bandfun4me

Calm down your hair may be falling out from lack of protein 90 days ago. It takes that long usually the post op days when protein intake was very low. Even if you feel like you need something more than liquids, maybe try some yogurt with Protein powder or cottage cheese with PP that is 14g 1/2 cup. use frozen fruit to put into your protein shakes, maybe bananas(high potassium), blends up very well to a milkshake consistancy. I had a hard time with scrambled eggs acouple of times when I was feeling tight, so I stay away from scrambled, I do go to the Overlight version though. I personally like the EAS Protein powder from Sams club or online I suppose 23g protein per scoop, You are weak due to 1)not enough protein, 2) not enough SF fluids, and 3) lack of any exercise maybe.. hang in there.:closedeyes:Ps. Write down everything you eat and drink in Ounces /servings.

I was banded 14 months ago. I have had 9 fills. Post -op I had 14 days liquids, 14 full liquids and then 14 days mushies. The dr's nurse actually called me at 5 weeks to see how I was doing , still losing and I was. So she set appt for 2 weeks later to do my first fill. So approx 7 weeks I had the first fill and back to the 2 day liquids, then 2 day mushies and then soft foods. Every single time I have had a fill, my restriction kicks in on day 6. The tightness usually lasted about 2-3 good weeks, and on week 4 I was back in getting the next fill. wt loss was gradual the entire time. Month 12 no fill, still a little tight in the early mornings till about lunch. month 13 got 1cc brought me to 9cc in 10cc band. I am 8/10 lbs from goal. I am pretty tight the first half of day for last 2 weeks, No issues with any fluids going down, lots of restriction with food though. meal consist of about 3/4 protein and veggies and maybe 1/2 slice WW bread. To me I dont think I could handle ten days of liquids after a fill. I think you need 1000-1200 calories a day to make you have lots of energy to exercise and burn that fat off. I would call him again, maybe you misunderstood him? good luck.

I read all of your notes and questions and relate to them all. I am 14 months out and have had 9 fills. About 8 lbs from goal.On each of my fills, I was required to do 2 /day liquids and 2/days of mushie before going back to regular foods. Each time it takes my "new" restriction 6 days to set in. So I now have app.9cc in a 10cc band. For the last 2 weeks it is my sweet spot, Probably will be that way for a while. On the earlier fills you get, once the wt loss continues after a fill, the stomach wall (fat consistancy) will be less so you in turn lose your current restriction. That is why they want you to get the fills at regular intervals to keep wt loss steady. Even after this long, sometimes I still have some times the food seems to be "stuck". It lets me know that my band is working and REMINDING ME to pay attention. This meal is very important, I need to take it slowly. Chew and chew till liquid. I need to fill my pouch up, When I do It will last me 6 hours. This leaves me plenty of time to drink all those fluids. Good luck to you all. Hang in there. Maintenance is the ultimate goal.

Welcome to bandland. I know where you are. We do a trek out here almost yearly. We camp as well. Grew up in nash county, know Nags Head well. We visit Rodanthe as well do the KOA or the CAmp Hatteras with our membership. It's a 4.5 hr trip one way for us now. I am 14 months out and 8 lbs from goal. luv my band. I have had 9 fills total of approx 9cc in 10 cc band. Full of energy. Take it slowly don't rush. Work on your new eating habits and keep a food journal of everything you eat. Good luck:thumbup:

Did you do the 2 day liquid and 2 day mushy after fill? This usually set the band again. Sorta like starting from the beginning again. You may want to start tracking your daily consumption, (everything you eat). What about your exercising? What about drinking plenty of SF & Decaf, liquids 80 oz day. Are you waiting min 30 minutes after your meal before drinking? All of these are questions yourdr will ask you when you stop losing wt. Also remember that your body has to readjust as you lose wt. For me it was about every 15-20 lbs I would go about 1 week and not lose anything, I would keep up the daily exercising and finally the scal ewould move and then continue. Good luck! I have 9.0 cc in a 10cc band, 14 months out. Eat very little1/2 to 1 cup it last a good while before I get hungry again. Tight till after lunch. So I am good right here , right now. It will probably last for a while. hoo ray!!

Brez, Glad all is well, that part 1 is over and now on to part 2, this phase will pass as well and I'm sure you will give it your best. Don't rush things, concentrate on healing, Walking and drinking, walking and drinking some more!!Welcome to the world of bandsters.:thumbup:

I am 14 months post -op. I had my 9th fill Tuesday, I beleive I have 8.5 or 9cc in a 10 cc. The reason for the difference in the fills are to give it time for your tummy wall/lining to thin out as you lose wt. So usually after a fill you may or may not have restriction, hopefully you will and it too will subside as time moveson. There is saline in the band when during surgery, but from the surgery video I saw, some will flow out freely prior to attaching to the port. So most drs are not sure exactly how much may be in your band. Your first fill should be under the Flouro xray.Your trickle through rate should be the size of a pencil, So as not to get you too tight. So as you lose more wt you just add more saline to make the band squeeze a little tighter to keep the wt loss steady if possible. Everyones tummy thickness is different and we all lose at a different pace. Dont rush things, just keep it steady. If you're not losing, ask for a fill. Remember the relaxation of the silicone in the band may take a few days after a fill to adjust, that's the reason for return to liquids and mushies for a few days each. Hang in there!!

Call your band doctor on this!

Brez, stay calm, this nervousness shall pass as well. The sooner you can get up walking around the better you will be. I was out of recovery 1030 wallking at 2pm every 30 min or so, with that iv pole. Home the next morning. Soreness. Since this surgery is less evasive, the pain that you do have will pass quickly. The scars will be tiny, the port scar will be a little larger, still small. Ask the nurses if you need anything, sometime the anesthesia will make you a little nauseas, ask for a shot. The morphine drip gave me a headache. I was better off with out it. My favorite thing, the nurse in recovery told me when I was leaving to go to a my overnight room she said " ENJOY YOUR NEW SKINNY LIFE". So that made me realize that I was not the first and that this really will work, I will make it work for me. She knows, so I knew then I was glad I had the surgery!! A new skinny life, who would have thought! I am now a 6/8. 14 months out. I luv my band..

Just had my 9th fill yesterday. I think I am at 8.5 or 9cc in a 10cc band. I stay satisfied most of the time. But I eat an entire apple at a time, lots of chewing though, I did not eat any apple till I was 12 months out.The issue now is the more I exercise the hungrier I get. So I tend to eat about every 4 hrs. 8 lbs from goal. The liquids for 2ays and then mushies for 2 days is what my doc instructions. My fills tend to kick in on day 6, for some odd reason. So be careful even though you go back to regular foods after 72 hrs. Hopefully you will stay tight from the fill for weeks. I don't think I have waitied at the dr longer than an hour, reg appt with a fill. Unless he may have been behind schedule from across the street at the hospital. Good luck Fills are a piece of cake, for most drs anyway. Don't let him stick more thatn two times, then ask for the FLouro x-ray. It is much easier, assuming they have a machine available at their office.

A few days after my surgery, my DH asked me "what if you don't get your appetite back?". Here I am Drinking shakes and broth constantly and walking and drinking some more. Losing wt at pretty steady rate. So The biggie for me, #1 NO APPETITE! a wonderful feeling. I was keeping myself satisfied on all liquids. #2 was just some soreness when I was getting up and down and if I rode very long in a car. I was off the liquid pain meds in 5 days.

Great Post, you hit the nail on the head. I am sure, that lots of bandsters agree with you. Including myself WOOHooo!

Most will use what they call the FLouro xray. Yousit upright on a table and the xray machine is a round dinner plate size round thing, they move and adjust over your stomach. They will show on a TV or computer screen and yes you can see your band and stomach. I did not take a pic, but a friend of mine held onto her phone and took pics of the screen. They wil make you drintk that cream stuff to make sure you have a large enough opening after a fill. My dr does this one usualluy on the first or second so he knows wher the port is and if tilted. I had my first under the Flouro and the next 7 done without. piece of cake.

Try something warm in the mornings, first before taking pills. My experience in this was just trying to ride out and adjust those chewing and derinking habits. Good luck!:w00t:

I rotated my Frozen Protein shakes with warm broths and teas(decaf). The swelling seems to go down pretty fast, I kept a constant flow of some kind of liquid going down. I used the Buillion cubes, that was a pretty quick fix item. I would sit and drink my protein shakes,1 cup at a time. I mixed by the pitcher and poured into paper cups and sat in freezer, since I was not supposed to lift anything over 5 lbs. and a gal of milk weighs about that. This is the same feeling you will have with the restriction, so now it is swelling, soon to be less, and as you start your mushies in a couple of weeks you will feel the pressure against your esophagus(sp), and you will have to take that step slowly to allow the mushies to go down. This is when I started using a timer, If it would not go down in 30 minutes. I could not have any more. this sorta kept me in check for eating less than a cup of mushies at a time, every 2-3 hours. You will still need to Journal your food and liquids to make sure you are getting adequate amounts. Good luck and welcome to the world of bandsters.:w00t:

Newbie, You were banded 4 days ago? You should be on clear and full liquids only at this stage. Mushies start after 2 weeks or so. You need to let the stitches get set, ya know the ones that tie yur band to your stomach on the inside. So that later down the road when you start the PB and stuff the abd will not slip or cause erosion. You need lots of Protein to promote healing and slow walking to keep your moving and not getting "stoved" up. Geesh! dont those dr give you all post -op instructions or a boolet or something to go by. We were given books , had to attend the support group and all that stuff before we even got a surgery date. I read some real horror stories here from some new bandsters. Good luck, you can find a lot of good info on this website. Just in case your dr did not supply any of that. Welcome to the new bandsters, good luck, take it slow, no rushing needed!!

At 2 weeks post op, the first thing I see is the Baked potato. A lot of drs are different. We were given specific instructions on how to eat and what to eat. first 2 weeks clear and full liquids, weeks 3 &4, High protein foods Puree'd, nothin gstringly, plenty of fluids, 80 oz.plus Protein shakes, protein up around 60-90. EVERy DAY. No white carbs, no pizza, not even WW bread It took me about 7 months before I was brave enough to eat Pzza topping. Tried WW bread at 6 months, paid dearly for that. 6 hrs stuck. Contact your nutritionist, get suggestions. You are still in the healing stages. You now have a band around the stomach. heal and let the stitches set, walk and learn how to make menus during this time. Not to mention the 5 glasses of wine. I bet that blew you away , not having any solids to soak up that alcohol. Dont get me wrong, I like to splurge as well. I had to fight to get this band and I think that nothing taste as good as thin feels. I am 14 months out, down to a size 6/8 and I did not get here by eating like a normal person. l have had lots of temptations. and some I have given into. You need to get things in order if you are going to make this band help you lose any weight at a steady rate. Take this time slowly, make menus , learn how to eat slowly, lean how to eat good healthy foods. It's a tool, not a miracle. I am at the gym 5x week, walk 4 miles 7 x week , muscle is the name of the game. If you are not moving, you're not losing. Use that energy. Good luck.

These items are just the little things that happen when we don't follow the rules. Usually the Watery eyes and the sliming go together for me. The Pb seems to happen if I am eating and not paying attention, maybe talking in-between bites. You have a tendency to forget, you have to pay atttention. These are just things to remind us that we now have to eat slowly and chew and chew some more. I am 14 months out, Still again this will happen if I try to eat too fast. Only now I do not take another bite until this feeling passes, you recognize it very quickly. I fear putting weight back on more than I would fear these warning signs. One time after one of my earlier fills (I have had 8), I remember just burping all the time, after drinking liquid, eating soups, protein shakes. That passed as well, As the stomach wall thins out and you have more saline it will take less food before these signs start appearing. The only issue I have when I can tell I actually ate too much food, Normally consist of something crunchy, part of a taco chip or shell, I can eat about 1/3 of a taco salad,with a few chips. I dont feel the restriction as fast, but I have been miserable after eating. See we have to be careful, those bad food still go down, with bad results. I now have 8.5 cc in a 10cc band 8 lbs from goal. Luvin my band, I would put up a fight for mine. I like being small again. I don't want to go back there again. I am happier, healthier, more energized. less stressed,I know I can only eat so much and I never have to go on another "DIET".

CALL your dr. Alot of those medicines are not good for your tummy. I have had a couple of episodes with sinuses since banded. I actually bought the Saline spray and kept my nose cleaned and blowed out. Very warm wash cloths on my face and forehead, really helped for about 15 minutes at a time. Only medicine I was allowed is the Tylenol, any flavor. The saline spray is available at most grocery/ drugstores, much cheaper as well. Need to dispose after your sinuses clear up - dont save for the next time. I have hear the item called a nettie-pot helps to flush out the nose and sinuses. Hope you are feeling better soon.:eek:

I would question whether or not you should be exercising like crazy at this point 3 weeks out, my dr orders specifically 6 weeks lifting nothing over 5lbs. YOu need to use this time to heal your band and make the stitches "set". losts of protein and lots of walking. As the swelling goes down the opening is larger and more goes through. Eating protien every couple of hours and good soft veggies, will help that satisfaction. The amount of fluid will help as well. keeping that "lower" tummy full, more trips to the restroom leaves less time to be eating. Good luck, be patient, make your band work for you. Welcome to the world of bandsters.:eek:

I was a BMI of 37, now I am 26. But I was borderline with the dr requirements and the insurance deal. I had two medical factors that helped cross that line, the sleep apnea and thyroid and borderline sugar issues. I am almost 14 months out. down 65 lbs. I guess If I could have had it done at BMi of 32 I would have.I never even Knew anything about the Lapband then. I just kept trying to diet, and diet some more with no avail. I guess if you are self pay it is another story, but I needed my insurance to pay. I don't regret a thing, and would definetly do it again. Minor issues with learning how to eat, changin my habits and exercising has most the most difference. Good luck with your decision!:eek:

78 lbs in 6 months is wonderful!! Hang in there, it will come. This is a life changing process, take your time, make the changes stick. As Jackie said the large amounts that come off first and as time goes by, your are steadily schrinking. Pictures and clothes show YOU the difference. The compliments will come, Some of them may not say anything as to refer to your larger self before the wt loss. I went from a 16/18 to a current 6/8 now. My clothes continue to fit different every week! It is a healthy thing now, looks dont matter. HANG IN THERE!! I love my band.

bunny: Sounds like you fell off the wagon pretty hard. But you still have the band. Make it work for you. Start all over. I have seen some bandsters that will use the 5 day pouch test like the gastrics use to get back into shape. Just like the Protein diet yoiu were on prior to the surgery. Am am 14 months out down 65, I feel like I exercise all the time. I only lose 2.5 lbs month now but I am still losing. I am about 8 lbs from goal. I am in the gym 5x week and walk 1.25 hrs EVERY day. I have a food addiction, I like to eat. I try to focus on different routines to keep me away from "bad choices". This band is meant to help with that addiction for the rest of my life. Or whenever Idecide I don't like food anymore. New journey. hang on and get set for the long haul. Good luck, It is work , but it is worth it!!:tongue2:

I remember in those early post op days I hurt the longer i sat down, so other than short naps on the bed (not couch)I walked the halls. I was back commuting to work on day 6, weined off of the liquid pain medicine and was able to drive 45 min(hardest part). I do customer service on the phone so I was able to stand up alot in my office and not have to sit down, but going from sitting to standing was very slow. The more i walked the better, and faster things seemed to improve. I am now 13 months out, 8 lbs from goal. So hang in there, things will improve, remember this is a new journey,a new life, new outlook. Welcom new bandsters!!:smile:

I would be careful. You may have been lucky this time since you don't have much saline. Next time you may cause yourself plenty of misery. I have been stuck a few times in the last year, it is a feeling I don not wish to repeat, especially with something that may not pass through. I now have 8.5 cc in a 10cc band. It would be foolish option on my end to chew gum.. Good luck!!