Apples2

I took off over 50lbs during my six month medically supervised diet. I started the middle of November. My BP was extremely high and knew that I did not want to wait for my band to get some of the weight off. I believe that sticking to this diet helped me in the long run with living with the band. My surgeon gave me rules for eating like a lap band person at the beginning of this process and I decided that if I were to be a success, it was best to start all on my own. As far as concerns go, I have really had none. My weight loss the seven months b/4 being banded was not extreme; just steady. I feel like a new woman with lots of energy and I am once again an active person. I can honestly say that the band is one of the best choices I have made in life. Good luck to you on your journey:thumbup:

Thanks for the quick response, Jack. I think that at this time I am just really irritated. The "stuck" feeling lasted about a couple of hours and then subsided. I could feel things trying to get through the stoma and that is what was most painful. I will take your advice and try a couple days of mushies. I don't think I will be eating deli meat any time soon. I feel fortunate that I have tolerated so many things. I'll just chalk this experience up to trial and error.

Was banded 6/17/08. Things have gone very well up until yesterday noon. I was nervous while eating some deli turkey and immediately knew I was going to have problems being stuck. Pretty sure that I chewed well but thinking that it's something I just do not tolerate. I am getting some Water down but nothing else. Just so I don't drive myself silly worrying that I did damage to my band, can someone just explain to me what it feels like to be stuck and how long b/4 this might pass? I appreciate it. (BTW, I already talked with my dr.'s office).

Hi June Jazzies. Haven't checked in for a couple of weeks. (Home only 1 day a week during the summer). Had my 6 week visit with my surgeon a week ago. Had the chance to get my first fill but was still really tight. I flew to FL and back the week b/4 and that had tightened me. Turned down the fill and the day after I experienced extreme hunger and it has been the same since. Emailed surgeon's nurse today to see if I can get a fill b/4 my next appt on 8/19. Hoping I can. All in all things are going great. Now that I am hungry, I need to remember to eat slowly. It never seemed to be a problem b/4. My surgeon has a strict regimen of eating only three times a day with 1/2 cup servings each meal and absolutely no more than that. I have stuck to this diet faithfully and as of today I am down over 75lbs. (Started pre-op dieting mid-November, 20, 2007). I am sure the weight loss will start to slow so am preparing myself not to be discouraged when that happens. Sounds like you all are doing well and adjusting to band life. I am hoping that I do not run into any problems along this road. I love how my band has performed (not just right now during this hungry period) and never want to have to deal with living without it. Wishing you all continued success!

Cat is allowed in my diet so you should be OK. As far as the Wiskers goes; that is not allowed in MY diet so CALL YOUR DOC IMMEDIATELY but first, cough up that hair ball so you do not choke when you are calling your doc.:eek:

Just had to say congrats and good luck. Wish you all the best!!!!!!!!!:biggrin2:

After having my band just a short three weeks, I am already attached to it and would do whatever it took to keep it. I think I would check with my dr. to see if he could put in a new and revised band if I were you. Hope your revision journey is a short and painless one. Wishing you all the best.:tt1:

Thanks for sharing the story of your complication, Shortgal. I have been following Sades story and wish you both well. Sorry you have to go through another surgery but try to look at it positively. You will soon be on the road to having your band function as it should. I admire you for continue to lose and maintain during this time. Good luck to you and let us know how things go. God Bless

Hi kids!!!!!!!! Just came across this thread. I am only at my computer on Mondays so I am a little behind the times. (I live at the lake during the summer...come home Mondays to do bookwork, laundry, etc.). Sound like everyone is doing fantastic. Thanks, Cathy, for starting this thread and being such a great motivator for everyone. I will be three weeks post surgery tomorrow. Things are great. I have been on solids for a week and it's going great. It's amazing how I know when my last bite is. Hunger is under control but know I will need a fill when my dr. allows it at six weeks post-op. Weight loss is in the normal range from what I have read with everyone else. About 17lbs since surgery. It's amazing to try on clothes that I tried on a week ago that were tight around the belly and today they fit. Things like that keep a person motivated. I know I have said this b/4 but my outlook on life is just so much more positive. As Longtobethin said above....she always felt she was taking the same route her mother took. I felt the same way. I felt like I was spinning out of control and that I would be the lady in the store riding around on the motorized cart when I was in my late fifties. I would do this all over in a heartbeat. I wake up smiling and I go to bed content with how things are going and look forward to a bright future with doing things I haven't done in the last 13 years. LIFE IS GOOD. Will check in again with my Jazzy June friends next week at the same time. Hope everybody has a successful week. All this is so easy. I feel like I have been released from the food Prison! Take care!

Hi all...Just checking in. It will be two weeks tomorrow since my surgery. I can honestly say that this surgery was a breeze. Had MAJOR trouble though with shoulder pain. Met with my surgeon a week ago and he said he knew that it would not be easy with the shoulder pain he thought I might have. I attributes it to the hernia repair. (My hernia was larger than a baseball) Anyway, things are starting to calm down in the shoulder. I cannot take pain meds so it has been a long two weeks. Screaming pain every time I swallowed (even saliva). I never even felt my incisions. Eating is going great. Doc put me on soft foods last week and tomorrow I start regular. I am eating about 1/3 cup of food three times a day and I am full. Not much hunger between meals. I can already say that I think this is one of the best things I have done for myself. I am down over 60lbs (includes pre-op diet). I am so happy and can already see the difference in my outlook on life. Hope everyone is doing well and recovery quickly. To the last of the June Jazzies.....Good luck in surgery today and God Bless.

Hi Honey, welcome. I was also banded on July 17. Hope things are going smoothly for you and that you are fitting into life with the band. I already can say that I think this will be one of the best things I have ever done. I love the support here and the information available. Good luck

Hi Kids!!!! Hope all the June Jazzies are doing great. For all that have had surgery, hope things are falling into place and you are getting used to your new life with the band. Good luck to all who are having surgery this week and next. I have a feeling this is the best thing I've ever done. Some complications...but not related to the band. (Surgeon did some other work while he was in there). I haven't been to this thread for a week. Been put on a strict "do absolutely nothing besides walk" 8 week plan by my surgeon. Long story but the only way my inners will heal. Anyway, at the lake 6 days out of 7 and will check in again next week. Sending the love your way!!!!!!!!

I had my surgery 8 days ago. I had the same feelings that you did b/4 surgery. Mr surgeon started me on soft foods yesterday. Even though I can only eat 1/4 cup each meal, I savor the flavor. I take my time and I find it very satisfying. I believe that if you strictly follow your dr.s instructions on what and how many times a day to each and how much, you will be a success. It's all about taking good care of your band to begin with. Old habits can be broken. I decided that the way I would look at this entire process is: I will feed my band as if I were feeding my baby. I would never put crap or something that was bad for my baby in it's mouth. I am going to take care of my band no matter what it takes. You can do this!!!!! Decide now that you will break the pattern of abusing your body. Take care and good luck

Yep, you can do it and it is soooooooo important that you do. Just keep thinking that this could make you surgery go much smoother and it is good for you post surgery to stick to this. I had a 14 day and made it through just fine. I could have 1/2 protein shake in the morning, 1/2 for supper and just broth or sugar free juices otherwise. It actually went pretty well. Just do things to take your mind off of being hungry. What worked for me was going for a walk. Good luck and it's worth it. Think of all the weight you will lose pre-op!

Thank God for new beginnings. You can do this. Just look up how many calories are in those lattes and Moo's. I think I remember 700 or more for the DQ one. That alone should motivate you to stay away from them. You can always try to come up with a sugar free, low fat alternative and still have your treat. Best of luck on your new start.

Thanks, that's good to know. I believe I have a fairly high pain tolerance and will just handle whatever comes my way.:cursing:

I had surgery at 1pm yesterday. I just thought I would check with you guys instead of my doc. I am hungry for a pan of gooey brownies, a carrot cake and a liter of diet coke. Has anyone else been in this situation? Will I hurt my band? Will I get stuck? Will I PB? By the way, what's a PB?

I decided that during my six month medically supervised diet that I would eat as a banded person. It worked. I had my initial meeting with surgeon on Oct. 2 and started the diet Nov. 20. I was soooooooooooo hungry all the time but thinking that will help adjust to bandster hell. I have a very large band (not sure of size cuz was out of it when dr. came in). I worry about fills cuz allergic to novacaine and dr. thought I would just have to tough them out like I do at the dentist. The only places I hurt are where they cut away adhesions in my lower tummy. Doc took a look at a hernia repair I had done three years ago. He says it's a mess. It has bothered me for three years and I knew something was not right with it. The screen they put in me is in there crooked. Anyway, my point in all this is that: doc found a number of hernias when he was in there yesterday (in lower tummy). Says I need to get them repaired along with the messed up one (that thing was hanging out the size of a football three years ago). I am thinking I will wait till I hit goal and see how much skin I need to get taken care of and maybe the repairs can be done at the same time. How about that?:drool:

Thanks, Alice. I feel that the six month supervised diet was to my advantage. I have practiced eating like a banded person for quite some time. I am down a little over 50lbs and know that this last 50 will take longer to lose but I am ready to be patient about that. I wonder how my fills will go. I am allergic to novacaine and anything related. Doc told me yesterday I will probably just have to "hang on" life I do at the dentist. Well, back to walking, sipping and sleeping!

Good to hear about the no more nexium thing, Lynn. I have taken Prilosec for at least 12 years, if not more. Last night was my first without it. They coated my stomach in nexium so we'll see if I need anything tonight. Hopefully I never will

Had my band installed yesterday. They took me into OR at 1pm and did not get done till 4pm. Back in my room at 5pm. The banding went well. Had hernia repair of a "monster" doc said. Also some adhesions had to be dealt with. All in all, I feel pretty good. Very little gas pains and tummy just feels like I did a sit up marathon. Very surprising but doc is starting me on soups, cream of wheat, etc tomorrow morning. Next week, June 24, I can go to scrambled eggs, soft meats like tuna, cottage cheese and soft veggies. By July 1 he will start me on regular foods. Seems awfully quick but will go by what he tells me and see how it goes. Going for a walk and then back to the couch. I can say the only thing that really bothers me this morning is where they did the hernia repair and it really isn't that bad. You all have a great day!

Was banded yesterday. Everything went well with the exception of getting the damned IV's going. My veins are really tiny and they roll. After five tries I asked them to just put it in the crook of my arm. Other than that, pretty uneventful. They took me in at exactly 1pm but didn't get done with me till 4pm because of a "monster" hernia plus the doc dealt with a bunch of adhesions. Actually, when I woke up the only place that I had pain was in my chest. Felt like an elephant was sitting there. They gave me a hypo and sent me home. That shot lasted way into the night. Took some liquid Tylenol and slept really well. My DH wedged a pillow behind me so that I could somewhat lay on my side. (Stomach sleeper and have NEVER slept on my back). Swallowing is going good and have gotten in quite a bit of Water since I got home. I was told I could start with cream of wheat, Soups (non-chunky) tomato juice tomorrow. Thought that was quick but doc says with new band it's OK. Next Tuesday I can start with scrambled eggs, soft veggies, tuna, cottage cheese. July 1...onto real foods. Seems like a pretty fast transition to real foods but will test the waters as my doc gives me the OK. I am so excited to think that there may be a chance that I no longer need to take medication for acid reflux. I took nothing last night and it went well. Will have to see what today brings. That's it for now. Going for a walk and then back to the couch. Hope everyone else had as easy a day as I had yesterday.

Kat...you always have the best posts. I guess part of my frustration is that I do not want to have this thing with my friend end with hard feelings. It actually has gone well so far with the exception of both myself and my DH sitting back and watching our friend be a doormat for her ex who totally ripped her world apart. I talked with DH yesterday and we are going to sit down with her about collecting $100 for the months she will be here in the future and then let her know that we would like for her to shoot for Sept. 1 being in her home. She needs to step it up and get working on getting her house ready. To everyone: thanks for the advice. Had my band installed yesterday. Went well. Not running around the block but fell pretty good. Some gas pains in both shoulders and feel like I did a couple hundred situps. My port is places just to the right of my mid stomach. Weird? Love my dr. plus he has good bedside manner.

You are right snowbird. It's just that there is so much more that is involved in this (she was raped awhile back) and why we just need to sit back for a bit and not add more to her plate.

You know, Kat, we got ourselves into this situation by REALLY wanting to help my friend. She needed us and we wanted to help She really is a sweet person. I have just have had friend overload! I am a very patient person so will stick it out. She has no where else to go and that helps us to be patient. As I stated above, most of our icky feelings are due to the fact she is still helping our her worthless piece of a man. Well, better take off....I am scheduled at the hospital in less than an hour:eek: