Search the Community

Hey all, 9.5 days post op and fealing prety good. 19 lbs lost already! Here is my question for all of you; I started to introduce mushy foods today i.e. mashed potatos, pureed scrambled eggs, thinned out oatmeal ect. I am supposed to be on a liquid diet for three weeks but i sure am enjoying the mushies. What diets did your doctors have you guys on? when did you start eating pureed and mushy foods? When did you start eating solid foods? Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hi, I had my surgery on 5/22. I had to do clear liquids for the first week. I am now on the second week and I can have full liquids. Next week I can have soft foods for 1 week and then the next week I can eat whatever I want. I am eating a lot of the same foods as you and I feel fine as long as I don't eat too fast. I think you should be ok. Congrats on the 19 pounds!!

For those of you who drink a Protein shake in the am, how long does it hold you? Since my last fill I am tight and in the mornings I don't really feel like eating something solid, so I decided to give the Protein shakes another try. For the last two days I have drank the Slim Fast High Protein, it has 180 calories, 20 g of protein, 2g of carbs, 2 g of Fiber. The shake taste pretty good and it doesn't give me indigestion like other protein shakes have done so a plus plus. However, about 2 hours after I drink it I am hungry. I drink it around 7 am so by 9 I am starved, but I don't want to eat my snack (greek yogurt) until 10 so that will last until my lunch at 12:30-1. How do the shakes work for you?

I just wanted to say "Hi" to everyone....I just joined ! A little about me... I've always had a weight problem, but not as bad as the past 10-15 years. i had to always "watch" what I ate, or I would pack on the weight. I did have a "thin" period... Not a very long one.. but I was thin for a while... Then came a divorce and I had to care for my mother the past 15 years... I started really putting on the weight.. and then it felt so futile to even TRY to diet... Excercise?? What was that?? I felt work was all the excercise I needed.... I became so stationary... come home, get on the couch and that was it. I had been looking into weight loss the past 3 years, and I tried to file with my insurance each year thinking that they would improve, but no luck. then in Oct. of '08 I had to have a total knee replacement and I KNEW I had to do something. The surgery was a success.... but my weight was overwelming. I had no stamina... I could hardley walk to the mailbox without being winded. I had already been to a few seminars... and I finnaly made up my mind to try again. I went, and I talked with the doctor afterwards and asked how soon he could get me in being a "self pay", I explained I was already on a leave of absence and coudn't afford to lose any more time, he told me to call the office in the morning and tell them he said to schedule as soon as possible. I called and thy got me in to see him in 3 days! I went and we talked for almost 2 hours... and I decided to go with the VSG, Best decision of my life! That was Jan. 12th.... I had surgery Feb. 9th! I am 5 months post op... I started this with a weight of 354 the day of surgery and today I am 223.. a loss of 131 pounds! I still have over 60 pounds to make "goal" but I am so glad that i had this surgery, and it has deffinitly improved my quality of life! I still have my struggles, as I will be posting them tooo... but i just wanted to share my story and a bit about me.... I hope to make some friends here and to have a support group here as well... I don't have one close to attend to in my area...

I was told 10 - 14 llbs means you drop a dress size, but I think it really depends on your body structure and fat deposits etc. Congratulations on reaching GW !! Kate ps: I have lost 103 llbs and gone down 6 dress sizes. I have just had plastics and my weight might not change but my dress size may. Heres hoping

40, Dr. stated that there were reduced leak rates with a 40. Recovery has been relatively easy. 9 days out, 10 pounds down and getting all my water in, and 50 gms or protein (need more but ok for now). Hopefully that will help with less hairloss!

My activities for Wednesday 7/23/08 I started another BFL challenge on Monday, it is 84 days and I'm hoping it will get me back in the grove of exercising. Today was the lower body workout, I went to the gym and gave it my all. My knee just wouldn't let me do some of the stuff, and when I felt pain, I had to stop because I didn't want to damage it further. I was afraid pushing myself/my knee/ would cause a set back, so I held off on some of the stuff I wanted to do Quads - leg presses Hamstrings - lying leg extentions, straight leg dead lifts Calfs - calf raises Abs - ab crunches with 10 lb weights, and inclined sit ups Menu bfast - cottage cheese mixed with yogurt snack - 3 strawberries lunch - whole wheat tortia, 3 oz chicken breast and hot pace picante sauce snack - necterine dinner - 3/4 cup of pinto beans wt - didn't weigh, trying not to focus on the scales for the next couple of weeks and really focus on feeling better and exercise.

I'm 10 days out and that normal as swelling goes down..............

Do you think you'll really be up for a 10 hour flight and related business obligations only 4 days after surgery? I wouldn't have been....... If you do fly, I'd make sure to get traveler's compression socks, walk a bit up and down the aisles at least every hour. Honestly, if it were me, there is no business worth risking blood clots for and that is your greatest risk sitting in a plane for 10 hours. Not to mention you are still VERY early in your recovery from a MAJOR surgery. Me? Wouldn't do it - but wish you the best if you do

You can also try drinking lots of water and other very low calorie (5 to 10) fluids like Crystal lite. It won't work a long time, but it will help tide you over a little until the next "feeding time".

it just depends the fluid doesn't always come back out cause it gets stuck in the tubes. My first fill i had 4 ccs already in and they put in 3ccs that makes 7 right at the second fill they pulled out 6 and put but in 2 so that makes 8 right or 9 cause there is a cc floating around 1 week later i needed alittle pulled out and i was back down to 7 but i felt like i had 10 so i hope this makes sense. It gets stuck or lost and no one really knows where it goes or why it doesn't come out but it doesnt and some how still finds its way to the band its self.

@@Bufflehead thanks for sharing. Great advice as I don't want to live on supplements. Right now my weight is all the load bearing I can handle, but as soon as I get off 50 pounds I plan to expand beyond walking. The doctor believes my knees will hurt less as the weight comes off. Thanks! Banded 10/12/16

I was banded on 10/13 and was very lucky not to have any gas pains at all. I got my first fill of 4.5 cc's on 11/18 and am scheduled for my second fill on 12/23. My doc said I will probably get another 1.5 cc's. That will be a total of 6cc's in my 10cc realize band.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea three years ago. I had no idea I had apnea until I woke up one night gasping for air and ended up having a panic attack. But it was all right in front of me. The snoring. The EXHAUSTION (which at the time I blamed on having a new baby). I was a mess. But I'm happy to report that I am sleeping perfectly all night long and feeling rested and happy all day long. :biggrin: The sleep study had me anxious. I was sure I would be uncomfortable with all that stuff on me. And it certainly wasn't the best night of sleep I'd ever had (went in at 9pm, in bed by 10:30, discharged at 5am). But it wasn't as bad as I thought. The mask took a few weeks to get used to. Mostly I didn't like the feeling of the air blowing into my nose and down into my lungs. The sensation of having my breath taken away took some getting used to. But after two weeks, I didn't even notice it anymore. And the truth is this... I LOVE my mask now. Can't sleep without it. I am able to sleep in any position (side, stomach, face-down, whatever). My husband is also happier because I'm not snoring and gasping anymore. But the most important thing is this... I'm finally SLEEPING. Its glorious. I had no idea how miserable sleep was for me until I was finally able to get a good nights' rest. You'll do fine and I promise you'll be so much happier after you start sleeping again.

Just had RNY on Aug 18. Can't eat enough protein and what little I do get doesn't stay in! I can't stay out of the bathroom. I start running within 5 minutes of eating and then keep running every 5-10 minutes. I can't even sleep through the night without getting up to run to the bathroom several times. Anyone else have this problem? How long does it last? Anything I can do?

I've heard several people on the board talk about DaVinci Gourmet sugar free Syrup and I finally found some yesterday. This stuff has no calories, no carbs, no fat...just 10 mg of sodium per 2 tbsp. I got the vanilla and kahlua flavors. I used some in my coffee this morning and it was pretty good. Just wondering if anyone could share some creative ways to use it, other than coffee. In greek yogurt maybe?

This is good to read. I am 10 weeks out and sometimes a reminder is good to read through. I have kept to most of the basics since my surgery with the exception of going on a cruise a few weeks ago. I did make some mistakes on my cruise by drinking some alcohol and eating a few spoonfuls of desert. Since I am home again I have been back on my regular schedule and am back to my "new normal" eating." New normal" is getting in all my Protein, having enough Water, no snacking and taking my supplements. I am feel so much better since losing almost 40 lbs. 1st Mistake: Not Taking Vitamins, Supplements, or Minerals Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist. Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results. Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include: Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning. Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible. 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity A "pink cloud" or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it's hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back. A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don't change what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten -- even after weight loss surgery. 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating. 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals--don't skip. Don't keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren't as tempted to make a poor choice. And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your "absolutes" based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you. 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too. 6th Mistake: Grazing Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned Snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up. Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing. Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement. 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest! 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) Let's face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta--in moderation, of course. (Kamut Pasta doesn't have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as "condiments," rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies. 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS--because when you're drinking soda, you're not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there. 10th Mistake: Drinking Alcohol If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it. Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious. Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations. If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn't make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker[/b]

So I completed all of my prerequsites to have my lapband. I am so elated that I have finally placed all of the expectations that everyone else has had for me aside and I am doing this for AJAXX :thumbup:. My surgery date is officially May 19, two and a half weeks away! My goal is to lose a minimum of 75 lbs. but I'd really like to drop 100lbs. Keep me in your prayers.

i am 10 days post and today i seem to be really wanting to eat eat eat....i have been having the same stuff everyday now ..shakes shakes and more shakes and finally added in sf jello and gelatin and milked down oatmeal...and i drink water in between...i am not much of a soup person and i still have 4 more days b4 i can move to mushy foods..and then what ?am i gonna live off mashed potatoes...noone gives you a menu ...i kinda feel alil lost right now...any advice would be really appreciated and tips on foods too..plz plzzz and plzzzzz again...and most def thank you!!!

Good luck with your flight! I am not a flyer myself, I flew this past August (3rd time in my life)...I always find religion on an airplane (God and I get really tight from takeoff to landing). Shortgal had a great idea - ask the flight attendent for the extention before you sit down. I asked after the fact - seeing I'd gained about 70 pounds since I flew 10 years ago and literally yelled it out...and the deaf woman couldn't hear me. The lady next to me even shouted it. I was completely mortified - it was not a good experience for me. I wish I'd had pre-planned better. I hope you enjoy the trip and visit with your grandson.

I had my sleeve surgery Dec 17, 2018. The process was rather stretchy in the beginning. Iv,urine screen needle in stomach. Blood work. Last weight. After surgery the pain was horrific. I remember telling them im at a 10 a 10!! There wee guving me something that wasnt working. I remember a lady brung me a ginger ame with a straw. I immediately started sipping not thinking smh. I told her i cant have a straw or carbonated beverage. She told me it was fine. Which was not. I waited in recovery probably a hour. Then I went to a room. Pain was too much. I did get up and walk alot. I couldn’t release any gas only burping. I still cant stand up straight. The only incision that hurts is the main one. I haven’t been able to get any food down. Everything is nasty. Water is my best friend. Nausea is the worst and when you throw it is the wirst. Looks like greasy phlegm. Its so nasty.

want_so_bad, I can definitely appreciate your opinion. I know what it is to see people take advantage of the system! But understand, I pay taxes, and have been doing so, for many years. I don't know if you think it was an easy decision to quit my job... but understand it was not! This surgery for me is a life and death situation! From what I was told in my training, Medicaid is there to help those who are desperately in need of medical care. Maybe, you wanted to have wls, to look good, maybe you wanted to have it to feel good. I need to have it to be here for my dgt! I have never "used" the system before, but I have most certainly paid into it! I am not saying this is the best way for everyone, but for those who honestly have no other choice...(and believe me this was my last resort, after even paying $324 a mo. for insurance) I say "GO FOR WHAT YOU KNOW!" We have spent billions of dollars this yr alone, year as Americans, on a senseless war! When we have millions of citizens who have no health care, and for those that do, the insurance will not cover preventative procedures, particularly WLS. I honestly do not see anything wrong with me getting help from the system so that I am here 10 yrs from now caring for my dgt, so she does not have to be a burden on "the system", or you! I will one day explain to my beautiful dgt why mommy had to do what ever it took to be here for her! And nothing , and no one can, or will tell me, that I am wrong to want to live! So again, I sincerely appreciate your opinion, but until you have walked in my shoes, and are out there alone... please try not to judge. As for AMG, thanks for your understanding. Have a wonderful night and thanks for your replies!:thumbup:

I have not gotten my surgery yet (9/7) so I don't know how much I can add to this but... are you exercising? That will really help a lot (even with out the band)- even just a few trips up and down the stairs, jog in place for 10 minutes, lift a chair up and down several times, do leg lifts or squats while on the phone- point is just add some extra activity here and there. and if you ARE exercising- maybe check out some fitness websites to get some tips to boost yourself again. Sometimes (so I was told), if you do the same routines- your body levels out and its not challenged anymore and hits a plato (sp?) so change up your routine a little or add weight training to your routine- I hear that helps... (like many fat people who have been there done that a thousand times- I could be a personal trainer and nutrionist if I was just able to maintain myself :thumbup: and keep it off ). As far as snacks- I think thats going to be my tough spot too! are you eating Snacks because you are hungry or you are just bored and want to munch? if you are hungry- add more protien to your diet. but if its just to munch.. you need to find things that are low calorie or at least very low fat. some ideas maybe- low fat frozen yogart (turkey hill has awesome flavors just make sure you check the fat percent cause some are still pretty high but most are very very low and some are zero), fat free pretzels (or will those get stuck?), fat free string cheese, frozen grapes, italian ice (at least you have to work to eat it so it takes longer to eat), fat-free pudding packs, fat free yogart, as previously mentioned 100 calorie pack things (but I cant just have one lol), sugar free lollipops, baby carrots (even if you add fat free dressing), apples slices (they now sell pre-packed snack packs of apples and carrots). Hope some of those are helpful!

lol........ This is "mooning" in a good way!! Congrats to your daughter... The COUNTDOWN IS ON!! 10......

My name is Augusta. I am 38 years old, happily married for nearly 19 years, a proud mother of a 17 year old boy and a 15 year old girl and I just got banded almost 2 weeks ago. For me it was an easy choice to make. I asked my pcp if there was anything new on the market as far as weight control goes and he told me about the lap band. (I'm a worrier of the worst kind so I don't listen to the news, if you're wondering how I didn't hear of it before now) So, I did the research. By the end of the week I went to a seminar, in another week I was having a consultation with a surgeon, in another week I began my 3 month pre-approval path for my insurance and on August 28th I was banded. I was terrified. Being a worrier, I required valium to get me in the door and cried until the moment I was put to sleep. I had the best surgical nurse ever. She held my hand and whispered in my ear how everything was going to be fine. It was to her voice and my prayers that I went to sleep. Bravo to the Norhtwest Weightloss Surgery team. My doctor, Dr. Montgomery, took very good care of me and I came out just fine. I felt pretty crappy the next morning and for a few days after. I had my gall bladder out almost 16 years ago and there was some scar tissue to deal with causing a bit of pain for me, but now 1 week and 6 days later, I'm feeling pretty good. Still a bit sore, but feeling more human now. Since August 18th, I have lost 20 pounds. Since my banding, I have lost an even 10. 10 pounds in 13 days.....I keep asking myself if I'm dreaming. Saying goodbye to the 290s and the 280s in less than 3 weeks is a bit bizzare for me and I can't shake the feeling it's all not real. I am 273 now and can't wait for the rest to come off. My goal weight is 160. Anyone out there who needs to talk about anything, please feel free to email me. I look forward to building lasting, banded friendships. Augusta