Queen of Hearts

My terror foods seem to be dry chicken and mashed potatoes! I can eat fries and potatoe salad but not mashed..now that seems odd and it baffles my hubby!:ohmy: Dry chicken kills me everytime and then the next day I'm on mushies to get over the pain! I have only had 2 fills and the second fill I requested because I was up front with my doc and told him I was cheating by eating chips and salsa, not every day but when I had a hunger pang!:wink2: So he tightened me up just .6 cc and now my food choices are really showing their true colors! That includes bananas. It took me over an hour to eat a banana at work one day!!:ohmy: I have to be careful with mostly dry meats, it doesn't matter what they are they have got to be moist and I have to remind myself continually to chew, chew, chew! So much so that my partner is always saying it when he sees me take a bite of food!:blushing: I don't have a problem with salads or much of anything else but when I do I know right away where we are headed~~you all know as well!:sad: LOL!

I just had my band done in Feb this year and I had gone to a nutritionist and my lap band doctor. I asked the lap band coordinator if I needed to go to the psych and she told me that I didn't have to. A lot of that could have been because they had actual records of my attempts of weight loss and with my co-morbity problems, knew I wasn't being forced into this. I think each doctor and their office goes by their own set of rules and guidelines and also what your insurance requests. I did have to pay for my nutritionist and she is actually the one that told my Lap Band doc that I was good to go as a candidate. I cannot imagine why they would need 2 affidavits for you:huh2: Good luck!

Yep..I was the same way!:cry_smile: Never told my doc I went back to work until he asked and when I told him and he just laughed and told me how hard headed I was! :biggrin: You see he wanted me to stay overnight at the hospital after surgery and I talked him out of that too!:biggrin: Way to go Soriminah!!:crying:

:tongue2:Ha! This is good..at least I know I'm not the only one that suffers on the weekends!:biggrin: I write this after I just came back from meeting friends at a BBQ joint..1 rib, 1 salad, and a couple of pieces of fried okra! Couldn't resist the okra!:crying: Weekends it seems like I can't fill that void..even when I eat the same thing I do during the week..maybe too much time on my hands to think about what I'd like to eat!:biggrin: We will get there..we're strong and have been through too much not to!! :biggrin: Take care and enjoy the weekend!:cry_smile:

:eek: I am so sorry to hear you are having such a rough time. I didn't even get staples, my doc used some kind of super glue:drool:! The only pain I have had was when I started walking the tube from the port to the band was being aggravated from walking but the doc told me it would go away after a couple of weeks..which really went away sooner! You need to be sure to keep yourself hydrated and that will also help your swelling but if you continue to be uncomfortable I would call the doc and just see whats going on!!:sad: Let us know how you are doing and take care!!:biggrin2:

:rolleyes2:You're very welcome and I'm glad to be able to help put another smile on your beautiful face! I am so impressed with your weight loss and you should be proud! I had my surgery before you and as of yesterday I've only gone down 31 pounds! Got another fill yesterday because I told my doc I'm cheating and he just laughed and said he'd put a little more in me so he gave me .6cc then shook my hand and said I was doing great! So both of us had a kudo for the day!:tt1: Thank you for your kind words and keep up the good work!:biggrin2:

I too have had a c-section, partial hysterectomy, gall bladder removal (lap type) and now the band..the worse surgery I have EVER had, due to my size, I had to have a sling put in and that was THE worse surgery thus far!! Lap band was even less painful than my gall bladder surgery and they are pretty close when done laproscopic..

Have you checked out the Carnation Instant Breakfast drinks that are sugar free and low carbs?? You mix this with skim milk. They are really good and one of the things my nutritionist suggested. Also you can try the whey Protein supplement (any walmart or nutrition center) but on this one only use half the amount of Protein powder with skim milk to get your protein. Another protein source but a little higher is the Isopure drinks you can get at the General Nutrition Centers. They have 40-60 gms of protein per bottle and I will usually drink 1/2 of the bottle between meals. But again those a quite a bit higher. I shopped for the pre op and post op and one month after surgery diet according to my nutritionist and it cost me 300 for everything I knew I would need. So that figures to about 150 per month. :tt1: Not everyone follows the same diet from what I can see because I only had 3 days of liquid but the prior 7 days I had to restrict and measure protein, free veggies, and needed carbs, which actually didn't amount to much but a lot better than total liquid diet!! Hope this is helpful!:tt2:

:tt1: LilMissBand-Aid! WoW!! You want to know what I noticed right off the bat with your pictures?? That beautiful smile you have now!:tt2: Isn't it wonderful to know that you have accomplished one of your goals! You are beautiful and thank you for sharing your before and after pics! You have it going now!!

:biggrin2: I hope these answers will help. A lot of the questions you have can be based just on each individual and how they respond to surgery and fills. Good luck and happy banding!!:thumbs_down:

Hi! Don't be afraid to check your scale! I was banded in Feb and have lost only 20 pounds, which doesn't seem fair since I'm eating like a bird :thumbs_down: but my clothes are so loose on me it looks like I'm borrowing someone else's that is bigger than me :huh2:!! I have had one fill of 5 cc's and I go back this Thursday for my second fill. :thumbdown: I expect my doc will tighten me up again since the scale is moving so slowly but I know I have lost more inches than weight! Good luck and keep smiling!:biggrin2:

On my body the upper most incision between my breasts is where my lapband was installed. Below that is my larger incision apprx 2 1/2 inches is where they slipped the port in but the port is actually to the left of my belly button. Again on the left side I can feel my tube that runs from the port to the band and it is also stitched in place. I thought my port would be right under my incision but my doc told me he likes to put them lower so he can feel it better when he has his patients do like a crunch sit up to feel that sweet spot for fills. Sure makes it easy on me! Hopefully your pain isn't anything to worry about but when I first started walking I had pain in my left side just below my breast and when I discussed this with my doc :thumbs_down: that's when he told me that it was the tube running from the port to the band that was irritating me while I walked..it went away after about 10 days.:huh2: Best bet is to ask your doc about it!:biggrin2:

I noticed several of you had pain in your arms or shoulders. I too had a pain in my shoulder and the nurse told me that it was caused from the anesthesia..I could have sworn the 90 lb nurse that was in surgery with me dropped me on my shoulder after surgery when they moved me back on the bed. :huh2: It hurt pretty bad..but it went away after a few days!:biggrin2:

:thumbup:Hey Jason! I just had my band put on 2/8/08. My surgeon was the assistant to the surgeon that removed my gall bladder in 2004. I have great doctors and a lot of co-morbidity problems and my choice was pretty well made after I was told the next step for my liver was being put on a donor list. My Digestive Disease doctor highly recommended the lapband for me versus gastric bypass. He said there are too many complications that COULD happen. Not saying everyone would have problems if they opted for that surgery but he felt I would be better off with the lapband. I am very happy with my band. I don't see the numbers go down on the scale like I want but I know it works because I look like an orphan that's using someone elses clothes! I know I have already gone down one size and they are loosening up as I write! :biggrin: The first thing I remember that had me worried was the 3rd day after surgery I started walking a couple of miles and my side was hurting. I went in for my post op check and discussed this with my doctor and he said it was because they stitched my port and after a couple of weeks that would go away. It did but in only a few days. I have had one adjustment of 5cc's and I'm due to go back this week for another adjustment. Simply painless and it's worth every minute it is giving me for a new life! If your doctor checks you out and doesn't see any potential problems then I think you'll do great! Just picture yourself back down to an ideal weight with so many fewer health problems and many more added years to your life! You'll do GREAT!! Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!:w00t:

I am just speaking for myself, but my Digestive Disease doctor stated to me that he would not support my decision to have the gastric bypass. He highly recommended the lapband since it is the least invasive and if you have complications it can be reversed. I have only had my band for 2 months, I am walking every day and I still have loose skin, just not as bad as a friend I have that had the bypass surgery, also needs to have plastic surgery. And as Wheetsin says..genetics have a lot to do with that as well..I have stretch marks from having my children and a c-section to boot..so anyone that has had one of those know what I'm talking about! I really think after 2 years of checking into this surgery that the lapband is the way to go! Good luck!

I don't think the Lapband is the same either. I remember seeing what looked like a zip tie years ago but this lapband that I have is totally different! Good luck!

Hi! Welcome aboard to the new life change about to happen! I was banded 2/8/08 and luckily I had gone to a nutritionist before my surgery and was prepared for this new life change and this week I go in and will probably be adjusted again. You will see marvelous results that regular dieting and exercise never did for me before either! Enjoy your new beginning! I am!

I had my surgery on a Friday and went back to work on Monday. If you have a sendentary job I don't think you will have any problems but if you are up and moving around a lot you may consider taking an extra day or two.

How long has it been since you had your adjustment?? I don't even know my band size but I'm going to ask my doc on the next visit. I felt immediate change and unfortunately 2 days after I had my adjustment I didn't chew my food enough and what didn't get chewed up real good came back up~~NOT RECOMMENDED..it can cause the stoma to stretch and the band to slip..so I'm back to grinding my meats and veggies in my bullet so it is chewed enough without me actually having to do the chewing myself!! I would say that is my worse weakness..not chewing enough!! I think since Mar 5 when I was adjusted I've only lost 2 pounds. It's not much..but my hubby took a picture of me today and I looked at one I posted on the introduction thread of this site and I can now say..yes I see the changes in my face but the scale is still trying to lead me to believe I'm not getting anywhere..so don't give up. I keep hearing it's better to lose inches vs. weight..but it sure would be nice to see the scale go down with the amount of food I'm NOT eating! LOL!! You may call your doc and see if he can make another adjustment if after a couple of weeks you still don't feel anything..I felt my 5cc immediately..I even felt the saline blow it up!! Let me know how it goes!

You go girl!! HA! My husband said the same..the scales aren't working too well but my clothes are getting looser!! You are gorgeous!! Hang in there..one of these days we'll both not shy away from the cameras right??!!

This is exactly what I suffer from now! I don't chew as much as I should!!:frown: But I had my first fill 4 weeks after banding..2/8/08..I don't know what size my band is..probably a big one since I'm a big girl..but the usual time frame according to what my doc told me I'd be going through is 4-6 weeks. He put 5cc in me..I think that was because he couldn't find the perfect spot on my port and when he finally hit it..he let 'er loose!:biggrin2: My biggest problem with the fill is NOT CHEWING ENOUGH..I still blend my salads and meats as much as I can to make it easier..I hate that pressure build up in my chest when I know I've messed up again!:frown: Brian..you do what you feel most comfortable with..your doctor I'm sure will understand..most of us want to lose our weight quickly and myself..I've done the 50 pounds off in 3 months routine then gained it back on reg diets..so with the lapband..I've decided to go slower..I'm due for another check on 17 Apr..I don't think I want another fill either but we'll see what the doc has to say..good luck and only you know what your body feels! :wub:

Lindsey..I like you have not seen my scale move much since my surgery (2/2/08) I have had only one fill so far and my next office visit is 17 Apr. After the first month I lost only 1 pound..I just about dropped my jaw to the floor..here I am eating like a bird and not more than a pound came off?? My lapband doctor told me a good rule of thumb is to only eat 1/2 cup of food per meal and only 3 meals per day..ok so I do that and yes the scale is staying steady but I am losing inches. Also, something else..my nutritionist suggested that I drink a Protein drink in between meals if I start feeling hungry..which unfortunately is almost all the time..but they do take the edge off. I use Carnation Instant Breakfast with skim milk. Just kinda keeps my metobolism up a bit! I won't be deterred..I know the lapband sometimes takes a while to really start doing it's magic..but you can hang in there..you're not alone!! I vent on my poor husband and bless his heart..he doesn't understand why the scales don't move because he is very precise and measures out my foods! LOL! :frown: So I think just keep your spirits up and know eventually something has GOT to give!! Just don't let this get you down and vent, vent, vent!! That's part of the reason why I joined this site..to have someone else that knows what I'm going through that understands and to make it tolerable so I don't feel like a loser! HA!:wub: Take it slow and easy and it will start to drop off! Never give up..you went through too much to stop!! :frown:

If you haven't checked out the introduction thread you need to. Several women, young and younger..have made a decision. My decision was made for me by my many health issues. I have only had mine since 2/8/08 but I don't feel restricted at all. I eat what my nutritionist recommended and what my doctor suggests..and like the rest of us..I've even cheated a bit :frown:! So thereby the choice I made may not have been the right one as far as cheating and eating that gingersnap when I wasn't suppose to..but that's where you have the flexiblity to make your choices. You don't lose that.just don't get carried away and do it everyday!:wub: I am happy with my lapband! I wish you good luck and hopefully you can make the decision you feel is right for you! I didn't get that option but I am just glad that they had this available for me at this time in my life!:frown:

The other thread I mentioned is on the Feb 2008 bandsters. It has pictures of a lot of the ladies who have had the lapband done in Feb of this year. It's really neat and I commend the young lady that came up with the idea! :frown::wub: