A New New Dawn

It's not easy in the beginning but as all the others have said, IT DOES GET EASIER. Recovering from any surgery has a physical and emotional toll. You are going through that and a major lifestyle and lifelong change in habits you have had for years. For me the physical recovery was easy but changing my emotional relationship with food was difficult. I am not a perfect bandster but I try to stick to the guidelines most of the time. In doing so, I am down 75 lbs in 7 months. I could've never done that on my own before. Not eating junk for so long I don't really crave it anymore. Long story short, this is a huge life change. The first weeks can be trying physically and emotionally. You will get out of it what you put in to it. Try to keep a positive attitude and know that you have a large support system here and we have all been there, survived and are thriving.

Congrats, CG woooo hooo

Best wishes on your surgery!

I say we Celebrate with churros and beer... Ok, maybe not!!! So happy for you!

So glad you had this revelation!! I have sleep apnea and before looking into WLS used my machine "here and there". When I went for my pre-op evaluation, the pulmonologist made it very clear that I had SEVERE sleep apnea and needed to not treat it lightly. From that day forward, I use it faithfully, bringing it with on trips too. Every once in a while, I will be up too late and fall asleep without it on and I SURE notice a difference in how I feel the next day. Good for you and very innovative way to exercise too!

You can ask your surgeon for the card. It isn't a restaurant card but more a card that says you have had lapband surgery. I have one but have never used it, for two reasons. The kids menu tends to be unhealthy items, sad but true for sit down restaurants and also, because I don't want to explain and advertise to the server about my surgery and have them potentially call a manager over for approval, etc. Now, for a buffet, I have heard of people using it. A woman at my support group was going to a Brazilian steakhouse for a party, which is costly and HUGE portions. She called ahead to the manager and explained and they allowed her to order at the kid's price withthout the embarassment.

Of course it would happen when hubby is away. So glad you made it to the doc and he was able to help you w/ the nausea. Feel better soon.

Some docs give a fill during surgery, others do not. Mine didn't until 6 weeks out after the swelling subsided. Plenty others have a fill at time of surgery w/ no issue. We are all so different on this journey so do what feels right to you and what your doctor suggests. Glad you are feeling better. It is very discouraging and frustrating when you don't feel well. I recently had to get an unfill (and I am 7 mos out). I have been doing very well w/ no discomfort and only a couple foods I could no longer handle. I prolonged getting unfilled as I kept feeling like I wasn't doing something right. It became so frustrating and emotionally wearing on me when everything made me miserable. I tried liquids for several days w/ no improvement. So we are starting over. I am fighting my head hunger every day but staying w/ my guidelines and eating as I did before the unfill. Taking it slow and easing into the fills can help a lot.

That is a great NSV Dee! You are doing a great job and I hope I can be as successful as you one day. This is also a great example of one bad day doesn't have to mean failure... every day is a new day to start anew.

Woo hooooo..... No matter what tomorrow's visit brings, you are doing fabulous!!! Congrats!! Tell hubby the flowers just aren't his color, perhaps he should go with more fall tones, lol.

I used to wear those chunky heels (wedge shoes) and as I got heavier, I think my ankles got weaker. I can't begin to tell you how many parking lots I face planted in before decided I needed to give them up. The worst two, was at a high school parking lot picking my kids up after a track meet and face planting in the parking lot. My kids were so used to it that as I laid face down they were laughing and so was I. It was humiliating and a woman walked by and scolded my kids for laughing and not helping me up. We told her it happens all the time. So up I got. I also did this in a Bob Evans parking lot after a meal on New Years Day. I fell and had to go back in the restaurant all scraped up and bleeding. The staff was like "what happened"... A coworker (who is heavy as well) was wearing the same type of shoes in our dept and her ankle gave way just standing at the printer and she fell in the middle of our cubes and was so embarrassed. Oh, the joy of being overweight. We won't even talk about the turnstyles I had to squeeze through sideways and pray I wouldn't get stuck... I can laugh at all this now. So you are sooo not alone.

It's awesome to know that in moderation, we can still enjoy outings like these. I am glad you and your hubby had a great time and what a great picture!

I wasn't able to get a lot of liquids down the first few days with the swelling, sore throat, etc. It gets better. For the first few days I could sip small quantities so it's important to keep sipping throughout the day until you can drink more normally. This will pass as the swelling and irritation subsides. Sip, sip, sip. However, definitely call your doctor/nurse if you have questions/concerns.

I have lost 75 lbs and don't feel my port (unless I try by pushing down on my belly). The only real issues I have seen with some people is sometimes the partner struggles with their weight loss (insecurities) or as the banded partner starts gaining more confidence, becomes more outgoing, etc. and may change in the process. The couples need to have a strong foundation in that regard.

It really shouldn't restrict you in anyway other than eating. If anything, the weight you will lose, should enhance it.

Best wishes to you!

Try not to get discouraged. While the band does do a lot of the work, we still have to do our part too. I urge you to keep a food diary, or better yet use the loseit app or my fitness pal so you can monitor the protein and calories you are taking in. Heck, maybe you are taking in too few calories... who knows. Until you can see what is going in your body in #s you won't know what needs to change or how much. If you have junk in the house, get it out. I crave things from time to time and not having them on hand makes it much easier (ie. chips). I find other things to take their place that still satisfy me. Or instead of having a candy bar, I have a hershey kiss (or 2) and am done w/ it. You can do this.

I think some modifications to your diet will help the "stall". It is normal from time to time but you can get it moving I feel w/ some changes. Also, as for the fill, for me and some others I have seen sometimes the fill doesn't kick in right away. I noticed about 2 weeks later that I really felt more restriction.

Did you get much info when you were banded or prebanding? It may just be a matter of learning how to eat better so you aren't struggling so much.

I notice you say you are very hungry. Are you getting 3-4 ounces of solid protein in at the beginning of each meal? That will keep you from being hungry. Also, you may need to really think about whether you are physically hungry or if it's head hunger.... Head hunger will get better if you don't give in.

Sorry you are struggling with losing. I think you really need to track what you are eating. Are you sticking to no more than 1 cup of food per meal? I was too tight a while back had some Fluid taken out, then still having major issues the last couple weeks and I think got a complete unfill (he didn't tell me how much he took out as he didn't want me stressing about it). I know that I can eat most anything right now, but I am be very cautious to stick to the 1 cup of food and keeping my calories around 1000 per day. A lot of times, we may think we are doing all the right things and until we keep an actual food diary or log it using myfitnesspal or something comparable, we may be very surprised how much we actually are taking in. Lastly, are you getting in at least 60 grams of Protein per day? I find if I am not getting enough, my weight loss stalls. Best wishes to you to get the scale moving (in the right direction) again.

Congratulations! You will do great! I hope recovery is easy peasy for you!!

That's great news and I may have to look into that. Thanks for sharing.

My guess, is most are planning on shoveling this weekend. Have your batteries and candles handy too. Good luck w/ the weather!

If that doesn't work, perhaps your dr. can prescribe a different med. Also, for future, if you have surgery again tell that you get nauseous and they can give you stuff before and during surgery to avoid that. I had a patch on and they gave me meds as I had severe nausea after surgery some years back.