SandyM

pbing,, I call it a jellyfish

Hey, a compliment is a compliment, no matter how its wrapped.

I gave up trying to measure and weigh and use the soft spot. It is working.

I do agree that there are 2 ends of the spectrum. I don't necessarily agree that you have to live right near the red zone to be successful. And I don't agree that if you live nearer to the yellow zone that you'll either fail or probably don't need the surgery at all. I stayed nearer to the yellow zone for a few months and continued to lose. I did have to work at it only in that I'm very carb resistant and had to avoid the very simple carbs because they sparked cravings. I believe I will have this problem no matter how much Fluid is in my band, at least until my brain accepts the fact that these foods are not good for me and were always my biggest problem and I don't need them. Sort of like alcohol and cigarettes. I do believe that I could have maintained my weight without so much work, but to lose, I log, exercise and monitor things closely. As for falling off the wagon, this isn't impossible for anyone since it is easy to succumb to temptations that would pack on the pounds. But all of our opinions differ. I'm sure I'm not alone in believing that men lose weight and a lot differently than women. Good luck and you can make it with this. By the way, I am a native Oklahoman and miss it very much. I also am former US Army.

You'll have to learn patience. It's going to take more throughout the journey, but you got this.

Yes, I remember my first scrambled eggs

This is a pretty old thread. I would post a new thread and say where you are and see if someone in your area can suggest a good bariatric surgeon in your area. As for your pcp, if they have no background,they prolly won't take it on and you prolly don't really want them to. Face it, I'm a nurse who has accessed hundreds of ports.....band ports not my area of expertise. I wouldn't touch it without proper certification and likely they won't either.

I'm 8 months postoperative and it's better and at least controllable. Nothing like a crowded elevator.....

I didn't even get lovenox preop. I was told to wear teds but they were thigh highs and kept rolling down so they weren't doing me any good. , so I wore them at night and during the day I stayed mobile and drank plenty of fluids. But that was me. My advise to anyone is to follow their surgeons advise or be willing to suffer the consequences. Definitely call your serge on about it.

It's prolly cause you are truly hungry. Make sure you eat every 4 hours. What happens to me if I don't is I forget all the rules about eating slowly chewing well and making good choices. Then I have big regrets. I keep healthy snacks around just in case. Things like protein bars, baby bell cheeses, shakes even vege chips which I find very satisfying

Or try some liquid tylenol

After a few fills you will have more restriction and will likely want to limit some of the things you eat. I don't want to be so tight I give up everything. I could probably hold a little more saline and still be in the g-zone but I'm happy where I am. I'm losing, haven't found anything I can't tolerate if I eat slowly and chew well. Your 1st fill usually doesn't help much. Usually it takes 3 or 4 or more. But it's better to creep up on it so when you get almost there you can work with your surgeon to get you where you need to be. Each person is different. Last fill, my surgeon was going to do .5 cc and I was on the fence whether I even needed a fill so I asked her to do only half of it. She did and I'm right where I need to be. As said, I didn't want to give up meat and bread and I haven't, I just have to be careful with it.

I find that if I give into simple carbs, especially during the evening, they will defeat me. I try and am usually successful in avoiding them. But sometimes they win

This is how I managed it. Told a select few. After 8 months I share with everyone who wants to know. I'm proud of the results and maybe I can be helpful to someone along the way.. As for hubby, we like to say we got a 2 for 1. He didn't get a band but he's lost 33 lbs from our household improved eating habits. His BMI is now 26, mine between 29 and 30. I'd say he's definitely supportive.

I drink mine strait out if the pot with coffee creamer.

I drink my coffee "mcdonalds hot" and I drink as much of it as I want (sometimes 5 to 6 cups) and have both preop, post op and post op op. My surgeon never said not to and I didn't ask. That said, its the only vise I haven't been told to give up so it'll stay, forever and ever and ever. . and I dont necessarily just sip it, I drink it. I asked my surgeon the deal about gulping and was told that that has to do with the esphagus not the band.

Absolutely, and if you are taking lots of pain meds, don't forget stool softners. You don't want to add constipation to your problems.

It'll prolly take a few fills before the band works well for you. Use this time to practice your portion control, food choices and of course chewing and pacing yourself. Too many folks get in a hurry and regret it. Sit back and enjoy the ride, it's not as long as it seems. You'll look back in about 6 months and wonder where the time went.

Teehee, I hope you're not talking about me.

Some people confuse the stomach growling with hunger pains. This isn't necessarily true. Try drinking some liquids if its not time to eat and if that doesn't work, try a Protein snack of some kind.

The 1st and 2nd days are the worse. You will still have some residual gas pain for up to several weeks. Some here use heating pads for this and some have someone stand behind them and have small back chops to help break it up. Watch your incisions and remember they might look healed on the outside well before they are totally healed on the inside. I felt pretty good at about 5 to 6 days.

Forgive yourself. We've all been there and sometimes still are.

Have you rescheduled your fill?

This is so true. I don't feel the need to feel that tight. We see it all of the time someone who thinks they "have" to lose 2 lbs a week or a clothes size a month. The margin in the green zone is actually larger than some think and some think they have to be as close to the red as they can be without leaving the green if you get my drift. Problem is, the closer to the red you are, the harder you have to work or the more foods you have to eliminate from your diet. I'm am definitely in the green zone, am losing weight and haven't had to give up a single food, though I havent tried steak yet. I wounldn't take a tweaking if it was offered, not at this point anyway.

Congrats. Feels real good to be even close.