Sugarbear

Welcome Cindy. I was banded 3/7, right behind you. I feel a lot better too. My blood pressure is lower than it has been in years. Although I am still taking medication for it I am hoping to wean myself off soon. Have you been to the March bandster thread? Come on over if you would like. It is a pretty big thread. There were a lot of March surgeries. Good luck to you.

bonjoevs, where and when did you have your surgery, and why do you say that? Just curious to know why you feel this way.

Medge, sorry you are having so much pain. Did they do it laproscopic or open? It is possible it could be pain from all the air. You will need to walk around a LOT. Keep moving as much as possible. You may be doing that already, they should have told you to keep moving from the get-go. If this persist call your doctor (surgeon) most aren't in terrible pain, better be safe than sorry. Take care.

Hi Hopefulchurch. First two weeks, liquids. Low-fat strained creamy soups, thin them down with milk or water. Of course broths too. 3rd week Pureed foods. Includes, soft scrambled egg, sf low fat puddings, hot cereals, apple sauce. week 4, scrambled eggs, sf low fat pudding, soft canned veggies, soft canned fruits, creamy soups. week five, Transition to solid foods as tolerated. (slowly.) includes sliced meats, b. potato, macaroni noodles, you can try raw veg. and fruits. You should have a page all this is listed on called Lap-band post-op diet instructions. It came in my folder, and I may have recieved another at some point. If you don't have it, call Amy at 903-798-7260 the dietition and have her fax you one. Hang in there. This is for the healing of the band in it's proper place. Think of the long run. It does get better.

Hi January Bandsters. I just wanted to let anyone know that got banded in Texarkana, TX that there is a thread in the Texas Froum called "Texarkana Bandsters." Same docs did the banding, same rules, ect.

I think that surgeons have experience with people with certain BMI's. As a rule most have large fatty livers. I read that somewhere on here. I am sure some may not have large fatty livers, I think they have to go by the rule of thumb. Any shrinking is a plus. It is a safty factor. Besides, we lose weight in the process. Makes sense to me.

Mrs. Husker. You may still have some swelling. It takes about 2 weeks for the swelling to go away. Some more some less. If you are losing good and not having hunger problems they may not fill you. I have a friend that uses the same doc as I do and her weight loss was at a steady pace after one fill. When she went back the next time they said she did not need one. She is just now feeling like she may need another one pretty soon. Some people find their sweet spot before others.

Way To Go Mrs. Husker!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Know It Must Geel Grrrreat To Think....i Am Never Going To See That Number On My scale Again!!!!! So Happy For Mrs. Husker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey March Bandsters, Congrats! If anyone was banded in Texarkana, TX, just thought I would let you know there is a thread in the Texas forum called "Texarkana Bandsters." Everyone banded by the same team. same docs, same rules ect. Have a great weekend.

Vlynnfog, Hi. I noticed on your ticker that you have lost nearly half your weight of your goal weight, and just since Dec. 28th! Way to go! I will be so happy when I get that far. But I don't think mine is going to be so quick. I will be glad to start getting fills to help me out with that. How many have you had?

Mrs. Husker, sounds like you are doing great! Know what you mean about gagging on shakes. With me it was Slimfast. Never drank another after pre-op diet. Just thin your cream soup down a little. I made some potato soup (creamy) and kept it in the frig. Just scooped me out a cup when needed. I lived on it nearly, that and tomato soup for 2 weeks post-op. Then quite a bit of it the following two weeks, as I still couldn't have too much else. This week I started soft veggies, ect. It is the long run you have to keep thinking about. That pouch has to heal in place for the most success. Keep up the good work, and keep us posted. Take care.

Hey Lisa. How are things going now that you have your second fill ? I am doing fine. Hungry as heck most of the time but trying not to eat too much. I have had some tuna and fish but no other meat. I think I have to wait for solids before I venture there. I have been having a V8 inbetween meals if I get hungry. It is 70 calories for a 12 oz. bottle. I am going to check and see if it comes in light, because it has 12g sugar. Wonder if tomato juice comes that way? I don't think it is too bad though because it doesn't list added sugar of any kind. It may just be natural.

Hi Paula. Glad to see you are getting better every day. You are right, the liquid diet is TOUGH!! The next week is close to the same but more flavors. I made potato soup (creamy), that and tomato soup I practically lived on. That pouch healing in place is very important to your long term success. They say is scars in place if given a chance. That is why they don't want any weight in it, possibly tearing thos few stitches loose. Hang in there. It will be mushy time before you know it. That is where I am now. Three weeks post-op yesterday. My problem is trying to be careful not to over eat now. No restriction what so ever, pretty hungry. Those two don't go together very well. I will be so glad when I get a fill or two. Anyway hang in there. Once we all get to the point of a fill or two we can get down to serious business of losing weight, which is what our entire journey is all about, even thos first TOUGH few weeks. When we past 5 or 6 weeks after surgery we should be in for a little smoother sailing.

I am 3 weeks post op. I don't have any trouble taking pills. I take one that is huge, so I cut that one in half. I have not been filled yet either, so I don't know if that will make a difference.

Hi Sue. He makes you weight 8 weeks for what, a fill or food? I am 3 weeks post-op. I get to start mushies, soft veggies, tuna or chicken salad, ect. today. Finally! I love my veggies! My doc makes us wait 6 weeks for a fill. After this week I can start solids a little at a time, as tolerated. Hang in there, you have to keep thinking about the long haul. Once this period of time is over you will be so glad, and you never have to go through all that again.

Hey Tammyj. How are you doing? I will be three weeks post-op tomorrow. I am HUNGRY!!!!!!!!!!! Not sure when I get a fill. Most from where I got banded say 6 weeks. Whew! I hope I can get one at 4 weeks. That is when i go back. It is very hard not to over eat. I don'y seem to have any problems with eating so far. I get to start soft veggies wed. and tuna or chick, salad, ect. Maybe that will help.

Mrs. Husker, my doc recomends adding fiber (Benefiber) to your water, soup, juice or whatever. It is tasteless. I am finally getting hot cereal and put it in my oatmeal every morning, and whatever I drink durring the day. For example tomato juice/V-8 ect. It also comes in chewables, ect. Early on we aren't getting emough fiber. To be honest I don't know if we ever will. I have read some posts that do the fiber several times a day. My instructions were to not take regular laxatives. Stool softeners help too.

Welcome jag65. You were only a week behind me. I was 3/7. What is your post-op diet like? Try to get in as much protien as you can. Do you take a one a day vitamin? I do.....when I can remember. When are you scheduled to get a fill. My doctor doesn't put any in at surgery time. Take care and keep us posted.

Hi Lois and welcome to Bandland. I have only been to one support meeting and plan on going to the next one. You can go to noscales.com and find out when the next one is. The last I looked they hadn't posted that info yet. They usually tell everyone about this site. I am surprised you just found it. I was on here for months before being banded. Most threads are of great support. I don't know if I could have made it without all the encouragement I recieved on here. I am a March 7th bandster. I go to that thread sometimes, but I really like this one. I guess because we all have the same doc and the same rules. So many others are totally different. Not that I am opposed to different but it seems like we have a lot in commom here. I haven't heard of any day time meetings, unless you find some around Little Rock area. I am about 40 minutes from Texarkana. At least it is lighter later now. The last one went from 7-8 p.m. My next appointment is April 5th. I live in Hope. Take care and hang in there.

Vlynn, I think most have trouble with bread, especially soft doughy white breads. Hot rolls, biscuits. soft bread sticks like from Olive Garden. Do you go to the support meetings? I went last time and there was a lady there said she could eat most anything if she chewed well, except Olive Garden bread. I am not to that stage, so I haven't tried any bread. I have read where many can eat whole grain breads, especially toasted. It is kinda sad to think you can never have hot rolls again. I guess that is the price we have to pay. How many fills have you had? By the way, 43 lbs. in less than three months is nothing to sneeze at!! I will be so glad to get to that point.

I had surgery 3/7. Dr. Keilin Precision Surgery, Texarkana, TX.

Hi Vlynnfogg. I know how you feel, or kinda. From surgery day till my two week check up, I had a cup of soup twice a day, and one or two V-8 juices a day and about three days I had a cup of sugarfree hot chocolate for breakfast. They weighed me at the hospital and then in two weeks at Dr. Keilins office (2 wk. check up). The scale didn't move an ounce!? I know there is a little difference in scales but notta? Now I can eat a little stuff, so my next visit....who knows? So I guess I am the wrong person to be answering your question. I need answers too. I am trying not to get too discouraged since I haven't had a fill yet. Don't get discouraged either. I have read where some people plateau for awhile then start losing again. That may be the case for you. You can always call Ms. Betty or Amy and seek some advice from them too. It doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong to me. Do you keep a food and drink journal? I haven't started that yet but I am planning to when I get to my soft food stage which will be Wed. Of course I will be adding different foods, hope I don't gain. Take care, keep us posted.

Lisa do we get a fill 4 wks from surgery or 6 wks? I can already tell that I am going to need it soon. Hungry! I have an appointment in two weeks, which would be 4 wks from surgery. We went out to eat Mexican tonight. I had some refried beans with a little cheese sauce on them. No chips! Nothing else. That's okay , maybe some day....as I learn I can't sit and eat 1/2 a basket of them. Of course I can't have that kind of stuff yet anyway.

Some doctors don't think that the pre-op does "that much" good. My doctor wasn't one of them. She is a firm believer. Some even have you do it longer than mine. Also have a weight loss criteria before they will do it. I am larger than you and older, (ouch). I did not have any bruising, also had a bad hernia repair, and was out in an hour or a little under. I have read many that had to pre-diet. That is one of the main reasons, toshrink your liver. I would imagine the stomach shrinks some too. Slimfast and sugarfree liquids only. It has to! Anyway I hope you are doing better. I will be glad when you are all healed and on your way to thinnerville. Take care,