gatorgal

It's normal. And that's where your feeling of fullness will be as you learn to react to eating with a band. Remember that the stomach sits up higher than most of us realize!

First, it's dangerous to compare your loss to others' losses. Each person's body is different, so each person's weight loss will be different. Second, 17 pounds lost in two months (8 weeks) averages to about 2 pounds per week--whichi is the recommended weight loss for LB surgery patients. Third, at two months, your restriction is minimal at best, so you're eating more now than you will be. Please rejoice that you are now 17 lbs lighter in 2 months time! We're all on this road together, and celebrating each others' losses will get us all to the end of the road eventually. Beating ourselves up that we are not losing as fast as someone else will leave us feeling defeated. You go girl!

It's funny how we're all different. Some people can eat some things that other people can't eat. Here's my list of never-again foods: bread (though I can do toast) white flour tortillas (though I can do the low-carb version) white rice (though I can do brown) Pasta (of any kind) cooked brocollli (though raw is fine) romaine lettuce (though I eat lots of shredded iceberg) Other than that, I can eat all meats, eggs, and cheese. I am fine on most fruits though I have not tried pineapple. I am fine on most veggies but at my doc's suggestion, I have not tried spinach or asparagus. You'll find through trial-and-error what works and what doesn't, and your body will change over time and you may be able to add something back that you thought you'd have to do without. I'm only 3 months post surgery, but I will try anything once to see how my band tolerates it. I have only PB'd twice, and both times were on bread or doughy things.

You should choose the surgery that works best for you. All of us can only speak of our own experiences, so consider that when you are listening to our advice. As for me, I chose the band for many reasons. My recovery time was short. I was up and around and feeling like myself after two days. I was banded three months ago and have lost 46 pounds. I, too, am a full-time doctoral student who is also teaching full-time at a local college. Between family (a husband and two kids), work, and school, I have little time. I do make time, though, to plan my meals for when I'm going to be at work or school. When I pack my kids' lunches the night before, I always pack what I'll need plus a few extra Protein Snacks just in case. I take plenty of Water with me, too. In my desk at work, I keep Protein Bars. All of this is to say that you can make it work for you, but you will have to do some planning and take time for yourself. I'm now in such a habit of eating well that I don't miss the fast food or the quick, unhealthy vending machine junk that I used to eat. Good luck making your decision. You'll find good support here.

I stayed one night (insurance requirements). I didn't sleep at all thanks to those compression things they put on my legs to prevent blood clots. They squeezed my calves so tightly that the pain from them was worse than the pain from the surgery. I ended up taking them off at around 3:00 a.m. and daring the nurse to put them back on! I could easily have gone home the same day, but I suppose I am glad that I spent one night just in case some issue would have arisen. Three nights? Seems very unnecessary, but perhaps your doc requires that for those rare occasions when an extended stay is a must. Good luck!

This topic comes up in forums quite often. I even started on myself a few months ago entitled "I hate Protein shakes!" I got lots of good advice and good recommendations. What I found is that each of us has different tastes, so what one person likes may not work for another person. I decided to do some taste tests to find what worked for me. I bought individual servings off store shelves (try stores like GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe in addition to the big box stores), I ordered samples from the big names like unjury and Chike, and I experimented with varying the way I mixed them up. I learned that I can't tolerate the smell of ANY of the powdered Proteins, but there are two premixed shakes, readily available, that I can tolerate. This worked FOR ME. If your doc says that you need to drink a certain kind of protein, then you need to do what he says. My doc now prefers that I get everything via food and to use shakes only as supplements when needed, so I keep a few in the fridge for those few days. Good luck, and happy experimenting. You'll find something that works for you, and you'll be the expert one day in a few months when a new bandster begins a forum on this very topic! (By the way, just FYI, the two that I can tolerate are EAS Carb Advantage and Muscle Milk Light.) Gatorgal

I'm in the same boat as you all. I have a 4cc band with 2.5cc of fill (have had 2 fills). I can certainly eat more than 1 cup, but am not able to eat what I used to eat. My doc would have put 1cc in last week when I went for my second fill, but I asked him to put only .5 as I didn't want to go too far. I go in again one week from tomorrow for a consult and hope to schedule a new fill. Like you, I get hungry within a few hours but force myself not to eat. I guess what I'm saying is that we're all in the same boat.

My kids have friends over, and they want pizza. I'm sure I could eat pizza, but I don't WANT to eat pizza. I'm sick of grilled chicken. Any ideas for DH and me?

You may want to discuss with him whether or not he will use flouro or just use physical palpitations (feeling for the port). You could also ask if/why he may use lidocaine (sp?) to numb as some people would rather not have it. Ask if he generally is aggressive with fills or not. I prefer not to have aggressive fills as I'd rather not have to get unfills. Remember that you know your body, and you are the one who has to live with the ramifications of your choices, so you're smart to ask as many questions as possible. Good doctors (and I'm sure yours is good) don't mind patients asking questions.

You likely won't feel restriction until later. I just had my second fill yesterday, and until then, I could eat anything and everything if I wasn't careful. Focus right now on eating what your doctor says and on eating smaller portions. If you need something to tide you over, choose healthy options: a glass of skim milk, a piece of string cheese, a low carb protein bar, etc. You may not lose weight as fast as you prefer, but you will be changing your habits so that when you feel restriction, you'll be ahead of the game.

I cruised 2 1/2 weeks post surgery and had no problem. While it's true that dinner can take a long time, I focused on people-talk and interaction with my group rather than on the food I was not eating. The waiters soon learned to quit asking if I wanted bread. I ordered appetizers and main meals but ate slowly and ate only a few bites. Every night the head waiter would "choose" a dessert for me, usually the cheese plate or the fruit plate. I ate one or two bites and pushed it away. It was not hard to do--I set my mind that I was cruising to be with my friends and family, not to eat. I also did not choose the buffet at the times when I was hungriest. For example, each morning, I went to the omelet station and got an egg white omelet with veggies, cheese, and some choice of meat. What I didn't eat, my DH did. You can do it!

Glad to read this thread before I went for my second fill today. I have a small band (4cc), filled with 2cc on my first fill. I decided, with doc's blessing, to have only .5cc today so that I wouldn't have to go back soon for an unfill. I'm approaching this weight loss as slow and steady--you know, the tortoise approach rather than the hare approach--so getting small fills will work better for my body than more aggressive fills that could cause me to get stuck. Just a question--after a fill, are you restricted to liquids for any amount of time? I am on Clear Liquids the day of the fill, full liquids for the day after the fill, soft foods for the third day out, then normal diet (as tolerated) after that. Maybe you tried solid foods too quickly?

Besides the Laughing Cow cheese, I also like the Baby-bel cheese rounds. It's not as soft as LC, but it is very smooth. I keep them on hand when I'm feeling hungry in the mid-afternoon. It helps get me through 'til dinner.

I likewise have a 4cc band. I am currently filled with 2cc's but go for my second fill on Monday. I have very little restriction right now, so my second fill cannot come soon enough! My DH wanted to go to Outback tonight, and I was able to eat 1/2 of a salad and 1/2 of a 6 oz. steak--ate VERY slowly, chewed VERY well, and swallowed VERY tentatively but was able to eat steak for the first time since mid-June.

I've read several posts where you all mention greek yogurt. Can someone give us the skinny on greek yogurt and why it is better than regular yogurt?

Who makes it, and can you get it in regular stores?

If my experience is any indication, you'll feel it if you get stuck. I had my first (and I pray only) "stuck" yesterday, and it hurt like heck! Since I'm only 6 weeks into this journey, I know that I will make mistakes. Yesterday's was probably a combination of eating something that I should have (likely sausage) and eating it too quickly (a working lunch and I was talking while eating). Today I have stayed on liquids and mushies just to make sure that all is well. I certainly don't ever want to feel that pain just below my breast bone again. You've already gotten some good advice here--keep asking the questions and reading for answers.

Today at lunch, I was eating some gumbo (no rice, and just eating the meat) and I found out quickly that sausage does not like my band. After some awful sliming and PBing, I decided not to go for the gumbo anymore (though I was at a work luncheon and gumbo was my best option). However, when I got home tonight, I made a turkey/cheese roll for dinner, and it got STUCK. I thought someone had put an ice pick in my chest right below my breastbone. I have not had such pain in a long time. I wonder if maybe getting stuck had to do with my PBing at lunch? Finally, I remembered that my nurse prac. told me that warm Water will often flush out stuck foods. I tried that and after a few sips, I felt better. Just wanted to share the warm water trick since I know some of you will get stuck at some point. Besides that, I'm feeling good restriction after just one fill, and though I haven't weighed in in over a week, I feel like I'm making progress in learning how to live with the band (banded 6/29) and making the changes necessary to make this a lifestyle.

I have a 4cc band (my doc calls it a "standard" band), and for my first fill, he put in 2cc's. I feel the restriction and am really having to remember that I can't eat that much. If I keep this feeling, I don' t think I'll need another fill for a while.

I'm a Dr. Treen patient, too, banded on June 29. Just had my first fill last week and am doing fine. I love Dr. Treen!

You've gotten some good advice here from others, and I would echo their admonitions to do what your doctor tells you. My doc and my nutritionist both said to aim for about 15-20 grams of carbs per meal. If you get too carb conscious, you end up not eating any, and that's likely not healthy, either. I don't obsess about it--last night I had a small (very small) boiled red potato with my fish and green beans, and I enjoyed it very much. I chose to eat it last (to see if I had room for it), and it was no prob.

Great article and good info. While I am not an exercise fanatic, I do try to walk 30 minutes each day (on my treadmill in my air-conditioned house) not because I think I will lose weight any faster but because it makes me feel better. When I exercise, I like the feeling I get of knowing that my body is working somewhat more efficiently. And the more weight I lose (down 28 pounds post surgery on 6/29), the easier it is to walk and the more joy I derive from doing it. This article reinforced for me the health benefits of moderate exercise (heart benefits especially) while helping me understand the importance of diet along with exercise. Glad I'm learning so much on this forum!

My first fill is on Thursday, so I'll have to let you know then. Can't wait to begin restriction so I won't be hungry all the time. I don't like the idea of liquids for two weeks, but I'll do what the doc tells me. Keep us posted on your progress!

What is ROSE?

I think my uppermost incision may be infected--it's right at my bra line and it's hard to keep my bra from rubbing it. I am going to the doc tomorrow for him to check it. Anyone else have issues with incisions?