MelodyJ

Oh Megan....you made me so excited....I just moved back to FL and told my husband I can't wait to get a new drivers' license taken as soon as I lose most of the weight!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs

Melinda-- I am losing quickly....loving it!! I know eventually it will need to slow down.... even though I wish it wouldn't I have actually lost a little over a pound a day!! Wooohoo!!! Not bragging at all....just PRAISING GOD as He is my strength!!! I am not on liquids anymore....I started mushy about 11 days ago and regular was 3 days ago...but today have backed back to liquids/mushies as I am having some discomfort. Praying nothing is stuck but I am sore in my chest/esophagus region! I am not vomitting so I must have an opening but wondering if something got stuck and it's just sore from that! I followed the liquids for 3 weeks as told then went forward....but still very careful!! I am exercising...I didn't get a full release til Monday which was my 28th day....My husband and I walk each evening and we're not quite walking 2mi each evening in 30min....hoping to increase the speed and distance! Also purchased "Yoga Booty Ballet"....hoping it gets me in shape soon!!! Let's keep up with one another!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs

Welcome....you can do it!! I pray for your peace....this has been life changing for me!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs

MelAnne: Oh girl, I hear your heart....we have struggled for YEARS to overcome. The band is a tool to do just that. The stats are the same when you go 5ys out as the bypass for lap band! I know we live in a microwave society--we want everything YESTERDAY!!!! Are you exercising? How much are you drinking in calories? Exercise is a mood elevator for sure!! You CAN do this....don't compare yourself to ANYONE!!! You are NOT losing your mind....God gave you a sound mind and self-control His Word says!! I'll be praying for you!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs

Laural: My procedure was in Dalton,GA in an outpatient surgical center. I was there by 8am I believe and home (hotel) by 3pm. THe surgery took about 30-45min I am told. I took a bit to wake up enough to not need oxygen...have always liked my sleep! :confused: I was hurting honestly....but I was up walking within an hour or so. I took 3 walks, drank a cup of juice then was released to go sleep it off! I was given hydrocodone syrup for the pain and this helped. Each day got easier and easier. I don't believe I was taking pain meds longer than 4 days....and after the 2nd day or so was slowing down on how much I was taking. I bought OTC liquid Tylenol and was able to take in place of the Hydrocodone quite soon. For gas I used Maalox Max which caused me to have diarrhea but moved the gas!! I walked further and further each day....sometimes you gotta push yourself more than others! Hope this helps! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs

FEL0816--It's normal to not feel hungry...I actually prayed that the Lord would keep the hunger away as long as He would!!!!! I just made sure that I wasn't dehydrated!! Just go at your own pace...I couldn't even consider taking 4 oz every other hour....so your doing pretty good! :confused: You will get hungry...hang in there! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs

Sherri, Have just finished praying!! Pray the Lord eases the pain....it does get better each day....truly one day at a time!!! :confused: God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs

Tess, I did Clear Liquids for a week then full liquids for 2 wks then to mushies. Don't forget on full liquids you can have pudding which can be filling!! Liquids dont' last nearly as long.....it's a tough time!! But once you start eating more mushies it lasts up to 5 hrs before your actually hungry....so it does get better. Plus go distract yourself and don't "obsess" with your belly....boy I sure did at times and I still struggle with all these new feelings/sensations! Just keep focusing on the 18lbs!! WOW!!!! That is AWESOME!!!! Great motivation!!! Go take a walk!! Karen: Be careful!! You don't want to hurt your new surgery. If you are walking at a leisurely pace it's ok. They told me not to even sweat the first 4 weeks.....I slowly have worked my way up now that I was released yesterday. They also told me to not worry about the first 6wks weight until the fill....but of course, I'm focusing on the scale....have had to make myself only get on it only once a week....I really don't want it to control me!! It has in the past. And....10lbs is NOTHING to sneeze at ..it's 1/5th of your wt loss need!!! Good Job!!! :confused: Praying the Lord helps you both!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs

Susan...good wisdom!! Thanks!! I agree!! We paid way too much money, stress, etc to go back to our old ways!! The Bible says to renew your mind daily....it's the same with this!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs :confused:

I was excited someone posted too.....maybe I should have done it?! But glad we're now "talking"!! I pray we all set records!!! :confused: God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -30lbs

mrk520- this is the training ground!! This a time to "practice" what we've been told. I cannot personally eat much more than 4 oz at a time. You must ask yourself am I still hungry after each bite. You must take bites the size of a baby spoon and chew to mush and put your fork (sandwich) down and chew 15-20+ times each bite and then wait a full 60 seconds before you continue....this is the tough time before your fill...I have not had a fill yet....hoping to within the next 2 weeks as I am starting to get hungry before the 5hrs they said.....remember it's not necessarily about being "full" but not being hungry!! :confused: God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -30lbs

Melinda, I was actually banded in Dalton, GA 3/20/06 but have moved to Orange City, FL. I am loving banded life!! I love the sense of control and "power" I feel! :confused: What a difference!! Am VERY pleased!! I've lost 30lbs this past 28days!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -30lbs

CHeri--what a hoot!! I actually caught on.....or hoped I did!! I like your joke rather than real!! CONGRATS!!!!!! PRaying you lose even more...but hold onto that child!!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -30lbs :confused:

Eileen...I was told 4-6oz....that's 1/2 cup plus if I need it. So I measure out my 1/2 cup take a bite, put down my baby spoon chew 15times then wait 1min (still practicing) then take another bite. By the time I'm finished I generally feel "not hungry" anymore. It's not always a matter of feeling full....it's a matter of not feeling hungry anymore. A new way to look at it! I don't know rules on salad as I am just starting regular food today!! I have been on mushies, etc. Praying this helps!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -30lbs

I am SO HAPPILY married...will be 2 years tomorrow!! I claim the best husband ever!! He is truly a gift from God!!! Melody Banded 3/20/06 -29lbs

Desiree....CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! GOOD JOB!!!!!!!!!! You look BEAUTIFUL!!! Keep up the good work....just look at the pix for more motivation!!!! I can hardly wait til I'm 1/2way....but got a while!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -29lbs

Kickiegirl--I am a medical provider and my advice is research, research, research!! The bypass is VERY serious and lots of longterm complications/effects on your body. 1 in 200 die from bypass, you need Vit B12 injections the rest of your life, etc....they do lose the weight quicker much of the time. The Lapband has < 1% complication rate....you need to read and read some more. The Lapband does have some negatives but FAR LESS than the risk of morbid obesity!!!! I was banded 3/20/06 and very pleased so far. Walking almost 2mi a day and feeling SO MUCH more energetic in less than a month since surgery! THe recovery time is much quicker in banding. I could go on and on but don't want to bore you!! You check things out and ask as many questions as you can and you will know which one is for you. God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -29lbs

FLashover....mine was terrific gas pains and I took Maalox Max which has Magnesium which makes your bowels move....which relieves the pain. Yes I got diarrhea.....but the pain moved out!!!!!!!!!!! I am now 3 weeks out and I feel GREAT!!! It does get better!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -29lbs

First of all, CONGRATS on all the weight loss...that's WONDERFUL!!!!!!!! :clap2: There is a normal shedding of hair...but if it is going past that.....are you truly getting 50-60gms of Protein? Have you had your thyroid checked? Is there any family history of female baldness? You might want to talk with your surgeon if its becoming "alarming".... Will be praying!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -29lbs

Congrats so much!! :clap2: God is SO GOOD!!! He will show us and then we get to decide what we're tired of!!! He is FAITHFUL!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -29lbs

I am newer at banding....March 20, 2006. So I will answer from recent perspective: 1. It almost feels like a lump in the center of my stomach. Doesn't necesarily hurt but can feel it..... I still don't really know what a PB is exactly?! 2. You are to eat 1/2 cup to 1 cup maximum for the rest of your life. If you can eat more than a cup and you are not losing then you need to be filled. Initially it's tough to even eat the 1/2 cup. I was on liquids for 3 weeks and I struggled to even eat that much. 3. I got a Scopolomine patch to wear for 3 days behind my ear after I told the anesthesiologist that I vomitted the last time I had surgery. Just tell the anesthesiologist and he will do ALOT to prevent you from vomitting!!! They protect you from vomitting at all costs I believe to avoid losing what the surgeon has done. 4. I was told that there are 3 sizes of bands that go around and it depends on your physical body weight, size etc to decide. I have 140lbs to lose approx. and I have a 4cc band. They can fill past the 4cc but do not usually need too. My dr's website is www.lapbandinstitute.com if you want to see and look at more about it it's pretty good. 5. You will NOT be able to drink more than small sips at first....they gave me liquid pain meds 15cc (1 TBSP) and told me to "chug" it and it was VERY painful to even take that much at first if that tells you much. Now within a few days I was able to sip more and more with time and now I drink quite comfortably. HOpe this helps and remember it's just my experience!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -29lbs

Alexandra~ Congrats on the good attitude you have about your BP....Keep up the good work and maybe it'll go lower with less or no meds! What is an NSV?????? I am new to this. God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -29lbs

Sunta, You should write professionally....you are a hoot!!! VERY FUNNY....but scary!!! Hoping I don't experience the same!!! What is PB by the way???? I am very new to many of the abbreviations. My husband said they need to have a bandsters dictionary!! One more question...having a lot of pain that comes and goes...can't tell if food makes it worse or not? A pressure seems to radiate to the right shoulder/chest. No fevers, nothing like that.....I'm thinking it might be gas...little burps do seem to help!? God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -25lbs Dalton, GA with Dr. Ponce

Wheetsin: CONGRATS on all that weight loss....and thank you SO MUCH for the "new" way to look at eating.... "am I still hungry?" is a better question to ask than "am I full/satisfied?"....cause I like to eat and satisfaction is tough!! Melody

Myemme: Thank you for your encouraging words!! All the positives help so much!!! Part of the reason I may be losing quicker than you is that I have at least 140lbs to lose!! A person!! Also the Lord knows my need for "quick" success to continue going!! As you move more you will also lose more!! I am walking 20min each day already...not racing...but moving. I think the caloric intake your doctor suggested is great. I am still on liquids. My doctor keeps you on Clear Liquids the first week then full liquids the next 2 weeks!!! I have snuck in a few mushy bites...but basically am staying on that....so another reason for my increased weight loss. I recognize that it will slow down....it did from the first week to the second...but I plan to continue moving more! Tipper: My doc will not fill until 6 weeks post band....I have heard it's not that bad....we will see! All your "noise" is the gas moving....seriously consider Maalox Max it forces you to go to the bathroom and that moves the gas OUTSIDE of your body! :paranoid I was able to be completely off the pain meds in about 5 days....honestly getting up and moving around seemed to help the most. Even showers wore me out at first...you are NORMAL...scary, huh???? You will get full really fast....but unfortunately that goes away and you start getting hungry....at least I have around 2 weeks. But you still will only sip for quite awhile. I bought some liquid Tylenol for in between the "harder" stuff the doc prescribed.... Hang in there!!!! You will make it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praying for you!!! God Bless, Melody