Betelnut

This is an interesting topic to me because I was wondering if I'd be able to "get off" my CPAP once I've lost the weight. I truly think my apnea is weight related, so I'm hoping I will be able to get off the machine. That said, I'm so used to it now, I'm wondering if I'll be able to sleep without it! Once I lose a lot more weight, I'm planning on having another sleep study to see what happened with the apnea.

I was told to wait 30 minutes but I usually wait until I know my food has "gone down" which really depends on what I ate. Sometimes I don't drink for a long time, but sometimes it will just be 10 minutes later. On average, it probably is about 20-30 minutes though.

Updating my numbers--down three pounds! My last fill (3 weeks ago) is really helping! Name.............. Start ..........Current.......... Goal ........ToGo 3ShotRoc..............345..............263................220......... ..43 alabubba..............464..............464................400......... ....64 annieemmm.........200..............198.................170......... ..28 barb12590............173..............165................155.......... .10 Betelnut………….....295….……...…270 …....……..245………….25 Bklyn1984.............317..............256................230......... ..26 blaze21................200.8...........200.8..............170......... ..30.8 Chicky Abby..........314..............314................270...........44 countrygirlNY........253..............217................182.......... ..35 crzytchr2004.........237..............232................210.......... .22 Fab by 50.............215..............215................175...........40 Fordgal88.............199..............175................199......... ..24 Htaylor1021.....210............210............185.........25 Jennyt71...............245..............207................170........ ...37 keepingfaith08...225..........225.............190.......35 LessJess...............228..............228................199........ ...29 Letsgetitstarted.....229..............229................199.......... .30 libbyjane1976.......283...............283................250.......... 33 LilMissDiva...........251.6............247.6..............227......... .20.6 liz_hager..............158..............157.................145....... ....12 Long2BThin...........192..............191.................169......... ..22 Mair.....................222..............220................199...... .....21 mamacj................316..............269................233......... ...36 MsNickelback....172...........172............149..........23 nicolerose.......365..........288............260.........28 Nursemelly............245............213.................185.............28 onehotmama.........272.............237.................210............ 27 pbpuniser.............212..............212................182......... ..30 peachwood......251...........251............230.........21 picklesix...........197..........197.............170.........27 sexylips................238..............238................199....... ....39 SillyGoose............258...............243................228........ ...15 simone................182...............182................160........ ...22 ukcatsfan.............340...............340................300........ ...40 workingmom.....214...........214............175.........39

I've had my CPAP for almost a year and I'd say, for me at least, the difference was almost instantaneous since I didn't have that much trouble adjusting to it. I didn't almost fall asleep at the wheel. I didn't want to crawl into bed at 8:30 at night. I didn't fall asleep while holding onto my computer mouse at work. I felt better. So yes, I'd say, for me at least, I had more energy and definitely better brain function. I love my CPAP machine but I'm wondering if, once I lose more weight, I'll even need it. I guess I'll need another sleep study in a year or so to see.

Less invasive surgery and not permanent. Those were the two key differences to me.

Oh yes, that scarf has been tossed. I probably could have saved it, but Spring is on the way anyway. I'm not glad I had my first PB but at least now I know what everyone is talking about! And I did learn that chicken sausage (even 3/4 of a link) is not exactly a good Breakfast choice. I actually paused before heating it up, thinking, "Hmm, I hope this doesn't come back up on me." I chewed, chewed, chewed, but, alas alack, it still didn't agree.

Well, I had my first PB this morning. I've had the band for almost six months and never had one before. I was actually thinking that, when people talked about "PBing" they meant vomiting because I have done that occassionally. Um, no. Totally different, it turns out. Thank goodness I had a winter scarf in the car that caught almost all of it or I would have had to turn around and change my clothes. I guess my second fill (three weeks ago) has settled in! Note to self: Keep a PB/vomit can in the car because that stuff is gross! Note to self again: Don't eat hard Protein in the morning. oatmeal it is! Anyway, I'm a member of the club now. And I need a new scarf!

Your doctor has you on pureed food until your first fill? Wow! I didn't get my first fill for 8 weeks! That would have been agony, that is for sure. I got to eat regular food after 2-3 weeks.

....your tummy talks more than you do at mealtime. ... you notice how fast people eat and the huge bites they take. ... you can share a slice of pizza with your toddler and feel totally full if not overfull when, in the past, two slices would have been barely enough! ...one Lean Cuisine lasts an hour. ...every meal lasts an hour.

I'm thinking of rejoining WW too. I think, like the rest of you, that the food aspect of "working the band" is not really covered very well by the surgeon. They do have a nutritionist on staff which is great, but my surgeon is an hour drive away and I don't feel comfortable just calling the nutritionist to chat. WW might actually work long term for me now that I have the band! As you can see by my ticker, I'm losing rather slowly, so maybe joining WW will jumpstart me to losing more!

Yep, mine "talks" to me after eating too, especially now that I've had my second fill (a week ago). It's sort of hilarious because my three-year old will pat my stomach and say, "Tummy?" and I say, "Yep, my tummy." I figure when she gets older she'll know what's going on, but for now she's just getting used to the fact that Mommy's tummy makes weird noises sometimes!

I need to jump start my enthusiasm and the only way to do that is to lose more weight. It has been too slow!

I'm in! I'm going for a big goal--28 pounds because I've had a slow start. Name.............. Start ..........Current.......... Goal ........ToGo 3ShotRoc..............345..............263...............220.......... 43 barb12590.............173.............173................155.........1 8 Betelnut…………………295………………273 ………………..245…………28 blaze21................200.8...........200.8..............170......... 30.8 Chicky Abby..........314.............314.................270...........44 countrygirlNY.........253..............217...............182.......... 35 crzytchr2004.........237..............235...............210..........2 5 Fordgal88.............199...............175...............199......... 24 Jennyt71..............245................210..............170.........40 LessJess..............228...............228...............199......... .29 libbyjane1976.......283...............283................250.........3 3 Mair....................222...............222................199...... ...23 pbpuniser.............212..............212................182......... .30 sexylips...............238..............238.................199....... ..39 SillyGoose............258...............251................228........ ..23 simone................182...............182................160........ ..22 ukcatsfan.............340..............340................300......... .40

I've had to travel for my fills too (just up to Catonsville, but it is still a pain). It would be great to find a place closer in--like in Charles or St. Mary's County.

Me too! I got my first fill a month ago and don't have much restriction. I ate like a pig over Christmas although intellectually I know that without my band I would probably have eaten twice as much. I finally got up the gumption to weigh myself this morning and was pleasantly surprised to see I'd "only" gained two pounds! Now I need to work the band and perhaps schedule an earlier second fill appointment (it is currently scheduled for March). Let's all "jump back on" and achieve our goals (or close to them) this year!

Lapband because it is less invasive and has an easier recovery. Despite the recent death, my surgeon has never had a death result from the lapband surgery, unlike with gastric bypass. Having a piece of me removed just seemed too drastic!

Yes, it helps keep you hydrated.

I'm a month out from surgery (today!) and I feel like I do have some restriction. Frankly, I'm not sure if my doc put saline in my band or not (I forgot to ask during my first post-op visit), but I definitely have had moments of intense pain and pressure right at the band, usually after eating bread. My first fill isn't until early December so I'm using this time to get used to eating slowly, chewing a lot and not drinking during meals. I'm also counting calories so I won't gain during this period of "bandster hell."

Yeah, I'd love to drive for an hour and a half for an un-fill if I'm sick with the flu! :biggrin:

My program also says "no snacks" but when I read the rationale for this it simply states something along the lines that people tend to overeat if Snacks are allowed (nothing about how it might stretch the band, etc.) That doesn't seem like a good enough reason to totally restrict a snack, in my mind. As long as your calorie intake for the day is low and the snack is healthy, I don't see why you can't have one.

My doctor recommended chewable Vitamins (NOT children's though!), chewable Calcium and sublingual B12 pills. I ordered all from Bariatric Advantage.

It is interesting how every doctor seems to have different post-op instructions (frankly, I also got different instructions at the hospital than I got from the pre-op class and the nutritionist!) My doctor has us on two week liquid (Soups, etc.) then two week mushie. After four weeks, "normal" food is allowed. I too (two weeks post-op) am starting to feel the hunger. Today I've already had several bowls of Soup and cheated by having a small piece of chocolate and it is only 1:00. I think I can be strong until my two-week follow-up (in a couple of days) but I'm looking forward to the mushies. I agree that I was expecting to have more restriction at this stage (I'd forgotten that the first restriction isn't until after the first fill), but I'm hoping that I can just diet (and not gain weight) until then.

Congrats Rose! I need to lose about 130 pounds too and chose the lap band because it is so much less intrusive. Too bad your family is being negative. I hope you can bring them around by the time you have your surgery! Welcome to the boards!

I chose 165 because I had actually gotten down to that weight before about ten years ago and was able to maintain it for 3 years (before going up again). I've actually gotten down to 145 before but, almost immediately, gained up to the 165. I'm tall (5'10") and have a medium build. 165 puts me easily into a size 12. Of course, if I ever decide to have a tummy tuck, I may actually go lower! (That is, if I'm successful...)

This has probably been answered somewhere--sorry if so! I'm one week post-op and on a two week liquid diet. I frankly don't feel "restricted." That is, I am able to easily eat a cup of Soup and then drink a shot of liquid protean then a few sips of Water. (Then I do "feel full.") Of course, in reality, a cup of soup and a few more mouthfuls isn't much food and, before the surgery, I would probably eat 2 cups or more of soup (plus bread, etc.)! But it also is a lot more than the "few ounces" of food that I'm supposed to be able to eat while banded. Is this because what I'm eating is liquid and thus it is "slipping" past the band easily? Please tell me that once I start my "mushie" phase, I will feel more restricted! Thanks!