tigers1998

Well I have had years of stomach pain. I had pain every time I ate. so discomfort while eating is nothing new for me. But trust me as I stated I learned what wasn't going to be acceptable in the food department....very quickly. As to why my doctor allows me to eat soft foods now: I am really not sure. But he stated to do that after 24 hours.

I am excited for all of you. You wont regret the journey and all that you have done to get there will not be in vain. Good luck. Banded for seven days now. Ask me anything.

I guess in a way my birth defect has given me a running start to weight loss. Being that I was unable to eat these foods without pain before I had the LapBand. I would never wish the stomach issues I had on anyone, but there is a silver lining at the end of it all. I thank you for writing this post. I look forward to reading many more.

52 pounds is quite the achievement. I am so happy for you. Did the fill hurt?

Congratulations!

Seven Days Post Surgery: Burping: Such a simple body function or so it used to be. Now I find that it is one of the hardest things I have to do. Hiccups are even worse. Laughing now brings me a combination of joy and pain. It is amazing how many actions involve using your stomach muscles. Even putting lotion on my feet makes my side sore. This is all part of the process I am told. Well, I say to that: BOOOOOOOOO!!!!. However, my healing body seems not to care what I think about it. I remember watching videos of hernia repairs and lap band placements. Whenever I wonder why my stomach is sore, I am reminded of how the herniated part of my stomach was not only pulled back through that opening in my diaphragm but a band was wrapped around it as well. How the overstretched opening in my diaphragm was stitched to close the gap around my esophagus. How more stitches were placed in my abdominal wall to secure the port of the band. Yes, My poor belly has been through much and I expect it to heal over night. How dare I? LOL. So I endure the burps when they come, try to avoid hiccups as much as possible (the hiccups don't happen often), and as far as laughing goes...well some things can't be help. I have laughed and smiled my whole life. When others are asked to describe me: one of the first things mentioned is that I smile ALL THE TIME. The surgeon even mentioned this to my family after surgery: she was smiling in her sleep (happens often with pain meds). Now, that is probably something worth investigating!

Banded: July 10 2013: I had my concerns going in. What will I be able to eat afterwards? Will I ever have to have surgery again? Will I be able to eat afterwards? How many times will I be poked with a needle? Can I have a steak, Im starving on this pre op diet? This is going to improve my health right? Will this shrink my top half? Why are my fat rolls shifting downwards as I lose weight? Can I drink milk? You know important stuff like that. *Smile* With any surgery there are risks. As long as you communicate with your doctor, stay on top of your appointments, have a good support system, and be patient, I think you will do just fine. As I have stated in all my other posts, Love yourself in the now and good things will follow. Now on to the important stuff: is there a lap band love connection site? I would be very interested.

Yea no more freedom trips for me for awhile.

Dear LBT members, Since joining this site I have received invaluable information and many words of encouragement. I have been banded for all of five days now and I have made some crazy decisions (aka mistakes). To know me is to know that this is common. I have often believed that was put on this Earth as a source of Comedy Relief and a beacon of Joy in tough times. Im cool with that. I do believe laughter is the best medicine. If you can't laugh at life than you will most likely cry through it (or some other unhappy thing.). Anyways, I have also be sadden by some of the posts I have read. It hurts me when others are hurting emotionally and physically. For the later, I can only refer you to the doctor. I don't know how to cure a lot of physical ailments. But emotionally, yea who hasn't been there. So in the spirit of concern and wanting to help, I wish to understand something. Why are there a lot of people who are discouraged when they overeat, or their not losing weight fast enough, or they still feel fat after losing so much weight? Some close to me even admit to feeling bad when they overeat. As for me, I felt pain when I overate, when I ate, and when I didn't eat for years: physical pain. I guess the emotional never needed to take root. Im usually the "oops that was not the smartest move I just made" type of person. Have I had body image issues: Yes. But I know what I want fixed is not going to happen without surgery: Im top heavy and have been so since I was eight years old. I just make peace with the issue until I can do something to change it. Im most emotionally effected when I make mistakes that affect others. Even then I used to take the path of NOT wanting to eat. This does not make the situation better...by the way. Making peace and if possible fixing what I have done is what solves the problem. That and I have a very strong spiritual belief system. (This is not everyone's choice though so moving on.) What I want to say is this: Early on I learned through trials and self inspection, that you have to love yourself where you are NOW, not focus the thing you are trying to fix, but love YOURSELF IN THE NOW!. Reflect on what it is you really want in life. I want to be healthy, I want to have a family of my own, I want a job I enjoy. I love me even through the mess ups. I share my mistakes with others, we laugh, we cry, we watch movies, we shop, whatever....No being down on yourself. Do I have moments, yes I do. THAT'S WHEN I FIGHT FOR MY JOY! You are beautiful as you are now: All you are doing is improving your health so that you can shine a lot longer. Take control of your goals, don't let your goals control you. And laugh at the boo boos. Its alright. I promise. Good things are ahead. If all else fails, you can always ask me what "brilliant idea" did I carry out today. I have most likely done something comical. LOL.. no seriously, Love yourself and keep a good support system. You will go far.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You took a couple of weeks to over eat. I did so three days post op. Yes, I learned the hard way. Its a lesson I don't have to learn again. Unfortunately, my monthly is scheduled to come on in the next day or so. In my past, I am usually a bottomless pit a week before my monthly. Constantly hungry and to be honest no idea why. During my monthly, I want little to nothing to eat. What have I learned so far: it will take some time to curb your former eating habits. Good thing about having the band is that you get the indicators of wrong decisions pretty quickly. So don't be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes. Emotionally, You have always been and will always be a beautiful spirit and a good person....that's what you should tell yourself everyday. Love you as you are now, and you will love you through the good and challenging moments later. If ever you need a good laugh, you can always ask me what genius (aka crazy) thing have I done today. Im usually good for a laugh.

FIVE DAYS OUT: LEARN FROM ME/ DON'T FOLLOW IN MY FOOTSTEPS: SO, I am five days post surgery and two days without my pain pump. I am feeling better than I have felt in years. Although sore from surgery. Per post surgery instructions, I am supposed to walk some each day. Not a long marathon, just a little walk. In other words, just like most surgeries, get up and move every so often. So I decide to get some fresh air. When I get outside, I walk a little and I look at my car. It hasn't been turned on in six days. I go to turn it on and that's when I get the worse idea possible. Let's go for a drive. Why not, I am not walking or standing, I feel good, and I have watched all the TV I can stand. That drive turns into a trip to the store and a walk around. Yea you guessed it. About halfway through, my stomach was hurting and I started to sweat. Lessoned Learned: Outside from Being Very Sore today and Now being watched by family, friends, mentors, and spies, Two weeks of rest means exactly that Two Weeks of Rest. A LITTLE BACKGROUND; This is the first major surgery I have ever had. I do not write these things for people to follow. My blog is just a journal about my learning experiences and things not to do. I am healing remarkable well and should continue doing so borrowing the fact that I make less and less mess-ups. I have had stomach pain all my life: nausea, cramps, spasms, gas, reflux....the whole gambit. My tolerance level is very high. So, I am learning what's good and what's not. Please take this column in the humor that it is intended. Oh and feel free to fuss. I probably do deserve some lecture.

On that I have readded the protein shakes to my diet. Working on other proteins to eat ---- soft food,

He did not give me a list of soft foods only that they be soft foods only. Cabbage - Very Cooked cabbage. Soupy Cabbage is what I tried. Doesn't work for me.

He definitely did not want me to exist on shakes. Soft foods.

For 24 hours I was on a liquid diet only. Afterwards, I am on a soft food diet until seen two weeks after surgery. NO fluid in the band until four weeks after surgery. BY NO MEANS DID HE MEAN EAT HOW I FIRST ATE. As you can see I learned from that. Anything I eat now is a very small cup size portion. However I am not allowed to eat solid food outside of fish. NO beef, chicken, pork, no raw veggies --- no solid fruit. All mushy soft foods. After my two week evaluation I will know what else I can eat. But for the main concern, yes I am allowed a soft food diet.

******INSTRUCTIONS POST SURGERY: 24 HOUR LIQUIDS ONLY. TWO WEEKS: SOFT FOODS ONLY. TWO WEEK FOLLOW UP. FIRST FILL IN FOUR WEEKS.******* THREE DAYS AFTER SURGERY: YES IM SO HAPPY! I FINALLY GET TO EAT FOOD! ALBEIT SOFT FOODS ONLY! Well no one warned me I may get too happy. First sign of hunger was an experience. My stomach woke me up out of a solid sleeping session. I thought maybe I was snoring until I actually heard my stomach growl. What do I have to eat is my first thought: I have apple sauce, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, orange sherbet, steamed vegetables, baked tilapia, pudding, and of course protein shakes available. I am excited: so I decide I am going to have a piece of fish, some mac and cheese, and some mashed potatoes. A few hours and much moaning later, I have learned a full meal is not going to happen FOR A WHILE. Okay so next growling session, I have mac and cheese and potatoes. A few more hours and groaning sessions later, two starches are not an option. SO, next time I have a piece of fish - only. This seems to do the trick. However, I am surprised I am hungry again three hours later. This time I have a protein shake and go to bed. Next day, I am starving again, this time I think I have it under control. I am going to eat oatmeal. So I have a pack of Maple and Brown Sugar and a pack of Apple Cinnamon. Yea, that didn't work either. Next, I try just a scoop of mashed potatoes. That seemed to work. Later I had orange sherbet popsicle and some fruit. This seems to work. So next I try the cabbage my mom cooked ( although she warned me that it would probably cause me gas). So, I get two big spoons full and some potatoes. Many hours and LOTS of moaning later, Cabbage not good and small portions only. What have I learned from all of this. One: The three big meals a day - NOT Going to happen. Two: I will be hungry more often and that is not only to be expected but its a good thing - my metabolism is working as it should. Small portions are the way to go, and each portion should not contain two of the same thing. No double portions of starches .....LOL. What am I doing now: One small portion (a small cup) of meat, one small portion of fruit, one small portion of oatmeal, one small portion of vegetable, and one small desert - spread throughout the day. For the late night URGES --- A PROTEIN SHAKE. Learn from my mistakes. Don't get super excited. It wont pay off in the end.

First Step Letter of Recommendation: Diagnosis: Hiatal Hernia Morbid Obesity. Doctor: We are going to fix your stomach and help you lose weight. You will be able to eat healthier. Me: I am tired of surviving off of starch and I really want an Apple Pecan Salad from Wendys. Can they do breast reduction and Lap Band at the same time? Doctor: NO, you can't eat a salad right now, but there is a possibility you will be able to in the future. No they can't do both surgeries at the same time. Me: Have you looked at me lately? If I lose to much weight, Im going to topple over. Doctor: You will be just fine. "Laughs". Second Step: EGD: Scope of the Stomach. Nothing to eat after midnight. Outpatient procedure. Yes an IV is involved. Yes you are placed in a twilight sleep. Microscope is run down your throat down your esophagus and through your stomach. A mouth guard is used to hold your mouth open during the proceeding. My concerns: Please don't let me slobber on myself during the procedure. Will I get a chance to count backwards from a hundred before I fall asleep? Can I have a print out of my telemetry scan? Wow the sky sure is pretty ( this is my last statement before I fall into a twilight sleep). Third Step: Upper GI. Drink the chalky tasting Barium. Move from one position to the next on the xray machine. Go home. Once again nothing to eat or drink after midnight. My concerns: None. My issues: Got my self tangled up in the hospital gown and walked back into the xray room. Needless to say, after much laughter, it took two people to get me out of the gown. Don't ask. Fourth Step: Pre Surgery Informational. Went as planned. Described what the Lap Band is, how it is placed on the stomach, the financing options available, what results are possible, comparison to other weight loss surgeries, the steps required for submitting your case to insurance, and of course - success stories. Fifth Step: Psych Evaluation. NO right or wrong here. Just be honest with yourself and with the psychiatrist or counselor. My concern: Please give me a good evaluation. The doctors are starving me with this pre op diet. I would like to eat soon. Sixth Step: Talk to the Surgeon. Just questions about expectations, family history, what you have done to lose weight in the past, health issues, and more information on the procedure. My concerns: Will I be able to eat fruit and vegetables without pain. While I am this pre op diet can I have milk? The answer is no. I really want a steak. The answer is no. Why do you not like me? Doctor "laughs" : You will be just fine. Seventh Step: Insurance approval: Took two weeks for an answer. Pre Surgery Diet: 2 Weeks: AdvantEdge Protein Shakes - One every three hours and water in between. NO FOOD. This was by far the hardest part of the process. Especially since It was the fourth of July weekend. Not very happy, Is all I can say. Surgery Day: Urinate in a Cup, IV, Lovenox shot in the belly ( stings ), Patch behind the ears to ward of nausea/After Surgery: Walk twice, urinate, eat a popsicle and keep it down, sent home with discharge instructions, pain medication, nausea medication, and a On Q pump. The patch and the pump are to be removed the third day after surgery. Removing the pump does not hurt BUT you will feel the the tubing moving out of your body as you pull on it ( Ask me and I will explain in more detail.)

Make the decision that is best for you. You've lost 175 lbs on your own. That tells me that your mind and your heart are geared towards a healthy lifestyle. The question is: do you personally feel like you will gain the weight back? Will you be satisfied with your progress once you've lost another 80? Are you doing this for health and not size alone? I have met people who were very successful with lap band and I've met some who never seem happy with their progress. No matter how much they've lost its never enough. I personally believe you will do well no matter what exactly choose as long as you do it for you and you alone. If you love yourself as you are, good decisions will follow no matter the path. I personally admire all you have accomplished on your own. If you choose the band, you will do well....if chosen in the name of health. If you choose not, I believe with continuous resolved and support you will be just fine. Whatever decision you make, be at peace with it and don't look back ....only forward.

First of all I am proud to be a member of this site. It is wonderful to hear the stories of those who have been banded and those in pre-band status. It helps to read forums about the successes and the concerns, the achievements and the lessons learned. However, I wanted to reach out to those whose journey to Lap Band was slightly different. You see, My journey began at birth. I was born with a defect that was not treated until July 10th but caused me many issues throughout life. I was never an overweight child or teenager. I stayed active and in shape BUT I was sick. As a baby, I couldn't digest most formulas and I had a hard time with breast milk. Ended up with PET milk and karo syrup. As a young child, I had multiple stomach viruses. At the age of eight, I learned that falling asleep after I ate lead to choking in my sleep later on. This was chalked up to having a weak lid (whatever that means) and bad family history. During my college years, I began to develop ulcers. I was placed on a daily regiment of Protonix and sent home. By 30, I was experiencing fatigue, slight hair loss, and pain whenever I ate certain foods. At 31, I had enough and I requested to be sent to a specialist. I had an Upper GI which confirmed the presence of a hiatal hernia. One I was born with. Told that I could live with it and sent on my way. At 32, the list of foods I was unable to digest without pain was growing by leaps and bounds: NO fruit, no raw vegetables, no cakes, no desserts, nothing with tomato paste, no spicy foods, limited greasy foods, no carbonated drinks, no alcohol. I virtually had to watch almost everything I ate. I was in pain when I ate and pain when I wasn't eating. My vitamin levels where awful and my immune system not the best. I was exercising but not losing weight. I was surviving off of starch. I met with the specialist who performed and EGD - or scope on my stomach. Afterwards, He said he understood why I was in pain. The hernia had went from small to moderate size, Gastritis, GERD, reflux, and signs of Sleep Apnea. My stomach was a hot mess. All relating to the fact that my Hernia was never treated and 33 years later the damage was evident. My part in it all: Im sure I sped the process along with my awful College eating habits - aka eating when I had a chance and not getting anything remotely close to proper rest.) I remember sitting through my Pre Surgery Informational Class shaking my leg because I was in so much pain: I had just ate chicken and mashed potatoes and cole slaw. Yes I know: not the best - but anything I ate caused me pain. Well, the doctor sat down and discussed my options with me. LapBand seemed the best option. As of July 15th, I feel so much better. I actually rest when I sleep now. My thoughts are clearer. Outside of the pain of surgery, My stomach feels much better. I did start the protein shakes a month before my surgery. Two shakes and one meal for four weeks, which greatly helped with the abdominal pain and agitation. Two weeks before surgery, I had a protein shake every 3 hours and water in between. NO food. Yes I lose 24 lbs before surgery: though I was not very thrilled during the process. My doctor informed my loved ones that not only where things better than he anticipated during surgery, but my surgery went well and everything looked good. I wanted to share this story with those who are experiencing the same issues. Please note that your journey may be slightly different: It may not have started with the desire to lose weight or high blood pressure or diabetes or bad cholesterol, BUT I want you to know You are NOT alone. Many adults suffer from Hernias they know nothing about. They are not aware of the symptoms and just think they have stomach viruses and ulcers. If you are living on Maalox or Pepto or Mylanta: I am talking to you. If Nexium and Protonix are not working: I am talking to you. PLEASE get checked out. Have your children checked out. What seems like a small problem may lead to very bad complications later on in life. There is a better way of life available to you. I am and aim to continue being a witness to this fact. Thank you for reading this. Good luck on your Journey. Most importantly, Love yourself ALWAYS.

LOL. I love hearing stories like this. Lets me know I am not the only one making mistakes. I just got banded on the 10th of July. I have only been off the pain pump two days. I felt good so I decided I would go for a walk. Well that walk turned into a drive across town. I figured I would go get some ice cream from the store. Well half way through my "walk of freedom", my stomach started to hurt and then I started sweating. Apparently, I wasn't as healed as I thought. LOL! Needless to say I am still sore as we speak. As far as food is concerned: I learned that small portions mean SMALL portions. Three scoops of mashed potatoes does not a small portion make. There is not position comfortable enough to deal with a full stomach after lap band. And burping is no joking matter right now as well. Lessons learned.

I was just banded on July 10 2013. Since I started the process (April 29 2013) from pre op appointments to pre op diet to surgery I have lost 30 lbs. My biggest issue body wise is up top: lap band wont fix that. Other wise, I feel great. I guess my journey started off different. My hernia was awful. I couldn't eat most foods and I was in pain constantly. NO surprise after hernia repair and lap band I feel tons better. I am just excited to be able to eat fruit. Much less lose weight. As far as image is concern, I was never a chubby child or a big teenager: I was actually fit and active. But I had more issues with my body image when I was slim than I do now that I am heavy. Im pretty confident that with the ability to actually EAT healthier, I will be able to whip my body back into shape. MORE IMPORTANTLY: I LEARNED THE HARD WAY IN LIFE THAT NO MATTER WHAT SIZE YOU ARE, YOU HAVE TO LOVE YOURSELF. NOONE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU. The more you love the person you are the more it will reflect on the outside. This journey is not just a health journey but a life journey: one involving ALL OF YOU. Not just what size you are. So look yourself in the mirror and be proud of all you have accomplished so far. Wear your clothes with pride. And the rest will follow.

Banded: July 10 2013

My Surgery date was July 10 2013. I arrived at 6am. Asked to urinate in a cup. Put on a gown which the nurse connected to a heating unit. I loved that part of the prep. Wish I knew where to get one of those gowns. My IV went in smoothly on the first try. Then I got a Lovenox shot in the belly. It did have a slight after burn for a few minutes. Then I received my first shot of Anesthesia. After that, it was pretty much a blur. I did see the inside of the operating room which looked a little chaotic and then I was out. Surgery was done in an hour. Everything went well. The doctor even mentioned the fact that I was smiling during recovery. (This doesn't surprise me at all. Pain medication makes me very happy.) Afterwards I got to rest all of ten minutes, then it was up to walk, use the restroom, eat a popsicle, up to walk again, and I was discharged home with an On Q pump.

I can eat without fear of pain. I can eat fruit and raw vegetables. I can actually drink something other than water.