kacee

Amen to everything you said....and one way to applaude yourself is MINI-GOALS. Of all the things I have learned in this journey since my band, I think this is the most important. I used to go "Oh grief, I have XX (insert that horrid amount) pounds to lose???? No way!!!! It's like climbing Mt. Everest!" and I would rationalize never starting something I couldn't envision any success at. Self-fulfilling prophecy. THEN all of a sudden I realized I could celebrate EVERYTHING! 215 to 210? YIPPPEEEE!!!! 205? Hell yeah! One-derland??? That was good for a CRY! 195??? When was the last time I saw THAT? I have had so many celebrations it's hard to wipe the smile off my face! And they are still coming! And when they start to drag.....I make them even SMALLER! 177 to 175.8? You betcha!

Don't lay down when you drink or eat. I have found first hand it doesn't want to settle. Totally steer clear of pills for the first 30 days. Crush the ones you need to take.

I know it is hard to envision success. I felt a little apprehensive before I did it...after all, we are all here BECAUSE we are diet FAILURES, not diet successes. I just didn't see how I could "change" considering my past history. But it can be done. You do have to focus though. I think the thing that has turned me around is that when I screw up I know I get BACK UP ON THE HORSE and get back in the program and make up for my mistake. Always before...I gave up because I knew in my heart of hearts it was fruitless in the long run. Now I know it is NOT. I wake up and I still have my TOOL...it's there to help me. I give a little and it gives a little....and it works.

for me it was about 2 weeks out from surgery when it lessened.

THAT'S GAS!!!!! You are having the classic gas pains. I had very little topical pain in the area of my incisions, but the gas pain was pretty severe and for me lasted about two weeks. All that air pumped into your abdomen for the surgery is floating around in your body and trying to get out. Mine would go under my left shoulderblad and up the left side of my neck. Walking, heating pad and gas-x help.

I'd say try to eat more through the day. Your body may be in "starvation mode" and may be trying to conserve all its calories. It doesn't SOUND right, but they always say if you eat your body will stop trying to conserve and start processing.

I crushed mine for about a month or so. Then I started experimenting with the smallest ones, cut in half, then whole, then the larger ones. I can take ALL my pills now, whole.

Absolutely normal. Do NOT feel lost and alone. Get out here, get a pillow, settle into your chair and do some extended perusing of this site and you will find that there is NOTHING that hasn't been covered, felt, experienced, etc. You've got hundreds of people who have been and are going through the exactly same thing you are....all over the world...and luckily we have this wonderful internet machine to brig us all together in our little cyber-room to have one big yak session about it...while never having to leave the comfort of our homes. What a concept! We are here 24/7 so welcome!

I watched Dr. Oz on Oprah recently and they were talking about how much water to drink and the myth of the 64 ounces a day thing. His take on it is "If you can read a newspaper through your pee easily, and it is a light clear yellow, you're fine." Now I don't necessarily read through my pee on a regular basis but I understood what he was saying. Different people tolerate and need different levels of liquids to fortify their bodies. It's not one size fits all. I wouldn't be drinking just to get a "quota" down every day. Your body will tell you when it's thirsty, and keeping your pee light and clear will help as a guide. I know that when you are dehydrated your pee can come out very dark golden and more opaque.

Could be any number of things. Are you getting PLENTY of liquids and proteins in during the day? If not, that can make you lightheaded, nauseus and fatigued. Sugar drop will do it too. BP will do it too. See the "Beware and Be Aware" thread about BP.

bumping up

My Mom called me when this first came on and told me to watch. I've been addicted ever since. I think shows like this are good to educate people and de-mystique everything. There are still a LOT of people out there who don't know what a lapband or bypass is, and what they can do.

Years ago in college I worked at a top end steak house with a bunch of other college kids. It was heaven on earth! One of the waiters was a guy named Buck who was short and a little funny looking (definitely not your "GQ" kinda guy). However, he had the most insane sense of humor (I always wonder if he went professional as a comedian) fantastic personality and that boy could DANCE! When the bunch of us got off work and went clubbing...guess who stood in line to fight to be with Buck! Every one of us girls. His personality made him one of the most popular people in the restaurant, with employees and patrons. He was never wanting for dates. To this day, when I remember back at all the kids I worked with, Buck's face comes to mind and with it a wonderful glow inside me and a smile on my face remembering this fantastic guy....who most girls would have passed on the street without a second glance....

I've heard that along about the 5th year you'll wake up one morning and have an extra eye in the middle of your forehead. Well, okay, I'll deal with it....

"6 sleeps".....hahahahahaha I LOVE that term! I'll have to remember that one! My pre-op week was a blur and came and went so fast. This time next week you are going to be in BANDLAND!!!! We're waiting for yoiu on the other side! Welcome!

Nope. No hair loss at all.

I remember just being conscious all of a sudden. My throat was hoarse and I couldn't talk and I was a little nauseus so I flagged the recovery nurse over and asked for something for the nausea, which they immediately gave me in my IV line. I remember being conscious that I had little or no pain around my mid-section, but felt a little full and uncomfortable about mid-chest. That was pretty much it.

I don't go to the store nearly as much, but I only have to buy for me. I also find that I now cook something, I must divide it up and freeze it because there is NO WAY I will eat the food I fix within a short period of time. I eat a lot at work and I am trying to get over the hurdle that my eyes are WAY bigger than my stomach is now. I find myself tossing out food I can't eat, which is terrible (most of it doesn't make for good leftovers), so I am now trying to be very aware when I purchase food....like today I bought 2 egg rolls for lunch. The minute I took the first bite of the first one I KNEW that one egg roll was going to be it, and I gave the second one away. I need to get to the point where I recognize that I don't need to buy that extra egg roll or (insert any other food name here)....

Don't sweat the weight loss right now. Your band isn't even working yet, and won't be until probably after your first or second fill, so don't beat yourself up for not losing a lot right now. You really haven't even begun yet. You are still in "bandster hell" and have a while to go. Do NOT get discouraged!!!

I find that post-surgery I had "active gas" for about 2 weeks. Now at 4 months, I have just kindof settled in to reecognizing I have a lot more air in my body that needs to come out....all the time. I burp, I hiccup, I fart. It's nothing out of control, but apparently the way things are structured now leave a lot more opportunity for air to get into the system. You get used to it.

When you are first banded you don't really need to worry about how much you are eating. Initially you are not going to be ABLE to eat much because of swelling and discomfort directly after surgery. You won't really feel like it. Concentrate on getting good protein amounts. While you are on liquids, just take it whenever you can, all day long, to keep up your energy, prevent nausea and dizziness. That being said, don't guzzle 10 chocolate shakes in a day...I mean, moderation has its place. You'll start getting your appetite back about week 2 or so (sometimes earlier for some people). Once again, you are in the healing phase, so don't sweat it and be disappointed if the pounds aren't dropping off. Your band won't start working for you until probably after your first, second or possibly 3rd fill, so do NOT get discouraged.

Initially they're going to look at your weight loss and think you've done just fine and probably do NOT need a fill. If your doctor has a flouroscope and they try to tell you "no", ask to be fouro'd to see for sure. I was in the same situation as you three weeks ago....had averaged over 2 pounds a week but still could eat a LOT of food. My surgeon did not think I would need a fill so I went to the flouroscope and sure as anything, the barium just whizzed through my gut, showing I was way too loose. I told him that even though I was too loose, I had been GOOD the last month and stuck very closely to what I should eat, instead of eating what I actually COULD eat. The flouroscope does not lie.

Teaching an autistic class? Well, I think I'd rethink that. When I went back to wor I was just sitting at a desk working at a computer and I was still EXHAUSTED halfway through the day. If you need stamina to do this kind of thing, you better listen to your surgeon. He's got an extremely valid point.

I only took off 6 days including the day of surgery and then went back to my desk job at work...no problem. Many people were out less than that. If you don't WANT to take the time off (a busy job you feel you HAVE to get back to, etc.) then try to negotiate with him. If you don't care, just take the time off if it isn't going to impact your life or finances.

I am so excited for you guys!!!!! All kinds of wild thoughts are going to go through your heads in the coming week. Don't freak. It's all normal and we all went through it. Spend the next week getting your "nest" in order for after surgery. Get all your liquids and mushies bought, get your comfy clothes laid out, get your good books at hand. The more you plan for after the easier it is to just slide through. I had been planning and getting my things ready for the full month before I went in and it was like a dream...I had EVERYTHING I needed....no last minute need to run to the drugstore or whatever. I had my ducks all in a row and it went so smooth!