Catherine55

I waited about a week -- and all was fine. I would stay clear of carbonated drinks like beer (or gin & tonic, etc.), but wine works very nicely.

Welcome! It seems to me that the fact that you are so introspective is really going to help you on this journey. Don't worry about the surgery -- it was so nothing compared to what I had expected. I've been keeping a blog since I started this process and encourage you to do the same (or at least keep a diary). It's great to look back on the types of thoughts like the ones in your post as you get farther along. I also very highly recommend that you take your measurements ASAP if you haven't done that already and keep a chart (I use an Excel spreadsheet) of measurements and weight. That has been fascinating to watch, and you will get a lot of satisfaction from being able to measure just how far you have come as you progress toward your goal. One thing I like about the band is that it fits in with your therapist's philosophy -- nothing is totally prohibited -- you will just be making better decisions about quantities. I love my band -- it has made losing 55+ pounds possible for me (and much less difficult than losing on my own has ever been) -- and will also ensure that I keep it off once I get to goal. I wish you the very best in your decision! Catherine

I just ate some rice -- you don't have to give it up! I can't eat doughy bread (unless it is toasted) b/c it gums up in my stomach and tends to get stuck, but other than that, I haven't given up any foods. One thing I did that I found very helpful when I was making my decision about the surgery was to make a pro/con list. I put it up on my blog not too long ago -- maybe it will help you to make your own list (here is a link: Chronicles from Band Land: May 2009) I was really worried about feeling deprived, what I'd have to give up, etc. In all honesty, it has not at all been a big deal. I still eat what I like -- I just eat less of it and I am full faster. I am so happy that I had this surgery -- it has made a big difference and, for the first time in many years, I finally feel good about my weight and how I am doing on that front. Good luck with your decision! Best wishes, Catherine

That is so great! I had 2 incisions and wish I could have had the single incision surgery -- how great is that?! I go to NYU for my fills (Dr. Ren) -- great group of doctors. Welcome to Band Land! Best wishes, Catherine

Hi! I did something like this on my own for other bandsters who I know through my blog. I have a lot of nice clothes (and plenty of gently worn Gap/Old Navy clothing), so I put together some care packages of items that I thought would look good on different people, based on the photos I had seen of them. It's been a lot of fun to do this, and my only condition on sending the care packages is that the bandsters who receive them have to send the clothing to someone else when they are done (or if they don't like a particular item). I definitely recommend doing this! I may be foregoing the tax writeoff for those items, but it feels so great to help someone else who is going through this same process. Best, Catherine

Hang in there! This is the best decision I've ever made for my overall health and appearance. The band works. It's not a magic wand, but it's pretty freaking amazing what results you will have by this time next year if you just work with it and follow the rules as best you can. To fail with the band, you'd actually have to try to fail (e.g. drink milkshakes, fail to get fills when you need them, ignore your doctor's instructions). So, if you are committed to putting effort into this process, you will succeed. The healing phase is such a bummer because you don't really see results for a while. Just make it through these few weeks and I am sure you will be amazed. Also -- if you haven't taken your measurements yet, be sure to do so. It's so great to be able to see how many inches are coming off (especially when you are exercising and building muscle -- during that time, inches are a better way to see progress than the # on the scale). Best wishes for your success, Catherine

I love raw oysters, but I've been afraid to try them post-band because of the difficulty chewing them and the fact that I only eat raw oysters when I'm in restaurants (as opposed to at home). It just seems like they would get stuck, and I haven't wanted to risk that while I'm at a restaurant. I'd love it if you would let me know how it goes! (You can message me through the site or post on my blog.) I miss oysters! Catherine

No reason to starve on the mushy phase! Eat something hearty for lunch. Don't overdo it on the calories every meal, but why not have some mashed potatoes with cheese and use non-fat Greek yogurt as sour cream? Or, have some refried Beans with cheddar cheese melted in -- yum! Or, get some turkey chili and blend it up until it's smooth. There are lots of filling things you can eat during this phase. No reason to feel like you are starving! Hang in there -- you can do it! :wink2: Catherine

I was back to sleeping on my stomach 2-3 nights after my surgery and it was totally fine. Congratulations on your surgery and welcome to bandland! :wink2: Catherine

This is so great!! And I love the comment about just sitting on the person chasing you! :biggrin:

I totally agree with Libriteen. Taking the high road is the only way to go. Clearly your cousin must know how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off, since she struggles with her weight, too. I think it's bizarre that she was trying to act like it's so easy when she clearly can't do it on her own any more than the rest of us could! I got around this issue by not telling everyone about my surgery. I did tell most of my family and all of my closest friends, but I didn't tell a few people who I knew might make petty comments. I just was not going to sign on for that kind of thing. I also did not tell people at work in order to keep my work/life privacy balance. That's been a little harder because I really like several people here, and they have been really supportive. I'd like to tell them, but I also know that the best way to keep a secret is to keep it to yourself! Hang in there & ignore the haters! :biggrin: Catherine

That is fantastic!! I love that you look totally psyched in your photo/avatar! You are in for a very exciting year. :biggrin: Best wishes, Catherine

I was really nervous about my pre-op diet too, but it actually wasn't bad at all. The thought of my liver sliding around during surgery if I didn't stick to the diet kept me on the straight and narrow! The hardest thing was being around other people who were eating. I'd recommend that you try to avoid those situations during the pre-op diet week. I did carry boullion cubes in my purse though, and it made me feel more calm to be able to make some broth when I had to be with people who were eating. As for the shakes, you can go to GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. Most of the shakes are pretty gross. I agree that Slim Fast ones are good (I like the Cappuccino one), but they don't have as much Protein as some of the others. I hope that it goes very well for you! Catherine

I had my surgery done by Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, Mexico and had a great experience. There are photos of the hospital on my blog (link below) -- it was really nice. Also, Dr. Rumbaut has relationships with a few doctors here in NYC (and elsewhere), so I was able to schedule my post-op visits at NYU Hospital (great hospital, great doctors) before I had my surgery. A few things I really liked about Dr. Rumbaut are that: - He is banded, so I felt like he really understood where I was coming from and what I would experience post-op; - He has done more than 6K of these procedures; and - His staff spent a lot of time with me on the phone answering my questions and helping me coordinate with NYU before my surgery (Cathy in particular is fantastic, and she was also banded by Dr. Rumbaut. If you are interested, you might give them a call to see if they have a relationship with a doctor near you. Here is a link to their site. Obesity Surgery Center - Dr. Roberto Rumbaut Best wishes for your decision, Catherine

I wish that I would have known more about Bandster Hell. I wouldn't have been so stressed about the surgery and corresponding changes if I'd known that, without a fill, I could still eat like I'd always eaten. Not that I want to do that -- it was just a relief to know that I could if I really wanted to.

I thought I'd put up this post to see what co-morbidities people have been relieved of since their surgery. As for me, I had compartmental syndrome (issue where my fascia on my calves would squish my muscle if I ran (b/c muscle would want to expand, but there wasn't enough room) such that my nerves would get pinched and my circulation would get cut off. Now that I'm 50+ pounds down, I don't have any problem with this at all. In fact, tonight, I ran 3 miles on the treadmill without stopping or slowing to a walk, and all was just fine! What a major NSV!! I had been worried that if someone was ever chasing me that I wouldn't be able to run to safety! But now, that problem has completely disappeared! Thank you, Band!! Catherine

Hang in there. Take a look at some different bandster blogs and, if you think your husband is up to it, share them with him. I'm pretty sure that he'll be amazed by how successful the surgery is and how dramatic the results can be! As a bandster, I have found that to be really inspiring! Best wishes, Catherine

Actually, it looks like I posted the pro/con list back in May. Here is a link, in case you want to see it (and my thoughts post-op on the things that freaked me out before I had my surgery): Chronicles from Band Land: Reflections on my Pre-Op Journal

Hi! I had some moments of doubt before my surgery. One thing that really helped me is that I wrote out a pro/con list and would look at it whenever I was waivering. Once I had put the pros & cons down in writing, the decision was so obvious to me. I put my list up on my blog during the last month -- feel free to take a look. I love my band -- it has been such an amazing tool for me. While I still have to work at exercising and planning my meals, it basically makes it impossible for me to overeat. I still enjoy good food and nice wine, but in smaller quantities. I am 9 months post-op and am down about 53 pounds. I'm literally in the best shape of my life, and I feel healthier, more energetic and more attractive than I've felt in YEARS. Hang in there! I can recommend a book for you -- Weight Loss with the Adjustable Gastric Band (they sell it on Amazon.com). It really helped me to figure out what to expect. Also, reading blogs was a huge help for me when I was making my decision -- and they are still a big source of information and inspiration -- there are a bunch that I read on a regular basis. Best wishes to you! Catherine

I had a 3-day Clear liquids diet for pre-op (clear liquids + Protein shakes) and that worked out just fine. There seems to be a LOT of variation among doctors re what they require pre-op. Catherine

My friends have been really great about the surgery and have been very supportive. Most of my core group of friends go back 15 or more years (I'm 38), and I'm actually the only overweight person in the group. A bunch of my friends are seriously into working out, and it's been so great to get their encouragement and praise for how hard I've been working out and the results of that and my reduced calorie intake. I'm glad that they see that this isn't an easy way out and recognize the hard work I have put in to get this far along. One funny thing though is that one of my best friends recently told me that they thought I didn't need to lose any more weight (mind you. . to get out of the "overweight" BMI, I have to lose a minimum of 23 more pounds -- and I'm still in a size 14). To put it in context, this friend is about 135 lbs and wears a size 6 or 8. I thought that was surprising. She wasn't aggressive about it or anything -- I am sure she meant it as a complement. When I told her that my goal is BMI-based and that I want to get to a size 10 so that I can have more shopping choice, she relaxed about it! Catherine

That sounds like reflux to me, too. Maybe your band is too tight. I think that people differ in what they like and view as good restriction. For me, it's when my band is tight enough that I can't overeat, but not so tight that I can't eat in front of people who don't know I'm banded without them freaking out about how little I'm eating. I like the band at a level where liquids go down reasonably normally (though if I take a big sip, it takes a minute to go down the hole). I have 2.85 ccs in my 5 cc band, if that helps at all! You should call your doctor if that feeling doesn't go away by tomorrow. Sounds like you might need a wee unfill. Catherine

Drink a little water -- you're probably totally fine. It doesn't sound like you are stuck at all.

Definitely walk around as much as possible -- it's a big help! Congratulations on getting banded! If you haven't done it yet, be sure to take your measurements and take a few full length photos as soon as possible. It feels so good as you are losing to be able to look back and see how far you have come! :crying: Best wishes, Catherine

Hi! My starting stats are similar to yours! I started at 230 with a BMI of 37 (I am 5'6). I chose the band because I had met two people who had done it and had great results. Also, I wanted something that I could un-do if I hated it (which I don't). I haven't had any complications so far, and I'm 9 months post-op. The only side-effect is that I've lost 50+ pounds and counting! :laugh: Honestly, I feel like this is the best thing I've ever done for myself. Wishing you the best for your decision, Catherine