blacktxbelle

So, I am a little over two weeks out from my surgery dated July 29th. I've discovered and documented a wealth of information. This board has become my best friend my "google" if you will. So there are some things that are pretty standard like initial pain, swelling, diets, etc. I would love to know what is something you wish you had know before you started your journey. I know it's kind of corny but for the newbies here these nuggets of wisdom are valuable. Thanks in advance.

Hello all. I was banded two days ago. I have no real pain just a lot of discomfort not the sternum area. I was wondering if anyone who had a hernia repair done with surgery felt the same. It's a little had to describe. It is kinda like a little tightness or a pull not sure. I was fortunate enough to avoid the dreaded shoulder pain from gas buildup. YAY!

Congrats on the pants size. It's quite possible the scale isn't moving if you work out...you know muscle weighs more than fat. Anyway nice job!

Terribly sorry to stick my two cents in but I worked in the healthcare field for about 6 years. What you overheard about another patient was definitely wrong and yes I completely agree with you but a bigger issue is what other types of information they share among themselves and others overhear. This is something that is usually forbidden at most providers offices. I'm not so much concerned what they may say about me but what personal information of mine or anyone else's they may be leaking. Remember there are other medical conditions that some may want to keep private. #stepping down off my soapbox

I am still pre-op but with all the research and googling and browsing I have done, it seems like some people feel their band is tighter in the morning and at certain times on other days. I found this tid bit of information as I listened to various segments of a vlog by bandedwendy on youtube. She describes times when she feels tighter than others. You might take a look at some of her segments. http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY7CuDd3xtv5i9S2X7w8rzg

You've done a great job! All those years without maintenance to you band, that is truly impressive. With a will like that I'm sure you will get to goal. Congrats on the new insurance. It's amazing the differences from one to the other.

Alright! The countdown is almost over for me...for surgery that is then we get to move on to the numbers that really matter. I just thought I would take inventory this week and make sure I've got everything I will need at least the first few days. I plan to get up and move around lots. I just don't really think I want to have to go to any too public places. So I've got.... Hydration, everything from Diet Snapple to Water, broth, Soups I plan to drain and drink the broth from, sf popsicles, sf Jello, Protein shakes, Vitamins, my post op prescriptions, a heating pad, chap-stick (I already have the driest lips on the planet no need to let them bust), Tylenol Children's Meltaways since I don't particularly care for hydrocodone and as a gift to myself, I traded in my BodyBugg for a new Jawbone Up so I get to see my progress a little easier and track myself from surgery onward...any thing I am forgetting ladies and gents?

Are you talking about that supplement, protein powder, they have so many products....

I love lean body RTD shakes. They come in 25g and 40g of Protein. I also love OhYeah! those have 32g protein and come in a variety of flavors. They are a little expensive but because I have always only substituted them on the go anyway they are almost a treat and did I mention they are delicious. The last one I recommend is 52 E it is only found at HEB grocery stores in TX but the vanilla is tasty when I can't get my hands on one of the others. There are links below so you can take a look at the nutritional details. http://www.labrada.com/moreinfo_leanbodyrtd.shtml http://www.labrada.com/store/LeanBodyontheGo.html http://www.ohyeahnutrition.com/collections/all/products/nutritional-shakes http://www.heb.com/page/healthy-primo-picks/52e-sports-nutrition-drink My nutritionist and surgeon feel the same. They say after surgery they would like most of my protein to come from real food. Especially once I am back on solids. The reason they do this is because the shakes are liquid and slide right past the band.

Yaaaay! Congrats!

Hello all. Well who knew a pre-op diet could be so enlightening. I've been very careful to listen to my body. Rather than just putting something in my mouth just because, I am really trying to be vigilant about looking for queues when it is truly time to hydrate or eat. My saving grace at the moment are the sugar free popsicles. I found tropical flavors. Yum! I know some of you have read that I like lean body shakes. I recent found on that is 40 gm Protein. I typically split it in half. They have a thicker consistency almost like chocolate milk. So far so good.

About two years ago, I went from working 8a-5p to 8p-5a. This was and still is so confusing for my body. It became really difficult to determine when I should be eating so I just ate....possibly cause I wanted to. Today, this light bulb came on. I woke up famished. I'm doing the pre-op diet of course but...had I had a little something before going to bed and then the rest after waking up...I could have avoided this very uncomfortable empty feeling. I really didn't make it better by getting up, getting ready for work and still refusing to feed my poor belly. If I listen to my body more and respond appropriately to it's hunger just as I do for true pain...maybe we can quite fighting each other. #working on my relationship with my stomach

Congrats on your pending surgery. I'm not an Aug bander. I go in a week before you but I will keep you in my prayers.

I've never heard of your surgeon but as far as the removal goes, if it didn't work it just didn't work. You can't make you body tolerate something like this. All we can do is hope and follow the guidelines as close as possible. It sounds like you are already thinking about your next steps so keep your head up.

Honestly, the weight on your back deflated and all is relieved. I at one time had larger boobs 38F. At that time I wasn't overweight but I had them reduced. I then gained weight way after my first child. Needless to say my boobs grew too. My back began to ache again. I then lost over 50lb and my back was fine. My girls weren't sitting in perfect tear formation like they were before but they were lighter.

This weekend has been really helpful. I always love my days off from work. I tend to try to catch up on all that lost sleep during the week. There is however a problem. I didn't think much about hunger when I was not home throughout the week. So, mental note to self it's going to be important to make sure I have things to do. #Yay me! I'm still listening to my body and we haven't had a major fallout yet

I've been watching a vlog by an individual by the name of bandedwendy. She apparently moved to a location with that is located in a higher altitude and seems to have experienced so issues with the higher altitude and trouble with flying. Please see the following tube link about 2:55 into the video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeYJtaifoQA&list=UUY7CuDd3xtv5i9S2X7w8rzg

I am as closed to prepared as I can get. I have stuck closely to my pre-op diet, filled my post-op prescriptions, got my heating pad, liquids, chapstick, sf popsicles, Soup (I plan to drink the stock from it as I have during my pre-op diet), sf Jello, and I even purchased a few loose fitting summer dresses and a couple sets of loose fitting capris. Does anyone have any other suggestions? A little over on week to go! #whew

Hello all! I am a nervous mess. I'm happy don't get me wrong but all the same nervous. I went to my consultation appointment on June 19. I decided then that this was what I really wanted. I have dieted most of my adult life. My highest weight was 194 lbs. I lost weight that same year down to the 160s. That wasn't the healthiest loss I will admit. I was really stressed out. Over the next 4 years my weight hung around 150-160. Life really changed for me about 2 years ago. I began gaining weight and tried everything to ward it off. I went back to Level 1 Adkins, tried personal training (way to expensive for me though), even tried phentermine but it made me way too moody to work in a call center and have to talk to people. I currently weigh 185 lbs. I know that isn't a lot to some but for me, it means walking up stairs is daunting. I find myself checking that I have everything so I don't have to go back up again. That's sad right? There are times when the way I sit or the type of chair I sit in make it feel like the fat in my abdomen is making it hard to breath. I have worked hard my entire life to keep from being diabetic like my mom. She is a type 1 diabetic. Obviously I won't be a type 1 but type 2 isn't far behind if I don't do something. I've notice my circulation has changed too. My limbs go numb pretty easily. I've seen my primary care physician and he's found nothing. He's a great Dr. He spends a good deal of time with me discussing whatever we need to so I trust him completely. I know that loosing this weight will help with some of this. (I might also get to wear clothes that actually fit right) It would be great if any of you would like to keep in touch or even have advise to offer from your own experience. I look forward to working on getting back in the gym, slimming down, and enjoying life. I want to do everything where I can to avoid complications. I strongly believe if I create a plan for myself that is reasonable I can stick to it. I don't want to over commit myself. Lets face it when we make things too crazy for ourselves we eventually stop working on it. I have read a lot of materials that indicate compliance with the principles of the band decrease incidence rates but of course those pieces of literature lack the emotional effects. Well I have probably made you all extremely tired reading this so I am coming to an end. Thanks in advance for anything you have to say. I'll keep you updated!

Here is an image I was able to find. My surgeon uses the Allergen band but the low profile port looks like the tan one on the left hanging off the model.