skinnybitch

Do yourself a favor and lose some weight!! Not only will it get you in the mode of this lifestyle change, but u are more likely to get approved, and I've heard of people that didn't lose enough weight before and they had to stop mid surgery and schedule for another 2 weeks out because liver was too large. You don't want to put yourself thru that. Start your preop diet ASAP! I started mine a month before surgery and I wish I'd done it sooner only because I would have lost more. That is REALLY weird that your dr is discouraging protein shakes! My dr had me on 2-3 protein shakes a day and a sensible dinner of lean meat and veggies. My dr told me, even now, that I should try to get in 1 protein shake a day, if not more. He also said you will not gain weight from protein shakes, so when you've already eaten, and you are STILL hungry (I remember that feeling) a protein shake is the way to go. If you don't have the willpower to diet now, you're going to have a hard time after surgery. While surgery makes it easier for me, I still have to put in the hard work and self control of diet and excersize.

It sucks that you don't have anyone close to be supportive for you . The best advice I can give you is that everyone has an opinion. But that's all it is. Don't let the negativity shake you. You've done the research, you know what you want. Try and google support groups in your area. Check out meetup.com Ive found a ton of support groups in my area (Central FL) and so far they have been so helpful and encouraging. (although keep in mind you may come across some bypass or sleeve patients that also have an opinion about your band.. Don't let it shake you!). As for your boss... I'm pretty sure she is breaking some kind of law by discussing your personal stuff around the office.. Go to her supervisor maybe? Hope this helps! And good luck in your journey!

Honestly, no. I ended up not getting a fill today. I'm still not completely sure what I should be looking for to see if I need a fill. I'm losing weight.. (8lbs last month) I'm not really hungry in between meals... Usually get a little hungry right on schedule. But Im not sure if I feel restricted at all. I measure my food with a food scale so I don't really leave room for over eating. As for how they know how much to fill, I'm not sure.. I guess it's at the doc's discretion.

Im a Florida Bander as well. A newbie also. Banded 10/17/11 had my first fill in November.. having another tomorrow. Im in Central Florida specifically. Congrats and welcome! If you'd like to connect on Facebook private message me Good luck!! -Christina

I discovered that one of the main reasons I like to drink with my food is to cleanse my mouth. After Im done eating, I now just go to the bathroom and rinse my mouth out a few times. Doing that totally takes away my strong desire to drink after I eat.. It's been working great for me!! I hope this can help someone else. What other tips do you have for life after lap band?

Did you know you can cook eggs in the microwave? I just spray the inside of a microwavable bowl with PAM, scramble two eggs and pop it in the microwave.. i put it for 2 minutes..but WATCH IT because it will start to expand. Thats usually a good sign that its done or almost done.. then i just sprinkle some 2% cheese on top and VOILA! a quick way to make eggs

i was able to sleep on my side right away in the hospital which helped my gas pains a little bit. i had to use a pillow tho. didint try sleeping on my stomach till last week and its just fine

Oh and yes I take anti depressant and anti anxiety and have been able to take both still. I had to switch the meds before surgery because I was on extended release meds and you're not supposed to crush or cut those. So thats all, they just switched me to the regular release ones. I was told my anti anxiety i didn't have to crush or cut because it was so small. My anti depressant i just use a pill splitter to cut in half and I haven't had any problems at all.

I've been banded for just under a month now. I had a little bit of depression that first week after surgery.. I was in a lot of pain and started questioning what I had done.. I've alot of people get that tho. After my pain went away my mood increased significantly.. I went to see my psychiatrist last week and she was amazed at how much this surgery had already effected my overall mood and way of thinking.. So far so good! Lets hope that as my weight keeps going down that my mood keeps going up

I've come to realize that it will never be fast enough for us.. whether it's 1-2 pounds or 9-10 pounds... we will always want it to be more! Just be happy you are going in the right direction.. And keep on keepin on! :-)

i requested one week off, but that sunday before i was supposed to return on monday, i had to call my boss and request a few more days.. I was back to work on Wednesday but still got tired very easily and not feeling 100%. I was anxious to get back to work tho because I felt antsy.

WEIRD totally sums up how I felt the first 2 weeks. I was terrifed that I would never feel normal again. I kept asking everyone, "will my insides feel normal again?"... and figuring out your body all over again is soo weird.. it feels totally different when your hungry and totally different when your full.. and then you have these gas pains in the mix as well... Just know that you are just healing... let yourself get used to all the changes.. you WILL feel normal again :-)

yes heating pad def helped!! Maalox also helped. And holding a pillow against my tummy where the gass pain is helps to relieve it for a little.. Mine last about 5-6 days.. Don't really get gas pains anymore like in the beginning, but i do burp like a beast VERY often!! lol

Yes bring PJs, you probably wont wear them in the hospital but for the ride home they are great. Also bring a robe so you can walk the halls... the gowns are backless and I don't think you wanna walk the halls like that :-) Definitely a pillow.. holding the pillow against your side helped when i had gas pains..pillow also helped on the ride home. Chapstick!! yes, a friend suggested I bring that and Im glad I did because my lips were soooo dry. i was going to bring my laptop or ipad but i decided not to last minute. im glad i didnt because i was so out of it most of the time..every once in a while id get on the internet with my iphone but only for like 5 minutes. thats all i can think of.... everything else the hospital pretty much provided me with.

Hi there! I was banded October 17, 2011 and the past couple of days after I eat I feel uncomfortable pressure in my left side.. is this normal? Will this ever go away? Is this maybe just gas?? Any feedback and help is much appreciated.... :-) ---- My Blog

I'm so glad you posted this question!! I am transitioning from this week (eating 4 oz of full liquids every hour) to next week eating only 3 meals a day with 2 snacks and I am terrified I will be hungry. I also am afraid I wont be able to get in my proteins.. All of these responses have really helped me.. Thank you!

I was banded 10/17/11 and experienced very bad gas pains that first week, too. Maalox and walking helped me quite a bit. Also, I didn't have very much incision pain so I was able to press a pillow up against my belly, that helped a lot. For shakes, the only ones I like so far are the Attkins Advantage Vanilla Shakes.. Good luck!

I was really scared too. I talked to my therapist about my fears - one of them being not waking up after surgery. And she said. "Ok, so what if that happens. Then what" And I said "I guess I wouldn't know it" and she said "Exactly". lol after that I wasn't fearful about that anymore. Try and relax, it will go great! :-)

Yes!!! Man I wish I felt well enough last week to pull out my laptop and get on here. I was banded on October 17th and did feel a little regret day 3-4 but it has gone away. It's true what everyone keeps telling me. Each day it gets a little better...

OMG you look fabulous!! And I love your blog.. Definitely bookmarking it! I've got one of my own: http://bettiethederp.tumblr.com/ Just banded on OCtober 17th... still healing..recovering... one day at a time :-)

Tell me about it!! I feel like there is so much to do before Monday and not enough time! Between making sure things are covered at my job and making sure things are covered at home..Im very stressed! We will get thru this!

Hi everyone! This is my first post on here.. Im getting banded on October 17th.. I've been looking forward to this for almost a whole year now...well.. I've been overweight for what seems like forever.. but only started considering the lap band about a year ago. My father had lapband about 2 or 3 years ago and has been very successful. I started my preop diet about 4 weeks ago. This consists of a Protein shake for Breakfast, a Protein Shake for lunch, actual protein for dinner with veggies... and fruits in between for snacking.. i also allow myself one sugar free italian ice at night. My surgeon thought it was a good idea to start the diet right away and Im glad I did because Ive already lost almost 15 pounds and am very motivated to do this! This Saturday and Sunday I will be on ALL liquids since its the two days before surgery. Im NOT looking forward to that... But I do have my mom coming this Friday, she will stay with me for a week. She is the one that helped my dad when he had his surgery so she is well versed on how to take care of me. I look forward to that.. but Im still a little nervous... Not so much nervous about actually having the surgery..more nervous about everything that follows after surgery.. Will I be able to do this? Will I succeed? I've been reading a little in this thread and saw people discussing who they've told about their surgery and not wanting to tell too many people etc... I've told EVERYONE. Im even blogging about all of this and I post my blog on my facebook page for all to see. Including some unflattering before pictures in a bathing suit.. Yeah, I know.. I must have had a temporary lapse in judgement the day I posted those :-) Anyways, here's my blog link for those that are interested..: bettiethederp.tumblr.com I am going to try and be active on this board.. I've never really been a message board kind of person... but I've been on this site for weeks now just lurking.. so I think maybe it's time I start to become that person I guess I should also give a little bit of info about me.. Im 27 female living in Orlando, FL with my husband and our two cats..