LollyMoe

I am going to take Jason's advice about fluids for 24 hours. Maybe longer. That was a scary thing to have happen today. I was ready to go right back to the office and cry help but decided that maybe it was the choice I made and not the band. I was surprised that Lisa put in 4cc's for the first fill but she said that Dr Miles is a little more aggressive now. I ate some mashed potatoes tonight and managed a teaspoon full. Made my stomach feel better. When I saw the Nut today, Ashley said for me to get in more fruit, more Fiber, and to stick to about 1,000-1,200 cals a day. Good luck everyone on the walk. Next year, I'm walking!

I met Jason at doctor's office today. I embrassed myself because I called him Troy instead of Jason! I knew his face but his name slipped right by my poor old memory. Bet I don't forget it again. I got my first fill today, Lisa put in 4cc. After we left there we went to Taco Bell. I ordered a small container of beans and with the first bite, I started having severe chest pains and the saliva rose up in my throat like crazy. I thought I was going to throw up but it passed. Lisa didn't instruct me in any special diet so I thought the beans would be okay. I'm okay now but am afraid to eat again. I didn't like that feeling at all. Is my fill too much??????? Remember 4cc's for first fill.

Congrats on getting banded. Your journey has begun to a healthier life and a skinner one. I urge you to get up and walk as much as possible. The gas will pass easier and your joints won't hurt as much either. Take your pain meds when needed. Good luck on your journey. Don't become discouraged. It's worth it all.

Call your doctor and talk to his nurse. The cath shouldn't hurt unless they tried to pull it out w/o deflating the balloon first. That hurts!!!

I was banded on 8/11 and have lost 28 pounds so far. Tomorrow is my regular weigh day, so I'm hoping the scales say I've lost a tiny bit more. I'll take all I can get. Tomorrow is my first fill day! I am a little nervous about it. I have some friends that didn't get a fill when expected b/c they were losing weight. Our doctor wouldn't do it if we are steadily losing. I'll see how it goes tomorrow. Rottie69: My doctor wouldn't let me eat solids for first three weeks. Said the internal healing needed to take place and for the swelling to go down. Said that I could cause the band to slip if I ate solids too soon and internal stitches could come loose. At any rate, I have been following all the rules about eating so far.

I have a tall slim bottle that came with water in it. I got it from Walmart. It is 33.8 oz. I fill it each morning and carry it around with me where ever I go. By about 1p.m., I have managed to drink it all. I then fill it up again and try to get it in before 9pm. I have to admit that I don't always get in both bottles everday but I do most days.

I'm afraid that I'm what I call a "rut eater". I decided what I wanted to eat five days a week for each meal and I stick with that plan. Over the weekend, I will change it up somewhat. Since I'm retired and we don't eat out a lot, this is really easier for me to do. I have a small Protein shake about 6a.m. and about 9a.m., I have Raisen Brand Cereal with 1% milk. At lunch, I have tuna salad with 5 plain tricuit crackers (I need the fiber). Around 2p.m., I eat greek yogurt with blue berries. Around 6p.m., I eat grilled chicken, green Beans or peas. Around 9p.m., I have another small Protein Shake & take my meds with it. That's my eating life right now and I'm not having any problems with it. I don't have to go to a lot of trouble trying to figure out what to eat. It works for me. I get my flavored Water or tea in during the day and don't drink after 9pm.

I met Busdriver & Fordgal at group today! Had a very nice time. They are so helpful in advice and didn't think any question I had was silly. Thanks, ladies.

Eating Cookies instead of a proper diet!!!!!!!! No wonder you're not losing. Get a grip on yourself and re-motivate. Also, figure out what your surgery and fills cost you. Then divide how many cookies you eat to determine what each one of those cookies cost you....besides the weight you haven't lost. Seriously, you need to rethink all the WHYS of having the band to begin with. Go back to the beginning and start again. You deserve to be smaller and to be kind to yourself. A cookie isn't worth it. Also, call your doctor's office and speak to the nurse. They can help you and should not charge for a phone call. Good luck.

I didn't have gas until the third day and then it was a doozy. I took Gas-X which helped but walking was better. I still have gas every once in awhile. As for bowels, I was always a 1-2 times a day person and now I'm once a week. This bothers me greatly. I have begun the Fiber, stool softner, Water, with a little MOM and seem to be getting better. At least I hope so. At support group Benefiber and Equate Fiber pills were recommended.

Debbut: I am so sorry to hear about your band problems. That is scary to me. I am so afraid that something is going to go wrong with mine. I am beginning to be paranoid about it. Guess I have to stop reading all the threads on the forum. I'm coming to support group tomorrow. Hope to meet someone there.

To TJR4949: I can't imagine that you have only lost 20 pounds in four years even with having a baby. Has your doctor said anything or offered you any advice about such a poor weight loss? Please post some additional info on what has been happening and if we can help, there is a lot of experienced people that will be more than willing to help.

For me, it is so worth it all. I didn't do this for weight per se, I did it to get my health in better condition. My PCP told me I wouldn't see my 70's if I didn't do it. So far, I've lost 28 pounds and am proud of the lost. Oh yes, I would love for the weight to just fall off but that's not going to happen, so I am planning to work hard and take what I get. I have to admit that I didn't have a huge amount of problems in the beginning. No pain meds or nausea meds. I did have gas pains a couple of days later but Gas-X took care of it plus a lot of walking. My doctor recommended liquid tylenol for pain and phenergan for nausea. I still haven't open either, so I feel very fortunate. Please hang in there and everything will get better. Good luck.

Activa yogurt will help the gas. Also, buttermilk.

I am 67 years old, a retired nurse, and was banded on 8/11. I have been very lucky in that I didn't need any pain meds at all and am doing well on my food requirements. The main problem I had in the beginning was the gas and burping...oh, excuse me...belching like a long shoreman is more like it! If you could schedule your surgery for a Thursday, that would give you four days off from school and by Monday, you should be able to go back. You won't be able to pick up a heavy backpack and it might be tender bending over from the waist but you can work around those problems. Get a rolling luggage rack to carry all those books. Plan ahead for your day in the beginning. Make sure you have plenty of Water, portable Protein shakes (like Muscle Milk or Atkins Advantage shakes from Walmart). Find yourself a good Protein Bar that you can drop in your bag. Get some rest whenever you can during the day even if it's only a moment or two. When you get home, get some rest before tackling your school work. Tell your instructor about the band but be careful about what friends at school you tell. They will become your worse critics about what your are eating even if it's legal. Good luck...you can do it.

Size of a M&M is what my doctor said too. Just take your pills one at the time and don't gulp your Water. You'll be fine. I didn't have a #2 for almost two weeks, even tho I was taking a stool softner. You might have to use some Benefiber in order to get in enough Fiber in the beginning. Right now, you are mostly on liquids aren't you? Well, you know the saying "liquids in, liquids out" and that's what you will be passing mostly. If you have pains in your chest, shoulder and upper back, that's gas. Use some Gas-X and walk as much as possible. It will help. Good luck on your journey.

I can eat eggs okay. I put one in my tuna salad. My nut suggested egg beaters but ugh on them. I'd rather have the real thing. Now, cheese is another thing...can't eat it. Oh, I can get it down but my stomach doesn't like it and I was the biggest cheese eater prior to the band. Haven't tried bread yet. After reading so many negative comments about bread, I'm afraid to try it and I don't miss it much. My nut says to toast all bread real good. I think the main thing in all of this food is to chew, chew, chew. It's hard to remember to do that when you're in a hurry. I also find it hard to NOT drink while eating.

can someone tell me how to post a picture under my name like you guys have?

So sorry to hear about your loss. Hold close to the Lord during this grief time. God Bless you.

I have a close friend that chose the by-pass. She lost over 250 pounds but now she is rapidly putting it back on. She would tell me about the dumping sydrome and how she would have to lay on the floor of a public bathroom next to the commode until it passed. One time she could eat something and the next she would have the dumping problem. She is now considering the band. It's for life and not reversible. You have to take B-12 and B-6 for the rest of your life also. Please re-consider the band. It's slower but so much safer in the long run. Good luck on whatever you decide and please let us know what you decide.

Forgive yourself and go forward. Looking back is a waste of your time except to realize what you did wrong so it can be corrected. NEVER tell yourself that you are a failure. It's the first step towards defeat and a minor step-back isn't going to do that to you unless you let it. The old saying "THINK POSITIVE" is so true. So, lift up your head and strive forward.....you can do it.

As a nurse, I can tell you that with my older patients, I used applesauce. Works well and it's good for you too. Be careful about crushing pills. If they aren't scored or are enteric coated, don't crush them. Time release capsules shouldn't open either. Call you PCP and he might can change them for you.

Since I had the band surgery, so many people are watching me and asking "how much have you lost now". They are thinking that the weight is going to just fall off me fast, fast. I get so tired of explaining that this is a band NOT a bypass. It's a tool to help me lose...not a magic wand. I would not have told some of these people that I had the band but my dear 89 yr old mother told everyone b/c she was so worried about me and wanted them to pray for me. I love prayers and believe in them but you don't always have to tell it all...... I feel like a zoo exhibit or something.:tongue2:

My doctor says that I don't have any fill at present but each person's anatomy is different and I might feel some tightness at times. I get my first fill on the 23rd.