Jules K

Wow! It is impressive to see how well some of you hve done. I did pretty good in the beginning... and I have kinda fallen off the band wagon. I think I probably need to get another fill. I have been going to call my surgeon, but I'm afraid of PBing all the time and will have to lead a life of liquid. I have some restriction now, but still able to get many things down. How do you know when you are at your sweet spot? And what are you able to consume when you are at this point? I currently have 4cc in my 10 cc band. I have to say, I have failed myself. The band has not failed me.

Kris, I had my surgery on June 10th, and I too still suffer from the exact pain. It doesn't happen all the time. I tend to notice it when I get real tired and hungry. I don't take anything as I am not a medicine type of person. Laying down usually takes care of it. I ask my surgeon about it and he said it could be related to my hiatal hernia repair??? He wasn't sure and didn't offer much advise. Jules

Strikeupthe band: 20 twenty pokes how unnerving! I didn't figure the fill to be too bad as I had aminos with both my kids and that was pretty much a piece of cake. But 20 pokes..I bet your poor tummy skin is sore. I bet you were about to say forget it --what stress! Hope this fill works good for you. :biggrin: Jules

iteachurkid, I feel bad for you and your experience with the fill. Hopefully next time will be easier. I too had my first fill today. I didn't know that the had put in 2cc. with my surgery. Today they put in an additional 2cc for a total of 4cc. It was very easy and quite painless until the very end. Painful part: He told me clear liquids for 10 days, followed by another 10 days of regular liquids, followed by 10 days of mushies , then soft foods and then finally regular food. Come back in 3 months for my next fill. Boo hoo! The only good thing about this is I lost major pounds in liquid pre-op diet so hopefully I should drop so more weight. We leave to go on vacation tomorrow--I'll be drinkin' at the beach!

I know Starbuck's smoothies have quite a few carbs. I was told to watch that. If I were you, I wouldn't make a steady diet or rely on them for your meal. I would use as a last resort for a meal/snack or treat. Jill, where did you finally decide to have your surgery? In Bako or LA? Jules K

I missed mine completely and then the second month it came and lasted 2 weeks! Yuck!

Sorry to here about your trials. I have kinda felt this way from the beginning when I put on back on 5 of the 10 lbs I lost after surgery. Fortunately after lots of walking and watching what I am eating(but not too carefully) I have taken off the 5 plus 5 more lbs. A total of 15 since surgery. I am anxious awaiting my 1st fill on Thursday. I have been so jealous of all of you. I have little restriction and I am head hungry all the time. I am hoping the fill will give me that full feeling so I won't want to eat. I have to keep reminding myself that I took years to put on the weight and it's going to take awhile to get it off. I just wish it would come off faster. Good luck to you all. I sure enjoy reading what you have to say. We were all banded about the same time and it's reassuring for me to read others frustrations. I don't feel alone with my progress. Girls, I know we will be slim one day soon! Jules

Sugarfree Popsicles have been my vice since being banded. They are cold, sweet and I can bite it and chew it to liquid. Tropical Popsicles are my favorite.

What a relief to hear that others suffer from this too! If my SUV would burn this gas, I would never have to fill my tank again! Will it ever go away? It mortifies my 12 year old daughter--but I can't help it!

This happened to me. It's very discouraging! I lost 10 lbs after surgery and then gained 5 lbs back. I have slowly taken it off and lost 3 lbs more. I checked with my dr. and he said the first 6 wks are for healing. Weight loss starts after the fills. Your job now is to protect your pouch and let your stomach heal. It has been 6 wks since my surgery and I have lost 13 since surgery (35 total counting pre-banding lbs.) I have followed my drs. guidelines and my dietician has reviewed my diet journal and says I'm eating the right things. She suggested bumping up my exercise to 1- 1 1/2 hrs a day. I did increase my exercise. It just is slow going. I'm looking forward to my first fill next week. Hopefully I will see more results a little faster. But truly, my dr. says 2 lbs a week is good and that should be happy with that--which I am--beats what I used to weigh. Good luck and follow your drs. rules. It will come off. Keep your chin up!

It wasn't for me either. I didn't know that had a hernia until after surgery and my surgeon told me I had one and that he had repaired it. He wanted me to tkae it easy for the entire 6 wks after, which has been hard and I feel good and am ready to move! Good luck to you!

Jill, I live in Bakersfield and I was banded on June 10th. I had my surgery done with Dr. Irani. What a nice man! I have nothing but positive comments about him and his staff. Mercy Bariatrics took care of all the pre-op stuff and kept me informed as to what to expect and what ws going to happen. I understand your concern about going to Los Angeles. My son has several doctors he needs to see in LA, which means we are going over the hill several times a year. It gets old fast. We always make it a fun outing after the visit, but I get tired of dealing with the LA traffic and gas is not cheap right now. We had to go on last Thurs and gas alone to fill my truck cost me over $100. Check out Dr. Irani if you are still unsure. He has left a good impression with me. I wonder if your pro op tests could be transfered. I can't imagine having to go through that again. Might be worth a phone call to find out. Good Luck! Jules

It is exciting to see how the next step of our Lapbands are progressing. I won't get my fill until the end of this month. It depressing for me as I lost 10 lbs. after surgery. Right after my post-op appt. I put 5lbs on overnight. I've been carring these wicked lbs for 2 wks and can't shake them off. I talked to my dietician, she said it could be water retention in which 1pt of water retention is equal to a pound on the scales. Yuck! She told me to beef up my exercise from 45 mins. a day to an hour to 1.5 hours per day. Yuck! (Althought I did walk over an hour today to see if it helps) Went to the Drs. office today and they said not to get discourage that things will start to move after my fill. She really stressed that this is a healing time for my stomach and I will not be progressed any faster. I can't join a gym or doing anything very strenous as I had a hiatal hernia repaired during my surgery.. So I guess for now I should be glad that I feel good and haven't put an another stinkin' pound! Thanks for letting me vent!I have found out that recording on the Daily Plate has been an eye opener for me. Very interesting and fun to record. It is encouraging for me to see the rest of you progress and I can't wait for that to be ME! YOU GO GIRLS!

Acruzn, I am in the same boat as you. Weight is out of control and the 50's are going to be here before I know it . I became a bander on June 10th. It wasn't that hard--They also repaired a hiatal hernia also. By day three, I was feeling really good. I did have the shoulder pain,but that has gone away. Now I am waiting for my fill. What I am realizing is that I will not but able to eat the way I used to. I will have to make lifestyle changes; get off my butt and move. This has probably been the hardest for me. But I had to do something. For me the surgery was the easy part.

I'm like you Carrie. I to would like to change in front of my husband or even shower w/o feeling embarrassed. Being able to buy clothes in any shop. I also hope to find the courage to tastefully tell a few people what I think of them since though the years as have sat like a shy mouse and let them walk over me.

Hi fellow Junies! Sounds like all are doing well. I get my fill on July 31st. Everything has been going great except that I have GAINED 5 lbs. I'm so depressed! I walk 45 minutes a day and have just started to introduce soft foods. I am doing what I am suppose to but 5lbs--that means I've lost only 5 since my surgery on June 10. I wanted to start school looking a alot thinner, but at this rate I not going to look to much different. My doctor will only let me walk for the next 2 wks. Since I had a hiatal hernis removed, he's keeping me low profile exercise until the end of July. Has anyone else experienced weight gain? Boo-hoo!

I am also glad you posted this. I was banded on the 10th and feel really good except for the shoulder pain. I have started to walk but unless I walk in the early morn. or late evening it's too hot. It's to be 102 degrees here tomorrow and i was really warned at the hospital to stay out of the heat. I was glad to see how along this gas pain lasted for some. I can't wait to be done with this pain.

My surgery went well. First day was a little tough ,but thanks to very good meds it was tolerable. I was very sleepy and extremely drymouth as they did not let me have anything until day two. Yesterday started good. Got home around 1:00 and then started thinking --I have I done! Today has been great. I feel good,but I have no stamina. I certainly have the rumblies in my tummy and pains in my shoulders. Tylenol and the gas strips seem to take to take care of it. I save the Lortab for night so that I sleep well. I have not been hungry. I have to drink my protein shakes/drinks (2fl.oz.) very 1/2 hour and 2 ozs of broth evry 2 hours. Kinda a slave to my food, but I feel good and it seems to work. I will have to be on liquids for another week. I see my dr. next Thurs., my guess is that he will advance me to mushies. You who home the same day are real brave! I don't think that I could have done it. Good luck to all newly banded and to be banded!

Thanks for sharing. Tomorrow is my band day and this has helped to know what to expect. I haven't been nervous about it until today. Prabably could have been talked out of it... but I am going to do this. Next time I post anything, I will be a fellow bander!

Justforme, I will have my band birthday on June 10 also. The liquid diet has not been as bad as I thought. Love the weight I've lost with it! 14 lbs woo-hoo! I seem to see a new number on the scale each day which is probably keeps me honest. I gathered most of what I'll need and have found care for my kids so that my husband can take care of me. I've registered at the hospital and have to call Mon. for my surgery time. I will be staying over one night, It's good to read all the positive reports from all the other newly banded Junies. I hope the rest of us will sail through as safely as they did. Question: Liquid Tylenol? Are they talking about children's liquid Tylenol or is their an adult strenght. Is adult strenght OTC or to be prescribed? This is the last thing I think eed to take care before Tuesday. Good Luck to the Junie Bandsters!

Thanks for the encouragement! I need it. As long as I stay real busy, I don't seem to miss eating. After one week, I have lost 7 lbs on liquids and 10 lbs prior to liquids. 18 total lbs so far. I have 1 more week before banding. I hope to stay strong...it help me knowing that I shelled $3,500 prior to surgery for my band. Good luck to you. I wish you success. The end of June will be here soon.

Good luck to all you June 2 banders. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers throughout the day. May all weel during and after your procedure. Please let us know how you are doing and how it went. I will be like you in a week and I am excited yet nervous. We should start a new thread on recovering from the surgery. Good Luck!

I have 2 kids and my husband. My daughter is 11 so she is able to help out some. I usually ask what they want for dinner, cant be anything to involved. I make it and my daughter is able to make up any sides as salad, veggie .... After all is made, I serve up my kids and I leave while they eat with m husband. My husband and daughter clean up as this part is equally as hard. I have been on liquids for a week now. Half way through it was hard. My husband brought home pizza for he and the kids. I realy wanted a piece,but it got put away. Nobody ate on the left overs for a day so I threw it out. Attemptation is now gone! Take out works well too. Order want the family wants, leave the room when eating,throw away the rest. I also drink my shake for breakfast with my kids. I keeping telling myself: What wil I enjoy more? The food or a smaller size in clothing. Clothing wins! Good luck! Tell yourself that you can do it. I have one more week before my procedure and I want to be as good as I can. I can do it and I will do it for me.

Dear twinmommie, How was your first day of the pre-op diet. Your diet sounds a little better that mine as mine is liquids only. I can have jello and Popsicles (sugarfree of course). Iam to have 6 protein drinks a day which should total at least 110 grams of protein daily. I am using two different powders. One is Nectar Lattes which is very good mixed w/ coffee. Matrix 5.0 is the other powder and it comes in a variety of flavors. It's not too bad. Both are spendy and I bought them at my surgeons office. Tomorrow I'm checking out a protein owder from Myolean. High protein content and isn't as expensive as what I have been using. Good luck Jules

I am also a teacher like so many of you. I have taught KIndergarten for the last 23 years. I look forward to being one of the slim teachers on our staff and not the fattest! I live in CA in a city right over the hills from Los Angeles. I've been married to my high school sweetheart for 17 years. I have a 12 yr old daughter and a 6 yr old son. I will turn 50 in two years and want to be slim. I want to be as slim as I was when I was 30. Three years ago my younger sister died. She too was overweight. We used to talk about gastric bypass. She would have had it done but had no insurance or money to afford such a procedure. I did but I was too chicken. After hearing about the Lap Band, I have decided to make a change for ME but also for my sister who would have tried this if she could. I'm ready. My pre-op diet starts Mon. and my surgery will be June 10th!