malissa

I went for my first fill today. She said she always starts with a standard 5cc and then had me drink some water. It felt a little funny so she removed some. This process seemed to work and I'm left with 4.2cc. I'll be on liquids until Friday.

I just received my 1st fill today too. I agree, it was a very interesting experience.

Congrats on your weight loss!! I do have a couple of questions I hope you will answer: - What is your daily ratio of protein, carbs, & fats? - Do you track your meals on a website? If so, would you mind posting a couple of days? Thanks! You have done awesome! -Malissa

My cycle went bonkers after surgery! It was soooo heavy and lasted over a week. I assumed it was from the drastic changes my body was enduring. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that next month is "normal". Good Luck!

The whole idea of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver. Mine was as follows: Breakfast- Protein powder (mixed w/ water) 110 calories Lunch- Protein Powder (mixed w/ water) 110 calories Dinner- Small serving of white fish or chicken breast w/ small serving of green vegetable. 250 calories So as you can see, most pre-op diets are very low in calories. Just stick with it. I know it is hard, but you need to follow it to ensure your liver shrinks. I can't remember who - but someone here didn't follow it and they weren't able to get the surgery because their liver was still too big. Good Luck, Malissa

I thought my tongue looked a little white after surgery too. I used Listerine to gargle a few times a day and it went away after a couple days. Good Luck and feel better soon!

I am very surprised they didn't give you IV fluids to get you back hydrated. They must think you are going to bounce back. Wishing you well- Malissa

I feel great and everyone says I look great...but the scale seems to be broken over here. :thumbup: The majority of my weight was lost with the pre-op diet and I'm still trying to figure out what my body wants right now as far as calories go - for the ideal weight loss phase. My first fill is the end of the month. Right now I'm making good food choices and eager to see the scale move. Good Luck to all, Malissa

This is just a post to vent. :thumbup: I realize I don't have restriction yet - actually I don't even know if I need it. (eggs got stuck this morning because I ate too fast) But I'm still NOT losing weight. :sad: I follow a good, healthy diet (no white bread or sugar). I have actually raised my caloric intake to 1,200 because I keep reading threads where people were talking about "starvtion mode". What can I do to get this $#&@*! scale to move? I have called the doctor numerous times. They always say it just takes time. How long??? I'm scheduled for my first fill the end of this month - but not really sure if I'm going to get it. I'm not overly hungry right now (I think it is my motivation :tt2:) and I have to real careful with what I eat or I will PB. Any suggestions out there?? I will do anything you guys say to get this process going! Thanks for the vent, Malissa

Well I'm on solid foods now - but even when I was on mushy food - I tried to keep my calories on track. I orginally was at less then 1,000 calories but then I read many posts and thought maybe I was in starvation mode and that's why my body wasn't letting loose of the weight. What calorie intake do you think I should be at?

Thanks for your replies. I don't excercise as much as I need too - but I also am more active than I ever have been. I will try to do more. I don't have any Fluid in my band, but I do get the full feeling. I really don't know why. Almost all my weight loss was from my pre-op diet. I have seriously considered going back to that - in the hopes that I'll lose more weight. I track all my foods on the dailyplate. The majority of the pie chart each day shows Protein, not carbs. Busybee - I wish I could say I lost 14lbs since surgery. How many calories are you eating?

I understand what you are trying to say/do. Unfortunately, self-pay or private insurance is extremely hard to obtain if you have ever had any medical issues. I used to work for United Health Care and the smallest thing would reject the new policy. To make matters worse - once you have been "denied" coverage, as a matter of policy, no other private/self-pay insurance will pick you up. Your best bet is to stay with your employer coverage. Are they making you pay the difference for your family? Good Luck.

I have always had edema in my ankles off and on. However, when I started the pre-op diet it went away completely! I was loving my skinny ankles.:smile2: But....now that I'm on mushy food - they are back with a vengence. Please...does anybody know what I can do? I am limiting my sodium - (I track it on dailyplate) I have increased my water. It seems odd - maybe I should return to liquids for the rest of my life? LOL - I sure did enjoy admiring my tiny ankles! LOL

I am on my feet all day (I'm a teacher) and prior to surgery I had all kinds of tests - all normal. This may be TMI - but I'm just getting to the end of my cycle and it looks like the swelling may be going down a little. This was my first one since banding and today is day 7! So perhaps my hormones are out of whack.

I also had a fatty liver prior to surgery. I was nervous as heck that my liver would STILL be to fatty. I followed my 2wk pre-op diet exactly as given - no cheating. I was perfectly fine. :scared2:) Good Luck and I hope all goes well!

My sodium intake yesterday was 1,336. I try to stay under 1,500.

Hello- I just started my mushie food stage yesterday. I know should be concentrating on "healing" and not weight loss, but I just can't help it!:thumbup: Can you tell me at what calorie range you lost the most weight? I know this can vary from person to person and also on how active you are - I'm just trying to get an average. I thought I would start tracking my calories to see if I can get that scale moving!! Thanks, Malissa

I tried both FitDay and DailyPlate. I liked DailyPlate much better. Good Luck!

I understand that the fill will help with restriction - so the weight loss will come. BUT, if you are following a strict diet and consuming little calories, why won't the weight come off? I get on the scale every morning and I just don't understand. I really can't believe I'm NOT losing weight.

I also had some complications afterwards. And I too thought: What in the world have I done?? :eek: I'm not going to lie - I cried and cried and kept thinking this is the STUPIDEST thing I have EVER done!! But guess what....it gets better. Just hang in there. I no longer regret it and I feel GREAT! :thumbup: Take Care, Malissa

Interesting about a bump. I can't even find mine! LOL BUT.....I have ALOT of padding covering it.

Thanks for all your responses. I just joined FitDay so I can track every calorie. Just curious - do any of you track carbs and try to stay under 20?

I just wanted to say you are doing a wonderful job! I'm sure they noticed. Who knows why they didn't say anything - but I wouldn't even worry about it. Keep up the good work!!

Wow - 600 is really low. However, looking at your stats....it seemed to work!! Congrats.

Can't help you with the Spanx question, but I wanted to let you know that I've had similar experiences with the other issue. I was banded on 03/11. Just yesterday I bent over and skim milk literally flew out of my mouth. I was pretty surprised and it was real gross. I didn't actually vomit - there was NO heaving, it just "came up". I too am still swollen from the surgery and I guess it just takes longer to flow out of my pouch!