morningoasis811

Thank you for bringing up the word addiction. It's not just head games, head hunger, or getting your shit together. For some it is an addiction. ~this is my personal opinion, take what you like, leave the rest, I'm not pushing my thoughts on anyone, just sharing my experience~ I heard someone once say "I could have just as easily become an alcoholic, but I was mugged by Sara Lee and the Pilsbury dough boy before I was old enough to be seduced by the Jose Cuervo and Jack Daniel's." - Anonymous My dad and a few others in my family have struggled with substance abuse with drugs and alcohol. I am the only fat one. I feel that I chose food to cope. I saw what drugs and alcohol did to my family and thought I would never be like that. Then facing 300 pounds, one day I realized that I had simply chosen a different drug. A more socially acceptable drug.:hungry: Sometimes I think it would be easier to be an alcoholic, you just STOP drinking all together, stop going to bars, stop hanging out with drunks. You cant stop eating, stop going to the grocery store, stop going out to eat, stop being around food. When I hit 280 I considered gastric bypass, at that seminar, I realized the problem is in my head and not my stomach. At that point I joined OA (overeaters anonymous) and over the next two years, I worked the program and lost 90 pounds. The obsession had been lifted. I started changing my life and dealing with old shit and the weight fell off. Then last year I got married, graduated and lost my job. It was a lot to handle, I stopped working the program and gained back 80 pounds in a year.:whoo: Last April my Dr. Suggested the bypass again, I decided on the band. I figured that with all of my knowledge of working the steps in OA that had helped so many other drunks/foodies the band would be one extra tool in my tool belt. I know it will be hard. I have to do the foot work and USE my tools. I got myself into this mess, and now with help I can get myself out. I am looking forward to my journey with the band. I also plan on going back to OA and working the program again. My addiction/disease will always be there. I simply need to change the way I handle and give in to this disease. Thank you for letting me share my experience. I Assume that the band will help me if I use it. This thread has been very insightful and helpful! I'm on this site daily soaking up as much persepective and experience as I can. Sorry this went on so long.

Hi Lady bug, I was asked to lose about 27 pounds before my surgery, but they told me 10-15 would be good enough for them to schedule me a date... I lost nicely on my own by counting calories for about 6-8 pounds, then I freaked and gained back like 10. I feel ya sister... After talking with my primary care physician, we agreed on weekly weigh ins at the dr's office so it was recorded AND I joined weight watchers and started the core (low carb) plan. I lost 11 pounds in a couple weeks and I was scheduled for a sugery date 3 weeks later. That was my experience.

I did the two weeks of Fluids (protien shakes) and I just started the second stage of pureed/soft foods. I'm still doing a lot of the shakes becuase I'm so affraid of stretching out my pouch so soon or not letting myself heal well enough. Even 3 weeks post op I'm still pretty sore and can feel the band in there. I know myself too well... hello complusive eater that's how I got fat in the first place, testing limits, nibbling here and there... no good. I'm being really strict with myself and taking it really slow. I have to try and be different this time. I don't want to screw this up.

I started to feel hunger about my 4th-5th day post op. Not hunger pangs like I was used to, but a definite emptyness and grumbling to be filled. I just mixed in Protein powder with my pudding and sipped on thick Protein shakes. It goes away, feed it with the fluids. I can relate on the cracker thing. It's so weird not to chew. I have to admit I've taken bites of things and chewed them up, but spit it out before swallowing. I sucked the salt off of a chip. I chewed and spit two bites of pizza then two bites of cake. Not good behavior for this I'm sure, but old habits are hard to break. So I'm working on it, but didn't swallow though, too affraid to mess up my band or stretch out my tummy too soon. good luck

I was banded on 10/25, and I have to say that the gas pain was probably about 60% of my total discomfort. In the hospital they gave me milk of magnesia, and I took gas-x chewables when I got home. Lots of walking helped too. I started passing gas finally around day 4-5 and I was in heaven. On the pain meds... before surgery I was able to take vicodin no problem! However, that liquid stuff made me throw up all day my first day home from the hospital. I couldn't stomach it. One ounce every 4 hours, that filled my little pouch, I couldn't get any other liquids down. After the first vomit session the surgons told me to switch to tylenol but I couldn't keep that down either. I ended up back in the hospital for 3 days on IV's because I was in so much pain and dehydrated. I just couldn't take the pain medicine on an empty stomach. They switched me to Oxycodone, I just put a drop under my tongue ever two hours. It worked reallly well for me. Now since I'm over 2 weeks post op, I'm taking Tylenol rapid release pills, as directed by my Dr. I take them about 5-10 min a part. Take the pain medicine you can while it's prescribed. take advantage and use as directed, you'll feel so much better.

Hi kate, I was recently banded on 10/25/07 and am down about 12 pounds. I'm on my first week of pureed food. I feel something in my chest and and I do get full really fast. I havn't had any fillls or adjustments yet. My first fill appointment is not till Dec 12. On the gas thing, I was drinking everything through straws and sippy cups and was having tremendous gas pain and passing a lot of gas. The last two days I've switched to sipping from the straw to the edge of the glass, and this has helped my gas a lot. Not sure if that will help you or not. I get really paranoid and am really conscious of my band and I visualize everything going down. I'm trying to baby it. I'm really worried about switching over to soft/chopped solid food in a few weeks.

I think for some, setting a high goal weight is a fear of failure, but it can also be realisitc for someone who has been large their entire adult life and doesn't even know if their body's can get to a low weight like that. I'm 5'4" and my Dr's told me that my BMI should be under 25 for me not to be considered overweight. I've studied the BMI charts and I've had my body fat percent tested. I set my first goal as 150 which is a BMI of 25. Then I thought, that's not challenging for me. If I'm going to do this, let's DO THIS and get to a healthy range. When I was a freshman in high school I weighed about 146 and was a size 9/11 Juniors. I figure If I can get down to 135 I'll be a size 8 or so. I'm good with that.

I had staples for the first week. I first post op appointment was 7 days after surgery. They removed the staples and I have the steri stips on now. 2 have already fallen off after 5 days, the rest are still holding strong. I can't wait till they fall off, scabs heal and I can start using vitamin E and stuff to help make the scars go away.

Hi, Does anyone know if the small stomach pouch above the band can or will stretch out like people with the gastric bypass? One of the reasons I chose the band was because it was adjustable. I know a few people with the bypass who have stretched out their pouches and can now eat as much as they did before. Any insight on this?

I was prescribed diet stages as follows: Liquid Clear - first two days after surgery during hospital stay Liquid Foods - Weeks 1 & 2 Pureed/Mushy - Week 3 Soft/Chopped - Week 4 Regular - Week 5 forward I think I might do the Pureed/Mushy foods for 2 weeks instead of only 1. I don't want to rush things.

Hello All, I'm curious at finding out how much time people were given to be off of work or how long you waited to go back. I hear that it takes 2-3 weeks but some people feel fine after less than a week.:sick I had my Band surgery on Thursday 10/25/07 and am scheduled to go back to work on Monday 11/12. So that's about 2.5 weeks. I'm not sure if I'm ready to go back yet. I'm still so uncomfortable. Please let me know. I know that everyone heals differently and pain levels all vary. I have a desk job, but it is very demanding and fast paced work. I just want to know if I'm being a big baby or not. Thanks.

Unflavored protein powder in soups. Drink high protein soy milk I eat a lot of pudding with the protein powder blenderized soups with meat for added protien

Hi, I was just banded on 10/25 and have only lost about 10 pounds. I've been on a protein liquid diet only so far with lots of water. No real exercise, just walking around where I can. I'm going to start walking today around the block while I'm still home recovering. I have more energy now but I'm still really sore. How much protein are you drinking a day? My goal is 60-80 grams. How are you losing so much??? tell me. :confused:

I was advised to lose 10% (27 pounds) before surgery, to show dedication and to shrink the liver. I only lost about 10 pounds and they were happy with that. 2 days before surgery I was on a clear liquid diet and the day before I had to do a "Bowel Cleansing" (not fun).

I would have started my journal right away when I got home. In this journal I will record my progress with the band surgery. I am still sore and I'm in the second week after surgery. I've lost about 11 pounds so far. I'm pretty excited about that. The doctors keep reminding me that my loss will be much slower than bypass patients. I'm going to do my best to make this surgery work for me the best it can. I am going to excercise and show my doctors who is boss. I got the lap band surgery because I have failed at losing weight in the past. I'm tired of losing and then regaining it. It's not good mentally and it's not good for my health. More to come.:ranger:

I would have started my journal right away when I got home. In this journal I will record my progress with the band surgery. I am still sore and I'm in the second week after surgery. I've lost about 11 pounds so far. I'm pretty excited about that. The doctors keep reminding me that my loss will be much slower than bypass patients. I'm going to do my best to make this surgery work for me the best it can. I am going to excercise and show my doctors who is boss. I got the lap band surgery because I have failed at losing weight in the past. I'm tired of losing and then regaining it. It's not good mentally and it's not good for my health. More to come.:ranger:

Hello All, I'm brand new to this site. I was banded on 10/25/07. I'm home for two weeks. I spent the first night in the hospital then came home for a day, and was back in the hospital for 3 nights after vomitting all day on my first day home. I came home on 10/30 and have been recovering nicely. I'm moving around as much as I can, but am still very sore and trying to get in all my protein. I'm glad I found this site. Everyone I talk to had the bypass and I know they are similar, but sometimes it is hard to relate you know.