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Ah Darlin', this is not a normal and logical situation sweet Frustr8 is in. I am the rarer , watch out for your surgeon might have skimmed over talking about. I have a stomal stricture in Precious Pouch, and she has 2 ulcers also, on the back wall of my jejunem- the portion of small intestine the pouch attaches to, I have 3 more angry ulcers and the potential to ulcerate on down toward the ileum. I have had 4 endoscopy scopings, on every EGJ is still was not healing up, solider foods can't pass through, so I was on a liquid diet and still am, in theory. After my last scope I was hospitalized, that was November 28th, on the 29th a PICC LINE was established in my upper left arm, snakes through the venous tree, 48 cm, roughly 19 inches long, the tip is located in my superior Vena Cava, and rests only a couple inches from the right atrium , the upper chamber of my ❤. The line rested for a day then on the 30th TPN, which stands for Total Parenterel Nutrition, I get a feeding solution pumped in, I was on 14 hours on, 10 off daily, I just graduated? to a 12-12 cycle on January 1sr, I can try 1 meal of liquid something daily if I desire but the solution supplies my nutritional needs as it is. 1430 calories of goodness, Wowser that's about twice what I was taking when I was feeding by mouth. I simply count not ingest the 90-120 grams of protein Dr Noria says I needed to heal the verdompt ulcers, so this is an easier way for me. Oh I wasn't TOO THRILLED to have this happen to me, my son and I learned the steps so we do it all ourself, no stupid home health nurses having to do it. Twice a week I have blood draws, luckily they can remove blood from the PICC line, better than having someone go up and down my arms looking for an non- rolling surface vein. I used to look like someone threw rocks at me. I have lost over 100 pounds from my highest weight, lost 15 pounds on my liver shrinking diet in August , and close to 50 since my surgery September 5th, for a while I was protein poor and nearly malnourished , I was losing weight like a sea-sick anorexic sailor, nice losing but it was pushing me me into a depletion corner. Weighed myself last week at my Primary Care while my son was doing his appointment, looked like I was stalled by came home , did a giant #2, had to flush 3 times so I have to weigh less, tomorrow is blood draw and then appointment at Primary care for me, why they couldn't have booked us same day, is beyond my comprehension. But anyhoo, I shall weigh and see.And PICC stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Cathetern see you're getting a mini-tutorial today. How much longer will I have it? I have a surgeon appointment the 15th, another endoscopy the 25th with his Partner Dr Noria who love love loves doing them, she is also is a super competent Bariatric, Gastrointestinal and does do General Surgery but Endoscopy is her " Bang Zone" I really like her and Dr,Needleman, and have to believe they have a Plan of Care and have my best interests at ❤ but this sure is not the scenario I had planned for myself.👈😡👉💉💊

I lost 4 pounds in 3 weeks, after losing 40 from Early September to late November. I was blamed my slowdown from now being on TPN, but maybe we are entering an atypical phase? If we are doing all the right things, checking off appropriate boxes, kick back mentally and stop worrying!😝😕😝

I have pain in my left side and it is about a week ago that I had my surgery. Do I need a fill? Does anyone know of a fill doctor in Branson or Springfield Missouri? What does a fill normally cost?

I had my operation January 9th. Everything went very well to my greatest relief. I spent two days in the hospital and have been recovering at my parent's house for the past two weeks. The hardest part for me so far with this surgery as been the left side burning pain on my stomach I get sometimes when I sit down, stand up or "try" to lay down. It's slowly getting better. They "the doctors" tells me the pain will go away after 4 weeks...waiting to get there. I have not had any set backs what so ever. No vomiting, no fever, no overwhelming pain, etc. Of course I thank God every day for making this easy as possible.The other hard part for me is the two weeks of shakes every two hours. The shakes I use taste very good...too good...too sweet to me that I struggled with it after the first week. Gladly I have now moved on to puree which I will be doing for 4 weeks. Just had my follow up visit yesterday and I have lost 26 pounds.

Nice work, pipes! Last week I took my belt to the cobblers and had them put more holes in it. I'm going to ride the thing down until it's just a little nubbin of leather and a buckle...

8 weeks Craig Martinez Austin, Texas

I'm kinda new to this, I was banded in April with some complications. I didnt get my first fill till about 5 weeks ago and had LOTS of humm I wont call it PBing, because I wretched!!!!!!! I think you need to REALLY pay attention I mean REALLY pay attention to what you eat in the first weeks after a fill. If it feels like maybe its not going down right ITS NOT. Try something else on your plate, in my expreiance taking another bite at that point is just asking for a wretching episode... When I've had a really bad wretching episode I usually wait for the next meal or next day to try solids again. Hope this helped.

Hello...I was banded Feb. 24 and had only 1cc fill at the time of banding. My doc is very conservative and fills only 1cc at a time. Its has taken a total of 6cc to get me to restriction which is where I will stay at for now. During the time getting there I have only lost about 4# a month. I eat what I want just a whole lot less of it. I eat appetizers for my dinner. I eat a dinner salad with cottage cheese instead of a big chef like I used to. I still like my cocktails several times a week when I go out and I know thats where a lot of my extra calories come from. I need to exercise more as I am sure we are all challenged with. But all in all, its working slow but steady. I am down a full size and hopefully will be down another by September. It can be frustrating when you see others better progress but I have to celebrate my own little achievements here. So keep up the good work everyone. It has definately changed my old bad habits that eventually would of killed me. So I'm good with it.

I used to have a yoghurt for bfast, about 6:30, as I am so tight in the mornings. By 10:30 I was starving, and usually chose something not as nutritious to tide me over to lunch, like a vending machine size cheeze nips, or some other snacky item. The last three days though I have had 1C to 1.5C lowfat cottage cheese, and 1/4 of a small seedless watermelon! Even though the cottage cheese is slow going, I can eat all that watermelon relatively quickly, I never feel stuck, and it's so good... but even better than that, I am SO stuffed!!! It tides me over to lunch, and I'm still not that hungry by noon. I do not know why this works so well for me, but if you're having problems with the hungries you may want to try watermelon. I am not a big fruit/veggie eater, so I feel good that I'm finally added something natural and unrefined to my menu. Plus melon is one of the lower-sugar fruits. I'm guessing I'm eating about 3 cups of watermelon for 138 calories. Anyone else have this same experience?

Hey everyone! I had the sleeve done on 4/6/16. I just started my phase one yesterday I'm drinking pretty fast but I'm kind of getting worried. I use the one ounce cup when I'm home but if I'm out I just drink slowly and take my sips. I'm not getting in all my 64oz of liquids, but I am getting all three Protein drinks in. Has anyone had trouble with getting all 64oz along with Protein Drinks in everyday? Is it bad I'm not using the 1oz cup every 5 minutes? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congratulations for what I'm confident you will be very happy to have done in a short period of time. Those first couple of weeks are a bit difficult, and I had unmentionable dreams about refried beans...ha! I couldn't wait to get to the mushy stage. I'm afraid I don't have much to offer for the full liquids other than I was also able to add thinned mashed potatoes.

I have had this feeling several times, I was banded on 11-9-09 and still on a liquid diet so I know that nothing is getting stuck......it is just really wierd as it comes and goes, I was going to ask my doc about it next week when i go to my f/u appt.

It will go by fast I was in surgery 2 weeks ago this time! I think I got ice chips same day or at least by the next day

On my plan, you can have salads beginning at Week 7 post-op. What does your plan say since they all have their differences?

Dont stress the "last"meal... look forward to the "new normal". My surgery is October 21st. I have spent the last few days on high Protein, and low carbs. I start my full clear liquid diet tomorrow. I have decided to not allow my mind... get in the way of my determination. We ARE going to eat normal food again peeps... we ARE going to get past the first few weeks ... just fine. Mind over matter... If you don't mind... it DONT matter... Turn your thoughts around.. not about what you didn't get, or may not be getting and think about the light at the end of the tunnel. It will be worth it! I am saying this for you benefit and mine! We are all here for a reason, we need change in our weight to experience a happier healthier lifestyle... Don't let your mind play evil tricks on you before you even get there. Stay focused on the positive, accept the reality of the work ahead of you... and don't let anyone .... get in the way of your goal. I chose to share only with my husband, and recently my best friend. I did not want anyone questioning my decision and adding more pressure. Give yourself permission to stay private about it until you feel ready. We are have doubt and fear... but you remember what is was that made you decide to do the surgery. Don't lose sight of that. Stay strong.... this is for you ... no one else. FYI:I repeat that to myself daily! I am a few days ahead of you... I hear everything you have said, I have felt what you feel. I am simply making a conscience effort to see the pros over the cons. Blessings

hey everyone, just wanted to write a little bit about what i'm about to go through and how i'm feeling. I told everyone about my surgery but my boss and co-workers, at this point i don't want any negativity so i'm still undecided on when or if i will actually tell them. I felt through this whole journey that i had alot of support but as the days near i'm starting to doubt that. My fiance was not really supportive in my decision because he has heard the horror stories and stories of people constantly being sick and throwing up and i explained how this is hopefully different from the gastric bypass and doesn't have dumping syndrome issues and since then i thought he was pretty supportive. Now, that i'm scheduled to start my full liquids tomorrow, i'm worried that he isn't going to be as supportive as i initially thought. Tonight was my "last dinner" (that sounds so silly) and he came home late after my son and i already ate, gulped his food down and then out the door to take our son to football practice. I'm sitting here so hurt.... like the last dinner i could have with my family for several weeks and it was no big deal to him that he was late.... am i over re-acting because or are these normal emotions? i just feel like now, i'm going to be alone.... help!!

My 1 year appointment check-in is in a week. I was really hoping to be 100 pounds down for that, but I'm going to miss it by about 10 pounds. Sigh. But I can't be too upset, because hey - almost 100 pounds down in one year is AWESOME. I'm still going to do my best to ramp up the Water and tamp down the carbs the rest of the time I have left so I can get closer to a triple digit loss. So far, I'm achieving my water intake, I'm exercising more than ever before and I'm keeping my calories around 1000-1200 with carbs under 75 mg a day. Fingers crossed I can make it to within 5 pounds by next week! I did a quick pouch test and I can hold 6 ounces. I think that's a decent size and should be great for continued success. Two of the many things I've learned that I have to be careful about: 1. Carbs have to stay around 50-75 grams or I will not lose anything. 2. It is really easy to eat over my caloric allotment if I allow myself to pick at food over several hours. I am now eating what I feel is a good portion, and then putting the food completely away so I don't sit there and eat on it over the next hour or two. I'm a bit sad still seeing some folks posting about losing 100 pounds in just a few months... but my body isn't wired that way, and there's not a damned thing I can do about that. I am seeing a slow but steady loss and that is just fine really - slow but moving lower is still progress! SO I still have about 40 pounds to goal. I am not going to be too upset if I don't make it, but I really think it is still possible. Here's hoping anyway!

It's too bad your doctor doesn't do fills under fluoro ever, because that would really give him a true picture of what you're telling him. At this point, it seems to me the only thing you can do is to tell him just how big of portions you can comfortably eat. Hopefully, he might consider boosting your fill a bit more than he has in the past. Also, I would ask if you can come back in less than six weeks if you don't feel like you have restriction. Sooner or later, you will get to a comfortable restriction level, but at this rate, it may take a little while. Your doctor may be of the mind that this is the safest way to work with your band.

I was given acid blockers to take the first week, and recommended to take Prilosec or similar OTC ppi for the first 2-3 months. Try that, and try taking very tiny sips and spacing them a minute or two apart. I also discovered that VitaminWater Zero was much easier for me to drink than Water. I found the New whey Protein tubes in fruit punch (42 g protein) and pour half one into a bottle of Vitamin Water and sip, sip, sip. I have been drinking 3 of these daily since day 3 and really feel like the protein and fluids have helped me feel better much faster. As to Full liquids, I was told that they should be thin enough to go through a straw (don't actually use a straw!). So on soups they should be thinned, pureed, and strained of any solid or chunks. I cant have full liquids until day 7. Crazy how different all of our plans are.

I've been a lurker for about a month, but now that I am officially on the calendar, I thought I'd join in some discussions. I just got the call yesterday - I'm getting banded on July 5th. I work for our school district, so I will be done with work for the summer on June 23rd and I don't go back until the end of August. So I'll have 6 weeks post-op to just concentrate on myself. They were really good about getting me in in the time frame that I needed. Good luck to you!

Hello everyone! I've been reading everything for months but have just now become an active "poster" for this forum. Reading all the information on this site helped in my decision to be banded. What is the average time taken off after your band surgery? I am only taking two weeks off from work. I hope it's enough. Also, this slimfast diet I'm on is uuuhhhhhgggg!!! I'm hanging in there but does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks! :biggrin1: NowItsPlanB Scheduled for 06/14/06

Mine are falling off just when the doc said they would. I was instructed to take off the dressings 3 days after surgery and to leave the steri strips to dry and fall off by themselves. I lost the smallest one from my sternum on day 4. The belly button one went this morning (a week after surgery) and the remaining two - I give them a day to go. Nice to see how very small the incisions underneath are. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Okay so I was sleeved on 10/23 but have only really taken 2 normal poops. They hurt to come out... Lol and a few times a week ill have a diareah sesh. When it's like al of a sudden I need to go. Is it normal to have very little bowel movements? I mean I have no desire to go at all besides the diareah when it hits

I was wondering about that today . I had surgery on Monday and thought okay I'm peeing but what about number 2. Did your first occurrence happen abruptly? Also I'm on liquids til week 5 will that make a difference?

No ursodiol because I don't have a gall bladder anymore, but I still can get liver sludge, like the starlings toward a stone if I wasn't bladder-free and it will remain there until 3 weeks after they finally discontinue this,, so it is not impossible I might be given a half-dose to clear my liver. Very good question though. And something very weird, you know I said little actually in my GI tract but they are more regular now than before. There is enough cellular byproducts and stuff that I have at least 1 soft 💩daily. Would have thought Nothing In Nothing Out but I was wrong.