For azink - LONG response from an oldie

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, As one of the "old timers" on the board, I wanted to respond to a few questions or concerns you voiced in the post below. I had my surgery 10 months ago so I have learned to live pretty well with my band and have had many months of experience with trial and error. To give you a little background, I was one of the lucky ones who didn't have any problems with the surgery at all. I only experienced the painful gas when I was flying in the airplane heading back home. I had a 7 hour flight that was pretty miserable but I lived to tell about it, obviously! lol I was uncomfortable right after returning to my room after recovery but I think that was more from the grogginess of the anesthesia than the surgery itself. My incisions were tender...I knew they were there but I can't really say they hurt. I had to be a little careful getting out of bed for a couple of days but, again, not

really painful. I had my surgery late in the afternoon and returned to my room around 5pm so I didn't walk anywhere except to the bathroom that night. When I awoke Friday morning, I had to lift my gown to make sure I had actually had the surgery done because I didn't feel like anything had been done at all. I walked a bunch that day because I would get real bored sitting in the room. My husband and I walked inside and outside the hospital over and over and over again. It was nice to be able to do that. Anyway, even if you have a little pain or discomfort, it is not all that bad and it really is worth it later. You are concerned about the eating food thing that we all have to do! Making choices of what to eat and learning how to eat are lessons you will learn pretty soon. Even without a fill right after surgery, you may experience some restriction simply from the band itself. Finding

out what your band likes and doesn't like is trial and error, unfortunately. Before your first fill, chances are you will be able to eat most anything with a few exceptions. My band doesn't like breaded products, potato products, or eggs in any form. This was even before my first fill. So, I stayed away from those. I learned from eating 1/2 a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that bread was out. I learned from eating several types of potato dishes that potatoes are a no-no and I learned from one HORRIBLY painful experience with a boiled egg that I don't EVER want eggs again as long as I live! The seceret is to try these things at home first before you eat out. Don't eat anything away from home that you haven't tried at home first. This will keep the surprise "sliming" at bay! Plus, whatever you eat when you have to speak immediatly afterwards, just eat very slowly and take very small bites. If you are still

hungry after your responsibilities are over then you can get a snack of some sort but just eat very little before you have to speak. This is the safest way. Now, once you get your first fill, it is all NEW trial and error. Things you could eat before your fill but after your surgery may not be tolerated by your band anymore. Our bands are funny things. They are picky eaters and THEY always have the last word on anything you put in your mouth! If you dare try to eat anything it doesn't like, you will pay royally I tell ya! I won't go into the disgusting details but I had this Oreo cookie experience once that showed me who is boss AND IT A'INT ME...it's my band! Whew! Only takes a few times like that to show you that the band is stronger than you are! Again, after you have been filled for a while, you learn what your band can eat and what it can't. For instance, when I go

out to eat, I know not to order any dish with chicken, pasta, potatoes...well, in fact, I usually stick with various vegetables rather than meat to avoid the potential of any problem. I will eat meat sometimes at home and most of the time it does fine but not every time. I avoid those questionable foods when I am away from home. Now, about people who say they feel too tight. No, they can't actually feel their band with their hands if that is what you are asking. You can, however, feel the tightness the band sometimes creates. I remember the first time I really felt the tightness or the first time I could "feel" my band. I was almost afraid I was having a heart attack or something. There was this certain tightness in my chest. It was somewhat difficult to get a deep breath. It wasn't enough that anyone else knew what I was feeling so don't think I went into a state of panic or

anything but it just felt a little odd. I tried to eat a few bites of grits and I learned that it was my band I was feeling and I could feel that it was tight. And, actually, it was a good feeling once I knew what it was! I was somewhat excited that I could tell it was there and it was working! Now I feel that same tightness most mornings so I don't eat anything for about 2-3 hours after I wake up. I use that time to drink as much water as I can. Then, my first meal of the day is typically 1/2 cup of grits or oatmeal depending on my mood. I sometimes drink a protein drink (50 Gram Slam) but excess protein like that can wreak havoc on the excretory system, if you catch my drift! UGH! I am at the point now where I basically get whatever protein I need from my food intake rather than supplements even though those were greatly needed early in my journey. So that may explain what people mean

when they say they can "feel" their bands. Very few days go by that I don't "feel" my band at some point during the day but, like I said, it is almost a feeling of comfort. Hell, at least I know it is still there and still working even if I try to pretend it isn't! You will get responses from a number of people on this message board. It is an active group of excited people and the support you can receive here could be vital to your success if you feel you need this type of support as many of us do. I used the board constantly just before and just after my surgery and every question I had was answered by many people. This board is just one of the many, many perks of being banded by Dr. Aceves. There are a few of us on this board who have been banded for quite a while and although we don't post as actively as newer patients do, we read the posts regularly and we respond when we feel we can help

out or have some experience we like to share. With that being said, let me explain where I am in my journey so you will know what lays beyond those early weeks and months. I think the best thing I can tell you is that I eat like a normal person now. If I want a piece of cake, then, I have it...I have about 1/4 of a slice and that is all I want. If I want to go out and eat Mexican food then I eat chips and salsa...as much as I want....and I don't really worry about it. I know that if I choose to eat those chips and salsa then I won't eat much of anything else the rest of the day and THAT IS WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE DO. I don't eat like an obese person anymore. I don't eat like I'm on a diet anymore. I eat the way my husband eats (actually, I eat a hell of a lot less than he does!) and he has NEVER had a weight problem in his life. I eat the way people who are not overweight eat. If I eat a good bit at one meal then my

next meal is very small if I eat again that day at all. For instance, if I eat at a Chinese buffett for lunch and I eat a rather large amount (for a banded person which is NOTHING like what I could eat before), say, about 1 cup of food, then I MIGHT eat something very light for supper if I eat anything at all. Before being banded, I would eat a huge amount of the Chinese food at the buffett and then eat another huge amount of food that night for dinner...THAT is the obese way of eating, right? Well, not anymore. I just eat normally. And that, I believe, is the best thing about having had this surgery. And that, I believe, is what we all should strive to do. We all know that it is impossible to stay on a "diet" forever because we have all tried that. We all know that you can't stay away from sweets and foods that you like forever becasue we have all tried that. Therefore, we should strive to eat normally. I have not reached my weightloss goal yet but I am right on top of it. I have reached so many other goals that I cannot begin to share since this post is already so long. The idea that I am able to eat like a normal person, however, is probably the biggest goal I have met. This doesn't mean that I never splurge and that I never gain back a few pounds (like over the holidays) but even my skinniest relatives who normally eat like birds ate a few too many sweets and probably gained a pound or two like I did but it will come off and I didn't sweat it because, again, this is NORMAL! Nina can tell you that I have worked really hard at doing exactly what Dr. Aceves suggests. He says not to drink with my meals so I don't. He says not to drink carbonated drinks so I don't. He said to stay on the clear liquid diet for 14 days so I did. I trust what he told me and tells

all patients because I figure he knows a hell of alot more than me and if I trusted him to perform my surgery, I trust his advice. Nina can also tell you that I have been somewhat obsessive about my food and about my diet. I think she might be glad that I have finally relaxed some and have moved into this stage of my journey a little calmer. THIS is living the banded life! Keep in touch and feel free to email me privately if you would like. If you would be interested in talking on the phone, I will send you my phone number as well. Where do you live? I am in Mobile, Alabama. I have gone back to Mexicali for 3 fills and have gone to Atlanta for 2 unfills (another story, another day!). If you are able to do it, I would HIGHLY recommend that you see Dr. Aceves for all of your aftercare rather than trying to go elsewhere. Many people have had great luck or success with other fill doctors

but some of us haven't been so lucky and the money and time we thought we were saving was so NOT worth it! If at all possible, NO ONE but Dr. Aceves will EVER touch my band/port again! Keep in touch! Jenni Currie DOB 2/23/06 247/231/152/145 1st fill 5/13/06 1.3ccs 2nd fill 10/7/06 1.5ccs 1st unfill 10/11/06 1.3ccs 2nd unfill 10/19/06 1.5ccs 3rd fill 12/9/06 1.7ccs Original size 24 pants Current size 10-12 pants Lost over 85 inches azink <kimberlyazink@...> wrote: Alli Thanks for the response- I have heard that the walking thing is the answer- I am in a position that I will be able to sit and walk when I want to- I have time to rest during certain breaks and I honestly am not quit

at scared now that I have heard from some of you guys. The eating thing has been confusing to be honest. So people say they eat junk and it is okay others say you can’t have one bit. Others talk about “slimming” which I still don’t understand- does this happen even when you don’t eat- I speak to large groups of people for a living – is this something that could happen out of no where and in the middle of a speech. HOLY COW? I am a bit nervous about the idea that your not filled when you leave and therefore you can eat a large amount once you heal- or I have heard that some never need a fill. I was told you can’t feel the device and then people mention – you will know you need a fill depending on how tight or loose it feels? Any ideas on all this- I absolutely love reading all the email- I have learned a ton- and don’t think any of this is discouraging because it isn’t- I am just curious about

it all. Thanks z From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Alli DyeSent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 7:42 PM Subject: Re: I just got the news- I am scheduled Jan 11th- Now I am scared! Hi , I went back to work about 9 days after surgery. I probably could have gone back b/4 then. If I would have had to go back in 2 days, I could have but would have just been very tired. Even though I didn't go back to work right away, I have 2 kiddos - a teenager and a 5 year old that keeps me hopping. I really had basically no pain other than the standard gas issues. I walked and walked and walked some more and that really is all I needed to

do. While I was off work, it was very easy for me to stick to the post op diet. When I went back to work, it was much harder. I have a high stress job and used food as my comfort. That has been the hardest habit to break. The main thing that helped me was some advice to take the liquid Tylenol even you aren't hurting the 1st few days. They explained it is easier to manage the pain if you stay ahead of it.

The most amazing part is how different we all react to this surgery so you'll hear from others with a totally different experience. I've had a few surgeries b/4 this and by far this was the easiest of all from which to recover. Good luck with your surgery -- you will do great! Thanks,Ally I just got the news- I am scheduled Jan 11th- Now I am scared! I have read lots about the surgery on line and stuff- what can I exspect my recovery and first 4 weeks to be like? I travel for a living and will be back at work 6 days later- and on the road for the following 4 weeks.Give it to me straight-thanksz __________________________________________________