Melissannde

I really don't like the term restriction. I much prefer to express what the band does as "appetite suppression". That is what is supposed to happen, you are able to eat a small meal (my doctor suggests 3oz of a Protein, 1/2 cup low carb veggies.. other docs may have other guidelines) and remain satisfied, not full.. there's a difference.. for a minimum of 3 hours, preferably 4 or more. Sounds like you are in a good place for you for now. Way to go!

Overnight Oatmeal Tools needed: 1 crockpot 1 bowl or mug (that will hold at least 16oz) that will fit inside of crockpot. Ingredients: Steelcut Oatmeal (must be steelcut, not rolled, not quick) Water cooking oil spray (optional) Spray inside of bowl with cooking oil spray. This isn't strictly necessary, but makes cleanup easier later. Measure 1/4 cup of steelcut oats into oiled bowl. Measure 1 cup water into bowl. Place bowl of water & oatmeal into crockpot. Place lid on crockpot and turn on low. Go to bed. after 6 to 8 to 10 hours (it's very forgiving..lol) turn off crockpot and take off lid. Let bowl cool a little while you fix your coffee & take Vitamins. When it's cool enough to handle, take it out of the crockpot and add desired flavorings (see additional optional ingredients below). Enjoy!! Other optional ingredients: 1/4 apple or 1/4 to 1/2 cup s/f applesauce cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice to taste. 1 tbspn chopped walnuts 1 tbspn powdered milk or skim milk or fat free evaporated milk dash salt low/no calorie sweetner of your choice to taste. P.S. recently heard that cinnamon helps to control blood sugar.. yeah for cinnamon in my oatmeal!! P.P.S. I usually also have a turkey sausage link with this. Between the oatmeal & sausage, I'm usually good for at least 4 to 5 hours and often longer. However, I'm at a pretty good fill level for me. Your experience may be different.

I came out of surgery (20 months ago) with about 3cc's already in my band. 6 weeks later I got a 1cc fill. All the others since then have been .5cc or less. I am currently at approx 5.5 cc's and have pretty good appetite suppression most of the time. last fill was in Sept & .2cc's.. debating on whether I'll need more in Dec.

B: Overnight oatmeal with 1/4 chopped apple, cinnamon & 1 tbspn powdered milk. 1 turkey sausage link. Midmorning snack: 3/4 grapefruit (hairdresser ate the other 1/4.. lol) L: 3oz Bacon wrapped turkey filet, 1/2 cup baked squash, 1/2 grapefruit D: Not sure yet.. either 3oz baked chicken & veggies or 3oz meatloaf & veggies. Possible other Snacks are: 1/2 grapefruit, cottage cheese or greek yogurt.

I've tried the unjury and it's pretty good for liquid Protein. The chicken Soup stuff is really not bad at all. It just occurred to me that meltingmama might have reviews of stuff already done. She's a post-op RNY, so her needs are different, but she does reviews of bariatric products and rates them on how "pouch-worthy" they are. I don't have the link to her blog handy, but I think if you google meltingmama blog you'll find it.

I think the realize band comes in 11 & 14 cc sizes. The lapband standard is 10 cc and I think the lapband large is 14 (not sure on that). 7 cc's is where most people start feeling good appetite suppression with the smaller realize band. Just be really careful since he filled you so fast to stick to the 48 hours of liquids, then progress slowly as tolerated or per doc's instructions. Keep in mind that sometimes fills will get TIGHTER after they've been in place a while. No one understands why this happens, but it does. If you start having any pain with eating, call your doctor. It would worry me to have such a big fill at once, since my very largest has been 1cc, but I also know that we're all different and not everyone needs to be taken up as slowly as I have been. Good luck and congrats on getting your first fill!! How exciting for you!

Once I got past the immediate post-op phase, I've eaten real food every day. I probably eat more "real" food now than I did before banding. Not in quantity.. but in QUALITY. Now that I eat smaller amounts, what I put in my mouth is only good stuff. No more junky, empty calories. I eat good Protein, freshly cooked veggies and tiny amounts of Fiber. Protein, Produce & Fiber. AKA Lean & Green. :blushing: I think you'll find that you will enjoy food more after surgery, and learn to savor every bite. You won't be shoveling it in any longer. It will be take a bite, put the fork down and immerse yourself in the sensation of the food. The texture, the flavor, what does it remind you of, etc. No more mindless hand to mouth eating. My dh & I go out to eat about once a week now and have a great time. I'm a cheap date, I get 2 and sometimes 3 meals out of one order. Last weekend I ordered beef, chicken & shrimp fajitas. DH got my tortillas. I ate some of the meat and a bite or two of the Beans at the restaurant, took the rest home. Late that night before bed (4 hours later), I had a tiny bit more. The next day I finished the leftovers for lunch. When someone invites you over, you say Great, what time and can I bring something? If you worry or suspect that you might not be able to eat what is being offered, you take something to the event that you know you can, and that others will like too. Worst comes to worst, there are Protein Bars and drinks that you can stick in your purse or jacket pocket or leave in your car. Eating just the meat and no bun is a good idea. So many people do the low carb thing these days, no one will think a thing about it. I bet there are people all around you who are banded and you don't know it, because they are out there living life and having a great time and no longer focused on food. You most likely will be like that too, once banded. :w00t:

I understand you're hungry, but eating soft foods before your doctor ok's it could be dangerous to your band. The reason they keep us on liquids for a period of time is to reduce the peristalsis (wave like motion) of the stomach to allow the band to heal in a good position. You really need to consult your doctor. He/she may ok it for you to move on up on the eating schedule, but none of us can say it's OK. I truly understand and am not trying to come across as scolding. I made some mistakes in my early banding days and have been lucky not to pay any severe consequences. Call your doc tomorrow and ask for help on the hunger issue. That's one of the many things we pay them for.. to support us through this.

I agree with gypsy & Billy, it's most likely the high glycemic carbs that are making you feel hungry. I would try very hard to avoid what are sometimes called the "white carbs": potatoes, rice, bread, & Pasta. Also all colors of corn. You may eventually be able to allow small amts back in your food plan, but for now you'll be less hungry if they are verboten. What happens is that they cause your blood sugar to spike upwards and then crash.. and when level crashes, it causes hunger to rear it's ugly head. You may need to "wean" yourself off of carbs. Some people can go cold turkey.. I did it more gently. I went to whole grains. I don't eat bread very often now, but when I do, it's Ezekiel bread.. toasted. Same with Rice.. rarely have it, but when we do it's brown rice. Any pasta served here is whole wheat. Again, I rarely eat these things, and when I do I know I will be fighting increased hunger the next day. Oatmeal is very good for breakfast if you like oatmeal. Steelcut is the best choice..while it is a carb, it's low glycemic. I make mine in an individual bowl inside my crockpot overnight. When I get up in the morning all I have to do is add whatever extras I want.. and it's ready to eat. No fuss, no muss. You can make a faux fried rice using cauliflower. I've never made it (sounds like too much trouble 2 me), but the recipe I think is on the caloriecount.about.com in the low carb section. If you do get a fill, I'd ask the docs to make it really small. I think if you ditch the white carbs you'll see some good results.

Call the billing dept at the hospital and talk to a supervisor there. Even if they make you pay the 15% ( I doubt that they will make you pay the whole 15%), a payment plan can be worked out. I know after my cancer surgery (and we had to prepay a whopping big amount because we had not met our deductible yet.. the surgery took care of that!!!) there was a little bit left over after insurance kicked in, which we arranged to pay out over some months. At least call them so you'll have an idea what the numbers will be.

It's not so weird to need more fill as you lose.. when you lose weight, you don't only lose it on the outside, but you lose fat from around your stomach too and therefore the band becomes looser and you need more fill to get the good appetite dimming again. I was told that I can always have more veggies if I'm hungry after eating my bandster portion. Provided they are non-starchy (no potatoes, no corn) and aren't drowning in butter or some kind of high calorie sauce. If Hot drinks work, great. If they don't, try cold. Usually cold drinks will tighten the band just a little bit and help with controlling appetite. One last tip I was given by one of my bariatric nurses.. sometimes when we think we're hungry, we're really thirsty. I remember thinking.. "yeah, right". But, I gave it a try and it does work.. some. It won't stave off hunger like a good fill will, but it will help. 2cc's isn't much in a 10cc band. Everyone is different, and I do know someone who's got really good restriction with 2cc's.. but I have the same band as she does and I'm almost where I need to be with 5.5cc's. Debating on whether to get another .1 or .2 in a few weeks.... Hang in there, stick to your eating plan as best you can and go back for more fill when your doctor allows. If you want to work on your eating behavior, you might look at Judith Beck's book "The Beck Diet Solution". It is NOT A DIET. It is a book that can help you change your thinking and behavior about food. But, like the band, it only works if you work it.

What size band did they put in you? I ask because I know someone who had great difficulty post op and after two days they took her back into surgery and gave her a larger band. Once that was done, she's done very well. I agree with the previous poster who suggested that they remove ALL of the starter fluid from your band if they haven't already. Hope you feel better soon.

Please check with your doctor before taking liquid ibuprofen. Some doctors do not want their banded patients taking NSAIDS (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs). Ibuprofen (motrin) , aleve and aspirin are all nsaids.

Removal of all Fluid is half the treatment for a minor slip anyways. I think the other half is to go on liquids.. not sure, haven't been there and hope I don't. I understand the stress of cancer.. btdt. Hope you have excellent results.

Have you checked fillcenters usa? They have a doc in Houston. I know NOTHING about the doctor or fillcenters USA.. just know other people have used them.

I like the muscle milk LIGHT ready to drink in strawberry cream and vanilla cream, the chocolate tastes fake.. don't know how the mixables taste. I've tried the EAS carb advantage RTDrink and I agree they're pretty ugh.. but I get the french vanilla flavor and add some s/f vanilla syrup (DaVinci) and that helps a lot!! Syntrex makes a good variety of nectar drinks.. if you look up their website they did have a special at one time where you could get a sampling of their stuff.. at a really reasonable price. Turned out to be about 1.00 sample. I think they are too weak tasting alone, but mixed with some crystal light or coffee or whatever seemed appropriate for the flavor they were OK. I'd call your doctor's office and ask for help. I'm sure they've had patients who couldn't tolerate the suggested products before and know what you could try in their place. (Soooo thankful I had a doctor who didn't require a pre-op diet)

I know someone who says "the band is a fickle b*tch", meaning that you never know what it's going to let you eat. I think we all had those days pre-op too, we just notice them more now. Anyhoo... have you tried starting your day with a warm drink of some kind? coffee, tea, hot Water with lemon, are some common things that people drink. I get up, have coffee with my Vitamins & supplements, then have my breakfast. I rarely do Protein drinks, unless I'm in too much of a hurry to eat. And it's very common to get looser as the day goes on. Sometimes it helps to drink something cold to tighten up the band. I don't know that there's any literature that explains why the band is so changeable, but maybe someone else can point the way to some. I'm not sure what you mean about magic spot. If you mean the amount of fill that keeps you satisfied on a small meal for 3 hours or more.. my doctor calls that "the green zone". It's described well at The Preferred Weight Loss Surgery | LAP-BAND® It can be elusive and especially if you're a woman and still experiencing monthly hormonal fluctuations. Hang in there, it does get easier eventually.

If you want to talk to some DS'er's, you might find more info over at Obesityhelp.com in their DS forum.

Thanks. This isn't quite as good as the taco soup, but we like it pretty well. Some tips: Make sure you have the solid pack pumpkin, not the stuff ready to pour into a pie crust. I use less olive oil than the recipe calls for.. maybe teaspoon? Not sure how much as I either measure a capful from my bottle (which is way less than a tablespoon) or I use Olive Oil spray. recipe says to cook it for 4-5 hours in a slow cooker.. we can never wait that long. I just put it all together in a big dutch oven and heat it and eat. :thumbup: Another change is that I don't worry about having chicken broth.. either I have it and use it, or I don't and add chicken bouillon & Water. Last time I made it, I used chopped chicken from a store bought rotisserie chicken. Just play around and see what works for you and your family. enjoy!! Black Bean 'n' Pumpkin Chili Recipe | Taste of Home recipes 10 Servings Prep: 20 min. Cook: 4 hours Ingredients 1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium sweet yellow pepper, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 3 cups Progresso ® Chicken Broth 2 cans (15 ounces each) black Beans, rinsed and drained 2-1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes 2 teaspoons chili powder 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions In a large skillet, saute the onion, yellow pepper in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker; stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through. Yield: 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts). Nutrition Facts: 1 cup equals 192 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 28 mg cholesterol, 658 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, 7 g Fiber, 16 g Protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 very lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.

Let's see, 30 lbs in 5 months is 6lbs/month which is about 1.5 lbs a week. Average expected weight loss with the band is 1 to 2 lbs a week, so it sounds like you are just about right. If you're comparing yourself to others who are losing, don't. Everyone is different. I don't know your starting weight, but keep in mind that those who start with higher weights often lose faster in the beginning. It's also not unusual to lose a bit and then stop and then lose a bit again. Our bodies seem to need a little time to adjust. If you're still getting hungry, not having good appetite control for 3 or more hours after a meal (and your meal is low carb, with good solid, dense protein) you may need another fill. Keep on keeping on. It may seem slow, but you're making progress.

The only reason my insurance covered mine is that I had met my deductible (sky high by the way) by having had CANCER and needing surgery for that before I got banded. I understand your frustrations, but really.. it could be worse.

Does your doctor have a nutritionist or dietician who works with them? You might try asking them for some suggestions. Anything that you normally serve could be blended to baby food consistency, I would think. Things that would lend itself well to that would be baked sweet potatoes, creamed spinach, turkey & gravy. Maybe someone else has been through TG during the mushy stage and would have better ideas. Good luck to you.

I've not had this happen, but it sounds like descriptions of a slipped band. Call your doctor, even tonight. Best wishes to you.

The answer my surgeon gives is they don't know why a fill can take 2 weeks to make itself known. It just happens with some people and not every time. I've even had an unfill take 2 weeks to settle down. What I mean by that is that I felt immediate relief from the "too tight" feeling by the unfill.. but it took 2 weeks to stop feeling extra hungry from the unfill. Short answer.. no one knows why.

I had my sections years before banding, but I don't think they go near that area. Of course, anything is possible. More than likely you are still swollen from surgery and that's why you can't feel the port right now. You could call your ob/gyn and ask. Or you could call your bariatric surgeon and ask.