shutuplena

My nutritionist and surgeon kept telling me to just eat wisely - low fat, low carbs. I didn't have to be on a liquid or special diet. Honestly - I ate like an animal..... HA HA HA

I was nervious as anything about starving after the surgery and what in the world I was going to eat. I was obsessing over it. But I just kept reading and asked my nutritionist and people at the support group meetings that I went to before the surgery. I am now 4 wks post-op and to be honest it's not that bad. I wasn't hungry at all the first week but then after that I thought I was starving. Most of it was all in my head but I just keep eating the pureed, mushy stuff and lots of broth and it wasn't awful. Eggs were great for me. Keep reading!

In my case, I couldn't eat anything after the surgery (just ice chips) until the next morning. Then they take you to radiology where they have you take a few sips of barium (ugh) as they watch it go down on the monitors and make sure the band is in place and everything looks good. Then once you get the ok - I was allowed to eat. (Didn't really want much anyway). They want to make sure your kidneys are working, that's why they check and measure your urine. Don't be nervous - the anticipation is worse then the experience itself.

I don't either rice either but steamed chicken with dumpling sauce on the side is great.

I'm happy for you! Congratulations! Keep us posted. Lana

My dr. would never consider you a candidate. Boy, I'm 5'2" and I was at 213 (now lost 23lbs) and my dr. said it was iffy. My BMI is a 36 and I had co-morbitities. That's what convinced him to do it. Do you have any co-mormidities?

I go barely 5 hours w/o eating. I don't feel the band but I do feel the port. Someone I know does feel her band. I guess everyone's different. As long as it doesn't hurt, it's probably ok.

Well, lets answer the easy one first - if you pour a liquid in a clear cup, and if you can see through it when you hold it up to the light, that is considered a clear "liquid". Not milk, juice, coffee, that kind of stuff. As far as a low carb, low fat diet - You can have protein but just very low in fat. Like if you are to have cottage cheese, get the lowfat or fat free. They just want you to eat wisely. They don't expect you to measure your meals, just watch what you eat. No pasta, breads, cereals, you know - all the stuff we know we're not supposed to eat. To be honest - I didn't watch at all what I ate before surgery. I pigged out on everything to get it out of my system. By the time my surgery came around I couldn't wait because I couldn't stand eating anymore... Is your surgeon connected with a nutritionist? You should be seeing one as part of the process.

Oh My God, I've been going through the same thing. I was banded on 11/14. The first week I wasn't hungry at all but after that - starving. But you can't eat solid foods. The only thing that kept me going was the fear that my band would shift or dislodge. I was attempting to eat some soft solids like chicken or turkey but the dr. said no way. Anyway, now I'm 4 wks post op and the hunger is not as bad. My therapist says that starving feeling is most probably "in my head" and not my stomach. The more I thought about it, I agreed. We are so used to eating all the time that we think we're hungry when we're not. We're going through withdrawals like any other addict. I go for my first fill on 12/29 so we'll see how that works. I've read that sometimes it takes 2 or 3 fills before you're really not hungry anymore. I do know what you're going through. Hang in there! Lana

It's a long journey and you should do as much research as you can so you can make an informed decision and be certain you're doing the right thing. I'm so glad I did it. Good luck and don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions....That's why we're here.

For the gas pains you should take Gas-X - I took the strips that just melt in your mouth. Dr. said I could take double what the box says if the pains were that bad...and they were...Are you using your breathing thing they shouldv'e given you at the hospita? It's very important to use that because it helps make sure you don't build up fluid in your lungs. You shouldn't be coughing alot unless you're doing deep breathing and getting the stuff out of your chest.

The only things I weren't aware of was how badly I might suffer with trapped gas pains afterwards from all the air they pump in you. That was bad. Also, I didn't realize I'd have soreness around the port area, which for the most part has subsided. Other than that I pretty well informed. Ask all the questions you need, the more you know the better! Good Luck.

Hi Bebax and fellow New Yorker..I am 4 weeks post op and it's the best decision I ever made. Took me a couple of years to have the nerve. You'll be seeing a string of doctors before the surgery to get clearance. If you have any specific questions let us know. This site has helped me quite a bit.

Hey Lynn, I wish I had more time to start a support group, however, there's just not enough time. I go to support meetings once a month that my surgeon's office conducts at the hospital and that's also why I joined this site.

That's a nice compliment but just be weary of people, especially in NY...lots of wackos. Being born and raised in NY it's kind of a defense you build up over the years...but you're from Jersey so I'm sure you know. It's always nice to get compliments in any event.

Hi There, I'm new to this site and have never done anything like this before. I am 3 1/2 weeks post op and have lost 23lbs. But I am still really hungry. My first fill will be on 12/29. My doctor and nutritionist kept telling me that I wouldn't be hungry and that I'd have to force myself to eat. That's definitely not true. Does this happen to most people?

I had friends and family members act the same way, most were very supportive. Some of them, especially in the beginning, couldn't understand the whole thing and didn't think I was overweight enough to have insurance cover it....I'm 5'2" and weighed 213. Well, weren't they surprised. I'm now 4 weeks post op and everyone now is so proud of me and excited for me. They see the difference already, not just in the weight I've lost but how my whole demeanor has changed. I don't feel so trapped in my own body anymore. Most of the people who give you negative comments are either ignorant to the facts of the surgery, have never had to suffer a day in their life the way we suffer, or they are just afraid for you and want to make sure you're doing what's best. In either case, you do what's right for you. All that matters is that you are happy with yourself and your decision. Good luck and stay patient with the ones that don't understand.

Good luck and keep drinking!

you're only 6 days post op, give yourself more time to heal. As long as you're not eating any solid foods I'm sure you're not overeating.

What's it called in the Village? I'm guessing you don't have insurance to cover this. Have you tried other hospitals/doctor not just in the city. I would imagine NYU would be big money. I would look around before you go to Mexico!

Another New Yorker here - from Long Island and 4 weeks post op.

Sorry for the typo is my last reply. I meant the "food" you're eating, not the "good" you're eating. Also, one last thing, what you're experiencing now is called "buyer's remorse" and lots of people get it. Once you start feeling better you'll be sure you made the right decision.

Scorpio, I feel for you. I am 4 weeks post op and I couldn't lift myself up for a week. So, don't worry, give yourself some time. As far as the gas and nausea, mine was so bad the 2nd day after surgery that I thought I was having a heart attack..I couldn't breathe the pain was so bad. I lived on a box of gas x strips which melt in your mouth and took pepcid which was prescribed by my dr. The Gas X works wonders. But the good you're eating is a big NO NO! Not only will it give you gas and upset your stomach but you definitely can dislodge the band. Your stomach has to heal and get used to the band being there. So liquids only. Good luck.

I'm 4 weeks post op and if I remember correctly I did have slight bruising around the port area. I would get that uncomfortable feeling too and have to move my position. My doctor said it was the muscle just getting used to the port being attached to it. He said it would pass and for the most part it has. Sometimes it would feel almost like a twitch. If your bruising doesn't get any better definitely make an appt to put your mind at ease. It's sure good to know there's others who share the same problems and worries.

Are you sure it's "swelling" or maybe it's just the port site bumping out where you can see it. The reason I ask is that the day I was leaving the hospital and getting dressed I felt a nice sized bump coming out over my rib cage, just under my breast. I made the dr feel it right away and he said that it is the port. He said I can feel it and see the bump because I have a very thin abdominal wall which means the port is closer to the outside. He said it will always stick out. It's really weird and it takes some getting used to. Sometimes it gets irritated from my bra. If you think it really is swelling though you should make an appt with your dr. Good look, I'm sure everything is fine.