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This 4th of July weekend was the worst in the almost 2 mths in the post op phase. Sunday night, I got the weirdess chills. I couldn't get warm and was shaking, yet it was 80 degrees in my house. the bottom of my ribs near my top incision felt super tight and when I coughed it hurt badly. It lasted most of the night and by the morning, I felt weak and unstable. I tried showering but kept crashing into the nearby walls. Fearing that I would fall I headed back to bed and slept 10 hours and only woke to have a few zips of Water. Today, I awoke with a pain on the top of my right shoulder, a little less weak but my stomach still felt tight. Anyone ever experience similar symptoms? I feel like I am a newbie out of surgery, DAY 1.

I just saw the surgeon yesterday! He put me on Pre-op diet which consists of one Protein shake for Breakfast ; one Protein Shake for dinner and one sensible meal like a lean cuisine or smart ones! Dr. had said this pre op diet is used to shrink the liver ...I am soo hungry...how am I NOT supposed to crave food feeling like this?? I am on metformin 1000 2x a day; glizpzide 5 mg 2x a day; Insulin NPH 10 units at bedtime once a day Ive tried the two shakes and lean cuisine today; and I just feel so weak and light headed! I wanna eat a Peanut Butter sandwich so bad right now! I need advice please!

Im excited scared nervous anxious giddy and all of the above times 10 tentative date is the 21st but that is not in stone hubby not real thrilled but im thru the roof nice to meet ya all

I was filled Sunday (2 days ago) with 1 cc putting me to 7.5 cc in a 10 cc band. I can only drink liquids (very slowly and small sips, of course) and I feel a bit of uncomfort for a few seconds after each sip followed by a small burp or two every time after I take a sip and then it passes. I used to be able to eat a small of bite of soft foods after fills if I was hungry and it wasn't an issue. On Sunday night I took a bite of lo mein and it had to come back up. After that, I didn't attempt to eat again until last night when I had a few bites of mashed potatoes and within 5 minutes I had to bring that back up as well. So clearly, I can't tolerate solid foods even if they are mushy. The thing is, I have never felt restriction to this extent; I don't want to jump the gun and remove saline if this feeling will pass within a few days. So what I need to know is, if I should hang on a few more days (I figured til Thursday) and see if it passes or does this mean that I am probably too filled and need to remove some saline? I also want to mention that I am very hungry, but that of course, can be due to the fact that I haven't eaten in two days. _________________________________________________________ Starting weight: 270/Surgery weight: 246/Current weight: 236

Thanks. I think that might be why I might not have to do the diet. I will find out more tomorrow at the pre-op. I have lost weight, and all since July, mainly in the last few months. The VA requires 5-10% body weight loss and kept off for the surgery otherwise they start you over again. The surgeon's reasoning was that I had already lost weight and was doing good because I am still losing. I have lost an additional 5lbs since I saw her in February. I am just curious.

I had paper stitches, the 'real' stitches must've been just under the surface. I saw my PCP 10 days post op and he said I'd healed nicely and it was OK to remove them. You should be able get blood work through your PCP. Speak to them to check they're OK with this. I flew in from London, so def no plans to return any time particularly soon!

I am 10 weeks post op revision and I have no sign of the port. I was sore in that spot longer then the other. Good luck! Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

I lost only about 10 pounds the first 4 months because I had to keep going back to adjust fills. Its frustrating and I thought I'd be one of those that just "wasn't successful" witht he band. Here I sit now, 20 months out, and I've gone from 226 lbs to 148. I'm getting my tummy tuck in July. I'm not at goal but I am ok with where I am. I'm 46 yrs old and don't need to be super thin at this point. Best of luck!

Dear Bandgal, Why are you only eating 500 calories a day? That is not enough food or calories. Before I had a fill, I was able to eat 8-10 ounces of food. As long as it is healthy food, you should eat until you are feeling comfortable, no longer hungry yet not stuffed. Don't torture yourself on 500 calories. As you get hungrier and hungrier which is normal about 2-3 weeks out, you have to provide your body with enough nutrition and Protein until you get that fill. Hang in there!! Babs in TX 6/23/03 334/290/180

Hi TinyTummie, My surgery is also scheduled for next Monday, 10/3...... and I must admit, the nerves are setting in. My surgery is in Mexico with Dr. Aceves. Where is your surgery being done?

I think we all go through the dreaded 3 week stall. Stay with healthy foods and what you can eat comfortably. I myself wouldn't even try to eat junk food anymore. Why set myself up for those bad habits again? I'm not quite 3 months out. I was at a stall for what seemed like weeks, right after surgery. It was driving me batty! I even thought I did better on my own with the weight loss I had lost before surgery. I still only get in 400-800 calories a day. Then boom, the scale started moving. Looking at my tools on MyFitnessPal, I had lost 10 pounds in 20 days. That is on average a half a pound a day! You're going to have stalls. You're body is just rearranging it's self. While you stall, you lose inches. Once that is done, the scale starts moving again. You didn't gain all your weight overnight. You're not going to lose it over night.

I got my Sleeve on March 18th which was also my Birthday. I thought it was completely serendipitous. I have avoided the scale after weighed myself on Day 2 after surgery and noted a 10 pound weight gain. I feel good physically most discomfort is at night. I am having a hard time getting in the recommended Water and Protein. It seems that eating and drinking takes all day. I am at a stage 2 diet and I was told to eat/drink 1 oz of Fluid every 10 minutes. I am constantly watching the clock. It seems this will not be doable when I return to work. I know it has to be for my health's sake, I just can't see it in my mind's eye yet. How long do we continue to need to sip every 10 minutes? Sent from my iPhone using VST

http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/science/fundamentals/article/2016/05/10/everything-causes-cancer-watch-john-oliver-debunk-terrible-science-reporting Try this one. Also cliff notes as a bonus

I hope to get down to a 10, but an 8 would be awesome!

Hang I there. Stalls are common. I'm at about the same rate if loss as you and hit a stall over thanksgiving but have lost a few lbs in the past 10 days. ,

Don't bother ordering the 16. Order the 10. Then you can have it altered to be smaller. :-)

I have a pretty reliable cycle...10-12 days of fairly rapid weight loss, then 10-12 days of "adjustment period". I tend to lose between 6-8 pounds per cycle, and lose inches (or parts of inches) when I'm not losing weight.

Yes, I take Probiotic 10 by Natures bounty @ costco. Two capsules has over 20 billion live probiotic cultures and organisms. I took them when I had surgery last year and I believed they really helped with my speedy recovery!

I had my first fill about a month ago. I received 3 cc in a 10 cc band. Sorry, I don't know the technical name for the bank I have, but I apparently have the larger of the two 10cc bands, if that makes any sense to anyone. When I first got the fill I was pretty satisfied with little food. Now, about 3 weeks later, I barely feel satisfied. I am astonished about what I can eat sometimes. Definitely not like it was preband, but more than a probably should. I have still lost some weight since last fill, maybe about 3-4 lbs. I will get another 1cc at the next fill. Just wondering if there is anyone went thru something similar.

I was banded 1/19/07-First, I let my hair grow out longer, then cut in a bob and I put gold highlights in it. Then, I cut it short and got rid of the highlights and went with a solid light brown. Now I want some highlights back. I now have two tattoo's. One blue butterfly on right upper arm and one blue butterfly on right upper back/shoulder. Butterfly was symbol of change and each tatoo equals 50 pounds lost. I am wearing brighter colors and clothes that are more fitted. Also, my shoe size has gone down from 9.5/10 to 8.5 & i am wearing higher heels and more noticeable shoes (strappy sandals in summer etc.). Also, have more of a desire to "date". Have not dated in forever. Just went out on a first date last week. Ended up seeing him twice within 5 days. So far so good.

Hey El CID, Congrats, 50lbs is a big milestone! Sounds like you have the right idea combining areobic and resistance training both are key to improved health and expedient weight loss. I suggest 7 days a week over 3-4 (if you ARE going to stick with 3-4, then pick one 3 or 4 be Specific - Committ) Think about it in terms of 30 workouts in 30 days then decide after the 30 days if you can/want to continue at 7 day pace - I bet you will ; ) resistance training remains at 3 days. Also add 5 minutes of stretching pick few keep them same. I love how specific you are regarding the treadmill - incline etc... I suggest you do the same with the weights - specific and measurable is hugely helpful. Additionally, a simple 3 ring notebook is a great way to record exactly what you do each day - example 2 sets 10 at x lbs. on weights, lighter weight more reps - up to 15 - is best always keeping in mind control and form should trump weight. Regarding the walk-areobic ... Take it to the next level ?? Get a heart rate monitor and work toward your rate of perceived exertion http://www.acefitnes....aspx?itemid=48 Good luck Hope in Your Future is Power in Your Present! Lee

I'm almost to my 1st goal of 50lbs lost (banded 8/1, weight before pre-op diet was 381, currently at 336). I started going to gym to tone things and lose more weight. I haven't seen a personal trainer so I'm kinda making this up as I go. I'm going 3-4 times a week. I start with 30 minutes on the treadmill at 3 mph with an incline of 7. That gets me 1.5 miles. Then I hit the weight machines (all upper body stuff). Arms, chest, back, etc. I do two sets of 10 on each machine. And that is it. Is this an ok routine? suggestions? Thanks.

I started my 6 month pre op in June, but all my dr does is take my weight and vitals and ask me how I'm doing. I wasn't put on a diet, and I've had a really difficult time putti g myself on one. I gained 10 lbs since June and I'm really struggling. I meet with the surgeon again on Monday and I'm really nervous about what he's going to say. Maybe I'm not ready for surgery. I've read a lot on here about how you feel different about food and can't physically eat what you want after the surgery, but I'm having a lot of doubt. Is this normal? What are some pre surgery diets I should try? Any help or guidance would be appreciated. Thank you. K

I started on the Tufts/NEMC program three weeks ago. There are a LOT of requirements including 5 weeks of behavior classes (group therapy basically), 2 nutritionist appointments, 2 physiology appointments, 2 psych appointments, 2 medical consults, 1 surgical consult, 1 "intro" session and now I've learned 2 group physiology classes. It takes a lot of time. They make no effort to bunch appointments together, so I'm spending a lot of time driving to Boston. Here's the reason I'm peeved today. I had my first medical consult. She asked me if I snore. Yes, so? Now she is going to make me stay overnight in their sleep center to determine if I have apnea! I do not have apnea! She made a big deal out of the fact that I wake-up during the night. I have to pee! As I've aged I've lost my ability to hold it that long. All my friends the same age say the same thing! I snore because I have a partially deviated septum, large adenoids and I'm allergic to pretty much everything! She also may make me go for a hematology consult, which takes ages and ages to get. Oh, to top it off, she tried to convince me to switch to gastric bypass. I explained to her that GB is not an option for me because I want to have a child and 42 is the cutoff for IVF, so I don't have time for surgery, healing, and still have successful IVF before I'm 42. She agreed, but thinks the higher weight loss I'll likely achieve with GB is more important. And she insists I need to lose ALL the weight I will lose with LB before I get pregnant. That it would be "very bad". PLEASE. Plenty of people get pregnant with LB, get unfilled if necessary, and then get refilled later. Slowing my weight loss is less of a big deal to me than never having a child. This is a very delicate subject for me and she just didn't seem to get it. She kept talking down to me saying things like, "I do this for a living". I was on the verge of tears driving home. I lost my job (after 10+ years at the same place) in February and they KNOW I need this surgery done before I can look for another job (because there is no way I could do all this with a new job, there are just too many appointments, which they agree with). I had contacted them about the program before I lost my job, I didn't decide to do this because I lost my job. They told me they could put me on a "fast track" since I have no co-morbidities. Except for having a BMI over 40 I'm really healthy, which they acknowledged. Now I don't know what to do. I'm about $300 into it (not including all the travel costs), which isn't that much. I don't know if I should just find an "easy" center. I chose Tufts because they are the pioneer of LB in New England and have had zero erosions. And now I'm questioning my decision to choose LB or GB! Does anyone have any advice? Should I just scrap it and start over somewhere else? The psych doctor, who shepherds you through the program, told me to call him if I have any questions. Should I call him and talk through this with him?

I've ordered from a company that offered foods for banded people--the chef himself is banded. I like to cook, but thought it would be nice to have a few things in the freezer to grab quickly. I was disappointed, but think that it's something that could be a huge success if you offer The one thing I didn't like was the one-size-fits-all approach. If I were doing this as a business, I would try to find a way to accommodate different doctor's plans. For example, I eat a low-carb diet---and my doctor doesn't have his patients do a prolonged liquid or mushy stage postop. I needed Protein foods from the outset (pureed for about 10 days, then regular). I needed low-carb choices. And my choices were very limited. So, I would want to develop relationships with as many doctors as possible---learn what they recommend to their patients. And I'd want customers to feel free to make requests that fit into their plans. I think LOCAL is important; I ordered from a company that assured delivery of frozen foods, but the FAA no longer allows dry ice to be used--so I got foods that were cool, at best. And refreezing did impair quality. So I'd want to stick local. That's another place where developing relationships with doctors in the area becomes important. They can be an important source of referrals. And of course, I'd want to provide SUPER high-quality foods. And yes--I'd pay for good quality meals. Not routinely---but I'd keep some convenience foods on hand.