Tater

I am supposed to be on 2 days of liquids and 2 days of mushies after a fill. But even with my Protein shakes I just can't do only liquid anymore. It leaves me too lightheaded and naseaus. So I cheat by adding Peanut Butter and sometimes low fat ice cream so I don't pass out. I also don't exactly follow the time frame because I feel fine the next day. (I have had about 7 fills now including one complete unfill for a week). So usually by day 3 I am eating almost normally. I haven't had any problems with this so far and I know I should follow the directions, but I just CAN'T - it kills me! I can't function without food! Does anyone else have restrictions like this, and if so do you ever bend the rules?

Yes I'm still losing weight - It seems to make no difference, which is why I always seem to justify it. Of course I had a really easy time after surgery too and they moved me to solid foods much more quickly than they told me they would.

That makes sense. I really tend to go with what I feel best with this band. So maybe I'm not even making bad choices - I'm just doing what my body tells me. And it is telling me I am going to pass out if I don't have more food!!!!! And my ticker is broken right now, but I am doing great, so maybe I should stop feeling so guilty about any little thing I mess up on. Thanks guys! Tater

Don't get too freaked out about the gas pain. I had absolutely none - so it's not a guarantee that you will have it. I was required to stay 24 hrs by my doctor, but everyone is different. I had a pretty easy experience, so let me know if you have any questions! :rolleyes2:

I was required to stay for observation by my doctor due to another health problem I have. I actually was glad to stay because I was able to get better pain and nausea meds, and have a nurse monitor me when I was having a problem (I couldn't pee :rolleyes2:). The bad part was the guy screaming in the next room. I'm glad I didn't have the same surgery as him!!

I was banded in February and I currently work out with a personal trainer, do ballet twice a week, and ride my horse 2-3 days a week. And yes, my port does still hurt sometimes when I am very active. In fact I got a fill today and was asking about it. The PA who does my fills says it will be a while before it is not sore, but my body will eventually encapsulate(?) it and I won't notice it anymore. So don't be afraid to do whatever you want. The small amount of pain is worth it. :confused_smile:

So I guess I had a sort-of PB experience yesterday (my first). It was very scary. I'm not even sure it was a PB, I might have just actually choked. However I DID have a fill the day before, so I'm guessing that might have been it. The stupid thing is that it was a TINY pill. I'm guessing it went down, got stuck and then tried to come back up. Except that it came back up in to my throat and got stuck there. I managed to throw some of it up, but most of it just stayed there burning my throat. I called the doctor in a panic and they told me to drink hot Water to dissolve it. It was some of the worst pain I've ever had - all I could do was pace around the kitchen crying and choking until it finally felt like it was gone. Even after that I was in terrible pain all day. I literally have no voice and my throat is too sore to have anything but liquids and popsicles. Has anyone ever had this happen to them? It REALLY sucks!

Hi everyone. I could really use some support right now. I'm not so great with my band and it it really depressing me. :glare: I was banded 2/6. So far I have lost 15 pounds. Most of that was at the beginning and the scale ahsn't moved in weeks. I have had 3 fills, and 1 unfill so far. I need another fill, but now I am nervous after the last fill caused me to get stuck. I've also been having flare ups of other health problems which have caused me to not focus on the band and doing the things I need to. I haven't been eating right (I have basically no restriction) and my health problems make it hard for me to exercise. I look at everyone else's numbers and I want to cry. Of course you all are probably working harder than me. So how do I make myself do this? It is harder than I imagined since I don't seem to retain the fills very well. Oh well, I'm sure things will get better. I am seeing a personal trainer (when I don't cancel) and am taking a ballet class (used to be a dancer). This will all pass right? :Dancing_biggrin:

Does anyone ride horses? If so how long until you were back in the saddle? I am an experienced rider who has ridden all my life, and I have a great horse - but she is not always the most reliable. She will occasionally spook, but it doesn't bother me. How bad would it be to fall off? I am almost 2 weeks post op right now and feel completely healed. TIA! Tater

So both times after my 2 fills now I have felt like I am going to puke. They barely put anything in each time, and I had no problem drinking. The Dr. was not concerned with it. Does this happen to any of you? The receptionist tells me it is common, but it kind of sucks. I may start taking a Zofran before I get filled from now on. I'm also having some strange pain around my port which caused them to cancel my 3rd fill. Which also sucks because I haven't lost anything in a month.

I just swallow them. I have been able to swallow anything from day one (and my doctor does not believe in crushing pills unless you have a problem). I can take any size with a decent drink of Water. Don't worry about it!

Not only can I eat Peanut Butter, but I can EAT peanut butter. I was depressed and I went through a whole jar in like 2 days. So now I don't buy it. I obviously can't be trusted.:biggrin:

Well I've stopped weighing myself because it is making me depressed. I was banded on 2/6 and have been stuck at 15 lbs (although I probably gained) since the week after surgery. Also, my first fill didn't do anything, so I can still eat whatever I want. I know I need to stop whining - my doc tells me he doesn't expect me to start losing weight until now (getting another fill this week and start with my personal trainer tomorrow) I just am having a rough time personally and sometimes am afraid this won't work at all. :mad2: I think I need a hug. :cool:

I am 5 weeks out from surgery and had my first fill 2 days ago. Am I supposed to feel something right away or does it take a while? Because I am able to eat (mushies) just like I was before (too fast and too much). Will it happen or do I need another fill? TIA Tater

Well the good news is that they are going to do another fill next week. My nurse said something about air in the tubing from surgery that sometimes affects the first fill. Now I just have to control myself until then.

Don't feel bad. I have a low pain tolerance and took mine for almost 2 weeks. I swicthed from Percocet (which is stronger for me) to Vicodin after a week. Then I accidentally pulled some stitches in my port lifting something, so they gave me more Percocet. However, I am very non-sensitive to pain meds due to long term use from a back injury. So I have to take a horse-sized dose to feel anything. Actually, I was using the drugs more to prevent the pain from ever starting than cure it once it started. I feel that I healed better because of this.

So I am almost 3 weeks post op. The whole process was really easy. The doctor said I am actually very small inside (huh?) so I had no swelling, almost no pain, no gas, and have no problem getting anything down. It's almost like I didn't have anything done. I'm on the mushy stage right now, and should start eating real food next week. I'm not having too much hunger either. My problem is that I've started to be able to eat more than I should. The doctor said I would KNOW if I had eaten too much, but I'm not so sure as I haven't had any signs. So I guess now I'm back to willpower? Which obviously I don't have or I wouldn't be obese.:thumbdown: Tonight I went out to dinner for a family b-day, and I really CAN eat more than I should. I didn't eat anything that was against my rules, but it scares me that I can eat so much. I know this will change once I start to get fills, but now I am scared. How did you all deal with this stage of the process? HELP!!

I was required to stay by my doctor because I have Grave's Disease and anesthesia can sometimes cause bad reactions. I can't say I slept much(hospitals are LOUD!), but I actually was glad to stay. Everyone was great, and it was easier to get IV meds than worry about swallowing pills for the 1st 24 hours. I tolerate narcotics well, so I was happy to have the Dilaudid and Phenergen when I needed it. I also was having problems urinating, so they kept scanning my bladder and reassuring me that I was fine. At home I would have been freaking out. :thumbdown:

I have 6 meds I take per day and I had no problem swallowing them whole the day after surgery. At first I was cutting the pain pills and one of my bigger meds in half, but now I just swallow everything whole. Even the big Vicodin pill goes down fine. However, I did not have any swelling or problems getting liquids down, so that probably makes a difference!

Hey all, I was banded 15 days ago and I am doing great. I don't weigh in again until next week, but I have already lost 15 pounds as of last week. :tongue2: I was on full liquids from the first day after surgery. That was supposed to be for 2 weeks, but I am doing so well that they let me start mushies early. My first meal was mashed potatoes. Since then I've been doing tuna/chicken salad (pureed), fat free refried Beans, chili (pureed), yogurt, SF pudding, and eggs. My doctor actually wants us to get 80-100g Protein every day while we're healing, so I am drinking 3 shakes a day. I use unjury with skim milk and ice in a blender. Yum!! No issues for me with pain, nausea or anything else. My biggest problem is not overdoing things. I feel so good I want to run, or go back to my dance classes - but the nurse says 1 more month of nothing but walking. Blah!

I have been overweight my whole life - even as a child, so I definitely have experienced this. Junior High School was the worst time of my life - especially gym class. They didn't make a uniform that fit me so I could never particiapate without holding on to my too small pants. It was humiliating. All the boys used to call me "Truck". Same thing when I worked in a hotel - no uniforms that fit me, and I was only a size 16!! They made me feel like crap about having to special order one for me. Strangely enough I've had a much easier time as a adult, even though I am a lot bigger now.

I actually just started drinking coffee now that I am banded (2 weeks today). I used to drink 1-2 diet sodas a day (Coke Zero yum!), and always one for Breakfast. Now I have started doing International Foods sugar free coffees and cappuccinos. I know it's not real coffee (barely has any caffeine), but it's enough to keep me awake during long afternoons - plus it feels like I'm having a delicious snack! I've even mixed it in to my Protein shake in the morning.

So I introduced myself last week, and here I am - newly banded. I was so scared and had built it up so much in my head that I was a basket case. Well I am happy to report that it was a piece of cake. :tt1: I was banded on Wed, the 6th. I spent one night in the hospital and came home yesterday. I can't believe how good I feel and how great my incisions look (although my port is bigger that I thought). I also have had no problems getting any liquids down and am already drinking my unjury shakes (which luckily I LOVE) and had Soup for dinner tonight. (My doctor does full liquids right after surgery). I also lost 11 pounds on the 1 week pre-op diet. :thumbup: I expected there to be much more pain and nausea, but I am handling it very well - and I am really a big wimp! I look forward to sharing my journey with this board. Here's to my new life!

He said whenever I feel up to it, but I don't think he has any idea what riding really entails. My trainer is in Florida for another month, so I guess I'll wait until she comes back - that should make it 6 weeks. I don't have any pain anymore, so it's tempting. Good thing it's February and I hate riding now. I already know my horse is going to love the new smaller me. :thumbup:

I had Dilaudid (good stuff) in recovery and every 4 hours the night I spent in the hospital. I only needed nausea meds once that night. Once at home I switched to Percocet pills. I am very immune to pain killers, so it takes a lot to work for me. I am a week out and am using mostly Tylenol with Vicodin for when I need it.