Cat225

Mine was a day procedure, but I did pack lip balm, warm and cozy socks, and super comfy, loose clothes to wear home. I also brought all my medications with me, as well as Gas X, so I was prepared for afterwards. When I got home, I kept my bag on my bed with me, so I didn't have to reach for anything.

You look amazing! Congrats on being able to lose weight during a very difficult time. I'm so sorry about the loss of your dad and your separation. I lost my dad last year, too, as well as another close family member. My dad's sudden death was the most difficult thing I have ever experienced. At first, I couldn't eat anything. I lost 10 pounds. But, sure enough, after a week or so, my appetite returned with a vengeance, and in the year I ended up gaining over 40 pounds. I was the fattest I had ever been. I just got my band a week ago, so I'm starting off the year "fresh", too. We can both do it! You have done awesome so far!

Mine was a day procedure, but I did pack lip balm, warm and cozy socks, and super comfy, loose clothes to wear home. I also brought all my medications with me, as well as Gas X, so I was prepared for afterwards. When I got home, I kept my bag on my bed with me, so I didn't have to reach for anything.

The last 7 months have kind of been a blur, my dad died and my husband and I have separated. So a lot of big changes!!!! I am thankful that even without any fills I am down 87lbs in almost 14 months. And that includes loosing the 15lbs I gained after my dad died. The difference this time is I am not going to beat myself up anymore and I will concentrate on the progress......

Day before surgery

Before a 5k last weekend

People with food addictions or dependency are like most other addicts. It's hard to quit and for many a lifetime of over-indulgent habits die hard and some never do. A properly adjusted band won't allow us to eat as we once did. We can't drink and eat, we can't force a swallow with another forkload of food, we can't evade chewing, and some foods just don't agree with the band.
So, some banders learn how to "eat around" their bands by consuming ice cream, pop, Cookies, candy, chips etc. A lifetime of eating taco bell, McDonalds and KFC can be impossible for some to leave behind, so they don't.
Serious people who understand the serious nature of their lifestyles understand they must change and consume healthy foods or suffer the consequences. Success rests entirely on the patients willingness and/or strength to leave the old lifestyle behind.
tmf

I was just banded 4 days ago, and there's no way I could go back to work tomorrow. I'm still in a lot of pain, gas pain, as well as pain from my incisions. I bruise easily, and I have a huge one in the center of my stomach. I'm also still pretty tired. That's just me. You may be a lot better than I am. At least going back to work will give you something else to focus on. I'm going nuts with boredom here!

Thanks everyone! There are some great ideas here!

I tried to make the purée stage as easy as possible. I threw whatever my family were having in the blender. It didn't always look the best but always tasted the same. The only thing I didn't like was Pasta. I found it became too starchy.
I puréed chilli, buttered chicken, Soups, etc.
Be creative. Remember, variety is the spice of life! It's easier to get through the stage if you are eating tasty food.

I agree...a favorite of mine too...never added cream cheese though..will have to try that yum, yum!
Depending on what your doctor considers purees (consistency wise) ...here are some things I had.
tuna , chicken , egg salad with light mayo pureed in magic bullet
93% ground beef made into taco meat pureed in magic bullet
wendy chilis pureed in magic bullet with a little sour cream
no-noodle lasagne....ricotta cheese and some parmesan cheese layered with spaghetti sauce
pureed baked chicken w/ little bit of gravy and very smooth loose mashed potatoes
If I could puree it I pretty much did....didnt always look that appealing but after 4 weeks of liquids it tasted SO delicious.
Hope that helps you some! ENJOY!

My favorite puréed food is cauliflower (preferable STEAMED- but it can be boiled) once they are soft throw it in a blender or food processor, add cream cheese and a little bit if butter, blend to the consistency of mashed potatoes..... So good!!

No idea, but we did a meat with some sauce to make it better and not as dry. Many people do refried Beans with a little hot sauce/ Tomato sauce. Best wisehs, hopefully others will give you good ideas. Karen..aka..kll724

I remember I saw a WLS documentary where the Dr encouraged the patient to buy store made shepherds pie and liquidate it with some clear broth. The patient poured it into an ice tray and froze it. Whenever it was meal time he took one cube out and microwaved it. I don't know whether it was any good but he seemed to enjoy it, maybe shepherd's pie could be alternated with something else like tuna casserole or chicken pot pie

A nurse from my clinic called today. She said that if I continue doing well,I can start pureed foods on Thursday. Does anyone have any good ideas for me? My guide from the clinic has a sample meal plan and some guidelines, but it also says that I could buy baby food in the jars if I want. YUCK, no thanks! What I've been craving for the last few weeks is Protein, especially eggs and chicken. How can I make some purees that will taste good? I know about unsweetened applesauce. I think I'll make my own.

Hi Sherry,
If your husband is not going to support your journey you are going to have to make a difficult choice here!
That is to eat the chocolate and sweets or not!
We can't control other people, the only thing we can control is our reactions to circumstances. If you find yourself in the situation where your husband brings home sweets try to limit your exposure to them. Hide them away, or bury them in the yard. Flush them down the toilet or give them to some kids on your block. Start having parties where the kids come over and eat all the sweets, and then when your husband says "hey I'm not trying to feed the neighborhood" you can tell him to stop bringing home the sweets and you'll stop feeding it to the neighborhood.
Sometimes we have to be strong for ourselves, and make a those difficult choices. Maybe next time choose to have a chocolate Protein shake or maybe a Protein Bar or something equally as yummy that will keep you on track.
If your hungry between meals you may need a fill to help you feel NOT hungry between meals. Give your doc and your nutritionist a call and see if they can help you get things working in your favor again.

I just got the lapband today.In a lot of pain but I am exited.

Hello Bandsters,
I had my surgery May 2012. I am 5 months from 2 year anniversary. I am very happy with my choice. I used to be on these forums sometimes daily. I desperately sought out advise and looked for "long timers" who were still successful because I needed to feel more reassured that it is the right thing to do. I never saw that many people that had years after surgery. Now I know why....
In my case, I am happy. I feel normal. I am 25 pounds from my goal. It has been slower than I wanted and imagined but I am still happy. I cannot imagine life without my band. It is such a normal part of my life and now that I don't even think to come back to the boards to read and post. I just did today b/c a friend had the procedure this week and it made me thing back.
What I love about the band is that I can be a normal person. I do not get sick like bypass patients (or what I have heard and seen with bypass patients - my aunt had it 10 years ago). I am healthy, I do not lack nutrients that my body needs b/c for the most part I am a normal eater, just a lot less. I cannot imagine eating like I did post band and I cannot imagine having the obsessive thoughts about food and dieting and losing weight that I did before. Now I just live a normal life. It is freedom. I love it. I gain from time to time but it is just a couple of pounds and it comes right off. I am still going down each month. It is slow and I am now okay with it bc I know I will get there over time. I have lost 85 pounds so far.
Problems: I have only had a few problems. I have had a few "sticks" that took a long time to get out. Once I got over filled and didn't listen to the warning signs and it caused a dialation. However, since I continued to go in for monthly aftercare (my choice), they caught it early and it was so easily fixed by a slight unfill for 3 weeks. I considered it a learning lesson to not get overfilled and to follow my rules better (smaller bites and eating slow). I got back on track and it was a mere speed bump. The few painful stuck episodes where b/c I did things I shouldn't like eating cold fried chicken skin. Any baster would know that is just stupid. You cannot chew that well enough. I deserved it. I didn't have to have anything done to fix it, just a long time in the bathroom to contemplate my mistake. Basically, any problem I have had has been b/c I wasn't following the rules. I tested what I could eat and learned the hard way. I tend to do most things that way but I learned my lesson. Sometimes I would try again and have to learn about. I have now learned that steak and I are not friends. I would have thought that would make me sad but I don't really care about it. bread is a testing thing. I am VERY careful when I try bread. White tortillas are off limits for me. I can eat Pasta (but I only eat angel hair and I am very careful and slow). Other than that, I am fine with anything and I just eat slow and follow the rules.
Changes since surgery: Things in my life have changed for the better. Since I am freed from the bondage of obsession about weight loss, low self esteem, and all that goes with it, I am able to just be happy. I have confidence, my sex life is better, my relationship is better, my work is better, I have more energy, I love to work out (I know that sounds crazy). Life is just good. I did have to learn how to deal with a few things differently. I learned that I really did use food to comfort myself so when I have a bad day now, I cannot turn to food. I have to go for a walk, work out, or just be okay with feeling shitting over a bad day. I cannot eat it away (I could with sliders) but not in the same way I used to do. Now I just have to find a different way to self soothe so to speak. That took time to do. It was a learning process but now I am more in touch with my feelings and what I need emotionally. That is a great thing also. I am also surprised when men notice me. It is such a weird thing. I will be walking or shopping or anything and I see a guy looking at me. I think "does he know me.....do I have my zipper down.... is food in my teeth, " then I realize, "no Katy, you just look nice today". I never thought that would happen. Overweight people have told me "you just don't know what it is like to struggle with weight loss". Then I am happy to tell them I know more than they ever could imagine and I share my story.
Clothing: I love shopping. I am not hung up on what size I am b/c any size it is in any given store is still 5 sizes smaller than before. I was a 22 and only at Lane Bryant. Now I can shop anywhere I want to. Some styles don't fit but body types are all different. I am either a size 12 to a 16 depending on the store, style, and cut. I feel good in all of it. I got to a goal of mine to buy skinny jeans and tall boots. I wear it last least once a week and feel sexy as hell. I got to buy lingerie and in normal sizes. I bought a bathing suite in Target and it looked good. I love to wear jeans and they are comfortable. I used to hate it b/c they felt horrible. Now it is like wearing sweat pants to me. I got to buy bras and Victoria Secrets and panties! They only down fall is spending too much money shopping. But I will take that!
Skin: I do not have loose skin like I thought it would be. There are areas I wish were tighter but I don't hate the way I look. I will likely save up for a Tummy Tuck later but I am happy where I am at. I just feel it would be the final thing to being different. I don't like my upper arms that much but workout out and lifting weights and short sleeve shirts do the trick. My boobs got smaller but it fits my body at were I am. I was a 44 DDD and I am a 36 D. I usually wear a tight spaghetti tank top under all of my clothes just to hold in any jiggle. It makes for a smooth look. But again, it isn't that big of a deal to me like I thought it would be.
Eating: As far as eating goes, it is easy. I don't think about it anymore. I sometimes get physically hungry and then I want to eat more, but I serve myself the 1/2 cup, promise myself it will fill me up. It always does but sometimes I have to wait for 10 minutes after eating for that feeling that I am satisfied to hit. But for the most part, 1/2 cup always does it for me. I have forgot to eat meals.....that concept was crazy to me before. I will say that eating Protein really matters. If you are eating carbs, you are going to feel hungry and want to snack more. Make sure you are getting protein. I can eat at restaurants, holidays, out with friends, have drinks, and no one can tell I am different. I am always the last to finish and if I haven't had time to eat my full 1/2 cup by the time everyone else has scarfed their food down, I quietly get a to go box and eat what I need later. I usually don't even want it then. Eating out took time to learn. I got more stuck food at restaurants b/c I wouldn't eat slow enough or I would try stuff I knew I shouldn't. But now it is very normal to eat out. I feel like what I always imagined non-over weight people to feel like. I eat to get what I need, I don't think about it, I live my life and I don't care about the scale anymore. It is more freedom than I can imagine. I don't fear I will fail at this. I know I can go back to my Dr anytime and get assistance if I have issues. I will always go in 2x a year to ensure things are safe and I am happy with that. One weird thing for me is that I will get the hicupps when I have eaten a little too much (if I didn't measure my food or I am eating out). I have learned that is my body's stop sign. I obey it. If I don't, I get too full. It is a nice warning sign for me. If you are blessed to have a "warning sign" like hiccups, listen to it.
Forums: If you are searching for long time bandsters on this site and fearful that it is a sign that many fail, I think it is the other way around. It is just that banded life becomes so normal and good for us that we do not need to turn to the support of the boards. We don't think about it. We are just out their living our lives, shopping at Victoria Secrets, eating out with friends, having drinks, working out, feeling happy. It is a new normal and it feels great. I would have never thought about coming back to the site if it was not for my friend going through this process. It made me recall my last 18 months and recall how I use to spend hours on this site searching for answers. I would advise if you are going to have surgery just to go to all of your aftercare appts, follow the rules, have patience (especially in the beginning few months) and welcome a new life.
I just wanted to post this for anyone that it might help. If it doesn't or you have had a bad experience with the band, I am sorry. I am not judgmental of anyone's struggle. I just wanted to share a few thoughts. I may not respond b/c, like I said, I just don't come here often. But I will try to do so if anyone wants or needs help.
Best wishes to everyone searching for their own freedom from obesity. Lots of love!
Katy

I am also in Canada. I was just banded this past Thursday. My surgery cost 16,000, but I get loads of follow up care included. I have thought about and read about the lap band for at least 7 or 8 years now. In that time, I gained 60 pounds. It's your decision. You can lose how ever much you want once you have it.

I really think it's too early to feel any restriction. The first few months are really hard because you don't have a lot of restriction. I'm 3 months out and have had 2 fills. I can feel some restriction because my band reminds me when I eat too fast or don't chew well. Do t worry u will get there!! Good luck and sugar free Popsicles were my best friend. They count as a liquid.

Most surgeons don't put much saline in the band at surgery time. You'll most likely need several fills before you feel any restriction or satiety. Some people feel it immediately but only maybe 1 in 20?
tmf

I got my band on Thursday. I'm getting around the house easily now, and am going up and down the stairs as much as I can. I still have a lot of pain in the center of my stomach, but that's due to some pretty bad bruising. I'm still feeling tired, but doing my best not to lie around too much.
food wise, Friday was all clear fluids, and today is the second day of full fluids. Am I supposed to be feeling restriction yet? So far I've had no problems drinking anything. Today I even started my Protein Shakes again, making half servings with skim milk instead of Water. My husband thinks I'm nuts, but I'm really worried about gaining or not losing weight right now. After eating, I am satisfied for the first hour or two, and then my stomach starts growling again. They told me at my clinic not to worry about this stuff, but I am and I'm confused as to what it's all supposed to feel like in my stomach. All I feel in there is the gas pain. I thought I'd feel some sort of restriction or something. I'm going to contact my clinic coordinator tomorrow with my questions. It's just all new to me and I don't want to make any mistakes.

I was just banded 4 days ago, and there's no way I could go back to work tomorrow. I'm still in a lot of pain, gas pain, as well as pain from my incisions. I bruise easily, and I have a huge one in the center of my stomach. I'm also still pretty tired. That's just me. You may be a lot better than I am. At least going back to work will give you something else to focus on. I'm going nuts with boredom here!

I know you're concerned because this is all new but not to worry..you really don't feel much of anything. Just remember to sip right now as your insides likely are swollen. Don't get on the scale...you may have gained weight because of the swelling and you don't want to focus on that now anyway. If you feel hungry, you likely are. It's better to be hungry than to feel sick so I think you're ahead of the game. Remember to follow the doctor's instructions, don't try to test the band..not now, and not ever...and you will do fine. Congrats on your surgery!

I can totally relate! I got banded on Thursday and I have no restriction in my band. This is because i was told that they want to give my belly time to heal before I get filled. My first fill is 02/21. My appetite just came back and my stomach growls like crazy. I have been getting in about 4-6 cups of Water and my Protein is really gross to me now. I am so confused.

Can't believe it is finally here! It's all happening so fast! I lost 10 pounds on my pre-op diet so I feel like I'm on my way! The hospital I'm having surgery at is an hour from my home and we are having a bit of a winter storm with 1-3 inches of ice expected. Staying in a hotel next to hospital so we don't have to travel I'm it! I'm so excited!!! Please pray my surgeon can make it in!

I had my surgery this past Thursday, and I wasn't allowed any makeup, creams or nail polish.