jhawkchick75

That is really unfortunate that they don't feel comfortable posting. Even though both of us are newbies in the grand scheme of things, we also are not that far out and remember what it was like. However, like you said this is not for the faint of heart! I try to be supportive, but they are also going to get my honest opinion! Unfortunately some people jump into the band and aren't ready to take the steps necessary to make it work and are already looking for "ways around" and i'm not going to sugar coat any of this. However, I will be supportive and the first to give praise when it's a job well done! But i'm not going to be successful by hearing all the answers I want to hear. As i've said before, this has been both the easiest and hardest thing i've ever done and know that will only be more so as this journey goes on. And girl, hell you are smoking past me but thanks! I'm trying, but I think my body is needing time to catch up w/ my weight loss. I'm not losing pounds right now, but inches are coming off.

Thanks Chad! For the most part things really roll off my back, but if something does come up i'll report it. Appreciate it!

Exactly what I was going to say...welcome to bandster hell! Although even after 1 fill i'm still in the same boat. I maybe lose .4 or so a week if i'm lucky and i'm keeping my portions low. Just an unfortunate part of the process. But i've had many assure me that after a couple of fills it will start to come off. Stick to the plan and it will work. Although I must agree on the inches lost. The last couple of weeks I haven't lost, but am getting tons of compliments and people are noticing. Also, my clothes aren't fitting anymore. Someone put it well when they said my "body is catching up with my weight loss" and I really believe that is true. When I was on liquids and at first on solids I used to fear that I would get on the scale one morning and all the weight would have come back. This was b/c I really wasn't seeing the weight loss except for on the scales. Hang in there and also make sure you are measuring. I am kicking myself for not doing that from the get go. I think it would have kept my motivation up more.

Here are a few of my favorites: - Eggs - Cheese - Refried beans - Tuna - Lunchmeat - I also will buy those cubed ham & turkey packets that are supposed to be for salads, but I eat them by themselves. Also, don't forget about protein bullets and special K2O water! Those are great! Since i've upped my protein i've noticed a HUGE difference. I'm hardly ever hungry and my hair isn't falling out anymore. I think it is the cause for my nails to be growing much faster as well. Like Jude said, protein is the key to this!!! Great topic...good luck!

I had no intentions of going back to OCC for fills. It is just too expensive for me. But luckily there is a fantastic doctor here in KC that sees patients for aftercare and I made sure of that before I even scheduled my surgery. Many people don't go back, and like has been said before you have to do what is best for you so don't even stress about it. From the others it sounds like that is a good place to go up by you, so you will be set! I insisted on flouro my fist time so I could feel assured all was well, but my doctor only does it that way anyway. But it always a good question to ask before. For any folks reading this who are considering banding, that is probably one of the most important things you can do before you even schedule is decide if you are going back to OCC or not. And if not, get your aftercare all lined up. I called the day I scheduled to set my first fill and i'm glad I did - it takes months to get into my doctor so I hit it just in time.

Agree with the others...check your card. I thought mine said 10CC as well but it said 10CM which is 4CC. But like others said, it isn't so much your BMI or weight, but how big you are on the "inside" so to speak. Most likely you have a 10CM band, but check your card for sure.

Congrats and welcome to the other side! Hope you are feeling well!

Hey Kristy, total sidebar but I just wanted to say you are doing a great job! You have really embraced this process and I'm sure you will be very successful! You rock girl!! I can tell you mentally and physically understand what this will take and will do great!!

It's unfortunate that these steps had to be taken, but unfortunately some people couldn't handle it which really stinks for the larger group. I never used the shoutbox, but did PM a time or two so if we could eventually get that back it would be nice. Sometimes I get emails from folks that don't want to ask the question in public and I have no problem helping where I can. I agree that when people are upset with a PM it should be reported, but I guess my frustrations lie more in the threads that are public. I feel like there are a lot of things that are posted and I personally find them offensive or wrong but nothing happens, but then some people tell the truth or speak their mind and it gets deleted. Is that something we should be reporting as well? I understand we are all here for support and ideas, but sometimes we need to hear the truth as well even if it might sting a bit. Sometimes I need the truth and don't need to be coddled and quite frankly need a swift kick in the butt. This process is tough that we are going through and it shouldn't be sugar coated. I'm also not going to tiptoe around people who get easily offended. I mean nothing by it, just trying to help and be honest. Sorry, now i'm rambling....

We came in a day early and stayed in San Diego. I let them know at OCC and they had no problem picking me up at that hotel and bringing me to OCC. I stayed at a hotel right on the water which was OK, but not real fancy. Seemed to be a lot of college kids staying there, but our room was on the corner so they weren't too loud. Happy new year!!!!

I personally would not do it. I used all those over the years and you know what, they did not work. They were a quick fix but not a long term answer to my obesity. First, after my surgery I wasn't hungry at all. I actually had to force myself to eat b/c I just wasn't hungry. Now don't get me wrong, after a while that changed and I was starving, but I followed the basics and it helped a lot. Second, you have to remember this is a lifestyle change and although the band is a tool there will still be a lot of work and dedication on our part to make this successful. I knew from the day I set my appt that this would not be easy and would take a lot of work. But if you take all the ideas everyone has provided here (protein bullets, metamucil, etc...) then it is doable and you WILL be successful!!!! The hardships we go through early are prepping us for the lifestyle change we are undertaking. So use this time to get yourself into a healthy routine. You CAN do it!!!! Best of luck and stick with it!!!

You have made a good decision! OCC is a great place and you are already on the road to success by taking the time to read past posts!!! The best thing you can do for yourself is to get a notepad and start taking notes. I sifted through months of posts and took pages of notes. It helped me so much and by the time my surgery came I felt to comfortable with my decision. Congrats on your decision and good luck!!

Unfortunately some people are just not mentally ready for the procedure. They think this is a fix all that will mean they will no longer have cravings, hunger, etc...and think that all will be lollipops and rainbows. I knew it will still be a lot of work on my end. If I would have had this surgery 1 year before I would have failed because I wasn't ready for it. Now I am. I see someone else for aftercare and that is one thing I struggled with was that the doctor I am going to had a different post-op diet for his patients than I got at OCC, but I stuck with what OCC gave me. I trusted Dr. O to do my surgery, so I felt comfortable with his post-op diet. Also, his was definitely more conservative than my follow up doctor, so that helped with my obsessive compulsiveness and my freak-out-ness when it came to every little thing I did in post-op.

I am going through the exact same thing. I have 1 fill in me and i've had no restriction to speak of. Got things stuck a couple times, but that was all my fault from not eating small enough bites or eating too fast. My appetite is decreased, but has been since surgery. I'm glad it's stayed that way, but I would like to feel some restriction. I can eat anything with no troubles. My next fill is on the 12th so i'm hoping for some then - we shall see! Just remember this is a process and we have to be patient. Stick with the basics and once you have restriction that will help so much more!!! Unfortunately mine charge each fill regardless and I can't have one until after 1 month, but you will have to talk to your doctor about that. I'm not going to OCC for aftercare.

Definitely try to hit those calories. If you aren't eating enough your body will go into starvation mode and you won't be able to lose. My protein bullets and vitamins help me get some extra calories in. Until you have more restriction, cheese is a great way to get more calories but still get a healthy option. I could be wrong, but it is my understanding and i've been following the no snacking rule, but check your materials. I have been eating more at breakfast and lunch to get my metabolism going, and then not quite as much at dinner, but still plenty to keep me satisfied. Good luck!!!

Also make sure you are getting your water in! I now many have said when you think you are hungry, sometimes you are thirsty. Might not always be the case, but it is worth a shot! Also make sure you are getting your protein in like Lisa said. I tell ya it makes all the difference in the world!!!! It's tough I know - my pre-op diet was wayyyy harder than my post-op. Stick to it and it will make this all so much easier I promise!!!!! Good luck!!!!

Silly question I have about soy milk...does it taste like regular milk? I've been curious to buy it, but hate to buy something and then not like it. One of my biggest issues is I drink way too much milk. I know that doesn't sound like a problem but the calories really add up. Also, i'm allergic to milk but I love it so much I drink it anyway and just suffer. So for any of you that drink soy, what have your experiences been and what does it taste like?

I agree it's so different for everyone. You just need to listen to your body and do some trial and error. I do a multivitamin and I also do some extra fiber (always needed serious help in the bathroom dept. and still do!) but that is really it. I do protein bullets too b/c I found my hair was falling out and I was feeling tired. I'm also going to start looking for something I can take with extra calcium.

Congrats! I'm glad to hear that you are doing well. Keep up the great work!

Dr. O doesn't believe in the mushy stages, you go from liquids right to solids. Unless something has changed since I was banded. He should have given you materials when you had your surgery. Check those for sure and follow current best practices. For me, I ate all regular foods but took it really slow. Eat tiny bites and chew really well. For my first meal, I did eat something a little softer, but it wasn't mushies. Now is that fun time where you just have to listen to your body and if it is painful or gets stuck then stop. I have only had one thing get stuck and that was before my first fill. And that was something I had eaten before so it's really hit and miss so you will just have to do trial and error. Remember, portion control, proteins first, small bites and chew like crazy and you will be fine. Enjoy!!

Right now is the time when you have to rely on counting calories and poriton control. I know it is tough, cravings can really suck but this is what i've been told one of the hardest parts of the journey. I've lucked out and haven't been too hungry and when I have been it's mostly mental and those bad habits and cravings we all have. To help with this, remember the basics: * Water - many times it's not we are hungry but we are thirsty * Make sure your first priority in food is protein - helps fill you up * Protein bullets, benefiber, metamucil, all that good stuff. Do mine at 10 and 3 and it helps As we get tighter, the importance of chewing a lot and getting the right types of food in will become even more important. Since we should only be eating around 1200 calories a day, I want to make the most of the food I get. For instance, today I brought pasta for lunch so I also brought some cubed ham to put in it to get some protein. I do this a lot and it helps. I also put veggies in my pasta as well. We have to do these things to help our bodies along. And remember, you should be chewing well and eating slowly. That will be so important as you get tighter so practice it now. I've also been weaning myself off bread since I know that won't be an option as I get tighter. Good luck!

Dr. Malley is absolutely wonderful! But I would call now and set a fill for 6 weeks out. I called him and got set up right after I scheduled my surgery. He's pretty popular so they don't have any appts until like March right now. Not once did they ever say anything negative about me going to TJ and I really liked that. He did a great job and it was very minimal pain and he used flouro. The first fill there is $250 and all the others are $100, so I thought that was pretty good. You have to see him your first time so that is why it's so hard to get in, but after that you can see a nurse practitioner so it's a bit easier to get in. He's not necessarily affiliated with OCC, but was on thier list of doctors in the area I can see afterwards. I was glad b/c I consider him one of the best in the area so that made me feel more comfortable. I would highly recommend him, but call ASAP! Also, the day I had my first fill I scheduled my 2nd just in case.

I have been on solids for about a month and a half and it is still something i'm working on. Like you said it is a very different kind of full, so i'm now working on knowing what that feeling is and knowing when i'm full. It's so different for everyone so you will just have to work on measuring first to help you out. As folks have said, welcome to bandster hell!

Yep, same thing happened to me! Totally agree w/ Dana - take that stuff and it will kick back in. Also helps so you don't go in the other direction and get diareah (sp?)!!

That was going to be my question as well - when were you banded? It took me a while as well before I really felt like I wanted to eat much. I still only eat about 1/3 what I used to and stay content, but let me tell ya the hunger will come back!