beckn

Hi Ada, after what you have been through this will be a piece of cake. You are only in the operating room about 60 min and one night over in the hospital. The incisions are tiny and heal up pretty quickly. It is really important to get up and get moving as soon as possible to prevent complications such as blood clots and pneumonia. They gave me heparin injections to prevent clots and sequentials ( leg booties that massage your legs). They also give you anitbiotics IV to prevent infection. I was back to work in one week and doing well. Everyone is different. I am 58 years old so I'm not a youngster. I am feeling so great and in control of my eating portions for the first time in 50 years. I feel like exercising again which is a major change for me. I just don't see any negatives about this proceedure. You will get a lot of support and advise on this website. Do your research and find your comfort zone. I would recomend this to anyone who has health problems due to obesity. Best Wishes to you on your journey. Becky

WOW, Marie I was thinking about joining a gym but maybe I will look into the Wii Fit. Do you need alot of room? I have just a small den where my t.v. is. How much does it cost? Becky

Isn't it amazing how great everything tastes. I am really loving my cottage cheese. It is high in protein and you can mix it in to many things for different flavors. This week ,now that I am all healed I am planning to bump up my exercise. The weather is very nice right now so I am going to start riding my bike to the stores and hopefully to work. I will need to get a basket so I can carry my groceries. With the gas prices the way they are, it is even more incentive to ride my bike. I do have a Prius which gets 50 mpg but the bike is even better plus I can get my exercise out of the way. When the weather heats up a little more I am going to start doing water aerobics. I love that exercise because it doesn't feel like exercise, more like play. Have a great weekend and keep up the good work May banders! Becky

Hey Congrats to all the new banders!!! I am so happy to hear that you have all come through with flying colors! High five and best wishes to you all on the beginning of your new lives. Becky

Thanks Luscious, I am trying to do all thoes things. The main thing is that I am feeling so great. I feel 10 years younger....no aches or pains. I feel that this eating correctly and getting in more fluids has released inflamation in my body. I feel more limber and flexable that I have a new lease on life and this is just the beginning!!! WOO HOO! Becky

Hey bux....glad to hear you are doing well....just keep walking away that gas! It really feel great when you can pass that gas! Becky

Hey Penny.....quit calling yourself a little old lady....heck, I am 2 years older than you and I don't feel like a little old lady.....We're fabulous fifties! Becky

WOW Penny......you go girl!! Thanks for the pep talk....I needed it today. I am heading out for my walk in the park with my doggie, Lola. Becky

Hello Penny, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. You really touched a cord in me and I feel uplifted. Best wishes to you. Becky

Laura, that is exactly what I do. I tell myself just walk in and do a little something and pretty soon I am doing a complete workout.That is the same thing about walking. If I just put on my walking shoes my dog knows we are going to the park and then she just goes nuts and I can't disappoint her. I always play little games on myself like if I don't want to clean house I just tell myself that I am getting unexpected company and I better just tidy up a bit. The next thing I know I have the rock and roll blarring and I am running the vacume. Hey, whatever it takes. Becky

Hi Bux, I was banded on May 12 and doing very well. How goes it for you? Becky

WOW Shelli.....that is fantastic!!!! Any tips you care to share with us new bandsters? Becky

Wow greg, you are already on your way to a great start.....good work and best wishes to you on your big LB day. Keep us posted. Becky

Hi MsTrina, Thanks for the reply and great advise. I know I am addicted to the scale and tend to weigh more than once a day...old habits die hard ya know! You sound like you have a good knowledge base and some experience to back it up. I will follow your lead on this. thanks again so much....have a great holiday weekend! Becky

I think I am ready for a fill because I am now starting to want to snack again, or is this just old behavior patterns popping up. The only time I feel like snacking is in the evening when my hubby and I are watching tv and he heads for the ice cream. I am 13 days post op and have lost about 19 lbs although the weight loss has now stopped since I started eating soft foods. I have had no real problems except the other day when I forgot myself and ate some crackers.........got my first experience of pbing!! Becky

Hi Mstrina, I am 13 days post op. I did 10 days of preop protein shakes prior to surgery. I started at 227 and then on the day of surgery they weighed me at 215. By 10 days post op I weighed 208 and now today I weigh 210. I started adding soft foods this past week and at first could only get in about 500cals and that is with the protein shakes. I made it up to 800cal yesterday but it was a challenge. I am starting to exercise more but not daily. My sister and I are joining a gym this week and will be work out buddies. Now I am afraid that my weight loss has stopped. Should I work up to 1000 cals per day? I have also been having trouble getting in all my water. Any advise? Becky

Hi Kim....welcome....glad to have some more May Bandsters on board. It is so nice once the recovery is over and you start feeling like your old self only smaller.....I love my LB. Best wishes, Becky

Hi Lucy12...Yeah, this is going to be a challenging time for you on the pre op diet and the holidays and food. Bring yourself some jello or sugar free pudding as a back up plan in case you want to cheat. That would be better than anything else. It is hard right now but after surgery you will be able to go to parties with confidence that your tool will keep you from having a big caloric blow out. Your tummy just won't let you stuff yourself anymore. I am now about 12 days post op and I will be going to holiday get togethers with NO FEAR!. I will try and make good choices and have just little tastes of things. My plan is to have a good protein source before I leave the house, and then sip on water to keep my stomach full. I will be able to eat but it will be 1/2 of what I was able to put away before my LB. I love the freedom this has given me. I keep saying it, but it feels like a miracle. Just do the best you can and be prepared. It will be so worth it and so much easier once you have your band in place....trust me on that one. Best Wishes and have a happy holiday. Becky

Hi Christine, I too was afraid of yet another failure at weight loss but I see that this is just going to reinforce positive behavior changes because if you do what the drs tell you, you consistently lose weight. That sets you up to try harder. I know that in the past I would always start a new diet and exercise program with such enthusiasm only to get little results back for my efforts. Then I would get depressed and start my crummy eatin patterns again because I would just give up after a few unsuccessful weeks. This gives you postive results right away and then you feel like you can do anything. My hardest thing right now is trying get enough food in.....what a switch!! It is a lovely feeling to have this confidence and control for once in my life. You are going to be amazed!! Becky

You upcoming banders......just hold onto the excitement and enjoy the ride. This is the beginning of a whole new life. It is so worth it when you end up with a control over food that you never had before. It gives you confidence knowing that you have the ability to eat healthy and make good choices. I have been able to experience fullness and satisfaction in small portions that I never had before. It is like a miracle. I am about 10 days post op and feel tremendous. You have a few days of mild pain but it is easily fixed with pain meds and walking. Be sure and follow your Dr's program to a T and all will be well. My very best wishes to you on this fantastic journey!!! Becky

Thanks Ventura, My surgery was on the 12th and I have to say that today was my best day. I hardly feel like I have had surgery except I am not so hungry. What a difference a day makes....I am full of hope and joy and ready to get moving! Best wishes to you on your journey! Becky

Hi Sharon, My Previcid is pretty tiny. I take it with a little jello and some sips of water. Janet was saying that she takes a chewable pepsid. I am thinking about getting some of that. My upper G.I. showed that I had a very small hiatal hernia when they had me bear down, but I have never experienced acid reflux. My surgeon said that he didn't even need to repair it. I bet that is why you are having somewhat more swelling. You've got a couple of extra stiches in place. That should heal up just fine. Ask your Dr if you should be taking an antacid. Becky

Hi Kate, I love your sense of humor and attitude about life. You have done an amazing job and have been able to laugh at yourself. We all tend to take ourselfs way too seriously at times. Life is humorous and if you can't see that then you are missing the boat. We are all just moving through life making mistakes trying to do the best we can and hey sometimes things finally work themselves out. I really have learned the best lessons from my mistakes in this life. It is part of who I am and I am finally starting to like myself. It sounds like you are at that place too. High five to you and all the best!! Becky

Hi Perky...your program sounds exactly like mine. I had surgery on Mon May 12th except I get to start some pureed foods tomorrow. It sounds like you may have just had a little more swelling than I did. I was doing pretty well until about day 6 & 7 post op. I had a lot of epigastric pains early in the morning. I started taking an antacid medication that the doctor ordered and that seemed to help. I also found a good supply of protein that has 25 gms in just 2 oz of kind of a fruit punch, called New Whey. This helped me get my protein in but the water is difficult at times. My dr told me just to start taking tiny sips as soon as I get up in the morning. I have to wait 30 min between my protein drinks. It sounds like your problems should subside when the swelling goes down in a few days. Hang in there! Becky

Hi Janet, Yeah I am a little over a week out and I was able to sleep on a 3/4 side postion with a pillow at my back. It was heaven. I think my little dog Lola and Dottie my kitty slept better too. My poor husband has been sleeping in the quest room this past week. Maybe he will be able to sleep back in our bed soon. Today is my best day yet. I feel almost 100%, just a tiny bit of incisional pain. It helps to hear how others have done this. Thanks, Becky