mikki21

Another thing that will cause the slime is if you aren't drinking enough liquids. I have had the problem of having mucus blocking my band, thus blocking the food from going into my stomach(think clogged pipe). So be sure to drink plenty of water and chew all of your food really good. Stay away from dry chicken or beef and bread because that is a recipe for getting stuck and dealing with the slime!!! Then if you try to drink something to push the food down, be prepared to taste that drink immediately!! The cold water will still be cold when it comes back up.

try miralax or the generic brand at walgreens!! it worked like a charm for me. also add a prune to your daily diet to keep your regular. my doctor made this suggestion the week after surgery.

I'm feeling the same way.

Ok so you know how you put on your clothes and they don't quiet fit. Somehow they didn't grow and you did. Well it looks like my clothes and I are both the same size now!!! Prior to having the surgery I was surely supposed to wear an 18, but my vanity would not let me buy anything larger than a 16. So needless to say I would be in pain for most of the day because my pants would be attempting to fit around my midsection that was clearly too large. I would rub that pink/red line around my waist when I took my clothes off or wear those girtles to try to create a barrier between the too tight pants and my belly. Well NOT ANYMORE!! My pants now require a belt to keep them up as I tug on them through most of the day without the belt. Please share, I know I'm not the only one who's clothes didn't continue to grow as we grew and certainly not the only one who can finally fit the once extra tight stuff. It is actually happening!! Oh yeah and since my first fill 4.5ccs in a 10cc band, my appetite has really decreased and I dont really ever think about food.

Do you take them? I haven't found any that I actually like so I have been avoiding them. I used to take a prenatal vitamin before the band because it was easier on my stomach now I don't know what to take. I attempted those chewables YUCK!!! I'm gonna give the vitamins another try but do any of you know of a small sized vitamin that won't need to be chewed?

YOU GO GIRL!!!

I love Miralax too and its generics but I also add a prune to my diet everyday. Prunes get a bad rep but they really do the trick. Also apples, peaches and grapes(you may want to avoid the skin on the grape but I have never had issue with it). Also adding more green leafy veggies works wonders for cleaning out the bowels and helping with constipation.

banded 11/17, no pre-op diet... 11.5 down. I'm out of the 230s!!! First fill scheduled for 12/8

So this journey started for me about 5 years ago. I started thinking about this procedure and considered going to Mexico to have it done. I went through the process of trying to be approved by my insurance company with no success. Finally I have decided to take this show on the road up to Nashville and I'm doing it self-pay. My family has been so supportive and my mom is even splitting the cost of the procedure (12K) with me. Yes, I'm really excited that the procedure is going to be behind me in 2 weeks, but now I'm concerned about my life following having it done. I hope that I am able to shake my "fat-girl mentality" that has kept me in the current state of weight for so long. I am fully aware that this is a tool to assist me in my goal of a healthier and sexier me!! I work in an office and my position does not require me to do a ton of running around and no lifting at all. Will returning to work 4 days post surgery be a bad idea? I hope that I can see my goal of an 85lbs lose in 6-8 months, but I also realize it didn't take 6-8 months to gain it so it may take longer to lose it. Its almost that time!! So much for having a cocktail for my bday (Nov 19th) but a band is a pretty darn great gift!! Thanks me!!

Can you claim WLS on your taxes as a medical expense? I did mine as self pay so certainly there is a way right?

Best of luck to you!! One day soon we will be where we are striving to go!!

Thank you all for your responses!!!! I need all the help I can get.

It wasn't great for me either initially, but please keep trying to get that Water in. You don't want to get constipated cause that's a world of other issues. You are gonna do great. I had my depressive moments directly following the procedure but I know this is gonna be a great tool for the long haul.

$12,000 includes 3 months of fills Dr Morton, Nashville, TN

I had my surgery on November 17th and I'm happy about it, however, after reading all of these posts I was led to believe there would be minimal to no pain...HAHAHAHA THAT'S A JOKE!! I was certain that death was imminent on the day after surgery until I got my hands on the GOD-SENT GAS-X. My doctor prescribed Demerol and I say TAKE IT!! There is no need to walk around thinking, 'Oh a little extra strenght Tylenol will get me through it', that's a crock of crap!! I'm totally paranoid about how much I eat. I'm sustaining myself on about half a cup of food per meal. I'm scared of what a stuck situation will be like. Also I'm chewing everything 28 times. So having a conversation while eating is out of the question. Imagine counting in your head and talking... bad idea!! Food isn't fun anymore, after you have chewed something 28+ times it doesn't even taste good anymore...I had 31 years of food tasting unbelievably good, hence needing the surgery!!! So now I'm 7 days post-op and I generally feel fine. I'm nauseated when I wake up in the morning, could it be because I haven't had a bowel movement in days... um yeah!!! I can't find a comfortable sleeping position and I don't know if i'm coming or going most days but I still think this was the best procedure for me. I have made a call to my doctor to better understand why I feel the need to sleep sitting straight up in the bed, she called me back and laxatives here I come. This is less that ideal for longterm so I hope we can nip this in the bud. Best of luck Bandsters, please don't take my rant as advice not to get the surgery. I think this tool is going to actually work, heck I've lost 6lbs since last week!!! My appetite has increased which means the swelling around the band must have gone down. I guess this means I'll be increasing my intake to 1 cup of food per meal. I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'm still excited about the new me that is waiting in the wings!! 6lbs down.... 78 to go!!!!

The first few days were tough so take it easy.

Slim Fast High Protein is really good.

Yeah my gall bladder had to go about 3 years ago so this is just adding to the jigsaw puzzle on my belly. I'm sure it will look a lot better once the belly is less round, you know nothing distracts from a flat tummy!! I hope that we do keep up with each other. This is an adventure that I don't think should be traveled alone. I'm Mikki so be in touch and I will do the same!!

We are super cool!!! Band life hasn't been so bad so far. My appetite has kicked up again and according to my doctors this is a good thing. I'll have my first fill on Dec 8. I'm so excited for you!! I look like I've been shanked (stabbed violently) about the stomach but mederma is gonna make me all pretty again.

I was banded on November 17, 2010 - 31 years old My birthday was November 19th, so I'm 32 now. Hopefully my 33rd birthday will be amazing and 85 lbs less than I am now!!!

Take your time, move as much as you can and rest. Remember you did just have major surgery!! Follow the doctor's orders and look out cause hunger is just around the corner.

I was on liquids for 2 days, mushies for 2 days and back to normal food on day 5. Anything I eat (tuna salad, chicken salad, flaky fish, sliced turkey, soft veggies) I was advised to chew at least 27 times. I wish i had had all of your pain levels as I really thought the gas was sent by the devil to destroy me.

My doctor mentioned this last week saying that it looks good that the FDA will be changing the BMI requirements from 35 to 30. This will help lots of people.

Best of luck to you!!! Please keep us updated on your progress. I'm having mine done on the 17th and I'm a little, ok a lot, worried about the pain.

My interview was about 30 minutes with the doctor then off to the tiny room to answer 625 questions that make you think you're crazy by the time you finish. All T/F questions like "I would like the work of a florist", "i'm worthless", "i hate my father/mother", "i love my father/mother" and so on and so on and so on. Then the last part of the test is like 30 questions about you and suicide!! So all in all it wasn't so bad but it took forever and you come out thinking you're nuts!!