jbperry21

I didn't have staples or anything. And I think my stitches must have been internal because I didn't have any visible. I had glue over my incisions. Well, the glue has all come off now since it's been almost 3 weeks, but tonight I was putting some vitamin E on the one incision that still has scabs. Well, one came off and now I have a piece of stitching sticking out of my skin. It's like when you have a tag in a stuffed animal and you pull the tag off and there's still a little piece of plastic sticking out. Any suggestions beside calling my Dr since it's so late?

My dr told me that as long as I showed an attempt to lose the % I was told to lose, he would be fine with that. I don't know when they weighed me, but it definitely wasn't when I was coherent.

I was told no straws because you end up drinking more liquid more quickly.

My doctor actually ended up extended my absence from work because I was still so tired. I ended up finding out the week after my surgery that I was having knee problems and have had to have x-rays for that, so the extension works out well for me. Today was the first day I didn't take a nap and I have been exhausted. I guess I'm just slow to feel better.

*hugs* Don't be too hard on yourself! It might not be open-heart surgery, but you still had surgery. You're body is healing and needs to rest to get better. I felt lazy not doing anything around the house and my roomie doing everything, so I did a sink full of dishes on like my 3rd or 4th day home and I was spent after that. My back hurt because it was painful to stand up straight because of the incisions, my stomach hurt from standing for so long, and I was just exhausted. Let the people who love and care about you help you while you're healing. You'll feel better soon!

Did your insurance company give you a reason for denial? Do you have appeals? I don't know anything about Obesity Law, but if it's at no cost to you, it can't hurt!

I was just banded on 3/31. I have a membership to a gym, but last week I went to my regular doctor because I was having some problems with my knee popping. There's no pain, but until I find out for sure what's going with my knee I can't really do a lot of walking. My knee cap is supposedly not lining up correctly, so it's popping and has caused some other problems. I've had x-rays done so hopefully I'll find out the outcome soon and it won't be something that requires surgery. So, that being said, suggestions on some types of exercises that I can do. I'm ready to start exercising because I'm feeling better, but I don't have access to a pool and walking even with the knee brace is still causing popping.

I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles! I've only been banded for 2.5 weeks, so I don't have an experience to give advice. I do know that not eating enough, getting enough calories, etc, your body goes into starvation mode and won't let go of the fat as easily. Good luck with everything though. I hope things turn around for you!

Okay, that's good to know. I figured they would start to fade already, but good to know it's not just me. It's such an ugly bruise!

HOw long did bruises last for some of you? I'm 17 days out and I still have a giantly obnoxious bruise on my lower left stomach from the heparin shots and a not quite as obnoxious one on the right side from the heparin shot. All the bruises (except for a little tiny bruise in the middle of my stomach) have pretty much disappeared now. The best way to describe the giant obnoxious bruise (which is about the size of a softball) is that it looks like zombie skin!

Congrats! Re: Jello I was given jello in the hospital the night after my surgery, but didn't eat it. I ate some the first week home and it did make me sick almost to the point of throwing up, just ended up swallowing a lot and a lot of saliva.

My incisions are still a little red and have scabs still. I had my follow up appointment yesterday and my doc said they were healing fine. My port incision is the worst, it's like they overlapped the skin or something when they closed it up...it's going to be an ugly scar I'm sure.

My doctor and program guidelines stated that I shouldn't have alcoholic beverages until my doctor cleared it.

Everyone's different. I don't have a strenuous job, but I don't get to sit and I do have to walk around quite a bit. I took two weeks off and even though I feel physically okay right now (Wednesday is my first day back to work), I'm worried about going back because I still get tired pretty easily at this point. But, it's better to be safe than sorry and if you can get the time off from work, then do it.

I have a little dog (toy poodle), she weighs 7 lbs. She loves to walk, loves to run, and I'm sure if she could go running off by herself she would. She would probably love to walk more than I can walk her though. I'm looking forward to when I can do more brisk walking/jogging so we can go for longer. I don't leave her out alone during the day though because we had some issues with her peeing on things for being alone for too long. So, she gets crated when no one's home and I come home on my lunch break to take her out for a walk.

I've always considered myself a foodie too. I love to cook, love to watch all the cooking shows, history of food stuff, everything. The bad thing is that I can be a somewhat picky eater, though I'm much better than I used to. I'm only 2 weeks post-op, so I've only eaten at one restaurant since I've had my surgery and it's because they have a soup I can eat. I'm so looking forward to being able to cook again and eat 'real' food and go out to eat again with my mom after church!

No, I haven't...but I've been looking into it. One of my friends on my online journal has one and she has all of her stuff logged through their website. I think i'm going to start saving my money for it, even though I don't need a new pair of shoes just yet.

This was a few days post-op, probably 2 or 3 Scars today, 14 days post op

That's only 3 of my scars. The other two are hidden by my bra. These are about 10 days post-op. Sorry it's not very clear.

My doctor was the same way, which I think most are. They don't want to set you up to think you're going to lose 100%, because it's by no means a guarantee. But like others have said, it all depends on the work you put into it. I'm only 2 weeks out today, but I'm so glad I did it. My doctor leaned very heavily toward the bypass because I had over 100 lbs to lose, but in the end it was my decision and I decided on the lapband. For me, it's not about the amount of weight, but just getting healthier in the closest to natural way possible. I think this is the best decision I've ever made!

I've heard some suggestions that if you're going to bbq and dinners and stuff, make a dish to bring with you that you can eat that others can possibly eat too. I'm very lucky because my family and friends were very supportive, so they for the most part of been understanding about going out to eat or things like that (except one occasion with my roommate yesterday). Good luck!

*hugs* It is totally tough to adjust to changing your habits on everything. As for the Protein. I tried the Isopure and I was the same way, I couldn't stomach the smell or the taste or the fact that it left a film on my teeth. But, I got the New Whey protein bullets and even though they have a bit of the whey smell and after taste, if you don't breathe while you swallow it down (it's like a giant test tube full of a gel like liquid), the taste and smell is gone immediately. I normally drink a swallow of something flavored afterwards. I can finish half of it in one swallow. The designer whey, I've got the french vanilla, and i mix a scoop of that in with a chocolate slim-fast, a handful of ice, and half a banana and blend and you can't really taste the whey in that either. Plus with the slimfast and the whey, it's 28 grams of protein in one thing. I know for me, I just try to make it through each day because if I start worrying about the future it is overwhelming. You've just got to make it through one day at a time.

I had mine of the 31st of March and I'm supposed to go back to work this Wednesday the 16th. Physically I feel alright, but I'm afraid of being really tired. I'm still taking a nap every day and last night I slept like 11 hours and I'm still tired. I think it's just adjusting to different calorie intake, protein, all that good stuff. Like everyone has said, it's different for each person I think.

*Hugs* Try to stay positive. This is the first surgery I've ever had and it was scary for me too. But, like others have said, once you get past the bad part (the liquid diet, the mushy diet, and the pain), it'll be worth it. You can do it! Just keep your head up and put one foot in front of the other, one day at a time.

I have been super itchy as well. I'm 13 days out, so almost 2 weeks. But yeah, mine are itchy and i just have to itch around them, but dangit if I don't want to just claw away at them occasionally.