itschoice

I was up 7-8 lbs and it took close to 2 weeks for the scale to go down a little at a time. Then at the 2nd week it went down about a pound or two a day for a total of 17 lbs by the end of the 2nd week. I had a swelling problem right after surgery and the surgeon had to go back in the next day and unbuckle my band. I go back in on 2/19 for it to be re-buckled. I know I am still a bit swollen because even though I am down about 17 lbs (I keep going up and down 1 lb) my jeans that fit baggy before the surgery wont close around the waist...well I could force them but it would dig in and hurt since I am still tender. Anyway, long story short the surgeon said that it would take about 4 weeks for ALL the swelling to go down after the first surgery. So, its not just IV fluid but your body and organs swell a bit. You are doing fine!!!! Let us know when the scale finally drops.

Don't use the broth that comes in a can. Make some chicken soup and let some of the vegetables dissolve. Then strain it and sip on it. Be creative. I had my 17 year old son cut up some potatoes into very very small squares and boil it in chicken broth from a can until the potatoes get very soft some should melt. Again strain and sip. My husband and son boiled some flank steak they cut in small cubes. As soon as it came to a boil they changed the Water to get the brown foam that floats on top out (Rinse it to get it all out). Then add clean water, cilantro, green onion, onion, season (i.e. garlic power, Lawrys, salt) zucchini, carrots, celery, and potato in this order. Boil for 2 to 4 hours and add water as needed. Once this is almost all cooked add cabbage and boil for another 1/2 hour or so. You want the cabbage to start to melt. Then add a bag of frozen corn. You want everything to boil until everything starts to melt. Use a mesh strainer to serve yourself and for the family have them add avocado and fresh lime juice to their bowl. If you plan on using it for you cream soups take your juice and veggies out before you add the corn because the corn does not blend well. At that point you can add a bit of smashed avocado to yours as well. If it gets too thick add some can broth to yours and enjoy. Oh, the broth will change the taste. The broth from this soup is the best!!!!

Don't use the broth that comes in a can. Make some chicken Soup and let some of the vegetables dissolve. Then strain it and sip on it. Be creative. I had my 17 year old son cut up some potatoes into very very small squares and boil it in chicken broth from a can until the potatoes get very soft some should melt. Again strain and sip. My husband and son boiled some flank steak they cut in small cubes. As soon as it came to a boil they changed the Water to get the brown foam that floats on top out (Rinse it to get it all out). Then add clean water, cilantro, green onion, onion, season (i.e. garlic power, Lawrys, salt) zucchini, carrots, celery, and potato in this order. Boil for 2 to 4 hours and add water as needed. Once this is almost all cooked add cabbage and boil for another 1/2 hour or so. You want the cabbage to start to melt. Then add a bag of frozen corn. You want everything to boil until everything starts to melt. Use a mesh strainer to serve yourself and for the family have them add avocado and fresh lime juice to their bowl. If you plan on using it for you cream Soups take your juice and veggies out before you add the corn because the corn does not blend well. At that point you can add a bit of smashed avocado to yours as well. If it gets too thick add some can broth to yours and enjoy. Oh, the broth will change the taste.

Phen=Phentermine which is still on the market. It always has been. It is an appetite suppressant. Fen=Fenfluramine, also called Pondimin, is the one that caused the problems. It changed something in your brain to make you not want to eat. I think it released more serotonin. I took the two together for a few months but the Fenfluramine did not make me feel very well. I only took it a few times. Maybe for about 2 weeks. I ended up just taking the Phentermine because it stayed on the market and was working. I lost about 70 lbs but as soon as I stopped taking it the weight came back plus more. I think that the band helps you keep the weight off while Phentermine helps you loose the weight. I think that if you do both together you will not be able to tell if the band is tight enough to keep you full and it will make the process of finding your "sweet spot" much longer since they do about the same thing in much different ways. The only way I would take Phentermine again is if I had to have a complete unfill for awhile and did not want to regain some of the weight I already lost. Remember once you stop taking it you will regain the weight you lost unless you have something else to take its place. I would rather not have my body need it to loose weight because then it makes it hard to maintain weight without it. Anyway, just putting my 2 cents in...FYI

mlafentres...great info!!! Jack...funny!!! LOL

Yeah...I went. It wasn't much but it was a good amount and a good consistency. I'll tell you I am glad because it was kind of worrying me.

OneHotMama...Thank you for your suggestion. I will look into it. I also thought about the yogurt drinks. Tomorrow I am going to take some of the stuff the doctor had me take preop. Just 1/2 a dose. It was very mild and maybe that will kick start me. I am a classroom teacher and just went back to work today. I would take it tonight but I don't want it to kick in during a time when I can't leave the classroom. You know I love this website...Such great information and such great people.

RestlessMonkey...thank you for the advice. I have been thinking about the same thing myself. However, I was sick to my stomach for 4 days preop (had the runs from a Subway Sandwich). Then I did not eat for 2 days because my band was to tight and they had to go back in on 1/16 and unhook it. I did not have any broth until the 17th and it was Clear liquids until yesterday. I am passing gas now but I am going to take something tomorrow if I don't go. If after that I don't go I will call. I really don't think I have much in there to go.

I got banded on 1/15 and have not gone poop. However, as for the gas, I was drinking the Isopure and noticed that that was making my gas much worse. Once I switched to the cream protein shakes (full liquids) it made a big difference. Also, the artificial sweetener in the sf jello gives gas.

LOL...Move over in that boat and make room for me because I am right there with the rest of you when it comes to burping. I'm an 8th grade science and social studies teacher and was just talking to my son about how I was going to try and learn to burp and say the alphabet because my students would think it would be so cool.

Hi Rocky I hope you are feeling better. I am feeling a bit better myself. I am also optimistic that the swelling will go down. I do worry that it will swell again when they close it again. However, I know that every pound I loose will give it a bit more room so since I am on liquids anyway I am sure I will loose a few pounds in the next 4 weeks. Also, my doctor said that the procedure to close it is not even close to the amount of trauma to the body as when the band was put on. So I think everything will be fine. I am glad your band is still hooked and you can get fluids in. The swelling will go down soon. You have stuck it out this far a day or 2 will make a big difference in swelling.

Pre-op I was mixing a strawberry protein shake mix with a strawberry yogurt, some banana, and skim milk. It raised the amount of protein and it tasted much better. It also kept me full all morning and it made me stop drinking coffee. If I had a cup that would keep it cold I think I would even like it better.

Welcome to Lapbnadtalk. I was banded on the 15th too. I had complications so had to be opened up again on the 16th and am hoping that I start to feel better tomorrow...one day behind you.

I got my band put on on 1/15/09 and on 1/16/09 they had to go back in and unbuckle it. Now I have a standard size band that is unbuckled until the swelling goes down (about 4 weeks). The doctor said sometimes this happens and I will probably have some restriction even without a fill. I am a 5' 2.5" female and I weigh 225lbs. He said he could change it to the bigger band but as I lose weight will it get too big? Well who knows...I do know that the entire thing was quite traumatic. I am glad that I am not alone in this. I thought it was just me. I hope you feel better and I hope they can buckle mine in 4 weeks with out swelling. Let me know how things go with you.

I swelled so much after surgery that it occurred to me that flying could be an issue (Sometimes I swell when I fly and sometimes I don't). So as I have been sitting here recuperating from being banded on 1/15/09 and having to be put under again on 1/16/09 to have the band unhooked, I too was thinking about flying. If I were to plan a trip I might have an unfill. I don't want to get someplace and have to find a fill doctor or end up in the hospital with an IV...BUT thats just me...

Creed, like you my band was too tight and they had to unhook mine. I had my 1st surgery on 1/15/09 and could not keep anything down. They opened me up again on 1/16/09 to take a look and decided to unhook it which means I go back in about 4 weeks and they will go in again and hook it up. Today is 1/19 and I am still swollen. However, because of the band being too tight I know that I wont be hungry after they re-hook it and I get a fill or two. Boy was that sucker tight. Give it some time. Right now IMO really should be about healing and not weight loss. Having a tight band kind of worries me. My doctor said that if my band is just tight and it was not all due to swelling then I wont need very many fills to have restriction. I am kind of looking at it in two ways...What if I need no restriction for some reason at some point in my life??? Yet at the same time maintaining restriction should be easier and in turn the weight loss should be easier. Remember its the final outcome over the long haul and we are all in this together.

I was banded on 1/15/09 and ended up swelling up like crazy. My doctor, Dr. Tourah, thinks it has to do with not having my period since Thanksgiving. However, since the swelling was so severe on 1/16/09 Dr. Salimitari had to go back in and unbuckle my band. He is a very kind man and I like him very much.

Thank you all for your support!!! I am feeling much better today but I can see that my body is still swollen. One of the reasons I wanted to get banded is because I have been having period problems for over a year. I haven't had a period since Thanksgiving and the doctor thinks that might be why I swelled up. I have to give kudos to my WLS surgeon Dr. Tourah, Dr. Salimitari who did the second surgery (since Dr. Tourah was on call at the hospital), and Dr. Omidi (Who I thinks runs the center). I am a self pay and well I know that I am costing them money. After all of this, these doctors and all the staff at Topsurgeons.com get my recommendation!!

Help!!! I just got my band on today at about 5pm. It took a while to get home because it was about 80 miles away. I have so much pressure in my chest from the gas. BUT most of all I am sliming!!! I can't take my antibiotics or pain meds. Even sipping them!!! And when I say sipping them I mean 1/2 to take about a teaspoon worth. What do I do?

Thanks everyone for your response and support. I just got back from having a second surgery. I spent the entire day there and no matter how they tried to get the swelling down so I could stop sliming, it just would not open up. The space was completely closed. They gave me steroids and not even one drop from a tear dropper would go through. The doctor says sometimes it happens that people swell... I still have the band. It is around my stomach but it is not buckled. They are going to wait until the stitches heal and then take a look and see if they will close it or if they will switch it for a bigger band. So I am banded but not banded...sigh...on second thought the last 2 days have been the worst in my life so taking it slow is a good thing. I never want to slime again!!!

Thank you all. I was in such a panic. I dont want to get an infection with no antibiotics.

I called the office and they are closed. Should I call the ER?

I'm getting banded on Thursday 1/15/09 and am hoping to lose a tire or two real soon. Then after that we will see... Brandy...I like this post too.

BansterNYC---Thank you for your great additions to the list. I really love the Magic Bullet addition too. I went to WalMart yesterday and looked at one and wondered if it was something I should get. I have one of those hand blenders that you stick in a cup and thought there might be a better way. The one I saw at WalMart was about $57 and since I am a self pay and getting banded next week I thought I would wait until next pay check and make due with what I have. Are the cups on the Magic Bullet dishwasher safe? That would be a great thing if they were. I will add your list after my surgery and then I should have a better idea if there are any must have item that I can add.

I am starting my journey on Thursday 1/15/09 and live about 15 miles from the closest store or Walmart. I am hoping that all of you that have gone through the banding can help me make a shopping list so that I can be prepared. I am an 8th grade teacher and need to return to work Tuesday or Wednesday the following week. I would appreciate everything from food items to tricks for making the transporting of food work (liquid diet). So, name 5 to 10 (or more if you like) item that you could not have done with out. I TOOK EVERYONES LIST FROM BELOW AND COMPILED IT HERE FOR OTHERS TO USE. THIS INCLUDES POSTS #2-15 This is a list of things to take to with you the day of the procedure: 1. Sports bra 2. Any meds you take everyday incase you need to stay longer 3. Ear plugs and eye covers 4. Book and/or DVD and player 5. Tampon or pads 6. Easy shoes to put on when its time to go home 7. sweats for the hospital 8. slippers for the hospital 9. pillow for the hospital 10. Cotton underwear 11. Fleets Phospho-Soda (to take pre op if your doctor says) Okay here is the compiled list of must haves that you should buy and have waiting for you at home: 1. Liquid tylenol 2. gas-x 3. Thermacare shoulder neck hot pads or heating pad (helped with the shoulder pain) 4. ice pack (it feels good on the incisions) 5. Get your Pain Meds ahead of time (if you can) 6. crystal light 7. sugar free popsicles 8. fat free low sodium broth (buy more than you think you will need) 9. decaf herbal tea or decaf coffee (can add artificial sweetner 10. stopwatch "A stopwatch because keeping track of drinking an ounce of Fluid every 15-mins was hard to keep track of the first few days. Even to this day I use it to make sure I eat every three hours" (Quoted from bearbandit) 11. Dixie Cups - perfect size for post-op amounts of liquids 12. sippy cup (to learn to take small sips) 13. stool softner 14. bandages regular size and some big ones 15. antibiotic cream 16. Isopure Protein drinks (clear liquid so I could have them the first days after surgery) 17. Vitamin E oil/Arnica Montana (To use after incisions heal) 2nd week fluids with calories 1. diet carnation instant Breakfast drink 2. ensure or boost 3. atkins ready to drink 4. Eas advantage carb control 5. slim fast 6. sugar free Jello 7. sugar free pudding 8. Centrum chewable viatmins 9. Caltrate Plus chewable Vitamins 10. nonfat milk 11. Cream of Wheat 12. oatmeal 13. Strained pureed Soups 14. light fat-free yogurt 15. applesauce - no added sugar 16. V8 juice 17. 1/2 cup and 1 cup plastic bowls with lids PANTS THAT WONT HURT FOR WHEN YOU GO BACK TO WORK.