lizzybeth

I just tell them the truth: I eat less.
If I deem them worthy, they hear the rest of the story.
If not, that's all they need to know.

Yes we will post the finding when they are done, but it will probably not be until the spring, since research takes so long. Thank you all for participating!

I can promise you that it's not the protein that is stalling you. You are freshly sleeved, as I just checked your profile. I did atkins, many times through the years... I at a lot I mean A LOT of protein. This is not the problem. Also, looking at your tracker, you are doing fantastic. You might have hit a small stall. Don't fret. You are so early out that your body is freaking out about the lack of calories. Are you getting your fluids in? I noticed when I am in a stall, this usually kicks it out. Don't be mad at your husband. He was trying to help... Hell, mine tests me by offering me bad stuff...LOL. (Playfully. Not for reals.) So calm down. I promise the scale will move in the right direction. I was stuck at 231 or almost 4 weeks. I am at 208 now. It will move.Congrats on the weight loss thus far. You will do great.

I second the chap stick. My mouth was so dry too and I could not have anything until I had my leak test. I did, however, put some Water in my mouth, swish it around and spit it out in a cup. I did this often and the staff allowed it (I would never have swallowed it without a leak test!).
I did not bring a bath robe - I would not have been able to use one anyway. I had an IV on one hand, an oxygen meeter on the other hand...no way for me to put my hand through a robe. They have robes at the hospital that have snaps at the shoulders.
I did bring my cell phone and charger, toothbrush and toothpaste . I also brought few books and magazines too but I never read them.
Oh, I did bring my own pillow. I am glad that I did. Just don't use a white pillow case so the hospital will know it's not one of theirs.

You're rockin' it! Way to go!

You're rockin' it! Way to go!

I have always felt like a butterfly inside. I have always felt that I just needed to shed so that my little light of many colors could shine through. OMGGGGGGG...I haven't slept in almost 2 days. This metamorphosis is long over due!!! The road to success for a butterfly has never been easy....but all the hard work is so worth it. A butterfly starts it's life as an egg.....all round and juicy (like me). At 3:25pm...I will go into the operating room as an EGG but will emerge as a LARVA (caterpillar). Sure....I will spend many months as a PUPA, but it won't be long before I can spread my wings and fly!!! My grandmother use to tell us kids that BUTTERFLIES are wishes/prayers trying to make it to Heaven to be heard by God. I thank God for butterflies and I am thanking God in advance for a successful surgery, a speedy recovery, and healthy healing and living for all of us Friday, July 13th Sleevers!

Peppermint toothpaste. Trust me on this one. Some of the meds they give u are liquid and plain nasty. I thought i was gonna throw up but as soon as I brushed my teeth, the peppermint helped tons.

Chap stick.
My lips were unbelievably dry after surgery, especially the 1st 24 hrs because my doc wouldn't give me anything to eat until I had the swallow test. They said all the fluids and nutrients would come in the IV. I wasn't hungry, but my lips her very dry.
Extra Hydrating Lotion
My skin was really dry too.

I wasn't able to eat tomato due to acid. I strained my soups and my favorite was cream of potato. My soups had to be low fat. Read your labels because some of the regular cream of soups had the same fat as 98% fat free chicken. So you may have more options than you realize. I tried butternut squash it was pretty good. Good luck!

Yah! Keep up the good work

I mixed some crushed up vitamins up with sugar free pudding. Don't know how you are out, post-op, though.

How tall are you? Age? Build? Current weight?

lizzybeth, I am home and doing good. I also posted under "Made it Thru". I'm going to read about your journey.

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. It must be very hard for you. Is there any way you can go to him to see him? My thoughts are with you and your dad.

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. It must be very hard for you. Is there any way you can go to him to see him? My thoughts are with you and your dad.

I arrived at the hospital, with my husband, at 9am on Tuesday. Was immediately whisked into the pre-op area where they gave me a johnny, wrist band, compression stockings and my IV. They also put a Dramamine patch behind my ear and said it was to help with nausea after. I was in that room with my husband until about 10:30. A nurse game in and said they were going to give me something to relax me. He said "this stuff ls like having a few strong drinks!" From that point on, I only remember kissing my hubby goodbye, and moving from the bed to the operating room table. The last thing I member them saying to me was "think of a happy place."
I not sure if I woke up in the post-op area, but I do remember them wheeling my bed to a room. To me it felt like they were doing about 100 miles an hour. I almost wanted to raise my hands up in the air and go "Wheeee!". When we got to my room, I tried so hard to open my eyes but I was super groggy. I know my parents, husband, doctor and nurses around telling me that we were done, things went well. The doctor did tell me that they found a few cysts on my liver but she said it was nothing to worry about.
After sleeping for a few hours, my visitors returned and I felt slightly groggy, but no pain at all. I was up and walking around and talking fine. I was able to sleep in my side a bit with out any pain, but I think they gave me the high octane drugs. They gave me torrodol and dilauded as a "press the button and you will feel better." thing. They gave me anti nausea meds too.
I was walking a lot the next day. The nurses were even impressed, they said they had not seen anyone walk and move this well. I was taken down to have my leak test (boy, is that clear med disgusting). My doctor was there for the leak test and I asked her if she was sure she removed part of my stomach because I felt pretty good! The leak test went well ( no leaks) and I was cleared to start sipping Water.
It was when I started to drink that I started to have pretty bad cramps / tightening in my new belly. They wanted me to have about 30cc's an hour. That was a but hard. I slowed down and they gave me more meds.
My third day in the hospital, I spoke to my doctor about the cramps and without thinking, took a sip up juice. She said "no even smaller sips. take very dainty sips. That must have been why I was cramping. I thought I was taking small sip but i guess not. I came home about 4pm today and took a nap. I have been drinking (small sips) and had a SF popsicle for dinner. Feeling overall very good.

Wish you both a speedy recovery
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lizzybeth, sleeve twin, keep me posted and I'll do the same. Hope for a speedy recovery. See you on the other side of this journey or as they say on the loser's bench.

I used skim milk as well, and am also sleeved tomorrow (have to be at the hospital at 9am). And I have lost about 8 pounds too (tjloser - we're like sleeve twins, haha!)

Wow 18 people on July 2nd that's a LOT. 26 sleevers will be sleeved before the 4th of July -- how awesome is that? So many people getting their 'independence day'.....freaks the crap out of me how close this is though.... lol

I, like most posts above initially wanted the band. At the seminar and half way through the process, I was convinced I wanted the band. It was "safe" and reversible if needed. After many, many months of research and talking to people, I changed my mind and felt the sleeve was the best choice for me.
In one of my classes (as required by insurance and my surgeon's office), there were some people there that spoke about their experiences. 3 were "banders." 1 had problems and was at a higher weight than when he started, one woman complained about frequent vomiting and one women overall liked her band, but did talk about "slimies" coming up (I suspect it was like foamy spit coming up?). The woman that was sleeved loved it and had no problems.
When I researched the band, I read things about slippages, vomiting, too much restriction, too little restricting, the port flipping, erosion and other things. I even saw several pictures of people who, once they did loose the weight, their port was so visible beneath the skin, it was like a big bulge. I definitely did not want that!
I like that the sleeve was a "set it and forget it" thing (I know you still have to work at it by eating well and everything - what I mean by that is that you dont have to go for fills and unfills to try to find your sweet spot)
Do some reasarch, talk to your doctor so that you make the best decision for you.

Don't forget our July sleevers facebook group. It's totally private and of you'd like to join just send me an add it's April Davis Gilley or april_gilley@yahoo.com on fb. It's an awesome group with lots of great people

Its difficult to respond to this post without becoming emotional...because I, too, can relate. Each of us has played a particular role in the lives of others around us. It may be hurtful to hear this, but these wonderful, life-long friendships may not have been as fully sincere as we thought. Many people, thick or thin, are extremely insecure about their physical appearance. In my experience, many insecure thin people keep "fat friends" around in order to feel better about themselves, and to "look" better (to others looking in), in comparison to the heavier person sitting next to them. It may not even be a conscious thing on their part...I think, in many ways, its simple human nature...as hurtful as it might be, to those of us on the other side of the coin. As hard as it may be, the only healthy thing to do is to refocus on those TRUE friends who are loving and supporting you...cheering you on, as you conquer the Goliath in your life...the excess weight you've been dragging around with you. Don't let petty jealousy, and another's insecurity, pull you down. They simply aren't worth the energy you're going to expend worrying and hurting over them. Much love and encouragement to all!!

I so very, very happy that my alien baby is gone! Even after a year, it always bothered me if I leaned against a counter, used my stomache mucles too much, or slept wrong. Not to mention it freaked my husband out in bed /-8
Be grateful that you all have found this site, and the lapbandtalk site before your surgery. I didn't. If I had I would have made a differentt decision. I should have listened to my Dr.