Sluggo

I was banded on 12/15/09 and had 3 fills since. Each time at the instant of the fill, I feel like I cannot handle more than a couple of swallows of water. Then an hour later, I can take frequent small drinks and go on liquids for a couple of days. 3 days later, everything seems to slide down fairly easy. A week later, I do not experience any restriction although I am careful to chew and select wisely. Still I do not seem to experience any sensation of fullness like I expected. I am due for another fill next week. I am losing at a good rate but it is all me like any other diet in the past (doomed to inevitable failure). Is this band working or am I expecting too much too soon? Can any experienced bansters provide input or advice?

Banded on 12/15/09. Lost 25 so far. I am disappointed with the fills and feel far from the proverbial "green zone." They squirt in about 1cc at any given fill up stop and I feel like I couldn't even swallow a shot glass of water. Then by 3 days at the most, everything slides on down. I've had 3 fills so maybe I am expecting too much too soon and the doc is just being careful. I feel like I am doing this on my own without benefit of the working band and pouch. Any thoughts and experiences out there on this?

Doesn't oatmeal have too many carbs? I like oatmeal but I was told it is on the no no list unless it is some other sort of oat Cereal product whose name escapes me at the moment.

I was recently banded a month ago and I am looking for some breakfast advice. Does anyone have any suggestions or hints for acceptable breakfast meals that comply with bandster guidelines? I am getting tired of the same old eggs and egg products. Isn’t there any breakfast cereals (warm or cold) or other items that we can have that contain sufficient protein? Please let me know what works for you to keep variety and interest going in breakfast?

Cawells, you will be doing great in no time and loved the pun. You hit it right - the incision pain was inconsequential compared to the other discomforts. My gas pain seemed to go right into my left shoulder. My whimpering paid off as I got my wife to give some great shoulder massages. We are holding your cyber hand in support. The first 4 days kicked my shrinking butt worse than I expected and then day 5 brought amazing relief. Walking was tough but seemed to help. Time helped most of all.

Good Luck to ya Deuce! You'll be amazed at how fast you get back to feeling good. Pulling up another belt notch is pretty good too.

Wow every doc is different on the post-op diets from what I am reading. And there are huge differences too! I wonder why that is? Mine: days 1,2 liquids including protein shakes, 3,4 soft and 5 advance as tolerated. The 4 week liquids or 4 week pureed sound punishing.

Thank you Teacher. I just need to relax and I will take your advice. I guess being a burly guy I thought I was tougher than this. Now I feel like a girlie man. I have read postings where people describe the emotions post op like a sort of grieving over the loss of their previous life. I snickered at this because I thought what does emotion have to do with any of this. Now I understand. Although not a grieving feeling I hate walking around all day feeling queezy and ask my self, "What in the world have you done to yourself?" So I will relax and experience the change because there are too many smart people out there who give me a sense of hope and encouragement. Bless you all and Merry Christmas, or holiday of your choosing.

Until I read these postings I thought I was alone. I am on day 4 of banding. I originally thought that the band facilitated weight loss through portion control. Now I am beginning to think it is through aversion therapy. I know I must eat or drink something but it is tough just to get down 1/2 of he protein shakes I need. No food appeals to me. Everything is gross and makes me feel like I want to erf it all up. I have a heightened sense of smell and taste that repels me. I used to live for my morning coffee and now that is an effort because it tastes horrible. The liquid and chewable meds aren't making it any easier. I got the crushable kind of Metformin tablets but they leave me feeling nauseous all day. So I will definitley lose weight this way but I hope in time I can feel good again and actually enjoy a small portion of food.

I'm glad I stayed an extra night because I don't think I could make that long drive the same day as surgery. My doctor advances his patients to soft food quickly. First 2 days post op is clear liquids but I don't think I could handle anything right now and certainly not another broth drink. I got the same advice for the drive. Get out and walk every hour. I have been walking a lot this day also and it works. At least I walked when it was warm. It's freezing now and that doesn't help so I am strolling the hallways for the hotel. Finally at 8 p.m. I had a small sugar free cup of jello and handled it well. A previous poster said not to sweat surgery and I completely agree now. I'm glad I don't go back to work for 3 weeks just the same.

Well I did it. I just got banded about 4 hours ago. I won't bore you with the details but the docs and nurses did help me get over the terror of surgery. Little girl screaming was not necessary. The only surprise was a hiatal hernia needing repair. I am recovering in my hotel room then its a 5 hour drive home tomorrow. I should be hungry because I've been NPO since about 8:00 p.m. yesterday but the tought of drinking anything is not appealing now. Sips of water helps and the liquid pain med, Hydrocodone I think, tastes absolutley horrible. I've taking 3 short yet quasi brisk walks, one on every hour since I left the hospital. I tolerate it well but the gosh darn cold outside is making it tough. Pain in one shoulder from the gas is, well, its a pain. Hang in there all, keep in touch, and Merry Christmas.