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Great minds think alike, I've been contiplating the chew/spit method too! You would give your left boob for Mac and Cheese!? C'mon Kim, you know that left boob IS mac and cheese! LOL My swelling must have gone down some today. I ate - scratch that - I drank my usual meals today in less time than it normally takes, and I've been hungry for the first time since surgery. Still on liquids for a week and a half more. You know youre in agony when youre craving a green bean. That's right, just one, doesn't have to be hot, don't need butter.. just a bean.. please?? *drools*

Im not so sure this pager thing is working correctly. One was sent to me last night about 9pm and I didnt get it until 11am today, and I was here last night after the message was sent and again this morning for quite some time before it appeared. Mine also said I had an unread pager message but nothing was listed when I tried to read it.

Hey Kim, I did the same thing las night. Drank one cup of a shake then sipped some vegetable broth (great stuff by the way) and wound up with that pressure in my chest. Felt like a stuffed pig for the next hour. I think thats our 'full sign' now. The nutritionist told me that feeling full would now be pressure behind the breastplate, and being too full would be pain behind the breastplate. I thought the burping was just due to gas from surgery, but now Im learning that if I drink too fast (I'm still on liquids) I start burping and it hurts! I have a feeling that once we get back on regular foods, those burps will produce the food we just swallowed. I dont know about you, but I have to learn to slow down. If I chug Water, even it can give me that feeling. We are swollen, like a tight fill, and putting in too much at once doesnt allow time for it to seep through that small opening. And Im guessing the weight of the small pouch contents puts pressure on the opening, which is what we are feeling. Ive found I can drink about a cup of thick liquid before being way full. Trying to sip broth on top of that just puts me into "woah girl!" mode. lol From what Ive read and been told by the nutritionist, our stomachs will ideally be able to between 1/2 to 1 cup of food. Im guessing we can tolerate more liquid than food because its passing through quicker. Anyway, those are my thoughts. Hope they helped. *hugs*

Aww, Nana... I hope it didnt jinx you! I would guess youre right about the stretching. Thats when mine seems to bother me the most. Of course, Ive only had mine for a week, so.. what do I know? I just hope it does go down some. I always understood that people cant even tell where the port is.

Thanks Nikki.. there goes my $26,000! Seriously though, I was just about to start taking the hydrocodone more often to try and relieve the gas pains. Mine are all under my ribs. Almost feels like a wide band tied around me, and within that area feels as if Ive been kicked my a horse! I think Ill keep taking the Milk of Magnesia for a while and see if that helps. Kim - you Super Woman! 3 sets of 100 crunches. Girl, at this rate, you should weigh 90 pounds in a month. *laughs* And I dont want to hear any whining from you about eating. You get baby food already? I am on three weeks of clear/full liquids with two weeks to go. *groan* Where's my bottle?

I was diagnosed with apnea too. I started with a nose mask (set on 11) less than a week before my lapband surgery. I have yet to sleep all night with it as it does irritate me when the mask leaks or pushes on my nose or cheeks. However, it was important to have during recovery and I can tell I have gotten good sleep. Without the CPAP gave 30 occurances per hour. That means I'm being woken from a deep sleep every other minute. I was referred to a good CPAP company that will work with me until we find a maks that best suits me - no charge. Which is important as I think it would take a lot of trial and error to get it right. They told me to expect it to take at least three weeks before I was comfortable with sleeping with the mask on. If your pressure is too high, I would suggest contacting the doctor that ordered the CPAP for you and tell them of your problems. I too have had a hard time keeping my mouth shut when I sleep. I got a chin strap in the hospital but goodness, just how much can a person ignore when trying to sleep?? Bleeding teeth? Hm.. that kind of makes sense. It seems to me that it would really dry out your gums and teeth to have air blowing in your mouth all night. I keep thinking about that stats I saw during a lapband presentation by my surgeon, which showed that over 90% of those who lose a substantial amount of weight are cured of sleep apnea.

Yep, Im not feeling the incision.. what I feel is just to the right of the incision. It seems to be smaller today, but Im definitely feeling the hard port under the skin. I had thought it would be deep enough that you couldnt tell where it was. Ah well, I guess that just means a shorter needle for fills. Its been five days now, and the port location is still very sore.

Mandy, your NSV list made me smile - lots. I'm very happy for you. I've experienced these myself in prior weight loss ventures, so I can remember how great those victories felt and will feel again. So, thanks for sharing. What's really exciting is - it's only going to get better! Enjoy and sincere grats to you girl.

Kim - Sold!! *sticks her tongue out at Randy* Kim knows how to get my bottle. I'm down 2 1/2 lbs down from surgery day, but looking oddly shaped. I had a hernia repair done at the same time, so I was used to seeing a large protrusion just over my belly button. Now I'm just strange. *sighs* I want to move! Im sick of sleeping on my back, sick of moving slowly, I want to go outside and walk and breathe again! This must be a good sign. Yes? How are you doing Kim? Are you doing crunches yet? *grins*

Kim! How did you get that pic of me? If you post it, I'll sue! Oh, wait.. that's you? Are you my twin? LOL Great news! The Milk of Magnesia worked.. :rofl: *relief* You know whats weird? I know full well that this is going to take some time, but every time I walk into the bathroom and see how awful I look, I get this fleeting thought of... $26,000 for THAT?? God, grant me patience.. and I want it NOW! Oh, one more thing.. I have a refill on my brown bottle! *huggles her bottle*

I asked this question in another thread, but thought it might get overlooked there. I got my band last Monday and the port feels like its sticking out quite a ways. As if it's on its edge or something. I called the surgeon who assured me that nothing can pull that port out of place it is probably just swelling and possibly some Fluid built up under the port. Have any of you experienced this? Its really alarming to run my hand over my stomach and have my fingers catch on that thing!

You could try having a protien shake (natural whey blended into one cup of skim milk - 210 calories and 31 grams of protien) instead of cottage cheese for Breakfast. Also, it seems to me that you are spending a lot of calories on the oil that could be used for more benificial things. Check this out: http://nutritiondata.com/facts-B00001-01c208D.html

Ok, so even tho the surgeon says the port is fine (without looking at it) it still bugs me. It almost feels like its poking upward, as if it's on its side. Is this normal? Do you other newly banded people feel the same thing?

HeatherGurl.. What Ive done before during weight loss attempts, most successful just not lasting, was to find a good caloric food guide and really look at how many calories different foods have. (try nutritiondata.com) I then went thru and picked out the lower calorie items and started making menus from there. My most successful diet was 1/2 C Fibre One Cereal with 1/2 C skim milk for breakfast, a boneless skinless chicken breast, 1/2 C brown rice (or half of a small baked potato with butter), 1/2 C green Beans (or broccoli, or cabbage) for lunch and then again for dinner. Simple? Not much variety? True, but I found it easier not to have to think about food so much. I was never hungry between meals because it seemed to be a good balance of protien and carbs. I seriously doubt I could eat that much now, and that was probably about a 1,000 calorie per day plan - add in some sugar free Jello with a couple of ginger snaps or nilla wafers and you easily come in under 1,200. Let's face it, if we are still going after fast food and sweets, chances are we need to step back and think about our priorities. Like DeLara said, which do you want more? A healthy, good looking body, or the few bites of food that give momentary satisfaction but lasting disappointment? Something I've struggled with all of my life. I can stick to a diet, any of them listed here, and lose some weight.. 40 maybe even 60 pounds. But what convinced me to get the band was my inability to stay on a diet when life's unexpected distractions came up - my husband's mom and her friend coming to America for the first time and wanting to eat ice cream every freaking day, not to mention the meals they wanted me to try. The English do love fried foods. Anyway, I digress.. My biggest fear of trying another diet was putting back the weight PLUS more, which always happened. I finally made it over the 300 pound mark after my last attempt at losing (down 40, up 60). I may hit plateaus, I may stumble along the way and eat Wendy's or fried foods, but my prayer is that the band will at least help me control the portion sizes so I dont regain the weight. I see that bypass patients do gain it back after about three years, whereas the band patients do not. Thats a good sign. One last thought, and I dont like it anymore than the rest of you. If you are really comfortable with eating 1,400 calories a day but lose slowly.. (ready or not, here it comes) increase your exercise. Blah. *grins*

*happily passes around her large brown bottle of liquid hydrocodone*

Heyas Wendell, I've never weighed 570 pounds but I've sure felt like I have. You must be feeling great, not only because of the weight change but because you took control of yourself and your life and made the decision to live. Welcome back to life, my friend. I think that's why we are all here. Even though you have a ways to go, Im sure each day has enough rewards to keep you motivated as you continue the journey to good health. I pray that you and your bride share many years of health and happiness. Keep us posted on your progress. We are all beside you along the journey.

Kim, I suggest burping and farting a lot. *laughs* ow ow *evil grin* Seriously though, if I had to face going to work on Monday morning I'd be in a panic. I see these folks that went shopping within three days and I think "What a wus I am!" But DeLara's words keep rining in my ears. Everyone's different. My doc told me to try Milk of Magnesia, which I got today and will try tonight. On top of the gas pains, I haven't had a bowel movement since the day before surgery. I'm thinking constipation will be worse than gas. *chews nails* (not a pretty subject, but all's fair here right?) Speaking of "touchy" subjects, my husband says that since the women on here talk about their sagging boobs (kneepads someone called them) and other more personal things, he wondered if the men talked about equally private nsv. *laughs* I won't go into details. I'm in a "mood" and need to behave myself. *laughs more* Anyway, many grats Kim! *links arms with you and Kennedy927* Here we go.. and! Did you see that? Candice has lost 50 pounds in three months! WooHoo! I'm so excited! Hmm.. I wonder if she's doing so well because she loves to shop? Maybe WalMart has some benifits afterall? hehe

I technically live in Meridian. When we moved out here four years ago, we were in the country. Pastures, horses, cornfields everywhere. So refreshing. Now I don't think there's even one of those open areas left. So many subdivisions and shopping centers. It's crazy how fast Boise is growing. I have to wonder.. where are all the jobs to support the people who are buying these $400,000 houses???

Hey all, Im in Boise. Just got my band on Monday. Jessicazi, youre in Idaho!? Cool I guess we are the Idaho newbies.

To Kennedy: First of all, grats on your band! Yay Yuppers, my band area has been the sore spot for sure. I even called my surgeon and asked if I'd done something to dislodge it because it felt like it was sticking out all weird. He assured me that there was nothing I could do to harm the port or dislodge it, and that there would be some expected swelling and Fluid build up under the port. And, just as he said it would, it has gone down in just two days and I'm able to bend over more now. Haven't had any nausea, they put Pepsin in my IV prior to surgery and then again that evening. They said they have had more success preventing anesthesia sickness if they administer the Pepsin prior to surgery. And yes, let's do keep in touch with our progress, and let's include Kim who just got hers too by the looks of it. Kim: Did you go home the same day?? Wow, they couldnt have paid me to leave the same day. Brad: Rubbing your buddah belly good luck charm! Im still chuckling over that. Is this your form of initiation? Making newly banded people laugh? :confused: Jessicazi: Three weeks down already, I bet it went by quickly. So you are on to mushy foods then? Were you afraid to swallow that first bite of "semi-real" food again? Dolphin: Thanks I do have a wonderful man. We met in 1998 in a chat room. He lived in England and I in Idaho. He flew over to meet me and my then teenaged kids, stayed with us about three weeks, returned home, sold everything he had and came back to the states in Sept of 1999. We were married just 21 days later and have lived happily ever after. We still marvel at our story. I'll be sure to pass on the kisses and compliments. It will make him all embarrassed and stuff. *grins*

What Casinocat and ReneBean have said is so true. Also, there was a great thread on this very subject that you might want to read: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=12356 And, keep in mind that the complications you see reported here are fixable. Take note that you dont see leakage, extreme illness and even death listed in the complications of lapbands. You might consider finding a group for those with bypass surgery. Compare their concerns and complications to those of the banders. The stats I have seen are showing that, of those who live through bypass surgery, most of them begin to gain the weight back after a few years. And once you have had the bypass surgery, all future chances of getting the lapband are close to nill. Fact is, either surgery can have its drawbacks. I wish you all the best in your decision making. *hugs*

Thanks everyone! I am indeed tired, sleeping a lot but doing better each day. I actually stood up without even thinking about it a few minutes ago.. Yay! My husband has been so sweet. Making sure I'm doing everything I should be doing, encouraging me to get up and walk, fixing my shakes. I am so blessed to have a guy like him. Anyway, I plan to take everyone's advice and take it easy. I guess I heard it a lot but hadn't let it sink in enough.. "everyone's different" I will get the avatar pic up as soon as I dont look like death warmed over. *laughs* (ow)

Got my band in on Monday and have really gone through a lot of pain. I also had a hernia repaired so Im guessing that's what's caused all of the additional pain. How odd it is to finally have my band, after all this time of waiting and trying to psych myself up for the huge change in eating, and here I am not even wanting to think about food. Ive started on whey protien shakes, slim fast, some chicken broth, and still only reaching about 370 calories but getting in the minimum protien so I guess that's not too bad for the first day or two. No food between Sunday night and Wednesday morning (surgery was on Monday afternoon, came home Tuesday evening) and yet Ive gained several pounds. That band must weigh 4 pounds! LOL Anyway, Im slowly recovering and happy to be part of the gang now. This site has been a great help to me so far. Thanks to all who contribute even in the smallest ways. Every post has been an inspiration!

I take Efexor. Only 75mg. After a year of deep depression Im finally starting to feel normal again. I even had one entire day of feeling "happy". The drug doesnt make me feel numb or too excited. Just.. normal which is perfect.

w00t! Yay Kim! You'll have to let me know how it went. We can compare success stories when we get home!