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Hi MoRan I had a sensation a few days out from my banding where it felt like I had a 'lump' in my throat; it was extemely annoying and I couldn't stop fixating on it. It came to the point where I rang my surgeon in a hysterical state and insisted that I needed to see him. His advice was that it is a sensation that some (but not all) people get and that it will generally subside with time; the fact that I was getting liquids down indicated to him that he did not believe there was a physical obtruction and it was potentially caused by some swelling. He asked me if I could be brave and tough it out a little longer to see how it went, I did this and it eventually went away - took about a week. Hang in there, and if you're really worried, call your surgeon - that's why they're earning the big bucks!

Get an unfill!! I made myself suffer for 2 months and never thought I would do that. I thought it would get better. I went in two days ago, had .4cc taken out and what a difference it is! I was at a stand still on losing weight for the last 3 weeks, and in 2 days, b/c I am eating again, I've lost 3 lbs! You should never be miserable during this journey!!

My doctor says to try for 70 grams of protein and 30 grams of carbs but ismuch more concerned about just getting in at least 48 oz of fluids for the first few weeks.

Sorry everyone, I haven't checked this forum as often as I should have. Since coming back I have been swamped by people on facebook asking questions lol here are the answers to your questions you asked Robbdtn... I have not heard of anyone have a bad or negative experience at anytime down there in Juarez and I have talked to A LOT of people. I even talked to a lady that went their the week after I cam home and talked her through every experience she had. She had lots of pain (more than I had) but we never could figure out why. The pre-op diet I was on lasted for 2 weeks. I started 3 days early just to give myself a chance to get used to it in case I slipped up. I thought I would totally blow it, but I never did. Come to find out, even if you do mess up on the diet, the Dr. Rod will still go ahead with the surgery. I was told by my facilitator that they have never turned anyone away, pre-op diet or not. The diet is just to help shrink your liver so there is less bleeding, but they are experienced enough to deal with a fatty bleeding liver though. Try to stick to the diet as best as possible though, the pre-op diet is easy peasy anyway, just gotta set your mind to do it. Lots of Water, lots of meat. That's about it lol if you love steak, it's the best diet ever! After surgery, I got nauseous twice in the hospital but as long as you keep a cottonball soaked in rubbing alcohol nearby to sniff when your mouth waters, you'll be fine. As far as pain goes. It was absolutely manageable with pain medicine. Even if you don't feel pain, if the nurses offer it...take it. Better safe than sorry lol as soon as you can stand up and walk, WALK. They want you to walk twice and hour, but I walked once ever few hours because I liked sleeping more. The breathing treatments hurt at first, but you have to keep blowing that damn tiny tuba until your diaphragm resets itself. But honestly, for me....at no point in time was the pain unbearable. Towards the end, the only pain I really complained about was my headache from sleeping too much. I am a full time student and don't work, but I returned to class exactly 5 days after surgery (3 days home) and just took it easy and wore loose fitting clothes and kept a small pillow with me for my back. Today marks 3 weeks after my surgery and I have lost 22 pounds since then. It's not a whole lot, but in the past 3 weeks my double chin is now gone. I have not been doing any exercising other than a few minutes of walking a day. My clothes are more loose and I can see considerable shrinkage all over. Remember, with all the Protein we take in, we are building muscle right now so weight loss might be slow, but we are still losing inches! The only thing I would do differently is packed lighter and not taken a bus across Texas LOL. All you really need to pack is pajamas, toiletries, cell phone/charger. You can go home in the clothes you came in as long as you don't sweat profusely! If you need anything else, feel free to message me directly Lastly, Mattr2...cute profile pic

:help:Does anyone else have the "Easy" band? I had one fitted in Manchester in March & at first completley lost my appetite resulting in a weight loss around 14 lbs. My appetite then returned, as predicted because it seems to be caused purely by the operation, & I found I had almost no restriction. After the requisite 8 week wait I was reduced from the open state of 29mm to 25mm under x-ray. Still I had little restriction & actually gained 2lbs! Last adjustment to 23.8mm & although I have slight restriction with some foods especially bread & I do eat slowly I could still eat a largish meal. Ok, I do realise one has to "work" with the band & I have to admit I haven't always managed my 10,000 daily steps but has anyone else had this experiance? At what point I wonder will this famous "sweet spot" be reached? As I understand it the easy band can only close to 20mm so I've not got far to go although I'm told only small adjustments are safe at this point. I also notice fizzy drinks don't have any adverse effects? I've also had a few strange chest pains, anyone else? Come on you "easy company" bandsters, this may be brilliant technology but does this thing really ever work?

My doc had me doing exercise, including light weight lifting and ab work at two weeks, and he had me on the elliptical four days post-op. As he stated, "I do this procedure for police who come in for surgery on Thursday and are back to full active-duty the next Monday; the elliptical isn't going to hurt you. Don't lift anything over 20 pounds for a month, but everything else is open."

Hi everyone, I am new to this site. I was banded on 12/22/03 and I have lost 28lbs so far. I was banded by Dr. Bauman in Concord, NC. I had my first fill on March 6, 2004. My question is, I have not lost any weight in about 4 weeks. I am eating the right foods. I guess I am not exercising the way I should be. I am drinking enough Water. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get motivated again. Also, do we have a page for receipes and snack foods. I love everyones input and look forward to hearing from you. Barbara

DON'T GIVE UP!!! I haven't lost much either and was banded a month after you. If you are too tight then go to your dr and get a small unfill. Get off the diet pills!!!! They may be changing how your body is reacting to food and making it more difficult to eat. Drink shakes, they will go down just as easy as the slider foods you are eating. Try pudding with Protein powder mixed in, or cream of chicken soup. Puree it if the little bits of chicken are bothering you. Kick the exercise up by 10 minutes a day, then increase it again in 2 weeks, This is what I'm trying right now. You CAN do this!!! You chose the band knowing that it would be hard work, you believed in yourself then, do it again!!!!! You are wise to be on the boards here asking for encouragement and help. There are many people who can help!! PM me if you want to chat more about it. Just don't give up!

Hi Marc, The first few weeks are about letting your stomach heal. The purspose eating soft and liquidy foods is to keep your stomach muscle from moving too much while it's healing. The more movement you have at this time, the higher the risk of slippage or, at least, the chance that your stitches won't heal properly. It's best not to stress them for at least several weeks after surgery. Normal foods chewed well are what you'll be eating after you've healed and are on to a regular banded life. For this time it's definitely better to stick with things that don't need chewing at all--thick Soups, puddings, and yogurt are all included in this "diet." I had fun with it and wasn't at all hungry. So remember that this time is not for you to work on your eating habits or worry about whether you're getting full or sticking to a particular diet. It's all about HEALING. You don't want to take any chances! (No one told me this, either, but I'm glad to have found it out before deciding to test my theories out on myself. )

hair loss generally starts a few months after surgery. About 3 months seems to be really common. Sometimes less, not too often more. How long it lasts varies greatly. When I had my lapband it lasted about 6 weeks (the worst part), and about 8 - 10 weeks total. It was over 6 years ago so I'm getting sketchy on the details. It is primarily a nutritional thing. There are no set correlations to surgery, though some people do have that reaction. There are people who will lose hair if they have anesthesia, regardless of surgery or not. In my case I have had: Lapband surgery - lost hair significantly. Gall bladder removed - no hair loss at all. Lapband removed - no hair lost at all. Sleeve - no hair loss yet, but I'm still a pup... it's coming, I have full confidence. The only time I lost hair has been when it coincided with extreme changes to intake/nutrition. I see this pattern most of the time. There's no research indicating that Biotin supplements help (or hurt) with hairloss from bariatrics. That doesn't mean don't take it, it just means take it with the understanding that you might be disappointed. It could be that it helps, but it could also be that the hairloss had run its course and was ready to stop anyway. I'd love to see some actual research done on this (and Nioxin) because the bariatric community is probably keeping those markets alive. The best result I've seen personally was a girl who got really hairy arms, but continued to lose her head hair.

Afternoon all, I'm half way to the process needed to get the importantly needed surgery. Monday, I met with my primary care physician so that she could write a letter of recommendation to the surgeon, which she happily did. She also ordered the labs that my surgeon requested be completed. I just received the results of some of the fasting labs I had drawn this moring. I can't believe some of the numbers! I am so upset with myself for allowing myself to get to this point. Sorry, I guess this is a pitty party post. I just have to get this out. I know that, yes, I'm over weight (or as my chart says morbidly obese) but these labs and recently changes in my body are showing me (although I had been ignoring them) that I have an issue with food. I know what to eat and how much to eat but I choice to ignore it because I like food. I know I could chose better food options like an apple over chips but sad thing is I like them both and usually end up eating the apple AND the chips. My surgeon is requiring that I lose 10 pounds. I know it's not a lot but I haven't been able to lose 5 pounds. I am so ready for a lifestyle change that I am forced to abide by. As of tomorrow, I have decided to start to drink Protein shakes regularly to substitute a few meals for the week. We'll see how that goes. I'm wondering how many folks who've had this surgery end up having some sort of therapy for "compulsive eating?" I didn't think I was a food addict or anything, even with all the indulging but now I'm wondering if maybe I am. Anyhow, thanks for listening. I know things will get better. Those labs just through me. Shari

I had to wait about 4 weeks. Now the gear I was wearing looked more like a tarp on me then anything. I noticed that my helmet doesn't fit very well but I refuse to give up my new yorker. Plus I kinda fell off the wagon and am getting myself back ontrack.

oh!! I won't! I'm here to ask lots of questions! I think I have a bunch of stuff already done, for that "passport checklist" thingy required for the insurance co.. "hoping and praying" that the 4 month 3x a week cardiac rehab classes & weigh-ins with exercise routine, monitored by both my cardiologist & the nurses, (also was paid for by BC/BS since end of Nov.-March) included nutritional counseling, exercise physiologist, mediterranean diet (my cardiologists' fav, lol!) and aggressive meds..yikes, I'm even seeing a bariatric weight loss dr TOO, with appetite suppressants and even THOSE don't help, for heaven's sakes!! and I've continued the program at phase III level, paying "out of pocket" on my own, while being weighed monthly since April/May and still being weighed at the cardiologist's (saw him April 18th).. I just started seeing the dietician prescribed by the endocrinologist, since starting the metformin 2 months ago, so I'm due for bloodwork again which I will be doing tomorrow, since I'm seeing her on the 26th. My last visit with her, was when she told me I had a BMI of 35, so when I called the insurance co and they said the 35 BMI was accepted with the ONE complication, I figured since I had even MORE than the one, it wouldn't be an issue. The deal is, I have to pass the cardiac stress test again. BOO. no fun. then, the endoscopy, which I've never had any of those things done before. ewwww.. those things are entrances and exits, you know??LOL! just kidding! Guess I better get used to it! It's easy when it's "other people" when you are an RN, but when it's YOURSELF? omg.

Hi everyone, I attended a lapband seminar this week, as I am seriously contemplating having this procedure done. I have several very good reasons to do it: * Improve my health. I don't have any co-morbidities at this time, but my extra weight is really taxing my knees and my back. I have always had a large chest, and the weight of it really strains my back. * Live better. I want to do all the things that I can't right now due to my size. * Try having a baby. Unlike many women who do not have a monthly period due to their weight, I don't have this problem. My issue is that my eggs are old, though I'm only 38. We have tried IVF using my own eggs, but that didn't work, so my fertility specialist recommended using donor eggs, but said that I should lose my excess weight so that I don't have the additional complications of pregnancy that being super obese can cause. * I want to be able to exercise without hurting. * I want to be able to shop in a normal size clothing store. The list goes on and on, but I am really doing this so that I can be healthier and happier with the way I look. My BMI right now is 49. I'm 5'5 1/2" tall and last weighed in at 294. This is the largest I have ever been. I am ready for a change. I look forward to getting to know many of you and I hope that I am able to contribute to this forum, as well as learn from it. Thanks, Mel

nI have no restriction and when I eat stuff keeps getting stuck what does that mean??Help! Then I have to drink so the food will come back up! Not sure what to do I go for a fill next week and really need it

I wasn't really hungry at all the first two weeks. But now, on week three I'm more hungry, and food goes down rather easily. I'm on the mushy food phase now. I'm finding that if I eat Protein first I don't get as hungry. I'm thinking of making some egg salad today, or perhaps some turkey pate (turkey and a little mayo and spices blended), since I have so much of it. I'm also steering clear of caloric liquids. I'm really into sugar free tang right now. I like iced tea also, and splenda goes very well into tea. I won't get a fill til the end of January (which seems like for freakin' ever!) because my doc is so booked with fills. So I have to devise some kind of eating method to get me over the long haul til then. I'm here with ya!!! Linda Dr. Bonanni banded 11/14/03 260/243/150

Zhanna, yes it is normal to not feel restriction once the swelling from surgery goes down. Remember the mantra - the first 6 weeks are about HEALING, not losing. Any weight lost in the first 6 weeks is a bonus, not an expectation. The true journey begins once you start getting fills. It is true that some people are tight enough with an empty band to lose, but they are the exception, not the rule. Don't think about weight loss until you're ready for your first fill, usually about 6 weeks out at the earliest. Eat healthy as much as you can, practice your chewing, don't drink with meals, don't drink sooner than 30 minutes after a meal. Practice, practice, practice. Then you'll be ready when you get restriction with your fills.

I guess it really depends on what kind of data tracking you are wanting to do. My doc told me to eat X amount of calories, and workout a certain amount. The X calories for me isn't necessarily a sliding scale, but it is worth considering especially if your workouts vary, or you only workout certain days of the week. By that I mean, don't necessarily eat less on days you don't workout, but you might consider eating more on heavy workout days otherwise you could be inhibiting your weight loss by having too big of a negative calorie deficit.

Thank you for the reply! I went to emerge and they gave me a x ray and said it looks like my band has slipped so they put me in touch with a gastoenterologist but it's a 6 week wait to just get a scope done to ensure what the problem is. The doctor in the ER told me to just keep eating Protein shakes but it'll be 7 weeks at that point I don't know how someone is supposed to live like that for 7 weeks just to even get looked at. Such a nightmare Sent from my SM-G935W8 using the BariatricPal App

I’m almost 3 weeks post op and I have my ups and downs but more ups then anything! I have lost a total of 30lbs since my surgery.

I was just like you. I had actually lost about 15 lbs in the first 2 weeks on the liquid diet. As soon as I started getting food into my system, I slowly gained weight back. Its been 6 weeks since my surgery and I just got my first fill yesterday. I was so excited just so that I would stop being so hungry all the time. My doc let me know that my band was empty and thats why I was so hungry. Well, that makes sense!

Mom, which ones did you try? I tried the Grape and didn't care much for it and I've been a bit concerned about it and now I'm starting to think, after surgery taste buds are going to change and really it's going to be a struggle to get anything down and clear phase is about a week so it's not going to matter too much. I heard there's a green one that's not bad, and I thought I'd try to find that and maybe add a squirt of green MIO or something fruity and add Black Cherry MIO. Unfortunately, I get migraines if I use too many artificial sweeteners, and there are some that cause a bloaty feeling, so I would rather not sweeten things if I don't have to. The only artificial sweetener lately that doesn't have that effect on me is Truvia. Too bad more things weren't made with it for me.

Ok, so I am choosing to start my pre-op diet 1 week early not because i wanna lose lbs but i want to really jump start my liver reduction to limit any surgical problems. As of today i have 2 days left to indulge myself and eat all the goodies that i want cuz come monday it's on! Has anyone else done this or am i the only one?

I am five days post-op. I am feeling good. I walked 2.5 miles this morning, I had gas in my shoulder yesterday and thought I was going to pass out. Finally, my oldest sister, who is two years post op told me to drink a hot soda to relieve the gas. Lord knows I didn't want to but I think it save my life definietely from the pain. I am moving around great but has a lot of gas. Really believe it's from the pre-op diet of broth which can be greasy. My initial weight was 212 pounds; heaviest weight: 222; I lost 12 pounds during the two weeks pre-op diet phase. Day of surgery I weighed in at 200 pounds. Today, I am at 199.0. Not much difference.

I think this is at least the 3rd post this week asking this very same question. There are several brands of unflavored protein powders. Try doing a search and you should get a wide variety of answers.