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DON'T LET IT GET YOU DOWN!!! You won't be far behind anyone and you're ahead of the millions of people who haven't had the courage or foresight yet to take this journey. You're doing great and carry that scar like a badge of honor, baby! I have one 2.5 inch at the port and four others. If you ad them all up.....it's close to 7 inches :laugh: Gwenn

Do you know where Cedars-Sinai hospital is? I live less than an mile south of the hospital. If you don't, figure mid-city. We're just below the Beverly Hills line. I always think I should get a handicap because I'm not tall. People think I'm taller than I am because I have longer legs than torso. And hey....I STAND TALL. I LOVE loss envy. We have to remember that one. The stats I read were 50-60% on average- and we're not average. Remember that! I was told that gastric bypass is like 70% or more, but I know more people who have gained it all back on GB than lost. That's why I chose LB. My brother-in-law has lost almost 120 on lapband and is sooo happy. I just have to get my stomach back in order and get back on my regular meds- the surgeon didn't want me taking full pills but mine are very small- Protonix for GERD. I tried Previcid because of hte soluable tabs but it gives me the runs. And I have been taking metamucil for a specific need for a while now, and Benefiber just isn't the same. So, I'm going to talk to him about it when I go for my first fill on Wed. You must be close to a fill too, as we were banded the same day. Gwenn

What is this.......lapband sibling rivalry? LOL Maybe the easiest explanation is that I started fatter- I started at 315 and I think the BMI was like 50 something. I don't remember. I have been walking since the awakening from the surgery. Stopped two days ago because my bad knee was acting up . I'm going to use the recumbent bike (if my husband would kindly take his clothes off it) now that I'm more healed. Nurse said not to use it for a while. Just want to burn a few calories. And of course, my scale didn't move for days and the moment I stopped exercising - it moved. That happens sometimes. Wanna race to goal??????

I think that's exactly what it is, Lizalee. Like a bit of glue. I have it covered with a little bandaid under the breast and the one on the port scar isn't in as bad a spot, so I'm ignoring it. I'll ask the surgeon about it when I go for my fill on Wednesday. I'd rather he clip them, than I. I keep hoping the skin under the breast will just grow over it as it's in a little opening (another reason not to touch it). But I'll deal with it on Wed. Thanks- you make good sense. Gwenn

You're doing great. I'm nearly 6 weeks and I guess it's my age but I'm still sore inside it I move certain ways, still have alot of gas and not eating much at a time. I stopped exercising for a couple of days because my knee started to act up. And bang.....down almost 3 pounds. YAY. I'm switching to recumbent bike for a while to give my knee some rest. Treadmill is all weight bearing and I don't want to push my knee too much. The surgeon said no bike right after surgery, but I think if the tension is light it will be okay now. Going on Wed for my first fill and to ask a bunch of questions. Gwenn

My scale finally moved - down to 31 pounds gone forever! My stomach is still not a happy place....anyone else have a lot of gas? Can't eat much at a time and it's hard to get the protein in, but I'm working it. First fill is June 4. I just wish I felt well and that I could each a broader range of foods, but I guess that will come. Gwenn

Thank you Thank you numbgirl! I love this site. I come with the stuff that I don't understand, or that make me feel like "what is this", and puff, the fears are gone because other people have the same thing. It's so important. I don't even think the surgeons get some of this stuff. The other day someone wrote the the left shoulder pain got worse after walking. Well, I'd had the same. Even recently. When I'd told the surgeon, he looked like I'd said I'd just come from Mars. So I thought maybe something else was wrong with my shoulder but reading the post alerted me that the surg just hadnt hear that. And it made sense. Because when you're active, the gas moves. Anyway, I am not eating much and my food seems to get stuck in the spot between my breasts- even when I chew alot and eat very slowly. I can't imaging eating less after the fill. Right now, to get the Protein in they want. I'm eating 5 times a day. Just the protein. And the good news.......I've down another few pounds....THE scale MOVED! Down 31 total. Gwenn:thumbup:

I'm 5 weeks and having the same. It seems to be a theme here. It's tough. I'm older and weight loss is suddenly slow, although I'm not complaining about the 28.5 I've lost. I just want to see 30 so much! Then of course, I'll want to see 35 and on and on. I eat between 4-5 oz of protein a meal and also have a snack sometime during the day. If I can I also eat some veggies at dinner, and have couple of whole wheat crackers with lunch. Calories are probably about 700-800. Varies of course. I eat mostly fish and some chicken. So, I've been freaked out about the loss stop, but I gather it's normal and so I'll go with the flow here and hope for the best after my first fill next week. Gwenn

I'm wondering if I have a small bit of same. On one of my incisions there's like a little-----almost a skin tag. Its hard and round like a piece of Kosher salt. I wouldn't care but when my bra hits it, it makes it pull. I noticed same thing on my port scar. I was thinking it was a bit of glue left over.....but does this sound like what you're discussing? I'm going for first fill on the 4th so I'll show it to Dr. then. Gwenn

Gillian, Have you been losing steadily or did you have dives and plateaus since banding. I ask because I started with BMI of 55, lost 28 ish since, but last week has been up and down with same 2 pounds. I didn't think I'd hit a stop this soon. Seems too soon. Any thoughts? Gwenn

My brother-in-law had to do a three week pre op diet and the reason was to flatten the liver. My surgeon doesn't do it. I was told that I had fat around my liver- I knew it from past tests and from the abdominal pictures they took pre band. Then the surgeon told my husband as well. Supposedly, that will go away, at least to some extent, by the weight loss. I hope so. What he said was, this is curable.....but if she went on as she has been, it could be scirhosis (sp) of the liver. So, that was just another reason to be happy I did this. Gwenn

We're all in the same boat. Today I was shopping for food, had all the right things in the cart and then saw some SUSHI. Now, there's a whole thread about how people can go out a week after surgery and eat sushi- I read it and cried. So today, feeling better, I tried it. First piece, chewed up good. Okay. Second, same. And third. About 3-4 minutes after third, the tightness began in my chest. You know....the hardball in between and under the breasts. OY! Nothing came up but it I could feel it just sitting there. Water didn't help. Since I was still breathing (LOL) I continued on my way driving to visit an elderly uncle. When I got there I made a cup of tea and sipped slowly. That helped. I was told always go for something hot when tight. Anyway, it is better but not gone. I feel like I re-bruised my esphoph. I told my husband an moaned a lot and his attitude was if I don't try new things I'll never know what I can't eat. I think this could be BYE BYE to one of my favs. At least for a long time. I don't want a repeat. AND PREVICID. I took Protonix for years and was very happy but because they want me to crush or disolve, I switched. I also experienced bad diahrea at the beginning and the gastroenterologist couldn't tell if was the liquid diet only or maybe the Previcid. I had a bad reaction to Prilisec as well. So, I went off and had nothing for two weeks. I went back on the Previcid yesterday and had D again, but I don't know if it was too soon for hte Pervicid to do it. So, I have to wait and then try one more time. I really want to go back to Protonix and I'm going to discuss chopping it into 4 pieces with the surgeon next week. Thanks. Gwenn

I think you're right on about the freedom we have here. I never thought of support groups, but when I was on South Beach Diet, I went on theirs and there was an amazing group of women on that one. And boy did everyone let their hair down- because food is not just the program, it was all the stuff that led to eating. And we posted our weight! That was a first for me. Unfortunately, some things went wrong on it and a ton of people left (being weight it was very emotional). But I made three friends that I email with everyday and the four of us are very tight- I'm the lapband guinea pig at the moment. And it's so apart from the rest of our lives that we spill everything. I mean stuff we'd never tell anyone! Very safe. So, I love support boards. And like you, I love that I can whine. And on top of that, we can't call the doctor's office every 5 minutes about everything. I came here constantly after the surgery to see if others had the same stuff happening as I did. It's very reassuring when we're not alone. Who better to understand what we're going through than us? Anyway, I've got my own whining. My stomach is out of whack again, hemmoroid is bothering me, and diahrea again. I am breaking my docs rule and went back to my stomach meds- I can't crush, but I cut into very small pieces. And I've got to find a way to go back to Metamucil. I tried his preferred Benefiber, but it's not as good. Just have to figure it out. It's my only real issue. Keeps me from feeling GOOD. See, my whining. Gwenn

I'll tell you something I find interesting. I haven't had a fill- first is next week, but I simply can't eat beyond a certain point. And I'm not that hungry. When I become hungry, just a little takes the edge off and very full happens very quickly. I can't even take in too much Water at a time. This is amazing to me. I had a normal dinner tonight and could not finish.......now, if the scale would just cooperate. I am so happy to hear that you're beginning to feel it and that all appears to be okay with you. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Gwenn

Honey, you can whine to me anytime. All I seem to do on here is whining. It's my whining site. So, I'm here for you anytime. Gwenn

I hope it doesn't mean they're gaining weight!! LOL Must be about the band. It does stretch out. I was reading about it today. Now I understand why one needs sometimes several fills before feeling restricted for a time. I hope this works.. www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-the-band-actually-works-fills-refills-41738 Gwenn

OY, poor Turler. Where were you banded? I feel so bad for you. What frustration! Gwenn

Hi Sue, You are amazing. So much in a year! WOW. I want to ask you something. I was just banded a month ago. I'm down 29 or 30 depending what day it is. Once I went to soft foods, my weight loss seems to stay in a two pound range, never moving past and down. I know it's only a week or so, but it's scary. Ice cold scary. I'm walking daily and for me, having worked my way to about a mile, I'm happy. I was getting very immoblile. I'm drinking tons of water- that's not an issue, and I'm eating between 700 and 800 calories-just going back to solids this week. I'm aggravated because back on South Beach I didn't hit a plateau of months and I didn't even exercise. Do you have any memories of early plateaus? Any advice? Many thanks, Gwenn

I"m going to try that. Thanks. I'm also going to go back on Previcid. I thought maybe I could stop after the surgery, but probably not this soon. The heaviness in my chest and burn are worse and so's the burping. Could be heartburn and acid. Why be miserable. I'll go back on for a few days and if I'm better, there's the answer. Gwenn

Heck, if you need the support, I'll come visit you at Cedars. I'm right near-by. Gwenn

I know you're right. Just haven't been feeling well enough to eat much more. But it's funny because I got hungry before bed last night and I ended up eating a slice of cheese and a couple of crackers, and a diet hot choc. Probably about 200 calories in total. And I lost a pound and a half. I am also exercising 5 days a week and yes, our metabolism needs something to work off. I'm going back on Previcid to see if all this indigestion and heartburn will go away. I thought maybe I could stop taking it, but looks like not yet. And I don't want not feeling well to hold me up from victory. Gwenn

I'm with you there. We were banded on the same day. I'm know all the little kinks still post-op will eventually work out and I'm looking forward to my first fill next week. Gwenn

Well, you're doing great. And you're correct of course, this is just a tool, not magic. Gwenn

I'm still struggling. I don't know if it's me or my head. Maybe I should just plow into foods. I did add crackers last week and they were not on my doctor's list (bad girl!) but boy, the tasted good. I do think I may need to go back on Previcid. I went off it after surgery because I was told I may not need it any longer, but I've got a tight feeling or burning after meals and today it was difficult to get down cottage cheese, and I eat that everyday. So, I'm thinking I better go back on and see if the discomfort goes. If not, I'm going to have to have a long talk with the surgeon when I go for my first fill. I need to eat a wider group of food. Tonight I'm having filet of sole and mashed potatoes. Maybe I'll try some string beans with it. We'll see. Just tired of not feeling 100%. Other than that, the scale is happy so I'm glad about that.I have to change my signature to show that I'm down 30. Yippee. Gwenn

Hi Christy- You're up late as well and I'm on the West Coast. I'm 56 and I do think that age affects recovery.How could it not. It also affects rate of weight loss, etc. Just happy I'm finally doing this, whatever my age. It can only make my life easier and fuller. Just plenty of frustration at all the things still not right. Pain, changes in bowels, food issues, etc. I've been told it can take a while for everything to come around and now I do belive it. I agree about the shoulder. I'm probalby on the computer too much and at home, it's not set up as it is in the office. But it sure helps....and yes, I popped a pain pill. No martyr here. Your weight drop is similar to mine. I haven't posted it but have lost another 1/2 pound so I'm speeding toward 30. It's all Water I'm sure, but it's a gift. The loss rate is slowing down now and I'll probably get closer to the 1-2 pounds a week that the doctors want. That's fine with me. Exercise is great and I've been told that walking is one of the best ways to heal faster and get a good start on the loss. HOWEVER, I'm sure pushing a wheelchair is not an activity on the list. But walking is and I take a good walk every day. I just had a 25 calorie hot chocolate and now I'm off to bed as well. Gwenn