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I got pregnant with my 3rd son shortly after having my first fill and 4 months after having band surgery. My ob/gyn and midwife both said that as long as a could eat to keep my fill since it was the only thing keeping from gaining an excessive amount of weight. I weight 270, developed hypertension, had a c-section and had a 10 lb with son #2. Son #3 has very fast, delivered by midwife 1 hour after I arrived at hospital, no c-section, he weighed 7 lbs and I weighed 210 when he was born. At my 6 six check up, he weighed 10 lbs and I weighed 180. Ana

Having difficulty w/ nausea & getting my fluids & protein hoping it gets better soon!

Hi Carol- I've been reading the journal section longer than I've been writing in it. I've been reading your entries for a while now. I've never read any of the comments you've gotten before so I don't know if I'll be repeating what anyone else has said befor. Anyway- Have you tried attending a local support group? I've only gone to mine once. We only have one monthly so I havn't gone since I've been banded (I'm 2 weeks post-op). A lot of the gals there the night that I went had feedback to situtations such as yours. The main one is going to a nutritionist and following the diet they give you. Other than that, you have lost some weight... that's better than gaining right? And let's say you stay the same for the next year but then you get motivated and drop 10 or 20 more pounds and the band helps you keep it off. And if this senario keeps up then eventually you will get closer and closer to whatever your goal is. It may take a long time but it would be working. Food addiction is a hard thing. We can't just quit. We have to eat to survive. It's unfortunate for those of us who love food and use food inappropriately (for something other than just nutrition). Keep talking to your doctor... maybe see a nutritionist... seek a local support group... maybe a personal counsler to help you through this. Try not to beat yourself up too much. We are all only human. Take care of yourself. I hope things get better. ~Tina

I have a strange question .... For about the last 3 months ... I've been having this feeling like my stomach is eating itself ... Is that the new "hey I'm hungry" feeling? It's quite the feeling ... And I'm probably not explaining it right ... But I have a Protein shake for Breakfast between 7am - 8am ... Then about 10:00 - 10:30 that feeling starts ... so I'll have a handful or 2 of peanuts ... Seems to quiet the monster ... I eat a P3 around noon .... Usually around 3:00 it starts again ... sometimes I'll have a handful of peanuts or a yogurt ... ( not always ) Between 4:00 - 5:00 ... I have another Protein Shake ... Then dinner when I get home around 6:30 ... usually a hot dog ( seems I have an obsession right now ) I mean seriously ... I think about it all the way home ... Night snack is usually 3 bites of a Protein Bar OR a SF fudgesicle ... So I'm thinking the feeling IS the new "hey stupid, feed me" feeling ... Does anyone else have an opinion / advice ?

I was sleeved on 01-14-13 and have not had any problems whatsoever until this past Wednesday night. I have eaten everything exactly like they told me to eat. I had my soup for dinner and about 1 1/2 hours later I had the terrible dry heaves. Last night no problem until 1:30 a.m. (7 hours after dinner) and I threw up nothing but yellow liquid. Anybody having these problems? Somebody said it could be gallbladder. Any ideas? Thanks

I am considering taking about 7-10 days off and then tell my manager that i had some other surgery because she is a real gossip munger and everyone in the dept store will find out if I told her that I had lap band surgery! now im trying to come up with another "fake" surgery i could tell her I had so i could get away with not carrying things/do less strenuous work once i get back.. i would love it if there were some boys working with us to help when it comes to the lifting/etc... but its a jewellery store so all our employees are girsl >21 years of age... so not much help with them!

Just thought I would post these really delicious Protein bars and if anyone else has favourites they recommend please tell us them. I use Protein Bars as a Meal Replacement several times a week if I am on the run or somewhere there is no good food choices to pick from. I only like them if they are really tasty and it satisfies my chocolate craving because they are solid they also keep me feeling full for a long time. My favourite so far is an energy bar called "six star body fuel" that has 15 g of protein. I love the double chocolate chip flavoured one that has a real brownie cake taste. It tastes best when you unwrap it and microwave on high for 10 seconds. It costs about $1.67 at the Real Superstores and at 45 grams it has only 170 calories. My next fave Protein Bar is "PowerBar triple threat", the Chocolate Caramel fusion flavour. It has 225 calories and 10 g of protein and is 53 grams. It sells for about $1.99 each at the Real Superstore. Donna VBG/87 Revised By Dr. Cobourn to Lapband/06 251/164/125 goal

About a month ago I got a fill that brought me too 6.7 cc's. For 3-4 days afterwards I was fine. I felt no difference at all. Then I had 11 days where I was so super tight so I went back to my doctor. He said I had reached my max fill level and wouldn't need anymore for a while. He told me to eat slower and chew more. Okay then BAM for the past 10 days I've been able to eat ANYTHING! I'm hungry all the time and I can even eat bread again. I haven't been able to eat bread since November. I would like another fill but then again if I wait and do nothing then it may tighten up again on its own right? What should I do?

Yeah, it should be ok, just take it easy. Also, I think it's a good idea to have something like Gatorade available on hand, especially if you are planning to exercise for more than 10 mins - I found I developed low blood sugar very easily early after my surgery.

Oh boy still pain 10 days out. How was it on day 5 after your lap band? I have to go back to work on day 5. I work mostly at a desk.

I don't eat Breakfast if I do it is a yogurt about 10:00 8:00 - 10:00am 2 - 12 OZ DECAFS 10 - 11:30 24 OZ Water OR CRYSTAL LITE IN THE MORNING (done by 11:30) 12:00 - lunch 1:30 - 5:00 48 0z water or crystal lite 5:30 - 16 oz water with work out 7:00 - super 9:00 usually take a 16 oz bottle and sip on it and take it to bed (i get so thirsty at night) drink about 8 oz by morning. I Try to get at least 100 oz a day, but I always get at least 64. I find it more important to not drink after a meal than before. When I first started i had to force 64 oz down, A few months ago I was fighting hunger between meals but did feel like I needed a fill so my Nut. suggested more water. They say it has nothing to do with weight loss but mine sure picked up when I increased my water, altho... it could be many things.

Yep I agree....goals need 2 b reasonable. I have lost only 61 pounds in 15 months but I feel great and wear a size 10 again. I am below my surgeons goal for me and only 20 pounds from my personal goal. In the first 6 mos I lost about 35 pounds. Its more about learning to live with the band....how and what to eat....and exercise exercise exercise! Be good to yourself! This is the beginning of the rest of ur life!

Ok. I chickened out of breast lift. (Close to my port was worrisome) but fill steam aHead on tummy tuck. Got the date of march 10. My sons wedding is end of May Hoping for results. Not too worried.....yet

Walmart has one in the fitness section. The cost is under $10.

Congrats on your approvals! HW: 321 CW: 278 GW: 180 Sleeve scheduled: 5/10/18

Dumb question - but was is "PB"? :biggrin: I'm scheduled to be banded on 10/30. Starting mushies/liquids today. :wub:

Oh- Lisa do I have lots and lots of MIL stories- She and her mom moved in with us when her pension got ate up by enron and dh & I could not pay her bills at her hpouse and ours. Nana (grand mil) just outlived all her $ after almost 5 years in assisted living and was not ready for nursing home yet. Tops on my list (DH has his own list) 1) Nana (Grand mil) has a stroke and she won't take her to hospital because she wants me (7 months pregnant to take her) Then she won't stay with her or help find her a nursing home (if I stick my fingers in my ears it is not happenin) 2) She hates the way I cook- and the smells (because I use more spices than salt & pepper 3) Weall went to Disney & paid (I was 8 1/2 months pregnant and over 300 lbs) witht he two youngest for 2 weeks and she rented one of those scooter cause she was so tired after 1st day an had trouble walking. As well as she seemed to know where every bathroom was and we had to stop and visit each one 2 times a day (remeber I was the pregnant one and with two little ones under 3) I'ld attach the photo- but she tried to delete them all from the camera (DH favorite) 4) We got banded together (she was forever asking me what to do- like I haven't sent her all the info or Jessies book or etc) and still buys Cookies and bread- only white, Pasta, and cakes and won't drink her Water (it makes her pee to much - (see disney story). I can't get her to even use the treadmill try curves or go to h20 aerobics with me. Then she wonders why she isn't loosing like me!!!! It drives me nuts (and she feeds some of that junk to the kids- so I feel like the bad guy when I say no or make the homemade bran oatmeal cookies) ***note she does have her own kitchen in a inlaw suite thing- THANK GOD! 5) But my new number one for the day happened last night. I went christmas shopping - took to long. Called and told her to feed the kids some of the homeade pizza (wheat & rye crust) and grapes for dinner. I get home at 7:$5 she says they ate. I put them to bed, and find pizza in fridge at about 10:30, I go ask her what they ate, she say "Oh cake" AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! So all my kids wake up at various hours of the night screaming and very hungry. I didn't get any sleep and am a little peeved Please note I do love her very much :bandit and I almost like having her this close (her own house a few feet away from mine would be nicer, and she is loosing - just really slow (she is older and very sedentary!!- even when watching the three little ones and she won't go for a fill without me and I don't need one) Gotta love her (since I can't kill her) The kiddos would miss their nana

1) world peace and no one to kill anyone over any conflict 2) the cure for aids (to save africa and asia and those in the us/europe who do seem to be forgotten) 3) every child in foster care to have a wonderful PERMANENT place to call home (DH - says not with us- we can only take six) and never to "Age out" without parents 4) Lisa to get her port 5) My loan for surgery paid off 6) My farm to sell (on market since 9/11/01) AND TO GET AT LEAST ENOUGH TO BUY SOMETHING 7) Whatever DH wants and or needs. I always run out $$$ by the time we get to us (but he did have the best time working on Colin's train table yesterday- bigger better and cooler than most) 8) Acceptance for all people with disabilities and mental retardation and mental illness (It hurts when I see kids make fun of my little 4 year old) 9) My MIL to get her own house (on my property) and out of mine 10)The winning powerball ticket (OK it is just a big dream- but it could help with a lot of the above - and I could buy Lisa a new port)

I am 4 weeks post op and my mother is 10 years out. She has never had dumping syndrome but I took one sip of gatorade the other day and the 20gs of sugar hurt me so bad I couldn't stand up until I vomitted. Will I out grow this? When I'm a year out will I still be dumping? I just want to be able to look forward to a future when I can have one lollipop.

I have the same problem as you - we are short. When you are short, you just can't eat the same amount of calories that others do. It is not really fair. If you or I have a Big Mac, we can't eat anything else all day - no fries, sodas, salads, etc. I am surprised that the doctor didn't recommend a high protein (90%) with 10% complex carbohydrates. It is quite effective and you really don't have to worry about calories although I would keep tract for my own information. There are a lot of "hidden" calories. Before my surgery, I had to keep daily sheets of everything I ate, where I ate it, when I ate it, how much water, protein did I take, how much exercise, and how did I "feel." I hated it but it forced me to look at the big picture or the big plate - ha.

Being one that doesn't react to fills until 6-10 days later I offer a word of caution. Give your body a chance to react to the fill before you decide that its not enough. This last one I only got .3. On the 11th day I PBed on a piece of scrambled egg. That had been a safe food for me. If after 2-3 weeks you are so hungry and your will power is wanning, then call for a fill. If you are not losing and can eat a whole chicken breast, then my doctor says come for a fill. Being over filled is worse than being under filled. I can use my will power when no restriction is being experienced, but nothing helps when I can't swallow a sip of Water when overfilled. Also, I can eat lots after 6 days from a fill before the whammy sets in. Each of us is different, but I think that is why they want us to wait. I've also heard, no proof to this, that our ports are only made to withstand a certain # of fills. I don't know how true this is so take it for what it is, a rumor.

My Surgery was scheduled for 7:00 this morning.. At 7:00 I was scared to death and was was in the holding area. They came and gave me a shot if Versed to help me relax. I barely remember anything else until I woke up in recovery at 10:30. My surgery finally got underway at 7:30 and the doc came out to speak with my family at 9:30. So far, it has been a little more painful than my band surgery, which I guess is to be expected. I am very sensitive to anesthesia and have been nauseated for most of the day. I have walked up a down the hall a few times. All in all it has not been as bad as I had feared!!! Let me know if you guys have any specific questions. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes,

Oh my gosh! I don't know what just happened but that posted like 10 times! Whoops! It's not my day. My iPhone ACTUALLY fell into a toilet today! And now it's not behaving itself. Ugh. Mercury is in retrograde and it's messing with me. Anyway... Light and love to rest you and good luck everybody!

I just wanted to share my banding experience with everyone too. I was banded on Tuesday morning. I got up at 5 a.m because I could not sleep. I arrived at the hosptial at 6:30 and the nurse greeted me in a cheerful voice and told me to go use the bathroom then have a seat in the lobby area. My husband accompanied me and we sat for about 20 minutes before we were called to a room. Once I was in the room, I was given the stockings and a gown to put on. One of the nurses came in and started my iv. she was very nice and chatted about how busy the shortstay was as compared to the emergency room. She really made me feel relaxed. Approximately 10 minutes later, I was taken to a room and one of the nurses gave me a "party hat" to put on. He told me that I could not go to the party without it. He was so funny. I met the guy who was going to administer my anethesia(sp) and he told me no worries. O.K. I can go with that. I was then rolled to the operating room and told to move over onto another bed. One of the nurses told me that she was going to put a oxygen mask on my face and I comment "Good night". I already knew it was going to be lights out. I awoke in a cold room and someone was calling my name. I answered and he told me that it took me a long time to wake up and I remember telling him "I was dreaming and you woke me up". He laughed and asked me if I was ready to be taken to my room. I told him yes. He asked me if I wanted anything for pain and I said yes. I was not in pain, but if he was offering.... I arrived in my room and the nurses were so nice. I had minimal pain except for the gas that insisted on running through my upper chest area. I got up and walked it down to the lower part of my stomach I guess. I had anticipated a lot of gas in my shoulders and back. But I did not have that. I still have gas pains in my stomach but they are not as bad as I had thought. I did get up to walk one time during the night and I thought I was going to throw up but the nurse hurried me back to bed. This experience was not as bad as I had read on some posts. I am now back at home after spending the night in the hospital(I recommend it). I feel fine except for the soreness where my port is, but as long as I am not twisting or turning too much, it is fine. I think my challenge is going to be the two weeks on the liquid diet phase. I hope those of you who are scheduled to be banded, will have as good of an experience as I did.

Hi my name is Sheryl and I am from Montana. I am 5'5, 42 years old with a bmi of around 45. My surgery date is a week from today!!! I can hardly believe it is almost here :thumbup: I am on my 3rd offical day of my 10 day liquid diet. It has been the easiest one so far. I have 3 children ages 23, 18 and 16 with my wonderful husband Chad.(none of them have weight issues) Thank God our children got my husbands skinny genes. I would love to meet people on here to share this life changing journey with :laugh: I am new to this site as of today...so I am still trying to figure out how to navigate it