karenci

One other thing to add - I had the same tenderness, and about 10 days post surgery I was walking the beach, saw some shells I just had to have, and since it hurt to bend all the way over I did a kind of sideways twist and pulled something out of whack that resulted in some atrocious sciatica. So my advice is not to push it too hard, give your port time to heal and take it easy!!

Angie - when you want that full tummy feeling, take in a nice big mug of hot chicken broth!! I do that at night, when my tummy thinks it wants something before bed, and it gives you that warm full feeling w/out calories. . . I started that during pre-op diet and have been relying on it ever since :-)

Yes, I fly in from eastern North Carolina so it's a long trip for me, I actually made a long weekend out of it- fly in Friday, stay in San Diego, take the trolley/taxi to OCC for a Saturday AM fill, and then spend the rest of the weekend doing the tourist thing so if there is any problem I can get back to OCC to have it taken care of before taking a noon flight home Monday. I found the trolley and taxi to be very easy to do, so many people from home were getting freaked out about me walking across the border but it's perfectly safe. OCC will call a taxi when you're done to take you back to the border. Read the post on how to do it, so easy! I prefer staying in San Diego so I can play tourist. I'm one of the unlucky ones who felt about no restriction after surgery, I could eat just about anything and seemed like as much as I want, too as long as I take small bites and chew thoroughly. I got 3cc on my first fill and I feel a little restriction but not much, Dr So did say to expect to get another fill a couple of months after the first since I'm not the sensitive type :-) But I am losing weight by watching my diet and exercising - the band is helping me to stick to a diet, not so hungry as I used to be. I'm looking forward to finding that 'sweet spot' everyone talks about but so far no luck!

It's different for everyone, I can eat just about anything as long as I take small bites and chew chew chew - and the way to avoid PB-ing is to "listen" to your band and figure out what it's signal is. For me, I start to hiccup when I am full enough, before I PB - so if I eat slow enough and wait for the hiccup I am all good! But the other night I grabbed a hand full of pecans, didn't eat them slowly enough, and let me tell you, I learned that lesson!!!! The hardest lesson for me has been that I can no longer grab a quick bite - and the minute I stop paying attention to my eating habits is when it gets me!!

I would really suggest returning to OCC for your fills - Dr So is the best! I hear all kinds of stories about people getting port leaks from blind fills, or over/under fill problems from not using flouro - but I had my first fill a couple of weeks ago at OCC and it was so easy! I'm a wimp about pain and was concerned about the needle thing but it was a breeze. Don't let your worry keep you from getting banded, you won't regret it!@

Hey there, sounds like all is going well with you - I'm impressed by your progress! I've lost 25#, hit a set point and am trying not to be discouraged. Had my first fill 5/1, took 3cc. I can feel restriction when I eat too big a bite, don't chew enough, or eat too fast - but if I take it easy I can still eat just about anything so am contemplating second fill - Dr So said to wait two months (sigh!!) (but that gives me time to shop for decent airfare from NC.) He said most folks take 2 or 3 fills. They don't weigh you at OCC when you go in for a fill so don't sweat that, hubby came with me and he was able to watch the process, I was in and out in under 30 minutes. They do say no solids 24 hrs after fill - One of these days I am going to go to San Diego and be able to EAT!!!

Please tell me you felt restriction after your first fill! I was banded at OCC on 3/18, and like everyone else lost weight great on the pre-op and liquid post-op diet but all that stopped when real food came back. Now I am trying to keep off what I lost while awaiting my first fill (scheduled for 5/1.) I felt some restriction right after surgery but by the time 3 weeks went by and I could go back on solids, there is nothing I can't eat! bread, wraps, sushi rice, whatever, it all goes down just fine. If I eat real slow and try to stop early I can eat less, and if I eat too fast without chewing thoroughly I really feel it, but other than that it's as if there is no band at all. I can't wait till my first fill!!!!

If you want some bulk with your breakfast, this is my favorite, low-cal high protein and and so easy to make ahead: 3-4 oz chopped frozen spinach 1 hard boiled egg, diced 1 oz shredded 2% cheese 1 link heat-n-eat turkey sausage, sliced hot sauce (optional) I make 4-5 at a time: buy the 1-lb bag of frozen chopped spinach, thaw 4-5 pre-cooked turkey sausages, boil 4-5 eggs, and assemble a week's worth of breakfasts at a time. I love it because the spinach gives it some bulk and the protein from the egg, cheese and sausage gives it all some 'staying power'

Only you can decide if you will be able to have the discipline to follow the diet restrictions after banding. It would be a shame to spend the $ if you can't, because the band won't work if you don't follow the 'rules.' It's a tool, and can't/won't do the work for you. There are lots of ways to defeat the band, and worse, if you don't follow the diet the result can be band slippage or erosion. It takes discipline, everyone who enjoys success does so because of their own dedication and hard work. I started this journey thinking it would be a 'magic pill', and if I just saved up and bought a band then the weight would just fall off after surgery. . . but it's not that easy. The post-op liquid diet is tougher than the pre-op diet, so if you can't stick to it my advice would be to save the money and the potential complications.

Thank you SO MUCH for the feedback, I was so worried that I was doing something wrong! On top of that, I told ONE person I was getting the band and now every-freakin'-one-I-know knows about it and I am about to kill the next person who tells me 'oh, you look great, I can tell you're losing weight, must be so nice to just get surgery and have it all fall off. . ." ARGH!! OK, I am not about to chew my arm off or anything, but this is still not easy. I'll keep toughing out with help from all of you - thanks!!!!

Hoping other experienced bandsters can help me out here! I had such a great start. With a BMI of 37 and 65 lbs to lose (according to Dr Miranda) or 80 to lose (according to my jeans and wishful thinking) I started strong. Lost 10 lbs on the pre-op diet and another 12 during the 3 weeks of liquids. But then real food came back. . .and the weight loss has screeched to a halt. I feel a slight restriction, I am able to eat somewhat less than I used to if I eat slowly, chew thoroughly, etc and am keeping to 1200-1400 calories a day through careful monitoring and choices. Still some head hunger and cravings but hanging in there, hoping for more help with the fill(s). Exercising a minimum of 30 minutes a day, usually closer to 45-60 min. But at 193 lbs I should be losing weight and it has just stopped. Is this normal? Will the weight loss start up again after I get the first fill or is this going to take awhile? Highest weight: 221 Pre-Band: 215 Pre-Surgery: 205 Current: 193

Now, my problem is just the opposite - I have had no problem introducing solid food, I do find myself fuller faster and have been chewing up to the point where it really isn't necessary to swallow :-) But I am afraid I am going to gain back what I lost before I can get my first fill. I'm sticking to 1200 calories but the weight loss has stopped.

I had mine March 18th and the discomfort at the port site is just now subsiding - I still can't bend all the way over,tying my shoes is an exercise in contortion, but other than that it's settled in nicely. You have a foreign object sewn in there, it's going to take awhile!

I was banded 3/18 and never stopped being hungry! I had high hopes, after being told that the pre-op two weeks were the worst and that I would feed restriction from the swelling after surgery - but I woke up from Surgery hungry and have been hungry ever since! I know all the warnings about 'head hunger' - but if it's in my head, why is my tummy growling? Regardless, I've lost 18 lbs in 4 weeks (2 on pre op diet and 2 on post-op liquid diet) but I have 85 to lose (65 according to Dr Miranda, but I want to look hot!) I can see how easy it would be to gain or not lose even though on liquids - there are a lot of calories in juice and yogurt. Even tho' I am struggling with hunger, I keep telling myself it is temporary and I can do this. I'm keeping the calories to 1000 per day and drinking so much chicken broth I am afraid I am going to grow feathers. I have a month to go until my first fill and am determined not to gain once I am back on 'real' food. Meanwhile I am fantasizing about what my first meal is going to be :-)

I am wondering about the number of fills everyone seems to be getting. The impression I got from Dr Ortiz was that most folks only need 1-3 fills! I live 3,000 miles away and my trip back to TJ for my first fill is costing plenty $$ with airfare, hotel, etc - have to change planes in Dallas and it ends up being a 12 hour "commute" so plan to spend the day before and day after in a hotel. Now I'm wondering if I have to have 4 or 5 fills, should I start looking into Fill Centers USA? I really want to return to OCC for them all but wonder if I'll be able to afford it. . .

OK, so can I ask you this - I had my surgery 3/18, have recovered 99% except that it feels like the port 'pokes' me whenever I bend over and I am having a hard time tying my shoes!! I swear the *blippin* thing is stabbing me in the rib cage. Is this feeling going to go away, or is it something I have to learn to live with??