Blazn

Hey - WishBone makes very good Salad Spritzers. Here is their website. Although they are not fat-free - they are less than 1g. of fat. http://www.salad-lover.com/Dressings/1807/...inaigrette.aspx Then of course there is always fat-free dressings - here is WishBones website for those. http://www.salad-lover.com/Dressings/1394/...Free-Ranch.aspx

Congratulations Michelle and welcome to onederland. Keep up the good work.

The post-fill diet is different for different providers - Fill Centers USA recommends clear warm liquids for the first 24 hours, then any temp clear liquids for the next 24 hours, then full liquids for the last 24 hours, then advance as tolerated. If you eat your meat first, then vegies, then carbs as recommended by Dr. Miranda your body will not go into starvation mode. But I honestly think you should go ahead and try to eat a little more solids than what you are. You may not even need a fill right now. But as far as eating 10 bites of your meals - you will be suprised at what your body can survive on and probably what it prefers. I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and have lost 2lbs per week since then which is within goal (1-3 lbs. per week). Everyone is different though.

Hey Sherri, sorry to hear about you getting sick. I hope you are feeling a little better now. Where is your hematoma? Port site? I really hate that for you. Maybe it will go away soon. Call me when you feel better. I am working today (OPO) but off the weekend.

Carrot cake!!! - That does have "vegetables" in it right! LOL - I had chocolate cake - where is the nutrition in that?

Pammie, You look absolutely amazing. Way to go. Thanks for being so open with your pics - they really are an inspiration!

Well, Alana, I am so glad your experience was great!! And may I officially welcome you to "Bandland"!! Keep us posted and good luck.

The manufacturers of the bands Dr. Ortiz uses is Inamed and Johnson and Johnson. The Inamed is the one that is actually called the "Lap Band" and the Johnson and Johnson band is called the "Realize Band". Sizes of bands - there are 2 - 4cc (10cm band) and 10cc (VG band).

I have a very good explanation for why you cannot drink while eating. And this can also answer the question about cereal. Last Tuesday (after my first fill on Saturday) I ate one of those small kid's bowls of frosted flakes - you know the ones with the plastic bowls that has the peel back top. I was very full after the cereal but from habit and before I thought of it I turned up the bowl and drank the milk in the bowl. OMG the pain in my chest. You know how it feels when you get something stuck and you can't get it to go down. Well it was like that and it was terrifyingly painful. The only way I got relief was to throw the milk up - which is what I did. When the food is passing through the band liquid cannot pass. Because our pouches are so small large gulps of liquid will essentially fill the band up and back up if it cannot pass through. I learned that lesson the hard way. Needless to say I have not had cereal since then. Which is devastating for me as that is one of my favorite foods. I may try it again one day (without drinking the milk, that is), but no time in the near future. So as you can see - if I were to drink with every meal my pouch would probably expand. And I certainly do not want that!!

Absolutely!! When I got my fill on Saturday, May 3rd, I weighed 200 - by Monday I was 199. I weighed again on Friday and was 197. So as you can see my fill is working. Not only that - I do have a lot of restriction. Friday I made myself a lean cuisine for lunch and could only eat 1/3 of it and I was full. I won't re-weigh until Wednesday but I will keep you posted.

Way to go Kimmie - your almost in Onderland!! Hooray!!

No the saline should not be leaking out. When they give you a first fill although they watch the barium slowly slip through, they may not hit your "sweet spot". If you are not losing weight or see that you are still eating too much then it is time for another fill. I had my fill on May 3rd (3cc in a 4cc band) and I have a lot of restriction. I also lost 2 lbs. this week so I am okay right now. As you lose more weight the harder it is to lose. For that reason people get more fills so that the food slips through slower therefore keeping them full longer. Hope this helps.

Way to go. I don't really have that problem yet. I have lost 27lbs but when I was gaining weight I simply refused to buy anymore clothes. I just would not go up another size. So I would just "paint" my size 16 pants/jeans on. But I can honestly say that in a couple of weeks I will have to search through them to find some 14s. Praise the Lord!!

Sherri, I can't wait for you to get back. Post, post, post when you get a chance. I am so excited for you. You are in great hands. Call me ASAP!!

I know how you feel. I did the same thing. During my pre-op diet I used the excuse...."but I won't get to eat like this anymore!!!" Don't feel bad - you are not the only one rowing in that boat!!

I got my first fill Saturday and had to drink barium. Before I knew it it was Wednesday and I had not had a BM. I bought the Equate brand (Walmart Brand) Milk of Mag and it worked within 3 hours. Maybe you could try that - it was only like $4. Oh...but now that I think about it I did not have a BM for 4 days post-op. Think about it - you are on liquids only - you do not have a lot to come out. All liquid waste will be excreeted through your urine. So don't freak out yet. But if you are worried you can just try the Milk of Mag.

Welcome and congrats. Do not worry about the weight gain. You will see the numbers go down soon enough. Good luck in the next coming weeks. For some they are tough but you will do fine. Please keep us posted - we are here if you need anything.

I am so happy everything went well for you. Keep us posted on your progress and have a safe trip home.

I had pains in my shoulder for about 4 weeks. And now that I have had my fill it still hurts occasionally. I honestly believe it is from the damage to the crus of the diaphragm (which I read from a research article). And yes - the swelling will go down by the end of week 2 and you will be able to eat. The pain from the incisions should also get better with time. But keep us posted.

Wow - that's great. I know you are excited about your fill. Keep us posted on your progress and how the fill goes.

Yes, the electrical outlets are the same and you do not need an adaptor.

Okay so I have had my first fill for almost 1 week now and there are a couple of foods that I absolutely cannot eat and a couple that I have trouble getting down. Lets share our lists of foods that are not tolerated by your band. For example, I threw up a small bowl of frosted flakes today simply because it would not go down, but yesterday morning I ate 1.5 waffles (soaked with light syrup - so very soft) and all went down fine. I know there are going to be some that can tolerate the foods that some cannot, but I would like to know anyway. So I will start and as I come across foods that I cannot tolerate I will just edit my original post - to keep things neat! Foods that have trouble going down: dry chicken eggs (omlett style) Foods that did not go down: frosted flakes

Gosh, I am so sorry you had so much trouble. I too had a lot of pain but mine was in my shoulder - it actually took about 4 weeks to completely go away and now that I have had my first fill - it actually comes back every once in a while. But it is bearable. I agree, once you start eating food you will change your mind. As far as pain meds go, I did get 4-Sublingual Toradol tablets to go home with. Didn't you? Right now you are in "bandster hell". This first phase is one of great transition. But you will survive and you will be glad you have the band soon enough. Just hand in there! We are here for support and appreciate you being so honest. But you are right this is a lifestyle change and it is not easy. But neither was any of those diets we all tried. But we have goals and we must strive to acheive them. Keep us posted. :lb11: and :lb4:

:lb10: and :lb9: