littleroo1

faith - I'm glad you chimed in here! I knew you would know!!

I have the new AP band (Inamed) that came out earlier this summer. Specifically the APS (which is the small one). The other is the APL (large). I believe mine is 4cc as well but I'm not exactly sure. I wouldn't worry too much about it, the band they decide to use ultimately is decided when they actually see your stomach in surgery and you get the one that fits you best.

Mine was done in a surgery center that was in a wing of the hospital. My aunt is a head nurse at one of these surgery centers and she prefers it to all the years that she was in hospital surgeries since they typically do shorter procedures. No long organ transplants or anything!! I found the staff to be much better, more attentive than the hospital unit. I think because they were not constantly preparing themselves for an emergency to come through the door. It was nice to know that my surgery would most likely be on time and I wouldn't be bumped because of another trauma. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It felt so much less "hospital-like"! I felt like a patient, not like a burden. I never once thought they didn't know what they were doing. In fact, I would think they are more experienced at what they do. It's all the newbie docs that are working in the big hospital for long shifts and don't have the nice hours like the center workers!

Having mixed emotions is very very normal! I told my DH that even though I knew I was making a very sound and good decision for me, as it got closer I would probably be scared so he needed to help me stay strong. Turns out on the day of surgery, I was so much more calm than he was! If you are making the choice to be banded for the right reasons, you will be fine. Being nervous about any procedure is a normal reaction! I trusted my surgeon and the staff to take good care of me, which they did. Good luck to you both!!!

I'm self-pay and I traveled from Florida to Colorado... I was nervous about going out of the states myself. More so because of the after-care issues. My surgeon has banded people at your BMI before.

I think I'm going to start the Alli again since I have my band now but I'm still 4 weeks away from getting a fill. I have followed the instructions and I haven't had too many "explosions". When I did, it was because I chose to eat something that I knew was probably over the limit and it was going to make me sick. It did and frankly it was my fault. I was on phentermine many moons ago.... my doctor told me it has short term success only as your body adjusts to it. She had me take it M-F and take the weekends off to try and extend that effectiveness as long as possible.

As your swelling goes down, you will not have any restriction before your first fill! Congrats - this is bandster hell and you're in it! This is only a temporary phase!!!!

Welcome!! Congratulations on your weight loss! Check out the support threads that deal with more of the head work you are talking about. I don't think it is unusual in any way, considering how most of us became heavy to begin with!! There's lots of support here. Glad you could join us and give us some of your personal experiences since you have been there!

Deeda - thank you for posting your words of encouragement! This is EXACTLY what I needed to see this morning! Good luck to you and your fill tomorrow! Those 9 pounds will come off and more!

The flavored Isopure drinks in glass bottles count as clear liquids. 5 or 6 different flavors and you can find them at places like GNC. They have 40 grams of Protein per bottle - but I agree that you should only take half the bottle at a time. I believe the protein helped me recover as fast as I did and kept my energy up. I was told to get in 60 grams of protein a day (each surgeon is different) so for my clear liquid days, I was drinking 1 and 1/2 bottles of Isopure a day, spread over 3 "meals".

I only had noticeable pains for two days after surgery. Walking a lot helps! The heating pad helped me more than GasX but everyone is different. Some people have relief if their hold their arm up while sitting or laying down. Hang in there!!

I'm doing great!! My surgery was on the 5th at noon - had no complications. The next morning, DH and I took a trip 45 minutes south and I got lots of walking in. Aside from being a little tired and sore, I knew it was in my benefit to be moving around. We took another trip the next day and we were at the zoo for about 5 hours, walking around and standing. I would sit when I needed to. I went to work Monday with no problems. I do have a desk job. Each day I am less sore each day. By the end of this week, I knew I would almost be back to normal. I really think the key is to be up moving early. The night of my surgery I went to Target - not for long, but I did. I was really worried about feeling terrible afterwards. I told DH to make sure that I was up and walking around, doing things even if I was complaining that I didn't want to. I knew it was the best to get me on the speedy recovery track! I took a week off work because we traveled from Florida to Colorado for my surgery. My co-workers all think I was on a great vacation - which I was! They all told me I was looking nice and refreshed from my time away. I've been reading this thread but I guess I never commented! Sorry!!

No makeup allowed. That was the hardest thing for me - walking around the morning of my surgery, running last minute errands, nekked!!! Afterwards, you won't care - trust me!

I read this and was thinking "thin people have heart attacks too!". In the end, you will have to decide how you want to treat your body and that is very much tied to what you put in it. I would get tired of eating the same things everyday no matter what it was! I did have some frozen yogurt during my full liquid stage and it was good! Happy to report it didn't take much to get that statisfied feeling.

I'm on mushies right now, but I can tell you that I'm loving my Beans right now! I put black beans (or whatever) into a bowl, mash them up really well, add some salsa, stir, and then I sprinkle some low fat cheese on top. Microwave and it's like a fiesta! I tend to not eat refried beans as there can be some yucky stuff added to those. I only tell you this if you are having problems eating your beans and peas - just mash em up!! In the future, yes, I'm going to try to eat my Protein and veggies first, carbs last until I have a really good idea of how much I can eat so I don't get full and skip them.

Make sure you are still getting enough good fats... olive oil, avocado, etc.

I wouldn't wait. I think it's best to get into the mind frame that celebrations with family and friends DON'T have to revolve around food, but of being together and thankful for what we all have. It's hard so if you're forced to do it, you will see that it is no big deal. I went through my "last meal" mentality. I thought about it all day and where we were going to go. It wasn't as good as I had been imagining all day, so it was disappointed. But then I remembered that nothing tastes as good as being thin feels! Go for it!!

Check in when you are up and about! Wishing you a speedy recovery!!

If you have a Vitamin Shoppe close to you, or even order online, they have a liquid multivitamin in orange flavor. It's their Vitamin Shoppe brand. You mix it with 1 oz water.

Congrats Maria!! November will be here before you know it and it sounds like a great band day!!

Welcome Deb!! Sounds like you are doing great with your band! CONGRATS If you are moving away from the VA area, you can look at FillCentersUSA for locations close to where you are going. They do fills and adjustments for a rather reasonable price. Well, it may seem expensive if you haven't had to pay out too much money until now but to keep on track, it's worth it! Do you have friends you could go back to VA and "visit"? You could get an adjustment when you're in town!

Actually only 3 people know about my band in my offline life! My DH (obviously!), his boss, and my brother. It's a decision for everyone how much to divulge and I didn't want to explain myself. I really plan on telling people who ask how I'm losing the weight that I'm watching my portions and making good food choices. That is 100% the truth! The band is only a tool to support my new habit, not a cure. It's funny because I remember sitting in the car with DH the day after my surgery and I told him that I was feeling great but that I never want a c-section because it has to be far worse than this! So even thought I've never had a c-section, you will think this is a breeze! Some of the same tips apply... like holding on to a pillow while getting up or while coughing. All that will come back to you but you will think "this is it??? I can live with this!" LOL

Oh Cerrin, those comments were not called for or deserved. You'll show them!! I'm a closet bandster - only 3 people in my offline life know about my band. I was afraid of the situation you are having with people "watching". Hang in there!! Rants always welcome here!! :biggrin1:

I have something similar, I wouldn't say it is painful but I do feel pressure. I attributed it to swelling and healing since I'm only 6 days out. Have you talked to your surgeon about it? I hate that you are in pain, especially after the length of time after your surgery.

LOL Mine too! I keep telling him "slow down!!!" because he takes HUGE bites and chews it maybe 4 times. socalgal3 - I appreciate the feedback about the papaya enzyme! Thank you!! Yes, getting stuck and PB'ing are two completely different things and I'm not thinking clearly! Ha!! I'll have to check out the grease bags. I know that we already have a bunch of dark colored doggie doo bags that we carry around and you can't see what's inside. Although they are "scented", I'm getting an aversion to the scent because it is associated for me what usually goes inside so they might not work too hot if I'm sick. :paranoid