Dave_NW

I haven't yet had a fill. My first fill will be at six weeks after surgery, at the same time I'm cleared onto solid foods. After three weeks on liquids only (no mushies), last week I was cleared directly to soft foods, supplemented with Protein shakes. Over the last week I've tried various things, to learn by experience how to eat with a band in place. By and large I have little restriciton, since I only have 3cc's in a 14cc band. I've kept portions small, ate slowly, chewed well, and I stopped eating when I felt myself getting full. Foods I've tried over the last week include scrambled eggs with ricotta cheese, Wendy's chili (awesome stuff!), oatmeal, cottage cheese, thinly sliced turkey lunch meat, fried eggs, Breakfast sausage, baked potato Soup, pickled beets, corn chowder soup, chicken curry salad, a bit of teriyaki chicken, and some fresh fruit. Everything has been well tolerated, but I haven't pushed it. The closest I got to getting stuck was with the breakfast sausage, and with sliced peaches. In both cases I swallowed too large of a bite without chewing it down enough first. I immediately felt what was wrong, and waited till it had passed throguh the band before continuing. I have not gotten sick. Hope this helps, Dave

I hear ya. I know it'sa bonus at this point, but I was just so surprised to have things just stop so suddenly. Just wondering if it'll start dropping again at some point. Dave

I know not to expect a pound a day loss to continue like it was. I'm just surprised to experience the sudden change in loss. It's like as soon as I went on soft foods, the loss stalled. It's weird. I haven't been cleared for exercising yet. I had a hiatal hernia and a ventral hernia repaired during my band surgery, and my abdomnal muscles are still healing from their internal stitches. About all I've been able to do is walk - gently - so my activity isn't yet up to speed. My next doctor appointment is the middle of the month, and will includr my first fill, so I hope to be cleared for exercise at that time. Dave

The physical location of my band is apparent to me. If I press on the skin there, I feel a firmness that I don't feel if I press lower on my stomach. So in that sense, yes, I can feel the band. When I look at the area in the mirror, I see no outward sign of the band location. There is no internal feeling of the band, other than the sensation of something feeling stuck if I swallow too large a bite, or eat too fast. Then it's like a knot at the top of my diaphram, kind of like the sensation of a trapped gas bubble. By moving around a bit or drinking sips of Water, the stuck item passes through the band and into my lower stomach. It hasn't been that bad, but it is a way to make me focus on what I'm eating, chewing, and swallowing. Since the band is filled with Fluid, it is affected by barometric pressure. Its relative tightness will change as you travel up or down in elevation. That's why doctors don't recommend getting a fill right before you go on vacation - if you have an issue, you won't be near your doctor to fix the problem. Also be aware that women may experience more tightness during their TOM, due to fluid retention. Experienced bandsters say they learn to "listen to the band," in order to know how to approach their day. Dave

What you're feeling right now is a false restriction, caused by stomach swelling from the band placement. In a few days your stomach will calm down, the swelling will go away, and you won't feel as much restriction. So when you eat or drink, you will notice you aren't feeling full as quickly. That's all normal. The performance of the band comes later. The calories you're eating right now are also less important. RIght now your task is to heal up from the surgery. Banding isn't instant, nor is it automatic. It takes time to get your system tuned up to best performance with the band you have. It will all come in time. For now, keep doing as you've been instructed. Over the next several weeks things will change, and you'll find you have a new "normal." Good luck! Dave

You may want to contact a good WLS clinic or hospital in your area, and ask to speak with their insurance coordinator. That would be the person who deals with insurance companies the most, and who may be able to help you sort through some of the paperwork required. It may be easier than you think to get approved. Good luck! Dave

The restriction you'll feel after any fill may not last, since the area of your stomach where the band is placed may swell a bit from the increased firmness in the band. That's why some surgeons want you to go on liquids for a day or two after a fill, to make sure your system has time to calm down. So you may still want to work your way up to it, rather than jumping off the deep end all at once. Getting one giant fill and backing off till you can manage water is one way to handle it. For me, it sounds risky. I have a 14cc band with 3cc in it currently. Jumping to totally full in one session seems pretty extreme. But everyone is different. If your surgeon thinks you can handle it, well, what can you do? By all means, keep us posted. The one thing I want to urge you about is developing patience. You are not going to lose your excess weight overnight, no matter how quickly you achieve restriction. The band is a tool, and like all tools, you need a bit of experience learning how to use it to best advantage. Good luck! Dave

Your stitches are still healing into place where the band was placed on your stomach. You shouldn't expect any restriction at all at this point. You may experience some swelling, which translates to "false" restriction, until your system gets back to normal. What you eat, and how much of it you eat, is limited only by your personal motivation and awareness at this point. As to the pain, I've been told the nerves that surround your core midsection all terminate in the area of your left shoulder. If those nerves were irritated by the banding process, you could feel pain related to those nerves when you eat. As your stomach moves to accommodate the food you've eaten, it irritates the nerves again, resulting in pain in your shoulder. Maybe. I am certainly not a doctor. Hang in there. Each day gets easier. Good luck! Dave

I should clarify that I was playing "good cop, bad cop" about what you said. I want you to succeed. Heck, I want everyone to succeed. And I agree with the others, don't beat yourself up too badly about it. But I do think you should stop presenting yourself with opportunities to defeat your eating plan. As for your doctor saying no Snacks, I think if you PLAN a small "filler" meal in between larger meals, it isn't snacking. It's a planned meal. Included in your daily nutrition plan, it isn't a snack at all. And I think perhaps your doctor may have more accurately meant, "no grazing." That's where the real trouble comes in. Weight loss is a mathematics equation. If calories expended exceed calories taken in, you WILL lose weight, Guaranteed. The rest is just in the details. Good luck! Dave

Sorry, but I'm going to be a bit tougher than the posters above. What the HELL are you thinking??? Junk food? Really?? And not once, but at least THREE times? Come on! You said in your post, "I thought I'd make it at least 3-4 months before I started "cheating"." So you're pre-planning that you'll cheat? Honestly? That kind of mindset is dooming you for failure before you even start. Stop it! You know banding is a process, it is not a magic bulet. If you allow yourself to set yourself up to cheat, you will have a much harder time being successful. Get your head back in the game, and get back on track! Now, having said all that, let me offer this: If you're going to eat something you know you shouldn't have, make yourself work for it. Force yourself to exercise in advance for the calories it'll take to burn it off - and then "reward" yourself with the item - if you still want it. Plan the calories/fat of the item into your daily nutrition, so it isn't "cheating." If it's incorporated, you don't have to feel bad about eating it. But if you eat it, you need to earn it first. Wishing you nothing but success, and a smooth, continued weight loss. Dave

I've been on high blood pressure meds for several years, and generally have managed to keep my numbers within reasonable limits ~125/95 or so, sometimes a bit higher. I've been taking two different meds to get those numbers down to that level. So then I was banded a bit over three weeks ago. I've dropped a chunk of weight. Yesterday was my first day back at work since surgery. I found myself feeling unfocused and a bit lightheaded. It occurred to me that maybe my blood pressure was too low, due to the changes in my weight, diet, and the two meds I've been taking for it. I checked my blood pressure and found it was down to 101/63. Yikes! I contacted my PCM doctor and asked her if I should stop taking my BP meds and monitor things. She agreed, and said I should check my BP several times a day, and advise within a few days of the results. So I've checked my BP every two hours today at work. It is absolutely normal ~120/74 or so each time - without ANY blood pressure meds. I'm pretty pleased about that, since this could mean two fewer pills to take every day. I'm all for that. I wanted to post about it in case others are having the same symptoms I was having. Good luck! Dave

No offense taken. I was only commenting that it's a surprise that Wendy's chili is a viable choice for a bander to eat. Wendy's has a number of good things that aren't so "fast food-ish." Chicken strips and fries? Really? Do some people not listen to their Nutritionist? I'm still on the soft foods phase post-op, so am experimenting with various types of soups and such. I'm having a very good time with it. I can't imagine eating anything deep fried. Dave

My NUT says each bite should be no larger than a dime. (Funny how each surgeon team has different recommendations.) Dave

Nate, other than giving you a reason to stop and think about what you're eating, the band at this point for you is only a thing in your digestive tract. After you start getting fills, you'll get closer to the sweet spot everyone is after, Restriction is the goal, as another step toward losing the weight. You've only been banded a few weeks, and your body is still healing up. My surgeon doesn't give a fill till six weeks after surgery. So I'd think you're in the same place I am. Rather than worry about how you can eat anything, you should focus on trying to eat smart, and getting ready for your first fill. Don't be frustrated or impatient - it takes tme to get things totally tuned up. You're still in the starting phases. Good luck! Dave

I think I am one who keeps recommending Wendy's chili. I had done my research, and had previously vetted it through my NUT. She gave me a thumbs-up on it, because even though it's sold at a fast food restaurant, it's not a bad choice. It's as good as something you might make in your own kitchen. And since the point of this thread was what to choose from among a small selection of restaurants, it made a lot of sense. There are a number of smart choices available in a lot of fast food rstaurants these days, if you do a bit of research ahead of time. Not everything is a greasy burger and fries. Dave

Another vote for Wendy's chili. It's awesome. Dave

You need to remember, and maybe tell your friend, that if weight loss surgery was a quick fix, then nobody would be fat anymore. This is YOUR journey, and if you're comfortable that the gym isn't the right answer for you, then banding might be a solution. Don't let others try to distract you from your ultimate goal, which is weight loss so you can be a healthier person. A side effect of that is clothes that fit, and a better attitude. But in the meantime, you'll be healthier and happier for your child and husband, but mostly for yourself. Keep researching, and decide whether banding is the right choice for you. If you do decide to do it, you'll find a whole new world is waiting for you after your surgery. The alternative is to do nothing, and continue to be frustrated with your life as it is now. My biggest regret about being banded is that I waited as long as I did. I wish I had done this years ago. Good luck! Dave

It is, Raul. You're going to really like it. Good luck with your appt.! Dave

Becky, to test how you tolerate it, go get Wendy's chili. It's awesome. The small size has 220 calories, 18 grams of Protein, 22 grams of carbs, and 7 grams of fat. And it's delicious. I find one container is good for two to three meals. Good luck! Dave

I'm nearly three weeks out from surgery, and have just been cleared to get off of only Protein shakes, and go to soft foods with Protein Shakes in between. I've had a bit of a tough time with only protein shakes, so this next phase could not have come soon enough. I had half a scrambled egg for Breakfast this morning. Since that went down easily, for dinner, I had a real treat: Wendy's chili. OMG, nothing has ever tasted so good in my life. Best of all, I only had about a quarter cup, so there is a lot of leftovers for later. Yay! I've never been a major food junkie, (just a big eater who made bad choices), but I have to say, this little chili reward was most excellent. Funny how priorities change. Then, to add to the good feelings, I'm down 41 pounds since this started for me, and I have cracked a number I haven't seen the underside of in about five years. I now weigh less than I did the last time I went on a major diet. I've had to dig out my "outgrown clothes" to find blue jeans to wear that stay up - the ones I'm used to wearing are now (hopefully forever) too big to wear. I could not be happier. As part of my post-op life, I'm realizing how grateful I am for the little things in life. How about you? Dave

Even more things to be grateful for, that may mean even more: The unqualified love and support of my friends and family. Today was Christmas, and we visited around to the homes of close friends and family. Nobody has seen me since I was banded - some didn't even know I was having it done. Their surprise and loving responses to how I look so far was so rewarding, I can't tell you. I have a long way to go on my journey, but as it's going so far, I'm really, really pleased. What are you finding? Am I the only one who is experiencing this kind of thing? Dave

I have Tricare Prime, which is run a bit differemtly than Tricare Standard, but I went through something similar. I had initially contacted a local WLS center to see about surgery. I attended a seminar, and got all ready to move forward. Then I learned I needed a referral from my PCM. So I went to the PCM, got my referral, went back to the WLS people, only to find out they don't accept Tricare at all. If I had continued, I'd have had to pay it all out of pocket. Back to my PCM. After calling around, I found an experienced WL surgeon who accepted Tricare. Got another referral from my PCM to that doctor, and I went to an introductory appointment. He was great, everything looked good, except for the teensy detail nobody had mentioned - his clinic wasn't approved for actually DOING the surgery. They took Tricare, but apparently Tricare hadn't approved them. So, here I go again... Third try: I found an approved hospital surgery center with an approved doctor, and got a third referral. Went to see them, and had a very frank conversation with their insurance referral coordinator. I wanted to be absolutely clear that everything I needed to be covered WAS covered. And it was. I was banded three weeks ago, and based on the Claims page at Tricare, it looks like everything the hospital is billing Tricare for is being approved. It'll be interesting to check the bottom line to se how much the hospital bills vs. how much Tricare pays. Good luck with your journey, and with your surgery. Dave

Let me be one of the first to congratulate you on your banding! It sounds like you're right on track, and like you're exactly where you should be. Keep it up! Good luck! Dave

Kim, walking helps dissipate the gas. Sipping water helps calm your stomach, and it will take away some of the hunger pangs. You need to remember your band is stitched to your stomach. It needs time and opportunity to heal up so you can get on with things. Rushing your recovery is not what you want to do, regardless of how expensive the doctor was. Find another type of shake you can tolerate, and get your nutrition in. If you don't, you run the risk of malnutrition, which has its own set of side effects. (like bone and muscle loss, and your hair falls out.) I had all sorts of issues with the shakes I thought I'd be drinking post-op, and I ended up using Musle Milk Light from costco. 150 cals, 20g Protein, 10g carbs in an 8.25 ounce ready-made shake. Very easy to drink. It was the only one I tried that I can drink. Be smart, and don't take risks. You'll find you'll get better more quickly if you give your body something to work with. And drinking Protein Shakes will kill your appetite. Good luck! Dave

They tell me the relative tightness of the band can and does change as you go along. You'll be fine one night, and next morning be too tight. In your case, it could be you had a bit of swelling after your fill, then maybe your TOM, maybe a bit of stress? Now you've calmed down and things are suddenly different? I'd monitor it, and see if you don't feel better soon. A big part of banding for me has been learning to listen to my body, and learn its cues in how it does things. It's been interesting! Good luck! Dave