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- GLP-1 medication Zepbound, Wegovy, access, side effects, progress, and support.
- Before surgery Compare procedures, plan ahead, and get honest pre-op answers.
- Post-op Recovery, food stages, symptoms, and support.
- Long-term Regain, labs, habits, and life after the honeymoon.
- Revision Explore revision options, complications, and next steps.
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Me on my journey
A few pictures as I find them of me through my journey before and after lapband...
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angel_eyes4477
angel_eyes4477, a weight loss surgery photo album by angel_eyes4477 on BariatricPal. 2 photos in Before and After Lap Band Photos.
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100 Pounds Lost!
Thanks nathansmommy1020!
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100 Pounds Lost!
Thanks everyone! It feels GREAT! @2savemylife - When I was banded on February 10th, I weighed 385 lbs and am now down to 285! As far as advice, well, I dunno lol. I just followed my doctors orders mostly. I have had a few slip ups, but just let them go and got back on the right path. I can't do heavy exercise yet, so I walk alot and do some stretching. When you get to the soft foods stage and beyond... CHEW CHEW CHEW. Make sure it is a tasty mush in your mouth before you swallow it. Eat lots of Protein rich foods, and take your Vitamins consistently. @ Rojasanoll and xsentrick - THANKS so much! I am impressed with myself too lol!
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100 Pounds Lost!
Woot Woot! I weighed yesterday and I am finally officially 100 pounds smaller! I lost a small person! Woohoo! So far, I have been losing without a fill, but I know the time will come that I need one. I am still able to go between 4-6 hours without being hungry, but I am wondering how much faser the weight will come off with a fill. Woohoo 100 pounds!
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How many bags of sugar have you lost
19.6 bags of sugar! Sooo close to 20 bags lost! Then, only 21 more bags to lose lol. I like looking at it this way. It makes it seem a little more attainable when you say 21 units of measurement instead of 105 units lol! But, lately, I keep losing and then regaining the same dang bag Grrrr. (I've lost it again yay! And plan on keeping it off.) It was the homemeade carrot cake I made for father's day and in memorial of my mom's birthday that did me in. It was the first one since she passed away, and it was her favorite kind of cake. To me, it was worth it. So I have to work extra hard at losing it again to stay on goal, so what? I can do it! Now that it is cooler again, I will be able to get out and walk again without feeling like I am going to pass out. .
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Surgery Was February 10, 2012. Successes Since Then...
Thanks ladies! It feels great!
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Surgery Was February 10, 2012. Successes Since Then...
Well, so far the biggest success I have had is getting below 300 pounds for the first time in 15 years! It happened 5 days ago, and was the BEST feeling! I had previously been 302-304 for a few days. I'm not sure how many because the scale was moved and lost for a few days lol. Then we found the scale and I weighed myself and I was 298! Woohooo! The next day I weighed myself again and was 296. I was sick for a couple days and didn't go visit my dad, where the scale is. Then today I went and weighed in at 293! It's been so long since I have been this weight, I dunno what to do with myself. So far I have lost 92 pounds since the day of surgery! And I'm just getting started! I have yet to need a fill, but I know it is coming. My legs look sooo much smaller than they used to, and so do my arms. I have gone down 3 band sizes in my bra. No cup sizes, which is fine with me. I can walk a LOT further than I used to be able to without getting winded or feeling sick or in tons of pain. I used to barely manage 10 steps before the leg/hip pain used to start. Now I can walk through Wally World no problem, and I walked around a walking track the other day with no problems. I still have to use a rider at walmart if it is terribly hot outside, but that is due to me having MS and heat issues, not the weight. I take my puppy out walking a couple times a day now, and actually enjoy it! I don't go to a Gym yet because I can't afford it, but I am keeping a lot more active than I used to. I am smaller than my bf has ever seen me before, and he is constantly giving me compliments. So are my family. I only wish my mom could be here to see it. She passed away a little over a month after I had my band placed, and she was my biggest supporter. I know she is proud of me. Just 8 more pounds and I will hit the 100 pounds lost mark! I am so thrilled and proud!
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The Drink
Well, after the band, most people are light weights when it comes to drinking. There isn't much in the stomach to soak up the alcohol, so getting drunk a lot quicker happens. Also, beer is a no-no due to the carbonation. Same goes with soda as chasers. Most alcoholic beverages have a lot of calories. Empty calories at that. I only drink alcohol every once in a while, and only have a couple shots when I do drink now. I only drink at home, and have tea or some other non carbonated beverage as a chaser. Either that, or I will have a couple glasses of wine. As they say - everything in moderation.
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Wire Coming From Belly Button Port Site
Do you have an urgent care place near you? They would probably be able to tell you if it is a ststch that was supposed to dissolve or if it is something you should be worried about. If it is the latter, they should be able to get in touch with your surgeon to manage your care. If it is the former, then it will make its way out eventually. I have had many of these stitches not dissolve and make their way out of me after different surgeries. Good luck!
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General Ramblings About The State Of My Life...
Thank you everyone. I really appreciate your words of comfort and support. It means a lot to me.
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General Ramblings About The State Of My Life...
First off, let me say that I have been depressed for the last week, due to the fact that my mother passed away last Tuesday. She was my best friend and biggest supporter. She was thrilled and excited for me when I had my surgery on February 10th. Every time I would weigh myself over at her house, she would grin and tell me how proud she was of me. So today when I weighed myself, it was bittersweet when I looked over at her chair and no one was there. I lost 8 more pounds since last Thursday, for a grand total of 62 pounds since surgery. I know my momma is proud of me, and watching my progress from Heaven now, but it hurts so much. I'm surprised that I lost the 8 pounds. I am on my period and retaining some Water. My ankles are a little swollen. Also, in my depression, I have eaten a few things that I shouldn't. I ate a few potato chips. Not many, but a few. Also, at my uncle's house after the funeral, I ate a small piece of cake. I am mostly staying on track, but there are a few things that have called to me. My dad, brother, bf, and I all went to Golden Corral the day after the funeral and I ate my mom's favorites from the buffet. I ate some mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, popcorn shrimp, in addition to the pot roast and roasted chicken that I had. I only had a couple bites of each thing, but I wanted to eat her favorites. For dessert, I had a little carrot cake and a bite of bread pudding. Her absolute faves. On a happier note, I have had a few NSV's. A friend that I hadn't seen in a while saw me in Walmart and when I went up to him said "Huh, that was you. I saw you from behind a few minutes ago and wondered if it was you, but thought it couldn't be because you were too skinny." LOL. He told me how good I look and gave me hug and said congrats. Also, when shopping for pants for the funeral, I fit into two sizes smaller than the last time I shopped for pants! My dad had a hip replacement almost 2 weeks ago, and while he was in the hospital, I walked about five miles over the course of three days. Not bad for a girl who didn't used to be able to walk 80 feet without resting and being in incredible pain. All in all, things are going good for me weight wise. I'm not going to let this depression over my mom get me too far off track. I haven't had a fill yet, and don't feel like I need one.
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Prayers Needed, Please.
Thank you all.
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Prayers Needed, Please.
Hi all. I am asking for prayers for me and my family, please. I lost my mom yesterday, and am having a hard time coping.
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Smoking
My surgeon requested that I quit 6 weeks before surgery, but said it was up to me. The reason he said he wanted me to quit was because, according to him, the band is put in kinda close to the lungs and he said the lungs can get pretty beat up during the procedure. He said if I still smoked up to the time of the procedure, I would have a higher chance of needing to stay on the ventilator for a while after surgery. I ended up quitting about 8 months before my surgery. It would have only been 6-8 weeks before surgery, but my doctor was in a bad car accident and wasn't operating for a while.