Drband14

Hello everyone! It's been some time since my last update. I am almost five months post op and have had @ 5 fills. I finally lost 3 lbs. with the last fill. My problem is that I was thinking I may bet too tight since I was vomiting most meals and having a lot of PBing. However, as of 2 weeks ago, I found that if I drink warm tea/coffee with my meals, I am able to keep it down if I eat very slowly. I have only vomited x 2 since and PBing x 1 today. My issue is that I am starving all the time. If I am too tight, why am I hungry so frequently? I have an appt to see my doc in 3 weeks (he's on vacation). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My weight loss has been very slow but steady; some weeks no weight loss but then most recently lost 3 lbs. I am down from 199 to 178 lbs. Thank you in advance for any assistance.

Congrats!! What a wonderful feeling to hit that green zone. I hope to be with you with my next fill which is due today at 1:45 pm. I feel like I am so very close! Keep up the great work and the motivation/inspiration for us!

Hi: check with Dr. Srinivasa Gorjala in ATL. His office is by Northside Hospital in Atlanta, His office #: 404-250-6691 He actually has a fluroscopy machine in the office.

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips. I only do the protein shots when I am going to have an intense workout and have not been able to get in sufficient amounts prior to the workout. I could not stomach that much everyday. I'm also well aware of how the kidneys work as I do hold a doctorate in nursing practice and work as a nurse practitioner. I try to ensure I drink enough water on those days to help adequately flush what needs to be flushed. I'm going to my appt Weds to meet with the nutritionist as well. Happy Monday everyone. Keep up the great work!

I actually love the My Fitness Pal app but I start off great using it and then slowly let bad habits take over. I need to force myself to make these lifestyle changes so I can see better results. I purchased protein shots to drink before my workouts and they have 70 grams of protein---they taste awful though. I will try to taper down on the carbs also and see if this helps. I'm still confused as to why I start vomiting again out of the blue but then have days like yesterday where I could eat a fairly moderate amount? Can't wait to see my doc again.

@@SweetTeach I typically cannot hold down any breakfast. I will try the protein shakes again...before a couple of weeks ago, I just didn't have an appetite until late lunch.

Thank you for the information. I am going to give it a try!!

@@Dolores33778 Thank you for replying to my post. Congrats on your weight loss success!! I've not used the chat room before and at work it makes it diffcult to stay logged in. Typically, I skip Breakfast. lunch is very small portions of chicken with a side (some days I can only eat a few bites), and then dinner I usuallly eat out and choose a meat with either veggies or a baked potato. I can only eat half of the amount of food I used to eat. I've found that if I sip hot tea/coffee with lunch and dinner, it makes eating a much better experience. My long term goal is to get to where I make my dinners and not eat out as much. I've just been so overworked that I have not been good about it. I am working out doing Orange Theory Fitness classes (burns @ 500-600 calories an hour) on a regular basis. Again, thank you for taking time to try and give me some advice. Oh, and for the last two weeks, I am STARVING all day. I wake up with hunger pangs and they persist until I eat. I go back to see my surgeon on 7/30.

I'm having same issues. I am relying on slider foods in evenings. I've vomited for 2 weeks since my last fill if I try to eat breakfast or lunch. I am only losing like 1 lb. every 3 weeks. So frustrating. Think I will go for an unfill next week.

Hello fellow bandsters! Hope everyone is doing well and wishing everyone a happy week! I am scheduled for my 2nd fill this week (on Weds). I am hoping this will help me with satiety because I am still struggling with not snacking in between meals and also with portions. I definitely feel no restriction at this point. I am continuing to be patient. I have started back at the gym and am working on getting into a min. 3x week and eventual goal to go back to 5 days a week. I gained back 2 pounds that I had lost after my first fill. I know this is a lifestyle so I am taking it one day at time, making small changes so eventually they become lifelong habits. :)

I just left MD office with my first fill...2 cc's. I still have a lot of swelling around my port site. I was plesaed I had no pain with the fill. He numbed me first but that didn't hurt at all. On liquids today and then soft foods tom. I also met with the nutritionist. I had no idea I was eating "slider foods." I thought meal replacement shakes and soups were a great idea...NOT....apparently protein should be from preferably animal source...3 oz on a small plate and then if still hungry, I can have veggie or fruit. No starches x 3 months. Hoping to actually have some type of restriction now that I have some saline in the port. I've been feeling like I didn't have any restriction at all and my appetite has been insane since surgery on 2/26/15.

I totally agree with you @@Keeper! Slow and steady wins the race. We all know from being life-long dieters that the slower rate the weight loss is (1-2 lbs. a week) will stay off longer than if we lose a ton of weight at one time too fast. @@Mands15, it gets a little frustrating but take it one day a time. We are all here to support each other. Some days are better than others. I have already lost 3.5 lbs since my fill (3 days!). But today my hunger was cray cray again. Just trying to use my will power!

Awww, thank you so much for replying to my post. I am going to do my best to remain patient. I do pray I'm one of the lucky ones that can get to that sweet spot after one fill...wouldn't that be awesome?! The nutritionist did say I can have a protein shake in the morning when the band tends to be at the tightest. I, like you, have never been a huge breakfast eater. This won't be an issue. I love Italian and Mexican food so the no carbs is going to be very challenging...hence the reason I've never done the South Beach diets! I am not giving up my dark chocolate. It has been so surprising reading everyone's stories at how different the band is for each of us. I love this site and all the support we can give one another. Thanks again for the helpful information.

I am post op day #4 and am curious if having uneven swelling above belly button is normal? It looks like a pocket of swelling...alien looking honestly. I am hoping this is normal. I don't go for my post op until Friday and just am worried. Thank you in advance.

Thank you everyone for your responses. It helps to know we are all just in healing phases and hopefully temporary...worth the long-term results. I am having a terrible time with MAJOR HUNGER as my stomach has healed. 2 more weeks until my first fill! Counting down!!!

I had my surgery on a Thursday and went back to work on Monday. Different for each person really.

I am so very happy for you!! I am counting down for my first fill on 3/25/15. I am starving all the time since my surgery on 2/26/15. It feels discouraging because I just feel bloated and swollen right now but still hungry. I really appreciate hearing you are in the GREEN zone! Keep up the great work!!

so frustrated with this swell hell! I definitely can see the port but my entire abdomen swells by mid-day and I look like I'm 7 months pregnant! ugh. I hope this gets better. I'm almost two weeks out.

Surgery went well. Ended up statying 6 hours due to O2 sats not coming back up but finally made it home! Gas pains trapped in my chest and left shoulder even today. I went back to work on Monday. I'm a nurse practitioner and round in the hospital and see patients in an office setting. I'm wiped out by the end of the day but I'm getting through it each day. No fills for me until stomach heals; another 3 weeks per my surgeon. I have been hungry since day one so I am really having a tough time. Praying this is all worth it and that I can handle it!

I went for my post op visit today. My surgeon seems to think the swelling is normal but did warn me that although I have a low profile port, I will always be able to see it to some degree due to my lower BMI and the fact that I had less fat between the abs muscles and subcutaneous skin. I was worried about this. I'm praying the swelling will go down and it really wont be as noticeable as it is now. No fill for me. He wants me to wait 3 more weeks before adding 2 cc's. He is very conservative and prefers to wait until the new stomach heals before adding any fluid. He did release me to to eat soft foods now. I've lost 10 lbs. so far just doing liquids. Thank you all for the support!

@@Mands15 I am having the same problem! I am stiill hungry post op day #4!

@@Nikki D I do notice back pain when I'm walking; I think it's because I can't hold my tummy in and stand up straight due to the soreness in my abs. I think you have a good plan about weighing once a week following first post op visit.

@@kholliday2010 congrats! I just had my band on 2/26/15! I am still dealing with the terrible gas pains but I"m so excited about our new journey. I have been hungry but I am fighting through it each day and following the liquid diet. I do not have a fill yet. I believe my physician will fill it in two weeks post op. i wish you continued success. I love this support forum.

Congrats on your results so far! I have to agree that the gas pains are awful! I am post op day #4 and have terrible gas pains in my chest and left shouder blade. I have refused to weigh myself so far. I am hungry which was a little disheartening. I am just being sure to continue with the liquid diet. I was told I wouldn't be hungry for at least ten days. I actually felt hungry day 1. I get my first fill in two weeks. I wish you continued success.