2muchfun

Did your doctor give you clearance to eat normal/solid food? You can damage your band placement if you don't follow your doctors orders. Yes, it could slip if you aren't following your doctors orders. And yes, of course most of us could eat solid food but we didn't because our doctor ordered us not to because the stomach is still healing from surgery. The band opening is open wide in the beginning before fills so you don't eat something solid causing it to get stuck which in turn can cause the band to tear away from the stomach or slip. tmf

I just farted. I think I need an oreo to calm my stomach

No, Water isn't going to stretch anything. If you're still taking pain meds, they can cause your lower stomach sphincter(Pyloric) to close. I know it did for me. Then fluids and food stay in your stomach causing a bloated feeling. If you aren't taking meds any longer, you could have a lot of swelling that is delaying water to flow through. I might add that pain meds seem to shut down the digestive system for some patients not necessarily just the sphincter. tmf

Most of us took 3-6 fills to feel anything. There's nothing broken and no need to worry. Just keep following your docs orders and go back for more fills till you get the one fill that gives you restriction or satiety. tmf

No offense Tezzie, but I see so many posts like yours and I just don't get it? You've lost 49 lbs and you've only had the band 7 weeks? Do you have any idea how many people would love to have half your success. I wouldn't consider 49 lbs as a disappointment? Sorry, don't mean to be mean, rude or judgemental, but you got it good gal. Your mind is playing with you. Telling you to be disappointed for no reason just so you can eat bad food. Bad mind, bad bad. tmf

Stupid commercials. This was the shortest commmercial of all the clips I looked at. It's good to get some exposure but I'm not sure having Letterman as a spokesperson would be advisable? http://shine.yahoo.c...453151-cbs.html

I'm not a fan either but I saw this teaser during the news and had to check it out. Ended up, he had Tom Hanks on and Hanks was hilarious.

Motility disorders are quite rare. I've seen a couple of posts here about it but no reason to fear something that is so remote. You are so new to this. Recognizing hunger vs. cravings can take some time to discern. If you are eating small portions and feel satisfied, you're doing much better than most. Just pay attention to this question, "Am I Hungry"?

I was fortunate. I never had the pain that so many complain about. I work from home and worked that afternoon and every day after. tmf

You're on a role today Jackie I might add to your list, that the time between fills is a time to learn how to eat properly. Many docs like us to sneak up on the green zone. Eating slowly, small bites and chewing properly doesn't come easy for most of us. tmf

Looking good! I too have about 25 more lbs I want to lose and I've been maintaining for about 7 months now. I have to say it's so much easier to maintain my current weight with the band. I know if I really wanted to lose more lbs all I have to do is drop a few calories a day and pick up my exercise program. Now that the weather here is cooperating, that's what I'm doing. It may not totally happen this year, but by 2014 I should hit my goal.

For me, I was a low BMI patient and felt I just needed a little help. So, the more drastic surgeries seemed to be over the top for me. And, since the band is reversible, I always have the opportunity to go with the more evasive surgery if the band doesn't work for me. But, so far, the band is my best friend. tmf

Not me. Most docs don't want to inherit another doc's mistakes. Liability is a big issue in healthcare. Also, it depends on if your insurance pays for fills and follow-ups? Or, if you are self pay, are you willing to pay $100/fill? There are docs here in Denver who will take on orphaned patients I know, but firing your current doc may not qualify someone? Hope I never have to find out. tmf

Sounds like you already know what's going on? Your stoma is too small to eat this way. I would eat smaller and chew bigger. tmf

Most of us don't really have a specific diet. I eat normal foods, but I do try to refrain from eating a lot of dairy, processed flours, processed foods. I now eat more fresh fruit, fresh veggies, salmon, chicken. I don't keep chips, crackers, pizza and anything with refined sugar in it including cookies and candy. I do allow myself 2 hershey bliss cubes for dessert at night.

I was having a conversation with the wife last night about health care workers and obesity. She's in the industry(not obese) and comments often about the large people she works with. I think we're both hyper-sensitive to obesity now that I've had surgery. But, don't flame me here, but it does seem like there's a disproportionate amount of nurses who have had surgery and are members of this site? Goody for them that they're doing something about it but I'd have to disagree with this study(re: healthcare) having been in a few hospitals in my time. tmf

Going through the surgery and having the band placed around your stomach is not a guarantee of losing weight. Losing weight is simple math. Burn more than you eat and you will lose a little weight. But it will be slow and there may be weeks and month where you don't lose any weight at all. You're probably replacing lost fat with muscle. You're barely 2 1/2 weeks into this journey. Relax! Your body is healing and still in shock over major surgery. You could still be holding onto fluids too. If you haven't lost any weight after two months, then panic. But not after 2 weeks. tmf

I too was at the end of my rope. I knew for a fact that I could never lose weight like I did when I was younger. Nothing worked so I knew this was it. I chose the band for all the same reasons you mentioned and I have no regrets. I still have more to lose and I know it may take a few years to work off this last bit of padding I've had for about 15 years. Welcome and good luck. tmf

I snack on an apple, kirkland jerkey packets, cantaloupe, dill pickles, string cheese, blueberries. X fingers that you feel some restriction/satiety with your 1st fill? It took me 3 fills before I started to feel some restriction and my 4th fill really kicked in the satiety/restriction. Good luck. tmf

I always do well with my standard breakfast: Morning Omelette 3 ozs egg beaters. 50 calories 2 pinches of low fat cheese. 80 calories 2 ozs of crumbled turkey sausage. 80 calories diced onions and red peppers. 15 calories 225 calories depending on how much cheese and sausage you add. I've never got stuck on this recipe and it is very satisfying. I sometimes add some salsa if I'm feeling frisky

Calling your doctor is the right answer.

Whenever I can squeeze it in. Preferrably mornings.

My secret to being able to eat steak is, prime meat from Costco. It's costly, but it goes down better. I like rib eye steaks. Prime, not choice. I don't have them often, but when I do, it's about the only steak that my band will tolerate.

I never heard of a practice diet? Some of us had a pre-op diet that had to be adhered to but I'm not familiar with a practice diet? Can you explain? BTW-30 days after being banded, there is no diet that we all follow. tmf

Go to the top of this page(if you're on a PC?) and click on Surgeons, then click on locate surgeons and then add your zip code to see surgeons in your area. tmf