shortgal

I'm advised to do two days of full liquids after a fill and then two days of soft food. I usually make it through one day and then half of the second day before I eat something soft. Once I see how the liquids go down, I have a fairly good idea of how soft food will go, but as I try each food, I go slow to see how I react. Go slow after a fill is my motto. Once you get stuck or vomit it can set up a cycle of repeating itself as the esophogus gets irritated.

Sounds like your head is back in the game! Way to Go!

You are doing great, smart move, staying on liquids and having a little meat when you need it, sounds very reasonable to me, with the circumstances you've been through. You have such a strong determination to succeed, I know you will!:thumbdown:

If coffee didn't do that before the last fill, then I would say it's the latest fill. Many people that have been too tight, say it's "not all the time" but as long as it's almost everyday, I would think that is too much and consider a SLIGHT unfill.

My chest felt like an elephant was sitting on it and the left shoulder pain is normal ( and yes, hurts). I had a hernia repaired as well, maybe we get more swelling as a result? Day four and five got better for me. I think time and movement is the best that you can do for the gas. I also tried a heating pad, helped a little. I had very little appetite and had had to force myself to drink. I think I got a little dehydrated at the hospital. My surgery was late aft, so I had nothing to drink that whole day and then after surgery, I was only able to drink a little at a time. So it's good you are able to drink and stay hydrated.

I felt lousy the first four days and had I been employed would not want to go back for at least a week. I had a hard time getting liquids down the first three days, felt a little lightheaded and had a lot of gas pain. Day four and five were better, but not back to normal yet. Just my experience, I also had a hernia repaired, maybe I had a bit more swelling as a result???

First, I would make sure I am prepared with shakes,liquids etc that you are allowed to have. Second, please remember that you just had surgery and you need to heal. Your stomach has sutures to hold the band and digesting solid food requires your stomach to work harder. Your Dr. put you on liquids for a good reason. I was hungry, too but I was scared "straight" about eating the right foods because I wanted my band to heal. Sticking with a lot of Protein will help keep you satisfied. If you drink protein every three hours from 8 am to 8pm, that should help.

Carlos, Have you called your Dr to tell him/her this problem? What are you eating now? Have you had a fill yet, since surgery? Do you know if the Dr put any fill in your band when the band was placed?

when you check in ask if they can give you an aisle seat, it gives a little extra shoulder room to smidge over towards the aisle a bit. Ask the flight attendant as you walk aboard for the seat belt extension, so you don't have to ask after you are seated. Don't feel bad that it's not easy to fit into the seat, they are not made for all sized people. Do you think a tall person can easily fit into one of their seats? Ask my tall husband that question. He is also broad shouldered and the seats are uncomfortable for him, not to mention his long legs. enjoy the time with your grandson and Happy Easter.

Results & Statistics there's one study with average results. So many factors, why were these patients and Dr's chosen for the study? Some studies are broken down by super obese starting weight and morbidly obese starting weight. All in all, it looks like the average weight loss is about 50 to 60% of excess weight.

That's great to hear you have finally gotten a restriction level you're comfortable with. I'll still have to try more foods to find out where I am. Firmest food I've had is a crab cake, not a good test. It feels good right now, but I always feel better restriction in the first four days after the fill, so we'll see.

Chickie, Did you miss the part of my post that mentioned there are people who are willing to exercise harder than others to acheive goal? I was simply pointing out that "averages" are averages, some will have bad results, some good results, some great results and there are varying reasons for the average results. One I forgot to mention is age. You've had great results and have worked hard to achieve them, but you are 20 years younger than the person asking the question. Again, just factors that make up "percentages" which was the question. Sorry, if you were offended.

First we have to determine what "goal" weight is. Each person has a different idea for what their goal weight is. Some might set a goal weight that might be very hard to acheive. I mean if we've been overweight for a very long time, we have issues with food, so weighing the same thing I did in High school when I was 40 years younger, might be unrealistic. And averages are just that, average. Meaning some people acheive better results and some lesser result. How hard you are willing to work at achieving your goal should really be factored into this statistic. There are many on the forum that are willing to do a lot of exercise ( like Losingjusme above) or others that don;t work as hard at that part (like me). There are some people that keep their bands very tight to reach or stay at goal and others that are happy to have a looser band and acheive a weight slightly more than their ideal. There is a certain amount of individual factors that don't show in stats. The band manufacturers do have some stats online that you might find doing a search.

I had a low calorie, low fat diet to follow for two weeks before surgery and Clear Liquids for two days before surgery. My Dr now has patients on Protein shakes two weeks before surgery.

Nice boots! Thanks for the update, always thinking of you. What a run around you've been going through. Once you get established at MD Anderson, I think things will go more smoothly, it's getting into the system that can take time... referrals, records etc. Sounds like you're making good band decisions as well, all seems logical and sensible, like a good math teacher!

My port is about center midriff above the waist below my breasts and slightly to the center right. Discuss your concerns with your Dr.

sounds like reflux. I think you are too tight. I would get a slight unfill. It can make a big difference. Please ask your Dr.

You might have more problem with ins. approval. Have you been tested for sleep apnea? That's a co-morbidity. If you decide to self pay, most Dr. will take you at your current BMI. You can start by calling your ins co and asking if WLS is a covered procedure. If they say yes, then ask the requirements. If you policy doesn't cover it, then you'll have to self pay, but the process will go fairly quickly then. Good Luck.

Best, smartest advice I've heard in a while! Glad you got relief and glad you shared the info. Too many people stay too tight, too long.

One was "this year I will" and I can't remember the other one! Ha, that dam menopause memory thing. I'l let you know when I get them!

Skinny Jill, Sounds like you made a reasonable decision. I had another fill yesterday and the nurse and I talk and she thought I did need a fill and I agreed. I had a fill amount in mind, (.5cc's) but didn;t say anything to her about how much and asked her how much she thought I needed and she said the same thing .5cc, so I felt really good about that. I like when the nurses work with us like that. I do think she seems a bit skeptical that I can eat the amounts of food that I told her I could, with the amount of fill in my band and honestly I am kind of surprised, too. We went out Saturday to eat and I ordered chicken Francese and they gave me two pieces about 6 oz each and I was able to eat one whole piece plus a small salad. I was able to stop after the one peice, but never got that, "oh, I just can't finish this feeling". I hope this fill cuts that down to about 4 oz. You're doing great and we are both almost at the half way mark, it's just so hard to believe sometimes!

I'm with you on being too tight. I don't want to live with sliming and PB'ing all the time, just to be thinner, faster. I have been very comfortable with the foods I've been able to eat. I feel like I'm on track with my weight loss, too and overall I'm able to eat most foods. The band has given me the ability to say, No thanks, to some foods like white bread and has just boosted my ability in general to make better food choices. And that's exactly what I wanted. I get tight right after the fill, so I'm very comfortable staying on the liquids until I feel the tightness loosen a bit. I think we both have enough common sense to read our bodies signals and do what's right. The two days of liquids always boosts my weight loss if I've stalled, so the fills have helped me stay on my goals. But if I get hungry on the second day, I eat something soft. Be careful with all the Easter goodies around. I'm going to my BIL and SIL's for the day, so no leftovers etc will be around my house this year. Perfect!

Susan, It's ok to have to use a little willpower, your band will support you. "normal" people use willpower all the time. My "normal" friends want a dessert or treat sometimes but they just use willpower to say no, with our band, we can be like that, too. I don;t want to give all the power to my band. I think if we work "with" the band it will make us more success for the long haul. I know we needed the band, but I think sometimes we don't give ourself enough credit and we think we need the band to do it all. Of course, it feels like you are eating more than you did before the unfill, you probably are, but now you can make healthier choices. Just track your calories like you are and you'll be fine and that small refill of .4cc will be there before you know it. Welcome back to the "human" race!

I would say everyone might have a slightly different "sweet spot" because one person might need a slightly tighter restriction than someone else. For me: I want my band filled just enough that I can eat almost anything, apples, whole wheat bread, steak, chicken, etc. but I want to be able to eat a small portion and feel full and have the full feeling last at least three hours. Someone else might want to be tighter so that bread doesn't go down. That's the beauty of the band it's adjustable. Now the bad part is sometimes, if the band is tight enough that I feel full for three hours, it's too tight to get an apple down, so I have to determine if that is what I want or need. I actually find I have decent willpower, my band just supports it. I would prefer to have the band looser, use SOME willpower and get the foods I want to eat to go down. You'l figure out your own sweet spot along the way. It's al part of the process.

We were once where you are now. It helped me to know there was a good reason for all the post op stages and like you, I wanted to do everything I could to help my band, so it could help me later. And it is! Hang in there. I hope you get to move to the next post op food stage soon.