jenpen2

Hi Lapinmich, I don't know if I would be of much help, but also feel stalled as well, so at least we are in the same boat :thumbup: I am also an Ohioian and live in North Central Ohio. I had my surgery at OSU in April of this year. I have only lost twenty pounds and feel really stalled and would like to jump start my weight loss somehow. What areas have you been struggling with? I don't really go to a support group either. I have traveled to columbus from time to time to meet with a great group, but it gets hard to travel that far. I hope you are healing okay from your gallbladder issues.

Hi Folks, I have a quick question...tomorrow I go for my second fill but it is not until 3p. Can I eat or drink before 3p or do I need to be totally empty? I forgot to ask the office when I made the appt. Thanks for the feedback!

getnthere, that is too funny! I would think the same way. In fact, my fill is today at 3p and all day I have been taking it easy on the food for the same reason!!

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm looking forward to another fill to get moving in the right direction!

Thanks for this post. It was really helpful to reframe my thinking about the band. It really does take more patience and a longer time to lose weight and get to the right fill spot. I think part of my issue is at the pre-op meetings I was lumped in with the bypass people. These folks lose weight so fast and surgery is totally different. I wish they would separate out the lapband patients and educate them similarly to what you were told by your doctor. I might even suggest this next time I am at the dr's. office.

I like this analogy as well! It is like an ornament unless it is working for me! I spoke with the nutritionist yesterday and that was helpful. He said to really keep track of what I am eating and keeping up with Protein was key to try and stay full-also eat small mini-meals around 6x a day. This was something I was not doing, so maybe little protein Snacks will help. The nurse also said you totally do not want a fill until you are fully healed because it could cause problems, so I will try to stay patient for a few weeks. So yes everyone, we can totally do this everyone!! Let's make our "ornaments" work for us in a few weeks!:scared2:

I am so glad to see this post! I am two weeks post op and healing really well. The last few days, I have been really hungry and able to eat more! I even called the nurse this morning about this. She said I am getting ahead of myself (since I still need to keep healing) and when I meet with the dr. next week for my first post-op, they will schedule my first fill. She said the fill will definitely begin to make a difference. She suggested I talk to the nutritionist in the mean time to work on my diet so I can feel full. I'm just waiting for him to call back. This really is frustrating:unsure:, but glad to see it gets better in the weeks and months ahead. More experienced bandsters on here, please keep posting to us newbies that it will get better!!:thumbup:

Congrats Special K!! I'm glad you are doing well. It will be great to see you at some point at our monthly lap-band get-togethers. How are you feeling today? I got banded on 4/12! So far, I am feeling great and really excited to have had the surgery despite the pain and hoops to jump through. Thanks for all of your support. Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Okay folks, I have an opposite question then, is it normal to be able to feel your port? I was banded on 4/12 and am healing up nicely. However, when I press on the incision area I can feel the port. I can't see it or anything and it doesn't bug me when I bend around, but I definitely know it is there when poking at it. How are others with their ports?

mlmdore, You are going to do fantastic!! Good luck on Thursday!

I'm with you guys. We need an experienced bandster to tell us if this is normal. Sometimes the weird idiosyncrasies of being banded drive me bonkers! kjd612, I really like ISOfemme protein smoothie. I got it at Meijer and it has 27grams of protein in one scoop. You can either mix it in with your food (I put it on cream of wheat) or mix it with water. The one I have is vanilla and it is pretty good. Here's a link I found for it on the bottle: ISOFEMME Protein Smoothie for Women, Zero Added Sugar, Gluten-Free

I'm doing better each day for sure. Less pain in the incisions each day, too. If I push myself, I end up taking some tylenol. It is weird having this thing inside of you-especially the port. Pushing on my belly to feel the port is a little weird, but like you said, it will eventually be nothing. I have also been really tired at times-especially in the afternoon, so on days that I can, I take a quick nap which really helps, like 30minutes. :sleep:Could the energy thing be related to getting enough protein? How is that going for you? I think I'm getting enough, but maybe should pay better attention?

NewMeComing, I was banded the same day! I also spent the night and was really glad I did. I had mine at Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio and the staff kept me really comfortable all night. How are you feeling one week out?

Thanks for that post, TJ! It gives me great hope as a very new bandster.

You and I share the same attitude, smashleigh. I am one week out tomorrow and still on mushies, but am already totally looking at food through a whole new lens. I'm a bit of an introvert, so I understand how it is scary, yer exciting to think of ourselves as "normal" sized people! Good luck to you!

Hi Folks, I was just banded on Monday. I am definitely sore and taking it slow, but I have noticed something interesting. Since starting the mushies diet, I am sticking to high protein shakes and little carbs as recommended by the dietician. I have noticed I have lost the foggy feeling of eating too many carbs. Although I am sore, my mental clarity and energy seems better. Has anyone else noticed feeling better on the post-op diet or is it all in my head? :thumbup:

Maine2,I hope you start feeling better!

FroggieD, that is too funny! I never thought I would be worried about getting enough calories either! Just a few weeks ago I could have eaten 650 calories in one bite!

Froggie, maybe you should talk to a nutritionist. It sounds like your protein is good, but maybe not enough calories? Do you have one you could call at your hospital or something? Just a thought...

I'm so glad to here others experiencing the mental clarity as well. I was also on a clear diet for just one day and then been on mushies for the almost a week now. Definitely sore, but like others are experiencing, mentally I just feel better and even more in control. Montynic, I've been really tired too, but just like others said, my surgeon also said it takes a good few weeks to get back to your normal self. Not only did we have surgery, but this includes a major change it diet as well! I don't get folks on here that say they are banded and back to normal a couple of days later, but good for them, though! I wish I was that way!

I have to agree with vlp. I'd stick to every couple weeks or months. Even though I'm newly banded, I've learned over the years with dieting that I end up on a slippery slope of goodies and snacks and then I never want to stop. That's where cheat days once a week can easily turn into cheat moments daily and then the calories add up big time. You sound like you have done so awesome so far, so totally keep it up!!:thumbup:

ShanesO1- Congrats on your band. I have seen a lot of people post about trying the GAS-X strips. Maybe that could help? Scott, I thought I would be on clear liquids longer as well, but I had the surgery in the late afternoon on Monday and had my first clear liquids for Breakfast. They said since I did well with breakfast, I was moved on to mushies for lunch which was like a peachy applesauce thing and cream of chicken Soup. I got a little nauseated, but did well with it overall. Today I had a high Protein oatmeal packet with milk and that did well. Could you maybe ask to see if they would let you have some mushies? I would think you would get hungry!

Congratulations Scott and to others recently banded. I got banded on Monday with a hiatal hernia repair. I spent the night and came home yesterday. The step II mushies are going well so far. The weirdest thing is not feeling or really desiring food so much. Do others feel this way after surgery? One thing is, I am really sore!

Great post, Special K. It was great to meet with you guys last weekend and I have found the meetings very, very helpful!! I have my pre-op appointment on Tuesday, so wish me luck! I'm excited, but nervous about the surgery. Again, this group has been great and would encourage anyone to network with other bandsters to get support.

Hi Special K, I'm glad to here your work situation is turning around. Work stress can be a killer to eating well! Keep up the good work on the weight loss! My paperwork is now being submitted to BCBS, so keep your fingers crossed for approval. The insurance woman at OSU says she doesn't see why it would get turned down, but I still worry!!