Summerrain

As soon as I read your post I had a look at my incision points, all the little ones I can hardly see and the biggest one is a flat fading line. The only thing I've used is moisturiser on my skin as it can get a bit dry, other than that nothing and my scars are not very noticeable seven months out. To be honest not even sure if those creams, and ointments work, I did look into them but found some too expensive. I have heard people swear by Vitamin e.

Congrats!!!

I always have a bottle of water in my car, in my bag and one I carry around with me everywhere during the day, that way I'm constantly drinking. If you work you can keep a bottle visible on your desk.

You can really notice a difference, well done!!

Yum love Chinese food, I've eaten it about four times since being banded and I go for the stirfry chicken and vegetables. My nutritionist says if you want something just have a little bit. For me it's about portion control with everything even the not so good stuff and seven months out and scales still going down. And yes I've eaten the rice too. So whether you portion control or calorie count as long as you do that I don't see a problem. You can always make your own and control what goes in it, the stir frys are healthy, lots of recipes on the net and cooking Chinese food is very quick and easy.

Yes I take fibre everyday as advised by my nutritionist, it certainly helps keep me regular. I take benefibre, I mix it into my water and I can't taste it. You need to be careful with some of the fibers out there as some can clog the stoma area, I find benefibre doesn't have that effect on me personally so it might be trial and error with some of them till you find what works fine with your body.

The same day I was banded, it hurt like hell to get in bed but my husband helped me and I slept with lots of pillows so I was in an upright position. By the third night I'd wake up laying down with pillows under my tummy for support as I slept on my side.

Welcome to the otherside and I wish you a soeedy recovery.

Try laying flat on your back and try relaxing and breathing, I found that helped me. I actually got the shoulder pain last night whilst sleeping and I'm seven months banded, they actually say its referred pain from the diagram.

Woot!!! Well done!!!

I was doing the cooking for my family from day one, light housework also, drove after a week and was back to pretty much doing everything except heavy lifting by end of second week. Seems my household falls apart even if I'm out of action for a day!!

Congrats what an awesome feeling that must have been.

I can feel your happiness just through my screen!! You deserve to be over the moon with all the hard work.

22 pounds in one month preop, three optifast a day with 2 cups of vegetables at night. It was tough as hell but that month I found my willpower to tough out the more difficult stages after being banded. It also detoxed me and I felt so much more energetic by the second week on optifast. I also think it shrunk my stomach by the end of it because two nights before being banded I had my last super of my fav food and couldn't eat much of it.

Initially when I first started fills I was told liquids right away but if I was fine then softer foods and the next day if I was fine solids. As I got closer to greenzone it was one day liquids then progress to soft then solids. But you're right we all get different instructions and sometimes from person to person at our centers which can be frustrating and confusing at times. Wish they would all get their act together and prescribe one set if rules for all banded people, it would stop so much confusion amongst us all.

My doctor encouraged me to walk as soon as I could, 30 mins a day which I started doing by week two then gradually built it up to an hour a day by the fourth week, that's all I do for now but I need to do more now seven months out so will be starting water aerobic next week, three times a week, the gym kills my back but I find walking and water aerobics I do very well with.

I used to get a lot of sliming at the beginning regardless of whether it was my first bite or fifth bite, I just think its the body's natural reaction to a foreign object and eating differently. The reason the body produces the mucous/ slim is to help push the food through especially if our bites are a bit to big. I rarely get it seven months out. The only time I get a bit of it is first thing in the morning from time to time but otherwise it's settled down considerably.

Telogen Effluvium is what you're experiencing, type that in google and have a read.

Hmmm hybernatiing for six months sounds like a great idea.

The rumbling could be your digestive system preparing to digest whatever you've drunk. It expects food but only gets liquids and because your intestines are empty you feel it and hear it more. A rumbling tummy doesn't always mean hunger. I researched it on the Internet when I was experiencing it and that's was an answer to one of the searches I did.

Just beautiful!! Well done you look great.

Congrats in your baby and your weightloss too, you've done amazingly well.

Ty for sharing and what a difference, you're very pretty. I prepared some photos today just have to find the courage to post then too.