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I was on one week of full liquids, one week of clear liquids. Every surgeon has their own preference.

PLEASE TELL ME YOUR HONEST OPINION FOR THIS QUESTION. I CALLED FOR A FILL TODAY FOR MONDAY. I LOST ABOUT4LBS IN THREE WEEKS. I CAN'T EAT SOME MEATS. BUT THE WEEKEND I COULDN'T EAT TO MUCH(THAT TIME OF THE MONTH) BUT TODAY I WASN'T TIGHT AT ALL, I HAD VEG. SOUP AND WAS STILL HUNGRY. YESTERDAY I ATE ALOT TOO. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF I GET A FILL I MIGHT BE TOOO TIGHT, BUT I ALSO FEEL MYSELF GETTING HUNGRY AGAIN, AND I'M A SLOW LOSER ALREADY. I KNOW I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BY MONDAY. BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION. THANKS GUYS, FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ANSWERING THESE CRAZY QUESTIONS!!

3 weeks post op today and I still have pain to the right of my belly button when walking. When working out I hold my stomach to stop the pain but wondering if this is normal? Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Im 2 weeks post op in 4 days. I have a pain on the left hand side that feels a bit like a stitch sometimes when I walk or roll over in bed. Your insides will take some time to heal. So yes, I think its pretty normal unless of course its unbearable pain.

Hi y'all! I am 8 weeks post op and cannot get any relief!! I threw up everything including water so I was severely dehydrated and malnourished, had an ulcer and a stricture, I just got out of the hospital for the 3rd time and this time I was there almost a week due to complications from my surgery. I had to have a picc line inserted in my arm so that I can "eat" through TPN. I am starting to feel better but now my Dr wants me to start trying to eat and literally EVERYTHING still makes me sick!! I am so sad and frustrated, I can't even describe what I've been through these last 8 weeks, oh and by the way the TPN made me gain back all the weight I'd lost so I'm really feeling like I did this all for nothing! I'm just looking for someone who might have been through this, and want to know how long it took you to feel semi "normal?? I really regret ever having this surgery and would not wish this on my worst enemy!

I had my preop appt. yesterday. I am so excited. I am having my surgery in Nashville TN. Are there any others out there from TN? I have several friends who have had surgery and have been sucessful with a healthy weight loss. I researched my Dr pretty well and the surgery also, so I am pretty comfortable with the idea. I am more worried about the pre 2 week diet than I am the surgery. My family are real supportive so I think I can make it. I am joining Curves to help me start an exercize program before I have the surgery, My biggest goal is to get off of some of this medicein I am on althuugh the weight loss will be fantastic. Well I have jabbered long enough. Great to be here.:success1:

My surgeon requires you to quit smoking at least 6 weeks before surgery. They do urine nicotine cessation.

Try to stay positive. I was 'full' on tiny portions for the first 3 weeks, and then my hunger returned with a vengeance. Embrace that tiny portion 'full' feeling and work it for all you can. With a fill or two, you'll be back to that feeling after you are healed. Stay positive and focus on that! focus on the fact you have COMPLETELY CHANGED YOUR LIFE! You have a tool that gives you control!

welcome to band land!!!!!! i wasnt hungry for 3 weeks so enjoy it while you can! lol

I spent much of the night last night throwing up stomach bile. No food, just acid. It hurt and was terrible. I took a lot of tums and pepto that didn't help at all. Has anyone else had this problem? I was tightened up a couple of weeks and go and this is when the problem began. I don't understand how after over a year I would start to have problems like this.:w00t:

I wish I had found this site, or thought to look before my surgery on 10/30. I thought I was well prepared and educated on what to expect. This week has been sort of hellish. Only because I was not prepared for the internal swelling, which made even sipping something almost impossible. I was very discouraged on 11/2 wondering if I had made the right decision. Last evening I started feeling better and tonight I actually got dressed and went to a symphony for a couple of hours. Okay, I am tired and sore, but I did it. I think we should all know the first few days you are very sore and feel like crap, but I still lost and THAT FEELS GREAT!!!

I am one month into the process.... I have my pre-op class Thursday, and I'm looking forward to learning more about the surgery, and having more questions answered. I am hoping that once I complete all my requirements, which will be next week, I can get the authorization soon afterwards... I've read of people having to wait a year, ugh... I hope I do not have to wait that long. :rolleyes2: I'm looking forward to the journey and the challenges that await me. 3/1/2010

I am one month into the process.... I have my pre-op class Thursday, and I'm looking forward to learning more about the surgery, and having more questions answered. I am hoping that once I complete all my requirements, which will be next week, I can get the authorization soon afterwards... I've read of people having to wait a year, ugh... I hope I do not have to wait that long. :biggrin: I'm looking forward to the journey and the challenges that await me. 3/1/2010

I have told everyone what I am doing up front. I am not keeping this decision a secret. Of course everyone is concerned that it is in Mexico. I have purchased everything I need for after teh surgery and started on my pre-op diet today. So things are going well. But I am scared and excited all at once!! Sure hope this turns out like I have it envisioned in my head!!

Today marks 3 weeks since my surgery. I never meant to be so silent, but between trying to recover and getting back to life as usual (Mom's don't get sick days) I've been too tired to do much writing or recording. Week 1 was probably the hardest. I was still in pain - both from the surgery and my back due to sleeping in ungodly positions. I was exhausted because I wasn't sleeping through the night yet and I was back to work by Day 6. By day 8, it was pretty much back to business as usual - with the exception of having to cook for the kids and trying not to have to carry the baby. During this time my stomach was doing fine, but I was getting very tired of broths. I was actually looking forward to my first protein shake. The only thing I was having trouble with (and honestly still am) was taking my meds. By the time I'd get most of them down I'd feel overfilled from the water. This isn't so great when you're supposed to be taking 12 multi-vitamins and 12 calcium pills - in addition to Tylenol and 2 prescriptions - every day. Week 2 was definitely better and I started experimenting with different soups. I'll admit - I splurged and indulged in a couple of cream soups and I'm so glad I did. They helped break up the monotony of protein shakes and chicken bullion. I also transitioned from using Almond milk to using regular milk in my shakes. The good news is - I can still tolerate the milk. A lot of people who have this surgery come out lactose intolerant to some degree on the other side. For some it's temporary and for others it seems to last for the long-term. This makes me happy because it gives me some extra fat (which DS patients need) and protein with my shakes. I'll still use Almond milk (unsweetened plain or vanilla) if it's available, but it's nice to have an alternative when we run out. The pain continued to lessen and, the best part, I got to sleep in bed! I started off using a pregnancy pillow I had leftover from last year but slowly graduated down to my normal pillows. Unfortunately, I can still only lay on my right side or on my back and both positions result in me waking up in pain for one reason or another. I've also been having a hard time sleeping through the night. My normal routine seems to be that I wake up somewhere between 12am and 2am and then stay awake for at least 30 minutes (sometimes longer). This really sucks when you have to be up for the day at 4:30am AND are caffeine free. My major accomplishment for this past week is getting back into the habit of walking Oliver to school. Prior to this week, I honestly didn't feel physically up to the 1.5mi round-trip. I might have been braver, except I have to be sure I'm back by the end of my lunch - which means my walk back has to be done in less than 20 minutes. So on Tuesday I sucked it up and took the plunge. I'm happy to say I was able to do it and even went back for round 2, when Ray walked with me to go pick him up. THAT was probably a bit much - but I'm still proud I did it and hope it starts getting easier soon. Aside from all of that - I do have a few other triumphs to celebrate. The first is that, for the first time since I got pregnant with Oliver, I'm below 300lbs. I've lost a total of 17lbs since surgery and a grand total of 53 since I first saw Dr. Srikanth back in July. I'm definitely proud of myself, but also frustrated. Why? Well, my pants still fit. While that's not necessarily a bad thing - I mean I NEED to wear pants - I also don't feel like there's been that big of a 'transformation' for someone that's lost over 50lbs. Then, I put on one of my hubby's t-shirts and saw a bit of what was to come. Let me explain - Hubby's t-shirts are all either 3x or 4x. I've tried wearing them before, and while I fit into a 3-4x in women's clothing, his shirts were too tight on my tummy. In order to wear them, I'd have to try and stretch them out - and even then I'd look a few months pregnant. Well yesterday, in a rush to get out the door on time, I decided to grab one of his t-shirts since I'd just be driving Oliver to school. Much to my surprise, the shirt fit - not only fit, but was roomy and comfortable. So obviously, my body IS changing - even if it's not immediately obvious when I look in the mirror or put my clothes on. I think that I'll be taking some measurements to commemorate the 1 month mark so I'll be able to keep better track of the inches I'm losing - and where. I can honestly say that, so far, there hasn't been any buyer's remorse. I'm glad I took charge of my life and am excited to see what the next several month have in store for me. Actually - in store for US. Ray's surgery countdown is down to 7 days and then he'll be joining me on the Dark Side. Can't wait until we're walking this path together - both literally and figuratively.

:thumbup:I am 8 days away from my band and I cant think of anything else. Weather its good thoughts or my just worrying. I am so greatful for this site. I feel as if i know so much more now and I am so much more prepared. I have a whole list of questions for my Dr. and tommorrow is my pre op oppt. When i first dealt with my Dr. he asked if i had any questions and i said NO i just didnt know what questions to ask. I just hope I can come back to work soon I plan to just take under a week off the only problem is i live an hour away and i hear so many people say they are so tired by the end of the day and i just dread the thought of my being tired and fighting traffic but if that is my biggest issue then i guess i will be lucky. i just cant wait untill i am the one loving my band hell i love it already.:ohmy:

I called my Surgeons office, left a message to have them call me back if there was anything that I needed to do to get things moving a little faster... No call back so assuming that they had done everything that needed to be done I called the insurance company... OMG... I wanted to tell that lady right where to go... I kept getting "ma'am we do NOT have any thing in process, or even on file for you" . AND, to make matters worse I have to call from work because they aren't ever available when I would be home so trying to get time, and quiet, and NO body around because I am not telling anyone at the office about this was even more frustrating for me. Anyway, I finally hang up with the insurance and call the surgeons office again. I have to leave a message for the girl who does the insurance stuff because she is on the phone with insurance companies all day long so she returns calls after 5 pm... I can accept that, she has her job to do too and if it were me and had to deal with those insurance companies all day, I'd be bald from pulling my hair out! So, it's really ok. Last night at 6:15 she calls me! :-) however, she says... "I sent your paperwork in today, so you should see an answer in a week or 2 at the most" I wanted to cry :thumbup: at that point. :eek:... ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? :wink2: I was under the assumption it had been submitted 2 weeks ago and that it was the insurance company that was holding things up right now. :thumbup: Last night I was so bummed it wasn't funny. But have dealt with it and decided that I will make this my last holiday without the band, the new year will bring the "Normal" resolution that I have always made (to lose weight) only this time it will work. And it will be easier for me to not tell the people that I don't want to tell!!! Right now you are probably saying (or going to say) why not have it done before the holidays... And I was thinking that too, but I have a trip scheduled in November and then another in December to visit family out of town. and I really don't want to cancel either trip or be recovering from surgery during either trip! So, right now I am just waiting for the approval and then ready to schedule a January, 2010 surgery date... New Year, New Me!!! It's all good! :thumbup:

I am in the same boat as you are. My surgeon wanted to schedule me for Nov.30th but I will be in Alabama the week of Thanksgiving and definately do not want to be on an all liquid diet then which is what would happen if I had my surgery the30th. So, I am also considering waiting till the 1st of the year so I can get through christmas first. My only draw back is my daughter is getting married on March26th (big wedding) and I was so hoping to lose at least 40lbs by then. I went to the store yesterday and bought some of those full bars and some Atkins shakes and am going to try and lose some on my own before the actual surgery. Good luck with that, huh? lol Anyway, I am going to try and keep up with you on here. let us know when you get scheduled and I will do the same. message me if you would like to. God Bless and have a good day!!

Here I am 3 months after being banded. I feel proud of the progress that I've made... but sorta bummed because I have such a long road ahead of me. I look back to last April and I realize how far I've come. I actually weighed 332 lbs before I got sick. So, since then I've actually lost 70 some lbs. I know, I know I should be proud but I'm looking at more than a 100 lbs to go to get to my goal. That's a lot of weight. I need to set small goals to keep myself motivated. I'm also bummed because I have so many back problems that its making it impossible for me to exercise. I've had two fills. I have 6cc's in my 14 cc band. I'm calling today to see if I can come in early and get my third fill this week because I know I need it, I'm not in the green yet. Which brings me to my next thought. I had an "Ah Ha" moment this week. I don't know how many times I've heard that the band is just a tool it doesn't make you lose weight. This is SO TRUE! I've had the band for three months and really I've been dieting for three months. I've changed the way I eat and watch my calories. My band isn't tight enough to "KEEP" me from eating. Technically, I could eat whatever I wanted and quite a bit of it, but I'm using my willpower to keep myself on track. Some days are better than others. My point is the band isn't working for me right now so I'm still on my own. I made up my mind that I was going to lose weight and that's exactly what I'm doing! I just didn't realize it would take so long to get my band to the right spot to get me losing with my band. If anybody is reading this that hasn't been banded yet, just realize the band does work it just takes a lot of maintenance. You have to be in contact with your surgeon. I've only been going once a month but I'm hoping to start going every two to three weeks until I get where I need to be. After my fills usually by week two I know how I can eat and what's going on with my hunger. I know I'm just rambling, but that's what my blogs are for! I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving this year and I'm not worried about gaining. I'm more nervous about being around family, and them seeing how slow or what a small amount I eat. Plus, those who know will be looking at me to see if they can tell if I've lost weight. I've lost two jeans sizes. Go me! Go me! Go me! My daughter who comes home on the weekends from college always tells me she can tell the difference in my weight. She told me my clothes were too baggy and I needed to wear smaller clothes to show off my body more. This is another issue. I don't see myself any thinner so I'm still wearing clothes to disguise my body. I really still need to because I have a bad case of muffin top going on now. The jeans are all low cut and I need to lose weight around my middle. Can't wait until I'm to the point where I can get a tummy tuck!! Also, my poor tata's are shrinking. Of course, the first person to tell me about that was my hubby. LOL!! Finally, I mainly wrote this for myself to remind me where I've come from and where I am and to set my mind straight to where I wanna be! I can do this! I am doing this! BUT, its hard. This is not an easy fix. The band is not a quick fix. The band requires dedication and pure commitment to your goal. It's not just another diet either. It's a life changing way to help you eat healthier and in turn you get your life back! I'm getting out more. I'm doing more with my friends and that happy party girl is coming back! Everyone around me has noticed it. I'm THANKFUL that I feel more confident! I'm so glad I got the band and I'm so glad I found this site. Even though it's changed dramatically. I love all my new lapband friends! I'm thankful I have friends and family that are supportive! I feel blessed and I'm going to continue to work hard to lose these last 100 lbs. It might take me two years but I'm going to get there! Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! Till Next Time, Tara

I have some family that is supportive, and those, I have reached out to. Other family is not the supportive type, and those I haven't even told about the surgery. I figure that can wait for some future date, after the weight is gone and I'm stabilized at my target weight; they've shown themselves not to be supportive during past times when I tried other weight loss efforts, so I don't expect them to be supportive now. I work so many hours that finding time to do a support group where I would have to drive an hour to get there and and hour back just doesn't seem worth it to me now, but that's why I asked, to see if I'm missing something important. As it stands, I have just about enough time in the day and week to work, exercise, do my artwork, spend time with my husband, visit family, sleep and keep up the house, and that's about it. Something would have to be dropped to add in group meetings, just doesn't seem worth it.

Great point but my doctor has told me that the Water I use in my Protein drinks counts towards my daily minimum of 64 oz of water. that being said, I drank about 48 oz of water yesterday. Hydration is by far the most important part of these first few weeks but i do not want to go through the hair loss I had with my band so I am throwing protein into everything and anything!

Greetings!! I am 3.5 weeks post op. Like most of us I struggle to make sure I get my protein and water in for the day, but each day it's getting easier. The one thing that is an issue for me is breakfast. I usually eat some egg whites, low fat string cheese and 1 turkey sausage patty, this morning I had low-fat cottage cheese and a half a pear. For about an hour after I eat, I'm light headed and nauseous. Once that feeling passes the rest of the day is good. I've tried some Protein Plus Special K, but that was even worse, had to lay down. I'm pretty sure that I'm eating slow and not too much, my stomach doesn't feel heavy and I don't have the food backing up. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Here on this site you're unlikely to find any bandsters who've had it longer than 5 or 6 years. And I think there were only two or three people in that boat. Try going to OH or Yahoo Groups and looking for Australian or European bandster groups. You'll have much better luck there with regard to long-term bandsters.

Some people don't have eating problems, I asked my surgeon about that, coz I belong to that group too and he told me it somehow related to shape of a sleeve. I worried, coz I read people like 6 month out of op and not able to eat meat or fish, but I'm 3 weeks out and already easily swallow fish and beef (little amounts), never vomited and experienced nausea =) Guess we are just lucky