tellie

Wow! After days of freaking out..... nothing! I love my doctor. I asked my husband to leave work early and a friend to baby sit. Got to the doc's office, he congratulated me on my weight lost ( eventhough I put on 2 kilos last night celebrating my birthday which is tomorrow and I thought I should get the eating part out of the way while I could still eat - I know.... i'm bad! but the lemon tart was excellent!) Ok... ahem, sorry, got off track, I'm like hyper with excitement and relief. So I jumped on the table, lift my shirt, he asked me to put my arms behing my head, and do a semi situp. I was looking away with the fear of needles and all, 2 seconds, he told me to relax, i thought he was going to start but he said I was ready!!!!! He only put a tiny amount in .5 ml, and Im going back next month for the next and every month until I am where I am supposed to be. Completely painless! no anesthesia btw, no machine. Thank you all for your patience! tellie

I dont know if this is going to help but here it goes. The clothes I am wearing now ( and that I was wearing 15 pounds ago), were actually bought to fit me when I weighed 20 pounds less than I do today ( thats 35 pounds to my biggest). I refused to buy bigger clothes so I used them anyway ( mostly non stretch pants and semi stretchy tops) defying natural laws (and 8 months of pregnancy)! Now, the reason why this is possible is something that the lady who used to make clothes for me (back in Mexico) explained to me: apparently larger sizes require well, larger everythings. The allowances made for the clothes (specially non stretch pants) to fit in every position( sitting, standing, bending, leg up, yoga pose, arms stretched or whatever) are quite big. The bigger the size, the bigger the allowance, therefore a size 24 is more likely to fit a size 26, than a 22 to fit a size 24. I really hope I made sense. Don't worry, check the protein thing just in case, but you are doing great and you'll be able to use the smaller size in no time! And don't worry about other people not noticing, they will! tellie

Well, we all feel pain differently. I am a big wimp but I can say it wasn't that bad. Probably the first week was unconfortable -specially because I would forget the painkillers until it was too late. C-section hurt heaps more for longer. If you think of finally having a chance to win the war, a week of pain is NOTHING! IMHO. tellie

Thanx everyone Ok, I wont lie, I am still very scared, but you do make me feel so much better! I will let you know how I go tomorrow. It is horrible, but at some stage I did consider bringing my 2 year old to hold my hand! but I don't want her to see me loose it ( in case I do). I don't know if they use a machine but whenever my doc described the procedure he just mentioned the needle part like there is nothing to it (which makes me suspicious being well, the way I am!) Good luck Glitz! Thank you everyone Tellie

Hi everyone, I just thought I would get this out of my system because its killing me and I have nobody to share my fears with. I probably shouldnt have but I have read a few horror stories regarding fills. I don't even know what to expect from mine, but: 1) I hate needles and blood ( I have the dentist drill with no anesthetic, to avoid needles... I know I have been lucky it hasn't involved nerves so far) 2) I still get all sorts of food stuck in the morning ( from mushy fruit to Protein bars or yogurt) 3) I dont yet trust myself eating w/o sipping Water after every tiny bite when eating in public ( which defeats the whole purpose, I know, but avoids unwanted situations in public) and yet, I know its time for a fill because: 1) I havent lost one gram in 8 weeks, only lost while on liquids 2) Im eating almost 2/3rds of what i used to eat before the band, and 3) my doctor wanted to give me a fill 6 weeks ago and I wasn't ready ( mentally). So, I'm going in on thursday and I still haven't really sorted out my feelings. I have fought obesity for so long.... then I gave up 6 years ago or so and pretended to be happy with myself - which I sort of am - very happy with the me that lives inside the fat suit.... Im not happy with the suit) and right now i feel very confused with how to go through this process and the excuses I have been making to avoid .... well, having to explain too much to family and friends. Ok, enough! thanx tellie

Funny! I stopped snoring too the day I came home from hospital. My husband was amazed, and so was I because it made no sense since I hadn't lost any weight at that point, so I dismissed the whole thing. My snoring was a bit of an issue because when we first got married neither of us snored, then I got pregnant and it got loud! and now I'm cured! tellie

First of all, congratulations! You have done great! I also think you have made it, and those 15 pounds will come off slowly, much more than the previous ones, and it is a good thing too, because it will give you time to concentrate on learning how to deal with food, and emotions that trigger eating. I feel like I understand exactly where you are at because I was once 19 (and dieting of course) and I know how it seems that if you dont do it today its never going to happen, or you somehow are going to lose control. But trust me, it will happen because you are in the right track, you have the perfect tool, and its there to stay. Concentrate on being happy today, happy with yourself and your achievements so far, and make it your task, 3 times a day, every day, to make food choices that make you feel happy after eating (and that doesn't mean crazy happy as in sweets and greasy foods, but proud happy as in i'm taking care of myself and my body's nutritious needs). That will also help with the PB's and nosy roomates who probably speculate now whether you are bulimic or something. (also, throwing up is not good for the band) Have fun! enjoy your body today, dont wait for the one you dream you will have tomorrow, if you keep living in the future you miss all the fun today. tellie

Happy New year from melbourne! Hot, humid and soooo quiet! Stayed home babysitting for a friend. Moved house 3 days ago and I was too tired and too depressed to Celebrate. Everything that could go wrong did It's still going! all the best to all of you tellie

Hi everyone, Sue, well said! I was told at the meeting before the surgery of every posible way of "cheating" (liquid calories, drinking water with every bite, etc). At the time I didnt understand why they were telling me that! was outraged! But then thought about it and it makes sense, because this is a tool to help me achieve what has been unachievable all my life, but it is still my responsibility to get there; I am the one to chose how fast, if at all, to lose the weight. I havent had a fill yet and wont be having one until the end of january (had my surgery nov 1). What I find amusing(?), revealing I guess, is the fact that in different occasions my body reacts different to food. I dont know how much restiction, if any, I have now. But some times a chicken nugget makes me feel so full, and other times I have a 'normal' serve of food ( still half of what i used to eat) and feel "empty". And well, the "empty" feeling is what makes me eat, and that hunger is not stopped by the stomach, new or old ( haven't tested this, but im sure if it gets too full ill return the overflow, hope i never get there....). And I know that I have to deal with that. Just dont know how. Now, Diet coke. Why cant you drink diet coke? I was also given instructions on how to start back on it. The nurse told me to drink it flat at first, then mix half flat half fizzy and see how i felt, and then start drinking fizzy drinks again, which i did yesterday ( had a whole glass of diet coke with lots of ice ( 40 degree day in melbourne) and was heavenly. Can someone explain to me what can happen with diet coke? is it different for every doctor like with the diets and liquid stages? Thanks. tellie

Congrats!!! I am really happy for you.... Tellie

thanks for the tips! I will be sure to try them, and avoid eating in a hurry....I am just sooooo happy that salads go down well, and raw vegetables ( so far).... i have been careful to only eat soft, ground beef ( skirt and girello are good to as they shred), chicken is fine, fish no problema, but i gave up on the idea of crisp pita bread.... ugh, that was bad.... so much to learn.... tellie

when exactly, or how, does it become a habit? small bites and chewing food into nothingness? decades of gulping food and now I am supposed to know how to do it carefully and slowly? Its fine when I am having a proper meal with other people, dinner time and stuff, but grabbing lunch, with my 2 year old hanging from my pants demanding to ( fill in the blank, park, food, Water, tv....) i go back to my usual bad habits, and it hurts! I dont want to damage this thing by doing something stupid... If i could just concentrate.... tellie on my 4th week

I chose not to tell my parents before my op. My husband didn't understand it and I explained I didn't want them to worry about me having major surgery when they couldn't be here ( we live in opposite sides of the planet), but the thruth is I know they would have tried to talk me out of it, and we would have ended up fighting over it. When I was 16, ( 16 years ago) I asked my uncle (surgeon) if there was anything I could do to lose weight ( while gulping down a delicious paella one christmas eve). He described what I now understand was a lap band ( ballon that fills to make the stomach smaller ), my parents said in no uncertain terms that surgery was out of the question. I got pills intead....and the problem got worse over the years I told my parents about my surgery a week after I got back home from hospital, over the phone. My dad was horrified, took weeks to get over the shock and I feel bad for him, I know he worries about me. He also felt the need to tell me a few horror stories involving weight loss surgery that people he knew had had. :cool: My surprise was my moms reaction. she has been very supportive if slightly dissapointed to have heard about it after the fact ( I went with the "didnt want you to worry line"). Sorry this is too long, but anyway in the end the important thing is to do what will make this whole experience easier for you. If you want your mom there, explain to her what you need from her (and what you don't). Or just dont tell. I only told 2 people besides my husband and parents, and I somewhat regret it, they look at me funny, expecting me to magically be a size smaller every day and watching everything I eat and drink and that sort of thing....they mean well, they just make it unconfortable. good luck! tellie

I am a bit dissappointed with myself, I lost 7 kilos while on liquids, and as soon as i started eating small amounts of real food, it stopped, havent lost one gram in 2 weeks. Then again, I haven't gained any back either so I try to stay positive and blame it on years of abuse to my poor body. Still, I will postpone the fill until january because I'm not coping with the new lifestyle yet and don't need added pressure. Slow learner tellie

ouch! ack! I get it.... thanks for that.... tellie

What i find confusing is that everyone seems to have different info about the same thing ( or so i thought, didn't know there are different types of bands!). Before op, the only instruction was no food ( or drink i later found out) after midnight the night before op. After, ice chips on the day of the op, all day, not even water ( that i found out at midnight when the nurse shift ended and the night nurse was furious that i had been given water and capsules to swallow as soon as i woke up)... clear liquids on the second day, and 'nutritious liquids' for the next 3 weeks ( N.l. = liquid yogurts, soups with no lumps, juices.....) Now, I thought it was 3 weeks of liquids and 3 weeks transition, but my doc told me on monday its actually 3 weeks total before solids! (and I dont know if im happy or not now that i discovered a delicious yogurt and a wonderful variety of soups! how sad is that?) I feel I would have liked to have clearer instructions though..... every meal is guesswork ( like today, when i ate a mango without blending it first, just chewed it to oblivion.... feeling overwhealming guilt-not for the mango, but whether i was doing something wrong, like having a small spoonfull of cottage cheese...) now, cravings..... hasn't even been 2 weeks since the op, and I desperately crave steak.... and cheese ( all sorts, blue, parmesan, brie, velveeta, swiss, oaxaca, chihuahua, manchego, cheddar, fetta, ricotta, sliced, grated, cubed, melted... you get the picture.... and a question.... when are diet sodas safe again???? tellie

Almost into my 8th day post op. Today I had a bit of pain on the abdomen, near one of the cuts. Tonight, i have a hard lump in that area.... i dont want to get scared, the other cuts are ok. There is no infection, so I am thinking hernia.... or mental disease. Please, someone tell me its normal and I am being stupid worrying so much. tellie

I appreciate so much all of your replies, although, Leo, I didn't get the yahoo thing, sorry. My doctor called just before I connected this morn to check for replies and said basically not to worry. Then I read your replies, and I am even less worried now.... cannot promise I won't freak again tho. This is so foreign, so strange, and I have been having doubts the whole week.... wondering if I did the right thing, if I could have tried harder with less dramatic methods, like 25 years of trying wasn't enough proof that i cant do it, not long term anyway (I'm only counting from my first weight watchers experience at 8). Anyway, thank you all so much! I like this place Tellie

Hi, I had my lap band surgery 7 days ago, and I am sooooo confused. First, with the liquids. I am just finding out I was supposed to have Clear Liquids only for 2 weeks, since I gotback from hospital I have been having yogurt, Soup ( with no lumps), custard, and ice cream. Then again, I was given capsules for the pain 2 hours after waking up.... My other concern is the burping, so strong, so excruciatingly painful, is it normal? called the nurse who had no idea. Am i drinking too much? too fast? too thick? Will i make my band move by following the written instructions ( burping was not in the instructions of course). And today, after some clear broth, hiccups. I paniked! Comments, thoughts, suggestions, I am terrified of going under the knife again. I have a 2 year old who needs me. thank you.... tellie