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Lisa, without a fill you should be able to eat a lot of food and be hungry. You need a fill. Most likely your surgeon will tell you to get one at 6 weeks. What you are experiencing is normal. I'm sure your band is fine. Please stick to the diet the remainder of the time. No more chunky soup. Eat creamy soups. Anything that fits through a straw. Good luck.

I have a desk job and am hoping to be scheduled for my surgery by the end of September. I'm planning to take a week off and then go back to work. I'm expecting to be tired but at least when I get home, I only have to worry about taking care of me and my 2 dogs! I'm planning to have all my housework taken care of before I have the surgery so that I won't have to worry about cleaning.

I suffered from back spasms prior to surgery but I hadn't had any recent episodes. Since surgery on 3/21/12, I have had a nagging back pain. I have no idea what it is but I have been using my heating pad to combat it.

My DH is a personal trainer (i never went to his classes because of having little kids and no help and too busy at home to try), he says weight training is the way to go.I have started pre op toning (i am making a concerted effort and he is being great about it...but TOUGH) i have started with 5 pound dumbbell 10 reps, 3 set of curls, the same for extensions. I am also doing 3 sets of 10 squats, holding on th the back pf a chair and rear leg lift bent at the knee. I cant do lunges yet due to bad knees and excess weight. It's a start, unfortunately I am laid up today with a stomach bug...of all things

Well .. eating something every 2-3 hrs is normal on my doctors plan.. I eat Breakfast at about 7. Snack at 930 or 10. lunch at 12 or 1230. Snack at 3. dinner at 6. I am still not feeling hungry or full. I stick to the plan given to me and measure everything.

This is why I weigh and measure. I am one of the fast healers. I transitioned very quickly through the food stages and I can eat anything with zero issues at 8 weeks post op. I know I could eat a little more than I am, but I only eat 4oz at a meal. I was able to exercise at 2 weeks post op and was walking 2 miles a day 4 days post-op. I also wonder what this means for my success long term? I started running 3 weeks ago because I want to have a solid exercise routine in place for the long term. I am losing kind of slow, but the inches are coming off.

I'm 5 months out. I'm at the low end of the calorie scale. I have a lot of restriction, and not a lot of physical hunger. I usually have shake in the morning, and 3 or so meals/snacks. As I said I have a lot of restriction, so a meal/snack is 1 oz of cheese or jerky, 1/2 to1 cup of soup, cucumbers with dip, laughing cow cheese w 34 degree crackers, coleslaw w light dressing, dehydrated cheese crackers, sandwich w 1/2 a slice of bread, 1 slice of turkey, mustard, ff mayo and lettuce, protein pasta w a 1/2 a turkey meatball and marinara sauce (2 oz by wt), greek yogurt, sf jello w greek yogurt, slice of watermelon 1/3 a Chicken or Mahi burger patty only (TJ's), quesadilla w a 1/2 a low carb tortilla, 1/2 oz cheese and salsa. So basically a shake, and mix and match from the other items I listed.

I just heard back from my doctor who said that leaks generally happen within 2 weeks and they stop worrying about them completely at about the one month mark. Just FYI in case helpful for anyone.

Hey Nebraskans! Its been over a year since these posts....how are you doing? I live in Kearney, but I had it done in North Platte. I'm just 2 weeks out, and so far, so good!

I travelled for work 2 1/2 weeks after surgery. Flew from Phoenix to Jacksonville and in meetings for 3 days. I brought protein drinks and bars and was careful with my eating. No issues at all.

This is reasuring thank you. I just got home from hospital with 2 weeks liquid to do i will be so happy i know i guess everyone has these doubts at the start. Well done everyone for your weightloss thats amazing

Being woken at 3am to the sound and feel of my daughter throwing up into my excessive chest hair started my day in a less than pleasurable way. It was the day of my pre-assessment meeting with the hospital, before my surgery next week. This is where the nurse checks to see if a) it is likely that I would suffer a slight death under anaesthesia and :confused: if I did, what blood type would they need to try and pump through my tightened arteries in order to try and revive me from aforesaid inconvenience. I was a little anxious going in because I do indeed tend to look at things as I flippantly scribed above and also...I am a great big baby girl when it comes to needles. Not to mention, having eaten probably less solids all week than my daughter managed to cast upon me in the early hours of the morning, I was very much inclined to keep all calories inside my body today - even the blood! So, I turned up at the hospital with a mix of nerves, excitement (despite my overwrought fear - I am very excited about what is ahead of me) and a faint smell of curdled milk. The nurse was a very lovely lady. Violet was her name and she had absolutely no idea about the surgery that was ahead of me. She wanted my history, my blood pressure, my drinking and drug habits, precious viles of my blood and of course, my pee. That was all she came for and that was what she was going to get. There was a small amount of pleasantry while she approached me for each - a few laughs about terrorism, the odd chuckle about famine. You know - all the things your mind stumbles upon when you are staring at what seems like a six foot long needle. I, being a responsible and caring citizen, advised her that previous attempts of extracting blood from my inner elbows usually failed because of my veins clenching up like a frail and pretty new prisoner on his first shower day. At which, she dutifully laughed at the obvious inexperience of the former extractors and moved in for her one and only successful attempt. After the one and only successful attempt failed, she proclaimed that I was indeed running a little tight and that she should have listened to me and prepared the veins a bit more thoroughly before stabbing me (I of course exaggerate for effect...but not much). A good fifteen minutes of a tourniquet induced black arm, some fist flexing and finger prodding allowed one scared little vein to pop its head above the parapets for a sniper shot - upon which she pounced. The vampire had completed her task and now needed my urine. After a failed attempt at humour about an equally clenched trouser vein, I scurried to the lavatory and half filled her pot as directed. I left it where she asked and I returned to the room to advise her of the package drop. Without a word she scurried off, slapping on a bright blue pair of rubber gloves. I always prefer the timing of the donning of rubber gloves to be as a nurse leaves the room rather than when she enters. No more than thirty seconds later, she returned with a beam on her face. Apparently, I was high in ketones - which meant my pre-op diet was working and I was burning fat. Time to get on the scales then! For a private hospital, the technology behind the scales was somewhat disappointing - and even a little humiliating. I was asked to sit on a chair (a very big chair) that had somehow been welded to a contraption that looked as if it was used to measure the weight of livestock. What happened to the ultra snazzy, hi-tech, digital, wireless, chrome-effect, wafer-thin machine I stood on at the dietitian's office last week? This was for big..big people. Apparently though - the looks didn't matter - they did the same job - which leads me to believe that I wasted my money buying an iPhone when I could have bought a touch screen breeze block for a lot less. My diet over the last week had been a success - I had lost 11lbs. If I was schizophrenic, I would have been beside myself. I knew it was mainly fluid loss and 11lbs a week is a pretty unhealthy loss outside of these controlled circumstances - but I was happy. For a moment I started to think about why I was going through this process, especially if I could lose so much in one week. But then I remembered all the other diets I have attempted over the years - the few pounds lost here, the more than few pounds gained there - and I realised that I didn't want a short term weight loss, I want it for life. She probed further into my family history, asking questions about past conditions and medications - when suddenly, a rather scary looking Italian Doctor in Residence marched in, lifted my top and slammed a stethoscope on my chest. He listened, whilst thanking me for seemingly having a heart beat, then spun me around to listen to my back. "Brease in. Sank you. Brease out. Sank you. Brease in. Sank you. Brease out. Sank you.". He then scribbled something incomprehensible on my records - drew two kidney shaped lungs with an upward pointing arrow across them - shook my hand then left. I looked at the nurse and waited for some kind of translation of what that was all about. Apparently it was all good. Which was nice. I was pre-assessed and, dependent on the blood tests, was pre-approved. I put my shirt back on and thanked Violet for her time, whereupon she showed me to the finance department where I could arrange the least exciting aspect of the surgery. As I sat and waited for the admin girl to come off hold, I couldn't help but stare at the cream bun that she was saving on the side for her afternoon tea. I couldn't help but stare and think "never again". And, I couldn't help but smile. Originally posted at: Lap Band Blog

I feel the same way..I'm hoping to go back to work after 2wks. How are you getting all your liquids in? I am in pain and have not lost a pound. My surgery was Wednesday April 3, I gained 7lbs. Everyone says that is normal because of the gas and air in our bodies, How are you adjusting to eating and weight loss

Hi: I have nausea issues so I got my completely unfilled the day before tt. I'm glad I did because I was hurling for almost 24 hours after surgery. Got refilled almost 3 weeks after tummy tuck because I didn't want to stretch the surgical area in order to get my port accessible to my surgeon. Still wasn't comfortable, but wasn't too bad to get the refill. Best wishes to you. Sue

Hi there, I just had sleeve surgery April 18 and am about 5 weeks out. Chocolate was my go to friend. Today when I see it I have No interest in it.For me everything has changed, it's actually been a bonus from my perspective.Like I am re learning with a new palette! This may be too much info but after this month losing 36 pounds I have had two periods...with no carb or chocolate cravings...I am curious to see how I am feeling in a few months.right now i'm loving it.

I was sleeved on 12/18. And like everyone else the gas hurt more than anything else. I made sure I got up and walked around. For at least 10 minutes every other hour. The gas pain went away in 3 days.

This will take time, so be patient with yourself! Measure your food. You should have been given instructions on how much you should be having, per meal/snack. So get out the kitchen scales and the measuring cups and start weighing/measuring what you are eating. You are really going to have to FEEL your sleeve, when it feels like food is at the top, you are too full. Chew your food thoroughly and very slowly. Do one bite at a time, feel how it sits in your sleeve, then try another... put your fork/spoon down between bites. I started with about 2 ounces of food/liquid. Then over the months I'm at about 4 ounces max (I'm 3 months out now). Remember, you don't want to be full, but you DO wanted to be sated. Full is too much. If you don't have guidelines, call your surgical team and ask them for them. Good luck to you!

I had surgery 8 days ago. My Dr ordered clears for 2 days, then full liquid for 2 weeks. I have to get in 60-80 g Protein, and min. 64 oz Fluid (total including shakes) I don't think what you had was that much. I have more than that,,,lol I start every day with a 25 g Protein shake, lunch is usually 4 oz ff milk and 4 oz Greek ff Yogart ( 12 g protein) a glass of ff milk with a some Protein powder later (approx 15 g), then either strained ff cream of chicken or tomato soup with 4 oz ff milk (8 g protein) = 60 g protein,, I sip diet green tea and crystal light, making sure to reach my liquid intake. I change this around here and there,,,but that's my basic daily intake..AND it never exceeds 600 calories a day...I don't have to count them,,,I do it out of curiousity.,, You had a whole week of clears? I don't think I could have handled that..I need the protein to feel satisfied..What's your next step? I start puree 2 wks after surgery (this coming Monday)! can't wait (never thought I'd say that! lol) Good luck!

Anyone have any torrid dresses/tops in a size 3-4x? I am looking for this cherry dress in particular, and after posting this I will do a google search. Any cute torrid clothes, please put the link in here to your ebay so I can check them out. I plan on buying some clothes for a few occasions for April.

Sorry for not sharing more info! I had the gastric sleeve on April 18th of this year, so 5 months out on the 18th. My water intake varies. I did have a week or two there where it was very low and I had to step it up. I feel like that may have been one of the causes of the stall but now I'm back up to about 64 ounces a day, just water alone. I also have a lot of other fluids but I don't track them as water. Typical calorie intake varies from 600-1200. Average days are between 800-1000. I keep my carbs below 70 and don't consume sugar. My minimum protein goal is 70g, which I meet daily with very few days being under. I used a BMR calculator and got 1,836 calories per day. HW: 320 SW: 295 CW: 239 I am nervous that this could be caused by inactivity, as I had a herniated disk in my back that made it so I was unable to walk for about 2 months. I'm working on it now and am starting a workout routine today.

The highest protein lowfat foods I've found are salmon, tuna, tofu and cottage cheese. (Salmon is high in fat...but it is the good fat=omega 3 fatty acids.)

So I just got the results of my 12 month postop labs. My 6 month labs showed high Iron and Calcium so I discontinued those supplements. This time around my iron was in the normal range but my calcium was still slightly high. Probably from all the dairy I eat. The only other abnormality was that my folate was high. This can be an indication of low B12, but in this case my B12 is fine. My PCP just figures it's from what I'm eating plus the 400mcg in my multi and he's not concerned. And just for shits and giggles he threw in some hormone tests and I'm happy to report I am not yet menopausal! So looks like I'll just keep on my current supplements (1/2 dose Vitamin Code for Women, D3 5000iu 3x week and B12 500mcg sublingual 4xweek) and check bloodwork again in a year. BTW, the tests we ran were CBC, metabolic panel, lipids, B12, Vitamin D, ferritin, folate, zinc, TSH, and FSH. Wishing good health to all of you!

Thanks for the input. Im really nervous but everyone on here seems so positive. Congratulations on your weight loss. I also have a desk job so if I can be back in one week that would be wonderful ( I'm not getting paid for the time off...gotta pay the bills!)

Of course, fit in some of your favorite foods before you start your pre-op diet. I know I did! But I would advise you start looking at them in moderation, trying to work in some of the habitual thinking that will need to change long-term. Perhaps go ahead and have that Big Mac, but only eat half? It's good to start practicing some of these things before surgery so it won't be such a dramatic change after. I did not have a problem giving up soda, wish I could help you there. But I do miss sparkling waters. The cravings do minimize pretty quickly when you're focusing on the good stuff and healing after surgery. It's more the behaviors that have tricked me up. Like driving past a Taco Bell...or opening the fridge and seeing my husband's leftover Pasta in a container. In the past, it was nothing to stop for "just a burrito" or "heat up and have a bite of that pasta." Now, it's not the cravings for the food itself, but the comforting behavior of doing those things that have been hardest to get past. It's happening for me, slowly. I think the best advise I've received on this forum is to chill out and go with the flow, give yourself a break when you feel like you can't take it anymore. I remember waking up in the recovery room, very hazy. My diaphram hurt like I'd sneezed 100x in a row. But they were quick to give me the pain meds and I don't remember much pain after that. Do get up and move around as soon as possible! Even it's walking across the room and back, it totally helps with the pain. I mainly felt it when I would get up from the bed or toilet, mostly achiness. No sharp, stabbing pain. Do know that with the meds they give you, antibiotics, and pain killers -- you may get constipated. I did, and that was the worst part because the gas would grumble and hurt. Yes, you will fart like crazy for a little while. Once they got some unflavored Benefiber added to my shakes, I was fine! Highly recommend it -- first Fiber mix I absolutely cannot taste or feel. I'm not a mom, can't speak to that. But I was a nanny for many years, so I know what it's like from that. You won't be able to pick anything up more than 25lbs for 4 weeks. So you WILL need help at home. Plus your belly is super tender, and if I know small kids - they kick and move around a lot in your arms. One thing no one told me is how hard it is to wear a supportive bra the first week, due to the placement of the incisions. That was a bummer. Try to find something all cotton now if you normally where underwire. You get out and walk everyday, doubt you want to do that loose and fancy free! I'm on day 9 now and could see going back to work next week if I had to. Depends on what you do. I'm definitely exhausted halfway through the day, but just let it be and know it will get better! This forum has been a bright light in my darkest days: Definitely return and ask as many questions as you like. While we're all individuals, we have one great thing in common, our sleeves. Best of luck with your surgery!!

Before I started my pre-op diet, I DID make sure I ate some of my favorite foods because I knew it would be a long time and/or never before I'd get to eat it again. Don't feel guilty. If you want a Big Mac before you start your pre-op diet, then treat yourself to one. I've missed my Diet Coke as well but I'm learning that the missing gets less and less every day. Post of pain....I was in more than I anticipated but I know that each of us are different. Some people on here say they had virtually no pain and some say it was terrible. I was kinda in the middle but I think mine was mostly from the gas they use to expand your torso for the surgery. I came home and was sweeping my kitchen floor the next day. Nothing too vigorous but I realized I felt better being up and moving rather than laying still, so I don't think you're going to have much trouble taking care of your little one. As for returning to work, I went back after a week but I have a desk job. I work in a nursing home and do alot of walking and I have to admit I would start to get really tired after lunch but I put my 8 hours in and did ok with it. You are the only one that knows yourself the best so you do what's best for you. Good luck with your surgery. I had mine on January 10th and I'm down 28 pounds already and alot of my clothes fit looser.