RestlessMonkey

You are doing so good! The chicken sounds good to me, actually... I thought of pureeing it (when the time comes for me) with a little of that gravy in a jar...like Heinz? It's not too high in cals (don't recall about the fat) for a different taste but what you are doing sounds delicious! And remember you can have that BBQ later! That's what I'm holding on to right now; once I lose, I can have most of the foods I love, just in smaller portions.

You know, I think it is BOUND to stretch gently over time. It almost has to. If originally it will only hold 2 ounces and eventually we eat up to 1 cup (8 ounces) of food, it HAS to expand some. I think you just don't want to do it prematurely or abruptly (like with carbonation). I'm honestly not sure though, this is just an educated guess. I think I'll ask my surgeon this next weds. I just always assumed it would stretch some over time. I know it does in Roux-en-Y patients. That's why although they always have "malabsorption", they lose the "restriction". We will alway have some restriction though because of the versatility of the band.

Good luck! I'm a very new Bandster (just this morning) but the surgery wasn't bad, I'm sitting her 10 hours post op at home with no (absolutely no) pain med on board and feeling like I did a few too many situps is all. Not so bad...drawing on my dim memories past of having done sit ups long ago LOL Welcome to lapbandtalk!

I think I couldn't have trusted my surgeon etc without the seminar. He covered various types of Gastric surgery, told us which ones he does and doesn't do (and why)...was well spoken, personable, and very knowledgable. I learned a lot from the seminar as well. And lastly, my DH (he's a nurse and has seen some real train wrecks from GBS gone bad) who was dubious, had his questions answered and his fears resolved. I think they are great! And if the one you go to doesn't educate you etc...then that's informative too...you may want a different surgeon! Welcome and good luck!

I appreciate this question and all the answers. I'm not a nurse YET...just a nursing student, and I start my pediatrics clinicals on 9/9. Since I've been doing an austere atkins type diet for a while (hence the great WL to date) I'm past the "weak" stage... I was worried about remaining hydrated because when one is a student we're expected to go in and work and learn, not sip water etc. (Most of our teachers even give us the stink eye if we use the restroom LOL) Still though it is NOTHING to compare to actually BEING a nurse. So if you guys can do it; I feel better that I can do it.

Shinyhappymommy what a GREAT reply! Honest and very informative. I'm glad to hear your post; and I think you are exactly right. I hope to remember your good advice when I'm wondering if I need a fill or not. I agree; I want to eat less and lose but not have to PB frequently. The thought slightly horrifies me!

I'm a little worried....I CAN drink almost like regular. I don't chug, or hurry, but I can drink whole swallows without pain, discomfort, etc. And I burped at the hospital after my first few sips but after that nothing! I know the band is in place:...they did another Upper GI to make sure! I thought I wouldn't not physically be able to drink more than a sip at a time, so I never thought to ask "What if I physically can drink more?" and of course his office is closed. SO i'm just trying to limit to an ounce or so at a time then wait to make sure it has time to go through. What a silly thing to worry about; but it just never occurred to me that literally hours postop I'd be able to drink normally. And you know what else? I'm hungry! I think my stomach likes it's new friend! It's going to be a LOOONG 2 weeks to mushie world, but I'll make it.

Michele1820....sounds to me like in addition to an unfill, some depression meds, and a therapy session or two, you need SUPPORT! Come here more often! AND does your WLS have support groups? GO! You aren't alone. You aren't the only person who likes chips and cookies more than baked fish. I will RACE you for the chips and cookes! LOL If you thought the band would take care of everything you weren't properly educated prior and shame on your surgeon and his staff for that. But it can be a great tool to help keep you away from that 300 pound mark (you don't want to go there) and get you leaner and healthier. You're not alone. Think of the band as a stomach pacemaker, not an alien intruder. It can be your best friend. You just need to learn to use it. Hang in there!

I don't know about anyone else but if I didn't have a problem with eating too much I wouldn't be here. I understand where you're coming from. Guilt doesn't do any good, though....just journal the food like your doc wants and take it from there! I plan to (re) join WW once I'm healed to help me stay on track. That weekly weigh in, plus the people in the meeting, help keep me honest. Maybe some organized weight loss program would help you too? Ideally we'd get the band, eat less without thinking about it, get to a healthy weight and live happily ever after. And it may actually work that way for some...but a lot of us still have to struggle. Hang in there!

Parul....you can also plateau because you are not eating enough. Your body thinks "Whoa! Times are pretty lean" and your metabolism slows, and so does your weight loss. I don't know what you weigh but if you are "obese" you need 1000-1200 cals a day. Try upping your caloric intake for a few days. If you need an unfill, get one! And as for GERD...I don't know if it can damage your band but it definitely can damage your esophagus. Tell your doctor you have it... there are pills that can treat it. Good luck! Poor starving thing!

I'm home from being banded!! YAY Liver was small enought this time. I guess I get to change my ticker! No pain meds but liquid tylenol and it's all under control. To be honest? I've felt better but I've also felt a LOT worse! My problem? I can drink water in swallows not sips. No pain. I wait between swallows....I thought it was supposed to hurt and feel bad and I could only sip? but it feels groovy. They did a GI and every is where it's supposed to be and going where it's supposed to be so I guess I'll just consider myself lucky and go with the flow :biggrin:

Thanks to all the rest of you, too. I probably will only eat 1 or 2 and once I start getting restriction, probably not even that! But when you are just doing liquids and that preop diet I was on, it's fun to dream about a bowl of soup and a few crackers, if you know what I mean! I'm doing well and don't want to jeopardize that, but it's my little fantasy!

Thank you so much Jachut! It's a ways down the road for me, but as I said, I kind of like to plan ahead! And Emilie1 I think Dr. Cavazos is the Bee's knees! This time I got my band, everything is fine, I'm in a teeeny bit of pain (mostly gas) and am going to take some tylenol (adult liquid) now. Saving the Darvocet he gave me for later. NE Baptist has great staff and I'm sure you'll breeze through too!

Gayle I understand and thanks....I'm well educated on the band. I'm an adult who knows what she's supposed to do. I just wondered about crackers. I assume you don't know the answer to my question!

Agatha I'm supposed to add protein shakes during week 2...1st week, just water, broth and jello (and that's IT!) Although for our preop diet our surgeon recommended a very specific protein shake, for post op (again, starting week 2) he told us just to pick one low in carbs and fat and high in protein. I'm using EAS Carb Control AdvantEDGE (I think that's the name) that have 17 g of protein each. Isopure (from GNC) is another name I remember that's on our postop list but I haven't had them.

I'm sure an experienced bandster or two will post but until then I can tell you my Doc and his staff told us it will be VERY VERY hard initially to get the 64 oz of water in. We're told to just sip sip sip constantly; keep the water at hand all the time. So unless you're REALLY underhydrated I think your experience is common. Just hang in there and keep sipping! Congrats on your band, by the way!

Lanakila congrats! to you and all August allstars. I'm getting my band (2nd try) tomorrow! My surgeon was very very pleased with my weight loss and is sure my liver will be small enough now. Way to go, everyone!

I need to proof read. I wanted to exhaust all avenues before surgery, not therapy. therapy was an avenue I exhausted! LOL And I want to say I think you're pretty brave and I bet you'll really do wonderfully with the band; I look forward to "seeing" it happen here on this board!

wvgall33...I surely don't have the solution to head hunger, but I went to a behavioral therapist for 10 mos on my own before even starting the lap band process (I wanted to exhaust all other avenues before I had therapy) and she helped me recognize the difference. It's not something easy I can just pass on to you; I wish I could. I had to really work at it. But now most times I can tell if I'm eating "just because" or because I'm really HUNGRY. That doesn't STOP me from overeating, unfortunately, but I have a better grasp on why and when I overeat. I'm working on it....it's a process, I think.

You're entitled to your opinion mominfla as I am mine. And the only reason you know I didn't get the surgery the first time because of my fatty liver is because I made no bones about it and why the surgeon couldn't do it. I believe in accepting responsibility. This second go-round I DID follow my doc's instructions to the letter and he was very pleased. So no, I'm not angry with myself. I was, immediately post op, because I knew I was the one to blame. Then I got on with doing what I was supposed to. I am just not a whiner, I guess.

I'm another one who is to be on 14 days of liquid post op...and in fact he says no protein shakes the first week postop! Then mushies like "cream of mushroom soup well blended" and to me that isn't EVEN a mushie but a thick liquid! Do ask your doc to confirm...but if that's what he wants, then that's what gives optimum results for HIS patients (all surgeons are different you know...they operate differently etc) and you should follow it. Trust me, do what your doc says.

No. but surely you know from reading this board, the band works if you work it. If you eat around it, it doesn't. It's simple. If you're pleased with your weight loss, ignore his negative vibe.

Believe me, if you had a hernia, the odds are REALLY high that you'd know. If by some wild chance you DO have one and don't know, that will mean it is very small, they'll find it when doing your upper GI , and it won't matter.

Thanks Mimilou! Yes, my surgeon was really pleased. He made me feel good; he said: You've done so well on the preop diet. If you can do it, you will find living with the band a breeze. I'm so pleased to do this surgery for you! :smile2: And hfalola: it's not bad at all! (since I kind of went through it once already!) We're both going to do great!

My second lap band surgery is tomorrow at 7AM! My doctor tried to place the band on 8/11 and couldn't because my liver was too fatty, but I've lost another 15.5 pounds since then and he is very pleased and sure there won't be a problem this time. I am a teeny bit nervous about it but I have done well on his diet and mostlly am just anxious and excited to get the band tomorrow Anyone else getting their band tomorrow?