glancerlm

I have lost 90 pounds and have about twenty-five to go, and (knock on wood) haven't lost cup size. The inches around have decreased, but I'm still a D.

THAT IS NORMAL!! The liquid stage after surgery is the worst part. I was starving, and I don't mean head hunger; I was weak. Once I started on mushies, I was in such relief! Just hang in there, and remember the good part is that you'll probably lose fast while you're on liquids, so there is a benefit.

I just had my third fill two weeks ago, and I can relate!! I have trouble drinking WATER first thing in the morning. I think I just hadn't had to really follow the rules as closely before - taking small bites, eating slowly. It has eased up a little this week, but I have PB'd more than I ever had. My surgeon said it loosens up after more weight is lost and the tissue around the band gets looser, so I'm hanging in there.

I had horrible shoulder pain about a week after surgery. Thankfully, it only lasted a few days. I read a post at the time that suggested lying facedown with your butt in the air. Like, on your knees but putting your face on the floor or bed. It really helped!!

As soon as my doctor said I could have mushies, I went to KFC and got mashed potatoes. They were the best thing I have ever tasted in my life!! LOL

You are normal. I was starving too. I went in for my post op appointment ten days later and my doctor let me go on mushies early. OMG, they were the best mashed potatoes I have ever eaten!! LOL It will get better; just hang in there.

Hey Jeremy! I can feel the port if I poke a little; it doesn't bother me, though. I am on capsules, and they told me to open them and take them that way, but after a few months, I started just taking them and it doesn't bother me. No restrictions on exercise after recovery. The pain was really not that bad. I was sore for a few days. A week after the surgery, I got horrible shoulder pain from gas (they pump air in you and this is normal.) The shoulder pain was the worst pain, and it happened a few nights in a row for an hour or so and then went away. Frankly, the hardest part of me was the two weeks liquid diet. I was SO hungry! It was torture, but I kept telling myself it was temporary. Plus, during that time I lost a lot of weight, so it was worth it. I am nothing but glad that I did this; it was one of the best decisions of my life!

I was in the same boat as you! I LOVED drinking during a meal, and I was really worried about it. What I do now is drink water before I eat; I try to drink a whole glass. That seems to help. Then sometimes I will take a sip afterwards if I really am dying. But usually it's not so bad. It isn't as hard as I thought it would be. Part of it is that because I can't eat as much I don't get as thirsty, and I think the 2 weeks of liquids after surgery made me appreciate the full feeling and not want to wash it away. I hope that helps a little.

Actually, my doctor said it was not a problem to open the capsules, since the medicine is in little beads, and the beads are extended release, not the plastic capsule. If you look on the website or read the information, it says you can open it and take it. I have been opening them and taking them with applesauce (or just pouring it in my mouth) because my surgeon told me to, but I forgot once and just took one and it didn't bother me.

I've had the same experience, which I keep reading is normal, until you get your sweet spot with the fills. I just got my first fill today, and was really excited because I haven't lost anything in 2-3 weeks! My doctor said that is normal. Just hang in there. Try to pick low-cal foods and exercise.

I was banded on Aug. 8 and got my first fill today! It was soooo easy! I was ready for it too; I haven't lost anything in a few weeks and was getting down on myself. My dr. said, don't worry about it; this is a slow process and you're doing great. So I feel a lot better. He also said it would take 2 days before I could tell a difference, which I thought was weird.

OMG, I am also feeling this way! I was banded five weeks ago and can eat anything!!! I stopped losing weight two weeks ago and am freaking out. At least I haven't been gaining, but I feel that same out-of-control feeling that I did before surgery. Thank goodness I am not the only one. My fill is in two weeks, so I'm trying to hang in there until then.

I was starving until I started mushy foods, not head hunger either, but stomach growling, feeling weak, etc. Don't worry, it is normal; once you start regular food it will get easier. And from what I've read, after fills it's even better.

Don't worry; everyone calls the first two weeks "lap band hell", so you are normal. Once you start seeing that scale move, and get to eat real food, you'll feel better. I'm one month post-op, and I'm SO glad I did it!!!! I've lost 20 pounds since surgery and feel so much more comfortable and I have NO regrets!

I know this is an old post, so you've probably already found someone, but I was just banded by Dr. Naziri from Southern Surgical in Greenville, and am really happy with the results!

They have a vitamin specifically for bariatric patients called OptiSource. Walgreen's carries it. It is orange flavored and tastes like candy; it is really good.

The lapband website is helpful in giving guidelines on what to eat. I researched the band before my surgery and the most important thing I learned was that the band is a tool, not a magic pill. The key to weight loss is eating less, choosing more nutritious foods, and exercising; I guess the surgery makes that a little easier. I think you have to take the initiative to find support for yourself if you don't have it.

I made a list of things I enjoy doing. I tend to comfort-eat, so I wanted to have ready options to do instead of eating to comfort myself or feel good.

Ten days after surgery, I went to Wendy's and got chili; I told them I wanted mostly juice and just ate the juice out of it. It made the biggest difference in my body hunger and didn't bother me at all. I'm on pureed foods now. Trust me, once you get to mushies, it is soooooo much better.

I'm 5 days post-op and feel hungry almost all the time, and I don't mean head hunger, I mean physically - my stomach growls, I feel weak, etc. I'm trying to get all my protein in, drinking milk, chicken broth, tomato soup, etc. I have to be on liquids for 2 weeks. Is this going to get better once I start solids??? I was ready for "head" hunger, but I didn't think I would be REAL hungry! I keep reading other people who aren't hungry at all and thinking what is wrong?

Thanks! That makes me feel a lot better.

I got banded yesterday so am in the first few "rotten" days. Thanks for letting me know it will get better! I have not been able to stop pain meds yet and was getting worried.

My surgery went very well, other than having to wait, wait, wait. I got to the hospital as instructed, at 9:30. I had to wait to get a "room" (curtained area), but then once I got there they quickly put me into pre-op area. Unfortunately, I was in there until about 12:30. They gave me a sedative but I still remembered going into the operating room, changing tables, those leg pump things on my legs, and then out. I woke up at 2. I had pain for about an hour and then was mainly just uncomfortable. Then I was in recovery for almost 3 hours. I got home about 6:45. It really hasn't been that bad, except I can't sleep. I'm a really light sleeper and the pain med. hasn't knocked me out. I also have gas pain - I think that's what it is, I've never really had gas before! Mostly I am excited and ready to start my new life. It really was not as painful or scary as I had feared. My parents were there and were supportive, esp. my Dad, who teased the nurses and kept telling me he was proud of me!

Thanks! I am excited. Good luck to everyone! I'm scheduled for 9:30, hoping to be home by 4 or 5.

Me too!!! 8/8/8. I'm just so excited to have a date, and one before school starts - I'm a teacher.