Mindy!

I got my staples removed about a week ago. The past two days, my incision areas have been extremely itchy to the point where I can't stop myself from scratching all over. I woke up in the middle of the night last night because they were so itchy and I had to put lotion over my whole stomach! It's not like it's a constant worry of mine, because the itchiness comes and goes. About ten minutes ago I began scratching again and I looked down and noticed all five of my incision areas are swollen! Not red or anything, but warm and irritated. I know it's because I've been scratching and messing with them, but I'm worried now that I have infected something. My port has a huge hump over it now and I'm so deathly afraid that I've messed something up. Only two of my bandages have fallen off and I've been putting Vitamin E over them like the doctor said. A few minutes ago I added Neosporin over all of my swollen areas and it feels better now but I'm still really really worried. Am I in deep trouble?

Nah, googling is fine. That's how I researched it at first, really.

Thank you. I definitely agree with you. Sometimes I let others sway my opinion or shake my confidence so when I see such negativity I get really discouraged, but you're right; it is very mental. All of it. And I just got banded on the 15th. Best decision I've made in my life so far. Ten pounds down and 47 down since I started my journey and I've never been happier. Or healthier. I hope you have a good holiday and congratulations on the surgery! The staple removal was easy-peasy. Not painful and it was really fun because I got to see my stomach without the Patches on it for the first time, haha.

So, I searched Lap Band on public posts on Facebook, and it came up with quite a few results with people saying pretty annoying things. One lady made fun of it, as in, "I just ate so much chicken... I need the lap band, y'all!". Another asked for opinions on it via her status and the replies were like, "No, I know 4 people that have died from it!" and "No don't do it, it doesn't work, I have 100 friends who had it and they gained the weight back really quick!". And another man that said, "Eat right and exercise, don't take the easy way out #lapband". I am appalled. I could rant here, but I won't. Ugh.

Congratulations all around! Buy a million packs of Gas X. A MILLION.

Yeah, a lot of times I get pretty discouraged if I hit a plateau, but it really helps if you take up measuring yourself. More often than not, when the scale doesn't change, your measurements will. Just keep on keepin' on and it will all fall into place. At least, that's what I've experienced and heard so far. I wouldn't let it get you down too much.

Oh woohoo! You're 19! I was starting to get the feeling that I was the odd man out because the teen board is so deserted! Haha. Welcome, Jeo. It's awesome that you made this decision and it's going to be worth every single ounce of work you put into it.

Congratulations, you've taken a huge step in changing your life. Keep us updated and don't stop working for that goal!

That's not boring! Sounds like you have a pretty busy and exciting life to me.

That's not how math works... It only applies to the number directly before it.

I know it's been a week since anyone's replied to this, but I need to bump this because an explanation is needed. Order of operations suggests that you should deal with multiplication first. Meaning, get the 1 x 0 out of the way first and foremost. That leaves you with 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1-1+1+1+1+1+1. Which equals 14. :biggrin3:

I didn't want to have to adapt too quickly to a new me. I wanted to be able to go at my own pace and slowly ease into a new life. I also knew about the complications with other surgeries, and I didn't want to subject myself to that so early on in my adult life.

I was looking through this thread and didn't find anything similar. I'm fairly new to the forum and I wanted to get to know the lot of you! I'll start. I act/perform in plays, I play World of Warcraft, and I run an improvisation troupe at my college. You?

I think that's fairly normal, really. Just like what was already mentioned in this thread- You need to make sure you're eating. I'm not experienced myself, but my doctor explained to me what I might experience in the first couple of months with the band. I, myself, haven't experienced nausea, but at least you know it's not anything to worry about.

I usually don't do resolutions, but I feel like this upcoming year should be an exception. Perhaps reach my weight loss goal by next December? Or something more simple, like working out four days a week by the summer? Hmm. Also, great blog post!

Diana, congratulations! Our dates are very close together, I had mine on the 15th. I have been dealing with a lot of shoulder pain, but I am using a heating pad and gas-x strips religiously. Today I was finally allowed to shower and wash off all of that orange stuff they painted on my stomach! Haha. Anyway. Hopefully if I have any trouble with my diet or exercise or emotions or whatever, I can come here for help.

Besides my parents, I have told my four close friends and my two sisters. Earlier tonight I told one of my oldest and best friends that I only know on the internet. That was the hardest thing to do, I think, because she always knew I was overweight but we've never met so she's just had my pictures to go off of, which doesn't really translate size too well all the time. She was extremely supportive and had nothing but positive things to say! She asked a lot of questions, including but not limited to "So, if you eat very very little with the band, does that mean you only poop once a week? Or like hamster pellets?!". Now that's a good question! I love her. I really lucked out on my support system, didn't I?

I was tentatively scheduled for August 31st!!! I have my history and physical on August 16th and they will tell me if I have to go through a three month diet before hand (even though my insurance was approved already... What?). That would really suck because then they would schedule my surgery riiiiight around Christmas. But for right now... Ignorance is bliss and I'm going to celebrate being a hopeful August Bandster!!

I've struggled with my weight my whole life and diets have never worked for me in the past. I was recommended to the lapband surgery by my wonderful aunt who got the surgery over five years ago. When I finally turned 18 in March I decided to follow up with the recommendation and I researched it until my fingers fell off and here I am! My parents' insurance was approved and I have already met with the nutritionist (That was FUN. I got to impress her will everything I've learned from research and The Biggest Loser... Haha) and tomorrow evening I meet with the psychiatrist (I have no idea what to expect with that. Any ideas?). Then, of course, the all-important seminar is this Saturday for me. Oddly enough, I have been very brave and excited throughout this whole process up until now. I've read this forum for so long and I'm so scared about whether or not I will fit in here! I'm sure I will survive. Probably. Anyway, my name is Mindy and it's nice to meet you all. (And I'm sorry this post was long winded and awkward).