Padanelle

Welcome, Mary! I' about 8 weeks post op. I really love this site. I have learned so much here, and everyone is so helpful. Good luck on your journey. Joan

For me, it was stocking up on too much Protein powder. I thought I would have to be having them at least once a day, forever. Was I glad I was wrong on that count! Now the only thing I add the vanilla or chocolate powders to is pudding. I also fully agree with Linda "that life after the healing isn't that much different than life before surgery as far as eating goes." I was afraid I wouldn't be able to eat so many of my favorite foods after being banded, that I gorged my self on them prior, but I find if I cut steak and other meats into small pieces and chew, chew, chew, I can eat almost anything, just a lot less of it. Since I'm full from the protein & veggies, I am not as tempted by dessert afterwards.

I only had a single incision, but my entire belly was black & blue. After surgery I noticed a burning, tingling sensation in my right thigh. I asked the NP about it when I went for my post op check-up & he said its probably a pinched nerve, which may be due to the position my leg was in during surgery. Hmmmm....

Sure, if you dig down deep, you can loose weight. But can you keep it off? I know I couldn't. I'm less than 2 months post-op, so far, I can eat most foods (steak, shrimp, pasta). My portion sizes are so much smaller than what I ate before, yet I am full. I couldn't have done that without the band. I know I have to stay away from icecream and certain high calorie foods and drinks, but having a smaller pouch allows me to still enjoy them in small amounts.

I hvae a Vitamix. Its expensive, but processes food so fine, you can use the skin on most fruits & veggies, where a lot of the nutrients are. It also makes icecream & sorbet, as well as hot soup.

I'm probably misspelling it, but its what my grandmother called me when I was young, because I started talking at a very young age. I was told it means chatterbox.

I had my second fill yesterday, so am back on liquids for 2 days. I lost 33 lbs since the 2 week pre-op. It seems to come off in spurts. I do well when I am on liquids or mushies, but seem to struggle with the same 2-3 lbs when I'm on solids. Fortunately, I have not any problems with eating. But the nutritionist reminded me that can change after a fill. Hopefully, I'll remember to eat slower & chew more.

I hadn't heard the tip about pineapple juice before. Thanks for the info.

There is a support piece that they put on me after surgery. I think they called it a binder, but I'm not sure. It was a stretch material, kind of like those knee support bands, about 8 inches high, that they wrapped around my middle. I was a bit out of it, but I think it stayed closed by velcros. It actually felt good and supportive while I was weraring it. I think the purpose was to help in the healing process.

HI BJ, I had my lapband done by Dr Fielding at NYU. He did a single incision thru the navel. Dr Fielding & the whole surgical team at NYU are great. Suggest you attend one of their seminars. Like you, I used to be 'small & cute', but over the years (I'm 60) ballooned up to over 200 lbs. I was banded on Jun 8, had my second fill today, and so far, have not had any problems, and am able to eat most foods (steak, shrimp, salad, calamari). That may change after today's fill, but I am working hard to remember to eat slowly & chew, chew, chew... Wherever you choose to have your surgery, be sure that it is a 'center for excellence', as you want an experienced surgeon for the proceedure. Good luck! Joan

Hi Ruth, I have a very simple, but great recipe for tilapia. Coat the fish with mustard. Dip in Panko (Japanese style) breadcrumbs, then saute in a skillet for about 2.5 min on each side. Enjoy! Joan

Hi Kimmie, Glad they found the problem, and you are back home again. Hope it is smooth sailing for you from here on. Good luck. Joan

I was banded Jun 8. I work from home, and often try to prepare some of my meals ahead of time. For the mushie stage, I mae a big pot of lentil Soup with spinach and unjury chicken broth Protein powder and put it through a blender. I froze some of it in 1 cup and 1/2 cup containers, so I have it for when I need to go back to mushies after a fill. I also mad a big pot of tomato sauce with sausage, blended it and froze some of it in portions. For the mushie phase, I put it over ricotta cheese & bake. I also use it when on solids for wholewheat english muffin pizza, or over Pasta. One of my favorites is a crustless quiche. I get 8 slices per pie, so can have breakfast, lunch or dinner for a week. Tuna fish is another one of my favorite quick meals. With just some balsamic vinegar and spices when I'm on the mushie stage, or mixed with either garbonzo or canellini Beans or Water chestnuts when I'm on solids. I like Cereal, usually Special K, as it has 10g protein, usually add fresh fruit, and can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I usually try to have a meat of fish for dinner. So far, I have been able to eat everything - chicken, steak, shrimp, even calamari. I can also handle salad. My favorite snack is Jello SF/FF instant pudding, which I add Protein Powder to. I usually have 1/2 cup in the evening before I go to bed. I also find the chocolate or Calcium calcium chews fill my urge for sweets. I have one in the afternoon & one in the evening.

I love the Jello SF/FF instant pudding. Just mix with 2 cups of cold milk and voila! I add protein mix and make it with 1% milk, so it has about 110 calories, 10g protein & 1.5 g fat. When I have guests, I make it in a nice serving dish and top with fresh raspberries, blueberries or other fruit.

My stomach was swollen for about 2 weeks. My surgeon only made 1 incision, but the entire abdominal area was purple for alsmost 2 weeks. Fortunately, it didn't hurt much.

I'm doing a little better than you - was banded Jun 8 and lost around 30 lbs since the 2 week pre-op. I was loosing nicely, but when I started solids the scale started going the other direction. After my first fill, being back on liquids/mushies for 4 days, I lost 4 lbs in 3 days, but again started to plateau. I weigh myself everymorning, and keep struggling with the same 2 lbs. Since I keep a journal of what I eat, I can usually track the weight gain to what I ate/drank. But its sooooo frustrating, since I am consuming a fraction of what I ate in the past. I go for my second fill this week. Hopefully more restriction will help. As they say, one day at a time...

It is quite common to have a Vitamin D deficiency. Most surgeons/strongly recommend a calcium supplement. Many of them come with Vit D as well (generally 400-600 IU per dose),a s it helps the body absorb the Calcium. Depending on how much calcium you intake through other sources, women should take 1000 - 1500 mg calcium p/day. This should not be taken all at once, as the body cannot absorb more than 500 mg of calcium at a time.

Hi Kimmie, You really need to gat a hold of your surgeon. He may have the answer to what is wrong. Hopefully it will be something simple. At least you are in the hospital where thy can monitor you. Best wishes for a speedy remedy * recovery.

I use use GNC Solotron Chewable Multi-V or Trader Joe's High Chewable Multi-V. They both taste ok & contain good quantities of vit/minerals. GNC is clighly more potent, but the dose is 2 tablets, slightly smaller than an alka seltzer. The TJ dose is one tablet, a bit larger, an thicker, than a dime. I used to use Trader Joe's Gummy multi vitamins, which I could eat all day, however they are not as potent, and don't contain a lot of the minerals that are in the others.

I was banded almost 7 weeks ago, and am still not hungry, even though I had my first fill over 2 wks ago. I do sometimes experience head hunger, specially when I know that there's something in the fridge I really want to eat. Immediately after surgery, and after my fill, I had absolutely no desire to eat anything,, and had to force myself to get in the proper amt of Protein and Water. I discovered Isopure protein waters which is a lifesaver when I am not hungry or don't have the time to have all my protein (40g protein in 20oz bottle). I also find unjury chicken broth Protein powder, which I find very soothing. It seems every surgeon/nutritionist's instructions are different. I was not supposed to have pudding until the mushy stage - 10 days after surgery. That actually got pushed up a few days when I went for my 1 wk post-op visit and everything was ok. I use Jello SF/FF instant pudding and add protein powder when I make it. Many others on this site were allowed to have pudding after surgery. Follow your dr/nut's instructions. Try to get you required protein in, but a few days of not meeting the quota won't hurt. The hunger will come back soon enough... Joan

My surgeon's office advised me not to eat 1 hour before the fill. Then liquids for 2 days & mushies for 2 days.

From the moment I made the decision to go aheads witrh the surgery, I have told EVERYBODY. I don't regreat it, as almoist everyone I told seemed to know someone who had WLS, and told me about their success with it. It was very encouraging.

Try GNC. That's where I buy Isopure.

1. How I haven't felt hungry yet (6 wks post op). 2. How many foods I can eat without any problem. 3. How relatively it has been (so far) to follow the guidelines.

Hi Renee, There are 2 types of Protein drinks. The Isopure Plus comes in 2 flavors, a smaller plastic bottle & contains 11g of sugar & 15g of protein. Isopure Zero Carb comes in a 20oz glass bottle, lots of flavors, and has 40g of protein. Hope this helps. Joan