honk

Yes the first month is hard. Clear liquids for one week and full liquids for a second. SUCKS!!! I won't lie to you. Once healed however it's really not bad. Have I been really lucky, knock on wood, no vomitting and very limited stuck episodes, Sure. Having the band doesn't mean never enjoying chocolate cake again, it means having it once a year instead of daily/weekly. It's not a torture device.

Yes see a doctor now. PS don't take any more advil. Very bad for the banded stomach.

Jen, I read a book in college "When I relax I feel guilty". That was aaaaaa long time ago so you can tell it made an impression. You might want to check it out.

The preexisting condition regulation goes into affect I think in 2014 for adults. It is already illegal to deny CHILDREN. I was also denied because of surgery and told to check back after a year. When I did I was told I needed to loose another 10 pounds before they could cover me. I joined the high risk pool in NH. Super expensive with high deductable. No band coverage so good thing I am at restriction my doctor charges 400 for a fill.

My doctor considered cottage cheese a mushie which was not until day 15.

You need to remember everyone is different. I am not trying to be a downer. I just think people should realize they may be a slow loser. I certainly am. I was 332 at first consult. Due to other complications surgery was delayed and 7 months later I was at 282 day of surgery I am two years out and have lost 70 pounds. Some would call that a failure. Do I wish I lost quicker? Sure. Six months of doing up to 2.5 hours of cardio 7 days a week and I only lost 20 pounds. Also before the consult I hd lost about 50 pounds so by the time I had surgery I had already lost 100. Also the more you lose the less calories it takes to run your body and you will have to either/or eat less and exercise more to continue to loose weight.

I could have tomato or squash soup during full liquids which was week two. Are you on full or clear liquids for the first week?

Probably not! Took me 6 months! This is a will power diet until then. If you have not done so buy a food scale and start weighing your protein. My doctor says 3 oz. I still measure even though I am at restriction.

Hamilton Beach individual blender. Mixes in a travel mug. Works great on ice. The price is also fantastic $15! Target or Walmart.

I was allowed yogurt and cottage/ricotta cheese at day 15. Please note I WAS hungry before that but thems the rules.

If you eat something high in fat like fried food, ice cream, donuts and a couple hours you have an attack that's the gall bladder.

Are you measuring your food. At the very least weigh out 3 oz of protein. Eat low fat/cal veggies until full. You will over serve yourself if you don't measure. I am at restriction and still measure whenever I am at home; as well as portioning my lunch that I bring.

Not to be a downer but for some of us the weight NEVER "falls off". More like sand blasted or dynamited off.

I am also a slow looser. Keeping that in mind however I exercise ALOT. While unemployeed I was doing 2.5 hrs Mon-Fri and 1 hour on Sat-Sun. Now that I am back to work its more 1-1.5 hrs.

I consider my Vitamins a daily treat. I take the equivalent of a Flintstone multi WITH Choline (Make sure it contains Choline. I get the store brand at Costco- way cheaper.), Caltrate: Caltrate® 600+D Plus Minerals (chewable calcium), Vitafusion Fiber gummies, Vitafusion Vitamin D Gummies (I have low Vitamin D levels). I also take Biotin 5000 mg (tick tack size), and an Iron supplement. I was to told to stop vitamins 2 weeks pre op and not to resume until 2 weeks after. Did you have you consult yet?

I think 24 hours was not enough time for just liquids; considering the vomitting. I would try just liquids for a couple more days.

Took me six months of fills to get restiction.

You won't get restriction until you get fills. In fact took me 6 months! Also the band is really meant to work with solid foods. At four weeks are you on solids yet?

My doctor says 2 weeks but you need to speak to YOUR doctor. I've had to get out of the pool at my gym becuase a child vomited in the water. Would you want that touching your incisions?

Not sure what to tell you about the port. My doctor is pretty strict about post op diet. During full liquids for meals I could have 8 oz of soup, a protein shake, and jello. That's it! I'm not a doctor but I would have more of the foods you are allowed rather than advancing to other foods. Remember your body is still recovering. Make sure your protein shakes are 20 plus grams per serving.

How many days a week do you exercise? My doctor wants at least 30 minutes, 7 days a week. Even before your pre op diet (If you have one); I would do protein shakes for breakfast and dinner and a low fat/cal/carb protein based lunch. I did this for about a month preop.

Well, my doctor requires EVERYONE to attend three sessions with an eating disorder therapist. I was SHOCKED how important these sessions were for me. There are WLS patients who transfer their food addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling, compulsive shopping. It sounds like your doctor is just being very conservative.

I have lost about 170 pounds and have very limited skin sag. Probably the "worst" is under my chin where I used to have 3 chins. I am 42. As to being only able to eat 2 Tablespoons. Who thinks up this stuff. No you need to eat 3 oz of solid Protein per meal. PLUS non starch veggies and some fruit. That is WAY MORE than 2 tablespoons! Sorry, but this mentality drives me nuts and I think is bad advice for new bandsters. Eating out with friends is a normal social activity. My question would be how often? Is it weekly? If so I would recommend finding lower fat options. For example a baked potato with salsa would be a much lower fat/cal option.

Wendy, Hi. I had a very serious health scare so I had a lot of motivation to make this work. I had a stroke at 39 that doctors could not say with an absolute certainty was caused by my weight but they also would not rule it out. I live in southern NH and chose Lahey becaue it's a great hospital and they do not have a "Program Fee" (additional fee charged on top of insurance). As to weight loss even presurgery I was on a pretty strick eating and exercise regiment. Through the therapy sessions I learned what my triggers were for mindless eating. I cut out all crackers, chips, Cereal, etc even reduced or fat free. In the 7.5 months from consult to surgery I ate a pretty low carb/fat diet; and did an hour of Water based cardio seven days a week. I highly recommend water based exercise, as it is so much better on the joints of the overweight. Water proof MP3 player is a must for lap swimming. I also use a snorkle which allows me to swim longer.

Having read so much on here about liver shrinking (my doctor does'nt require a pre op diet); I asked how mind looked. The doctor just shrugged it off like it did'nt matter at all and said "It was fine." I had lost a total of 100 pounds preop so that may have something to do with it.