WindyCityPeach

The week after surgery is the toughest. My doctor had me on clear liquids for a week. Try drinking some jello. It realy seemed to do the trick for me. I can tell you chicken and beef broth is about the last thing I want to have for a very long time. I do get hungry still after my first fill. I was told it's normal and the hunger gets a little better with each fill. Hang in there!

Things have changed so much for me. I've always been able to cook but my husband is on the road more than half the week so I didn't cook much and ate things that were quick and more carbs than I should have been eating. I spend part of my weekends now cooking for the week. I'm experimenting with things that have and add flavor. I must say I am enjoying what I eat much more now. Even though eating healthy usually costs more, no more than I eat I'm saving money at the grocery and not going near as much. I don't like grocery shopping so this is a very good thing.

I too have the REALIZE band. I had my surgery August 4th. I lost 10 lbs pre op and I have lost 27 lbs since surgery. I am extremely pleased with these results considering I had no loss for 3 weeks and I was battling the same two lbs up and down. I had my first fill this week and those two lbs I was up and down with are gone with two more. My doctor is one of the conservative doctors. He believes in taking things gradually. This works for me and I believe it is helping me change my habits gradually. I have some friends that had more aggressive doctors and they are having problems with vomiting and getting food down. Good Luck to Everyone!

krtork it looks like you and I are doing about the same. Good Luck!

I haven't been to the Realize forum. I had my surgery on August 4th. I lost 10 lbs pre op and I've lost 27 since. I had my first fill last week. I didn't lose anything for three weeks prior to the fill. This happens. The doctor explained to me your metabolism starts to slow which is why they want you to exercise. Those three weeks I didn't lose I wavered back and forth 2 lbs but since my fill those two wavering pounds and two more are gone. I have a very conservative doctor and he didn't put much in my fill. He said it would take 3 or 4 to feel a real differnce. It's baby steps to make sure you can eat and so that you get used to chewing your food well. I do notice some things go down more slowly now. I know someone that had a drastic fill and had a terrible time adjusting. Vomiting is the last thing they want to happen. They don't want the band to slip. If you have any other questions feel free to email me. I hope this is some encouragement. I can't speak for the long term results but I was told it was strictly a branding issue and that the Realize band offers the online jounal and support. Keep your chin up.

You go get em!!! I've been considering going back to school for nursing but I looked at that darned NET test and it is intimidating. I don't know if I could prepare enough before January's term. Shortly before I was banded I stopped taking my diuretic because I was also taking NSAIDs to counteract what the diuretic was doing to my arthritis. The reason I took the diuretic was to counteract a side effect of Actos for insulin resistance. It was like a drug merry go round. Now I'm off my insulin, my diuretic , and the actos. I still have swelling occasionally but it's not usually anything more water won't help. It won't be too long and I'm sure you won't have to take it anymore. Good Luck!

I hope this doesn't post twice I had some technical difficulties. Any way what I was saying is those Potassium pills are a nightmare. In the past I've taken a lot of medication and never had trouble except for the potassium. Just so you know it does come in liquid. I asked my doctor about this in the case I needed to continue taking it. So far I've not needed it. When my potassium gets low I drink a G2. It is a gatorade product that is low carb. Being type II diabetic I can't have all the sugar in the regular gatorade. So far I haven't had to take an antibotic but I'm sure there is one that is available that is either small enough or offered in liquid form. I hope you get to feeling better!

I had my surgery on the 4th of August. I too had these same symptoms. I had a terrible time getting rid of the surgical gas. They said the more walking you do the faster you will be rid of it. My problem was when I walked it didn't do the trick so I called the nurse and she gave me permission to use chewable gasx. It did the trick. About the BM....water, Water, water. This will help. If you were given any pain meds they can cause constipation. I also experienced sloshing after I drank and got moving...this is normal also until the swelling from the surgery goes down. When I experienced the sloshing it was the only time so far I had any nausea. I had my first fill this week. I'm down 35 lbs from the pre op consult. Good luck!

Dr. Ponce is great! Now you should know that he is very serious during his initial consult. He just wants to make sure you understand everything and are a good candidate for the surgery. On my day of surgery he came to my pre-op room to see me and meet my family. He has a very nice manner. I saw him again post op and he was very supportive. I had my surgery in Dalton since I was lucky enough to twist my insurance's arm. The nurses are great at Weight Management! I had my first fill this week and again I saw Dr. Ponce. He was so pleased with my progress. Since my pre-op consult, pre-op liquid diet & surgery August 4th I've lost 35 lbs. I am now off my insulin which was 66 units a night and actos (another diabetic medication). I am still taking Riomet (the liquid version of Metformin). I wish you luck and if you have any other questions please feel free to email me.