blklab70

This is just like my story, but I went to my doctor (after two months of this) and he took our 1.5 cc. I slept that night for the first time in my bed all night! Then the next day I was able to eat and keep everything down. Please anyone going through this, go see your doctor. It is a simple solution and for me I feel great!

I started having throbing pain, not hard but there, on Friday. My port area seems to be where it is coming from. I also have itching there but seems to be under my skin, and it is driving me crazy. My band was put in two years ago so I should not be itching from the surgery. Anyone have this happen and how did you handle it? I have a doctor appointment tomorrow. I also have a huge problem with heart burn at night mostly. Can anyone help????

Took less than a week for me to be back on the tummy! I was never able to sleep on my side because it was hard to breath, but now, no problem. Good luck!

I did not have the old way of my gall bladder surgery, but my doctor said that because I did have my gall bladder out it made it easier inside to put the band on. I guess with the gall bladder no longer in the way he did not have to move things around as much. At least that is what he explained to my husband. He was also able to use the scars that were already there for a couple of the incesions. I think she will be just fine, but please keep us posted.

Thanks Beth, I think you got it right, mean people do suck and sometimes that is exactly what you get on a public forum.

Beth, we are not talking about the same thing. When I said that it referred to asking for POSITIVE help, if someone asks for any kind of help that is different, and you are welcome to give any kind of answer. When someone is joining this forum and is investigating and they ask for only postitive they more than likely know the negative. By asking only for positive, we should be respectiful of that request and if we can't then we should not post. It is like someone drowning and asking us for help and we throw them a cement block. I appreciate all of your comments, I have watched and listened to you for several months. I know you are one I can take the advise of. Thanks!

You proved my point! If someone askes for positive, don't reply to them if you can't BE positive. This is a support group. We are here to help eachother, not to deliver unwanted negativity.

Vicki, that is awesome! I am very proud of you and you are an inspriation to me. Thanks!!!

I had Pacific care too, and first you go see your primary doctor. Take with you a list of all the diets you have ever tried and the results. You will be that much ahead if you do that. He will make the referal and you will be on your way. Best of luck and keep us posted. Welcome to our family!

Wow, that would have been quite a shock. I am sure you did your research before doing this and so you know that it is a tool and only a tool. If people go into it and do not change their habits they will not lose, but using the tool correctly you can see by the others, it will happen. Bigpapa is an example. Look at what everyone has done! I have lost 57 as of today. Band date was 10 Feb 2009. Yup, it can be done if you do it right. I would not let that doctor near me again and I would report to someone what he said. That is not support and you need support. So, we are all here for you!

Hey gang, it has been awhile, how is everyone doing? I have lost 57 as of today. I could not be happier with my decision to be banded.

What about when someone asks for positive and the reply is negative. That happened to me and then the person says, well if you are posting on a public forum you get what you get! HELLO, I asked for POSITIVE. If you can't read then don't post! LOL

I was banded on 10 Feb 2009. The best part of my before surgery was this warn air blanket they put on you. It was so nice! So I go to surgery and it only takes 40 mins. Then they put me in recovery where I woke up and stayed for 5 hours while they tried to find a room for me. They assumed by my first name that I was a male and wanted to put me in a room with a man!!! So that being straightened out, I was put in a private room. I took a walk with my husband up and down the hall once, then back to bed. The next morning they took me down to xray and made me drink this aweful stuff that was just the worst. They found everything was ok and sent me back up to my room where I could enjoy a nice drink of the second worst thing I had drank all day, it was some protein thing that was so sweet it was like drinking jello, yuck. We left the hospital and as someone had suggested, I had a small pillow to put between me and the seat belt. Recovered in a couple of days and was ready to go by the 5th day when I went back to work. No gas pains, but the worst for me was not having anything to drink after the surgery. I was allowed these sticks to suck on and I have to admit I put them in tons of water and sucked the water out till they were dry. Anyway, it is not that bad and it goes by quickly. I am now 5 months out tomorrow, down 57 pounds and feeling like a kid again. I is the best thing I have ever done for me.

That is the best explaination I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing that and letting us in on the 411. Now we can feel better about our losing experences. I wondered why I start out so tight and end up loose in a couple of weeks. I wish I had that pic too, but you described it wonderfully. Thanks you so much!

Hiccups are very common, I usually do one hiccup if I am eating too fast, then when I am full I get hiccups. Don't know exactly why, but it happens everytime. There is a thread about this. When we go out I am very careful not to get too close to that first hiccup cause it is loud! LOL 57 pounds down as of this morning, so I will take the hiccups. As for sweet spot, I feel I am there now. I have 6 cc's in a 10 cc band. My doctor does the 6 week fills too, but this time I got a 3 month appointment cause I am feeling so good this time. Did not know we need another fill from shrinkage, interesting. Thanks for the info!

I have 6.5 ccs and I think I am at my sweet spot now. I am able to go for hours without hunger and I fill up on very little food. The weight is coming off at about 2 pounds a week, so I am happy. Banded 10 Feb 2009 and down 56 so far!

Vicki, I too was so nervous about my first fill. It is something we have never done and it is scarey to imagine. But, it is very easy. My doctor numbs the area with a little needle that I hardly feel, then does the fill. He then has me drink a little water to make sure it can go down and I am on my way. The first time, I left the doctor and got in my car and had to laugh at myself for being scared. It was, excuse the words, a piece of cake! Remember you have a huge group of family here to support you. Thank you for your husbands service to our country. We may not agree that we should be there, but we certainly agree that we stand behind and support our troops. My son was in Afghanstan and has returned home now. I will keep your husband in my prayers. Don't be afraid to ask us questions, that is what we are here for. I only needed three fills till I was at my sweet spot. I am very excited for you and your journey here. Keep us posted.

If you were told you could have a free vacation of your dreams, all expenses paid and all you had to do was drink a liquid diet for two weeks with no solid food. I would bet you would do it without complaint and with much eagerness. Well, this is just one step in our futures as new and more healthy individuals. Instead of thinking about how hard the liquid diet is we should be thinking about doing it and getting on with our lives. Rethink how we look at the liquid part of this journey and take it one day at a time. As corny as that sounds, some of us have done it and you know, we are still alive and it did not hurt us in the least. Try different drinks till you find the one that fits your taste, we are all so different what one of us swears by the other hates! Just think one day, one meal at a time, and pretty soon, the two weeks is over and you have done it. Be proud of the goal you made by living two weeks more, two weeks is not very long in your life (we hope). So try variety. There are so many drinks and soups out there. Instant breakfast, for one, has several flavors to try. You can do it! I just know you can. Most of us are here because we love food so it is not the easiest thing for us to just have liquid, but you can do it!!! And for pete sake, talk to us so we can help. You are perfectly normal to believe this is hard. It is hard but it is not impossble.

I use GNC protein powder, mixed with ice and a cup of milk. I put it in my Magic Bullet and it is very yummy. I still have them for breakfast every morning. You can make them very thick with the ice and there is no foam. The banana is good and the chocolate is tasty too. I do add a little more than one scoop. So far I have lost 56 pounds, so I must be doing something right. My surgery was 10 Feb 2009. Good luck!

So happy to have you join us. You are headed for a journey that is so wonderful and full of new adventures. We have to learn to eat again but more than that, we get to learn what it is like to live again and for me it is the best! I can run with my grandkids and look forward to Disneyland with them but this time I can keep up. Please keep us posted and do find the thread for July bandsters. You will need them as you go along. Best of Luck!

greytz, you said it all. That is exactly why we are here. I could not do this without the band and without the help of everyone. I have said this before and will say it forever, I wish I had done this before when I only had 100 to lose. We are all in this because we know the value of the band and we have all tried the diets and they have not worked for us for many reasons. To choose not to be banded is ok for some people, but I know this is my only hope and with the support of everyone here, I can do this this time around. Thanks for wording it so well.

Bashful, those are really beautiful, you are good! Maryrose, you plan and I will sing, I can sing! Really I can!!!

Didn't say anything was "wrong". They just have no clue.

No program fee here, and free support groups several times a week. I have insurance, so maybe self pay is different, but know the support groups are free.

I am so glad you found us! I was banded on 10 Feb 2009. I was lucky enough to find this site before I was banded and I got all my questions answered here. You will find there are so many really great people that are so willing to answer your questions. Glad to have you here and keep in touch!