singledad167

Hunger is hard for me too at night. Especially when I work out in the evening. I've been eating Atkins protien bars that I put in my workout bag. It had done the trick so far for me.

I had a similar issue. I was banded last July. First time I went for a fill we did it w/xray. I had a little restriction, but not alot. I went in for a second, third, and forth fill. I was up to 9cc's and still not fully restricted.To make a long story short, I basically got unfilled, went back into xray, and got filled up to 10cc's and I was told we could go up to 12. I'm thinking maybe we used too big of a band. Right now I hit that "sweetspot". I don't even follow all the rules exactly, but I'm working out, and watching intake, and the band helps with the rest. I'm now losing 4-5 pounds a week. The biggest thing for me is not drinking when I eat. If I don't drink, I get full very quick. Stay patient and work with the doctor. You'll get it right, but we do have to remember it is just a tool, and you can learn to eat around the band. It's still hard work, but it's so worth it.

If you hadn't had a fill yet, I wouldn't worry to much. Also, it make take a few fills to get just right. I believe that not drinking w/meals is the key here. When I don't drink with meals I can only eat small portions. Then if you eat just small portions every 2-3 hours you stay ahead of your hunger, and you really don't consume alot of calories. Exercise is the real key here. If I'm not exercising I lose maybe 1 lb a week. If I am exercising every day same amount of food I can lose 5-6 lbs. I just hit 50 lbs lost today is a matter of fact. I haven't updated my ticker because I forgot my pin. I'll make a new one soon.

Sure, his name is Michael Schuhknecht (pernounced shuknick). He's with the Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center. He's real demanding about following pre op stuff to approve surgery, but he's very good. He is originally from this area, was the head of bariatric surgery at NYU, and then St. Johns in Detroit and is one of the most experienced in the country. He's come back here to try to retire, and he's training other surgeons here now so get him while you can. His number is 877-HOPE858. Good luck, and keep us posted. Small world huh!!

Don't be scared, the more research you do the more comfortable you'll become. Still, this is a personal decision only you can make. I'm also from Michigan (St. Joseph) which is in SW michigan. Where are you from, if you're in the area, I can suggest a doc which has done over 4000 bypass, and 700 lapbands. I was just banded by him.

During surgery the doc discovered my liver was too large. In the process they accidently perferated my stomach and had to do an "open" surgery to repair the stomach and install the lap band. I was NOT put on any pre op diet. I don't know if that would have made a difference or not, but I think it sure would have helped. I woke up to find I was stapled from the bottom of my breast bone to the top of my belly button and instead of one week recovery, looking a six weeks. So the pre diet to shrink the liver is VERY important and hindsight I would have done it on my own. Im a guy, and were different that we carry all our fat pretty much in our stomach, and our liver. It's very rare they have to do an open surgery. I posted to find out who else had and only one other person responded and they too did have a pre op diet. Follow the diet and I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck and keep us posted.

I also had complicatons because my liver was too big. I ended up having an "open" surgery after my stomach was accidently perferated and they had to open me up to fix the hole in my stomach. I was stapled from just below my breast bone, to the top of my belly button. I also had to stay over night. I could only eat ice chips the first day, and only had two surgar free popcicles the first and second day. I think most of it in the begining is swelling. I don't have any fill yet, and 10 days post op I'm feeling quite hungry again. As far as the gas it is normal, walk as much as you can, that really helps alot. However, I didn't feel any pain slowly eating jello. At this point you don't want any restriction so you can heal. I think I would give the doctor a call though. Better safe than sorry. Good luck, and keep us updated.

I'm only 10 days post op and had to have an "open" sugery because my liver was too large. Just a couple days ago I got my staples out and my scar runs just below my breast bone to just above my belly button, not to mention the scar where my port is. It looks like a zipper running 22" vertically across my belly. I don't think I'll ever take my shirt off again!

Not sure, I have lost 22 lbs since my surgery ten days ago, and am losing at a pretty steady rate. I notice the hunger has returned, but I'm still only taking in about 1200 calories a day and walking 60-90 minutes a day. Twenty more pounds and I'll be back on the tennis courts. I'm wondering if my doc will give me a fill if I've lost so much. Right now, the surgery has been a great kick start to a new lifestyle. I'm glad I have it, because old habits sometimes sneak up on us. One day at a time here.

I'm 10 days post op, and still on a liquid diet. I'm really noticing that I'm healing up, the swelling is going down, and my hunger is returning. Since we've not had any fills, there's going to be little or no restriction. This is normal, and expected. I'm just looking to eat some real food soon. Hang in there, it will be better when we get some fills in our bands.

Hi Lesley, yes this is normal, it's the gas from the sugery used to inflate the abdomen. Best cure is to walk, walk, walk.....then walk somemore. Or at least as much as your body will let you.

I was banded on the 7/14. When I woke up from surgery I found an incision from just below my breast bone to my belly button. The doctor said because of the size of my liver they could not do the surgery laproscopically and had to do an open surgery. I was not expecting this, and will require much more recovery time, which I had not planned on and was expected to be back to work next week, but I doubt I'll be able to return. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

Good luck, and best wishes. Let us know how it goes. God Bless...

I quit smoking over two years ago, and I notice, I just heal better overall after I quit. The carbon monoxide in smoking attaches to your blood cells not allowing as much oxygen on them, causing your heart to work harder, and also slowing the healing tissue and organs that requires oxygen. Also, smoking causes acid in the stomach which can also cause post op problems.

Sorry you had to go through it also Shannon. I really think (now) the pre op diet is VERY important. I was glad to hear I didn't have to do a preop, but in hindsight, I would have done one on my own. Might not have changed a thing, but I think I would have had a better chance. Good luck to you, we'll get there!

I live in St. Joseph, right on the lake, about an hour west of you.

I think that was the problem. I was not on a preop diet to help shrink the liver. I think had I been on one, I would have had a much better chance at not having an open surgery.

I'm sure I'll look back on it that way. Right now with all the extra recovery time, and the extra pain, I kind of would have like to had the option to try to reduce the size of my liver, and do it again. But I'm sure I'll be happy he did it in the long run.

No, only 24 hour liquid diet, and there was the problem I think. It might not have changed anything, but I think I would have had a much better chance.

No I wasn't, he didn't mention it at all.

Sorry to hear it. Why did you have your band removed? Were you having problems w/it?

I just saw one at wal mart. I mini blender, that you drink out of the same glass it's blended in. Like the magic bullet but only one glass and not the 50 extra pieces. It was 14.80...

Hi Keri, my name is Paul, and I am also getting banded on the 14th. I think I could have wrote word for word what you just described. I too am worried if I can change my eating habits. I think I've put on about 5 pounds in the last couple of weeks. I think it is almost like a grieving process. Kind of like saying goodbye to an old friend. I think once we start taking off weight, it will help get us motivated also. I'm going shopping tommorow for all my post op stuff, and I ordered unjury protien drink, and will buy some at the store also. We'll get there, we will do this. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Sorry you had such a bad experience w/you hospital staff. I'm not sure how that's the band's fault however. I think you will feel better about things as time passes. I wish you the best, and hope you feel better soon. Keep us posted.

I bet it would save money on a second date too. Considering there probably wouldn't be a second date!