philippians413

Sorry, can't help you there! I weigh obsessively. At least once a day. Maybe I should have my husband misplace my scale!:scared2:

I think we all struggle with this. But I think this is one area that the band is really helpful, at least for me. I can't binge anymore. I can make an unhealthy choice, but I can't eat too much of it. The band makes me stop. I don't know about you, but if 1600 calories is a bad day for me, it's a much better day than before I got the band. My dietician reminds me that this is not a diet. It's my life now. And it's not always going to look perfect in a journal entry in my food diary. But I'm making progress, and I'm definitely eating better than I was before I got the band. I'm not trying to justify you eating unhealthy, but you have to look at things long-term.

I can't give you advice, but I am really sorry this has happened. I think that's everyone's worst fear regarding the band. Hopefully it won't be as difficult this time, and you will heal fast. May I ask why you have to have it replaced? Did it slip?

I experienced the same thing. My port incision was inside my belly button, and it was very sore for the first week. I had a hernia repair too. It does get better and better every day. Get as much rest as you can, and I hope you feel better soon.

My doctor says 60-80 grams of protein a day. You could be getting too little iron. You may want to have your doctor check you for anemia. As for vitamins, my doctor requires us to take a bariatric vitamin. I didn't like the Bariatric Advantage samples that he gave me, so I ordered samples of Celebrate Vitamins - they are bariatric vitamins as well. The chewables are actually pretty yummy. And the vitamin for bandsters has iron in it, many vitamins don't. I would recommend you talk to your doctor. I don't think you should be that weak.

I'm very new at this, and I'm having trouble understanding some of the sensations I'm experiencing. Can someone help? I had my first fill the other day. Before my first fill I had a couple of "stuck" episodes. Since my fill, I've been very, very careful not to get stuck. Last night I had sort of the same feeling, but it wasn't quite like being stuck. I had ate some lunchmeat. I started sliming, but I didn't have that intense pain that I have had when stuck. It was uncomfortable, but not the same. Tonight I was eating dinner, and I started to get that same uncomfortable feeling. I stopped eating, and it went away, no sliming. My husband suggested that maybe the sliming didn't just happen when you were full, but maybe when you had at too much. (I'm totally grossing him out by the way!) Can the sliming and pain happen when you have ate more than you are supposed to? Or is it only when you are stuck. I need to figure this out. Thanks for your help.

Good for him! As for the comments, incredible. It's sad to think that this is what the general populationg thinks about WLS. If only the statistics were out there - only 5% of obese people can lose weight and keep it off.

You're going to be fine. You definitely need a fill. And I think with the large bands you need lots more fills. I could eat absolutely anything - If I ate large bites of bread, I'd get stuck, but small bites were fine. I ate 4 pieces of french toast in a sitting, and was feeling pretty bummed out. I got my first fill last week. 6cc in an 11 cc band. I definitely wouldn't say that I'm at my "sweet spot" but I can tell a difference. I can feel my band telling me that if I don't stop soon I'm going to be regretting it. And it's not a matter of eating too fast. It's that the pouch is full, and if I keep forcing food in, I'm going to be stuck. I'm in the early stages of figuring this out - full feels different than it did before. And I understand what you mean about your family. I feel like I'm being scrutinized by those that know about the surgery. Friends ask me how much I've lost since the last time they asked me, and I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't lost any more. Who wants to be a failure at this?? Everyone knows it's our last resort. I had gained 3 pounds since my surgery and my fill. But in the last half week, I've lost 7 pounds. I think some of it is just water that for some reason I was holding, but I know I'm finally eating much less. It will come. This isn't like the bypass where it rolls off us right away, and I think we feel the pressure for that to happen because that's what people expect. But it will come. See when you can get a fill. It will take time, but you'll get to where you can't eat all you want. I hope you are encouraged a little.

The xyphoid process is at the very bottom of the sternum/breastbone. My port is about 3 inches above my belly button and maybe slightly to the right. It seems like a good place, because I can sleep comfortably on my stomach.

I think it's normal. I had my first fill on Thursday. I had gained 3 pounds. They said not to worry, that many patients gained more. I wonder if the preop diet messes up the metabolism and then there's a rebound. I'm looking forward now after the fill to seeing the numbers drop again. Good luck - you will be glad you did this. Just give it some time!:wink2:

So, before you all laugh at me, I have a relatively high pain tolerance. I've had two children, had surgery a couple of times before... I'm not a total baby.:blushing: But I really have a thing about needles. I went in for my first fill. My doctor does the first fill under flouroscopy. He fills the band to capacity, then has you drink barium, and he pulls saline out of the band until the barium goes through. So he puts the needle in, which I shouldn't have looked at by the way, and I can feel him digging around for the port. He sprayed the skin with a freezing spray while he put the needle in, but I could feel it deep inside. He couldn't get the needle into the port, so he said he was going to have to get a bigger needle. (Not the right thing to say to me at that moment!) I started getting dizzy and had to sit down. I got up as soon as I could and he did it again... I was so dizzy, sweating, seeing stars. All I could think about was taking deep breaths. I didn't want to pass out there in the office. He had me drink the barium, I don't even know what it tasted like. Then it was over. I cannot believe I didn't fall over right there. He put 6cc in my 11cc band. That seems like a lot for a fill. Is that more than normal?

Hey folks. I need to 'fess up and be honest here. I am really, really struggling. I had surgery on Feb 9, less than 2 weeks ago. I have not been able to stay on my post op diet. I think I worked so hard to follow my pre op diet - 3 1/2 weeks of misery. I didn't cheat once. I only had the prepackaged junk they gave me. It was awful. But I did it. Why can't I find the same strength now? I'm supposed to be on pureed foods. But I was so sick of them, and so hungry. I felt restriction for only about 3 days. I have ate: a grilled cheese sandwich, macaroni and cheese, cereal, and <gasp> a McDonalds cheeseburger. I can say for sure I am eating less than I did before the surgery.... much smaller portions. But I know I am not supposed to eat these foods. I'm afraid I'm going to cause my band to slip, or stretch out my pouch or something. I need to get control. Please tell me, am I the only one who cheated on the post op diet. Does this mean I'm doomed to be a lapband failure? Please help.:thumbup: Thanks so much.

My dietician wants me to keep my carbs to less than 60 grams a day, and to have 60-80 grams of protein a day. I am really struggling with this. I feel like I'm always trying to grab something quick to eat, and it's so easy to eat quick carbs (cereal, toast, sandwich) while protein involves cooking. I have tried drinking protein shakes to get my protein in, but I don't think that is what the dietician intended. Less than 60 grams of carbs seems so impossible to me. A bowl of cereal and milk is almost 60 grams of carbs. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to reach this goal? I'm really getting sick of scrambled eggs and cottage cheese, and I can't see myself eating like this for the rest of my life. By the way, does anyone know the logic behind this? I grew up on the "Weight Watchers" mentality - keep your points below a certain amount and you will lose weight. I thought it was calories in vs. calories used. Can someone more knowledgable than me explain this? Thanks!

My doctor insists on Bariatric Vitamins. So I got some samples of both the Bariatric Advantage the Celebrate. I thought the Bariatric Advantage were nasty tasting and my mouth felt gritty for a while. The Celebrate ones taste pretty good, and they were more powdery than gritty. I can handle that though. It went down easier. They will send you free samples to try.

Narcotics do cause itching as a side effect. Try taking Benadryl, it really helps make the itching better. Do you have a rash? I was taking Lortab Elixar, and about the 3rd day I broke out in a huge rash all over my stomach. It was the pain medicine. The doctor said I probably was allergic to the dye in the medicine, because people usually aren't allergic to that particular medicine itself. Good luck!

Totally agree with the lip balm and slip on shoes. As to the debate of heating pad vs. ice packs - here is my experience. The first 2-3 days I had a lot of burning in the incision where the port is. I kept ice packs on that incision for about the first 3 days. It cooled the burn, and helped with the swelling. From that point on, I used a heating pad, it helped with the sore stomach muscles. I guess everyone is different. As for meals - my doctor only required 1 day of clear liquids, then puree for 2 weeks. I did ok with pureed fruits and veggies, pudding, etc; but I found it difficult to get the protein in. I refused to eat the Gerber meats... I wouldn't even give those to my kids. My dietician suggested pureed chicken salad. Pureed meat, even if you make it yourself, is pretty gross looking. The chicken salad didn't seem all that different from how it normally was, it even had a little bit of texture to it. I used lowfat mayonnaise and a recipe that didn't have a lot of carbs. Oh, and I also masked pureed meat in BBQ sauce. I found one that was lower in carbs and put a tsp in with pureed chicken or lean pork. Really helped it go down easier. Good luck with your surgery!

Wow! I am so incredibly encouraged! Thank you all for the replies. What a blessing to have such a support system here. I WILL start fresh in the morning and not look back. I guess I just felt burned out from trying so hard to stay on the preop diet. After the surgery, the first week I followed the diet perfectly, and I gained 2 pounds. That really discouraged me, and sent me off course. I think in the back of my mind, I felt like once I had the band, the cravings would be gone. But I guess they can't put a band around my brain, can they?:frown: Thank you especially to those of you who shared your struggles to follow this too. I wasn't looking for someone to justify it, or to make me feel better. I just wanted to know that I am not unique in finding this very, very hard. And I wanted to know that others who hadn't followed things exactly as prescribed were still able to get back on track and get the band to work with them. Thanks again. You all are the best!

Hey Guys! I had surgery Tuesday (2/9) and I'm 4 days out. I have 4 tiny (1/4 - 1/2 inch) incision around my belly, but the large port incision is inside my belly button. I guess that's good in a way because I won't have a large scar, and it should be easy to find my port for fills, but I have had a lot of pain there. My pants and waistbands rub it and press on it, and it is incredibly tender and sore. Of course, if the incision was anywhere else on my stomach, it would probably be just as sore. I have seen other people mention that the port site is always tender. Does anyone else have the port in their belly button? Thanks!

Glad things went well for you Northern Mist! Someone asked, my surgery was outpatient. I had surgery at 11:30, and I was on the way home by 5:00. I'm glad too. I just didn't feel comfie in that hospital bed and with the hospital pillows and bedding! Day 2 has been a little worse for me. I am feeling much more incision pain. I'm still getting gas pain, but if I walk around the house a few times I burp - a few times - and it helps. The Gas-X strips also help. I too felt the gas pain as soon as I woke up from surgery. It made me feel like I couldn't breathe well. I wish I had a recliner to sleep in. I try to prop myself up in bed, but it is difficult. I have had to have help getting up and down, getting covers pulled up, getting dressed. On a good note, I am 24 hours out now and able to have pureed foods. I had a tiny bit of pureed chicken salad, and a little bit of applesauce. My dietician recommends chicken salad because it doesn't look as unappetizing as other meats when you puree it. It tasted wonderful after such a long time with no real food. Hope the rest of you are hanging in there!

I'm banded!!!!! And I'm really feeling surprisingly good. I do have one incision that is quite sore, but the pain medicine takes care of it for the most part. I've got a little bit of gas pain, but not too terrible at this point, hopefully it won't be too bad in the next few days. I do have to be careful when getting up and down and rolling over in bed. But I really am shocked at how good I feel. I hope that encourages those of you who are going soon. Can't tell anything is different really. Clear liquids go down fine. I had quite a large hiatal hernia (2 inches diameter.) I was pretty sure I did going into it. Northern Mist - I was thinking of you last night. I was sitting here nervous, trying to sip some tea before midnight. I thought how nice it might have been to be in a hotel and enjoying a hot tub. Hope you were able to enjoy it and you are feeling well.

and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for me. I thought I would feel differently by the time I reached this point. I expected to be so proud for sucessfully completing my preop diet. And I do feel that. But I don't feel the excitement I thought I would. I am thrilled that I made it through the diet. I didn't cheat once, no bites, no licks. Perfect. And I am happy, but not exstatic like I thought. I'm not sure if it's because I'm so, so very tired. This diet has done a number on my body. I'm often dizzy and lightheaded, and usually very tired. It makes it hard to celebrate anything like that! Maybe I'm tentative because up until this point, I've seen the surgery itself as an escape from the preop diet. But now that I'm there, I am realizing the enormity of what tomorrow brings. I've had surgery before, but never one that I chose to have. I've never been in a situation where I could change my mind if I wanted to. I'm a little afraid of the pain. But I'm mainly afraid that I won't make it through the next weeks until I get a fill, or even until I get enough fills, that I am not hungry and struggling. While in one sense, the surgery is the end... it is really the beginning. For the last 3 1/2 weeks I had someone dictating what I would eat, how much, and that I would eat nothing else. After the surgery, I will have to make choices again. Choices are dangeous for me... I am looking forward to moving on. Hoping God is merciful and will continue to give me strength and able to get through this!

and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for me. I thought I would feel differently by the time I reached this point. I expected to be so proud for sucessfully completing my preop diet. And I do feel that. But I don't feel the excitement I thought I would. I am thrilled that I made it through the diet. I didn't cheat once, no bites, no licks. Perfect. And I am happy, but not exstatic like I thought. I'm not sure if it's because I'm so, so very tired. This diet has done a number on my body. I'm often dizzy and lightheaded, and usually very tired. It makes it hard to celebrate anything like that! Maybe I'm tentative because up until this point, I've seen the surgery itself as an escape from the preop diet. But now that I'm there, I am realizing the enormity of what tomorrow brings. I've had surgery before, but never one that I chose to have. I've never been in a situation where I could change my mind if I wanted to. I'm a little afraid of the pain. But I'm mainly afraid that I won't make it through the next weeks until I get a fill, or even until I get enough fills, that I am not hungry and struggling. While in one sense, the surgery is the end... it is really the beginning. For the last 3 1/2 weeks I had someone dictating what I would eat, how much, and that I would eat nothing else. After the surgery, I will have to make choices again. Choices are dangeous for me... I am looking forward to moving on. Hoping God is merciful and will continue to give me strength and able to get through this!

I'm in on Tuesday too. I have lots of nerves going now! Just need to stay up a while tonight and think, prepare my mind. We'll have to leave early in the morning due to snow. My surgery is at 11:30. We will all have to get on tomorrow night and compare how we are doing. Good luck everyone!

Mine was 3 1/2 weeks. About 500-600 calories a day. All prepacked little packets of food to mix with water and either cook or drink. Not very tasty. I was down to about 300 calories a day for a while because I just couldn't stomach eating more. I am happy to say that I am on my last day, and I didn't cheat - not once, not even a lick. So proud of myself. Surgery tomorrow.

I'm going in tomorrow too. I'm really, really nervous. I think the last few weeks I'm just been trying to get through the PreOp diet - which I have followed perfectly! 500-600 calories a day! So tough! Anyway, I think I've been so focused on getting through the diet, that I haven't really thought too much about the surgery itself. I've seen the surgery as my escape from the PreOp diet. Now I'm thinking - "O my word, I am going to be cut open tomorrow! I'm worried about the pain, and it's hit me that this is an enormous thing! We are supposed to get 3-5 inches of snow here tonight. Hoping that doesn't change things. I'll hitch a ride on a snowplow if I have to. As scared as I am of the surgery... the thought of one more day on this diet is crazy!