SashaWLS

Was banded April 18th and I'm down 40lbs today! No exercise or dieting, though 80% of my food intake is healthy.

As anyone had it? My doc thinks that may be the cause of my chest pain, but not sure that sounds right...

I don't know what to do long-term, but I would take some liquid Tylenol to ease the discomfort, maybe that will buy you time while it heals

I was the opposite! I only drank GNC lean shakes in chocolate, had herb ox no-sodium chicken broth packets and 1c salad or veggies every day... No variety, no thinking, just got in the zone...

If the sleeve goes well, it's great. But if the sleeve goes badly, it's much, much worse than a band that's gone badly... For what it's worth I originally wanted the sleeve (badly) but after doing a lot of research, the decision came down to a numbers game... -- The mortality rate for the sleeve is 1/200... Mortality rate for the band is 1/2000. -- Sleeve complications are MUCH MUCH worse than band complications... 1% of the people who get the sleeve have a leak, and those who do are in agony, in and out of the hospital for up to 5-6 months at a time, and say they regret the surgery (search leak on verticalsleevetalk.com and see what that's like for them...) -- roughly 1/3 of the people who get bypass or sleeve gain it back with no other option afterwards than to get the band on top of their cut-up stomach (i.e. carny wilson) The sleeve seems to be a fabulous option when it works! But the risk that it could turn out to be a total disaster is also much higher. I have a 4-year old daughter and don't feel like I have the right to gamble lightly with something that might take me out... If the band works, then I'm done with only a minimally invasive surgery and no cutting up of my organs. People do have problems with the band, and if I were one of those people I might consider the sleeve as a revision. But a lot of people are also successful with the band, and for me, it didn't make sense not to at least try it and hope it works!!!

I started 266, but if I had waited another year or two I would've started at 366... It's just a number. And we all need help. And I still like to go out drinking with my friends. In case that has anything to do with your life stage. Three of my closest friends are 26, and I'm really good friends with a couple who were in their 60s. Interests and immaturity keep us together, I guess! Anyway, welcome.

I'm not 23 anymore, but I was, and I probably still act like it most of the time!

Not sure if you remember hearing about that horrible Christmas house fire where Madonna Badger lost her three young children and both parents. It was an unimaginable tragedy, and I found myself obsessed with following the news. How do you go on after something like that?? I assumed she would kill herself. I imagined that I would... But then the even more unthinkable happened. Madonna stood up in front of 1000 mourners at the funeral and told stories about her three little girls! She was of course crying, but she somehow picked herself up, using sheer force of will and inner strength, and found a way to put one foot in front of another. That kind of strength ASTOUNDED me. It shocked me. And yet somehow I also remembered. Deep inside myself also lurks that kind of strength—though it's been soooo many years since I saw it, I had genuinely forgotten it was there. If only I could only find a way to tap into that strength, to speak from that strength... And then I said, out loud: "If I were to speak from that place of strength now, I would say 'I should have the weight loss surgery.'" And then I put one foot in front of another.

I've been thinking about you a lot since you first posted about your slip... I'm having some chest pain, and I'm really scared. I've only been banded since April, so I havent been "bad" for long, but in the last couple of weeks my old habits have been returning. Eating fast, larger portions, etc. I don't thnk I'm in the green zone and probably need more restriction because I can pretty much still eat whatever I want. I've never PBd orthrown up, but if I get real with myself, I have to admit that my portions are closer to restaurant size than band size, and I fear that my chest pain is my own fault... I called the doctor today and am going in Friday morning. They think I probably have food stuck in the pouch that's irritating me. But my worst fear is that I have prolapsed my stomach, have a slip and will need to have the band removed or revised. I feel like such a failure and REALLY identified with your POV on the band, i.e. not dieting, eating mostly what I want but not as much, etc... Thank you for posting... What do you think is going to happen? I want you to know that I have so much empathy for your situation!!! Wish I could give you a hug. Maybe I need one too. :-(

The only one I didn't hate (and that I really liked!) was GNC's Lean Shake, in chocolate.

OMG, what an irresponsible article! They make it sound like the sleeve procedure is safer than the lap band?!?! the sleeve has a 1/200 mortality rate, while the band only has 1/200. And they don't even mention the long-term, hugely painful complications that potentially come with the sleeve, namely stomach leaking... Regardless, I do wish taogirl well!! It makes me so sad to hear that you've had trouble since the very beginning!! I don't know why it is, but it seems that there are as many different experiences as there are people. Every surgery has a potential risk, and it's a really good reminder that there are no guarantees... Some people have a really hard time with the surgery, need revisions, removals, or even die... And of course we all know the potential up side, which is why we're all here in the first place!

About a week for me... And as long as you brought this up, I can share up a very private little NSV! Last night, the first time in about 9 years, I could see over my belly enough to watch. woo woo!! :-) hehehe... It was like my own little porn movie!

YES!!! At least 3 days... You will be healing and it may scare them. And funny story, my first day seeing my 4yo daughter after surgery, she runs up to me yelling "Mommy" and stops short before hugging me, then get this funny look on her face, and decides on a new plan... At the top of her lungs sh screams, "YOU'RE IT!!" and slams my belly with both hands, then takes off running. Yikes!!!

Sounds like you're doing great! Chin up, this is hard!!! Especially if you're 28 and two are 50+, that lends a different dynamic than the usual peer-friend situation. Don't forget to have fun!!!!

this is a slow journey, for the long haul. try not to worry about the numbers so much, and worry instead on healing, getting used to eating again, etc.

a pleasure... First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You will love Despina and Dr. Fielding. I'm a little in love with him. hehehe. It's been a great experience for me. I was banded April 18th and have lost 36lbs so far... My scars are PERFECT little lines, totally neat and straight, and quickly disappearing. The postop healing period was harder than I expected, but living with the band has been much easier than expected. I can eat a small plate of food at a time. The other night I had roast chicken, mashed potatoes and broccoli... The other day at work I had Chipotle at lunch. I can pretty much eat anything and I've only thrown up once (which was because I didn't chew something enough). I try to do Protein first, then fruit/veggies, then carbs. Sometimes I don't do that. I take my Vitamins every day. I've cut my medications in half, and I've gone down 2 pants sizes... The hardest part has been not drinking with meals. But everything else is great.

Well, in my mind I've always dreamed of being a 14 again... I remember getting really mad at my mom in high school because she bought me size 14 jeans and I thought they were sooooo huge... So ever since I exceeded a 14 I've felt really badly about myself. That said, I started this journey in April at a 20/22, and at only 36lbs down am already wearing an 18... Suddenly wearing a 14 doesn't seem so far away!! So all things being equal, I'd LOVE to be an 10/12... I don't see myself in an 8, but a 10/12 would be amazing!!!

"start new thread"

People tell white lies when telling the truth would cause more harm than good. Only Memphis is in a position to judge the situation... Some friends should not be told. I once told a friend that I was on a diet, and now every time I see her she asks me how I'm doing with food. It drives me insane, and I wish that I had never told her.

You don't have to tell them. I just returned from five days away with 20 of my closest friends and none of them knew. Tell your friends that you had a stomach flu yesterday, and that food is not really appealing to you. After a few days if they ask you why aren't better yet, tell them that you're totally better, but still don't really feel like eating, and as long as you feel that way, you're going to run with it! Wrinkle your nose at food! The great time!

Just know that you're not the only one! Find your Zen space, block out the smells, and just focus. The food you cook for your kids is NOT for you. You can do it! And I highly recommend them super healthy, single ingredient foods. You will be less tempted to cheat by sneaking a bite of chicken then you will be to sneak bite of pizza. You can do it!

My first fill hurt also, but the second one was totally easy...

For what it's worth, i had my surgery on April 18, and I'm in exactly the same boat. I feel like a total failure for not being able to eat smaller portions. And I have already had two fills! I just pray that after my next fill, I see a little restriction and the band starts to help me, rather than just be there to remind me that i suck. All that said, we're actually not failures. And we know that we're in band hell. And we know that just like right after the surgery, the band will stop us from being able to overeat. Eventually