Graceful One

Mimi, At my surgery orientation my doctor stated that while alot of surgeons are not comfortable using the band for heavier weights, he has done several that are 500 + and not had any problems. I agree with the others, what ever they find most comfortable is what this will want to do. My doctor does mostly bands now, but started out doing RNY's...

I had to share this because it was funny to me. I weighed myself last Sunday and I was 229, down 21lbs since surgery 11/5/03. Yesterday, after having a bought with stomach flu and diarrhea for two days I weighed myself. To my absolute dismay I was at 240! Oh how heartbroken was I...thinking have I drank my Water...gosh I haven't been eating alot...maybe that handful of tortilla chips...EESH! I chocked it up to water weight and immediately ran to grab my Nalgene bottle and start sipping. Later in the day I was cleaning my bathroom and noticed my very posh glass see through scale was quite dusty. I picked it up to clean and when I looked at the dial it was on 10lbs. I was so happy to see that my scale was off by 10lbs to the positive and quickly readjusted the dial and stepped on it....back to 229! Moral of this story is...if you don't have a digital make sure the scale is taired to zero before you flip out you've gained!

I am happy so far with who I have told, my family, best friends, and co-workers (I have a very small work group and they all knew I had my gallbladder out last November). I have experienced nothing but support from all of them. Co-workers have called to check up on me and see how I'm recovering and not once have they asked how much I've lost, although I gleefully told them I'm down 21lbs at two weeks out no fill! My family has been great. My sister and I did some shopping the other day and went out to lunch for some fab chicken dumpling Soup. I do not regret telling those I have, for friends I haven't chose to tell I'm glad as well as they would be critical of me. It is such a personal decision, my best friend is trying to get approved and only I, her husband, and my family know. She hasn't even told her family. To each their own. That is the beauty of this marvelous little buddy. We all choose how to eat, how much fill we need to find our sweet spot, and who we want to know. It is truly adjustible!

Isn't this awesome! I'm prefill banded on 11/5/03 and I'm already down 21lbs...went to McDonalds with my girlfriend and her son the other day and I got a happy meal. JT, my girlfriends 3 year old helped me finish the cheeseburger and fries...plus he got my toy! How funny to me that a three year old eats more than me...oh and my last trip to McD's was for a 10piece chicken Mc Nugget and a two cheeseburger value meal and the large coke and I could still have ate more! I'm so blessed to have been able to have this surgery...I do not feel deprived in any way...it is just so freeing not to obcess about food 24x7... Can't wait to get my first fill as I'm starting to feel like I do not have much restriction (my band is empty). I can only imagine what having a fill is going to do for me...December 8th here I come! It is so nice to hear that others are doing just as well and are so happy....this is a great support group!

Misty, I know my ex-fiance has fears of me being thin...yeah...he still thinks he has a chance! I'm 28 and broke off our engagement last winter...really haven't done a whole lot as far as going out as I'm busy with my family and career, however, I cannot wait to be at a healthy weight again and go out and shake my stuff. I'm fortunate that even at 250 I was proportionate and although I didn't get the attention from men that I did when I was thin somehow, someone who liked fat chics always seemed to find me...LOL... I'm scared but I'm also excited! I met a guy this summer "blind date" type thing and he never called me again. Funny how we got along prior to meeting. I would love to see him when I'm at 145 and be like...you missed out jerk! I keep telling my friends that I'm going to start taking applications when I see a cute guy because pretty soon I'm going to be a babe! Alot of times our size is our security, our knowing that we will not have to let someone in (because no one is dying to get in)...similar to getting your hair cut short...you can't hide behind it anymore...but let me tell everyone I'm ready to sport a cute halter top and a little skirt this summer looking fine as all hell! Sorry for being so full of myself but after all of what I've been through (including my ex-fiance telling me the night before surgery I wouldn't have to worry about complications if I wasn't so fat) I deserve to be happy and confident!

Donali, Congratulations! I'm so happy for your and how far you have come in your journey. Your post was extremely thought provoking and I think I would too like to research more about the effects of metabolism. Vera, there is a wonderful book call the Insulin Resistance Diet I bought when first diagnosed with IR. The basic tenant of the book is that you need to eat protien to balance your carbs which helps with the high fluctuation of insulin when we eat carb only foods. I've found and continue to find that milk was the perfect food for me as it has a natural balance of protien and carbs. Studies have also confirmed that a diet high in dairy products (low-fat of course) helps us to lose weight. I don't remember then name of the substance in dairy from my biochemistry class but I remember finding it fascinating. Anyway I am so happy this is not a diet...I'm two weeks and two days out and am down 21 lbs! If your interested pick up the Insulin Resistance Diet as it is a very sound way of eating and works to provide you with the reasons behind a balanced diet. Not a diet book in my mind...more of a "this is how you should eat and why" book. It was very helpful. Anyway kids...I have a condo showing today so everybody say a prayer it finally sells! Gotta get cleaning.

Hello everyone, My bestfriend is in the process of getting approved. She was denied by LINECO (BC/BS of IL POS) for only having a BMI of 40.6. She was also told that she has to have 6 months of medically supervised weight loss attempts (yet they will not pay for a nutritionist). When she stated that the FDA approval is 35 with significant co-morbidities and 40 is indicated without, the claims person told her that because the group is self-funded she needs to have a BMI of 45. Along with her 40.6 BMI she has high blood pressure and PCOS/Insulin Resistance. Does anyone have any advice I can pass along?

My doctor said salad shouldn't be a problem...I'll join you...I'm in love with Olive Garden's soup and salad! Just hold the breadsticks for us!

Congratulations! I've been an on and off WW for years...and I never thought of the 10%! I'm a week and a few days out and I'm down 20lbs...so at 25 I'll meet my 10% too! Congratulations to us...at least we know all those dues didn't go unnoticed...we remembered something...ah yes...and a McDonalds Sausage Egg and Cheese McMuffin has 7 points...

While dressing before surgery I was completely naked, less the lovely gown. I really don't think it is that big of deal...they do this every day. The period thing too shouldn't be that big of deal...wear a tampon or if your on the pill start a new pack on the Sunday you would start taking your blanks...you will skip that month...which isn't a bad idea as your uncomfortable after surgery and having to deal with your period is just a bigger pain... Just my two sense!

First off let me say Sue you rock...and I love your sensor style...very farmish! I am one week and one day out...on Tuesday on my way to Milwaukee for my post op appt (1.5 hours) my girlfriend and I ran through McDonalds and sassy me got a Breakfeast Burrito. Ate about half and chewed it until it was runnier than yogurt (I'm on pureed right now)...went down well and didn't have a problem...told my nutritionist and she was fine with it. She said if you can start incorporating soft solids now go ahead as long as you chew and eat slow. That same day we went out for lunch at a quaint little Mexican place...I had refried Beans with salsa and guacomole...also had about five tortilla chips...guess what...no problems...I chewed the beans (I'm sure they were like...people usually just swallow us whole...LOL) but everything went fine too...and the salsa was even spicy and oh so good! I've read all to posts of the preop diets and think they are ridiculous...I can see a few days to clean out your stomach but three weeks...good Lord! I'm glad my nutritionist and surgeon are comfortable with how I'm doing...even though I may be progressing a little more quickly than others...it is an individiual game for us all and more doctors need to realize that.

Don't be nervous...although it is perfectly normal to feel that way... I was just banded on Wednesday November 5th...I was excited up until I saw my surgeon in the surgical holding room that morning...before I new it, it was over and I've already lost 10.5 lbs... Let me give you my advice...as soon as you can get up and walk around...you may shock the hell out of some nurses and it may hurt but it will make you feel better alot sooner (went shopping on Friday already...) Second, don't be afraid to use your pain pump or liquid vicodin when you get home...it is there to make you feel better. Get out a heating pad to place on your tummy when you get home, invest in some gas-ex as you will be bloated with gas from surgery...it passes...I felt so miserable and like a bloated cow, especially the day after surgery... Have all your after surgery supplies in order...water bottles to sip from, chewable Vitamins (Centrum are good!), Soup broths and cream Soups (Campbells soup at hand is yummy), Jello made (I was making mine Thursday night) pudding, yogurt, protien powder bought (Carnation Instant Breakfeast sugar free is good too) and a half gallon of skim milk to add to the above to make runny. Lastly, relax and realize it will all be over soon and the payoffs are far better than the two or three days you'll be down...I can honestly tell you I feel way better than I expected too at five days out...spent the day at my friends playing with her 3 year old on Saturday... I had my gallbladder out laparscopically last November and this was a walk in the park compared to that! If you get naseous from anesthesia let EVERYONE know so they can keep an eye on you and give you some good anti-nausea meds... Good Luck...you'll do fine!

OK, I haven't been hungry but I've been eating only got some nutrients in. This morning in dread I whipped up some sugar free Carnantion Instant Breakfeast - chocolate, recommended by my program. To my suprise it was quite tasty! I used a milk frother I got to whip it up (also can be used for any protien powder liquid) and it worked awesome...not lumpy at all...so in 8oz I managed to get 14 grams of Protein and only 150 calories...and miraculously this headache that I now think may have been a signal of hunger is gone! For all the newbies if your looking for something to get your protien in and are waiting on a protien order or don't want to order this is pretty good...

Tellie, I must be your twin sister then because I'm freaking out that if I cough everything will be messed up because it hurts so much to do so! I know I'm very swollen around my port area...feels hard underneath it..but then I think there is a foreign body under there and of course my body is going to be like, "what the hell is this..." Don't worry hun...we are still healing...I just had surgery on November 5th and I think in a week or two we'll be smiling when all the gas is gone and the swelling is down!

OK...so I had surgery on Wednesday...did all the liquids yesterday and full liquids today...I managed to drink a bunch of water and gag down 1/2c of Campbells Soup at Hand Creamy Chicken...so it's 9:35pm and I figured I'm not hungry but need to get some calories in so I made some Cream of Wheat...very runny...had about 6 teaspoons full and have absolutely no more interest in it...this is freaking me out! What I really want is some water...so perhaps I'll bust open another 14oz bottle of Nalgene... Is this normal? I'm so bored...I think I used to spend time eating when I was bored...I'm trying to stay up a little later and get a full 8 hours of sleep because the past few nights has been scattered up and down... I can't believe I'm not hungry...if I stay like this I'll be a waif in no time...but seriously did you have to force yourself to eat...is it just the bloat and anesthesia waiting to wear off? Perhaps I"ll read...that will satisfy my boredom...I feel so unnormal right now!

Well I'm up again and starting to feel a bit better...I'm going to ask my bestfriend to bring me some gas-ex when she comes over in the morning...I'm trying to chock down my jello every few hours but I'm just not hungry...still keeping up my water intake...it's hard when you feel so bloated to eat and drink...oh...and I went to McDonalds twice on my way home yesterday...once to get a small coffee and the next time to use the bathroom...I can't believe it...first time in my life I didn't eat there...LOL...

I need any and all advice on getting rid of this gas pain...just sitting below my diaphragm...burped and tooted a few times but not enough...I wish I could poke myself with a pin and fly around the room as it is all let out... ANY ADVICE?

Ladies and Gentlemen.... I'm an official bandster now! I feel like I gained 50lbs from the air...all the nurses were impressed at how much I wanted to walk around...just made some cherry Jello and am going to bed! Thanks for all your great info...I'm hurting a little but it is similar to my gallbladder...piece of cake! Let's just hope the bloat wears off soon!

LOL...I should have enough flip flops...LOL I'm at Aurora Sinai!

Well I'm almost a bandster...I can't believe how fast my countdown went! You were all right...time flew by! Now I'm listening to my Mom complain about having to leave at 4:00am to get to the hospital...a small price to pay! I just wanted to thank all of you for always being so positive in your posts...even when it's the stuff we don't want to hear...I've learned so much information and hope to continue in this journey with all of you and learn even more!

Oh Bright I'm so happy to hear everything went well! You'll be feeling up to par in no time! So glad to hear about the flip-flops...your too cute!

Sarah, Tell Bright Welcome to the other side...and while you are there make sure she wears every pair of flip-flops she brought with...hate to see her pack and not use them!

Hi there! I'm 27 and livein Green Bay, WI. I'm getting banded November 5th (yes..7 days and 1.5 hours) in Milwaukee, WI! I'd be happy to be your buddy!

Wish Bright the best of luck and tell her I hope she finds use for her three pairs of flip-flops...it will help me decide in my packing!

I never thought I'd say this but I'm lap-banded out! I'm so anxious for surgery and have been on the boards so much in the past week that I'm actually looking at starting a new hobby...LOL... Can't wait to read something that pertains to the new me...I think I've overprepared myself as I'm ready to call and see if there are any cancellations tomorrow...LOL