Band_Groupie

Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed here! -BG

Courtney, WELCOME TO LBT! What a great thing to be going through this together with your Mom. You'll have each others support! Best wishes! -BG

WELCOME TO LBT! If you've been to a seminar then you have a good idea what the band can/can't do for you. If at your age your already having health issues then you know it's only going to get worse with more weight. I'd suggest you read some of the success stories here and look at the rest of the site for information. Then talk to the surgeon about your situation and ask questions. Don't wait until your 50 like me to get the help you need now. Good luck! -BG

WELCOME TO LBT! And congratulations on your banding! The port site will have a LOT more swelling and it can stay for months. That's where they made the biggest hole in your abdominal wall to put the band in. I'm 2 months out and the swelling is down (felt like a baseball before). I can easily still feel my port, but I don't have much stomach fat. Good luck! -BG

Are you sure the bulge isn't where your port is...typically more swelling there? Congratulations Bander!

Sounds like you might be at your Sweet Spot...or maybe a tiny unfill amount if Flo causes a problem again (I'm guessing the PB's are gone?). I can't wait to be losing a pound every few days again! You're doing great!!! -BG

A 9cc fill?!!! Wow, you win...that's the biggest fill I've ever heard of!!! I'm hoping you have the large 14cc band? Keep an eye on it closely and be sure you're able to get all your liquids in at least and you're not PBing...if so, call the doc! Good luck to you! -BG

TWO magic words! Bacon and Cheese! Yummy!

Awesome job DB! Seriously?!! Almost 10 inches off your waist? Is that possible in 2 months???!!! Amazing! -BG

As always Wendy, you keep it real and I appreciate that! You're still doing an awesome job though...64 Pounds is AMAZING! I'm feeling really guilty about the ice cream scoop I had Thursday now...so NOT worth it. Food addiction is a tough monster. Keep on going girl, can't wait for the new pics! -BG

We had a great couple of days at DS1's college orientation at Penn State Univ. main campus. I had a captive audience in the car for 3.5 hours, so I took the laptop and we worked on the packing list and the 'buy' list for his room this fall (Oh, and we did talk a little more at the beginning about the car accident- final figure about 7K, but they didn't total it…the car guy says he couldn't have lined up for the trailer hitch any 'better' if he tried…damaged everything possible…it figures right? LOL). Thursday we drove and then walked around campus…took some photos at the Joe Paterno statue at the stadium (ours attached) and at the Nittany Lion statue (DS1), near the Nittany Lion Inn where we stayed (old large inn run by the Hospitality Svcs. Dept.). It was so hot, so we stopped at the campus run famous Creamery (DS1 and DH pic…Food Sciences building…ice cream is mainly from the PSU cows- AG Dept.). Yes, I did have one scoop of the 'Death by Chocolate'. Then we walked it off…PSU is a beautiful campus; we guessed about ½ the physical size of OSU where DH and I attended, but still a lot of walking (I have 2 blisters now to prove it). We had dinner at The Tavern on Main St. (for all you PSU fans-a salad and fillet strips and mushrooms over pasta with a red wine sauce, I didn't eat the pasta or even all the fillet...chewed everything I ate to a pulp). More walking and we went back to the room to get online…freshman football tickets started availability that night and they sell out in less than an hour…GOT THEM! Yes, we're already working on finding OSU/PSU tickets for DH and I...game is there this year. Orientation started at 7:15am Friday (Yikes, and DS1 had a friend who's family got up at 2:30am to make it in on time…too early of a start IMO). We got checked in, got his photo and student ID done and put some money on it (key and money source on campus), and we set him up with his bank that was there for an ATM/Debit card. Then we split up and spent the morning with the parents and the usual speakers getting us ready. Had lunch with DS1's friend and his parents (we know them from the soccer team) and then we went to the Engineering building for their orientation and then fall scheduling. Thursday DH and I were talking up how great college life would be for DS1 and how we wished we were starting college again…well Friday when all the talk was about how hard the classes were that he'd have to pass and how everyone accepted in ENGR were in the top 10% of their graduating class we remembered the tough parts about college life LOL. He got scheduled and we were done before 6pm…3.25 hr. drive home…a long day. We came home exhausted, but excited for him and he's thrilled with his selection to go there. We're spending this weekend rounding up the things we have at home on his packing list and starting our shopping lists of things to buy. I'm 'nesting' as usual…my boy will have the bin of every kind of medicine and first-aid equipment available…he'll have way more then he needs of everything, but that's what us Mom's do when our kids fly the nest.

Hey JA!!! Good to see you back again Momma! Sending you a message now...

I'm still in Bandster Hell too (2 fills in). I have to remind myself that just because I CAN eat anything, doesn't mean I SHOULD. If you can't eat as much as before, then make those meals count...focus on one committment at a time. Protein first, no drinking before/during/after, etc. I'm trying now to work on getting the full amount of solid protein in first and if I wait a little I seem to be less hungry. Old habits are hard to break, I know! Keep saving for that next fill as the band can't do it's part in helping you without it. Good luck! -BG

Just got home (college orientation overnight for DS1) and I'm NOT weighing in at night LOL....I was 206.5 yesterday morning before we left, so count that...back about where I started before the gain...sigh. Some things never change...WHEN am I going to get OFF this giant yo-yo?!!! Chin(s) up LOL! CONGRATULATIONS Kaner!!! The success stories here each week are keeping me going!

Thanks gals...ALuv- Oh, I am looking forward to tomorrow and we'll have a great time...we have a few things left to discuss (that's the part that's not fun) and then we'll move quickly on to all the fun stuff. It's all about him this trip regardless of what happened. Staying at the Nittany Lion Inn and I'll try to take some pics around campus (I'll give JoePa a kiss for you). Football tickets go on sale tomorrow night for Freshman, so I'm hoping the internet will work as I hear they sell out in an hour (we have a plan 'B' with the aunt- our god daughter/niece goes to PSU so she knows the ropes). More ice cream to tempt me at the Creamery! Parrotheads...we saw a few 'down for the count' around us...youth...with age comes wisdom...you need to learn to pace yourself LOL. Being a parent is the hardest job in the world...and Barbara, you're the only one I've heard of who's kid actually took them up on the offer most of us give our kids these days...I think that says a LOT about your daughter and your relationship...good job! -BG

Ditto the above...and FYI I was still on clear liquids until week 4, but after that I was allowed 1- 1 1/2C. If it doesn't hurt at week 2, then you're probably not overeating. Best Wishes! -BG

WELCOME TO LBT!! Lots of great people and info. here. I'm guessing you were banded this month, so there's a June group in the home page under the Groups Forum, then 2009, then June. Lots of people at the same stage you are to share with. Keep on bloggin' -BG

Well Tuesday, after posting my garden pics blog after dinner, things got a little crazy around here. One of the couples going to the concert with us/old neighbors that moved close by was in the area (birthday dinner out for one of their teens). They called us and we invited them over. We invited another couple (going to the concert) over, had drinks on the patio (perfect weather) and discussed our plans while all the kids visited. The last couple (going to the concert) was returning from vacation that evening and we got a call that an Uncle in their family had died (expected, Hospice had been there). After about four more calls back and forth we found that the viewing would be during the concert, so they couldn't go. Then we got a call from DS1, that he'd been in an accident; no injuries. I always hesitate to share negative things about my kids here, but I will just incase it keeps someone else from having an accident (or your kids). He works with one of his good friends and after work his friend was performing in a band at a local bar (they have events scheduled on occasion just for underage teens, no alcohol). He was following his friend's car through the parking lot to park (probably too closely) and looked down 'for a second' to tune his iPod…friend stopped, DS1 didn't (even with hands-free phone calls there are too many distractions in cars these days with all the electronics...FYI we've always limited the number of kids he can drive and he's supposed to set the iPod to a playlist before he leaves and phone is supposed to be on speaker and only for important things). Bottom line is the friend's car had a higher bumper with a long/large trailer hitch and my minivan's front end (must be made of cellophane) was no match (minor damage to friend's car). He was going between 2-5 mph at the time (that was the prediction of the auto-shop manager the next day, as the airbags would have gone off if he was over that for the kind of accident he had, and they hadn't deployed). So that evening we spent some time sorting that out. Somehow (LOL) we also ended up with everyone's kids spending an overnight at our house, so there was popcorn to be made and sleeping bags and fresh pillowcases to be rounded up after the parent's left. We spent yesterday morning getting kids fed/home, then lunchtime calling; insurance, the friend's father (DS1 called to apologize, etc.), the rental car place, and we took my minivan to the car shop (5-6K or possibly totaled; and yes, DS1 was there at each step to hear it all); the hitch punched into my minivan killing the radiator and A/C fan (maybe more) and wrecking the hood, front end/bumper and front side panel…ouch! DS1 is going to be paying what the insurance wont (we made a deal with our kids that we'd pay for their first accident only). He had a similar wreck just about 8 months ago at the stop-light right in front of his workplace. DH's car that time…a bumper miss-match with a tall SUV in front as they were all stopping for the light "she made a hard stop sooner than he expect" and even though he was down to under 10mph DH car went under the other car's bumper (can you say TAILGATING!). Again, the SUV had hardly a scratch, but they almost totaled DH's car. Insurance yesterday said 'Didn't he just have this same kind of accident?' 'Ummm, yes, just a different car.' AHHHH! I know some of you'll think we're the strictest parents (we all do the best we can), but I'll tell you anyway (and no, he didn't get any consequences other than a long talk for the first accident, but the second time it becomes carelessness)…we'll only be letting him drive to/from work, but with us in the passenger seat for awhile to 'coach/tune up' his driving skills (punishments always seem to punish the parents too don't they...can't wait for the late night pick-up when the restaurant closes), and no, he won't have the iPod (or even the use of the radio or phone) in the car for awhile even when he returns to driving…we need this one to 'hurt' as he doesn't really have an appreciation for just some money coming out of his savings account. We'd also had already been talking to him about getting a second job as he wasn't getting enough hours at a restaurant, so we forced that issue yesterday and he called and got rehired at his old job (retail store). Of course it's not the hassle or insurance rate going up (it will) that we care about; he just needs to learn the lesson now before he or someone else gets HURT or worse…that's our real worry. Driving is a privilege and he's gotten over-confident in his abilities (we've seen that watching him drive recently…he started off as a careful driver, but now he's gotten complacent after driving for 3 years and needs an attitude adjustment). He needs to take it seriously and understand the responsibility of driving. We've had several sit-down discussions with him and I'm sure well be talking more about it on the way to PSU tomorrow (fun, fun, fun...NOT). In the afternoon we ran and got things for our tailgate and got ready. We thought we had someone set to take the now extra set of tickets, but that fell through less than an hour before departure. So more scrambling with others trying to find friends to go and finally the concert attendees suggested we take our daughter/BF (about 10 min. before departure). I grabbed DD some clothes in case they could come and off we went (the neighbors picked us up and had fully decorated the car and had bought us all kinds of whacky stuff to wear and display at the tailgate. We had a great time people watching (a major spectator sport at this concert) tailgating with the neighbors (I ate some sub (VERY carefully) and none of the sides we took, but I did have a two Corona's/Lime as it was all we had there (with some Gas X, and yes, my doc says carbonation is OK after a certain point post-op...and I nursed them forever...the tailgate is longer than the concert at JB). DD/BF got to the concert about ½ hour late (she had to work until 7pm), but they had a great time too (virgin Parrotheads). We danced, we sang, we had a blast…Buffett was awesome as always! What a way to celebrate our 50th birthdays! TERRIBLE phone-camera pic attached of us doing the Big 5-0. We picked up a rental car for me today and I'm off to pack for our orientation overnight at PSU tomorrow…it's been a busy, sometimes very stressful 48 hours. *Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

xavier- OMG...too funny you picking that plant!!! DH likes to buy those tiny cactus that you get at the local harware stores, you know, in a tiny 2" pot. We've only lived here 9 years, and I'm not sure when he bought them but not immediately. The one by the gazebo corner you pointed out is now 5' above the soil, but if you look closely across the gazebo to the far side there's a green pot with another one in it (looks like a post) and it's 6' above the soil now (you can't see the leaves because they're above the gazebo). They're called a Madagascar Palm (but it's not really a palm, it's from the cactus family of Pachypodium so they're sometimes called that). Of course we have to bring them in here in the winter (which is a big production since we have 2 steps down to the patio...someone always gets stabbed). I'm laughing because I call the big one 'DH's phallic symbol' it's a single stem and in the winter here they go dormant and slowly lose their leaves (the giant one is just an ugly gray stem in the winter)...every year I think I've killed it and every year that damn phallic symbol grows back (DH thinks it's hysterical...he always let's me know when the baby leaves are starting to show again). Well I've only got 9' ceilings on the first floor so sooner or later it's not going to be able to winter over inside LOL! Oh, and in the pic the leaves are just about 1/2 way out so they'll get twice as big/long as you see here. He's got several other varieties cactus/palm ones out there you can't see. DD just bought him a 4" 'bunny ear cactus' for Father's Day (looks like a whole bunch of Mickey Mouse heads)...wonder how big that will be in a few years! diva-I don't grow the herbs year round inside, but my Mom does bring some of her annual ones in to winter over (Bay, Rosemary), but they go into 'dormant' mode here over the winter even in a window and don't do real well (not the same kind of sun to keep them healthy looking so I choose to buy the annuals again each year). Three sections of the herb garden are all perennials (and a few annual herbs in pots) so they come back every year and the section that looks bare is where I put the annuals (basil, dill, sage, parsley, rosemary, bay...but even some of these stay year round in hotter climates so it depends on where you live...ie. rosemary can become a huge bush in the far south). We're only a 'Zone 5' on the planting scale here in Pittsburgh. Most herbs like hot sun, well drained soil and not too much water.

((Hugs)) for you. I'm sorry for your loss. -BG

Yep, it means where you get enough fills to have perfect restriction...not too tight that you vomit, but tight enough to keep you full on solid food for about 4 hours. The period before you get to that has been dubbed 'Bandster Hell'...you've got the band, but little or no restriction yet and many gain weight during this period, so you're doing great 'on your own'. Oh, and the 2cc's; it depends on what band you have and whether your doc put a 'primer' (small fill) in during your surgery. I have a 10cc APS Lap Band and it takes more than 2-3cc's just to fill the port and tubing, so if I had 2cc's then none of that would be in the actual band. Talk to your doc about it. Good luck! -BG

Take a peek at Voiceomt2002 blog...she's got great broth and soup recipes. The broth was heaven (I was on clear liquids for 3 weeks), and if you are on Full liquids the creamy soups were even better. Just pulverize it in the blender and they go down great. I just found a packet in the back of my freezer yesterday of the cream of mushroom and I was so excited. Yummy! Hang in there! -BG

When your drink too fast just post-op you will get a "sharp" or "uncomfortable" feeling in your chest...it's because the area where the band was put is very sore and swollen right now. They cauterize (sp?) some of the fat and tissue around the stomach to get it placed and you have the stitches on your stomach holding it that haven't healed, so you can see that any stretching right above the band is going to hurt some. I had to sip all day to get in fluids in tiny amounts. The breathing in and having pain is something that I did not immediately have, but started for me 5 days later. It was VERY sharp and I had a sudden onset. They sent me to the ER to check for a blood clot in the lung (long story-didn't have one). I think some pain upon breathing is just moving the band and causing pain (like the above), but watch for any major changes and keep your doc posted. Best Wishes! -BG

Yep, your biggest worry now is just healing and that takes 6 weeks. Besides the incisions, the stiches that they put in on your stomach to hold the band need to heal. If you get a fill too early then it can cause them to rip out and you'll have a slip. Schedule your first fill for 6 weeks. Bandster Hell is just a part of the process. Best Wishes! -BG

Thanks girls...anyone need some herbs LOL? Even in our first apartment I grew herbs in the sunny windowsill...they're easy.