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I am so amazed at how well everyone is doing. To me any loss at all is doing great. I have to admit like I have read, if I have a bad week or two it is usually, though not always, something I am eating (that I shouldn't) or something I am not doing (that I should-like getting my but off the couch!!) God bless all of us for trying to make ourselves healthier, happier people!!:tongue_smilie:

Hi everyone, haven't posted in a while. I have been reading often for support. I was in the same boat as a lot of others, one fill, no restriction, starving all the time. Everyone who had had their band for a while said once you get restriction it gets better. It was great to read when I was having a hard time. I just got my second fill today. They put some in and I tried to drink water and it came back up! They had to take some back out. Then it went down fine. I hope it last a bit. I was very stressed out from just talking to my boss on the phone so I don't know it the anxiety had anything to do with the restriction. I guess I'll find out. I Had lost 12lbs pre-op, and now 13 post-op. I finally made it to more post-op than pre-op, YA!!

Hi, congrats on your surgery!! I was told to start exercising one week post op. I asked if strolling in the neighborhood was ok before the one week mark if I felt like it because it helped so much with the gas. I am up to 40mins on the eliptical machine. Starting early really seemed to help me keep from feeling so sluggish after surgery I had my tonsills out a couple of years ago and was told to lay around, not lift anything ect. so I didn't bleed. It took a month for me to get my strength back. This has been so much easier. I would definately check with your doctor on this to be on the safe side. Good luck!!

My first time "back in the saddle" was about 2wks post-op. It was alone :cursing: because I wasn't sure what to expect and I didn't want hubby getting offended if things didn't go as well as he'd like. :thumbup::blushing: Well, the O was much harder to come by (pun intended), and once I got there - it was so weak I wanted to cry. My stomach muscles were so tense and it was rather painful in my belly. Is this the case for everyone else? If so, how long til I'm healed so I can get back to having a good O? I was so disappointed by that experience that I've not tried it since, and I'm 4wks post-op today. hey Jmegirl, I hope I don't get dinged for being inapropriate but about ten days post-op hubby and me tried it but we also used an extra device(if you get my meaning)to help me. It made it a lot easier for me. Then we were both satisfied. Just a suggestion, hope it helps!:wub: I have to admit while this is an incredible valuble topic for us I can't help but laugh a the fact that this post started 12-1-08 and already has 40+ replies!! I guess sex is a hot topic no matter what the platform!! LOL!!

Originally Posted by sistasassy Have you tried a heating pad on that shoulder? It did wonders for me. I am just over two weeks post-op and feeling pretty awesome. I am still losing about a pound every other day and have been on mushies since Monday. I get my first fill on Dec. 8 which will be 4 weeks post-op but have to stay on mushies for two more weeks after that (if I understood my doc correctly) at which point I will go so soft solids and get my second fill. I seem to be losing inches like crazy and already have a huge mountain of clothes (on the floor in the corner of my bedroom) that are no longer fitting right. One negative side effect - a number of my heavy friends are already starting to avoid me. I could understand if I was talking about it and carrying on but I make a special point to not bring it up to them. One of my friends is practically hostile when I try to say hello. I knew it may happen but did not realize it would happen so soon. Sigh..... I have had the same problem with my supposed best friend. (who is normal weight)The only time she even called after surgery is if I had called her. Wound up having a huge row over how uncaring she was being. She said she was sorry and I haven't heard from her since (three days) I spend an entire week at a childrens hospital with her a two weeks before surgery, called off work and everything to be there for her while her daughter had surgery. She hasn't even called to see how I'm doing. It really hurts my feelings. She has been my best friend since tenth grade. I feel like she basically doesn't give a crap. I know she is still very busy with her daughter but a phone call would not take much time. I feel like I've lost my best friend. Anyone else have similar experiences?

Post op day seven here. Doing pretty well. Had a urinary track infection post op day four. Now that the antibiotics have taken care of that feeling pretty good. I have never burped this much in my entire life. Anybody else burping a lot? Even a drink of water makes me burp. I must be swallowing air or somthing with it. I'm actually a pound heavier than my preop weigh in. I was so dehydrated from the bowel prep I'm not supprised. I came home six pounds heavier but the scale is slowly going down. I can eat only about 1/2 cup of mushies at a time. I pureed vegetable soup with grilled chicken, looks disgusting but taste just like chicken vegetable soup. Going to the gym for the first time tonight with my hubby. We'll see how long I last on the eliptical machine!! I think we are all doing fabulous!!! Just to have been banded is a huge step for our health.

I have figured out the reason behind the alful, borderline migrain, headaches!!! (for me at least) Any one eles ever had trouble with a sweetner called aspartame? I had been drinking unjury shakes once a day and atkins twice a day. I got up the other day with no headache feeling great. I drank the unjury shake and within an hour BOOM, BOOM, BOOM went my head. I found some shakes called myoplex from GNC that were aspartame free, tried one of them, and no problem. I also found out aspartame is the same sweeter in nutisweet and equal. Both of those have always given me a headache as well. The bummer is I have three cannisters of unjury in my cabnet for after surgery! My husband said he wants to keep the unjury because he was going to start a liquid diet like I did since I have lost 11lbs since monday. I don't think he'll make it past the second day personally.:tongue2: He is a fast food junkie. Anyway I didn't know if it might be bothering anyone else. Good luck to us all!!

sorry all, testing signature.

Good luck with you surgery! Mine is scheduled for 1:30...I can't wait to be on the other side finally! KP HI KP!! I have to be there at 10:00AM. I can't wait either!! Thanks for the encouragement!! Janet

Thanks to all for the advice and encouragement. I will try the chicken, turkey or eggbeaters if I start to feel bad again. Oddly enough, no headache today and I don't feel so weak. And I have amazingly lost 6.5 pounds by day three!! I can't believe it. I was shooting for 10 to give me enough extra for my period weight. It really helps to hear others stories of trial, tribulations, and success in overcoming them. I so get you voiceomt2002! I have had my best friend invite me over for ribs, someone else for pizza, never had so many invites for food. They know I'm on a pre-op diet this week. I think the separate food area idea is a great one, whatever it takes. I don't know why some people are uncomfortable with the idea of the "fat friend" success at weight loss. That is probably a whole separate topic!!!

Hey all, I'm on day 2 of a liquid diet. My surgeon just said lose 4 pounds. (my periods due the week of surgery so I need to lose an extra five to account for water gain) He did not give me any specific diet so I'm just doing unjury protein shakes three times a day made with skim milk and some lowfat cheese when I feel like my stomach is going to digest itself. (4 ounces or so a day). I am so hungry. My doctor will not do the surgery if I have not lost the weight. I have lost the four pounds already but know I have to be prepared if I start my period. I have a headache, can't sleep from being hungry, nervous, anxious, tired ect. I have read that this will pass around day four or five. Need all good vibes, prayers or whatever anyone feels comfortable sending:smile:!! I have worked so hard to get to this point. My surgery is scheduled for tuesday the 18th of this month. I just have to make it until then. :thumbup: I just have to make it until then, I just have to make it until then. Sorry, hunger delerium, LOL

:eek:Surgery scheduled for 11-18-8 Ya!!!! I was not told to give up caffine but I was told to give up soda. Diet Coke was my main source of caffine. Since I drank one pretty much all the time, I was getting a steady infusion of caffine. I swithched to Water when I got my approval letter. The doctor said the carbonation could stretch the banded part of the stomach and cause gas pain. I felt like I was one of those old bugs bunny and the mad scientist cartoons on ether! I felt like I was in slow motion and everyone else was at normal speed. Not to mention the headache. I do have to admit, now that I am used to going without (three weeks) if I drink a cup of coffee or tea I get hungry. So I quess I'm stuck with water for now. I look at it this way, If I am willing to have SURGERY to loose weight, giving up diet coke is small in comparison. Just my thoughts.

YA!!! I got my surgery date. November 18th for me. The only preop diet he told me to do was to lose 4 pounds. Apparently I am four pounds heavier this visit than on my initial visit four months ago. At first I was like "hey, no problem" then it dawned on me that the week of surgery is the week of my period. This doctor is very, very strict. If I don't lose 4 pounds or more he will not do the surgery. So I was going to start a liquid protein shake diet two weeks before surgery. I will need to loose at least 10 pounds to make up for the water retention I'll have from my period. Any suggestions?

Thank you for the information. I hope my doctor is as quick as yours!! :redface:

Hello, I'm brand new and just got insurance approval. Apparently it takes longer for the letter to get to my doctors office. I have no idea what to expect now. I would appreciate any info on what test are generally done preop and how long it takes to actually have the surgery once you get approved. Thanks to all in advance

Thanks for the info. I had to have the psych eval and nutrition visit before I even submitted my paperwork to the insurance company. I did not expect to get approval so fast. I'm a nurse but when it comes to stuff with myself I'm not, I'm a patient. I'm actually a bit nervous. Glad to hear you did so well.:w00t: