deedles916

for me... during days 4-7 were the worst for hunger pains. It was mostly due to the fact I was only Protein shakes & Clear liquids. As soon as I could introduce yogurt, ss pudding, cottage cheese, and other soft foods, the hunger pains did subside. Now I am able to have fish & meat Proteins for one of my meals and substitute a solid food like cheese protein or a cooked veggie for a snack I have even less hunger pains. I made a small omelet 1/2 cup with egg beaters, some ff cheese and I could only eat 2/3 of it. CHEW VERY WELL... I made that mistake. I was so anxious to get real food in, I did not chew well and it got stuck, not for long. A little milk helped it down in a minute or so, but you learn fast. SMALL BITES & CHEW WELL. Do not swallow chunks, only mush. Sounds grose but enjoy the flavor in your mouth, savor every second! Good Luck... it's not as bad as you may think. The worst part is the beginning while healing, but just heal! Don't fret... everything else will come naturally!

When I say Soft Foods I mean sugar free pudding, Yogurt, and egg beaters. Last night I tried 1/2 cup instant mashed potatos and it was good to have a different taste of something normal. Yes you will have the hunger pains now that the swelling is going down and you had the fluid removed. I too am experiencing this. But don't you have a Diet Program to follow? I have everything spelled out in different stages of what I can and cannot have. Then every 2 weeks it adds more things. I can scan mine and send it to you if you want... leave me your email privately. it's a good diet program. No one ever said this was not going to be hard work, and I am sure we all thought "great... something that will restrict my intake". But when you remove the fluid and the swelling goes, then there is not much restriction and you have to rely on will power and mindset.:Dancing_wub: I have a follow up today and I am hoping my doctor will put a little back in. Most people can live through the first part and end up with the original fluid, but you and I were ones that could not for whatever reason.:wink2: Do you have Protein Super Shots from GNC? They are good as they have 42 grams of protein in only 3 ounces. I used them when I could not get the shakes down. But a few sips of one of these plus water, should shake off hunger pains for a little while. They come in Fruit Punch and Grape.:Dancing_wub:

I agree with most of this as well... low calorie plus Protein is not enough for complete and overall weight loss. And yes what is good for the gander is not good for the geese. Burning off calories is a HUGE part of all this. If you don't exercise, then the dieting and band alone will not be successful. You need to get your body moving & functioning in ways it has not before. When you hit a plateau... which everyone eventually does or god forbid start gaining, then you have to re-evaluate and change something. Burn more by doing more exercise or a difference exercise. Make different choices with regards to what Proteins & veggies you are eating. Just because it worked for the first few weeks or months, does not mean it will continue to work. Change is good the body as it keeps it on its toes. Yes I know frustration will set in when you slow down or stop losing or gain back, but understand... the band is a TOOL not the solution. The whole she-bang is the solution and you need to change the mindset for the body & soul to follow suit. There is NO perfect solution. Your only option is to keep trying, changing and trying again. I am at day 8 recovery and see my Doctor for the first follow up. I feel good, lots of shoulder pain but otherwise back up and going. I am still on Phase 2 diet with Protein shakes, fluids & some mushies. I know I can fit more, but I don't. I have hunger pains, but I just keep drinking my protein Water. I know that this was not going to be an easy road, nothing about losing all this weight is easy. But you have to follow your program and be flexible to change!

My opinion is that a well balanced diet of 800 - 1200 calories with at least 70-80 grams of Protein is very healthy for weight loss. When you compare this to what you were eating, you will see that the protein was not where it should have been and there was too much fat in most overweight peoples diets. So... now that we have the knowledge of what we should do and we follow it, the pounds will come of in stored body fat and not in lean muscle. Trust most overweight people have way more stored fat then lean muscle and it will come off easier than lean muscle. JMHO...

BamBam31... yes that is awesome acheivement! What special things helped you with your progress?

Hi Everyone, I would love to join your group. I too was banded on January 12th. I live in Derry, NH and I happened across your posting under Post-ops. So I am 44 and started this process by attending my first meeting last June. I was finally banded a week ago last Monday. I am doing pretty well so far. There were a couple of complications the first 3 days. Because of swelling and too much Fluid in my band, I was not able to get as much liquids & Protein drinks as I should have been. I was getting very weak and lethargic. So the Doctor had me come in on Thursday AM to have some of the fluid removed from my band. It was instant relief and I have been able to stick to my fluid intake as prescribed. I do have lots of hunger pains though... but I just muddle through. Saturday I was able to be up and go to the movies with my family and was really starting to feel back to normal. But yesterday, about 2 pm in the afternoon, the gas moved into my shoulder and you would have thought someone shot me with a bullet or stabbed me with a knife. The pain was horrible and I downed about 3 spoonfuls of the pain meds, I was walking around crying and trying to work it out. I took a really HOT shower and then laid with a heating pad. Finally the meds kicked in and I was able to rest with lots of pressure but not too much pain. I have continued the pain meds as I can tell when they are wearing off and the pain starts creeeping back up. Today... its not been too bad but I am keeping on with the meds just in case. Otherwise, I am able to post on the forums and see what's happening with everyone. I have 5 incisions and most of the tapes have fallen off and I have replaced them with bandaids. They are not too itchy or irritating. I work from home so it is easy to rest when I want... and I have taken full advantage of being the patient so that my husband and son can do their part in helping me! Nothing like being waited on & pampered for a little while. Might as well take the opportunity! I would love to join your blog if someone could let me know what I need to do to start posting to it! I will get some photos together as well. I started at 228 (5 feet 2 inches) and am now at 203 so I am well on my way. I have a couple of friends who are many months into this and one friend who had it removed as she was ill all the time. I personally don't think she was truly following Docs orders properly. I am in this for the long haul as I know you don't get this way overnight and you will not get rid of it overnight either. I am expecting at least 18 months or more before I am truly nearing my goal of 145 lbs. Thanks for listening!

Yes... his name is perfect, I would have to say. But there you go again with reference to perfect warm weather & iced tea. Shall I send you some SNOW, we have plenty! Shoulder pain seems to have subsided for now, at least while I have been up and conversing on the PC. I am just taking it day by day. I get very surprised by some people on here who only after a few days post-op that they regret doing this. It's like they expected to be instantly skinny or something. It's major surgery after all and your body needs time to heal. And of course there are going to issues & pain, that's why God created pain meds. I cannot believe the amount of people who are not using their pain meds. Good Luck cause it sounds like you are following the process and will be better for it in the long run! Gotta go eat my slim fast! Yippeee!

JillBengt... Warm & Windy and I thought I was just starting to like you! I live in NH where we have been dumped on with 24 more inches of snow and it's been very, very cold here! I would give anything to go outside and take my dog for a walk without becoming an eskimo at the same time!

I guess I am very confused... why would a post-op diet NOT consist of Protein shakes or drinks? That sounds crazy! I only had to watch my diet pre-op for 2 weeks and the day before be on a clear liquid diet. Now that I am post-op for the first 2 weeks I am drinking Low Carb Slim Fast or No Sugar Added Carnation Instant with Skim Milk as my main meals but am allowed to eat other high protein softies like light yogurt, sugar free pudding, Jello & popsicles, I am using the Special K protein waters in between. Why are there so many different approaches to the Pre & Post Op Diets?

JillBengt... Sorry you have to wait so long to see your Doctor. Because I was not getting in enough fluids, He had me come in first thing the next day and in between getting other patients ready for surgery, he dealt with my issues. He removed alot of Fluid from the band in which the amount surprised him too. He did not expect there to be so much... usually it drains out before they put it in. My post op visit was pre-scheduled when I met with him for the Pre-op 2 weeks before my surgery. I have to say I am very pleased with their dedication and follow up. I was not even going to complain about my issues, but the Coordinator called to check on me and she is the one who insisted I come in to see Dr. Looser then next morning. How are you doing now? Have things gotten any easier? The shoulder pain really hit me yesterday and I am dealing with that now. But otherwise, I feel pretty back to normal, just wish I could eat more of something substantial. But only one more week till I can so that's not too bad!

I am 7 days post op and was banded on 1/12/09. I have had a few issues during my recovery. First I was not able to drink very much due to pain in my chest & breast bone area. The swelling was hindering the band. So I went in on Thursday and removed the liquid. Now eating & drinking is good and I have regained strength. The best thing I do for the gas pains... are VERY HOT showers. They really help you relax and feel clean too. Then I use a heating pad, all over. On my belly, on my shoulder, under my chest or neck. The gas has been coming out in more ways but there is still alot trapped. Just yesterday it hit my shoulder like a TON OF BRICKS! I was almost off my pain meds, but now I am back to every 3 hours due to this pain in my shoulder. I know it will pass soon. Of course, walking has been a tremendous help but because I am using the pain meds, I get dizzy too quickly and have to take it easy.

I am wondering why you are taking pills? My Doctor prescribed all meds in liquid form. He told me never to take pills ever again... as they could get lodged in the band. Why not get either chewables or liquids for your meds & vitamins?

Yes I am undergoing all those hunger pangs as well... I am on my 7th day. Surgery was last Monday 1/12/09. I have using Special K Protein Water which has helped a little with the un between hunger pains. 3 days after my surgery I had to have the doctor removed some of the liquid in the band as I was not able to get anything down. it was very little at a time and I was getting dehydrated. So they removed the fliud in the band and what a difference. Since Thursday I am drinking and eating the soft foods with no problems... but yes there are hunger pains... tummy is always growling. Now since the swelling has gone and the gas pains are subsiding and moving through out my body... there is not enough restriction. I find myself taking bigger sips and bigger bites of yogurt & pudding. So when I see my Doctor on my follow up tomorrow, I am going to ask him to put a little back in. I know its hard... your tummy wants more, but you cannot give it more or anything substantial to wain off the pangs. I have been using sugar free pudding, Promise Yogurt Super Shots, and sugar free popsicles to help.

I just had my surgery last Monday on the 12th... so I am new to this as both of you are. Trust me, you need to call your Doctor. You NEED to get in fluids and if they are NOT getting past the banded part and causing you pain in your breast bone area, then you are having too much restriction. I am on day 7 now, have been able to get my required fluids & soft foods since they removed some of the Fluid in the band. I feel stronger, better and ready to start doing more things. That was until yesterday when the gas that was trapped down in my belly area, found its way to my left shoulder. BOY, you want to talk about pain!!! Contractions from child birth were easier to handle. I was almost done taking the pain meds till yesterday. I went back on and doubled the dose to get some relief. I can feel the pressure from the gas just sitting there, as long as I keep on the meds & use a heating pad, it seems to keep the pain away at least. I am now able to sit at the PC and get online to reach out. I live in Derry, NH so I am close in proximity to you folks! Nice to know there are others out there experiencing the same issues. BUT please call your doctor and don't wait, you don't want to get dehydrated and end up back in the hospital on an IV... I hate needles!

HI there... I too had the same problem as you. Feels like every little sip is sitting right between your breasts and it will not go down or takes a long time. I waited 2 days before saying anything as I thought this was normal. Some of it is... but my Doctor had my come right in because between the swelling of the surgery and the Fluid that was in my band, was restricting my intake too much. I went in the on the 4th day and they removed the saline that was in the band, and he was surprised how much was still in there. As soon as I sat up, took one sip I could feel the fluid go right down as it should. My Doctor says this is not a common occurance but it does happen where the swelling around the band causes too much restriction. They put fluid in the band right before they put it in you to test it and make sure it's a good band, then they set it aside and let the fluid drain out. In my case, not all of it drained as usual. So I would NOT wait any longer. Call your Nurse or Doctor and tell them you are not getting in enough liquids and you are trying your hardest to get them down. Tell them your pain & feeling in the breastbone area. When this happened to me I could only get like 20 ounces a day total over the course of the 2 days I dealt with it. Now I am getting everything I am supposed to... it's like night and day. But at least now you know what it feels like to have too much restriction. Hard way to learn, but it will get better!