kland

You both look fantastic! Congratulations on your inspiring work!

I'm from the DFW area.

I'm thrilled to have the APS with a low-profile port.

I'm loving that everyone seems to be doing so well. Just keep up the good work and if you fail one meal, just pick it back up the next meal. I plan to start exercising and like you Bigbaby, I hate it! DH found a great deal on some exercise equipment so I could have an elliptical for use at the house very soon. I'm not sure I would actually keep up a walking regiment in the summer heat we get! I am moving to mushies now, even though I have had some "real" food so far. I wasn't supposed to, but I did....oops! No problems though. Most of my Protein at this point is coming from the EAS AdvantEDGE Carb Control shakes. The chocolate ones taste just like chocolate milk and have 15 grams of protein. The weight is still coming off and I'm still weighing every morning. I think I'll continue weighing like that until I stop losing. I just get a big thrill at the point because the scales continue to move down! Bigbaby, I get my fill on the 18th at AIGB. Is that where you're going too? Yay for all the June bandsters! We rock!!!

Ugh....off to eat a SF pudding.

Hey Bigbaby!!! My first fill is scheduled for the 18th as well! My appt. is at 1:30...what time do you go? How are you feeling?

It is so hard to believe that I have now been banded almost 2 weeks! Congratulations to everyone with their band and good luck to those that are about to begin the journey. We were out of town last week for a baseball tournament and I found it very difficult to stay on liquids. I did eat some food, but chewed very carefully and kept portions way down. There were several times that I should have had soup, but didn't. Should have gone on a guilt trip, but kept that at bay....LOL. I also developed a major toothache and had to get some pain pills called in by my dentist. Fortunately, I was able to get them down. I couldn't have made it without them. By the time we got home, I was retaining a lot of fluid; my ankles looked like I was pregnant. Had my dental work done yesterday and am off the hydrocodone. The puffiness has gone away so I'm back to normal. Thank goodness because I had about 4 pounds of water to get rid of! I'm back on liquids without a problem now and the weightloss is still there. Wheeeeee!

Thanks ladies for your encouraging words; I'll keep you posted!

That's a pretty big generalization and I don't agree. We are all different and our successes are going to come in different ways. There may be many banded people that will be able to unfill for vacation. I can see being at my goal weight for a stable period of time and unfilling somewhat for a cruise. It doesn't mean that I'm going to binge the whole time. It would mean that I might enjoy a piece of bread with my meals, or other things that I generally have difficulty with. If I was already having problems with my eating urges, then no, I wouldn't do it. There are many people that are making life changes with the band and they probably would be able to handle splurges every now and then. If the band is the only thing that ends up controlling what you're eating, then you probably shouldn't consider this.

Bigbaby, we are so busy right now with our kids' sports that I'm not going to commit to anything right now. It surely will be something to look into though. How are you feeling?

Just thought I'd pop on this thread again! I had my surgery last Friday and I'm feeling fantastic. The recovery wasn't too bad at all and I'm making it through my liquid diet. While the liquid diet isn't very interesting, I'm loving the results I'm having....I've lost 4 pounds since my surgery date. That just gives me incentive to keep drinking these shakes! I hope you are all doing well!

Good luck to all being banded today! Have fun in Destin Heather! I'll have to try the mushroom soup; I've tried the tomato soup and it's yummy too. And nobody will get this like y'all will, so here goes....I feel the pounds melting away! Yeeeehaaaaaaa! Even though this liquid diet is a major kick in the bum, I'm lovin' the results! How 'bout y'all?

I had heard that you could get an unfill before a vacation too. It sounded pretty good to me! I think I could only do it though if I felt I could really enjoy food without going overboard. My surgery was only last Friday, so I'm pretty far out from even contemplating it though.

I'm sorry you're not 100% yet Suzzie; you will be. Just give yourself a little more time to recover. I hear ya on those steaks. My brother brought over some BBQ for Father's Day and my mouth was watering. I did have a little bit of the mashed potatoes and they were soooo good! But you're right, a little pudding cup is very filling! Who'da thunk? Stephanie, I don't think we're supposed to take these steri-strips off; they're supposed to come off by themselves. I have them too and they are pretty nasty, but it would flip me out to take them off before they were supposed to come off. What if you open up the incision by trying to replace them? **shudder**

Good morning everyone; I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I'm pleased to say that I slept on my stomach last night! Wheeeeeee Feeling great and down a few pounds. Yay for liquid protein! LOL

Best of luck to you Mindy...I'm sure it's going to work out just fine! I just got banded last Friday, so I know how excited you are. Consafo, DH means "darling", "dear" or sometimes "d@mn" husband. ;-p

It will probably just depend on the administration fee that Medicredit charges the doctor. I believe Capital One charges $600. So, if you got a loan for $15,000, CO would send your doc a check for $14,400. I would imagine that they all have a pretty standard fee.

Good luck to everyone being banded today....you're on your way!!!! I'm glad to hear others talk of this burping thing. What is this? The burp that never comes? Ack. How long before this feeling goes away?

I don't know about adding Protein powders to other things; I haven't tried that yet. From what I've read on the board, I doubt I ever will! LOL I buy the EAS and Atkins Protein drinks. They taste pretty good and I can get them down just fine. Good luck to y'all!

My doctor does fills at 4 weeks. He actually encourages you to go ahead and make your 1st fill appt. right after you're done meeting with him for pre-op. I'm already scheduled for July 17th. Yippeeeee!

I thought I would update too! I'm on day 2 out of surgery and feeling pretty good. I'm not having a hard time taking it easy! Yesterday my upper abdomen felt so bloated and it was horribly uncomfortable. Today. that seems to have subsided somewhat and my chest feels kind of tight. When I get to talking, it sounds like I've been running a marathon. I do keep getting that annoying feeling of needing to burp....ugh. Not too bad, just the next phase, I guess. I'm not hungry at all and am working to get my protein down. I'm on liquids for another 12 days, then I can add some full liquids like mashed potatoes, creamy soups, oatmeal, etc. Then, at 4 weeks, I get my 1st fill and can start carefully adding solids. I'm feeling so empowered right now!

Thanks everyone! It's good to hear the different experiences we are having. I feel so prepared with the band because of reading this forum. Bigbaby....you'll do great with Dr. B. I was only on the table for 25 minutes....that's how long it takes him to do the procedure. The nursing staff is fantastic and they take excellent care of their patients. I'm on liquids for 2 weeks, but can also have yogurt, pudding, jello and applesauce. I did have some jello last night (surgery day) and it really tasted good. I ate it cold right out of the fridge...the pudding too. My tummy is very tight feeling and I'm in some pain when I get to moving around. As I'm sitting here typing, I can hear my stomach grumbling, but I'm not hungry at all. Keep up the good work everyone!

Congratulations Stephanie....awesome work!

Yesterday I had to be at the surgery center by 9:00 for the procedure at 10:00. I think we left to head home around 12:30.

I can't wait to go clothes shopping and looking for cute things in smaller sizes! Since I had pretty much edged myself out of it, it will be such a thrill to shop in the regular department. All of my big stuff I just plan on taking to the women's shelter.