jms462001

I was banded around 5 PM. I was discharged at 10 AM the following morning. I was drinking following the surgery, walking immediately (I have spinal disease so it is always difficult, but had no problem), made it to the bathroom alone all night with the IV hookups, and had minimal discomfort. I am 54 and was surprised at how simple it was and how good I felt after. The only pain the first week was rising from laying down and that was in the port area and was considerable. I went to Vegas 9 days post op and had a great time.

I tell everyone if it comes up for any reason. I see no reason not to and it does not come up frequently just because people know. The only people who ask how it's going are my immediate family members and my closest friends from time to time. I'm not ashamed of it and have no reason to keep it secret that I can think of. I have even told people who are practically strangers!!

I wish you tons of luck and a fast recovery. What went wrong?

One of my Dr's has the band and has lost 100 pounds. He eats the Atkins way and preaches it to his patients.

They are putting less cookies in each box this year so you will get less calories per box at least!!

compared to what I eat and what I have seen that others eat, I would definitely say you are not eating enough. If you are so tight that you cannot eat solid protein without it hurting, perhaps you should ask the Dr to do a slight unfill. It has been a world of difference for many people and it may be what you need to get your weight loss going! I sympathize with you working two jobs. It must be difficult to even find the time to eat your meals properly and to take the time it requires. Hang in there!!

I'm not far enough out to advise you, but I also would insist the Dr run all kinds of tests to be sure there were no metabolic problems hindering weight loss. You do not give any info about the number of fills you have had and whether you feel restriction, but I guess you do if you eat so little. Do you not have so much to lose?

Wow! Congrats! I want to see those pictures. You are amazing!

Your Dr is crazy. You are doing great and you are supposed to be healing now, not losing weight. Most Dr's tell their patients to expect a small weight gain between their post op check up and their first fill. Just concentrate on healing and follow the post op eating instructions making sure you get plenty of good Protein.

I swallowed my meds from the first morning following surgery. My Dr. said that if they will fit through the top of a water bottle they will be no problem. I take one at a time followed by a lot of water and wait a few minutes between each one. You can also cut your pills if they are lg. The only problem I ever had was with an herbal colon/liver cleansing capsule I tried to take, but that's a whole other story!! You should be ok to swallow your meds and opening capsules and putting them in water is probably not a good thing.

I find my skinny lattes with 2 scoops of Protein powder are serving several purposes. I am getting in extra protein, Calcium from milk as I don't drink it, a lift from the caffeine however temporary, and, it does not increase my appetite or dehydrate me nor do I drink less water due to it. Best of all, I feel like I am having a treat and it's enough to satisfy my needs for one!!! Would my particular Dr. approve?? Possibly not, but as long as it's working for me and not doing any harm I will continue to do it. The rest of you should follow your Dr's instructions however!!

I was very hungry 4 days post op and called the Dr's office. They ok'd me to start the cream Soups and I was fine after that and 1/4 cup filled me up for awhile. As far as being able to eat anything, you may be able to, but follow your Dr's directions and do not do it. The reason for the strict diet now is not to lose weight, it is for healing. If you eat solid food now before you are totally healed, you could cause damage and even lose your band somewhere down the line. So, leave the tator tots and pizza for after you have healed. These 6 weeks will go by faster than you think!! Eat often from your prescribed list of foods, eat until you are satisfied and don't worry about weight loss until after you are healed!! Good luck and congratulations to all the January Banders!!!

OMG, I have had cortisone shots too. I'm sure it's safe to say that fills do not even compare to those shots in the knees!!! I'll take fills anyday!!

You should be able to eat most solid foods without being stuck. If you can't soon, you should go get a bit removed or it will probably hurt your weight loss as it is eating the solid Protein that helps us lose faster (so they tell me!!). I think I just need to stay off the scale and not weigh more than once a week or even two weeks. After the first 2 months, we are not going to lose at a fast rate. Most of us will average 1-2 pounds a week, and if we are weighing every single day that can be discouraging because it takes awhile to show up!!

Sorry for your awful gas pain too. Have you tried the Phazyme? They worked for me when the Gas X strips were not enough. It does get better!!

I'm just getting to experience the whole deal this week! This morning I had my first PB episode. It was totally my fault, but totally related to my new found appetite aka hunger! I tried to eat a bite that was too big, too fast. I am always so careful to take small bites and chew so much. I guess I was thinking the old type hunger=old type eating. I learned quickly! Now I am still hungry as I ended up unable to eat any of the meal!!

Yes, If a person is self pay and they are on their 2nd fill within 2 months or so and that fill is not sufficient within 2 weeks, they should add to the fill for free. This is what my Dr will do for me and I certainly do appreciate it because fills are expensive and I could not afford to pay for 3 in 2 months time should that prove necessary. I'm sure they are busy enough that they lose no money offering such a service to their self-pay patients.

But, it should take more than 4cc because some of it is held in the port as she says, and I think I have read that even the larger bands can actually take more cc's than the size they are. Her Dr. just doesn't want to accept that fact I guess so she is looking for some documentation to give him. Good luck to you!!!

Have you had that annual scope exam to check out your band just to make sure everything is a-ok?

I totally agree, and i think the data probably shows, the band will not work for everyone.......even if they follow all the "rules". I doubt the companies who make the band would tout that info in their ads though. It probably is in the fine print somewhere.

Sorry, but what those calories consist of DOES have an influence on your weight loss

Well, I can now relate to all my fellow banders! I had seriously forgotten what true hunger felt like. Yeah, I got a bit hungry, ate a small amt, filled up, and stayed that way for hours and then repeated. Food was no longer an issue. I swear I felt this way since I was banded 11/24. I got my first fill 1/6 and really hesitated because I was not sure I needed it. Well, I noticed a slight change over the past week and then today, OMG, I have real hunger!!!!!! All day long I have been hungry. I ate as usual only to have my stomach (both of them!!) talking a half hour later!) I was complaining at work and my office asst was complaining that I could not concentrate because I was hungry and I was making her crazy talking about it, she wanted to go buy me chocolate......swore that was her trick for curbing the hunger (she weighs 105 with a BMI of 23)! Now, mind you, I did have 2 tuna salads for lunch! So, I called the nutritionist late afternoon and of course he said I should get a fill sooner than my Feb 25th app. Well, I don't have another $380 that soon!! But, I scheduled one for Feb 10th, 6 days after my $580 dental crown!! Fill prices go down after the second and he did say if it does not take well to call within 2 weeks and they will tweak it for free. (Maybe I should tweak it just to be sure heh?) Just had to share as I lay in bed starving. I freakin can't believe this and I swear I forgot this feeling. I will cry if I gain weight before Feb 10th!! I feel your pain!:thumbup:

I only like muscle milk lite and they do have 3 grams of sugar. However, they now have a chocolate mint ready to drink which has only 100 calories and 0 sugar. Best of all, it tastes GOOD. For me to say that about protein shakes, you have to believe it!! I hate all of them! My nutritionist recommends muscle milk lite so it can't be to bad for us.

My Dr gave me 3.5 cc's in my 10 cc band at my first fill. I wonder why they do it differently. And, what are the problems of large fills if people are not susceptible to sensitivity.

When I was in my 20's and 30's, my blood pressure was always around 96/58. That was my normal. My Dr said I was just going to live a long tired life. I guess if it is really low for you then it may be a problem? I don't really know. Mine was 109/70 today at the Drs and my normal before surgery had been in the 120's/80's.the past few yrs.