mandze90

I have so many feelings, trials and triumphs with the band and I feel like I can't talk to anyone since no one really wants to hear what I am going through. Soooo I started a blog to get it all out there. Take a peek, I just started today and plan to post often to get it all off my chest. Follow me on my journey, I think it will give me some accountability too when I know people are watching. Banded Up

I got one but was too lazy to get up off the couch and measure my arm so I guessed and I guessed too small. So it sits on my dresser hoping one day soon I will be able to wear it without my circulation getting cut off.

MIne did too, but it doesn't last long. I was too scared to put anything on it.

I am up to 5 fills and 7 cc's. I feel really not much restriction. I mean I can't eat everything I used to eat but I do feel full. from what most people say it happens at a different number for everyone but in my support group most people got that restricton between 8 and 9 cc's. I still feel hungry but not nearly as much as I did before the band.

I have a protein shake made with frozen fruit. Sometimes I have soft egg whites with a little lite cream cheese mixed in. Also I have found if I drink tea or my decaf coffee first then my breakfast goes down easier.

If you are wondering what life will be like after the band come follow me on my journey on my blog. I just started it today and will be posting all of my thoughts, troubles, and triumphs. I tell it like it is, so come get the real deal. Banded Up

I know one of the first things my doctor said I needed to stop doing was using a straw. So since my surgery 4 months ago I haven't. But now I am starting to wonder am I the only one? Do you use a straw? I am tired of spilling my crystal light.

do you just eat the black beans by themselves? I would think that would be a little hard to get down. Do you flavor them with anything?

thanks for the ideas, I do have a question, do you just cook a batch of chicken and keep it in the fridge to pull from during the day? How do you cook it?

I started to notice my hair coming out much more and faster than normal, and then I figured I should start coutning how much Protein I was actually getting. Turns out I am only getting like 35 to 45 a day. So I need help on how to do it. I do drink a shake some days, but I can't every day. Other days I have an egg and some turkey bacon. I normally have a Protein Bar as a snack, which is 14 grams. My lunch is most of the time another 13-15 grams. What can I add in or substitute to get me up to my 60. I hate fish and cottage cheese so please don't suggest those. Any help would be appreciated, before I go bald.

I have always had a dream of running a marathon but would never tell anyone as I am so out of shape. My goal since the surgeryis to do 3 5k's this year. Right now I can only run/jog for 4 minutes then take a break then start back up again. I can do 2 miles like that before I want to die so a 5k seems pretty far off to me. Hopefully when a few more pounds come off it will be a little more in reach.

I am two months post surgery and still am getting a sharp pain in my shoulder area. It is very similar to the gas pains I had right after surgery. But how can it be gas now? I get the pain at any time, sometimes lasting for a few hours. Anyone else still have this? What is it? And what if anything makes it better?

I was a huge coffee drinker before surgery, but doctor said decaf only. don't know why but I listened and switched to decaf a month before surgery. So now instead of 3 - 4 cups of coffee a day I drink one decaf in the morning with sugar. That I coudn't give up.

Hi everyone, I am newly banded and know that medicines we can take is restricted. I have a terrible cold and really want to take some decongestants. I have on my medical alert band 'no nsaids' which I don't know wht that means. But when I read the back of the advil cold bottle it said contains NSAIDs. So I figure I can't take it? Does anyone take anything for a cold? I don't think I can handle work tomorrow like this.

I was banded 12/22 and I know I have another 3 weeks before I can get a fill. I am hungry and doing my best not to eat anything that will make me gain any of the weight I lost back. But I have been stuck at this weight for a week now. I do feel full after I eat but it doesn't last as long as I would like.

I had my surgery on 12/22 and the upper part of my stomach is hard and swollen. I went today for my first checkup. I told her my concern, she said she could hear all the gas in the upper part of my belly. She recommended malox, and said it could be another 3 weeks. Size 16 is like amazing even if my swellilng went down I wouldn't be able to put anything except my toes in a size 16. :thumbup:

I am with you but my drink of choice was diet coke. Now I don't know if this is true but it scared me. My doctor said if I were to continue to drink diet soda like I used to (4 a day) it would erode my band. That hit home and I now I don't think about it as much. I don't want to go through the surgery again.

I think everyones fear is hairloss. Now when you said you always got your protein in and you still lost it that is concerning. I am one week out and not getting my protein in each day since I just can't drink that much so I am really worried. When you say it was falling out did you have like patches people could see? Or was it thinner? Because my hair is pretty thin already.

I made a scrambeled egg last night very soft and was fine.

Why are eggs not a good idea after surgery? I had my surgery on the 22nd and on our list of food is eggs in the mushie stage. You can't possibly be stomach hungry your body just went through a huge change, your stomach is swollen. All those noises going on in your belly are not 'growling'. Not if you are only a week out. You are head hungry and I totally understand. I have no desire to eat real food but yesterday when I saw powdered donuts at my parents house I just wanted to lick the outside and let it dissolve in my mouth. You start makng all kinds of logic in your head on why it wouldn't be a solid food if it dissolves, and how you haven't eaten much in a week and how you can't possibly survive on the little you have eaten so far. But you can't do it. As my husband says "that is the old you, this is the new you" You have to totally change your way of thinking and realize the only way to make a physical change is by starting mentally. We have all played the head games already on every diet we started and failed so many times. My concern is that you are starting this journey with just trying to eat a little less. This is a huge deal, this is the last straw, this surgery is saying you can't do it on your own and are not like the rest of the world when it comes to eating. Don't waste this opportunity to start a new life and feel all its benefits. If you continue with how you have started out you will be one of the people who get a band and only lose 20 pounds. Sorry if I am blunt and I am by no means an expert but I can't see anyone going through all the trouble and pain of the surgery and then throw it all away.

I am not a big veggie eater either and just got banded this week. I took the broth from the vegetable soup and ate that today. In a few days I will take the veggies I saved in the freezer and pulse them up a bit to make a veggie smooth enough for me to eat. So like veggie soup puree. For me veggie soup is the only way I got them in before the band, maybe my tastes will change. But I am strarting off trying to get some in.

You should be so thankful about no shoulder pain. I have such pain around my collar bones it is crazy. Much more intense than the soreness in my belly. I can't believe how well you are doing. I am just 2 days out and feeling lots of pain, no hunger just trying to drink a little bit at a time. As my kids are making brownies and cookies for Santa I told them they probably didn't need to make that much this year because Santa really isnt' that hungry.

My dr said we need to have 64 grams of Protein and 64 ounces of liquid (Water or crystal light). Eat your protein first at every meal. Also they said to stop drinking 30 min before food and don't drink for 30 min after meal. Just thought I would put that out there to see if it helps.

I went today for preop testing was there from 9-3:20! It took three people to find a vein and 5 tries before they found one. A total of an hour! It was terrible. My hands and wrists are so sore they poked so hard looking for them. Then I met with nutritionist who said I ate terrible when she read my food diary. Hello isn't that why I am getting surgery! I mean I was honest I could have lied but how would that help. Then I met with the surgeon and the office manager. So he says I am all set for the 22nd just waiting for the approval. I am more worried about being denied than I am the surgery. :w00t: They said I can have sugar free jello and I should shower every day but not take a bath for a month. That is contrary to what someone else said on here. Is everyone taking their vitamins? Which ones? Surgeon said if I lost 60 pounds he would think it was successful and 80 pounds would be better. I would be very happy with 80, I don't even remember what it is like to be less than 200 pounds.

My date is the 22nd also. I am a teacher too and I need a week off without having to take off school. Did you get your approval yet?