Mr. Green

I had a sudden onset of this which resulted in me spending two days in the hospital for aspiration pneumonia. Don't screw around with this because it can lead to big problems. I am currently unfilled as they think I was too tight. I was eating ok, but having trouble at times. When I did a upper GI, nothing would go down. Make an appointment and see your doctor. You may need a slight unfill to get rid of that. My band is just fine and did not move, just too tight.

Well, I guess the 3 year bander will chime in. This is not the cure all tool and you will have to adjust your lifesyle in a big way. Learn to eat healthy is a big one. Does it have to be all rabbit food and brown rice, NO. But, gone are the days of big meals, buffets are a waste of money, and bread and flour can be an issue for some. Second thing is you will need to get out and move. This does not mean going to the gym 5 days a week. I hate the gym and have found other ways to exercise. I love bike riding and have taken up ice skating in my late 30's. Swimming is another great activity that can shed some pounds. You will have to make changes and some you may not like, but the end results can be huge. Research if this is for you and then research some more. Know what is expected and what you need to do. Good luck and this does work. Before: 360lbs, size 48 waist, XXL shirts Now: 245lbs, size 40 waist, XL to XXL shirts and feeling great!!!

I think you can take it and never did hear anything that you can't. I have been taking it since my surgery back in 2009 with no issues. But, to be on the safe side, always ask your doctor.

The Heart Attack Grill was featured on one of the Food Channels programs a few years back about the fact that they had a Fry Bar with all the fixings, especially cheese. Now they are in Vegas and I saw this story the other day. What made it worst is when they were interviewing the owner. Most or all of the people in the background looked to be 350lbs. plus. It just goes to show that the demand for places like this still are present in todays world, especially with all the warnings and such from the FDA, various health orgs. and such. I could not even think about or vision myself eating a burger like that today. It is amazing what this surgery does to your brain by breaking the food habits and really making you think before you eat.

I agree!!! I would be sitting around in shorts and a T-Shirt pre-weight loss in the middle of winter on a night in the teens. My wife would be in sweat pants, sweat coat, and a blanket with the heat cranked up. NOW, I am freezing and have to wear more than my shorts and a T. Its amazing what weight loss an can do to your body.

You will have some pain from the surgery in general and the gas that they use to inflate your tummy. The key to getting rid of the gas pain and a quick recovery is walk, walk, and walk as much as you can. The night I stayed over in the hospital I was up walking every hour and nurses kept asking if I was OK doing all this, it really did help. You cannot put a number of what you will lose after surgery. You will most likely not have much or any restriction after surgery for several weeks. What you will need to do is start eating right and doing more physical activity than you have before. The period after surgery is typically called Bandster hell since you have little to no restriction and can eat what you want. But, this is a time for change and a good time to start changing your lifestyle for the good.

I was a huge diet soda guy for years. Hey, its diet, right?? I had my last one 24hrs before surgery and have never touched the stuff since then. That was almost 3 years ago. The other day I was curious and had a sip of diet soda, WORST TASTING STUFF EVER!! I don't miss it and was instructed not to drink it by my doctor and Nut. I must say with no caffein in my diet I sleep so much better at night. Now, I do grab a coffee once in a blue moon due to a late night here and there, but its all water for me. I was amazed how my body responed without the soda.

I tell people if they want to know how I lost the weight. It is not secret and the reaction I have gotten has been positive. Now, I'm not one of these people that says,"Hi, I'm Mr. Green and I have had WLS". You can pick who to tell, but I found my family is more supportive and helps me that they knew from the start. No one sits by me and wonders why I am not eating or why I don't like all the carbs, junk, etc. I don't think the subject is taboo like it was in the past. Awhile ago WLS was for the weak. As obesity is becoming a global issue, the surgery is not suprising to most IMO.

With your exercise you may be buring more calories than you are taking in. If the inches are coming off that is great. Give it some time as our bodies can be funny some times and do strange stuff. Just don't starve yourself or the results can go the other way. Keep up the good work.

From a person that was way too tight, make sure you watch yourself closely. I was bringing fluids back up, could not eat dense proteins, etc. I really let this go on for too long. The weight loss was great, but I got tired of eating the same soft foods and really started to hate eating at all. You should not be struggling with liquids. The only time I do is in the mornings before I really get moving around. Are you able to eat dense proteins OK? Do they go down and stay down? How long does it take you to eat a full banster meal? Are you getting stuck a lot? These are all questions to ask yourself.

It is not impossible, but you would only be hurting yourself in the long run. Post-Op diets are put into place for a reason. I cringe when I read a story about someone saying "I'm sorry, but I screwed up" in a 12 paragraph post on how they went out with friends to a buffet 3 weeks Post-Op. The time and restrictions after surgery are done so you and the band heal. You don't want your stomach moving around a lot and having to do a ton of work while the band sets into place and heals. You are right in saying you don't want to mess anything up. I always say, 5 or 8 weeks of hell Post-op for a lifetime of change and healthly living. Bad eating habits are what got most of us here in the first place, no time than the better right after Surgery to make the right choices and make some big changes.

BE PATIENT!! At 5 weeks I was still on my post-op diet. Take your time and don't rush things. You are doing the right things. Take this time to discover new ways to eat and exercise. Rushing fills to get restriction can cause a ton of issues. Keep up the good work and you will be fine.

Since you were banded not long ago I would not worry about the scale. Your body is in flux (as I like to call it) due to the surgery and post-op diet. All kinds of goffy things are going to happen until you are back to normal. Take this time to heal, start off some easy exercise, and get ready for a lifetime of change. The scale will start to move soon enough.

I had this happen also, but in a different way. I attended a family event when I was allowed to eat normal. This event had the mother of all spreads, but being that I was still recovering I opted for some veggies and other little foods. When I sat down at the table you could hear a pin drop. I think I made everyone feel bad I was only eating so little. Take these moments and count them up because you will have a lot of them.

This like all weight loss surgery is a tool. I know several people who have had By-Pass and have lost nothing or have gained it back. You will have to change your way of living, the WLS will not do the work, you have to do it. Eat right and exercise are the keys. You will have to change the way you live. Doing the wrong things will not have positive results. Now, many people have had success, but remember that the choice is yours.

I think this topic comes up once a week and the more I read them, the more it seems that people are asking for permission to drink them. So they either know it's wrong, and want to make it OK, or the don't know the answer. I have seen things from none to moderation. My doc. told me no more carbonation and I am sticking to it. Ya moderation, we have all tried moderation before and it has failed us more than once. IMO, why take the risk!! Take another healthy step toward a new you. Lose the pop and caffeine and you will benefit from it in the long run.

Not only can you cause your band to slip, but vomiting on a regular basis can cause all types of issues with your stomach and erosion of your upper GI and throat. Slow chewing and small bites also helps us get our protein and take full advantage of it with our bodies. I would suggest you change your lifestyle and bit and follow the rules which will be all for the good.

You most likely be restricted with lifting for at least one or two weeks. You really do not want to break this rule as you can cause issues with your surgery sites and port sites. If you can, ask for help, and tell them why. The explination and discussion you will have regarding the band will go a long way vs being back in the hospital for issues related to lifting. Little ones can kick, squirm, etc. and you sites will be very sore for a week or so.

Realize on Apr. 29th and no issues so far. I was a little suprised to find out I had the Realize, but it did not bother me at all.

I only was clear liquids for the first week Post-op and didn't start protein shakes until week 2. The body can go long periods without food, one week is not going to kill you, but you need water to survive.

Well, my doc. told me no driving at all while on the pain meds so that will be a factor. I returned to work after a week with some discomfort, but my appearance and strength were OK that I could function in front of customers with no problem. Just depends on how you feel, but the first week was the hardest for me.

The tube is remove in the OR prior to you becoming fully awake. Yes, it is removes as you are waking up, but it is nothing you will remember. You will drift off asleep and then the next think you will realize is the nurse waking you up in recovery.

If possible, I would find a way to either bring my own food or be able to cook at your hotel or resort. I was at Disney several years ago and cannot begin to list how bad the food is. All the lunch food is burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken strips, and fries. You can pay the big bucks to sit down at a place, but if money is tight you can go broke with just food at Disney. I would see if you can stock up a fridge and cooler for the day, it can really help you in the long run.

One thing you do not want to mess with is the heart, it keeps ya goin!! You will be fine, it is better to find out if an issue is present than later or while you are on the table. Good luck.

Good to hear. It took them about a week to call me, but I am scheduled to get my Lap Band on Wed. Apr. 29th. Good luck to you.