Bandista

Oh dear, I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this! Thank goodness you were in the hospital. What a nightmare for you. I hope you are cozy at home now and able to relax from all the stress and trauma. Be sure to get the surgical reports from both surgeries and make your own notes. Meanwhile, the most important thing is your recovery. Can you take short walks? I think it really helps with the body's repair system. Sending very best wishes -- keep us posted on your progress!

Hopefully others will have good responses for you -- definitely something to take seriously! When do up you go back to your surgeon for a follow up visit? One thing we've done for my husband who had terrible reflux (turned out to be wheat!) and then for my parents is to put blocks of wood under the head of the bed to raise slightly. An inch and a half, maybe, just enough to make it not so flat. What are you eating/drinking?

Hi Terry, I have tried the Shiratski noodles -- made from yam, right? As I recall a lot of rinsing then putting them in broth with lots of ginger, garlic, Tamari and a few drops of hot sesame oil made an amazing hot noodle soup for very few calories. Have fun!

Dear Donna, my thoughts are with you and your family. Being able to stay present, even when that is an emotionally devastating place, and not use food as an escape, is something you should be very proud of. Don't forget to take extra special care of yourself during this time.

I know, weird, right? But yes, surgeon is all about ibuprofen being just fine. I had it in my IV drip with saline -- did not want narcotics. And I'm taking some at home post-op along with Tylenol but hardly doing that now on day 3 (had some at dawn, none all day). NSAIDS are notoriously hard on stomach, intestinal track, etc. _ I want to avoid all drugs if possible. Can't wait to get off my BP medicine!

Checking in at 243 -- up a little (day 3 post-op)...not worried as it's got to be all those fluids. Walking lots!

Hi there, day 3 post op and a significant change to belly -- not as bloated or sensitive, etc. Some left shoulder pain but not terrible. I'm walking all I can, laps around our driving circle. Had some Pacific brand organic potato leek soup and boy was that yummy. Also had a coffee earlier in the day to help with going to the bathroom. Not hungry yet. Had ibuprofen and Tylenol early AM but nothing all day so that's good. Going to take it easy all weekend.......hope you have a nice restful evening and great sleep tonight!

How did it go? I am just 3 days post-op so nowhere near....but a month will go by quickly, I know.....

Yippee! That is a good day -- and the start of a wonderful weekend. Happy Friday!

We did the swallow thing on Wednesday, the morning after my surgery. The radiologist showed me the pictures of the band and announced, "perfectly placed." I loved that moment!

Hi Jamilyme, doing well post-op day 3 -- sore left shoulder and minor abdominal pain, no pain meds other than Ibuprofen and Tylenol a few times a day. Slept through the night! Sipping liquids -- tea, juice, etc. Had half a protein shake yesterday (am on full liquids) and some broth. Not hungry at all but prepared should that come. In this for the long term! Just healing, not overdoing, watching movies, etc. Hope you're doing well -- happy Friday all!

I thought I wouldn't be exercising for a bit while my insides heal up but I am doing so much walking. Feeling driven! On the way home from the hospital I had my husband drop me off at the end of our dirt road so I could get that walk in. Later several times around the driving circle. Yippee! Gas not bad, shoulder and chest tightness relieved by arm windmills plus that really gets the heart rate going. The deer and squirrels were laughing at me. Oh, and I thought I looked like Winnie the Pooh before surgery. This is one round belly. I am patting it to say thank you before it goes away for good.

Great blog!

Hi there, this is my support group -- you! And every one on here. I just looked at your profile and you're down 35 since the end of August. Way to go! I think you're doing beautifully just over two months out. And you still have your whole stomach! The weight will come off but it may be slower closer to goal. We have similar stats and I know it may take me a while to lose my weight but it will happen. So much healthier this way!

I'm a little growly, too -- just had some nice salty broth and my stomach is trying to thank me out loud. The walking has been so great for me and also arms way up in the air, some windmills while walking to get any trapped gas moving out.

Wow! What an inspiration -- thanks so much for sharing. You are rocking this thing!

My process took five months -- not an insurance requirement but just the way thee program works at the hospital I used. I used the time to read all I could here about other people's experiences and I got a therapist to talk through food issues with me and be a partner in the banding process. Again not a requirement but I'm really glad I did that. Just wanted to make sure I had all my bases covered for this new chapter in my life. I am determined to be successful. The other thing I did was really step up my exercise life and I'm so glad to have that piece solved. My body is so much stronger than five months ago. I just got banded and I know the exercise is going to help tremendously once I start losing. Maybe that's something you could do in your six months -- you'll be ahead of the game and may even lose some weight. I don't know what your insurance company requires in terms of diet and documentation but the exercise would be great to start. Also drinking a protein shake very day. Good luck to you! Very frustrating to wait but the time will fly by.

Hi Zorro, there you are! Hope you are doing well and have some good sleep ahead of you at home. I am taking liquid Tylenold and liquid ibuprofen -- staying away from the narcotics. Drinking quite a bit -- was so thirsty! And walking all I can. Tomorrow I start full liquids. Not hungry at all yet but I know that may come as there is no fluid in my band. Good luck to you!

Will be thinking of yup both tomorrow!

The chemicals put into those candies are crafted with the specific purpose of addictive eating behavior. And of course culturally Halloween is candy-centered, all in the name of selling more bags of crap candy. Sometimes to get off a sweets jag I have used Steevia -- I put it my way-diluted cranberry juice. I know what I can't have in the house -- candy, brownies, cookies, etc. It's like they talk to me.

Yahoo! That is great progress -- congratulations. I really like the idea of the jeans as a measuring tool.

That's great news, Micki -- you're on your way and definitely have what it takes: commitment and perseverance. Let us know how everything goes! We will be new Bandits together in a way. Best wishes!

I had to take a standardized test -- the kind where you pencil in an oval representing always to never. It was very easy. Repetitive questions to weed out serious psychological problems, noncompliant types, people with serious hospital fears, that sort of thing. Then the therapist talked with me about various things just to see that my decision was thought through well enough, etc. It was fine, just standard protocol for many LB programs. We scheduled it so I also got to. Meet with the nutritionist that day for the first time. More intake about food, eating habits, how band works, what to expect once banded, the pre-op diet explained, etc. And I didn't have to pay a co-pay for whatever reason. A little bonus!

The LB program at the hospital I'm using and my insurance require an overnight hospital stay. This was my first time admitted to a hospital so I was a little nervous, but it was a very good experience. I walked a lot in the night -- every time I had to get up to pee I walked. With a saline drip, that's a lot of getting up for the bathroom! I slept on and off in the night and then this morning was taken to radiology for a barium swallow. This was not the big deal I imagined. Two sips of chalky tasting liquid are swallowed as the radiologist captures the images to make sure band is well-placed, no leaks, etc. That went well and I am back in my room drinking tea. nurse has been in for a second Heparin shot (one yesterday, too). I've seen the nutritionist about the diet for the next two weeks before I see her again. The surgeon will do rounds in a while and then I will be released. And I'll see him again next week, the week after, etc. My incisions are a little sore and my throat is dry and a bit sore. The tea feels great on that. I wasn't able to have liquids after midnight because of the swallow so that didn't help the throat and dry mouth. The stiffness in the shoulder area and the feeling of weight on the chest got better with every walk, and I also remembered something another bandit shared about trying the happy baby pose. This really helped open up the chest. I am getting my regular clothes on soon. That's the report for the morning! Good luck every one and very best wishes.

Best wishes to you! I had a good overnight and am waiting now for barium swallow. They take a picture and then I should be home by noon. I made it a policy to walk up and down the hall every time I got up to pee -- I think it has helped to move a lot. I am on a saline drip with ibuprofen -- trying to stay away from painkillers. Will see what the day brings. I don't want the side effects and know I will heal more quickly if I am present to the process. Planning very quiet week of tea, Popsicles, soups, etc. And walking! That is my mandate, to think about walking the way I used to think about food.