Success in lapband

Don't know if you are staying in San Diego, but may I recommend The Hampton Inn Downtown San Diego. They will shuttle to and from Airport, and they have hot breakfast in the AM (not that you would/could eat, but it is nice for a cup of coffee and juice etc)

Chris; What are you eating these days? Normal food or are you still shaking it?

Chris; Do you remember you posting that you thought that the ride right before surgery was probably the "last" ride of the season? Who would have believed when I said you will go out again before the snow melts. Everybody thinks their life is "over" as they know it post band, and everybody is soooooo wrong, life is better! And actually that pic is really good of you. I remember you much bigger, so maybe the weight loss is already showing a difference. You have got to have already been down a couple jacket sizes right? You like the snow as much as I like the water. I can't wait until I can smell the salt water on the ocean. Or the "fishy" smell of the Sac. river.

I carry all my weight from my hips to my shoulders; I have skinny little legs, that have -0- fat on them. So I am an apple silohuette. My port is a lump and under my left breast. I definately could not wear a bikini, but don't ever plan on wearing one, so it really is not that important to me, but my preference is that the Dr. would have put it in deeper. I spoke to Dr K. about it and he did not think it was an important issue and brushed it off. I was a little surprized too, and hope that once the weight comes off it will sink inside. My ONLY big issue is that the bra straps that hold up my heavy breasts sit at the top of the port and I was afraid of it flipping. The Dr. was more concerned about me not following the diet more than the port issue. What can I say; everybody has their priorities....

I think synical eats cherrios, I think she either chews them dry or soaks them ALOT in milk. hehehehehe Very rarely do I feel restriction and I think I have felt FULL 2-3x

So the inhale thing is from being still swollen inside. Everything else is 100% perfectly on track and normal according to my experience...

okay I will joing the band wagon, I ate some a couple times too.... Can we not eat it because it is high calorie? Or because it might get stuck?

Shake is NOT cheating. Fried Steak or Carnitas (fried pork) would be cheating... Are you having any stoma pain when you eat? Or is all your swelling gone down? What kind of restriction do you have? Do you feel "full" pretty quick. How much food make you full?

So what are you eating these days? Real food? I swear I have not eaten ice cream yet!!!

Chris and Gail; I am doing great! Everyday I question IF the Dr. really banded me.... I have not had one problem except that one time of pouch barfing (PB) but that was 2 days post op. (My bad....) I am in San Diego on vacation and I pray to god I have not gained weight. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. It is amazing at how I asimilate having a good time with eating. Every concession stand I see in Sea World I have to stop and buy something..... Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!! But I don't hurt when I eat (at all) and I have ZERO restriction absolute zero! I think I have a fill appt on 4/23 (5 days after Chris). I am trying to drink ALOT of water to help suppress my appetite. I was concerned about walking so much and my port aching but it has only ached one time since I got here and I just push it in and keep it warm until it passes. Gail I am on cell if you need me! I will send you pics when I get back on Sunday AM. I am using hotels computer as my wireless does not work here and I know when I log onto lapband I usually sit for hours. Gail What are you eating and how much? That is incredible that you have lost that much weight.

I am right with you.... Yesterday and today I have eaten more than what I think that little pouch should hold, especially tonight at dinner. But as I walked away from the restaurant I THINK I felt what full should feel like because it is very different than what full use to feel like (pre band). So what my plan is to down 23 oz.of water 30 min before eating to assist in getting full.

Tammy I am so happy and excited for you! Keep us posted....

Tracy Go buy crystal light water bottle powdered flavor, it makes all the difference in the world and still counts as water. I no longer have to dread drinking as much water as I am suppose to with theses. If you don't know what I am talking about hit me back.

Magnolia Sounds like you are doing fantastic. Keep drinking! Does not sound like you have too much swelling. The gas pains in the upper left shoulder ~if they come will be there in a couple days~just don't forget about the heating pad. The surgery is a cake walk, you are probably going to be a little sore tomarrow or maybe the next day then things will get better. Glad you went to the movies, that is the way it should always be! Great job!

Tracy I get real tender around the port when I walk too. As a matter of fact I am finding myself covering up my port subconsciouncly. I am sure; or I would like to believe it will get better. I asked my post op appointment and he assured me everything was okay. Tomarrow I am going to ace bandage it. Glad you said something. My fill is in April I think so March 27th is very good. I don't get that "full" feeling, I just get the "I am not hungry anymore" feeling.

Sue in Russia; Okay I am not proposing anybody do this but this I think is what I ate for the first week or so.... Baritrix Essentials (protein shakes or breakfast and lunch~it is my staple) Dinners are where I eat with my family and I try to keep everything as it has been for the last 20 years. Surgery on Thurs Friday dinner bean with 1/2c bacon soup and 1/2c clam chowder soup pureed both soups Sat some cottage cheese and some baby bell cheese and veg. beef soup but I did not eat the beef and I pureed it. Sunday cottage cheese, jello, pudding Monday 1/6 of a tamale (squished in my mouth really good) chinese soup Tues 1/2 of a tamale (squished in my mouth really good) Wed the insides of a chicken taco with some refried bean Thurs veg beef soup (no meat), cottage cheese, baby belle cheese, pudding and jello Friday?? Saturday ?? Sunday scrambled egg(breakfast), turkey spaghetti with 2 penne pasta noodles Monday Tamale and jello Tuesday just shakes so far. I chew chew chew chew chew chew chew chew chew chew like forever

Machele The more weight I lose the happier I get, kinda wierd. And now every fat person I see I want to go up to them and tell them about how I am losing weight and they should go get banded today. I am a freak! It is really easier than I thought it would be, but am not convinced that I am not in a dream still. (do you know what I mean?)

Just one more comment..... Why would you consider anything else IF the lapband was an option for you?? It is IMHO safer than gallbladder surgery, it is reversible (if needed) it is adjustable (if needed). I DO know of someone who had lapband a couple years later after gastric bypass. But that statistic is a one in a million. The ONLY reason I considered weight loss surgery is because of the lapband and its simplistic tool use. Other than that I would be still struggling with my co morbidities. Just a thought...I know I know you are considering the 50% factor. I did too. But I got committed to seeing me healthy, and my risk factor and success factor is 100% in my hands and I am scared to death for people who get the gastric, but I know of people who have had it done and on a daily basis they have to deal with the malabsorption issue. Do alot more reading...

Anybody seen Tabithan? Please let us know how you are doing....

I am full of my opinion! Go look at the before and after pictures of everyone and ask them a ton of questions!! The people who get lapband are more discrete per se' with what they are doing, and do not have to worry about mal absorption issues. It is reversible. However it is not a "cure" and it is only a tool but read our stories. It is a process either direction. Are you of child bearing age? How long have you been fat? Why are you fat? I think your answer needs to come to you through more reading our posts and more research on pros and cons. Read read read read for another week and get back to me on what your concerns are, I will try and help.

Well congrats!!! keep us posted and start gathering your necessities for the surgery. Start making your list!

You got banded on 3/5; your just more than a week out; hmmmmm not a real BIG concern.... when is your post op? If you are only swelling in the after noon it could be gas getting trapped. I don't think I would be concerned at all. I would drink more water and don't forget to mention it to your post op appt with your dr. Sorry don't have the magic crystal ball on this one.

Travelgirl Going from a snug 24 down to a comfy 22 is HUGE! That jump is a MAJOR NSV! And you were banded on 2/5/7 I love it! So are you planning on wearing shorts this summer? Of course you are! I am smiling so big right now and everybody at work thinks I am chatting on a porn site. (my silly co workers have filthy minds) I am sure they can not understand how much I love lapbandtalk and how uplifting it is to talk to other people about how well they are doing and how happy everybody is.

So travelgirl~~~ your in Kansas? What about this~what are you doing tonight??? What about you ON YOUR WAY HOME just stop by the Curves and only go on for 15 minutes; don't stay the whole 30 minutes, go only for 15. You know.... when I go for my eliptical I always say I will go for 15 (which gets me there and it is a time committment that I can keep to myself and 15 is really always doable but 30 seems like sometimes is just not doable) so then 90% op the time I start losening up and like the conversation with the lady next to me and stay for the whole 30 minutes. What I am saying is though~ by the end of the week by committing and going for 15 minutes 3x a week is better than going -0- minutes and I am healthier for it. If you were standing in front of me right now you would be able to see my body language and you could see what I mean! So..... after all that are you going tonight for 15 minutes?

Sherilynn; OMG! This is what life should be all about, feel good about yourself and proud of how you look and woohoo. Doesn't being healthy give a whole new aspect of being happy? Isn't it wierd? I am at the weight I was (for about one week) 5 years ago, and inside I am jumping up and down and being incredibly gitty! On the outside I am non chalantly saying no big deal. I can't wait until I can lose another 20 pounds and then BAM in your face to someone who doubted my ability.