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We're all in the same boat. Today I was shopping for food, had all the right things in the cart and then saw some SUSHI. Now, there's a whole thread about how people can go out a week after surgery and eat sushi- I read it and cried. So today, feeling better, I tried it. First piece, chewed up good. Okay. Second, same. And third. About 3-4 minutes after third, the tightness began in my chest. You know....the hardball in between and under the breasts. OY! Nothing came up but it I could feel it just sitting there. Water didn't help. Since I was still breathing (LOL) I continued on my way driving to visit an elderly uncle. When I got there I made a cup of tea and sipped slowly. That helped. I was told always go for something hot when tight. Anyway, it is better but not gone. I feel like I re-bruised my esphoph. I told my husband an moaned a lot and his attitude was if I don't try new things I'll never know what I can't eat. I think this could be BYE BYE to one of my favs. At least for a long time. I don't want a repeat. AND PREVICID. I took Protonix for years and was very happy but because they want me to crush or disolve, I switched. I also experienced bad diahrea at the beginning and the gastroenterologist couldn't tell if was the liquid diet only or maybe the Previcid. I had a bad reaction to Prilisec as well. So, I went off and had nothing for two weeks. I went back on the Previcid yesterday and had D again, but I don't know if it was too soon for hte Pervicid to do it. So, I have to wait and then try one more time. I really want to go back to Protonix and I'm going to discuss chopping it into 4 pieces with the surgeon next week. Thanks. Gwenn

I think you're right on about the freedom we have here. I never thought of support groups, but when I was on South Beach Diet, I went on theirs and there was an amazing group of women on that one. And boy did everyone let their hair down- because food is not just the program, it was all the stuff that led to eating. And we posted our weight! That was a first for me. Unfortunately, some things went wrong on it and a ton of people left (being weight it was very emotional). But I made three friends that I email with everyday and the four of us are very tight- I'm the lapband guinea pig at the moment. And it's so apart from the rest of our lives that we spill everything. I mean stuff we'd never tell anyone! Very safe. So, I love support boards. And like you, I love that I can whine. And on top of that, we can't call the doctor's office every 5 minutes about everything. I came here constantly after the surgery to see if others had the same stuff happening as I did. It's very reassuring when we're not alone. Who better to understand what we're going through than us? Anyway, I've got my own whining. My stomach is out of whack again, hemmoroid is bothering me, and diahrea again. I am breaking my docs rule and went back to my stomach meds- I can't crush, but I cut into very small pieces. And I've got to find a way to go back to Metamucil. I tried his preferred Benefiber, but it's not as good. Just have to figure it out. It's my only real issue. Keeps me from feeling GOOD. See, my whining. Gwenn

I'll tell you something I find interesting. I haven't had a fill- first is next week, but I simply can't eat beyond a certain point. And I'm not that hungry. When I become hungry, just a little takes the edge off and very full happens very quickly. I can't even take in too much Water at a time. This is amazing to me. I had a normal dinner tonight and could not finish.......now, if the scale would just cooperate. I am so happy to hear that you're beginning to feel it and that all appears to be okay with you. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Gwenn

Honey, you can whine to me anytime. All I seem to do on here is whining. It's my whining site. So, I'm here for you anytime. Gwenn

I hope it doesn't mean they're gaining weight!! LOL Must be about the band. It does stretch out. I was reading about it today. Now I understand why one needs sometimes several fills before feeling restricted for a time. I hope this works.. www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-the-band-actually-works-fills-refills-41738 Gwenn

OY, poor Turler. Where were you banded? I feel so bad for you. What frustration! Gwenn

Hi Sue, You are amazing. So much in a year! WOW. I want to ask you something. I was just banded a month ago. I'm down 29 or 30 depending what day it is. Once I went to soft foods, my weight loss seems to stay in a two pound range, never moving past and down. I know it's only a week or so, but it's scary. Ice cold scary. I'm walking daily and for me, having worked my way to about a mile, I'm happy. I was getting very immoblile. I'm drinking tons of water- that's not an issue, and I'm eating between 700 and 800 calories-just going back to solids this week. I'm aggravated because back on South Beach I didn't hit a plateau of months and I didn't even exercise. Do you have any memories of early plateaus? Any advice? Many thanks, Gwenn

Hi all, As I've moved from liquids only to mushy/soft, I gained one pound. Now I've lost 1/2 of that in days. This after 3 weeks of magic weight loss. My head says it's normal, but my emotions are running wild. That "am I ever going to lose this weight" panic is moving in on me today. I'm exercising, I'm eating small amounts. I'm eating high Protein low carbs. Probably about 800-900 calories a day. Trying to get in the 75 grams of protein a day I was told to eat. Getting in 8-9 cups of liquids as well. Tell me what you think. Here's what I ate yesterday: Breakfast 5 oz greek yogurt w splenda Mid morning-Protein Drink with non-fat milk Lunch- 5-6 oz pulverized chicken with a little lowfat mayo, 4 wh wheat crackers Dinner- 4-6 oz salmon pate (low fat mayo), a scoop of mashed potatoes. Rest was all liquid- tea, Water, decaf Any ideas?

I"m going to try that. Thanks. I'm also going to go back on Previcid. I thought maybe I could stop after the surgery, but probably not this soon. The heaviness in my chest and burn are worse and so's the burping. Could be heartburn and acid. Why be miserable. I'll go back on for a few days and if I'm better, there's the answer. Gwenn

Heck, if you need the support, I'll come visit you at Cedars. I'm right near-by. Gwenn

I know you're right. Just haven't been feeling well enough to eat much more. But it's funny because I got hungry before bed last night and I ended up eating a slice of cheese and a couple of crackers, and a diet hot choc. Probably about 200 calories in total. And I lost a pound and a half. I am also exercising 5 days a week and yes, our metabolism needs something to work off. I'm going back on Previcid to see if all this indigestion and heartburn will go away. I thought maybe I could stop taking it, but looks like not yet. And I don't want not feeling well to hold me up from victory. Gwenn

I'm with you there. We were banded on the same day. I'm know all the little kinks still post-op will eventually work out and I'm looking forward to my first fill next week. Gwenn

Well, you're doing great. And you're correct of course, this is just a tool, not magic. Gwenn

I'm still struggling. I don't know if it's me or my head. Maybe I should just plow into foods. I did add crackers last week and they were not on my doctor's list (bad girl!) but boy, the tasted good. I do think I may need to go back on Previcid. I went off it after surgery because I was told I may not need it any longer, but I've got a tight feeling or burning after meals and today it was difficult to get down cottage cheese, and I eat that everyday. So, I'm thinking I better go back on and see if the discomfort goes. If not, I'm going to have to have a long talk with the surgeon when I go for my first fill. I need to eat a wider group of food. Tonight I'm having filet of sole and mashed potatoes. Maybe I'll try some string beans with it. We'll see. Just tired of not feeling 100%. Other than that, the scale is happy so I'm glad about that.I have to change my signature to show that I'm down 30. Yippee. Gwenn

Hi Christy- You're up late as well and I'm on the West Coast. I'm 56 and I do think that age affects recovery.How could it not. It also affects rate of weight loss, etc. Just happy I'm finally doing this, whatever my age. It can only make my life easier and fuller. Just plenty of frustration at all the things still not right. Pain, changes in bowels, food issues, etc. I've been told it can take a while for everything to come around and now I do belive it. I agree about the shoulder. I'm probalby on the computer too much and at home, it's not set up as it is in the office. But it sure helps....and yes, I popped a pain pill. No martyr here. Your weight drop is similar to mine. I haven't posted it but have lost another 1/2 pound so I'm speeding toward 30. It's all Water I'm sure, but it's a gift. The loss rate is slowing down now and I'll probably get closer to the 1-2 pounds a week that the doctors want. That's fine with me. Exercise is great and I've been told that walking is one of the best ways to heal faster and get a good start on the loss. HOWEVER, I'm sure pushing a wheelchair is not an activity on the list. But walking is and I take a good walk every day. I just had a 25 calorie hot chocolate and now I'm off to bed as well. Gwenn

You know, I'm a month past banding and I still get some shoulder pain. Not all the time, but now and then. Problem is I'm not certain if it's gas or shoulder problems because I did have shoulder troubles a while back. I can't raise my arm all the way. I don't know which it is. Either way it's pain pill and heat, but I guess if it goes on much longer I"ll have to go to the orthopedic doctor and try to get some physical therapy for it. Just what I need. If it's gas, it's weird to get it once a week or so, isn't it? I'm very envious of all of you who recup'd so quickly!!!!! LOL. Gwenn

Where's my brain tonight. Of course you're all done. Khalili doesn't put it in unless all is done. So, you're just a few weeks away now! Let me know when.............. Gwenn

FANTASTIC! you see, it will all work out. Any more tests to do or are you finished? I'm thrilled for you. Gwenn

I would have loved to not give up the food, but I also know it was slow suicide. I haven't solved this yet, and I'm sure there are places in me that wanted the food more than life (isn't the the core of addiction), but I do know how unhealthy that is. I started therapy over a year ago with a woman who specializes in food related issues, and I'm still there. It's very important, even if we can't overcome our STUFF, to learn how to live next door to it rather than having it in our kitchen all the time. Gwenn

Hi Salsa, You are wise. Second time you've come up with a good answer for me. After I wrote the email, I went to the therapist. I let it all hang out there- the scale, the food, the heartburn some old favs are giving me, the gas, the bowels,the incision that isn't healing the way it should.....you name it. Believe me, no one gets to 315 pounds over 15 years without doing some dieting along the way and yes, I know all the rules, ideas, stories, etc. But, those are also the diet breakers, and why dieting didn't work. It does come down to patience because I'm hoping to move on and eat a broad spectrum of foods like a normal person would.That's the goal. Impatience is always the stinker, isn't it. I picked up some nice fish for dinner but didn't look carefully at the store and it wasn't filleted. It's a very thin fish so that made it difficult to eat. Needless to say, I wasn't in the mood for a struggle so I probably got in 2 oz. or so. Had a few more whole wheat crackers and a half a small sweet potato and I'm done today. I dont' care if I reached my Protein today. I'm done. Not even hungry when I ate. Tomorrow is another day. Thanks for listening. Gwenn

There are lots of other shakes and protein additivies you can use. Optifast is good. They gave it to me in the hospital. Walgreen carries. The caramel is good. But you can use Atkins which are very good and the NEW slimfast which is low carb no sugar- but I still like atkins best. Gwenn

Hi- I'm almost four weeks after surgery with first fill scheduled for a week from now. I still have some scabbing on the port incision. If it's not all gone can they still give me the first fill? I know it's up to my surgeon, but I'm curious if anyone has had this experience? Gwenn

Lots of mixed emotions before mine. Did I really want to give up the food? Did I really want to have something implanted inside me? Did I REALLY want to give up the food? Did I REALLY WANT to give up the food. This had had it's stressful emotional moments but keep moving forward. Your emotions will catch up. And as my internist told me....you can get up and walk away right up til they put you under for the surgery. You'll find good people in your surgeons office who will help you along the way! You'll do great. Good luck, Gwenn

You're correct, of course.Everything is new and so much is annoying right now. I have one tiny incision under my breast that wasn't quite closed properly. Surgeon saw it, said not a prob, use a bandaid, change it every day. It's 2 weeks later and my skin wouldn't tolerate the bandaid well so I'm rashy. And it's closed except there a little bit of stuff at the edge, like a little hard plug, and it is just loose enough that whenever my bra hits it (like all the time), it's irritated. It won't meld into the skin. I don't want to play with it or pull it off or anything. I'm biding my time until the fill next week and let the surgeon deal with it. I wanted surgical tape when I first went in and am sorry I didn't push him past the bandaid. I know it will work out and there's no infection or anything, but so many little nudgy issues. Gwenn

Those drinks made me so nauseus! I couldn't get past the odor. I tried the stuff in those lab tubes at 42 gs of Protein, but they also taste ugly. Like bad Jello. I was told I needed 77 grams of protein a day, but I only can get in about 65 without have more calories. My issue is getting the protein without the calories. In one book I have, the menus don't seem to have the protein they say it all adds up to. I'm still on soft foods, but find I'm on a protein diet to get it all in. The only carbs I have are a few in milk I add to coffee, and then a 1/2 potato (so that my stomach settles) with one meal and a few whole wheat crackers at another meal. The rest is pulverized fish or chicken or tuna fish. I'm not even eating eggs because it doesn't seem like they have enough protein to bother. I'm trying to stay 700-800 a day. I certainly don't feel like I'm eating anywhere near a balanced diet. And I'm not losing weight as fast as I was before. And I'm exercising. Gwenn