2muchfun

Your doctor knows when you can start eating solids and he's seen your stomach and knows how much damage has been done. So, you really need to follow his orders. I couldn't eat solids for 30 days. I did eat soft foods after 7 days and mushies after 10 or so.

The beauty of the band, and one of the reasons many opted for the band, is the fact that you still can have the sleeve. If you would have went with the sleeve and you weren't happy with your results, you can't replace your stomach after it's been removed.

Good for you. We all remember your posts prior to being banded and seems like you've really taken control of your health? tmf

NaNa is right. You're in Bandster Hell. You won't feel any satiety until you get enough fills to help you feel satisfied faster and longer. It took me 3 fills to get to that point. Others it took 0-13. Nobody told you about this before surgery? Boom!

Took me 3 fills and 4 months to feel restriction? I assume that's what you mean? Some patients take 6 or more fills to feel restriction/satiety.

So many reason this could happen. Fat dissolving between the band and your stomach? As the fat melts away from fat loss, the band can appear to be looser. Or, the band may shift itself around your stomach. Sometimes creases or overlaps in the stomach/band area re-position themselves. My doctor told me that our pouch and/or esophagus adapts to the band and becomes a stronger muscle pushing food through the band making it appear that our band opening may be wider when it's not? Your doctor may be able to tell you but I'd recommend getting fills till your feel more satiety.

Maybe? Getting a fill is no guarantee of weight loss. Losing fat will always be the result of eating fewer calories than you burn. Fills will make your band tighter and could give you more restriction/satiety. It's the satiety you want to find. With satiety you can eat less and eat less often. If you are eating healthy foods, you're probably eating fewer calories. It all adds up to losing fat. It took me 3 fills before I felt satiety and started to lose weight. Your results can and most likely will be different. tmf

Stay in touch here if you can. There's so much to learn and most of it you won't or can't understand until you're banded and months have passed by. Here's a link I found today that is inspirational. http://www.loveyourlapband.net/198481756

This is a long journey for most of us. 50 lbs in less than a year is awesome. Why haven't you gone back in for more fills? This is your responsibility. Don't allow excuses and rationalities to interfere with your journey. See your doctor and see your nutritionist. Soon!

If they love you, they'll support you. I know I would with my own children.

You're only 3 days post op. Most of us don't feel satiety until we get a few fills. Until then it's just another diet.

Hey, you can always try another diet? They work so well? Seriously, we see patients on here all the time with the same issues. It can last till 2 weeks post surgery but if you feel like you've tried everything else in the world, why not try this? But make sure you make the commitment. tmf

I don't see why not? If it has nsaids in it, that's probably not good for your stomach lining but as long as it's an occasional thing, why not? But, it would be best to check with your doctor?

Green zone is when your band is adjusted to the point that you feel satisfied with a cup or less of food for 4-5 hours and you should be losing 1-2 lbs a week.

If it's below your esophageal sphincter and in your pouch, stomach acids will dissolve it. If it's stuck in your esophagus, you should go the the ER. Can you drink water? If you can, try chewing on ice to make the swelling go down and stick to cold liquids for at least 24 hours. Or, go the the ER?

Credit card? At the minimum, have the saline removed, that's not too expensive?

I too studied and watched others go through WLS and it became obvious to me that my chances of losing weight permanently was going to continue to be 00%. I was 100% sure I would never go below 200 lbs again. 100% sure I would fail every diet I attempted. Some say 5% fail with the band and some say it's more like 50% fail. I knew this going in and I'd take a 50% shot at being healthy vs. a 00% shot all over again. What do you have to lose? You can always go back to dieting, but why not give yourself a better chance of leading that healthy life. tmf

I didn't have any restriction till fill #3. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks post surgery and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. It's a long journey so keep bugging your doctor for fills till you feel something. It's not necessarily restriction you should look for, it's a feeling of satiety so you feel comfortable eating less food. It's just a diet till the band works it's magic. tmf

Quick story. 2 years ago, mean ole Dad made Pad Thai for me, wife and my two daughters. I had my head down chowing away and happened to look up and both daughters are rubbing ice cubes all over their lips. LOL I felt so bad. I thought I'd really cut back on the sriracha in my sauce but I guess the girls had other thoughts? Poor kids, they never let me forget how mean I was. tmf

In my refrigerator: Tabasco Sriracha Huy Fong Chili Garlic Tabatio I use sriracha a lot. My son puts it on most everything. He's till a weenie when it comes to my green chili stew though.

I have a different understanding of why nsaids are taboo. The drug itself causes the lining of the stomach to be more susceptible to ulcers by inhibiting prostaglandins which protect the lining of the stomach. It's not the physical presence of the pill or drug in the stomach, it's the body's reaction to the drug after it's absorbed and in the blood stream that can cause problems. I've seen many patients post here that their doc is OK with nsaids but my doctor isn't. I still take them once in a while when I have joint pain but I don't make it a habit. Your doc knows your body better than anyone here so it's always best to follow his/her directions? http://www.medicinenet.com/nonsteroidal_anti-inflammatory_drugs_and_ulcers/page3.htm

Nope, never had that problem.

Most likely your stomach is still swollen from the surgery and just a little food can cause this feeling. Give it an hour or so and it should break down and pass through.

I agree with Missy. If you do go for WLS it would seem like plication would be a smarter move than the band since you're a vegan? We rely heavily on animal Proteins to give us the satiety we need to avoid overeating. I'm sure as a vegan you could be successful with the band but it does require a lot of focus and commitment. At 30 BMI I sense this may not be the right step for you. Wise of you to seek the opinions of those who have gone before. tmf

Is the stomach pain all the time or just when you eat?