Firecallie

Cheri, I did read your post and was SO sorry to hear about that. It sounds as though your friends REALLY care about you just don't understand your situation right now. Don't worry about the surgery everything will go GREAT! And I think ultimately your friends will hopefully support you whether they agree with it or not. I had a friend who found out (insane story) and she didn't like it but she is supporting me and has been great. Thank you so much for your post, it's made me feel great! Sounds like you're pretty busy before your surgery so hopefully post op you'll enjoy the relaxing part of it all. Keep in touch, keep your spirits up, and keep us updated!

Duyesaka, I have a strong sense of what you are talking about. I am the same way. I don't like anyone really close to know something is wrong, or how i'm feeling, but at the same time I want them to realize that I don't feel good, and that I am scared and am just putting on a show. It's insane and unhealthy (for me) and yet it is just who I am. Thankfully I have not had many problems with the band yet. This is day three and I feel great! I am aware of 1 incision (i think that's where my port is) and that's about it. Before hand I was TERRIFIED! I was scared that I would go through post surgery blues, regret my decision, never be normal again, worried about the loss of food, worried that I would always be sick feeling because I would not get enough food into my system. Worried that I will not lose weight. Thankfully though I have not taken any pain medicine or Gas X (i don't enjoy medicine) but I don't feel like I needed it. My back has been a bit sore and uncomfortable from me always being on it (in bed or in a chair) but even that hasn't been terrible, i haven't had any problems drinking my Water or doing my breathing. So as it stands I am VERY excited about my decision. I think I did the right thing and I feel great! I still have a few concerns but they are falling to the back of my mind. Hang in there, it's scary before hand, but your surgery date will be here before you know it and hopefully you too will be thinking that it is not as bad as you had anticipated, and that it was well worth it! We are here for you! Keep in touch and CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!

Good to know! I do not enjoy those things, but I guess i'm going to have to make it work for a while anyway.

Stephanie, I'm day three as well! I decided to spend the days at my moms house and she keeps me company and drives me around and what not (plus I don't have to clean up after myself). As for the sleeping I can totally relate! It is HORRIBLE! Last night I dreaded nightfall because I couldn't sleep for more than 2 hours the night before, but it is getting better. Hang in there normalicy is on it's way.

Do you have to take protein drinks, vitamins, and what not for energy after the band or does the little food that you are able to eat suffice?

You have come this far, you can make it a bit further. My doctor said that the purpose of the liquid diet is to keep it from slipping. Would it really be worth it to eat and then have it slip out of place on you? Liquid is HARD...I couldn't even do it on my pre-op phase, but I couldn't imagine how upset I would be at myself to have spent all this money, cheated, had the band slip and then go through another procedure and recovery. I think it would be HORRIBLE. Everyone, if I come back in a few days saying the same thing and wanting real food please direct me to this post I made. (haha)

I was told to take the bandaid things off but leave the steril strips on till they fell off

Congratulations Debra, yes I started my liquids a week before surgery (and blew it...) didn't actually follow liquid diet until 5 days before the surgery (it was not fun then either) but i survived (somehow). Post surgery wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...working on day 3 now i guess seeing as how it is after midnight. Last night was the worst for some reason, I think I should have broken down and taken some gas x. Oh well nothing too terrible and I have had no need for pain medicine. My biggest complaint is that I haven't had a night where i've slept full nights sleep yet, but it'll happen. Goodluck and keep in touch! Jini

Yesterday was okay, today was okay but tonight i feel very very BLEH to put it mildy. How many days did it take you until you significantly better?

Dutchgirl, thank you so much for your post, it made me feel really good! And thanks to all for the good advice!

Good to know! So we CAN sleep on our side if we choose to? Good to know. Did you feel worse the days following your surgery. It's been more than 13 hours and i dont know whether this is just the honeymoon phase or what.

Congratulations! We share a bandiversary! Get well soon.

I am really suprised at how easy this all has been. I am sore in the stomach area but that is all. I was able take water immediately (in fact was dying for some), breath in that STUPID tube thing , and walk pretty easily and now just waiting for everything to heal up. Tonight has been a long night though, I can't sleep for more than an hour or two at time. Bleh. Question: Do you have to sleep on your back? Does a heating pad help more than an icepack?

I'm telling you, i've thought long and hard about this. Haha sorry if i flooded the board with questions, but you guys are great!

Thanks so much for the encouragement. Yeah I'm thinking I won't mind the liquids after the band when i'm feeling bleh. Do you?

I'm a newbie soon to become an addict

Ahh i'm nervous, excited and a bit scared about how life will be like after the band. It's insane! Happy thoughts!

Thanks so much for your advice Schel! Tomorrow is my surgery date...AAAHHH but i've done much better since i posted.

Isopure, is a pure protien drink that is not milk or dairy based.

Is it a lack of nutrition? Not eating enough? Wouldn't vitamins help that? I'm somewhat concerned about that. Another question, (though perhaps not tasteful) for some reason during my liquid diet phase my urine has been darker than usual...does anyone have an answer for this?

Knowing and doing aren't easy. I know that I should eat better, I chose not to do it. I know that I want to be thinner, I choose not to take steps to help me get there. It's easy to know something and hard to do it. In my opinion it has to matter enough to you that you CHOOSE to act on what you know. Right now it seems as if the food is more important to me than being thin (i'm prebanded). I'm worried that it always will be more important to me, so i'm choosing to get this tool that will hopefully change my thinking about food. Perhaps for some reason food is more important to you than your weight loss, and you just have to get to the point where you're sick of it and you're priorities have changed. Maybe that's why you posted this post. You had many great lessons in there and hit them right on the head. So now it's your choice. Are you going to post it and go on like you have. Would you rather not lose weight and eat what you like, or would you rather lose weight and risk pbing until you change your eating habits? I'm struggling right now on the liquid diet and haven't held to it, so i'm asking myself the same questions. Bleh I do not enjoy being factual and harsh but you said that was want you wanted...no onto my normal self. 44 pounds is AWESOME WEIGHT LOSS! You should DEFINATLY be proud of that. You have made an awesome first step in coming back to the (amazing) board. You have been throught alot this year, it's been a crazy year and yet you still managed to lose which says something in itself. I think you're a bit like me and like to hold yourself accountable for everything, but perhaps you don't give yourself enough credit in your successes! Goodluck on your journey!

My story. I came here, saw the thread, thought about it and decided that i DID NOT WANT anyone knowing about the band, aside from my mother. Well a week passed, two since consultation and i'm on the board more and more and my friend starts making these comments, about weight and people at her work contemplating surgery, and then she's telling me i'm beautiful (she is very sweet) and i come here and make a post "SOMETHING IS WRONG"...more time passes, and more and eventually after asking her boyfriend (my friend) what was the matter she tells me she knows i'm going to have it done. She found out because her boyfriend was doing internet research for his dad and his b/f wife had it done. It is insane how people can still find out. Needless to say my friend said she wished i would reconsider but she would support me either way in my decision and she really has. She even offered to take off of work to take care of me, and come visit me, she went shopping with me while I was on my liquid diet. I LOVE HER SO MUCH, it's so incredible how she can back me up on this even though she doesn't really like it. I say if it is a TRUE FRIEND it might be helpful to tell them, however i didn't tell mine and i just got VERY lucky that she found out, it will make this so much easier. P.S. I do not intend on telling anyone else.

Schel, I know what you're going through and am going through it right now...IT SUCKS!!! I have found that it helps if I chew gum or if i chew something up and spit it out without swallowing it that helps also. Goodluck! You can do it!

Congratulations! Glad you are here. I'm getting banded on Friday and have found LBT to be invaluable! Great people here. (Love your sn name!) Jini

THAT IS AWESOME~! Congratulations (and I LOVE that shirt).