honk

I was never given instructions for before the fill. Since they weigh you before the fill I try not to eat very much. The fill itself take like 1 minute. They do ask you before the fill about your general health. They have you look at the "chart" that shows the yellow/green/red zones. If you know you are getting a fill they may not bother with that.

Some people esp. women don't like it when someone challenges their place in the social order. Is she thin? Does she think you are a "threat" to her? Really vain women want to be the prettiest in the room. Fat girls are'nt competition and are not seen at a threat to their social position. Once you are no longer fat you become competition.

As I've lost weight the port is easier for me to feel if I go looking for it. I still have about 60 pounds to loose (lost 65 so far). I wear a large/xl top. The port does not stick out. I can't feel it from the inside as a matter of course. The only time I notice it's there is if I do intense exercise and the muscles are sensitive. I do a lot of exercise but I don't always get that feeling. Probably has something to do with being somewhat dehydrated.

Speak with you doctor if you are concerned. I personally had a very bad rash/welts from the adhesive of the tape that was used to map out the " surgical area" You could see that it looked just like a rectangle. I was afraid to take something orally so I used a rub on cream from the pharmacy. Big red welts! The welts were almost as bad as the port incision (which was really not that bad). I think I had a genetic disposition since my mother also had a very bad reaction to medical adhesive after a sugery.

How strict is the post op diet? The post op diet is not optional so keep that in mind. I was on clears for 7 days and full liquids for another 7. I did my own voluntary preop diet of 2 protein shakes with one low fat/cal protein based meal daily. While I would do my preop diet again I don't think I would volunteer for the one you listed knowing I would be on liquids for two weeks post op.

At two weeks I was allowed to return to swimming (I was swimming an hour a day before surgery). Water aerobics or lap swimming are great for heavier people because it's better on your joints. I highly recommend a water proof MP3 player (look on Amazon). I do think it speeds up your weight loss to mix up your work outs (walking, swimming, using cardio machines). I think it is impossible to say I should loose X per week after surgery. I am a slow looser (which I think is due to my having lost about 100 pounds BEFORE surgery). Personally I would take each pound lost as a victory. Expecting to loose a certain amount is like counting chickens before they hatch. If they fail to hatch you will feel disappointed.

If appropriate bring a food to share that you can eat. If it can be a low fat Protein (meatballs, chicken kabobs) that would be great. Maybe bring a a plate of veggies that you can eat, look for dip recipes that you can make with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. In general look for a low fat protein that you can eat first. Then try for a lower fat veggie. In a pinch corn on the cob would be a good choice (yes high in carbs but it is a natural carb not fried potato chips, or potato salad with mayo). Also fruit salad would be a good choice to make/eat. If you're going to a restaurant look at their menu on line. Every sit down restaurant sells baked/grilled chicken. If you are concerned it will be too dry ask for a dipping sauce (BBQ, sweet and sour) on the side that you can use if necessary.

I take small pills everyday. As to tylenol there there are adult versions. I buy store brands because they are cheaper. Go to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist where to find it.

Please follow your doctor's orders! You can do damage to your stomach eating mushies or solids too soon. Your doctor SEWED your stomach around the band to keep it in place. You do not want your stomach churning to digest food. To help with hunger: drink 8 oz of stock first (I added Mrs. Dash salt free chicken flavored spice before heating), wait as long as you can and then have a protein shake. Make sure the shake has at least 20 g of protein and less then 200 cal. It is better for you to eat the foods your doctor has approved more often then to to eat mushies or solids.

Sorry to hear of your problems. Twenty years a go after loosing 100 pounds I had to have my gall bladder removed. Did not have the problems you are having. I did experinence phantom gall bladder pains after it had been removed in the middle of the night right at the end of PMS. Not sure if it was a hormonal thing or what. Eventually they went away. I did get one of those pains about a month or so after banding. Again at night (can't remember about the PMS).

Are you at mushies? I would not have been allowed blended beans until week 3 or 4.

Did your doctor add fill during surgery? You should be able to drink a lot more than that per day. You need to make sure you don't get dehydrated. Also Boost is low in Protein. You need to be getting around 20-25 g of protein per shake.

Sorry two premier shakes have 320 cals, stupid phone. Anyway. Based on calories its seems like if you would rather substitue a yogurt for another shake you could probably do that. However cottage cheese or yogurt are giving you certain nutrients etc. Post op I choose low fat cottage cheese with either pinapple or herbs added.

Not normal. Call your doctor. You need to stay hydrated.

Nothing! You can't spot reduce. You can work lower ab muscles and make them stronger but you can't force your body to loose weight in one area.

My first 7 days were Clear liquids plus Protein shakes (yes those are'nt clear). Do not eat solid food! That is head hunger talking. If you think you are uncomfortable now eating solids would make you 100 times worse! Try stock instead of broth (I added Mrs. Dash non salt flavoring before heating), strained canned Soup, strained chinese soup is good as well. Have the "soup" wait a while and have a Protein shake. This will help with the head hunger. You won't feel like its so long between meals. Many people report that walking helps with the gas. I only took liquid tylenol (store brands are fine). If you are on a perscription medication that could be affecting your intestines etc. (it takes a couple days for the anastesia (sp) to leave your system as well which messes you up).

Well from north of 365 (probably closer to 385) gone from a 52D/DD (just my size) to 42 D (playtex which run larger so probably a DD in other brands). So not a whole lot of shrinkage here!

If you can not get down 3 oz of solid protein, plus veggies you are too tight! Don't wait. Being to tight can and will to band slipping!

I would not have ground beef even blended at this stage to soon. First week of mushies I had greek yogurt (with fruit) mixed with a hand blender and added milk because it is pretty thick (did add splendra because greek yogurt is sour. Also look for 0-2% fat as some brands are full fat and have lots of calories.), cottage cheese and ricotta cheese (made an Italian bake with smooth spagetti sauce from a jar). Second week of mushies I had canned chicken mixed with low fat laughing cow cheese. Microwave until warm.

At what point did you stop geting fills? I ask because it took me 6 months+ to get restriction. So the question is did you ever have restriction. I found the better food choices I made including less salty foods the easier it was for me to give up drinking during meals. I used to get so irritated when eating out that the waiter would not keep my soda glass filled often enough. I felt like I could'nt eat if I did'nt have soda to drink. Now I realize my problem was 1) My bites were so big I needed to wash them down, 2) my food choices were so salty I needed to drink constantly).

How are far out from surgery are you? Almost sounds like food poisoning since you are getting it from both ends. Depending on what time you got up food would have moved through the pouch in about 5 hours. So vomiting would be comming from the stomach and not the pouch; and diarrhea means something has made it's way through the digestive systm.

Very Normal! When I ask my nurse practioner she said "The band is connected to Muscle (ie your stomach). In the morning your muscles are tight as the day progresses they loosen up. By evening the stomach is a lot more relaxed. " Makes sense.

Special K Protein shakes don't have enough protein (10 g) to do you any good. Those are meant as a suppliment for people eating 3 meals a day. If you need ready to drink shakes try Premier Brand (costco and Sams 160 cals for 30 g protein) or muscle milk light (make sure its light the regular has HUGE calories available at walmart and other places). Sure it's possible to loose 7 pounds in a week esp if you have given up regular soda. Imagine giving up 1-2 candy bars a day. That's how much sugar is in soda.

HI. The big questions I would have for your doctor is how many calories per day can you have. Clearly they want to limit your cals if they are saying to mix the Protein shakes with Water instead of milk (fat free still has about 90 cals per cup). Be aware some protein powders are VERY high in cals, fat and carbs so read the labels. Gold Standard Double chocolate and Dymatize Nutrition Gourmet vanilla are very good and are about 110 cals,with low carbs and fat for about 23 g of protein. As for premade shakes look for something that will get you at least 25 g of protein for 150-200 cals. I second Premier Protein (they now advertise on this site but I discovered them before that). Avaialbe at SAMS and costco. Post op I use them for my prework out snack since I have a looong time between lunch and dinner and I exercise in between.