suepro

Its good news that you have an appointment to see your doctor to check your band. As you can eat soft foods and are not having problems with liquids, you may find your fill will settle after a few more days and you will gradually be able to eat more solid foods. Some people do get good restriction with a tiny fill and some take a bit more, oour bodies react in different ways. I had a similar experience to you on my second fill and had to have a little taken back out 2 weeks later when I couldn't eat anything thicker than Soup. I haven't looked back since then, I had a further fill 3 months later. Hopefully you are one of those lucky people that get good restriction without having to have lots of fills, your bariatric team will let you know the best course of action, whether a slight aspiration is needed or to wait a few more days. Let us know how you get on. Sue

I started to feel better around day 4 of my pre op diet. I think days 2 & 3 were the worst,going cold turkey from all the carbs. I felt better and the target of my op kept me going when I felt like giving up and cheating.

Hi Susan I paid privately for my band, however if you don't have the money yet why not try for an NHS referral? I know lots of people who have had their banding (and lots more RNY) on the NHS. You don't say if you have any co-morbidities or what your BMI is but it is definately worth speaking to your gp while you save up. If you do go for a band you will have to think seriously about your food addiction. A band is hard work and some people do struggle to lose weight as there is still the possiblility of binging on the wrong kind of foods so do lots of reading of various threads on this and other forums and make sure you are going to be able to work with a band. Its not easy at times and I know of people who have been disappointed that thy haven't lost weight. I have lost 6 stone in 7 months and am delighted with mine but I have had a few ups and downs. Good luck and I hope you get your surgery. Sue

I have lost 80 lbs and mine has been 1lb most weeks, some weeks have lost 2-3lbs, stayed the same twice, once at Christmas and once a month or so ago when I needed a fill (had stared snacking between meals as my pouch wasn't staying full for long). I now have another 20lbs to goal and I expect it will take longer than 20 weeks.

When they operate, they inflate you with air so the surgeon can see what he is doing. Quite often some of this gets trapped and you get referred pain.

You should not be drinking alcahol so early out, it has probably imflamed your pouch. Your body is still healing- you may have a good old fashioned hang over!

I can't eat bread, pasta or scrambled eggs. Otherwise I can eat anything but small portions. Some times I eat too fast and end up bringing food back (PB) but never get loose bowels, in fact I am prone to constipation.

Just looked on one of the uk wls message boards and no emergency fill providers listed in your area. You can always give casualty a try. They have to treat you in an emergency and if you can't take fluids you are dehydrated. The problem is that many won't have dealt with a band before so may not know how to do it. If you have a local hospital with a bariatric unit they might be your best bet. If you can take on Fluid, then you should be safe until Tuesday but dehydration is very bad for you. Try sipping hot black tea off a tea spoon. sometimes a hot drink opens the band a little. If you can't drink freely, then try sucking ice cubes. Take care and hope you get things sorted. Sue

I am the other way round, can eat a nice hearty Breakfast (although I don't have it until approx 3 hours after getting up and exercising) and often struggle to eat after 6pm. I also find if I skip lunch then I can't manage anything else for the rest of the day. These bands are strange aren't they? Sue

Its far too early for you to be giving up, as others have said get yourself a fill and get on a sensible eating plan. you have done really well so far, 22lbs is a great start to your weightloss. It isn't a race so don't let the fact that you have got off to a slow start with your fills put you off, you can get back on track and get to your target weight, it takes time but the band will be in there for the long term so there is no hurry.

I love my fruit and eat raspberries, blueberrries, strawberries, a little melon, banana and kiwi.

I was one of the lucky ones and apart from a little pain port side, I felt fine. I didn't take any of the pain killers I was sent home with. We all react differently to aneasthetic and have varying pain thresholds so it doesn't help to compare yourself to other people. Rest up and your body will heal and you will feel chipper yourself in a few days. Sue

Sending you a big virtual hug ( ) from the uk. Depression is a horrible thing but the dark cloud will lift. Hope life will soon feel more positive for you.

If I were you I would go back to liquids for a day or so until things settle down. Your insides are still healing, most people are still on liquids at a week post surgery (Some surgeons ask you to stay on them for up to a month). Sounds like you had a bit much food too soon. When a bandster eats too much or too fast most of us get a golf ball feeling high in the chest or at the bottom of the throat. If I eat too much, this along with burping is my sign to stop or I will PB. A PB is a productive burp, this means food that is above the band, plus saliva are brought back up. It differs from actual vomit as it hasn't mised with stomach juices. Hope that helps a little, welcome to another Uk bandster. Sue

The period immediately post op until you get your first fill is for healing, not weight loss, however you should really be on a liquid or mushy diet right now to allow your insides to heal. After your first fill you should gradually build up again from liquid to mushy to solid foods. you have had an operation on your stomach so should treat it gently.

I do burp a lot since banding but luckily I know its going to happen so can stifle it and put a hand over my mouth. I am happy if burping is the price to pay for being thinner. Far better than wind coming out of the other end- that is far more anti social

Over here 6 week post op is the normal time for a first fill. The first 6 weeksare for healing and weight loss is unlikely. I know its hard waiting but you only have a few days to go and then you get your fill, just hang on there. Don't forget you are in this for the long term so another week isn't going to make much difference. good luck, hope when you get your fill you will be off and losing, but it might take 2 or 3 until you get to the right level of restriction it is a bit of trial and error.

Bread doesn't go down well for me, even eaten very slowly it takes a long time to go down and is quite uncomfortable. I do eat carbs but I prefer to eat porridge oats and a little potato rather than bread.

I voted before reading your explaination properly, however I do eat carbs daily and am losing weight at a very good rate (90lbs since August 08). I don't eat bread or Pasta, my carbs are mostly porridge (oatmeal), occasional small portion of cous cous or a little wholegrain rice and the occasional potato. I don't like to feel I am on a diet so I do also occasionally have cake if its somebodys birthday. I have vastly cut my consumption of carb since pre op but I would never want to do without them altogether as I think it is an important food group.

Whilst I agree that everybody wants an experienced surgeon, they have to get their experience by actually performing operations so someone has to be a surgeons first patient for a particular type of procedure. This surgeon is an experienced bariatric surgeon, experienced in bypass surgery, a much more detailed procedure and I am sure that he will have observed lap band operations before starting to perform them himself. Having said all that, if you are not confident to go with tihs particular surgeon, then look around for another. Good luck!

Its early days for you and you have done great so far, you have not reached restriction yet, not many people do after just one fill, it can take a few to get you to your 'sweet spot'. If you are feeling very hungry, why not call your bariatric team and book another fill. Make sure you are eating very slowly and chewing very well, also ensure you have plenty of Protein as that fills for longer. I would not think drinking so soon after eating is helping you as it will wash your food down quicker and leave you hungrier. I was always told to leave at least 30 minutes after a meal before a drink.I do however make sure to drink plenty between meals. good luck, you will get there once you get filled to the right level. I was banded in November 08 , started my pre op diet in August and have lost 90lbs since. Sue

Its great to hear from people who have lost lots of weight quickly, we read so many posts from people who have lost less weight than they thought that I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me that I have done so well. I have lost 90lbs since last August. We should start a new club- the fast losers club! Any one who says losing weight is bad for you is simply jealous. Your doctor is happy with you and thats the important thing. Sue

Hi Chubby Welcome! I am a self funded bandster from the uk too. I was banded in November 08 although I started my weight loss plan in August 08 and have lost over 5 stone so far, got around two and a half to go. I am loving my band, I would never have got this far without it. Sue

The band is just a tool because it cannot cure your head hunger & some of the foods that help to cause weight gain can go down easily, no matter how restrictied you are, like ice cream and chocolate. You don't stop craving things and although I now am able to eat small portions of most foods, I do have to exercise some self control and will power to stop myself eating food that I know are not going to help my weight loss. I have found I have had to train myself in eating slowly, chewing more and not taking drinks with meals. Although I do feel full quicker, feeling full is different to how it was pre band so I have to remember to stop after my full signals or I will get pain and possibly PB. You have to learn to live with your band an follow the bandster rules at least most of the time so it does require effort, it isn't a miracle cure to obesity. Hope that helps. Sue

I can only speak from my personal experience which is that I lose more weight when I eat around 1000-1200 calories a day. In the long term it can't be good for your body to be eating the low amount of nutrition you are.