Jennifer75

Hi maclynn! Yes, I'm actually sure I'm too tight...after reading all of the posts from everyone else where they are hungry or can eat too much. I don't have that problem at all. I was also very sick and very nauseated for a full week after the surgery. As I said I ended up dehydrated. My Dr. says I was a "special case." (Ha...my Husband just LOOOOVED that description...I'll never live it down...lol) He said that the band itself is tight and that must have been the reason for my problems after surgery. My surgeon tried to do a fill but he had to remove it. It validated all of the problems I had been having. I am scheduled for a follow up on the 3rd so I'm going to be sure and tell him again that I'm still BP'ing and that I don't think I need a fill. Thank you for your reply - you sure hit the nail on the head. :-)

What a great thread! You are all doing great!! Yeah for the MayoBanditos!! I'm doing great - completely recovered from surgery and feeling more and more energy everyday. I just want to get out and do things now. The only thing I'm having a problem with is getting enough Water. After my surgery I ended up dehydrated and needing IV fluids a few times, and then a few weeks ago I ended up with a bladder infection - 1st one I've ever had - and the Dr. said it was most likely from not enough fluids. So It's my biggest challenge. It just seems that I can only drink small sips and not too fast. Meaning one bottle of water takes me maybe 2 hours to drink. It's veyr hard when we can't drink before, during or after meals as well. There are just not enough hours in the day!!! My second challenge is keeping food down on the weekends. I'm really busy and working outside and just being very active...I can't keep anything down - sometimes even liquids. I'll be famished, eat a few tiny bites of something...then Whoops....PB. Ugh...I can live with it though - this only seems to be happening on the weekends for some strange reason. I've lost just over 50 lbs. (33 since May 13th Surgery) so I'm just thrilled!! Take care everyone!

Hi Everyone! I went in for my first fill yesterday. It was very interesting. I mentioned to the Dr. that I had had some issues of PB'ing (3 x's) over the prior weekend (more than I'd had the entire 6 weeks prior!) and some problems taking in liquids. (I was mostly PB'ing liquids). I had been doing fine before the last weekend and we kind of mulled over the fact that I had been out in the heat doing landscaping and bending over a bunch. It probably didn't help the situation at all. I did tell him that I had gotten to the place where I was famished about 2-3 hours after a meal the week prior (found out those were the monthly hormones b/c it went away the same time my chocolate cravings did - lol!!) I had also lost more than the 2 lbs. per week average and I was feeling great in general. I was still eating small amounts and being satisfied. He decided that we should go ahead and do a fill. He had me lay down, he accessed the port and added fluid (I was scared of that tiny little prick? Ha! It was nothing to worry about at all!) and then had me sit up and drink water until I could feel it getting "stuck" then he would back off of the fluid until It would pass through. Problem was...he had to remove all of it before it would pass through! So I guess that explains why I had such a terrible time right after surgery (I ended up dehydrated 3 times and needing IV fluids - potassium low, heart racing....YUCK.) He said the swelling from surgery probably caused my stomach to ALMOST close off (we know that didn't happen completely b/c I had 2 different X-Rays done.) Anyway...I'm glad to know that getting a fill when I finally do need it isn't going to be a problem! Funny thing is my sister also had a similar experience - she had a fill after 8 weeks - 1/2 cc then no fills for over a year and she lost 100 lbs. I guess we have very sensitive stomachs. Hope you all are doing well with your fills - I'm so thankful for this forum. I love reading all of your comments.

I agree that the 500 calories is too low. But it's also hard to get more when all you are eating is 1/2 c. 3 x's per day plus 3 glasses of skim milk. I have protien and fresh veggies, protien and fresh fruit and protien and a carb for the three meals. I'm going to go over this again with the dietician. Thanks for the info. :-)

Sounds like you are doing great with exercise - way to go! My only question would be the amount of calories - I know every single Dr. is different, but mine told me after I was filled that my diet would consist of only around 500 calories per day. Good Luck!

I'm sorry you are so sore! I felt the same way. Just know that it does get better. I felt much much better by day 7. Also, my SAVING GRACE was Maalox Total Relief liquid. Hope it helps you too!

I'm having the same issue. Mine is the gas and it hurts so it HAS to go out. I feel like a noise machine. It's horrible and so un-ladylike but what can we do? I'm just hoping it will pass. It does seem to get a little better everyday. Good Luck and let the kids laugh while they can! My girls sure do. (And at least it's just air - no stinky for me anyway! - That's my one saving grace with my husband.!) lol

My surgery was May 13th, Weight Day of Surgery: 279 Currently at 268 = Weight Loss so far 11lbs. It's been slow going - I'm looking forward to my first fill May 29th - I'm currently in "Bandster Hell!"

I'm so glad to have this group to help with things like this! I've found I have the same problem, My house is suffering big time from my lack of energy! It's driving me crazy. I'm using all of my extra energy to go walking but then I'm completely wiped out so I get nothing else done. I was just telling my husband last night "I thought exercise was supposed to give you MORE energy?!" So thank you for the advice from your surgeon Spidey - I'm going to have to work on the Protein part, I'm not quite getting 60 grams per day (they don't allow me to use protein supplements or shakes so It's hard.) And for some reason I've developed a serious aversion to pills so I'm unable to take my Multivitamin right now - I need to work on that too! Honestly though, I almost had a PB from just taking two tiny ibuphrophen yesterday. (This aversion is due to me having to take potassium pills after surgery - I was very dehydrated - anyway they were huge and made me PB every time.) Thanks again!

I had one too and it was also from eating tuna too fast. I didn't chew it well enough. Not fun at all but a good lesson for me.

My instructions are no drinking 1 hour before - the 30 minutes during the meal and then 1 1/2 hours after the meal! I can see what they mean because drinking does cause the food pass throught the band too quickly - YET - we need to stay hydrated too. So I've been doing 1 hour before and 1 hour afterwards. This is a little better and is still working for me. I'm staying full and I'm 4 weeks out from surgery.

Hi everyone - I was banded on May 13th so I'll post here so as not to need my own date. I've had a hard time with this - I started getting dry heaves on day two which really scared me and then on day 4 ended up in the ER dehydrated and with a fast heart rate. Day 5 has me freaking out about beeing dehydrated again so I can't sleep thinking about drinking drinking drinking. Now I also have diarehhea. I just wish I would have known how hard this was going to be. My center and surgeon said it would be a breeze and I'd only need Tylenol for the pain. Ha Still dry heeving today but not as bad - mostly seems like PB with a little extra. I'll write more as I can later. Sorry to be so down - I lost it in the hospital last night after my 4th IV. Just cried and cried. Thanks for letting me vent a little.

How many grams of protien do you have to take in each day? I will need 60. My center does not have us do protien drinks or power so I'm not sure how I'm going to get this much. ?? Thanks for the good luck! :-)

Whoo Hoo! I'm on day 13 of my liquid diet and lucky for me Day 14 is surgery day!! After today, goodbye Slim Fast. UGH I honestly can not stand one more! I'm down to just 2 a day b/c I have no appetite and eveything that I can drink tastes terrible to me. I'm SO ready to move on in this process. And folks - if anyone EVER tries to tell us we are taking the easy way out - consider this. This past weekend: 1) I sat in the car while my family at inside DQ for lunch - we were going to an out of town wedding. 2) I sat in a resturaunt for 2 hours with my extended family having drinks and appetizers between the wedding and reception. 3) I sat at the reception at a sit-down dinner then wedding cake. 4)Mothers Day - sat at a cookout with extended family (the whole works) and served b-day cake and ice cream for my daughters b-day. 5) Last night - sat in the food court in the mall - my daughters choice for dinner then went home and served them a DQ ice cream cake. (This was her actual b-day! My baby is 12!) So, this is NOT the easy way out. And I don't plan on this being easy in the future either but at least at some point I can eat SOMETHING. lol! I'll post as soon as I can about my sugery. Good Luck everyone!

Congratulations on a successful surgery! Thank you for sharing your story. How are you doing now? I'm being banded tomorrow and I'm nervous but SO ready to have it done.

Hi everyone!! Well I made it through the weekend with only ONE meltdown! It lasted just a few minutes and it was triggered by a crabby husband and a 12 year old with a desire to go to the mall. Yes, THE Mall - the one with twisted carb sticks that I shall not name here. Not to mention the food court. I made a deal with her - no mall but we went to a strip mall type of shopping center. Much better!! So I had my pre-op testing done today - went very well in and out in just over 2.5 hours. I had a Chest X-Ray, Upper GI, EKG, Lab Work, Urine test and met with a Dietician and a respitory therapist to learn about the Flow Meter usage. On day 6 of the liquid diet and it's going really well, I thought I'd have been sick or lightheaded or weak and tired, but I actually have more energy - maybe it's the excitement. I've lost 8 lbs. so far so that is a big bonus too! Everyone is doing a great job!! Let's keep up the good work!

Hi Leann!! Welcome - I'm new here too - I've been reading things for about 6 months, but I'm a new poster. My date is May 13th - I'm on day 6 of my 14 day liquid pre-op diet and it's going so well I'm amazed!! Of course, I steer clear of any food (seeing or smelling it anyway.) I was only actually hungry on the first day - since then - smooth sailing. I'm amazed. Welcome and nice to meet you!!

Thank you for posting your stories!! I'm so happy everything went well for you! This is reassuring - mine is on the 13th!! I can't wait! Did pre-op today. Day 6 of the 14 day liquid diet - I'm not even hungry. It's really strange but I'm thankful. Please keep posting and let us know how things progress for you. Congratulations!!

Hi all! I'm 1/2 way through my first day on the pre-op liquid diet. Two slim fast shakes, 32 ounces of water, 2 cups of chicken broth and 1 SF jello cup and I'm surviving but not feeling great. I think this is going to be a mental challenge for me. I'm so ready, but I just really *HATE* to feel hungry. Maybe I was starved in a past life or something - ha ha ha...I dunno. I'm just worried that 3 can's of slim fast with only 10 grams of protien per can is not going to hold me. I love reading everyones posts - it's helping! Thank you!

Hi Cyndi! Nice to 'meet' you! I'm 33, from Illinois and my surgery date is May 13th! I'm very excited and happy. I started the liquid diet today. How are you doing?

Way to go ladies!!! We are ready! I gave up my Diet Mtn. Dew addiction almost one month ago. I also started walking - I walked 8 miles last week. I wanted to commit to being as healthy as I can be before the surgery and to start making small changes now. Right now I'm working on the not drinking 30 minutes before, during and 1:30 after eating. I want to get used to this now, so I have one less struggle after surgery. I must admit, when I saw my liquid diet instructions, (Posted in another thread) I had a little pitty party for myself - and nearly panicked - but I know I can do this. Look at what I've done already. We are doing well! I'm so excited to share this journey with all of you.

Hi all! Yes, Trish - I feel the same way but I look at this surgery as being less dangerous than gal bladder surgery. Have you ever heard of anyone dying during or after a gal bladder surgery? I haven't (and no I refuse to google it!) This is from my surgeon - he said he never has a lap band paitent complain about pain after surgery but he get it all time time after gal bladder surgery. This rationale may be silly, but it make me feel better and I hope it will make you feel a little better too!! So I had pre-surgery teaching this AM and I received my liquid diet instructions. I begin Wednesday (Apr. 29th) 3 Cans of Slim-Fast OR Optifast 800 per day (one at each meal). Drink a minimum of 48 ounces of Water. May also have Clear Liquids such as chicken broth or beef broth, sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, sugar free tea and Crystal light. coffee must be decaf. Tea and Coffee must be black, I can use artificial sweetner. That's it! I feel like I'm going to starve but I am SO doing it - I'm ready to go! I'm very excited but I feel like I'm going to be visiting here often to get some moral support from people who are also going through the same thing. Speaking of needing moral support - get this- my co-worker today (as I'm in the midst of having a low-blood sugar moment - I'm not diabetic - just get shaky and very hungry if I don't eat at regular times) that lap band is not going to work for me because "I'm TOO EMOTIONAL?" What? What does me having low-blood sugar have to do with emotions? She has hypoglycemia - recently diagnosed - how can she tell me this was because of my emotions? It's upsetting but I'm tuning her out. Just had to vent. Thanks! :-)

Great Idea!

Congrautlations!! I was just approved as well, my date is May 13th. Sounds like you'll be part of the Mayo Banditios too! Welcome!

Hi Everyone!!! I have a date too! May 13th!!!! Whoo Hoo!