gina s.

I was taking Depo shots and I had to stop. I got one in January and was supposed to get my next one in April, but I started the process of getting banded in February and I found out that I needed to stop taking them, so I did. I got banded on June 12th and I haven't started them back yet. I think you should be okay as long as you haven't had one for at least three or four months, but I'm no doctor so you should probably talk to yours about it just to be sure.

Lucky you! I only had a one week ten pound restriction! My husband took a month's leave so he could help out, but our daughter is four so basically all he had to do was make her meals and keep her occupied. I can so totally relate to your post though!!

A few of the things I ate were Dannon light and fit carb and sugar control yogurt, sugar free pudding, low fat cottage cheese, soft scrambled eggs, pinto bean puree (1 can drained and rinsed pinto beans, 2tsp. olive oil, small diced onion, 2 diced garlic cloves, 1 cup salsa, and 1/2 cup chicken broth.....sautee onion and garlic in olive oil, then place all ingredients except broth into blender and pulse, add broth a little at a time until you get desired consistency. Then heat it on the stove until thickened and bubbly.....my surgeon's office gave me this recipe, it's good!). Oh, and my favorite....sugar free fudsicles.

I have been wondering how you were doing! I'm glad everything went okay. Let me know how your recovery goes!

I haven't been cautious at all, once I got cleared to eat real food I ate some grilled steak the very first thing, and the only thing I've had trouble with is bread. It just felt like it didn't go down well. I know I won't be able to eat it at all after I start getting fills. And I've tried it more than once, and I get the same feeling every time I eat it.

I'm by far not a successful bandster, seeing as I've only been banded for two weeks, but there is one thing that I noticed that no one above has covered, and my bariatric counselor is admant about....you must drink 80 oz. of water per day, and do not drink any liquids with your meals. I am supposed to stop my drinks an hour before meals, and then not drink for at leat half and hour afterward.

I hope you feel better soon!

I get my first fill on July 15th.

I too am (was!) a sweet eater.....in fact making Cookies, cupcakes, muffins, brownies, ect. was one of my daughter's favorite past times. I gave it up a month ago when I started my pre-op diet, and after I got my band two weeks ago, I started eating sugar free popsicles, and then I discovered sugar free fudsicles, and they seem to satisfy my sweet tooth. As for how well I'm doing, I don't have much experience yet since I was just banded, but I just had my first post-op checkup today and I've lost 19 pounds. I honestly won't miss the sweets if it means that I keep doing that well!

I agree, you're going to have to check with your insurance. I have Tricare Prime, and I have paid nothing out of pocket, and all of my fills will be covered. All I have to pay is $25 for the hospital stay (I haven't gotten the bill yet), the exact same amount I paid to have my daughter in a civilian hospital almost five years ago!

Hum, I guess that is why my surgeon prescribes self injections of a blood thinner that I had to give myself for a week.....anyway, glad you caught it in time, hope you're feeling better.

I was also told not to worry about weight loss immediately after surgery, the doctors are more concerned with healing at this point than weight loss.....good luck and let us know how it goes!

I believe my surgeon quoted the 40-60 percent....but, you also have to realize that with GB alot of the patients might get to their goal weight, but then gain it back later.

I was told two weeks by my surgeon.

I got banded on June 12th and I have the same problem! I haven't tried anything to relieve it though, I thought I'd ask at my next check-up.

Just wondering if anyone else had to take the Fragmin shots after their surgery......I have to take one each morning for seven days after surgery, and I've noticed that they leave a red dot, almost like a flat blood blister, at the injection site. Does anyone happen to know if that is normal or not?

I was banded on the 12th also! Happy one week bandaversary to us!

I'm sorry you're still in pain. I didn't have gas pains except for the day of my surgery, but when I got home I did use a heating pad on my neck and upper back (between my shoulder blades) and that seemed to help. I hope you feel better soon!

Yay! I hope I can be that disciplined, good job!!!

I haven't had a fill or gotten stuck yet so I don't know what you're going through, but I hope you feel better soon!

I guess my surgeon gives them to his patients as an extra precaution.....I had the last one today so I'm good now! I just hope the red spots go away!

It's a blood clot preventative.

I wouldn't worry too much about a few slip-ups either, I actually did cheat twice on the pre-op diet. I did well on it though, I lost thirteen pounds in the two weeks before my surgery, but on the actual day of my surgery they didn't even weigh me! All of that hard work and they didn't even check to see if I'd lost anything! I have been sticking to the post-op diet though.....I don't even want to cheat now. I'm too afraid I'll do something wrong, so I've been doing it by the book. My first post-op appointment is on the 26th, so maybe I'll really suprise them! Anyway, don't worry about it too much and good luck!

Those of you who have already started your liquid diets.....how do you manage to cook real food for your family while being subjected to yucky shakes? I need tips so I don't cheat, my diet starts tomorrow. Thanks and good luck!