Catherine55

I find shakes just way too gross. The Isopure Protein drinks (taste kind of like Gatoraid) that they sell at GNC are my favorite source of liquid Protein. 46 grams, 0 carbs, 0 sugar, 160 calories. Hope that helps! Catherine

This has been a really good thread. NOPBJ, I was banded on 10/23 and am trying to figure out if I'm at good restriction right now or am too tight. In fact, just last night, I asked a friend who was banded 3 years ago (and lost the 95 lbs she wanted to lose) about what being full on the band is supposed to be like. For me, it is that uncomfortable feeling of having the food weigh on my pouch, and I've been getting stuck quite a bit. That said, the weight is coming off really well right now! But it's mainly because I'm eating less b/c it's just not that pleasant to eat! I'm going to take the advice of other bandsters and try to slow down my eating and take smaller bites to see how that impacts my comfort level and "full" feeling. Anyway, thanks for your post and for getting such an interesting discussion going! Catherine

Definitely walk as much as you can -- for me it was the only thing that seemed to help. The gas pain is the worst, especially the pain in your shoulder. It gets better pretty quickly though. I felt like it got a LOT better with each passing day. Hang in there! Catherine

I didn't tell anyone at work. I am a fairly private person and didn't want people at work talking about something so personal to me. I also didn't want everyone to be watching what I'm eating all of the time and commenting about it to me or to others. In retrospect, I am VERY GLAD that I didn't say anything -- the weight loss is slow (though steady!), and I wouldn't have wanted anyone to say things like "I can't believe you did that surgery and aren't losing weight!" while I was in Bandster Hell. I let a few people know that I'd be out for surgery and, when I told them, I started by saying that I was keeping it on the DL because I didn't want people to ask me questions about it. That definitely stopped any questions (in what I think was a nice way), though I think people may have thought I was having OBGYN issues!! Unfortunately, the one thing I hadn't realized is that my Blackberry would work in Mexico while I was there for the surgery -- and that (since my firm pays my bill) the people who deal with the phone bills would know where I was because of the LD and roaming charges. Given how much people talk around here, it may well have gotten around that I was in Mexico while I was out for surgery. I didn't hear anything about it though. I'm a lawyer, so the people in my firm know they can't ask me about medical issues. They were a little pushy about wanting me to sign an FMLA form. However, since I was only out for 5 days (plus, I was using vacation time), I was able to refuse. Also, after I got back (and had been in the office for most of a week), they wanted some kind of doctor's note saying it was OK for me to return to work. I was able to get around that, thankfully, since giving them my doctor's name would have basically told them exactly what I had done.

Hey there -- after posting today, I decided to post some updated "scar" pics on my blog. I just put them up there. Most doctors do the 5-incision surgery. They need a special set of tools to do it with just 2 scars, and it's only a viable option at this point for lower BMI patients. I was 225 & 5'6 at surgery -- I think that's a BMI of 37, but I might be remembering wrong. I hope it works out for you so that you can do the 2-cut surgery. I can definitely recommend my doctor (Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey). He was very good and is banded himself. Catherine

Here -- I found the pages with the photos (there is one from post-op and another a bit later) -- hope this isn't TMI! Chronicles from Band Land: The Mederma Challenge . . . Chronicles from Band Land: Second day of being banded!

My doctor was able to do my surgery with just two incisions b/c I was a lower-BMI patient. I put a photo of my scars up on my blog (in the "Mederma" post). I've been using Mederma since whatever the date of that post was and, to be totally honest, it doesn't seem to be doing a whole lot. I don't remember to use it every day, but I do most days. My doctor suggested that I try Vitamin E to fade the scars, but I haven't bought any yet. Catherine

I forgot about that rule, though I did hear it, and drank iced tea through a straw earlier today. I've never had an issue using a straw. I don't do it that often, but I definitely have a few times since my surgery. The one thing I've been steering clear of though is diet soda. Diet Pepsi-free since October 19, 2008! (And I used to have one every day. . ) Catherine

Oops . . I meant "thin" it out . . not "think!"

I love cottage cheese, so when I was on liquids, I'd blend some up with a bit of skim milk to think it out. One treat I liked on liquids was also to blend up a banana with some skim milk to make a "sauce" to put over the cottage cheese. After the Clear Liquids diet, that was wonderful! Also, I made and bought a bunch of different soups -- there are two really yummy recipes & photos on my blog if you're interested. I bought turkey chili as well and blended it with some chicken broth & fat free yogurt to thin it out. I still have that sometimes -- it's yummy! I'm still loving the ff/sf Jello chocolate pudding. That's become a staple in my house, even though I generally try to stay away from artificial sweetenters. I just enjoy having a treat on hand that doesn't mess up my diet! Congrats on your surgery! Glad to hear you are doing well. Catherine

For me, it was this incredible feeling I got yesterday when I tried on a pair of black pants that I haven't fit into for more than 2 years and they fit!!! :thumbdown: There are a lot of other good things too, but right now, that one is putting me in the best mood! And I'm wearing them to a party tonight! Catherine

1. Cuter clothes!! 2. Not having my hosiery make that whistling noise when I walk down the hall and my thighs pass one another. . (I really hate that) 3. Getting hit on more often when I go out! 4. Being more excited about seeing old friends (and people like my aunt, who are fixated on my weight) because I won't be 50+ lbs heavier than the last time they saw me. 5. Feeling really amazing about making this work and FINALLY (!!!) for the first time ever, really being happy about what I weigh and knowing I can maintain that weight long-term! Catherine

It's unlikely that your port flipped already! I didn't know where mine was until after my first fill and was kind of scared to feel around for it. Now I know right where it is & can touch it -- though that is minorly freaky to me! :tongue:

I was banded 10/23/08, but thought I'd answer even though I'm only several months out. 1.) Did everyone get a fill every 6 weeks? No -- I go whenever I feel like I need a fill. Have been trying to get to ideal restriction and I haven't even gone 4 weeks between fills yet. My doctor is fine with this. 2.) Did anyone reach their maximum limit in their band at the end of the first year or before? N/A -- but I've heard that the bands can actually take more then their supposed capacity. I defer to your Dr. on this! I'm at 2.5 ccs in a 5 cc band as of this afternoon. 3.) Is there anyone else out there who doesn't throw up when they eat too much? Not me -- definitely throw up. It's not like a normal throw-up, but it does happen. 4.) Does anyone else's port spot feel kind of bruised all the time? No -- I only felt bruised after one fill where I went to a nurse who didn't know WTF he was doing. When my doctor does it, I'm totally fine afterwards. That nurse really pushed on my port though & moved it around, and I was sore for a whole week! I hope that's helpful! Maybe you need a new doctor. Best wishes, Catherine

I've been using it and honestly, I can't see a difference. Still, I don't have a non-treated scar to compare it with, so who knows!

I put photos up on my blog of all of the stuff I had for my post-op full liquid diet. I also made or bought soups and put them through the blender, which worked just fine. One of the best things I made was a Breakfast treat -- I'd blend some cottage cheese with a little skim milk and throw in a banana to make a smoothie -- yum!! After being on clear liquids for several days, that was amazingly delicious! Catherine

Too funny -- I gurgled when eating a yogurt a little earlier! I think it just gets backed up on top of the band b/c it's thick, then some air has to come out before it goes down. Still, it was weird!

I totally had moments of doubt before my surgery! When I was deciding whether or not to have it, I made a long list of Pros & Cons. Whenever I started questioning my decision, I'd go back and read that list -- it always made me feel better! I even took it with me to the hospital when I had surgery. :thumbs_up: Also, I was worried that I'd get the band and really hate it. Of course, now it's 2+ months later and I love it and think it's the best decision I've ever made! Still, before I had the surgery, I promised myself that I'd give it six months if I didn't like it at first -- and if I hated it, I'd get it taken out. The thing I didn't know when I had those concerns is that when your band isn't filled, you feel (and can eat) basically the same way you did before the surgery. I put a post about this on my blog. If I'd known it would be like that, I would have been a lot less worried -- and I could have better focused my energy on figuring out what I was going to do during "Bandster Hell"! (The time when you're on normal food and before your first fill -- lots of people have a hard time during that time, and many gain weight . . but it all comes off later!) Hang in there! Catherine

"I had a fill in March. Did no good and I self paid $900.00." December -- I'm sorry to hear about the problems you have been having. I was self-pay too, but my insurance covers my fills. You may want to call your insurance company to see if they cover fills -- they very well might. Then, when you look for a more professional doctor, be sure to find one who takes your insurance. You might also consider submitting that $900 receipt to your insurance company. They might pay some or all of it. Catherine

I've lost in my face & can see it in my waist too. The first person to really notice was our receptionist -- about a month ago she told me that I needed to stop wearing my favorite dress b/c it was way too big now! Never been so happy to hear that I didn't look good!! Catherine

I've been making a lot of Soups since I got banded. Last night, I made a new one -- butternut squash with pear (and a little gorgonzola and toasted walnut on top). Just had some for lunch - yum! Here's a link to the recipe -- recipes that they would like to share? I know the gorgonzola in the above isn't exactly dietetic -- but I put just a little on the top of the Soup, so it doesn't make it too fattening. Catherine

I was banded 10/23/08 -- after about the first week, I started feeling hungry -- and by the time I was on mushies & real food, I could eat pretty much just as I could before the surgery. It's important to remember that your band isn't really "working" for you until after you get a good fill. For now, just focus on healing -- and following your dr's orders perfectly! You'll be in "Bandster Hell" soon enough (period before restriction), so you may as well enjoy losing on the post-op diet now! :thumbup: Congratulations on your surgery! Catherine (BTW, am at 210.4 now -- haven't updated signature lately)

I had to burp a bit after surgery and found it really uncomfortable -- but that got better pretty quickly! I put pictures and recipes of foods that I had in my full liquids phase on my blog (link below -- those posts are from late Oct/early Nov), in case you're interested. I found that being creative about what I was eating really helped me to stay on track. The soups whose recipes I posted were easy to make and really yummy. My favorite was the one with chicken & chiles. Congratulations on getting banded! It's going to be an amazing New Year! All the best, Catherine

I thought that when I reached my goal I would feel good - I mean really good. I went from a size 24 to a size 10 - from 311lbs to 179lbs - YET I still have days where I feel ugly and/or fat! I want it to go away! I just wanna feel good! Sometimes I see pics and can't believe it is me - other times I see them and genuinely think I look BIG! I don't know what to do about! Any ideas?? Will it ever get better?? Any things you tried that worked?? Please advice! Thank you so much!!! Reading your message, I am struck by how totally normal the way you are feeling is! :laugh: Even my thin friends have days when they feel like they aren't at their best. You deserve to cut yourself a lot of slack (maybe 132 lbs worth!! -- Wow -- your stats are impressive!) and, whenever you are beating yourself up about how you look, please remind yourself that you have literally lost another person. I am sure that you look a million times better and healthier at your current weight than you did at the start of your journey. Enjoy it! If you get in the habit of reminding yourself to focus on the positive when you get down on yourself, it will become a habit. And, in time, I bet that your "fat" days will be few and far between! Congratulations on doing so amazingly -- you are an inspiration!! Happy New Year, Catherine

I've heard that stress can make the band feel tighter -- maybe the stress of the holidays is having an impact on how you are feeling?