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This diet is two weeks of no carbs. The last week is liquid only. I have been doing the protein shakes and salads, mixed veggies and chicken and fish. I guess it's head hunger. I think I may look at sugar free jello. I've been chewing a lot of gum. I'm just so excited and I know these two and a half weeks are going to drag on!

Wish I could help. I am on 4 weeks of optifast. Yucky.

Mine was swollen for a couple of weeks. I would just double check with your doctor about your concern. I did not use ice or anything, just tried to avoid hitting that section. Good luck.

I too am a stomach sleeper. I am almost 2 months post-op and have no problems sleeping on my stomach now. I had to sleep on my sides for a few weeks after surgery. I would forget and roll over to my stomach. It never hurt, it was just uncomfortable.

Hi - I live in Branford and work in Berlin, so could certainly connect with Cheshire and Waterbury easily. Had my sleeve surgery on August 13. Everything went really well -- no problems at all and loosing weight steadily, now that I am over a very long stall. Ellen

One of my close friends has gastric bypass 6 years ago and went through something similar. She was less than a week out and had to attend a birthday party with pizza. Her solution to the situation was to grab a colored party cup, take a bite of pizza and chew chew chew - then spit out the chewed food into her cup. She still does this now when she wants to eat something bad or has the 'chewies' as she calls them. She makes it look like she is drinking from the cup so the people around her aren't grossed out. I have tried it with a hamburger before and while it isn't 100% as satisfying, it definitely does curb the craving for a good long chew session. Ice chips tend to help me as well, just be sure it's pre-crushed ice or you may end up with teeth problems later.

Hi Dimples! I had my sleeve on April 24th. It's hard but I have made it a game and set it up so I can win. I monitor everything right now. It is hard to get all your fluids on. So I do a lot of measuring things out to make sure I get everything. I am struggling with the Protein drinks so I got some lacaid today to mix my chocolate protein in. I am hoping to make them taste more like chocolate milk. I was mixing with Water but the protein is strong cause I am only using 4 oz of Fluid based on my 1 hour consumption limit by my surgeon. So I have bargained with myself to get 40 gms each day of protein cause its only a cup total ( each choc protein pkg is 20 gms of protein) Then the rest of the day I focus on drinking no less than 4 ozs per hr while awake. That way I stay hydrated. What I have discovered is I get all my fluids in and usually 40-50 gms of protein. I think this is pretty good considering I am just at 1 week post-op with fluid restrictions per hour. But it's the head game with measuring and ticking off what I have accomplished each day. It keeps me busy and less focused on how I feel. I am getting closer to puree soon...and I look at my calendar everyday to see how close I am. It's a mind game....that's what is keeping my spirits up right now. I am in it and I am beating it. Keep your spirits up and play the game! Sent from my iPad using VST

I haven't post anything since my surgey on April 10, 2013. I was sleeved with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. Amazing doctor and great experience. Let say these past few weeks have been the hardest. Still not able to get in my protein or water. Started puréed yesterday, went well. I have lost 20 lbs since surgey date. I weighed 187 lbs the day of surgery also 5'2" tall. I am happy but also miserable. I just hope it gets better. I have days when I regret I had surgery. My husband very very supportive but it's soo hard when you have no energy. Tell me it will get better.

It does get better. Strive for a bit more each day and soon you will be there. 8 weeks out I still struggle to get the full 64 so don't let it get you down. Congrats on the weight loss!

I've had 600 calories today at 6 weeks out and I stretched out a meal over 50 minutes today. It's the first and last time I'm going to do this, as I normally have a meal within 20 minutes but today, I took my tuna (one can) It's the small can- not a mini one but the small one, I think around 4oz of tuna. I took the oil out and ate it on it's own on my little baby plate lol. I ate what I could and left the plate for 10 minutes and went back to it, finishing it in 50 minutes. Well, I know I'm paranoid, but reading what other people can eat I feel it might be too much! But then I thought, maybe it's because I didn't do my normal thing of setting a time limit. I can not eat chicken in this way so I suspect it's the fact that it's soft Protein, that enables me to eat a little more of it. I'm nervous my sleeve has stretched but logically I'm thinking, how has it stretched? It's just I compare myself to so many others with what they can and can't eat. I know I sound SO paranoid but I'm scared to ruin my sleeve. Anyone else get this fear? Saying that, I have to try and get to 600 calories a day, or I would comfortably stop at 300. I've always been more of a volume eater than a grazer and nowadays, I get bored with eating my meals. The portions are so tiny I have to have 6 meals to get to at least 600 calories so I guess today I put the tuna on my plate and thought I would eat it slowly. Lesson learned! back to 20 minute little meals! It made me feel a bit too full for what I would aim for and probably went over with a spoon or two extra.

It seems like I wil be fine but every 2 to 3 weeks i get nauceous and just want to puke. Is this normal? I am almost 2 months out.

Hi All So I am getting ready for my work day and I had to run back to my bathroom to get something I forgot. I got a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I did a double take. So I snapped a picture. I was at my moms and she gave me the picture on the left. My jaw dropped. I was 317 or more in that picture. I can't even believe I let someone take that picture of me. I was definitely anti-pictures. I realized that before I had lapband surgery in Dec of 2012 that I had actually lost 40 lbs on my own. Needless to say I am very very pleased that I had this surgery performed. I have been keeping my calories under 1200 a day and been working out 4 plus times a week. 58 more pounds to go to my ultimate goal. I would like to lose 6-8 pounds a month to reach my goal. The more weight I lose and the better I feel in my clothes the more motivated I get to eat cleaner and cleaner. Not just stay under my calories but make every calorie count! Hope everyone is doing well today. I had a couple of NSV's this weekend and am proud of myself and I wanted to share Take care, Reen

Smaller sips of thinner Fluid is a great idea. Can you get clear fluid down ok? Every surgeon is different, I had my first fill at 6 weeks out, and others have had them at 4. Maybe it is just too much fill, too soon? :cool:

Aimee.. I am 5 7 1/2 . I had no complications. My surgery went really well I had it on a tuesday and went back to work on friday.. Call me crazy everyone else did lol... Did you have any complications? The only time I have pain in my port site is when I had my first fill my doc had a hard time finding my port ( probally to much fat) and stuck me with the needle about 50 times and a 45 mins later he finally found it he did say if he couldnt locate it he would have to do it under floro.. I hurt for a couple of days. From what I understand this is not usual only because a girl that I became friends with who had surgery the same day as me our doc only stuck her once and she was out in 5 mins... So it is not the same for everyone.... Sammee...... Carnation is like chocolate milk and I wouldnt say it is thick thick.This morning when I was drinking my carnation it took me 45 min for 8 oz how much slower can I go I am surprised the milk didnt sour on me lol... Clear Fluid goes down fine.. I didnt have any lunch or dinner because I was full I just hope tommorow this goes away if not I will call the doctor and schedule an unfill Melody.. my doc did not tell me clear liquids he just same liquids I did email him and ask him if I should just be doing clear and he said absolutly no he wanted me to have the carnation because it has the protien that I need he did tell me to try slim fast but that is way to thick yuck.. but every doctor has different requirements.. Now tommorow he has me doing mushies for 1 day and then i move to solids again.... What is your docs requirment (stages) for fills how long on mushies and when can you move to solids? Angela.... My doctor does the first initial fill 6 weeks out but he only put .5 cc in and the standard is 1.5 for the 4cc band that I have but the reason why he only puts that amout in is because he said some people only need 1 fill others need more. I met a girl at the meeting that was onle of his first patients 2 years ago and she has only 1cc in her band mind you it is a 10cc band and she has lost 175 pounds.. she was a size 32 tight and close to 400 pounds now she weighs 210 and wears a size 16 and she looks wonderful she is our inspiration at the meetings. Now my doc wants me to call him when i start to feel hungry in between meals and I can eat more than what I should that signals that it is time for another fill... He does not follow the every 6 week rule.. I am fortunate my doc has 1 day where he schedules all his fill patients and that is Tuesdays. I can walk in evcen if I have to. So i know that I amn always garenteed a fill when I need it. I started feeling hungry on thrusday of last week i called and he told me to come in aftrer work he stays open til 8... He is awesome. Also keeps in touch with his patients via email if not an emergency. We can vent to him and he will even come back with a reply whether a bad day eating or bad day in general... But thank you guys for responding to this and also the congrats on the weight lose it is greatly appreciated... Wish you luck on your journey Vickie

:cool: I finally did it, I made the call after searching and reading up on surgerys :sick i did it , I went to my Oreintation last week at the hospital, and found it quite interesting, I was full of questions and had my application ready for her, how ever i had to do a insurance verification call which pesimist i am was surprised I am covered, and do not need a wait list for weight loss, just the nessary requirements of body mass and so on, which i qualify. I am only 5'2" and weighing in at a hefty 213 when i went to oreintation, after listening to them saying i would have to loose some weight i have already lost 2 lbs:clap2: . I emailed the nurse and insurance rep. at the hosp. and have talked to my doc which again i though i would have problems but he was all for it says it should help with diabetic problems and with the pain in leggs, and cholesterol. so I emailed again and told the np that and am waiting for a apt for doc and food doc, and with the phys, still have two more seminars as well. This is not going to be easy, reading and hearing the problems im not so sure will come back when i hear from the hospital for apt with docs. :cry :violin: :pray: for me

That title might be an obscure reference, but fans of THE WHO will get it... Got on the scale this morning and saw the number: 252. Though My surgery date was June 11th I actually started this journey back in October 2013 with my first official weigh-in with my surgeon when I was 354. Officially hit the 100 lbs. lost mark... I'm not much for "selfies" but maybe I'll post some before/after soon. Just extremely happy and proud of myself, which has never been an easy thing for for me to say or admit. Thanks for the forum to share these feelings and not be judged. VERY important to start light exercise once you feel well enough; I'm walking 1.5 - 2 miles a day and lifting light free weights each morning, which takes only about an hour or so of time, and I'm sure its what helped be break that wall I hit a few weeks back.

My hips, knees and ankles have all gotten better since I have lost weight. I have gout and I did have an attack starting about a week after surgery, but I think that was due to me not taking my allopurinol which reduces uric acid whi h causes gout attacks. We also had some cold weather and snow which can also cause gout attacks. Staying hydrated helps as well.

It would be highly advantageous to have an endoscopy to see whats going on in your stomach as well. I have pain on my left and recently went to a surgeon because it was suppose to be gallstones. Since my pain is on the left side, he ordered a CT on my abdominal area and if that's not it, he wants to do an endoscopy on it. Won't know until next week. I believe that I have an adhesion there or a hernia. Not quite sure and will find out. Insist that they do an endoscophy. Sometimes leaks are not always deteched by CT's or X-rays.

I'm almost 4 weeks postop and have had continuous abdominal pain- surgeon told me today there is nothing else he can do for me. Told me maybe I should see a chronic pain specialist. I've never had pain like this-I'm devastated I may never be pain free again. Maybe God's way of teaching me some lesson .

Welcome Mona and a big Congratulations on choosing the sleeve! You have picked the right one. . . it's a great tool. . . just be prepared to use it. . in the beginning I really hated it cause the changes are so wild. . . you are so used to eating anything and everything in LARGE amounts and suddenly overnight it's snatched away and your expected, or should i say forced, to change everything about your eating habits. . . it's tough and i had buyers remorse big time. . . but when you start to see the results and consistently, you will be so happy and it's even better when you get to shop for "normal" sizes and smaller things. . . when clothes in your closet fall off you and you actually can fasten your seat belt when your in the car, or plane, and when you can clean yourself without pulling your back out of place! Girl your gona love this, just don't get discouraged in the first few weeks. . . there are stalls you will have to content with, I was on one for 3 1/2 months, but i just sucked it up and dealt with it and it moved eventually. . . remember too that Rome wasn't built in a day either. . . you didn't get fat overnight and you surely won't get thin overnight either. . . hope this helps a bit. . . chat soon again and the best of luck to you!

I'm nervous Seriously, it's not all that bad at this point - after all, I'm still at LEAST several weeks out, and I don't have a surgery date scheduled yet or insurance and financials finalized. I think that makes me more nervous in some ways than the surgery itself. How are you doing? Everything settling in well now that you're a few weeks out from your surgery, lrgandwrg? Since you had the same surgeon as I will have, anything I should know about?

It took me about three weeks before I could comfortably sleep on my stomach. Before that I used a pregnancy pillow. Not the same quality of sleep as actually sleeping on my stomach but it helped. You'll also be so tired during those first weeks, you might not care what position you are in! Good luck!

Happy, Healthy New Year everyone. Has anyone experienced the following: I was banded on 12/16/08 and things have been pretty text book except the gas pains. I didn't experience them til almost 2 weeks out and now at a little over 2 weeks I'm experiencing something completely different. Last night each time I moved in bed I felt pain in my chin, the back of my neck (if that makes sense) - almost in my throat and my left ear. The pain was fairly intense and I've not had it since I got up and started moving for the day. I did place a call into my LB surgeon's emergency number and am waiting to hear back. Has anyone else felt this? Does it sound like gas and is it normal to be feeling it this far out from my surgery date? Thanks guys! Michelle in NJ

I’m a couple of weeks away and I’m getting nervous. Will I ever be able to eat a couple of bites of birthday cake again? Will I forever only be able to eat two spoonfuls at a time? Will I ever enjoy an occasional (half) glass of wine again? Will I stick with it or will I be part of the 30% that regains the weight? Did others go through this?