Kathie719

When I was on pre op I talked to my doctor about craving more food and he had me add powdered protein to my shakes and it helped a great deal. I like Beneprotein because it has very little flavor and can go in shakes or soup. Good luck

Welcome jbrod. I did have a llittle trouble staying on the optifast because I kept craving meat. I am a true carnivoe, but after talking with my doctor, he had me put more powdered protien(Beneprotien has no taste) in my drinks which helped alot and I did not crave meat so much. I ended up loosing 20 lbs before surgery which was good. I am down 30 since. It is easier as you go. The first few days are the hardest but remember in about 3 or 4 days it gets easier and easier. It prepares you for after surgery too since you cannot eat solids for a couple of weeks. I think it would have been hard to do if I had not done the liquid before surgery. I have heard great things about diabetes retreating after surgery. Good luck and hang in there it will be great.

I find that breads, fries and chicken if not chewed real well will cause a problem. I have had to expel food 3 times to get rid of the pain. The first time that happened I did not know what to do. I bent over with pain and that took care of that. Good thing I was outside. I feel like I have not been loosing good and think maybe I need another fill. I am at 5 cc I think, maybe more would help. I drop under a 0 and can stay there but loosing another 10 lbs is lots of work. I want to be like TxArcher and loose 94 lbs. But all I have lost is still better than before, I just need to work harder. Good luck to all.

DLW, Hi. I too get a "lump" feeling if I eat too much. I called it a bubble like an air bubble is lodged. I find I have to control my portions and only eat, say a cup of food, then get up and move around. I do not get the same full feeling I did before either, but if I pay attention and give it a few minutes I am satisfied. Hey this is all a learning thing and everyday is different. Sometimes I can eat more than other days and a few foods, like almonds, only take a little bit and I am over the top wondering if it will come up. I have a 10 cc AP band and I have 4 ccs and am told they only will do 7.5 cc. I have an appointment in a week and since I live a long way from my doctor I will see about getting a .5 cc. not sure if he will do it if I have restrictions. I do best if I am restricted alot, makes me think before I put food in my mouth. Hope you find your spot. ( I too get the rumblings) Good Luck

Glad to hear other people have times when they can hardly eat and times when they can eat what they want. I was hoping to drop my weight a bit faster and sometimes gain, which I hate and then work to lose it. A roller coaster ride, but all in all the weight is moving better than it did with dieting alone. Still have to pay attention to servings and of course the proper foods. Good luck to all.

Hi Fellow Post Falls, Dr. Pennings patient. I did real good the first month, then was able to eat way too much and with all the snow was unable to get to PF for a fill. I had one in Feb and it took about 3 weeks to kick in. Go figure..which was 3 cc and then another March 11 and it was 1 cc. I have now started dropping weight again. I was told to lead all meals with protien. Once you stop the white carbs the cravings go away. Also I found that to have a snack, sugar free popcycles and sugar free pudding helped. Sucking on sugar free hard candies helps too. Also gum. If I can help more just ask I would be glad to share and Good Luck to you. (Remember this is a tool, you still have to watch what you eat) ta ta:thumbup:

Hi Bergdorfblonde. Not sure I am the right one to answer you because I am 5'9 so not in the same weight area as you, but I was banded the 27th of Nov 07. First fill in Feb and just had a second. First they put in 3 cc and 2nd 1 cc. I am once again loosing weight but I was at a stand still from the end of Dec until this last fill. Hopefull I can get a few more pounds off before I need another fill. good luck to you.

Hi Lisal, Did you too go to Post Falls and Dr. Pennings? Sure glad he is as good as he is. I did not have my first fill untill Feb. and just had my second. The snow kept me away or I would have been there sooner. Hang in there.

I am one who has had questions about fills and a delayed reaction. About 3 weeks after my fill I think it started to work but I had another fill scheduled the next week and since I have 100 miles to drive I went ahead and got it. This time it work right off the bat. In fact he had me drink water with the needle still in me and removed some before he quite. Now I have to be very careful. At least I have started to loose weight again. Only thing is I have had to heave it up once to get relief and I did not think I had eaten too much but I did, and today I ate a bit much and it hurt for about and hour afterwards. So I need to be careful but my feelings are that I wanted the band to loose weight and being careful about my amounts is what it is about. Lessons learned. Laniayala I have never had your problem and think you should tell your doctor but wow you have lost the weight. Good luck.

I too would like to know what the "Sweet Spot" feels like. If I over eat I get that feeling of an air bubble that will not move. Also another weird thing is I kinda have to get up and walk around to figure out I am full. So I have to watch portions to make sure I stop at a cup to a cup and a half, other wise when I do get up it is too late. I agree this is a great spot, I have gotten alot of help here and to read other peoples issues is a help. Hang in there

3 weeks after my fill it started to work. My PA said it sometimes had a delayed reaction which did not make sense to me but here I am and its working. I have a fill scheduled for Tues but am not sure I need it. So far I only have 2 ccs and was banded the 26th of Nov.07. We had such bad snow I could not get in before I did but I had been stalemated since the end of Dec. Now I am going down thank goodness. So everyone hang in there if you get a fill and not sure if it is working. I do not understand how come but will ask more questions when I go in. Good luck to all:welldoneclap:

They put the needle in through your scar and it does not hurt. When he (the PA) pushed down on the port to slip the needle in that stung a little but very tolerable. Very easy, don't worry.:thumbup:

lessofme Thank you. I guess if you look at the over all I have lost weight and that is good. I am now gaining and losing the same 3 or 4 lbs. When I don't eat and gain it drives me nuts. After my fill, they said I could come back in a month I think I will call and ask if I can come in sooner. Right now I can eat pretty much what I want and I think it is too much. I have been thinking of doing some liquid fasting to kick start this again. Thanks for your help.

Isvadala I had my band put on the 27th of Nov. I lost 20 lbs right after and then nothing. I play with 3 lbs. up and down. I had one fill the 12th of Feb. I still am not loosing weight either. I am making an appointment today for another fill in about 10 days and hope that works better for me too. I was told sometimes there is a delay(a restricted feeling) with the band fills that I do not understand. Why would it take a couple of weeks to work? Good luck to you. K

I too play with 3 or 4 pounds. Loose it, gain it. This roller coaster has been going on since Dec. I have had one fill. 2cc. I think I can eat much more than I should. Can't seem to shake these pounds and get with it. I can go for another fill in a couple of weeks and maybe that will help. I keep hoping for the Sweet Spot people talk about.

Thank you very much

Thank You..

what exactly is meant by the "Sweet Spot"?"

Will you tell me how to get a ticker? I have tried and tried and it will not copy to my profile. Help.

I had my first fill of 2 cc 12 weeks after surgery. Not sure if I have hit my "Sweet Spot" not sure what that is. I do feel restrictions. I have not had good weight loss for the last month.

Could you please tell me why a fill has a delayed response. I understand that it can take a fill or 2 to work but I want to understand why the delay of weeks to work.

I just had my first fill. Like you I was nervous. The scar below my ribs in the middle is where my port is located. The only thing that was uncomfortable was the pushing in that area to locate the port. It was a bit of a sting. As for the injection, they went through the scar and it did not hurt, I barely felt it. I was put on 24 hour liquids , and the band area itself was kinda sore for that day. It does feel like I have some restrictions but the Doctor said it could take more than one fill to feel the effects and that I must monitor my food intake. But all in all my fears were for nothing. Good luck.

I too have gained and lost the same 3 lbs a couple of times now..am stuck. I have plataued for some time. My first fill is end of month. My big question is how you get that ticker. I have followed it through but when I go to save it, it says invalid. any help ?

I cheated a bit by adding tiny pieces of meat to my soup at night. My doctor had me add more protien to my shakes to help fight my cravings for meat. It did help.

I had surgery 11/26/07. I have another insurance alone with Tri Care. So far every bill is not in but will let you know what they pay. Hopefully all that my other insurance does not. k