Jodi_620

Hi lalaredd, you and I aren't far from each other; I am in Sterling. I started ab exercises somewhere between six and seven weeks post-op. I started slow with crunches and leg lifts etc. and added a few more reps each night.

I felt almost nothing on my first fill, I felt a little more on my second fill and much more on my third (just yesterday).

Cynthia and Gamblergirl, that was me last week up until yesterday. I went in and got a fill yesterday (my third) and I think that is just what I needed. My surgeon kinda questioned it because I had lost four pounds since my last fill two weeks ago but I explained that I had decent restriction for the first week, lost six pounds then lost restriction the second week and gained two back. I would eat a decent Breakfast and be tummy rumbling hungry three hours later. I knew that I was not feeling what a bandster should be feeling, I was eating way too much and able to eat like I did pre-band without getting stuck. I was also worried that I had slipped or stetched. He agreed to give me a fill, put in 1/2 CC Water went down great put in another 1/2 CC and said that was as far as he wanted to go for now. I'm not sure that I am at my sweet spot yet, I'll know when I get back on solids, but even on liquids I can already feel a huge improvement. I had a Protein shake for a late lunch around 2PM yesterday and I had to drink it very slowly and was full on just over 1/2. 3/4 cup of strained Soup satisfied me for dinner at around 6:30 PM . It is not just the amount that I am eating that has me feeling encouraged but how I feel when I eat. It is hard to describe but I know this fill definitely made a huge difference. . The food goes down slowly and the way it feels going down, I know that I have to take it easy. When I am full I get this gurgling sound then I hiccup. And the full feeling sticks with me for a good amount of time.

I had that feeling too. For the first 2 or 3 weeks I had a lot of little pains and weird sensations, each one had me concerned but it all just turned out to be part of the healing process. If you really feel it is something serious call your surgeon. I was told coughing and sneezing won't cause any harm although it may be painful around your incision the first several days. You use your diapragm to cough and sneeze and your band is below that. Throwing up is what you need to be concerned with because your stomach spasms when you are throwing up.

PB=Productive burp, if you eat too fast or don't chew you burp and the food comes back up. Not like throwing up in that there is not stomach acid, just food.

In my experience getting the bad carbs out of my system is the only way. You should get your carbs from natural sources only (high Fiber fruits & veggies, milk) and avoid the starchy veggies. No flour, no Pasta, no sugar, no potatoes, no corn etc. When you eat these foods, you get a big insulin spike then a big drop which causes you to crave another carb for an insulin surge...you eat another carb and the cycle keeps going. Just allowing yourself a little can put you on this craving roller coaster. It takes about a week of avoidance to get it out of your system but if you stick with it that long, those cravings get much easier. I still crave sweets every once in a while but I will eat a SF popsicle or SF fudgecicle, SF Jello, SF pudding or even some sweet berries will do the trick without giving me an insulin surge. Also, even with the good carbs try to eat a Protein first. The protein will help keep your insulin leveled. Once you gain control of your appetite and weight loss, you may be able to add back a small portion of potato, pasta etc. every once in a while but you should be mindful of how much and how often you eat them.

I liked Atkins Advantage too. I gagged on the EAS. From pre-surgery experience Slim Fast is pretty good but my surgeon does not allow Slim Fast (too much sugar).

I don't have any advice but I can tell you that I had the same problem right after surgery. It was back to normal in less than a week. I just kept wiping it with antiseptic (Sea Breeze) to keep from getting pimples.

I’m sorry, I debated just letting this go but I have to say that I think it is irresponsible to keep telling people to ignore their doctor’s orders. It doesn’t matter that your doctor doesn’t have patients follow the pre-op/post-op liquid diet. Even Allergan, the makers of Lap Band say you should follow a pre-op/post-op liquid diet. When people come to this site during a weak moment looking for encouragement and strength to get through their surgery requirements, the last thing they need to be told is to ignore their doctor’s orders and go ahead and eat.

Phlegm is Mucus (same thing)

The typical symptoms of slippage are esophageal reflux , burning indigestion and pain when eating and drinking. I don't think that throwing up is typically a sign of slippage but whether it is or not, I was told that throwing up is never good for a bandster...see your doctor.

Yes, I got my appetite back in about one week. Do you get to advance to mushies soon? I was able to do so on day 14 and then it got easier. On day 30 I advanced to solids and it was much, much better. Once you get more solid food in, you should be less hungry...that liquid just flows right through!

The change came for me just this morning...I like it better the way it was yesterday. I know that I had problems getting onto this website yesterday afternoon it was really slow. So maybe bobdole is right.

You can "slime" if you get a peice of food stuck but are not able to "PB" it back up. Your stomach produces a bunch of mucus to try and get the food unstuck. This mucus can back up into your esaphagus then into your mouth. It is just thick, clear mucus. Believe me, it isn't very pleasant

WOW! 27 pounds...heck, without the band you've almost lost as much as me...that's fantastic! I feel great at this point...still working for my sweet spot. I have had two fills the last one was on the 7th and as we speak I am trying to arrange another fill (their scheduling system is down :eek:). I have PB'd a couple times and it is always when I am in too big a hurry. I got stuck once and slimed, but just a little. It really hasn't been so hard for me to adjust but I am really anxious to get to my sweet spot though. So, next Friday is the day! I'll be pullin' for ya.

That really is a bummer. But you are gonna make it this time, I just know it!!:thumbup: What is your surgery date?

If I remember correctly, RestlessMonkey has already had a surgery cancelled because of fatty liver so I would say that the pre-op diet is not unecessary. I know that the pre-op liquid diet was very hard for me but I don't think it was unecessary and it got me on the right track.

skinnyoneday, I wouldn't think that restriction has much to do with incision locations or your port. Restriction is made by the tightness of the band so the restriction should be felt somewhere between your mouth and the band. It is usually felt near the stomach or up further somewhere in the esaphagus. The top of your stomach, where the band is placed is below your left breast. If you are feeling something lower or to the right of the stomach then it probably doesn't have anything to do with restriction because at that location the food has already passed through the band. What you are feeling may be related to digestion, maybe your gallbladder or or maybe healing in your port. My port is just above and to the right of my belly button which is where the intestines are.

Yeah, my energy has already increased a great deal...I'm getting tons more work done around the house!

Yeah, I agree with MeganMatters, the pastas and milkshakes are not the best choice they are low in nutrition and high in carbs. I saw a post on this site that recommended canned chicken and tostitos brand spinach dip pureed together for a chicken salad..I liked it. I also blended the refried Beans with queso or salsa and blended chili was also very satisfing the beans and meat are great choices for Protein (Bush's chile is pretty good).

I liked the other way better too!

dgarrett, That sounds like what most people here would describe as slippage, where your band slipped down and made a bigger pouch. I have read here that when that happens an unfill can fix it. A stretched pouch is when the actual stomach tissue of the pouch is permanently stretched because it is consistently holding too much food and that can not be reversed with an unfill.

How wonderful...I am truly happy for you! Congratulations!!!

I would say it is just below my breasts (where my stomach is). Just a pressure feeling. I don't really feel it in my chest unless I have overdone it or gotten stuck.

:thumbup: Hurray! November isn't so far away... Congratulations!!!