outside*looking*in

Ha! Funny..... suicidal t.v!

Boy...there are a lot of adjustments to make after having this surgery! I mean -I knew all about the small bites, chewing well and stuff. I guess the head hunger vs. real hunger is a biggy. I must say that I am only just now starting to feel hungry in between meals. At first it was more that I wanted flavor and texture, not that I was hungry. I am FINALLY on normal foods but I have noticed that I have been getting a little bit of an upset stomach after I eat, especially in the morning. Also, I have added back two protein shakes a day since they seem to keep me full longer and I don't mind the taste. I guess for me it is safe until I start eating with my stomach and NOT my eyes. I also have to- have to -have to -have a small snack between lunch and dinner otherwise I feel like I could eat everything in sight including the pets! And do it without taking small bites or chewing well. Good thing I go for my first fill in five days. Hope I will feel some sort of restriction.

I am about 3 weeks out. I know everyone is different and I remember having to deal more with head hunger. I was not that hungry and even had a hard time finishing my shakes or yogurt. I thought it was crazy to hear my stomach gurgle and think "I not hungry - why is my stomach growling??" Now - I feel hungry by the time it starts growling at me. There are a lot of things/adjustments to get used to. I notice that now that I am really hungry, I eat bigger bites and eat faster. I guess it is a learning process for everyone. I lost 10lbs but now that I am starting to feel hunger and allowed back on regular food, I went up a pound. SO - I will now start the journaling and measure everything. Best of luck to you.

When I was heavy into low carb I made a version of lasagna where I used thin/long slices of zuchinni instead of noodles. It was pretty good. I am not a huge lasagna eater though.

Coaco "Desire to eat your dog" - - that is just too funny~! I was banded on 2/3 supposed to be on full liquids for 21 days. Last night was a challenge as we were out late and had to find a place to eat. I managed to find a place where I could have french onion soup/took out the bread and I ate the pot roast out of the 1/2 pot roast (very soft meat) sandwich I orderd. I discovered I could have stopped at the soup but old habbits had me ordering more than I needed. I have had little slip ups along the way. When I feel I can't stand it and need texture "real food" I have tried to find soft healthier options. Each doc is different and so I figured some people go back to soft foods three days out and if I have a small bit of something soft, it is not going to kill me. Just make sure to move past it and get back on track.

Hi - I was banded on the 3rd. I have to do 21 days of liquid/yogurt/shakes. I have been tired and was able to take my first small walk today without feeling exhausted. I have only lost about 8lbs since surgery but have been dealing with a heavy cycle for this past week and that is when things really started slowing down. I still get full with the shakes but would love some real stuff! Best of Luck to all:thumbup:

Update - so I spoke with the ladies from the office today and it just seems that they have never heard of this before and are not sure what to do. As a self-pay, they have a "package price" basically and don't have an itemized billing. I explained to them that had this hernia been detected BEFORE the surgery there are things that they would have covered. They thought that I was trying to get the ins to cover the whole thing. I explained that I knew they would not cover the band and other things but possibly the anestheia or hospital stay. SO they finally decided to submit the claim today but made sure to let me know that I may be subject to the co-pay??? Ugh, I have paid near $18,000. If they re-imburse some, I will take it out of that. This is still a big ????IF they pay anything. THey may not. I guess we will wait and see. It seems like the docs office is not to enthused about doing this.

Did the practice move or just the doctor? Give them another call and demand to be seen. If they are no longer there go to your family doctor who can help treat you in the mean time. If his/her skills are limited in that area start calling around to different bariatric offices to see who can take you as a patient. DO NOT WAIT! It could be somthing minor but it could also be something that needs imediate attention!!! Please see someone soon. Best of luck.

I know I probably don't have true restriction just swelling but I was wondering how long that last. I am 2 weeks post-op today. Even though my doc request us to continue liquids/pureed foods for 3 weeks, I had a moment of weakness and and some soft foods for lunch:blushing:. I did feel full after about 10 bites of food. I had also had about 1/3 cup applesauce previous. I was surprised (and a little happy) that I felt full so quick. My thought now is this the band just simply being in place or am I still swollen?

I saw the doc today and asked him if I would still be swollen and if that is why I am still having a hard time finishing food. He said yes, I would still be sollen some. (I am 2weeks post-op) The nurse was saying that she has noticed most people get the hungrier feeling around 3weeks, as that is when your bodily fluids start getting back to normal. Sometimes I am hungry and other times not. I just have to filter out the head hunger! One more week of mostly liquids...:thumbdown:

I agree. It was better you ate something than nothing at all. Sounds like you did the best you could.

I am two weeks post op. I am recovering nicely and beggining to want regular food. I tried some hummus for the past two afternoons and here is what I have experienced. I take about 1/2 tsp of hummus on a wheat pita chip (chip a bit smaller then the size of a dorito) I usually make the chip last for about 3 bites. I chew it really well but it almost feels like the thickness of it is a little hard to swallow. It is not a lot in my mouth. I don't have a problem with it once swallowed. ??? Is this just me or should I not be eating this? Is this normal for food to feel thicker? Thanks in advance.

OMG! I did not get that warning when they put that on me and the day after surgery I noticed that I was having a hard time reading because everything was blurry. Then when I got home the next day it was the same thing. When I tried to write something it looked as though I was writting with electric ink! I thought it was the pain meds. It wore off after a day or so home. I took the patch off on day three. I bet that was it because it is two weeks later and I have never had that reaction since taking the pain med again.! That is so weird!

I did. I still am but it is picking up everyday. I just don't think to have water with me unless I am thirsty. I am also am having a hard time learning to sip instead of take a normal drink.

When I went in for my patient education class prior to my surgery the nurse told me that the doctor would prime the tubing that connects the port to the band. Meaning fill the tubing. I don't know how much that would take. Maybe????

Yes but....I have already paid my docs office the full amount and I am hoping that the insurance will re-emburse some directly to me. That is what the insurance told my husband. It all depends in what his operative notes say???? I will be calling the docs office back tomorrow for more info. I have been waiting since last Wednesday. The thing is, I figure they give you the "discount" rate for the surgery and if they could have billed the insurance it would have probably been much higher. If all else fails you can ask for your operative notes (or whatever your ins requires) and file the claim yourself with the ins.

Hi - I am 11 days post-op and today is the first day I have been out of the house. This is not because I have been in pain but I have been sooooo tired. I have not been taking the pain meds so it is not side effects. I think it comes down to lack of caffiene and calories. Everyone is different though. I was sore for about a week but if I had the energy I think I could have made it to a desk job with the soreness, it was not that bad. I did not have all of the gas pain though. Best of Luck to you.!

I have also heard that low iron levels will cause hair loss. Any thoughts on that?

I only lost 7lbs before surgery on the pre-op diet. I was on it for 2 weeks. My doc did not ask/require a certain amount of weight to be lost. Things went fine and he even fixed a hernia that I did not know that I had. Plus, you still have a week. Best of luck.

I'm not sure if this is the same thing. I am 10 days post-op and I have pain if I sit funny. Almost like my ribs hit something. But the pain is more in the ribs.

So AWESOME!!!! You did and look amazing......Great Inspiration!

I was fortunate to not have that bad of the gas pains. I am still struggling with lack of energy though. I was banded 9 days ago. I have lost 7lbs since then though. Hang in there.

I am 5'3" and I could not even wrap my head around 140! It seems soooo far off!! I think the lowest I have ever been was 165 and that was in HS~. If I make it back to that I would be okay. I am in the start of this journey though so we will see where it takes me.

My doc is same. No NSAIDS/Advil....What I rely on for cramping. They did say that if I needed I could take Advil Liquid gels. But I figure I am going to try other things first.

I agree, anything is better than nothing! Still waiting to here back from docs office.