CarynW

Kristen, OMG I'm dreading halloween candy in the house! Right now we have a pumpkin pie from costco in the house and i'm not a huge fan of pumpkin, but I still can't stay out of the damn thing. Shouldn't have bought it. That's what happens when you take the husband to costco. Been eating regular foods tonight and although I did have to slow down because I could feel it going through the band, I didn't feel any more restriction really. Ugh. I must have a teeny tiny esophagus cause i'm up to freaking 10ccs in the 14cc band. I know I need to give it some time though. I didn't feel much restriction after the first few days after number 2 either and then ultimately I DID by the time the next fill came around, so I dunno, just gotta see what happens. I was up 3lbs this morning but I know i'm just bloated because I haven't really been bad or anything, and then I started my period today so i'm chalking it up to that and won't weigh myself for a few days. GG, yay for the nsv's! Catherine, why would the doc be "not happy with that"? My docs haven't said a damn word to me about how much, or little, i've lost. They are just like, ok more fluid in the band, since i'm obviously not there yet! Rebecca, my girlfriends are going to be the death of me. At least a lot of the sweets we eat are bread-y and eventually I won't be able to tolerate that at all.

I can't believe its snowing in some parts! Insane!! It's been cold at night here but 80 during the day. I'm ready for cooler day temps, but I go back to work in Dec and am going to freeze my butt off since I work nights! I'm down another lb today so 16 lbs total. I'm pleased! I haven't been in a huge hurry like some seem to be. I had pretty healthy habits before so I haven't made any big changes, mostly portion size, which I'm still struggling with. Tomorrow is fill 4 and I'm hoping for another cc. I think that will be good. I go 24 hrs liquids, 24 hours mushies, then regular. My paperwork says 2 and 2 but I can't handle mushies at school, I need some damn sustenance. I asked the Dr last time and he said that's fine, go 24 and 24. Last night the husband and I drank wine and watched Wonder Years on netflix. It was fabulous, I love that show! What's everyone up to this weekend?

Yes, my stress level is through the roof. I'm not really a stressed out eater, or emotional eater, right now it's a BOREDOM eater. Sitting and studying for 8 hours makes it hard not to snack! I'm working on it though!

GG, i'm thrilled the thread has kept going and periodically checked to make sure it stayed on the first page! I am so bad on the weekends! I wish I had more restriction! I'm sure I need more because here's what I feel: I can eat as much as I want (but I don't push it) if I don't shovel it in. I don't really need to chew anything extra, it all just goes down mostly fine. If I take a big bite of bready food, it will get stuck and I get this shooting pain across my chest and I can barely swallow. It passes after about 10-30 seconds. Then i'm fine again. Yesterday I had wheat bread with some Peanut Butter and honey on it and OMG, I pb'd! It stuck really bad and I had taken a drink of Water to help and all of a sudden it just started coming back out. Luckily I was by a bathroom. Then I was hungry again. I'm up to 9ccs in my 14cc band and I feel like it should be making a difference by now. I go back in another week and i'm hoping to not gain because this weekend has been filled with sweets. I have great power during the week, but any social activity or sweets in the house and I just lose control, i'm so bummed. I vowed to be good this weekend. It doesn't help that I study for about 8-9 hours each weekend day, literally so i'm just sitting sitting sitting. I hate being this inactive. In Dec i'll be finished with this part of school and move on to clinicals, and there's not AS much studying for clinicals, only a little bit. So, anyways, i'm a little bummed and mad at myself. Today is a new day though, had a bowl of Cereal and am going to have some coffee and hopefully stay on track. At least next weekend i'll be on liquids, which makes it a bit easier to control myself! LOL

Meant to say oh, IM down 15lbs.

Oh, ok down 15lbs total from start of preop.

Hello all! I'm sorry I dropped off the face of the earth! Thank you for asking about me! I was banded 8-11, I'm on fill 3 with 9 ccs in a 14 cc band. I am feeling very little restriction and am getting frustrated. My Dr left the practice and his new one is far away and the schedules conflict so I'm seeing a new Dr at the same practice. I'm a little disheartened but it will be ok I'm sure. The new gave me 1cc a week ago, and like I said, I don't feel much. Some things will get stuck for about 10 seconds if its thick and I'm eating too fast, but then it goes right down. I need another cc I think. School is insane so I read here and there but don't have a lot of time to post. I'll try and keep up from here out though!!

Had my 3rd fill on Saturday, I'm up to 9ccs in a 14. Back on solids today and I'm not really feeling much. I did lose between my 2nd and 3rd fill, and felt some restriction, but it went away by sat and so far today I don't really feel a difference first fill was 4cc, 2nd 4ccs, third 1cc. Ugh. The first couple days after fill #2 felt different than today after #3. I thought I would have more restriction but don't feel anything.

I was banded Aug 11th. I lost 8lbs pre op and only 7lbs since. I actually gained four between my first and second fill and then lost five between fill 2 and 3 (this past sat). I didn't feel any restriction after the first and a little after the 2nd. Just getting on solids today after fill #3, and i'm hoping this does the trick! If not, i'll go back in two weeks for more. I'm up to 9ccs in a 14cc band! So far, i'm happy, at least i've lost 15lbs. I can't exercise right now, it's REALLY hard to find the time because i'm in a fulltime school program and it's insane, like the hardest thing i've ever done in my life. It should get easier around dec though and i'll be jumping back on the exercise wagon with biking and walking. I have normally pretty good eating/drinking habits so I haven't had to make a ton of changes in that aspect and since my body is used to, i'm not losing as fast as others. But I am happy, i'm going in the right direction and it's not as hard to "be good" as before.

I want to lose enough to fit both me and my 6 year old in the saddle so I can teach him how to ride. Sit in chairs comfortably. Look better in my work uniform. Buy single digit jeans.

I actually had surgery AT the center where there was a death, and my Dr was the one who did the surgery. Her death was actually the fault of the anesthesiologist, who they don't have with them anymore, for obvious reasons. The other death I know of was at the other affiliated center, But not by my doc, and the guy was severly septic from infection, but had not gone to post ops. This is from what I read. I called the center and spoke with management regarding what measures were taken after this, and googled my Dr like crazy, trying to find anything else negative (like past lawsuits or anything) and only positive things came up. I was nervous but ultimately decided that it wasn't worth finding a new Dr and doing it at a hospital. People do die of anesthesia, a lot. I'm saying all this to try and provide some comfort. Things can happen anywhere, anytime, and I'm sure that statistically you are not in any more danger at a center, than a hospital. I would have preferred a hospital too, I'm a Paramedic and know the level of training in these places and just would have preferred to have an er nearby, but like I said, ultimately I decided to use my Dr with the center and it was a good experience and I love my Dr and am glad I stuck with him.

I couldn't find the port until around day 8 or 9! When my stomach was back to normal size, I was able to feel it, but had no idea where it was prior to that.

Your doin better then me! Ill be five weeks out on Thursday. I've lost 13 so far, 8 before surgery, and nothing in like 2 weeks. I feel no restriction whatsoever. Since I'm finally back on regular food I'm doing the pre op diet again so that I won't gain. I'm not planning any hard core loss until I get a fill and hit that green zone. Until then I'm hoping to maintain!

Hello A11s! Doing well here, started school full time and it's insane. I know i've probably 5lbs since surgery. I can't wait for a fill and hopefully one will do it, although I know that's not necessarily realistic. I'm going to work hard this week to curb the "eating". Even being on mushies, i can overeat, what the hell!? LMAO Anywho, bout to get off to school, love to all!

Missjoli, I think it is a combo of your throat being sore from intubation and your stomach swelling. I had the same thing for about 4 days post op. You've only been banded since yesterday?? Don't worry, it will ease up. My throat being sore and having cotton mouth was the worst of the first 2-3 days. It felt like everytime I took a drink, it would go down, disappear in my chest for a second and then get below my sternum and stop, expand, give me some pain, then slowly ease down. By day 5 that was gone and I was starving!

I get to eat on THURSDAY! I'm so stinkin excited to have some scrambled eggs or something, lol! My surgeon told me that the reason for nothing mushy or solid is because if it doesn't go down due to swelling and it makes you throw up, then it's too late, you could damage the band while it's in the healing stage. I don't get this for 2 reasons: One, I threw up twice right after surgery, so did I already mess up the band??? And Two, I have my gummy Vitamins and occasionally things that didn't quite get strained out of my soup and everything goes down fine. BUT, I shall abide by the rules. THURSDAY! WOOT! So, i'm sure that since the cheez it's went down, then everything is fine!

I thought it was funny that it was printed on my release paper, lol. I'm like wth does THAT have to do with anything!? The pregnancy thing makes sense, although my husband is fixed so it won't happen here, but I figured as long as I'm ok physically then we can do it.

It was day 8 before I even thought about it. I didn't like the idea of my belly being shook at all, LOL.

I started feeling "Good" on day 5. Now, at day 10 I feel almost totally normal except for port pain. Both of you are only a few days out, give it some time, you JUST had surgery.

Oh girl, I am not even planning on feeling different until after my first fill! I didn't get any Fluid in the band to start off with. How on earth can you feel like a failure!? You haven't even STARTED! I am on two weeks of liquid and I feel like i'm going to die. I am so hungry all the time! Protein, Water, tea, pudding, Soup, Jello, blah blah blah. I'm OVER it, lol. I have until Thursday before I can have pureed foods so i'm anxiously awaiting that. I have lost a few lbs since surgery, 10 days ago, but I don't even care. I would give it back in order to have some damn broccoli or something! I don't considered myself "banded" until I start getting filled and being able to eat the way it's intended. Meaning, solid food, protein, being satisfied for four hours, etc.

Wow, we definitely have a mixed group here. Sorry to all those in pain. I realized that sitting in certain positions would help me fart. One was sitting/leaning against the arm of the couch, propped up with pillows on my side. That position helped a lot. Another is sitting at the computer desk sideways in the chair with my feet propped up against the desk. Also a bag of water, warmed, on the stomach seemed to help too. I took gas x but don't know if it really did anything. Walking was mostly the best way to get rid of it. I'm now 9 days post op and feeling ok. Physically i'm great, only sore around the port incision. Emotionally, not so much. The problem is this damn liquid diet. I can't handle it! I feel like crying all day, i'm weak, i'm bitchy, and most of all i'm STARVING. I don't want to just eat like I did before, because even pre-op, I wasn't miserable at all, at least I could have a salad or some lean protein and veggies. This is the most horrid feeling i've ever experienced and I just don't know if i'll make it till thursday, which is the end of the 2 weeks of post op liquid and then I can move on to pureed foods, which I would be happy with at this point! I feel bad for my family, I must be such a b***h, or else oddly quiet because I KNOW how I'm feeling, kwim!? Ugh, it's horrible. I see my surgeon today and am going to ask about moving to pureeds so that I can have something substantial in my stomach, because this is killing me. I started school on thursday and felt like I was going to pass out by lunch time. OH and this is NOT from lack of protein/fluids. I'm consuming at least 60-80 grams of protein a day and drinking water/ice tea all damn day. Soup and pudding when i'm hungry.

I am just curious! So that I know what NOT to do? I've heard a lot of people say they aren't working with the band or they eat around it, etc. How does that happen? Is it eating things that go right through or drinking with meals??

Good morning everyone! Yesterday was my orientation day for Paramedic school, it was insaaaane! OMG the next year of my life is going to be crazy, like crazy crazy. My poor family. But, i'm looking forward to it! I'm excited! Anywho, i'm feeling pretty darn good! sleeping on my stomach, no pain anywhere. Only thing I can feel is if I try to lay completely flat, like on the ground on my stomach, I can feel the port and it hurts! But other then that, everything is great!

I was up 2lbs today from yesterday! I know it's NORMAL variation and I KNEW this would happen (im 8 days post-op), so today i'm going to take my scale over to my moms house. Then i'll go once a week or so and weigh myself. I can't handle torturing myself expecting the scale to move every single day because it's just not going to happen! So, get it OUT OF YOUR HOUSE! Weight once a week, I promise, it is MUUUUCH better for you!

Ok, well I think I understand. I'm thinking in terms of after i've gotten a fill and find that sweet. Im thinking in the long term of maintaining. I don't think i'm in danger there. I eat relatively healthy anyways, even at restaurants and fast food. I have for about 5 years now, ever since I joined WW after I had my first kid. I do eat too much sweets, BUT it's not often. I eat ice cream maybe once or twice a month. I do love my starbucks don't plan to cut it out, but I ONLY get the carmel light frapp, no whip, which is 160 calories. I haven't had a milkshake in years! So I understand a little better now and I didn't have those bad eating habits in the first place. 90 percent of my problem with food is actually portion size. I'm amazed at how much I can eat in one sitting! Even healthy stuff! So I will definitely always eat my Protein first and since I was on the pre-op diet, I cut out all the "whites", like rice, Pasta, and potatos from dinners and instead learned how to cook using just the protein and then 2 kinds of veggies. I plan to continue that for sure, I didn't realize how much I ate bread/cereal/pasta/rice before! I haven't had that in weeks now and don't miss it at all! I'm SUUPER excited to learn how to eat with the band! If only I could just EAT!!!!!!!!! Gah! I'm SO sick of the liquid and still have 6 days left