skinnyme52

Hi Amy88, I just want to thank you for posting this info. It will help so many of us bandsters that went out of Florida and now don't know where to turn for our fill. This is just wonderful information. Whoever did this research---thank you, thank you. It is definitely appreciated. Sandy

Hi Bug, yep, everything is fine now that I'm eating real food. Never thought the day would come. I even experienced my first stuck food episode. Ate some really dry chicken and didn't chew well enough and guess what? It didn't feel very good. I guess it's going to take some practice eating with the band. I can't imagine what it will be like with the fill. How does anything go down? I am a little nervous. I'll keep you posted on my progress and you do the same okay?

Hello Bug, thanks for thinking of me. I am feeling better. I went to the doctor and he said my lungs were clear, but put me on Levaquin (antibiotic) just in case and gave me some strong cough medicine with codeine. Well, after about 2 days, my cough subsided and I am starting to feel much better. He thinks it was just bronchial irritation from the tube down my throat for anesthesia. I am hungry again and feel like I can eat a lot, but I am limiting myself to 1 cup of food even though I feel like I could eat more. I think the swelling has gone down now and without a fill, I am feeling hungry. I think I will be going for my fill at 4 weeks. I don't feel much different now than before surgery. I have been losing very slowly also. I'll keep you posted. Take care. Sandy

HI Bug, I am going back to Colorado for my first fill and then after that will probably go to the fill center. You said you liked the one in St. Pete and haven't had any problems with them, so maybe I will do the same. Right now I am still having some lung problems. I am very congested in my chest and keep trying to cough up stuff. Of course that hurts the incisions so it's not much fun. I called my surgeon today and all I got was that I should call my PCP to have my lungs checked. One month before my surgery, I had pneumonia, but when the surgeon checked my lungs the day before the surgery he said all was clear. I just hope I am not getting a relapse. I do get hungry now and would like some solid food, but I am only up to mushies right now so I won't push it. I know by 4 weeks I will be dying for a fill because I will be constantly hungry. I will keep you posted on my progress. Right now a am down about 18 pounds so I'm happy. Take care and I'll talk to you soon.

Hi Tigerlili, yeah it really is good to feel back to normal again. I know about the small sips, but I have no restriction so everything goes down just as it did before and I forget and drink fast. I know once I can feel the restriction that it will be the reminder I need to slow down. Old habits are so hard to break and I know it will take a conscious effort on my part. I will probably go back for my fill at 6 weeks. How are you doing? By your ticker it looks like you are doing fabulous. Keep up the good work!!!

HI Bug, Yes, I am feeling much better now. Breathing is normal again and incisions barely hurt anymore. I am down 15 pounds last time I weighed so I am happy with that. My band is the largest. The surgeon said I was in between the largest and the next smallest and he decided to go with the larger one. I haven't felt hungry until today. I think the swelling has gone down because I haven't been hungry until now. I think I will be ready for a fill in 4 weeks. I was hoping to go 6 weeks. Thanks for thinking of me. Talk to ya soon.

Hi Bev, yes it has gotten better already. I too have been eating lots of sf jello and sf ice pops. I was thinking that maybe it was the antibiotics that I was on. I have finished with them now and things are much better in that department. I am down 15 pounds so yes, it definitely speeded things up a little LOL. I am feeling better each day. Incisions barely hurt anymore and breathing is good again. I am getting tired of full liquids though. Today my husband had on all the cooking shows on TV and I guess my swelling has gone down, because I am feeling hungry again for the first time. I'm tired of creamed soups, but will do whatever I have to do to make this thing work. I don't want to screw anything up after having gone through all this. Thanks for thinking of me. Keep in touch.

Hey Bug, I am feeling much better. My port incision is also just slightly above an old gallbladder incision and that is the sorest part of me now. Each day has gotten a little better though. I am down 15 pounds--yippeee!!! Not feeling hungry either, so I'm not rushing back for a fill until I really think I need it. I want to be all healed first. I didn't suffer with gas pains. The day after surgery I went to the Denver zoo and walked all day and the gas came out like crazy and I never had a pain since. I guess what they say about walking really works. I sat down when I was tired and sipped on water. It worked out fine for me. My only problem was the shortness of breath which I think is much better now that I'm back in Florida. The altitude in Colorado is hard to take normally, let alone right after a surgery. I am excited about each day now because I am seeing progress that I would never had expected by dieting in the past. I love that I can eat so little and not be hungry. What an awesome feeling. I really feel that I have been given the tool to lick this thing for good. How are you doing? Hope you are making a steady progress. Well, thanks for thinking of me and I will stay in touch. Take care.

Diane, don't let your sons get to you. Your post hit a nerve with me because I just went through the same thing. I have 2 sons also that are very against lapband surgery. Needless to say, I am 1 week post-op and doing fine. Actually my older son is the one who came with me to Colorado from Florida for the surgery. They do not have the amount of knowledge that we have on this subject, as we have all done tons of research. They have also not gone through all the trials and tribulations that a morbidly obese person goes through on a daily basis. I got comments from them similar to you like I'll be too weak to walk, my hair will be falling out in clumps, I'll be vomitting constantly, won't be able to eat a thing etc etc. I just ignored their comments and did what I needed to do for my own wellbeing. Eventual my older son came around and agreed to accompany me to surgery and he was very supportive once we talked to the surgeon together and he realized my mind was made up. Stick to your guns and let them know how you feel and that you are going to go through with this with or without their support. Of course it will be better with and I am sure they will come around for you. Let me know how it goes. I will be thinking of you. Good luck!!!!

Michelle, I'm glad to hear that you will have support with you in Denver. You really won't feel like driving right away. You can look into the SuperShuttle to take you to the airport. Might be cheaper than renting a car. I wish you luck.

Thanks Tigerlili, I am going to call the doc today. I think it's getting better each day though. Incisions don't hurt as much today and it will be 1 week tomorrow. I am down 13 pounds so that's great. Of course the diarrhea has helped with the weight loss--yuck!! I am going to see if I'm allowed to take liquid Imodium to help with that. Is diarrhea a common reaction after the band?? I am on full liquids now and maybe it was just something I ate yesterday. My surgeon does not fill the band at time of surgery so I am wide open and still can't eat much. I know that is probably just swelling, but it feels good not to be hungry all the time. I can't wait for my first fill, but I want to make sure I am all healed up first so I will probably go back in a month or so. Well, take care and keep in touch.

Hi mdargen, I had my surgery last Thursday and I flew to Colorado from Florida. You are required to have someone with you on your surgery day. You probably won't want to drive for a couple of days because you will be on liquid Vicodin (which really helps). I am one week post-op and the pain is just starting to subside where I don't need the pain meds during the day. I save it for at night because it makes you sleepy. I hope you are not going alone. You really will want someone driving you around for the first couple of days. In Dr. K's packet of info it states that if you don't have someone who can stay with you overnight, he won't do the surgery. I would check on the driving thing though. Maybe you will be different and feel wonderful immediately after. Good luck and let me know how things go.