LibbyS

I am having my first fill tomorrow with no instructions from the doctor. Can I eat solid food, or should I stick to liquids?

When I had the fill I asked the DR. He has no restrictions before or after, but I had only water and coffee before the fill and stayed on liquids and mushies after. I plan on trying eggs tomorrow. That feels right to me. I had a lot of gas/burping after the fill.

Wendell, This post has really been helpful for me. I had my surgery July 8 and just had my first fill on September 5. The reason is that I moved from California to Texas and had to schedule the fill when I would be in the Bay Area. I lost 20 pounds on the pre-post liquid diet, but when I started eating food my weight stabilized. With no fill, I was eating about half of what I was capable of eating in the past. For example, 1/2 to 2/3 of restaurant servings of fish, etc. For me, pre-band, I always had two speeds: dieting or eating. I had lost 90lbs on one occasion, 70lbs another time, and many times of 20lbs but always gained it back and more. So I was always either gaining or losing. After the band, once I started eating food, I could eat almost anything except bread as long as it could be chewed very slowly and to an almost liquid state before swallowing. But, I was beginning to go back to some of my old habits. It was actually kind of good for me to see that I could eat, and maintain my weight. I didn't gain or lose a pound for the past month. I wondered if I should try to diet on the band, but thought I should use the period to experiment a little and see how I could handle the band. After the fill 4cc yesterday, I was still hungry all day, but stayed on liquids and mushies. This morning I had a Protein shake and I am full. I hope the restriction is kicking in. I now realize that I will have to go back several times to get to the right place, and I am encouraged that I will begin to lose weight and keep it off.

Sounds like you needed some sodium. I am supposed to be on liquids for one more week but saw the surgeon on Monday. He told me that I could have anything that could be pureed. He suggested I take broth and anything the family is eating, like fish, and puree them together to make my own soup. I am going to try that tonight and see if I feel more satisfied.

I am weighing myself every day and I know I shouldn't, but I don't get too discouraged on days when I don't lose. I have lost weight several times (but not kept it off). I know it comes off in chunks and then sometimes it just sticks, but inches are going too. I have lost almost 20 lbs since I went on the pre-op diet. I am only having 700-1000 calories a day on full liquid, so I don't know how I wouldn't lose. I am still somewhat swollen from the surgery, wonder how long it takes for the gas to leave?

My doctor has 3 weeks of full liquids which includes shakes, sfff puddings, applesause and thin cream of wheat. I have been on it two weeks and see the Dr. tomorrow. I am going to ask if I might start the mushies as I am tired of this.

Have you changed the vitamins you are taking? I have bad skin when I take vitamins containing iodine. Also, are you drinking lots of chocolate shakes? Some people break out from chocolate.

I was banded on July 8. I came home from the hospital weighing 5 lbs more than I did on surgery day. Since then I have lost those 5lbs. I feel very bloated, swollen, and my digestive system doesn't feel like it is working as it should. I am not going to worry about losing weight. I am ingesting about 700 calories a day on average. To maintain my current weight would take about 2800 calories...so...I should be losing several pounds a week. I am sure that will all happen when I adjust. I can't tell if I feel restriction or I am just scare to put too much of my full liquid diet into my new stomach. I haven't had that stuffed full feeling but I don't feel hungry. My Dr. wants me to "eat" only 3x a day. I am finding that I need 1 or 2 small Snacks...in the p.m. and right before bed.

I think it is doable alone. I would go to the grocery and drug store and buy everything on your stage 1 or 2 diet. I did that and went through the box of sf Popsicles in 2 days, so if you know you like something buy several. Fill your prescriptions, get your Vitamins. I live in a 3 story house and had no problem getting up and down stairs. Rolling over in bed is hard and picking up dropped items on the floor. My mom had back surgery and has a little thing she can use to pick up things. I wish I had that, but managed without it. I wasn't alone, but didn't bother my husband too much. He went to the store for me several times. Two days after the surgery I drove myself to the store and to the gym and did the elliptical for 30 minutes. I did have to call the dr about some digestive issues and he recommended I pick something up at the store, so it was nice to have my husband to do that.

Thank You so much for posting this! I was very worried as I was having the same experience and it wasn't one of the things the Dr. told me to expect. At least I know i am normal and won't stray far from the BR.

sorry to be gross, I used Fiber one yogurt and south beach Protein Water with fiber. Result has been several episodes of loose bowels. I haven't seen anyone else talk about this. I am two days post op. I also look and feel 9 months pregnant and have gained 5 lbs since the surgery, just on full liquid diet.

I am kind of afraid to eat much (meaning on my full liquid diet). I did feel some hunger this afternoon, so I had a small snack. I don't think we will feel the restriction until our first fill.

I am having surgery in No. California (started my appointments there 7 months ago and got approved), but now moving to the Austin Texas area. I will fly back to SF for the first fill and visits, but will need long term care from a doctor in Austin. (San Antonio or Houston are also a possibility). I am having the REALIZE Gastric Band versus the lap band, not sure if that matters, but my doc says I should go to someone who does those bands. Does anyone know anyone who does that? And can someone explain about "fill centers"?

That is so funny, I think we were banded on the same day, July 8. I have taken a strong liking to white grape juice. It is amazing! Funny for the little favors. I was unable to have anything to eat or drink from Monday night at midnight until yesterday, Wed at noon. That makes me really appreciate my liquid diet today.

My surgery was yesterday and I survived! I have to say it is, well, surgery which isn't pleasant, but I feel pretty good. Some pressure around my chest. Managing to get down liquids and walk around, but pretty tired. I was in the hospital about 24 hours after the surgery. They took good care of me.

I have a question I haven't found the answer to and my Dr. didn't discuss. When you get to your goal weight, say I weigh 135, I should be able to eat 1500 or more calories a day if I am exercising. But it sounds like there would be no way to eat that many calories with restriction. Do they loosen the band at goal? Can you eat relatively normally?

I haven't had surgery yet, but my Dr. office gave me the following advice. if food sticks try a teaspoon of meat tenderizer in a glass of warm water sipped slowly. Does that work?

I too am on clear liquids today and have surgery tomorrow. I am more nervous about life after surgery than the surgery and the liquids.

How did you do? Are you already up and posting online?

Where do you get those? New Whey protein?

I have had that voice for more than 5 years. I have lost 70 lbs once and 90 lbs another time and 25 lbs several times. I can lose weight, but then I can't sustain the loss because I know I will have to be "on a diet" the rest of my life to do that. So once I am off the diet, I gain the weight back. For me the band, next Tuesday, is not so I can lose the weight. It is so I can finally get to my goal weight and stay there forever! And so I can and will stay on a diet the rest of my life.

I am also on July 8. Making it through the pre-op diet, pretty nervous, but ready.

This is great motivation. I won't miss sweating whether or not the seat belt will buckle in the airplane seat. I used to need an extension but now am just under the borderline. I am looking forward to comfortably fitting into a small bathtub and not worrying about whether or not I can get in or out. I want to buy normal size clothes and cute shoes.

Hi All, I am having surgery on Tues July 8, and have been on the pre-op diet for a week and a half. My doc prescribed Dr. Atkins or other low carb shakes, 2 a day, yogurt, cottage cheese, broth, fruit juice, no alcohol or carbonated drinks, only one cup of coffee a day. And to drink at least 64 ounces of Water a day. The first few days I had severe headaches from withdrawal from diet coke and all the other sugars I wasn't getting. I was also told to stop taking any advil or aspirin so I had to switch to Tylenol. The pills didn’t help the headache so I tried the adult liquid and that worked. I have been on a very low calorie shake diet before, so I knew it got better after a few days. I did have to have an extra shake a couple of days and Snacks (he wanted me to eat just 3 meals a day) of allowed items (not really food) because I got very hungry. I drank lots of water. I found several items at the grocery store that really helped me. 1) South Beach and Special K and others make these drink mixes that you put in your water. They have Protein and Fiber and make you feel full and have 10-30 calories. As a snack, that kept me going until the next non-meal of a shake. 2) Fiber One makes a yogurt with Fiber which I used. 3) I found a local brand of zero calorie flavored water which was inused with Vitamins. The lemon lime flavor tasted a lot like a Sprite, so it helped me with my soft drink withdrawal. From my last VLC shake based diet (which was physician supervised) I know to take BeneFiber and Stool Softener to prevent constipation. The fourth of July was torture. We went to two barbeques. I drank my Dr. Atkins shake in the car on the way to the party and drank my flavored water while everyone had their heaping plates of BBQ, beer, wine and other libations. But, I didn’t cheat. Today I am down 12 lbs before even starting my surgery. I am nervous about the surgery, but even more nervous about keeping this lifestyle up for the rest of my life.

I am having Realize Band surgery next Tuesday. I am on a liquid/yogurt pudding diet right now and have lost 8 pounds. I have to admit that I am nervous. Not so much about the surgery but about my life after surgery. I am a self admitted foodie and love wine with that. That is why I am 100lbs over weight. I am having the surgery in California but then moving to Texas so looking for support group in that area.