shellyj

thanks so much ginger and brandi! i to have always like looking at progress photos. the secret to me looking so young is...that i am young! 26! it amazes me to think before i hit 30 i will be at goal (hopefully) and living life to the fullest! the band is truly a wonderful thing that will help me to get my eating and the way i look food under control! now as yall lose take photos (even if not to post for yourself) they are a wonderful moral booster!

WHOOPS! day 1 and 3 were the only days i thought WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and that was fleeting, when the meds were wearing off! its not bad!

day 1-10 pain additional info 1- 7 more nauseated than in pain. SORE 2- 6 the joy at having the band eased my pain! 3- 7 reality check! to much activity on day 2! SORE and uncomfortable from the gas and irritable from having to sleep on my back or not sleep on my back 4- 5 still uncomfortable and tired but resting! 5- 6 i went to work this day. i was POOPED by the time i got home 6- 3 7- 3 8- 3 9- 3 10- 3 14- 5 this is the day i ran out of pain meds. I took every last drop. when i ran out i was in pain for 3 more days (sore). i think the meds took the edge off and without them... Dont be afraid to take them thats what they are for! i was fairly active after banding. i went to the store the day after(what was i thinking) day 6 and 7 i went grocery shopping as usual. (slower but i still managed to spend all my money!) i had the gas pains. could not burp to save my life so i was walking, stretching, getting massaged, and taking gas x the only think that worked was time! it wasnt so much pain as uncomfortable. the whole PAIN experience on a scale of 1-10 (10 highest) i would say my overall pain was like a 5-6. day 1 and 3 were the only ones i had the

i dont think i understood all of what happened to you mello one but i did understand that you are on the mend! so that is great. i am sure you didnt scare anyone into not having surgery! everyone should know all the risks involved! well i am so glad your home safely! enjoy your Soup and GET YOUR REST!!! you will especially need it after your ordeal! :knockedou take your pain meds like a good girl!

me too! i am so bad about not styling my hair. my cuts have to be wash and wear. i actually like having short hair i have a system (are you suprised??) i let my hair grow to where i have 12" to spare and cut it and donate to locks of love. then i enjoy having short hair while it grows out. it's like the best of both worlds! (as long as i dont have to style it!) this will be the 3rd donation when i cut my hair! i do know what you mean about hiding behind your long hair though. i have never had long hair and been thin or 'smaller'!! it always works out that when i cut it i am losing or starting a new diet. my plans are for whacking it off in the spring! no more buns!

if thats the case that makes sense! i was doing the atkins diet 3 months ago! so there we go!

i have heard that it is normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day. i dont know how true it is but i have always thought i could be a hundred hair person. Alexandra- no sassy cuts are in my future! i have to let it grow a few more inches before i cut it. plus i like the added warmth it gives me through the winter! i will definitaly post after i go to the and let ya'll know what they say.

i think i am experiencing this too! i have long hair and have alway 'shedded' alot but i its more than usual! i too have doubled my Vitamin and i have been getting 60-80 grams Protein a day! i am not even at 1/2 cup restriction yet. i think i need to get vitamin b-12 this helps hair and nails or what about pre-natal Vitamins?? i go to the dr for fill # 4 thursday i am pretty sure this one will be it (restriction)! but i will definitally be asking about this! i dont want to be a skinny baldie just kidding! any suggestions PLEASE!

hey mello one, the first thing i said when i woke up from surgery was 'i feel like crying' the anesthesia dedfinitaly messes with your emotional state- and i completely thought what have i done to myself!!!! when i came off my pain meds i was in just as bad of pain as the first day i had surgery. i didnt realize all the pain the meds were taking away. what did they say at the er? if your dr doesnt know like donali said he needs/must know. please keep us posted on how your doing/feeling you know that we will all understand- you will be in my thoughts. when i ask people about the pain from childbirth i often hear 'it is the easiest pain to forget' the surgery was like that for me. i was pretty miserable (emotional and SORE not to mention gassy) but now looking back it's a faint memory and it was only 2 months ago!

congrats! hope you have a speedy recovery! hope your stocked up on soup!

yes i have definitaly heard of people with bmi's of 35 and up. do you have any co-morbities...reflux, hernia, gerdx, sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease etc... that will help. or if they are in your family history. there is a BMI calculator on this site. your BMI varies with your height so if you are 5'-2 3/4" you would be better off to say your height was 5'-2" dont round up on your height that will make your bmi go down! good luck! :D

forgot to mention in the past 2 weeks she gained 3 pounds!!!! i told her with the reduced intake her body is probably freaking and holding on to everything she eats... thoughts on this to please! thanks you all are great!! (in advance)

i have noticed when i first start to eat i have to take extra small bites if i dont i get the golf ball severe pain thing. it's weird because after the first bite or two i can eat without problems. my bandster twin is having this really bad and i told her i'd start a thread because i have heard people mention this before and wonder if their are any other tricks. (i of course couldnt find the posts that mention this!) my *twin* had her 3rd fill 2 weeks ago and is STILL on Soups. she doesnt want to give up any of her fill by having it removed. she is trying to wait and see if it loosens up any. but when she eats anything of substance she has the golf ball severe pain thing. she tried starting her meal last night with pudding to lube the throat but when she moved to chicken it was pain pain pain... any thoughts please! i had my 3rd fill yesterday and was still able to drink a whole can of Soup. i ate 1 cup of cottage cheese for Breakfast. 4th fill scheduled for 11-6.

hey kathy! i dont know if i'll be able to attend this one either! i have been soooo busy. i am going for 3rd fill today! woohoo me!!! hopefully i'll see you at the next one!

i copied this from the obesity help lapband forum.... To all of the squimish, this may be somewhat grahic. Read at your own risk :cool: I am 10 days post-op. Today, I noticed a large lump under my largest incision. The one in the middle of my stomach where the band was placed. It is the size of a large chicken egg. I called my doctor's assistant. She told me it is a Seroma, which is an accumulation of Fluid. She explained that I need to break it up by making a fist, placing it on the lump, and and bending over into it. Also, I am supposed to massage it several times a day. This is supposed to essentially bust open the fluid filled sack, which in turn, will be reabsorbed into the body. She said not to worry if some of the fluid actually leaks out of the incision site. In fact, she said this would actually make it drain quicker. She explained that the liquid will be a brownish, 'tea-like' fluid. I forgot to mention that I took my stitches out today. Well, there I was massaging the lump this evening and the whole incision (about 2") opened up. EEEWW! There was no brownish liquid oozing out, just a little bright red blood. I poured quite a bit of hydrogen peroxide in the open wound, put on 2 butterfly band-aids and placed a larger band-aid over the whole thing in hopes that it will drain into that and not my clothes! Barbara told me that it should drain in about 3-7 days. I am just hoping that I am not going to get a bigger scar since it has reopened. Oh well, my bikini-wearing days are over anyway. I just thought I'd make my fellow Bandsters aware of this. Has anyone else experienced this or heard of it? i copied this from the obesity help lapband forum.... i hope this doesnt happen to many people BUT if it happens and you have read this at least you wont freak!!!! i know i would have! YUCK!!!:sick

Hey Megan!!! Congrats on your Banding!!! well the burping and unmentionables from the gas they use to blow up your tummy goes away...BUT i have weird burps now that i NEVER had before. i was banded the same day as a girl i met online and she has the weird burps too. they are deeeeeep burps you can kinda stifle them so they arent really loud. i completely grossed out my brother. he thinks girls shouldnt burp or ... and him being my brother i knew it would freak him out if i could burp louder than him so i did...hehe they are burps that come after dinner like when the food is going down. Any other Burping Bandsters???

hey chris!! i was just looking at your site yesteerday!!! YOU LOOK GREAT!!!! i cant wait to be where you are now! we were close in starting weight. i have read your journal to (sorry to hear about your cat) keep up the good work i cant wait to see your next photos! YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION:D :cool:

I copied this from another web page...she got it from another banster...its pretty cool! Discovering the Band Wondering if this is for me Investigation Doing serious research Joining a support group Getting hopeful Finding a doctor Shock at the price Deciding to do it Making the arrangement Wondering if you made the right decision Getting nervous Going ahead with it Waking up and wondering what the hell you did to yourself. Post-op discomfort Month of liquids- not being able to strictly adhere Wondering if you've been scammed again, your weight loss has stopped shedding off so fast Realizing the Band is NOT magic Seeing a little success Getting your first fill Changing your eating habits Seeing more success Getting second fill Really losing Seriously changing your eating habits Being totally euphoric about your weight loss Changing your thinking about eating Wanting to tell every fat person you meet about the band Realizing you really can't eat Worrying about nutrition Learning to eat healthy and wise Finding other ways to meet your emotional needs Realizing it takes a long time to lose 100lbs Trudging along My clothes are too big Buying new clothes Oops, I bought too much too soon...now these are too big Buying more clothes Getting near goal Enjoying all the compliments Feeling successful Getting aggressive Not taking crap from anybody Realizing you can be assertive without steam rolling everybody Finding balance Wondering what comes next

I LIKE YOUR DOCS DIET BETTER! THE REASON MY DR HAS A MINI POST OP DIET IS BECAUSE AFTER THE FILL YOU MAY HAVE SWELLING AND TO USE THAT WEEK TO GET USED TO YOUR NEW FILL- INCASE YOU HAVE TO CHEW MORE, TAKE SMALLER BITES ETC... SO CAN YOU TELL A DIFFERENCE WITH THIS FILL? I GO FOR MY 3RD FILL ON NEXT THURSDAY! I HOPE TO GET SOME RESTRICTION. I AM AT 2.2 CC AND REALLY DONT HAVE VERY MUCH TO NONE AT ALL!

hey brandi! congrats on the first fill!! my post fill diet was/is... 1 day Clear liquids 2 days full liquids 2-3 days mushies 2-3 soft foods regular diet this is a 1 week diet. i also was told no eating the day of fills!

i would call your dr. if the food doesnt dislodge itself then you will have to have the fill removed to let it pass. when something is stuck the skin around the band will probably swell and if you are already tight it will just get tighter. CALL THE DR!!. and if you are PBing that is probably irritating the skin around the band causing more swelling. what about drinking warm liquid like chicken broth or just something warm. good luck and let us know what happens incase someone else has this happen.

hey bjkgriffith- i have had 2 fills and have a third scheduled for 10-23 i have 2.2 cc's and still have no restriction. not in the morning not ever. i have pb'd a few times which i had not done until this fill. i have lost 11 lbs since banding. but including the pre op diet 17!! that sounds better! i know why i havent lost. i have been eating what i want. not limiting carb intake. i am still not drinking sugar-y drinks except some juice. but the carbs are killing me!!! when i get good restriction i will start the adtkins diet to jump start my weight loss. my goal is to lose 50 lbs by christmas. i only have 33 to go (i am counting pre-op diet)

alexandra- the photo of me and my bf is one that i cant believe i have shown anyone much less posted on the internet... if you have some photos from earlier this year to compair your new ones to i bet youll really tell a difference! even thou i havent lost in about a month my body shape is still changing! i cant wait to take some more photos with the next loss! its kinda weird even with my photos i still feel 'that big' i think i am more concious of my size now. before i just didnt care. i had given up and decided i was destined to be fat all my life. when i saw the photo with steve i started adkins 2 days later.

mello_one, i completely second alexandra. it really is your choice. it stinks that your surgeon wouldnt commend you for wanting a safer and long term weight loss. oh i forgot money talks. here are some of my reasons for wanting the band: * when you have children they can release fill in your band so your pregnancy is more natural * no malsorptsion *quicker recovery time * more natural weight loss * you can adjust the band if your loss stalls or a few years out you gain a few. * no dumping * way less risk of death or major side effects * you can eat what you want (i dont mean junk) * no lengthy hospital stay! * no huge scar * no gallstones, kidney stones these are some things i didnt expect *i expected to have more restricion quicker ( i had read all the info and new not to expect restriction without a few fills but i did) *i also expected to have lost more by now. i dieted all summer though to get a jump start so until i am properly restricted i have been eating what i want ( concious chioce ) so while i expected to lose more i know why i havent. (to all those who have lost larger amounts- CONGRATS i know it was work!) good luck mello and keep us posted on your APPROVAL!!! (i love that word!)

hey bright i would ask your surgeon for some info to pass along to your dr giving him/her the basics on the band what to look for. Maybe the could even do a phone call. at least your dr would understand the basics that the band is supposed to be at the TOP of stomach and you should be able to keep liquids down. for check-ups maybe your regular dr could do a basic x-ray to check the posistion of the band (make sure it hasnt slipped) i bet your not the first patient your surgeon has had from another country. you will just have to be extra careful bright, know what to look for.