janellody

Is it hard finding doctors in the US for aftercare?  I am concerned that after my revision from band to sleeve I will need aftercare that won't be available.  Any experience with this?

Congratulations!!

You know, everyone is different. Some people don't need any fills to feel restriction but I believe the majority of people needs at least 1 fill to feel any type of restriction. I am on fill 2 and felt some restriction at first, but it is gone now and I am getting another fill next week. My mom is on fill 4 or 5 I think and still isn't sure if she is feeling restriction, although she is eating less so maybe she is feeling it now.

Every body is different and it's hard to tell how yours will be until you start getting some fills. But, it is completely normal to feel no restriction when you have no fills, so don't worry about that.

I don't think you should be spitting up after every meal, but you may be one of those people who can't eat bread or rice. I can't eat bread much so I stay away from it.

You will NOT have full restriction, even if you're at your 'sweet spot'.

You'll still be able to eat rice, bread, etc.

This is a misconception with the band.

That some how, some way, the band will prevent you from putting things in your mouth. Or it miraculously forces you to make health food choices.

I am going to disagree with this part of your post since I know many people (myself included) that DO have problems eating bread and rice or other food groups. That doesn't mean EVERYONE has that problem, but some of us do. I steer clear of bread products most of the time because it HURTS going down, and I am not even at full restriction yet. So yes, the band has stopped me from eating these things.

All in all, we do need to make better food choices and get in our exercise, but if we were good at any of that stuff, we wouldn't be having weight loss surgery, would we? Lindsay's post made it sound like the band really doesn't do much at all, and if that were the case we wouldn't all be shelling out thousands of dollars to get the band.

I need more fills but already have felt restriction on how much I can eat, which is the reason I got the band in the first place. If you can eat 1/3 of what you used to eat and be satisfied, then you are at a good spot, but if you are still eating more than that, I say you need to get another fill. I don't wait 6-8 weeks between fills because it isn't necessary. You can tell the restriction and the band has settled around 7-14 days after a fill. If you aren't getting the restriction you need, then why wait around another month or two? There really isn't any reason to. You got the band to lose weight, if you aren't losing weight because you don't have enough fill, then get another fill.

My fills are $170 each, but my doctor gives me a 25% discount since I am on unemployment. It just depends where you go, I think the OCC can tell you about some fill doctors in your area.

I agree, it is really good!!

Mine are ok as well.

oh, that sucks!

Unfortunately there are risks with all surgeries. My sister-in-law just had a hysterectomy and died from complications. And that is a typical surgery that people get all the time. I read the article about the OCC and that just pisses me off because the OCC is one of the best places I have ever been to, and they are nothing like the article makes them sound. The doctors give out their cell phone numbers and encourage you to call with questions. I personally have emailed a few times post-op and they have gotten back to me pretty quickly.

ANY surgery can have complications, which can be scary, but the chances are it won't happen to you...

I always heard Splenda was kind of bad for you, so I like to stick with real sugars, but this is coming from someone who never uses sugar really, lol. I don't drink coffee or make like, ANYTHING sweet.

I am looking forward to starting to eat on Sunday, but am also scared. There are so many foods that I am already craving that I know I shouldn't eat. I just hope I have the will power to stay stronger. Oh by the way can we eat popcorn?

Nothing wrong with popcorn as far as I know, I have eaten air-popped popcorn as a snack for some time now. Don't be afraid to satisfy some of your cravings, otherwise you might end up gorging later on. Just have some and then you won't be craving it anymore.. just don't go overboard. Pretend you are at your full restriction level and you can only eat 1/3 of what you ate before... and see what happens! I ate very tiny amounts when I got off my post-op diet, and that lasted for a couple weeks and then my appetite came back.. But, use this time to ENJOY eating smaller portions and not feeling like you HAVE to keep eating and eating!

I was under the impression liquids don't stay in your pouch like solid food does, which is why you are supposed to eat solid food with the band and not liquids. If you are on a post-fill diet then of course liquids are good, but don't judge your restriction by the amount of LIQUIDS you can drink, because the band does not stop liquids from going in your stomach like it does with solid foods.

B: Fiber One Cereal

S: Apple Juice

L: Chicken, pasta, and potatoes

D: TBA

Exercise: Going on a run tonight about 3 miles I think, then headed home for a family BBQ!

Calories so far: 700

Do you eat your cereal with milk? Sorry, I am just trying to prepare for eating with restriction and wondering if you eat the cereal with or without milk!

Sounds like you are either eating too fast, too big of bites, not chewing them enough, or a combination of all three. Yes, you DO have restriction, if you didn't, the food would not get stuck. If you are PBing (throwing it back up) then you need to start taking way smaller bites, chew them a LOT and eat a lot slower. If you continue to PB a lot, it can adversely affect the band, so you don't want to do that any more than you already have, if possible.

I am at 4cc in my 11cc band, and I can still eat a ton of food, just like you. We aren't at our sweet spot and the band isn't restricting the amount of food we eat, but it IS restriction the type of food and the quantity that you eat at once. Just be very very careful and start eating a lot slower with tiny bites. If I don't chew bread enough, it hurts going down. This has taught me to take smaller bites and eat slower and chew a lot more.

This is how we are supposed to eat now, so we just have to get used to it.

lol!

Ok, I can see both sides of the argument. I am a regular on forums, or I used to be, and I agree, there is normally a rule against huge sigs. However, I love looking at everyone's before and after pictures and I have never had an issue with it on this forum.

And by the way, I clicked on this link on my phone and it loaded immediately, pictures and all... I think it is time to upgrade Lindsay!

I am having trouble with breads after only 1 fill. If I am very careful and take tiny bites and chew it up, I can get it down, but I just KNOW that with another fill or 2 it will be gone completely! I will mourn the loss of bread... <3

You may think this pre-op diet sucks but you will be wishing for the pre-op diet when you are on the post-op diet lol! Listen, you just gotta tell yourself that the next few weeks are gonna suck, and that's that. You HAVE to do these diets, so you don't really have any choice in the matter, so that should help.

I just had to tell myself that I was going to be miserable for awhile, and I was, but eventually it ends and you will be thanking your lucky stars that you get real food again!

I do the 'force' burp to empty myself ... and i think it's one of those side effects that's extremely common.

I do this too, and I always wonder if I shouldn't? The reason I say this is because about 2 times, I ended up bringing up liquid rather than just air... sometimes it is right after I eat, so I figure I need to just calm down on the force burping a little. Right after I eat I usually get the feeling like I need to get the air out, so that is why I get in these situations, I believe... I am just hoping it isn't hurting my band when that happens.

I burp all the time since surgery, but yeah I don't mind much. I get relief after I have a good burp and the prssure goes away in my abdomen, so I like it when it comes out!

I am very similar, but would probably consider myself more of a "flegan" lol! I used to be vegan for 3 years, so I have carried a lot of those tendencies into my life after veganism. I never buy milk, only soy milk. I constantly use milk substitutes like vegan cream cheese and vegan sour cream. And I do eat meat but it isn't my first choice of food, I am actually eating it more now that I am banded because I am trying to do the whole protein first and veggies second thing that was recommended by Dr. Miranda. But while I am eating the meat part I am staring at the veggies... cuz I am in love with veggies <3

Can't wait to see the pics! Is laser lipo cheaper or more expensive or the same price as regular lipo? Does anyone know? Seems way safer.

Breakfast

Fruit - Banana -Medium, 1 whole

Kroger Brand - Roasted Peanuts and Honey - Peanut Butter, 2 tbsp

Grapefruit - Pink Grapefruit , 1/2 raw

Lunch

Nissan - Cup of Noodles Chicken, 1 container

Wing Time - Buffalo Wing Sauce, 2 tbsp

Breton - Multigrain Crackers, 6 crackers (16g)

Dinner

Crock Pot - Homemade Beef Chuck Roast With Potatoes & Carrots, 475 g

Snacks

Total Calories: 1247

I just got banded on Monday and have a few questions that I hope to get answers about:

1. Is tomato juice or Clamato juice an acceptable juice to drink during the first two weeks? Not until you are on "full liquids". For the first like 7 days or so, you are on clear liquids only such as broth, juice, vitamin water, etc. Check your paperwork you got from Dr. Miranda, it has all the answers.

2. My incision sites are real itchy and tender. Is it okay to rub some cream on them (maybe Vitamin E cream)? Dunno, I just left it all alone, call OCC and ask them to be sure.

3. Did anyone else have serious gas the first few days? What can I do about it? Yes, and the best thing to do is walk around. Everytime I felt it I got up and walked around and then had a serious burp. This helped the gas go away within a couple weeks and I never got the shoulder pain.

4. How did everyone get fiber during the first two weeks? I probably didn't get any. But I think you can take some kind of fiber supplement... Dr. Miranda can help you with this.

I never do this, but I HAVE been keeping track of my food on the My Fitness Pal website, so I thought I would post it on here once or twice. This is my plan for the day, I always put it all in when I know what I am having, and then make changes after the fact if it changes.

Breakfast

Tyson - Frozen Chicken Nuggets - Baked, 2.5 piece

Grapefruit - Pink Grapefruit , 1/2 raw

Betty Crocker - Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie, 0.7 brownie

Lunch

Fish - Tuna, white, canned in water, drained solids, 1 can

Kraft - Miracle Whip (Light), 4 tbsp (16g)

Iceburg Lettuce Leaf, 3 leaves

Dinner

Crock Pot - Homemade Beef Chuck Roast With Potatoes & Carrots, 475 g

Snacks

Fruit - Banana -Medium, 1 whole

Kroger Brand - Roasted Peanuts and Honey - Peanut Butter, 2 tbsp

Totals 1,296 calories