New Here - 2 Wks Banded.... Help!!

December 8, 2004

Hello Everyone-

First let me say I am so happy to be banded!!! I'm new here and have enjoyed reading your posts... I was banded on 11/24 (day before thanksgiving... ) 1st time in my life I've not pigged out on thanksgiving!!! I am 2 weeks post-op and frustrated. My surgery went great and the pain was nothing. I am having hard time with a few things... maybe any of you could help.

I am a secy so sit at the desk all day... I get up every 30 minutes and walk around so I'm getting my walking in. By about 3:30 I am in such pain. I have tremendous pressure in my upper stomach. No problem in the lower stomach. The only thing I can think of is the CO2 is not gone and after sitting all day it moves to the upper stomach and causes me pressure. After I go home and lay down for a few hours it gets better. This happens everyday and has happened ever since I went back to work. Any suggestions?

I lost 8 lbs. pre-op and 11 lbs. post-op the 1st week and now nothing. In fact I'm gaining???? I'm wondering how that can be. My caloric intake is so much less than before my surgery so I don't understand. Have any of you had this problem? I'm having my Protein drink(dr. says must have) 2 x a day and the other 2-3 meals are Soup. I'm on creamy soup per nurse since I was in ketosis and couldn't get out. Could I maybe not be eating enough?

Can I have salt and pepper in my soup?

Did anyone have really bad breath after their surgery? I thought my breath was from being in ketosis but now I'm out(I think) and its still real bad???

I don't feel very restricted, not like I thought I was going to. I did a lot of reading and research b/4 surgery and just really thought I would lose quicker than I am??? I don't expect the impossible but I hate to be gaining when I'm eating so little. My stomach growls constantly.

Does anyone have pb with the liquid phase or does it start with the mushy/ semi solid phase?

I used to be a big Water drinker, at least 64 oz daily and now I can barely get in one. I can drink more tea or broth but water just tasts yuck now!!!

Help please...

Keep up the good work everyone and I look forward to hearing from you.

Banded by Dr. Powerll - Richardson

Beg Weight 241 lbs.

Now 222 lbs.

blossom · December 8, 2004

Hi! I was banded 11/5 and I remember having a lot of gas pressure during the second week, only it was not the CO2 kind, LOL! I took lots of gas-x. I also remember a bad taste in my mouth so am sure my breath was horrible! I chewed gum a lot, but never swallowed it. I also lost some weight both pre-op and post-op. Today, I have gained 2lbs back. This is normal. Consider any weight you lose before you get your first fill to be a bonus. I have very little restriction as well. Turns out my dr used the 10cc band on me. Makes a big difference, especially if you have a lower BMI (I was 38, barely). Welcome to bandland and congrautulations!

New Hope · December 8, 2004

Congratulations on the 19 pounds gone and on becoming a Bandster! Your pains should lessen as time goes on. Really, walking around and drinking as much Water as you possibly can is the best thing to do for that. It's really important that you get enough daily water in. Please do a search here for past posts about the importance of water. You don't want to get dehydrated. Tea and broth are o.k. But please don't overdo on the broth. It has a lot of sodium (salt) and that will cause you to retain water (which is hard on your heart and kidneys). Have you tried the flavored waters (like Propel) or crystal light? How about tracking your daily intakes on www.fitday.com for a few days? That can show you if you're eating enough, calorie intake, break down of proteins-fats-carbs, exercise, goals, etc. Your stomach making growling signs doesn't necessarily mean you're hungry. It's probably just digestive noises. You don't have any fill in your band so once the initial surgery swelling goes down, you will feel hungry. Any weightloss before your first fill is considered a bonus. Weightgain during this time is the norm. What stage are you in? liquids, mushies, solid foods? Please concentrate on eating healthy right now. Follow your surgeon's post-op rules so your band will have time to heal properly before you start running foods through. This is not RNY surgery, you will lose weight steadily if you follow the rules. Best of luck to you and hope you get to feeling better soon!

Zoe · December 9, 2004

Hi Frustrated. Congratulations on getting your band!

Your weight-loss pattern is totally normal. A lot of the weight that we lose during the first weeks right after surgery is Water. (That's why many of us notice that our water-retaining feet, ankles, and wrists start to slim down first.)

Your body can't metabolize 11 lbs. of fat in one week if you're just going on short walks. Think about it: Suppose you burn 2000 calories per day just breathing, sitting at work, short walks. That's 14,000 calories in a week. Now suppose, just for the sake of argument, that you were eating nothing at all. Zero calories. Burning up 14,000. At 3500 calories per pound, that's a loss of just four pounds, with absolutely no intake. But most of us lose more than that in the first week. It's Water.< /p>

So you're still not eating much, yet your weight is staying the same, even going up a little? Now that your body is getting over the shock of the surgery, and the shock of the initial calorie deprivation, it's holding onto some of that water. But you are still burning fat. Gain a pound of water, lose a pound of fat -- your body is much better off, even though the scale measurement is discouraging.

I had gas and incision pains for the first couple of weeks, and found that a heating pad gave me relief. Could you use one in your office?

Things do get better. The first taste of mushy food will seem heavenly! And the water-weight problem will sort itself out soon. Don't get discouraged if you have plateaus; they're a normal part of being banded, and now you have a great tool to get your weight headed in the right direction!

La_madam · December 9, 2004

I too had the gas pains in the upper part of my stomach..remember there is still alot of swelling, it takes time. I felt the pressure for 3-4 weeks post op. It does get better. Once the swelling goes down you will be able to drink more Water also. I gained 2 lbs when I went from liquids to mushy foods and then after a few days I lost it to only gain it back when I got to the solid food stage. This is normal to gain a lb here and there when you are transitioning between liquids, mushys, and solids.

Alot of people do not feel restriction until they start getting fills...some of us here were fortunate to have restriction without a fill..this phase you are in is the healing phase not the weight loss phase so do not get discouraged. Your weight loss will happen when you start getting your fills. Any weight loss during the pre fill stage is a bounus! Hang in there

December 10, 2004

Thanks everyone for the great advice--I really appreciate it!! I saw the dr. yesterday for my 2 week checkup. He said I was healing very well. He told me I could move onto a little more food... very little cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, ground meat or finely chopped chicken... yeah!! Last night after my appt. I went and had some meatloaf. I thought I had died and gone to heaven He said he would fill me in 2 more weeks(which I thought was a little soon - what do you guys think? Is 4 weeks too soon for a fill?) Here's what I don't understand.... maybe you can help me.

For the past few weeks I've been having Protein drinks(2 a day) and eating Soup and a little bouillon and Water. My caloric intake was probably pretty low. Now I can have some meats and other things which means my caloric intake will go up so why would I start losing even after the fill? After the fill my caloric intake will still be more than its been since I've been having only Protein Drink & Soup...

Thanks everyone for your support. Have a wonderful day!!!

Christy

New Hope · December 10, 2004

Christy, if you're losing weight, don't feel like you have to get a fill in 4 weeks. Everyone is different. I waited 2 months for my first one. I wanted to be sure that I was doing my part first. The bouillon and Soup have a lot of sodium (salt). Sodium causes you to retain fluids. And too much is very bad for your heart and kidneys. The meats and cottage cheese will help you get your 60 grams of daily Protein. Now that you can eat real foods, you should feel "full" longer than you did on the liquids. Chart your intake on fitday. If you're not getting enough calories, you won't lose weight. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

biggun · December 13, 2004

The best thing in the world for the gas pain in the chest is liquid Gaviscon. Doesn't taste too bad either. I made the mistake of making my Protein shakes with fat free skim milk and this made the gas and pain worse. Try to stay away from dairy for the first two weeks. I just had my first fill today and wish I would have had it sooner. It was way too easy. I started gaining so now I hope I will be on the losing side of this since I am on liquids again for a few days...

Kim