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I was banded last week. So far the liquid diet was a little tough mentally but fine physically. I have lost 15 pounds in a week (WHICH i KNOW WILL SLOW BUT I AM STILL THRILLED SO FAR.) My problem is that while doing clear liquids I was with my family away from my home of NYC. Now that I just got back today I am struck by how much food there is out there. How many amazing restaurants etc. I am fine except for sushi. I LOOOVE sushi. One major concern is that when I can have regular food again they say rice may be difficult to digest. Can someone tell me if they are able to eat sushi rolls anymore? Diet coke I could give up, but living without spicy tuna might be heartbreaking for me...

Oh no, I love sushi! I'm going back to NY two weeks after my surgery to visit friends, and I'm worried. This is really good to know, thanks!

There are a lot of threads about this, for more answers beyond what you receive, try using the search function and look for sushi. I have read that while some have difficulty with the white rice, others do not. Most have said they have to cut each piece into three or four bites, though. Several sushi lovers have said they merely switched to sashimi (without the rice) and have had no problems. Sushi (well, California and Dragon rolls, specifically-I don't do raw) is one of my all-time favorite foods. I was very happy to read I may be able to still eat it. I love the rolls with avocado in them and I use soy sauce, so that should make it a bit more mushy and slippery, hopefully I'll be able to tolerate it. Good luck and happy Sushi-eating!

A LITTLE OFF TOPIC BUT HOLY SMOKES BATMAN, HOW ARE YOU BEATING THIS HEAT THIS WEEK? I STILL HAVEN'T SLEPT A WINK :notagree

Hi Littlefroggy: This may not be your solution, but 99% of the time that I get stuck, especially when I first started getting my fills (I have had only 3) I am usually doing it my self, by not chewing up my food properly, too big of a bite and eating too fast. When I do what I am supposed to do, I have a easier time and have no problems. However, you may have too big of a fill. My fill doctor has his patients doing liquids for a week after a fill and I know when I don't do as he suggest. Pam

Hello, I am having my revision surgery on June 12th. The past couple weeks I have been getting stuck more often and have been throwing up more than usual and with more force. I am wondering if I should just do liquids and puréed (things that will not get stuck) until my surgery to prevent things from getting worse in there. There violent throwing up/stuck spells are prob just getting things all inflamed and worse in there.I feel like I am having this surgery just in time but am afraid what the doc will find when he gets in there. I am having my surgery in Mexico with Dr. Jose Rodriguez. He placed my lap band 9 years ago so I figured he would be best to get it out. Do you guys think me sticking with liquid/ pureed food until my surgey is a good idea to give everything time to calm down in there and not cause anymore damage?

I'm only 1 week postop today, and the one thing that has freaked me out is how little im craving food. Ive been to the movies multiple times and had just a bottle of water. That used to be hot dog, nachoes, candy, popcorn. At least 3 of those and a coke. I cooked for my kids, no issue. Just wondering if im wierd, or is this normal. Im down 18 lbs since surgery, total of 40 with my 2 weeks preop diet. Other than soreness im overjoyed with how things are going.

Hey! Congrats on having a date set and that's awesome that you and your mom are having this together. I think it's encouraging to have someone to walk this journey with you! I have PCOS and it should like that's what your systems are from. I've only been banded 2 weeks so I can't speak on the symptoms going away but I have always been told that with PCOS, you always have the disease but the symptoms disappear as you loose weight. I'm sure hoping this to be true for me!!! I was taking Metformin for the IR and was told by the surgeon to stop taking it after surgery. It took me forever to get my body used to that medication but I was happy to be able to stop taking it!! Good luck! Keep us updated as you go!

Hello and welcome! I'm new too, just joined this week. I'm having surgery in 20 days, but who's counting! Lol

I am almost seven weeks out. And have done pretty good. I haven't over water and haven't been able to. And in go glad. Until today I sat here an ate and are wheat thins!!!! And feel like I could eat more!!!! So upset with myself and upset that my sleeve held that much. But more upset with myself for allowing myself to eat that much.

Yep. Totally normal. Most people hit it around 2 to 3 weeks post-op. The scale will start moving again soon enough, not to worry!

I've had my band for almost 2 yrs and only have lost 30 lbs. In March I started having pain that just jumped from once place to another in my abdomen, It was such a different pain than I've ever had in my life. A stabbing, pinching pain. In April I saw the PA that does my fills and he didn't feel it could be due to the band. I had called my surgeons office the week before I went for the fill and the nurse said I would have to see the PA and he would ascess me & order tests if he felt I need them. I hurt so bad the day I saw him i wouldn't let him do a fill. In the meantime I had my yearly gyne exam and that dr said my pain wasn't gyne related so she ordered a CT for me. I went back for my visit with the PA for the band and took the films along. He couldn't see anything and I had asked ahead of that visit to be seen by a doctor. He had one of the doctors that does the band come in and see me. He examined me and as soon as he looked at the CT he saw right away that the tubeing was pulled away from the port and dangling down in my abdomen. Reason for the pain....the tubeing moves and so my pain moves. Four miserable months of pain that had the Dr. seen me sooner I wouldn't of had to go through. I see the surgeon that did the band next Monday and if I have a choice I am thinking of just having it out. I have found out there are quite a few women out there that has had the same poroblem. My band is also a realize band. I have to travel a little over 100 miles to see the surgeon because my insurance required a center of excellence.

Hi to all the Tenacious Tens! Hope that you are all doing well and losing tons of weight. I just wanted to share my little story and get some feedback from you guys... So 2 weeks ago I went in for my 3rd fill. I had very little restriction with my 1st and 2nd - just enough to know the band was there, but not enough to really help me lose weight. So, I went in for the fill and he put 3.6 ccs in my 4.0 band. Awesome, right? Not so much. Once I was allowed to try food again (he has me do Clear liquids for 2 days, then mushies, etc) I realized that I now had NO restriction - none, nada, zip. I was so freaked out. I called and made an appointment to go back in the next week. Well, some aggravation with my doctor's office ensued, but long story short, it turned out that my surgeon didn't lock the syringe and when he pulled it out, he pulled out some of the saline. He was only able to draw back about 2.0 ccs. So he put it back up to 3.6ccs and showed me how tight I was under fluoro. And I could really feel it this time! So now it has been over 24 hours, and man am I tight!! Water is difficult to get down, I feel the pressure in my chest for a few seconds with every sip I take. I am concerned about being too tight, but I will see how it is in a few days. I so don't want an unfill after having little to no restriction for so long, but I will do whatever I have to do to be healthy about this whole thing. Now, here is my confusion. I have read so much about people getting stuck, and now have felt it myself with the liquids...but where is it getting stuck at? Is the pressure I feel when the Fluid goes through the band? If this is the case, then will food feel the same? I just don't understand because I thought the purpose of the band was so that the food would stay in the pouch ABOVE the band for longer so you feel full longer. So, essentially, if I understand the concept right, isn't everything getting stuck technically? I have been confused about this from the very beginning. I mean, I don't like the idea of having this awful pressure everytime I eat or drink anything forever. Maybe being stuck feels worse, but I am pretty sure what I am feeling is the water backing up above the band and then trickling through - once it is through is when the pressure lets up - I saw it all on the fluoroscopy when I drank the barium. Sorry this email is sooooo long, but can someone explain it to me, cuz I guess I am just a big dummy! :mad: Love you guys, and continue to do as awesome as you have been!! Jennifer Oh yeah, happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!

I had my Realize band for 2 years, lost close to 100 lbs and was doing great. A few months ago I started having severe issues with reflux. I had unfill after unfill and remained "tight". It progressed to one weekend I was unable to swallow anything and was vomiting continuously. After a complete UNFILL, several days of IV cortisone and nothing by mouth- the swelling still would not go down and I was forced to have an emergency removal. I NEVER thought I was lose my band. Would like to hear from others- how are you doing since removal? weight? Other surgeries? Or decided not to do surgery?

I felt mine was swollen too. It has gone down now, I am two weeks post op. My pants would bother it and put pressure, I just wanted to be in my jammies.

Went for my two week check up and down 13 lbs. Have my first fill on the 14th. I only have total of 40 lbs to lose total so it is not easy. Doctor was very pleased.

I was banded in September and seven weeks post op and fight with my hunger everyday. I am going for my third fill tonight and can't wait. I need to be able to control my portion sizes. I have most definitely changed my way of eating but can still eat a normal portion (all be it slower) with ease. I was starting to think that the band wasn't working for me and couldn't believe that after waiting for weight loss it wasn't happening. I feel guilty when I go back for my fills and I haven't lost anything since the last one. I lost 14lbs in my first week post op and then only two pounds since. I keep asking myself what am I doing wrong lol. I know this is a process until you get to the point where the fills are working for you but how frustrating it is waiting lol. Anyway hopefully tonight the fill will plug me up finally lol Love this site because it helps me to keep positive. It has to work one day

Hi there, I'm 2 1/2 weeks out and I do get hungry at times ~ but the small portions do feel me up. I'm looking forward to eating some real food instead of the mashed foods. I'm a little nervous about getting a fill, are you? Keep in touch and we can help each other out

My pants are falling off, yet I do not show a budge on the scale- How does this happen? February 19, 2014- had surgery- not perfect eater, but try and get in all my Protein and Water My body keeps shifting every so many months. I usually gain weight or hold weight in my stomach, when I lose, it is not always in the stomach, so then I feel really fat again because my stomach protrudes. The I will lose in the stomach and feel more proportionate. The it starts all over again, Now I have lost weight, my pants fall off, but I still have a bigger stomach. Does this happen to anyone else? In the beginning I lost all boobs, but they are fine now. The only other problem is I have hair loss. I have stalls, but then a week or so later I drop several pounds, so I don't call them stalls anymore.

I am almost 4 weeks out and about half the time I eat I throw up and the other half I feel so sick to my tummy. I have been a major u know what since surgery. The physical part was easy the losing one of my best friends not so easy. I've been so emotion and weepy and crazy mean to my family. I'm regretting this decision lately as I just want to crawl in bed and not get out!

Could you have developed gluten intolerance? My husband had terrible reflux issues, esophageal stretches to ameliorate scarring, etc. Went I diagnosed for a long time then eliminated wheat for a week and bingo, that was it. He can't have a crumb without issues -- and it's an epidemic at this point. A lot of theories flying around about why people are suddenly having celiac and other reactions but it's worth cutting out wheat, etc. Anyway since those are empty calories for the most part. People put blocks under the front feet of the bed to have a small angle to help with eliminating nighttime reflux. Hope you feel better and get this straightened out. If it's not wheat it could be something else.

See this scares me, Ive been feeling overwhelmed for quite a bit for the same reason. Im only three weeks out. I haven't had pain or vomiting or nothing. Im healed on the outside, but I just want a peek inside to see what the heck it going on. Sometimes, I eat 4-5 oz until feeling full. I get my Protein in and Water and I eat small amounts often. But I still don't feel the restriction. I only get the overfull feeling or when I drink and I feel that food is stuck in my esophagus-then I stop. I wish I had a more restricted feeling. Only meats get me there faster, maybe its the soft foods.

band to gastric/ 4 weeks out .. Don't feel full/ never had dumping / vomiting... I almost feel like I'm on my own with This sleeve... At least I had the band to stop -well some foods although it wasn't working anymore after 9 yrs.... You say the stomach nerves are not healed but the only nerves I'm aware of in the stomach are the Constrict/ reconstrict muscles to pass the food thru!!! Not to mention when I post I can never find my post or any replies!!! Don't understand this site.. Just really bummed today!!!

sugar free ice pops count towards your liquids, Protein drinks count towards your liquids. I couldn't drink plain Water for a couple of months so I diluted apple juice. Although there are carbs and sugar in apple juice I figured it wasn't enough to worry about if it meant I got my liquids in. Try different drinks at different temperatures. My first week or two post op I actually watched the clock on the cable box when I was watching TV and took a sip every 5 minutes, then the next day sipped every 4 minutes, next day every 3 minutes. It's tedious but it works.

One week from today! This preop diet has been really difficult and i will admit i have cheated. I am goibg to do my best to stick to it 100% for the final week. Thanks for everyone's support and sharing. It's much appreciated!