liquids "gurgling" through the opening. I guess I'll stick with soft foods for another few days!

The band is usually put in empty. You will feel some restriction at first, due to post-op swelling. One that goes down, many people feel little to no restriction until their first fill, which could be anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks post-op. Once is it filled enough for you, that is when you will feel the proper amount of restriction. It may take more than one fill to get to that point.

I only told my immediate family, who are all very supportive. I didn't want to tell any more people than that, because I didn't want the rest of the world watching me under a microscope. In other words...examining everything I eat in a restaurant, watching what I put in my grocery cart, seeing how much I workout, asking how much weight I lost this week, and so on. Then again, I am a pretty private person to begin with, so I am not one to share much personal information anyway. It all depends on your individual level of comfort.

When I introduced real food back into my diet, I had a few staples that really worked well. Just remember to chew thouroughly! 1 - Grilled or blacked chicken or salmon salads with lots of veggies, dressing on the side 2 - Any light, flakey fish..grilled 3 - Baked potatoes with cottage cheese 4 - Greek yogurt with sliced banana 5 - Hummus with veggies on the side 6 - Tuna salad, egg salad served on cucumber slices 7 - Cottage cheese pancakes 8 - Guacamole with veggies to dip 9 - Soy crisps, cheese crisps All make yourself to control the amount of fat and Protein. If you are dining out, you can find most of these meals, just adapt the order as much as possible, and plan on bringing AT LEAST half the portion home.

Hi and welcome. It sounds like you are right on track with your recovery. I was banded on 1/10/08,and was pretty sore until week 2 -3. Then it was major improvements after that. I was able to sleep on my stomach again. I was able to sneeze without doubling over in pain. Try to keep moving around as much as possible. It really helps the abdominal muscles recover. Good luck!

:cursing: Yay! I finally got my first fill today! I am pretty confident that I will finally get some restriction. My doctor was surprisingly aggressive with the fill....3cc in my 4cc band. My fill was done under the flouroscope. I laid down on my back, and my doctor injected a local anethetic into the port area. I felt a little stinging, but not too bad. Then he inserted a plastic thing to which the saline injection would be inserted (a little uncomfortable, but again, not too bad). Then the table was raised until I was in a standing position. Next I was given the dreaded cup of barium to begin drinking through a straw. First sip was while the band was completely empty. I was watching it on the screen, and the liquid slid right through. Then my doctor began injecting the saline, as we watched the various levels of restriction on the screen with each swallow of barium. I found this so interesting! My husband was there watching as well. Now I really have a full understanding of how the band works, and the actual size of the filled opening. I also got to watch the liquid go through the various size openings, even watched the liquid stop when the band was completely closed at one point. I finally understand how food can get stuck at the band opening. The opening is very small! The whole procedure took 15 minutes, with most of the time being taken up by my husband (also a physician) asking questions. My doc wants me to come back to his office in 4 - 6 weeks to check in. If another fill is needed, he said it will be done in much smaller increments next time. In the meantime, I am on liquids for the rest of the day today, and all day tomorrow. Then the day after that soft foods/slow intro of solids. I am going to take it real slow introducing foods agains. Now that I saw how small the opening is, I am motivated to be super careful!

I've been home a few hours, and so far, so good. I have been sipping water, and even took a few large gulps. The larger gulps felt uncomfortable, so I will be careful of how quickly I sip my liquids. I am experiencing some heartburn, which the doctor said to expect in the next few days. I got all of my evening meds down with no problem, although I did cut two of the larger pills in half. I have not eaten since lunch, and am not experiencing any hunger pains. This feeling reminds me of the fullness I felt in the first 2 weeks post-surgery. I am curious how the next few days will go. I'll keep you all updated.

Awww...we all do it! I just think it is a bit of the "old me" popping up. The one that got me to my pre-op weight in the first place. Even though the band is a great tool to help us physically change our bodies, sometimes I think our minds lag behind. I know that in my case, my weight gain was very much psychological. I ate to soothe many negative feelings....anxiety, stress, sadness, crankiness, exhaustion, disappointment, etc. Now that we don't turn to food anymore, those thoughts just pop up sometimes. Hopefully, the positive changes in our minds will soon catch up to the positive changes in our bodies. In the meantime, keep busy with activities that make you feel good....exercise, a mani and pedi, a nice warm bath, or playing with your pets...whatever! Just find something to occupy your mind when those pesky negative thoughts pop in!

Congrats on your first fill! I have my first fill this afternoon, and I cannot wait. Since about 3 weeks after surgery, I have had little to no restriction! My doctor doesn't do fills until 6 weeks post-op, so I had to wait until this week. I lost about 18 pounds in the 3 weeks right after surgery...then NOTHING! I don't think I have gained, but then again, I have been scared to get on the scale! My jeans feel loose, so I will go by that. I am expecting it to take 3-4 fills before I reach full, proper restriction. I am not in any rush. This is a lifestyle change. It took me 14 years to gain the weight, I will be happy to take a year to lose it.

I found that steak houses and seafood houses are very band friendly. You can get some grilled fish, which can be easily flaked or mashed for an easy consistency to digest, soup, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, chopped salad....lots of mix and match options. In addition, there will always be leftovers to have for lunch the next day!

I was banded on 1/10, and started doing light weight last Friday (3 weeks post-op). I just worked on my arms, shoulders, legs, butt and hips. My doc said absolutely no abdominal work. If I was doing an exercise where I felt a stain in my abs, I would stop it right away. Surprisingly, yoga has been the most challenging workout of all. There were many poses and positions I was not able to do! I thought yoga was going to be a breeze! I think I am going to wait another week before I try yoga again.

I was getting adjustments every 5-6 weeks pre-surgery. I am approaching 4 weeks post-op, and haven't had an adjustment yet, just due to my port area still being a little tender. I think I am going to wait another 2 weeks, and start up with my adjustments at 6 weeks post-op. BTW - since my surgery I have lost 18 pounds, and feel the strain on my neck and lower back has slightly improved. I wonder if it could be from the weight loss?

Every doctor requires a different pre-op diet. My doctor only required a 2 day pre-op diet that consisted of clear liquids only (apple juice, broth, Jello). You will find that other doctors require a much more rigorous pre-op diet that lasts several weeks, and consists of protein shakes. The purpose of that diet being to shrink the liver, and make surgery less risky. You will have to call your surgeon, and find out what their particular pre-op requirement is.

I had that sharp pain near my port for a good two weeks post-op. Sometime during week 3, it became barely a dull ache, and now (going on week 4), I don't even feel it. Mt doctor said it was normal, and the muscles were healing, even if the incision looked good, the underlying muscle was still healing. I'll bet you will start feeling a ton better next week!

I would begin by asking your friends and/or co-workers for recommendations. Honestly, I live in Atlanta, and think we have some of the best primary care doctors here, but medical weight loss is still a pretty new area for them. What you need is a caring and open-minded physician. You may need a Bariatric Specialist for a weight loss prescription, but a good primary care doctor will help you find one, and work with them to help monitor your weight loss. My primary care doctor had been telling me for years to lose weight. he gave me the AMA dietary guidelines, told be to try South Beach...all very general things. When I told him I decided to get the lap-band surgery, he was very supportive. He gave me my pre-op clearance, and told me to check in with him in 3 months for bloodwork, so we could re-check a few of my levels, and make any necessary medication changes (cholesterol RX and acid reflux Rx). I felt like he was working with me, not humoring me.