thin2bme

I was banded on March 19th and I've also noticed the last couple of days that I seem to be hungrier and could eat more than I could before. I know that we supposedly don't have any restriction yet, but I'm trying not to eat more than 4 oz at one sitting because that's what my dietician told me to do. I've also wondered if my band might have slipped but have no way of knowing. I really think that I'm able to eat more now because the swelling has gone down in my stomach, but I'd also like to find out if someone knows how to know if your band has slipped.

My surgery date was March 19. I was 283 when I attended lapband seminar in November, 2007. I lost 20 pounds pre-op. I was 263 the day I had surgery. I am 253 today for a total loss of 30 pounds since my lap band journey started!

Erika, I am so glad to hear you are feeling better after having the 2nd surgery, it will only get better!! I will be going back to work on Monday, and I'm glad that I've had this 2 1/2 weeks off from work to get back to where I would say that I feel somewhat normal. I have a clerical job but have found that I've been very tired and am just now regaining some energy, thanks in part, I think to the fact that I'm remembering to take my vitamins daily. I still have a hard time remembering to take all of them, but I think the vitamins and walking are helping me to build up my stamina. So remember to walk, walk, walk when you start to feel up to it.

Erika I am so glad you went into see Dr. H, I'm sorry to hear about the band being too tight, I guess that's one way of losing weight without a fill,lol. Sorry you're having such a rough time. Please keep us posted. I found out today that my disability group at work approved my extended stay off of work til next Monday, April 7. I've been extremely tired and Tim told me last week it was because I don't have enough calories going in right now but when I got on "real food" I should start feeling better. Well, I'm here to tell you, "real food" is giving me a better variety of things to eat, but still I'm not getting in more than 400-600 calories in any one day and I just don't have much stamina to do anything. I'm going to make myself start walking on the treadmill tomorrow, in hopes that I will be able to build up my stamina to get some energy back before I go back to work next week.

Yvonne, how terrible is that. Goodluck on your next go round. I'm on Day 12 post op and love my band already, this is the best thing I have done for myself in a long time. Hopefully, your's will come soon.

I started mushies today and what a treat after being on liquids the last week and a half. I had a poached egg this morning for breakfast, then went to the doctor's office to get the staples removed. I feel 95% better since those are out. I am feeling better as each day goes by. After we left the doctor's office, we went to Taco Bell and got me an order of refried beans, mmmmmm, delicious and I was satisifed with just the 1 bowl, I would have never believed it. Not only that for dinner tonite, I ate half a can of tuna with a little bit of light miracle whip and couldn't believe that, that small amount also satisifed me. I also hope this feeling stays with me, I don't get a fill til April 25, but I'm loving this band already. Erika, so glad you're surgery went well and hope we can meet up at a meeting soon. I'm going to the one at SMMC tomorrow night, but I doubt that you'll be up to that one yet, but if so be sure to let me know, so we can hook up with each other.

Ghost, I've not been feeling very well today, been really bloated and gassy and don't really feel like getting out today, so I won't be at the meeting tonite, please keep me updated on the next one. Thanks for letting me know about it.

Erika, if you can make it to the group tomorrow night that would be great to meet up then. I think hubby is finally consenting to taking me, lol. I also plan on going to the support group meeting Thursday night at SMMC but I'm not sure you'll be up to going to that meeting. Ghost, at this point I plan on being there tomorrow night, can't wait to meet you too.

My DH turned his nose up at taking me to the support group meeting tomorrow night, but he's been really good about going with me to other support group meetings @ SMMC when he was able to go. I'll let him know he can sit in the library and surf the net, maybe that will get his motivation up to take me, lol. Staples come out Wednesday, I am so ready for that now, I think most of the pain I'm feeling right now is from the staples pinching especially when I roll over in bed. I feel pretty good otherwise. I'm still having problems getting in 64 oz of liquids and I'm getting better with my proteins. The creamy liquid stage is helping with that. :wub: I'm really looking forward to Wednesday after staples are removed, I'm going to Taco Bell for some refried beans, yum yum!!

My surgeons office weighed me with clothes AND shoes. I think it must depend on your surgeon's office, if they don't tell you to take them off, don't ask and just hop on the scale and get weighed.

AZNikki, glad to know someone else is wondering if the pain that exists is because of the surgery or if it is hunger pains. I've come to the conclusion it is just surgery pain because I think I actually had a hunger pain about 30 minutes ago. I'm sipping my water now and hope this will do the trick for me. I had surgery on Wednesday so this is Day 4 for me and I was able to eat about 3 oz of Cream of Chicken soup earlier (yummy) and I also got down 3 oz of yogurt. This is the first day that I was able to have anything creamy and what a treat.

Hi Diane, thanks for the invite to the support group on Monday. I might just plan on being there, as long as I can talk my DH into bringing me. Instructions from the hospital were no driving for 1 week and my week won't be up til Wednesday. I'd love to meet you and KCBigGuy too. Keep me posted when the next one is, in case I don't make it to this one :thumbdown:

Well, today is Day 4 post-op and I'm feeling better as each day goes by, I can actually lay down and get up in bed without too much pain today, yippee. Pain wasn't too bad yesterday either and I only had a couple of doses of pain meds just as a precaution. None today so far and probably won't need them. I get to add my creamy soups, yoghurt and V-8 juice today, mmmm, the thought of them makes my mouth water, lol. The incision sites have started to itch and that's driving me crazy, I'll be glad when Dr. H removes the staples on Wednesday and maybe that will also help relieve the pinching feeling that I get when I sit up or lie down. Well, I better go get my protein drink and get started getting in my liquids for today, it's not been an easy task getting in the liquids because I feel like they are just sitting in my chest after a few drinks, maybe I'm not waiting long enough between sips, don't know. Guess I'll slow down a little today and see if that helps, even though it seems like it takes forever to get any liquids down now.

I was banded on 3/19 and feel pretty good this morning. I've been on clear liquids since Monday, which was 2 days pre-op, and then had to continue clear liquids through yesterday. Today I get to add creamy soups, yogurt, and V-8 juice, yummy! I came home from the hospital same day of surgery and was very tired and in some pain, but kept the pain killers in me all day Wednesday and Thursday. Yesterday, I almost felt like a new person except for some pain in the port area so I only had 1 dosage of pain killer in the morning, then took another dose when I went to bed last nite. My incisions are starting to itch, this is driving me crazy and I started experiencing some hunger pains late yesterday, but nothing I couldn't handle. Still loving my band and I don't regret it for 1 minute. :cheers2:

Well, surgery went fine, right before they took me down to surgery they gave me a "highball" and I don't remember anything after that until I woke up in the recovery room. I got home last nite about 5:30 but was too tired and sore to post. Today has been about the same as yesterday except that I had to make myself drink a protein drink and eat a little bit even though I wasn't really hungry. I'm still on clear liquids through tomorrow and Saturday I get to add creamy soups, yogurt, and V-8 juice, yummy! I go in next Wednesday to have the staples removed. I'm a little bit afraid that he put my port right where the bottom of my bra goes, but I haven't put one on yet to see, guess time will tell. Anyway, I'm glad to be an official bandster now and can't wait to put it too work.

I'm being banded tomorrow and he said he will use staples.

Well day 1 liquids finally over with, it really wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, now on to Day 2. I came prepared to work today with protein drink, sf popsickles, tea and forgot my chicken broth, but DH is going to bring it to me. I can do this, no doubt in my mind, the protein drink kind of takes the edge off of my hunger, then into surgery tomorrow morning!!

Thanks Ghost, I just got home from work and just ate a popsickle, boy it tasted good, after only having hot tea and water all day at work since I wasn't anticipating this to be today. Anyway, all is well, I'm going to go get a protein drink now and maybe some broth, hopefully, this will get me through to bedtime, hehehe!!

Well, my day is almost here, Dr. Hoehn's office called me this morning about 11:00 to advise he could not do surgery this Friday (Good Friday) and wanted to move it up to this Wednesday. Well, talk about nerves kicking in... Anyway, effective immediately that means I'm not on pre-op liquids only til day of surgery. Then it looks like those same liquids continue through til Saturday when I'll be able to add creamy soups and yogurt, yippee, I know those will be heavenly come Saturday. Bring it on, I'm ready!!

Angel, I think you're located in Kansas City (I recognize the doctor name). I'm also in Kansas City and being banded next Friday on the 21st. I have tried a LOT of protein drinks the last few weeks and I've only found 1 that I really really like, it's available at Manna Nutrition store in Overland Park it's called Nectar Sweets Chocolate Truffle, it is wonderful and mixes instantly with water. I tried the Unjury and to me, it was hard to get it to dissolve, but the Chocolate Truffle dissolves really easy and taste like a candy bar. Trust me, it's worth your time to go buy some of this. You might call GNC they might carry it too, if Manna isn't near you. Just a suggestion.

I go in for surgery next Friday and it's outpatient, surgery @ 8:00am and probably will be home by noon or so according to my doctor.

Congratulations Brenda, you've found the right place for support along your journey. I haven't gotten my band yet, but my surgery is next week on Good Friday, March 21. Good luck with your journey.

Thanks for the info on all of the support groups Ghost, I might attend some of those also, maybe I'll check out the one this Saturday at the Heartland Hospital, surgery date for me is coming up next week and I agree with John I can use all the help I can get.

I also tried Isopure and didn't like it much, the only thing that I've found that I really like is Nectar Sweets Chocolate Truffle made by Syntrax. It taste just like eating candy, if you like chocolate I'd recommend this one. I'm still experimenting with different drinks and this is the only one I think I can actually live with after I get my band, lol.

Congrats to everyone above on a March 21 surgery date and to Lynn for March 19. We are all in this together and I can't wait.