Murpel

I only feel cool liquids going down when I'm a little restricted. Maybe you aren't chewing long enough?

This site has some really great information on it, if you can navigate around the negative comments. It's 90% upbeat, it's just those few... isn't it always? LOL! I had my 3rd fill with someone else at the Med office, and won't let him near me again! My PA has been doing a great job with my fills, in and out. This boob numbed me to start. Should have been my first clue! He make hamburger meat outta me while trying to find the center of the port! OMG! I am SO sore. My fill was Tuesday, it's Friday and I'm still sore! Live and learn! I go back the 31st for what I hope will be the sweet spot stop. We'll see! Hang in there Amy and Best wishes for a speedy recover today Sockmonkey!

Vacations are NOT times for losing weight, they are for getting away from every day struggles. It's ok. You are home and working again... I'm hanging in there, still slowly losing weight, had the most painful fill yet, and am still trying to hang in there. (I absolutly won't let the Dr. do my fill again!) PA's Rock! How is everyone else doing?

Jacqui; I absolutly agree with you as far as there being no experts on nutrition for WLS. I also am very happy that you have educated yourself and have been able to adopt a way of life that includes an assorment of food without the need of suppliments on a daily basis. Having lurked on several boards prior to and after my surgery, I have to tell you that you are not the norm. Most of us got here due to our addictive relationship with food. The Surgical Weight Control Center is the group that I went to for my band. They have two surgeons, a nut, a phyc, and a Dr. who specializes in nutrition. They are a center of excellence. I chose them for thier success rate, both short and long term. I went with them because I personally can't do this on my own. For me, knowledge is key, but the restriction is the tool. I am working towards the ability to make good decisions for myself by the time I get to goal. I congratulate you on your ability to take control of your food intake and be healthy with it.

Wow! there is a ton of information here on this thread! I just have a few points to add.... all my opinion... We are bariatric patients. That means that the pyramid or the new pyramid way of eating doesn't work for us in the US. We need specialized supliments that our bodies will utilize wholly. We became obese by eating a "variety" of foods. We are not the best judge of what to eat right out of the gate. Our choices got us to this point, should we really be making our own choices? Having said that; high Protein is pretty much the only choice I have on a regimen of 3 meals that are each 4oz and one Protein Drink to get 100g of protein a day. Suppliments are a necessary evil with the band, for the rest of our lives. If you take specialized Vitamins and minerals, made for bariatric patients, your body WILL absorb them. Bands are still a new thing in the medical field, which is the reason folks get such a wide range of instructions from their surgeons. I know that a lot of folks are told that they can have Snacks if they are hungry.... my Dr. says no. That's another way to sabotage myself down the road. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Is it really a sacrifice to not eat certain foods the rest of your life. I'm hoping it's a very long one! Our animals pretty much eat the same foods every day, and I gotta tell ya, my babies are ALWAYS excited to see their bowls at meal time. They are actually offended if I change their diet. That's my nickels' worth.

That"s the name of that lady! My girlfriend lost 100lbs walking with her! Thank you!!!!!! I couldn't remember and my girlfriend has moved... yadda yadda.... Thanks!!!!!!!!

Tracie, Don't forget that "slider" food won't stay in your pouch as long. For Breakfast, have your eggs. (2 eggs and a bit of grated cheese is 4oz) or 1 egg and some meat (roast beef or chicken?) Put something your pouch has to work on in there....

I agree, you shouldn't have any swelling at this point.... get it checked.

i am so moved by your experience! It's frustrating that some groups can do things so right, and others can do things so very wrong! Please do what you can to get your story out there, folks contemplating this surgery must know what they are in for.

I'm sorry to hear that. I understand as I was in pain for a week and used loretab to sleep for another week. I hope once you feel better, you will be amazed at your progress. Good luck!

I agree with LoseIT, see what your Dr says when you explain your eating patterns. You didn't mention your weight loss. Is it great, good, bad, non existent? That may help you determine as well. I haven't been starving, but when I went in today, I decided to get a fill. The Dr. gave me .5cc, and I already feel different from the other fills. We'll see when I go off liquids.... I wish you a good decision for yourself!

Hope all went well and you are doing ok now.

Katie, It sounds as if your Dr. has it together. Very similar to my program except that I weigh my food and you eat till you are comfortable. I personally don't understand all the different instructions the Dr.s offices have, but as long as we do what our Dr.s say... we're good.

I went back after 8 days and it was too soon for me. I didn't have a choice. Standing at the counter, then spending a couple of hours at a desk, was rough on my belly. Waistband pressure was a bit much. Personally I should have made it two weeks. It is different for everyone. I'm sure my age had a lot to do with it too.

That's really horrible to hear, especially since you went to a center of excellence. Part of the "hoops" that most people need to go through is phyc counceling. When I had my appointment she was as honest with me as I was with her. She told me that I should get counceling throughout my weight loss. I chose not to. I was honest with her about my past and she told me that if I didn't deal with my issues, I could turn my food abuse and become abusive with other mediums, like alcohol, sex, gambling, smoking, as well as other food driven issues. I knew from the get go that the band was a tool. It was very plainly NOT the magic pill everyone is looking for. Even today at my fill... man is that another story, the Dr. was questioning me about eating, exercise ect. What kind of treatment are you starting Sat? Counceling?

Hopefully your gas will have passed by now... keep moving and you'll be great! Congratulations!

I'm confused. Have you not been getting fills? it looks like you are at or close to your goal...out patient? Take pitty, it doesn't take much for me to get confused....

I am thinking it's a set amount depending on bmi and weight lost since last fill. Like I said, they've been doing this for quite a while, and they are a center of excellence. I will ask today, just to know.

When you travel, although you can't do crushed ice, a ball shaker is awesome! I use this daily for my protein shakes. I love it!

HIPPA will allow you to "not" tell your boss or employer the reason for your time off other than "Proceedure performed by Dr." They legally can't ask you what the procedure is, or why you are getting it. Only how long you'll be off on FMLA.

I was an insurance pay, and had to pay my co-pays the day before the surgery. I paid my Dr. his portion, then went to the hospital and paid their portion. A month or so after the surgery I got a bill from the hospital stating that I owed $0, Now three months out they are billing me $2,000 for non covered costs. Hello! they are contracted through my insurance, they CAN'T charge any more, AND I have a bill stating that I don't owe anything. What the heck?

So sorry for your difficult start Sprinkles, but SO glad it's all figured out. Take care and enjoy your journey!

How horrible for you. My surgeon's center is a center of excellence, they provide support, a discussion board, a phyc, and a nut. I can't believe your's didn't. That's horrible! I am sorry for your struggle and frustration!

As long as you can get some liquid down, I wouldn't wait more than 24 hours to contact your Dr. Giving yourself that time for the swelling to go down. Not being able to keep liquids down is considered a medical emergency at my Dr.s office. It's important to be honest about your restriction. It doesn't do you any good to be skinny if you blow out your kidneys on the way. Listen to your body and do what's best for it. Hope it's what you wanted/needed to hear.

Not sure who you are asking... but will answer anyway.... it will be my 3rd. I eat and drink right up to my fill. Then I'm on thick liquid for 24 hrs. It's a quick process, go in, get weighed, tell the PA how hungry I've been, get teh fill, sip water, off I go. Once the PA is in the room (they even assist during the operations), it takes all of 5 minutes. At the most. They have been doing it so long they use two fingers to find the port and put pressure on either side, put the needle in, and presto changeo, it's done!