neenee717

Fill is gradual. My surgeon believes in doing 1cc per month until restriction. As someone previously mentioned we didn't gain overnight. And to be honest we wouldn't be able to handle being filled 1x to restriction. I've finally got restriction And while it doesn't hurt it's painful when I eat too much. I would t have been able to handle this at one time. Not sure if you count calories and protein but what helps me is Lose it program on IPhone. Some people use myfitnesspal and spark people

Oh and the stuck thing I used to wonder what that felt like. Now I pray and ask Jesus after I eat not to let it get stuck??? You'll know when it happens. It is the most awful thing in the world. Miserable and painful

And even with your first fill it will take a while for restriction. Remember band isn't like bypass where it's instant. It's custom designed so each feel you'll be tighten til you get restriction. I'm 18 months post op and just now getting restriction or sweet spot. Mainly cause I went months without a fill and ate like ma piggy over the holidays. I stayed hungry! However just because you're hungry doesn't mean eat everything. I did best when I watches my calories and make sure I get protein

It's a struggle and after your banded it's amazin how much of our lives and day to day existence is tied to food. You'll be able to eat at those big dinners soon, just will only be able to take in little bits at a time. Also other people that are not banded do not understand what we go through and sometimes make too much jest at our expense. Better just thicken up your skin honey I'll tell u in advance. I cried many a day from some of the hurtful things said and done by family and friends and I'm a licensed psychotherapist so go figure! You would think that people that have seen how much we struggled with weight health etc would be more considerate

I'm in a new dilemma. Weight loss, new fabulous me. I'm wondering when to disclose about band. I'm not ashamed o being banded but I don't walk around singing from te mountain tops. My issue is like today: I went on a lunch date and even though was hungry I managed to get down 3 cheese sticks and couple sips of tea. I was full as a tick. My date noticed I didn't eat much and that I don't drink from straws. He's like you need to eat next time we go out and I'm like "I don't eat alot" I just had fill 2 wks ago and I am really tight some days. What to do fellow bandsters?

I can eat a small meal but I've been banded 18 mos and when I'm premenstrual band tightens and doc says that's normal swelling. It usually passes. The app was my meal. I think I'm gone tell him soon b/c we are going out again this wknd. Just wondering

Why can't you have jello. I used liquid protein as part of water needed for jello and ate those. Buy large bag frozen fruit from SAMs club, Costco etc and blend with soy milk and vanilla protein powder. Greek yogurt oikos or choboni. To plait thick and creamy light was my best friend. When I went for my post op after 2 weeks I was so hungry I could have bit the doc. He laughed and allowed me to move forward to soft foods since I did so well pre op and post op

Just remember it is normal. Once your weighloss slows and you continue to heal, hormone levels, digestive system etc regulates. The sad thing is they need to talk about this during pre op phase and seminar. I was not told but it would have been helpful. Even during my psychological evaluation

It's normal. It's been discussed while back. Been banded 18 mos and had meltdown first month. Doc said its normal. Surgery, rapid weight loss can throw hormones out of wack. My period came day after surgery 2 weeks early, I was starving, cranky. My family couldn't stand me. I was so sensitive. Back to normal after couple months.

Ive been banded 18 months almost and that will change. U are swollen and your insides have gone through an overhaul. U have to drink real real slow and sip, eat jello. I used to mix liquid protein in place of water when I made Jello at home. That's why we lose alot of weight those first few weeks. Then don't be surprised after that web u feel like u starving to death. Gas X melts, liquid Tylenol, Jello, liquid protein and sugar free Popsicles were my best friends at first

Also I've been banded 18 months in march. And had to have adjustments when I lost weight when I didn't get same restriction anymore

From my understanding it doesn't loosen band. My nutritionist shy me away from coffee and/or sweet tea because of the caffeine content. U will get dehydrated if u drink alot of it. I was told I can drink it but maybe decaf if I'm gonna have alot of it. Sodas same thug because if caffeine content but also because of carbonation. I was told also if I drink it use sugar substitute. Your band loosens as you lose weight, which is why u need adjustments over time.

But yes u will be eating less as you get to restriction it will take less to get full. Also u will go longer periods without being hungry so u have to modify what u are eating. For example I was told above all else make sure I get protein in first. Rest is secondary etc. I've just had another adjustment and believe this is number 5 or 6. (I've lost track) I get full so fast I make sure breakfast is my EAS sport prepackaged protein shake. It's 11oz with 17g protein, and where I could drink it all fairly quick previously takes me 30min. If I try to force it I know I will be in the bathroom and waste my breakfast. I thought that way like you but once the band starts to tighten you're not going to want anything else. Hence the reason im up at after 2am miserable b/c I tried to eat that last little bit instead of leavin it alone! Old habits die hard and you'll pay the price when u don't respect this band

It should pass soon. I had the same thing happen and I am a psychotherapist. I was sensitive, crying etc. the surgery and rapid weight loss in first couple weeks reak havoc or your hormones and then going from being able to chew to drinking things is alot of the culprit. Thank God I met a lady on FB whose a nurse and had the band. I just worked through it. Almost menstrual cycle went wacko as well

I've completed program twice and have run 2 5ks . I have never ran even for exercise in my life. Started week ago to do program over and flared my allergies so I have to revamp. I loved the way my body looked when program completed and myetabolism improved

Adding my 2 cents the body fortress at Walmart that other have mentioned is great. Also from Walmart I buy the EAS sport to go shakes. They are 11oz, 110 call and have 17 grams of protein. I drink them I'm care an my way to work. They come in 4 packs for 4.74. Strawberry is my favorite but they're all good and don't tase gritty

Wow this was up my alley. Been banded since 9/2011. First yer I was a beast! Working out, running, teaching Zumba. Then bandiversary came and went. By oct off the wagon an gained 15lbs of the 70 I lost. Started "snacking" overriding the band by eating ice cream, sweet tea, frappucino and coffee almost daily. YES u can trick the band by drinking high calorie drinks, ice cream etc etc Just got a full for first time in almost a year and I hope to be back in track. Doc was not upset, said we're gonna keep filling to stay on track and reach my goal. Gettin slowly back into my exercise

Oh don't u worry, I used to wonder that until I experienced it. It's painful painful and can go on for hours. Then u have the sliming, burping and eventually episodes of vomiting until it come up or passes through. Sorry to be so graphic. I don't wish it on my enemy! I eat too fast or too much and have suffered

Well let me tell you I'm a year post op and these things happen to me. They ate normal. For females the hormone let down and effects from surgery. It even messed with my menstrual cycle. Doc says that's common. I was a sensitive, crying, blubbering mess! It truly gets better I promise. Also your body has been through a shock from solids to liquids etc. Let me just say u don't have to give up what u love forever his will be in moderation and as tolerated. Ex: I can eat pizza but only a slice and I have to eat it real slow or else I get stuck. I have treats now when I want them. The only thing I don't mess with is corn, popcorn, corn chips they heart me really bad when I tried to be naughty and eat it. What u can tolerate in your diet is very individualized. I eat bread once in. While cause I don't crave it. Last thing keep a watch on tiredness. It was foun out that I was iron, b12 and vitamin D deficient and had to go on supplements. Talk to your primary doc. Those tests are normally not sort if preop work up. Once on supplants energy shot up. But don't worry about sleeping either. We have to remember although surgery was quick it's still surgery and your entire body inside and out has to adjust to the effects and get back on rhythm.

I was on liquid for 2 weeks and I was cranky after 1st week. First few days I felt so weird didnt care about eating. I cried alot and was uncomfortable. @wk the hunger came with vengence. and as I said doc visit at 2 wks and surgeon said I could advance to solids in moderation because I had no fill in my band. I drank liquid Protein shots from walmart, eas Protein shakes, Jello and popsicles which I was sick of after a while. I had the desire to chew something! And yes it was hard feeding the fam and I couldnt chew. I did well under the circumstance. So far down 70 but I havent pushed myself to go further yet

I agree with talking to the doc. I was fast to try and make myslef go to bathroom and it didnt end well! I ended up with the runs. Just try and use something like benefiber in your shakes and just stool softener. Doc says this is normal remember your normal rhythem is thrown off by the surgery and air the pumped your stomach with etc. ALSO doc told me you really dont have any solids in there to push out! drinking shakes, broth etc does not bind you up. In my case once I started with more textured foods it came more naturally. 1st couple of weeks your on a liquid diet and I was on liquids close to pre op. so go easy.

Ive been banded a year and to break the news to you, this is what they told me was bandster hell and it doesnt change until you reach restriction. The 1st couple of weeks I felt like a drug addict I was feining for food. I lost 15lbs drinking the broth, jello etc thats in the 1st 2 weeks. WHen I went for 2 wks post op I begged the doc for food cause I was so so hungry. He laughed at me and alloowed me to go on solids in moderation as tolerated. Let me just say my 1st stop was to get some rotisserie wings :-) It can take months to get restriction and it dpends on your band size, etc. I have a large band and it took me about 5 fills for restriction. My doc only will do them about every 3 weeks or so and if I was losing he wouldnt fill me just to suit me. If I had less than a 3lb loss then he would do it. It really does get better, just make sure u xoomunicate to doc. I told him "look I can eat a whole fats food chicken dinner and the biscuit without it bothering me" Then he understood more clearly and gave me a more aggressive fill in April and I havent had to go back since.

I dont work out nearly as much as I should which is why I still have 30/40 ish lbs to lose. On average when I was at my best I was doing about 4 days per week 2-3 were running for about 30-40 minutes including wamup and cool down and the other day was like zumba which was an hr and I will tell you, Zumba class will burn some calories off you its a great workout to try. I have slowed down becasue I was driving my self nuts with the weighing etc. I have not wieghed in 3 months because of that. I have doc appt soon and its causiing me a little anxiety but my clothes fit. I was a 20/22 now im a 10/12 and down to a Med in shirts. My goal is size 8 on bottom and stay in Med shirts. I do agree to for the most part with the other posts that its a process and it takes time and you should ask your doc. BUT to be honest the doc or the nurses arent just sitting there with a hotline for us to call. When I used to call I got quick answers b/c they are very very busy. Wouldnt get a lot of time til I came in for an appt. Also They tell you in general from dealing with other patients, not from experience. I do like this site to some degree b/c its from people who have been through it. Most of the stuff that really helped me came from actual banded people not my nutritionist, doc etc. My advice to you with this site: EAT THE meat AND SPIT OUT THE BONES if that makes since. My doc who did surgery didnt really care for these sites in general which is why he told me to be careful and take it with a grain of salt, b/c people can be misundersttod or a little rough when they misinterpret. Try not to take the posts and comments of others to heart and remeber they dont know you. That the draw back to online blogging etc, sometimes there is misunderstanding on both sides. Anyway have a good evening

I say don't worry bout fat grams. Nutritionist told me calories and carbs about 50 carbs per day. Let me just say the carb thing didn't work for me either. Small piece of fruit will take up carbs for the day:-(. I used lose it to track and as long as I was in cal budget and protein I did fine. To be honest I don't even crave the carbs like I used to and please know I was a bread, rice and sugar junkie. This tracking can drive u crazy but it's necessary for your success. U sound like you're doing well. Also there will be weeks where there's no loss and then boom you lose 7-8 lbs. My doc says 4lbs loss per month is adequate even though we want more. I try and remind myself it took me 38 years to get at my heaviest, so reaching goal will have it's ups and down. Good luck to you and feel free to msg me if u have questions. I'm no expert but have learned from experience and others helping me

I wore a bra afterwards and it irritated the incision below sternum and still does. I wore soft bras which helped. It may not touch depending on bras u wear and your physical make up