critterlady

I have had my band for 9 or 10 weeks. Have had 2 fills and do feel some restriction. Last night, I had some chicken and salad, felt satisfied, then had some frozen yogurt. AFter that, I felt really uncomfortably full. Now I'm worried that I've done some damage. This morning I feel fine, but I'm still worried that I might have stretched my pouch. What are the symptoms? Thanks. sara

When you talk about small bites, how small is small? Use concrete examples, please! Thanks! Sara

I'm almost 7 weeks post op and I'm having my first fill on Monday. I have had some scale and some non scale victories in this time, but have stalled. I am hungry a LOT of the time (but, oddly, certain things DO really fill me up, as if I may have some restriction already?) and frustrated. I understand my doctor is pretty generous with fills, and I'm HOPING the first fill will help me. All I want to do is eat. I'm trying very hard to eat appropriate foods and portions, but it's hard doing the white-knuckle thing. Did your first fills help you? I didn't sign up for this! I didn't sign up for being starving all the time and still needing to "diet" but not losing! I would appreciate some words of comfort! Thanks. sara

Hi everyone, I'm looking for ideas for meals that are band friendly that can be made in advance and frozen. So far I have only come up with chili and vegetable soup! I know some casseroles are good for freezing, but most of those are really not all that healthy (the ones I can think of, anyway!) Ideas welcome! Thanks sara

I just got my first fill last Monday, which was 7 weeks post op. He did it under fluoro, so all appears well. He put some in and when I felt the barium was stuck in my throat, he took a little out. He scheduled me for a recheck in 1 month. Well, I have no restriction. I'm doing all the right things, but I get hungry an hour or two after I eat, and I don't like it. I've been fairly patient so far (in healing and waiting for the first fill), but this is ridiculous. I understand we have to take it a little slow....but I went ahead and scheduled another fill just one week after the first, because I am tired of white-knuckling it. I'm sure if it's too soon, he'll tell me, but I paid a LOT of money for this and I'm ready to start feeling it work. Any thoughts? sara

I wonder if anybody knows a better way to mince ginger besides just chopping it into tiny pieces? I also tried a garlic press, but that pretty much just squeezed the juice out. Do they sell pre-minced ginger, the way they do garlic? Thanks!

I'm nearly 7 weeks out and WHITE KNUCKLING like crazy!!! I posted something similar to this in the "Fills" forum, but I thought this forum might geta little more feedback. I haven't had a fill yet. I'm back to normal foods, trying my hardest to eat appropriate types and portions, but I"m SO HUNGRY. I've pretty much been in Bandster Hell since about day 2 post op, but this is BAD. I understand that my surgeon is pretty generous when it comes to fills, and that makes me very happy. I get my first fill on Monday, and I'm seriously hoping it will knock the edge off this hunger. I really didn't get the lap band so I could diet or restrict or deprive myself for the rest of my life...and I'm really hoping the first fill will help, at least a little. Any thoughts? Thanks.

How do you know if you are "rejecting" the piercing?

I'm with skinnygirl! Please let us in on your "secrets"! Congrats on the 50 lb! That is awesome!

How long do I need to wait postop to start seriously exercising/ I can't remember. Is it 6 weeks? I got the okay to walk immediately afterward but now i want to kick it up! sara

I had no idea how to choose my goal weight, so I picked a "normal BMI" weight, which for me at 5'8" is around 158, I think. I hope I'll get there. And maybe even lower! Time will tell.

I posted a question about recipes for tofu, but nobody responded. So I'll ask this way! What do any of you who don't care for meat much eat? I love beans and grains and would love some ideas! Thanks!

Thank you Cheri! I am not a true vegetarian, by any means, but the only meats I like really aren't good for me....chicken is too chicken-y...I like ground beef, hot dogs, and bacon....so yeah, processed is okay! I'll look up her books and would love to see any other links you have! Yes, i do eat eggs and cheese. Thank you! sara

I was self-pay, so insurance had no say...but my dr required the nutritionist and psych eval, and a cbc and urinalysis. That was it. sara

I DID IT!!!! haha, and it hurt like hell. I really didn't expect that TYPE of pain...but it's over and now there's just some soreness. I hope they heal well and allow me to sleep on my stomach soon....I had to sleep NOT on my stomach for about two weeks post banding and that wasn't fun. By the way, I'm about 5.5 weeks post band. Hope it's not too soon to add insult to injury! oh well! sara

What is MBT? sara

Can anyone recommend any books or websites for tofu recipes? I really don't care for meat; would like to incorporate tofu into my diet. thanks! sara

What's funny to me is that y'all can notice a change in belly shape! I carry my excess weight in my abdomen and the only difference, to me, is some puckering around the port incision. I have so much belly fat that the port is nowhere near visible. Lucky folks to have a flat belly, I say! sara

I read the thread about who has their gall bladders versus who doesn't, and I just don't get it. WHY do so many people have gall bladder troubles? Does it flare up with lots of weight loss? Thanks sara

I've had Mirena for about 9 months. Insertion really hurt...like "mild" labor, she said (how would I know, never had a kids, but MAN>>>). Periods much lighter with fewer cramps until I got the band. I've had the band for a month now and have been bleeding for nearly two weeks of that. I don't get it. sara

I had one or two days of really loose stool that I think was because of all the extra protein I added very quickly. I backed off the protein a little and things went right back to normal! Right after surgery, though, I was without any "action" for a week! yikes! sara

I can certainly relate to your pain! I am a month post op and am eating soft foods. I have messed up a couple of times, but I haven't "cheated" big because of fear; I am so scared I'm going to mess up my band that it keeps me honest (mostly!) I really hated the liquids phase because, not only was I mentally "hungry", I was physically STARVING. Those liquids just did not stick around long enough. But I managed, purely because I didn't want any complications; I was self pay and couldn't afford revision. I still worry that I'm eating too much; the hunger and satisfied signals are more subtle now, but I'm doing my best. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! sara

Thanks for sharing! I'll be sure to try it! sara

Thanks. I'm taking my vitamin and drinking my water. I'm eating soft foods like eggs, protein shakes, and cheese grits. Yogurt, cottage cheese....sometimes overcooked pasta. I can't wait to eat "real" foods, but moving to soft foods was really awesome, too. I wish I could shake this. I want some energy. sara

Hi ladies, I was banded 3 and a half weeks ago. I have a Mirena IUD and had had very light, very minor periods until my surgery. I'm having a really heavy period now and was wondering if that's in any way related to the surgery, anesthesia, drugs....? Did anyone else go through this? thanks sara