allykat

Oneder Woman - good luck with the assessment! Mia - I agree with everyone else...don't be so hard on yourself. You have done a great job on the weight loss and sometimes, unfortunately, it doesn't happen according to our time tables. I am so bad about saying that I want to loose X by such-and-such date and if it doesn't happen, I end up so disappointed in myself. That is so stupid! Instead of being happy with what I do loose, I think I "failed" because I didn't reach my magic number. Don't belittle what you have accomplished. And whether or not you are 300 on your wedding day, you will look and feel beautiful. I agree with the person above (can't remember who now!) who said to change up your diet. That works well for me. If I do low carb and hit a stall, I add some carbs and it usually gets it moving again. If I am eating too many carbs, I back off and add protein. Now having said all of that, my scale has refused to budge for 2 weeks other than going up and down with the same 2 lbs. It is very frustrating, but I am trying so hard not to get discouraged. I know in my head that I haven't had a fill, but sometimes, it is hard to remember that. I don't get one until the 16th! That seems so far away!!! Is it normal to have to wait 7 weeks after surgery? Should I call to get moved up? I have seriously no restriction at all right now. It is all will power that is keeping me from eating way too much.

Congrats, Leslie! Enjoy the beach, Georgia Girl!

Congrats on having your dates! I know how excited you are! I also booked something pretty exciting - our family's Disney World vacation for Christmas! I've been in the spring, summer, fall, and just prior to Christmas but have always wanted to go for the actual holidays. Well, we booked it yesterday and the good Lord willing, we'll be there! I'm excited to go and hopefully be a good bit smaller than I was on our trip last November!

That's a nice pic, Leslie. I don't know if it is the angle or what, but it seems those 15 lbs have made a big difference!

I'm much better. After my dr. moved me to soft foods that next week, it made a huge difference. He thought that the liquid diet really messed up all my hormone, glucose, and electrolyte levels, and that was probably why I was feeling so freaked out. I felt immediately better after getting some more solid nutrition. I don't get a first fill until 4/16, but I feel good about my decision. I haven't lost any additional weight since right after surgery, but I know that is normal and I'm not freaking out about it. I think my success is too soon to call with the band since it isn't working for me yet, but I have every hope that it will. Can't wait to be an 'after'!

I decided to call my doctor's office and talked to the nurse on duty. She said it was okay...that I may want to take Galvesgon (sp?) to coat my stomach if it bothered me, but with no fill and no restriction, I'd be fine. I think the no to nsaids must be as a routine thing, and not for something like this. I do need the anti-inflammatory of this, as my thumb has lots of swelling.

Thanks, Brina. I called and talked to Missy (I think) and she said it was okay...that I may want to take Galvesgon (sp?) to coat my stomach if it bothered me, but with no fill and no restriction, I'd be fine.

Can we take motrin? It really wasn't mentioned by my doctor and I was prescribed 800 mg today to take 3x a day. Long story short, my daughter kicked her leg back the same time I walked by and it bent my thumb all hte way back. Thought it was broken, but it is just really swollen and sprained. I have anti-inflammatories for a week adn a thumb splint for a week. Typing is FUN with this on, so excuse the typos. I had them swap the 800 mg horse pills for 400 mg ones. I've looked it up online and some say it is okay and some say not to take. Anyone know?

Leslie - congrats on scheduling your surgery! I know you are nervous, but eveyone is right...it is easy to recover. Pamela - have a great vacation Quick question - can we take motrin? It really wasn't mentioned by Dr. Bagnato and I was prescribed 800 mg today to take 3x a day. Long story short, my daughter kicked her leg back the same time I walked by and it bent my thumb all hte way back. Thought it was broken, but it is just really swollen and sprained. I have anti-inflammatories for a week adn a thumb splint for a week. Typing is FUN with this on, so excuse the typos. I had them swap the 800 mg horse pills for 400 mg ones. I've looked it up online and some say it is okay and some say not to take. Anyone know?

Thanks, everyone! It was hard to do low carb when you are on soft foods, since it seemed everything recommended by my doctor was a carb item. I've been on regular foods for a week, and I've taken it slow with meats and trying new veggies. I think I am ready to eat low carb now that I've passed the salad test yesterday! Going to the grocery store today to stock up on low carb foods so that I will be set!

Oneder Woman - I went back to work on Tuesday after surgery on Wednesday. That first week, I was pretty weak, but that may have been due to the problems I had on the liquid diet (my glucose and electrolytes bottomed out and it was really making me feel freaky). By week 2, I was feeling perfectly fine and started exercising. I had to travel this past weekend for my daughters' dance competition, so I scheduled my surgery 2 weeks prior to that at Dr. Bagnato's advice so that I'd be 100% by then. Brina - I haven't lost anymore weight either other than what I lost that first week after surgery. I actually went up 2 lbs. after eating regular foods again, and I'm fighting to get those back off. I keep telling myself that the band isn't really working for me yet without a fill, and I know at this point, it is all will power. I know how you feel though...we've been so up and down with our weight over the years that any movement on the scale is bound to screw with our emotions. We will get there! Ladies - I'm glad you had fun at lunch yesterday! Wish I could have joined you but Albany is an hour from me and I had to work yesterday. I need to look up my date for my appt. at the Obesity Treatment Center and see if anyone else has an appointment around that time.

Well, I'd say keep drinking the Water and the bloat will go away. I didn't have that problem this month (also my first TOM since surgery) but I did have intense cramps, somthing I usually don't have trouble with. Man, I was in pain! I even took a half-dose of the surgery pain meds! I hardly used that after surgery, but I was seriously hurting a few nights ago. Hope you feel better!

I did low carb before surgery and it works great for me. However, since moving to regular foods, I have been on carb overload and I am eating way too many of them! Can I join you guys? I did have oatmeal this morning, but it was whole wheat, so not the worst carb in the world to eat. I just feel better when I'm not full of carbs.

Hey Brina, glad you posted this! I can tell you that right at the 2 week mark, it was like the flood gates had opened and my appetite came roaring back. I was HUNGRY! Right around there is when Dr. B gave me the go-ahead to start with regular foods and once I started eating regular foods, it was a bit easier. I am eating less than I did pre-band, but the scale isn't moving. I'm trying not to get freaked out since I know I have no restriction until that first fill. But just know that as you eat more substantial foods, that hunger will go away. I do notice that I stay fuller longer now than I probably did pre-band.

I was released just a few hours after surgery. It is really interesting to see the responses and how different it is with each doctor. The first doctor I met with had you stay overnight. I guess it is entirely up to how your doctor operates...no pun intended!

I started back exercising last week with all the best of intentions of continuing this week, but I have been sabotaged by sick kids! I had to come home early Monday and was home yesterday, too. Today, it rained (I've been walking for exercise). Maybe Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be my days for this week!

And that means I'm eating like CRAP! Quick history, my doctor moved me straight to soft foods after 5 days on liquids because my body didn't react well to no food. After a week on softs, he gave me the okay to move to regular foods. Just to go slow and chew well. I'm doing that, but what I have found is that I have trouble with NOTHING! I'm not eating as much as I did preband, but I'm also not eating as nutritious as I probably need to do. I was doing low carb for 2 months prior to surgery and I miss it. Do you think it is too soon to go to just a low carb diet again? These carbs are killing me. I haven't gained any weight back, but I'm not loosing anything either. I am so scared of NOT loosing weight, especially since I was self pay. I know that realistically, the band isn't working like it should without a fill, but I still feel like I am falling into old habits. I want to nip this in the bud NOW!

I don't blame you for being discouraged. I was once that way myself. I was all psyched to have it when I found out my insurance wouldn't cover it. I was also ready to give up. But I didn't. I knew this was right for me, so I found a way to do it self-pay. I'm not saying that to say you too should do it self-pay, because I know that isn't an option in your situation. But what I mean is if you truly feel this is right for you, then consider seeing some of the doctors your insurance will cover. It doesn't hurt to just go meet them and talk to some other doctors. If my insurance would have been accepted by someone, I'd have used it in a heartbeat (it was excluded in my policy.) I hope it all works out for you.

Leslie, I'm glad to hear your appointment went well and that your dad is being so cool about supporting you. I really had no idea how important the support of your family would be until after I had the surgery. On your DH, I would sit down and have some serious heart-to-hearts prior to surgery. My DH really wasn't in favor of it, something he really didn't come right out and say prior to the procedure. I knew he had doubts, so I sat down and just laid it all out...told him how much I weighed (he had no idea, the clueless sweet man!), how being this heavy makes me feel, what I hoped to achieve...I really think it helped him to get it, but it was still difficult with him right after. I would recommend taking him with you to an appointment. DH didn't go with me prior to surgery, and the day of surgery, he was really weird. He ended up being a little freaked out by the port in my chest, the incision, and just the idea that 'something' was in me. He went to my follow up with me and I think that helped him a lot. In his mind, he still loves me the way I am and I know he wishes I wouldn't have had the surgery, but he did seem to get it so much better after that appointment. I hope it all works out for you and that he truly "gets it"! As for me....I haven't been around much. I was out of town this weekend for my daughters dance competition. They both did great and all their numbers scored platinum and high gold awards. They also qualified for nationals in July. Kameron from "So You Think You Can Dance" was one of their judges and a workshop instructor, so they were pretty excited to meet him. It was a great trip, but my eating was horrible while out of town. I am struggling to eat healthy right now. I had eliminated most carbs from my diet, but had to go off that when I was on liquids and softs. Now that I am eating regular food, it is hard to turn away from those nasty carbs again, but I know I have to do it. I'm bummed that I haven't lost any more weight, but I guess I should just be glad I didn't gain either. Anyway, I am feeling down in the dumps today. TOM is here and I'm home with a sick child.

I've just been giving the okay to eat regular foods and wouldn't you know it...I have no trouble with anything! We were out of town this weekend at our daughters dance competition and the schedule was crazy. We had to eat on the go many times, which meant eating less than healthy things. I did take yogurt and I ate that for breakfast and snacks, so I guess that is better than nothing.

Becca - that is just about the sweetest thing I've ever heard of! I cannot imagine my DH buying any clothing at all for me, unless of course, it was some sort of lingerie that he felt would ultimately benefit him...lol! Rhapsody - I have the same NSV today! I have a wrap that I wear with my engagement ring and over the last year, it had gotten tight. It was wearable, but sometimes my fingers would swell in warmer months and it would feel way too tight. I took it off about 2 months ago and started wearing my wedding band again instead. Well yesterday I decided to try the wrap again and it fit! Just perfect!

Thanks for all the feedback on carbonated drinks, guys. I knew it was a no-no from the material, but I just wondered if there was any wiggle room on that. I haven't had anything carbonated and don't plan to, but I do miss Diet Coke and wondered if I'd ever get to have one again. I want to take care of my band since I'm self-pay. I'm already super-nervous since he moved me up the diet ahead of schedule. Speaking of food, last night my girls had dance dress rehearsal for their competition this weekend. Don't know how familiar you all are with Whigham, but we were at the school there and there is NOTHING in Whigham. They grilled hotdogs for the families and I was really nervous about eating something like that since I haven't had regular foods yet. Dr. B said I could start, just go slow, so I had about a half of a hotdog. It was hard to take small bites, but I chewed it until oblivian and did okay with it. I honestly don't feel any restriction at all, and Dr. B said that was okay, I probably wouldn't until my fill. Just to go slow with food and I'm self-limiting on the portion sizes. But who knew I could be so scared from a hotdog?

LOL Brina, you must have missed my post last week. Remember when I was majorly freaking out the weekend after getting banded? I was seriously messed up and crying for no reason at all. Seriously sobbing. We called the nurse line that weekend because my head was all swimmy and my blood sugar level was way down (DH is a paramedic and checked it at work). Dr. B wanted to see me the following Monday. He said my electrolytes, blood sugars, etc. had basically bottomed out from being on what is essentially a starvation diet (I'd had only popsicles and jello), and he moved me straight to purrees and soft foods. He thought that all of that was messing with my hormones and making me crazy...lol. He didn't use those words, but that was how I felt. He had me stop on the way home and drink Gatorade and to start eating something more substantial that day. It worked and I immediately felt better. So yeah, I moved right over Clear Liquids. I've done more mushies than soft foods (I have had a little Pasta and some baked fish this past weekend), and will try to stick mostly to softs for the next week before moving on to regulars. He said I was okay with regulars if I wanted to try it. For lunch today, I had intentions of a baked potato from Wendy's. I skipped Breakfast because I was rushing to get to my appt. When I went, they were out of potatoes so I got a small chili. I'm not crazy about their chili, but I figured it was the lesser of all the evils. I ate maybe half and that was it. So far, I seemed to have handled it okay. That was 2 and a half hours ago and I am still full.

Mia, sorry you've been so sick. I had the flu about 6 years ago and I remember it SUCKED! I think it took me a good 2 months before I felt 100% again. I did loose my voice for some reason, and I was hoarse for a month. DH loved it....lol. As for songs at the wedding, I had one in my wedding that I'd never heard until my rehearsal and I bawled my eyes out when I heard it. I had a friend sing and he brought a partner to do it as a duet. Basically, there was one song I really wanted (I Cross My Heart by Georgia Strait), and I told him he could pick out another one. At that point, I was sick of decisions. He did Only God Could Love You More and it was just beautiful. Other songs I've seen in weddings that I can think of off the top of my head: The Wedding Song The Lord's Prayer (I had this one) I Swear (my brother had this one) Keeper of the Stars (My BF had this one) Here's an old one that is still really pretty....my sister had it in hers. It is Honestly by Stryper. If you go to ProjectPlaylist.com and put that song (or any song) in there, you can hear it. I saw Dr. Bagnato today for my 2 week follow-up. He moved me straight to mushies and softs last week, so I asked him today if I needed to stay on that longer or move on to regular foods and he said since I wasn't having any trouble, I was fine to start with regular foods but to just go slow and chew well with small bites. He said he does prefer patients to stay on softs as long as possible, but he knows most cheat on the post op diet anyway. I think I will try to stay on softs and mushies a bit longer, but we are going out of town this weekend. I know eating on the run may make it hard to do softs, but that will be my goal. I'm only down another half pound since I was there last week, but that is okay with me. I know that after my fill, that is when the loosing will really happen! One thing I forgot to ask him was about carbonated drinks. I've not had a diet coke, but I see on the boards where some doctors are okay with it occasionally and some say never again. I wanted to get his take on it. I have a band friend who says she drinks one a day. I don't think I'll go that far, but I did want to find out if once in a blue moon is okay. Does anyone know?

I just came back from a 2 week post op check and all is well. My doctor's normal eating plan is: week 1 - clear liquids week 2 - full liquids week 3 - mushies - purree week 4 - softs week 5 - begin regular foods I am different because about halfway through my first week, all my numbers really bottomed out and started making me a little wonky. He thought it was messing with my hormones (seriously, I was sobbing nearly everyday and couldn't figure out what was wrong!), so he moved me straight to mushies and softs. I've been eating that for the last week. I asked today if I could start regular foods and he said since I was having no trouble, that would be fine as long as I chewed and chewed and took small bites. My portion size is definitely smaller than what it was preband...I cannot eat a lot at one time, but I am able to eat more now than I did this time last week. He said that was all fine. He did say he'd prefer his patients stay on softs as long as possible, but he knows most cheat on the preop diet. I think I'll try to stay as close as I can to soft foods for one more week. I am going out of town this weekend, so eating on the run may be more difficult with a soft diet, but I'll just make the best choices I can. I am self pay and I want to do whatever I need to to do to take care of my investment!