lisacaron

You look Marvelous Darling!

Hi Nicole, If you have no complications after surgery and you are one tough cookie your gonna be fine by yourself! When I went home the day after surgery the only thing I didn't do was drive. The next day my hubby went in at 7am to be banded and I went with him. My son drove that day. By day 3 I was up and moving all around and I drove to the hospital (30 miles away) to pick up my hubby and then drove us both home. (Dr. didn't like that though) Go easy on the stairs. Go slow, treat yourself with TLC and your going to be fine. I would just make sure you have someone on call in the event of an emergency which hopefully will not happen. Good luck with your surgery and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Zingy is right about the green zone, though that word restriction can be a tricky one. It doesn't necessarily mean what you may think it means. Basically good restriction is that you have enough pressure from the band to create a smaller stoma or opening into the stomach. So that when food passes through this stoma, it triggers the hormones and enzymes in the body to signal the brain that you are full and no longer hungry. It is not meant to restrict food and hold it in the pouch for hours at a time. While the band does create a pouch the idea is for food to still pass through just at a slower rate then it would without the band and there for needing less food to feel satisfied. Mis has an awesome link she sends out and it has lots of information and insight about this you can find it in other postings, and hopefully she will share it again here

You can put that in your coffee, or pretty much anywhere I think. I have read people use it in Crystal light, and in Soups. If you really aren't loving it, maybe a friend can run out and get you a few ready to drink Protein drinks at the supermarket...? Happy to hear your doing well!!! First few days drugs are your friend

Hi Debbie, I love my band, and like you I would choose to replace it if I sprung a leak Best wishes for your upcoming surgery. I'm sure you will do well with the new band and be playing with your little guy in no time!

I agree with you 100%! I know people who like to keep their secrets like it's going to make them better or something. I'm with you though I welcome the advice and feedback and readily share what I can. Both hubby and I are banded together and we really do learn from each other. He might make a mistake and share and vis versa and so we don't both end up in the same trap

Take a break Dee!!! Your pushing your body so hard it hasn't had a chance to catch up to you yet! Your right on the $ your metabolism has hit the pause button waiting to see if you are dying or not it doesn't know you are choosing to do this to it, or that there is plenty of food around. All it knows is that you had trauma (surgery) you stopped eating all the rich food you were eating before and now your pushing it to race around and it's holding on to those fat stores in case you need them to live!!! Ease up for a day or two lighten the load, and see what happens.

Dee is right. Treat yourself with lots of TLC, and let us know how your doing!!

Go MOM! She's right they are NOT in her league! They did her a favor before she lost the weight because now she knows right where they stand and doesn't have to bother to figure them out.

Your in my thoughts. Hope all goes well for a speedy recovery! Treat yourself with some TLC!

Amazing support from everyone here! For every complication you read about there are so many other successes. When I was doing research about WLS, I checked out everything. Including other types of WLS. I personally knew and had friends and family with gastric by pass and sleeves. I interviewed Surgeons, and inspected hospitals before I was ready to commit 100% to this procedure. I have seen first hand how traumatizing and life altering other WLS can be, as well as how life saving and victorious those surgeries can be. The same can be true for the band. However, even with all the complications I read about the band..it was the safest way to go for me. I have friends who have been banded have found amazing success and yes even one who had complications never lost any weight and had her band removed. I can say those banded friends, are both alive and doing well in their lives. I could not say the same for those I knew who had other WLS, so that really helped influence my choice. Friend you have been through so much already, so i know your a strong person and would do well with any choice you might make. Rock on! and be well!!!

Your doing awesome! I will share what my Nut had to say at a meeting yesterday maybe this will help you. There is a ratio of calories in and calories out. When we take in less calories our metabolism will slow down to accommodate the amount of calories we require it to function on, thus slowing weight loss and balance the scales. For us..that means a Plateau, not gaining but not losing. The only way to unbalance that scale is to knock it off balance by either pushing our exercise routines up a notch or shifting it up..if we walk..we should run or bike, weight lift. If we are eating the same things all the time, we should shake that up and shock the system into response. If you ask the body to continue to burn more and more and push it off the plateau metabolism will kick in and start burning the fat stores again.

Discrimination comes in all forms I'm sorry to say. I have found that those that have prejudices about others are the ones we need to have pity for. They are so consumed by their own lack and insecurity the only way they can feel valued is to make negative comments about others. It is much harder to look in the mirror and see what is wrong with ourselves then it is to cast those dispersions onto another. You are all strong healthy beautiful women and men, you have done the hardest work. We took a good long look at ourselves and said...I can fix this and make it better, and we work hard at it every day. Not to "fit in" but because it's what makes us feel better, and we can share those good feelings with others in the world.

Oh hang on....You are 3 DAYS post op! Got ya...3 weeks off Methadone. OK. Are you able to take Tylenol? That will help you. Also...please try some warm tea, and a hot Water bottle or heating pad under your back where it's hurting. That will help to move the gas around and out. Blow your horn honey!!!! I almost rose 2 feet off my bed the first time I passed gas, I was laughing so hard my stitches hurt but it felt AWESOME! Gas-Ex helps lots, and if your sore ice pack on the port site. Rest but also get up and try to walk around as much as you can when you can even to the bathroom and back. It does help to move the gas. sugar free ice pops were another life saver for me when I had trouble with getting all my fluids in. They are soothing to your insides. Again reach out if you need to!!!

B-You have tons of support here! I'm sorry that you are having a hard time. Are you getting all your fluids in? I know sometimes when I am dehydrated, I get a little constipated and that makes my back hurt a bit like what your saying yours feels like. Mis is right though, if you are 3 weeks out you should call your Doc and make sure that everything is going well. You did have a double procedure and that might affect it but just to be sure it never hurts to call. Please let us know how your doing, and reach out any time you need to.

Thank you lellow for your reply. It is very much in the delivery and the tone of the messages. It really tunes people out to what can be a very important message for all of us to read. When these negative messages come on the heels of other Veteran’s messages it sort of discredits them, and undermines their messages which are also very helpful and necessary for us to read. It is more than helpful to new bandsters like myself as well as more seasoned bandsters to hear from everyone about their individual experience and knowledge, but when the message is delivered in a way that stops other’s from sharing their experiences for fear of judgment or simply to not be forced into engaging in a thread war that is not good for anyone. I totally understand the frustration and the argument about those who are non- compliant and for those that are just seeking an “it’s OK to be doing wrong” pat on the back. Those are the very people that you are trying to reach and those are also the very people that are alienated by the tone of the messages being sent out. It doesn’t have to be all hearts and flowers, tough love is needed but remember that they are people and they are going to be best reached if they can relate to you and your message. If they are put off by you, then they are not hearing anything you say or anyone else is saying. They are just going to discredit the whole thing, and move on till they find what they are looking for. Sometimes it takes a bit of sugar to get the medicine down. It is as simple as remembering where you started from and helping those people put themselves in your shoes and you in theirs for a moment for your message to be heard and well received. Thank you all for your helpful replies, and wisdom. I assure you it is not lost on us.

Speaking of crabs....no really! We love them, this Long Island gal is sooo happy to live by the seashore

They are by Body Fortress, they have 26 Grams of protein. I got them at Walmart!! Shout out to my friend PT!! Her advice was right on the $$. They are about $9.99 for 6 bottles or vials as they call them. I usually have 1 or 2 per day depending on the amount of protein I have. They are a quick way to ensure I'm getting my totals in for the day especially if I am short for some reason.

Bec I wish you the best! It sounds like this insurance company you have is ridiculous. Why would they pay for surgery and not your emergency bill?! Perhaps you can do a little research on them, and see if there is a way around it. Or even if another Primary Care Doctor can give you the referral. At least the GI doctor is a place to start. Good luck and keep us informed. Also since you are in the USA, I think under Obama care you are supposed to be covered for treatment of any pre-existing conditions with a new insurance company, that might be an avenue worth exploring as well.

Love ya PT! I found those shots and they are the best! I was so tired and weak from lack of protein and I had no idea what was wrong with me. I had my PCP run all my blood work to find out and that was it! I wasn't taking in enough protein the shots are a great supplement and I'm feeling SOOO much better today after taking them. Thank you. {{{HUGS}}} to all the great supportive people out there! You really help in so many ways just by being there, and being YOU!

ShantelleElaine- you are an inspiration your upbeat tone even in the face of such adversity is amazing! My heart goes out to you both! You are both such strong amazing women!! You ladies ROCK! Please take care of yourselves, and I hope everything comes back good for you both!

Mis has good advice! If you are looking for a doctor to take care of your band issues going further after you have resolved the too tight band you have now, perhaps the doctor that you see in the ER will take on your case if he/she is a Bariatric doctor. If not ask them to give you a referral if that is what your insurance company requires for you to see another Bariatric doctor which you can probably find using the search feature on this site for one close to you. Good luck and please take care!

Debbie, I would also ask them if they will cover un-fills or partial un-fills in case they are overly aggressive getting you to green and you need a bit out to be comfortable. You don't want to get hit with a bill after the fact.

Those last few days can really be a test! Your in the home stretch now, and soon it will be over and done and the healing will begin! Deep breathing....and keeping busy is what got me through those last couple of days. See you on the banded side!

I will say that most Protein products do have that ole smell. My mixer if I don't clean it out right away gets that grody smell to it and I won't drink anything out of it. I'm going through a lot of plastic shakers let me tell ya! Thank goodness they are not too expensive I haven't tried the unjury so I can't comment on that. I stick with the chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. It works for me since I don't use it that much these days. Only on fill weeks, or to supplement my protein totals for the day.