Jodi_620

Your nutritionist will no doubt tell you exactly what he/she wants to to eat but I will offer a few tips. People will tell you which shakes taste the best but it is really a matter of personal preference. So buy a few different brands and see what you like before you stock up on something you don't like. I went with Atkins and like Ensure High Protein as well. At first I used regular chicken broth, then someone here mentioned that strained Soup was more satisfying. So I bought some Progresso soup and strained the chunks out and it honestly was better both with taste and hunger control. And sugar free popsicles can be a life saver. After a few days you will want to chew on something and they will help to satisfy that need.

I would say it is just still healing. It got easier every day, but it took a full two months before my port discomfort was gone. You are going to feel a lot of pains and weird sensation during this period don't worry yourself too much.

We can't really say for sure whether you need to do more ab exercises without knowing what you are doing now. But one thing you can do to make your workout more effective if you are not already doing it, is to make sure you keep your ab muscles tight as possible during your entire workout routine whether you are working your abs, legs, arm or doing cardio. It is hard to remember to keep up but it is effective. It helps to tighten your abs and improve posture. I actually had the opposite problem, my scale wouldn't budge but I was noticing my clothes getting looser. But the same problem as far as losing last in the stomach. It has always been the first area to show weight gain and it has been the last area to shrink and it is mainly genetics. My decision to continue to lose weight past my goal is because I still carry a little bit of a gut but I have been persistent and it is slowly going away.

It took two months for my incision to really heal well but I was only restricted from being immersed in water for two weeks. My doctor said that once the steri-strips have fallen off on their own (removing them yourself does not count) then I could bathe and swim again.

Lauren, You are confusing "Fibrous" pertaining to consistency with "High Fiber" pertaining to nutrition value. Fibrous veggies would be foods that are stringy and hard to chew well and digest (ie celery, broccoli stems, asparagus, brussel sprouts etc.). Of course you should avoid foods like this as they can be hard to chew well enough to pass through the band comfortably. I was referring to high Fiber (as in nutrient content) like Beans, tomatos, zucchini, peppers, etc. High fiber foods are necessary for good digestion and fiber can actually slow down the digestive process so that you stay full longer. Fiber is necessary for good health and will help us avoid constipation. We can't be healthy on meat alone.

Sometimes, if my PC is not available (the office is often very busy). As a matter of fact, it was an NP that did my pre-op tests (bloodwork, EKG etc.) and arranged the surgery release letter for my surgery approval.

I remember that UHC denied the surgical assistant part of my bill which was $4,000.00, the reason written in was "Procedure must be performed by a surgeon" the assistant is a PA-C. I called the surgeons office and they said that part would just be written off by them and it was. Additionally I just recently had my gallbladder removed and had my Lap Band doc do that procedure too. UHC paid a bill or two submitted for the PA-C's part in it then came back and asked for a refund for the same reason, my surgeon's office refunded the money. Hope it was the same for you.

You probably did cause some swelling. Some people would go on liquids but I never did that. I would just take it easy for a few days, eat slowly, softer foods and don't overdo it. Give it a week and if you don't feel better see your doc. If you start throwing up, having reflux or unusal pain go in right away.

Solid Protein and high Fiber veggies. Avoid soft,mushie or liquid foods that will go right through your band. As we get more and more restriction we can be drawn to the softer stuff because it is easier to get down. But the solid foods, while they take more work and time to get down, will stick with you much longer. Go for lean chicken, meaty fish and tender beef with colorful fresh veggies which have more fiber and Vitamins.

Actually at the time I was not aware of any others besides Lap Band and Gastric Bypass. I compared the two at length and my reasons for choosing Lap Band were the fact that it is 1.) Less invasive-no removal or rerouting parts of my digestive system. Simple Laproscopic outpatient procedure with a fairly quick recovery time. 2.) It is adjustable-If I start gaining down the road I can go in for an adjustment. I know two people that had bypass and gained weight back one has gone back for the band and the other is considering doing so. 3.) It is reversible-If I had complications, the Lap Band could be removed. 4.) It seemed right for me. I knew that I could make the necessary changes to make the Lap Band work for me.

It depends. If I didn't chew well or swallowed too much then I know right away. If I ate the wrong food or ate too much it may take a little while. But don't make the mistake of determining restriction by whether you are getting stuck. One really doesn't have much to do with the other. If you are getting stuck then that is an indication that you are not eating properly or you are eating the wrong foods. Early on, I could get stuck when my band was empty, obviously I was not at restriction I simply was not eating properly. Take smaller bites (about the size of the nail bed on your index finger), chew well, swallow and wait a few seconds before you pick up your fork again. And stop when you are no longer hungry. Master eating properly first then you can determine if you need a fill because the tighter you are, the worse the stuck episodes will be. To determin if you need a fill, you should be getting satisfied on 1 cup or less of food, staying satisfied until your next meal (at least four hours) and of course losing weight.

Of course people have different opinions and are given different plans from their doctors. But in my opinion, if you were satisfied then it is fine. I don't obsess over how much. I concentrate on eating the right foods the right way and stopping when I am no longer hungry. If I am not losing weight and not staying satisfied until my next meal then I get a fill. Through the whole process I have averaged 3/4 to 1 cup per meal and have done well with that.

RestlessMonkey, Haven't been coming around much lately and I just noticed your ticker, ...you're doing great!! :confused:

Talk to your doctor. It could mean you are not getting enough Iron, unexplained bruising is a sign of Anemia. Look for other signs like being tired, dizzy, ringing ears and thirst.

We rarely get to the right restriction on the first fill. Because we all react differently to fills the doctor needs to take it slowly to find your sweet spot, better to take it slowly than to fill you too tight. Believe me, I was filled too tight once and it was a miserable experience. On average it takes four fills to really start feeling it.

Hi Emmylou, yeah we're neighbors! Had my surgery done in Reston. Won't go anywhere but Reston Hospital. For about a week or so post-op I had severe pain when I needed to burp. I was told that the pain comes from the area where the esophagus passes through the diaphragm (the site of the hernia repair). Anyway, the pain does eventually go away. I've had the forehead pain (is it sort of like a brain freeze?). I get it if I eat too much or too fast though. I remember a lot of strange pains and sensations for about a month post-op. Eventually it all pretty much gets back to normal though.

There is really no way around the withdrawal feelings. It will take a couple of days of struggling but eventually you'll get the crap out of your system again. Get some sugar free stuff (fudge pops, popsicles, Protein bars) in the house for when you are really desperate and put yourself on a strict low GI fresh food (unprocessed meat, veggie, fruit and dairy) diet for a week. Then add back a few whole grains eaten with lean protein. Drink lots of Water too. It won't be easy but you know that in a week or so it will have been worth it. And the next time you consider eating the bad stuff you can remind yourself of what you have to go through to reverse its effects. And find yourself a fill doctor ASAP.

I don't know about Paulette, but I am jealous...what I wouldn't give for just one good burp, LOL.

Mine did. And I went off my Metformin the day of surgery (couldn't swallow the pills). Two weeks after surgery I started my cycle after months without one. Four months post-op, bloodwork showed no signs of PCOS; I was having 28-day cycles, my skin was cleared up, my hair has since gotten thicker and I feel so much better. The way I see it, at least for me, it had less to do with weight loss and more to do with changing my diet. But weight loss is possible, with PCOS/Lap Band. My suggestion would be that since PCOS is caused by insulin resistance you stick to low GI foods. Eat fresh meat, colorful veggies & fruits, and unprocessed whole grains like oatmeal. Cut out white carbs like bread, Pasta, rice, potato and sugar. Avoid foods that come in a jar, can or a box-most of this stuff has added fructose,sugar and chemicals that are bad for you. With the band you will be very satisfied on a diet like this. I was told that it would be harder to lose with PCOS but as long as I watch the white carbs it is not hard at all. I have lost 100 pounds.

It is hard but you can do it. I had to do 14 days of liquid protein pre-op. It was very hard and I even cried a couple times but I did not give up. Take it one day at a time and remind yourself that it is just two weeks out of your life and the end results will make it soooo worth it. Good Luck!!

I had my surgery over a year ago and still am unable to really burp. I can force air up but can not manage a good old fashioned natural belch. But I was told that my inability to burp was due to hiatal hernia repair which was done at the same time so maybe you'll get it back.

Yes, you should be able to do all the same activities as before but it will take at least six weeks to fully heal.

Depends on your doctor. I was only allowed liquid protein so lettuce would be a no. But different docotors have different programs.

Thanks. No pics yet I plan to post some when I am actually done with my transformation. It will be hard to find before pics since I always ran from cameras or hid behind people in pictures. My surgeon took one though so if all else fails I could get a copy of that one.

I lost 23 pounds from pre-op to first fill and a total of 97 pounds in 11 months. I averaged 2 pounds a week. Take a look below for my progress and you will get an idea on how it has gone for me. I think how much you lose really depends on how dedicated you are to eating right, exercising and maintaining fills.