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.

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.

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.

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 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