ShelleyB

Hi and welcome to Lapbandtalk or LBT! I know when first go started on here, I was having trouble getting my profile set up and the especially the tickers gave me trouble. Here is a link to a tutorial on figuring out those tricky tickers! Good luck to you all!!!:wink: Everyone has trouble with the tickers! Here's a tutorial: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker...ictures-41782

I was banded on 2/25/09. It's been a bumpy ride and I was in a lot of pain until yesterday afternoon. I am trying to keep the pain meds to a minimal (FYI - too much pain meds = constipation). Speaking of that, I have not had ANY movements since surgery. I was on clear liquids for 1 day post surgery and now I am on full liquids of protein shakes, broth, SF pudding and jello and yogurt. But I am not very hungry and when I do eat, it hits my stomach kind of hard and I just have to wait it out to feel better. My gas pains are getting better and walking, heat pad and GasX have helped that. My stick sites are still sore, but getting better. I actually slept in my bed last night and on my side! It wasn't the best night of sleep, but it wasn't bad either. I think in a weeks' time, all of us banded this week will feel ALOT better! Keep up the good works girls and boys!!

I had the same thing! I weighed 3 lbs. more the day after surgery! But I feel like a bloated whale right now, so I guessing its the gas, anesthesia, surgery, etc. I weighed this morning, 4 days since surgery and was down 4 lbs.! I think not weighing for the first week is a marvelous idea! Wish I had thought of that!

I am about 35 hours postop and I have been in more pain than I had imagined! At times, I would rate my pain as 7-8/10 and then others around 3-4/10. I have had a c-section and tubal ligation before, but it was also 15 years ago...hence I am 15 years older!! I think that makes a difference. The gas pain has been bad in the shoulder, just like everyone says. GasX and heating pad are what help me and moving around. The stick sites are pretty sore too and sleeping has been only on my back so far and in the recliner. I am going to try the bed tonight and see how it goes. I hear that after day 3, it should be going nowhere but up! Hang in there guys and don't regret the band, I think you will see what a great choice you have made in the near future! Take care!

I hear you!!! I am on day 14 of the liquid optifast diet! It has been the toughest thing I have ever done, honestly! My kids are teenagers, so I bought them stuff they could heat up or something easy, so we didn't have to cook. Last night, they made Hamburger Helper and I thought I was going to go insane! Okay, normally, Hamburger Helper would have NOT turned me on much, but it smelled like heaven! I finally snuck in the kitchen for 1 bite, then gave the leftoevers to the dog for my own protection! ha ha! I have only had coffee, optifast, broth, water and some crystal light, but I don't really like it. It's very interesting to me how different each doctor is with their pre-op diets. Some prefer liquid only, some 3 day liquids, some use the Atkins or Southbeach diet and then I have heard of some people having no pre-op diet at all!! It seems each surgeon has his/her own set of rules! Good luck to you all and just remember when the times are tough and you are questioning yourself or your decision - that it will get better and you are doing this for a reason...YOU! Best wishes ~ Shelley

I would say that I fall under the category of "scale obessed"! So, for that reason, I weigh once a week only. My trash can in the bathroom sits right next to my scale, so to keep it off my mind, I set the trash can on top of the scale and therefore it is out of site and out of mind! If it gets bad, I will put it in the linen closet until weigh in day. I always weigh in the buff and after going to the ladies room!

There are many things, but the top 3 are: 1. Go shopping for clothes that I WANT, rather than what I have to get to fit a petite, obese woman! 2. Wear a bathing suit with my cover! 3. Be able to shave the bikini area...and see what I am doing! ha ha

Thank you guys so much for your advice and kind words, they really do help! It's day 4 now and it is getting better, but today being Valentine's Day is rough because we usually celebrate with a nice dinner. But I am trying to keep the big picture in focus and remember why I am doing this!! I have been putting berries in my shakes in the mornings. It seems about 3pm-ish, I get really hungry and want to chew something! I have chewed 2 packs of gum in the last 4 days! ha ha

Help! I am on day 3 of my pre-op diet, which is Optifast liquid diet. I am SO hungry! Any advice for fighting the hunger monster? My surgeon's office says to stick to the liquid diet only and to drink more shakes if I am still hungry. I live with my husband and two teenage kids. My husband is doing the liquid diet with me for support (:frown:) and my kids are fending for themselves. I do okay until I smell the food they are making! I work at home and my office is about 5 feet from the kitchen! :cursing: It's going to be a long journey! But I am hanging in there...just wanted some advice or pep talk! You guys are awesome! :frown:

I am scheduled for surgery on 2/25/09 and I have to do a 2 week preop diet. Mine is a liquid diet using Optifast (kind of like slimfast). I am on day 3 of the liquid diet and it's been rough, but hopefully it will get better. They say the hunger goes away. The goal is to reduce the size of your liver and belly fat, as well as show that you are committed to the changes necessary for lapband. Good luck to you and don't be afraid to ask any questions!! This site is wonderful and the people here are willing to help - just ask!

Hi Cindy, Thanks for all the wonderful information! I think I will be good with the carbonated drinks, as I don't drink them anyway. I had to quit them some time ago because they upset my stomach, so it was habit I already broke. Yeah! Hey, my surgeon is also Dr. Veninga. He is great and his office is wonderful! Maybe I will see you around the support groups or walks?!

Okay, if you haven't noticed yet, I do ask alot of questions! But I want to be well informed! I am scheduled for surgery on 2/25/09 and start my pre-op liquid diet on 2/11/09. My doctor wants me use Optifast HP (which I get from his office). It's 5 shakes a day...period. No other foods. I am curious who has had this pre-op diet, what they thought about it, how they coped and any other words of advice! Thanks guys...you are wonderful!

AWESOME!!! Love it!! Keep that good stuff coming!!!!

Thank you all so much for your responses! They have been so helpful. I am going to schedule my surgery Monday and can't wait to get this journey started. You are all inspirational. Keep up the good work and I hope to be a success story soon.

My question may have been posted before, but I will pose it again. How do you deal with fast food after the lapband? Is it hard to eat at fast food places and if so, what sorts of things do you find you can eat and tolerate? I don't eat alot of fast food, but lets face it, sooner or later we all have busy lives and fast food comes in to our life from time to time. Any advice? Also, do you miss it if you stopped eating it? Thanks!

My question may have been posted before, but I will pose it again. How do you deal with fast food after the lapband? Is it hard to eat at fast food places and if so, what sorts of things do you find you can eat and tolerate? I don't eat alot of fast food, but lets face it, sooner or later we all have busy lives and fast food comes in to our life from time to time. Any advice? Also, do you miss it if you stopped eating it? Thanks!:cursing:

Thanks! I just wanted some feedback on him. I chose him because of his location, but I want to make sure that I am not compromising care for convenience! Congratulations to you! You are newly banded and on your way to being happy and healthy! I am hoping to schedule my surgery for late February/early March. Thanks again!

Hi, I was just wondering if anybody has used Dr. Frank Veninga of Carrollton, Texas as their surgeon? I am scheduled to meet him this week for my surgery consultation. I just wanted any feedback if anyone has been to him. Thanks!

Wow, thanks for all the responses! I had no idea this was so common! I am thinking that I will hold off on the endoscope then and let my surgeon, who will be in there anyway, do his job! Thanks again! And as a bonus, I can't wait to not have anymore acid reflux or heartburn...I have had these symptoms for like 10 years! So many beneifts of the lapband just keeping coming to light! I hope to have my surgery in mid or end of February! Can't wait! : )

Anybody out there with a hiatal hernia before surgery OR found during surgery? I am suspect that I have one and my primary doc told me to go get a scope and have it checked out. I have heard some people say that if there is a hernia, it can be fixed during lapband surgery. Any advice?:tt2:

Hi Suzanne, Thanks for the reply and congratulations on your loss for far!! Very awesome! I do beleive we all need to exercise at least a few times a week at best! Besides, it makes you feel better! I found out I was approved by my insurance company for the lapband surgery and my appt with the surgeon is next week! I am ready to make that surgery date! Whoo hoo!!!

Bel, Thank you so much for your response! 8 years and 99 lbs.! WOW! Congratulations!! It really means alot that you can still have a "normal" life with the band. It just makes you accountable for your actions and most of us need that to keep us in check! I just found out that my insurance has approved my surgery! I am so excited and ready to begin this journey!

Miz-boo, 100 lbs.! Wow, that is awesome! That is life changing! Congratulations to you. Thank you for being honest in saying that it isn't all roses, because people need to know that. But anything worth having is not easy to get, right?!!! Thank you for sharing your story to use newbies! Very encouraging.

Thanks for the reply LoneStar! Greeting from Texas! I have found alot of Texas people on this site! But Texas is a big place! ha ha! Congratulations on your weight loss and I wish you luck in your continued weight loss! I do think exercise is key too! I have always been a moderate exerciser, walking, gym, biking, etc. Of late, I do good to walk the dog everyday! But at least it's something! I am about 95% sure of my decision for lapband, now I just have to finish my evaluations and consultation and wait for the insurance company to make a decision! **fingers crossed** Thanks for sharing your story!

Hi Babbs! Thanks for the welcome! I am both excited and scared! Do you think this is normal?!