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I have been banded for one week also and was craving something else besides clear broth so, I added in some meats and veggies, garlic, pepper, etc. then strained it. It added so much more flavor...and helped me a lot. p.s. How have you lost so much weight so far? You've only been banded a week???

Is your preop diet all liquid? I was able to do a Protein shake in the morning with fat free milk, a Protein Bar for lunch (Quest bars are good) a shake for snack then dinner which I stuck to chicken and fish with a mix veggie or broccoli. I would suggest cutting out one meal not and doing a Protein Shake replacement to get use to the process. I did three weeks of the preop diet. I did two shakes a day and for dinner ate what I wanted but not a overload of food. That was for the first week.

I feel so terrible. Like I'm not myself at all. I woke up this morning feeling horrible. My tummy was making weird noises and tryin to get up was like a act of god. I don't know if it's stress that's taking a toll on my body or what (had VSG 4/10/12). I am a 25 y/o college student and finishing my finals this week. One class has me so stressed since I fell behind with surgery. I don't know if it is that now with stress I have to be super careful because of the surgery it could be more harmful? I'm just confused. I hate this feeling. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Some do, some don't. My doc doesn't use one routinely, but I woke up with one, which was in for a week (until I saw him again). It was not a big deal at ALL... didn't hurt, just kind of bulky and lumpy under clothes. When he took it out I literally did not feel a THING... didn't even realize he'd removed it until I saw it in his hand. If you have one, it's nothing to worry about, I promise!

I can't tell you how many times I have read on the forum not to expect too much if you are over 50!! That is just nutty. My mantra is "Who's Universe is this?" IF I buy into someone else's Belief System [bS], then THAT is what I am stuck with. Hey--I was stuck in a rut before my WLS. Dr. Aceves told me before surgery in a 45 minute consulation about what to expect with the RESULTS from this surgery that HE would deliver 50% to me -- but the other 50% was up to ME. 10 words 20 letters IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME No one is going to do this for you. NOW is the time to get into relationship with your body in a way that you never have done before. Learn how to be a Body Listener--not a Body Big Mouth. What do I mean? I was told to TEST one food at a time. NOW just because suzy-q on the Forum can eat something post-op, does not mean that I can eat the same thing. So testing means I try to eat something--and if--my body says NO...then it is a NO. Don't try to override in your HEAD what your BODY is communicating to you.I read about the number of people who are NOT losing, who have gained __# of pounds and are shocked, or they are throwing up all of the time. To those people I would say to use a little SALT: Stop-Action ... Listen-Think. IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME Stop what HURTS, stop what makes you throw up, stop trying to be your old SELF, stop trying to be like someone else. Stop those Actions. LISTEN to your body. Obey your body. THINK about it. THINK about what is no longer working, TEST it for yourself, Test it again and again if you need proof, and then BELIEVE what your body is telling you. Are you using a food journal? IF so, this is a great place to post your discoveries. For example, here we are in the middle of the summer and there are lots of BBQ's going on. Body Big Mouth wanted a BBQ'd cheese burger with dill pickles. So I tested. I ate 2-3 bites and the food was so HEAVY that I did throw up, then I had to sleep for a couple of hours to feel better. But Body Big Mouth did not give up. I waited a week or two and I wanted what I wanted. Test it. SSDD Same Stuff Different Day I ate 2-3 bites and the meat was so HEAVY that I threw up, and then had to sleep for a couple of hours to feel better. Now Body Big Mouth still wanted what I wanted, waited a week or two and decided to test it again. I ate 2-3 bites, the meat was so heavy that my body hurt. SSDD Stop-Action ... Listen-Think IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME After three tests, notes in my journal, I realized that I was not being a Body Listener ... I was being a Body Big Mouth--I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it--I did not want the results that I was getting--my Ego was louder than my Body-Talk and I was not listening. So back to being a Body Listener. Back to doing what works for my body. I have lost 45 pounds in 90 days by realizing that Dr. Aceves gave me the vehicle for a new body. Now I have to retrain my MIND and my MOUTH to be in relationship with my new vehicle. I need to know when to throw on the BREAKS and Stop-Action...Listen-Think. I have to understand that this is a journey of Self determination and my surgeon gave me the support that I need. He did all he could do--he did his part. Now I have to do my part. IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME Be a Body Listener. Will you please post your thoughts on how you have become a body listener for yourself? Here are my Before - After pictures [so far] on YouTubes

I had sleeve surgery on December 30. I lost 10lbs in a week but starting this week I have gained 4 pounds. I have been doing everything the doctor told me to, so is this normal?

I was sleeved about a month before you two and about a month ago I went through a few weeks where I was eating 1300-1400 calories a day. Scared the crap out of me! Then I just couldn't. Now I'm back down to 600-800 calories a day again. I don't know, Weird. ..

Hello all, Last time I posted I was at a stall. This time I am posting because guess what....I am at another stall. I am at 200.0 and have been for about 2 weeks and just can't seem to get down, I am starting to incorporate more excersize, and could use some advice for getting more protein in. As always any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thanks. Nellybell

Wayne, even if you did come last, you will be streets ahead of all the folk still at home in their beds. For that reason every entrant in a race is worthy of respect. And you wont be last anyway. There's always amazing people like 95 year olds or disabled people and such getting out there having a go, who are happy to just be out there but generally come in way behind the average aged, average ability people. 5K is very achievable, you can train up for it in a matter of weeks and its short enough that you can run it with a bit of pace. Have a go, you'll get hooked and be doing 10k's before you know it and then you can REALLY burn some calories!

I suggest saving one or two items that you wore all the time that are your largest sizes for sure. The fun of trying those on six months from now is well worth it! I have a pair (my largest size pants) of 24. I am currently in a 14 and those /4 literally fall off my body. It's always fun to do a fashion show for my family. They see me everyday and sometimes forget how sick I was. It's a good reminder to never get to that point again. Also keep a shirt or two for the same reason. I have always bought my shirts one size larger because my upper arms were really big and almost everything I bought the sleeves were too tight. Good luck with your pre op diet, you are lucky it is only 3 days. I was 2 weeks. I hope you have a safe surgery and very speedy recovery. Good luck on Monday! P.S. Try reading a good book this weekend, taking a nice hot bath and listening to music. It makes time go by and really relaxes you as you head into Monday.

Congrats!!! I am a day behind you Nov 6th. I kind of can't believe it is happening, but I am so excited. I had my first appt with the surgeon on Sept 19, approved by bcbs a week ago, and now am scheduled for surgery!

Hi everyone, thought I would finally post this question since the issue has not resolved itself as I was hoping it might. Did anyone else experience pain in the throat after surgery? It is hard to describe what I am feeling but I will try. I am 9 weeks post-op and have felt this pain in the back of my throat ever since surgery, especially when I lay on my back. When I go to bed at night and am lying on my back I can feel it. If I breathe deeply the pain intensifies. I had a bad experince a couple of weeks ago when I went for a massage. I started out on my stomach and everything was fine but when I turned onto my back, the pain in my throat was very bad and I immediately got very nauseous. I sat up immediately and managed to control the urge to spew everywhere. I have been discussing this with my surgeon and he has never heard of this but is still working on figuring it out. Has anyone else ever experienced this? Thanks for listening.

Hello, I was banded 2 yrs ago and haven't had any major problems with my band. I have not 'followed band rules' for about 6 months now. I've gained back 15lbs. As for my problem/question... I started having pain in my legs, actually the muscles in the backs of my thighs about 2 months ago. [i don't have any lower back issues and haven't exercised in quite awhile.] When I bend over it feels like my thigh muscles are tied in knots. After about 2 weeks of this I then woke up with a severe stiff neck. I had to turn my whole torso to look around. My shoulders, collar bone and down my left arm hurts. It also hurts under my left shoulder blade and it feels like my spine is bruised in that area. I can't raise my left arm fully and hurts like hell when I try. It actually hurts in the 'socket'. My hip joints are so sore that I have trouble walking. I used to walk super fast, always did, but now I look like an old woman when I 'shuffle'. I went to my chiroprator about 6 times and it didn't help. I just spent 4 days in the hospital and had scans on my neck and brain and blood work out the wazoo all came back fine. I go to a neurologist[?] on monday and they're talking about doing a spinal tap!! Has anyone had these types of pain and found out it was from scar tissue from their band? I will crap if my band is the cause of all this!! Any help would be greatly appreciated, Darlene

He's been very supportive and to an extent, like the "food police". He is encouraging me to stay on liquids for a bit longer and not adding too many foods, even soft ones, into my diet yet. I am only 3 weeks out and liquids do feel best in my belly for now. Also, he doesn't want me to blow it- to have gone through all of this and not succeed. He says I talk about food a lot. I challenged him to go on an all liquid diet for 3 weeks and tell me food was not always on his mind! So, he's been supportive, but also kind of annoying, mostly for my own good, though.

Hello im 6 days post op and during my first week it was all clear liquid nothing else. Sugar free help broths chicken and beef . No protein f shakes at all yet. The second week will add some cream off wheat and yogurt

Holiday was amazing! Weight loss a disaster! Not lost a lb since I set that target... the only bonus is that I haven't gained anything either! Having port trouble at the moment and need a reposition so that I can get a fill! Off to France next week again! Wish me luck!

I had my sleeve 12/16/13. I started taking a food based organic multi vitamin with iron about 6 weeks ago. The brand is Supernutrition SimplyOne. I can't remember where I heard that food based vitamins were better. I paid $14.00 for a month supply. I take calcium chews (2 per day not the recommended 3 because they are expensive). The vitamin is a large-ish tablet but I have no problems getting it down, sort of has a alfalfa type smell so the smell is not offensive. I like the fact that I get my entire dose in one pill.

Anyone have crockpot ideas for 4 weeks out?

I am two months post-surgery (March 30) and had almost constant problems with nausea. Most food made me feel bad (some more than others) and I felt bad even some of the time between meals. I found the answer this week: a CBD vape device. My offspring uses one for social anxiety, I gave it a try and it was like magic. The nausea is completely gone. Yet it does not negate the restrictive benefits of the surgery. I still feel full on very small amounts of food and it is still uncomfortable if I eat too much. It is not AS acutely uncomfortable but uncomfortable enough to be an effective deterrent without incapacitating me. CBD vape fluid does not have THC in it (or only trace amounts) and does not produce the powerful high you get from smoking marijuana. I get a mild feeling of relaxation and that is all. I cannot write (which is what I do for a living) if I smoke marijuana but the CBD does not inhibit me from working at all. I had lurked here before my surgery quite a bit and joined specifically to share this, because I know it will help other people the way it helped me.

Yep, your healing and the swelling has gone down. Same thing happened to me but at about 5 weeks out. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm trying not to get discouraged but tomorrow will be 2 weeks and I'm only down 10 pounds. I'm getting all my protein and water and have not cheated at all. I walk a mile everyday. Anyone else go through this? Any advice to get the scale moving? Thanks.

Yep. I'm 4 weeks out and have only lost 10 lbs . My first week home I dropped 10 lbs. the scale hasn't moved since.

Just looking for ppl who are around the same stage as me in the pre op requirements and who would like to keep in touch throughout the journey. Well anyway here's a little about me: I'm 22 Female 5'4, 230 lbs BMI: 40 Month 3 of 6...so far had my seminar, surgeon consult, and doing my psych eval next week. Hoping to be sleeved in November! Anyone else??

Dr. Halmi said I dont need to do the pre-op diet since I am 100lbs over. But I have been trying to train my mind to eat less. I will be drinking the EAS Advant shakes 2 weeks prior to surgery to wean myself away from solid food.

Surgery went well. Ended up statying 6 hours due to O2 sats not coming back up but finally made it home! Gas pains trapped in my chest and left shoulder even today. I went back to work on Monday. I'm a nurse practitioner and round in the hospital and see patients in an office setting. I'm wiped out by the end of the day but I'm getting through it each day. No fills for me until stomach heals; another 3 weeks per my surgeon. I have been hungry since day one so I am really having a tough time. Praying this is all worth it and that I can handle it!