mommie2

Ok count me in I'm shooting for 20 pds. I go for my 4th fill on Monday 1/12. Hopefully I will have good restriction after that, plus I started working out lastnight. Look out Cupid here we come!!:wub:

Thanks everyone for your responses you guys are always helpful. Happy New Year to all of you! Looking forward to a healthier, happier 2009. :wink2:

Hello fellow bandsters. I have been banded for 4 mts now with a loss of 70 pds. I ran in to friends and family that I haven't seen in awhile for christmas and they start telling me how good I look and congratulate me. I know my body is changing because of the close getting looser and I know what the scale says but it hasn't really sunk in yet. I'm not use to getting compliments and don't know how to react to it. My questions is how do you handle compliments?

1) Went from size 30/32 pants currently wearing 26/28 but are very loose. (probably can fit in 22/24 but don't want to spend money yet!) 2) Went from size 4x/5x shirts now can fit into 2x/3x. 3) Can take wedding ring off (haven't been able to in about three years). 4) Off one blood pressure med. (2 more to go) 5) Crossing my legs 6) Don't see my stomach anymore when i look down just see my boobs!! 7) Getting compliments from others. and the most important one: 8) My children tell me I look pretty and are happy that I am doing more activities with them. Congrats to everyone on their NSV's. May 19, 2008 Consult August 27, 2008 Banded Dec. 15, 2008 (70 pounds gone forever:thumbup:)

Congrats Stephanie on getting banded tommorrow 12-30-08. My 32nd birthday:party:I was banded Aug. 27, 08 and am loving it. You will be in and out in no time and on your way to a happy and healthier life. You will be in my prayers tommorrow. Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on you success. You are truly an inspiration. Seeing your accomplishments make me realize that i can do this too. I was banded on Aug. 27th,08 and I'm doing pretty good. I'm going in on monday for a fill but I'm having trouble getting motivated to exercise. How did you do it? Any tips would be helpful.:wink2: Thanks, Heather Consult: May 19, 2008 409 pds. Surgery: Aug. 27, 2008 370 pds. 10cc band Slight Unfill <.5cc>(:crying:Stomach Virus): Dec.3,2008 341 pds. Currently 1.5 cc in band

I crushed all my med's for the first six weeks, then my doctor told me only the big/thick pills I should continue to crush so they don't get caught. :whatchutalkingabout

Happy Belated Birthday!! Don't get discouraged, sounds like you need another fill. I had my second fill on Nov. 3 and I have more restriction now. I can really tell the difference. What size band do you have? As far as eating I can't eat any bread items either no matter how well i chew. Actually tonight was the first time i was able to eat a piece of chicken breast with out having problems. Are you making sure you are chewing everything well? Are you drinking while eating? Have you tried eating turkey,sausage or even fish? I know what you mean about the loose skin. I've had two c section in the past thirteen years so that messed up the muscles now with 64 pounds gone it's getting worse. I know i will be having some cosmetic stuff done later. Let me know if any of this helped.

I lost 31 since surgery. I'm going back on Monday for a weigh in. I have 2cc's in a 10cc band.

Hi Jennifer, You and I were banded on the same day. I have lost 31 pounds since surgery with a total of 64 since consult on May 19th. I went to the doctor the other day and he told me I am doing great. I was hoping I would be down more but my nurse reminded me to look for the non scale victories also. I'm off one of three blood pressure pills, have a lot more energy and I'm also down 3 sizes in clothes. I too have not been exercising but I have been more active than I was. I'm trying to work it in to my day. Keep a journal so you can see where you may be going wrong with what you are eating. I know it helps me. Keep in touch maybe we can keep each other motivated. Heather Remember: We didn't gain it overnight, so it's not going to go away over night!:cursing:

Hi Pixel, I can't eat very much in the mornings since my second fill so what I do is make a smoothie- 8 oz of 2% milk with sugar free carnation instant Breakfast with a little ice. (Sometimes I throw in a few strawberries to change it up) I takes me about 1/2hr to drink and I have no problems with it. Did you have problems with milk prior to surgery? Maybe you are drinking it too fast? Good Luck! Consult 5/19/08 Banded 8/27/08 Dr. Belott 1st Fill 10/4/08 2nd Fill 11/3/08 Total Loss To Date 64 pds.:thumbup:

I think its realistic. You have 5 weeks. Just stay focused. I would like to lose 40 bye christmas, but I know this is probably wishful thinking. Good Luck to you!! Consultation: May 19, 2008 Banded 8/27/08 1 st fill: 10/4/08 2 nd fill: 11/3/08

I can feel my port only when I press on it. As far as the band when I get a fill the first couple of days I can feel it, it guess because its sensitive. Banded 8/27/08 Dr. Belott

Just wondering how everyone is doing? Does anyone go to the support group at West Jefferson? Does it help? I'm debating on going this month.

When I had my first fill I had some restriction that lasted about 2 weeks. I had my second fill on Nov. 14 and have more restriction. Can really tell the difference. I agree with LisaMarie, everyone is different you have to find what fits and is best for you. But I would definately call and schedule another fill, esp with Thanksgiving next week you don't want to eat to much and stretch your band. Best of Luck:smile:

My surgery was Aug. 27, I had my 2nd fill on 11/3. I went Friday 11/14 to get weighed and had lost 8 pds in 11 days. How many fills have you had? :smile2:

Hi Chentel, When I went in for my first appt with surgeon on May 19, 08, he too suggested the bypass or the sleeve, because I had so much to lose. But after all the research i did on the bypass it too scared me a great deal. There are too many complications that can come from the bypass. I also had a few friends that had the bypass done and they had Vitamin deficiencies, and was sick all the time. He told me he would do the surgery if that's what I wanted but told me I had to lose some weight prior to surgery (25 to 30 pds). I lost my 30 pds and was banded Aug. 27, 08. This was the best decision I have ever made. I did not put this weight on over night and it will not go away over night, but I'm in for the long haul. I'm down 3 sizes in clothes, have more energy and starting to feel good about myself again. 2 1/2 months post op and i'm down 33 pounds and off 1 blood pressure pill:thumbup:. Good luck with getting your banded. If I can help let me know! Heather Consultation: May 19, 2008 409 Surgery: August 27, 2008 379 1st Fill: Oct. 1, 2008 361 2nd Fill: Nov. 3, 2008 350 11/14/08: 345:party:Met 1st goal

I was feeling the same way and my nurse told me to try and drink something warm. I did the hot tea since i'm not a coffee drinker and it helped. :thumbup:

Hey Julie, Congrats on getting your band. Glad to hear that you are getting around pretty good. As far as being emotional you just had a major surgery that is going to change your life and coming off pain meds if you are not use to them can make you feel like you are on a roller coaster. I know I have been heavy most for most of my life, and really never was skinny per say so the thought of me actually being skinny in the future is scary. Change in anyway is scary and stressful, but I keep telling myself that I made a decision to be healthy and to be able to do more with my family instead of finding excuses not to do things or go around others. Stay positive it will pass. At least your home 4 days post op I was on the highway for 10 hours evacuating for hurriccane Gustav on my fourth day :eek: I promise your normal and you will get past it. Hope this helped!! I'm here if you need anything!

Congrats on getting banded tommorrow. I was banded on Aug, 27, 2008 and had my first fill 10/1 and second fill on Monday 11/3. I'm still getting used to be being banded and the new lifestyle but i'll be glad to be your lapband buddy. I was also nervous but 2 mts post op I know it was the best decision I made for me and my family. I am also married, a mother of 2 girls and shortly turning 32, from Louisiana. Good Luck Tommorrow!! :smile2:

I had my surgery in August and I was unable to get my wedding ring off. All they did was taped it. Check with your surgeon, let him know that you can't remove it and see what he says.

For me it was more an aggrivating discomfort than pain until 1 week post op when I was able to eat mashed potatoes. That night it started out as discomfort and with in a few hours it turned to severe pain. :biggrin: I panicked thinking I did something wrong. Too far away from home/doctor (Hurricane Gustav Evac) I took my pain med's and it didn't help. Then a family friend who was a nurse came and checked on me and she told me to take my gas strips. After about an hour the pain started to subside. :smile: My advice always keep the gas strips with you and on your first few days of soft mushy foods walk around more and take gas strips everytime you eat. I am a 1 1/2 mts post op and that was the only really bad experience I had with the gas. Good Luck to you.

Hi everyone! I just got back from the doctor for my weigh in (2 weeks since 1st fill) and I lost 8 pounds!! They told me I'm doing great. Total since surgery (8/27/08) 24 pounds!! Yey Me!! Anyone else had a good day?:smile:

I have a 13 yr. old and a 7 yr. old and had surgery on Aug. 27, 08. I was upfront and honest with mine. I showed them the picture that the doctor gave me. I told them that he was putting a band around my stomach and I wouldn't be able to eat much anymore. I explained that I was doing this so I could be healthy, have more energy and so I can get off all of my med's. They were very happy for me. I took my oldest to one of my meetings and she was able to ask any questions she had. My 7 yr old played my little nurse when I came home and still tries to take care of me and reminds me if she see's me eating something that 's not on my list of (Good Foods)! She even wants to eat the same as I do. Include them in this life changing process. I made a calendar for my preop and post op daily foods and my 7 yr old marked off each day as I went along. My 13 yr old helps me with keeping a weekly journal. Good Luck to you. They will want Daddy to be healthy and happy.

Best of luck to you with your surgery. I just found this site myself a few weeks ago and has been very helpful. I also have about 200 pds. to lose, so you are not alone. I go this Friday to get weighed (2 weeks after my first fill). And for once I am actually looking forward to get on a scale. Consultation: 5/19/08 409 pds. Surgery: (Dr. Belott) 8/27/08 377 pds. 1st Fill: 10/01/08 361 pds.