vegasgirl44

Dang! I'm going to just make a post so that this thread shows up in my subscribed column. I'd like to go to the lunch next month. Bonnie

Cutie and misty, Thanks! I just noticed it today and it kind of hurts. Is it going to go away? It feels so weird. I hate to lay on my stomach or put on jeans with a tighter waistband. I feel better though, so thanks for sharing.

I think it's so strange because some docs allow solid foods quickly after surgery. I know that the stitches need to heal and that the stomach needs time to form around the band. My problem is eating too fast. I can eat a whole container of soup and feel full, and then a little later I feel pain by my ribcage. I'm guessing that is a type of non-filled type of restriction. So, I'm not eating solids, but I think I've been eating too much even though I'm losing. I also would suggest protein when you get hungry. I know it will also help you with hair loss. Eat yogurt. Drink some concentrated protein, like IDS whey bullets. It's better to be safe than sorry. Good luck!

I was banded on 8-14. I think I know what you are talking about. I sometimes have gurgling in my stomach, but I'm not sure what it is. I feel like I could eat. And then sometimes I will go ahead and eat and then I don't feel so well. I think if I eat too much, I get this pain under my left breastbone and it's hard to breathe. I think that's restriction of the unfilled type. I have no fills yet and I don't go see my surgeon till 10-1. A long time. I'd be interested in others' responses.

I just noticed this firm knot at my incision site today. To me it seems like it feels as if the port has flipped on its side and pushing outward, except that my doc says my port is lower by my waistband. So this couldn't be port-related. Right? I read on another post somewhere that this is scar tissue from the incision--somebody had called the doctor's office and the nurse told her this. Does anybody have this? I actually lightly pressed by the incision and feel this firm bump. It's really weird.

OMG! I'm so glad I found this post. Just today, I feel this hard bump right underneath my biggest incision. My doc says that my port is LOWER than that. So, why do I feel this hard area that hurts when I press on it if it's nowhere near where my port should be? Is it scar tissue like you said? Should I call me doc? Anybody? I feel like I can't move because what if my port has flipped?

OMG Karey! I bought that last year after I noticed a co-worker's lashes that were just so long. It's definitely helped me get rid of my scrawney lashes.

I was only banded on 8-14 but I'm familiar with restriction. I don't know how long it will last before my first fill, but the pressure in my left rib cage is right on! Sometimes it's hard to breath in after I've had something to eat (drink really). A pressure and tightness would be how I describe it. In fact, I just had a vanilla protein shake a couple of hours ago, must have drank it too fast, and wha-la!, restriction pain.

pj, there are so many, but to start, if you like dreamscicles, just use orange crystal light mix in with your protein powder and it's one of my favorites. Yummy!

Yeah Paula, I went to WalMart the other day and discovered that Jello brand has a whole line of sugar free puddings....dulce de leche, rice, chocolate this and that. I bought like 8 packs of 6. Then I went Gung Ho, and ate four in one sitting. Trust me, I will NEVER do that again. Plus, I don't want too many empty calories, so I balance them out with my protein and other things.

sassy, I agree with all the previous posts. Right now, you have had to let go of all your crutches and you are mad and grieving and detoxing. It's hard, I know. But when I go to work and my employees are eating In-N-Out (good, but I'd rather have FatBurger anyway), I like to go smell and look....or not, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE myself for making this decision. And even though I haven't lost a significant amount of weight, I feel soooooo self-confident now and I don't let the food bother me. Sure I get those cravings, but like everyone has said, it gets better. Also like they implied, it's very important to surround yourself with positive reinforcement. Remember, you chose to do this for YOU, not everybody else. They don't want to hurt you. They may be jealous or may not agree with your decision, but I'm sure they care for you and don't want you to come to any harm. Stand up straight, be confident, and revel in your decision. Act like it's YOUR project, YOUR secret, YOUR own little thing that is yours. You can do it. You WILL do it!

Paula, I actually get yogurt and puddings, which I love. So I will be doing that. I also bought some of that Select Soup in the Gold Box-Southwestern Corn. OMG! I can't imagine how it will taste, but I'm looking forward to finding out. I really enjoy Mexican spices since it really heightens and adds flavor do otherwise dull foods. I guess I will have to put it in the blender for cream of corn soup. LOL! Maybe some tomato soup with some chili seasoning in it? I don't know yet. I think tomato is BORING, so I'm going to have to spice it up a little. I have to get some V8 too....need my veggies. I bought cream of rice cereal but I've never had it before. I hate oatmeal. Any suggestions to spice up that? LOL!

Bella! You hit the nail on the head with your post. The reason we adhere to the diet the doctor gives us is to help heal our stomach from the inside and food will most likely go down, but there is a reason to the madness of the food stages. Thanks for reminding us! Good luck to you. Bonnie

ANWA, you shouldn't be swallowing ANY pills. You need to crush them and put them in your food. Don't be swallowing whole pills. My doc actually told me to get liquids if possible, but now I crush and get chewables. Those liquid vitamins are some of the nastiest stuff I've ever had in my mouth. Your doc should have told you that several times. Good luck to you!

Debski, thank you for keeping it real for those of us who have not experienced situations like that....yet. I also am still tending to eat too fast and before I know it, I'm full and feeling pressure. I'm just used to eating fast and know I need to slow down. I'm amazed that I have a band with no fill yet and if I eat food that is a little thicker than thin liquids, I do feel the restriction/pressure. Thanks for reminding me I need to slow down. Good luck to you! Bonnie

Mimi, I know. Sometimes dreams are all we have. Sigh.....LOL!

Paula! Shut Up! I had a protein drink for breakfast and potato soup for lunch also! Wow! I bought some Campbells Garden Harvest soup, threw it in the blender and added a ton of pepper. It was really terrific. I think I'm going to be able to top off my day with just liquids also. Great minds think alike, I guess. LOL! Good luck to you! Bonnie

Joanne, AMEN, girlfriend!

I get oatmeal also. But since I'm not an oatmeal fan, I bought cream of rice, which is also allowed for me starting next week. I figure that Hey! Maybe it will taste like rice pudding, which I LOVE!!!! I could OD on rice pudding. Thank God Kozy Shack has a SF version. Whoohoo! Am I just dreaming that Cream of Rice will taste as good as rice pudding? LOL!

robint, I was the same way. Hiatal hernia found and fixed during surgery. Congratulations on your surgery!

jmegirl, I lost 21 pound preop, gained 6 the day of surgery, and then lost that 6 plus 5 more recently. I just can't believe I gained during surgery and then it took 4 days+ to take it off. But the scale is moving again now.

littlefroggy, I believe everybody's postop instructions are different. I just don't like people putting words in my mouth or implying that I am telling someone what to do. I would NEVER tell anyone to go against the advice of their physician. If someone asks advice, I give them my side of the story. My side of the story is that week one, I do clear liquids. This includes SF Jello, Water, crystal light, Isopure, etc. Week 2 is creamed liquids including yogurt, pudding, creamy Protein Shakes, etc. Week 3 and 4 I add creamed Soups, and purees. Then I move on from there. I believe every surgeon has his own reason for recommending a certain regime. My brother had gastric bypass last year, and his diet was pretty much the same. I tend to think that since my surgeon does other surgeries that he uses similar diets for all of his patients. What I DO know is that the stomach must heal after the band is put on, and some doctors want healing in different ways. I think some foods immediately after surgery probably are not tolerated by the body. For instance, eating a stage 3 food the day after surgery might cause more gas, bloating, diarrhea...etc...and you know, milk can cause diarrhea. When someone is sick with the flu, etc, usually a doctor will prescribe clear fluids and plenty of rest. Good luck!

I don't know where you live, but that sounds like an awful lot for lapbanding. I thought my fee was big. Normally, most of those charges are lumped together. However, if you feel this is the best doc in your area and you like and trust him, I say go for it if you can. My doc is a GREAT surgeon. I just would NOT go with a lapband doctor who ONLY does lapbands. Mine does gallbladders, hernias, etc...you know, many different abdominal type surgeries. Plus he has trained with the best lapband surgeons. I think that one of the best things you can do is to go to the doc's support and talk with some of the others who had him. Good luck!

$175-Pyschologist $225-Nutritionist $16,500-Cash Pay for Surgery and one year follow-up with free fills $1200-I financed a portion of it with CareCredit, and my doc charged me an extra amount for this service) Plus, I must have spent almost $300 on protein powders, vitamins, a few initial doctor visits (I had to get a cardiology consult and some followup there), and some miscellaneous items. ___________________________________________ $18,400 and worth every penny.....say hello to my new car!