deedee16117

I was banded on 8/25 - spent about 1 1/2 weeks on clear liquids then on to "soft" foods for a few days and now eating pretty much what I want. My first check up is Thursday with my surgeron. I believe he told me that my firsts fill won't happen for six weeks post op - my problem is that I am awfully hungary! I am having a hard time getting in all of the protein even though I have gotten some of the Atkins protein drink and so far this one tastes the best. I have lost about 15 pounds but got on the scale today and up 2 - guess that is to be expected even though it didn't make me happy. During this phase before the first fill did everyone experience hunger? Should I be losing weight at a regular rate or is this just a time to settle in and heal? I feel so good - the surgery was a piece of cake actually - the drugs provided in the hospital were enough to keep me comfortable and the healing at home was easy - I returned to work two weeks later and could have come back in a week. Please tell me this hunger will disappear once I get a fill? Or at least diminish somewhat I really don't want to go through losing all this weight and being this hungry. I have been walking on the treadmill for about 40 minutes each day - Mon-Fri. For now I think that's all I want to do not sure about any other exercise until I see the doctor. For those waiting to be banded - don't worry you will be fine. I am the biggest baby and I sailed right through. For some reason I had no worries about this at all - it took me 7 months to the day to get this whole procedure down so that surgery could take place. Have faith. It's this part that I am so unsure of don't want to do anything wrong and mess up all the hard work so far. Sandi

Hi everyone Well I think I have passed over the hump, so to speak. My surgery was one week ago Monday and I don' t even feel like I had surgery I think the tiredness is starting to pass - even cooked dinner for my husband yesterday! Trying to keep that walking up - not a 2-3 mile type stuff but just walking around the house yard, a few festivals,football game, etc. It all helped with the back pain which turned out to be the gas everyone was talking about and now it's gone too. I have found the Avitar site and created it but I don't know how to get it here. Can someone tell me how to set it up so that I can now get into the game. Oh and since I have been home I have lost 11 pounds! Is that normal. I wans't expecting weight loss but I guess when you are living on water, broth,etc! Thanks Sandi

Thanks Everyone for the suggestions. It is a long weekend now so on Tuesday I will call the doctor and see what can give a little. I would give anything for a bowl of cream of wheat right now. I say this is day 5 and I feel great - the incisions are looking good and do not hurt at all. I do, however, have this lower back pain. Anyone experience that after surgery? Could that be part of the gas? I didn't start to experience it until yesterday. Today I walked a good bit and that seemed to ease it up some but let me sit down in a chair or try and sleep and it's very painful. Other than that I am great - down 9 lbs. since Monday. Wasn't expecting that either but when you are on nothing but liquids I can't see how you would not lose weight. Please share any experiences here. Thanks Sandi

OK I am jealous - doesn' t seem like many of you came out of surgery starving! I was told to stay on clear liquids until I saw the dr which isn't until 9/18. I wasn't sure about the protein drinks. Are they clear? I have some Slim fast that is high in protein and I thought it would be good to mix with my required 3 servings of skim milk but they discouraged me from doing that. If that's not the right protein drink what is? Any recommendations - I am up for anything I am so hungry that the hunger pains is actually worse than the incision - I know that sounds crazy but it is true? If I can do protein in a clear liquid form I will try that but I just don't know how long this can hold out I know I can't be like this until 9/18 Thanks for listening Sandi

Hi Everyone I had my surgery on Monday 8/25 and home yesterday. Today I feel so much better than yesterday so I have to hope that each day will be like this going forward. Janet you said you were back to work Day 6 - that's great! The doctor doesn't want to see me for three weeks but I planned on going back to work on 9/8 - I thought two weeks would be good as I too have an office job so I don't think it will be a problem. Would like to draw on some of your experiences though. I have read a lot on here about bandster hell - that shouldn't be happening now should it? From the time I woke up I have been starving and I wasn't allowed anything but ice chips until yesterday afternoon. There were six bariatric patients done the same day on the same floor and they had me in with a women who was in a car accident - Breakfast, lunch and dinner came through for her. I thought that was wrong - should have been with other patients who had the same thing going on. Has anyone else experienced HUNGER the first couple of days? I am doing the SF Jello, popsicles, broth, tea (no coffee) and it's just not cutting it.My poor husband has been eating while I am asleep but today I didn't sleep much so he made spaghetti for dinner (my homemade sauce) I thought I was going to jump out of my skin. The good news is that I came home without any diabetes medication to take. That was the biggest reasons for this, the weight loss will be great too but first and foremost I need to get healthy - so while I was in the hospital my sugar numbers were so good I won't need to do a think. I have a follow up appt 9/18 -do you typically get a fill then? Just would like to hear how you handled this hunger! Sandi

Thanks everyone - I will make sure I have some of those things in the house - my date is Monday August 25. About how long does the surgery take do you remember? It seems to me they told us the prep work was almost as long as the surgery and total about hour-hour and a half. Does that measure up to what you experienced? Sandi

Well finally the day is almost here. As I have said before I don't think that I am as nervous about the actual surgery as I am about the "afterwards". I am just looking for some wonderful advice from you guys who have done such a wonderful job getting through this on the first week or so after surgery! What is the best "foods" to have on hand when I get home. I have already stocked the vitamins, calcium, etc., but worried about what to drink. At that stage of the game what have you all found to be the best to get you through the day. I see a lot of people talk about Unjury - I have been on the website but it's too late to order it now it won't get here before Monday. I'm getting apprehensive about this part - Help Please thanks Sandi

Hi Everyone I really love reading all of these posts. It seems like there have been a lot of surgeries lately and it's helping to read the experiences. I am getting banded on August 25 (finally) and it seems that I keep coming up with questions after all year of going through this process. Does the port go on any particular side? I am glad to see that after only a few days everyone is feeling better. The surgery itself is not what bothers me the most it is what happens after - taking in the right amount of protein, sipping slowly, eating slowly and chewing - I just hope that I can make all of this work. I have gotten the message loud and clear that the band is a TOOL but there is me who will have to use that tool and that's where my doubts come in. I just want this to be the most successful thing that I have done in my life and that is where my apprehension is coming in. Thanks for all of the great advice I have been learning a lot. sandi

Hi Everyone Just a quick question and I'm sure the answer varies but I was wondering once all of the information is presented to the insurance company does it take to get approval? I have one more weigh in and then I will have completed everything and the insurance company will get all of my paperwork for approval (hopefully). The issue that worries me is that I would like to have my surgery before the end of the year - is that out of the question? I am so excited about reading all of the success everyone is having and I am just anxious to move this process along as I am sure everyone is. I have a preop seminar to attend next week and at that time I guess I will learn what I need to do prior to surgery. Thanks for all of the encouragement it certainly has helped to make this life changing decision.

I have a question - once you have the band and healed can you still sleep on your stomach? That was a question asked to me and I haven't had my surgery yet - waiting for insurance approval, but I thought it was a good question. Also, can you feel the band or port at any time once you are healed? Thanks - everyone on this site has given me so much information and it's comforting to know that you all are here.

Hi Everyone: Reading all of the posts and it sounds like everyone is doing great! I'm getting closer to being able to obtain approval from the insurance company. Dr office anticiaptes surgery somewhere around Sept. I sure hope so I'm afraid the longer I have to wait I might chicken out. It is encouraging to read all of the positive remarks coming from everyone even those just banded. Not too long ago I read a post concerning bicycles. A certain brand name of bicycle but for the life of me I cannot remember the name of that bike - can anyone refresh my memory?

I have seen a few posts that mention the Wii fitness age. I have been thinking of buying he Wii Fitness program with the balance board, Is this the program you are referring to? Can you tell me what you think of it? I am still going through my process of getting the insurance requirements complete - have two months of my doctor supervised diet and then off for approval. I will admit I think the time I have had to think about this is good to mentally prepare but also gives me too much time to think I read all of this and it's all good but i am very nervous., Plan on going to a support group next week. I was wondering what kind of feedback you can give me on the Wii, Not much for exercise but wanted to try and get started with something now.

Thanks everyone I have done research on the whole process but didn't actually know anyone who has been thru the Lap Band. Have people who went thru gastric bypass and talked with them. This website has been great and just by reading I am learning more and more. I see why the insurance companies have this "wait" period as it is a lot to get used to and understand. I was however unaware of the fill charge my doctor did not mention that at the time we spoke but that could be because I was not expecting this subject to be brought up. When I went to see the surgeon I never gave the Lap Band a thought. When I went to the seminar they didn't focus much on that just the complete bypass. I do have one question though what is "PB" mean - from what I have read it's not fun!

I have been reading what everyone has experienced with this surgery and I just want to say I'm so glad I found this website. I am in the process of getting ready for Lap Band surgery. I was prepared for gastric but when my doc suggested this I was stunned. I didn't know much about it which led me here hoping to learn. I am 57 and have about 100 pounds to lose. How quick is the weight loss with this type of surgery? I am reading a lot about the fills not sure I fully understand that whole process - are you required to pay at each visit where there is a fill? I'm afraid that once this surgery is complete I am still going to be hungary has anyone experienced that? I know this is something I need to do but I just can't seem to get enough information to feel comfortable and I am hoping I can find the answers here - can anyone help?