dhales

In Houston there was a news lady - can't remember her name - she donned a "fat suit" and went in public. She would walk into a store and receive great service as her skinny self and then when she put on the fat suit and make up to look different and walked into the same store with the same people she had a totally different experience. She said they were not as customer service oriented. It was interesting to know that during the experiment she also held a diet coke while in the fat suit and got a little better service....as if people were a little more okay with someone being overweight if they were doing something about it. It was very interesting.

Geez....I would think that would either be negligence of the surgeon or a defect in the band. I don't think "we" should have to pay for those errors.

No - but they will most likely give you those lovely paper panties with a mega size pad to put on...since they make you take everything off under your gown.

rlane - I am not very far into this journey. But one thing I noticed about myself that may be helpful for you is that when I was home with nothing to do - I obsessed more about food. When I went back to work I obviously had other things on my mind. I also know from my past habits that I am a boredom/stress eater. You didn't mention if you worked/went to school or had a hobby...but if not I would strongly recommend one or all of those if possible. The more you do outside the home the better you will feel. chocolate is my downfall...so is cheese. Heck if you provide me with a chocolate cheesecake I thought I was in heaven. I just haven't allowed it in the house. My family has been supportive. I told them its kind of like an alcoholic just getting out of rehab...be sensitive to me regarding my triggers. You wouldn't put beer in the fridge or a keg stand in the kitchen for an alcoholic...so please have the same courtesy for me.

I agree with Cazzy...the heating pad worked wonders for me.

Prayers going your way....you will do great. Let us know how you are doing when you are on the other side

I slept with the heating pad. It seemed to be the only thing that relieved that pain. Walking helped and as strange as it seemed...if I straightened my arm above my head it seemed to stretch it out and provide some relief. It turned out I was allergic to my pain medicine and couldn't take it the second day. Take your pain meds if you can. Rest for the next few days. Walk around the house when you can and use your heating pad. Eventually you will wake up one morning with no or very little pain. For me my surgery was on Tuesday. Thursday was my worst day (don't really know why) and I woke up Friday feeling better, Saturday even more better and Sunday a new woman. I still occasionally have some phantom shoulder pain daily for about 10 minutes. I am now 9 days post-op.....but it is nothing major and goes away quickly. You will get over this...I promise that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Is that the Active.com app from iTunes? Does it use your own music to shuffle then tells when to walk/jog...etc? I think it is 1.99....just want to make sure I get the right thing.

Do you think the Couch to 5K is doable for someone who has probably never done any real exercise long term? I can't afford the gym but would like to try that out with my teenage girls. It would be good for all of us.

Not sure - but salmon patties are kind of mushy. someone put the recipe up on here the other day and I copied it down. I can't wait to be off liquids...it will be my first meal. 1 pouch chicken of the Sea salmon 1 beaten egg 1/4 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese 2 Tbsp bread crumbs 2 Tbsp finely chopped onion Make into 2-3 patties.

Scorpiolady...I weighed the day after surgery and had gained 2 pounds...so weird. But I think it is all those fluids. I have not been getting in as much water as I should. I struggle with it. So some of my loss is water weight for sure. I am sure once I get on solids that my weight may spike a little...but hopefully not. I am determined to follow this to a "T". I don't want to fail yet again

My height wasn't measured....just weight the morning of. You need to shed some water weight in the next week. I would stay with the protein shakes and cut all sodium if you can. Drink plenty of water. Maybe someone else has some ideas.

Good Luck...you won't be hungry afterwards Let us know how it goes when you feel up to it.

I am 8 days post op...I have lost 16 pounds so far (5.5 pre-op). I haven't been hungry and have been satisfied on the liquids so far. I go for my post-op tomorrow and may be put on solids since I haven't had any issues or nausea. My doc is kind of aggressive. I will get a fill in 3 weeks after surgery. I am not going to sugar coat...the first few days was kind of miserable. But honestly every day I woke up I felt better....and when I woke up on Sunday morning I felt almost completely normal....well except for not wanting to eat and the occasional shoulder pain. My incisions are slightly itchy...guess that means they are healing. All in all....not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. And any uncomfortable issues I had are way overshadowed by the benefit. I would do it again in a heart beat.

Congratulations!!!

Toot your horn!!! I love reading long term success stories, it is very encouraging to the rest of us that are jus beginning.

Everyone I have shared it with has been very supportive. My family knows and a couple of people at work. I expected some weirdness from it...but surprisingly a couple admitted they were interested in the surgery but never pursued it. They asked me plenty of questions. Some of our friends found out on Easter when I didn't partake of the feast and ate soup instead. They were supportive as well and asked all of the common curiosity questions. I kind of figure the more people that know...the more I will stay on track and can't quit. Not sure if that makes sense.

Passion - I had a full blown cold or something when I went for surgery. I couldn't believe that I woke up that morning coughing and a sore throat. I was worried they would turn me away and reschedule. Which they did not. After surgery I woke up feeling better in regard to my cold than when I went in. I guess the antibiotic they give you through the IV and the good clean oxygen they flushed my lungs with took care of it for me. I was no longer coughing and could breathe fine....my husband thought it was kind of ironic. Me too...lol

This looks yummy...I think I will give it a try when I am onto solids.

I have to say...I wish I had nipped this in the bud when I was 17 years old. Now I am 36 years old and I have spent the last 20 years on every fad diet known to man. Not to mention that I have developed overweight issues such as Type II diabetes.

So - I am recently banded and I wonder what happens when you get stuck...you don't choke? I guess you can still breath....also how do you bring it back up if that happens? Just curious.

Diabetes, PCOS, Sleep Apnea...just to name a few.

My insurance covered some because of the Hernia repair. My out of pocket is is $5500.

YES!!! I am lucky to get in a bottle of water in all day. I am used to drinking 7-10 a day. I am only 6 days Post Op...but I am worried about dehydrating. I try to sip all day...but there really isn't enough hours in a day to to sip 64 ounces. I would love to hear about what others are doing.

I'm lucky to get one bottle water down a day. but I have a popsicle each day and a protein shake (that takes me all day to drink) and hope that those hydrate me some. I feel your pain. Family came over yesterday and my hubby made brisket and ribs and everyone brought all kinds of sides. I thought I would be drooling...but surprisingly didn't really want it. my mother-in-law made me some pureed soup that was so delicious. I had a few bites and felt satisfied. I agree...to know how much I would have been eating...it truly is an eye opener.