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The bariatric coordinator told me to not expect a BM for several days following surgery, and even then it wouldn't be solid. Hope this helps!

I have also gained part of my weight back. I have gone keto for normal people and the admin wanted me to consume over 1249 calories. I couldn't. I went to bariatric keto and it was more reasonable. Now the difficulty is getting back on track and cutting all the crap out. My family keep bringing it back in the house and I get angry and eat it. My bad. So now i need to pull myself back to basics. Tomorrow is my start date.

Hello everyone I found your forum researching the Lap-Band and although I have read quite a bit already, I feel I have much more to read before I ask any questions. So for now... I would just like to introduce myself, give you a little back round, and say I'm pleased to meet each of you and thrilled to find a place where I will have people who understand what I am facing as I go forward with Lap Band surgery. I'm a 38 year old wife and mother (to one 13 y/o daughter) who has been overweight my whole life and currently staring down the face of obesity. Last July, I found a painful lump in my breast and shortly there after was diagnosed with invasive Triple Negative Breast Cancer. After 3 surgeries I began a very aggressive chemo regimen then on to 35 rounds of radiation which I ended April 14th. During my chemo treatments, I discovered I also tested positive for cervical cancer (when it rains it pours) and scheduled the surgery to remove it in between chemotherapy. After 8 months of treatments and thanks to the graces of a merciful God... I can now say I am in remission and I am optimistic that remission will eventually turn into being fully cured. After facing cancer at the age of 37/38... I realized just what I had allowed my body to become and was determined to change it. I tried once before a few years ago to get the Lap Band surgery... but I found out the one Bariatric Dr. that my insurance covered (that was worth anything anyway) did not do the procedure. (He was only performing Vertical Banding at the time) I knew that if I was going to do something surgically... I did not want to do anything that would change my anatomy. So I shelved the idea. Recently I saw that he was in fact, now doing the Lap Band surgeries and scheduled an appt with my PCM for a referral which he gladly gave and that is where I am standing right now. I'm quite hopeful my surgery will be approved through my insurance. (Tricare) as I have met all the requirements they want in order to pay being 100 lbs overweight, having hypothyroidism, (recently diagnosed) fibromyalgia...not to mention my cancer history. Whatever lies ahead of me, I will face head on knowing whatever it is... is nothing compared to what I have already conquered. (Although, I'm actually looking forward to this! ) Right now I am just playing the waiting game and hoping this time... the second time will be the charm.

Hí everybody. Im feeling down. Ressonância ? My surgery is scheduled for aug16 , just last friday the nurses from my bariatric Doctor and my regular doctor were not communicating with each other and s not papers for the insurance last Friday. I asked how long takes for them to know they said 7 to 10 days . On top of that I have bronchitis Andrew I'm I. Treatment but I called today my regular doctor and he can't see me until the 19 of August. So I'm at loss , I don't think I can have surgery with bronchitis.don know what to do. Maybe go yo an emergency room to be treated for it? Feeling very down and without medical support :-( Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

After my initial meeting with my surgeon, he set a weight loss goal for me of 10 pounds, I think because they want to see that I am trying to change my habits before surgery. I went to the NUT at my surgeon's office and she has been amazing. We are slowly removing sugar and Diet Coke from my diet and adding Protein and Water. This is to get me ready for the surgery. Ask the surgeon for a NUT recommendation, it is likely they work closely with one or two. I would follow either the surgeon or the NUT that is recommended diet as they will be the experts when it comes to bariatric surgery. Also, it sucks that your PCP isn't on board. Mine is very supportive, which I think will ultimately help with long-term success. I hope everything works out for you!

So all week I have been trying to make an appointment with a Dr. that accepts transfering patients - b/c I had my surgery in Mexico and no one else will assist me b/c I am a liability. Still no luck. The lady has yet to return my call or answer my call and I think it's a good thing. I have been going to fillsUSA to have my fills done. The next time I can go is June 26. Well - I have already gone 2 weeks. What's a few more? I have not been able to eat anything - liquids only until yesterday. For lunch I just felt like trying some food. I headed over to subway - I know - and got a sandwich. I always buy a footlong just b/c they are cheaper than the 6in. But I never eat the whole thing. ANYWHO! I took 3 tiny little bites over a 15 min period. And then had my normal cream of chicken soup. "oh goodie". I did pretty well! I saved the rest of the sandwich for my hubby for dinner. When I got home for dinner more soup of course! AND I finished the one half i started eating earlier that day. Hubby ate the other half. YAY! I ate a sandwich and had some soup. The first real food in DAYS! Today I had a turkey hotdog - no bun just the hot dog. I needed meat! And later on some soup. Soup is always just comfortable and gives me enough protein and calories. So.... No I am not "fixed" but I am feeling better. I am not hurting nearly as bad. Sometimes there is still discomfort - but I work through it. This is why I am thinking of just waiting until June 26 for my un-fill. Or just to go in so they can tell me what all is going on. And since I cannot find my passport - and I am still looking - I am thinking about going ahead and ordering another one or renewing or what ever I need to do! And if I need to get anything fixed or get the band removed I will go back to where I had it done. That will be a lot cheaper than coughing up $2500. Which I CANNOT AFFORD! I really need to start going to the gym again. I feel lazy since I have not gone these 2 weeks but I think if I am still feeling better by next week - back to the gym! I love going. It makes me feel better about myself. It makes me feel unstoppable! MWAHAHAHA! haha...

My life has been moving at a very fast and stressful pace the last couple of days and I did not get the opportunity to detail my first visit with the doctor this past Monday which now has become a slight blur after a day of meetings and the training of 2 new assistants. But the details are simple..the appointment was longer than expected mostly due to waiting..I saw the bariatric doctor first and she gave me a full examination and a clean bill of health to proceed with getting the procedure. That was no surprise since I have been blessed to live all these years with extra weight and none of the health problems usually associated with being obese. She asked me how much weight I was looking to lose and agreed I would be a great candidate for lapband. The nutrionist came in next and spoke with me about alot of the same things she had discussed at the seminar I attended a week before and little tips on how to "practice" what will become my new style of eating. I kinda felt like she probably did the same speel with everyone and could do it in her sleep, but like everyone on the staff, she was really nice and it probably was more me, than her feeling like there was nothing this woman could tell me about how to eat properly, the food pyramid, reading labels and exercising...I knew the rules..I just did not apply them to my life. The surgeon met with me last with his plastic stomach replica to show me how the band actually works and also touched base on my concerns about blot clots since I had a clot last year. He was very patient with my questions and made me feel at ease. The fact that I had checked him out online when my primary doctor gave me the referral, helped alot. By the time I left (3 1/2 hours later) I was exhausted and starving :biggrin: but smiling brightly because I had my appointments scheduled for the necessary tests all patients have. My sleep study was the only thing not scheduled but with another 6 weeks before I return to see the doctors, I will wait to hear from them for my appointment. On a good note...I met my angel. Despite some distractions she had that morning, she managed to meet me and sat with me while I waited to be seen. She was just as beautiful as a person as I imagined and having her there for support was truly special. She is highly opinionated on some things, but I like her spirit. On a quasi bad note..I have been smoking. Considering the fact I am doing it sans any smoking aids and for the first time ever since I started smoking at age 20, I think I am doing pretty well. I bought a pack on a very stressful morning when I couldnt "bum" one and found myself reaching for them as my stress continued. I smoked about 8-10 cigarettes a day before I decided to quit, now i have been smoking about 2-4 a day. I will not give up. I will just continue to try because I know I have had enough and have been tired of the habit for a long time. Its just been a really long and stressful work week. (and its only Wed) Its no excuse..but its the truth. On another good note..I weighed in at my appointment at 270. That was a 8 lb weight loss since I saw my doctor last month with no real effort. Just small changes to my diet and doing those little things like walking a little further and just getting off my ass. My appetite has also decreased because I have cut back but today I felt as if I really cheated myself because despite the intent to have a heatlhy lunch that I bought to work, I rushed when I finally got a chance to eat without being abel to savor my food and of course ate more than I would have when I got home for dinner if I would have been able to eat what I took to work. I am truly trying to embrace my life and I am looking forward to process ahead of me simply because I know as I complete each phase, it is just taking me closer to getting banded and the road to making positive changes in my life.

Hello everyone, I have been visiting VST for a while, just now introducing myself. I have pretty much the same story as everyone else. Yo-yo dieted most of my life, weight loss expert that can tell you how to loose it, just not keep it off, emotional eater, etc. But in August of 2012, I went to a seminar at New Life Bariatric Center in Knoxville Tn. and met Dr. Boyce. My VSG journey started then. Other than insurance requirement of 10% wt. loss and one denial from insurance it has been a fairly easy process. And finally I have a date Feb. 18, 2013. Yeah!!!I am so excited,.,.,, nervous at the same time. Worried about all the changes for me and my family, how to cook for them, eat at family get togethers etc. I really enjoy reading all your positive and helpful info. so any pointers would be great. Thanks

So.........you're flying to Siberia or Venezuela from Newfoundlad? My best suggestion would be sealed sample packs and a shaker cup. Ask the flight attendant for Water. I buy bariatric supplies from Bariatric Pantry and Bariatric Choice all the time. Bariatric Pantry has a sample pack of Syntrax Nectars here: http://www.mybariatricpantry.com/SYNTRAX_NECTAR_PROTEIN_POWDER_SAMPLES_p/nectar-sample.htm

I'm new here and have been looking for help with some of the problems I'm having with my band. Here’s part of my story. I got banded 6-12-06. I was 400 lbs and in a really bad place. I got down to 314 lbs in about 5 months. Unfortunately, I haven't been doing very well and now I'm back up to 360 lbs. I had a fill in March 2007. This was my 4th fill, now up to 6cc out of a possible 10cc. Prior to this fill it seemed the band was having no effect on me. I was able to eat like I had no band. After this fill I had mixed experiences. Eating Breakfast and lunch was often very difficult. After one or two bites of food it seemed to get stuck. I would take small bites and chew it well, at least most of the time (sometimes I’d forget and put too much food in my mouth or I’d eat too quickly). I would experience pain in my chest and then throw up. Sometimes I forced myself to throw up to try and relieve the pain I was experiencing. Usually this helped but I would be unable to eat anything for the remainder of the morning and afternoon. By the time I would get home from work I’d be really hungry. Now for some reason that I can’t explain, I had no difficulties eating (or some minor discomfort). There was no pain and I would be able to eat just about as much as I wanted as if there were no band in place. Obviously this was the worst time to stuff myself, it being that close to bedtime. This pattern continued for a while and I started putting the weight back on. I went to see my bariatric doctor and he said I was just eating too much at night and the food was just sitting in my pouch all night into the afternoon of the next day so that when I tried to eat there was already too much food in the pouch and I’d throw up. I agreed I was eating too much food at night but I never really bought into the idea that the food was just sitting in the pouch all night into the afternoon of the next day. I tried working with a nutritionist but the problem continued. The doctor sent me for a barium-swallowing test and the results showed I had severe refluxing going on. They prescribed Nexium and after a few months there was still no relief. I still can’t understand why I would experience such problems during the day but by night it was as if I had no bad. Has anyone else ever experienced this? The day problems aside it was my understanding that the band was supposed to prevent you from overeating. Yet in the evenings I could just go on eating until I felt full, which was always after consuming a huge quantity of food (for example 6 slices of a large pizza or almost a pound of pasta). I never could get an explanation as to why I could eat so much with the band. I feared getting another fill because I was already having too much trouble eating during the day. I stopped eating breakfast and tried to have a sensible lunch. Sometimes this worked but too often it didn’t. I couldn’t point to a particular food item either as the cause for pain and throwing up. meat, vegetables (raw or cooked), fruit, grains or other starches have all at one time or another caused this problem. I’ve tried drinking some hot tea or coffee before eating lunch. This seems to have helped in some cases but doesn’t always work. Finally my doctor performed an endoscopy to see if the band had shifted. Everything looked fine is what he told me. On Friday, October 12 I went for another fill, now at 7cc. Friday went ok. I had lunch and a small dinner (at least small compared to what I was usually eating at dinnertime). Late Friday when I was taking my evening medications I experienced a fair amount of pain again. I didn’t throw up but was in discomfort for a while. On Saturday I tried eating about 1/3 cup of celery salad (just shredded celery root in Water, vinegar and sugar liquid) for lunch. Well even after counting 30 chews before swallowing I felt pain in my chest as if something was stuck. After a short period I threw up several times, not food just a clear mucus type of liquid. After an hour or so I felt better but I couldn’t eat anything else the rest of the day. I tried several sips of Crystal Light but this was very uncomfortable. I didn’t dare try taking my medications. Now it’s Sunday. I was able to take my AM meds without problems. For lunch I tried ½ can of tuna (in water) with some Miracle Whip Light on a small potato bread roll. Spent about ½ hour eating it and now I’m experiencing some discomfort and refluxing. Has anyone out there experienced this or know of anyone else who has? I’m just at a loss as to what to do. Any help would be appreciated. Sorry for being long winded and thanks for listening.

My doctors have advised that the sleeve does not encounter the dumping syndrome. They of course want you to stay away from sugars and carbs but it's that's in order to lose weight. I already have other stomach problems and that's one of the reasons I picked the sleeve over the band or the original gastric bypass. Another form of vitamins if you're interested, minor called bariatric Fusion You can look online for those as well. From what my nutritionist said, you can't just take a regular multivitamin. There's other vitamins that you need as well.

I think those are what I took during the first month or so after surgery. I then switched to the soft chewables from Bariatric Advantage but only took those for a very short period of time. I now take a calcium citrate capsule that I get from Vitamin Shoppe and haven't had any problems. I've been taking them since October without any problems. They are only 250 mg so I take 2 capsules, 3 times a day. I also take Vitamin D in the morning as well. I hated the taste of the chewables!

These are what I take: B12-Natures Bounty sublingual Calcium Citrate- Bariatric Advantage chewy bites I have the lemon, chocolate and caramel. I also have the Calcet bites lemon and chocolate and Citracal + D. I like variety!! Multi-Centrum I buy the Walmart brand-same ingredients and ALOT cheaper. Until I was able to swallow BIG pills at 4 weeks, I did the Bariatric Advantage Orange chewable multi. Iron- Bariatric Advantage Chocolate Raspberry Truffel chews and Ferrous Gluconate supplements from my dr. (I am anemic and have to take more!!) Hope this helps! Kelly

What form of intermittent fasting were you doing? 16/8? 18/6? OMAD? I did intermittent fasting (16/8) before surgery and I lost about 70 pounds in 5 months. It really helped me to get out of the habit of snacking. The psychologist who did my psych eval for surgery didn't like it, but nobody else (the surgeon, bariatric nutritionist, PCP, endocrinologist) had a problem with it. Can't do it post-op, though (at least initially) because I'd never be able to get all my protein. Anyway, my suggestion is to think of it as doing mini-fasts. If you were doing 16/8 and skipping breakfast, maybe you can change to 12/12 (have breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but fast for 12 hours between dinner and the next day's breakfast). Have a small breakfast and fast between breakfast and lunch.

Dr. Showers, My Bariatric in Denton/Ft. Worth....3 weeks out, lost about 35lbs since pre op, so 4 weeks. Great doctor and staff. Also im BCBS.

@@parisshel I am so glad that you went to the ER and that they were able to help stabilize you. The symptoms of heart attack in women are so much different then what we would think they are. Here is a link to a Video by Elizabeth Banks on Heart Attacks in Women. We might think it can't be that, but sometimes it can very well be. I had one when I was very young due to medical complications after the birth of my son. https://www.goredforwomen.org/about-heart-disease/symptoms_of_heart_disease_in_women/just-a-little-heart-attack/ It is a GREAT idea to have your cardio Dr. sync up with your bariatric surgeon because the Vagus nerve can also play a role in what's going on and most Cardiologist are not familiar with WLS patients, having him consult with your surgeon will help in what ever diagnosis and treatment that may be needed. So glad you are OK. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and keep in touch let us know how your doing.

I was told to look for something that was 100% whey protein isolate (because it's better absorbed than whey protein concentrate and other protein forms). Personally, I like the Unjury brands, but you have to buy them online. You can jazz them up by adding things like PB2 (powdered peanut butter), unsweetened cocoa powder, a tablespoon or so of sugar free pudding mix, or sugar free syrups like they use at coffee shops (you'll see a very few flavors, usually Torani brand at grocery stores, places like Cost Plus World Market generally have a bigger selection of the sugar free flavors, or you can go crazy and order online). When I was trying things out, I ordered a bunch of single-serve packets. BJs Bariatrics does single packets of the Nectar brand. Vitalady.com does single-serve of a bunch of different brands.

I ordered a sample pack of unjury just to see if it was something I would be able to tolerate afterward, and I don't like it. The unflavored is nasty! I may just stick to whatever the bariatric center has for sale, and Sams Club. I'm real close to the new one on Parallel, so no probs stocking up! I hope I get an opportunity to meet you one day at a meeting. Oh! I had my 5th of 6th Dr's supv Diet visits, and I actually lost 2 pounds this time! Thank goodness I will finally show a loss! They wanted to talk me out of surgery and into diet pills. They had a NEW Diet pill I would be a good candidate for. I am mid 50's with a BMI around 42, I have health insurance for only a couple more years before I retire. I don't have time to test pills, only to fail again. I want this done once and for all, and ain't nobody gonna talk me out of it! (Just thought I'd share) Take Care!

Will see you down there, and wish you luck and will say a few prayers for you that all goes well with your insurance and the processing. I am so happy I took this step. It's not an easy road but it is definitely worth it. Like you, I have sleep apnea too, and until I got approved for surgery there wasn't a night that went by I wondered if I would die in my sleep, even though I have a CPAP (which I hate with a passion). I know it's to keep you breathing, but it's so artificial and uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to post picture on your profile. All of us on here are struggling with our weight, or have over the past years. I'll be posting before and after pictures after I drop some clothes sizes. Still early on. Even though I've lost 26 pounds, I'm still wearing 2X shirts and Large (Men's size) jogging pants as my tummy is still swollen from the IV fluids and the surgery itself. The staff is so exceptionally excellent at the KC Bariatric Center I can hardly wait to go back for my post-op appt. I have spent years (since 1994) in the VA Medical Center's care prior to this (with my leg/ankle and hand surgery at KU). While KU was great, the KC Bariatric Center beats them by a mile. The VA is a whole different story, and if it was on an A-F grading scale, they'd be getting a D. I had to argue with the pharmacist alone to get my lovenox prescription filled, even though my VA primary care physician rewrote the prescription so it could be filled. The A-hole got into my medical records, which he wasn't supposed to be in. I reported him. Anyway, keep your chin up and I'll keep you in my prayers and cross my fingers just for added support. Terry

I still take Bariatric Advantage citrate caramel chews to the day, six a day. Last week I bought them in 500 mg rather then 250 mg size which translates to taking 3 a day instead of 6 a day. The price per bag is also the same so now I feel like I am getting 2 for 1 on the calcium citrate and that makes me happy. Each bag is about $12 when i purchase it through the WLS Center or 22 dollars when i buy it online through Amazon. Staying healthy with all the supplements really adds up. I do not take any iron in isolation, but there is some in my optimen multivitamin and green drink. Not 100% RDA though, but something small like 20 %. Should I be aware of iron as a man?

I had my lapband surgery in November 2006. I lost seventeen pounds pre-surgery and then another fifteen pounds by January. I had a total of two fills. Things were going okay, but not perfect. I had regained a few pounds over the holidays and was struggling to get back on track. In February 2007, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. I ended up with a total hysterectomy. Recovery, both physical and emotional was brutal. Several months later I lost my job along with my health insurance. I was unable to continue with visits with my bariatric surgeon. The band has since been "unfilled" and I have re-gained every single pound I lost. I am scared, depressed, and most of all ANGRY. How did this happen? Is there any hope for me with the lap band at this point? HELPPPP!!

I was still sore at 6 weeks out when I had my first fill!! If it's hot to the touch, if you're running any kind of temperature, if the area is red, there might be a problem. Swelling could also possibly be a indication of something not quite right. Best thing would be to call your bariatric surgeons office and talk to one of the nurses. They know you and your history better than we do. ::smile:: More than likely you're just taking a while to heal, but call to make sure. Hope it resolves for you soon.

I had sleeve to gastric bypass in Mexico. Check here on bariatric pal for a surgeon. They have a fantastic system set up for surgeons, package deals including hospital stay, recovery house, personal valet, 2 years nutritional follow up.

Hello all. I just wanted to give a little encouragement to the newbies out there. Today I am 4 years post op. I am still in love with my band. I have been filled and unfilled, I have pbed. I have gotten stuck and yet I still love my band. It has taken some time but I have learned to live with it as many of my fellow veterans have as well. I have learned what I can eat and what I can't eat with my band. I do drink a little sprite or orange soda every once in a while. I can't stand coke any more which used to be my favorite soda. I can honestly say I haven't had it in over 4 years. What I do drink on the regular is orange juice because I can't eat oranges any more. I can eat apples but I choose to drink apple juice. I still have my coffee every morning and tea every week as well. In regards to foods, well I eat just about anything except pasta that you use for lasagna. I do eat spaghetti every blue moon and I will eat a little mac and cheese only if it's really cheesy. Other than that, I eat bread, rice, etc. I actually had a couple slices of thin crust pizza for supper yesterday. Speaking of supper. I have learned that I can't eat past 8 p.m. If I do, I will fall asleep but in the middle of the night I will start coughing and coughing and then I'll fall back to sleep. Later I will cough some more and eventually water will start coming out of my nose. That will go on until I finally throw up the last whatever that was in my stomach before I went to bed. So that means I have to get in all my food and drink by 7 p.m. 7:30 at the latest. When I do eat before 7, I have no problems. I sleep like a baby. What can I say, my band doesn't want me eating late I can dig that. That was a problem before I was banded that aided in me gaining weight in the first place eating late at night and snacking watching tv. Well I can honestly say those days are definitely over. I do eat chips but only when I crave them. I eat popcorn as well but only when I have a taste for it and that isn't often. My last fill was August 2012 which put me at 7.1 ccs in my 10 cc band. So I will leave you with this final note, don't give up. Don't get discouraged. The weight isn't going to fall off over night, every week, everyday, etc. Stop stressing. Follow your bariatric team's instructions/guidelines because all our bodies and problems within our bodies are different. We all have different medical issues so what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Sometimes it will but in other cases it won't. If you aren't sure about what's happening in your body, don't be afraid to call your doctor and find out. After all, it is YOUR BODY. Take care everyone and happy holidays. I'm 95 lbs down and loving it.