Bardy

You can do it - just keep going and get it done -- I just got banded 2 weeks ago and have already lost 8 pounds and am feeling hopeful for the first time in years! I was also surprised that all of my doctors and family and my closest friends were all positive and supportive and not judgmental at all -- that was all I needed to keep going and get this done -- good luck to you and I hope to hear more from you as you continue this journey! Deb

I am so happy for you! It is so wonderful that you are cancer free -- such a blessing! And the weight loss and a great accomplishment and also an encouragement for the rest of us -- I am a newbie - just banded 2 weeks ago, but have lost about 8 pounds already and feeling hopeful for the first time in years. Best wishes to you and your family and have a wonderful Christmas! Deb

Congratulations -- that is an INCREDIBLE achievement -- wow - 100 pounds is a great accomplishment! You should be very proud of yourself -- maybe you should look up those "before" pictures and then take a picture of you now so you can really see the difference side by side -- you are a champ and an inspiration to the rest of us! You can reach your goals -- just stay the course! Best of luck! Deb

Good luck - you will do great! I had to be at the hospital at 5:00 AM on Friday two weeks ago -- so I hardly slept the night before -- I had a wonderful hospital at Cedars in L.A. and everyone was very nice and made me feel very comfortable -- I was nervous of course and begging for them to give me something to relax -- once they did the next thing I knew I was waking up! Everything went really well -- I was groggy and thirsty and sipped a little water and eventually was awake enough to make it to the bathroom and then the next thing I knew I was ready to go home. My first night and next day were uncomfortable with the gas and tenderness at the incision sites, but I wouldn't say painful -- of course I have had 3 children, so compared to childbirth this was NOTHING. I was encouraged to get up and walk around as much as was comfortable to help with the gas -- and it really did. You will do fine -- it is an exciting time -- joke with the nurses and assistants -- tell them to talk all positive about you while you are out -- it will all be over and you will be on your way -- hang in there - it is a new start for a better, healthier, happier life!! Deb

I agree, it is really a learning curve to get used to -- drinking liquids at the right time and getting enough water in throughout the day. My docs office suggested I set an alarm for 1 hour after my meal to remind me to start drinking water and then keep a large bottle of water at my desk to keep sipping up until 30 minutes before my next "meal". I am on mushies too, so you really have to pay a lot of attention to balance everything. I think it is establishing new habits that is tough -- we have to make extra reminders and things that will help us continue to set these habits in place. Good luck - I need it too! Deb

Stick with it -- it is really worth it and so are you! Make sure you have protein drinks for your liquids and remember you are doing this so that you can feel better for the rest of your life! It is an exciting time -- the surgery is really no big deal - I had it 2 weeks ago and feeling good -- already lost 8 pounds and feeling more in control of my life and encouraged that I can actually do this for the first time in years. I know that the liquid diet can be hard but it is worth it and you will be happier for having taken control. Hang in there and good luck! Deb

I too have suffered from depression that led to excessive weight gain -- I started with going to my GP and getting some medication for the depression and also started therapy to deal with the head issues plaguing me. I then went to the www.lapband.com website to find a doctor and seminar near me -- I made sure to find a doctor well-qualified with the Lapband procedure and after several months of research I made the decision to go ahead with the procedure. I am in California and my doctor is Carson Liu -- he has done over 4,000 procedures and is one of the leaders in perfecting it over the years. His practice navigated the insurance for me and I was qualified and had the procedure 2 weeks ago. This is the first time in several years that I now have hope of overcoming this weight issue and getting healthier and happier! Take all the steps to a happier life for yourself - you are young and you are worth it! Tackle the depression so that you are in a better frame of mind for the procedure as it still is work to change your lifestyle. I wish you luck and perseverance to get started to a healthier happier life! Deb

Whenever I feel that gas pain I just try to make myself walk and move so that it moves its way out! It seems all kinds of things can cause this gas thing -- too much food, too little food, intestinal upsets. Just need to get moving and move it out of there! Good luck.

I strongly suggest that you go to the www.lapband.com website and find a surgeon in your area that is trained and qualified for the lapband procedure. Then make an appointment with them and let them navigate the insurance situation. They know exactly how to find out if your insurance will cover the procedure and can probably find the right situation to get you going toward a more healthy life. I just had the lapband procedure 2 weeks ago and it was really not scary or painful at all -- I know that this will be the way I can make a new life for myself and you can too! Be sure you choose a surgeon who has been trained and qualified through the maker of the device -- they have the most training and the most expertise. I don't know where you live, but I am in California and my doctor is Carson Liu who is one of the leaders in this procedure. I have other health issues as well -- high blood pressure and depression. I did start on an antidepressant and counseling to deal with that, and then the next step was finding the lapband surgeon -- it is a whole life overhall and you need to take care of all issues. I wish you courage and good luck to start your journey. You deserve it!

Yes, you should get up and walk around - I was told 200 steps every hour would help with the gas pains and also help stamina and healing. This is a process and your liver should get better with the weight loss. Hang in there.

I agree with the previous post -- although I didn't call my doc but I did start adding some mushies and just chewing them to death -- I had low-fat cottage cheese and non-fat refried beans with low-fat cheese - - for just one of the meals a day and it really helped with the hunger. Tomato soup has become my best friend. :)

I like Benefil as you can mix it into anything -- juice, soup, food, whatever -- I know when I'm on high protein I get this problem too -- I am a Shaklee fan as well, so if things really get difficult I take a couple of Herblax. Remember to keep drinking plenty of water all day and get your walks in as this helps too.

I really didn't need any pain meds post-op -- there was just a little discomfort and tenderness at the incision sites but nothing really requiring meds. For other pills at first I crushed them and mixed them into water or juice until I felt comfortable swallowing them. My regular medications are really small so after a while it workd just to swallow them. I would definitely try to get liquid meds if you could. The most discomfort I had was in my throat from the breathing tube! It was so sore I could hardly swallow at all. I ended up using some codeine syrup from a previous cold and it eased the pain in that area. Good luck, you'll do great.

You should definitely talk to your doctor as frequent vomiting can cause the band to slip. Keep those crackers handy and take care.

I love sushi too - but I imagine that the rice and seaweed might be a problem -- would try just eating the fish alone first and maybe a small chewed to death bite of rice if you need to taste it.

Good luck Rick -- if you have the right mind set and it seems you do this will be a great tool for you to get going. I too amd 55 and was very tired of being tired and not feeling good about myself and wanted to make the most of my second half season, so got the band just about 10 days ago now -- feeling encouraged and staying the course with the eating plan - this definitely is a tool and you have to do the work - better food choices, portion control, balancing liquids, chewing and eating slowly, etc. This site is great to keep in touch and stary reminded of what it takes and some of the challenges along the way -- we may be older, but we CAN do it! Take care. Deb

Sounds like you shoudn't have it filled at all until things stabilize - or just a tiny bit only and start out slowly again like in the beginning with just liquids and then mushies and remember to eat VERY SLOWLY and chew everything to death. What does your doctor say? You shouldn't be having this much trouble that is for sure. If things are always coming back up I think the band is too full, but definitely go back to your doc until you get it right.

I would start walking a little bit a couple times a day so you are used to it - this will build stamina for both healing and post-op recovery. The procedure itself is very simple and fast -- you are out and then next thing you know you're waking up and it's over. Minor soreness at the incision sites and tenderness so be gentle with yourself for the first few days -- as Lea said get up and walk around as much as you can several times a day to relieve the gas pains. You will do great and then you'll be on to feeling better as you see the scale going down instead of up!

I totally agree with you Dolly! The support from this site is amazing and the reminders of what we need to do for the lapband tool to work for us is incredibly valuable. We all need to take responsibility for our choices and be reminded of what we need to do to lose the weight -- food choices, chewing everything to death, not drinking liquids at the same time as meals, exercise, etc. etc. as well as reminders to long-timers to keep having their band checked and filled -- all of these things keep us on track to our goal. Hang in there and keep on keeping on! Deb

I totally understand what you are going through. I lost my mom 3 years ago and that sent me into a very deep depression during which I gained about 50 pounds -- I finally realized that I needed more than just encouragement from my loved ones, I needed to seek medical help and counseling to get medications and therapy to be able to feel better and climb out of the pit of depression. Clinical depression is a chemical imbalance that many of us have and need to deal with using profession help and medicines. Believe me when I say it makes a difference. I have been on medication now for 3 months and am feeling much better and motivated to take care of myself for myself first and then for my children and loved ones. Please seek professional help - you are worth it, and you will feel like caring again - take care of yourself and keep supportive people around you.

That's GREAT! Keep it up!

Good job on the weight loss! Very encouraging indeed! I'm at day 10 as well - down total of just 18 pounds - 7 of those since surgery, so not complaining. Still doing mostly liquids and have first post-op doc appointment on Thursday - Will see if he gives me a fill or I need to wait more. Good reminder about the Wii Fit, need to remember to use it. I got discouraged using it before because the little guy kept saying "whoa" whenever I stepped on the platform -- haha. Lonnie - good luck tomorrow - it's quite quick and will be over before you know it -- you'll do fine.

I would definitely first keep on a fill schedule through the year and keep checking in with the doc and nutritionist before pulling and going through surgery again! I think we all forget that this tool needs to be maintained (like our cars) and we need to go in regularly for checks and fills and reminders to keep with the program. Good luck!

WOW! Are you down 18# from day of surgery?? That's one week! Really great! I am down about 7# since surgery on the 3rd and thought that was great -- good for you. I am still doing mostly liquids with one chewed to death mushy selection a day and a little hungry but managable. I hope to have a fill this Thursday but don't know if they will do it just 2 weeks post-op. Here's hoping.

How long do you have to wait after surgery to have the first fill?