melzie_99

I'm not going to lecture you, I'm honestly just fascinated that you WANTED to eat! I cried daily the first week because I was so tired of having to have my shakes/protein drinks every couple of hours and I had absolutely no appetite. It was so depressing to me initially to still be cooking for my husband and missing the food I used to eat but having no desire for it whatsoever...I felt like I had lost a friend! LOL But yeah, like the others said, I wasn't allowed soft foods for about 2 week and even then it was hit or miss; 2.5 years post surgery and I still can't eat some of the foods you tried.

Well, it's halfway through the month but I'd still like to join; I'll just set a smaller goal...lol. So here goes! Name, real or screen~Melanie Goal weight for May 31st~185 Weight on May 1st~198 Age~30 Dietary goal for May~recording all food eaten Exercise goal for May~exercise at least 2x/week Personal goal for May~be more positive about how I look Date banded~1/10/11 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~75 lbs What is your favorite flower~ purple roses Oh, and my starting weight as of 5/13/12 is 193.4

I was pretty miserable the first week after surgery; lots of pain from the gas they put in your abdomen during surgery, plus I had some depression from not being able to eat, something that my life had revolved around for so many years. I think it's good to stay nearby, and walking is supposed to help, but I guess I would be worried about overdoing it so soon after surgery. Sitting in the car was VERY uncomfortable, so not sure how you'll be feeling to do a road trip...

I've jumped on the 'wrap' bandwagon and decided to give it a try, as a have a pretty good pooch in the belly and my arms are awful. I'll let you know if and how well they work when I get them!

I still struggle with this one. I have been banded for almost a year and a half now and have lost a good chunk of weight (over 70lbs). Because of all the blood, sweat, and tears (literally) that have come with this journey, I am proud of what I have managed to accomplish. I have told a few select people about the surgery, and while most of the responses have been positive or neutral, I have met a few people who decided to give me the whole "you could've done it without surgery if you tried harder" speech. It makes me feel bad when I see others who have lost just as much weight if not more than me without surgical intervention, but I feel I made the best decision for me. That being said, I have chosen to pick and chose the people I share my story with.

I wonder if not chewing well enough is my problem as well! I recently had a slight unfill due to recurring reflux issues that ultimately led to me getting aspiration pneumonia (sad part is the dr's nurse was against my unfill until this occurred). Now it seems like everytime I eat something I get these horrible rumbling/gurgling noises like my stomach is working overtime to digest my food. I will try chewing more and see what happens; glad to hear I'm not the only one with these issues!

My dr didn't set a goal for me either, but said a good weight range for someone my height and build (5'5.5''/medium build) should be in the 155-165 range. I initially set a goal of 145 to be in a good BMI range, but have decided to aim for 155/160 and go from there. I haven't been that weight since college and was pretty thin then (IMO), so not thinking I will shoot for 145. I say set a goal 20-30lbs over your ideal weight, see how you look/feel, and go from there. It's up to you at the end of the day; good luck!

The entire process, from initial referral from my dr to my surgery date took a month and a week, and that's only because I had them push back surgery because I wasn't mentally prepared at the time. It can be a little daunting, believe me, and part of me wishes I had a few more requirements beforehand, but I don't regret my decision one bit. My surgeon is a Center of Excellence and he and his staff have been wonderful. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner!

I know, waiting is so hard, especially after losing so much (I've lost 61lbs total so far, some pre-band) but know I still have another 60 to lose sucks. Trying to be patient since it took almost 7 years to gain all this weight, and I know the band isn't a miracle worker...I want to be able to wear shorts and sleeveless tops again without being mortified! (Plus, I have never weighed less than my husband, so that's a big goal of mine...only about 35 more lbs to go for that!)

I like that my pointy chin (which I used to hate) is becoming prominent again...lol. Also like being able to see a defined waistline again and ankles that aren't constantly swollen!

I was initially given a nasal cannula (the little prongs that go in your nose with flowing oxygen) after surgery; once they saw my oxygen levels were stable I just wore my CPAP when sleeping. Because I was continuously on oxygen, I am not aware of any issues with that, and my sleep apnea is pretty bad (during my sleep study I had over 100 episodes/hr). I think it's something they will monitor pretty closely, especially if you have sleep apnea. The only people I've heard about having a lot of problems are heavy smokers...

I had a morphine pump in the hospital, but honestly I used it maybe 4 times right before I had to get up and walk or go to the bathroom. I was given liquid hydrocodone and honestly that stuff made me so loopy if I was in pain while I was on it I don't really remember. I preferred the water filled heating pad they gave me...wanted to take it home with me.

I agree about the liquid temperature; when I have issues with the band like that I go on warm liquids...drink lots of tea and eat broth based soups. I think you're probably not losing much between most likely being dehydrated and your poor body is probably hanging onto every calorie it can because you're not eating enough. Because your intake is so low currently I wouldn't recommend overdoing it with exercise, but eventually you will need to increase it to at least 30 minutes, even if you break it up throughout the day. If you can, I would recommend trying a liquid diet for a little while...your band is most likely really irritated at this point and I know when that happens to me I can't eat solids for the rest of the day without sliming, no matter how much I chew it. Maybe even yogurt or sugar free jello would help...just throwing some ideas at you; sorry they're so random!

All of my process (meeting with PCM, meeting surgeon, and Tricare approval) was done in less than 10 days. I think my starting BMI was around 44, however, and I had already been diagnosed with HBP and sleep apnea, as well as having a documented history in my medical records of trying to lose weight. I was not required to have a true psych eval; I met with a social worker for about 5 minutes. Nutrition class was for about 3-4 hours and then I had my counsult. I actually could've had surgery the following week but decided to wait until the following month to mentally prepare. I have Triwest, and honestly, you never know about Tricare; it took me 3 years and 4 doctors to get my last surgery approved even though I superceded all their requirements yet this was approved in less than 48 hours. Make sure you give your PCM as much info as possible so they can submit a good referral; a lot rides on what they send into Tricare... ETA: Just for clarification, my surgeon is a Center of Excellence, so even though the process was fast he's not sketchy in the least.

I've never been given a catheter for any of my surgeries to my knowledge (was informed after my breast reduction by the nurse that I actually wet myself during surgery because they pushed so many fluids- how embarrassing); at the end of the day, I guess it's just a matter of what makes you comfortable. A trim can't hurt, but I wouldn't shave for anyone...

Congrats! I've got 26 more lbs to go...can't wait1

I don't feel the band either, but like the others have mentioned I definitely feel my port, especially if I get gassy or bloated. According to the nurse at the dr's office, because the port is so close to the intestines gas can make it protude. It's not visible yet(still too much belly fat), but it's palpable.

I don't think the doc will care, but I know after being in the hospital and having the nurses and doctor lift my gown to check incisions over and over again (and not being allowed to wear undies), it got pretty embarrassing for me after awhile...

Yeah, doesn't seem to work so well for tall or short people...lol. For my height it's ok, but at the end of the day I would like to be in the 145-160 range. (Preferrable closer to the 145 side)...

Yeah....using the BMI calc from NIH, for some reason the shorter you are the more leeway you seem to have. I'm 5'6'' and according to them shouldn't weigh more than about 150, which is crazy to me. My dr actually said 155-165 would be a good range for someone with my build...

My dr had a little tool for helping me set a goal weight: starting at 5' and 100lbs, add 10lbs for every inch of your height for a reasonable weight. It puts me just outside of the healthy BMI range, but it gives me something to work towards...

I have been avoiding this challenge over the past few weeks as I was ashamed to admit I had gained weight, but now realizing it's only hurting me! Have gotten my butt back in the gym and feeling better about myself. While I may not reach my intended goal, I want to thank all you guys for being the motivation I needed to get back on track!

You are not alone; I have a terrible time eating on my couch without getting stuck or sliming; I have to either stand up or sit in a chair with a hard back without slouching. Doesn't matter the time of day for me, but I AM definitely tighter in the morning. Lying on my side is sketchy, actually tried that today with some cottage cheese and it went down ok but had to make sure I was waiting a minute or two between bites...

I know it's hard to stay positive, especially reading posts by people who have lost 60+lbs in like 3 months. Just remember, like others mentioned, realistically we should only be losing 1-2lbs a week. Anymore is an added bonus. You all sound like you are on track; I'm in month 5 and still am hovering around the 40lbs mark (grr). However, I have lost over 35 inches, have more stamina, and a new found confidence; while the number on the scale is a motivator don't forget about your NSV's! This is a journey for all of us, and slow and steady is not a bad thing. Pat yourself on the back for doing something good for yourself, and just be patient; we're all still learning...