tinaf

In all reality - I had port site "tenderness" until about a week ago - I was banded on the 5th of February -- I think all of that stuff in there just needs time to heal.

Okay so I am 7 weeks post op- had my first fill a week ago - AND HAVEN'T LOST A POUND IN ALMOST THREE WEEKS....... I'm keeping my calories at 800-1000 -- what gives????? I'm trying so hard to not get discouraged - but the first 13 pounds same off fairly easily (and let me tell you this is pure scale number - I don't SEE this weight loss anywhere on my body) ....NOW WHAT???? :shades_smile: I'm starting to feel like family and friends that know I had the surgery are starting to look at me and wonder why it's not working... and I can't blame them...IS IT???????

Thanks to all for encouragement... Confession: I am not MEASURING food precicesly but I am recording what I eat....maybe my guesstimates are way off.... guess I need to buy that battery for the food scale! I am not working out -- well, I did situps and that sorta thing today - but nothing cardio.... I know I need to do this -- and I will to see if it jump starts something. I totally undrstand that it will take time... but I just want VISIBLE results - ya know -- good idea about the pictures--also thinking bout taking measurements - I haven't done that either. I've had one fill - don't go back until May - I do feel somewhat restricted now - but I don't think it's REALLY restricted.... but it's only been a week....UGHHHH....

Okay so - I've finally come to realize - THAT I'm starting to see my tattoo again that is on my bikini line!!!!! hahahahahahahahahaha --- I guess that is one NSV for me - I'll be so glad when I can see it totally visible!! --it's been gone for so long!!!!! :mad2:

To inquiring minds who want to know... ha! The tattoo is a heart/butterfly/rose combination- it sorta has special meaning- my husband used to own a tattoo shop and this was his "first" tattoo -- the heart (because my husband did it) the rose (in peach) because that's what he used to always buy me (note I said USED to buy me).. and the butterfly - representing a new beginning (the tattoo shop)... It's about 10 years old... and even tho the shop is still long gone - it still has special meaning.... can't wait to see it all again!

:shades_smile: I needed this laugh today---- GOOD FOR YOU!!!! I actually had a boss comment on my weight once... and I wanned to say "Dude, have you looked in the mirror - YOU HAVE MAN BOOBS..." but I didn't..... so my hats off to you!!!!

I'll speak as to Ruby Tuesdays I am 7 weeks post op - had my first fill - and I went to Ruby Tuesday's over the weekend and this is what I had. The salad bar (it's awesome) and I ordered two mini cheeseburgers that came with fries I ate my small salad and then ONE of the mini hamburgers (w/out the bun) and a handfull of fries)--- so I fell okay about my choice - took plenty of leftovers home and didn't feel deprived. --- Just for the record - that meal was enough to satisfy me the rest of the day - I had a handful of granola later that evening - but that's it.

So today I went for my first fill (2.6 cc's) The doc asked if I could eat mostly anything and I said OH YEAH - (how I've managed to lose 13 lbs since surgery is beyond me) He reassured me that it was completely normal but that NOW I have to be careful and REALLY listen to my body - he also said to stay COMPLETELY away from pork, steak and bread - those seem to be the worst culprits. For now, (2 days) I'm on liquids - "anything that can get thru a straw).... he said that it is VERY important to STOP eating after you feel full - he said that it might take only 3 bites - WHOO HOO - bring it on - I say.... FOr those of you not having a fill yet - DON'T SWEAT IT - it was the most uneventful procedure I've ever had - I didn't even feel the stick. I was amazed (and this after not sleeping last night worrying about it). -- I even had to sit there for a minute with this needle hanging out of my body while they did the "water" test... so really, don't worry about it - no big deal......

Okay so - I had my first fill on Tuesday - liquids for two days..and this morning - I wake up and feel "tight" in my chest area - kinda like an inch below my breast bone - and this is before I have even tried to eat or drink anything.... I guess tight is the way to describe it-- not pain - but just a "full/tight" sensation in there..... What's up with this?

I'm going to wait and see what happens when I try some real food - but if this is restrictio - BRING IT ON BABY.... BTW- I see that you've lost over 100 pounds - GREAT FOR YOU!!!!!

So today I had my first fill - asked the doc the size of my band - he said 7-8 but that the maxium is really different and varies by person (not sure I understand this) In any event when it was all said and done they gave me 2.6 cc's -- and this is how he did it: he started inserting the saline and had me drink Water while he was increasing it THEN when I felt it sorta "back up" then he let it out just a little (removed some) - and wanted me to make sure that water went down easily - he said that water after a fill should not be "sluggish" but rather move thru-- so I have been thinking about it and am wondering- why do some docs only put it .5 cc's at a time (I'm so glad my doc didn't do this as it woudln't have done ANYTHING for me as I was having NO restriction).... so now I am on liquid for two days and will see what happens after that --- Has anyone else had this technique used? -- I guess I can't help but wonder if these docs you are doing it at set amounts (like .5 cc's a time) are only trying to get "come back" business.... hahahahahaha -- Thoughts?

I was filled yesterday morning -was told to have two days liquids - which I can do - HOWEVER - I am hungry (liquids just aren't cutting it) and experiencing ALOT of gas and stomach noises.... embarassing noises even---- now I understand that nothing really is in there - but will this subside? Anyone had a similar result after getting their first fill (or any fill)?

OH I'm with ya - I think maybe he was just saying to avoid this stuff right after the fill - because my "life long diet plan" that they gave me said we could have steak after 2 months - which would be about two weeks after the first fill --- I think it is all a personal trial and error...

QUESTION: How MUCH pizza did you eat - and what would you have gotten at TACO BELL beofre the band????? For me, I had pizza a few days ago - (post surgery but pre-first fill in that bandster hell time period) and I really beat myself up over it UNTIL I REALIZED - I only had a piece and a 1/2 - and they were the little skinny long rectangular slices - PRE-Surgery - I would have had at least 6-8 of those puppies - WITH chips and a soda --- SO - putting it all in perspective - I realize that that little bit of pizza wasn't going to kill me --- It's really weird how are perspective changes and that is something we need to keep in mind - even during "bandster hell" I FELT like I was eating more than I should have - but in reality my calorie intake was WAY lower than it would have been pre-band - For example - I would OFTEN have a fast food lunch and then a full meal for dinner - with seconds --- I haven't done that in almost two and a half months..... (and don't have any plans to resume that behavior :drool:)

I had my first fill yesterday - and to tell you the truth I didn't sleep the night before because I was a little nervous - --OKAY A LOT NERVOUS - but it went very smoothly - I didn't even feel them put the needle in the port - My doc didn't use fluroscope - but he DID inject saline - had me drink Water as he was injecting it in-overfilled it - meaning that he waited until it backed up in my esophagus and then he let some out - slowly - until I felt comfortable with how the water was going down - he said that he didn't want the water to be "sluggish" at all - and then he had me take a big drink to confirm that it went down okay--- he ended up putting in 2.6 CC-which I was happy with - because I think that I will feel real restriction (I'm on day 2 of two day liquid diet so I can't really tell yet).... but I was very satisfied with how it went - and it was QUICK - I was in there no longer than 5-10 minutes amazing...

My doc explained that he has, on ocassion, had to go in (I believe the procedure is much like endoscopy and physically remove food from the "hole" or the pouch because it wouldn't pass thru --- there was a lady at my last support group mtg that had eaten a biscuit - and it got stuck and wouldn't move for two days and had to have it removed.... yeah - freaks me out too - I won't even chew gum any longer for fear of acidentally swallowing a piece...

I think his philosophy is that these foods (steak, pork chops and bread) are the things that he has has to REMOVE from bands because they get stuck easily --- they say that toasted bread (well toasted) is okay tho - and ground beef is okay - and chicken is okay - so my thought is - alot of pork (lean cuts) are the same consistency as chicken - right? I am terrified of something getting stuck to the point of having to have it removed --- it freaks me out we shall see what happens...

Just for the record - I had some ice cream the night before my first fill.... everything in moderation (that won't get stuck of course)

I, too, didn't want my employer or most co-workers to know what was going on with me. Those who I eat lunch with - I told - I told everyone else I was having gallbladder surgery - I just felt it was similar (scarring, etc.) and I didn't want to have to explain myself or justify my actions. I just didn't--and still don't. There may come a day when I fess up - but I don't see it in the future - only a handful of people know what is really going on with me - and THEY are constantly "how much have you lost"... the EXACT question I didn't want to answer all the time. I didn't want people "watching" me - you now - what I eat, how I look, etc. And people do - wether they realize it or not. They do- I want to be successful on my own terms and not have people commenting or discussing if I don't lose quickly, etc. You could always use "female problems" as an excuse - it woulnd't be that big of a fib and normally when you say that - folks tend to leave you alone! ha!

I am in bandster hell, struggling with keeping calories and quantities down because of my lack of restriction - I just thought I'd share this with you ---- For lunch today I ordered a Chef salad - hold the ham - ANYWAY - I picked around it - ate all of the turkey first (like a good girl getting my Protein in before anything else...) and then ate at the salad - it was VERY satisfying - and I am FULLLLLLLLL now..... I didn't finish it - but did have a good portion of it - I actully feel more full right now than I have in a loooooooog time - Since the lettuce and tomatoes and cucumbers are all mostly Water --I'm hoping it holds off the hunger (right now I can't even think about dinner).... This is actually the first salad I've had since my surgery (on the 5th of Feb)... and I CHEWED CHEWED CHEWED -- but didn't seem to have any problems.. Just thought I'd share this tidbit - I figure I can "salad my way thru bandster hell" and not feel too bad about the quantity I can eat! Hope this helps someone out there - I'd be anxious to know if anyone else has the same results.

Hey look me up MySpace.com - www.myspace.com/98852630

I only had my fill this morning and so far I've only had a yogurt - but that did me for lunch - we'll see what the next few days bring - but any restriction is mor than I had yesterday!

I need some answers here.... I'm sooo confused I am 18 days post op - it the mushy/soft food stage - during my first two weeks (one of which was literally laying on the couch) I lost 9 lbs on Protein shakes and cottage cheese - But for the past few days the scales haven't seemed to move (except UP a few ounces).... What's up with this? I have been recording my food intake and all of that - am staying between 600-800 calories, no sugar, very little carbs. Shouldn't my weight loss at this point be a little more??? or am I asking too much. I've not had a fill as of yet so I'm hungrier than I thought I would be. Getting frustrated - anyone else had this experience????

I was denied at first because my BMI wasn't high enough - I was right on the edge- fortunately a month later (and after the christmas holidays) I qualified. My suggestion is keep trying I think most folks always get denied once - in the hopes that you'll go away

I've not used it - but would like to know a little more about it - the 7 minutes sounds great!