roziecakes

Wow! Thanks for this thread; I haven't experienced any hair loss, but I've been worried that I might. Honestly, I'm fairly vain about my hair. I have almost buttlength red hair that I take very good care of. To be honest, it's been a little fear in the back of my mind... of course I'd be bald if it meant infinite health forever, so if it does happen I'm willing to deal with it. Thanks for the information about GENESIS, I am going to look it up.

I couldn't feel mine until last week. Now since I've lost some more weight, I can feel it. I have heard that some people have a hard time feeling it even months after surgery. As for your heparin shot, maybe they gave it to you while you were still out? I would say call your doctor to double check, there's no harm in asking I would think... congrats on getting your band! Hope all goes well for you

I was actually hungry from DAY 1. (blech). I have found though that over time (although I've only been banded a little over three weeks) that I was much more able to ignore the feeling, and that I think it's actually subsided somewhat; although I have a few moments occasionally where my stomach starts up a good roaring... funny because my stomach never growled before I got the band. Also, I think that having mushies has helped me be less hungry, since they are more satisfying. You'll get through it!

You've gotten some great advice so far, but I wanted to add that I recommend Pacific Natural foods brand soups like Butternut Squash (especially with a little plain yogurt in it), and if you can tolerate it the roasted red pepper and tomato, carrot ginger, curried red lentil or black bean soup. They are all puree'd and oh so yummy! I found them to be much more interested than puree'd ol' cream of potato from campbells, which I got SO SICK OF.

Congratulations to you!! I love reading these stories

I agree, I think you're being totally reasonable. In fact, I think you're being generous by allowing everyone to come over and asking that they bring the food they want to eat; I don't see anything wrong with that at all! I think that's a great compromise. Happy 4th of July!!

Happy Birthday, and congratulations on your weight loss so far! I am sure you will have many more fantastic birthdays to come. Congratulations for getting healthy! As for numerology, I am fascinated by how numbers work sometimes! My mom and dad have the same birthday, their mothers have the same birthday and they both have brothers named Richard and sisters named Carol.

I admit that head hunger has been a bad one for me, and my partner is always eating things like nachos, burgers, hot dogs... and my brain goes crazy (OMG, you want that yes you do, oh yes you do, OMG); BUT I've noticed that since being banded, it's a lot easier to just say no to those kinds of things. I used to have not a bit of will power; especially when it came to nachos and pretty much anything with cheese. I think you're certainly not alone!! I'm still on mushies, and you have no idea how much I want a steak.

I think it's totally doable, I agree with other responders when I say that you should set small goals. That's something that I've found to be really rewarding for me; and they don't even have to be 'pounds lost' goals. I have been setting goals like, in two weeks I want to be able to run a whole mile, or in two weeks I want to bench press such and such amount. For me personally my next goal is to get my BMI into the 30s (I can't wait!) Best of luck to you! I think you can do it if you do all the right things

everyone's given you great advice already, but I want to know... how are you doing? Are you okay? Feeling better yet? I sincerely hope all is well. Thank you for sharing your experience; it gives us noobs something to think about and consider.

Oh, and my next short term goal is a BMI in the 30s. I haven't been there in a LONG time.

It's July now, and I wanted to give an update. In five days is my one month bandiversary. I am serious; this is the best decision I have ever made. I think part of what has helped me is that the only expectations I am placing are on myself to work with the band, and not on the band to help me. (Hope that makes sense). My weightloss had slowed down this week from 2 pounds a day (water weight), to about 5 pounds over the whole week. I am running 2.5 miles a day instead of walking now, and doing yoga for an hour and a half; plus I've been a ton more social and wanting to go hang out with my friends more often. I am sure that I'll come to some roadblocks and have some challenges at some point, I imagine everyone does; I'm trying to be realistic... but at this point, it's all good; and I'm LOVING it. I can't wait to go for my 6 week follow up soon. One really great thing that I want to share is that my partner Greg was very worried about the surgery and thought I would get an infection or would throw up all the time, or that something bad would happen, he was upset that I would look different, etc; but now he LOVES it, and he's really happy about the health that I'm achieving. He's even started exercising in the morning with me (He's got about 40 to lose himself). I'm just thrilled. I sincerely hope that everyone else is doing well. Congratulations to all of you for giving yourself the gift of health. ♥

I did not eat much of ANYTHING at all for the first few days, but I sat with a water bottle next to me the whole time. As long as you are hyrdated you are going to be just fine! Sugar-free popsicles, are awesome by the way. They were my favorite thing after surgery.

I have an extremely high pain tolerance after having been in chronic back pain for years (which is a lot less now, by the way); actually the lapband was my trade off for back surgery. If I could lose enough weight to take pressure off my back then I won't have to get back surgery... I'm almost out of the woods at this point! Woot. Anyhoo... when I first woke up, my pain was a 5; and they gave me some toradol, which brought it down to a 2; and that's where it was. I have been completely out of pain for about a week and a half, and I'm 3 weeks post-op as of yesterday.

Yep, I'll agree with everyone else that it sounds like you're doing just what you're supposed to do! My doctor says the first six weeks are for healing, and anything else I lose during that time is an extra bonus!

I was self pay and I had these tests: blood work, EKG, Barium Swallow, Chest X-ray, psych eval. Of course every doctor is different... good luck with your surgery!

What a tough decision for you! Congratulations on all your success. I think personally the most I would ever go, is maybe I would unfill it all the way, but I don't think I would ever get it taken out unless there was a real problem. Then again, I'm still so new that I don't have the perspective of time or even fills yet to really be able to give any good advice; but this is a really interesting thread.

I could sleep on my right side after about four days; and but it took almost a week and a half to be able to sleep on my left side; I got banded on the 8th and I can sleep any ol' way I want to now. I took Shirley54's advice the first few days and slept in the recliner; it really helped!

My doctor said no swimming for a month, and no hot tubs or soaking either.

That's interesting! I wonder if it's because pineapple juice is acidic. My doctor told me not to drink anything if I have a stuck episode. Fortunately, I haven't had one yet...

What my doc told me was that using a straw would cause me to take in liquids too fast for the pouch.

Congratulations! I was only banded this month, and reading posts like this helps me feel hopeful about the coming months. Thank you for sharing

Thank you for your honesty. I also have been a sweaty person in the past; and yes, so far I have sweat a lot less. I used to take showers twice a day feeling really gross each time, and now I take a shower once a day and haven't felt like my clothes were sticking to me when I got in. I hope that you have the same experience!

Nice this is interesting to read! I've been feeling restriction even without a fill; as in today I went to a potluck and ate only a tiny amount of what was there and was just fine, so I'm not even sure if I'm going to get a fill or not. I guess my surgeon will be the one to determine that. Good job on your progress! That's great news

I had staples first, and then when they took the staples out (after a week) they put steri strips on, and they lasted maybe three days before they fell off,and yes, they were way gross.