marnimae

Wowsa, you look fab. Good job and great idea re: the pic with the same outfit.

This is from my experience only, I can't say for others. I live in MA, where the hospitals and programs are kind of strict. It was a year before I was considered and approved. I had group meetings/Behav. Modification, one on one therapy, and 7 phone appts with a program set up by my insurance co. before they would approve me, on top of meeting with physical appts, bloodwork, surgeon, nutrition (which nutrition beside my group therapy was the best thing). Some people cannot tolerate different things after surgery. Your stomach is the size of a egg, I am not allowed red meat or shellfish for six months, but I hear others have it and tolerate it. I myself have chicken but I need it in a sauce, it has to be moist or I don't bother, I get hiccups. You learn to eat slowly, and if need be sit down at the table with a timer to slow yourself down, you use smaller plates and bowls, and you learn to drink and eat seperately. It is kind of mandatory, no straws for drinking. Some people become lactose intolerant after surgery, I was warned about this, but so far so good. Needless to say it is time consuming, and work, and not easy. It is not easy, so please don't think it. I am on my two month anniversary for being banded today, and had my second fill yesterday. You need patience, I am going through this now learning patience. I am waiting for the restriction feeling (feeling full), I am still not there yet. As for cost it varies,I had insurance. I had 40+ appt for the year and the average appt copay was $20 to 25 dollars for nutrition and group, $40 for surgeon, and my copay was $150 for surgery. It adds up, but so doesn't the weight if you don't take action the way I look at it . Lane bryant is too expensive for my blood, (clothes) so I invested in myself for once, because I am worth it. If out of pocket it would be like buying a new car, a really nice one.

I got my second fill yesterday. I keep waiting to feel a restriction, but yesterday was liquids, and today mushies. So tomorrow should be the test to see. As for now, I feel the same, she only put in 1 cc, so between my last and today I have a total of 4. I just hope by the next fill I will feel something. As for my oatmeal breakfast this morning, I didn't feel anything or any difference than before(no restriction feeling). I tell you that honestly, I am getting frustrated. I am glad I didn't gain any weight b/c I have been waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. ravenous, starving, physically hungry so I grab a yogurt or fruit. This is annoying and confusing b/c it interrupts my sleep and second it shouldn't be waking me up. My weight has maintained, no loss , which I am glad I did not gain that is great. But my patience is wearing thin , I swim, I walk, I watch what I eat, I eat smaller meals, I am killing my fruits and veggies, blah blah blah. Hopefully by next month we shall see a difference, something heck at this point 1/2 to 1 lb a week would put me over the moon. I quit my crutch of leaning on a protein shake at least once a day like the nutritionist said, but I might try this every other day b/c I seemed to do better with it. I am reaping the rewards of everyone gardening, I received some beautiful broccoli and summer squash, now I am waiting on the tomatoes :wub: . So as for now, still waiting, still pushing on.

I understand the hunger, I met w my nutritionist and she said when you healing & the inflammation goes away the hunger can kick in, it did for me hard and fast. I think the fill will help but make sure to call/talk to your Dr about this. Don't be so hard on yourself if you did gain, so what? Get back on the ball, look at your food logs with your nutritionist. Mine said to stop relying on the shakes and eat real food, it would help me fill up longer, where the shake is a liquid and won't last as long (didn't occur to me but I feel she is almost as good of a tool as my band is). Your Dr. Has heard & seen it all, they aren't there to judge you but help you. Don't be so hard on yourself. Hang on till you get that fill. Chin up.

Ok I am talking for me & my hubby. He has been extremely supportive so I consider myself lucky. I went for a little over a year to behaviour mod. Meetings, nutrition, group therapy, so it was a lot of help on his part even before surgery withstanding the kids, making dinner or me just not being there. Then holidays, Halloween parties, Christmas, thanksgiving even Valentine's he was amazing and helped as much as possible 're:candy or temptations, alternatives and eating way healthier than before. If your partner has binges or is a junk food junkie they need to do it when your not around. My hubs loves his three musketeers, Doritos, and ice cream but knows it will trigger me so he does not eat these around me, or put them in the house. 're: surgery he took 7 days, initially five but added two because it was a tougher go than we thought. He was caring and kind even when I was blubbering and crabby about gas pain or incisions or sick of shakes or helping me track my fluid intakintakes walking & moving around. Also, We eat as a family at the table and that was a really hard part for me, bc I couldn't really till stage four bc I had to have such different things, soup was when we ate together at dinner which was nice. If you have a partner that undermines you or has issues with food it may be extremely difficult and you will know right away when you sched surgery and they won't take time off, or help watch the kids for appointments or meetings. My hubby just went bathing suit shopping with me, his idea, so I think he is happy with my progress and it makes me feel better and I feel like I haven't in a long time. Insecurity may sneak up and the trade-me in comments might happen but if you assure them that you love them usually goes away quickly if you are secure in the marriage. I so know this is not for the weak at heart, you will know even before the surgery if your partner is going to be with you or against you . But that's me.

I did this process a year, and I lost weight pre-surgery, I was in the 270's and got down so the liver would shrink. I think it's really important to ask your Dr what he will use(staples, stitches) even pics of previous patients surgery scars so you know what to expect. It is the one thing I regret the most, most people's scars are not so big.

So last Thursday, May 16th I had my long awaited surgery . It has now been a week of recovery, and shakes and learning and whining . Yes, whining, I am going to be totally blunt and honest here. On the 15th I freaked out b/c I was expected to have morning surgery on the 16th, well I found out I would have to wait till 3:30 p.m. I freaked, all plans thrown to the wind, the babysitter, hubby's work sched. My mum & dad helping out, and on top of the needless endless pain of hunger, b/c clear liquids the night before, and are you serious, make me wait another whole day w/o even jelllo or water?? I was freaking out, I felt these ppl were crazy, sadistic and cruel, hadn't I jumped through enough hoops for a whole year?? Needless to say, after some soothing talk from my hubby, (let's face it, after 39 hours of no real food, you can be a irrational crazy hideous cranky hating ppl monster ) that it will be fine, we came this far and we will get this done and never look back. So we did, the nurses were fantastic, I got wisked in, changed in to a baer warmer johnnie, quite pleasant and kept me warm, and soon enough, urine test, vitals, hooked up to my iv and meds given, paid copay etc... boom. It flew, I put on my lovely head cover and was brought into the er, I scooted my butt onto the other operation table and slid over and a nurse put a mask on my face and asked me to breathe. Whallah, that was it, out like a light. I woke up in a grog but not a fog. My nurse Debbie was fantastic, she talked to me, and checked on me, and I was surprised that I was not nauseaus at all, which made me sooo relieved. I have had 3 prev surguries, 2 c-sections, and one gallbladder and the nausea was horrible from the anesthesia. She was amazed that I was smiling, I said, I have waited for this a long time. After what was about 45 minutes I was brought into another room and saw my hubby. My tummy I did check out as soon as I got a sec alone, and it didn't feel so bad, but I was on some good drugs I guess, lol. After another hour of observations and care, I was cleared to go home. My hubby already had gotten my prescriptions filled, pain relief pills and something to help me move my bowels b/c of the pain meds block you up. Now let me say the first day I was oblivious so I just rested. I didn't feel hunger so it was a relief, though I sipped from my little med cup, at prompting from my hubby and Mum. I did sit up, but kept falling asleep, so as soon as 6 pm came I went to bed. Now let me say, I highly recommend a pillow shopping spree. Get yourself a body pillow and two or three new pillows, heck grab some funky pillowcases too, this helps with comfort and for those dang gas pains from surgery. I HATED those pains, as soon as I lay down they hit. I learned to sleep with them tucked under each side b/c side sleeping was not a option. Hubs was helpful to stack a backrest pillow (sit up pillow w/ armrests?) with two more pillows so I could sit up and watch tv w/ the kids in bed or just sit up but have my feet up. It was comfy and everytime I had to get up I just hugged my pillow and it helped with the pain. About this time I started to be aware of the state of my body. I had a huge bruise on my right arm I assume from the shots given, and on my same arm, I had long red lines from the blood pressure cuffs. I still had not seen my staples as of yet, but I assumed from my prev surgury from gallbladder they would probably be the same. I started to feel the tenderness of the top of my mouth and throat, and some pain inside my lower right lip, probably from being intebated? I was amazed that I didn't feel this till now. By Saturday I started to feel hunger, my gas pains were fading, and when I ate, I filled up quickly and I was getting the hang of my shakes and sugar free pops and Fruit2o water. Though I do not like the taste of the chewable vitamins (yuck!) or calcium citrate, I break it up, one with each breakfast, lunch, dinner so I don't forget. I look forward to my fat free greek plain yogurt, I mix some sugar free hawaiin punch drink mix in it (grape) and it is yummy. As for the cottage cheese, I tried, I can't do it , I didn't like it before or now. I like the protien shake mix, and I like boost and atkins and pure protein shakes. At lunch my favorite thing is mixing a strawberry atkins shake w/ crushed ice and a red sugar free popsicle, I do add some whey to it too. It smells and tastes amazing. The soups help me feel normal like I am eating something, as for jello, I do have it but I am on burnout mode for that. Though I did try to ambrosia it w/ some of my greek yogurt mix, and it wasn't bad, but not great either!! Now my incisions are healing well, but Sunday was my wall. I was having incredible pain, it burned and felt like a tearing pain . I called first thing monday, and they checked me out and said this was normal to take my pain meds and relax. The belly button area is tender but below my biggest incision is the burning pain, it is awful, I take one pill, b/c two makes me totally sleep and out. I am moving about easier and walking is a cinch, stairs easy too. But having 2 kids, it is hard. I tell myself to knock it off, and my hubby is wonderful about helping but I feel bad when my 3 yr old wants to sit on my lap and I can't. But it won't be for long and I know it. I will tell you, I feel like a old fuddy duddy and why??? B/c I get happy when I have a bm, yes a bm . I had my first little poo on Sunday and I was so happy, and later that night I passed gas and let me tell you, the feeling was relief, it felt amazzzing . Passing gas is wonderful, b/c your body feels so much better afterwards . I say this b/c it is what it is. Now the hiccups I get are weird, but I can't explain why but they just are, I noticed these Tuesday, I'd rather not hiccup. So this is it so far. Now I have to get some Mederma to be ready to slap this stuff on when I get these itchy staples off, the scar is going to be much bigger than I thought, I am quite shocked and wish I had been shown some pictures of the scars before the surgery b/c it did make me sad, it is little to complain about but I just didn't know how big me scar would be on my left side, I mean wowsa.

I went to the doctors today and got my first fill! Yahoooooo!! Finally I feel like I am getting somewhere. This unbelievable hunger has come over me the past ten days or so. I think it was because I was totally healed and no inflammation was left after the surgery, at least that is what my nutritionist explained to me sometimes happens, but I think with me going to stage 5, I had free range and cravings I could have fresh food, fruit &veggies ohhh I have missed them. Anyway it didn't help but i have maintained so I am glad, but I could have gained easily if not for exercise and telling myself over and over over the fill is around the corner. I had 3 cc put in and will go back in two weeks. I had no pain, the needle sting was super quick and I could feel something going on, it was strange but not uncomfortable and I noticed at dinner a difference. I think this week is going to be interesting, seeing if I notice a difference. Hopefully another fill or two & I can wear my bandster tiara & my big girl panties and start to my path of getting under the 200 lb mark, oh to be able to put my wedding band on, my fingers have been too fat for years, it is a goal I set. I went down two sizes but, I feel like I am one of those that needs to lose 50lbs before I really can see it. I mean I see it in my face and my midsection, but nothing significant. Time to start trying some exercise dvds, hip hop abs looks good, I found some cool workouts on interest for tightening your bum and legs. Anyhow that is all for now.

My nutritionist made me log my fluid intake and protein intake. No calorie counting b/c she wanted me to focus on these only. I was adding whey protein to my boost or Atkins shakes and I even added sugar free popsicles to my fluid intake. Are you having at least one snack a day? I know it is hard to get the shakes down but even three shakes w/o whey are about 600 calories.

I worry about the same thing but the way I see it I will be using push up bras and spanx to support me. I also was thinking about those waist like belts you wear post pregnancy pregnancy to help w your back and get stuff to go back right, my mum wore one after her bypass and she lost well over 100+ lbs and she said it helped a lot. I hope someone answers this though.

I am waiting for get my first fill on 7/1/13. Can't wait, so excited. Np told me today at my appt. That they start with 2cc. I have to wait six weeks before a fill, but I still lost another 4 lbs, since my last appt. So I am happy.

Worcester MA area, banded May 16th.

I am coming upon my 1 month anniversary. It has gone by fast, but at the same time slow. I would say the first two weeks with the healing and pain were rough at times but, then nothing is easy re: losing weight. I am pleased and shocked at my progress. I am presently on stage 4 (diet) and by the end of this month I will go onto stage 5. I like that I can sit down and eat a meal, salmon and a sweet potatoes or some chicken and butternut squash, I can eat with my family and feel normal. I am glad to have more options re: soups other than those cream O' this & cream O' that. Egg drop soup is my favorite. Turkey burgers are fantastic for bbq's and tasty, my son likes them too, and ate my whole turkey burger, so I had to make another one. I am losing in places like I have never lost before and it is freakin' me out!! Usually I lose it in my tummy first, but I am losing it in my arms, legs, face and stomach, and not pudge area first like before (moms know, that pouch area, below your belly button) I am losing it in my upper stomach!! I have more options now, like almonds for snacks or some string cheese. Hopefully the Dr. will give me the green light to start some work out dvd's on Monday and I can find out the info re: my fills etc... I am nervous, but excited, I want the fill asap, b/c the hunger monster is back. I watch my portions, and am mindful of what I am eating but seriously it is hard. I got the Mindful eating book again(eat drink and be mindful), and I am giving myself mani's and pedi's, reading alot more, minor indulgences I never took the time for before. I am trying not to be hard on myself too, but the stress level is still there trying to be the main cook in the house and my family can eat things I don't. Honestly it doesn't bother me a whole lot, I am kind of amazed by this, the only thing that bothered me lately is meatballs, yes meatballs, they were what was for dinner one night and the smell, well it made a river run in my mouth. I did not touch them, b/c red meat is not allowed. I left the kitchen, and drank a iced tea. Point is, I got over it! I got over it, and I lived and life went on. Ok gotta go, I am missing DishNation.

Nope, no red meat allowed, or shellfish (shrimp, lobster, scallops) for sure. My nutritionist is great, but made it clear no red meat for 6 months. Maybe turkey meatballs will cut the craving but I hope they taste good, maybe in the crockpot w/ my homemade sauce so they will be super moist. I think it was the smell, it was scrumptious, that's all.

Three weeks, heck w/ those staples in, I wouldn't even let him see me change. After the staples were out I felt better but still held off. Now it is back to normal. It should be what you are comfortable with, go with the flow.

Yes, I feel for you. I was banded on May 16th and have just started to feel normal. I got my stitches taken out last wednesday and I felt such relief. My pain was near my belly button and it was terrible and I went back to be checked out and they told me it is normal. I had the gas pains when I laid down or napped but this was not gas, it was from the surgery. I would give it a little time b/c you just had surgery but if you feel like it is not normal call the dr. office, I did and talked to the nurses too. If your dr. office doesn't call you back, call them back and ask why they aren't returning your calls? It's probably a mishap, but you need that communication with your dr. The nurses can be helpful, ask to speak to a nurse first.

BillieG if I could do it again I would, but I would ask the dr. re: the incisions to see real pics, definately. Just so you are not shell shocked, and it there are different ways in stitches etc... to prevent such scarring. I had metal staples, but now I wish I had asked for stitches, if this is even a option. My scar is 2 3/4 long, (yikes) so it is definately not small.

Oh itchy, uncomfortable and aggravating, those dang stitches are gone (May 29th). It was amazing how quickly they came out, and the only spot that bled of course was the big ole' frankenstein stitch, (the long one on my left side). They butterflied it and I am so happy!! Those things really tugged and made me uncomfortable, I guess I healed pretty well b/c they were happy with my progress. Only showers for 5 days, no pool, sauna, lakes etc.... as if I could be so lucky at the moment. I wouldn't hop into a pool if I were on fire b/c of having to wear a bathing suit, lol. Hopefully that will change soon. Yesterday was my post op nutrition appt. and it went well, I was encouraged by the weight loss, but not focused totally b/c I was more concerned re: the healing aspect. I mean this was rough, and my energy levels are still not to my liking. I go to bed earlier than my grandparents and they are in their 80's lol. Hubby has been good, I celebrated with some salmon and sweet potatoe dinner as I am on Stage 4 diet now. It feels good, and I am happy with my progress. But I am not going to compare myself with others and their losses. Why? b/c someone loses 15 - 20 lbs after surgey it might b/c they are not me, they are not my size, and they might be a man. Men lose faster, it's a fact, and they might have a higher weight, and lose quicker b/c of that. Since my surgery I lost 11 lbs. My real curiosity is how it will go until I have the fills. I wonder how it will be between the time for that. I had not alot of issues with the post op diet, (other than soups, gosh they were awful) I am not a cream of anything except in my crockpot or in a casserole. Now in stage four I can make some egg drop soup and some homemade turkey or chicken soup, which is more appealing. I do fill up though, which I am glad, eating the salmon and sweet potatoes was heaven but I filled up shortly, which was like "YES!" The second week after surgery I believe my body got used to the shakes, so I had to add some greek yogurt and nectresse to lessen the tartness, but that helped ALOT, and added to the protein instead of just adding whey all the time. I was told sternly by the NP no Mederma cream until six weeks, b/c of poss. infection, but my scars are freakin' me out I admit. I had gallbladder surgery before and my scars are nothing compared to these, I think b/c of the staples I look like I have poodle bite marks and the big one looks like a catepillar w/ lots of legs, this is the one I hate the most, mostly b/c I seriously did not expect it to be that big and for the fact they showed me a pic of a body w/ incisions but it was not a flesh real person, it was black and white picture w/ a drawn form. So this to me annoys me, but the scar is the side car to get to where I want to be, heck I was never one for bikini's anyway.

You look amazing!