theboogansgirl

I'm a failure at this point....lol! I have to have a glass of water on the table or I can't eat. I don't 'drink' it but do sip from time to time but never too much. To me it's in my mind but w/out it there it doesn't work for me. Now, let me say it's never ANYTHING but water, and never enough to 'wash' the food down, just to 'freshen' or something I think!

I'm not shy and will tell you anything you'd like to know. I agree it's very sensitive and shouldn't probably be discussed in the forums. Please see the private message I am sending to you! And don't give up on getting your band!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to whole-heartedly agree w/ Debra! Go ANYWHERE except for MWIBS/WLSC!!!!!!!!!! Dr. Lopez did my surgery in January and the pre/post care has been exceptional! His staff is the best you could ever expect, plus some. I'm not going monthly now as we found out we're expecting a little suprise in a few months......but they still call to check on me!!!! They have been so good to me!! Good Luck!

I was banded in January '06, have had 2 fills (I think 1.5cc the first time and .5 the second!). I have trouble w/ certain things, mostly rice, bread if it's too doughy (don't try any type of bread very often), and meat like steak if I don't get it chewed properly. But I'm not near as limited as some people are. I'm not losing as quickly as I had anticipated but am finding out that the band is very much an individualized thing....not everyone has the same encounters! Just believe in it and don't get discouraged......I do sometimes and Hubby has to give me a pep talk! Even though I've only lost about 12-15lbs, that's 12-15lbs gone forever!

This must be my problem! I was banded 1/18/06 and have only lost about 12-15lbs!!! I feel like I'm hungry ALL the time it seems, and although I eat much smaller portions and make better choices, I feel like I'm eating too much. I'm sure it's my head not agreeing w/ my body but not sure how to make the two agree! I don't throw up, have only done that one time when I ate something I knew better than to try anyway! I've had incidents of pain/pb'ing/slimeing/hicups.....but no vomiting! (Thank GOD!) As you can imagine w/ such a small amount of loss (and after two fills) I'm wondering if this is going to 'work'. I can and do eat more than a cup at a time. At a cup I am still hungry! I'll keep reading.....good to know I'm not alone out here in bandland!

I think it's normal to feel the feelings, I did myself before my surgery. I'm about 10 weeks out from getting my band and doing fine. The weight loss isn't as fast as I had hoped, but some of that is my own fault for not working w/ my band the way I need to. I just had my second fill Tuesday and am eating way less. I think as long as you understand the band and are comfortable w/ the effort you must put into it then it won't be a waste of money or time. Even when I've been discouraged I've never once wished that I hadn't gotten banded. Just my 2 cents!!!

I had the same fears. My doc had me on clear liquids on day prior to surgery which was the worst day. Cause I was hungry and I knew I could eat all I wanted! lol! After surgery it was two days clear liquids, two days any liquids, three days of mushies. To be honest I had written down ideas prior to surgery for things I could eat. In reality, I didn't get burned out, wasn't even really hungry for the first several days anyway. In the mushies stage it was a breeze for me, I wasn't too crazy about the liquids. I have to admit that I couldn't get down the protine shakes but compared to many my liquids stage was very short. Good luck, and let me promise.....it's nowhere NEARLY as rough as I thought it would be! Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. Feel free to email me anytime. I know I STILL have tons of questions too!!

You're not alone Friend!! lol! Same thing here. I've had one fill of 1.5 cc. Some days I can eat more than others, some very much less. One day I even attempted a hot roll and it was fine. A week later I took one bite and thought I was going to die! I'm pretty sure that the rules aren't written in stone...darn it! lol! Just hang in there. I keep learning new things every day!

Very happy to read your thread on this subject! LOL! I've been banded since 1/18/06. Have had one fill of 1.5. Going in next week for number two fill and really hope it helps. I don't have much restriction at all. I've lost about 15lbs but feel like I'm still eating too much. My wonderful hubby says I'm expecting too much and that I am definitely eating less than pre-band. So we count the blessings. But your post gives me something to look forward to! Thank you and keep us posted!

Just had my surgery on 1/18/06! I remember exactally how you're feeling!! Here goes! Surgery was scheduled for 8:30am 6:45am Check in at hospital/Prep for Surgery (Put in IV, paperwork.....) 8:00 a.m. Anastesiologist visited me 8:20am Dr. Lopez came to see if hubby and I had any ???'s 8:30am TO THE ER!!! 10:00 a.m. Waking up and heading to recovery 11:00 Leaving recovery heading to my room (I was awake the whole time in recovery/pain very minimal) 12:10pm Hubby & I were walking the halls (they told me to go home I had to walk/pee/do barium swollow test) 1:00pm barium swollow test---it was weired! LOL! Afternoon drinking liquids Had 1/2 dose of pain med at 1:00 and 1/2 before dismissal At 3pm waiting for the doc to release me 5:00 pm on my way home! Believe me when I tell you that this is by FAR the EASIEST surgery I could imagine. I've had a c-section and gallbladder (the open way! yick) and this was a snap. I only took 1/2 doses of pain med. Took one on night of surgery and 1/2 the next mid-morning, 1/2 night after surgery at bedtime and that was it. I was walking up and down the street for exercise, doing my liquids and resting. I went into the office 2 days post op for several hours. Today's my first fill...Kinda nervous about that but ready to get the weight loss show on the road! LOL! Good luck and keep your smile!

I'm a Zoloft girl here as well. 100mgs a day, have been for several years due to a 'chemical imbalance.' When I don't take it I feel like I have PMS, constantly. When I do take it, I feel like I'm crazy and have to medicate myself...lol! Side effects for me, I have to take it in the mornings or I can't sleep well at night. And sex....well, I have a huge sex drive, want it all the time, but it takes quite a bit of work to have an orgasam. My hubby would rather do the work than live w/out Zoloft in our lives! lol! It's frustrating for me but so is constant PMS.

My sister in law lost 125 lbs on Weight Watchers and is an expert on their yummy recipes! Let me get a few from her and I'll post up!!

Yeah! Another newbie like me!!! I just got mine last Wednesday and feel great! I was the one saying "Heck this wasn't bad at all!" I was prepared for terrible and it was totally manageable!!! You can do it! Congratulations and keep your chin up!!

Yeah! All these new 'band buddies!" :clap2: I just got mine last week and it has been so easy so far! I know I don't have restriction but I feel so positive and confident!!! Let's lose together!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! :clap2: Doing the happy dance for you Sweetie!!!!! I know how thrilled I was to get 'the letter'....!! Stay positive, you'll be in band land before you know it! I had my surgery last week and feel wonderful! Keep us posted! I look forward to being a 'loser' with you!! hehe!

I was banded Wednesday...my best advice is just jump on in w/ both feet, the water is fine! I was pretty nervous about the same type of thing, I hate to be 'noticed' or have attention drawn to the fact that I have to do things 'differently' where eating is concerned. I had my share of 'last meals' that I wanted to have 'one more time...' before my band. I see that some are liquid for several weeks pre-band. I was 'lucky' if you will. My 'restrictions' were clear liquids for the day before surgery and for two days post. Then 'creamys' for two/three days, then onto mushies. So my restriction isn't as long as I've been seeing so I'm not feeling deprived or restricted on my food choices like I thought I might. You can do this!! Keep your chin up!!

Been kinda sleepy today but that's a relief since I didn't sleep for about three nights before surgery ! lol! My incisions are 'itching' like they are healing already which I think is good! I'm not too enthusiastic about putting anything in the tummy yet...I figured I'd be dying for food right away! Even water/juice is going slow but it's going w/ no nausia. The only time I feel like I want to throw up is when my DH tells me 'not to try to be a hero' and take some pain medication...that stuff is NASTY!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol! The pain is quite tolerable, the meds just make me feel totally comfortable. (And evidently make me sleep! lol!) Have rested all day today and my kids will be home soon!! I haven't seen them since before I went to the hospital so I'm missing them like crazy!! My wonderful hubby has arranged for a 'movie night' tonight on the big screen w/ the whole family!! (Shhh, don't tell him, but I am really liking this 'being pampered' thing alot! lol!) I can't say thanks enough to you all for your continued support and making me feel 'normal'. I'm all alone out here in teh sticks and it is awesome to know that we're all in the boat together and you're just a few keystrokes away. A HUGE thanks to Debra....!!!! Girlfriend, without you I'd still be playing the frustration game and will always be greatful to you that I'm already in recovery!! BIG HUGS!!

Thanks to you all for your prayers and encouragement! I am home and resting pretty comfortably. The surgery went very well, not a great deal of pain and so far no gas at all! (knocking on wood!) I'm not really in the mood to put anything in my tummy but going to try some more chicken broth in a few. Couldn't run a marathon yet but it wasn't near as painful as I had thought it would be! Dr. Lopez is the most awesome doctor!!!! Excellent bedside manor and totally committed to his patients! I couldn't be more pleased. My wonderful hubby has been taking care of me all day and being a dream! Going to try to sleep tonight since I haven't slept all day! lol! Take care and I'll be talking to you very soon!! Hugs, Love and MANY Thanks! Sherry

Yup, it's true! After all the 'drama' I'm going in at 8:30am! Nervous a little, excited alot! I want to say thank you to all the sweethearts here for all your support. I'd have been a mess if I didn't have people here to relate to me. My wonderful loving husband even got on here and cruised the threads this evening. And the computer literate man helped me to set up my picture and a little ticker thingy! cool!! lol! Well, off to bed! I have to leave the house by 5am to make it in time! Hugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's incredible!! You're my new inspiration! I am getting my band on Wednesday morning bright and early. Maybe I'm being too optimistic that this is going to be okay! lol! I'm excited not nervous (Which my friends think is so weird) and I'm hoping to return to my office on Friday for a few hours (which everyone thinks is crazy! lol!) To me this is such a positive step! Course w/ my DH & three kids cheering me on who could not strive to succeed. My biggest worry at the moment is will I be able to drink my cherry vanilla diet dr. pepper every morning like I do now! lol! CONGRATS! Keep up the good work w/ the exercize!!!

I've experienced similar situations! Let me first say that I truly love and admire my MIL! She's a wonderful woman and loves us all so much! I married her only son (she has 3 daughters) and am helping him raise his two children and my one. She's very bossy and controlling and loves to have things her way. I think it's from being a teacher for so many years! lol! She's not in favor of my band surgery which is in a few days. (I haven't told her the date!) I never spoke to her about it at all, but DH received an email from one of his sisters about how she just knew my insurance wouldn't cover it and I was going to put him in financial ruins....blah, blah, blah! I was to have surgery a month ago but due to some drama w/ the clinic I was going through I had to reschedule. My MIL told me "it's okay Sweetie, we love you fat!" I know she means well, she and two of the three sisters are very overweight as well. But what I need most is for them to all understand that this decision is between me and my husband! It's non-negotiable. So this time when I scheduled I haven't said a word. We're going to tell her the night before when we ask her to get the kids to school for us the morning of surgery! I have to feel that your MIL has some jellous issues of her own weight. I think that unconciously my female in-laws do as well. My goal is to not only lose the weight FOREVER for me, but to be an example to them that they can do it too! I truly love them and want to turn this into a positive situation. For ALL of us! I can understand why you kept things from your MIL. I think she's being selfish and childish. Hang in there and keep losing the weight! One of you will be healthy! Hugs!

YEAH! Well, after this long battle, Dr. Lopez's wonderful staff got all of my insurance information transferred and I'm scheduled for surgery on Wednesday January 18th! I'm so excited! Again! lol! Just wanted everyone to know the good news! Hugs, Sherry

Not to sound 'dumb' but why can't you have a diet soda??? My doc's office said that 'some' people can't drink carbonated things but most can. I'm a diet soda addict! LOL!

I'm having to reschedule as well ladies so..Welcome Aboard! lol! I as well am hating the wait but I'm sure it will be here soon. For sure I'm not questioning doing this so that's a good thing. My sister-in-law says I'm crazy that I'm looking forward to a surgery but I am looking at it as a new beginning! I as well have hopes and goals to lose at least 100lbs. I know "if it is to be it is up to me" which means that to reach that goal in a timely fashion I'm going to have to work at it which means getting my butt busy! lol! Take care everyone and happy 2006!

Oh My Goodness!! I have to join the 'shocked and amazed' crowd here!!!! One of the reasons I was approved for band surgery is due to DEPRESSION! Depression causes me to eat, eating causes me to gain, gaining causes all kinds of health issues which cause depression which causes me to eat.....Vicious Circle!!! PLEASE go for another opinion! And never ever give up! Even after all the emotional drama I've been through on this journey, I won't give up! There is strength in numbers! You have lots of buddies in band land! Hugs! And a very Merry Christmas!