mediummike

I would guess if you are still having pain at this point, you should go see your doctor...

Rick - this has been the right choice for me. At 338 lbs (6'3") i was very active - gym (weights & cardio), tennis, softball, you name it. I just always had a ravenous appetitie and could eat at will (what do hunger and eating have to do with each other anyway???). I am almost 3 weeks post op, dropped 30 + lbs, havn't any any caffeine, booze (another killer for me) and my blood pressure has fallen pretty dramatically. Day after surgery I was at he gym doing cardio and a little over a week ago began lifting again. Played tennis last week as well. This has been a great experience and only wish I did it sooner. I'm sure you will have a great experience with it as well, like so many others on the guys thread..

every dr is different from what i see on this site. 2 weeks of liquids / mushies (yogurt. baby food, etc..) before able to start on "soft" foods. fo a week and then all foods the following week... i am actually surprised to see so many ask this question post op - didn't your dr give me a specific plan to follow with follow-ups ?

Banded Feb 13 and down 32 lbs ! Just started foods yesterday and like others, can't wait for my first fill in 2 1/2 weeks...

Its always good to have goals to shoot for, no matter how small or silly they seem. I have heard great things about Fielding so sounds like you are in good hands. He also wrote a great peice that is available on his profile at the NYU site - have you seen it ? Another wek away for you - must be getting very anxious...

Where did everybody go ? How is everybody doing ? I had my 2 week post surgery visit with the surgeon and nutritionist today and I'm happy to report everything is going great. Officially down 32 lb's ! Doctor is very happy and I'm feeling great. Played tennis last night and dr. reluctantly told me ok to go skiing saturday !! I promised "greens only". I also had my barium swallow this morning which was pretty cool (not to mention the very cute doctor who administered it). Get to see the band and all the Fluid draining through live. Nutritionist has me off mushies and now on soft foods. Felt really guilty eating 1/4 cup of chili for one meal and then 1/4 c. tuna and some cooked veggies for another, but really, is that so bad ??? I'll have a yogurt tonight and really am not hungry throughout the day. I am done with the high Protein Shakes, which I am happy about. I know weight loss will slow down now, but I get that. Only concern is, I do not feel real restriction, which I know is normal until the fills start. So how's everybody else doing ??

I had to sleep in a recliner a few nights as well (actually for just over a week). Reason was I am a side (fetal) sleeper and I could not sleep on my side - it was just too uncomfortable. I am not a back sleeper so was very uncomfortable in my bed. Found my recliner much easier to lay down on.

like others - sooner...

Welcome back Jim. Glad to hear all is well. I know looking at the scale every day is frustrating, but trust you are/will be losing a lot in good time. Try to keep away from the scale. Both the gas pills and walking helped for the gas pain. Q - how is that infection doing ?

I had a 4:00pm surgery and my doctor gave me the option. I declined, but my wife reminded me to "see how I feel" after the surgery. Needless to say, I left the hospital at 9:30 pm that night, and if it was up to me, I would of left an hour earlier (they required minimum of 4 hours post-op stay). Columbia Hospital in NYC...

Check with your doctor on what you can eat. I have been on smartforme shakes (agree they are very filling and 35 grams of protein - and dont taste bad at all), yogurt and baby food and am never hungry (although I do crave now and then). I am two weeks post op and the additional benefit (besides allowing stomach to heal) of this diet has been 30 lb's lost. I do understand that until you get your first fill - mine is in 3 weeks - there may be hunger, and that this is normal.

Jack - I do agree - this is a mental battle (head hungry or stomach hungry?) and I guess we do need to show some discipline here...

I guess every doctor is different - mine does not want me eating those things yet, so I'm sticking to the plan. The big upside to this is the 30 lb's lost in two weeks !

I am almost two weeks out of surgery and feel the same. I am still losing because I am still on shakes/yougurts/baby food. However, I know I could eat more if I could. I am nervous about what happens after the shakes go away, which is next week. Then it seems like 2 weeks in a gray area where I hope I don't screw this up, but don't seem there is much guidance. Would like to hear how other people dealt with this as well..

Hi. I just got banded yesterday by Dr. Bessler at Columbia Hospital in NYC. Procedure went well - I also had a hiatal hernia fixed. The pain is minimal -actually just the bloating (gas from the procedure) that is bothersome at this point. Feels good to move around as opposed to lying down. I start mushies today - do not have to do a "liquid only" phase. I'll keep you posted on how the eating goes. Its funny, I have not had anything to eat in over 36 hours but at this point have no hunger or desire to eat. I've line up my high Protein shake (smartforme - 35g protein), a bottle of gerber 2nd stage turkey and a light yogurt. I know I have to eat them today, just not that interested. Best wishes to all Starting BMI: 40.4 Goal BMI: 24.9

Hi Wanna - what time was your surgery ? My surgery was a little after 4pm and I was discharged at 9:30pm. Did you also have the hiatal hernia repaired ? I'm not feeling hunger and really not craving either. I also see Bessler on Thursday. Assume you are meeting with the nutritionist as well - maybe they can help ? Are you excercising ? - that helps out a lot...

Hey Q - glad to hear everything is in working order ! JRC - weight loss will come - these days are for the healing and getting used to everything before getting into new routine. I didn't have a strict before-surgery diet so weight loss has pretty much been since the surgery. What are you guys eatig these days ?

Hey Guys, just thought i'd give an update. Surgery was a week ago today. Feel real good. Dropped a good amount of weight so far (unofficailly around 20 pounds includiding a few before the surgery). Eating shakes, yogurt and baby food this past week and next until I meet with surgeon and the nutritionist (Feb 28). Doing all meds/vitamins/calcium as instructed with no problems whatsoever. I do not feel hungry at all, ever. I really do not crave foods. My girls are off of school this week so we have been out often doing things, which includes a lot of eating out. I thought this would be difficult, but not at all. I have been to the gym every day (at least 35 minutes on treadmill-usually more). Backed up a bit (sorry to get into details, but you may be wondering). Have a "movement" on day 5, which was the longest I was supposed to go without going! On day 6, had another movement which I almost had to call off because so painfull (again, sorry). What kept me going through it was Austin Powers (who does #2 work for ?). Pain is only where the stitches are from the hiatal hernia I had repaired at the same time band was installed. And it is really is not pain, just discomfort which keeps me from being able to sleep on my side, thus not able to sleep through the night. I have stopped taking pain meds. Would love to hear how everybody else is doing....

Hey Jennifer - really - no hunger ! I feel the same way you do about having "something taken away from me" - I guess its that whole comfort thing that we need to deal with. In regards to Water - constantly sipping water throughout the day and not thirsty or dehydrated. My doctor says 1-2 ounces of either fluids or mushies every 20 minutes, as tolerated. Again, the food is tougher to do, water is easy. By mushies, I'm sticking to yogurt and baby food (and the shake I make in the morning that lasts pretty much all day). I manage 1/2 cup of yogurt and half a jar of baby food per day so far. Only lingering soreness now is around where the incision for the hiatal hernia is (had that repaired at the same time as lap band put in). Otherwise, feel pretty good. Good luck Nadian - where are you going for your surgery ?

good luck Fresca - as long as the doctors think it is ok, then you should not worry...

thanks beebee - good to hear - can't wait to sleep fetal again as i have a hard time sleeping on my back. by the way - great weight loss so far - keep it up (or down, whichever way you are looking at it). tink - still not really hungry today either. just sipping my shake throughout the day and will get a spoonfull or two of yogurt in now and then. then cap off the night with 1/2 jar of baby food !

beebee - My doctor does not require Clear Liquids - in fact did not require them before the surgery either. I do strictly follow all directions. It is mushies day after surgery. I had a shake yesterday (took all day to consume) and half a little bottle of baby food. tasted some yogurt. Was very satisfied. Kevin & Alfie - thanks and glad to see some NYC support. kevin - how long after surgery until you were completely pain free ? I still am a bit sore and cant sleep on my side yet.

Agree with Mac - not that bad at all. I too was very anxious but the procedure is quick, and not that bad at all. I got banded on Wednesday as well and today I'm just a little sore in the gut today - the gas has passed for the most part. My doc perscribed gas meds for me that seem to have worked as the gas was pretty intense yesterday. I sleep on my side and have not been able to do that yet, so that is the last obstacle I need to overcome but feel that will come over the weekend at some point. Good luck and hang in there !

Hello JRC and welcome. Yeah, I think we all have that thought of not being able to have the big family meal, but i'm sure we'll all manage just fine. Good luck on the 20th !

Jill - great work so far ! Very encouraging. Having my shake throughout the day - slowly and no problems. Actually tastes pretty good.....