voiceomt2002

Gosh, I'm beginning to feel like I've missed out because I didn't get one. Maybe next month. (sigh)

If I could make a suggestion -- I have found a lot of valuable information by going to the december 2008 banders forum instead of the jan '09 all the time. I read their posts and it gives a lot of insight. Most of them have already had their first fills so it might be a good idea to go read their posts for some insight!

It has been great for me to "read ahead" from people who are a few weeks ahead of me in this process! Hope it will work for you too!

An excellent suggestion, Heather!

Hi- I was banded on Jaunary 8th and had my first fill yesterday.

I have no idea how to update my ticker:mad2:. Another victim of technology.

Oh, dear! I'm sorry it hurt, Maureen. Thanks for keeping it real for us.

Just click on your ticker itself. That will take you to your sign-in page. Enter your password or PIN, then check the little box for updating your weight loss. Now hit Enter. You'll be taken to the correct screen, but you do have to scroll down to make your changes. (Watch that date line box.)

Lena

According to what they told me, the syringe goes through your scar tissue, and there should be little to no pain involved.

I agree, Sharon. You're probably eating too much at once. Try this method --

1. Measure only 1-2 oz of your Protein serving. The drier the meat, the less you should have. For instance, I can have a bit more meatloaf than I can steak, because the steak has less moisture. Eat this first, with nothing else around.

2. Put down your fork between bites. Chew at least 20 times before permitting yourself to swallow.

3. Cut up your food like you're cutting for a tiny baby who's just learning to eat finger foods.

4. "Listen" to your body. It does signal when the pouch is full. I get one sharp pain, and then it settles. At that point, I get up and remove my plate back to the kitchen and away from my sight.

Optional: 5) I wait at least 15-30 minutes between courses, progressing from Proteins to vegetables and finally --this hasn't happened often-- to a small spoonful of carb. I rarely make it past the veggies before I'm so full I think I'll burst.

I probably should say some nice closing statement, but my brain shut down two hours ago and I went on autopilot. Hope I made sense. Good luck.

When is your first fill. My first fill is 2/17. I am getting worried about it. Has anyone have their fill yet? How is it? Did it hurt?

I'll be interested in someone's answer myself. Sorry I can't help you, Peanutband.

Lena

Today I was naughtier than I've been for awhile, owing to having guests over, but I started and ended well.

Breakfast-- My roomie Dante and I went out to Breakfast, where I had one egg, one sausage patty, and one tiny taste of Dante's cheese grits. (You can take the grits away from a Southern gal only so long, I'm sorry to say. )

We really didn't have lunch, because of my guests. We get together once a month or so to do crafting or cooking of some kind, then share the results. Today was cookie and candy making for Valentine's. I was naughty enough to have a bit of cookie dough and a fingerfull of the melted candy. (Slapping my own wrist.)

However, I was very good for dinner. Dante and I had chicken breasts. He went on to eat the other dishes, but after 2 oz of the chicken and a mouthful of one side dish, I was more than done. :thumbdown:

I hope Dante remembers to take our portion of the Cookies and candy to work with him. Or, my Carb Cabinet will be locked tight again today to protect me from myself.

I was banded Aug. 4 and IMMEDIATELY had my sweet spot. :cursing: (I have not had a fill yet) I can eat 1/4 cup if it's "hard" (meat protein) and about 1/2 cup if it mushies. Certain times of the month I can eat a little more. Of course, there are slider foods that I can eat much more of but I really try to stay away from them. My weight loss has been slow but I believe I suffer from metabolic syndrom so ANY weight loss seems amazing to me! I love my band.

I'm the same as Pegsinthewoods, except I was banded January 2, 2009. I walked out with my sweet spot. I can eat 2 oz of "hard" and about 4 oz of soft, and sometimes that can take anywhere from half an hour to an hour to consume. I'm losing 1-3 lbs a week, so doc says I may never need a fill. Long as I continue to lose, I don't care.

Lena:

That is so hard to keep the carbs under 30 grams. It is no wonder you are loosing so well. My viactiv chew has 4 carbs. Do you count the Creamer in your coffee. Even my metamucil has 6 carbs.

Way to go Lena. Keep up the carb counting. Holly

/quote]

I do indeed count the creamer in my coffee. It kills me to limit my coffee, but switching to hot tea helps in the winter. I stopped taking Metamucil and switched to Miralax on my doctor's recommendation. I don't have to count the Miralax.

Yes, keeping the carbs that low is very rough sometimes, especially during holidays and family celebrations. However, I can be forgiving of myself for the rare celebrational moment, as long as I'm reasonable. Sometimes it means getting inventive, other times it means depending on someone else to be "coach" and say, "Aunt Bea, we really appreciate what you did baking that birthday cake, but Lena's only allowed a sliver of cake. Anything more will cause a blockage and a hospital visit. Thank you."

Really, it's outside influences that cause me the most distress. I actually have learned to love living low carb now that I no longer crave the carbs like I did at first. It's others who think they're being kind by offering me carbs despite my protests and refusals that make it difficult. "Oh, this little bit of mashed potato won't hurt you!" Yes, it will.

That's the hard part-- getting them to understand what kind of damage one little serving of rice, Pasta, bread, cakes or potato can do to us. I've actually had to make a paste of ground up cooked rice to prove how it can create a plug that will act like a cork on the LapBand.

When I'm in control of what is on my plate, I love how my LapBand forces me to live a low carb life. The food is delicious and plentiful. Who knew real Mayonnaise, real butter, and whipping cream were lower in carbs than the so-called diet foods?

Whoops. Sorry. I get going on this and I don't shut up. (Slinking back to my blog.)

Lena

Congrats on every thing going great!!! and making this change!!!

I have really severe sleep apnea (AHI was 110) but dr hasn't said anything about having to spend the night. (Not having to stay is why I decided lap band vs gastric, with 2 little kids...)

Doc gave me the choice before surgery to spend the night or not. Based on my previous history of being very hard to wake up after anesthesia and the fact that I'm on Coumadin (a blood thinner) for the rest of my life, I elected to stay overnight for the special monitoring. My DH is a very restless sleeper, so I'm glad I was protected and under observation for one night.

BTW, no fill yesterday. Doc says I'm in the sweet spot :biggrin:, so we're fine as is. I'm happy!

Lena

I go on Feb 26th to see if I even need a fill. I found out that I have lost 16lbs since surgery on Jan 20th. I am soooo happy. I eat 3 small meals a day, and I dont get hungry in between meals. Im so happy that I got the lap band.....Im loving life!!!!!!!!!!

All right, NikkiSix!! Woohoo!

Glad to know I'm not a freak because I didn't get a fill today.

Lena

Good morning Lena,

my question for you is are you hungry in between meals? And did your doc progress you to solid foods?

Can you give me an ideas what you are having throughout the day. Thanks so much.

<snip>

Continued success, Patti

Under normal circumstances, I am not terribly hungry at any time except first thing in the morning. I get a bit peckish about mid-afternoon, but a light low carb snack takes care of the problem. I can tell it's time to eat when the area above and near my band growls. (I ignore the lower belly growls now.)

I've been on solid foods and eating normally since about 15 days after surgery, as per my doctor's instructions. This has not been without a few unfortunate events where I discovered I wasn't quite ready for that food yet. Even now, I still have some difficulty with beef and pork. Poultry and seafood pass with relative ease unless I eat too quickly.

Let's see...my typical meals. Hmm. Okay.

Breakfast-- one egg, usually mixed with a couple of tablespoons of both a well-cooked vegetable and perhaps a tiny bit of meat. This is often baked. I like baked eggs. Call me lazy. Add this to two cups of coffee before I switch to Crystal Light for the rest of the day.

Lunch- often this is a meal heavy on the Protein, like tuna salad, a leftover meat from the night before, or something. Today, I was different. I had 2 oz of brussells sprouts and called it done.

Snack-- today I had 1/2 cup of LF cottage cheese with a bit of Splenda and DaVinci SF raspberry Syrup.

Dinner-- Here is where I cook. I love to cook! I use SavingDinner.com to choose recipes and each week's low carb meals come with a grocery list. Last night was Saigon Shrimp over Cauli-Rice. My DH and roommate also had a rice pilaf and green Beans. Normally, I'd have indulged in the green Beans, but I was too stuffed after the Saigon Shrimp, and I didn't even have it over the Cauli-Rice.

Tonight is Tuscan Bean Soup! I'll make biscuits for the guys, but I'll probably have just the Soup and maybe a little spinach salad.

BTW, I often work into the night, so I'll have a hot herb tea. Somehow, that satisfies my late night cravings.

Sorry this took so long to answer. I'm working a promotion today and keep having to stop typing. LOL!

What diet plan are you all going to be following when you get to regular food?

I know we are supposed to focus on Protein first so I am guessing that many bandsters are following Atkins or South Beach.

Let's hear what you are doing or plan to do.

I'm doing a combination of calorie count and carb count. The carb count is way more important, according to my doc and his nutritionist, whom I saw today. The calories almost take care of themselves now, so she suggested I just stick to journaling the carbs.

For me at least, the carbs do matter. As long as I stay below 30g total a day, I lose weight. When I don't, I either gain a pound or don't lose for a day or two.

Oh, gosh! I made all sorts of egg and cheese dishes, baked fish, a ground beef and cheddar meatloaf, lentil Soup --in fact, several soups!-- cottage cheese, and ricotta creme for Desserts.< /p>

This should more correctly be called: The Fill Appointment with no fill. That’s right, I didn’t get a fill. Since I’ve lost 8 lbs of pure body fat, I’m not hungry, and eating correctly Dr. Baptista feels I’m one of the bandsters who walks out of the hospital already at or very near the “sweet spot” and may never need a fill. (Happy Dance!!)

As long as I continue to lose 1-3 pounds a week, I may never need a fill, but if I do, he’ll be monitoring me and will let me know!

Now for the semi-sorta-bad news. When he did my surgery, he found two hernias. The hiatal hernia, he corrected as he commonly does. However, there was a hernia lower he cannot repair at this time. I must reach at or near a normal BMI of 25 before that surgery has a hope of being successful, because it’s not far above my navel, where the overweight abdominal fat would possibly rip and tear his work.

That’s fair, even if it means I have this weird lump in my abdomen for a year or two. After all, I have a minimum of 100 pounds to lose before I come close to my healthy weight range. Not like I’ll be in a bikini before then anyways.

Thanks for the info! It took me a while. All that work caused me to lose another pound!!! I hope it works.

Looks like it did! Congratulations!

Lena-

Thanks for the reply! I know it's the little goals that end up making the big one come true! <snip> I am really trying to find something that works because I know I will have to after surgery.

How did your surgery go? Are you still on liquids?

Finding a program that works can be challenging. I'm doing anything I can because my job is so sedentary. Sitting on my butt in this chair definitely isn't helping me lose the blubber.

My surgery went great! I had to stay overnight because I have such severe sleep apnea, but I was ready to go the next morning! I took maybe a couple of doses of liquid Tylenol, and that's been it for pain.

I was on liquids for about two weeks, and then mushies for a week or so, then solids. I may be one of the lucky ones who end up with the doc already having found my "sweet spot." Even though I'm on solids, I still can't eat more than three ounces, tops. Today is my first "fill day" at the doc's office, and I'm not sure he needs to put anything in!

I'm dropping weight at a good but healthy rate, and my DH gets his giggles by running up behind me and yanking my jeans off my hips! Needless to say, I've a large pile of clothes to be altered down. Good thing I can sew!

Well, the family's awakening. Guess I'd better hurry up with this pile of emails! Hugs and much love!

Could someone tell me how to add a ticker to my info? I just can't seem to figure it out.:cursing:

1. Go to www.tickerfactory.com

2. Choose weight loss ticker. Click Next.

3. Select your ruler. Take your time. There are many designs. Click Next

4. Select your slider. Again, take your time. Click Next

5. Enter your info like your preferred password or PIN, weight measurements, BMI info, etc. Clicking Next saves the ticker and creates it.

6. Cut and paste the bbCode.

7. Return to www.LapBandTalk.com in another window. Keep the ticker factory window up just in case you need to cut and paste another code. (I had to do this three times to figure out which code to use for my blogspot blog.)

8. Click on UserCP at the top

9. Click on Edit Signature from the left side bar

10. Paste the code into the "Edit Signature" box in the position you want.

11. Scroll down and click on the orange "Save Signature" box.

12. Leave UserCP area, then return and go back to "Edit Signature" to see if the ticker appears. If it does, you're done.

Ooh, fill time already?! I guess it IS about that time though! Keep us posted Lena, I'm curious to hear how it goes!

I don't know why Lyndi is going for a fill so early. It's been a little over a month for me, and I'm not sure I need a fill. There are still some things not going down at all well, like some of the meats. Plus, I'm still losing weight at the comfortable rate of 2-3 pounds a week.:tongue:

For example, I had a terrible evening last night over the rare Marco Polo Steak I served. I measured a small 3 oz portion, cut it up into tiny bits, and tried to eat slowly. All my efforts were in vain. It got stuck anyway, and I spent a miserable hour until all the meat passed the stoma. What a relief when it did! :cursing:

Like Theresa, Dr. Baptista has put me on Miralax. (Happy sigh) What a relief-- literally. My wallet may dislike the cost, but I refuse to do without my morning dose in my coffee now.

For those on mushies who need a change, if you can handle semi-solids like well-cooked veggies and ground meat, go look on my blog here. I posted a recipe called Sausage and Egg Cups. You can change out the meat, veggies, and cheeses to get some variety, and by making several at once you can freeze what you can't eat. I made a batch this past Sunday, and I'm still munching my way through the collection. It's a great "grab and go" sort of meal. I plan on making a version with salmon, asparagus bits, and a white cheese mix leftover from another recipe this weekend.

Oh, I hear you on that one IowaMom! A healthy weight seems so far away, doesn't it?

See if this idea works for you-- Don't focus on the far away goals, but instead on something closer. Losing 5-10 pounds before your surgery would be a decent accomplishment.

I'd suggest taking up walking, but I'd imagine that would be darned uncomfortable right now. Maybe in a few months.

I started my pre-op diet on Jan. 7th and got banded the 17th by Dr. Milton Owens in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. I am loving this new year. though i'm getting really bored of liquids right now. but I go for my first fill this thursday, i/m kinda nervous and excited at the same time.

I go for my first fill this Thursday too, Lyndi. I'm darn near shaking in my shoes, but I'm determined to see this through.

I just completed first month of Dr weight check. have 2 to go. I only lost 4 pounds for January and am hoping that I can stick to it better for the next 2 months. It just seems like I have sooo much to loose (225 pounds) and I just can't stick with it. The dr asked me today if I thought I could with the band and I said I hope so...I won't be hungry so that should solve the problem...

I don't know if "not hungry" is exactly correct. While you do get full A LOT faster, you do still occasionally get hungry. It's just not as overwhelming. (Patting my band area)

Your band is your partner in self-control, IMHO. You can easily get around the restriction. After all, ice cream could easily pass the stoma! It's up to you to change and exercise your will power into "won't power."

Everything you're learning now is the preparation for the big event. It's like warming up before you run a marathon. You don't stretch those muscles, you're likely to falter and possibly even fall.

Don't expect perfection. You're learning. Everything you do now is for your benefit. You'll do better on the liver-reduction pre-surgery diet, and when the big day finally comes, you'll be ready to sail smoothly through the liquids, the mushies, and straight on to steady, permanent weight loss.

I agree with RestlessMonkey! You gotta get up and move as soon as you can and keep moving. It means less pain from the gas, more settling of your disturbed insides, more circulation, and faster healing.

You don't have to do a marathon, as Restless said. Take a walk. I could drive starting on Day 3 after surgery, and by golly walking around Wal-Mart was a whole lot better than staring mindlessly at the TV.

:blush:This is my second time trying to go throught the steps to get approved for surgery. the first time my Dr. never wrote progress notes so the insurance company denied. I have 2 months ( Feb 9 & March 9) left of Dr. visits and then I'm done. I didn't lose more than 3 ibs the entire time. This time around we found I have sleep apnea and that will help me get approved.(I hope). I'm getting really nervous about being approved and can't wait to make the change to getting my life back. My insurance is GHI and I'm a NYC employee. Has anyone been approved by GHI?

I have had my psychological, stress test, sleep test, scope done ( I have a hernia that will be fixed when the port is put in), 6 month dr visit, nutritionist, chest xray, venus dobler and blood test, all done.

Does it hurt after having the surgery? Are you in a lot of pain?

The first day, I hurt enough for some liquid Lortab, but I stayed overnight due to severe sleep apnea and a hernia repair. The next day, I was good to go home and used liquid Tylenol for that little bit of pain I did feel. I've got a big old bottle of Lortab I've never even opened.

It's been a month, and I returned to work fairly quickly.

Welll I guess I am the last check in for Jan 09! Surgery on Jan. 30th went well it was painless I have some minor discomfort and took a day to come down off the morphine:rolleyes: but aside from not no really pain minor gas and I am up and about!:tongue2:

Good for you, Last! We're all in this together, no matter what.

Lena, one of the first of January '09