2muchfun

My shortest span was 3 weeks.

You could have stretched the port stitching to your abs. It will probably heal soon. Just don't expose it to being stretched. I have this counter in my office that I've leaned up against dozens of times and caught my port each time. It's a sharp pain but it goes away. You'd think I'd learn but noooooo. Re: being hungry. Yep, you've already read all the comments to newly banded patients and know what to expect and it goes without saying how much it sucks. Just try to eat healthy foods till you get the fill that gives you enough satiety.

I've had them and had no problem but I had to pay very close attention and chew more. I sometimes take spaghetti squash seeds and clean them up, lightly salt them and bake them for an hour at 180 degrees in the oven. About the same as pumpkin seeds.

One of our forum members here has said on several occasions that she had no problem losing weight without WLS, but she always failed at the maintenance part of dieting. WLS helps us to maintain our losses.

Enlightening! Something I seldom think about is co-morbidities and how WLS is used to treat them? It's not just a weight loss tool anymore is it?

Bluemoon is one of the lucky ones. Most docs don't fill under fluoroscope. Most just wing it. It's less expensive to just stick a needle in your port and squeeze 2-3 CCs into your band. I love my doctor but he wings it. It took me 3 fills to even feel any restriction and 6 to reach the green zone(not hungry for 4+ hours). Your experience could be different? BTW-Don't expect any huge difference or you may be disappointed? It's rarely a situation where suddenly you can only eat 1/4th of what you ate before. X fingers I'm wrong?

What a clever way of looking at our illness!! I'll be bookmarking this topic for future reference. We see many people who come here who are years out of surgery and are unhappy they've had to compromise their lives while seeking to be healthy. And so many have failed simply because they treated WLS as a part-time job. tmf

First, find another doctor. Yes, we chew a lot. The band is different than the sleeve or bypass in that it dims our need to eat too much. It does not take away our ability to eat too much though. You will need to exercise more control and be more disciplined with the band. Bypass and sleeve force you to eat less since the stomach is so much smaller. Our stomachs are still the same size beneath the band. If you can't control your cravings, and buy and keep junk food in your house, you will struggle losing weight with the band. For me, the band almost always reminds me when I've had enough to eat. Oh, I could continue eating more if I choose to, but the taste and need to eat more is so much less now. We like to say the band goes around your stomach, not your head. If you're a self disciplined individual and feel like all you need is this one tool that gives you the edge, the control over how much you eat, the band can work for you. But not with the doctor you saw. Aftercare is as important as the surgery, maybe more? Don't make a mistake and put your success in the hands of a surgeon who doesn't believe in you or the surgery they perform. tmf

I had no pre-op diet. We don't know what your pre-op diet looks like? Each doctor has their own protocol and each may change it up for every patients. You're an individual and your doctor or nutritionist may design a plan just for you. Some docs do Atkins, Some do South Beach or some do liquids only? You should check with your doctor and get more specific plans

If you're on a PC, there are two surgeon search engines on this page. One at top and one at bottom. Click on one, enter your zip code and search for surgeons in your area? Or, click here: http://www.bariatricpal.com/surgeons/

"When I can simply walk and keep up in Walmart." Well, that's no fun? Now I'll have to stop looking for you in all those "People of Walmart" pics

Do you know what the green zone is and have you been there? Do you know why you're not losing and why you gain?

The successful women I've seen on here usually track their calories and work out. Sometimes if you mix it up and have a few days at 1400-1500 calories, it can help restart your metabolism. But you might want to know for sure how many calories you're consuming? I can't lose if I don't exercise. I'm also excited to see summer come so I can spend more time on my bike. But, it snowed here most of the weekend and into this morning so I've got a few days before the weather is good enough to hit the trails again. You sound like you might be slightly, very slightly over filled. Maybe have .1 CC taken out?

Excessive burping comes from swallowing too much air I'm told? Have you spoken to your surgeon or nutritionist? Could be the way you swallow Water or food now? I seldom burp. I hiccup when I'm no longer hungry but burps are rare. If you have insurance, check out a gastroenterologist?

There are some people who do not understand how painful or uncomfortable it is to be hungry. Few ever miss a meal and some are lucky that they can consume 2500+ calories a day and never gain an oz. Or, they eat 2000 calories and feel completely satisfied. How lucky they live in 2014! 10,000 years ago they would have been the first to parish during the first famine that came along. I heard the same song and dance too. While researching WLS I stumbled upon several sites where non WLS members were allowed to comment on how lazy I was and how they lost weight by walking 2 miles a day and "eating right". "Eating Right"!!? OMG, if I ever hear that again from someone I'm going to PB all over them

Almost everyone! Your band won't work it's magic till you get enough fills to feel satiety/restriction. Till then you'll be able to eat anything you want but if you want to lose weight at this stage, you're back on a diet. Just try to eat healthy food. It took me 4 months to feel enough restriction.

Do you mean that you vomit or are you PBing? If you're vomiting often, you might want to see your bariatric doctor and nutritionist again? Upchucking or vomiting can be a sign of a slipped band or you're on your way there? If you're not losing weight, why? Too many calories? Too loose or tight? Slider foods? Late night cravings? Do you know why? tmf

It is unusual to go a year without a fill but there are a few here who have done so but I believe most have plication with their band. Why did you get a fill? Did you stop losing weight or were you hungry often? Need more info? Are you experiencing anything new from your fill?

I went to Vitamin Cottage and bought a Protein Powder mix(chocolate). It's OK but I still have most of the original tub I bought. There are a lot of people here who have one or two shakes every day. I mixed mine with milk. I think you can add bananas and other fruits if you want?

Are you having a stuck episode? They usually last 45 minutes or so? Did you vomit?

What does your post op diet plan say? You should have received a dietary plan for post surgery or gone to a nutrition class that spells out what you can drink and eat? Most of us were on Clear Liquids for 3-14 days? Water, Crystal light, ice cubes, sugar free popsicles etc?

I guess it would depend on % of what? Calories, content or weight? Most of the posts I've seen here is 4 ozs Protein and then another 4 ozs of veggies and some only want you eating 4 ozs period? Not much eh?

Right for what? Your surgeon or dietician should have given you a manual or guideline for your post op dietary needs? I was never given specific % to eat!

Jammie, you've hijacked Size66's topic. You should start your own topic/thread? Re: Your dilemma, 10CC in a 10CC band is troubling? What are you eating? Can you give us a daily menu of things you eat? Has your doctor offered to fill you under fluoroscope(X-Ray)?

Size66, perfectly normal. The topic just before yours title "starting plateau" asks the same question. Read this article for an explanation about early plateaus. http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html#.U2-WBbROWUl