mhanft

Hi All, I was banded on 3/5/09 and went for my first fill today. I have lost 17 lbs since my surgery date, 30# since I first saw the surgeon. The Physician's Assistant who saw me told me that she wasn't going to make an adjustment today since I am losing weight and have manageable hunger. The PA said I was ahead of the curve in terms of weight loss. She also told me I have to wait for an hour after eating to drink any fluids (I thought it was 1/2 hour) and see if that makes any difference in my hunger. I have another appt in 4 weeks for follow up. We did spend a long time talking about the diet and foods that are better than others and how to gauge what works and what does not in curbing hunger and reaching satiety. Has this happened to anyone? I am feeling a little bummed that I did not get a fill... I was hoping to step up my weight loss a little. Advice or counsel anyone? Thanks, everyone. Mary

Hi all, I was banded on 3/5. Since the surgery, I have lost close to 17 lbs. I am down 31lbs from my highest weight. I have my first fill next week on 4/16. I feel fine, some intermittent constipation, I am taking magnesium supplements to see if that helps. I am really not exercising as much as I should, but I do have more energy now and am moving around more. Anyone else? Mary, in NY

I keep seeing that acronym, can someone tell me what is stands for? Also NSV? I think it has something to do with vomiting, but I am not sure. thanks, Mary banded 3/5/09 242/227/213/140-150 highest, day of surgery, now, goal

HI everyone, I was banded on 3/5, one month ago today. I am down 14# since the surgery, 29 lbs from my highest weight. I just started eating solid foods today. I have had salad with lettuce and cucumbers, no problem and a couple of small (slider size) hamburgers. I am supposed to be eating 3 meals a day with a small snack. Today I did have those 3 meals, I had some crackers between BF and lunch and then after dinner (in which I had wedding soup) I had some sugar free pudding and fat fee whipped cream. I do feel full if I eat slowly, have not had a problem with ANY food and am taking in nowhere near the amounts that I was consuming pre surgery. I am also watching portion size. I am scheduled for my first fill on 4/16. I hope I get something in the way of a fill. I do feel hungry, not ravenous like before, but sometimes some strong hunger. I try to drink Water or Crystal light and it usually helps to take the edge off the hunger. Best of luck to everyone. Mary

I have had the same issue, and have had IBS for years. I used to drink the Sunsweet plum juice, but it is very high in sugar. They do make a light version but it is hard to find. I was trying to eat a lot of high Fiber foods, like Beans, etc. I am still on soft food, having had my surgery 3 weeks ago. Since the surgery I am having a lot of gas, and Gas X does not really work. Yesterday, I went to GNC and bought Colon Cleanz tea bags. I had a cup after dinner and this morning and went fine. No cramping. I hope it continues. The gas IS less today. Hope this helps.

I had surgery on Thursday and was back to work on Monday. I did not work the whole day, left around lunchtime, but was back to my usual work day on Tuesday. Mary

HI Breane, I had a sleep study as part of the preop and was told I had mild sleep apnea. Then I went for another sleep study to be fitted for CPAP and lasted about 5 seconds with the mask before I started to feel panicky. I am claustrophobic. Then they tried another mask and I lasted about 10 minutes. It was pure hell. The sleep study was terminated. The pulmonologist then would not give me clearance for the surgery until I got the mouth plate which would have taken a long time to do, followed by another sleep study. I spoke to my Internal Medicine MD and to another pulmonologist who said insisting that I use CPAP was premature and that I should be re-evaluated after weight loss for the sleep apnea. So I saw another pulmonologist for a consult and I was cleared for surgery. I did have the pulmonologist see me in the hospital and I was fine. I used the incentive spirometer and my oxygen levels were fine. I didn't really have any symptoms of sleep apnea, yes I do take naps on the weekends and sometimes feel drowsy after lunch, but hey, I am a single mom to a 5 year old, working full time with a house and 2 dogs and come from a long family line of nappers. Some of the questions they ask to assess for sleep apnea leave no room for lifestyle issues. So that is my sleep apnea/CPAP story. I am seeing the pulmonologist again in May for a follow up. Good Luck, I hope you are able to work things out. Mary

I am having a problem with constipation. How often can I take Benefiber? I am taking it once a day, and trying to increase fiber in my diet, can I take the Benefiber more than once a day? thanks, Mary

HI I had surgery on 3/5 and 2 days later, started having the awful left shoulder pain. Tylenol did nothing to relieve it. I did start putting heat on it, drinking warm fluids, getting up and walking around and rotating my shoulder. That helped. Now the pain is 99% gone, I have twinges now and then, or a faint ache, but it is mostly gone. It is bad, try to hang in there. I had the heating pad thing that is made of beads and heats up in the microwave so it was pretty portable for work. Hope this helps and that your shoulder pain gets better soon.

Hi, I was banded one week ago today and have been on the liquid diet, with one more week to go. This morning, my daughter (who is 5 and has been great during this post op period) announced she wanted rice and black Beans and rotisserie chicken for dinner. She hardly ever asks for something specific. Well, this is one of our favorite dinners, especially the chicken. It took all I had not to tear off a piece or more and stick it in my mouth and have a huge forkful of rice and beans. Instead, I had my broccoli Soup, 1 cup, even though I have gnawing hunger pains. So I am going to have a bottle of Fruit 20 and hope that holds me until I can have my last Protein shake at 8:30. Please someone tell me that I did good. Now I have to go wrap all the food up and put it away!! God help me..... Thanks for all of your support. Mary

I was banded on 3/5 and just started having left shoulder pain on Wednesday. It is very uncomfortable and Tylenol seems to have little impact on it. I could have sworn it was musculoskeletal or maybe nerve injury from the OR, but it seems from the reading I have done and this and other sites that it is from gas/diaphragm irritation. Whatever it is, I really hope it goes away soon. I may have to break the rules and take Ibuprofen, bc I am getting no relief otherwise and heat only helps temporarily. Mary

Hi I had surgery one week ago, at 9 am. I stayed overnight. The following day I had the barium swallow to check the band and was discharged at 1 pm. Mary

Hi, I was banded on 3/5 and have been on a full liquid diet since Sunday. I am supposed to drink 4 Meal Replacement shakes a day plus 2 other liquid meals. The problem is I have been drinking carnation instant bf made with 1% milk and must be somewhat lactose intolerant, since I am having terrible intestinal symptoms (gas) and bloating. Does anyone have any sugggestions for alternatives that won't cause those side effects? I do have whey Protein that I could add to stuff if that will work. I really have been good at sticking to the program and have 8 more days of full fluids, but I cannot stand the side effects. Thanks, Mary

HI, I was just banded on Thursday, and now having full fluids. I feel like I am starving..... to the point where I am having pain in my back. Is this usual? Is the band not working on me? I have been sticking to the Fluid diet, and admitted not drinking all the Water I should, is that the problem? Any help or advice would be appreciated. I am starting to panic!! Mary